Unusual Day

This is my first PoT story/one-shot, I'm so excited! XD

Summary: And before he knew it, the Ryuzaki girl had become the only female presence Ryoma didn't mind having around him. It was a peaceful silence, just like always, until the cruel mistress of fate decided to choose today to disrupt it... One-Shot

Pairing: Ryoma/Sakuno

Disclaimer: If I owned PoT...then I probably wouldn't be writing fan-fictions...-.-" so ya...I disclaim any and all character used in this fan-fiction.

- - - - - -

The girl fidgeted nervously as her prince walked closer and closer, her cheeks painted with a certain shade of pink. Not many people know it, but Sakuno Ryuzaki has a crush, a huge crush on Ryoma Echizen, the renowned "prince of tennis".

It's been like that since freshman year of junior high. She hasn't changed much now that they're in their first year of high school. Still that quiet, shy, and klutzy girl who's bad at directions, but her prince hadn't changed much either; calm, cocky, rude, with a painfully sharp mouth and the amazing tennis skills to back it all up.

Ryoma Echizen's gained plenty of female fans over the years, Sakuno wouldn't blame him. The little prince had grown up to be a gorgeous young man. His dark green hair was often in an unruly mess, his striking honey-colored feline eyes full of defiance, and he's grown taller, having gone through the awkward stage of puberty. (A/N: AHAHA! I just had to bring that up :P) He would be able to melt any girl, no matter how composed, into a puddle had he graced her with his signature smirk. Yes, he's gained many fans...too many, but he's never had a girlfriend.

It was a strange relief for Sakuno, not having to see him with any girls within the 3 years that they've known each other.

And so, with the high-pitched squealings of many girls along the sideline, Ryoma approached the front entrance, getting closer and closer as the squealing got louder and louder.

"G-good morning, Ryoma-kun." the young Ryuzaki said, feeling her cheeks heat up, and certainly earning many many jealous glares from other girls.

"Hn." he glanced her way briefly and lazily with his eyes, but that was enough to make her heart skip a beat.

- - - - - -

She was definitely the only person who called him that, "Ryoma-kun", he mused, recalling her greeting this morning. It was a nice break from all the shrill screams of "RYOMA-SAMA!" he hears every single day, it's enough to make his ears bleed and make him lose his hearing...permanently. Having thought of that, the prince of tennis shuddered, mentally of course, for he was too cool to do that in public.

His senpais and teammates referred to him as Echizen, safe from of course, Kikumaru-senpai, who preferred "Ochibi" or "Ochibi-chan", somewhere along those lines.

"Nya, Ochibi!" Ryoma rolled his eyes, do not speak of the devil, because he will come...

Eiji Kikumaru, in his third year of high school, but still as hyper as ever. Ryoma often wondered if his senpai had a great big bowl of sugar for breakfast everyday in the morning, or all three meals, perhaps? He really didn't care.

"Oi! Echizen! Kikumaru-senpai!" Great, just great, here comes another one...

"So...Ochibi..." the hyper red-head started slyly, "You're very popular amongst the girls, yet you have no girlfriend..."

"Does that mean you want to keep being Ryuzaki-chan's hero?" Momoshiro finished their sempai's sentence, evil gleam in his eyes.

This statement earned both older teenage boys a glare from the "baby" of the group. He could not believe the stupidity of his senpai-tachi, who are currently ignoring him and muttering and snickering to each other, saying something about being "so young". 'I guess this is what happens when you don't have a life.' he thought to himself. It had been 3 years...three years! And they're still on about that night at the cottage, where Ryuzaki had thanked him for saving her from a burglar that was dressed as a bear.

"20 laps, now. For being late." they heard their captain's commanding voice upon reaching the court after changing for after-school practise.

"Hai!" the trio said in unison, not daring to disobey orders.

Tezuka Kunimitsu, in his senior year didn't lack in fan girls either. He had dark brown hair with blond highlights, and one look into his narrow brown eyes behind a pair of sleek frame less glasses will make anyone's knees crumble. Surely, any girl would kill, just to have his eyes linger on her for even just a second.

He was the model student, good at everything he does. He never says anything unnecessary, and when Tezuka Kunimitsu gives an order, no one would disobey, not even the stubborn Ryoma. He didn't have an attitude, he was just calm, collective, serious, yet he had this presence, this unexplainable power over people around him.

Gasping for breath after they've finally finished running, Ryoma returned to the court with his senpais, still blaming them for the late arrival.

"Late again?" a voice called, it was Syuusuke Fuji, known as the prodigy with unlimited potential, his skills only rivaled by the legendary captain and the prince himself. His fairly long light brown hair danced with the wind.

"Fujiko-chan!" Kikumaru whined, "Tezuka-buchou's being mean!" he said before pouting childishly.

At this, the friendly senior chuckled with amusement. Some people just refuse to grow up. The teenage boy wonder always appeared harmless, with his smiley eyes, always wore a grin on his handsome face. However, he opens his eyes on the tennis court, and when he's serious or angered. Those eyes with the color of the deepest, most beautiful sapphire.

The rest of the practice went on as usual. Tezuka watching on the sidelines with hidden amusement. Sadaharu Inui "motivating" the regulars with his latest collection of "Inui Juice". Takeshi Momoshiro and Kaoru Kaidoh, who was nicknamed Viper bickering and picking fights with each other. Takashi Kawamura in his fired up state shouting "BURNING!" and other nonsense in English while having a practice match with Ryoma. The infamous national-level golden pair, consisted of the acrobatic Eiji, and vice-captain Oishi, the so-called "mother hen" of the team was currently playing against each other as well. They never changed, it was just like back in Seishun Gakuen Junior High.

- - - - - -

She waited for him to finish practice, she always did, for 3 years, and then she would walk home with him, sometimes together with Momoshiro-senpai, or Momo-chan, as he favored. So, standing by the gate, she patiently waited, 'Practice today is longer than usual.' she thought to herself while twirling her auburn locks around her finger. She got rid of the braids just two weeks ago, leaving a wavy mass reaching just above her waist. Everyone had reacted, everyone but the person she wanted a reaction from. She wanted to ask Ryoma, but Sakuno was never brave enough to do that.

Footsteps approached behind her, and she turned just in time to see the prince in all his glory in front of the setting sun; few buttons of his summer uniform were unbuttoned, his hair, in the darkest shade of green, danced in the wind. Hands stuffed into his pocket, the young Echizen walked up casually to Sakuno as she felt a big mass of blood rush to her face.

"R-Ryoma-kun, w-where's Momoshiro-senpai today?" she managed to not faint after seeing him like that.

"Hn," he responded indifferently, "something about being picked up."

"I-I see..."

For a short moment, his sharp eyes fell on her. She had definitely grew up to be quite pretty in his opinion. Though he would hardly ever even admit that to himself. Her little girl braids where gone; wavy, auburn locks took their place, it was still too long for tennis though. Her curves were developing quite nicely-- 'WHAT?' he mentally kicked himself for that shameless thought. Oh this is just perfect...it seems that his pervert father was finally rubbing off on him.

"A-ano..." she began shyly.

"Let's go." he simply said, and started walking, knowing that she would follow.

So they walked in silence like they often had for three years, over that fairly long time, they had gotten somewhat comfortable with each other. And before he knew it, the Ryuzaki girl had become the only female presence Ryoma didn't mind having around him, besides, of course, his mother and cousin.

It was a peaceful silence, until the cruel mistress of fate decided to choose today to disrupt it. As Ryoma stopped, Sakuno, who was walking behind him, did not notice, therefore bumping into him as she walked, causing her to fall. Having quick reflexes, he turned around and caught her just in time and pulled the delicate girl up.

She was waiting for that impact with the hard pavement of the sidewalk, but instead, it was a strong arm supporting her below the waist and pulling her close to a warm chest. (A/N: You all know this too well...why throw away a classic, hm:P) She blushed furiously as she realized how close they were. Sakuno had never been so close to a boy before, let alone her prince, who was surprisingly warm pressed against her. Her breathing was shallow, her heart pounded madly against her ribcage. Was this a dream?

Realizing that he had held onto her for longer than necessary, he led go. (A/N: Quite reluctantly, might I add...) Watching with amusement as the girl frantically stumbled out a series of apologies. He kept walking, and it was no surprise that she followed.

- - - - - -

So they stood, face to face, at that corner where he would turn right, and she would have to keep walking straight.

"A-ano..." she said, fidgeting once again, "Th-thank you..."

"It's nothing.", "Hn" or a nod would be his usual response, but this had been such an unusual day, and so reaching a hand out, the prince tugged a strand of loose hair behind the girl's ear. To say that she was surprised was a bit of an understatement, she was most likely properly described as "paralyzed with shock" at that moment. His lips tugged upwards into the signature smirk.

That was it...that smirk, she really felt like she was melting. At least five shades of red and pink colored her face. However, nothing could ever, ever, prepare her or anyone for what happened next...

They made eye contact, he leaned in...their faces were only a few centimeter apart, that smirk still remained in place amongst his handsome features. She could feel his breath, she could hear his heartbeat...It was surreal, and then, just before their noses made contact, he changed "directions".

"Your hair looks better unbraided." he whispered into her ear, tickling her with his hot breath.

Then, he leaned away swiftly, turned around and started walking towards his residence as if what he did was just a daily routine. Leaving a very dazed Ryuzaki girl behind, the young tennis legend waved goodbye behind his back. Feeling rather satisfied this day.

Hearing what he said was more than enough to saturate her with fulfillment, it was exactly what she wanted to hear for the two longest weeks of her life.

Unseen to the lovestruck girl, two snickering high schoolers hid behind the wall having watched the whole scene...Their Ochibi-chan was going to have to endure an enormous amount of teasing from two certain senpais tomorrow, surely about being "so young".

- - - - - -

"Oi!" Nanjiroh Echizen called out lazily, face hidden behind his "daily newspaper" (A/N: hint, hint...), "You're late today, my dear son...Were you with a girl?" the old man asked pervertedly.

Any other day, the old hentai would have earned himself a severe beating from his 15-year-old son. But today, Ryoma surprised even himself, deciding to humor the Samurai.

"Yes, oldman, I met a girl on my way here and she took me home." he stated.

His head snapped up from his precious "articles", his eyes sparkled with tears, Nanjiroh ran up to his son, and held onto his two hands.

"My son! My precious son! I have never been so proud of you in yours or my whole life...!" he said dramatically, tears running like waterfalls down his face.

Seeing this reaction, the younger Echizen was more than satisfied, his lips curved up into a smirk, wishing he had a camera to capture his father's embarrassing moment.

"You gullible dumb ass! I was just messing with you." he walked off.

"Got me to stand up for nothin'." he sighed, then walking back to his original spot and sitting down before he got back to his "reading".

'Messin' around or not...he sure seems happier than usual...'

- - - - - - The End...? - - - - - -

I'm considering making this into a story, or a series of unrelated one-shots. What do you think?

Whew...that was the longest thing I've ever written, chapter or one-shot...

Did Ryoma seem overly OOC? Please review to tell me how ya liked it! XD