Disclaimer: Nope, nope, and nope. I DO NOT OWN PRINCE OF TENNIS. However much I wish I did.
Ryuuzaki Sakuno really didn't understand how she had gotten herself into this mess in the first place. When her Obaa-san had stormed into the house with her typical Ryuuzaki-sensei confidence, head held high and chest puffed out in complete and total certainty, Sakuno could only stare at her grandmother in bewilderment when she was told to pack for a two week trip. If they were going on vacation Sakuno would understand, after all it was the beginning of summer, but a tennis camp? Even worse? A tennis camp full of regulars from not only Seigaku, but Hyotei, Rikkaidai, and St. Rudolf?
"B-But, Obaa-san-", Sakuno started, her mind scrambling to come up with an excuse to get out of the trip. She came out blank. It's not like she could have used school work as an excuse anymore.
"No buts, Sakuno. You're coming. I already checked with all of your Uncles and Aunts, everyone is simply too busy to take care of you on such a short notice", Ryuuzaki-sensei interrupted.
"I can take care of myself", Sakuno replied indignantly, put out that her own grandmother didn't trust her to take care of herself.
"Sakuno, you're only twelve. There's no way I'm going to just up and leave you for a whole two weeks all by yourself. You can barely walk to school without getting into trouble, I wouldn't be surprised if I came home to a burned down house", Ryuuzaki-sensei said sternly. "Now, stop arguing with me. You have an hour to get everything packed."
And that was how Sakuno had ended up on the school's athletic department's bus, sitting quietly next to Ryoma-kun and twiddling with her thumbs nervously. In the meantime, Ryoma had fallen asleep within the first ten minutes of the ride and was leaning against the bus window. Momoshiro-senpai and Kaidou-senpai were arguing about something or another. Kawamura-senpai looked peaceful as he looked through a book of new sushi recipes, as if he wasn't already a pro at sushi making. Kikumaru-senpai was his regular, energetic self and was trying to engage the tennis club into one of his games. Oishi-senpai was busy trying to calm down Kikumaru-senpai before anyone became irritated, Fuji-senpai was sitting upright with his usual eerily, happy expression, Inui was busy scribbling in his notebook at an outrageously fast pace, and Tezuka stared ahead, expression stern and arms crossed.
Sakuno sighed and slumped down into her seat, this was just the beginning of a very, long ride. She squeaked when she felt a light pressure fall onto her shoulder, and glanced out of the corner of her eye cautiously. She had a sneaking suspicion, but she had prayed that it was all in her head, when her eyes caught sight of green-tinted hair resting in the space between her neck and shoulder. Why was life so cruel to her?
Sakuno looked up, hoping that if she closed her eyes and opened them again, she would find Ryoma-kun back in his previous position. Nope. No, it did not work. Shifting, being very careful not to jostle him too much, Sakuno turned towards him. Taking a deep breath, steeling herself, she raised her hand and curled her fingers until only her pointer finger stood out. Her face scrunched up, trying to muster as much confidence as possible, she lightly poked the top of his head and pushed with as much gentleness as she could.
Good, good... She had managed to raise his head enough so that it was no longer resting on her shoulder, now all she had to do was push him back against the window without waking him up. It seemed as if in slow motion. The bus had just so happened to hit a bump in the road, making the bus shake in response. The movement was enough to push Ryoma-kun's body from its upright position and into her lap.
Sakuno stared down in horror, a fierce blush coming over her. Gulping, Sakuno poked him in the shoulder. "R-Ryoma-kun", she whispered. "Ryoma-kun, please wake up..." In response, he snuggled into a more comfortable position, head burying itself further in her lap.
Groaning, Sakuno flung her head back to rest on the headrest and closed her eyes. Only to open them when she heard an eery silence. She didn't know what she expected, but she certainly didn't feel comfortable with the stares of each and every one of the tennis regulars. The blush that had just washed from her face in her agony of defeat, came back full force.
Momoshiro was the first to react, grinning like a cheshire cat, and raising his arms to rest behind his head in a relaxed position. She could hear his whisperings of, "Young love, young love..." Kaidou turned back around in silence, but a faint blush crossed his own face. Inui stared outright, not even trying to hide his interest, and continued writing in his notebook at an even fiercer pace.
"Nyaa~ Look at Ochibi! Oh, he looks so comfortable. I wish that I could sleep like that", Kikumaru-senpai pouted.
"Eiji, quiet down. Don't wake him up, and stop staring", Oishi-senpai whispered quietly. Tezuka had already assumed his previous position, and Fuji was smiling still, although this time, there seemed to be something even more devious about his grin.
"BURNING, BABY! LOVE IS IN THE AIR!", Kawamura yelled, flinging his racket around in the air above his head. How had he gotten his racket?
Sakuno felt movement in her lap and glanced down, terrified to see Ryoma-kun coming to. Ryoma groggily blinked his eyes, too tired to even care that he had woken up in Ryuuzaki's lap. He blinked in exhaustion, before once again leaning up against the window and falling asleep in a matter of seconds.
"Hey! Quiet down back there!", Ryuuzaki-sensei called out, eyes on the road and oblivious to the emotional trauma her youngest granddaughter had just gone through.
Momoshiro, once again the first to react, wrestled Kawamura for his racket before throwing it into the back where all their suitcases were resting on the empty seats.
And this was just the beginning of a very long, and no doubt action-filled two weeks. Sakuno internally wailed in sadness and slumped against her seat in tired defeat.
Review, Review, Review.