SUMMARY: /RyoSaku/ Sakuno is under a love spell. Poor Ryoma he's the victim! 'This is insane.' Ryoma thought in frustration as Sakuno didn't want to be away from 'her' Ryoma-kun.

A/N: This is somewhat a prequel to First Love vs. True Love. I think of making this a one shot but decide to make it a multi-chapter instead. hehe XD

Ever wonder what's the most embarrassing day of Sakuno (still from First Love vs. True Love)? Well... here it is!

standard disclaimer applied.

-8-

-8- CHAPTER ONE: Love Potion -8-

"Yes. It's me, your Ryoma-kun."

-8-

"Echizen! Echizen!" Momo, Eiji and Kaido came rushing towards him. They ran very fast to the extent that they were catching their breathings.

"Hn?" Ryoma asked with full of confusion. As far as he can see through his senpais' eyes – with that worried faces of them – it was indeed an important thing.

"We need you. Sumire-sensei is...ahhh..." Momo said, didn't know how to explain what their purpose was. "A-anou..." He looked at Eiji for help.

"We'll explain it to you later, Ochibi! Just come with us!" And Eiji, before Ryoma could ever react, dragged him with them. And he ran as fast as he could, just like his senpaitachi. And he realized they were running towards the courts.

There, he saw, at one of the trees near the court – his other senpais – looking up at the tree worriedly and frantically.

"Sumire-sensei! We're here." Momo said when they walked closer to the others.

"Ryoma-kun..! Ryoma-kun...!"

They heard a girl's voice which made Ryoma look up at the tree. The voice came up there.

Who's that? He couldn't see who it was because the leaves hid the girl and it was dark now so he can just see her shadows. But what was a girl doing in the tree?

"Echizen," Sumire-sensei said with a sad face. He knew... this was serious. "Sakuno-chan is in there, up in the tree." His eyes widened. So it was Sakuno? "She's been calling you and she didn't listen to me, to anyone of us. Maybe you can do something."

He looked up again, thinking.

Hn.

"We didn't know why and how it happened, but –" Oishi explained, the worried face in his eyes was still there.

"She's been calling your name." Fuji said, for the rare times like this, his face was really serious. "Nothing but your name."

He blinked twice, still confused. Then he made up his mind.

He climbed up to the tree where Sakuno was at.

"Ryuzaki," he called, this is crazy.

"Ryoma-kun! I want Ryoma-kun!" The girl said, being paranoid and desperate.

Is this really Ryuzaki? As far as Ryoma remembered... Sakuno was... shy – quiet – timid – nervous – sweet –

Hey!

"Ryuzaki, let's go down already," he said again before his mind went on the wrong direction. He stretched his arms for her to grab it. "Come on."

"Are you Ryoma-kun? All I want is my Ryoma-kun!" The girl said, still not grabbing his hand, which made him irritated in a short time.

"Yes. It's me, your Ryoma-kun." He said almost wanted to burst out of dismay. He never knew Sakuno would be this stubborn.

"Oh, Ryoma-kun!" And before Ryoma realized it, Sakuno had already hugged him tightly into his neck that made the branch of the tree swayed. Everybody who was watching catch their breaths. Good thing Ryoma was holding to the tree firmly.

Crap.

"Ryoma-kun..." Sakuno was really happy and contented just by hugging him, even though they were still in the tree - in danger to got slip and fall.

"Stop, Ryuzaki." Ryoma tried to be free from Sakuno with his one hand, but she was really persistent and strong. He didn't even knew she was that strong. He sighed with frustration. "Let's go down first, okay?" He said, trying to calm his self. Getting mad wasn't the right answer for this situation. He could extend his temper a little bit more. "Come on," he said as he tried to exempt her arms around his neck. "I'm not going anywhere," he assured her.

And that was the magic words.

"Sakuno-chan!" Sumire ran towards them as they climbed off the tree safely, thanks to Ryoma. She was about to hug her granddaughter when was stunned on Sakuno's next action.

"Ryoma-kun!"

Much to their surprise, Sakuno clang his arms around Ryoma's neck again.

"O-oi!" Ryoma was shocked. They were all shocked. What was happening to Sakuno? She was really out of herself. It was like she was obsessed to Ryoma. "Hey!" Ryoma's really embarrassed now. He let Sakuno hug him because he had no choice when they were in the tree, but now... it was different. Their senpais were looking at them. Even her obaasan!

"Sakuno-chan..." Sumire tried to call her granddaughter again. This was the first time they could ever see their coach's face like this – sad and with full of worries and concerns. She was always strict and authoritative.

"I think she's out of her mind right now." Fuji said, analyzing Sakuno's moves and actions. She was still hugging Ryoma and contented with that. Ryoma was trying to let go of her arms around him but Sakuno was really persistent.

"Ryoma-kun! You're so mean!" Sakuno hugged Ryoma even tighter, she almost break his neck. Then they heard her small voice, crying quietly at the back of his head.

"A-ah... R-Ryuzaki... o-oi!" Ryoma was alarmed. He didn't expect she was going to cry. This was the first time he saw a girl crying – in his arms!

Everybody was again astounded, silenced. They looked at Sakuno and Ryoma pitifully.

"Everyone!"

They heard a voice of a guy came running frantically towards them. It was Inui. He looked at Ryoma and Sakuno.

"I'm sorry." He said apologetically. "Sumire-sensei... I didn't know this will happen."

"Eh?"

"N-nani?"

Everybody was shocked. So Inui has something to do with Sakuno's condition right now?

"What do you mean?" Sumire said, confused and at the same time, mad.

"I gave Sakuno-chan a bread this morning. I made it last night for an experiment. I putted Ryoma's sweats in the bread, for love potion. I didn't expect it to be successful. I just tried it to Sakuno-chan. I'm really sorry." He looked at everyone.

They remained silent. No one reacted or rather... they didn't know how to react on that realization.

"I'm hungry." Sakuno said, looking at Ryoma, still hugging him tightly. "Ryoma-kun..." Her eyes were full of love and admiration.

Tch. He looked at everyone, trying to get some help.

"So this was the result of your love potion." Sumire said. Her blood was rising from within. Her poor Sakuno – her poor little granddaughter – was under a love spell - and this Inui over here was the culprit why she was acting weird. "How long it will take to get her back to herself?"

"I'm afraid I don't know." Inui looked downward. He was helpless and really hopeless. He made a love potion without a cure readied! "I'm sorry. But I promise I'll make a cure tonight."

"You should make a cure tonight – or else." Sumire looked at Inui with her eyes – red and big and burning, her fists clenched tightly and with fire and hell as her background. Everybody was scared and horrified.

"Y-y-y-y-y-eee-yeeeesss! I-I'll make the cure now!" And before everyone could make another reaction, Inui ran off for his life.

"What now?" Ryoma said in frustration. He felt awkward in his situation and their position.

"As for now, Echizen," Sumire was back to herself. "Sakuno-chan is in your custody."

"Eh?" Everybody was shocked.

"It couldn't be helped. She'll be staying in your house for tonight. I'll talk to Nanjjiroh."

Ryoma just opened his mouth with shock.

-8-

"Oh, sure, sure!" Nanjiroh's cheerfulness can be heard throughout their house. "She can stay here as long as she wanted to." He smirked that made Ryoma rolled his eyes.

"I'll be back later. I'll just get some clothes for her. I'm really sorry for this."

"No, it's okay." Nanjiroh's cheerfulness was still 100%.

Sakuno was eating quietly in the kitchen together with Nanako and Ryoma's mother. Thanks God she let him breathe for a moment.

"Arigatou. I'll be going then." Sumire stood up.

"Hai." Nanjiroh's smile was still on his doubtful face. "Leave it to us."

-8-

AFTER 30 MINUTES

"No! I will sleep with Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno's face become tensed and she began to be desperate again and hugged Ryoma on his waist as if the monsters around them were going to take away her precious Ryoma-kun.

Everyone in the house dropped their jaws in astonishment. No one expected that Sakuno will say nor do that. They knew that she was under the love spell but they couldn't stop themselves from being shock. This was the first time a girl ever hugged their Ryoma in front of them - without hesitation - without shyness. She was hugging their innocent Ryoma.

Sumire sighed with defeat. Sakuno was giving her a headache for the very first time.

"Echizen, I trust you." She looked at Ryoma firmly with her serious aura.

"Hn?" Ryoma sighed in embarrassment. "H-hai." This was it. He could feel this will be a long – one hell of a night.

They went on Ryoma's room and arranged everything.

"I want to sleep beside Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno said, still hugging Ryoma on his waist, when she saw Nanako was preparing two futons.

"Eh?" And everyone gasped again.

Ryoma swallowed. This was really a hell. What did he do for going through this punishment? He felt dizziness was coming on his way. This is insane!

"O-okay." Nanako said and prepared only one futon. Her hands were trembling, they could see it.

"Echizen, I really-really trust you a lot. I know you well –" Sumire said, looking at him sadly and worriedly. Sakuno was still hugging him.

"I know." He sighed. He couldn't do anything. He didn't even make another move again to be free with Sakuno's hug for he knew she won't listen and because he was afraid that she wil going to cry again and make everything worst.

"Okay, then. You two should rest now." Nanjiroh said and faced Sumire. "I'll call you if anything happens. You should go home, too. It's getting late. I'll walk you home."

"Echizen," Sumire looked at Ryoma for the last time with her eyes full of worries yet with threats saying don't-take-advantage-of-my-poor-Sakuno-chan.

"Hai." And he got the message - LOUD and CLEAR. And even if his coach didn't say that, he'll never do anything inappropriately. He knew his self very well.

And with that, everyone left his room, leaving him with a total disaster.

-8-

"Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno giggled as she embraced him from his back. She moved her face closer to his back and began smelling his scents. He was facing away from her so he didn't know it.

"Hn." He closed his eyes tightly, more tightly. This was the first time in his 12 years in life here on earth – to sleep with a girl – to a desperate fan girl!

He didn't make a move for her to think that he was already sleeping.

"Ryoma-kun... face me..." Sakuno said as she pulled his shoulders and forcefully made him face her. "Ryoma-kun..." Sakuno's voice saddened. But she was still pulling his shoulder.

He sighed of defeat. She was really determined. He faced her – with his eyes burning with fire and anger.

"Are you going to sleep or not?" He asked roughly.

Sakuno didn't tremble just like those days. She wasn't even scared to his glares nor to his rough words. But instead, she giggled. Just where the hell was her shyness?

"I want to see you face."

He sighed in frustration.

"You can sleep now. I'll just look in your face." She said as she hugged him on his neck and she moved even closer, looking directly into his eyes with full of love and admiration.

He gulped. He still couldn't believe that what was in his front was Sakuno - the shy and timid and quiet and nervous and...ooops! Stop right there. Ahh... He never thought Sakuno can do this. He swallowed again. He felt some bloods were coming towards his cheeks. This was the first time – the very first time – he saw Sakuno differently. Well, she's under a love spell, she's acting really strange, he thought. How can he ever sleep with this kind of position? - With Sakuno looking at him like that? HOW? Even if he'll try to ignore it, it will surely affects him - every part of him.

As their faces were close like this, he felt his chest was hammering loudly. He swallowed again. He didn't like what he was feeling right now. He narrowed his eyes as he looked directly into her eyes. He wanted to tell her – through his glares – through that rough glares - that he was not happy with this. He wanted to tell her that she was way too much. That he was suffering now.

But... Sakuno didn't see it and didn't get his message. Instead, she smiled sweetly.

"You're really cute...Ryoma-kun..." She said, still her eyes – full of love and desires.

"H-huh? Ahh – " He quickly turned away as he felt more blood came rushing towards his cheeks. This was awkward! Inui-senpai, you'll pay for this! He swore in his heart and mind – he'll get revenge for this. He remembered his senpai's acting weirdly after their practice the other day. He said he needed his sweat for an experiment so he persistently requested to sweep Ryoma's sweat as he moved closer to him but he demanded he'll do it and just give the towel after he was done. After getting what he wanted, Inui left with an evil grin, leaving everyone in shock and confusion. He never thought that the experiment he was talking about was a love potion!

"Ryoma-kun..." Sakuno hugged him again in the waist. He was still facing away. "... I love you, Ryoma-kun..." She said as she hugged him more tightly.

Arghh... She didn't know what she's doing. He said in anguish and distress. Why is the sun still not rising?

This was enough. He had enough. She made his temper up into his limit. He turned to her with much much anger in his eyes this time.

Tch. Damn, he couldn't say a word when he saw her face. She was as if in tralala land and dreaming happily. She was still looking at him – with desires and love in her eyes.

Then, before Ryoma could ever move or speak, she lowered her face and leaned on his chest as she closed her eyes. There, she had just fallen asleep when she felt satisfaction.

He sighed. Can he calm down now? He breathe in and breathe out to calm his self. He closed his eyes and grab for a sleep. He didn't realized, his arms moved to hug Sakuno.