Monthly Ritual
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis or Love and Basketball
Summary: RyoXSaku...'nuff said -
A/N: This is harder than it looks people.
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The ceiling was really interesting.
How did people make the ceiling so smooth and flat? It was weird. Nothing in life is ever that perfect.
Ever.
She paused for a moment and then continued on with her rambling. And why didn't painters ever paint the ceiling? If they're going to paint the four walls in a room, they might as well paint the ceiling as well mused Sakuno.
The girl's tennis team regular sighed and ran a hand through her wavy hair. She wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. It was already midnight and she was sure all of Japan could hear her parents' shouting match. Her grandmother's aggravated remarks of "This is why I won't let her live with you two" weren't helping the situation either.
There was nothing else to do but impose on his hospitality. Again. Sakuno gave an uncharacteristic twitch of annoyance and then another defeated sigh. She hated feeling helplessness. She really was grateful to Ryoma, but having to continuously rely on and burden him repeatedly bothered her. She felt weak and having to rely on people only made her self-loathing grow.
She scoffed at herself. And here she thought she'd grown a bit since her middle school days. High school seemed no different to her. With one last sigh she got up from her bed and grabbed her pillow.
Once a month she'd visit her parents and spend the night at their house. And once a month she'd have to drag herself out of her room and into Ryoma's to get away from the chaos that ensued from her parent's constant fights.
Sakuno rolled her eyes heaven ward. Really, her parents couldn't even go through one night without getting into an argument. She bitterly wondered how they had managed to hold onto their slipping marriage for so long.
A petite figure could be seen making its way through a darkly lit room toward an open window; the curtains twirling in an intricate dance with the wind. She gritted her teeth and clutched the fluffy pillow closer to her chest when the cold wind blasted her. As soon as she stepped outside a tremor ran through her body, bare feet tingling from the cold touch of the dewdrop lined grass.
The weather was strange for a summer night.
Sakuno trudged over to the house next door and knocked on the window. Moments later a boy with unruly hair made his way to the window. He lifted up the windowpane and Sakuno cautiously climbed into a warm room while dulled amber eyes followed her. "Sorry to bother you again. Did I wake you?"
"I'm fine, I wasn't sleeping. The futon's already been laid out for you."
A wry smile made its way onto the girl's face. Of course he hadn't fallen asleep, he couldn't.
A rustle could be heard as the two settled into their respective beds. "Ryoma-kun?"
"What?" came a gruff reply.
"Thank you."
The corners of a mouth tugged upwards in a tiny smile.
"Hnn."
That simple exchange of words meant more than the two merely acknowledging the other's existence. It expressed their unique friendship and mutual understanding of one another. Wrapped in the warm presence of each other, the two closed their eyes.
Neither knew when or how their monthly ritual began, but both were grateful for it all the same.
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Author's Note: I already know the direction I want this to go but I am open to any and all suggestions and feedback would be appreciated.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!