A/N: Yo, everyone. It's my first time to post a story here so I'm really nervous. Though I've been a member here for so long, I've just decided now to write. Funny how can boredom do to your system. So, this chapter is dedicated to my imagination. Uh-huh, you got that right. My freakin' imagination. Thank you with all my heart for sharing wonderful ideas with me. Bear with me guys as I make my debut here in fanfiction. Pretty please? Oh, I've edited it, by the way. It was a couple of chapters before but I decided to merge the chaps 'cause it's too short to be one.
PS: THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN MEETS THE EYE.
Must Read: This fanfic is mainly on RYUUZAKI SAKUNO's side/point of view. Ryoma has views here but not too much.
Disclaimer: I don't date Ryoma Echizen therefore, I do not own the Prince of Tennis.
With Every Breath I Take
Chapter One: Once Upon A Time
The 25-year-old Sakuno Ryuuzaki pulled the cake out from the oven. The smell of vanilla, butter and honey wafted through the sunny kitchen of her small but spick-and-span apartment.
She had started living here a year ago. Her obaa-chan paid half of the amount of this as her post-college graduation present and the half of it came from her savings.
It took her a whole month to get used to living without her Obaa-chan. Ryuuzaki Sumire decided to live in the province after Sakuno finally settled in her apartment because she wants to manage the lands they left there.
She took a box from one of the cabinets and gently placed the cake inside it.
I hope he likes this, Sakuno thought with a smile.
She went to the other cabinet and pulled a silk ribbon to tie around the box.
From the background, she can hear her door opening and closing as her ever-cheerful and energetic best friend, Osakada Tomoka, came in and peeked her beautiful brown head, now tied in a ponytail, in the kitchen.
"Is that a Vanilla Butter cake with Bean Frosting? Oh, wow! Lucky me! I'm in time!" As Tomoka started to reach for the cake, Sakuno gently patted her hand and laughingly said,
"No, Tomoka. This is for Hitachi. I promised to bake him his favorite cake. He had a long day, you know. He had to exercise two operations today. And I said to him I'll bring this to him tonight."
She carefully tied the ribbon around the box and started to take off her cooking mittens designed with cute little cupcakes and then she remembered she baked another cake.
She smiled mischievously.
"Hmph! Just when I thought I could dig in some of your delicious vanilla cake! I'm wondering now if I made a mistake of introducing you to Hitachi. Before, I can eat whatever you bake but now I can't because you'll give it to him!" Tomoka crossed her arms, stalked out of the kitchen and flopped herself from one of the bean bags in the living room then searched for the remote control.
Sakuno laughed.
"Why, you can have this Chocolate Truffle Mousse I baked."
And she pulled another cake out from the oven. Its heavenly aroma filled the kitchen and escaped to the living room.
"Whaaat! My favorite! Oh gosh, Sakuno! You're an angel! Okay I take back what I said earlier. You and Hitachi can go out wherever and whenever you want!" She jumped joyfully from the bean bag and hurriedly entered the kitchen and ate the cake.
"Oh, I've never been so happy in my whole life! This cake is to die for!" Tomoka said as she continuously ate the cake.
"Never been so happy? Why? What happened to Kikutsu-san? I thought being with him is the happiest moment of your life." Sakuno chuckled, remembering everytime Tomoka has a new boyfriend, she'd always say being with that guy is the happiest moment of her life.
"That jerk! Why, he has the nerve to lie and cheat me! He said he'll visit his grandmother in Hokkaido but I accidentally saw him in the mall! Good thing I remembered it was my brother's birthday and I had to rush to the mall to buy his favorite manga as a present. Now I know his true color, that bastard."
Tomoka paused and chucked a large piece of cake to her mouth, her expression frowing.
"There, I saw him with a woman in his arms who looks like she could be his mother! Goodness, can you believe it? I thought he was happy with me! He told me so! But damn, he could have replaced a prettier girl! No, he could have replaced a pretty girl." She cursed him.
"Really? And I thought Kikutsu-san was better than that. Anyway, It was a good thing you found out what he really is. And I'm sure there are so many guys out there who are dying to take you out so you don't have to worry." Sakuno said, briefly hugging her best friend.
"Thanks, Sakuno! You are so really good for my ego." Tomoka hugged her back, laughing.
Sakuno looked at the digital clock perched on top of the table in the kitchen.
"Oh, it's past six o'clock! I have to meet Hitachi at 7pm!" Sakuno said, grabbing her coat, car keys and her purse at the table.
"Hey, you forgot the cake!" Tomoka followed her with the box of Vanilla cake in her hand.
"Oh, thank you, Tomoka! Silly me I almost forgot my present to Hitachi," she laughed, "Pick a good movie for us to watch later, okay? Be back by 10! See you!" And she dashed out of the room.
The next morning, she woke up by the sound of her silver alarm clock ringing.
She slowly got up from her bed and looked at the clock.
7:30am, She read.
Gradually, she got up, fixed her fluffy lavender comforter and her matching pillows and slipped in to her bedroom slippers. She headed straight to her peach-tiled bathroom and hurriedly took a shower.
An hour later, she emerged from the bathroom, clad with a violet bathrobe, her hands holding a towel, drying her hair off. She stood in front of her full-body mirror and looked at her. Staring back at her was a woman in her mid-twenties. Gone were her long pigtails, gone were her small chest, gone were her baby fats. Instead, the heart-shaped face looking back exudes an aura of a lively, intelligent woman. Her pinkish cheeks need not any blush-on, her full-sensuous mouth makes her look seductive but at the same time innocent. Her thick and curled-up eyelashes housed her sparkling brown eyes that changes from a soft color of brown to a dark color of the earth, depending on her mood. Her long, wavy auburn hair reaching down almost on her waist is shining against the sunlight streaming in the windows, adding the effect of her being seductive yet untouchable. There was a full-bloomed chest and a cleavage peeping through the V of her sleeping shirt, a curvy waist that is obvious even in the loose shirt and shapely, very smooth legs peeking underneath.
She faintly remembered her obaa-chan saying, You have the colors of the wind, Sakuno.
Sakuno quickly sat down and took a brush from her drawer.
Just as she started brushing her hair, her cell phone beeped, indicating a new message.
She fished it from her bag and flipped her cell phone.
A series of number appeared, designating a foreign number, and there was no name flashed on the screen.
Who could this be? Sakuno thought.
She opened the message.
"Hey, Sakuno. How are you? It has been a long time since I last talked to you. I might be going back there soon. Maybe next month. Not sure. But I want you to be the first one to know. Hope to see you! Take care.
Ryoma"
Her heart slammed against her rib cage.
R-Ryoma… Her mind whispered, lost in thought.
FLASHBACK
Four years have past since she last saw her Prince of Tennis, Ryoma Echizen, going off in Narita Airport to a journey to make his name known in the Professional Tennis world. They are now 16 years old and Sakuno just graduated from high school, still at Seishun Gakuen.
And she cannot believe her eyes.
There at her doorstep, with his trademark cap and his trademarks smirk, is Ryoma Echizen, the 4-time US Open Champion and the newest and youngest Wimbledon Champion.
"Ry-Ryoma-kun?" She stuttered, stunned at the person standing before her.
I must be dreaming. Wake up, Sakuno! She thought, belatedly hitting her head with the back of her hand.
"Tch, stop hitting your head, Ryuuzaki. I'm really here." Ryoma smirked.
She snapped out of her trance.
"Oh gosh! You are really here!" Sakuno cried happily, and without thinking hurled herself towards the Prince, wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face on her chest, tears of joy streaming down her face.
Ryoma didn't know why the moment he stepped out of the Airport, he wanted to see this particular person. True, there are times when he suddenly thought of her but that is only when he sees a person with braids or a pink racquet. But lately, when he saw the tennis ball she gave to him, which he completely forgotten until that moment, he remembered everything about her and thought of her almost every day, her sweetness, clumsiness and her cuteness and he wondered if she was okay.
"Mada mada dane, Ryuuzaki." Ryoma said, wrapping his arms around her slim waist, hugging her whole length to his.
After their hug, an awkward silence ensued.
"A-ano… Would you like to go inside and have a cup of tea?" Sakuno shyly asked.
Inside, Ryoma was surprised to see trophies from different tennis competitions placed on top of the furniture cabinet.
"These are all yours?" He asked.
"Hai. I continued and pursued playing tennis. Although at first it was really hard for me. I have really no experience. But you, Ryoma-kun, gave me an inspiration," She gave a bright smile that lights up her whole face and it seemed to warm his heart.
"So I decided to continue. Senpai-tachi offered to coach me. And also Obaa-chan. And I'm glad their hard works on me paid off. I didn't want to let them down. I won several tournaments. And now, the Seigaku Women's Tennis Club won the Kantou Regionals." Sakuno proudly continued, a sight of her strong-willness showing.
She's different now from the clumsy and shy girl I knew years ago. Ryoma thought.
And they talked about each other's achievements in the past four years.
It had been a very interesting night for Ryoma. He did not know Sakuno pursued tennis, nor did he know she graduated Salutatorian in her batch. Now, Sakuno is in her first year in Tokyo University with Hotel and Restaurant Management as her undergrad course. She also works part-time in one of the renowned bake shops near the University.
Suddenly, he sees Sakuno in a very different light. He likes her then, when they were still in junior high. But the Sakuno in front of him is really confident and strong-willed, very different from the Sakuno he knew before.
And very pretty, at that. Ryoma thought, smirking inwardly.
Sakuno now wore her hair loose and her gorgeous tresses flow freely on her face and her back. He also noticed that she had a beautiful smile. Back in junior high, she never smiled to him. Sometimes, yes, but her smile was of a shy one and she always hung her head the he can't fully see her face. Now, when he saw her smile a while ago, he felt something tugged in his heart, her smile makes him feel special, like he was the only guy in the world who can slay dragons and cure an epidemic.
He found himself being drawn and drawn to this girl's charm…
"Here, Ryoma. Have some tea." As she was about to place the tea in the table, her foot caught and she tripped on the carpet she was sewing earlier, before Ryoma surprisingly showed up.
Ryoma caught her in time, and also the tea tray.
He smirked. But she's still clumsy.
It was getting late and it was time to go. But before he left, he said something to her. It was a complete surprise to Sakuno, when he asked her to go out tomorrow and spend the day with him. But nevertheless, she agreed, a blush creeping up her face and Ryoma found it cute. The next morning, they went to the cinema, watched a movie entitled Last Interlude by the award-winning director and actor Zachary Benedict, watched the sunset (with the insistence of Sakuno) and had dinner at an Italian restaurant.
They had fun. Both of them knew it. They enjoyed each other's company. And when Ryoma dropped her off in front of the Ryuuzaki residence, he couldn't help but to ask her again to go out with him.
And that's where their "crush" feeling to each other started to die and a new feeling started to bloom within their hearts. It was an exhilarating feeling. Both of them tried to hide it at first but in the end, love found its way and embraced the two of them together.
They went out for the next weeks and found themselves falling more and more in love with the other as they discovered each other's deepest personalities, although none of them can really confess to each other.
Before Ryoma left for States again, he pulled together his courage and finally asked her something. Something that both knew will make them happy.
"Sakuno Ryuuzaki, will you be my girlfriend?" He asked calmly, his eyes showing his love for her.
Sakuno was completely stunned, her eyes widening.
She couldn't believe her ears. Had the world reached its end? Ryoma, The Prince of Tennis, asked her to be his girlfriend? Does he love her like she does him?
She didn't notice she was standing there with her eyes wide and her mouth gaping open for at least five minutes until Ryoma chuckled and pulled her into his arms.
"I'll take that as a yes. I love you, Sakuno." Ryoma whispered.
Sakuno cried softly against him and whispered lovingly,
"I love you, too Ryoma."
"Please, wait for me."
"I will."
And the promise was made.
She tried to call him for the nth time.
Next week will be her 18th birthday. Her debut.
She will ask him to come home and be her escort for next week's celebration. She wants him to be there.
Besides, he should be there, standing next to her, as she welcomes the adult life. Because he will be part if it and moreover, her future.
Right?
Right.
So he MUST be with her next week.
But luck seemed to be against her. All she can hear is Ryoma's voice mail.
"Sorry, I'm out. But you can leave a message. Thanks." His deep, masculine voice said.
Then a loud BEEP followed.
I think I have no choice but to leave him a voice mail, She thought.
"Hi, Ryoma. I've been calling you since early this morning. If you get this, please call me back. I got something to tell you. Take care. I miss you so much. Love you." She clicked her phone off.
She sighed.
She just hopes Ryoma would call her back before her 18th celebration next week. She secretly hopes too that he'll find time to be with her on her special day.
She wants to see him. She misses him. Badly. She haven't seen him in two years so it is natural to miss him like hell, right?
She sighed again.
"Sakunooo! Wow, you look stunning! Very beautiful!" Tomoka, dressed in a hot pink cocktail dress with a gold belt on the midriff and bronze pumps, admired her as her best friend twirled in front of her.
"All thanks to you, Tomoka! I don't know what would have happened if you were not here." Tears of gratitude started to form in her eyes, threatening to smudge her make-up.
"Don't you dare cry now, Sakuno! You'll smudge the make-up! Just bake a Truffle Chocolate Mousse for me next week and you'll be paid off." Tomoka said, laughing.
"Il'll get the studded clips in my bag downstairs, okay? Don't move around too much! Be back in a dash!" And Tomoka ran outside the hotel room.
Sakuno looked at the mirror in front of her.
She wore a beautiful Silver-Lavender gown with studs of pearls and silver Swarovsky adorning the hem of it and her waist, leaving her shoulders bare. She wore a silver peep-toe heels and lace gloves that reach past her elbows. Half of her hair was softly hanging on her back and half of it was neatly tied up with a crown-beaded headband with tendrils of her hair falling on the side of her face. Her make-up was not thick, Tomoka offered last week that she'll do the make-up for Sakuno and she remembered what Tomoka said that her natural beauty will stand out and the best make-up to wear is her gorgeous smile. "Your natural beauty is more than enough! Even in those stunning gown, it will shine! Ryoma-sama will surely ogle you in that gown! I can't wait to see his reaction when he sees you!"
Today was her 18th birthday celebration at Akinoko Decade Hotel. She invited everyone who are close to her. Aside from her Obaa-chan and Tomoka, she also invited her senpai-tachi, the Trio, her team mates at Seigaku Women's Tennis Club, her orgmates at CHRMM (Club of HRM Majors) and all her close friends in Tokyo University. All the important people in her life were here to celebrate with her.
But Ryoma Echizen, her two-year boyfriend, was not here.
Her eyes become misty and her lips trembled.
"Ryoma..." She whispered.
He did not call back.
But he did deliver her a present. She received it yesterday. It was a necklace with a ring hanging on the end. The ring was adorned with topaz and garnet gemstones, like the colors of their eyes, and there was an engraved phrase inside the ring. A note was inside the box. When he saw his neat, cursive handwriting, a wave of loneliness washed over her. She misses him so much.
"I truly regret that I can't be there with you to celebrate your 18th birthday. I have a tournament in Australia next week so I need to be there by tomorrow. But I promise you when I get back Japan, I'll make up for it. For now, I am honored to give this as my birthday present to you, my beautiful Sakuno. I hope you like this. Believe what I said in the ring. I miss you so much. I love you and happy birthday again.
Ryoma"
She cried her heart out that day, hugging a fluffy cat stuff toy, Karu-chan, Ryoma's present to her on their 16th month anniversary.
A thought crossed her.
Maybe I should postpone my birthday celebration. It's no use because Ryoma is not here. She thought sadly.
But no, she can't cancel it. And it was an immature decision if she'd do it. She also already gave her invitations to her friends. She just can't cancel it like that.
And so, she's now here, standing in front of the mirror inside the hotel room, dressed in her gown, and very sad because Ryoma can't be with her.
"Sakuno. Your party will start in a while." Ryuuzaki Sumire peeked her head inside the room.
She saw the beautiful celebrant sitting dejectedly in a stool in front of the mirror.
She sighed. She knew what her granddaughter is thinking.
"It's alright, Sakuno. Ryoma might not be here but all your close friends and senpai-tachi are here to celebrate with you! They might not compare their presence from Ryoma's but still they're here, just for you. And I'm also here. You're not lonely. So don't worry. Everything will be alright. I'm sure Ryoma would give his arms and legs just to be here with you tonight." She soothingly said to her granddaughter and she hugged her.
Sakuno hugged her back and smiled,
"Thanks, Obaa-chan. I surely needed that. I understand Ryoma. It's just that... I miss him so much." Sakuno said sadly. A wave of tears started to form in the corner of her eyes.
Ryuzaki Sumire wiped it with a tissue she picked from the dresser table.
"Don't be sad. This is your day! So you should enjoy. You and Ryoma will find time to be together once he get back here. Okay?" She assured her.
"Hai, Obaa-chan! Arigatou-gozaimasu!"
"Alright! So let's go downstairs and welcome your visitors? They are dying to see you and wish you a happy birthday!"
And off they went.
Two years have past since the day of her celebration. Ryuzaki Sakuno, now 20 years old, excitedly packed her stuff to her big suitcase. She looked around her room, her room since she was 7 years-old, her room since her grandmother took care of her after her parent's plane crashed and took their life away. Her room which is now half-filled with Ryoma's gifts.
She looked around again, and she saw her diploma and her gold tassel, indicating she graduated with honors.
Yesterday was their college graduation.
Yesterday was a very sad but at the same time happy moment for her.
She has now graduated. All her hard works, the sleepless nights, the mountain of papers and projects and assignments, paid off. She graduated Magna Cum Laude.
And yesterday, Ryoma also called her. She haven't seen him in a year, but he called her to say congratulations. When she got back from the University, she saw a large box sitting in front of the Ryuzaki residence.
It was a Louis Vuitton suitcase with a large penguin stuff toy inside.
There is a note, Sakuno thought and reached for it.
"Make sure to pack all the things you need. We'll have one-week trip somewhere. It's a surprise. See you tomorrow, Sakuno. I am really looking forward to seeing you after all these years. I love you.
Ryoma"
Oh gosh. Did I read it right? Ryoma will be here tomorrow! She was so shocked and so happy that she cried.
And so she was now here, packing all her things for their trip.
I can't wait to see him! Ryoma really loves to surprise me. I wonder where will we go, Sakuno thought happily.
Sakuno remembered two weeks after her birthday celebration, Ryoma surprised her by visiting her in their house. At first, Sakuno thought she was in a wonderful dream with Ryoma in it, but when Ryoma hugged her, she almost cried with happiness that that moment was no dream.
After that, Ryoma visited Sakuno thrice a year, and if his schedule is not tight, he'll always extend his stay for a couple of more days. She was so happy that Ryoma was trying his best to be with her even if she can only see him twice or thrice a year. She vowed that she would also try to keep up with him.
Ryoma went off and they haven't seen each other in a year that makes Sakuno long to see him, but he never forgot to bring her sweet things. From small things like diamond clips to big things like stuffed toys or portraits of her. He also never forgot to call her every time he can.
Those things were enough for Sakuno. Although she's dying to see Ryoma again, she knew how busy her boyfriend was and this was her consequence for being a pro-tennis player's girlfriend.
And at last, the day came when they can finally see each other.
Ryoma told her he'd be in the Private Arrival section, to avoid some reporters, she complied and said she'll be there.
When Sakuno saw Ryoma, love flowed in her being. Then she rushed to him and almost hugged him when something stopped her and her shyness held her back.
I haven't seen him for a whole year. Many things have changed. Maybe –
But before her thought could finish what it is thinking, Ryoma hugged her, crushing her petite body against him.
Maybe he did not change at all. Sakuno thought happily and hugged him back with the same intensity.
"I've really missed you, Sakuno." Ryoma whispered to her.
"Me, too, Ryoma. It's so good to see you and I'm glad you're now here." Sakuno softly replied.
After quite some time, after having some "start all over again" moments, they became normal again. Ryoma and Sakuno slipped inside the limousine parked at the back entrance of the airport.
"So how are you, Sakuno? I'm really sorry about not attending your graduation. I really wanted to go that I almost forfeited a match but Matt, my agent, said I can't because it might risk my tennis career. So now, I'll make it up. And we'll celebrate double for your graduation. I'm so proud of you, Sakuno." Ryoma said, hand on her waist and holding her against him, never wanting to let go.
"I'm fine. And it was okay, Ryoma. Really. At first I was really sad. I was hoping you'd be there with me, but I know you have your career. I understand it, so you don't have to worry. And yes, finally, I have graduated! What about you? How's your studies at New York University?" Sakuno asked.
"It's fine. Two more years to go and I'll graduate too. It's really hard to fit studies in with my tennis schedule, having a match after match, but my mother won't hear anything about me not pursuing my studies. She threatened me that I will never be an Echizen if I don't get a college diploma. So yeah, no choice." Ryoma chuckled.
"That's good! Your mom is really right. So, where will we go now?" Sakuno looked up to Ryoma.
"We'll go to Paris."
"What? Are you serious?"
"Never been serious."
And so they went to the City of Lovers, Paris.
They spent a week there, visiting the Louvre Museum and other museums, taking pictures under the Eiffel Tower, strolling along the Champs-Elysees and going to a restaurant after another restaurant.
It was a week full of happiness.
But it is true that time pass by real fast when you're having fun.
"I have to leave now, Sakuno." Ryoma quietly announced at the end of their week-long trip.
Sakuno got sad, tears forming in her eyes, her heart shattering to pieces in those words he said.
He'll leave again. When will I see him? Sakuno bent her head in despair.
Ryoma understood what her eyes said.
"I'll be back. I promise. Will you wait for me?"
"Yes, Ryoma." She whispered sadly. I will.
"Be safe. I love you."
And they bid each other goodbye.
To Be Continued
Sakuno is always waiting for the Tennis Prince! Did she make the right choice to take the risk and wait for him? Will she get tired? Or will she still continue waiting... in vain? Find out in the next chapter!
A/N: Omg, chapter 1: done! Finally. I thought I would never finish this one. So how was it? Please give me your opinions. Thanks!
LoveLots,
-Alyx Hawthorne