Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis

Echizen slumped down on his chair and stared at his soda.

Something was missing.

But he could never figure out what. He was now a 25-year old professional tennis player, the best in the world I might add, a movie star, model, and one of the richest men in the world.

But something was always missing; it always was and always has been for the last few years of his life.

But what was it?

Echizen closed his eyes softly and thought his life over.

Maybe he should see her again, but would she be willing to see him?

He got up and grabbed his jacket.

"Get the limo ready," Echizen ordered, "I need Misaki to help me find someone"

And he was off.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

He stared out of the window.

He really wanted to forget about her, feelings like this annoyed him…

But things like that just don't fade away.

The car stopped and he jumped out and knocked on the door.

It opened.

"R-Ryoma-kun," she stuttered, surprised. Her hair was longer than before and no longer braided, it hung loose over her shoulders.

Ryoma smiled.

"It's nice to see you again." Ryoma said. She glared slightly.

"I'm married now." She stated, giving him a look that was everything but inviting.

'…" Ryoma was at a loss for words.

'Married…'

"So you're…married now…" Ryoma said quietly to himself.

She faced Ryoma, her glare intensified, and she held his sleeve almost ripping it off. Ryoma could only look confused.

"Why did you come back?!" She yelled. Ryoma was taken aback, "For one of the first times in my life I forgot about you! I started a family! Did you know…did you know how lonely it was back then? When I loved you so much and you wouldn't even look at me?"

"I…" Ryoma said unsure of what to say, "I…I'm sorry…"

He looked away.

She broke into sobs, her fist tightening.

"All those years of High School…I waited 5 years, 5 years since middle school, to finally work up the courage to tell you. And when I finally was able to tell you, you rejected me, you rejected me like I was nothing…"

She cried, she was pathetically mumbling to herself.

Ryoma bent down to her level.

"I…" Ryoma said as he extended a hand to wipe a tear away from his face, "…love you, truly…"

She immediately slapped away his hand.

"Don't say words like 'love' so easily!" She yelled. "You think a sorry will make everything better? It's to late for words like 'sorry' and 'I love you'!"

"Ryoma, I'm married. It's been over 5 years; I can't just destroy everything I've worked so hard to build." She said trying to hold back more tears, "You're too late…

"But its okay now isn't it?" Ryoma whispered hesitantly, "We both feel the same way…don't we? Why can't we be together anymore? I was ignorant and stupid back then, I'm different now, I swear."

"It's not that simple!" She yelled pain evident in her voice.

"I get it," Ryoma said as he pulled his cap further over his eyes, "In that case, I won't bother you anymore."

Ryoma gently removed her hand from his sleeve. He got up slowly and walked towards his car. He sat down and the car was gone in a matter of seconds.

Sakuno went into her house and slammed the door shut and leaned against it.

She hugged herself pathetically for comfort.

"I'm happy…aren't I?"

She slumped down against her door and cried as hard as she could.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Ryoma stared at the tennis ball he had been given all those years ago, the one with his small hand drawn face.

"Love…"

He threw the tennis ball as far as he could.

"I hate it."

Ryoma sighed and entered his house. He picked his framed picture of her and threw it on the ground.

"Why do I bother…"