"Love Is The Final Treasure"

Written by: Wa

Disclaimer: this is a fanfiction... so ya

Chapter 1: "In our childhood"

For twelve years and fifteen days Sakuno had no idea that they were engaged ever since they were babies. Her grandma told her that when Ryoma was born in December, their family had gone back to Japan once for visit. In seeing her and his new born baby being the same age as coincidence Ichiro was so happy that he made a promise to Sakuno parents about hooking them up. When they return to America her parents soon forgot about it. She grew up without the knowledge of his existence and it was the same for him.

They both learned about their pre-arranged marriage when they enter the same school at the age of twelve and had lived up their family promise since then. First she was really happy because he was her idol and her driving force. It was through these two years that Sakuno understood her position as his fiancé. She understands him now completely … to the point where she acknowledge her inability to make him happy.

Yes, they would go out together sometimes but mostly related to tennis. Once in a while he would pick fights with people who are rule to her. After Sakuno thought about it, she could only relate it as a way for him to show her his affections in order for her to understand his actions. But sometimes she couldn't help but think that the only reason why he cares is because everyone knew about them and his reputations would get ruined if something bad happens to her, it's his nature of stubbornness that makes him wants to win everything.

She knew that even though if he doesn't like her, she could at least be the person that he could depend on when he is upset. So whenever he is under pressure, she would use her own way to cheer him up. Yet none of it seems to work on him; the lunch boxes, the onigri, not even her cheering during his matches. For Ryoma, the only way he could escape his guilt from his carelessness on Sakuno is for him to act more on his part so she could continue to act like a little more as his fiancé.

It wasn't happy for her at all, she would hide and cry and he would notice but do nothing to comfort her. He couldn't understand why she acts that way; she couldn't understand why he couldn't understand her circumstance.

She only knows that he loves tennis and she isn't 'tennis'.

"Why are you crying again?" Kintarou who happened to be passing by asked her. He had seen her there a couple of times by herself. He remember her clearly just because she took up his usual secret slacking spot on the roof of the school when he skips his classes.

"Sorry, if you give me sometime, I'm sure I'll be fine but not right now." Her voice was shaky and she never looked up at him.

"Why do you keep seeing him if he hurts you this much?"

Sakuno didn't reply, she didn't even question why he knew of their problems.

He was just there sitting for hours be side her not saying a word when she cried, then when she calmed down she finally looked up at him. Kintarou Tooyama, wild looking boy in who recently transferred over to Seigakuu just because he wants to play tennis with Ryoma. Anyone but this guy sitting be side her quietly not making a movement, it was almost like his in prison; being constricted like that. Sakuno finally decided to speak up.

"Don't you think Ryoma-kun needs my support?", "I can't leave his side if he needs my support, a person like him… what if one day people leaves him and he feels lonely and I'm not there for him?"

Kintarou don't know if she is an angel that could finally open the door to Echizen's heart or just an innocent burden on Echizen so he told her exactly what he thinks:

"If I were him, you won't be a burden at all I wouldn't make you cry at all. If I were him, I'll take care of you!" The sun was setting, and it creates shadows on his face that made him look more serious than ever. She looked at him with traces of tears still on her face he held out his hand and wipe the tears away.

It was about a week since her last talk with Kintarou, she doesn't understand why but every time she needs help he would just happen to appear and make her feel okay again.

So the moment finally came, it was announced that Ryoma will be going back to America for two year to play tennis. Sakuno went up to him finally, she was sad but she knew she had to tell him.

"Let's just ends everything here, so you can concentrate on tennis." Even until the end, she has to act like a mature lady, keeping everything to herself. Like water no matter how many times you slash a blade through it still has to flow.

That day all he told her was "I understood."

Sakuno doesn't know how much he knows about her and who she had been hanging out with. She doesn't know if his immediate reply in accepting her will was just because he a new life; or he wanted to protect her from him. Or perhaps, he thinks that handing her to another person would make her happy and that was all he wanted. And perhaps on the other hand she would always love him and in order to display her love for him, she would live happily with another person.

All these guessing were just too much for her to think about right now. Every time she thought of a new assumption she hate herself because of the thought of leaving him hurts her.

"You'll certainly be much happier if you are with me!" Kintarou told her one day after school before he asks her out; a claim that hurts each other the most at the end of everything.

After Echizen's departure, Kintarou begin to hang out with her more often. He was really worried about her being lonely and all that. Being really good friends with Sakuno, Tomoka was also in the picture since the three of them would go out together; if it was a hot summer day they would go swimming in the beach, or the two of them would cheer Kintarou together during his match. Sooner or later they became really good friends that even rumor started to spread.

"You know Sakuno, you'll be much happier if you are with me!" it was the beginning of their summer break. The two were just walking towards Tomoka's house while he started the conversation.

"Yeah… it looks that way."

And so, he reached out to hold on to her hand.

It was the day of the summer festival and the three of them decided that they should meet up together and see the fireworks. She took her time to dress up in her yukata and tied up her hair. It was dark and she was trying to find her way to the temple where they were going to watch the fireworks. After squishing through the crowds of people on the street of the festival she finally found the temple that they were going to meet up. It was at that moment she saw it; Tomoka kissed Kintarou on the cheeks.

"That's…!?" Kintarou was surprised he touched his face was blushing deep. He then noticed Sakuno standing in the distance. "Sakuno!" he called out for her like he had forgotten what had happened already, where Tomoka was just shocked to see Sakuno.

Sakuno didn't know what to do, all she did was told Kintarou to stand away from Tomoka or at least have another person with him when she is there. He agreed even though he didn't understand the true circumstance of this situation, though he felt troubled just because the three of them were such good friends before. The more he avoid Tomoka the more troubled he looked. Sakuno being such an understanding personn in her pervious relationship didn't fail to miss those signs.

She talked to Tomoka a couple of times, but the conversation that was such an unbelievable event for Sakuno to encounter ended up to be their last one. Tomoka was dragging Kintarou over to Sakuno one day after school.

"Ryuusaki Sakuno! How could you do something like this? Telling Kintarou to ignore me just because you have a crush on him! First it was Ryoma-kun and now Kintarou? Why do you have to take everyone away from me?"

"Kintarou and I are already together before the summer festival! You are the one who's betraying me trying to cheat with him!" Sakuno explained.

"Since when were you two official? I've never heard anything like that from Kintarou, all he said was that you two are closer!"

Sakuno stopped for a moment and thought about everything. She looked over at Kintarou who had his head down, that care free face looked troubled again. She understands him and she doesn't blame him, he is just too childish to understand what love really is. But that doesn't him that it's not his fault.

"I know that we were never official, or no one said anything about it between the two of us. But the feelings were really there, and I really did like you Kintarou. I shouldn't have asked something so selfishly, I wouldn't cry anymore so don't worry about me. And you can talk to Tomoka whenever you like…" Sakuno said with a lot of disappointment.

Kintarou looked up finally to meet her eyes it was full of energy again. "Really Sakuno? That's great we could be friends again! Just like the same as before!" He knew he care about Tomoka but every time Sakuno tell him something, that something just make ten times the impact on him than any body could.

"No…" Sakuno looked him in the eyes, "You could treat Tomoka like you did before, or even better than before but if you see me on the street…" she gulped " if you see me on the street or in the hall way don't ever talk to me again! And don't' call me name!"

"Sakuno why!? I don't like this!!" Kintarou yelled at her for the first time.

"I'm sorry to enforce this on you but this is the only way that I can feel better after all the things you promised me."

"We can still be friends…." He looked so hopeless now that Sakuno had told him her cruel words. It's hurts him ten times more than anyone could do damage to him.

"I'm sorry, but I can't accept that." Sakuno finished what she had to say to him and Tomoka and left. Another heart breaking and self ensuring speech just like to adults. Hurting herself, hurting the person you loved, saving yourself from the pain. She questioned herself 'why' every time she thought about him, but then again this is the only way that she could moved on.

"Sakuno are you sure about transferring? Have you told Tomoka? I mean every regular know about this and she might even heard about it but it's always best to say goodbye face to face with her. She knew you since elementary after all." Sumire asked her.

"I'm determined about this grandma, and I don't think I'll be talking to her ever again. Anyway, since mom and dad are in London anyway, I think it's best if I go back there."

"Well you've been living in Japan since you're three Sakuno, you think you can adjust that fast? After all it's senior high there, and only two years before university the programs are going to be hard!"

"Hai hai, I'm going to do my best! But grandma I'm going to miss you a lot!"

"Oh Sakuno! I guess we'll see each other in summer then, come back with your parents in the summer like they always do okay?"

"I promise!" Sakuno smiled at her and she can't wait to get out of Japan and go back to London, not that she remember how her house looks like there, but it makes her feel better that there are another place in the world that she could belong to.

TBC

Author Notes: I haven't written fanfic for years, this is my first PFT and I didn't edit it at all. So sorry for all the possible mistakes up there. Anyway about this story, I wrote it half a year ago in my note book, I really want to upload it so I started typing like 3 hours ago. :)

Beware the story will take turn in the next chapter! It will begin after 8 years

Aug 13, 2008

Wa