Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis nor any of its characters. I just imagine them older so I can have my wicked way with them.
Chapter One
The smiles on everyone's faces were from ear-to-ear as the couple descended the temple steps in their traditional Japanese wedding garb. Echizen Ryoma, for a rare moment, looked almost childlike, grinning as if Christmas had come early and everything on his wish list was given him in one go. His hand held Ryuzaki Sakuno's, no, Echizen Sakuno's in a gentle yet secure fashion, as he guided her down. Confetti was scattered everywhere as the couple was blinded by camera flashes and practically made deaf by wolf whistles, catcalls, and congratulatory greetings.
Among the guests gathered at the temple steps were familiar schoolmates (including the former members of Seishun Gakuen Middle School Tennis Club), former members of other school's tennis clubs Ryoma had competed with in the past, and some notable names in the international pro tennis scene. It was, as Ryoma had wanted it, a family gathering of sorts.
There was a flurry of activity as the bride and groom were led inside the house adjoining the temple grounds so they can change from their traditional wear to more comfortable, yet appropriate party clothes. The groomsmen Tezuka Kunimitsu and Kevin Smith guided the crowd to the festive outdoor reception area in the Echizen compound.
Inside the house, family members, female entourage members (maid of honor Osakada Tomoka, bridesmaids Tachibana An and Meino Nanako), and the best man (Momoshiro Takeshi) try to pry the groom away from the bride's waist.
"Ryoma, be reasonable," Echizen Rinko said gently. "Sakuno-chan needs to change so you both can join the reception."
"Yadda," the stubborn prodigy replied. "She's my wife now. Where she goes, I go."
Sakuno blushed, clearly not expecting such a ruckus on her own wedding day. "Ryoma," she started, "ano-please let go. I need to get out of this kimono."
Those words sparked a mischievous twinkle in Ryoma's eyes and his possessive countenance transformed into a naughty grin. "Exactly! I'm glad you agree. Let's go get you out of that stifling kimono."
The bride would not take any more and knew at this point she had to keep him in line. "Echizen Ryoma! If you don't let me go and behave properly this instant, I swear I'll be staying at obaasan's for a week and locking you out."
Ryoma slightly paled, "Sakuno! You wouldn't dare do that on your own wedding night?"
"You want to test that theory?" she cheekily returned.
Ryoma gulped and reluctantly let go. Sakuno turned to him and gently said, "Thank you, Ryoma. Now go change and get ready for the reception."
Echizen Ryoga grabbed his brother by the collar, dragging him to his changing room. "She's right, chibisuke. Besides, the earlier you get out there, the earlier the party will end."
"And the earlier your wedding night will begin," Echizen Nanjiro chimed in. "Ah, I'll need to teach you so many things. You might embarrass yourself with Sakuno-chan if you have no idea what you're doing. What kind of father would I be if I couldn't impart such important things to you?"
"BAKA, OYAJI!" shouted a tomato-faced Ryoma.
As her husband was being dragged off, she turned to face her own attendants and smiled. "Shall we, ladies?" she asked. The ladies nodded, rushing into another room, giggling excitedly in anticipation of the reception.
The outdoor area had been transformed to a festive party zone with tables, chairs, a catering area for the buffet and barbecue all surrounding an open space for dancing and a hired band. Fuji Syuuske had been going around with a camera, following Sakuno and Ryoma around as they greeted guests. On occasion, a guest or two would pop up between the couple and the camera to leave messages for the couple.
"Nya! Ochibi! You may be the first of us to get married, but you're still Ochibi to me," a spirited Kikumaru Eiji said cheerfully to the camera. "I can't wait to see chibi Ochibis and chibi Sakuno-chans in the next couple of years."
"Echizen and Sakuno-chan, take care of each other," Oishi Suichiroh started, "I've no doubt that you will be happy together for the rest of your days! If you need help in anything, anything at all, let me know!"
"Fssh... Sempai, that's such a generic greeting," Kaidoh Kaoru pointed out.
"As if you could do better, Mamushi!" Momoshiro interjected.
Inui Sadaharu popped in between them with a glass of unknown liquid in his hand. "I made this concoction at the bar to brighten up festivities. Would any of you like to try it? I have to give it to Echizen for a guaranteed... how should I put this?... happy wedding night."
The former tennis team regulars paled in front of the camera.
Kawamura Takashi went up to Inui and gingerly took the glass away from him. "Ano, Inui, I don't think that they'd need any help in that area. Just look at how happy they are."
Ryoma was dressed in a long-sleeved button-down shirt, top 2 buttons undone, his unknotted charcoal tie tucked under the collar. his dark grey vest was open, revealing the rest of his shirt tucked neatly in black formal pants. His forehead was pressed against Sakuno's as they smiled at each other silly, her arms around his neck, his hands around her waist. He looked at her as if he were drinking every detail in: flowing auburn hair, ornamented with jewelled floral pins to keep them away from her face, light makeup highlighting the eyes he loves to see smiling and cheering him on, her inviting lips now devoid of any gloss because of the kisses he had been so openly giving her since the party started, her mid-length, backless white halter dress that but could easily be undone in a quick tug or two from the ribbon behind her neck. Ryoma's hands grazed the small of her back and started to close his eyes to lean in for another kiss when...
"Saa... you make such a lovely couple," Fuji said with his usual smile. The couple turned to look right into the camera he was holding.
Ryoma's irritation at being interrupted was evident. "Fuji! Don't you have better things to do?"
Sakuno pulled Ryoma closer, burying her face in his shoulder in fits of giggles.
"Ah, but you're the celebrants! Who else to film but you?" Fuji said reasonably. "Besides, you haven't made your speech yet."
"We'll get to that in a few moments, Fuji-san. Thanks for reminding us." Sakuno said, tugging on Ryoma's vest. "Let's go get ready."
As the couple disappeared into the party scene, Fuji continued to go around the room, collecting messages from various guests.
"Ore-sama brings dignity to his party by gracing you with his presence," Atobe Keigo says with a flair of his hand.
"Really, Atobe. Must you be so flashy?" Yukimura Seiichi came forward, Tezuka Kunimitsu and Kevin Smith following close behind.
"Hmph!" Atobe huffed. "It's not my fault that you pro tennis players don't live up to your reputations that I shine brighter than all of you combined?"
"Any words for the bride and groom?" Fuji prodded the trio.
Yukimura raised his glass to the camera, "Congratulations, Echizen. Live a happy life with your Sakuno. This is the best way to celebrate your victory at the Australian Open."
Tezuka nodded, "Omedeto, Echizen, Sakuno-chan. Take care of each other."
Kevin waved to the camera, "Hey, Ryoma! You better not be too tired from your honeymoon to kick butt on the courts."
"Oi, Kevin! That's not a proper wedding wish for Koshimae!" Tooyama Kintaro said, bounding up to the blonde, giving him a friendly whack to the head. He then turned to the camera for his turn. "Oi, Koshimae! You got yourself a great wife! Share her obentos when you come to practice in the future, okay?"
Momoshiro's voice came booming through the speakers, "Oi, Tooyama, quit that." Apparently, that got everyone's attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our groom would like to say a few words," he said through the microphone, then passing it to Ryoma, still holding on to Sakuno's hand.
"Hi guys," Ryoma said through the microphone, facing the wedding guests. He saw teasing looks from his former sempai and family members. Clearly, public speaking was never his strongest point. "Uh... Sakuno and I had wanted this to be a family-only event." Ryoma paused, looking at his guests and gave a rare smile. "Thank you all for making that possible. You all are very very important to us. Thank you for sharing this day with us. I promise to love Sakuno and the family we will be blessed with every day of my life." He then turned to his bride, letting go of her hand so he can use that arm to draw her in for a kiss.
Even as the couple was leaving after the party, Fuji's camera was still in action. Ryoma and Sakuno's closest friends stayed on, determined to not miss a moment till the couple left for their honeymoon. Atobe's gift had been to take care of all the travel expenses for the couple, including flying them to Italy and back on his private plane.
"Be awed by Ore-sama's sense of romance!" the Atobe heir boasted.
Sakuno approached Atobe and said, "This is too much, Atobe-san-"
"Please, Sakuno-san," interrupted Atobe with a smile, "call me Keigo. We are, family, after all."
Sakuno smiled and replied, "Keigo-san, then. Thank you for your gift." She quickly gave him a peck on the cheek.
Ryoma quickly saw that and playfully pulled Sakuno away, "Oi, oi! What's with that, huh? Are you already forgetting that you're a married woman?"
"Ryoma, I was just thanking him," Sakuno said in an equally playful tone.
Kevin Smith stepped up. "Well, if THAT's how the bride shows appreciation for wedding presents..." He trailed off, making a show of wanting to kiss the bride himself, but was stopped by Ryoma's hand in his face pushing him away.
The laughter that followed was interrupted by Ryoga's shutting the car trunk, signalling the couple to say their farewells. Fuji gave the still-recording camera to Ryoma. "Take this," he said, handing him a bag of discs and camera accessories. "Enjoy your honeymoon, and make great memories, and put them here."
"Arigato, Fuji-san," Ryoma said, taking control of the camera.
"Ryoma!" Sakuno called from the car's back seat. Tezuka was standing near the open door of the driver's side, and Momoshiro in the front seat.
"We have to go. Arigato, minna!" Ryoma called out, climbing in the back seat.
Just when Ryoma, Tezuka, and Momo climbed in the car with her, Sakuno suddenly spoke, "Ah! I forgot! Ryoma, be sure to get this on camera!" She got out of the car with her small bouquet, took her position with their friends behind her and counted, "One, two, three!" She then threw her bouquet over her head, spinning around to see Kaidoh catch it. He blushed furiously, handed it to his date, Tomoka and put his arm around her shoulder. More jeers and catcalls followed suit as Sakuno ran back to the car.
"Oi! Seishonen! Use that camera wisely! Make sure to make GOOD MEMORIES!" Nanjiro Echizen called out, a naughty look on his face.
"BAKA, OYAJI!" Ryoma retorted, shutting the camera off.
********************************
"Hey, Sakuno," Ryoma called as he entered the kitchen in the Tuscan villa Atobe had arranged for the first leg of their honeymoon. "Sakuno!"
Sakuno turned around to see Ryoma holding the camera. "Ryoma!" she called. "Can't that wait till we get to the beach?" she asked as she turned back around to continue her cooking.
"Fuji said we should take good memories."
She stuck her tongue out at him while picking out tomatoes from a basket. "Well, you don't need memories of me cooking. You'll be sick of this sight every morning."
"Not possible," he said with conviction as he strode right next to her, snaking his free hand around her waist, and turning the camera to him and his wife. "Look at the camera, Sakuno"
"No."
"Just look."
She obliged, raising an eyebrow.
Ryoma faced the camera and said, "as long as I live, I will love this woman with all that I've got."
Sakuno was surprised with that rare declaration she turned to face her husband with a lovely blush on her face. "Ryoma..."
"And I can still make her blush."
Sakuno twisted her body to face Ryoma.
"And she loves me back," he continued, his eyes meeting hers.
"Of course I do," she said softly, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer for a kiss.
Ryoma brought his hand holding the camera down to fully embrace his wife. After a few seconds, their hands fumbled to turn the camera off, with Ryoma mumbling, "We don't need to get this part on film now, don't we?"
31-year old Echizen Sakuno took another sip of wine as she stared at the frozen image of a much younger version of herself with her husband. Her eyes travelled from the screen to the rings on her left hand and back to the screen again. "Ah, Ryoma," she said with a sigh. Putting her wine glass down, she stood up to take the DVD out of the player. She bit her lower lip as she stored it in the neatly-labelled case with a photo taken of herself and Ryoma in their traditional wedding attire. She returned the case to a box and moved her fingers along its contents - other DVD cases labelled with happy occasions: Honeymoon-Ibiza/Bali, Housewarming Party, Baby Shower, Kojiro's Birth, Kojiro's First Trip To the Beach, Kojiro's First Birthday...
She doesn't feel like watching anymore, but pops in the honeymoon disc anyway.
Resuming her place on the couch, she drinks what wine remains in her glass, watching scenes of the madly-in-love eighteen year-old newlyweds that they were, picnicking on the beach.
She filled both glasses in front of her with wine, took one in each hand and walked over to the adjoining room. The smell of incense still hung in the air. She set one of the glasses in front of Ryoma's photo and clinked the other still in her hand as if completing a toast.
"I miss you, Ryoma. It's been a lonely ten and a half years, and I think I still miss you," Sakuno said, looking at the smiling photo of her deceased husband. She sat down on the floor with her legs crossed. "Look, I've improved, Ryoma. I'm not crying anymore. Well, stopped crying, sort of." She paused, as if the photo were reading her mind. "Fine," she huffed. "If we're being technical about it, the rate of crying fits have drastically decreased in the past five years. As it's a notable improvement, it's something I'm very proud of, all things considered."
She paused, holding her glass a bit tighter than necessary.
"I'm sorry, Ryoma," she said guiltily. "It's just that crying doesn't really help much. Please don't think that I've forgotten you. How could I? Kojiro looks so damn much like you. He'll be starting in Seigaku after spring break this year, excited that his Kunimitsu-jisan might put him in the ranking matches."
Sakuno sighed, raising her glass to take another sip. "I'm sure you'd be so proud of him. He knows he's not you, and his uncles have pretty much made sure that his tennis is all his own. Don't take it against him that he doesn't talk about you much, okay?"
She stood up and raised her glass, a small smile on her face. "Happy anniversary, Ryoma. I wish you were here."
Author's note: This is my first fic. Comments and constructive feedback are most welcome. I'll try to update real soon.