Chapter 2

Chapter 2. Confusion of a dreamer

Our traveller gathered his bag outside the court after giving a slight quarrel with Momoshiro. The sight of everyone being fine was reassuring but he still felt uneasy. Why were Sakuno and Eiji so close? They hadn't been like that before had they? Even so he had already noticed how much mature and changed the once two braided hair, clumsy and stuttering girl had been. He still couldn't help but be curios though, had she really improved more then her already cute looks? "Wait a minute?! I never thought she was cute!" That thought startled him as he walked towards the new ruckus. The others were laughing and smiling while watching someone having a match. Ryoma couldn't help but get curios and walked towards the fence. Inside Sakuno and Eiji were having a match and to his surprise it seemed like they were playing even. She had really improved her tennis skills and gave Eiji a hard time didn't she?

"Momo-senpai, how much has changed since I last was here?"The boy spoke in a too calm voice while looking on the female running with light steps around the court. Momoshiro gave a knowing smile and felt a sudden urge to tease his younger friend.

"I thought you knew, Eiji and Sakuno have gotten a lot closer since you left. Of course he doesn't play serious with her but do you blame him? She has gotten really nice hasn't she?" He gave a mocking smirk while watching Ryoma wondering what was going into the young males head. Steps were suddenly turned with the cap taken lower to hide what he was feeling.

"Oi Echizen! Are you jealous maybe?" It suddenly crossed our travellers' heart, he was jealous of Eiji but why? Because you never were there for her when she needed you. The mocking thought made him shut his amber eyes, it wasn't because of that he wouldn't admit it. He could never be jealous, it was just not right for him. Palm clutched at the tennis racket while getting control over himself again, he would not loose to these feelings no matter what.

"Momo-senpai, want a match?" The young male could only take a step back to look at his senpai; they were almost equal in height. Momoshiro grinned with his thumb up giving the answer clearly.

"Always Echizen, always." Gripping his racket as well they went into the court beside Eijis' and Sakunos' match. Ryoma smirked slightly while taking the ball, eyes glanced towards the female until he threw the ball in the air. Three years he had trained to improve and make his tennis renewed, the power of his shots had gotten up to almost the level of Momoshiro.

The ball flew right beside Momoshiros' left leg and his eyes widened. Ryoma had improved that was for sure, giving another serve the boy made it a little easier for his senpai to follow. The two were going equal when the laugh of Eiji entered his memory and jealousy ran in his mind. Palm loosened the grip by an accident and the ball hit Eiji in his head making the senpai fall on the court.

"Itai ochibi! Why'd you do that?" The dark redheaded boy rubbed the back of his head with a frown. Sakuno had noticed the loose grip but didn't know If Ryoma meant it or if it was an accident.

"Ano, Eiji the hand slipped, let it go." Her soft voice entered the court and the others knew she had made a mistake on this one. Ryoma gave her a glare and tightened a grip on the racket yet again. Looking back to his 'senpai' he gave a mocking smirk.

"Did it hit your head? I was sure it would hit your hand." Even thought it was not meant to be as harsh he could not stop himself. Eiji frowned even more but suddenly noticed Tezuka watching him and grabbed his racket. He would let it go for today, walking out of the court he didn't glance at the others and Oishi followed him on the left side.

"Ryoma, why did you do that to Eiji?" They were walking home together and even though she was on the other way the female needed to know. Ryoma glanced at her a tad but didn't really know what to say, stretching his arm he thought of a way to make everything vanish.

"You've improved in tennis."

"You didn't answer my question."

"You should still work on your serve though."

"Ryoma, answer my question."

"I still think…" He trailed off as she halted in front of him, the facial expression were in between hurt and a frown and somehow she hadn't looked more cute then now. His cheeks felt like they were burning and he lowered his head not looking at her.

"Because his laugh irritated me."

"The truth Ryoma."

"Why do YOU care? Are you in love with him?" Mistake of the day. Sakuno made a step back and watched him, her eyes shone with water until she passed him.

"You are still the same baka as before Ryoma, I can't believe you." With that she ran home and couldn't help but let out a sob while running. He watched her as she ran away from him, his chest started throbbing yet he couldn't do anything then turn and walk home.

That night it was hard to sleep, Karupin had not occupied his bed and so Ryoma threw around restlessly in his bed. Sighing heavily he left the back of his hand over his forehead and looked up in the roof. What had he done? Well other then hurting Sakuno, but why did it feel so hard to breath wasn't she just a fan girl? Inside he knew it was not the case, ever since he had left he had been thinking about her. He always wondered how she was but he was too frightened to call her. He couldn't call her now could he? Giving a glance to the watch he noticed it was 1 am yet he still couldn't get himself to sleep. Getting out of the bed Ryoma walked down to the hallway to the phone. He glanced yet noticed he was alone, picking up the phone he recalled her phone number and waited patiently. A click made it clear that there were contact and a tired Ruysaki-senpai spoke.

"Yes, Ruysaki residence, to whom do I speak with?"

"Uhm, is Sakuno still up?" He hesitated slightly and heard the surprise in his teachers' voice as she spoke to him.

"She just came down, wan to speak to her?" Yet again he hesitated, why was she still awake? Shaking his head he spoke almost in a mumble as he answered his teacher.

"No, just checking. Good Night." He lay the phone back and felt how his heart raced, what was happening to him?

Sakuno came down just when her grandmother picked up the phone. Walking to her curiously she noticed how Sumire looked confused and frowned lightly. Her soft voice broke their silence as she leaned against the chair.

"Oba-chan, who was that?" The older lady gave a faint smile and answered with no hesitation.

"It was Ryoma calling." Sakuno couldn't hide her surprise as her grandmother spoke his name, why had he called?

"What did he ask for?"

"He wondered if you were still awake, then he hang up." Sakuno looked confused at her grandmother who only smiled. Giving a shake from her head she looked at the clock, it was 1:10 am, why was he up so late? Looking back to her grandmother she gave a soft sigh and turned her head.

"Could you braid my hair? I can't get it right when it's only one." The older lady nodded softly and braided her hair until the female went upstairs to her room. She was still wondering why Ryoma had called when she came into her bed. Putting the cover over her tightly the young female still saw him in front of her. His amber cat eyes, that dark green hair waving underneath the white cap, his form that had gotten taller and more mature under the usual tennis outfit, she still missed him even though she was a little irritated on him. He was still acting like before, cool, calm, jealous and easily annoyed. She sighed, why couldn't he just try to act normal? Maybe he would see something new for once. Her chocolate eyes closed slowly drifting off into a sleeping slumber.

Dream

"Sakuno, calm down will you?" The deep voice of a male held high as the female dragged him forward. His hair was ruffled with a deep shade of a green and his eyes of raw watching the female smiling. Having the hair to the side with a darker shade of auburn her chocolate eyes shone softly.

"Come on Ryoma! It's not every day there is a Tivoli here!" She almost squealed like a fourteen year old making the male smile softly. Taking her delicate fingers in his hand he pulled her closer, his lips pursued hers' into a dance as he deepened the kiss. Sakuno got into the embrace feeling herself blush softly as she gave into him melting her body against his. Breaking apart from the kiss someone yelled towards them with loud noises. Momoshiro came towards them with Tomo and the gang behind them. The two best friends gave each other a tight embrace until Sakuno felt someone pulling her back. Ryoma looked at Tomo with a smirk.

"Why are you here? I thought you had other plans." The males' voice were calm with a hint of displease as he wanted to be with his girl alone. Momoshiro gave a large grin until he spoke in the same old mocking tone.

"Because we thought you would do something stupid." By those words Ryoma blushed heavily and looked away, Sakuno gave a giggle while the others laughed as well. He had been busted there….

End of Dream

He woke up suddenly by the dream, what had it meant? Why had he kissed Sakuno in a dream? He couldn't gather any answers and got out of bed to get ready for school. Getting dressed he ruffled his hair lightly and remembered the dream again, the outfit wasn't the same at least. Being transferred into the same school as Sakuno and the others he walked to eat breakfast only to notice for a change it was Japanese.

"Okasa, are you sick?" She gave him a soft smile as he sat down to eat his breakfast. Putting away some dishes she spoke with calm tone.

"I just thought I would do something else for a change, don't you like it?" Her voice toned into a saddened voice making him almost choke the food.

"I never said that! I was just surprised." He mumbled and saw his mothers face lightens, shaking his head he put away the dishes and walked towards the school. Momoshiro waited on him with a grin and they walked together to school. Looking on the path he was suddenly caught out of his usual daze.

"Dreamt something good?" Teasing tone entered his ears and Ryoma almost blushed.

Why'd you ask?" He answered quickly, too quickly.

"You're almost blushing that's why." After that his senpai set of giving a grin to a confused Ryoma. What did he mean by that? He never blushed did he?

Authors Note!

I do not own Prince of Tennis or these characters! I only own the story.

Thank you for the reviews and subscriptions, I'll try to update as much as possible I promise! School is just being a pain to me.