Hi there! Thank you for the reviews on my previous chapter. Chapter 2 is out now. I am paying a lot of attention in this story though, there's no doubt that I will make mistakes here. So I say sorry in advance. I'll do my best so please bear with me. Sorry if I made oocs that I didn't intentionally do but I'll keep them in character as possible as I can.

Changes were made by X-Holder in chapter one, please check it out!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own POT. I love POT.

Chapter 2: Confusion

Chapter summary: He was bothered by his actions and he couldn't predict his moves. Everything changed and he doesn't know his own self anymore. Will he find answers to his questions?

"I don't know what happened between you and Ryuzaki-chan, but I'm telling you now; I'm gonna steal her away from you." Fuji declared.

Ryoma blinked.

Silence.

No one said a word until Fuji started a fragile laugh. Ryoma was feeling somewhat irritated towards his actions but he didn't say anything. Was he making fun of him?

"What are you going to do if I really did mean that?" Fuji asked him.

Ryoma continued to stay silent.

"She's sweet and kind-hearted. Everyone takes a liking to her. I don't know why you keep acting like that? You're the one that's different, Echizen." Fuji explained.

Ryoma walked to the bench to pack his things up, saying something but not looking at him.

"She can like anyone she wants to who's keeping her. It's not my concern anymore."

"So it's okay if anyone makes a move on her?" He asked his kouhai.

"Like I said, it's not my concern." Ryoma bluntly said as he began to walk away from the court.

Fuji just shook his head as he watched Ryoma exit the court and then he whispered to himself.

"How come that it's not your concern if you are the one that she likes?"

His class has started but his mind wasn't registering anything his ears heard. He was thinking about the conversation he had with Fuji just a while ago. He knew that Fuji loved teasing him but it was different this time. Actually the truth was he wasn't really sure if his senpai was joking or not.

Was it something to be joked about?

He thought while looking outside with his one hand in his chin and the other was on his desk. It was weird that he wasn't feeling sleepy this morning because of that stupid talk. He hated to admit it but it somewhat bothered him.

He was completely absorbed in his thoughts when his sensei noticed that he wasn't listening. He called him several times before answering. His sensei made him come up front to answer some questions. As usual he answered them all right. His classmates held awed expressions as he smirked.

Baka, those questions were easy. He thought. They should know; it is his favorite subject after all

Am I really okay?She thought to herself looking at the mirror. She made sure no one would notice that she had spent the whole night crying. She didn't eat her lunch and dinner, telling her grandmother that she wasn't feeling well and lost her appetite. She just insisted she go to school today and told her that she gained her strengthback after eating her breakfast.

She looked at herself for the last time before entering the classroom. She went straight to her seat next to Tomoka after greeting her classmates. She thought that it was going to be fine but then Tomoka leaned over and whispered in her ear.

"You cried, didn't you?"

She flinched when she heard her voice. But she didn't say a word.

"What happened?" Tomoka asked her.

She just shook her head as a reply. Tomoka understood. She put her hand on top of hers.

"I am sorry. I shouldn't have forced you…"

"iie, it was my decision to do that. Don't worry Tomoka-chan, we're okay." Sakuno smiled at her best friend putting her other hand on top of her best friend's.

Tomoka didn't buy it "Sakuno-chan…"

Sakuno smiled "I'm fine, thank you Tomoka-chan."

Tomoka didn't have the chance to reply because their sensei appeared in front signaling that their class would start in a moment. She just sighed, feeling sad for her best friend.

It was awkward but Ryoma didn't show any sign of concern. He was aware that Fuji spent most of his free time to talk to the girl. For some reason, he got this weird feeling in his stomach when they talked together; he didn't like it. He concentrated on practicing tennis trying to forget what was bothering him. It was his only cure; get absorbed in the game.

Sakuno tried to act normal the whole day; luckily she managed to do so.

She could still talk to him but not alone someone else had to be there; Tomoka, a regular, Horio anybody to relieve some of the awkwardness. It was usually all thanks to Fuji that she wasn't feeling awkward, well not a much as before. She kept thinking she should do something to repay him, and that's what she's going to do.

Four days later, at lunch break:

She was on her way to the had made cookies that morning and decided to give them today. She thought a lot about it. When Ryoma rejected her, she had run into Fuji. He hadn't asked a single question; he just stayed by her side until she calmed down. He was indeed a gentleman. So she thought of thanking him and giving him cookies will do the trick.

She reached the court to try and look for him. She saw her senpai and good thing that Ryoma wasn't there yet. She went over to him tugging on his sleeve

"Uhm, F-fuji-senpai. Can I have a minute with you?" Sakuno asked him.

"Sure, come on. Let's go over there." He pointed a corner near the outside of the court. He saw the other regulars giving them teasing looks.

"Where are you taking her, Fuji?" Oishi asked him.

"Hey, you're not cheating, are you? Ochibi won't be very happy." Eiji blamed him.

"Shut up." Fuji replied.

They paused for a second registering his answer, "What!"

"And don't follow us, got it." He said still leading Sakuno to the corner who was blushing the whole time.

xxx

Ryoma was on his way to the court when he saw it; Fuji and Ryuzaki talking in the corner. Then he saw her giving cookies to him. He doesn't understand what they are talking but he left with a stern look before continuing to walk to the court.

xxx

"F-fuji-senpai, I-It was a bit late but I-I want to say t-thank you… about what happened that day." Sakuno said as she giving her cookies to him. "You were a great help."

"We'll, I don't know how I helped you, but if you need someone to talk to, just come to me, all right." Fuji said as he accepted her cookies.

"H-hai, I-I'll do that. Thank you again." She said as she smiled at him.

"I bet these are delicious, but why me? Shouldn't you be giving these to Echizen?" Fuji asked her.

Sakuno flinched. She lowered her face. "W-well, I-I'll give some to him l-later."

Fuji stayed silent for a moment but he broke it as well.

"Okay, well good luck. And thank you for these."

She was stirred from her thoughts "O-oh umm yea."

When they were on their way back to the court, Fuji couldn't stop thinking why he had asked her that. Maybe he was trying to see her reaction. And he was right; it wasn't easy to forget something in just a few days. It was stupid of him to ask a question like that. He was beginning to worry about her. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. This is going to be a problem. He thought.

xxx

"Nya~ Ochibi, Fuji just took Ryuzaki-chan somewhere. How dare he? "Eiji complained.

"Find them Echizen, we're not allowed to follow them." Momo ordered him.

"And why would I do that?" Ryoma asked them "They can do whatever they want."

"What's happened to you? It's your girlfriend were talking about here." Eiji said.

"Are you okay, with that?" Kaidoh said who rarely joined a conversation.

"Wow, that's new. You're actually talking with us now." Eiji turned to his Kouhai.

"che." Kaidoh retorted.

"Forget that, what about Fuji and Ryuzaki-chan?" Oishi returned the topic.

Everyone looked at Ryoma. He snapped.

"Quit it, okay. She's not my girlfriend. Stop jumping to stupid conclusions." He almost shouted.

"What are you talking about here?"

Everyone shifted their look to the one who spoke last. It was Fuji and behind him was Sakuno.

"F-fuji-senpai. You're back." Momoshiro said and he looked at Sakuno who was blushing behind him.

Did they hear us? Oishi thought to himself.

Eiji, Momoshiro and Oishi walked towards Fuji while Kaidoh chose to walk to a bench. They interrogated Fuji. Ryoma only stared at them. He flinched when Ryuzaki talked.

"U-uhm, I'll leave first, I-I have to go back now to my class,s-see you later." Sakuno said to those around her and she looked at Fuji senpai.

"Take care, and thank you again." Fuji said.

Sakuno smiled at him and she looked at Ryoma who was staring at her. She flinched when she saw his face. She smiled at him and bowed afterwards.

"I-I'll go now." She doesn't know whom exactly she said that to but ran afterwards.

xxx

That's okay, he was right, there's no need to be upset. She thought while running back to her classroom. Get a grip Sakuno, you're just friends with him. She suddenly stopped running when she noticed tears running down her cheek. She touched one and stared at the now damp spot on her hand. She covered her face afterwards. I'm so stupid.She cried for awhile.

After practice:

He was pissed the whole day. He wanted to go home as soon as possible. He was about to leave when he saw that particular girl talking to the trio and with some regulars. He doesn't know but ever since she confessed to him, something inside him changed and he hated it. He was not the type who would pay attention to what had already happened in the past. His mood started to get worst when Fuji approached the gang. He saw her smile at him, a smile that was quite different from before. He started to leave the court.

"I'm going." He declared to everyone.

"Hey,Ochibi. There will be a fireworks display this coming weekend. Let's go and watch them." Eiji said.

"I'm not interested."

"Why not, Ryuzaki-chan personally invited us. She said that there this beautiful spot for the fireworks." Momo implied.

"Yeah, it'sbetter if were all there." Oishi said. "Sensei, you're coming with us right?" He then turned to their coach.

"I am not sure boys but I might have to leave Sakuno in your hands." Sumire said.

"Don't worry sensei, your granddaughter's safe with me." Fuji said as he wrapped his arms around her shoulder. Sakuno started to blush.

"-ahh! Fuji, stop that. She's blushing again." Eiji retorted.

Fuji just laughed at them and then he looked at Ryoma. They both looked at each other. Everyone felt that strange aura between them.

Sakuno was worried for some reason. She broke the tense in the crowd.

"A-anywayplease come. I-I'd love everybody to come and watch." Sakuno requested them. "Ahh, I almost forgot," she reached into her bag and got something from it. She gave them to Ryoma. "I-I was supposed to give you this during lunch time b-but I kind of forgot to do it."

Ryoma just stared atwhat was in front of him. It was cookies wrapped in a nice plastic container. It was the same cookies he saw her giving to Fuji this morning. He accepted it unconsciously. He nodded as a thank you sign. He then heard some teasing words from his senpais.

"I'm going home." He said ignoring their words not even bothering to understand them.

"P-please come, Ryoma-kun. W-we will be waiting." She said to him.

"che" that's all he could say.

"hey, shouldn't it be "I'll be waiting?" Eiji teased the girl.

"M-mou, senpai…" Sakuno started to blush.

He heard them teasing her more. Fuji was not even affected instead he began to start an argument with them, well not in an offensive way. Ryoma decided to leave the court for real this time. He was thinking about the situation.

That Fuji-senpai. He thought. He couldn't predict his actions. He definitely wasn't the easiest to read. The thing that he couldn't stand was when he was talking to that braided pigtail girl casually. He made her smile differently not for his expectations he could give. He reached his home.

"I'm home."

"Welcome back, Ryoma." Rinko said. "Do you want to eat dinner early; I know you're probably tired."

"Later" he said as he hurried upstairs. He heard his father saying something but he didn't bother answering. He entered his room and Karupin was already sleeping on his bed. He laid next to his cat and began petting it.

"Do you know, what I should do, Karupin?" He asked his cat as if it could answer him. It only meowed as a reply. Ryoma just gave Karupin a smirked thinking what a ridiculous thing it was to ask a cat for answers.

Sunday Evening:

"Are you ready, Sakuno?" She heard her grandmother calling her.

"H-hai, Obaa-chan. I'm coming down now." She replied to her grandmother.

She went downstairs. She could see how surprised her grandmother was. She was wearing her favorite pink kimono. Though, she kept her hair braided in two pigtails.

"My, my Sakuno dear, you are so dazzling." Sumire said. "The boys are definitely not going to let you go."

"Obaa-chan,…s-stop it" Sakuno blushed.

"Hey, I'm just telling the truth. Anyway, you should go now." Sumire ordered her. She gave some bentos to her. "Make sure everyone will eat tonight, okay."

"H-hai, I'll go now."

"Take care, don't lose your way."

Sakuno pouted at her grandmother who laughed hard. She then continued to walk.

xxx

Meanwhile, Eiji, Oishi, Kaidoh, Kawamura, Inui, Fuji and even Tezuka were already on the spot Sakuno had told them about. Even the trio and Tomoka were there already. They wore their best outfits. Only Tezuka and Kaidoh didn't wear something special for the event.

"Ryuzaki-chan was right; this was the best spot for the fireworks display." Inui said who started writing some notes in his notebooks.

"Yeah, you're right. This place is great." Fuji agreed as he started taking pictures.

There were some people who were also staying in that place. The place has a good ambiance and atmosphere. The wind was so nice it practically brings peace to whoever's skin it touches. The river was just below them, the reflection was pretty good at night and they can predict the picture if the fireworks display was being implemented.

"Ummm, what's taking Ochibi and Momo-chan so long? The fireworks will start in a moment." Eiji complained.

"Be patient Eiji, they'll be here in a minute. Besides, Ryuzaki-chan isn't here yet." Oishi said feeling a bit worried about the girl.

"She's probably lost her way again." Kaidoh retorted.

"Don't say that Kaidoh, She'll find her way here. I know" Eiji said.

"Speaking of Sakuno-chan, she's finally arrived." Tomoka informed them as she pointed Sakuno who was running towards them.

"S-sorry,…I'm late." Sakuno said panting.

Tomoka neared her. "You lost your way again, despite the warning of your grandmother, didn't you?"

Sakuno just stuck her tongue out.

"Wow, Ryuzaki-chan! You're pretty adorable." Eiji commented.

"And beautiful." Fuji added.

"I bet Echizen will think the same too, even though he probably won't admit it." Inui said and Oshi agreed to his words.

"Senpai-tachi, p-please stop it." Sakuno was bright red already. Tezuka just stared there whispering to himself. "What am I doing here anyway?"

Fuji heard him. He just gave the captain a smirk. Tezuka just shifted his head indicating that he was not in the mood to talk.

"But the problem is Ryoma-sama and Momo-senpai aren't here yet." Tomoka said as she faced Sakuno.

Sakuno was about to say something when they heard someone spoke.

"Let go, Momo-senpai! I told you, I don't want to go."

"Stop being so arrogant, Echizen. This will be a once in a lifetime chance to get us all together like this. Stop being a killjoy."Momo retorted as he dragged Ryoma with him to their place.

Fuji just whistled as he saw the scene. Ryoma became aware. He told Momoshiro to let go because he can walk by himself. He then composed himself like nothing happened.

"Everybody is here now. Thank you for coming along Echizen." Oishi said to his Kouhai.

He just ignored Oishi's words as he suddenly turned his head to Sakuno. The girl was not looking at him but he somewhat appreciated her looks tonight. She looks good. Amidst the blushing thing, it fits her.He thought.

He then shifted his head to a different direction before she or the others noticed that he was staring at her. But Inui already noticed and began scribbling in his notebook.

"U-uhm, I-I brought bentos, my grandmother wants us to eat before the fireworks display starts." Sakuno said to them.

"Really? Great! I'm hungry already." Momoshiro said when he looked at the bentos Sakuno was holding.

"Come on, Takeshi, you are always hungry." Eiji teased his kouhai.

Everyone laughed after that. Sakuno set up so that everyone could eat. Tomoka and the trio helped her. And they began eating. Sakuno sat between Tomoka and Fuji while Ryoma sat in front of her with Momoshiro and Eiji. The others sat in the allotted space.

"You made this, didn't you, Ryuzaki-chan?" Fuji asked the girl.

"H-hai." She blushed.

"I knew it; you really are a good cook. You're boyfriend will be lucky to have you." Fuji started teasing her.

"M-mou stop it, Fuji-senpai."

Ryoma heard this but he didn't react. He continued to eat his bento. He was right after all; she was indeed a good cook. He wondered why he hadn't noticed it before.

"Stop torturing the girl, Fuji. Look how embarrassed she is now." Inui said to Fuji.

"I am just stating the facts. Sakuno's a great cook."

She flinched when he held her hand and pressed it smoothly.

Ryoma saw what Fuji did. He glared at Fuji with an accusing look. Fuji saw him glare.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong?" Fuji asked him. Sakuno was shocked. She wasn't aware of what was happening.

Ryoma stayed silent but still glared at him.

"I don't like the way you stare. It's like you're going to destroy me." Fuji said. Everyone was shocked, even Tezuka didn't say anything. No one knows if Fuji was joking or not. But they can sense the familiar aura that they felt before.

"Hey, hey stop that. Were here to have 't ruin the mood, you two." Eiji interrupted.

Fuji just laughed after a long period of silence. "You'll never know how to get serious, will you?"

Ryoma snapped that time. He rudely stood up and left without saying a word.

"H-hey, where are going?" Momoshiro asked him.

"I'm going home."

"WHAT!" Eiji, Momoshiro, Oishi and even Kaidoh reacted at the same time.

"S-someone, please stop Ryoma-sama." Tomoka said. She couldn't ask Sakuno despite the condition they were in.

"Y-yeah, he's leaving and fast." Horio added.

Before anyone could talk, Sakuno volunteered. "I-I'll go and get him."

"A-are you sure, Sakuno-chan?" Tomoka asked her best friend.

"Hai, don't worry. I-I'll bring him back." She said as she left them.

Everyone became quiet. Fuji looked at the girl who was running away from them. Eiji just consciously laid down on the carpet and sighed big.

"Why is like this now? What is happening between you two?"

Fuji didn't answer. He didn't even know the answer himself.

xxx

She ran as fast as she could. Ryoma walked fast so that she couldn't catch up to him. She spotted him and didn't waste a second of time. She called him as loud as she could:

"RYOMA-KUN!"

He stopped eventually when he heard her voice. She was panting when she reached him. She noticed that he was not in the mood to talk but she still attempted to do so.

"R-ryoma-kun, l-let's go back. Please." She pleaded to him.

"I'm not going back there." He continued to walk.

Sakuno didn't give up. She held his shirt so that she could make him stop from walking.

"B-but, it is such a rare event for us all to be together. Please come back."

Ryoma got irritated. He shook her hand that was holding him.

"Don't you get it? I am not in the mood to be with everyone, especially with you. Now will you please leave me alone?" Ryoma almost shouted. He was still aware that he was talking to a girl. He tried to compose himself as well he could but that was as far as he could get.

Sakuno was shocked. She made him mad again.

Ryoma sighed and said something. "Go back now, and don't you dare follow me." And then he walked away.

He was several steps away when a sudden firework suddenly appeared on top between them. He closed his eyes but he knew how beautiful the fireworks were but he couldn't appreciate it. All he wanted was to go home…soon.

xxx

"What's taking them so long?" Momoshiro asked himself.

"This is so frustrating." Eiji said.

Fuji suddenly stood up and walked away.

"W-where are you going?" Inui asked him.

"I'm going to go look for them." He said. He sensed that Eiji was about to protest so he interrupted. "I think it was my problem to settle with, don't you think?" Eiji didn't say anything but he just crossed his arms in front of him.

He walked after that. Not long before the fireworks display has started. The others were enjoying the display but not to the fullest thinking that their youngest kouhai was having a tantrum.

xxx

The people awed in the beautiful display. Sakuno was staring at the display but it wasn't registering in her mind. She was staring into nothing.

He saw her standing there...alone.

Looks like she failed.He thought.

He moved closer to her, and tapped her on the shoulder. He was shocked. Sakuno was crying and she hadn't even noticed yet.

"S-senpai, the display was beautiful, right?" She said not looking at him.

"Ryuzaki…." Fuji just said her name.

Sakuno's face changed into something so painful. She then said.

"I-I tried senpai, I tried to convince him but I….failed." She cried more after that.

Fuji couldn't take it anymore. In an impulse, he hugged the poor, helpless girl in his arms, tightly. That brought Sakuno came back to reality.

"F-fuji-senpai!" Sakuno said.

"Stop focusing on one person Ryuzaki-chan, Stop making your world revolve completely and only around him." He held her tightly. "Look for someone who won't hurt you, Sakuno-chan."

Sakuno was shocked. It was the first time that someone in the club called her by her first couldn't help but to cry once again.

"Fuji-senpai." She hugged him back as if taking out her courage from him.

They stayed there under the fireworks display. He felt sorry for the girl. He couldn't do anything but to give comfort to her. He needed to protect her and he felt that he should do that. He will never abandon this poor girl. He will definitely stay by her side. Thus, he made a decision that very night.

Done! Again, I am very sorry for Ryoma being so rude here. I am just trying to make the story like that for the meantime. He will be the antagonist for a while but he will have his place later. So please don't hate him. I like everyone in the tennis club. They are all so funny.

I'm sorry for the mistakes if you ever see one. There are more to come. And more surprises. So stay tuned!

Next Chapter: Cats and Dogs