Prince of Tennis (RyoSaku) Non-yaoi

Notes: manga based, Ryoma is probably OOC (don't care), other chapter to be posted soon, sequel will come later as well (!). I think this story has maybe 2 swears, does it need to be T?

I got reviews! That means people read it! And liked it! I'm so very happy, thank you very much .

Last chapter will be posted as soon as I am able to type it up. I do not have a beta reader :( but I am looking!

Experimenting With Butterflies

Part 2: Experiment GO!!!

Ryoma threw his towel aside and pulled a shirt on to get ready for bed. He settled down to sleep and went over the events of the day in his mind. He didn't play against Kawamura often, especially since Kawamura had only decided to stay on the team because of further obligation and didn't even attend all of the practices. And then Oishi had- wait. After that match, just what exactly had happened?

Ryoma shook his head and rolled over. Karupin pawed at him in annoyance.

"Sorry," he said, reaching out and patting a patch of fur.

Now he remembered. The Americans called it "having butterflies in the stomach." That was probably it. But no, that didn't make sense. Wasn't it supposed to be something more like… oh. Nah, he didn't pay attention to girly stuff like that.

But still, was it because of Sakuno Ryuuzaki? That didn't make much sense. That clumsy girl he'd known since his first year at Seigaku Junior High? She was his old coach's grand daughter. Yeah he talked to her sometimes like… when she made him food. Or if the mood suddenly struck him. Something like that. She was just there. She always had been, since he'd come to Japan.

Ah! Geez! Just go to sleep already! Ryoma tossed again and pulled on the covers. Karupin became so annoyed that he stalked off angrily, probably to go skulk around the house until a more suitable resting place was found.

Ryoma sighed. That didn't help any. He closed his eyes. 'Sleep now,' he commanded himself.

… Ah good. Silence. Besides, it's not like he felt that way when he touched Momo or Kaido or Fuji or any of his team mates. He didn't even get the same thrill when he hit- er- accidentally made contact with- Horio.

Ryoma flopped on his back. Ok, it was bothering him. And he wasn't asleep yet. Unacceptable. He tried to reproduce the feeling- make himself shiver or something like that. He failed.

Well obviously not thinking about it wasn't an option. Perhaps in the morning he would forget all about it, but if not, then what? Hmm… the same thing he did in tennis, analyze the situation properly, then react. In the end he always came out on top any way… this little problem wouldn't be bothering him for long.

-----

Ryoma woke up and lazily made his way to school. After a round in the courts it was time for class. And time to put his theory to the test.

"Good morning, Ryoma-kun," he heard someone say softly.

"Ah," he turned around, "morning Ryuuzaki."

He dug around in his bag as she took her seat. She was concentrating fairly hard on something in a notebook when he came up to her.

"Here's the notes back that I borrowed a while ago," Ryoma said. They would be worthless to her now since the test was over any way, but it was a chance to put his experiment in to action.

Unfortunately, the paper was a lot larger than a Fanta can. Even though he spread his hand out as wide as he could, there would be no contact after all.

Sakuno reached for the paper. He jerked his hand a little in a final attempt, but being a rather shy girl she had become an expert at dodging people. No big deal. He'd get her next time.

-----

Ryoma's new experiment with contact was going horribly, as expected. When he touched Momo's hand Momo just stared at him.

"What the hell?"

"Hmm, I was trying to see if something happened."

Momo moved away uncomfortably.

"Oh, no. No! Not like that!" Ryoma said when he realized what Momo was thinking.

"Just never do that again man. Ever. And I mean it."

"Yeah."

Negative. And not just negative as in the reaction but negative as in it was a horrible experience that he never wanted again.

"Ryoma-sama! Ryoma-sama! That was a great match!"

So it couldn't be just anyone? Apparently, it had to be a member of the opposite sex. Well…

-----

"SAKUNO! SAAA-KUUU-NOOO!"

Sakuno cringed as she heard noises in the hallway. Sure enough, her long time friend came bursting in to the room.

"Hi Tomo-"

"You'll never guess what!"

"Oh-"

"Ryoma-sama! He… he… he touched me!!!"

"Oh no, are you ok?"

"Not like that! It wasn't on purpose but still… no… no… no! Maybe it was! Aaah! I'm so excited!"

Sakuno frowned.

"Any way," Tomoka continued as if she'd eaten a whole bag of sugar, "I came up to him after this match and I was talking to him and… and when he turned away from me his hand brushed up against my arm! Oh it was so romantic! Like a gentle caress!"

Sakuno briefly thought back to the day before. She'd accidentally touched his hand. It was kind of embarrassing but on the other hand she… she had enjoyed it… But it was just an accident, and her fault, really.

"It was so nice!" Tomoka mused.

Sakuno rolled her eyes at her friend. It was just an accident, after all. Ryoma didn't like to be close to anyone.

-----

It was Wednesday, the next day, and Sakuno found herself surprised to hear the name of Ryoma Echizen floating around a lot more than usual.

"T-today Echizen-san's hand brushed against mine. I was so nervous!"

"Earlier in the hall, Echizen-kun's shoulder bumped mine! He said sorry too! It was so cute!"

"You know that tennis player Echizen Ryoma? Today I was reading a list posted on the bulletin board and he came up behind me and- and- and when he was checking something out I swear he touched my neck! Kyaa I'm serious!"

Things went on like that for the rest of the day and all throughout Thursday and Friday too.

Sakuno looked out at the sunny day and smiled.

"I heard girls tennis practice would run long today," Tomoka said, "do you know if that's true or not?"

"Hmm? Oh, probably."

"Well then, do you mind if I just go and watch the boy's team a little and then go home without you? I wanted to be home early."

"I don't mind," Sakuno said and smiled reassuringly.

Her attention turned away from the window not, Sakuno could hear the conversations going on again. The 'accidental contact' conversations. And Ryoma-kun was still on the other side of the room! What were these girls thinking?

"Hmm," Tomoka whined, "doesn't it seem like a lot of girls touched Ryoma-sama this week? And here I was thinking I was special."

"I'm… sorry," Sakuno said, not knowing what else to say.

"Meh, it's nothing. Any way, it would be nice if he could bump in to you too! Then you'd know what it would feel like."

"Tomoka!"

"Just kidding, just kidding…"

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RyoSaku fans please review and, if you like the story, tell others :) I will try to finish posting the last chapter soon, and will then get to work on writing the sequel. Thank you for the encouraging reviews so far :)