Warning: Ryoma's a bit OOC here…

Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis!!! (I forgot to put it on the first chapter hehe...)

CHAPTER 2: The Past

"Mada mada dane shounen" Echizen Nanjiroh said mockingly.

"che!" Ryoma scoffed. It was another one of those days where Ryoma and his father will play a practice match in tennis at the back of the shrine temple and as usual Ryoma was once again defeated by his father.

'Stupid oyaji' Ryoma thought very annoyed as he went to the bathroom to take a shower.

While in the shower Ryoma had been thinking about the upcoming U.S. Open where he will once again compete. After that his thought came on how to defeat his 'stupid oyaji' and then some ways to improve his tennis and techniques, then to Karupin and finally his thought landed to a certain brunette with two long braids and a beautiful pair of brown eyes, Ryuuzaki Sakuno, the coach's grand daughter as he would always like to dub it. Truth be told but this soft spoken, shy, clumsy but cute girl had managed to capture the heart of our young prince. They have been dating for almost two years now and even if Ryoma is known for his cold and very aloof personality he is always very sweet and caring when it came to Sakuno. He may not tell her what he really feels but in all honesty he loves Sakuno very much that he is willing to give up his tennis career if it will ever hinder their relationship. But there was no need for him to do that for Sakuno was always the one who encourage him to fulfill his dream in conquering the tennis world and because of that he love Sakuno more…. Then a thought cross his mind. He hasn't seen Sakuno for the past few days- actually its weekend so there is no school and since they haven't made a plan to go out they will probably not see each other for the weekend. But that fact didn't pass his train of thought for he was busy thinking about Sakuno and as he continues on his thought he felt this sudden urge to see her or even just hear her voice.

'When did I ever become this obsessed about Sakuno?' Ryoma asked himself then smirk 'oh well it's not that I mind, she is my girlfriend after all.' Ryoma added to his thought and quickly got out of the shower.

After dressing himself up he get his mobile phone, when he was about to dial Sakuno's number his phone started ringing, as he looked at the caller I.D. Ryoma can't help himself but grin. It was Sakuno. 'So she missed me too eh' Ryoma thought and answer his phone.

"Hello" Ryoma said

"Ryoma-kun! Ano… are you free tonight?" Sakuno asked.

"yeah.. why?"

"Well you see I have something to tell you can you meet me at the park?"

"Yeah sure… what time?"

"Can you come now? I'm already here"

"Okay I'll be there in five minutes" Ryoma said and hung up. He quickly went outside their house and went to the park.

'I wonder what she wants to say.' Ryoma thought as he quickens his pace.

When he arrives at the park he quickly scanned his surrounding looking for his princess. He saw her standing under the big sakura tree that was planted on the center of the park. As quiet as a cat Ryoma managed to sneak up on the back of Sakuno and engulf her in a hug from the back- Sakuno gasped when he felt someone touch her but quietly calmed down when she heard the person behind her chuckled. She knows that voice very well that even with a thousand people talking she'll recognized that voice anywhere.

"I missed you" Ryoma murmured, burying his face on the crook of Sakuno's neck. Sakuno smiled a little before whispering a soft 'I missed you too' to Ryoma making him fell all giddy all over.

They stayed like that for a moment before Sakuno motion for them to seat at a nearby bench. It was quiet for a while and Ryoma was getting a bit anxious on what was Sakuno going to tell him when Ryoma was about to say something when Sakuno spoke first.

"Ryoma-kun?"

"hn"

"here" Sakuno said and handed Ryoma a box

"What's this?" Ryoma said confused. When Ryoma opened the box he became more confused. The box contained all the gifts he gave to Sakuno and their pictures together.

"Why are you giving this to me?" Ryoma asked. Sakuno sighed and looked at him in the eyes, and that's when Ryoma saw her face closely. It looked pale and her eyes were a bit red and puffy. 'had she been crying?' thought Ryoma as Sakuno spoke once again.

"We should break-up Ryoma-kun." Sakuno stated firmly. Ryoma's eyes widened and shocked were written all over his face. 'WTH!!!'

After what seems like eternity Ryoma finally spoke. "Stop joking it's not funny." Ryoma said simply his voice cold.

Sakuno's gaze lowered to the ground before saying "I'm sorry Ryoma-kun, but I'm not joking" after that statement everything become silent again, neither one of them say a thing- Sakuno because she's trying not to cry and Ryoma trying to absorb everything Sakuno said.

After a while Sakuno stood up and was about to walk away when she heard Ryoma speak.

"Why?" Ryoma asked as he grabbed Sakuno's hand, his mask is starting to slip away. He just couldn't let Sakuno leave him; he'll do everything to keep their relationship intact. Before Sakuno could say a thing Ryoma spoke once again.

"Why Sakuno, did I do something wrong?" Ryoma said tightening his hold on her.

"You didn't do anything wrong Ryoma-kun… it's just me." Sakuno said as she pull her hand out of his hand.

"What do you mean it's you?" Ryoma said as he grasped her shoulder tightly, getting a bit angry now and confused but most of all he feel his heart starting to break slowly and it hurts… a lot.

" let go Ryoma-kun you're hurting me!" Sakuno said as she tries to free herself off Ryoma's grasped, but to no avail. Ryoma's hold on her only tightened.

"Tell me why?!" Ryoma demanded.

"I don't love you anymore!" Sakuno shouted as she looked at the ground her bangs covering her eyes.

Ryoma froze at her words and felt his heart completely break into tiny pieces. He let go of her shoulders, his hands- no his whole body was shaking.

"I'm sorry and thank you for everything Echizen-san, goodbye." Sakuno said and left.

Ryoma fell down on his knees and replay what had happened. "I don't love you anymore!" Sakuno's words rang to his head again and again. When he couldn't handle the pain anymore he let himself cry as drops of rain came falling down from the sky.

The next day Ryoma came to school, determination is burning in his eyes, he'll get Sakuno back no matter what. But his newfound resolved was quickly smash down when he learned that Sakuno had transferred school and is no longer residing in Japan. He learned from her best friend- Tomoka Osakada that she had transferred to Europe.

After that no one had ever since his eyes spark the way they used to, not even when his playing tennis.

A few days after that Nanjiroh informed his son that they will go back to America he said that there will be more opportunity for him to become pro in America than in Japan. Ryoma agreed thinking that it will keep himself busy and won't have time to think about Sakuno and with that they went back to America. Ryoma concentrate on playing tennis and tennis alone and after achieving a few titles Ryoma had become popular not only because of his great skills but also because of his good looks making a lot of company wants him to indorse their product and girls to start fawning over him.

But even after five years she is still the one that holds his heart completely.

A/N: please leave a review…