Kaguya: Sorry if Ryoma is a little OOC in this chapter. But it's because he's still sick. Thank you to the people to reviewing! You guys really made my day!


Cynthia: Thank you for your review! I'm very glad you enjoyed my story. And it's wonderful that there is another RyoSaku fan out there!

Undying-melodies: I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Anyway, thank you for reviewing!

Risa-chan: But probably for Ryoma, it's the nightmare that's about to start! Haha, just kidding, but I do like to torture Ryoma sometimes, because he's so cute! And about Sakuno's notebook… well, you'll just have to find out!

Umi: I try my hardest to keep Ryoma and Sakuno in character, although I find it hard sometimes. It's easy to make Ryoma sick, because you kind of have an excuse to trail off his personality!

SilverLastsForever: I'm glad you find the concept interesting! As for where the plot it going to go… you'll see eventually. It's so hard not to give away what's going to happen! Thank you for reviewing!

Unmei Hime: Hello! I'm happy that you enjoy the storyline so far smiles By the way, where did your story about Ryoma and Ryoga go?


Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis!


Nozomu was annoyed, yet AGAIN.

This Echizen dude, is sleeping all he did? The first hour and a half had been uncomfortable, for he was feeling again. The softness of the bed, the heat of Echizen's fever, struggling to breathe…

He could sense that someone came in and placed a cool cloth on his head around that time. He yearned to see who is was, who cared for Echizen so to place a wet cloth on his, no Echizen's, forehead.

Yet Echizen kept his eyes SHUT!


The next two hours were full of patient waiting, and waiting, and waiting. He could feel the boy's fever decrease slightly, and his breathing become deeper and steadier.

Yet Echizen did not wake up.

An hour and thirty-seven minutes later, Nozomu just about had enough. After spending six months waiting for eternity to run out, he was therefore entitled to being just a little annoyed. He was ready to kick, to punch, and to scream. ANYTHING to wake up this… sloth and get the show on the road!

The sooner he got the perfect plotline for his story, the better.

Suddenly, when he thought things could get no worse, he left IT. Something heavy jumped on Echizen's chest and meowed.

A…

A cat?


Nozomu hated cats to no end. When he was 7, a ginger tabby nearly scratched his eye out. From then on, he made it his business to avoid them.

Mayrin didn't inform him that this person had a cat! He fumed silently. Firstly, this stupid person won't even wake up; secondly, he has a cat. A cat of all things. He could have had an alligator, a shrew…

But a cat!

Nozomu's mind wouldn't get past this, and for 12.7 seconds he didn't realize that Ryoma was stirring.

But thankfully, in the 6.3 seconds he had left, he was able to make up a snappy remark.

So, sleeping beauty is finally awake I see?


Ryoma groaned, his eyes flittering open against the bright sun. Everything was a yellow-ish haze, like an oil painting smeared over by grimy fingers.

So, sleeping beauty is finally awake I see?

"Ka…Karupin?"

Ryoma's eyes shot open, paining him. His amber eyes staring at his cat's eyes. 'Whoa, I must really be imagining things…I guess my fever was pretty bad.' He thought nonchalantly, trying to brush off the voice as a mere illusion.

No such luck.

Excuse me?

Ryoma's mouth dropped open. But no sound came out. A light breeze fluttered through a crack in his window, which felt good on his hot/cold clammy forehead.

Are you saying that you think this CAT'S intellectual ability is equal to mine? I am appalled!

Nozomu fumed. He, a deceased writer, was now living in the consciousness of a living human, who though his CAT was talking to him.

Really, how rude.


Karupin bounded off Ryoma's bed gracefully, and with a sidelong glance at his owner, strutted away. Ryoma stared after him, frantically trying to find a reasonable conclusion with this delay. 'What's going on here?'

This wasn't good. Right after a horrible fever, he starts hearing things. 'What's going on?' he thought again, his eyes pleading for sleep. He sat there, rubbing his eyes, trying to ignore the voice that was now swearing profusely

Hello? Echizen! Kindly direct your attention to the situation at hand! Hey, HEY! ECHIZEN! Stop staring at the cat and listen to me!

Ryoma's hand flew to his forehead. His fever was better, although not entirely gone. He could still hear the throbbing of his heart in his ears, although his fever was obviously not strong enough for his to be hearing things.

'Hearing things is the first sign of madness' a little voice in his head chided.

Why wasn't this stupid voice going away! His fever was down, and he didn't feel so sick anymore! 'Maybe I should get some water… I'm so thirsty…' But after a particularly bad swear word uttered by Nozomu, he closed his eyes and ranted, 'Go away, go away…'

A breeze played with his hair…

His heartbeat slowed…

A sparrow sung…

Ryoma inhaled, then exhaled slowly.

YOU! BOY! 20 LAPS!

Shocked by the loudness of the voice, Ryoma tumbled off the bed, landing very uncomfortably and ungracefully on his back.

Hmm… I guess searching through your brain for 10 and half hours worked pretty well. Didn't think that 20 laps thing would work though. Your tennis captain use it much?

Ryoma's immediately started to hit his forehead. 'Make it go away, make it go away…'

'Hearing things is the first sign of madness…'

Haha, and your expression! How would you call it, a 'Polaroid moment?'

Ryoma recalled hearing his father reading out an article in the newspaper about a man who declared he heard voices in his head. They locked him up somewhere because it got out of control, meaning it was scaring his neighbors. For the rest of his life he did nothing but proclaim that French soufflés were coming to attack the earth in 48 hours.

As Nozomu's string of curses went on and on, Ryoma, with his short temper, could no longer ignore it. Fighting his feverish fatigue, Ryoma fought to analyze the situation.

'Humor it.' was the first thing that came to mind. Great, Ryoma now knew that when he was sick, he was virtually useless.

Trying to put on an expression of casual indifference, he found it near impossible. Who could, when after a horrible fever, you start hearing voices in your head? But a horrible plan was better than no plan at all. Clearing his throat, Ryoma said as casually as he could to the air, "H…hello there."

He was immediately embarrassed. Oh, how Momo and Kikumaru-sempai would make fun of him if they heard him now.

Luckily, the ranting of swear words stopped. Unluckily, the voice kept blabbering to Ryoma's disappointment.

Thank goodness! Are we actually having an English conversation with words and punctuation again! Hallelujah!

The voice was dripping with sarcasm. The ground swayed dangerously beneath Ryoma. "W…will you…" He started, and then stopped.

'Talking to air is the first sign of madness…'

Will I what? WILL I WHAT?

Nozomu had no time for fading out sentences. Perfect for cliffhangers and foreshadowing in stories, but now was not the time.

"Will you keep it down?" Ryoma snapped. Whether he was sick or not, Ryoma's patience had a limit, and he wasn't giving in to some creepy voice. Throwing his dignity out the window, he started to try to sit up. His back really hurt…

Nozomu wasn't dumb either. He would have to cooperate with this jerk for who knows when, and he needed his help, whether he wanted to admit it or not. In a slightly exaggerated tone of patience he replied.

Hey, calm down boy. Why don't you get some water and sit down. You're dehydrated.

Nodding to himself, Ryoma stumbled to his feet and muttered to himself when he stopped abruptly and blurted out without thinking. "How did you know I was thirsty?"He did not expect an answer, for he hoped this voice would leave 'One day, I'll be laughing about this with my therapist…'

Unfortunately, the voice answered with a drawl.

Well, I have my sources…

Ryoma's frowned. That's it, he must be imagining things. Nodding vigorously, he found a pitcher full of water conveniently just on his nightstand. "So," he said with casual indifference as he poured the water into the cup found near the pitcher of water, "you an angel or something?"

Angel…

Nozomu hadn't laughed so hard in his life before.


Ryoma coughed, painfully swallowing his water. To his surprise, he started to laugh his head off, clutching his side.

Okay, this 'ghost entering his consciousness thing' had been amusing but this… The mere though made Ryoma start laughing yet again.

After he calmed down a fair bit, he spoke with a variety of English and hiccups. "You,"-hic- "took over my,"-hic- "consciousness for a," –hic- " romance novel?"

Goodness, he was strange when he was sick. He took another sip of water.

Nozomu seemed to be used to people laughing at his lifelong dream and ambition for he replied with indifference,

Oh, but don't get me wrong. My story will be nothing like those trashy thick paperback ones with a blob for a plotline.

He stated, with an air of confidence. Ryoma, feeling a little more sick, and a little more compassionate, replied with fake politeness. "Oh, how so?"

Silence answered Ryoma.

He glanced around wildly. Was this it? Was the voice gone? Ryoma sighed with relief. 'I knew I was just hearing things. There's no way a ghost can enter a consciousness of a human…' he took another drink of water, only to start choking and hacking again when Nozomu's voice filled his mind.

If I knew, do you really think I'd be here?

Nozomu stated crabbily. He didn't like to be driven into a corner without an answer to a question. Ryoma nodded. "So, that's"-hic-"because of the sad childhood, right?" he asked, sarcastic. Sure he felt sorry for Nozomu's childhood, which he had mentioned while explaining everything to the boy, but his fatigue-plagued mind couldn't connect the 'sad childhood' to the 'romance novel'.

Nozomu, oblivious to this, replied,

Yes, that's right.

Ryoma shrugged and decided to think about it later if the voice was still there, and when he was healthier, of course. He tentively took another sip of water.

So, you much of a ladies man, Echizen?

Ryoma coughed again in mid-drink.

Nozomu groaned. This was going to be a long day…


Chapter Preview:

Ryoma's going back to school, only now it's harder to concentrate with a ghost blabbering on and on in his head. He also realizes that he can also now see spirits, which nearly costs him his life! And while Ryoma bluntly states that he doesn't like any girl, who is the pig-tailed girl he kept thinking about after school? Is it the one who was… oh no…

Kaguya: Sorry for such an uneventful chapter! I tried to make it as exciting as I could, but I needed this chapter full of explanations so I could swing into the plot. Don't worry, the next chapter will start being more exciting!