Hi! I'm back with the next chapter. Sorry for the holdup, I had a HUGE project to work on.
Disclaimer: I do not own POT or any of the characters. Boo hoo:(
Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 4
The night came by fast and everyone was gathered around the blazing fire. The night was clear and peaceful. You could here all of the wildlife lurking around the forest. Everyone one was tired from trying to put up the tent and gathering firewood so it could last the entire trip. Not only was everyone grouchy, but no one was in the mood to tell jokes and sing songs around the fire like you're supposed to on camping trips.
Then Sakuno decided that this was unacceptable so she brought up all her courage and broke the silence with a cheerful voice, "It's such I nice night. The sky is clear and the weather is perfect. We should be enjoying ourselves, not sitting around doing nothing."
"You know what? Sakuno is right. We should be enjoying this privilege to our fullest, and make sure this is an experience we'll never forget." Oishi said and stood up encouragingly. Sakuno was pleased that someone cared about her opinion. Ryoma on the other hand, was not exactly thrilled at his action but did not know why.
"How can we when we're sweaty, dirty, and everyone around us smells bad? It would be like laughing when you're sitting on a porcupine." Momshiro complained. Most of the people around him agreed.
"Don't be such a baby." Kaido insulted.
" Who are you calling a baby Mr. Kitty lover? I'm not that soft unlike you." Momoshiro teased. Kaido turned red with anger and started towards Momoshiro while screaming and yelling the he's a big fat lair (In this case, Kaido is really a animal lover). The fight continued and names were being thrown across the camp at one another.
'Pathetic.' Ryoma thought and got up from his spot on the rock. He snuck away from the main site where everyone was trying to grab a hold of the two teammates who had fires blazing in their eyes. Sakuno , not wanting to be in this, took a quick glance at Ryoma and noticed he leaving and decided to follow him.
'I wonder were Ryoma-kun is going.' Sakuno thought as she snuck out. Ryoma made his way to a lakeside spot where you could see all the stars in the sky. The water was a nice deep blue color and it seemed nothing could ruin this scene. The commotion at the camp could not be heard. Everything was so peaceful and clear.
Sakuno sighed in awe at the stunning beauty. But she couldn't get over the fact that it was dark in a dense forest. 'I hate the dark. Couldn't Ryoma-kun bring a flash light? I could be much more relaxed. What if a bear comes and attacks me like that time at the training camp? But still, this place is nice and beautiful How did Ryoma-kun know were this place was?' Sakuno whined to herself cowardly. 'Oh right, he went around the lake twice.' She had never seen such natural beauty before. All she could do was stare.
Over where Ryoma was, he was sitting down on a smooth rock and sighed to himself, 'This is just what I need to collect my thoughts. Now, what's with this Ryuzaki thing? Why is my first reaction always to defend her? Am I truly starting to turn into that horrible Oyaji of mine? Am I actually jealous that my sempais are hitting on Ryuzaki? Not that I care. Ok, so maybe I do a little. But still, could I actually be in …. love?' Ryoma thought remembering what Fuji had said. All of these questions were confusing to Ryoma. He couldn't comprehend all of this figuring. He may be a genius in tennis, but when it comes to this love stuff, he's not so bright. It was very stressful. He wouldn't admit the love part and just wanted this problem out of his life. 'Well, maybe she's just a friend and that's why I wanted to protect her. Or maybe it was because I didn't want be get in trouble for not protecting the coach's grand daughter. Whatever it was it just couldn't be because I love her. No, that just can not be the reason.'
Ryoma's thought were immediately shattered when he heard a high pitch scream. He immediately knew who this yelp belonged to and felt a surge of fear go through his body.
"Ahh! Help. I fell into the water" Sakuno screamed while frantically waving her arms in the water. Everyone heard this and Ryoma tried to locate where this voice came from. The beautiful calm night became a terror scene for Ryoma as he jumped up and ran towards her voice which was not too far from where he was.
"Ryuzaki! Where are you? Hang on! I'm coming!" At that time Ryoma seemed to be possessed by someone else. Nothing was in his head but to save Sakuno. He didn't care what anyone else thought of his action. Twigs and leaves crunched underneath his feet as Ryoma jumped into the icy cold water and swam like never before. He dived and searched but he didn't have luck on his side and could not find her. Ryoma was getting desperate and very cold. Then out of no where the sempais came with their torches in hand guiding him towards Sakuno.
"Echizen! To your left. Swim to your left." Momoshiro yelled along with the others who were also trying to direct Ryoma.
'Thanks guys. I'm going to owe you all a big one.' Ryoma thought while turning to his left and searching all over again.
Meanwhile with Sakuno, 'Help, I can't swim.' Sakuno's world was turning dark. The former soft looking water turned into a killing boa constrictor, squeezing the air out of her. Then when she thought all was lost she felt a strong sturdy had pull her up. Her head burst into the fresh air and it felt as though a hundred pounds had been taken off her.
Ryoma was relieved that he had saved Sakuno and the sempais standing on shore hooting and congratulating him. As Ryoma dragged Sakuno to shore, Tomo-chan came rushing up with a first aid kit in her hand.
"Sakuno are you ok? Talk to me, talk to me!" Tomo-chan pleaded.
"I'm fine." Sakuno said in a weak voice. Cough cough.
"Hurry, get her into the tent were it is warm and have wrapped in layers of warm blankets. Make sure she is as comfortable as possible." Ryoma said.
'Hey that's my job' Oishi said jealously. 'But I guess that means Fuji's plan is working.' The team carried Sakuno to her teent with Ryoma checking every few seconds making sure she was ok. He was basically so mad at Sakuno for risking her life but he also knew it was his fault that he snuck away. His head was wirling even more. He had an urge to tough touch her skin and see how soft it was. She looked so helpless. 'Ahh! Sure I feel bad for her, but that one thought? It was outrages. This is getting out of hand. I better go check on her.' With that he pushed the thought aside and concentrated on the hurt companion.
When they reached the tent everyone was bustling around, making sure Sakuno was warm and comfortable.
"Oh Ryoma-kun, thank you for saving me." Sakuno said softly. Secretly she was bursting inside from happiness. She couldn't be any happier knowing that Ryoma-kun cared. She almost thanked her clumsiness for leading her into the lake. Through all of her pain, she still managed to blush.
'Jeez, she's still blushing? How can she when she has just got saved from certain doom? I'll never understand girls.' Ryoma thought.
Snicker snicker. The sempais were all gathering around the tent trying to figure out what the two people in there were talking about. Due to the fact that Sakuno was talking so softly, their efforts were not of use. Just them Ryoma came out.
"Hey what are you guys doing here? You guys should be in your tents sleeping, or at least helping me. Not trying to listen to us. You guys are no help." Ryoma said coldly.
"Touchy! Looks like our Ochibi caught us. Oh well, Iguess we will have to leave them to have their privacy." Kikumaru teased.
"You are all idiots. Now leave before I have to get my tennis ball and racket." Ryoma warned.
"Echizen, you sure are weird. You even bring your tennis supplies on camping trips." Momoshiro said jokingly while slowly inching his way to his tent. Along with the others, who didn't exactly want to get a tennis ball wedged on their faces.
'Whoo whoo. Echizen likes Ryuzaki. Echizen like Ryuzaki." Everyone was happy for once because all of their efforts had payed off. The conclusion was that Ryoma likes Sakuno. But to them, this was love. Well, at least to the sempais.
"Fuji, you are a genius!" Oishi said with everyone else agreeing.
"Well actually, I didn't mean it that Sakuno was going to fall into the lake. My plan actually didn't include that part. So, if Ryoma hadn't been around she would have…..died." Fuji confessed.
"WHAT? You mean she could have died?" Everyone shouted at Fuji.
"Well, she survived right? That's what counts." Fuji said timidly, trying to shrink away.
""Your lucky she did or else you probably be in the hospital after getting beat up by Ochibi." Kikumari pointed out.
Over in the tent where Sakuno was laying, she was much better.
"Thank you. I couldn't have survived without you Ryoma-kun."
"It was nothing" Ryoma said while blushing a little. Even with the little light in the small tent, it was bright enough to show this little bit of red, planted on Ryoma's face.
'Did Ryoma-kun just blush? Oh my gosh, I'm going to faint.' Sakuno thought. The she said with a fake yawn, "Ryoma-kun can I sleep now? I'm awfully tired."
"Of course my Sakuno-chan." When Ryoma heard himself say that he almost jumped up. 'Wow, where did that name Sakuno-chan come from? I must be going crazy.'
'Did Ryoma-kun just c...call me m…my Sakuno-chan? He probably just did it on accident. He's just worried. Yeah, that's all.' Sakuno thought in shock. Now Sakuno's face was as red as a beet. Ryoma, let's just say the red on his face was just as bad.
Ryoma couldn't take it any more. All of these signs of him liking Sakuno were overwhelming. Ryoma doesn't like to give in to his feelings because it would harm his carefully built up reputation, but this, this, was too much. Finally with a deep sigh he reluctantly admit to himself that he likes Sakuno. Ryoma was shocked that this clumsy long-haired girl could get to him like that. He had never felt so weak. But Ryoma also wanted to know what Sakuno felt of him. So after building up all his courage, Ryoma finally asked, " Ryuzaki, I'm sorry for calling you Sakuno-chan, but it sounds nice, so in order for me to call you that, could you please tell me if you… you… like me?" He tried to sound as normal as he could but there was a slight crackle in his voice. Ryoma never felt more nervous in his entire life as he waited for her answer.
"Sakuno couldn't believe her ears. 'Did Ryoma-kun just admit that he likes me? Oh my gosh, can this actually be happening? I must be dreaming. But I'm not. I feel happy yet in shock. Could he be tricking me? No, only Momo-sempai and Edji-sempai would do something like that. Not Ryoma-kun. So what do I say? I want to say I like him but, what if this is really a joke? Still, I don't want to miss a chance on what I have always wanted so, here goes nothing.'
"Hey, are you going to answer or not? Because if you don't, I'll take that as you don't like me." Ryoma's confident voice had just a bit of fear in the back.
" Ryoma-kun, I…I….I do like you." Sakuno replied while turning a red that could shadow even the ripest tomato for the hundredth time. Ryoma on the other hand, was so relieved that him could just scoop her up and kiss her (now wouldn't that be interesting?). But Ryoma just nodded his head and got into his sleeping bag. When he felt comfortable, he turned off his lamp and went to sleep. Tonight, for the first time in a long time, Ryoma fell a sleep thinking he that was the luckiest person on earth. It started to rain but the couple was dry, listening to the steady beat of the rain.
Little did the two unsuspecting creatures know, a strange little red light in the corner of the tent was flickering on and off like a video camera's.
Those who occupied the other tents were snickering there heads off and whispering about being ever so young… In Fuji's tent, a smirk on his face told him and his tent partner,
So, what did you think? I'm not sure if I should add a next chapter. If I did, it would probably be about the next day.
I made Ryoma a bit OOC and a bit superheroy. But hey, I couldn't think of anything else.
Don't forget to review:)