AN: Konichiwa...minna-san, aikanarazu ogenki desu ka?? Ops, I mean, is everyone as energetic as usual? I know I had not done well for my previous chappie. Dakara, I'm going to finished up my chappie 4 asap!! Before I proceed, I would like to express my sincere thanks to:
The Eiji Cat – Eiji no neko-sama, arigatou I'm so happy! You still read my fics!! For you, I'll improve!! Do you think I need to change my summary?
zazabean-chan - Glad to see you reading my fics, I'm also a dai fan of your fics!! I'm so impress!! Sometimes I even find new ideas coming to me when i read your fics!!
Standard Disclaimer: I don't own the characters and plotting!!
Review of chappie 3:
"It's okay...you'll go to my place and there you can have a good rest, till next morning you'll be alright!!" Fuji whispered sparing her a piece of tissue and helped her to wipe off her tears.
"An..ano...about today's incident?? Sakuno shrugged.
Fuji nodded "We'll keep it as a secret!!" he ensured and looked up to his teammates. All of them gave an assuring gesture.
Chapter 4: To protect something important - Part 1
"Fuji, we'll have to go home and pack our belongings before going to your place!!" Tezuka commented.
Fuji nodded "Well then, I just have to bring Sakuno back to my place first!!" and with that he slowly raised Sakuno's head and laid her in a sitting position so he could stand up!! Suddenly Sakuno finally realized that her head had been all the while lying comfortably on Fuji's laps!
'Ara...doushiyo??' she blushed feverishly. She quickly rose up; everyone looked at her action stunningly especially Fuji. He blinked at her a few time and then let out a small chuckle when he saw Sakuno's extremely blushing face.
She bowed a few times at Fuji, accusing herself for being so useless. The other team members just looked at her with more concern. Her body just keeps on dangling here and there.
"I...I was too...relax...so..." she diverted her gaze and stare at the ground.
"Iyo...besides you'll need someone to take care of you, isn't it?" Fuji said tenderly, eyes keep on gazing her. Sakuno just couldn't deny that the statement that Fuji made earlier was very true. She then looked at the rest of the Seigaku team members, especially at Ryoma. They were all very worry about her current state. Although Ryoma didn't show much from his expression, but she knows that he really care, otherwise he would not volunteer to stay over at Fuji's place.
She was overwhelmed that the regulars would help her to get along with her dreadful past that had once again coming back to haunt her. She also never thought that they would eventually know about her past.
"Minna, arigatou..." tears slowly stream down from her feverish cheeks.
"Mou...just don't worry, everything's gonna be fine!!" Fuji lightly stroked her back to console her and hand her another piece of hankie.
"Sakuno, you still have lots more to work on!!" Ryoma muttered his libretto (Yes, that the right English version of mada mada dane!!)
"Oi...ochibi? You do want to sounds encouraging don't you?" Eiji smirked teasing his junior teammates. Ryoma ignored Eiji's statement and head towards the vending maching to get a can of Ponta Grape.
"Sa...Ryuzaki-san, you should really have some rest now! Fuji, I think you should be leaving now!!" Kawamura gave them a warm grin.
"Hai...Taka-san" Fuji knee down in front of Sakuno and gesture her to get onto his back.
"Ah...wha..what's that for??" Sakuno stammered.
"Ohime sama is sick!! How can I let her walk? Don't worry, just hop on!!" Fuji let out another chuckle.
"I...still can walk...hora..." she showed them a few steps, few wobbly steps. She can't even walk properly.
"Hm...if you still refuse, I'll have to carry you!!" Fuji threatened Sakuno.
"What?!" all of them bellowed in unison, except Tezuka, Inui and Ryoma who had just came back with his Ponta.
'Fuji wants to carry Ryuzaki back to his place...how romantic!! Good data!!' Inui scribble another gossip of his teammates into his data book!!
"Ryuzaki, stop being so stubborn, we do not want to waste time with you here!" Tezuka said sternly. Ryoma sipped his drink and stared nonchalantly at Fuji and Sakuno.
"H...hai, sumi masen" Sakuno face looked down.
"Fuji-senpai...onegai shimass" she then gently hop onto Fuji's back.
"Okay...let's go" Fuji secured Sakuno's laps. He shrugged a little when he rose up from his kneeing position.
"Ano...am I too heavy??" Sakuno ask embarrassingly when she heard Fuji shrugging.
"Nope...not at all, but your body are very heaty now!!" Fuji remarked. Sakuno blushed again!! "That...that's my fever, ah...ha...ha!" she let out a faked laughter.
"Fuji-senpai, is it really okay?!" Ryoma threw a sarcastic comment at him and tossed the empty Ponta can into a bin.
"Yes, I'm alright, Sakuno's very light, I think even Echizen can carry her!! So, I'll be seeing you all later!! Ja!!" Fuji smirked and slowly walk back with Sakuno to his home.
Few minutes later....
"Moshi, moshi, Ryuzaki speaking!" Sumire answered the phone.
"Tezuka?? Yes, I thought you're coming back with Sakuno? Oh...is that so? So you mean you've already send her to her friend's house?"
"Hai, sensei sumi masen!!" Tezuka apologized for not bring Sakuno back to her house.
"Hm...mezurashi (weird)? She'll always keeps me inform whenever she wants to have a sleepover!!" Sumire stated suspiciously.
There's a sudden silence over the phone. Tezuka's out of words!! His face turns pale, he's not good at lying, especially now he's talking to his coach!
"Pss...Pss...Tezuka..." Eiji gently poked Tezuka's shoulder to get his attentions. He held a piece of paper scribbled with a few words. 'WE MEET UP AFTER OUR PRACTICE, SHE JUST TOLD ME SHE WANTED TO STAY WITH OSAKADA FOR TONIGHT AND SHARE HER EXPERIENCE ON THIS MORNING INCIDENT!!' (plotted by Oishi!)
"Tezuka? Are you still there?" Sumire asked when she did not heard any reply from his student.
"Ah...hai, sensei..." Tezuka quickly read accordingly to what the papers had stated. Cold sweats forming from his forehead.
"She said she'll call you later!" Tezuka added to avoid his coach's suspicion.
"That's okay and thanks for taking care of Sakuno for me!!" Sumire smirked over the phone.
"Hai...sumi masen!!" Tezuka apologized again.
"No...it okay, I should have apologize for troubling you!" Sumire stated jovially. And with their last greetings, they ended their conversation.
"Tezuka...how's it?" Oishi asked worriedly. Oishi is also not good in giving lame excuses!!
"We nearly get ourselves into big trouble!! Anyway, we have to go back quickly and pack our belongings!! Fuji and Sakuno are waiting for us!!" Tezuka wiped off his sweats and look around only found Oishi and Eiji!!
"Where's Echizen?" Tezuka asked.
"Nya..He's went back home with Momo first, to pack his stuffs!" Eiji replied. Eiji gave a big grin to Oishi and quickly locked Oishi's neck tightly. "Wow...I'm so happy!! We are going to Fuji's house for sleepover!! Nya...Uru..shi"
"E...Eiji...hanase(let go)...I...can't breathe!!" Oishi shrugged and Eiji quickly let go, apologized and gave him a kitty grin.
'Did I made the right decision?' Tezuka thought profoundly. 'Sakuno Ryuzaki, something tells me that I've got to know more about her!'
"Tezuka? Shall we go now?" Oishi quickly recovered from Eiji's unintentional strangle, and gesture Tezuka to walk with them. Tezuka nodded and join them to the bus stand.
Meanwhile...
"Momo-senpai, arigatou!!" Ryoma waved at Momo and headed back into his house. Before entering into his house Momo called him from a few distance away!!
"Echizen!! Please send my regards to Sakuno-chan!!" Momo bellowed and cycled his way back home.
"Mada mada dane" Ryoma sighed and then quickly rushed back to his house.
"Ara...Ryoma-kun, Okaeri-nasai!!" Nanako greeted him!!
"Tadaima!!" Ryoma greeted back cooly.
"Oyaji wa?" He looked around, he did not see his father in their house.
"Oh...I'm not sure!! I've not see him for a whole day! Is there anything?" Nanako asked tentatively.
"Yes, I'll be staying over at my senpai's house for tonight!!" he stated and before Nanako could say anything, he continued.
"Please let okaasan and my stupid oyaji know about this!!" he then quickly rush to his room and do his packings!!
'Sleepover?? When did Ryoma started to have such close relations with his seniors??' Nanako thought, but she's quite happy to hear that!
Just when he's about to leave his room, Karupin approached him and make a few scrolling around Ryoma's feet. He knew that Ryoma's going somewhere else.
"Ara...Karupin?! No, I can't bring you there!! Those senpais are very mean!! They might do something bad to you, especially Kikumaru-senpai!!" Ryoma warned.
Eiji's side: "Ah..Ah...choo...!! Oh...what a cold day!! Or perhaps someone's thinking about me, nya!" Eiji happily pack his stuffs!! His school uniform and his Seigaku regular jersey for the next day!! His toothbrush and his favourite toothpaste...
"Nya, my toothpaste?? IT'S ALL USED UP AGAIN!!" Eiji bellowed in horror!!
"Ara, Eiji, gomen ne, I used up mine, so this morning I used your leftovers!! I've just went out and bought a new one!! Eiji's sister replied.
"A new toothpaste? Is it my favorite flavour?" Eiji asked giving his sister a puppy eyes glance.
"Of course, the one that you always use!!" his sister cheerfully replied.
"Wow...wow, ne-chan, thank you!!" with that he gave her sister a bear hug.
Oishi's side: "There you go!! Food for tonight!! Please do not finish it up!! I won't be back here till tommorrow evening only!!" Oishi's feeding his fishes!! His belongings were all properly packed. Now he's just waiting for Tezuka to call him.
Back to Fuji and Sakuno:
"Ne, Ryuzaki...are you always getting high fever after your transformation?" Fuji asked concernly while continuing walking back to his house. He could felt Sakuno's body heating up.
"Hai..." Sakuno answered faintly. 'Haskashi(Embarrassing), everyone's staring at us now!!' Sakuno thought when she realized alot of bypassers had been staring at them.
"Then, what do you usually do?" Fuji asked again. He too noticed that alot of people are staring at them.
"Ano...Fuji-senpai? How long do we still to walk? Can you put me down now?" Sakuno requested weakly.
"Iyada!!(No)" Fuji declined Sakuno's request, fast and stern.
"Huh...??" Sakuno was dumbfounded.
"If I let you walk, the others will not forgive me, besides you'll take more time than usual to walk to my house" Fuji said calmly.
"So, you've not answer my question, what do you usually do?" Fuji asked again.
"Ano...I filled the bathtub with cold water and soaked myself..." Sakuno replied softly, but it's already good enough for Fuji to hear her.
"Hm...that's a nice one!! Ara..I missed the turn!! I've just passed by my house!!" Fuji stated nonchalantly.
"Fu...Fuji-senpai...?" Sakuno was a little amused, she never thought the tennis prodigy would have lost his way.
"Mou...Fuji-senpai ta ra..." Sakuno let out a faint laughter. Fuji too laughed over his carelessness, he don't usually lost his way! Somehow he was just being too concentrating on taking care of Sakuno.
When they reached his home, he quickly get ready a towel and T-shirt and dragged Sakuno into the bathroom. He filled the bathtub with cold water.
"So...it's all done!! You can have your bath!! You can use the towel, and this shirt, it's my favourite!! I realized that I no longer suit into it!! You can have it!!" Fuji stated jovially.
Sakuno just stood there listening to Fuji's words. It's just like music for her ears. She blushed when Fuji asked her to take her bath.
"Hm...doushite? You're not taking your bath?" Fuji asked, looking a little amused.
"Ano...I 's around..." Sakuno whispered softly. At first Fuji didn't catch her, but slowly he interacted on what she mentioned a while ago.
"Of coz, silly me!! The bathroom is now yours!! Fuji slowly walk out of the bathroom and let Sakuno have the bathroom.
"Ano...senpai...I'm going to stay very long here? If not you can have the bathroom first!!" Sakuno blushed.
"Hm...no problem, I'll use the bathroom upstairs, you can spend as long time as you wish" Fuji ensured. Just as when Fuji exited the bathroom, Sakuno undressed herself and quickly soaked herself into the bathtub. Instantly the cold water turns into pool of hot water. She then turn on the tap and let out more cold water to run into the bathtub.
While relaxing herself in the bathtub, she began to recalled her earlier encounter...
"I won't let them live, I'll kill them all!!" Ano hito wa, ittai dare(who's that man)? It's not over yet!! The grudges of Yagyu Jubei, it's not over, the love shaped eye-patch, soshite(moreover), ano ko (that child)?
I must not be weak, I have to protect...daiji no mono wa, zutto mamotteiru(always to protect something important),and...protect my freedom.
She clenches her fist and with one deep breathe she sink her whole head into the bathtub.
Sakuno sure takes a longer time than Fuji had expected. She's still in the bathroom when the rest of team arrived Fuji's house. They were curious at first when they didn't see Sakuno.
"She's still taking her bath...she said it's gonna be long!!" Fuji explained.
"Sou...ka? Well, we can't just waste time here!! We'll have to do something. Ah...why not let's prepare our dinner?" Oishi commented.
"Dinner? Woah...great, Oishi great idea!!" Eiji bellowed happily.
"Hm, it's a great idea, demo(but), who's going to cook?" Fuji asked and looked at the rest of his teammates. Eiji stared at Oishi, while Oishi divert his glance at Tezuka. Tezuka maintained his usual form, eyes closed, back leaned against the wall. Ryoma was sitting at the coach, ignoring the issue.
At the end, everyone just cooked instant noodles for their dinner. They also prepared a bowl of noodle for Sakuno. When she came out from the bathroom and entered the living room, everyone stared at her.
Her usual braids were untied as she gently dried her hair with the towel. She was wearing Fuji's T-shirt, just long enough to cover until her upper thighs. She then stop cleaning her hair and let it flow freely on her back. She then realized that everyone's staring at her.
"Ano...is there anything wrong?" Sakuno asked.
"The t-shirt suits you well, Sakuno-chan!! And how's your fever?" Fuji remarked and walk towards Sakuno.
"Getting...better...!" Sakuno shrugged when she felt Fuji's warm hand touches her forehead.
"Hm...still a little warm" Fuji stated seriously.
'Ano...that's because I'm blushing!!' Sakuno thought faintly.
"Ryuzaki-san, we've cooked some noodles and after this, you can take some medicines and go to bed!!" Oishi instructed.
"Bed?? No...no, Oishi, aren't we gonna have fun, playing games, karaoke or anything!! How can you ask us to go to bed so early!!" Eiji complained.
"Ne...Kikumaru-senpai, you must have forgotten our aim here is to find out more about the Jubei thingy from Ryuzaki!!" Ryomo exclaimed cooly.
'Jubei no koto (Jubei's story), yes, of course, how silly for me to think that they actually care for me! Sakuno no baka!!" Sakuno thought sadly.
"Ano...Fuji-senpai...can I go to bed now, I'm a little tired!!" Sakuno said faintly.
"Going to bed, what about your dinner?" Fuji asked worriedly.
"Iyo...It's okay, I don't feel like eating" Sakuno responsed shoving off Fuji's protest. Eiji could felt Sakuno's discertainties.
"Oh no, Sakuno-chan, I'm not letting you to go to bed!! We're going to have fun!!!" Eiji exclaimed jovially.
"Fun...but...but...Eiji..." Oishi was about to protest when he was stopped by Tezuka. Tezuka realized Eiji's aim.
"Em...lemme see...ah...sou, let's us play the Big Loser!! Loser are going to get a taste of Inui's special extra intergrated blended juice!!" Eiji announced and took out a set of cards and a bottle that labelled Inui's name.
"Hm...sounds interesting!! Sakuno-chan, lets join the game!!" Fuji chuckled and gently took Sakuno's hand and pulled her towards the group. Sakuno flashed a big smile. Not only Fuji but also Oishi and Ryoma had finally realized Eiji's intention.
'Ryuzaki must have encountered lots of hardships, yet, I had just said something that had hurt her!! Nice attempt, Kikumaru senpai!!' Ryoma grinned after he realized his own stupidity.
The game started with Fuji and Sakuno pair, then the infamous Seigaku Golden pair and the all rounder Tezuka and Ryoma pair!! At the end the golden pair get became the Biggest Loser and had to drink the penalty juice. Everyone was having a good time. After the game, Fuji guide them to the guest room where Tezuka, Oishi and Eiji will be sharing. Whereas Ryoma will be sharing Yuuta's room with Fuji.
"Sakuno-chan, you can sleep in my room!" Fuji remarked and bring Sakuno to his room. Ryoma stared at Fuji and Sakuno as they leave the hall to proceed to the bedroom.
When Sakuno entered Fuji's room, she was overwhelmed. Fuji's room is as neat as a girl's room. There's a catus placed nearby the window.
"Tonight you'll have a good rest!! I've put your school uniform for dry clean, it'll be ready by tomorrow!! Then we'll walk you to school!!"
"Hai!!" Sakuno obediently listened to Fuji and she walks over to the bed and lay herself to rest.
"Are you feeling better?" Fuji sat next to Sakuno. She's now lying comfortably on Fuji's bed!!
"Hai" She shyly replied, the blanket neatly covering her now warm body. The bed had the scent of her senpai. 'It's lavender!' she thought and then eyes glancing at her senpai. She blushed when she also noticed her senpai staring at her.
"Hayakku genki shinai de (Get well soon)!! All of us are waiting for you to cheer for our team on the next game to come!!" Fuji chuckled while gently stroking Sakuno head, just like putting a baby to sleep.
"Soshite...Gomen ne!! For not caring about your feelings earlier on, you must have been suffering for all these years!!" Fuji stated and eyed her guiltily.
"Iie...sonna (no...how come)!! Senpai tachi (all seniors), soshite Ryoma-kun and obaasan too, minna-san, hontoni oyassashi dess (very kind). I've never realized that until now, when all of you are by my side, taking care of me!!" Sakuno exclaimed, eyes earnestly staring at Fuji.
"I'll be strong and I'll protect!! Things that's important to me!!" Sakuno took Fuji's hand and whispered those firm phrase asking for Fuji's recognition.
"Hm...I understand, I want to see, your will to protect, but first of all, get more rest and get well soon!!" Fuji chuckled slowly pushing Sakuno back to rest.
"If you don't sleep, I'm not going to bed either!! I'll be here until you finally fall asleep!!" Fuji remarked gently.
"Hai...wakatta (Understand), Fuji senpai, oyasumi nasai!! Sakuno greeted and gently closes her eyes to let herself to fall asleep.
Fuji sat there for quite sometime until he's assured that Sakuno's finally asleep.
"Oyasumi...Sakuno-chan!" He whispered and plant a kiss at her forehead. He then slowly leave his room. Sakuno's face blushed furiously when her senpai eventually kissed her forehead. She was actually still concious. Her hearts beats fasten a little. She could heard the clicking sound of lights being switched off and the sound of the door being close. Moonlight slowly casting it's shadow through the thin curtains.
Sakuno's eyes sprank open and she quickly sprung up from her bed. She was about to let out a loud scream, but then again she heard footsteps slowly approaching towards her room. (It's Fuji's room it be Fuji-senpai again! He must have left out something!! He'll be very angry if he sees that I'm still awake!!' Sakuno thought worriedly.
The twitching sound of the doorknob could be heard. Sakuno quickly laid back to her former position and pretended to be asleep again!! Footsteps step closer and closer towards her bedside.
"Ryuzaki?? Are you asleep already?" A familiar tone asked.
'Ryoma-kun?? What are you doing here late at night?' Sakuno thought, still pretending to be asleep.
Silence filled the room. Only faint breathe of Sakuno could be heard.
'Yes...I'm already asleep, now please go away!!' Sakuno begged inwardly. She also don't want Ryoma to find out that she's still awake. He might go and tell Fuji about that.
Sakuno could felt warm breathe carressing her cheek. So close and so warm. She then felt some very soft took over her lip. She was shocked and she fridgeted. Ryoma had eventually bent down and kiss her, directly on her lip.
He then rose up and looked at Sakuno again, she was blushing. Ryoma stood silent and then slowly leave the room. Few minutes after Ryoma closed the door, Sakuno sprung up again!!
"Kiss....kiss, doushiyo? Fuji-senpai and Ryoma-kun!! My first kiss!!" Sakuno covered her mouth with both of her hands.
'Ryoma-kun no baka!!' She shouted inwardly.
Outside the hallway...
"Echizen? What are you doing here? I thought you're suppose to be sleeping already?" Fuji asked when he witnessed Ryoma coming out from Sakuno's room/
"Fuji-senpai? Nothing, I just want to talk to Sakuno, but she's asleep and so I just leave her alone!!" Echizen stated cooly.
"Hm...is that so?" Fuji remarked suspiciously.
"What...?? Is there anything more?" Echizen realized Fuji's suspicions.
"Nothing...ah...yes, Echizen, I finally realized that Sakuno-chan is an interesting girl!!" Fuji commented.
"Interesting?? What do you mean by that?" Echizen asked sternly walked passed Fuji.
"I'll think of a better word and then I'll let you know later!! By the way let's go to bed!! Fuji chuckled and followed Echizen back to their room.
That night, both Echizen and Sakuno can hardly sleep. Too many things had been happening within a day!!
The next morning...
"Ohaiyo...Echizen, do you have a good sleep? Fuji asked while proceeding to the bathroom.
"No...Senpai, your snoring's too loud, it's annoying!! Ryoma exclaimed scarstically.
"Did I? Maybe you should record it down next time, if you still want to share a room with me?!" Fuji chuckled and remarked nonchalantly before he close the bathroom door behind Ryoma.
'He's so annoying!!' Ryoma thought, actually also don't know why he can't sleep!! He even can't understand why he had kissed Sakuno last night!!
"Echizen, I forgot, can you go to the laundry room and get Sakuno-chan's school uniform" Fuji called out from the bathroom.
Ryoma didn't protest, he went down to the laudry room and took out Sakuno's uniform and then go the room where Sakuno slept!!
He knocked the door gently!! Ryoma suddenly felt his face began to blush when he recalled about last night incident!!
No answer...'Is she still asleep!!' Ryoma thought. He then tried twist the doorknob....it's not lock. He opened the door. When the door was fully opened, he saw something which he's not suppose to see.
"Ry...Ryu...zaki?!" Ryoma was dumbfounded when he witnessed Sakuno standing in front of him, wearing nothing but bra and underwear.
"Yo...you...Ah!!" Sakuno let out a loud scream. So loud that everyone in the house was alerted. They (Tezuka, Fuji, Oishi and Eiji) quickly rushed to Sakuno's room, where Ryoma was about to close the door. But till then...
Everyone stood fridgeted when they saw everything. Sakuno was shocked.
"Ry...Ryuzaki...it was just..." before Oishi could explain, flying objects seem to be throwing out of Fuji's room. From slippers to pillows. All sorts of objects that Sakuno could grab, she just threw it all over to her senpais and Ryoma too!!
TBC
So Ryoma-kun had stolen Sakuno's first kiss and Fuji find that Sakuno's an interesting girl!! How will Sakuno react? Moreover, will Sakuno open her heart and share her past with her friends?
AN: Minna, sorry, I think this chappie is far too long!! So I splited two parts for this chappie!! So I'm going to finished off chappie 4 part II very soon. Please bear with me!! I think this is not originally of what I've plotted. Just try to make this story a little romantic!! And also, perhaps all of you must have realized there's more FujiSaku's interact and also RyoSaku interact as well, but as I mentioned, there'll be more pairing coming up!! This could be a messy story but please bear with me!!
Lastly, please review my story, onegaishimass!!