Hi there! MitsukiJunko here again. Sigh… I am back really. I have my own laptop now and I can reply to your reviews as fast as I can, with no hassle… tee hee hee… so long slow computer of mine… But I don't want to stop. I hope you inspire me more than you did the last time.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Prince of Tennis. Got it.
johanna – chapter 1: oh… okay… I hope you will like this too…
chapter 2: okay… it's semi-AU and Sakuno didn't study at Seigaku, meaning she didn't know the regulars, her grandmother and Ryoma. I already explained that in the first chapter though.
Chapter 3: tee hee hee… this is easy to guess… I think… hahaha it's okay… that's why this is rated M for harsh words… okay lan yan… ^_^
Thank you for reading… there will be more to come… I hope you like it, I really hope…
Yana19: tee hee hee… thank you very much… I am glad that you like it. Yeah, I am so bound about Ryoma with the helping thing.
I see… it seems this got your attention, ei? I am glad about that… ;p Anyway, I am not sure if you will like who's going to be Sakuno's first love… it's not them that you mentioned on your review. He will be mentioned here anyway… I hope that you like this… ^_^
Your Instead of a Love Letter review: aww thank you very much. I am really glad that you found this fic cute. ^_^
Tee hee hee… you got me confused there at first… *blush blush*… I promise I will never abandon my fic as long as there are people like you who will keep supporting and motivating me to write.
Thank you very much...
Chapter 4: A Tiny Hope
Chapter Summary: She was bothered over something and she needed his comfort. For an unknown reason, the young guy never intended to do so. Why him?
It's not, definitely not. That never happened. Sakuno screamed in her mind as she continued running to who knew where. She covered her mouth with her hand. That was not a kiss. Impossible. Convincing herself, her pace slowed down. Her expression became sullen as she was not really upset about the incident. It happened very lightly but she still considered giving her first kiss to the person that she loved.
And it was not definitely Echizen Ryoma that she was pertaining to give her first kiss to.
Her stare fixed on the ground as she thought of someone. As of now, the person that she admired wasn't giving her any attention. It wasn't like the guy to notice her. In fact, she was a bit depressed because he was ignoring her painfully and really painful in the process.
She wanted him to notice her even just a tiny bit, hoping that he could like her back even just a little. Then, a thought suddenly came down to her. Echizen-kun is really nice. Why can't he be like him? Why can't he be Echizen-kun, instead? Her eyes widened when she realized what she thought. Mentally shaking her head, she uttered, "Stop this nonsense, Sakuno. He is different from him, although… he is tad rude to me."
She stopped walking for a while, "as long as I can be with him… I can take all the hardships. I can survive everything because I am doing it for him after all," she gripped her hands really hard as she bit her bottom lip, "I know… he will learn to forgive me and then… he will learn to love me afterwards."
It was in her mind. That tiny hope, that single hope that one day that guy would learn to love her. How she wished that he could see all her sacrifices that she was doing was only for him.
"Why am I thinking of him now?" she shook her head as she remembered something embarrassing once again.
…The incident that happened earlier.
Raising her hands to her head she suddenly blurted, "Mou! I am saving my first kiss to the guy that I really like… not to him!" her sudden outburst was noticed by everyone around her.
…Which she noticed as well.
She looked around her as she saw them looking at her. Blush came to her as she realized what she just did earlier. Looking around from a corner, she quickly bowed and uttered a small apology before turning to that area.
I must be out of my mind. I need a break to this.
With that she quickly walked away from that area and aiming to go home as fast as she could.
Monday morning practice:
"Everyone 30 laps around the court." Seishun Academy tennis club captain announced to the regulars and non-regulars.
He could hear them complaining and whining about the laps. He closed his eyes as he continued speaking, "Now!"
"Hai!" they agreed and started running.
He watched them run afterwards. There were some players who wanted to improve their skills so he let them run laps as their starting point. If they want to improve their skills, then they should do every thing that the regulars do. He treated everyone equally but stricter than Tezuka and Kaidoh had been.
"You are very stricter than yesterday."
He looked at the last person who spoke. The former data analysis who was now a physicist in the Academy was still scribbling some notes in his notebook.
Old habits never died hard. He couldn't remember how many times he thought about that old saying. He quickly turned around and focused on the runners ahead, "Shouldn't you be in your lab, Inui-senpai?"
Inui adjusted his glasses at the bridge of his nose and replied, "I am taking a break and my feet dropped me here."
"Hn."
Momo saw his senpai and waved at him. Inui just nodded as acknowledging his presence.
"Saa… Echizen, why don't we make their laps a bit interesting?"
He looked up to his senpai and asked him stoically, "What do you mean by that?"
Inui smirked at him as his glasses flashed from the sunlight. Out of nowhere, he presented his specialty that he would never dare missed of not seeing them again.
…Inui's concoctions.
Upon seeing the glasses from the container, he smirked, "I've been meaning to try this leadership." With that, they both looked at the running players. Later on, he announced the additional 'prize' while they were running.
And of course, their faces became pale.
Later on:
It was Horio who had received his 'prize'. Forcedly drinking the juice and examined himself afterwards, his feet brought him to the drinking fountain and miraculously didn't lose consciousness. Everyone who had witnessed the scene sweat dropped not missing the pale color on their faces.
"Minna, let's have a single practice match today!" Ryoma announced afterwards.
"Alright! This is the part of the training that I am waiting for."Katsuo said facing Kachiro.
"Me too, but I wonder if Horio is alright?" Kachiro asked to no one.
Momo answered him, "No worries, he's fine. Now let's have a match already," He looked at Echizen, "Echizen, let's play."
He eyed his senpai when he said that. It was true that he was the captain of the tennis club now, but even to him, it was really weird for his senpais to call him captain. He secretly thanked Momo for not calling him one.
"I'll be watching you today," he said earning a disappointment reaction from him. He faced everyone and he showed them a box with sticks in it, "I want everyone to pick a stick in this box and with the corresponding number will be his opponent."
They looked at each other before looking back at him. Minutes later, they fell in line and started picking up their own sticks. And later on, they found their own opponent.
Kachiro against Kaidoh.
Katsuo against Arai.
Horio against Momo.
And so on and so forth.
Before they went to their respective courts, Ryoma had some words to tell them, "Whoever loses the game will receive Inui-senpai's nutritious juice."
Everyone sweat dropped.
"Y-you got to be kidding me, Echizen." Momo eyed him.
"He's telling the truth Momoshiro," Inui answered to him and faced him completely, "In fact, Echizen here is a hundred percent positive that he is willing to add my inventions to your trainings."
Faces became colorless once again.
"Go to your positions, now!" He ordered everyone.
The morning became like the old days. Ryoma was definitely enjoying being a captain at that moment. He could feel what Tezuka felt back then. He decided to leave the team for a while and entered the club where Sumire was busy at something.
"Let the practice training lasts for thirty minutes and then send them to their classrooms." The coach said not looking up at him.
"You seem to be pretty busy, sensei."
Sumire looked up when he heard Inui's voice, "Inui, good to see you here," she smiled as she looked back at the papers she was examining a while ago, "I need to scroll this down for the last time. A tournament is coming and we need to focus now."
"They are doing their job well, sensei," Ryoma said, "With our senpais out there; I know we can win the tournament."
"I like your potential as always, Echizen," Sumire smiled closing the papers completely, "don't forget that we still have you."
He pinned his hat down when she said that. Sumire smiled when he saw his reaction. He never changed.
"I need to go back there now, sensei." Ryoma said catching her attention.
"Matte, Echizen," Sumire called, "that Sakuno girl, how far do you know her?"
He raised an eyebrow, "Not for long, why?"
Sumire stared at him for a long time before sighing, "Nothing, it's just that I feel pity for her when I witnessed the treatment Naruse-san did."
He chose to remain silent. She was right after all. Even that Kaito guy was her step-brother or something; he shouldn't treat her like that. It was not human like. He was a total disappointment to him, not just with his playing skills which he hadn't seen yet but also a relative to the girl.
"I wish to see her again if I can." Sumire muttered cutting him from his thoughts.
"You can give her a call if you like." He suggested.
"I don't have her number, if you don't know about that."
He shrugged, "Well, you can call her brother or the school."
"I don't think that's the good idea," Sumire thought before saying it, "We already witnessed his treatment to her. I don't think seeing her alone is a good idea."
She was once again right. The coach could sense that the girl had no right to make her own decision or else, she would put herself in trouble if she did.
"Ne, Echizen, if you have a chance to meet her again, can you ask her number for me?"
He blinked his eyes twice, "Why would you like me to do that? It's not like I see her everyday."
Sumire smirked at his words, "I just have the instinct that you will see her one of these days," she leaned on her table and continued, "and I believe that you have seen her beyond our knowledge."
His eyes widened when she said that and quickly pinned his hat down to his not-so-flushed face, "It was unexpected, sensei."
She smiled this time, "Well, I just want to see if she's okay. I will thank you if you do that."
He stared back at her before bowing, "Domo." With that he quickly left the room and walked away.
Sumire watched the tennis captain from the window and smiled to herself, "He is so different, as always."
"True indeed."
Sumire looked in front of her and almost forgot that Inui was still there. She smiled, "I think you some business to talk about."
Inui just smiled at her as he pushed his glasses to his nose.
After Practice in the afternoon:
Ryoma decided to go to the tennis center to have a little warm up. He invited Momo but the latter rejected him for he was having a date with Ann Tachibana, his two years girlfriend that day. Without his best friend, he decided to go there alone.
Focusing at the tennis machine, he swiftly returned all shots on the wall. He ignored all of the whispers he could hear around him. Appearing there with his own self, not with disguise. He regretted about not wearing a disguise outfit before going there. But luckily, he was able to concentrate at what he was doing.
After a series of hitting balls with the machine, he walked back to where his duffel bag was. He grabbed his towel and a ponta as he sat there. His background seemed to be quiet now and he was thankful that people who knew him seemed to be leaving the area. He got to have a look around the area. Then, he spotted a girl with long braids at the other machine. His eyes widened when he stared at the girl.
The girl was facing the wall so he was only seeing her back. He remembered a certain pigtailed girl because of the girl facing her back against him. Her hit is a bit strong though, yarujan. He thought as he observed her. Finding her interesting to watch, he thought of the girl who he accidentally kissed last weekend.
Realizing what he had just thought, he instinctively raised his index finger and touched his lips. No matter how the girl denied that they didn't kiss, he could still remember how soft her lips were. True it was just seconds… or maybe milliseconds but he could feel her there. Was it like to feel a girl like that? Somehow, he found himself smiling at that thought. She was indeed interesting after all as he thought.
"Gomenasai, gomenasai."
His smile shifted to an alert one when he heard someone talk. The voice was clearly familiar to his ears and he wouldn't have mistaken that. He looked at the girl who was playing a while ago. She was in trouble as he saw her with a bunch of guys cornering her.
"You idiot, you threw that ball to my face on purpose!" The guy with a dirty face plus the mark of a tennis ball angrily retorted to her.
She continuously bowed to the guy, "A-ano, I am really sorry. It was an accident."
"Nonsense, you should pay for this!" He leaned over to her making the girl panic.
She quickly walked past the guy making his amber eyes have a clear look of her face, which that made them wide.
It was her after all. Why didn't he notice her back then? Although, he had the hunch that it was her but he just didn't want to believe that it was her.
But it was Sakuno after all.
"Y-you are hurting me."
He stood up when he saw the guy harshly grabbed her wrist making her wince from the pain.
"You should pay for this… hard," He gave her a smirk as he forcedly pulled her away from the court, "Come on."
She panicked when she tried to stop him but no to avail. Fear came to her especially when the other guys were smirking deviously at her. She wanted to scream but her voice was betraying her. Why the people around her were doing nothing? Couldn't they see that she was in trouble? Did they see what really happened back then? She helplessly followed their lead with fear registered on her face.
Only to be shocked when a tennis ball suddenly hit the guy's face… at the other side to make it equal. The guy winced at the pain that caused it. He let go of her as he looked at the direction where the ball came from.
"Was it you who did that?" He looked at him.
He was dribbling a tennis ball as if he was concentrating for his next hit, "Gomen, it just slipped from my grip."
The guy gritted his teeth as he narrowed his eyes, "Why you-" he couldn't finish his words as another ball hit his face and this time it was straight to his face.
"Ah, I slipped again." He stoically uttered.
"Teme!" He retorted.
Sakuno was staring at the commotion finding herself speechless. And then she saw him smirking as he lifted his racket and preparing for his next hit.
"I guess this one too." With that he made that serve to be the strongest one for that day making the guy lost his consciousness.
The others became panicked as someone of them recognized him.
"T-that's Echizen Ryoma, that world's number one tennis player," he quickly walked a few steps backward, "I heard that his hits are all powerful. I would not dare try to experience that."
"Well, what are you waiting for, idiot," the other guy said grabbing the guy who was unconscious and gestured to the door, "Let's get out of here."
"You are lucky, slut!" the last guy retorted before exiting the court.
He didn't like the guy what he called her. He was planning to give him a hit but he was nowhere in that area anymore. His eyes went to her who was looking down on the ground. He could sense that she was affected at the whole commotion. With the need of companion, he decided to walk closer to her and placed his hand on top of her head. Having received no reaction from her, he commented;
"It's alright, everything's fine now."
She kind of sensed what he said, "Ah, oh, right… t-thank you."
He stared at her for a while. It seemed that she was not convinced with his words. How was he going to cheer a girl up? It was new to him. He didn't know how to deal with her. With an idea popped into his head, he secretly smirked;
"If you don't cheer up there, I'll kiss you for real."
It was effective. He saw her flinch and blush quickly came to her face. She shoved his hand on her head and looked at him, "I-it was not a kiss, alright!"
Staring at her eyes, he totally smirked at her. He turned a little sideways to her as he closed his eyes, "right, right."
"Mou! You did not believe me."
He ignored her as he slowly walked away from her hoping that she would follow.
…Which she did.
"W-where are you going?"
"Home." He said shortly as he began fixing his things on the bench where his duffel bag was laying.
Silence erupted between them, not until Sakuno broke it;
"Um… thank you for saving me… again," she fidgeted with her fingers as she looked down, "I hope I can make it up to you someday."
He heard her say that as if thinking of something good to reply. Then he found something in his duffel bag making him smile in the process. Standing straight, he turned around and faced her carrying something in his hand that he yanked from his bag, Sakuno wondered as he looked at his hand that he was carrying;
"Your number?" he quickly said not looking at her. He was busy doing something on his mobile phone.
"E-eh?" she cocked her head as if she was oblivious to his request.
"Give it to me." he simply said.
She blinked her eyes twice, understanding what he said she asked, "B-but why?"
Shifting his stare from the screen of his phone to her eyes, he quickly said, "You said that you want to make it up to me, asking your number is enough for me."
"O-oh," she blushed and looked down.
"Well?"
She quickly looked at him with bewilderment. Still not paying attention at what he just said a while ago.
He sighed as a hint of irritation. He hated repetitions but he wouldn't mind repeating his words to her, "Your number?"
She blushed really hard as she sweat dropped, "A-ah… right, gomen." With that she quickly gave him her number.
Later on:
"Thank you once again." She bowed in front of him as they were at the train station. The train had just arrived and it was her time to go.
"Un."
"I'll… see you soon… I guess." She looked at him straight to his eyes.
"Guess so." He simply replied.
Then the door of the train closed between them. Sakuno was inside while Ryoma was waiting at the outside. She gave him a smile and a wave as the train started to move forward. He looked at her as the train was slowly taking her away. He stared at the train until it was out of his sight; he then turned around as he went his own way.
What a day it was today. He thought. Somehow, he found it different. It seemed that Sumire's pre-fortune telling a while ago came true. Although, he didn't notice that he could see the girl that soon.
What added to this day was, he was able to get her number that Sumire requested him to do, which he wasn't intentionally planned in the first place. But he thought that it was better than nothing. Wearing a smile that he rarely did, he walked his way to his home.
Yosouku City, Naruse residence:
It was already night and luckily, she was already home before Kaito did. The place was awfully dark as they were the only ones left in that lone home. She quickly made her way to the kitchen and made dinner before Kaito arrived.
After several minutes, she finished making their dinner. She took off the apron that she was wearing as she wiped her sweat on her face. She was in the process of putting the apron on a hanger when she heard the main door open.
Sakuno went to the door to see a drunk Kaito walking tipsy to a sofa, "Y-you are drunk."
"I am not!" he hissed as he covered his face with his hand, "Leave me~alone!"
She ignored his words as she went closer to him. The smell of alcohol was too strong for her that she could almost cough but she paid no attention of it, "D-dinner's ready Kaito-kun."
"I'm~~not hungry." He retorted prying her hand that attempted to reach him, "You stupid girl, can't you understand Japanese?"
"Kaito-kun, you are drunk," she frowned at his behavior. Once again, she ignored his rudeness and quickly grabbed him to his arm and waist, "I-I'll take you to your room."
Kaito was awfully heavy that she herself tried to balance their weight. She was having a hard time to take him to his room because the guy was making unnecessary movements while they walk. There were times that they stumble because of his reckless movement.
"You~~ are clumsy!"
She could hear him retorted. His words were painful but she ignored them. He was drunk and she was only thinking that. Finally, they reached his room and successfully put him to his bed. Compared to her, his room was filled with complete gadgets while she only had an old TV and a worn out closet. Not that she was complaining but she hoped that her step-brother would give her something nice and decent than that. But she knew that he would never do that to her.
The drunken guy had a huge grudge against her and she had no right to oppose him.
She sighed as she mentally shook her head. Staring down at the peaceful-yet-frowned face of her step-brother, she sat down to the side of his bed and began unbuttoning his shirt. Blush crept on her face as she saw his bare chest. She instantly looked away and instinctively closed his shirt once again. W-what are you doing? Snap out of it, Sakuno. He's drunk for goodness sake. She mentally thought. Before she could think other things, she quickly stood up and about to leave the room.
Only to be stopped by a hand and forced her to sat down again.
She looked at him who was holding her wrist firmly. Kaito's eyes were opened as she looked at them. Somehow, she felt that his stare was somewhat different than he gave her most of the time. With that realization, she became red and looked away. On what happened next, was a total shock from her. Kaito quickly sat up; his hand was still on her wrist while the other was cupping her chin firmly. She held her breath a she studied his expression.
It was dull but something was on it that she couldn't name.
She panicked when Kaito slowly leaned closer to her face. Her eyes widened as she could feel his heat from his breath with the scent of alcohol in it. She couldn't react nor move but it felt like forever as they stayed like that. Shutting her eyes tight thinking that he would kiss her; she felt that his breath suddenly shifted to her side, to her ear. His hand explored her face and neck as he whispered something to her;
"You can only dream but you will never be happy living with me."
Her eyes widened when the guy whispered that. She was stiffened as she didn't know what to do. She also paid no attention, when the boy's hand travelled down to the side of her chest and landed above her leg. As soon as his hand landed on her lap, Kaito collapsed and fell back on his bed, sleeping soundly and peacefully snoring. Sakuno was still deadpanned as she stared at her sleeping step-brother.
So, no matter what she did, he would never forgive her. No matter how hard she would try, it would be useless. She looked down and gripped her hands tight which were on her lap. At least, the guy was able to touch her tonight. Not that she was hoping that the guy would do that kind of thing, but touching her with fondness and gentle caress were what she was dreaming for.
That the guy did unconsciously that night.
She hovered over to him as she took the courage to touch his cheek and then, to his lips, his lips that almost kissed her. The kiss she was longing for. Pathetically, it didn't happen.
And it was stupid of her to dream something like that. He was right after all. She was living with her fantasy only. She looked at him with fondness this time, ignoring all the painful words, actions and situations the guy gave to her, she smiled bittersweet and whispered;
"I don't care if I only live in dreams," she started her eyes softened, "because in my dreams… I know I can be happy with you living there."
Done! How was this chapter? It's clear who Sakuno loves here. She's a martyr and enduring all the pains and suffering he is giving her, she cannot careless about that. But she's blind for now, just wait 'till she shifts her attention from him to Ryoma. Tee hee hee, Ryoma has plans so wait for it.
Bear with her stupid-ness for a while please… domo…
Vocab:
Teme – bastard. (Naruto used to say this as an insult… ne, ne? I do not own Naruto… tee hee hee…)
Reviews please! ! ! I want to know your thoughts about this. Who hates Kaito now?
Next Chapter: Dark secrets