YAY! I updated. Phew this is a bit long chapter and guess what it almost took me a week to finish it. Well include all those bloody homeworks and quizzes. I really hate Math! I despise it. I'm really glad I made it alive in my third year of high school.

Thanks for all the review, PROMISE I love them, all the reviews were wonderful!

Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis!

CHAPTER 4: Our Family?

"So where's your wife?" they were all curious to ask, Ryoma was silent.

"She's gone" he said.

Sakuno stared at Sakura, so she was Ryoma's daughter, she still remembered the look on her face when she said, "Mommy's gone and daddy's the one taking care of me." she said, "G-gone?" she asked, "Mommy's already in heaven" she replied. "Oh, I'm sorry Sakura-chan" Sakuno frowned. "Mommy wants me too be happy that's why she went to heaven." Sakura smiled. Sakuno felt pity for the kid, losing her mom at such a young age.

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"What do you mean gone, Ochibi?" Kikumaru asked, "Yeah, Echizen!" Momo agreed. "She died while in labor." he simply said, "Poor kid" Ann muttered. "Echizen, so all these years you're the only one taking care of that kid?" Oishi asked.

"Hai" he nodded. "That's great!" Momo exclaimed, "Disastrous" Ryoma commented. "Daddy, can I play with Momo-kun, Eiji-kun, Fuji-kun, Kyoko-chan, Kai-kun and Mitsu-kun again?" she said innocently. "Fine" Ryoma gave her a pat in the head. She smiled and went into the play corner again.

"Ne senpai-tachi are you sure your children are good, because if anything bad happens to Sakura" he sounded serious, "Hai, they are good children, Echizen" Fuji chuckled, still as sadistic as ever. "Ne Minna, I baked a cake, I hope you'll like it" Ayumi said. (Tezuka's wife) "Yui-chan do you want a slice?" the three year old girl nodded.

"Ne, Momo-senpai, is that baby your son too?" Ryoma asked, "Yes" Momo nodded. "Ne, Oishi where's Kate?" Eiji asked, (Kate is Oishi's wife) "She said she's stuck with some kind of paper work, she really loved to come here but unfortunately something came up." he explained.

"Here's another batch of sushi Takashi made." Reiya, Kawamura's wife said as she placed another plate in their table. "Thanks Reiya-san!" Momo said as he popped a handful into his mouth. "Oi Mamushi, you know your kid acts like you!" Momo blurted.

"Fsshhhuuuuuu you're kid also has a big appetite like you" Kaidou replied. "Baka Mamushi" Momo said. "Oi, what did you say! Teme!" he growled.

'Nothing really changed'

Ryoma looked over the kids, who were playing tag. He stared at his daughter who was extremely happy together with her new playmates.

"Ochibi, I just want to ask you..." Kikumaru paused, "What?" he stared at Kikumaru with a confused look. "Why does your daughter look so much like Ryuzaki-chan?" he said. Then there was silence. BULL'S EYE! That's the last thing Ryoma wanted his senpais to notice.

Ryuzaki Sakuno blushed, "Yeah, Ryoma-sama, it's as if you had a kid with Sakuno!" loudmouthed as ever Tomaka squealed. Horio nodded, "T-tomo-chan, it's e-embarassing!" Sakuno's blushed turned into a deeper shade of red. "Sakuno when did you and Ryoma-sama????" Tomoka was into her fangirl mode again.

"N-no" Sakuno stuttered. "Her eye color has a lighter shade of brown, but she still looks a lot like Sakuno" Ann smiled.

"I never thought Echizen would..." Momo paused and started to laugh. "There's a high possibility that Echizen has more secrets" Inui muttered. "Fsshhhhuuuuu" Kaidoh hissed. "Ne, Ochibi you're looking for a new motherly figure for Sakura right?" Eiji grinned. "Sakuno-chan is perfect for the spot!" Tomoka squealed.

"D-demo..." Sakuno blushed.

"Shut up senpai-tachi!" Ryoma scowled and glared at them. "A-anou senpai-tachi, I'll just check the kids" Sakuno said before she stood up and walked towards the playing corner. "Ryuzaki-chan is such a sweet young lady" Kikumaru grinned. "Yeah and she cares soooo much" Momo added.

Ryoma glared at Momo, he received the glare directly in an eye to eye contact. 'You're in a big trouble!' Ryoma thought. "Oi Echizen, don't take it seriously." Momo said. "Fine, whatever" he said and gave Momo another glare.

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"Sakuno-neechan!!!" Kyoko called Sakuno's attention. "Hi Kyoko-chan" she smiled. The small girl smiled back. "I'm happy that Kyoko-chan and the others are being good to Sakura-chan" she said. "Yup!" the girl replied. "Sakura-chan, isn't it great to have many friends?" Sakuno smiled at her. "Hai" she replied.

"Nee-chan, let's play a game!" Momo's kid suggested. "What kind of game?" Sakuno asked. "It's not fair! Momo gets to choose!" Eiji's kid whailed. "So what!" Momo sniggered. "It's not fair you PIG HEAD!" Eiji whailed again. "Fsshuuuuu, baka peach" Kaido's kid hissed.

"Kyoko-chan, are they fighting???" Sakura asked as she stared at the three boys. "They're always like that but they're really good friends" she giggled. "Stop fighting" Sakuno tried to calm the kids. "We can play a memory game..." she suggested.

"But that's boring!" Momo complained. "I want to play tag!" Eiji suggested. "But the space isn't big enough to play tag" Tezuka's son said. "He's right" Fuji's kid chuckled.

"Mitsu-nii-san!" kyoko giggled, "Maybe we can play house!" Sakura suggested. "It's a good idea!" Kyoko agreed. "Well, if that's what Sakura-chan likes..." Fuji's kid said. "Okay with me" Tezuka's son agreed. "Me too! Nya!" Eiji said.

"Then... how do we play?" Sakuno asked. "Daddy, Megumi-nee chan and I always play that game." Sakura smiled. "Sakuno nee-chan could be our mom!" Kyoko added while the other kids nodded. "B-but why m-me?" she asked. "Because we want to..." the kids grinned.

"And my dad could play as our daddy!" Sakura giggled. "Ryoma-kun..." Sakuno blushed. "N-no way..." she stuttered. "Why? Sakuno nee-chan Do you hate Sakura-chan's dad?" Eiji's kid asked. "N-no...it's not hate..." she blushed.

"Did my daddy do anything wrong?" she asked teary eyed. "N-no..." Sakuno felt panic and adrenaline rush. "O-okay" she finally sighed in defeat. "YAY!" the kids cheered. "I'll go tell daddy!" Sakura stood up and ran.

'I'm in a big trouble.' Sakuno thought as she watched Sakura ran into Ryoma's lap. She was feeling hot and totally EMBARASSED. "Daddy! Daddy!" she giggled.

"Daddy can you please join us in our game???" she said with the most innocent look she could give. "What kind of game?" he asked. "House..." she smiled.

"What?!" he pretended he didn't heard but in fact he heard it CLEARLY.

"House..."

"Yadda" Ryoma sighed. "Daddy Please" Sakura pleaded, "Fine" he simply said. "Yay! Daddy said YES!" she skipped. Momo and Kikumaru were laughing at the corner.

"Ochibi's weakness is Sakura-chan!" Kikumaru sniggered, "Yeah right, Echizen is our best parent here!" Momo said as the others also laughed. "Stupid senpai tachi" Ryoma hissed."Then we can be your uncles and aunts!" Ann suggested, "Yeah right!"Tomoka agreed. "Sakuno-chan is it alright if we join the game?" she asked.

"Sure, Tomo-chan, but why should I be the mother?" she asked while giving Ryoma a quick glance unfortunately he caught it, Ryoma was staring at Sakuno while she blushed as red as a tomato. "Because you're the most suitable person here." Ayumi said.

"Now, we're a family!" Sakura smiled, Ryoma stared at his child. He never saw her this happy, she was happy living with Megumi but he never saw with this different aura of brightness and cheerfullness.

"Sakura-chan would be my older sister!!!" Kyoko said as she raised her voice proudly. "I'll be the big brother!" Momo-kun said, "Nya No fair! I wanna be the oldest brother!"

"NO ME!" Kai-kun protested. "Mou, they are fighting again." Kyoko sighed. "Hey, stop fighting you three" Tomoka yelles at the three kids. They ended up crying.

"Sorry I didn't mean to..." Tomoka apologized but they still didn't stop crying. "Nya! It looks like the game has already started!" Kikumaru grinned. "What are you talking about, senpai?" Ryoma asked. "Since you and Ryuzaki-chan were the parents for this game you should be responsible for making them stop." he smiled sheepeeshly.

"Oi oi, what are you talking about!" Ryoma said, but they just stayed out of their sight. "Ryuzaki, this is up to you and me now" he simply said causing Sakuno to falter.

"H-hai" she replied.

"I'm not really good with kids" Ryoma said, "But Sakura-chan...is a nice girl, you really did a good job Ryoma-kun" Sakuno commented. "Really?, I was lucky she was understanding and sweet."

Sakuno went near the three kids, "Anou, please stop crying your Aunt Tomoka didn't do that on purpose" Sakuno explained as she gave them a bright and cheerful smile. The three kids MIRACULOUSLY stopped crying.

Ryoma was speechless 'How'd she did that?' he asked. He heard soft laughters from his senpai-tachi's table. "Ryuzaki-chan is SUCH a SWEET MOTHER!" Eiji exclaimed, "Sou dane! Eiji-senpai!" Momo nodded while the other regulars were just busy watching them or having another set of conversations.

"Oi, Oi" Ryoma muttered. "A-anou R-ryoma-kun, what should we do now?" Sakuno asked as she stared at him who was sitting in another corner. "I don't know" Ryoma simply said.

"Uh..." Sakuno was sweatdropped, nothing changed, she still had dumb conversations with Ryoma. "Hey! What's that?" Fuji-kun asked, "It's a cat" Tezuka-kun added. "KAWAAAAIIIII!" Sakura and Kyoko giggled. "It looks injured" Sakuno said.

"Daddy, can we take care of poor neko-chan?" Sakura asked. "I don't know... it looks sick, we might have troubles taking care of it." Ryoma simply stated. "B-but..." Sakura suddenly stopped when the cat jumped out of her hand.

"Neko-chan!" she cried out. "The cat jumped." Sakuno said, "Neko-chan isn't feeling well yet!" Kyoko said. "What should we do now?" Ryoma asked.

"I'll find it" Sakuno suggested. "We'll help too!" Eiji-kun and Momo-kun said. "Agree" Tezuka-kun and Fuji-kun said. "Yay!" Sakura cheered.

"The kids could search in this floor, Come on Ryuzaki we'll search on the second floor" Ryoma held Sakuno's right hand, she couldn't let go of his tight hold. She blushed in deep patches of red. The kids grinned at each other.

"Looks like Sakura-chan's daddy likes Sakuno-nee-chan!" Kyoko said, "Nya, she's right!" Eiji-kun agreed. "Yeah!" all the other kids said.

For the first time those kids agreed on something they all like. RYOSAKU xD

Ryoma and Sakuno were already in the second floor, he was still unconsciously holding her hand. "Ryoma-kun..." she called while he stared at her. "What?" he asked, "M-my h-hand..." she gently said, Ryoma took a quick glance at what he was holding. He blushed quickly upon seeing her hand in contact with his. "S-sorry..." he stuttered a bit and immedietly broke his hold.

"I-it's o-okay..." she stammered, "Meow" they heard a soft groan of pain at the nearest corner. "There it is!" Ryoma said before chasing the cat, Sakuno instantly followed. As they continued to run, Sakuno tripped on something.

THUD! THUD! "Ittai" Ryoma muttered.

"Hey Ochibi! We heard something fell!" Kikumaru entered the scene together with Momo and the kids. "E-chi-zen???" they were surprised of what they saw. Sakuno was on top of him.

"Sakuno nee-chan why are you sitting at my dad?" Sakura-chan curiously asked, while Sakuno blushed in almost a hundred patches of red, she was immovable. Who wouldn't if you would land on Echizen Ryoma.

"Gomenasai! Gomenasai! Gomenasai! Gomenasai! Gomenasai! Gomenasai!" she continuously said, "Ryuzaki, would you please get off me" Ryoma said. "Ahh, Gomenasai, Ryoma-kun" she said before she stood up. "Fine" he simply said. 'This girl is hopeless, still the klutz Ryuzaki, I knew' he thought.

The kids together with Momo and Eiji were grinning to each other. Sakura and Kyoko were laughing. "Daddy, we'll look on the other side" Sakura said as the others followed her.

"But it went there, and all of you are going at the wrong direction!" Ryoma said, they pretended not to hear what he said. "Those bastards they were only letting us do all the work" he cursed.

"Maybe you could just stop Ryoma-kun, I'll go search for it" Sakuno said, 'Still the kind- hearted girl, I knew' he thought again. "No, let's go! We'll search for it TOGETHER" he said as she blushed. They instantly followed it, "It's inside that room" Sakuno smiled, "Yeah, we'll get it" Ryoma smirked.

"Here kitty" Sakuno gently touched the cat's small and weak body. "It's really in a bad shape" Ryoma muttered.

"Good Job, Ochibi! Ryuzaki-chan!" Eiji exclaimed while the kids cheered. "Daddy found Neko-chan!" Sakura cheered. "I guess we really need to take it to a veterinarian" Sakuno said.

"I'll take it" Ryoma volunteered, "A-anou, I'll go too" she said with concerned eyes. "There's a clinic about ten minutes drive from here" Momo said.

"See you around Ryuzaki-chan, Echizen" Momo waved. "See you around senpai-tachi" Ryoma said. "Yeah!" Eiji exclaimed while the others just nodded. "Goodluck Sakuno-chan!" Tomoka and Ann gave her a wink.

"Bye Sakura-chan!" Kyoko waved, "We'll miss you!" Eiji-kun said. "Me too" Momo-kun smiled. "Drop by next time to play" Fuji-kun said. Mitsu-kun and Kai-kun gave a nod.

"Hai!" she giggled.

"Come on Ryuzaki" he said in a low tone. "Umm Hai" she nodded and followed.

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Sakuno was sitting at the front seat of the car while Sakura was sitting at the back playing a bit with the sick cat. More like a family right? Sakura insisted that Sakuno should sit in front. Ryoma can't do anything at his daughter's request.

"Here we are" she muttered. "Sugoi!" Sakura giggled. "Sakura don't hurt the poor cat" Ryoma said, "Hai" she smiled as she gently made her way out of the car.

As they went inside the vet welcomed them. "What a cute daughter you two both have!" she commented as she watched Sakura playing with the other pets. "She's not my..." Sakuno was cut.

"So how's the cat?" Ryoma suddenly changed the topic. "It would be alright after a few days" she said. "That's good to hear" Ryoma said.

"Take Care, Neko-chan" Sakura was teary eyed. "It will be okay" the vet said to the little kid. "Really? Promise?" she asked. "Yes, now go back to your mother, she might be worried about you"

"Mother?" she asked. "Hai, that girl with your dad she's your mom right?"

Sakura grinned, "HAI!, Mommy and Daddy really love each other!" she giggled. "See you!" she waved goodbye while Sakura waved back.

Sakura saw Sakuno and Ryoma sitting in a bench, Sakuno sat far away from him. Ryoma looks a bit problematic, his daughter noticed his uneasiness.

"Daddy? Is there a problem?" she asked. "Yeah, that OTAKU GIRL just sent a list of groceries to buy" he groaned. "Isn't it just easy?" Sakura asked. "Yeah easy when I'm with Megumi, all I need to do is to push the cart." he said.

"A-anou, Ryoma-kun... I could help" Sakuno volunteered. "Is it really okay Ryuzaki?" he asked. "Hai" she smiled, "Yay! Mom- I mean Sakuno-nee-chan's going to help!" Sakura blurted out. "It will be a pleasure" she commented.

As they entered the grocery store, they really do look like a family. Sakura was at the middle holding one hand of Sakuno on her left side and one hand of Ryoma at her right side. She could feel the public's wide eyed stares at them, she even heard other girls giggling, commenting how cute her 'daughter' is.

"Now the first thing in the list are cereals" Ryoma said, "They're over that shelf" Sakuno pointed it. Ryoma pushed the cart while Sakura was enjoying their company. "What brand?" Sakuno asked. "I don't know" Ryoma answered. "I think this would be the best" she put two boxes of cereals inside the cart.

"Meat and Fish." Ryoma said, "That corner" Sakuno said. 'She definitely knows everything, she could be a wife anytime... What the hell am I thinking!' Ryoma blushed. "Here it is!" she said.

They were walking down at another lobby when Sakuno sighted her mean senpai, who always made fun of her back then. She still looks the same, the cool and spicy type. She always talk proudly about her boyfrienS and ex-ES. Sakuno hated her, although she could never show it.

"Daddy, check this out!" Sakura showed a new brand of chocolate"That's weird" Ryoma smirked, while Sakuno was looking at her senpai who was currently approaching her.

"Is that you Ryuzaki-san?" she asked while raising one of her eyebrows. "Still with the klutzy act, you'll never going to marry a decent man with your clumsiness." she said in an obnoxious way.

"Nice to see you again, Fumi-senpai" she bowed still trying to be calm. "Hey did I just hear you calling me Fumi? I'm not Fumi anymore I'm already Kimiko Himwari, yeah and I married a loan maker, he's definitely the best man on earth! How's your miserable life Ryuzaki?" she asked.

"F-fine..." Sakuno answered, "Am I still correct to call you Ryuzaki, are you already married, I guess not..." she rolled her eyes. "N-no..." she stuttered a bit. She felt a tug on her sleeve. "Sakura-chan?" she was confused.

"Who's that kid?" Kimiko asked. "Mommy, daddy and I were already waiting for you!" Sakura whailed, while Sakuno was surprised. "Is she your kid?" her senpai asked. "Is there a problem with OUR kid?" Ryoma smirked. Now Sakuno felt like she could faint anytime.

"My Gosh, you're Echizen Ryoma the famous tennis prodigy! currently a pro tennis player! My husband's trying to get you a deal on his business. Don't tell me you're R-ryuzaki's?" she was cut.

"She's already an Echizen" he said, Sakuno almost died from shock. "Daddy you and mommy said we'll play later right?" Sakura smiled innocently.

"Yeah later" Ryoma smiled at her. "Sorry for my rudeness Sakuno-chan! You know she's definitely my best kouhai ever! See you around Echizen Ryoma-san!" she said before making her exit.

"That was fun, we should do it more often!" Sakura giggled. "A-anou T-thanks R-ryoma-kun" she stuttered, "No problem" he simply said.

"A-anou why did you help me?" she asked, "You don't like her right?" he asked while she nodded, "I don't like my FRIENDS to be criticized in a bad way" he blushed a bit.

"Thanks, Ryoma-kun" she smiled, "I'll pay you someday" she continued. "No need, helping me with grocery problems would be enough"

"Daddy, let's pay already..." Sakura said. "Oh"

As they paid in the counter, the same thing happened all the people really thought they were a family. Sakuno sighed, she couldn't tell if this day was a good or bad day.

After they paid for their bills, Ryoma drove Sakuno until they reached her shop. "Would you like some coffee?" she asked. "Sure" he said. Sakura was asleep in the table.

"Sakura-chan is so cute when sleeping" Sakuno said. "Yeah" Ryoma nodded, "She really misses her mom so much" Sakuno said. "How'd you know?" Ryoma asked.

"It's in her eyes" she said. "How about you Ryuzaki any love interests at this moment?" he asked, "I don't have..." she replied. "But back in highschool you were close with Tooyama?" he asked again.

"Kintarou-kun is just a friend, that's all" she stated. "Is THAT all?" he asked, "Hai" she giggled a bit. "About Sakura-chan? We never heard in the news that you were married or you had a kid?" she asked.

"I decided to keep my family away from the public's eye, I want them to live normally." he said, "Especially Sakura, now that her mom's gone"

"Would she study here in Japan?" Sakuno asked, "Maybe, but I have to find somebody who'll take care of her because I always leave for matches." he said.

"I would take care of Sakura" she said, "Is that a joke?" he asked, "N-no"

"Why?" he asked, "Because Sakura-chan is sweet and gentle. I would love to take care of her." she smiled. "You'll really be a good mother Ryuzaki" he said. "Not really, just like as you always say, I'm still mada mada dane" she smiled.

"But not on this part" Ryoma smirked, they were staring at each other, Sakuno was blushing. "Well, See you Ryuzaki." he said then carried Sakura.

"See you too, Ryoma-kun!" she waved.

"I'd like to tell you something Ryuzaki..." he paused. "I really missed you, Ja!" he said before leaving.

Ryuzaki Sakuno stared at his slowly disappearing figure in silence. Now, what was that supposed to mean. She knew it, so she smiled then her face went as red as a tomato and her heart beating really fast.


OWARI!

Yay! I finished it! Hope I can get reviews! Please I'm desperate to have them!