Yay! Chapter 4 is up! Thank you very much to all those who read this and gave their comments. The following chapters may still revolve around Ryoma and Sakuno but little by little, the new characters will start to pop out one by one. Please wait for that, okay? =)

Here's RotP's continuation! Douzo!

Sakuno VS Ryoga

"No one hides anything from Echizen Ryoga, Chibisuke!" Ryoga shouted as he went down the stairs. Then, he saw a pair of white doll shoes on the floor beside Ryoma's rubber shoes. He looked at it and examined the pair. It was plain white with two small ribbons on both shoes.

'These shoes aren't Nanako-nee-san's or Kaa-san's. That short brother of mine is really hiding something, rather, someone.' He thought as he grinned and went to the living room.

"Oyaji, Chibisuke's growing up!" Ryoga said as he went to the living room and saw Nanjiroh lying down on the sofa with a tennis magazine on his face.

'What a change. It's not his 'newspaper'. I wonder what Mom did to those porn magazines?' He thought as he sat on the couch.

"Eh? That Seishounen's growing up? In what way? He doesn't seem to have gotten taller 'cause he's still smaller than you. He also hasn't brought home a girl so he hasn't achieved the age where I'll be proud of him." Nanjiroh said without lifting the tennis magazine from his face.

"What if I tell you that he's hiding a girl somewhere in the house?" Ryoga said with a smirk. This finally caught Nanjiroh's attention who lifted the magazine to look at his eldest son.

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly like I said. Chibisuke's hiding a girl in the house. I saw a different pair of shoes next to his rubbershoes."

"Heh... That's a new one. So, he's really a human after all. I thought that he was a tennis machine. Say, Shounen. Why don't we play a game with Seishounen?"

"I like that idea, Oyaji. Count me in."

"A-Are you alright, Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno whispered while looking at the Prince with the cat on her lap.

"Betsuni."

"S-Sorry for bringing you trouble. I-If I wasn't here in the first place... you won't be troubled. I'm sorry." Sakuno said as she looked at her lap.

"Mada mada dane." Ryoma replied without looking at her and standing up once again.

"E-Eh?"

"Just stay here, Ryuzaki. Karupin, if Oyaji or Aniki enters my room, scratch them." Ryoma said and the cat looked at him before meowing in agreement. Ryoma smirked before going out of the room.

Sakuno sighed and looked at the cat on her lap. It was rubbing its head on her chest. She giggled then Karupin jumped down and searched Ryoma's bag.

"K-Karupin-chan, Ry-Ryoma-kun might get angry if you'll do that." Sakuno said as she looked at the cat who ignored her. Then, Karupin came out of the bag while biting a toy which resembled a dog's tail and approached Sakuno before putting the toy down in front of her.

"Wh-What am I going to do?"

"Meow."

"Do you want to play?"

"Meow."

Sakuno took the toy and moved it back and forth in front of Karupin. The cat's eyes followed its movement before its tail swished. Karupin started playing tag with the toy while Sakuno was giggling lightly.

"Kaa-san, do you have any snacks?" Ryoma asked as he entered the dining room and saw his father sitting on a chair.

"Oi, Seishounen. Where's your guest?"

"None of your business and you're not Kaa-san."

"Che. You're really not cute. Not one bit."

"Here it is, Ryoma. Be careful with it." Rinko said as she showed the tray to Ryoma. The Prince opened the fridge in search of his Ponta.

Meanwhile, Ryoga took this oppurtunity to run to the second floor from the back door. He held the door knob and opened it. He peeked inside and was about to step in when Karupin jumped on him and scratched him on the face.

"AH!" Ryoga fell on the floor with Karupin on top of him. He had his arms stretched to keep the cat in his hands to stop from scratching him further.

Ryoma came while holding the tray and looked at his brother on the floor.

"Baka. That's what you get from trespassing."

"Stop this cat, Chibisuke!"

"Yada."

"I already know that there's someone in your room and that person is a girl!" Ryoga shouted which made Ryoma's left eyebrow twitch.

"No one's in there."

"There is! An auburn-haired girl with long twin braids!"

"EH! An auburn-haired beauty!" Nanjiroh came running and looked at his sons.

"Get away from my room." Ryoma warned as he glared at the two.

"Tell us who the girl is, Seishounen."

"There's no girl there so stop bugging me."

"Wait a minute. Auburn-haired... ? Long twin braids... ? Why does that sound... Oh!" Nanjiroh grinned and looked at Ryoma who clutched the door knob behind his back.

"It's Ryuzaki-chan, isn't it! That old-hag's grand-daughter!"

"Karupin, scratch Oyaji." Ryoma ordered and the cat followed. It swiftly jumped to Nanjiroh who also fell down with scratches on his face.

"You're merciless, Chibisuke." Ryoga commented while his face was stinging a lot. Karupin sure do know how to scratch someone.

"Itta! It hurts you ball of fluffy fur! Stop it! ITTAI!"

"Serves you two right. Get away from my room." Ryoma opened the door but both Ryoga and Nanjiroh stopped Ryoma from closing the door by barging in forcefully. Karupin fell on all-fours as the three Echizens fell to the floor inside Ryoma's room. The food tray however, was caught by Sakuno without any spill who stood up in surprise.

"Get... off me." Ryoma said while he was being cushioned on by Ryoga and Nanjiroh.

"Itte... That really hurts... Ah! A girl!" Ryoga exclaimed as he saw Sakuno holding the tray with both hands. Then, Nanjiroh opened his eyes and also looked at the blushing girl.

"Ryuzaki-chan! I knew it was you!" Nanjiroh quickly got off Ryoma and hugged Sakuno who blushed at the contact. Ryoma pushed Ryoga off him and pulled Nanjiroh off Sakuno by yanking his collar.

"Hands off." He warned in a low tone. That voice of his got Ryoga and Nanjiroh's attentions shifted to him. Sakuno was just blushing madly while looking down.

"My, my. Someone's overprotective of somebody." Nanjiroh teased with a smile.

"Chibisuke's growing up. I can't believe it. Our Chibisuke is growing up, Oyaji. Chibisuke's a human!" Ryoga wiped his imaginary tears with a handkerchief as he continued with his acting.

"I'm so proud of this Seishounen. He's finally a man! He finally reached the age where I'll be proud of him as my youngest son! Thank you, Kami-sama!" Nanjiroh said while acting.

"Beautiful young lady, I'm pleased to meet you. I'm Chibisuke's Aniki, Echizen Ryoga. I'm twenty-one years old and a great tennis player. I have a beautiful girlfriend who's currently staying with her older siblings and she's Hanako Akira. Even though Chibisuke and I have the same looks, don't forget that I'll always be more handsome because I was born first." Ryoga said as he placed both of his hands on Sakuno's shoulders.

"R-Ryuzaki Sa-Sakuno desu. Pleased to meet you." Sakuno said as she bowed. She noticed that Ryoma was glaring daggers at Ryoga for some reason she doesn't know of.

"Five seconds over. Hands off." Ryoma removed Ryoga's hands from Sakuno's shoulders and stood in front of the girl to put some distance between her and his brother.

"Being possessive plus Chibisuke equals black-eye. There's no way that I'd risk my handsome face to touch Sakuno-chan. Akira would also beat the hell out of me if that happens." Ryoga said as he remembered his girlfriend, Hanako Akira.

'Sakuno-chan? Since when did I allow this stupid brother of mine to call Ryuzaki by her first name? Nobody calls Ryuzaki by her first name. Especially not Aniki and Oyaji.' Ryoma thought while clenching his fists.

"Are you her personal bodyguard?" Nanjiroh asked.

"Manager?" Ryoga said.

"Personal photographer?"

"Coach?"

"Director?"

"Principal?"

"Teacher?"

"Father?"

"Mother?"

"Shut up." Ryoma glared at the two older men who were grinning from ear to ear and were taking interest in Ryoma's irritation.

"There's no use hiding Sakuno-san in your room, Ryoma. Nanjiroh and Ryoga already found out. Sakuno-san, I'm sorry but please bear with the childish attitudes of my husband and Ryoga." Rinko said while standing outside the room holding Karupin. Ryoma sighed and carried the tray from Sakuno.

"It-It's alright, R-Rinko-san. I d-don't mind." Sakuno said while waving her hands from side to side.

"Let's go. You two, out of my room. Now." Ryoma said as he looked at Nanjiroh and Ryoga.

"Hai, hai."

"How mean, Seishounen."

"Itte... My face hurts." Ryoga said as he tried to touch his stinging cheek. Karupin probably has something against him and Nanjiroh from receiving deep scratches.

'Was that because of the grilled fish that I ate last time?' He thought.

"Rinko, can you cure us? That ball of fluff scratched the heck out of us." Nanjiroh said.

"Hmm. Well, if you'll do all the household chores for a month as well as the garden and the groceries then, sure. I'll tend to your wounds." Rinko said with a smile.

"No way!"

"Very well then, suit youselves. Oh, I forgot to mention that I'll also be throwing the trash in our room." Rinko said with a slightly creepy smile that sent chills down Nanjiroh's spine. He knew very well that the trash she was referring to was his 'treasure'.

"W-Wait! Fine, I'll do all those chores." Nanjiroh grudgingly grumbled and Rinko nodded.

"Thank you, Anata."

Both Nanjiroh and Ryoga followed Rinko downstairs. Sakuno and Ryoma also went down and went to the tatami room. They sat next to each other and Ryoma started to eat the sandwiches that Rinko made. Sakuno was playing with the hem of her skirt while looking down.

"Ne, ne. Sakuno-chan. Do you play tennis?" Ryoga asked while looking at the girl. Rinko started tending to Nanjiroh's scratches and after a while, worked on Ryoga's scratches.

"H-Hai. I'm a member of the tennis club in S-Seigaku High." Sakuno shlyly answered. Ryoma was glaring at Ryoga, though. His older brother called Sakuno by her first name again.

"Great! Let's play. I want to play a practice match with you!" Ryoga said as he stood up after Rinko finished curing his wounds.

"E-Eh?"

"Oyaji, we'll use the tennis court at the temple, okay? Wait... what racket is she going to use?"

Without any word, Ryoma got up and went to his room. After a while, he came back while holding his red racket which he handed to Sakuno.

"Use it and beat my stupid brother."

"B-But I can't do it, Ryoma-kun! Y-You know how bad I am in tennis!" Sakuno protested.

"Don't worry, Sakuno-chan. I'll go easy on you." Ryoga said with a smile while holding his own racket.

"B-But... but... I really can't do it."

"Rest assured, Sakuno-chan. I'm not like Chibisuke who'll give you a hard time when playing."

"You won three games from me when it was raining. Make my stupid brother eat some tennis ball." Ryoma said as Sakuno sighed and held the racket.

"Okay."

"Well, then. Eat some of the sandwiches, Ryuzaki-chan. Then, the match will start when we reach the temple." Nanjiroh said.

"Hai."

Sakuno ate the sandwiches on her plate while thinking as to what to do with the practice match against Ryoga. Ryoma told her that she improved but it doesn't meant that she can play like that against Ryoga. She also doesn't know as to what she's going to do if Ryoga uses any special move of his.

"Ne, Sakuno-chan. Are you sure you can play using Chibisuke's racket? It's heavier compared to a girl's racket." Ryoga commented while eating his omelette.

"I-It's alright with me." Sakuno answered. She can't tell them that Ryoma gave her his other racket, can she? She's sure that if ever she accidentally spill that out, Ryoma would be very irritated with what Ryoga and Nanjiroh would end up saying to him.

"Hmm... why is it that you're alright with using such a heavy racket? Does the girl's tennis team use the men's rackets while playing?"

"I don't know. I didn't hear that from the old hag. She never said anything about it." Nanjiroh said while reading his 'newspaper'.

"A-Ano... I-I borrowed my c-cousin's racket, th-that's why it's a-alright with me... H-He let me borrow his r-racket from time t-to time." Sakuno lied. She didn't know where that lie came from and if it's believable or not. She sipped her Ponta and looked down.

'Ryuzaki stutters more than the usual when she's lying, huh?' Ryoma thought while sipping his Ponta.

"Hmmm... I see." Ryoga said while nodding.

'I'm sure there's more to it than that.' He thought.

"That's nice of your cousin." Nanjiroh commented.

'Lie.' He thought as he looked at Ryoga.

"Let's play, Sakuno-chan! Let's play!" Ryoga said enthusiastically and pulled Sakuno to stand then out of the house. Ryoma got up too and followed as well as Nanjiroh.

When they reached the place, Sakuno gasped as she looked at the tennis court beside the temple's bell. Ryoga was patting his shoulder lightly by his racket. Ryoma was sitting on the temple's floor while Nanjiroh had a proud look on his face.

"Welcome to our temple, Ryuzaki-chan. You can play tennis here all you want. That court was made by yours truly, of course."

"H-Hai."

"Come on, Ryuzaki-chan. Let's play a practice match." Ryoga positioned himself on the court.

Sakuno glanced at Ryoma who was sitting. The tennis prodigy just pointed to the court and Sakuno took it as the cue to stand on the other side of the court with her stance ready.

'Alright, Ryuzaki Sakuno. Time to show Ryoma-kun what you've got. He believes in you and just like what Rinko-san said, I have to believe in my self and my tennis.' Sakuno thought as she looked at Ryoga with courage evident in her brown eyes. Nanjiroh just smirked at the resemblance of someone he knows whenever that guy's facing a strong opponent.

'Just like Seishounen.' He thought.

"One-set practice match. Ryoga to serve."

Ryoga threw the ball in the air and served it with some added power. Sakuno returned it without any problem. For her, Ryoma's Twist Serve is more troublesome.

Ryoga smirked and returned the ball towards Sakuno who also returned it. That one serve made a thirteen-shot rally between the two. The rally only broke when Sakuno was finally unable to return the ball.

"15 love." Nanjiroh said.

"Oops. Sorry, Sakuno-chan. I was getting a bit serious." Ryoga apologized while looking at the girl.

'Man, I wasn't planning on getting a little serious on this match against Sakuno-chan. I guess that I really shouldn't have judged a book by its cover. She's stronger than she looks.' He thought.

"I-It's alright, Ryoga-san. Please get serious."

"Are you sure?"

"Hai."

"Chibisuke, what do you think?" Ryoga said while looking at Ryoma who was blankly staring at him. Then, Ryoma shrugged and Ryoga took that as a permission.

'Better not hurt Sakuno-chan. Otherwise, I'll be as good as dead with Chibisuke's anger.'

"Be prepared, Sakuno-chan. I'll be serious just like what you want." Ryoga said as he gripped the tennis ball.

Ohhhh, Sakuno's against Ryoga. Hmm... I wonder what she'll do? Hehehe. I really don't know any of Ryoga's moves so I'll probably skip naming them.

Until next time! ^_^