Author's Note: It's been a long time! This is it, I was able to update atlast, thanks to all those who gave reviews for the last chapter. Fuku-chan, GinGaara and OrangeAce, thanks for the inspiration and cheers! Take Care and Enjoy Reading Everyone!

The continuation for this chapter was added...

Chapter 7 – A Day at Rukia

" Kunimitsu-oniisan!" Sakuno exclaimed to the handsome guy who was leaving a room. Yukimura and Sakuno got back in the Main Hall of Rukia Dome just to find out that everybody's gone, Yukimura theorized that each team might be in their respective guest rooms by now for the exhibition games will about to start, and so the two of them tried the nearest room and well, fortunately it was the Seigakus'.

Tezuka looked at the direction of his caller and found his kouhai hand in hand with Rikkai Dai's gorgeous captain: Yukimura, the scene undoubtedly irritated him but being the famed stoic Tezuka, he did not give any reactions instead he walked towards them, bent a little and serenely asked Sakuno if she's okay.

"Hai!" Sakuno said brightly, "It's all thanks to Seiichi-oniisan!"

Tezuka was 'deep inside' happy but the term 'Seiichi-oniisan' was caught by his ear, his face twitched by the sound of it but it regained its unemotional composure quickly so it was not notice by either Sakuno or Yukimura, despite being abraded a bit, he still thanked Yukimura for what he did. The other captain just smiled and said it was his pleasure to be a help to cute Sakuno, after that he courteously excused himself for the reason that his teammates might be getting impatient in waiting him.

Tezuka nodded curtly and Sakuno thanked and bowed at him before he left. When Yukimura was nowhere to see, Tezuka told Sakuno to go inside the guest room because the regulars are all worried about her, the girl followed without hesitation and when she pushed the door open, she found her senpai-taichi in a very serious yet worried face.

" Ahmmm…" Sakuno began, the regulars all looked up and were surprised to see Sakuno, and the smug on their faces magically faded and was replaced by a tint of smile.

"Sakuno-chan, we're glad your fine" Oishi said

"Coach will surely kill Atobe when she finds out what he did to you" Kawamura said jokingly

"There's a 50 chance coach will find it out and if she ever finds out, there is a 100 chance that we won't be able to take part on the tennis tournament because of these reasons, 48 that she will skin us alive, 35 that she will personally banned our team from joining and 17 that we will not be able to have any opponents because she beat them herself" Inui stated.

"That won't happen Inui-senpai" Sakuno said calmly, "I won't let grandma banned you from playing in the tennis tournaments because of me"

"69 per-"

"It's all right now Inui, we got your point" Tezuka said, indicating Inui to stop his 'based-on-my calculations-mode'.

Fuji chuckled and thanks to it Sakuno noticed him, he simpered at her and signaled that she sit with him, Sakuno approached the tensai and was about to sit beside him when he grabbed her by the waist and placed her on his right leg, Sakuno had to hold on Fuji's neck so as not to fall, Tezuka eyed Fuji with anger but then again he did not show it unfortunately this time the data master noted it, he jotted it quickly in his precious handy-dandy notebook, it says, " Ryuzaki is the girl in Tezuka's dreams"

Sakuno was a bit uncomfortable with her position on Fuji, she was held like this by him before but they were alone at that time, she doesn't know what the other regulars will think especially her Kunimitsu-oniisan. She tried to muster some courage to ask her Shusuke-kun to let her down but when she finally had it, a woman's voice sounded on the speaker: Attention Please, all tennis players should proceed to the conference hall for the program will start, I repeat all tennis players should proceed to the conference hall for the program will start, Thank You.

"All right, we should be going" Tezuka said commandingly

"Hai" said the other regulars

Sakuno was at last freed by Fuj but he still hold her hand so as not to lost her (I wonder if it is really the reason), "At least its better" Sakuno thought to herself, they were about to exit the guest room when Sakuno noticed her Eiji-senpai in a very rare sad mode.

"Seeing Eiji-senpai in that state made me feel bad" Sakuno mumbled to herself as she unknowingly let go of Fuji's hand. The other Seigaku regulars were now all outside leaving Fuji, Sakuno and Kikumaru behind.

Fuji looked curiously at Sakuno, he felt a little pain in his heart for Sakuno just let go of his hand without further ado but because he quickly realized what was worrying Sakuno, he decided that it is better if she do approach Kikumaru, he then followed the others outside and shut the door closed.

As Sakuno approached Kikumaru, she called out his name softly, the acrobatic player stared at her for a few minutes and when he suddenly realized who it is, he shouted, "SAKUNO-CHAN! WHEN DID YOU COME BACK?! ARE YOU OKAY?! DO YOU STILL FELL UNCOMFORTABLE?! Or-"

"Anou… I'm fine Eiji-senpai, please do-" Sakuno's words were cut when Kikumaru pulled her towards him and wrapped her in his warm embrace.

The atmosphere was very strange for Sakuno, her heart was beating so fast and her temperature is rising so sudden, somehow her Eiji-senpai's hug seemed completely different from his legendary death hug, "Eiji-senpai's cuddle is so warm" Sakuno notion to herself, "And his fragrant scent is very relaxing".

"Sakuno-chan" Kikumaru said still hugging Sakuno but now leaned his face on hers that their noses touched each other.

"What is it Eiji-senpai?" Sakuno asked naively, the girl was not even feeling any awkwardness on her position with the red-head guy.

"I… I know this is not the right time but… I can't hold my fee..., what I mean to say Sakuno-chan is… I… I love you" Kikumaru finished his sentence.

Sakuno stared at him before ingenuously saying that she loved him too. Kikumaru was surprised by the sudden reply so out of curiosity he asked the little girl again for confirmation.

"Of course, I Love Eiji-senpai" Sakuno said unaware of this kind of situation normal girls will anticipate for.

Kikumaru's ayes enlarged and it was evident that he was happy by Sakuno's reply but what quickly disappoint him is the continuation of Sakuno's sentence, " I love you as much as I love the other senpai-tachi" the girl finished and then smiled still oblivious of what her senpai mean to say.

The acrobat player was speechless. Now, the only thing he wanted to do is to shut his head in an oven and never come out again, he wanted to punch his own face plus to get rid of his signature band-aid on forgetting that Sakuno was the cutest but most oblivious and dense person he ever laid his eyes on. How he wished that a genie would appear and grant him his only wish; that is for Sakuno to attain the 'common sense' of normal girls when it comes to romantic things, he knew the girl is very smart when it comes to other things, "Why on earth is she an alien being when it comes to love? Aaaaarg!" Kikumaru thought.

"Is something the matter Eiji-senpai?" Sakuno asked as she was getting confused on her senpai's actions.

Kikumaru shrugged, he leaned closer to Sakuno and held her by the waist so that she will not stumble and said, "No, nothing [nya!".

Sakuno giggled at her senpai's childishness, unfortunately or [maybe fortunately for her, this activated Kikumaru's teenage hormones, the boy involuntarily pressed his lips against Sakuno ,who was so shocked that she could not do anything, and started savoring his kouhai's lips. Kikumaru, at this point of time, realized why Atobe was so excited on getting a hold of Sakuno, he thought of apologizing to him, but it could be done later, Sakuno is currently his business.

-Prince of Tennis-

"With atomic hellos and meteoric regards, I welcome you all to the 23rd Tennis Exhibition Match!" shouted a man with a pale, pointed face who was doing the commentary.

Screams, Hoots, Shouts and even Shrieks can be heard from the crowd.

The Rukia Dome was unbelievably fully packed with fan boys, fan girls, reporters, business men and women and many other tennis-related VIPs.

Sakuno, who was sitting at a very special front seat along with several maids and butlers (courtesy of Atobe) was very curious on how these people got heard of the event when she, the granddaughter of a highly-respected tennis team, student of a well-influenced Seishun Gakuen and even if she doesn't know about it: wanna-be girlfriend of some of the hottie bishounens, doesn't have the slightest clue about it if not for her Shusuke-kun. She was murmuring words of stupidity under her breath while covering her ears firmly because the shouts and yells are not yet fading and she was afraid that the loud impact might cause her eardrums to explode.

The little girl was still preoccupied when suddenly she heard (even though she had a tight cover on her ears) a group of girls shouting: "Yaahhhhh… Kikumaru-samaaaaa, Marry Me Kikumaru-samaaaaaa!"

Sakuno's heart poundered fastly after hearing her senpai's name. She was also blushing hardly even if she was trying not to; it did not help either when she decided to ignore the screaming girls and just focused herself to the tennis regulars who were now entering the stadium team by team. Sakuno can't help but to glance at Kikumaru.

"Why am I feeling this kind of weird thingy? Is it because of what Eiji-senpai did lately? But it was just like what Atobe-san did to me twice! And I still don't feel weird about him!" Sakuno said to herself while rocking her head that made her look like she has a headache like physduck in pokẻmon.

The maid who was sitting next to Sakuno was starting to get worried about her, if something happens to his master's princess (as what she heard him call the little girl), she'll be dead.

"Ahmm… Anou… Young mistress, are you okay?" the maid inquired.

"Yo… Young Mistress? Me?!" Sakuno said, pointing to herself.

"Er… Yeah" the maid replied in a "who-else-tone".

Sakuno blushed, bowed and said, "I… I'm fine, no need to worry "she finished her sentence and put on a smile.

"Okay then, but please young mistress, if you're… er… not feeling well, don't hesitate to say it"

"Ah… sure, thanks and please stop calling me young mistress, I'm just an ordinary girl you know" Sakuno said uncomfortably.

The maid frowned, "I cannot do that you-"

"Just call me Sakuno"

"Bu-"

"No buts please" Sakuno finished briefly and then smiled again.

"Okay then, Sa… Sakuno… sama"

Sakuno sighed when she heard the maid's last words but at least it was better than being called as a young mistress, so being a bit satisfied, she shifted her gaze to the almost starting exhibition game.

Each team was now facing three tennis courts and a huge technical board that will show the line-up of the players. When the commentator said the word "Roll!" the board suddenly produced an ear-catching sound that made all the people in the stadium to focus their gazes on it. After about 10 seconds, the names of the players who will play each other were visible from the board in a reddish-yellow color.

The Board shows:

SINGLES

Court 1

1st Batch - Kisarazu Atsushi VS. Kisarazu Ryo

2nd Batch - Niou Masaharu VS. Yagyuu Hiroshi

3rd Batch - Kajimoto Takahisa VS. Oshitari Yuushi

Court 2

1st Batch - Kuwahara Jackal VS. Marui Bunta

2nd Batch - Shishido Ryou VS. Mizuki Hajime

3rd Batch - Tezuka Kunimitsu – Genichirou Sanada VS. Yukimura Seiichi – Fuji Shusuke

DOUBLES

Court 3

1st Batch - Kawamura Takashi – Jirou Akutagawa VS. Inui Sadaharu – Yanagi Renji

2nd Batch - Oishi Shuichiro – Saeki Kojiro VS. Sengoku Kiyosumi – Wakato Hiroshi

3rd Batch - Tachibana Kippei – Mukahi Gakuto VS. Atobe Keigo – Kikumaru Eiji

The crowd were awed by the pairings, silence covered the stadium for a minute, but when the commentator shouted, "Let the first three matches begin! ", the audience were snapped back from their reverie and all started cheering for their beloved tennis players.

The first batch of players went to their respected courts immediately. The crowd went wild again because of the excitement to see their favorite players, the stadium was about to burst when fortunately, the commentator asked for a little 'minimization of volume' because he has something to announced.

When the stadium was a bit peaceful, the commentator finally spoke, "Each of the players will be given a thirty-minute game to win, of course, the player or the players who will get more number of sets will win, if ever the score is a tie after the thirty-minute time allotment, there will be no overtime match, instead the game will be declare as a tie.

Some words of disappointment were heard from the crowd.

"Just 30 minutes for each batch?" Sakuno heard a girl from behind, "I wouldn't have the chance to see Tezuka-sama for a long time"

"Me too but its okay than having no chance at all to see him right?"

"But we've travel all along from Kanagawa…" the girl from behind said.

Sakuno felt sad for the girl, she now realized how lucky she was to see and talk to her senpai-taichi almost every day (or maybe more than seeing her senpai – taichi) She sighed.

"I wish Kunimitsu-oniisan will be much nicer to his fan girls" Sakuno murmured to herself.

-Prince of Tennis-

"Pok"

"Pok"

"Fight-O Atsushi-sama! Ryo-sama!" yelled a group of fan girls to the two boys in Court 1.

The Kisarazu twins were really having a tough fight. Sakuno had witnessed them playing each other before, the one with the long hair (she forgot his name) was the one who won back then, but for now, Sakuno was sure that the Kisarazu twin she met last Sunday (she also doesn't know his name) will not let his twin brother to win the second time around.

"Sugoi Marui!"

"Don't let him beat you Jackal!"

"O-M-G! Honey bunch sugar plump pumpy yumpkie yumpkin Jackal, don't let that bubble head boy get you!" a group of Okama said.

Sakuno's attention was caught by these loud hoots and funny cheers from people who were eagerly watching the match in Court 2. The two Rikkai Dai players, not to mention, partners in doubles, are having a very exciting match. Marui Bunta has just used one of his special shots, the Tsuna Watari, in which the ball rolls horizontally along the top of the net, much like a tightrope walker.

"He's good and his playing style is like Jirou-samas' " the maid beside Sakuno said.

Sakuno smiled and said, "That's because Akutagawa-san idolizes him"

"Really? How did you find out Sakuno-sama?"

"Baka Hitomi!" the maid who was sitting next to Hitomi suddenly said, "How wouldn't she know? She's young master's girlfriend!"

"I'm not an idiot Makoto! And Sakuno-sama is not young master's girlfriend, she just told me that!"

"Hmff Really?!" the maid named Makoto said, "If she's not young master's girlfriend, then why has he ordered us to stay by her side, follow her orders and keep her safe?"

"Simple, it's because young master likes her! He likes her! But she is not yet his girlfriend, do you understand now?" Hitomi snapped back.

"Ok then, but how does she know all about that 'idol thingy'?"

"Why don't you asked Sakuno-sama yourself huh?" said an irritated but grinning Hitomi.

Makoto rolled her eyes but she followed what her co-maid had told her, she turned her head to Sakuno and asked her in a polite manner, "Er… Sakuno-sama, well, I think you heard all the things we are talking about here lately, so ahm… if you please"

Sakuno smiled sweetly and said, "Gakuto-kun was the one who told me, we bumped to each other last week and we had a little bonding and the like".

By the sound of Gakuto's name, another maid barged in, her eyes were enlarged and shining and Sakuno was sure that she was craving for something, "Wow! Sakuno-sama! You are so lucky! For all this years, I always dreamt of having a chance to talk with Mukahi-sama!"

"Baka Satoe!" Makoto said again (At this point of time Sakuno thought that Makoto has the habit of calling her acquaintance 'baka'), "You know your dream would not come true, why? Because I've heard from the butlers that accompanied young master last Saturday in his amusement park that Mukahi-sama gave a special girl a very cute present! And you know who that girl is?" Makoto continued her sentence peevishly.

"Who?" Satoe and Hitomi asked, Sakuno on the other hand was still very oblivious on whom the girl was and so she wore a questioning look.

"It's Sakuno-sama!" Makoto said proudly.

"NA… NANI?!" Sakuno, Satoe and Hitomi shouted that the other maids and some audiences look at their direction.

"Is that true Sakuno-sama?" Satoe asked tearfully.

Sakuno looked at Satoe worriedly, the maid was halfway to crying, but because honesty is one of Sakuno's attitude, she said, "Ahm… it's true", Sakuno saw that Satoe was really going to cry so she continued her sentence hastily, "demo… it's not a big thing Satoe-san, Gakuto-kun does not mean anything when he gave that present to me, and he's not the only one who gave me a present, everyone did, so I think it was just ahmmm… a group souvenir or ss… something".

"Really?" Satoe inquired

"Hai" Sakuno said airily.

"Bu.." Makoto tried to say something again when Hitomi grab a hold of her mouth and whispered to her with a note of hysteria in her voice, "Shut up you baka, your making things difficult for Sakuno-sama!" , Makoto shivered when she heard Hitomi's firm voice and so she remained silent to Sakuno's relief but Satoe seemed so interested about the gifts so she asked Sakuno about it.

"Sakuno-sama, can you tell us what gifts did young master's friends give you?"

"Ooooh… nice question Satoe, she's right Sakuno-sama, please tell us" Makoto talked again. Hitomi just sighed but she too was interested on the gifts so she just remained silent and let Sakuno talk.

"Eto… Ok then, now, let's see, Kabaji-san gave me a pair of pink star clips, Ryou-kun gave me a pink billiard ball, Gakuto-kun gave me a stuff bunny for my cell phone, Choutarou-kun gave me a music box that is shaped like a sakura and ahm… well… Wakashi-san gave me a … a …. compass"

"Compass?" Satoe and Makoto asked.

"Hai"

"Why on Earth does he gave you a compass?!" the two maids said chorally.

Sakuno blushed and said, "Because I'm not good at directions"

The three maids were trying not to laugh and so they just remained silent and focused back their attention to the fiery matches. The game in Court 2 was finished; the score was 7-5 with Marui winning the game with the help of his Tecchu Ate and Jikansa Jigoku which really awed the spectators. The crowd was clapping their hands for the two players who were now shaking hands. The game in court 1 on the other hand was nearing to end. Atsushi Kisarazu has the advantage with a score of 5-3. In Court 3, however, the match is still to heat up. The score so far is 3-3, Kawamura and Jirou were not slacking off against the doctor and professor, and they were showing Inui and Yanagi what they really got. Jirou was using his playing specialty: Magic Volley in which he awesomely combined with Kawamura's Hadokyuu, the two analyzers were having a hard time with their opponents but the other players who were watching thought of the same idea: A data will soon be collected and put to use.

Sakuno was having a good time watching the match but she was really getting thirsty, "Talking with Hitomi-san, Makoto-san and Satoe-san was a bit fun but they surely exhaust me with their questions" she mumbled to herself, she then informed Hitomi that she will just buy a can of soda, the maid said that she would just be the one to buy for her but Sakuno protested and said that she can do it herself. Hitomi just nodded and so Sakuno set off for the vending machine somewhere inside the building.

-Prince of Tennis-

"Mou… this is unfair… Why is this vending machine so tall, I can't reach the choice buttons" Sakuno said softly to herself. She has just reached the certain machine after about fifteen minutes of searching.

"I am really thirsty, I wished Kunimitsu-onnisan or Shusuke-kun is here, with their height, they can surely reach the choice buttons" Sakuno continued to murmur to herself, she did not even noticed a certain young man who is coming on her direction.

"Excuse me little one, do you need some help with that vending machine?" the young man said.

Sakuno looked up and saw a familiar brown-haired kind-looking man staring at her.

"Eto… Ahm.."

"Do you need help with the vending machine?" the young man repeated.

"Ah! Ahm…well… yeah, I can't reach the choice buttons" Sakuno said shyly.

The young man smiled and neared to the vending machine and asked Sakuno what drink she like, the little girl said that she wanted strawberry-milk, the guy smiled and push the button, a can of strawberry-milk then fell from the compartment, the young man picked it up and handled it to Sakuno.

"Arigatou" Sakuno said staring at the man; she had really met him before.

The guy patted her head and said, "It's nothing, you know what, you really looked familiar to me, what's your name?"

"Oh! Ryuzaki… Sakuno Ryuzaki"

"Ryuzaki?" said the man who put his fingers on his chin, "Ah! Now I know! Your Seigaku's coach granddaughter ne?"

Sakuno nodded.

"I see, well what are you doing here inside, should you be out there in the stadium to cheer for your senpais?"

"I just got thirsty and so I decided to buy a can of soda"

"Aah.." said the guy briefly, "Well, I should be going now, my match is soon to start" the young man said as he turned his back to Sakuno, the guy was about to walk away when Sakuno held his jacket sleeve. He lloked at Sakuno who was also looking at him.

"Etou.. oniisan, thank you again, and… ahm… can I also ask your name?"

"Oh!" the guy look surprised, "How rude of me, gomen, I'm Takahisa Kajimoto."

"Ah!" Sakuno said clapping her hands on her forehead, "That's why you look familiar! You're one of Hanamura-sensei's students!"

"That's right" Kajimoto said, amused on how Sakuno talk to him, "Well then little one, I should really be going now and I think you too should do the same thing".

Sakuno was about to reply when a voice from nowhere called Kajimoto, they turned to the direction of the caller and found Josei Shounan's vice captain, Wakato Hiyoshi. The guy neared them and told Kajimoto some things after that his eyes fell on Sakuno and his orbs suddenly twinkles!

"What a cute girl!" Wakashi said excitedly.

END OF CHAPTER

Sweat + Nosebleed + Continued shouting from my big brother + Groans! hahahaha...

I hope you like it... sorry if I did not meet your expectations...

but please submit a review... Thank You!