DISCLAIMER: Neither I own the Prince of Tennis nor the characters.
The next day Ryoma woke up in his house, Not remembering how did he ended up in there. All he know was he was depressed after realizing that the girl whom he believed that he like was taken. He somehow felt the need to blame himself for letting her go back then. If only he noticed her when they were in middle school. But no, he was too engrossed in tennis to notice everything else. The very memory of seeing them together was making him utterly jealous.
Flashback
"A-no Ryoma kun. This is my boyfriend" Sakuno broke out to him gently.
Ryoma was frozen on his spot, he unconsciously clenched his fist so hard that it was digging on his flesh.. He didn't saw that coming and he didn't liked what he was witnessing. And he also noticed that her oh-so-called boyfriend of hers was very familiar. He was looked at Yukimura with a very dangerous glaze.
Yukimura on the other hand, was not called a genius accidentally. His keen observation noticed how his eyes were glaring at him. He knew something was up between him and Sakuno. But knowing that Sakuno was his girlfriend, he didn't need the feel to be threatened cause he trusts Sakuno. He returned his glare with one of his friendly smiles, "Echizen, long time no see" he greeted Ryoma.
Ryoma now remembered who he was and cursed mentally for realizing that he was the one who almost beat him way back at their nationals. Take note, ALMOST not completely. He managed to beat him still but he was sure that he was one of the opponents who gave him a hard time winning against. Except for his father, Ryoga, Tezuka and nothing else more. After his awkward silence he replied, "Hn" to Yukimura.
Sakuno who was oblivious to the situation, turned her gaze to Ryoma, "Ryoma-kun, do you remember? He was the one you fought against with during the nationals?" She asked innocently, completely unaware of his mood.
"Yeah, The guy who took my senses away" Ryoma said with his low voice. (A/n: Yukimura was the one he fought against with, in the nationals. Yukimura had this technique to take your senses away. He took his sense of sight, sense of hearing and sense of feeling. It really was a close fight but Ryoma managed to beat him. He was possessed with an oh-so-called *I forgot the name of it* ^^ aura that over-powered Yuki. Well, I'm really bad at telling you the details but you should just check it out... I don't know the exact chapter but I know it was the last chapters of the manga... So you should go and read it!)
"Yes, but it's still so interesting that you still won despite of it" he seriously said.
"Of course" he smirked arrogantly.
Momo was watching the intense exchange with the two of them. He knew that Ryoma would probably break out sooner or later. And he was worried that it would turn out into a fight. So he handed Sakuno a paper box filled with sushi, "Ah Sakuno, this is for Coach. In case, she didn't have dinner yet".
Sakuno took the bag and spared her wristwatch a glance, "Actually, I'm thinking of going home already. Obaa-chan is probably expecting me home..." she said with a sweet voice.
"Nyaa.. Saku-chan! Send my regards to Coach!" Eiji said cheerfully.
"Okay, I will" she said, as she was standing to head out. She looked at Ryoma then bowed slightly.
"It was nice seeing you again, Ryoma-kun.." She sweetly said to him. Ryoma just stared back at her not knowing how to react.
"Hn" he muttered.
Yukimura held on to Sakuno's small back and led her to the exit. After a couple of minutes, the people inside the sushi restaurant decreased as it was getting a little late. Only Ryoma, Momo, Fuji and Kawamura was left. Only Momo and Fuji was paying attention to noticed Ryoma's frustrations. Momo touched his shoulders to comfort him just a little.
"Echizen, Are you alright?" Momo asked seriously.
The young prodigy, shrugged and reached for the Sake in front of him. "I need a drink" he said.
"Saa Echizen, don't take it to hard" Fuji said, a little worried.
He drank his heart out until he can't take it no more. But despite of that, he still can't forget. And it sucks! Momo tried to stop him from drinking but was stopped by Fuji saying that he needs to vent his frustrations to lessen it somehow. And it so happened that Momo was the one who took him home and...
BACK TO PRESENT
And so he was having a hangover and he was a mess. Sakuno has a boyfriend. And his hungry. For short, He was having a bad day! And he knew he needed to play tennis so badly. Before someone's get hurt.
It's been a week since she met Ryoma again and Sakuno was out on the streets with nothing to do. Sae shooed her out of their shop saying that she deserved to have some break and do something fun. She already tried calling Tomoka but she was busy. Yuki had also something to do in the hospital. So she just decided to play tennis near her gallery. She dropped by her house to change into tennis attire and went to the courts.
It's been a week since he came back to Tokyo. And so far, nothing's so interesting for him. He was still pissed at the thought of Yukimura and Sakuno being together. As usual, he needed a daily dose of tennis so he was on his way to the tennis courts near his condominium. When he arrived at the said courts, he heard some *ponk* of balls already. So he thought that someone was already playing and that means someone can play against him.
She saw a girl wearing a red tennis dress that ended in her mid thigh and a white sun visor with her hair tied in a ponytail. He must admit she had nice legs, 'Wait! What am I thinking? I just sounded like Oyaji. No! Never!'. The girl was rallying with a wall, hitting the neon ball back in the same spot. Her legs were parted and slightly bended while her back was arched correctly. 'Heh. Her form wasn't bad either', his thought were suddenly halted when she stopped rallying and when the ball hit the ground. She suddenly bended slightly to pick up the ball and her skirt went up a little, revealing her creamy white upper thigh part and the shape of her behind. 'What a nice- Wait! This isn't right! I'm already infected by Oyaji's perversion'. He was lost in his thoughts when somebody called him, "Ryoma-kun?" with a sweet voice.
"Ryuzaki?"
"What are you doing here? Ryoma-kun?" she asked cutely which made him want to pinch her cheeks.
"To play" he said with a isn't-that-obvious tone.
"hm. Right" she chuckled softly which send some commotion in his stomach. It's really something how she can turn his mood upside down. A while ago, he was pissed, a little angry and annoyed but when the moment he saw her all of those were forgotten.
"Would you like to play?" he asked.
"With you?" she said with a smile present on her sweaty face.
"Yeah? Is there a problem?"
"No, It will be my honor to play with the number 1 tennis player" she said while wiping a sweat in her forehead.
Ryoma knew he was attracted to her in every ways, no matter what she does, no matter how she stutters, no matter how many times she got lost. They were now at the courts playing a self judge match. Of course, he wouldn't let her win but sure he will go easy on her. They were standing against each other, "Rough or smooth?".
Okay, it was Sakuno's turn to serve. She threw the ball to the air and hit it with her white racket. Ryoma was observing her and she really did improved in tennis since middle school. Ryoma can't concentrate in the match due to Sakuno's movements. The way her legs would run to return his shots and how her chest would rise up and down as she was panting because of running. And the way her sweat would fall from her forehead to her cheek then to her neck and then to you-know-where. And there goes his game...
"1 game to love, Ryoma-kun " Sakuno announced happily. Which he returned with a smirk.
She was such a distraction, he had a hard time putting his head on the game. She wasn't that good in tennis to make it hard for him but she, herself was enough distraction for him. But still, he managed to win 6 consecutive games from her.
She was panting hard from running cause Echizen made her run from here to there just to return his shots. He was watching her with amusement. He never thought that it would be this fun playing with her.
"You tired?" he asked amusedly.
"Of *Pant* course *Pant* You made me *Pant* run so much" her face was flushed due to exhaustion.
He smirked at her cuteness. "At least, You've manage to stole a game from me"
"Mou!" she pouted.
She walked towards the benches where her sports bag is. She brought out her water jug. She carefully drank the water without her lips touching the lid. Ryoma was just watching her, he saw her lips were a bit watery which made him want to dry it by his. Sakuno handed him the jug, "You want?" she offered. And since he's a bit thirsty himself, he accepted and also drank it without the lid being touched. 'He's still very handsome' she thought. She quickly blushed after realizing her thoughts.
Ryoma was just staring strangely at her, He tried to call her but she was not responding and then she will suddenly blush? It was cute though, but it was plain weird.
"Hey, Ryuzaki" he said a little louder.
"H-hai?" she stuttered.
"Your jug" he said while handing her the jug. "Thanks" he muttered.
"It's okay" she said softly.
Sakuno was piling her things in her bag, "Where are you headed?" he asked with his husky voice.
"Eto.. In my studio. I'll wait for Sae-chan to close the shop" she said.
"Come, I'll walk you there" he said as he started to walk away.
"H-hai" she said as she carried her bag and followed him.
Ryoma noticed her bag, "Want me to carry that?" he offered while pointing her bag.
"No, It's okay. It's not that heavy" she said with her sweet voice.
"hn" he simply muttered.
They were walking together in the same street where they first saw each other again after many years. The only difference was it was still in the afternoon. Sakuno broke the silence, "It was fun, Ryoma-kun" she sweetly said.
'Darn! Why does she have to be taken!' he mentally shouted. "hn" he said.
"I hope we could play next time together with the senpai-tachi" she said.
"hn" he said again.
"Ryoma-kun?" she asked cutely.
"Hn?"
"For the past minutes, I kept on talking and your only saying 'hn' all the time" She said the 'hn' imitating Ryoma.
Ryoma smiled at her silliness then replied, "Hn" to tease her further.
"Mou! Don't you like talking to me?" she pouted cutely.
He chuckled which made Sakuno to stopped from walking. He noticed her stopped so he also stopped then stared questionably at her.
"Did you just laugh?" she asked amusedly. He shrugged then asked her, "Why?"
"Nothing, It's just really rare to hear you laugh" she smiled. He looked at her then thought, 'If only you were mine, I would laugh everyday'.
"Neh? Why did you laugh?" she enthusiastically asked.
"What do you mean?" he played oblivious.
"Mou! You know exactly what I mean" she said childishly. Ryoma was looking at her in the corner of his eyes and fought the urge to laugh again,' She's too cute for her own good' he thought.
He shrugged then continue walking while Sakuno pouted for not being answered. After minutes of walking they arrived at the shop. Sakuno turned to face Ryoma and quickly bowed, "Thank you for walking me" she said.
"Betsuni"
"Ne? Answer me. Why did you laugh awhile ago?" she insisted.
He smiled trying to muffle the coming laughter, "It's fun teasing you" he said.
She blushed slightly, "Mou" was all she can say.
"You've improved in tennis" he complemented her.
"Thank you" she thanked him.
"It's because Seichi teaches me" she said.
'Kuso! She just have to mention that and ruin my afternoon' he slightly frowned. Sakuno noticed this and became worried, "Is there something wrong?" she asked.
"betsuni" , "I'll be going then" he said.
"Ok, take care" she sweetly bid him farewell.
"hn" and with that he started to walked off.
It was already 8 and sooner or later Sae and her will close the shop. Sae was on her studio, finishing some things needed for tomorrow. So she was in charge at the gallery. She was writing something in the log book when the bell above the doors chimed. (A/n: I don't know what you call that thing ^^)
"Welcome to the vintage gallery, please feel free to check the paintings" she said softly but audibly to the person who came by without looking up from her work. (A/n: I've used Vintage cause that was my pen name ^^)
She felt the person approaching her, "How may I help you sir?" she said and slightly tilting her head to meet the person when...
"Seichi-kun!"
He smiled lovingly at her, "Are you done?" he asked gently.
"Eto.. Not yet.. Sae-chan's still working on something. We can't just leave her here alone." She explained.
"It's okay" he said and walked towards her and hugged her tight. She hugged him back as well.
"I missed you" she said sweetly to him.
"Missed you too" he whispered as he kiss her fully on the lips.
"*Ahem*" Sae interrupted. Which made the two broke out from their sweet kiss.
"S-Sae-cha-an! You startled m-e!" Sakuno said while blushing furiously. While Yukimura was just smiling gently at the side not even bothered. Why do they always got caught kissing?
"Sa-chan I should be the one saying that! By the way, What are you two still doing here?" Sae asked.
"Well, we're waiting for you to finish. I wouldn't leave you alone here tonight" Sakuno stated.
"You don't need to. Oishi's going to pick me up. So you lovebirds could already go your way" she informed.
"Sae-chan are you sure?" Sakuno asked.
"Of course! He's on his way" she insisted.
And with that, Yukimura went to start his car and Sakuno gathered her things. She was carrying her tennis bag and her handbag when she saw Yukimura waiting for her outside. He saw her carrying many things so he quickly went to help her.
"Why do you have your tennis bag with you?" he asked curiously.
"Ah because awhile ago Sae-chan insisted that I do something fun. So I played there. You know the near tennis courts" she stated.
"Uhu . You went by yourself?" he asked as they were now inside his car.
"Yes. I tried to call Tomo-chan but she was busy with her upcoming boutique and I couldn't call you cause you were busy" she said.
"Don't worry. I'll make it up to you" he said as he started his car and drove off.
"No, It's okay. I understand. By the way, When I was in the tennis courts Ryoma-kun arrived and we played one set match"
After hearing Ryoma's name, his gentle expression turned into a serious one. "Echizen?" he asked.
"Yes. He said his unit was near" Sakuno said studying the expression of Yuki.
After hearing no response from him, "Why are you so serious?" she asked.
"Nothing" he said still serious.
"Masaka. Are you jealous?" she asked trying to hide her laughter.
"Should I be?" He asked as he spared her a glance.
"Of course not!" She exclaimed then gave him a peck in the cheek.
"Good" he said. Returning to his casual gentle appearance.
She giggled heartily, "You're so silly" she said.
He just returned her giggles with a relieved smile
AUTHORS NOTE: Hello! I've managed to post 2 chapters again. I hope you're not bored with my story. I f you are, please kindly review. So that I am aware! I'm having a hard time re-thinking the end of this story cause of the change plot... Obviously many of you wants this to be a YukiSaku so I'm re-planning the next happenings in here... If you want this to be a RyoSaku please stand up and review.. Teehee... I'm actually thinking of making two endings for this... So it would be fair... Don't you think? Please help me decide! .
