AUTHOR"S NOTE:

Okay, Whew! 3 months?? I mean come on? Who updates stories this slow?

-Shyly raises hand-

Okay, my fault but hey I've been trying to seriously study about writing, well that along with clinical duties and tons, and I mean it, tons of assignment. But hey! I'm now trying to upload 3 chapters in a flash to make it up and I plan to update the last one this Christmas. This as a Christmas gift for everyone!

And Guys! Thank you for the suggestions. I was really, really happy that I was able to establish an Original Character like Rei as to be welcomed openly by POT fans. I hope you still like him after this one...


Chapter 8:

PAIN AND CONFESSIONS Part 2

Ryoma was awfully quiet as he watched both Sakuno and Rei handle the shopping. It's a good thing that he carried three bags of the groceries or else it'll look as if he just tagged along with them, or at least that was able to convince him.

It's not as if she didn't talk to him at all during that period of time. She always did but he just did not know what to say or answer back. Like this one time, she asked, "Do you like some cake for the party?" she asked, smilingly expecting him to say yes. And he'll nod just for the sake of answering her back.

"What do you like, Chocolate or strawberries?" she'd follow but then he did not really fancy sweet things so he'd just answer, "Whichever,"

He didn't consider those conversations at all. He wanted to talk to her like how he's been carried away from Rei's talkativeness.He wished to do that but he just can't talk to her the way people normally do, you know, ask. In fact, he has never related to any other girls before and why he is now bothered to do it now.

There are just so many things happening. He noticed it, especially at that time when he touched her lips with his own. It was the first time he felt like a man in wanting, not the tennis prodigy guy who's obsessed with rackets and championships. Even if he did want to talk to a girl, he could have, it's just that, no other girl could ever be like Sakuno. She was different!

Sometimes she's shy and reserved but there were times when she speaks up for others and cares openly for everyone. Then she turns shy again and become flustered all over again.

"Yeah… that is so true…" Ryoma heard her say in between giggles. She was laughing, meticulously covering her lips with her palms, her cheeks reddened momentarily as she wiped a tear escaping from the corner of her eye.

Echizen felt himself stare at her as his own cheeks flush the same color. His eyes were wide like a child and her laughing figure made him stay there, hypnotized. Her soft and gentle movements began to amaze him.

'W-what is she doing?' he asked himself still gazing at Sakuno from the back- his heart speaking the rest.

Catching another attention from the sides, he saw Rei catering her some help in the bags of food they just bought. He frowned. His eyes fixed at the man who was making her laugh. He pulled his cap down, covering his face and returned his hands back behind his head, making the groceries hit the sides of his shoulder.

"What's wrong with me?" he murmured. Though he would've enjoyed the sight all day, he was disappointed. She was enjoying herself with someone else- and he didn't want to admit it- that someone is a guy with an astounding prince-like attitude. "Just like how all girls want it," he added in the reality's stereotyped scenario just like this one.

'Do you need anything more?" Ryoma called, wanting to break her laugh with whatever that was making her.

In return, he got her whole undivided attention but she wasn't the bubbly one who was laughing beautifully that welcomed him, it was her timid, shy and nervous one that met him, looking away and avoiding his gaze. Ryoma felt angry towards her for some reason.

'Why does she always have to do that?' he asked himself, wanting to confront the girl and question her straight out. But he only stayed there and watched. Watched as she nervously answered his question.

"Yeah, we need more stuff…" she finally said. The man sighed but was still calm about it. "Then hurry up," he said, trying to hide the irritation which he didn't know came from. Sakuno was surprised when she heard that but nodded timely, afraid she'll aggravate him more.

Ryoma on the other hand felt stupid. There were several stabs of guilt hitting him everywhere, every time he walked. He eyed Sakuno who didn't seem to get affected and was deliberately looking around for more things she possibly needed to buy.

"So you're jealous?" Rei asked as he went past the man who seemed to be froze with guilt. He frowned again and turned his cap away, carrying his face-filled with truth.

"Who'd be jealous?" he asked grinning, picking up the pieces of his composure that was long attacked by the other prince. "YOU," the other replied in English. For a moment there, he wasn't able to fight back, because he felt, even for a second that he really was. He sighed and turned his back away from him.

"I'm…" he stopped when he saw Sakuno being confronted by two men who seemed pretty annoyed.

Ryoma tried to catch a quick glimpse from the guy beside him and he too can feel the intensity building up in his hands. He saw him slowly let go and flash a smile towards him.

"I'm afraid it 's your turn now…" Rei said as he tried to push Ryoma into the scene. The other complied but looked back to see how the other would like to charge in as well.

"I told you, I'm a pretty fair guy," He started. "Besides, a damsel in distress doesn't need two princes saving her…" Ryoma felt a change of heart towards the man but didn't quite trust him that much to believe that he's doing it for him.

"I'm guessing you want to prove something," he called. The other grinned and acted as if he was clapping at how far he have seen through him.

"If Sakuno will love me, Of course, I want her to be mine alone. I'm really possessive you see." He started, trying to look at Sakuno apologizing at the two annoyed men.

"If by this she gets trouble picking between you and me, then it'll be a problem." He added.

"So you want to know if she'll still pick you after I save her from those monkeys?" Ryoma felt a grin escape his face. "You're an idiot then." He added as he turned around, approaching the scene as if he didn't care if he won it or not.

"HEY!" The man shouted as he held her right arm and squeezed it so hard that she couldn't help but squeal. The two men looked like trouble itself; they seem to be the types of men who really seems to do anything foul. She got scared so she averted her eyes away from them and closed them shut.

"I'm really, really sorry, please don't hurt me," she said with a soft voice. She could have said it louder but that's all she could muster up. She also remembered that she didn't want to trouble either Rei or Ryoma, whom she thought by now was still scanning the shelves for food. She built a resolve that she must handle this by herself before they even remember that she was already missing.

"Sorry!? You bump into someone and all you can say is sorry?" Sakuno swallowed hard. She doesn't like how this thing is proceeding.

"I really didn't me-…" she stopped when she saw Echizen approaching the scene with sharp eyes, those he usually had during his fights.

"Ry-ryoma-kun…" she mumbled shakily.

"Let go of her…" The man ordered. His eyes were burning like a ball hit by a full charged Hadoukkyu. It seems effective though, because even with his height as compared to those guys, fall short, it was scornfully powerful enough to let go of the girl's hand.

They were clearly not used to the pressure the Ryoma was giving them and they just eyed both of them before they finally decided to go away. Sakuno, despite the firm hold on the Ryoma's jacket was still scared, not from the threat of a while ago but from the same pressure that made the two men back away.

She was not used to it since it was different from the looks he gave during his tennis matches. "Ryo-" Sakuno saw Echizen's worried face fawning on her weakened, less spirited body as his eyes tried to search for an answer.

"Are you all right?" he asked, trying to put a hand on top of her shaking ones. Sakuno could have resisted that hand due to what happened earlier but she couldn't fight off the warmth that made her feel secured- that hand that finally made her realize that he was back again.

At that moment, she couldn't help but throw her hands around the neck of the tennis prince beside her and start to sob lightly. "S-sorry, I was scared," she said in between sobs. Ryoma froze. It was Sakuno's feel, her body was close to his and he could feel the rise and fall of her body as she continued to sob on his now rigid body. His hands were raised but he hasn't placed them around her like he was itching to do. He then slowly decided to wrap her around his arms but was stopped when she heard her speak again,

"I'm not used to see Ryoma-kun look like that…" His body froze once again. 'Look like… that? What did I look like?' he thought as he stopped advancing his hands, letting them fall back limply to his sides.

"I see," he said. He slowly pushed back the girl and immediately covered his face with his cap, like he has been doing for a thousand times already. He didn't want her to see that face that made her feel uncomfortable.

"It'll be dark soon…" he said turning away from her and out of the store, carrying the groceries that he has left beside the other man who welcomed his arrival with a grin.

"Looks like she's happy being saved by a prince after all," he said not knowing what happened. He eyed Ryoma questionably and his gaze fell back towards the girl who looked as if she had done something terribly wrong.

"I guess not…" he followed with a twitch in his mouth.

--

The atmosphere did not change after they arrived back home at the Training house. Even the expectations of the two men who put their first year brother on the spot like that noticed the big change. Even if they wanted to ask what happened, none of them made a very clear answer without spending most of the time saying, "Um…" and "I…" They even tried to approach Ryoma who seemed to be lifelessly uncaring at that moment was lost in thought.

Even when they were taking their dinner, everyone was quiet, that Eiji had to shout it out afterwards. Sakuno laughed but it was not her usual ones that lasted for some time. It was those short fleeting ones that disappeared immediately when someone noticed. She even went out to escape the looks they were giving her and sat flatly and limply down the floor.

"Sakuno-chan," Rei called. She was sitting on the corridor, looking outside at the soft and wonderful display of fireflies floating about the pond, inside the compound of the training house. It was when she lifted her chin when she heard her name being called out did she see Rei who was now wearing his evening Japanese wear, flashing a soft smile at her form. "R-Rei-kun…" she mumbled as she saw him settled down beside her.

"I guess the promise can wait," he said as he tried to remind the girl about what they talked about earlier. Sakuno was taken aback when she remembered and even tried to stand up and motioned him to lead her.

"O-oh, I'm fine… we can go there now," she invited as she tried her best to fake a laugh. Rei on the other hand, smiled at her kindness because he too knew, as well as Sakuno that she didn't want to go up there tonight. Not with what happened, whatever that is.

"Sakuno…" he started trying to break her innocent laughter with a passionate touch from his hands. "Haha… I'm sorry," she said.

"I-I was just worried about something…" Rei was evidently taking note of that. "I don't mind." He said laughing in between.

"Oh yeah, I have the perfect recipe so that you'd stop looking like that…" he said confidently with a raise fist. Sakuno seemed to feel lighter at that moment, seeing his energetic friend being so loud with his actions while still maintaining that aura of holiness around him.

"What is it?" she asked with interest, showing a smile of beckoning.

"I love you." He stated, making the girl flush a different color. Whatever she thought of it, he had no way to find out.

---

I know it's short as compensation but i hope you'd reflect and tell me your thoughts about this one. Hope i kept your interest. It's Ryoma's turn next Chapter... hold on.. I'll finish Chapter 9 fast. Thanks RCS please :-)