Disclaimer: I don't own POT, just the OCs. The characters and the original plot belong to Konomi-san.

Hi guys! I'm back with a new chapter! And to my readers, I've already started the next one! I think I'm on a bit of writing fever. Hope you all have a good summer! Of course, I still have to do SAT crap, since I really need to pass 2250. At least Reina's helping me out a bit.

You must know how grateful I am to see all those reviews! It made me so happy! And I'll be writing replies to you guys as soon as I get around to it… (I'll probably reply after you forget you even reviewed.)

And if you ever felt offended by my little notes that threatened you guys into leaving reviews, I apologize! They were meant as half-jokes (Yes, I really want the reviews).

This chapter is slightly shorter, less than 6000 words whereas nearly all my others cracked 7000.

This chapter is dedicated to all those RyoSaku fans out there!

To Catch A Falling Star—Chapter 10: Of Sickness and Training

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"Echizen's not coming today?"

Sakuno's eyes immediately found their way to the front of the room, where Momoshiro was talking with the teacher.

"Yeah…" Momoshiro was saying. "I went to pick him up this morning, but his cousin said he was sick. Caught a cold or something, I don't know," He added under his breath, "That's what you get for training in the rain…"

'Ryoma-kun caught a cold?!' Sakuno thought, her eyes going wide. 'It's all my fault! I shouldn't have let him lend me the jersey or the umbrella!' She thought of the jersey that was clean and neatly folded within her sports bag. 'I'm so selfish! I didn't even think to ask him if he was cold!'

"I guess it can't be helped…" the teacher replied, opening the attendance book and marking him absent. "He's never missed a class before, so it's fine…"

Class began, but Sakuno could only think of how sick Ryomamust be. She worried through Math and Science. She stared out of the window through all her other classes, wondering if he would make it in time for the next class. All of her teachers gave her strange looks; this wasn't like the hardworking Ryuzaki they knew. Even during lunch, Sakuno just took out the bento she made for two and picked at it unenthusiastically.

"Sakuno, Sakuno!" Tomoka bounded over, looking at her lunch. "What do you have?"

Sakuno wordlessly continued moving her food around with her chopsticks.

"Sakuno, are you all right?" Tomoka looked at her friend in concern.

Momoshiro suddenly entered the classroom, his arms laden with food. He overheard Tomoka's question. "It's because Echizenisn't here, right?" he asked, a mischievous glint in his eye. He expected a reflexive denial from Sakuno; however the latter just ignored him and continued to play with her food halfheartedly.

"Oi, I know Echizen's never missed a day before…" Momoshiro said, the smile slipping. "But I'm sure he'll be fine. He might even get up just for tennis practice later." He forced a grin. "You know how that brat is. Tennis is everything to him…"

'Tennis is everything…' Sakuno thought sadly. 'And I'm nothing…'

"Momo-chan-senpai, I think you made her feel even worse." Horio noted.

"Ryuzaki?" he pressed. "It's okay, really. He might even being swinging his racket at this very minute… Besides," He leaned in to whisper with a grin, "Being sick was probably worth walking you home and all that…"

"Eeh?!" She blushed. "How do you know about that?!"

"Ah that…" He grimaced slightly. "You can tell Echizen that there are mosquito nests all over his bushes, by the way."

"Y—you hid in the bushes?!" Sakuno cried.

"What's going on, Sakuno?!" Tomoka asked excitedly.

"It wasn't just me!" Momoshiro said defensively. "It was all Sayaka's idea anyways! And Watanabe-senpai just kind of appeared out of nowhere to get 'data' or whatever…"

"Watanabe-senpai… Sayaka-senpai…" Sakuno's blush crept down her neck until her entire face rivaled that of a traffic light. "H-how many of you were there?!"

"Ah…" Momoshiro fidgeted a bit. "Only me, Sayaka, Oishi-senpai, Mamushi, Watanabe-senpai, and Ito-senpai."

"ONLY?!"

"Come to think of it…" Momoshiro pondered for a moment. "I could swearI heard Inui-senpai's voice, but he wasn't there. Maybe it was just Watanabe-sensei talking to herself, because it seemed to be his voice coming from her mouth."

"Takeshi-nii…" Sayaka suddenly poked her head in the room. "Did you steal my math homework again?"

"Did you steal my school uniform again?" he retorted. Sheepishly, Sayaka entered the room, clearly dressed in the boy's school uniform, though without the dark jacket. She even had a tie loosely slung around her neck.

"I need my math homework for next class!"

"So you're saying that I can just go to school naked, huh?!"

"You have two school uniforms!"

"No, I have one, since you've already claimed the other as your own!"

The freshmen's eyes wandered back and forth from between the two siblings speedily, almost as if they were watching a table tennis match.

"MOMOSHIRO SAYAKA!" a teacher suddenly roared.

"Hai!"

"If I have to remind you about your attire ONE MORE TIME…"

"But sensei!" Sayaka protested, while her brother snickered at her. "I'm in uniform! Isn't that what's important?"

"Momoshiro Sayaka. You are a girl. As much as you don't wish it, I repeat, you are a girl. Therefore you must respect the school rules and wear your proper uniform." The teacher's eyes narrowed. "Now go get an extra uniform from the office and change, or I will give you detention!" She sniffed and walked off.

"This school is anti-feminist…" Sayaka muttered under her breath. Then her eyes caught onto Sakuno. "Ah!" she exclaimed. "You're the girl from yesterday!"

"Y-yesterday?" Sakuno repeated questioningly.

"The one that Echizen kid totally has a crush on!" She grinned. "You landed yourself a good one, girl."

"Wh-what? I—"

"Sakuno, Sakuno! What's going on?!" Tomoka squealed.

"This is madness!" Horio said. "Echizen would never—"

"Isn't he going to help you with tennis sometime? Like personally—"

"That's nothing. Didn't they go on at least two dates already? The racket stringer, remember—"

"I heard he already took her out personally for tennis training. Multiple times, even—"

"I always knew Echizen had a thing for you—"

"Shut UP!" Sakuno suddenly exploded. She had had enough talk about her and Ryoma, especially since half of it wasn't even true. Why was everyone so obsessed?

The whole classroom was speechless. Nobody knew how to react. The thing is, Ryuzaki just doesn't do violent outbursts.

'Of course, that's not entirely true…' Momoshiro suddenly remembered. 'She had a bit of an outburst after Echizen got hurt in his match with Shinji…'

Sakuno breathed hard. There. Now as long as she stayed away from Ryoma and stopped giving them something to talk about…

"Ryuzaki?" The teacher approached her, handing her a folder of papers. "Would you bring this to Echizen's house after school today? It's his homework."

She groaned inwardly while everyone else laughed, secretly plotting to follow…

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Oishi sighed. "Ryuzaki, let's try again!" He lobbed the ball upwards. Sakuno jumped and smashed, missing the basket she was supposed to be aiming at. She had been missing since the start of practice.

None of the others had trouble like this. Izumi and Reina had pinpoint accuracy. Aiko nearly blew the basket away. Suzume's irregular shots often bounced outof the basket again, which was annoying. All of them and all the rest could easily hit it into the basket. Why was it so hard for Sakuno?

"Okay, water break!" he called. Though the weather was getting colder, the practices still worked them up to a sweat, making them feel like they were in the middle of July. The others piled for their water bottles, stumbling to the fountain for a refill.

"Akane-san!" He located the ginger hair easily. "Can I talk to you?"

"You already are, but shoot." She took a sip from her bottle, looking at him expectantly.

"Ryuzaki can't smash the ball properly…" he finally said. "She can't keep up with the other regulars. She can't move as fast, she doesn't have their precision, and she…" He paused, thinking about how to put his words politely. "Basically, there is a huge gap in their levels."

"True…" Akane nodded and took another sip, pondering. "But is there such a big gap between their potentials?"

He was silent.

"Ryuzaki has talent…" Akane said. "And as I've previously said, she'll workfor it. She'll practice daily and nightly until she has that smash nailed. So maybe she's not a freshmen wonder like your Echizen is."

"I…" Oishi hesitated. "I just think there might be someone out there who can play better…"

"There's always someone out there who plays better. That's why you guys haven't taken home the national titles for ages…" she replied tactfully. "Sakuno is like your Kaidoh. If she loses, she'll probably double her training or something until she snares a win. Suzume is the same. I think Aiko and Sayaka are probably like that too, judging by their temperaments."

From her tone, Oishi could tell that she believed some people weren't like that, and it disappointed her. "I think Momoshiro-chan is like that; even after the gymnastics team was cut, she didn't give up and managed to incorporate it into tennis…"

Akane nodded. "I don't think you have to worry about Ryuzaki Sakuno. She knows she isn't as good as the other regulars, and she'll do anything she can to close the gap."

"A-ah…" Oishi shifted. "I guess so…"

"She's the opposite of Izumi…" Akane suddenly said. "And I'm worried. Izumi… losing doesn't spur her motivation, in fact, it dampens it. And Chiharu has never lost a match before, so how will she know how to handle it?" She rubbed her forehead. "Sorry. I shouldn't be burdening you with this talk."

"No… it's okay… I've often felt that way before about the guys…" Oishi replied gently. 'She puts on a blunt and practical front, but inside she really cares about the team…'

"I guess I was the one that should've asked you for a talk. You're very easy to talk to," she said with a smile. She looked at her watch. "We should continue practice."

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Practice consisted of basic weight and movement training. The weather was getting cooler as traces of golden autumn were woven into the summer green. Soon, the sky was darkening and it was time for practice to end.

"Sakuno, where are you going?" Akane asked as the brown haired girl picked up her bag.

"I'm going to Ryoma-kun's house." she replied absently.

There was a long silence.

"No, not to—I mean—" she stammered.

A torrent of catcalls was unleashed, along with laughter and the teasing voices of several of rowdier regulars. "Echizen is finally realizing what girls are?" "No, he'll probably screw it all up again…" "Data… but surely you knew of this, Reina?" "Of course she did! She was the creepiest stalker person in the bushes yesterday! So pro!"

"Senpais! You're all so mean! You haven't filled me in yet~" Kimiko whined, pouting.

"I have not promulgated the espionage for fear of your propensity towards disseminating insidious rumors, however I will itemize it for you—"

"Reina…" Akane warned.

"I will… (cough) summarize… it for you briefly…"

"Yeah, you got a couple hours?" Suzume asked Sakuno sarcastically, rolling her eyes. " 'Briefly', honestly."

"Suzume…" Akane could barely cover up a chuckle in her voice.

"Um… then I'm off, senpais," Sakuno said timidly, trying to slip away quickly escape the torture.

"Wait, you can't go yet. Reina has to take your measurements for our uniforms." Akane said. "We're getting them tailored."

"Okay…" She held out her arms as Reina worked with the measuring tape expertly. As soon as the black haired girl was done, Sakuno all but ran from the courts. The others gazed at her retreating figure, amusement donning their faces.

"Do you think we scared her too much?" Chiharu asked anxiously, a wrinkle of worrying already etched in her brow.

"Nah, she's just too anxious to see her Echizen, right?" Sayaka said, elbowing her brother.

"Yeah…" Momoshiro replied vaguely. He was looking elsewhere, a puzzled expression on his face.

"What's up?" she asked.

"Does Oshiro-senpai look different to you, or is it just me?"

"Hmm…" Sayaka studied her for a split second, before smiling. "Love the new hair, Chiharu-senpai." She punched her brother on the shoulder. "How are supposed to win a girl's heart if you don't notice these little changes?"

"I noticed, okay?!"

"Tezuka…" Oishi said. He indicated the running tensai. "Why is Fuji running so many laps today?"

Chiharu ducked down to hide her blush. She feared that Tezuka might glance her way. He didn't. She felt relieved, but disappointed as well.

"Inappropriate behavior and lack of respect shown to other members." Tezuka said after a brief hesitation.

"Aka taking secret pictures of Tezuka and Oshiro-chan together." Kikumaru whispered to Momoshiro.

Tezuka looked in his direction, and he quickly ducked behind his kohai.

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Sakuno stood outside the door, completely at a loss. She'd been standing there for at least a full minute.

The door had no doorbell.

It was one of those Japanese style doors, where one slid the door open as opposed to opening it with a doorknob. The windows were frosted, so she could not simply wave and attract the attention of someone inside to open the door. 'Should I knock? Or should I just call out?'

She sighed, wondering if she'd ever get inside when someone appeared. "Hi. Are you looking for someone?"

Sakuno turned to see a young woman, probably in her twenties. "Ano… um… I'm Ryoma-kun's classmate…"

"Nice to meet you!" She smiled. "You must be Ryuzaki-chan, right?"

"Eh?" Her eyes widened. "How did you know?"

"Oh, I just guessed," she replied with a wink. "I'm his cousin Nanako. I heard all about your little date yesterday…"

"It-it wasn't a date!" she said reflexively. Then what Nanako said registered in her brain. "Then… did, um Ryoma-kun tell you?" Somehow he didn't seem the type that would tell these events to others.

"Of course not. As if that kid tells any of us these things. I heard it from Oji-san." She grinned. "Well, why aren't you going in? Did the old pervert scare you away?"

"Ano… um…"

Nanako reached for the inside of the door frame and pressed the doorbell. Sakuno kicked herself mentally. 'Stupid… I should've checked there! And I spent a whole minute looking for it like an idiot! I wonder how long she was watching me for…' Her thoughts were interrupted when the door slid open with an impatient thud.

Nanjiroh appeared in front of the door. "Did you forget your key again, Nanako?! You know I don't appreciate being disturbed when I'm reading…"

"You call those pervy magazines reading?" Nanako walked by him with her nose in the air. "Maybe I should just tell Auntie where you stash all of them…"

He twitched with panic. "You wouldn't dare…"

She shrugged.

"Ohoho…" Nanjiroh's attention was diverted as he peered at the newcomer. "Ryuzaki-chan, is it? Are you here to see Ryoma?"

"Actually…" Sakuno's heart sped up a little, and her courage faltered. She hastily reached into her bag, pulling out a few sheets of paper. "Um… maybe I should just leave this with you… It's his homework…"

"Nonsense, nonsense!" Nanjiroh exclaimed as he began shoving her upstairs. "He'll be happy to see you! Now you just go up there and say hello! And do stay for dinner!"

"Ano… I…" Sakuno said helplessly as his relentless pushing eventually brought her to Ryoma's bedroom door. Nanjiroh gave her a mischievous grin before rapping loudly on the door and then scurrying downstairs, so all she could do was gulp and wait for Ryoma to answer.

The door opened. "Oyaji, I told you, I'm not hungr—" He stopped short when he saw the girl in front of him.

"Ryuzaki…"

"Ano… Ryoma-kun…" Her eyes danced from her left shoe to her right one.

"Why are you here?" It wasn't an accusing tone, merely one of an inquiry.

"Oh! I'm sorry…" She reached into her bag. "Here's your homework. Sensei asked me to bring it to you."

"Domo…" He took it from her hands. There was an awkward pause. Ryoma suddenly felt a bit self conscious being in his blue pajamas and having messed up hair.

"Um… so how are you feeling?" she asked, trying the break the silence.

"It's nothing. I'll be back in school tomorrow."

"Ah… um… that's… good…" she managed to reply lamely.

There was another awkward pause.

"Mrow row?" Sakuno felt a soft brushing about her ankle. She looked down to see a fluffy cat rubbing itself against her. "Eh? Ryoma-kun has a cat?"

"Karupin?" Ryoma said, mostly to the cat.

"It's so cute!" Sakuno bent down to pet it. Karupin purred at her touch.

"Hmm? He likes you…" Ryoma murmured.

"Really?" Sakuno beamed. Suddenly Karupin bounded back inside the room. He reappeared almost immediately, tail in the air, carrying what appeared to be a stick in his mouth.

"He wants you to play with him…" Ryoma remarked. 'Karupin doesn't like just anyone…' "Come in." He held the door open.

"Eh? Is it okay?"

He almost rolled his eyes. When would she stop with the stupid questions? "Come in."

Timidly, she stepped inside. He sat down on the carpeted floor, moving his MP3 player out of the way and taking the stick from Karupin. There was a bit of fluff attached to the end. Ryoma began moving it up and down, making Karupin stand on his hind legs, reaching for the fluff.

Sakuno giggled, delighted. "He's dancing!"

"Here." He gave her the cat's toy, and she began playing with him. As she moved the stick back and forth, laughing at Karupin's attempts at nabbing it, he couldn't help but notice a happy glow about her. 'She's so easy to please…'

"Neh, I'm going to change." he said, grabbing some clothes from the closet and heading to the bathroom.

"Eh? I'll go outsid—" But he'd already left the room before she could finish her offer.

Sakuno sighed and picked up Karupin. "Mou… sometimes I have no idea what goes on in your owner's head… I don't even know why I like him…"

The cat tilted his head to the side, almost as if he was contemplating what she had said.

"He's an amazing tennis player, but sometimes I'm afraid that's all he is…"

"Mrow row?"

"What, you're saying he's more than that?"

Karupin blinked his blue eyes. "Meow…" He began licking her hand.

She sighed again and put him back on the ground. "If he is, then he doesn't show it…"

"Ryuzaki?" Ryoma was at the door, dressed in his usual tennis attire.

"Ryoma-kun!" She stood up, slightly flustered. "Did you hear what I was saying to Karupin?" She prayed the answer was no.

"Hmm?" He suddenly smiled. "Ryuzaki likes to talk to cats…"

She blushed. 'Ryoma-kun's teasing me!' "Th-that's not true!"

"Hmm. Hey, come with me for a moment," he said, changing the topic. "Bring your racket."

"T-tennis?" Hesitatingly, she reached for the racket on the floor.

"I said I'd help you, didn't I?"

"H-hai!"

Just as she was leaving the room, she glanced backwards. Karupin was curled up on Ryoma's bed, watching them with almost a… smug expression on his face. As if he was saying 'I told you so.' And Sakuno could swear, at that moment, she saw the cat wink at her.

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"You're playing tennis now, right, Izumi?" The doctor asked her while consulting her file.

"Yes…"

"Is it bad for her, doctor?" her mother asked anxiously.

'She's going to use this as an excuse to get me to quit…'

"Well, I discourage sports in general…" the doctor said. "And tennis is a particularly strenuous sport. You might do better to find a more sedentary hobby."

"See, I told you!" her mother said as they walked out of the hospital together. "I'd rather you go back to dancing than continue tennis!" Several people turned to stare at her—her mother was one of the very few people in Japan that still wore kimono. Her family was all about traditional values, unlike Fuji's, she noted, which seemed much more modern.

"I haven't quit dance, Mother…" Her smile was cryptic.

"I was under the impression you had…"

"No, Mother."

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Aiko stopped the treadmill. Three miles was enough for today. She picked her tennis bag up from the floor, flashing her gym membership card at the counter. The lady behind the counter nodded and noted her down, before allowing her to depart.

Instead of taking the bus, Aiko decided to walk home. It would only take about thirty minutes. 'And besides, it's about time I see what my new home is like…' The roads weren't very busy in this area. It was quiet. She could hear the birds chirping in the trees. 'It's no New York City, but it's… nice… in its own way…' She walked until she came to a river that was at the side of the road. For a moment she stood there and watched the tiny waves dance within the water. The orange sunlight spilled onto the water a million shards of glass.

'Can't believe there are sights like this in the city…' Aiko thought.

The swishing sound of someone swinging a racket and grunting drifted into her ears. She walked a little farther, curious, until saw someone under the bridge. 'Ah! It's that kid with the bandanna!'

He looked up, having heard her footsteps. "Aiko-senpai…"

"Umm… I forgot your name…" Her accent was obvious, but not extremely heavy.

"Kaidoh Kaoru…"

"You… practice a lot…" she managed to say. 'I'm not even sure if I'm using the right tenses…' "Do you play… 'power tennis'?"

"No, that's Kawamura-senpai and that baka Momoshiro…"

"Baka…" she murmured to herself, mentally searching for the definition. "Ah! Idiot!" she exclaimed out loud triumphantly.

He let out a small burst of laughter.

"Actually, that was a joke…" she said. "My mom uses it on my at least ten times a day. It's almost a nickname." Halfway through that sentence she switched to English again.

He nodded to show he understood.

"Well, I'll see you at practice tomorrow then…" She waved before heading off. Inside, there was a small bubble of happiness. She'd managed to have an almost normal (albeit slightly forced) conversation in Japanese! And he'd called her 'senpai'! It made her feel… what's the word? Respected.

'A black girl that can barely speak a single word in Japanese somehow gets the respect of her peers (or at least one of them),' she thought. 'I guess I'm moving forward.'

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"Ryuzaki is tense again…" Ryoma commented as he held a ball in his hand.

"Ah… is that so…" Sakuno tried to calm herself down, but her nerves were all over the place. 'What if I make a fool of myself in front of him again?' "R-Ryoma-kun, aren't you still sick? Maybe you should help me some other time…?" she suggested, trying to escape.

He ignored the suggestion. "Neh, what kind of practice did you guys do today?"

"Umm… Some dash practices and smash practice…"

"Did Oishi-senpai make you guys use the baskets?"

She nodded. "But… I couldn't get a single one in…" she confessed, looking downcast.

"Hmm…" He observed her for a moment. "Ryuzaki, I'm going to lob the ball upwards. Try smashing it."

"Eh?! But—"

"Here goes!" Up went the ball in a high arc.

Sakuno focused her eyes, jumping for it.

'Her timing isn't bad…'

She smashed it onto the left side of him. Her form was fine, but he saw what was costing her her aim.

"Hmm, so that's how it is…" he said with a nod. "You're using all your strength to smash the ball. By doing that, you're sacrificing your ball control."

"But…" She stared at her racket and took a few experimental swings. "If I don't use all my strength, then it won't be a smash…"

He tilted his head. "Then you have to work on your arm strength, right?" Walking back to the baseline, he turned and pulled another ball out of his pocket. "This time, try smashing the ball into the left doubles court."

"Eh?!" 'That thin little band?' "I can't…"

"Just try it," He said, and lobbed the ball. "Here."

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Chiharu typed a message on her cell phone. Her fingers hovered over the sent button. Before she could change her mind, she pressed it, hearing the satisfying click that the button made.

I'm sorry about yesterday.

It was a half-lie—she didn't regret what happened, but if it made him feel uncomfortable, then she definitely did. After all, she suspected that Fuji was still teasing him about the occasion every moment possible. About a minute later, her cell phone vibrated with the news of a new message. Heart beating, she hesitated over opening the message. What would he write back? When she finally worked up the bravery to read it, the message sent a spread of warmth throughout her limbs. It was only two words.

I'm not.

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She was getting tired, Ryoma sensed it. They'd been practicing for a little over an hour.

There was evident improvement. In fact, he was shocked at how fast she'd improved. Her control wasn't nearly 100% yet, but it was at least 85%. 'Oh crap. I'm thinking like Inui-senpai now.' In the last 10 balls, she had hit 9 of them into the strip on the court that marked the end of the doubles court. Even if she couldn't get it into the basket, he suspected that she'd probably be able to hit the basket.

Of course, power was still an issue. "Neh, Ryuzaki, last one!" he said, holding up a ball. "This time just try smashing it. Put all your power into it."

"Okay!" She got into receiving mode. 'Yoshi…'

He lobbed the ball upwards.

She jumped for it, timing it perfectly. 'Put all your power into it…' The ball eclipsed the sun, creating a bright aura around it, almost as if she was reaching for a star. 'I want to become stronger!' Then she brought her arm down with all the force she could and pinned the ball downwards. She had no idea where she was aiming it, just knowing that she'd used up all the strength she had.

'You know, this day wasn't half bad…' Ryoma thought as he watched her. Her hair flew out behind her. He didn't mind her hair much anymore either, which was very weird. 'She really tries, and she's gotten a lot better…'

"Ah! Ryoma-kun, watch OUT!"

BAM!

'Not good enough, it seems…'

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Ryoma sat on the ground, rubbing his cheek. "Ite…"

"Gomen, Ryoma-kun!" she cried, running over, evidently horrorstruck. She knelt down next to him. "Are you all right?"

"I guess you're okay on your power too…"

A scared giggle escaped her as she poured some water from her water bottle on to her handkerchief. "Here, let me…" Leaning over, she put the cloth onto his cheek.

Ryoma suddenly froze.

She caringly patted the cloth on his cheek. The sunlight cast a golden tint onto her auburn curls. "Mou, I hope it won't bruise…"

His face felt hot. God forbid… he couldn't be… blushing?

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"He's blushing, he's blushing!"

"I know, Eiji-senpai, now be quiet! They'll find out!"

"Or they'll think that the bushes have snakes in them. (snicker)."

"Urusei, you moron!"

"Oh yeah, since when did youstart calling Eiji-senpai by his first name, Sayaka?"

"Good data…"

"ACK!"

"I-NU-I! Don't scare us like that!"

"Hmm…" Nanjiroh said as he watched from behind the bell. "There's a good atmosphere there…"

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Later that evening, Ryoma lay onto his bed, feeling strange about the day's events. He'd never felt this way before. It was something to do with her. It had to be. Sighing, he picked up Karupin. "What was Ryuzaki saying to you earlier?"

"Mrow…"

"You're not going to tell me?" He glanced away. "Fine. Not that I care."

"Meow row." Now the tone was accusing. It was as if he'd just said "liar".

The cat crawled over and licked at his cheek, exactly where he'd been struck with the ball. And somehow Ryoma felt that Karupin did it on purpose.

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End Chapter Ten

A/N: That's it! Okay, done!

The doorbell part was because I couldn't find the *** doorbell on my friend's house about a day ago. I just stuck that in there for anyone who also had the same feeling.

Random Trivia: Apparently Nanjiroh had a date with a girl named Kimiko when he was at Seigaku. How coincidental. I actually wasn't even sure if Kimiko was a Japanese name—I just wanted to incorporate the name "Kimi" in.

I'm really stuck for what the subcategory of this story is. There's Humor, Friendship, Action, and Drama. I wish I could put all of them. Tell me what you think!

And I've already started the next chapter, so no worries! But reviews would make me write faster, you know…

Review!

Next chapter: While basic training continues, the tournament nears and doubles training has to begin. And we may also meet some of those irritating fangirls that are just too jealous of an all-girl team that can get so close with the regulars. Chapter 11: Doubles or Nothing.