Hello Minna, I'm finally back, after almost two months of hibernating! School's really evolving into a living Hell. Haha, and I really hate Trigonometry! I hate it really! Poor Me! My school's curriculum has a lot of MATH!

So here's chapter ten, Sorry again for the late update, I'm really busy processing application forms and test permits for my future entrance exams. And yeah another thing… Kyou Kara Maou also keeps me busy, Haha that's why I couldn't update early.

Special thanks to 'Sakura-chan' Is this your penname??? I'm sorry I forgot… she was currently with me while writing some parts of this story.

I also apologize because this chapter shorter compared to the other chapters.

Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis…

Chapter Ten: Conflicts!

"A-anou, R-ryoma-kun A-are y-you sure i-it's okay t-to b-bring me i-in that party?" Sakuno asked as she gazed towards Ryoma's golden orbs.

"It will be fine, Ryuzaki." Ryoma replied with a smirk as he realized Sakuno's uneasiness. "M-maybe I-I should just s-stay w-with S-sakura-chan." Sakuno blushed.

"No" he said in a childish manner. "And besides I'll ask Aya and Nanako-san to look after Sakura while we're gone."

"D-demo"

"No buts, Ryuzaki."

"Hai" Sakuno was worried about the party she couldn't deny that. She was nervous about socializing with people in higher authority especially that the Yamashita Financial Group is one of the most famous financial groups in Japan, given that fact Sakuno couldn't help but think that she'll make a fool out of herself.

"Are you ready?" Ryoma asked Sakuno.

"Hai…" she came out of the room with a light blush on her cheeks. Ryoma couldn't help but stare at her, she really looked awesome.

'She looks much much better than the last time I saw her wear a formal dress, that was the prom, right?' Ryoma thought.

Her hair was fixed in a pink ribbon and her gown was really ravishing with amber studs. She also wore a blue pendant which made her look more outstanding.

"R-ryoma-kun?" Sakuno was confused. "H-hey R-ryoma-kun?"

"I won't let anybody stare at you aside from me" he said in a whisper-like voice.

"Eh? Did you say anything?" she asked.

Ryoma blushed, "A-ah, I said you look beautiful tonight" he was sweatdropped, PHEW! That was a close call.

SiLeNcE

"A-anou, R-ryoma-kun…" Sakuno called his attention. "You're staring at me again, Is there something weird on my face?" she asked.

"Eto…" Ryoma was kinda speechless.

"You look ravishing, mommy!" Sakura complimented as the sweet little girl gave Sakuno a hug.

"A-arigatou, Sakura-chan…" Sakuno smiled, "You're so beautiful maybe that's why daddy is under your magic spell tonight."

"Che" Ryoma gave a blush as he heard Sakuno and Sakura's laughs.

Echizen Household:

"Oi Seishounen, you've got a very beautiful young woman! Ha! I knew it!" Nanjirou said in a sing-song manner.

"Oh stop it Nanjirou!" Rinko scolded his childish husband.

"Che, don't stare at her, Oyaji" Ryoma glared. "Awwe Come on Seishounen just let me have a minute!" Sakuno blushed.

"Yadda." He hid Sakuno behind his back.

"Ah! This is outrageous! Our son is sick! Very sick!" Nanjirou shrieked. "Maybe it's 'love sick' Old man!" Aya squealed.

"Che, and here's another annoying one!" Ryoma glared at Aya.

"That's soooo mean of you, childish uncle! And Hey! You still owe me a manga! Oh Hi there! Sakuno-san, I hope he's not giving you a hard time and nice seeing you again Sakura-chan maybe this time we could play longer." Aya continuously talked.

"By the way, where's Nanako-san?" Ryoma asked. "She suddenly had a duty tonight." Rinko answered.

"Oh, too bad"

"A-anou R-ryoma-kun I-ist i-it o-okay to leave Sakura-chan here?" Sakuno asked.

"It's not really a problem Ryuzaki-chan." Rinko said with a smile. "We would gladly look after Sakura-chan."

"Oi Seishounen! We're gonna look after your cute daughter so have fun" Nanjirou grinned.

"Perverted Old Man!" Aya yelled as she chased Nanjirou around the house. Everybody was looking at them, sweatdropped. Nanjirou didn't change much, he was still a good for nothing perverted old man.

"Bye Sakura, We'll be back later." Ryoma said and gave his daughter a kiss in the cheek.

"Bye Daddy, bye Mommy!" Sakura smiled, "Bye, Sakura-chan!" Sakuno gave a wave.

"Enjoy Seishounen!" Nanjirou managed to say as he received another kick from Aya.

"Urusai" Ryoma glared.

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Ryoma and Sakuno finally arrived at the party venue. As they entered the hall, Sakuno was trembling due to nervousness. 'Calm Down, Sakuno…' she chanted endlessly. The party was seriously a high class one, filled with famous people just like politicians and businessmen. The buffet was also extravagant, she was a chef just one glance at the food being served she already knew it was made by a professional.

'This is it' she thought after taking a deep breath. Suddenly she felt something, Ryoma reached for her hand. "Everything's gonna be okay" he whispered. "Un" Sakuno gave him a nod as they both walked slowly joining the crowd. Everybody was wearing silk dresses and expensive looking jewelries, thereare a lot of woman who looks more ravishing than aroma of wine spread all over the place, as people continued socializing with each other.

"Hey! Nice to see you Echizen-kun" A middle aged man went and greeted them. "Nice to see you too, Seiro-san" Ryoma said politely. "What a beautiful young lady" he commented, "A-ah, A-arigatou" Sakuno blushed while she stuttered.

"Who's this young woman, Echizen-kun?"

"Her name's Ryuzaki Sakuno, my girlfriend" he said.

"Ah, Sou ka, what a lucky lady, By the way I'm Yori Seiro, a business partner of the Yamashita Groups, Well see you around" he finally took his leave.

"Seiro-san looks like a good person." Sakuno said, "He really is, he's the one who helped me enter many international tournaments, aside from being a businessman he also loves tennis more than anything else." Ryoma replied.

Sweet music suddenly played, the dance floor was filled with couples dancing as graceful as they could. The tune was slow but very overwhelming.

"Ryuzaki, do you want to dance?" Ryoma asked.

"A-anou, y-you know that I'm bad at it..." she muttered while blushing. Ryoma smirked, "Didn't we dance at the Prom before?" he asked.

'Silly Ryoma-kun' she thought, as she smiled at him. "That was a Prom, completely different from this Grand Party." she said.

"It doesn't really matter, as long as I'm with you." he smirked again, "You're Crazy!" she retorted, as her face flushed ten shades of red.

"Crazy and obsessed with you." he said again with a smirk, 'He's playing pranks at me again' Sakuno thought. "Ryoma-kun, you know very well that you...don't look like yourself while telling me all those sappy lines" she said.

"So you hate me when I'm like this?" he asked while his smirk grew wider. "N-no, I just don't like it...it sounds that you... and I are... very..." she blushed.

"Very?" he asked.

"A-anou...intimate?" she blushed as he laugh.

"Ryuzaki I never thought you can think like that!" he continued to laugh.

"Mou, Ryoma-kun!" she was irritated.

"May I have this dance?" he asked formally. Sakuno was surprised, "What's with the sudden formality?" she asked.

"I thought you hate me, saying those sappy lines, so I guess we should be more formal." his smirk was still present.

"Ryoma-kun you're really into the 'teasing' mood tonight." she commented.

"You think so?" he asked, "Yeah!" she replied. "Maybe" he said as he escorted her towards the dance floor.

"Ryoma-kun, I think I can't do this." she protested. "Oh really?" he smirked, again.

"Just follow me" Ryoma said, Sakuno nodded.

He was really a Prince, Sakuno was astounded and felt nostalgic. She remembered that this was also the way they danced at that Prom night. She felt the same happiness just like before.

"You look beautiful tonight" he blushed.

"Un" Sakuno flushed and nodded, he also said those words at the Prom night.

"Ryuzaki" Ryoma called. "Don't lose focus…" he whispered into her ear. "Ahh Hai!" Sakuno replied. 'Mou it's as if he's playing a tennis match…' Sakuno moaned.

'Yup this is truly a match I won't let those perverts drool at you!' Ryoma thought as he glared to anybody who dared to stare at the delicate girl with her. "Che"

As the sweet music being played finished, Sakuno was relieved. "At last that was finished." she said.

"Did you enjoy?"he asked, she nodded. "Maybe we can do that more often." he smirked.

"Ryoma-kun!" she glared at him. "I was just kidding!" he defended his self.

Suddenly everybody became silent. "May I present the Host of this Party and the Future Heir of the Yamashita Financial Groups!" the Emcee announced, as everybody gave a round of applause.

"Heir?" Sakuno asked Ryoma.

"More like an arrogant spoiled princess..." Ryoma sighed.

Sakuno was staring at the host of the party, a pretty lady about her age, with long blonde hair and emerald eyes. She was mesmerized by that lady's stunning looks, such a lucky young woman, being an heir to a great company. She sure has a lot of luxuries in life.

"Ah Ryoma!" Kumiko called his name, "Awwe don't look at me like that I know I'm too pretty enough…" she said in an arrogant manner. Sakuno was feeling intimidated because of her sudden appearance.

"I didn't even notice you." STRIKE ONE! He said in a stern way which caused the lady to cringe. "Is this dress not stunning enough for you to ignore me just like that!" she was furious.

"Actually it was very stunning enough to avoid… you look like a…" he was cut off. "A bird! A very wonderful bird!" she exclaimed.

"Peacock…" Ryoma continued. STRIKE TWO!

Sakuno was sweatdropped, she knew that Ryoma was a very frank person, but she never expected him to be this frank. He does have a point that lady really looks like a peacock.

Kumiko was really furious. "So who's this girl with you? Care to introduce me?" she said as she sent glares at Sakuno.

"My girlfriend." STRIKE THREE! "Oh what?" she yelled causing most of the guests to stare at her.

"Oh my… I couldn't believe she was your umm… girlfriend…" she was hesitant to say the word 'girlfriend' which was referring to Sakuno. "So what's your name?"

"A-ah R-ryuzaki Sakuno…" she stuttered. "N-nice to m-meet you…"

"Well it's NOT really that NICE to meet you…" she said, "By the way, the name's Yamashita Kumiko…"

"Oi" Ryoma glared at her. "Of course I was just kidding, you know Ryoma has been with me since he started his career in professional tennis, it would be a pleasure to meet his… girlfriend." She smiled, 'You look more like a maid…'

"I-I s-see…"

"So Ryuzaki-san… would you mind to spend a moment with me… since my father wants to talk to Ryoma, I was just thinking that you'll find it hard to mingle with these people."

"A-arigato…"

"Is that okay with you Ryuzaki?" he asked, "Umm Hai…" Sakuno smiled innocently."Be Careful…" Ryoma whispered as he gave Sakuno a peck in the cheek.

"Ne, Ryuzaki-san, why can't we go to a more private place… I want to have a chat with you." Kumiko offered. Sakuno nodded and followed her nervously. She bit her lip, feeling the tension between her and the other woman.

"I assume that you are really that girl who was working at that Coffee Shop… Puffletuff isn't it?" she asked.

"H-hai… w-wait h-how d-do y-you know?"

"Ryuzaki Sakuno, grand daughter of Echizen Ryoma's former tennis coach. You finished Culinary Arts and had your own shop before it came into a total devastation, not to mention that you're currently Ryoma's girlfriend." Sakuno was surprised at that bulk of information.

"A-are y-you a stalker?" Sakuno asked. "Not really, I wouldn't have any interests in you if you weren't flirting with MY Ryoma."

"f-flirting?" she asked, confused.

"Don't ACT as if that you DON'T know you BITCH!" she yelled at Sakuno

"I never flirted at Ryoma-kun." Sakuno shot back. You were really TOO PERFECT to be Ryoma's girlfriend, whore!" she yelled.

"T-too p-perfect?"

"Kuso! Why does Ryoma like stupid girls like you?! First Yuki and now you!"

'Yuki?' Sakuno was startled at the name, she recalled that was the name of Ryoma's ex-wife and Sakura-chan's mother.

"Indeed you look like her, in fact I thought you were her replacement. You stutter like her, you moan like her, you cry like her and most of all both of you played dirty tricks to deceive Ryoma."

Sakuno felt her tears unconsciously falling, she was crying, she felt like being stabbed.

"…R-replacement…" she sobbed.

"Don't ever show your filthy face at me, Ryoma doesn't deserve a dirty whore like you!"

"T-that's n-not T-true…" she murmured.

"See for yourself then… It's goodbye for now, Ryuzaki Sakuno." Kumiko grinned as she left the poor girl who was crying.

Sakuno was still crying until somebody approached her, a little girl about Sakura's age.

"Onee-chan" the little girl stared at her.

Sakuno wiped her tears. "A-ah…G-gomenasai" she said in a gentle manner.

"E-eto, somebody asked me to give this to you." In the little girl's hand was a white rose.

"Arigato, b-but w-who g-gave this?" she asked.

"I don't really know… but he said it would make you feel better, did it help?" the little girl asked innocently.

"Arigatou, it really helped me." Sakuno smiled. 'It really did, could it be f-from R-ryoma-kun?' she asked herself.

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"Ryuzaki!" Ryoma called. "I'm Sorry I took a lot of time." He apologized.

"It's okay, Ryoma-kun…" Sakuno smiled, trying to hide about her chat with Kumiko.

"So… Did that arrogant spoiled princess do something bad to you?" he asked.

"Not really." Sakuno said, she knew if she told him the truth Ryoma would go into an outburst. "Ryoma-kun, Arigatou!" she smiled.

"For what?" he asked.

"For making me feel better." She said as she smiled. "With this…" she showed him the white rose.

"White rose? Where did you get that?" he asked.

"Eh, didn't you gave it to me???" she asked back. "No…"

"Ahh,, betsuni Ryoma-kun… maybe it's a token of appreciation for joining this party…" she smiled again.

"Ah I see"

'If this didn't camefrom Ryoma-kun, then who in the world gave me this?' Sakuno asked herself.

OWARI!

Phew! Another Chapter Done! BANZAIIII! Honestly I wasn't expecting to update later than usual, I guess school's pretty though lately.

Please wish me luck on my future Entrance Exams! I want to enter a good College, please pray for me… (Haha, I need to study more, which means later updates for you folks.)

I've been having a lot of troubles this days… DARN! Anyway I'll try to update earlier.

Miyuki Meiru/ Mai Sasaki