Hey everyone Thanks so much for your reviews, I had thought that no one was reading my story, but thanks to all your wonderful reviews I've decided to continue my story There's More Than One of You. I hope you enjoy.

And like promised I'd like to think the first 10 people who replied to my 'fake' Chapter 10.

In Order: rebeccasanfujieijilvr, satachiha08, Lonely Rain, speadee, neko-in-tears, geetac, animeandmangaaddict, Kikimaru's Love15, rose12136, and to pearlygirl.

Chapter 10 The Past

"You know I've always wanted to be a singer." Sakuno said out of no where. She was shocked she'd just told Ryoma something she'd never told anyone before. Not even her grandmother or Tomo. She blushed. He probably thought she was an idiot now.

"Then why don't you become a singer?" Ryoma asked. Now she wasn't the only one shocked. Ryoma never cared about what Sakuno did. But he was curious, he shrugged. 'Whatever.' Were his thoughts.

"Because I'm not really any good and … I'm… I'm ju-just to shy to get in front of others and sing. It's so embarrassing, and I'd hate for everyone to hear someone as pathetic as me sing.

"Who said you were pathetic?"

"Well... yo-you… you do all the time." Sakuno answered back. Ryoma was stomped for a moment before saying.

"I never said you were pathetic, I just said that you suck at tennis, your hairs to long, and you're clumsy. But I never said pathetic."

"I sound pretty pathetic to me." Sakuno said.

"Well you're really good, so instead of wasting time, learning tennis why don't you start taking singing lessons. Tennis isn't for everyone you know." Ryoma said.

Sakuno thought about it, could she really do it? Did she really have the courage to reach for her dreams? Sakuno slumped. Nope, she didn't

"I'm too much of a coward." Sakuno answered.

"You're only a coward if you don't go for a goal. My goal is to be the best out there, to beat all of the strongest players, and show that stupid old man, that I'll reach my dreams. And absolutely no one is going to stand in my way." Ryoma stated. Sakuno was surprised that Ryoma had actually talked so much in one sentence. He never said anything about his dreams, and he rarely said more than three words to her since they met. She wished she was more like Ryoma. He was so confident.

"Think about it." Ryoma said, then picked up his bag, and headed towards the register tables a few courts over. He left Sakuno there thinking about what he told her. 'Wonder what she's going to do?' he thought.

Sakuno thought about it and she decided, that she wanted to be like Ryoma, she wanted that confidence that he had hung on his shoulders. She wanted to become a singer, and she'd work hard to live out that dream.

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After that day, Sakuno did stop taking tennis lessons. She talked to her grandmother and she agreed to let Sakuno join a class for beginners, for singing lessons. As time went by, the Regulars won the Nationals. They were number 1 in the Nation. As a celebration they all went to Taka-son's place for sushi. During that, Sakuno approached Ryoma.

She walked up to him, and sat beside him. It took a little while, but Ryoma finally realized that she was there. He turned to see what she wanted. Sakuno was twisting her dress in a knot, creating wrinkles; she'd have to iron out later. Ryoma sat down his drink and cleared his throat to show she had his attention. Sakuno jumped a little, but she took a deep breath and said.

"Ryoma, I…I want to-oo thank you," she blushed, "for what you said. I've be-een taking singing lessons. And my instructor says I have a lot of potential. She wants me to continue taking personal lessons, and to join the chorus next year." Sakuno looked at him, he didn't look surprised or anything, he looked the same as always. So she hurried and stood up, "so thank you." And then she bowed, and hurried back over to where Tomo was sitting.

Ryoma smirked, "so she took my advice after all." He went to take another drink when he noticed that his sempais were all looking at him. He gave them the what- are- you- staring- at look. His sempais just smiled and said nothing. (Yeah right) Eiji and Momo had a field day trying to get what was going on out of Ryoma. He wouldn't budge.

So his sempais left Jr. High, but they all stayed close, and they hung out during the summer vacation. Sakuno and Ryoma continued to talk and they began to become real close friends. Ryoma actually preferred to spend time with her than the three boys in his grade. During their sophomore year Ryoma started to notice that Sakuno was getting cuter, each time they saw each other. She still sucked at tennis, but from what he was gathering from her, she was doing really well, and then finally it happened Sakuno told him she was leaving.

Ryoma had started to consider Sakuno, his, his friend, his cheerleader, his classmate, and only deep down, did he consider her his girlfriend. He was a lot more open with her than with anyone, and was more social. Through Sakuno, he was forced to do the things Tomo wanted them to do, and by the end of the year, they six freshman were pretty close.

The day that Momo, and Kaidou graduated, the regulars, the three guys, Tomo and Sakuno all got together and had a nice meal together. Sakuno decided to tell everyone her news, stood to announce it. (Actually Tomo stepped on Sakuno's foot, making her stand up catching everyone's attention.)

Sakuno cleared her throat and said, "Well I'd like to congratulate Kaidou and Momo-Chan sempais on graduating. And to say that I hope next year will bring happiness to everyone." Sakuno went to sit down, but Tomo cleared her throat pointedly and nudged Sakuno. "Tomo I don't think now is the proper time, it'd be rude." She furiously hissed at her friend, and of course Tomo completely ignored her and stood up.

"Hey everyone, Sakuno has some important news to tell you all." Tomo said smiling, and then sat down.

"What is it Sakuno- Chan?" Eiji asked. He looked thoughtful, and then brightened, "I know you're finally going to tell us that you and ochibi are dating right?" Eiji was excited he really wanted them to get together. Sakuno blushed, and shook her head in the negative. Eiji was disappointed, but that didn't last long. "Well then what is it?"

"I'm… well… um… I'm going to France, for a year." Sakuno said in a rush. That took everyone back a step, well not her grandmother she already knew.

"What do you mean you're going to France?!!" Momo yelled. A chorus of confused, yeses came to his question.

"Sakuno has been asked to join a group of talented musicians, singers, and actors, to go to France for a year, all expenses paid, and a chance to have their own recitals and debuts, by the end of the year. That is if they cut it." Coach answered. She was really proud of Sakuno. "She'll be living with her Aunt Hannah while there." The regulars where a bit stunned; they knew Sakuno could sing, they'd never heard her, but she'd said once that she was joining choir, and it would make her miss some of their practices. But they hadn't known she was good enough to get an offer to go to Europe.

"That's wonderful, Sakuno. I hope you do your best." Fuji said. He was smiling.

"Congratulations." Everyone echoed. Sakuno blushed and smiled, she was happy. Everyone, after a bit, seemed really happy for her. She was so close to them all now. They acted like her big brothers, and Tezuka was always polite to her, and did things to make her happy. Over the summer, they'd gone to the beach, and she'd convinced him to go swimming, instead of just sitting and reading a book. She'd worried over them all for the last two years, that they'd known each other. She was really going to miss them.

When the group separated, and Coach, Sakuno and Tomo had all gone to Sakuno's house, the regulars walked with each other. They were talking about Sakuno and her decision to go off and sing in Europe. Oishi was especially worried over her. (He's still the mother hen of the group.)

"Man that was a surprise. I mean, I've never even heard her sing, and now she's going off to Europe." Momo said.

"Wow, isn't it great though, what if she becomes famous, like the Chocolates." Eiji was bouncing around, he loves the Chocolates. "I'm defiantly asking for her autograph before she leaves, that way I have her first one."

"You know not everyone, seems to be happy about this." Fuji pointed behind them, where Ryoma was walking. He was frowning and was solemn. Well more than usual.

"Hey Echizen, you didn't seem that surprised that our little Sakuno- Chan can sing, and pretty well in fact. What's that all about?" Fuji asked. Ryoma looked at them and replied in a dull voice.

"I've heard her sing several times. I'm the one who told her to get lessons." Ryoma kept walking ignoring his sempais as he passed them. Momo and Eiji grabbed him before he got all the way through.

"You've heard her!!!" They said in unison. "So she is good? What do you mean you told her to get lessons?"

Ryoma looked at their faces and got a neat idea. He looked at them, again. "I heard her singing last year at the Semi-Finals for Nationals. She was okay, but I told her she needed lessons. She's sung for me a couple times. So I'm not surprised." He adjusted his hat. Ryoma, who was just trying to mess with them a little, was harassed the rest of that year. (Well even now, Momo and Eiji like to bring it up that, Ryoma was serenaded by Sakuno. Then they say 'Oh young love.')

When it was time to leave, all Regulars, and some of her friends showed up to say goodbye. They each gave her a small gift. Tomo gave Sakuno a diary that Sakuno was supposed to use, so when she came back they could look through it together, and it'd help Sakuno remember what happened in her life at that time. Fuji gave Sakuno a mini cam, so she could take pictures and up load them to her computer. Oishi gave her a mini first ad kit; Eiji gave her some hair gel and toothpaste. (His favorite kind, from his private collection.) Inui gave her a bottle of his INUI Juice that was supposed to help her with her singing. It was immediately confiscated when he was looking and dumped into the nearest waste basket. Tezuka gave her books on how to practice your vocal cords. Kaidoh gave her a girly banana, to keep her hair out of her face. Momo gave her a teddy bear with hair that stood up, just like his. Taka-san gave her a recipe book on how to make sushi, and a guide to the perfect cooking knife. The three boys gave her a picture album of their last two years together. And finally it was Ryoma's turn. Everyone waited to see what he'd give her.

Ryoma reached into his bag and pulled out…..

His sempais sweat dropped.

He'd given her a case of Ponta. But to give him some credit, it was the variety pack. (Okay it was lame, but what else would he give her?) They looked at Sakuno's reaction. She was smiling, and had stars in her eyes. It seemed to them that it was the best present she'd ever gotten. But what they didn't know was the meaning behind the ponta.

It was a reminiscent of the first time they met. They'd been on the same train, when a group of boys began swing their rackets really close to her face. Ryoma had saved her. And in response she'd given him the wrong direction. And when she'd gone to buy him a soda as an apology, he ended paying for them, because she didn't bring any money with her. That was the same day Sakuno first saw Ryoma play tennis.

Sakuno looked at Ryoma and gave him the biggest smile she could muster. "So you remember, too?" She asked. Ryoma smirked.

"I really can't forget it was your fault in the first place." Ryoma said. Sakuno giggled. Then she became a little sad.

"I'll miss you Ryoma." Sakuno blushed and turned to the other sempais. "I'll miss all of you." Sakuno got a little weepy. Eiji 'awwed' her and started giving her a big hug.

"Hey I have an idea. Let's have a party!"

"That's a great idea!" And that's how their impromptu party had happened.

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End of Flashback

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Sakuno was sitting there with a nostalgic look on her face. Ryoma was sitting there for the last ten minutes, just looking at her. He wasn't pissed anymore. He was hurt though, but he'd had time to cool off. And he's once sure thoughts were now becoming doubts.

'Maybe I over reacted?" Ryoma thought. 'She could have been talking about anyone, even me. I just jumped to conclusions and made a fool of myself. Sakuno isn't someone who could hide her feelings very well around the person she really likes; her face was to tell-all, keep-no-secrets kind of person. That was one thing he really liked about her, well he liked pretty much everything about her. 'What!!! Don't go any further!!' he yelled at himself.

When had he become so weak, and pathetic? He'd never been this foolish and confused in his entire life. He needed to get his cool back. With his mind set, Ryoma let out a relieved sigh. He didn't like having a plan, and he didn't like being confused. So he was going to wing it.

"Okay you win. I was irritated. I was looking forward to coming back, but seeing my brothers again got me all out of whack. I'm sorry, so you win, that's what was bothering me." Ryoma looked over to see Sakuno smiling at him. His heart jumped a little and he remembered the hug she'd given him earlier. Pulling his hat down, Ryoma pushed down the blush creeping up his face.

"Thank you Ryoma." Sakuno patted his hand, and Ryoma took it in his. Both stared at their joined hands, and wondered when they'd get to be alone again. That's when Sakuno got an idea. "Ryoma next weekend, do you have anything planned?" Ryoma thought about it before shaking his head. Sakuno smiled grew. "Would you like to go shopping with me?"

Ryoma was kind of thrown back at the question. He never went shopping with a girl other than his mother and Nanako. It'd almost be like a date. 'But you'll be all alone this way, and Momo and the others will understand him skipping out of school practice just once. 20 laps around the courts were nothing compared to spending the day with Sakuno.' Ryoma zoned back in and realized Sakuno was still waiting for an answer. "Sure." Then he got up and they headed for the door.

When they left the burger joint, Ryoma started to walk Sakuno home. On their way they talked to get caught up on what was going on in their lives. When they reached Sakuno's house, Ryoma walked her to the gate and stopped. Sakuno turned to him and smiled, and then she did something unexpected. She leaned up and hugged him. Ryoma was startled when Sakuno's arms wrapped around his neck and squeezed. But he soon got used to it and hugged her back around the waist.

They stayed like that for a couple of minutes just enjoying holding the other. And that's when they realized that this was perfect. The feel of the other in their arms, made them complete; but at the same time they showed how dense they were. Afraid that somehow the other could read their thoughts they separated, blushing and quiet. Finally Sakuno spoke up and said goodbye and Ryoma said it back.

Ryoma watched Sakuno enter her house, and started on his way home. Smiling a big smile and Sakuno who stood leaning on the door, covered her heart with her hand feeling the beating of love under her palm. "Oh Ryoma will I ever get the courage to tell you I Love You?"

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