Ch. 11 – Surprise Ticket

Ryoma was at his beloved tennis practice this afternoon, practicing with Momo. He was slightly distracted, though, with Sakuno watching him through the fence. Only slightly. Nobody could tell except for himself that his focus was a little off today. It's just that he couldn't stop thinking about her today. He didn't even know why; today was just like every other day. But today was different. She was on his mind constantly.

Okay, so maybe he did know why he was thinking about her so much today. Earlier this morning his father told him that he would not be accompanying him to America while Ryoma participated in the US Open. The fact that Ryoma was playing in the US Open was no surprise to him—he knew about that months ago. He was surprised because his father said that since there will be an extra ticket, he can bring any friend he chooses to replace his father's spot.

After knowing he could choose any friend, Ryoma's mind kept wandering back to Sakuno. Ever since he knew months ago that he would be participating in the US Open this year, he was worried about leaving her here in Japan alone…and maybe worried that he would miss her—a lot. He would never admit that last part to anyone, though.

Now that he can bring a friend, he wants to bring Sakuno. That way, he won't have to leave her behind while he's in the US. There was only one thing that was holding him back from asking her. 'Will it be awkward?' Ryoma thought. 'Two sixteen year olds in a different country for two weeks-- alone. Hn, I don't think that Coach Ryuuzaki will be too thrilled. My Oyaji, on the other hand, would be ecstatic about this. Che, and his remarks would scar me for life.'

"Hey, Echizen," Momo broke him out of his thoughts.

"Eh?" Ryoma looked at Momo.

"Isn't that your dad over there? By the fence?" Momo pointed to the man dressed as a monk behind the fence.

Ryoma looked where Momo was pointing. Sure enough, there was a man dressed in a black robe behind the fence. His old man was staring straight at Sakuno—walking right towards her, wearing his mischievous grin. 'Heck no,' Ryoma thought, 'There is no way he's gonna act perverted around my girl.'

"Oyaji!" Ryoma yelled out, capturing the monk's attention. The monk looked over at Ryoma and grinned.

"Ah, Ryoma!" he replied. "I was just looking for you!" Ryoma's father walked onto the courts, making sure he was being noticed by all of the Regulars there.

'Liar. I just saw you staring at Sakuno,' Ryoma thought. "What do you want, Oyaji?"

"I think you forgot to pick these up on your way to school," he said, holding up the extra ticket. "I told you you could bring a friend of your choice along with you to the US Open. I thought you might have needed these today, especially at tennis practice, to give them to your friend. Especially since the only friends you have are from tennis. My boy, when are you going to get a social life, huh? There's more to life than tennis, you know."

"I know, Oyaji. Now go!" Ryoma said through clenched teeth, swiping the extra ticket out of his father's hand.

"Sheesh, you don't have to be so snipey," his father complained.

Ryoma just walked away, turning his back on his father.

"A thank you would be nice! Especially since I'm your old man!" the monk yelled out.

Ryoma, not even turning around, said, "Mada mada dane."

"Che, cranky adolescent son of mine," Nanjiroh murmured under his breath, but he left the courts anyway.

Once Ryoma's father left, all the Regulars started talking at once.
"Echizen! Take me with you!"

"Fssh…who would wanna take you, Porcupine head?"

"O'chibi! Why didn't you ask me, nya?"

"Saa, Echizen, why did you wait so long to tell us you had an extra ticket?"

"BURNING! I want to go to the US Open!!"

"Somebody mature should go with you to look after you properly."
"According to my data, there is a 100% possibility that you will reap the best benefits if you take me with you."

"Echizen, don't let your guard down."

All of the Regulars—except for Tezuka-- started to walk towards Ryoma, asking him questions all at the same time. Ryoma started to walk slowly backwards towards the tennis fence door.

"RYOMA-SAMA!! CHOOSE ME!!!" Tomoka suddenly yelled, running towards him.

When the Regulars saw Tomoka running towards Ryoma, they all started to sprint towards him too. They wanted that extra ticket as much as Tomoka did, and they all started chasing Ryoma down.

Ryoma sweat-dropped when he saw them starting to run after him. It only took him a second to realize that he better get on the move too. He sprinted for his life out of the tennis courts. While he was running out, he almost ran over Sakuno, so he decided to grab her hand and bring her along too so she wouldn't be trampled on by the others.

Ryoma and Sakuno ran around the school, trying to lose the childish chasers that consisted of the Regulars and Tomoka.

"RYOMA-SAMA, GET BACK HERE!" Tomoka yelled, as they ran past the tennis shed.

Running in a crazy route didn't do any good to lose the chasers either. "BURNING! This is no match for Taka!!"

After running around the school building four times, Ryoma decided to check the school entrance.

"It's locked!" he exclaimed when the doors wouldn't budge.

"Umm, Ryoma-kun, they're getting closer!" Sakuno started to get nervous.

He looked behind her and saw that they really were getting too close for comfort. "C'mon, let's go!" He grabbed Sakuno's hand, and they were, once again, on the run.

"O'chibi! I'll give you a year supply of my favorite toothpaste if you give me the extra ticket, nya!" Eiji tried to deal with him.

"No offense, Eiji-senpai, but your favorite toothpaste is not to my liking!" Ryoma yelled back.

Then, with a glint in his glasses, Inui tried Eiji's idea of making a deal, "Echizen, if you choose me, you'll never have to try my Inui juices ever again!"

"I don't believe you, Senpai! Mada mada dane!!"

After running their fifth lap around the school, Ryoma sensed that Sakuno was getting tired. 'We need to get out of here—fast,' he thought.

Turning around one more corner of the school building, Ryoma pushed Sakuno into a darkened nook of the building. Usually nobody noticed it because it was always shaded by the shadows of the school building or surrounding trees, but Ryoma found it one day after school while he was waiting for Sakuno by their sakura tree.

"Aah--," Sakuno started to scream as she fell from being pushed into the nook. Ryoma landed on top of her, but quickly stifled her scream by covering her mouth with his hand.

"Shh," he softly silenced her. Then they heard footsteps getting louder, then softer, as the Regulars and Tomoka ran past the dark nook.

"They didn't see us," Sakuno whispered.

"Yeah, but they'll still be looking for us for awhile. Let's go hide back here," Ryoma said as he started to walk towards the back of the nook. Once they reached the back wall, Ryoma showed Sakuno a secret ladder to the roof. "Climb up there."

Sakuno looked up the ladder. The roof was a long way up the ground. She gulped, "A-All the way u-up?"

"Hn, I'll be right behind you," Ryoma assured her. Ryoma let Sakuno go ahead of him on the ladder, just in case she got clumsy and he needed to catch her.

Once they reached the top, Sakuno dropped to the ground, panting. Ryoma sat down and leaned against the wall, slightly tired from the chase. He brought Sakuno over to him so that her head was lying in his lap. Ryoma let her stay there until she was caught her breath.

After he was sure that her breathing was regular again, he slowly sat up straight, saying, "You think they're gone now?"

Sakuno slowly got out of his lap, and stood up. She looked over the edge and saw the Regulars and Tomoka standing outside the school entrance, all scratching their heads wondering where they have gone.

"Guess not," Ryoma said who was suddenly behind Sakuno. She jumped, not expecting anybody to be right behind her. He chuckled, and brought his arm around her waist. "It's just me, Sakuno," he told her and kissed her on top of her head.

Sakuno blushed and stuttered out, "R-Ryoma-kun."

They both stood there for awhile, with Sakuno in Ryoma's arms, watching their friends down below. Finally, the Regulars and Tomoka walked out the school gates and headed home.

"Well, I guess we can go home now, too," Sakuno said. She started to walk towards the door on the roof.

"Not yet," Ryoma quickly grabbed her wrist, "We need to talk."

Sakuno's heart skipped a beat. She was sure that they were finally going to have the "talk" of him letting her know that he can't be with her anymore if he wants to pursue his dream. She knew it was coming. And it will most likely be now, since this was the time he was returning to the US Open again.

"N-No, it's okay, R-Ryoma-kun. We don't have to talk—I-I understand," she stuttered out as she tried to hide her tears. She wanted to get away before Ryoma could see her crying, but since Ryoma was still holding on to her wrist, all she could do was slowly walk backwards towards the door.

"You understand? What do you mean?" Ryoma asked.

"I-I understand that y-you have to leave," Sakuno started. She was almost to the door now. "A-And th-that you want to pursue your dream." Her hand found the door handle. "A-And that in order to do so, y-you'll h-have to b-break up with me t-to f-focus on that dream." Her tears started to spill, and she wanted to leave now. She turned the door handle she found with her free hand and started to open it.

BAM!

Ryoma placed both hands beside her and pushed the door closed. He had her trapped between his hands to make sure she wouldn't get away. Sakuno looked up at him, and saw that he had confusion and hurt written all over his face.

"What are you talking about, Sakuno? Where did you get that idea?" He demanded, staring straight into her eyes.

Sakuno didn't answer. All she could do was let her tears fall.

"Where did you get that idea, Sakuno?" Ryoma asked again, closing his eyes in frustration.

"I-I just always th-thought that you would break up with me e-eventually because you w-would h-have to go b-back to A-America to f-focus. A-And I would j-just be a b-burden."

"Who told you that?" Ryoma angrily asked, eyes now open again.

"A-Ano…"

"Sakuno, tell me," Ryoma warned.

"I-I o-overheard some girls t-talking in the bathroom a-at school today," Sakuno answered and lowered her head.

"Look at me," he told her. She didn't look up. "Look at me!"

This time she looked up. "Do you remember what I told you last week?" he asked.

"W-What do you m-mean?"

"In the classroom? Do you remember what I told you?"

"Th-that you l-loved me," she answered quietly.

"Right, and I still love you," Ryoma said very clearly for her to understand.

"B-But Ryoma-kun loves tennis too. The g-girls in the bathroom said that R-Ryoma-kun w-would do whatever it takes to--"

"I don't give a crap about what those girls said!" Ryoma interrupted her. "It doesn't matter what they say! It only matters what I say! And I say that I love you!"

"I kn-know you love me, R-Ryoma-kun. But they said that in order for you to r-reach your d-dream, you w-would have to l-leave me behind eventually," Sakuno's tears were still falling.

"Well, they're wrong," Ryoma growled.

"No, Ryoma-kun! They're not wrong! I would just be a burden to you; you're always saving me from the all the troubles I get myself into! I don't want to be the cause of your not being able to become a professional tennis player!" Sakuno yelled out.

Then she cried out, and started to bawl even harder, "I understand that you need to leave me behind! It's okay to leave me behi—"

"There's no way in heck I'm leaving you behind," Ryoma interrupted her again, and this time, he kissed her hard on the lips. Sakuno tried to push him away, but Ryoma only grabbed her hands and placed them up against the wall. She was no use against his strength.

When Ryoma felt Sakuno stop fighting against him, he let go of her hands and placed one hand behind her neck and the other around her waist, bringing her closer to him.

"I'm not letting you go, Sakuno. I'm not going to leave you behind—ever," Ryoma told her with his lips hovering right above hers. Then he kissed her again, and this time, Sakuno responded.

Ryoma felt Sakuno beginning to kiss him, but with some new-found fire he never knew she had. She was kissing him just as rough as he was kissing her, with her arms around his neck and her hands making their way through his hair.

Sakuno, running out of breath, slowly started to pull away. Both were panting due to lack of air, but Ryoma kept kissing her anyway. While she was catching her breath, Ryoma brushed his lips to her blushing cheeks, her forehead, her closed eyelids, and eventually back to her lips.

Then he rested his forehead against hers and looked straight into her eyes, holding her hand. "I'm never going to leave you behind, Sakuno. In fact, the reason why my senpais didn't know I had an extra ticket was because I wanted to give it to you. Will you come with me?" he whispered the last question, hope in his eyes.

Sakuno's eyes lit up with happiness and excitement. Then she smiled and said, "Of course I'll come with you, Ryoma-kun."

Ryoma gave her one of his rarely seen beautiful, handsome smiles and picked her up and spun her around. When he gently put her back down, he kissed her softly on the lips and said, "I love you, Sakuno."

Sakuno blushed. "I l-love you too, R-Ryoma-kun," she stuttered out. He never failed to make her stutter and blush when he said those words to her, and Ryoma smirked back in return, loving the power he had to make her melt and fall in his arms.

"C'mon, I'll walk you home," he said and took her hand.

They walked out the roof door, and out of the school building. When they reached the gates, Ryoma and Sakuno was met by Ryuuzaki Sumire and Nanjiroh.

"Finally, my brat of a son is here!" Nanjiroh announced.

Ryuuzaki Sumire walked up to Sakuno and Ryoma and glared at them, "Where were you two? Are you aware that it is nine p.m. on a school night? I was worried sick about you, Sakuno!"

"G-Gomen, Obaa-chan," Sakuno replied.

"What were you two doing so late at school?!" Sakuno's Obaa-chan asked, clearly still upset that she was not able to find her granddaughter earlier.

"Yes, what were you two doing so late tonight, Ryoma?" Nanjiroh smirked. "Is my boy finally growing up? Haha!"

Sakuno blushed a deep red, and Ryoma glared hard at his father.

Ryoma answered, "We were discussing my extra ticket for the US Open, and I chose Sakuno to come."

"What?!" Sumire yelled out.

"Excellent choice, my boy! You really are growing up after all!" Nanjiroh exclaimed to the world.

Sumire turned around to glare at Nanjiroh. "How could you let your sixteen year old son bring his girlfriend to the United States alone with no supervision?"

"He's a sixteen year old boy—it's only natural he would want to bring his girlfriend, and I already told him that he can bring whoever he chose. I can't take back what I said," Nanjiroh smirked, clearly wanting Sakuno to go with Ryoma.

Ryoma, seeing the distress Sakuno's grandmother was in, stepped in and said, "Coach Ryuuzaki, I will assure you that no harm will be done to Sakuno. I'll take care of her. Nothing's going to happen."

Muffled laughter and remarks of Nanjiroh saying, "He'll take care of her alright," was gratefully unheard by Sumire.

"I'm holding you to that promise, Ryoma," Sumire glared, "And if anything happens to her—even one little scratch—I'm blaming you, and you will pay for it!"

"I promise you that not even a scratch will be seen on Sakuno," Ryoma answered.

"Guidelines will be discussed, and only if you agree to these guidelines will I allow Sakuno to go to the US Open with Ryoma," Sumire hesitantly agreed to let Sakuno go.

"Oh, come on, Granny," Nanjiroh came in, "let these two kids have some fun! They're young and in love!"

Sumire bonked Nanjiroh on the head with her fist. "That is exactly why there will be guidelines! Maybe if you weren't Ryoma's father I wouldn't have to worry about him being perverted! But you have the most perverted mind I've ever known, and I don't know how much you've contaminated Ryoma's thoughts!"

"What are you talking about? I'm a monk! I'm a perfect father!"

Sumire grabbed Nanjiroh by the ear and started to drag him towards the coffee shop, "We are discussing guidelines NOW!"

"Ow! Ouch! Let go of my ear, you old hag!" Nanjiroh cried, struggling to break free of her grasp.

Ryoma and Sakuno watched them fight and struggle to the coffee shop with sweat-drops on their faces, speechless.

"Sh-Should we follow them? Just to make sure my Obaa-chan doesn't hurt your father?" Sakuno asked, worried.

"Che, nah, my Oyaji deserves it," Ryoma smirked. Then he faced Sakuno and held out his hand and asked, "Shall we get going then?"

"Sure," Sakuno smiled and took his hand.

Ryoma placed his hat on her head and walked Sakuno home towards the sunset.