Hi! I am back with the new chapter… Just enjoy… I hope…

I went to the mall and saw some cosplayers there. Then I saw a beautiful girl who was cosplaying Ciel Phantomhive where he dressed as a beautiful girl, the pink Lolita dress. She's so cute… tee hee hee… I am glad I went to that Toycon last Sunday.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Prince of Tennis and never will.


johanna - tee hee hee thank you... ito na ung more... ^_^

MTCR - tee hee hee... everyone does... I guess... well, you will see that sooner or later.

thank you for the wonderful words...

Your review from - Miesjes Plagen, Kusjes Vragen - thank you very much for loving the tease part here... tee hee hee... ^_^

Tell me if I miss one of your reviews... thank you... ^_^


Chapter 12: Her Unexpected Demand

Chapter Summary: She was not doing her job and she felt bad about it. She didn't know what the young guy was thinking. Not taking it anymore, she finally took it herself…


She was standing at the corner of the kitchen while he was at the fridge getting a can of ponta. She had done all the things that she must at her house and everything was in her possession. Holding the pendant that was hanging on her neck, she nervously stared at her 'master' who was drinking his favorite soda.

A while ago, Fuji came to the school and saw her. She was a bit shocked when the tensai asked her to come with him to practice and that was how everyone found out about her recital. Thinking that it was impossible now, her life changed the moment she became his slave. She was about to reject the offer when Ryoma told her that she should go. Of course that wondered her but she didn't ask him why.

She knew that he would never answer her.

They practiced and there were some changes about the recital. She would still be accompanying Yuuta on stage but she had to sing two songs. One was with the collaboration with Riku's lead guitar and the recital with Yuuta with the next. Fuji would be playing instrumental with Riku afterwards. For some reason, Riku was a bit different when she was with Fuji as she could see a slight pink that colored her face. It was not that noticeable but Yuuta could see her.

So much for spending time with her not to mention that he was the younger brother.

The practice ended a little late. Fuji insisted her to take her home but she visibly rejected the tensai. She couldn't tell anyone where she was living as Ryoma had instructed her. When he finally agreed, she sighed of relief that she didn't know she was holding.

It was really late when she got home and there she was now, standing in front of him. Then he saw her there keeping his stoic reaction;

"I—I am sorry," she instantly bowed, "T-the practice was really late so I-'

"It's okay."

She looked at him with a questioning expression.

Ryoma approached her and patted her head, "You're tired, eat or rest or anything that you want. I'll sleep now." with that he quickly went to his room and never went out again.

She was really surprised at his actions… no, she couldn't get him. He changed somehow and he was different than before. His voice was like in an authoritative way but his actions were like odd to her. She sighed really hard.

She respected him.

She respected Ryoma.

She only wished that they could still the same after this master-slave relationship thing between them.


Three Days Later:

Things were okay between them. At least she thought but she felt that something was missing. She was not doing her job properly. True, she cooked for him, cleaned his house for him much for his acceptance that his maid could rest for a month, doing laundry for him and then she blushed for she knew why, she followed as he ordered her and so on and so forth. But she still thought that she was not doing her real job. What was Ryoma's intention to her? She couldn't get it.

Despite being a slave, he could still treat her normally except for distancing himself from her for at least five meters away from her when they were at school or not even talking to her privately when they were around the vicinity.

Like what they were doing right now.

She was keeping her distance away from him when they were at school. She waited for him to enter the school gate before she entered. Experiencing the fangirling things towards that famous tennis prodigy, she tried her best not to bump to anyone.

…To avoid trouble as possible and she didn't want to create a mess.

Walking on her own, she heard a sound of a ball hitting on a wall. Curious she walked her way there, S-strange? The court is at the other way. But why am I hearing another tennis ball this way? She followed the sound until she found it. And there it was.

…Another set of tennis courts.

…For girls this time.

Being drawn by it, she walked further to the court and placed her fingers to the fence. She had been staring at those girls playing tennis seriously. They were pretty amazing as she saw them play. She had been absorbed by the game that she didn't know that someone was staring at her for a while and decided to call her attention;

"Sakuno!"

She flinched due to shock. Turning to her side, she saw Ryoma standing not far from her but looking at the same. This time, he was holding his favorite drink in his hand.

"What are you doing there?"

"…"

"Well… come on."

Still no response she gave him; too shocked to absorb everything. She wasn't expecting something but he had just…

"Hey!"

"A-ah, gomen?" she returned to her world and then followed him afterwards.

"What's the matter with you?"

She looked down and blushed a little, "Y-you just… called me by my name… for the first time." Not being able to look up, she didn't see him flinch but the guy recovered fast.

"That's your name, anyway." With that he walked further leaving her behind.

She looked at his back. Staring at him, she let out a smile as she trailed him behind.


Later on:

"Ne, Sakuno."

She looked at the person who called her. It was Tomoka waving at her. She instantly became friends with the girl, especially when she protected her from the guys and girls who tried to mess up with her. The girl was actually the president of Ryoma's fan club as she explained herself. She was very thankful that they became classmates and had been together for a short period of time.

"Let's go see the courts."

"O-okay…" she agreed. The class was already over that she barely noticed and now it was time to see the guys play today. She didn't know but she was always looking forward to see them play.

When they got to the court, Sumire had approached her and grabbed her hand. She was wondering about her moves as she walked outside and was being pulled away by her;

"Come with me for a second." She said with a smile.

Looking back at the courts, she saw Ryoma rallying on the wall. He wasn't even looking at her even though she knew that he was aware of her arrival to the court. Somehow, she felt bad about that. It was pretty obvious.

He was not really paying attention to her.

"We're here."

The old lady's voice brought her back from her thoughts. She held her breath when she realized where they were at that moment.

…At the girl's tennis courts.

"So, this is the rumored girl," The coach of the girl's tennis team said and then looked at her, "I am glad to have you in my team, Naruse-san."

"E-eh?!" her eyes widened and then looked back at Sumire asking for clarification.

The old lady just laughed at her weird reaction before tapping her shoulder, "Ryoma saw you this morning and asked me to take you here."

"H-he did?" she couldn't believe what she was hearing at that moment.

"Aa, you can join the club as a member," she looked at her and said, "and try to take the trial so that you can become a regular in the team."

"B-but I…" she tried to protest but Sumire stopped her.

"If you are worried, don't be. There's nothing to worry about," Sumire said, "We've seen you play and I know that you will not let me down."

Her heart was beating fast. Sumire was expecting a lot from her. She trusted her with her skills. Somehow, she wanted to prove it to her.

"Ryoma saw your potential and so as I," she said giving her one last persuasion, "Stop doubting yourself and play with all your heart."

She didn't know how but she suddenly hugged the old lady making the latter gasp at her move, "H-hai… arigatou… Ryuzaki-sensei."

Sumire was shocked at her sudden action but smiled afterwards. She tapped her head to give her comfort.

Sakuno realized what she was doing and completely distanced herself away from her, "G-gomenasai," she bowed down at her, "I—I didn't know what I was doing… I—I.."

Once again Sumire laughed as well as the girl's team club coach. Sumire talked after wards, "It's alright. It's been a while since a student of mine hugged me. I appreciate that."

She blushed when she said that. She started fidgeting like a twelve year old student.

"Oh! And one more thing..."

She looked at her this time, "H-hai…"

She raised a finger between them and blinked at her, "Call me Obaa-chan just like before and no buts okay." She continued when she was about to protest.

She blushed once again and peeked at her, "H-hai… arigatou, Obaa-chan."

Sumire smiled at her. She was really happy. So, Ryoma did pay attention to her and she wasn't expecting this at all. Was that the reason why he didn't look at her when they left the boy's tennis courts? Even so, she was very thankful to the both of them. She wanted to play tennis the normal way and she knew that she could do it in this school. She smiled back at the two ladies in front of her as she took her words back in her mind about Ryoma's behavior.


Night:

"Did you drink your medicine?"

She looked back from the plates that she was washing when he talked, "I—I'll drink it later."

He looked at her for a while before closing his eyes. She wondered as he walked to a cabinet and grabbed something. Her eyes widened when he took the medicine and gave it to her.

"A-ano… Ryoma-kun… I…" She didn't know what to say. She let out a gasp when the guy's hand went to her lips and forced the medicine into her mouth. Well, she couldn't take the medicine with her own hands as they were filled with dishwashing soap. She blushed as she took the medicine from his fingers and swallowed it.

"Water." He said leveling the glass of water to her lips so that she could drink it.

She obliged as couldn't look at his eyes. She bit her lower lip as he put the glass on the sink and she was aware that he was staring at her.

"Forget everything but not the medicine." He said before turning around and walked to the sofa.

She looked down when he said that, "H-hai… gomenasai." She whispered the last word. Feeling pathetic, she gripped her hands tight… under the soap. Ryoma had been taking care of her which was supposed to be her role. She was the slave but she couldn't do her job right. It was always him who did something good to her. And all she could do was to disappoint him.

She felt bad all about it.

What would she do to please him? He hadn't asking for 'it' yet. What was her real role anyway? What was his intention that he had to her? Why was he helping her yet in a weird way? She wanted to know all those questions that were stuck inside her brain but she would never find her answers unless she would seek for them.

xxx

She decided to sit beside him after she washed the dishes. Ryoma had been watching a sports show and seemed to be ignoring her there. She looked down as she didn't know what to do or what to say. Biting her lower lip, she tried to create a conversation.

"R-ryoma-kun…"

"Un."

"W-what do you want to do now?"

"…Rest." He said still focusing on the screen.

She ducked her head lower. He was instantly ignoring her and somehow she didn't like that. She felt a leftover inside. They were staying under the same roof and she wasn't doing her role yet. She had to do it… even though he would despise her afterwards. Shutting her eyes tightly, she stood up and walked in front of him.

"What are you doing?" Ryoma frowned at her, "Can't you see that I am watching?"

Blush appeared fast on her face when she looked at his eyes. She held her breath as she slowly kneeled down in front of him, touching both of his knees.

"H-hey…"

"Ryoma-kun…" she looked at his wondering expression, "I… want to…"

"Stand up." He said grabbing her to her shoulder. He was about to stand up himself but she stopped him;

"M-matte," she said abruptly, "Ryoma-kun… I want to be of use to you."

"What?!" He frowned this time.

"Y-you always do things for me but I haven't done a single thing to you," she said feeling proud of her that she was able to stare at his eyes for long, "I… I want to please you… tell me what to do… please…" She looked down after she said that. At that moment, she felt really little. She begged for the impossible… but she couldn't believe that she was actually asking for it.

Silence was erupted between them.

Her eyes widened when the tennis prodigy tipped her chin up so that she could look at her eyes. His eyes were unreadable as she looked back at them. She was agape as she let her lips a bit open. Holding her breath for a few seconds, her eyes widened more when she saw him leaning closer to her. Blushing, she closed her eyes tight as well as her lips as she waited for him to do his next move.

It's okay… We—we'd fought about this before but it's okay now. I—I don't mind… I know I can do this. H-he's kind… He is Ryoma-kun after all.

"You're tired. Rest now."

Her eyes were snapped open when he shifted his target to her ear. He gently pushed her so that she could sit on her heel. Ryoma stood up as he put his hands to his pocket;

"I'll wake you up tomorrow," He said turning his back on her, "Oyasumi."

She reached for him as he started to walk but her body couldn't move. Also wanting to speak, her voice couldn't be found from her throat. She watched him close his door of his room leaving there alone. He rejected her. She was pretty sure that he was about to kiss her. She could feel his breath from her lips before he shifted to her ear. Looking down, she held her tears from falling. If he was not aiming for 'that', then what was it? Why would he be keeping her there?

There were many questions that she couldn't answer and yet, still looking for it.

Dejectedly, she slowly stood up and sat on the sofa. Karupin walked to her and began purring at her feet. Smiling, she gently grabbed the cat and hugged it, "Karupin, what is master thinking? Do you know? …Because I don't know anymore." Karupin licked her cheek to comfort her and that made her smile. She giggled and played with it before putting the cat below her before settling herself to slumber.

I'll find way on how to please him…


Saturday evening:

He was off rallying on the wall that night. He called his best friend and even Eiji and played for a while but after playing with them, he decided to play a little more at the public tennis court. Somehow, he didn't want to go home… at least not yet.

She was there.

…In his own house.

He was keeping her for a while and somehow the tense between them was getting worse than before. Nights ago, she showed him the different side of her. She was vulnerable that night and damn hormones, he was about to give in. She was innocent and he could notice that. Well, he had never been to any girl before but he was not dense not to notice her.

Not to mention… he was romantically-challenged but he knew what that girl was asking for him.

He didn't want to stay with a girl for a single minute but with Sakuno… he felt that he should be there for her in every single minute… despite that a lot had happened to her and the painful truth that she was half contaminated.

That leaded her to that bold action a few nights ago.

He cursed himself for announcing that she had to be his slave for a month and now she thought that she was. Well, he tried his best to treat her in a cold way like a master did but it seemed that it was not working at all. He needed to treat her like a slave for a reason.

And he wanted her to see that. He needed her to understand his real intentions.

He started to avoid her after that night. He needed to do that or else he too couldn't control himself. Looking at his racket, he sighed really hard. Something was stopping him why he couldn't act normally in front of her and he needed to find that out from her. But he knew that he wouldn't find that if he kept ignoring her. He didn't want to hurt her as she had been experiencing a lot all these years.

He respected her in an odd way.

He wanted to take care of her without her thinking something in return.

He wanted her to know that she was not a mere slave to him.

Then he finally realized something. Something that he didn't recognize before and he didn't mind about admitting it. And he wanted her to know.

Picking his things back to his bag, he prepared himself to leave the court and headed back home. He kept thinking ways on how to make her realize his real intentions. He decided to take it slowly while she was in his custody.

He still needed her to teach some lessons… of her how to stand for herself.

He needed her to learn how to fight back and defend herself from the bullies.

With that resolve, he made up his mind to keep up that goal… and using this master-slave thing was the only way.


At home:

She was there feeding Karupin with the milk. He didn't announce his return so he had the time to look at her smiling at his cat. She should smile like that very often. He thought. Sensing that he was there already, she looked his way and abruptly stood up.

"W-welcome back… Ryoma-kun." She blushed as she looked at him.

He looked back at her causing her to look away. Secretly grunting to himself, he closed his eyes, "Un."

"H-have you eaten your dinner yet?" she asked him when he removed his shoes and walked in.

"I had it with my senpais, so don't bother." He said not even looking at her.

"I—I see."

Damn.

He could feel her disappointment in her voice. He didn't know how to make a girl happy. But what would he know, she was his slave in the first place… at least she believed that.

"Give me a can of ponta at least." He later decided to order her around. He walked to the sofa and rested his head for a while there.

"H-hai." She quickly went to the fridge and grabbed a can of ponta and gave it to him.

"Sankyuu." He said as he took it and opened the lid. He drank the soda in full bottoms up until he finally quenched his thirst. Nothing could level his favorite drink as he thought. He finally noticed that Sakuno sat beside him… he mentally panicked not wanting to repeat what happened between them a few nights ago. Before she could speak, he quickly stood up and grabbed his bag beside him and said;

"I am going to bed. You sleep early tonight." He said not looking at her. It was not early anymore as the night was getting darker but he still said it. He quickly walked to his door and shut his door behind him. Looking down on the floor, he sighed as he thought of something.

So much for the real intentions… huh.

He slowly walked to his closet and quickly changed before settling himself on his soft bed. Without a second thought, he put himself to slumber thinking of a way on how to make his companion realize something.

xxx

His sleep was interrupted when something was touching his face. He frowned as he shoved it away but the gentle touch went back to his face. Later on, he felt that something was weighing him on the bed but he still ignored it. He wanted to go back to sleep as he didn't want to open his eyes. But his intruder wouldn't let him. Then something warm and soft were soothing his face as someone faintly called him on his name. That was the time he realized that he was not alone. Snapping his eyes open, an unexpected surprise was presented in front of his very eyes.

It was her.

…Sitting on his belly.

"S-sakuno?" he still couldn't' believe himself that she was there… on her negligee.

…On her negligee to repeat that and her slender legs were exposing to his sides.

And once again, his stupid hormones were starting to work up on him.

"Ryoma-kun…" she said huskily as she bent down a little.

He cursed his working hormones that he had for he knew that he was blushing. Why? Her cleavage was exposing in front of him and was inviting him for more, "W-what are doing in my room?" he stuttered and who wouldn't if a seductive lady was exposing herself in front of you.

"Ryoma-kun," Sakuno repeated with the same tone as she placed her hand to his cheek.

He looked at her, she was blushing really hard. And he knew that she was nervous despite that she was being bold again. He also noticed that her hair was down and really, she was so damn beautiful that night… no matter what the time it was that moment. He regretted for not locking his door, "Get off of me." He said as firmly as possible and felt relieved that he didn't crack. He couldn't move and it was stupid of him.

Sakuno ignored him as she whispered; "Please…" she started before leaning closer to his face and aimed for his lips.

His eyes were slowly widened in shock when she kissed him on the lips. He couldn't believe that she was kissing him that moment. Didn't she deny the fact that their lips were accidentally brushed with each other that time? She had clearly announced that they didn't kiss, she didn't want to... the point that he didn't like she didn't at all. That was the reason why he stopped attempting to kiss her that night as well. Then, why was she giving her kiss to him? It was not like he was the person that she loved? Somehow, he felt a slight pang when he thought that. The kiss was pretty long that he didn't have the time to push her back. And before he did, she finally broke the kiss.

"Ryoma-kun…"

She was blushing to the fullest as she stared at him. She looked vulnerable in front of him… while sitting on his belly. He couldn't speak as she only stared at him. Then, he felt her hands went to his chest. He mentally panicked when he realized that she had opened his shirt for he didn't know when. What shocked him more was her next words that made his eyes even wider;

"P-please… please do me…"


Done! How was this chapter? Was she unexpected enough? I don't know. Please tell me about it. About Ryoma's thoughts and Sakuno's actions.

Reviews please… I need to hear it.

Thank you very much.

Next Chapter: Secret Game