A Sweet Secret Love
by kawaii-witch181
"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet."
Chapter Twenty: Obtainment
"W-Wah…! R-R-Ryoma-kun…!"
Those were the words she can utter, before her dizzy eyes finally closed.
"Oi! Ryuzaki!" The tennis prince lifted his face up, checking the girl lying underneath him. She still has those silly swirling eyes.
Sakuno groaned, her surroundings still not reverting back to normal.
"Carry her to the kitchen," Emi said.
Ryoma nodded and did just that.
"I'll take care of Sa-chan," An volunteered.
"No, you continue to serve our customers. That boy can manage alone," Yuki stated.
"NO-"
"No protests."
The shinigami girl huffed. "Fine!" And stomped over to get an order of a now-fuming customer.
~oOo~
The counter keeper walks in.
"Good. You're awake. Come. We'll start the Obtainment."
Her being instantly regained a joyous energy.
"Y-You mean…I'll…finally g-get my body?" Sakuno questioned.
Tomoka walked away.
"I'm happy for you, Sa-chan!" An genuinely smiled and hugged her.
The tennis prince passed up a nod.
"Will you hurry up?!"
"Aww! Tomoka! Can't you just go with the atmosphere for once?!"
The counter keeper rolled her eyes. "I'm busy,"
"That doesn't have to do with this!"
"Shut up, Tachibana." Tomoka spoke. "Just hurry up, will you?" And continue to walk away.
An ran to her, shouting absolute quarreling nonsense.
"Let's go," said Ryoma.
Sakuno smiled. "Hai,"
~oOo~
"..Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno began as their footsteps echoed in this vast hallway.
"Hm?"
"W-What happened to the Oden Stand? W-Why are w-we here?"
"You fainted."
"I-I knew that," She blushed. "But, why..are we here in the Quarters?"
His mind replayed the scene earlier.
-Flashback-
"The Rainbow Marble is already here. Emi lend it to me just now. You two, back to the quarters. I'll prepare the Obtainment. And you come along too, Tachibana." Tomoka suddenly appeared with a puff of smoke, demanding those words.
"Demanding much?!" An complained.
"Just hurry up," The Counter Keeper remarked, disappearing with another puff of white smoke.
The tennis prince blinked. "She just came here to say that?"
"What do you think? Duh. Tomoka's always like that," An rolled her eyes. "Well, anyway. You carry Sa-chan and we'll get back to the Quarters immediately."
"Are you in a hurry?" Emi's voice suddenly sounded near.
"Oh, Emi-san. Umm, yes. Tomoka will surely skin me alive if her patience runs out." The shinigami girl nervously smiled. "…umm. Sorry for the trouble. And thank you for the hospitality."
Emi waved it off. "Don't mind. You're always welcome here, whenever you wanted to visit. And that goes for you two, human boy and spirit girl."
Ryoma lifted Sakuno up, piggyback-style. "Hn, thanks."
"Oh? She's still unconscious?" Emi giggled. "Don't make her fall so hard, Echizen."
His face scrunched up. / What does she mean by that? / Of course he wouldn't let Ryuzaki fall on the ground.
"He won't get it, "An whispered, also giggling.
"By that face, I can tell." Emi laughed.
"Oi! Emi! Hurry up! The customers are waiting!" Yuki shouted from the Cashier.
"Coming!" Emi shouted back.
"We'll be going now, Emi-san. Bye-bye." An said.
"Yes, see you around." Emi smiled before she disappeared by the curtain.
"Let's go. Hurry up, Shinigami." Ryoma bluntly said.
"Know what? You're the worst, Sa-chan's Prince."
Ryoma only smirked.
-End of Flashback-
"You carried me…?" Her face turned even hotter. He didn't answer her though. He just grabbed her almost-transparent wrist and continued walking.
She blinked and became instantly speechless.
~oOo~
The two of them arrived in a place of infinite darkness. Not even a single ray of light is guiding them. With eyes almost having permanent blindness, they can almost feel an absence of senses.
"I can't see!"
"Is this even a place?" He scoffed.
"Stop your complaints!" Tomoka's blurry silhouette suddenly appeared. Her hands had the mirror in grasp which became the only provider of light in this den of darkness. "Come here, spirit girl." She ordered.
Ryuzaki did the action.
Echizen tugged at her wrist.
She cast him a glance.
"Don't be such a drama, human." The Counter Keeper rolled her eyes.
He reluctantly let go.
"…What do I do?" Sakuno asked.
"Connect your desire to this mirror." Tomoka replied.
"…How..?"
"Thoughts,"
Sakuno closed her eyes and tried her best. She only thought of finding her body and what joy it will bring when her life is finally back. She can finally breathe. She can be normal. She'll exist. She'll have friends and a box of memories for her to keep. And..she'll…She can be with Ryoma-kun….
"Rétroviseur"
Tomoka's voice blew away her thoughts. Her eyes regained their vision. She can see the Rainbow Marble suspended above the Mirror as the Counter Keeper poured the Sake on it. The alcoholic liquid just flowed freely, taking every curve of the circular object.
Drip.
It drops like blood.
Drip.
Like coming from a wound.
Drip.
The glass is absorbing it.
Drip.
"Look. Your reflection,"
She gazed at it. But instead of her present self, a different reflection greeted her. Wait…isn't that her physical body?...Herself…just before she..became like this? Her pale hands grasped the Mirror and gazed at it more deeply.
..Why? …Why is it showing…?
A blinding white light suddenly enveloped her…
….
And, nothing can be recognized anymore.
~oOo~
He saw it.
How that white light swirled at her being.
He wanted to stop her.
He didn't know what to do.
But before he can even do something, Ryuzaki's gone.
A white, tiny dot replacing her.
And it was sucked inside the mirror.
"RYUZAKI!"
He reached out, all panicky.
"Calm down, Echizen." An grasped his arms, stopping his blinded resolve. "She's fine."
"HOW CAN YOU BE SURE?!"
"It's part of the Obtainment. Soon, she'll regain her memories, and finally, her body." Tomoka said.
He didn't respond. His bangs covered most of his expression.
"When that time comes..you'll immediately be transported to your world,"
….
All he needed to do...is wait?
….
He slumped.
….
He can't do anything anymore…
…..
Can't he?
~Chapter: End!
Prince of Tennis © Konomi Takeshi
A/N: Tell me what you think. Reviews, please. ^_^