Hi I am back with the new chapter. Okay, I want to correct something, two chapters ago, I said that there would be three chapters left so this might be the second to the last. Well, this is not actually it, I want to add one more chapter so there will be two more chapters left. I officially declare that FBR has a total number of 38 chapters. That's final and I am not going to add more ideas even though I want to… sigh… So there it is. I'll try my best to fit the ideas with the last two chapters… Thank you… More Dramas to come… Nah, the happy ending is approaching find that out how they will have it.

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

heartluv - Yeah, he got me a guitar as a souvenir... I am so lucky... tee hee hee... ;p He knows that I can play that's why... He's so kind... Ryoma didn't stop until he persuaded Sakuno... Yeah, sad to say... this has to end... but don't worry... this is not my end of writing fics... tee hee hee...

johanna - tee hee hee... sa tinging ko naghihirap na xa... ;p

sandra - tee hee hee... I feel the same too... I guess we are on the same boat... ;p

yana19 - hi... tee hee hee... I was a little surprised when you continued your reviewed... I'll reply to your review on your account... tomorrow... I don't have time today... I'll reply to all your reviews tomorrow... I'll see you... ^_^

Chapter 36: The Reason of Living

Chapter Summary: She never wanted anything in the world but to live again, to be reborn as a new person where no one would hurt her… as possible.

'Yume no sukima kara sashikomu hi wa
Kimi no kokoro no e o utsushidasu
Semai heya kara detai to motoete iru chiisana koe

Yuugure no sora tobitatsu kage
Fukai ao to aka ga majiwaru jikan ni
Nurikaeru tashikana koe ga hisonde iru to iu'

~ Junko Minagawa – Raison D'etre ~

His eyebrow was twitching at that moment as he was just standing at the corner of the door.

His eyes were closed all the time.

He wanted to calm himself down as possible as he could.

He was supposed to be alone with the girl.

But why was she being surrounded with the former and current regulars at that very moment? Asking a lot of questions why did she disappear after her confinement in the hospital. Why was she living with him once again? And so on and so forth.

When he opened the door for them, of course he shut it immediately. But knowing it was them; they would just simply barge in and bombarded him with questions. Sumire came back after three days and reported in the academy and the next thing that he knew; the regulars were invading the girl's room.

But that didn't end yet for the girl's regular team arrived after a few minutes and visited her as well. It became a girl talk though, Sakuno didn't say much unlike before.

Ryoma didn't have a choice but to stay out from her room and let her spend time with the girls. It lasted a few minutes to hours before they decided to leave.

He thought that he could have her alone after that but he was awfully wrong about it, totally wrong about it.

He narrowed his eyes as he spotted Tomoka and Saya at the same time glaring at each other. He understood what Tomoka was doing there but for Saya to go there a little late was a question for him.

"You're late." He suddenly said pertaining to Saya.

Saya looked at him for a while before she decided to look away, "I… don't want to visit her with the team so I…"

"What are you planning to do then?" Tomoka said suspiciously eyeing her, "You are not planning anything to her, are you?"

Saya retorted back at her, "I am not!"

He looked at the both of them and thought hard. Frenemies girl version? He could imagine a certain porcupine head and a green bandanna guy at the two girls fighting in front of him. Sighing to himself, he opened the door for them and talked, "Are you coming in or not?"

"We will!" They both said at the same time.

Tomoka and Saya entered the house and they followed the tennis prodigy ahead of them. Soon after they reached the girl's door and knocked on it.

He opened the door without waiting for her reply. They spotted the girl sitting on the bed and looking outside the window. Ryoma walked closer to her and grabbed her hand;

"Hey, Osakada and Hirano are here to see you." He said making the girl to look at them.

The girl showed some expressions towards them.

"Sakuno, how are you?" Tomoka said smiling at her.

She just nodded. Saya didn't say anything.

Ryoma leaned back and talked to them, "I leave you alone for a while." With that he walked to the door and gave himself a sigh. He guessed that he would have Sakuno a little later.

It was the girls being left after that. Tomoka sat on the bed while Saya sat on the chair in front of her.

"Are you okay?" Tomoka asked gently holding her hands.

Sakuno looked at her and nodded once again.

"Sakuno, gomen ne," Tomoka looked down before she continued, "I wasn't able to help you when you were in danger. I wasn't even there for you when you needed me the most."

"…"

"You… suffered a lot. I wished I could be of help to you." She gripped her hands even tighter.

Sakuno responded to her hold making her look at her, "B-being here is enough for me, Tomo-chan, thank you."

"Sakuno…" Tomoka let out her tears before she gave her a comforting hug which the girl accepted.

Sakuno looked at Saya and gave her a tiny smile making the latter flinch;

"Hirano-san… I'm sorry for… staining your jersey… back then."

Saya was surprised at her words. Stain? She remembered that she placed her jersey to her shoulder before she ran out to Kaito and got stabbed, making her jersey drench in her blood.

"D-don't worry about it," Saya said looking away, "And call me Saya from now on okay," She looked at her once again and gave her a genuine smile this time, "We're friends, aren't we?"

"H-hirano-s—"

"Saya, Sakuno, Sa-ya!" She insisted making the girls sweat drop.

"S-Saya-san, R-right?"

"Better."

"Why the change of heart, Saya-chan?" Tomoka said eyeing her in the process, "Are you jealous because we are calling each other on the first name basis?"

"W-what! I am not!" Saya blushed when she said that, "And I am pretty sure that Sakuno and I will be the best of friends."

"No, you don't! I am her best friend first for your information!"

"The number doesn't count of will be the best of the best!"

"Oh yeah, then I am the best!"

"No, I am!"

"I am!"

Sakuno just looked at their bickering reaction in front of her. They were fighting who would be her 'best friend'. She sweat dropped as she tried to stop them;

"Ummm, y-you two can be my fri—"

"WHO DO YOU LIKE BEST?!" Both of them looked at her making her lean back.

"A-anou…"

"I AM, RIGHT?" They also said in unison.

"No, I am!"

"I am!"

She just watched them first before her lips started to form a line. She then started to snicker, giggle and then laugh. Tomoka and Saya stopped bickering when they saw her laugh.

"Y-you guys are funny. Both of you are in sync." She said her eyes were closed as she continued to laugh, "You two can my best friends if you want."

"Sakuno…" They both said in unison. They looked at each other after that.

"Thank you guys, truly I am…" She said as her laugh lessened to giggle.

They both watched her reaction and then they were a bit worried when they saw her eyes were becoming watery once again. Her giggle turned to little sobs until her tears fell down and helplessly cried in front of them.

"Thank you… very much."

Tomoka and Saya both hugged her in the process and tapped her back.

"Really, Sakuno," Saya said smiling in the process, "You have to choose whether to laugh or cry."

Tomoka nodded at her words, "She's right, silly girl."

Sakuno cried even more uttering 'thank yous' to them for several times.

They leaned away from each other. Sakuno wiped her tears as she finally calmed down and then all three of them started to giggle.

"B-by the way, w-where's Ann-chan?" Sakuno suddenly asked when she remembered her other friend, "I-is she mad at me?"

"Well, at first she was," Tomoka said making her sad in the process, "But she learned to forgive you. She knew that you were somewhere recovering. When she learned that you came back in Seigaku, she was the first one who wanted to visit you but she couldn't for she needed to do an important job today."

"I see." She felt relieved that Ann wasn't mad at her anymore. She did owe her an explanation when they meet each other.

Tomoka stood up and said something to the both of them, "Why are you spending your time in this room anyway? Don't you have things to do?"

"She's right, you should go outside." Saya said.

"I'll go get Ryoma-sama to carry you outside." Tomoka said before Sakuno could protest. Minutes later, Tomoka entered the room with Ryoma trailing behind her.

"You wouldn't mind having her outside, right?" Saya said looking at him.

Ryoma didn't say anything but he went closer to her and carried her in his arms. Sakuno never looked at him nor placed her arm to his neck as he carried her. She still felt awkward being that close to him. After a few seconds, she was sitting on the sofa together with them.

The girls talked about something else while Ryoma was busy stroking Karupin's hair who was on his lap. They started watching a Television show and as Saya switched the channel to one another, something that caught Sakuno to one of them.

"S-Saya-san… c-can you… can you return to that channel please?" She stuttered as she requested it.

Saya returned the channel and they found out what she noticed a while ago.

It was a live performance of the Rhapsody theater of the night. Sakuno felt nostalgic when she watched everyone on stage. Riku was standing in front of the stage with the guitar hanging to her body. She was wearing a blue dress and her hair was tied in two pigtails. Yuuta Fuji was on the piano and was wearing a black formal suit. It was the same with Syusuke Fuji who was sitting on a chair with his flute.

The place was crowded and she thought that the performance was something special for that night. Then, she noticed the banner behind the stage. It said 'Special Tribute to Someone'. Her heart started to beat when she read that. Somehow, she had the instinct of who they were referring to.

'Thank you minna, for attending this live performance of Rhapsody theater,' Riku said speaking in front of them, 'We all know that we are still missing a member and we are still waiting for her.'

She was still surprised when Riku said that.

'A lot had happened but she did overcome all of them. The success of this theater was because of her. We would not have made it here without her. So, this song is dedicated for you. I hope that you'll come back for those people who love you.'

The combination of the piano, drums and the lead guitar entered and the four of them singing for the first time, the appearance of a large image of a person at their background gathered as they were being applauded;

'Hitori, hitori chigatte iru
Negai ya kangaekata
Hitotsu, hitotsu tsutae aou
Yuujou sore ga daiji
Four as one tsunagu force
SATERAITO…'

Sakuno covered her mouth when she saw her own image being flashed on the background. The drums emphasized the music as the opening chorus ended. Then, Fuji's flute joined the intro part before her recorded voice with the song plus her image and Yuuta sang the first stanza.

'He tari konda tsumetai yuka ni
FUWARI to nagerareta kimi no kotoba
Sukoshi KITSUku kikoeta keredo
Miageta manazashi wa yasashikatta…'

Fuji and Riku sang the refrain part. The instruments were still blended with a different tune this time;

'Chanto kanjiteru
Hoshi no akari ga zenbu kietatte
Tsuyoi ENERUGII
Shinjiru kimochi ga hanatsu hikari…'

The chorus had started to sing by them. Their voices were so blended in that they received another round of applause at that part. Fuji was playing a small part as the chorus ended. She knew the song for they practice it for a couple of times. It was their general rehearsal back then and Fuji was taping them. Now it was being played for the crowd to see while the members were actually singing the piece. The second stanza, and the second refrain came. Then the chorus joined in once again. Sakuno couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Tomoka and Saya were just watching her watching the video. Ryoma was just at the corner who was fondly looking at her as well. The piano gave way a little before they sang their special part;

'Riku: Saa susumou Dead End de, issho ni mata kangaeyo
Fuji: Itsuka wakaru sunao ni naru
Yuuta: Terekusai omoi, utatteru
Sakuno: Ureshii tomadoi shinjitai…'

The live show was different. She was supposed to sing the song alone but Fuji made some sort of magic that everyone was singing it, including her from the VTR. There were times that Sakuno would be singing and not playing the violin at all. They had that part being played at the big screen. They had perfectly edited the video for the timing was great where she must sing and play the part while the others was singing the song at the same time. The drums adlib entered as they played and sang the last part, with Yuuta's piano solo.

'Hitori, hitori chigatte iru
Negai ya kangaekata
Hitotsu, hitotsu tsutae aou
Yuujou sore ga daiji…'

The instruments played to the fullest except the flute:

'Koe to koe ga HAMOru you ni
Ookina yume wo musubou
Eda to eda ga karamu you ni
Kuuki no iro ga kawaru
Mirai wo tsunaideru
SATERAITO…'

They listened to the music until it ended with Fuji's flute part. The crowd applauded after a marvelous presentation. Sakuno couldn't help crying especially when she heard her name being called by the audience for several times.

'See, they want you back,' Riku said as she looked at the screen like she was really looking at her, 'Don't give up yet, they love you, someone still loves you. The theater loves you, Sakuno.'

'We will be waiting for you!'

The theater members bowed after that. Sakuno quickly covered her mouth when the show was over. Saya and Tomoka comforted her once again.

"I believe her too," Ryoma suddenly said, "Don't shut yourself into something that is really there."

Upon hearing that, she cried even more. She just couldn't believe that something like that could happen to her. Her friends never left her until she calmed down for the umpteenth time.

Later on:

Ryoma carried her back to her room when Tomoka and Saya left the house. A lot did happen today and she couldn't believe it was really happening. Ryoma placed her on the bed and she was still sitting there. Ryoma sat at the side and looked at her.

"Are you okay?" He asked placing a hand to her cheek.

Blushing, she was able to nod at him.

"Are you tired? Do you want to sleep?"

She shook her head when he asked that as well. Even though she was filled with emotions that night, she still wanted to confirm something. She wanted to be sure or she would be hurt again if she tried.

"R-Ryoma-kun…" She started not looking at him.

"Hmmm."

"I… told Taichi that he could do me."

Ryoma didn't say anything but she knew that he was surprised at her words.

"I told him that I'd give myself to him… for several times."

His hand that was on her cheek went to her hands that were on her lap.

"Did you?"

Sakuno looked at him after that and stared for a long period of time, "What do you think?"

"…"

"What will you think of me if I did?" She asked not tearing her gaze from him, "Will you keep insisting me to stay with you?"

"…"

"Will you still say those sweet nothings to me if I was being laid by someone else?"

"…"

"Please tell me."

They stared at each other before Ryoma raised his other hand and wiped something to her face. She didn't know that she was crying once again.

"Saying these words, I bet that he didn't…"

She blinked her eyes twice when he said that.

"And if he did, I'll definitely erase all those dirty touches he did to you. And then I'll definitely make myself a murderer after that."

"Ryoma-kun!"

"Okay, I am just kidding though I did have the urge of killing him back then, for what he did to you," He said smirking a little, "Good thing that Hirano was there to stop me."

"…"

"You were pure and innocent when I first claimed you and I could still see that in you for some reason."

"…"

"Whatever happens, I'll stay beside you… no I'll take you wherever I go."

Sakuno just looked at him and then she saw how he became serious after that.

"I'll make you happy, I promise." He said before he leaned down and gently kissed her on the lips.

She was surprised at his action. Her eyes were wide at that moment but later on they became soft. There were still worries inside her heart. After she sacrificed herself that night, she had lost faith of living. She wanted to end her life as possible that very night. But Ryoma, he was the one to pull her out from the brink of death and getting there was pretty hard for her. She had to trust him once again. She just didn't know how.

"Sakuno…" He said after breaking the kiss. His hands went to the ribbon of her shirt. He looked at her eyes telling her what he wanted to do.

She blushed as she looked at him. Was she ready? It had been four months since they last met. And those were the times that they didn't have problems. Her heart was beating so fast especially when he pulled the ribbon of her shirt and slowly pushed her down on the bed. At least she was able to move without thinking of her back. Ryoma hovered on top of her and fondly stared at her eyes;

"I will not restrain myself to you anymore and not even Ryuzaki-sensei can stop me."

Her eyes widened when he said that. She was totally speechless. She gasped as his hand went to her waist.

"If you just let me…" He said not tearing his gaze from her, "…again."

She didn't reply to him but Ryoma didn't wait for her reply at all as he bent down and kissed her neck. She bit her lower lip as she stared at the ceiling. His hand that was on her waist went up and searched for her hand. When he found it, he pinned them to her side of her head and he did the same with the other. She closed her eyes when he went down, blushing in the process. She was nervous but she chose to trust him that very night.

1am:

He woke up for an unknown reason. He was supposed to be pissed about it and blamed what caused him to wake up. But when he looked in front of him, a tiny smile grazed from his lips. He was hugging her… from behind… totally naked under the sheet. He liked feeling her like that.

He peeked at her from behind and gave her a genuine smile.

Sakuno's face was not weary anymore. She was sleeping soundly in his arms, totally trusting him with all her heart. He had proven it a few hours ago, when they were doing it… with full of love.

He could sense that she was in love with him and that was enough for him. He lifted his arm that was hugging her and busied himself for a while and when he was done, he put it back from its original position and hugged her even more.

"You'll never regret this." He whispered to her ear before he kissed her to her cheek for a long period of time while his hand gently touched her hand. After a few seconds, he leaned away a little and stared at their joined hands. Sakuno stirred but she didn't wake up. He went back to a sleeping position where he could comfortably sleep, still hugging the girl in the process. He was satisfied at what he did.

Her hand was sparkling as he thought about it until he went back to sleep.

Next Morning:

She woke up early the next day. At least she felt lighter than the previous day of her stay. Then she remembered what happened last night. She gave herself to him once again. She couldn't help but blush at that night. Shaking her head in the process, she looked around.

Ryoma wasn't there anymore for she was aware that they 'slept' together too. It was odd for the guy to wake up early for he wasn't an early bird to begin with. Then she noticed a cloth beside the table. Remembering that she was still naked, she lifted it up and figured that it was easy to wear. Without waiting for another reason, she wore it before the guy returned. She still needed an assistant for walking and she didn't want to bother him anymore just by changing her clothes like today. She couldn't help but panic because of the event that happened between them all this time. Just when she done putting the clothes on, she noticed something flashed from her left hand. She stared at it only to be surprised.

There was a silver ring on her ring finger.

She covered her mouth with her other hand as she stared at her other hand. Why would Ryoma give her a ring? She wasn't thinking 'that' right? But what about him? Her eyes widened when she realized it. This wasn't supposed to happen. Not at all. She was going to talk to him about it.

She didn't want him to misinterpret. She touched the ring first before she decided to pull it off.

"What are you doing?"

She flinched when she heard him talk with a hint of surprise in his voice. He was carrying a tray of food and went closer to her. Her plan of pulling the ring off of her finger was halted as she panicky reasoned out to her;

"I—I… Y-you don't have to do this."

"What?" He sat down at the edge of the bed.

"I—I promise that I will never bring 'that' up to you again," She looked down staring at the ring to her finger. She was about to pull it again, "Y-you don't have to force yourself on this. You really don't have to. I—I am sorry—"

"What are you talking about?" He cut her grabbing her hands in the process.

Sakuno looked at him only to see him seriously staring at her. Ryoma shoved one of her hands and grabbed the one with the ring on. It was properly fixed to her ring finger. He touched it as he looked at her;

"…I want to marry you."

"I—I told you—"

"No one is forcing me to this. I really want to marry you, Sakuno."

She was speechless this time. Why was the guy telling her all that now? Was he completely against it before? She knew that he was just forced to marry her. She bit her lower lip as she looked down.

"R-really, Ryoma-kun, you don't have to do this," She started and she knew that she made him flinch at what she said. Before he could reply to her words, she continued, "You don't have the obligation, I assure you. I… I will stay as long as you n-need me but you don't have to be responsible for me."

Silence erupted between them. It was awkward for her especially when Ryoma chose to be quiet after she said that. She knew that she did the right thing. Ryoma had better things to do with his career and she was not the one to ruin it.

Not in his entire life.

"Mada mada dane."

Her eyes widened when he said that. She slowly looked at him and saw how serious he was at that moment. He grabbed both of her hands before he said his thoughts;

"I know what I said before and I apologize for that. That's the reason why you can't accept me, can you?"

"Ryoma-kun…"

"If I can't take my words back then, I won't mind living in fairy tales as long as you're there," He said looking away and a hint of blush was present to his face, "They said that I am a Prince in this world, Princes do live in fairy tales too, so, I really don't mind."

She was really speechless. Ryoma was saying some cheesy lines that she never heard from him before. It was so unlike of him.

"I just want you to know that I'd like to spend my life with you wherever our future will bring us."

Her tears fell down after that. She couldn't take it. She bursted in tears and surprisingly jumped on him, causing the both of them to fall backward on the bed.

"Hey! You're back!" Ryoma said placing a hand to her waist. She was on top of him at that very moment. Her head was at the crook of his neck, "Sakuno…"

"Ryoma-kun, Ryoma-kun," She said hugging him in the process, "I… I want to give my life a chance of living. My reason of existence, I want to know it. A-and I know that I can find it to you."

Ryoma's eyes widened when she said that. Sakuno distanced herself from him and gave him a weak smile, crying in the process;

"T-there must be a reason why I was born in this world. A-and I want to know that reason."

Ryoma smirked when she said that. He placed a hand to her cheek and said, "Baka, you already knew the reason."

She stared at his amber eyes and waited for his next words which he did.

"You were born to meet me."

Her eyes softened after he said that, "S-stupid, Ryoma-kun. You are always full of yourself!" She hugged him again and continued crying. Ryoma just returned the hug and smiled at the turn of events. He held her head and gently pushed it away from him. She blushed when he did despite the tears. She knew what he wanted so she gave it. She leaned down once again and kissed him fully to his lips. Ryoma wrapped his arms to her waist and to her shoulder and in an instant their position was changed. Ryoma was on top of her as they broke the kiss.

"No holding back this time." He smirked at her.

She blushed as she wiped her tears and she decided to reply, "D-didn't we… already start that l-last night?"

His smirk grew wider and replied, "Sly girl." With that he passionately kissed her on the lips once again. He was right, there was no holding back. She knew that everything would be alright after that. She had nothing to wish for. She would just let him control everything.

She was already his anyway.

Done! How was this chapter? They reconciled and this time there was no turning back, was there? tell me your thoughts please… Two more chapters to go… Domo…

About the song inserted in this chapter: I was actually having a hard time which song to pick, at first, I forgot what to put for I didn't type the lyrics in the first place and then I thought of having 'Ichigan' but then I remembered I featured that song to one of my fics before although it fitted for Sakuno here. Then I finally decided with B-voice's Satellite. So, that ended it.

Raison D'etre – Junko Minagawa, a featured song from the beginning. It's from Junko Minagawa's latest album entitled RYOMA.

Satellite – by Romi Paku, Sanae Kobayashi, Mitsuki Saiga and Junko Minagawa (B-Voice). This song is pretty nice and I love the singers as well. I love it… tee hee hee… I posted the song on my profile... thanks...

I do not own the music being dedicated and used here. Just sharing it.

Anyway, I would like to thank the readers who read and reveiwed my new one-shot fic called 'Reversed Time'. I did not expect to receive wonderful reviews from that fic of mine... as I've told you... it's for my angsty reasonSSSS... still, I am very pleased that you like it. Thank you very much... For the readers who have accounts and reviewed my on-going fics, 'Crystal Tearsdrops II', 'FBR(this one)' and the new one-shot, I am going to reply to all of them tomorrow. Thank you very much... Sorry, I just posted this chapter and I don't have time to reply today, so I'll see you tommorrow... ^_^

I never realized that there is another movie of Prince of Tennis until I saw it in the market last Sunday, tee hee hee... lucky me... 'The Prince of Tennis: Eikoku Shiki Teikyuu Shiro Kessen! (Showdown in England's Tennis Fortress)' it was also a nice movie but I still like the Two Samurais. Tee hee hee... It's worth a watch still... I am giggling non-stop because I didn't know this movie at all. I fell in love with the ending theme entitled I4U. Just sharing... I do not own them... ^_^

Next Chapter: Preface to Happiness