Chapter 5 ~ Battle lost, war won?
L's notes:// what a random chapter, it is kind of disorganized. I dislike bad organization, throws my ideas right off course. I don't like to write two chapters from the same story continuously. It was suppose to be chapter three of "Addicted to you" But due to many degrees of writer's block. I wasn't able to write continuously and let it flow. Instead the words felt choppy and unhappy. That's all it is I guess. But, please enjoy this chapter, it's choppy too, but hopefully you'll enjoy Echizen's misfortunes. Haha! (-does not own Tennis no Ohjimsama-)
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The friendly practice match against Fudomine was staged at the local park, where a few tennis courts were available for the public use. Before every match, Inui arrives hours before the other regulars, to rejuvenate himself before a game. Today, unusually, another regular arrived.
"Ohayou, what brings you here so early?" The senpai closed his notebook, facing a yawning prince. Looking as if he's ready to make his daily orders.
"I want to talk about the...list." Echizen gestured towards a yellow piece of paper contained in Inui's notebook.
"Who did you have in mind?" The data collector adjusted his glasses, letting its lenses flash against the sun, the light almost hitting Ryoma, making him flinch. Usually, Ryoma wouldn't care less who he played against, as long as he played. He would be happy, winning too, of course.
"Kamio." The prince only had one way of settling the score, a nice match of tennis.
"Very well." After a few scratches of a pencil, the game list has been changed; originally Momoshiro was to play against the Speed Demon, now it has been changed to the devious prince.
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"Moshi! Moshi!" It's ten after eight, only fifty minutes until the game. The just awoken Sakuno answered the phone near her bed. Her voice was tired, and scratchy.
"Ano... is... Sakuno-chan home?" The sound of a nervous boy rang through the receiver.
"Hai, speaking." The girl now is fully awake, giggling at the boy at the other end. Boys are habitually especially shy on the phone. This one in particular was no different.
"Kamio~desu. Ano... I was wondering..." His shyness was obvious through a phone conversation as well.
"You have a game today neh? With Seigaku?" Sakuno said instead.
"Hai, I was wondering if I can walk with you to the park, for the, um game." The regular of Fudomine, well known for his speed, was pacing himself, over enunciating each word.
"Of course, it would be fun. I'll see you soon?" Sakuno giggled again, her laugher some what calmed the jittery tennis player. Who is clenching on his jersey as they were speaking.
"Okay, I'll come and pick you up around... 8:45? You can ride on my bike again." He laughed; letting his normal self take over.
"Sounds great, see you soon!" Sakuno hanged up. She was more then happy to have a distraction, from that boy, that is. She sighed happily, it's nice to have a nice boy around.
The near by clock reminded her of the time. It's already 8:15! She only has 30 minutes to shower and dress! What on earth will she wear? The frantic Sakuno shuffled off of her bed and jumped to her closet, picking through dresses, skirts, pants and shirts. Finally stopping at a stranger's kindness. The flower blouse she received from an unknown stranger. A very kind honored guest. In no time, Sakuno decided on this particular chemise. It was perfect.
When a girl is preparing herself to meet a certain someone. Thirty minutes never seems enough. As Sakuno got out of the shower, the doorbell rang.
"Sakuno...-chan?" A confused Kamio looked around, making sure he arrived at the right house.
"Hai! Gomen!!! I just need to get dressed!" Sakuno came stumbling downstairs in a pink cotton bathrobe, half-tied. Her almost pink flesh from the hot shower made her seem fluttered. Allowing the speed demon melt to the ground.
"Take...your time." He grinned sheepishly, remaining at the door. While Sakuno retrieved upstairs and got dressed, rather quickly. Today's outfit consisted a pair of white pearl earrings, fashioned into shapes of stars. Her white plaid skirt seemed like a tennis skirt, to fit the occasion. And of course, the flowered blouse.
Sakuno grinned as she arrived before Kamio, she was hot from the shower, and a little of herself. The speed demon seemed particularly flushed as well.
"You look very nice today, Sakuno-chan." He rubbed his hands by the side of his pants, wiping away sweat. Noticing how uneasy he was, Sakuno smiled sweetly to calm his fears. Letting him know he can't embarrass himself in front of her, because she will probably do it first.
"Thank you." Sakuno replied. It has been over five minutes of standing around, blushing. Just then, Kamio noticed the time.
"We should get going! The game is about to start. I should have come earlier." Kamio got on the bike and waved Sakuno to come over. The young girl with the auburn braids jumped onto the bike, holding closely against Kamio. His heart sped faster, as they rode through the streets and corners.
Unfortunately for the two of them, a sense of direction was not installed.
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"WHERE IS KAMIO?" Tachibana buchou roared. Everyone on the Fudomine team has arrived, waiting around for their speed demon, an important asset of the team.
"I knew he was going to be late, we should have made this game with doubles as well. This way we could have started the game already. Tachibana buchou should have made me play first. Why is Kamio the first one to play? He's not better then me. hm. I wonder where he is. Well, as long as the buchou made the decisions, they must be correct. But I should talk to him about it…" Shinji stammered, no one really noticed him his random ramblings. Always talking about nothing.
"Eh! Sakuno isn't here either!" Tomoka pranced around frantically. "Where is she?" She waved her blue and white pom-poms in the air. Gesturing for attention.
"Doesn't Sakuno usually come with you?" Kikumaru appeared and asked.
"She called me today, and said she is going to come on her own." Tomoka replied, apparently, she is now the official cheerleader of the Seigaku Tennis club. And Sakuno was her partner, who didn't particularly care for the team. Although adoring their tennis skills, as well as the regulars. One tennis player on the team drove her away from the games.
No one noticed a pattern in the bad attendance of Sakuno and Kamio. But the despised one only shrugged unhappily; the prince sipped his grape Ponta under the tree, evil thoughts crossed his mind. Dared to he think of the possibilities? All he could do is sit in the shade and mope in hiding.
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"I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE LOST"
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"GOMEN!" Kamio and Sakuno finally arrived at the courts, bowing respectfully. After almost 45 minutes of riding with no aim around the neighborhoods. They finally found the park, which was located quite near the Seigaku High school.
"What happened?" Oishi, the temporary-captain wasn't high on blame. He was rather worried about the two. But the captain of Fudomine wasn't so easily forgiving, his somewhat hothead attitude snarled at Kamio.
"150 laps around the courts!" Tachibana buchou hollered.
"Hai!" Kamio started running, the confused Sakuno followed, running after Kamio, her black leather Mary Janes were not the best for running.
"Ryuzaki!" The buchou called out again. The baffled Sakuno only noticed his voice, her ears directed into that course, so have her eyes. Not noticing a small pebble in front of her path, that caused her small, frail body to trip and fall.
"Ow..." Her hands saved her from her fall, causing a few scratches against her hand and knees. Kamio stopped dead at his tracks, reversing his steps to help her. But a certain prince decided that now is a good time to cut in.
"Let me help you up." Echizen interrupted. Now, noticing her blouse. His lips curled into a secret smile.
"I'm fine!" Sakuno was angry, more puzzled at Echizen's behavior. She was not happy with him. But the young girl was happy to let the speed demon help her.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gotten us lost." The two sat around smiling, not detecting the presence of Ryoma. But his ears perked up hearing them speak; his almost non-existent feelings began to surface.
"It's okay, I'm not even hurt that bad." Sakuno assured him. Brushing the dirt off of her skirt. Echizen's quiet footsteps were left unnoticed. This battle, it seems like, he have lost.
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L's notes:// Thank you for reading (and reviewing)! I luffs you! ~ And I realized I was suppose to stage these settings in English class, and the fact that this is some what based on me? I threw it out the window. No plot follows that course no more; I guess I lost it half way through. But this isn't horrible either, so.