Disclaimer: I don't own Tennis no Ohjisama, I really would like to, but I don't. On the other hand, if I find out that someone took Sakura without my permission, there will be hell to pay.
Author's Notes: Well, I'm sure most of you know the formula now, one bad cliffhanger, one dark chapter, one light chapter, rinse, and repeat. I think that this is the chapter people will want to read; includes Ryoma and Sakuno hints, I swear! Enjoy! Hasn't been beta read, so sorry for the really bad errors!
Chapter 7 - Visiting
Sakuno was sitting in the bed playing with Karupin. She giggled as the playful cat began to pounce on the many different stuff animals lying around the bedspread with Sakuno. However, when the furry feline began to play with a white plush seal, Sakuno tried to remove the toy from Karupin as quickly as possible. If Karupin damaged the plush, who knew the horror it would cause.
The seal was one out of about 10 stuff animals, which Sakura adored. Her mother gave majority of the plushies that earned so much affection, to Sakura. However, persons unknown gave the seal, which Sakura called "Sealy", to her. What was unusual about Sakura's behavior towards the toy was that Sakura normally would be happy to explain, or tell a story on how she received her plushies. An example would be the plush Ty toy of a baby duck named Quackers. Sakuno loved hearing how Sakura's mother had bought it for her as a surprise birthday gift, only for Sakura to ruin the surprise by walking into her parents' bedroom to see her mother showing the toy to her father. Every one of the toys had a story, except for the seal, which when asked Sakura would only give a nostalgic smile and say, "It's my favorite because I earned it." Well, at the rate Karupin kept trying to paw it out of Sakuno's hands, the seal would soon no longer be a part of Sakura's collection.
"I'm sorry Karupin, but if anything happens to Sealy, Sakura-neichan will be upset."
"That's putting it mildly." Sakura told her jokingly. Sakuno looked up to see her older cousin standing by the door. She could see Ryoma and Tezuka as well. Seeing the captain of the tennis team, Sakuno felt herself becoming embarrassed.
"Tezuka-sempai, I'm sorry for all of the trouble I caused last night. I'm sorry." She made a slight bow after her statement.
Tezuka gave a small smile, how like her to apologize for something that really wasn't her fault. "It's alright. Are you feeling better?"
She gave him a little smile and nodded. She turned to her cousin, "Where's Uncle?"
"He went out to get lunch." Sakura then turned to the boys, "That reminds me, are you staying for awhile? I could call him and tell him to bring enough for you as well."
Ryoma shrugged, while Tezuka told her it wasn't necessary. However, Sakuno asked them to stay and keep her company for a while, so it was agreed that the two would be joining them for lunch. After Sakura called her father, she asked if anyone wanted something to drink. The two younger individuals decided on Ponta, while Tezuka told her he'd help her make hot tea.
While they were out of the room, an awkward silence fell over the two 12 year olds. Sakuno couldn't bring herself to look at the tennis genius. She was fairly certain that he didn't come on his own, that one of the other members or his father probably tricked him into coming.
"How are you feeling?" Ryoma asked in his normal monotone.
She bit her lip before answering the question, "I feel so weak Ryoma-kun. I wish I had your strength." She told him truthfully, still unable to look him in the eye. She felt someone lift her chin up. Two unreadable amber eyes greeted hers.
"Then borrow some of mine for a while." He held her gaze for only a moment, but his eyes were so intense that Sakuno felt like she was drowning. A loud "meow" made her break the gaze as she turned her attentions to Karupin, and when she gathered the courage to look at Ryoma again, she knew the moment had past. Once again, silence reigned over the two.
"Will you come to tournament tomorrow against Grinka?"
"Um, I don't know."
". . ." Ryoma didn't know what else to say or do; he was confused, and for the first time a little shy around her. His eyes then noticed the seal plush in Sakuno's hands, "Oy, did Sakura ever tell you how she got that?"
"No, she just says that it's the first one she's ever earned. Has she ever told you?"
Ryoma shooked his head, "No, I just remember that she use to take that toy with her everywhere after she came back from a trip in Japan." He paused, "I think I know a way we could get her to tell us if you really want to know . . ."
Meanwhile, Sakura and Tezuka were in the kitchen, Tezuka had found the teakettle and poured some water into it before placing it on the oven. He glanced over to Sakura, who was grabbing two cans of Ponta from the refrigerator. He watched her move automatically before her realized how tired she actually was. "You should be resting," he admonished.
She gave him a faint smile before reaching into a cupboard to produce cups for the Ponta and tea. "But who would play hostess if I went back to sleep? Besides, I'm all right." She turned to open the freezer for some ice. He intercepted her wrist before she reached the handle.
"No, you're not. Everyone has been so concerned about Sakuno, including yourself, that no one has noticed how drained you really are."
Sakura stared at his hand clasped over her wrist before transferring her gaze to his face. Her eyes were unreadable and dull; she didn't try to wiggle out of his grasp, so he let his grip drop. "I guess . . . I feel guilty."
Tezuka looked puzzled, "Why? You had no way of knowing what would happen last night –"
Sakura shook her head before he could continue. She leaned back against the countertop, her voice flat and lifeless, "I . . . for a long time I use to wish that Sakuno never would remember because she was happy with her life now, and for her to remember would disrupt that life and only make her grieve. However, another part of me knew she had to remember in order for her to really move on with her life. But I had a really selfish reason too, I wanted my face back." She lowered her head for a second before lifting it up again. "It sounds really stupid, but it really wasn't just about the face, but the personality that goes with it too. I mean when I was young, Mom use to tell me all the time how my mannerisms resembled my aunt. After the first episode with Sakuno, I found my self consciously trying not to repeat those mannerisms and I kind of resented having to do it. It was like I became a different person and it has its advantages at school and work, but to do it when I'm with family . . . it's just tiring and disturbing." She gave him another weak smile, "and now, I guess I got my wish. I'm sorry; I didn't mean to trouble you with my selfishness."
Tezuka realized for the first time that the Sakura he watched for the past week was a mask. A defense against prying eyes like the press, that the serious girl in front of him was the older version of the girl he met six years ago. The strategist, who defeated him wasn't a flirty, scheming model, but only a loving, analytical teenager. "It still isn't your fault. None of this is your fault, Sakura."
She looked at him and pointed to her head, "I know that here," she told him gently before moving her hand to her heart, "it'll just take a little longer for me to believe that here." She then gave him her small contented smile, the one she only used when she was around him, "Thanks for listening to me rattle on."
He found the corners of his own mouth twitching upwards in a small smile of his own, "Anytime." They locked eyes and he found himself wondering why his throat suddenly felt dry, when the teakettle started to whistle. Sakura broke the moment by turning her head and walking over to turn off the heat, and moved the kettle. He went to the freezer to get ice cubes, when he looked back at her, Tezuka noticed the walls in her eyes that he didn't realize existed before. They had finished preparing the tea when Sakura's father came in with their lunch.
When Sakura and Tezuka entered into the bedroom again with lunch, neither noticed the mischievous glint in Ryoma's eyes. During lunch, Ryoma and Sakura did most of the talking (ribbing), a mix between Japanese and English.
"Do you still play the violin?"
"For the school orchestra."
*Why? You always sound like you're torturing a cat.*
*Because students who play for over 4 years tend to score at least 50 points higher on the SAT's, besides, between school, track practice and practicing with spoiled brats like you, I don't have that much time to practice the violin*
"It shows."
"Watch it, Shorty." She smirked, "I've known you for your entire life Ryoma; I could make things uncomfortable for you."
"So could I."
"Yeah, but I don't live here, you do." And with that, Sakura rose to collect everyone's plates and left the room. After she left, Tezuka looked over to the two younger individuals. He saw Ryoma with a very faint smirk and he noticed the white seal plush was missing from plain view.
"What are you planning?"
Ryoma's smirk got a little wider, "Mada, mada dane."
Sakura reentered the room, and picked up Karupin to pet him. As she looked around her room, her lips formed a small frown, "Sakuno, where's Sealy?"
Sakuno became red and Ryoma's amber eyes went innocent. Sakura narrowed her eyes noticing Ryoma's expression; her eyes never leaving his when she started to talk again, "Sakuno, where is Sealy?" Her voice was cautious and had a slight tone of steel. Sakuno looked like she wanted to die, but it was Ryoma who answered.
"Well, you see Karupin took a liking to it . . ."
"And . . ."
"And, well, Sakuno tried to keep it away from Karupin, because Karupin has a habit of shredding the toys he likes. So she tossed the toy to me to get Karupin from tearing Sealy apart."
"Okay . . ."
"So Karupin started to claw me for it; I tossed it back to Sakuno, but he leaped after it, and there was a slight struggle, and . . ."
Sakura's eyes became a bit colder, "and what?"
"And Sealy flew out the window."
"WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?" (Forgive her for not thinking straight, but she had a long night and not enough sleep. Otherwise, she'd probably would not bought the story.)
Sakuno felt like ducking underneath the covers. She had never seen her cousin's face so flushed with anger before; Sakuno flashed a worried look at Ryoma. He hadn't flinched when Sakura blew up, he only kept his innocent expression, and it was obvious he had experienced Sakura's temper before. "It was an accident Sakura, we didn't mean for it to happen. Besides it was only a toy." Ryoma stated calmly. Sakuno wondered if the tennis player had death wish.
"Only a toy?" Sakura hissed, "He was my FAVORITE!"
"Why?"
She responded in fury not really thinking about the words coming out of her mouth, "Because Kuni-kun and Syu-kun gave it –" Her eyes widened when she noticed that Ryoma was smirking at her; realization dawned inside of her mind, and she started to laugh. "Sealy never went out the window; you hid him somewhere in this room. I guess you are your mother's child as well." (Mother's a lawyer, implies she's sneaky too when she has to be.)
Ryoma's smirk remained on his face; he had gotten better information than he had expected, "Kuni-kun? That wouldn't happen to be you, would it Tezuka-buchou?"
Tezuka's face turned slightly whiter when Ryoma called him by his nickname, but his stoic expression hadn't changed as he sipped his tea. "Oishi and I did give Sakura the toy years ago," he admitted.
At this point Sakuno's curiosity had gotten the better of her. "Why?" She asked softly.
Sakura sat down now, and looked at Tezuka first. He had tilted his head a bit and closed his eyes, allowing Sakura to know that he didn't mind letting the two younger others privy to events six years ago.
"I won a tennis match against them six years ago."
Jadeling's Notes: Hee, hee, want to know what happens next? Happy Lunar New Year!!! It's the year of the monkey, my boyfriend's year! Yea!!!
H0shiko: Stay tuned for the next chapter to find out why Sakura gave Ryoma Karupin. I'm glad you got some laughs. Still want to kill me right? ^_~
Hitori: I wish I had pictures of Sakura; I'm not really that good at drawing. However, if anyone is volunteering, review and let me know! I happy that you found Ryoma's and Sakura's ribbing fun. I had fun writing it.
Rebecca: Yea! New revewier! As I said in the last chapter, reviews keep this fic alive, so if you want me to finish writing have your friends read and review. I take it that my fic brought you A LOT of laughs, yea! I can write a humor, wasn't sure that I could.
Valfare: Isn't Karupin cute? Thanks for the encouragement. To all of you out there, valfare wrote try this, another cute Ryoma x Sakuno ficy that I'm sure most of you guys would like to read.
Yipee! Two new reviewers, keep it up, remember reviews keep me motivated, that includes old reviewers as well!