Disclaimer: I so very much wish I did, but I don't.

A/N: This will be the last update for a while. You are going to find it kinda rushed, well, because I was kinda rushing –grin- lemme know what you think of the (sorta) ending.

Chapter 21

It was a beautiful Friday morning.

Sakuno was planning what to say to Ryoma later in the afternoon as she strolled to school. She had already thought of a politely worded "Mind-your-own-business" speech to Fuji while she ate her breakfast and watched as her lunch was packed into two neat bento boxes. Now she was trying to make up her mind how best to approach Ryoma and make him talk about his problems.

She was still thinking as she shared the bentos with Tomoka, Horio and Ryoma at their usual spot, a sheltered table-and-bench set up on the rooftop, overlooking the tennis courts.

She was still thinking as she watched him win a series of matches against the second year tennis club members. Senpai-tachi were gathered to observe him as well, occasionally commenting on how his skills had improved. Fuji was with them the whole time, and only came up to her at the end of the practice session. She had to delay her speech to him then, since Ryoma was already getting ready to leave.

They were walking away from the courts when Sengoku appeared again. The orange haired youth popped by fairly regularly to disturb their Regular players, on the pretext of checking out his opponents. Sakuno was already used to chatting with him every time they met. Sengoku was really very friendly and kind, even if he sometimes had this creepy smile on his handsome face.

Sengoku flashed Sakuno a brilliant smile and asked after her, basically ignoring Ryoma who had to wait while they talked.

Sakuno spent the next 5 mins chatting with the "enemy" while Ryoma seethed.

She had been constantly surrounded by the dratted Miscellaneous Male Students (MMS) since morning. And he didn't get to talk to her privately during lunch, what with Horio and his girlfriend there as well.

Then it was tennis practice, and he enjoyed the break from thinking about her and the MMS. However, his pleasant mood was disrupted almost as soon as he left the courts, at the appearance of Sengoku.

Ryoma wondered how the rival school tennis player could walk in and out of his school at leisure. He was obviously dressed in some other school's uniform, but no one stopped him coming into Seigaku. Did no one other than him notice that Sengoku was a trespasser?

And Sengoku just had to talk to Sakuno, while Sakuno had to entertain him. Ryoma was extremely displeased.

When they finally got away from the Lucky Tennis player, Ryoma spent most of the trip fuming and ignoring Sakuno. All the MMS were coming back to haunt him, giving him an inexplicable burning sensation all over his body.

She stopped trying after the third time. Ryoma seemed to be angry at something and wasn't answering even the most innocent of questions. Which was strange, since he had just won quite a few matches during practice. Sakuno didn't feel this hot heat coming from him during lunch either, at least she didn't think so; she was really distracted thinking of how to talk to Ryoma.

Ryoma was walking faster today instead of matching his pace to hers, making her rather tired trying to catch up.

Mou, what was wrong with him? Sakuno firmly believed that burdens shared were burdens halved; she was hoping Ryoma could understand that, too.

They walked in silence while Sakuno tried to figure out how to get him into the house for her questioning. Much too soon, they were standing at her doorstep. When she saw that Ryoma was about to stalk away, she quickly caught his elbow to make him stay.

"If it's alright, can you come in for a while?"

"What for?" was the snapped reply, as he shrugged off her hand.

"I think we need to talk. You look like you have been troubled by something for a long time. I want to help. Tell me what I can do." Sakuno sent him a beseeching look.

Oh, that. Exactly what he wanted to talk to her about, only he had forgotten while he was fuming. He turned back, feeling the fire of righteousness burning in his veins.

"Plenty of things you can do; you can stay away from our classmates, you can stop entertaining Sengoku every time, you can stop chatting to guys in the corridors, and while you are at it, you can also stop talking to Fuji-senpai!" He paused to breathe, glaring at her fiercely.

Sakuno was confused; where did that tirade come from? Ryoma was angry because of what? It made no sense to her that he would be angry because she was talking to their classmates.

"You want me to stay away from our classmates? But, Ryoma-kun ……" Sakuno looked put on the spot.

A sudden thought struck Ryoma; maybe she enjoyed talking to all the MMS. Maybe she liked having them surround her. The idea was ludicrous, but why else would she look so reluctant? Ryoma's heart chilled. The heat left his body in a rush. Somewhat deflated, he said in a much lower voice," You like them? All of them? But that's ……" He searched for a word but couldn't think of any.

He raised desolate eyes to hers and whispered," I didn't know you had such loose morals…"

Sakuno's mind was busy processing the unexpected outburst from Ryoma when she caught as unfavorable term. She froze, mind and body.

Did he say "loose morals"? Who, me?

Various emotions assailed her all in the space of one second. Confusion. Exasperation. Shock. Uncertainty. Bewilderment. Grievance. Affront. Resentment. Dejection. Sorrow.

Angry tears spewed. She took a step forward and slapped him tight across his cheek, holding herself rigidly for a scant moment before fleeing into her house. The door opened and shut at her silent command.

However, that little detail escaped Ryoma.

He was in severe shock; he stood dumbly holding his cheek and staring at Sakuno's retreating back. A horrible feeling was creeping into him; it was the kind people got in between unwittingly committing a grievous mistake and getting into really serious trouble. It was akin to enlightenment, but in the opposite vertical direction.

She was crying. Sakuno was crying, before she did that to him.

He shook off the shock and shot forward to pound on her door, anxiously calling her given name. "Sakuno! Sakuno, open up! Sakuno!"

She didn't come to the door, didn't shout for him to go away. The house loomed in forbidding silence, daring him to continue disturbing its inhabitants.

He rested his forehead on the smooth wooden surface as he tried to get a grip on his confused mind. After a while, he resignedly left her house, still feeling lost.