PoT Ryosaku

Different Paths

By: angelhazel

Disclaimer: I am telling you I don't :) won't you believe me?

When Sakuno returned to her homeroom, she saw many worried faces studying her. She had come back to class on autopilot, didn't even think of making a detour to the washroom to check for damages. She stood there at the doorway, hesitant to enter in her disheveled state yet unwilling to go to the washroom on her own.

Seeing her uncertainty, Ami came up to her and gently steered her towards the girls' washroom. Grateful for her reading buddy's assistance, Sakuno followed like a docile lamb, albeit looking like a traumatized one.

Her face was pale and tear-stained, her hair was slightly mussed, and her eyes had lost their sparkle. Takuya clenched his fists in silent anger. This was one of those times when he could cheerfully cause bodily harm to a certain tennis player. What wouldn't he give to find out precisely what Echizen did to Sakuno.

While in the girls' washroom, Ami spoke only once to Sakuno, but her words were like a light in the dark to her lost spirit. As she finger-combed Sakuno's hair, she said, "Saku-chan, you looked so much better just a few days ago, do try to keep that up, ne?"

Sakuno looked into the mirror, to find an unfamiliar face staring back at her. It was obvious she had cried, and thankfully it was much less obvious that she had been kissed. She did look a mess, and she was going to make sure she never looked like this again. As those thoughts ran through her mind, she gave her friend a soft smile.

"I had to wear this look just one last time so you can be amazed at the difference that is going to take place!" It was amazing that she could joke at a time like this, but it was true, seeing the girl in the mirror served to remind her precisely why she should change.

When Sakuno was escorted back to class, she was all cleaned up and seemed a lot calmer. Afternoon classes started and Takuya didn't get a chance to talk to Sakuno until the end of the day. Sakuno still looked so pale, Takuya couldn't bring himself to question her as the two of them walked away from school. When they parted ways at a junction, she to head for home and he to train at his Dojo, Takuya still knew nothing about the meeting with Echizen. He made up his mind to drop by tennis practice the next morning and get his own opinion of the tennis player.

Takuya hoped the other boy was in worse shape than Sakuno, otherwise he might be tempted to even up the score a little.

Tuesday morning, Takuya came into class earlier than usual, and then disappeared as soon as he had greeted his classmates and deposited his schoolbag. No one saw him again until lessons were about to start, and everyone was too busy worrying and asking after Sakuno to think much of his unusual absence that morning.

Later, Takuya stepped into class, his face masked in thoughts. He had just come from the tennis courts, where he had observed the tennis club at morning practice. Identifying the tennis player proved to be the simplest step in his self-appointed task, since the first thing he heard as he approached the courts was a senior club member calling out a greeting to Echizen. All Takuya had to do after that was to observe who responded to the call, and keep on observing through the morning.

He had learned a few important facts by the time they were done. Firstly, Echizen was a fantastic tennis player and was the Buchou for the tennis club. Secondly, Echizen was in worse shape than Sakuno. The tennis player looked like he hadn't slept well for a long time and he had a temper to match it.

It was Takuya's good fortune to have a first year club member inching up to him during practice. The younger boy had hurriedly spoken out of the side of his mouth while he continued practicing his swings, "Senpai! Pardon me, but since you are dating Ryuuzaki-senpai, I think I should warn you. Don't let our Buchou find out, or you will get into a lot of trouble. Don't tell anyone that I told you!" He then quickly sidled back into line with the other first years before any of his club senpais found him talking to strangers during practice.

Such a wealth of information, Takuya mused, him dating Saku-chan? Well, he was. He had a standing date with her everyday at lunch. With Sakuno and the rest of Class 3-3. But he did insist on walking Sakuno at least part of the way home for a few days last week. To be precise, on the days she didn't go to Echizen at the tennis courts. Takuya had seen and heard enough; it was time to make plans.

Upon entering the class, he noted that Sakuno had seemingly recovered from her experience yesterday. He was pleased that she was taking it better than the tennis player was. It just might turn out that their Saku-chan was the stronger of the two, Takuya felt proud of her.

The Class 3-3 committee was planning an outing to the amusement park for the coming Saturday. It was rather short notice, but nobody truly minded. The class had gone on enough outings that the planning stage was rather routine and easily dealt with. As usual, everyone was welcome to bring another friend or a sibling on that day.

There was a time to study and there was a time to play, Takuya often told the class. Then he would quote in English that "All work and no play makes 3-3 a dull class" which always amused his classmates.

Sakuno looked forward to the event, hopping on some of the more scary rides might take her mind off her current problems. She was determined to try a few rides that she had never dared go on before, although perhaps she should ask someone to accompany her on the first try since she really wasn't all that brave after all. Some of her classmates, like Riina-chan and Bouta-kun, really enjoyed the scarier attractions. Sakuno could stick close to them come Saturday. Even if nothing else came of it, she could enjoy a few non-Ryoma-infested hours.

Saturday morning found a big group of high school students gathering outside the amusement park. Most of the class had arrived, Sakuno included, and amazingly they were waiting for their chairperson, who always went places early rather than merely on time.

Right on the dot at nine, Takuya came striding round the street corner, tailed by another boy. Smiling widely, Takuya introduced Echizen Ryoma to his classmates, pretending not to notice the uncomfortable glances everyone was giving Sakuno. Sakuno, bless her heart, was quickly coming to terms with their unexpected companion and didn't start screaming or crying to go home.

Sakuno had already decided to stick to Riina for the day, and the way she saw it, as long as she avoided direct contact with Ryoma, the outing could still turn out to be enjoyable. And anyway, it would never occur to her to protest Ryoma's presence, Takuya was entitled to bring a friend and by tacit agreement, 3-3 students were to welcome all invited parties courteously. Call it a favor to one of their own, but some day they would be grateful for the practice when they themselves bring an outsider on a class outing.

As the class split up into smaller groups to explore the park, Takuya spoilt Sakuno's noble plans when he decided to join her and Riina, which meant that Ryoma was tagging along too. Sighing inwardly, Sakuno gave Takuya an assessing look before hooking arms with Riina and heading for the roller coaster rides. Takuya had the grace to look caught under her avid gaze and that reaction confirmed what Sakuno suspected. Her chairperson was purposely putting Ryoma in her path.

-Flashback- (yay! Always wanted to do something like this, like in a real anime!)

Friday after school, Ryoma headed down to the courts for the afternoon's training. As he approached the clubroom, he saw a tall, raven-haired boy leaning beside the door. Thinking that he was a friend to one of the club members, Ryoma ignored the boy as he moved to unlock the clubroom door.

The stranger spoke up, "Are you free tomorrow?"

Ryoma looked up, suspicion clouding his brows, "Nani? Who're you?"

The other boy gave him a deceptively friendly smile, "Kuraniwa Takuya, Class 3-3. My classmates and I have an outing tomorrow morning, at the amusement park. I would like to see you there."

"Che. What has your class outing got to do with me? I am not from the same class." Ryoma was on the point of dismissing Takuya.

"You have upset Saku-chan for the last time, Echizen-san. As a courtesy, I am giving you an opportunity to wrap things up with her on Saturday. I prefer her not to have any unfinished business with you when I ask her to be with me." Takuya had turned serious and solemnly delivered his proposition.

Ryoma's hand froze on the doorknob. He glanced sideways at Takuya, quickly assessing this new self-acclaimed rival. Takuya didn't look like he was playing a prank; the dark violet eyes looking straight at him were honest and absolutely serious.

Ryoma was good at coping with new and unexpected situations, his tried-and-tested method was to face the problem head-on and work his way out from there. His reply was brief and to the point, "I'll be there." In another second, he had opened the door and was gone.

Takuya gave a satisfied smile and softly told the afternoon breeze, "That's exactly what I wanted to hear, Echizen-san."

Two roller coaster rides and other assorted games later, Sakuno was fed up with the silent but glowering Ryoma. His moods still affected her and she had found herself unable to enjoy herself. Goodness, she was trying so hard to ignore him that she forgot to be afraid when she was on the heart-stopping rides! Riina inadvertently made her realize this by commenting on her 'stoicism'.

Ryoma was hardly enjoying himself either. He divided his time frowning at Sakuno's back and scowling at Takuya. How did he get himself into this? Social outings weren't his best suit, and to make matters worse, the people around him were mostly total strangers. The only person he knew was the girl he loved to distraction and who was by all appearances determined to ignore him for the entire day. Ryoma was completely at sea as to how best to approach her after that meeting at the courts.

If Takuya meant for him to 'wrap things up' with Sakuno, he was just going to wait till the cows came home. And in the meantime Ryoma could just figuratively tear his hair out while he tried to find a way to lure one particular cow back to his side. The look on his face perfectly reflected his amount of success down that lane.

The four of them were taking a break at the drinks stand. Sakuno cautiously sipped at her drink while she thought hard. She could let this continue and spoil the day for everybody, or she could call a truce with Ryoma and hopefully be able to enjoy herself for the rest of the day. She didn't want to have to face Ryoma again for the rest of her life, but here he was. She didn't want to talk to him ever again, but the interests of her friends came before her own. Having reached a conclusion in her thoughts, she mustered up a small smile and turned to Ryoma, addressing him for the first time since their meeting on Monday.

"You are welcome to join our class outing as Takuya-kun's guest. Let's just have fun today, ne?" In short, stop being grumpy! "Eto, if you boys will excuse me for a while, I have to go to the ladies' room. Rii-chan?" Her friend gave a quick nod and excused herself as well. Sakuno gave Ryoma another reluctant smile and spun on her heels; eager to get away from the boy she had loved for 5 years.

The way she put it made it sound like he was here on Takuya's generosity, which Ryoma refused to acknowledge, and that despite her words, she really didn't want him there, which Ryoma reluctantly accepted as the truth. He watched her retreating back until she slipped round the corner of the next building.

Takuya watched Ryoma frown after the girls. "She'll be back soon, you better start thinking what to say to her when she returns. How do you expect to clear things up if you don't talk to her at all?"

She didn't even want to see him.He wouldn't put it past her to purposely get herself lost so she wouldn't have to seehim again, Ryoma thought ruefully. "She has changed, she is somehow different," he voiced out his concern, his countenance a mixture of disbelief and frustration. Takuya simply looked at him then glanced away and left him to his thoughts.

The girls were gone for less than ten minutes according to his watch, but it felt like days to Ryoma. He was worried that Sakuno had truly lost her way; she really wasn't very well oriented in new places. He was itching to go after her, but she was in the ladies, what could he do when he got there? He paced restlessly until Takuya stopped him with a firm hand. "Let's go, we can meet them half way," Takuya tried to hide his amusement.

Ryoma didn't need to be told a second time. He quickly headed in the direction Sakuno and her friend had gone, Takuya followed behind at a more leisurely pace.

As the boys turn the corner at the next building, they found a veritably dangerous situation: Sakuno and Riina were being cornered by gangsters!

The girls were on their way back from the secluded washrooms when a group of 3 gangsters waylaid them. The men looked to be in their late twenties, and were all dangling cigarettes from their mouths. One of them blew a puff of smoke into Sakuno's face, making her cough when the smoke irritated her lungs. The men advanced on the girls until they had them backed up against the wall.

The one in the center was apparently the leader and he started off by greeting the 'young ladies' then strongly suggested that the girls hand over their purses. They were in a quiet stretch of the park, and rescue was not imminent. Sakuno and Riina held them off for a while but had to surrender their valuables when the leader started to brandish a shiny knife. Yet, after the girls shakily handed over their money, the men refused to let them go. The leader was quite taken with Sakuno and wanted her to spend the day with him. His 2 followers quickly claimed the company of Riina.

Riina was holding up considerably well, Sakuno thought, however, her delicate musician friend wouldn't be able to fend off the gangsters should things get ugly. For herself, at least she had been playing sports since junior high and she had picked up self-defense classes since that time Tachibana Ann had to protect her from an unreasonable senpai. Ann-chan was also female and hardly older than Sakuno. Rather than troubling other girls to take care of her, Sakuno decided that she should be able to defend herself, hence the self-defense classes.

Sakuno was keeping Riina behind her as she faced off the men as well as she could. "Onegai, please let us pass, our friends are waiting for us," she tried to deter the thugs by mentioning that the girls weren't alone.

The gangsters were insisting that the girls keep them company when Sakuno spotted Takuya and Ryoma coming up from behind them. Well, if there were boys around to rescue the damsels-in-distress, she wouldn't have to worry at all. Takuya wasn't a called a Judoka for nothing, after all. Sakuno frowned a little when she recalled that Ryoma wasn't trained in martial arts, she hoped he wouldn't get himself hurt in the upcoming scuffle.

Sakuno carefully exchanged a look with Takuya without alerting the men of his presence and saw him indicate her and the man holding the knife. She gave a small nod to tell him she understood, she would have to make sure no one got hurt by that sharp weapon. At his next signal, Sakuno moved to distract the leader and give Takuya a chance to take the two followers down. She grabbed the knife wielding hand and swung it down and out with her body weight then spun the leader flat onto his face. Quickly discarding the knife just as she was taught in her classes, Sakuno called out to Takuya, "Disarmed!" while she maintained a painful lock on the gangster's wrist. The adrenaline pumping in her ears drowned out the screams of agony from the trapped gangster, which was just as well since Sakuno didn't like knowing she caused pain to another.

As soon as he gave Sakuno the signal, Takuya quickly pulled the two followers backwards and tripped them on each other. He demonstrated to Ryoma a simple arm lock on the gangsters, and soon he and Ryoma were holding down one man each. Takuya asked Riina to fetch security while the three of them pinned down the gangsters. Riina ran off, promising to be back as soon as possible.

The three men on the ground struggled and made noise for some time but were unable to escape from the painful holds. They soon became subdued; seemingly resign to their fate.

Sakuno was getting tired standing up, so she swiftly changed grip and ended up kneeling beside the fallen gangster with his arm twisted and trapped under her knees. The position also allowed her to face her friends. "Takuya-kun, thank you for coming by so quickly."

"You are welcome, but it wasn't my original purpose to come rescue you and Rii-chan," Takuya gave an apologetic smile. He nodded towards Ryoma, "Your friend here was worried about you. He was making me dizzy with his pacing so I suggested the walk before he made a trench in the ground."

Ryoma quickly looked away at Takuya's explanation, but not before Sakuno caught the slight blush on his cheeks. She smiled appreciatively and said to him, "Arigatou, Ryoma-kun."

"Iie. It was nothing," Ryoma muttered uncomfortably. The gangster he was holding on the ground chose that moment to struggle, giving Ryoma the perfect excuse to keep busy and avoid Sakuno's gaze.

Riina soon came running back with several security officers and a few classmates on her heels. The gangsters were carted off to the police station, together with the girls' purses, which would be returned after charges were pressed. Takuya decided the girls have had enough excitement for the day and notified his committee members that his little group of four was leaving early.

News of the robbery had reached the rest of the class, and on their way out of the amusement park, they were stopped a few times by concerned friends. Takuya had to reassure everyone that all four of them were all right, that he just wanted to bring the girls home after that little adventure.

At the entrance to the park, he turned to Ryoma and said; "I will see Rii-chan home, if you will help me take care of Saku-chan?" At Ryoma's brisk nod, Takuya and Riina said their goodbyes and headed for the train station.

A/N: Eto, what Sakuno did was something I found at an Aikido website, dakara, I didn't make it up myself , heehee ...