AN: Hey! I'm back now and I hope you all haven't deserted me. Thanks for the love and support, though I wish I had more time to write. I've been so busy watching PoT that I forget to write too. Hehe. Well, I'm just beginning the fifth season so I'm way behind, but it's ok. I'll catch up eventually.
Disclaimer: All rights reserved.
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Part 5
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XxxxX
Sakuno let herself forget, just for now, and worry about it later. She wanted a day without the thoughts of 'what if' entering her mind. Whatever he would give: affection, gentle remarks, his boyish smirk; it would all be laid aside when the day was done. She would keep such treasured memories to herself, if this day had brought only a moment of magic to her and Ryoma. If this was the only chance she had with her crush, then she would take it and move on. She would dwell no longer on him if he rejected her after this day.
Fingers lacing and a match beginning, Sakuno shut out the rest of the world in that moment...
Especially Tomo-chan and Momo-chan-senpai, who would both have very interesting stories to tell the their nosey senpai.
XxxxX
"WHAT?" came the startled and shocked screams of many high school men, causing everyone to glance their way. Of course, the girls were then distracted by how attractive the men were that they forgot why they looked over at them in the first place. The seven wide-eyed teens stood before Momo and Tomoka, who had just ran over to deliver the news.
In a line, the bishounen stood, and profiles were looked over. A red-haired male, somewhat shorter than the others and small in stature, stood on one end. A man, just a little bit taller with a bowl-cut hairstyle, stood next to him. Another young man with a bandana perched on his head was also within the group. Beside him, a man with glasses and his infamous notebook in hand, already to begin writing down what he had just heard and any other information he found useful. On his side was a shy-looking male with very short brown hair, who was still wide-eyed at the news. Next to him was a boy with longer hair and a much smaller frame, but had the sweetest smile and his eyes shut. The last one was a male with brown hair falling in spikes around his face, with a pair of glasses that severed the sight of his stunning gold eyes.
Many had stopped just to have a look at these men, but none had any idea of what was going through their heads. In fact, most of them didn't even know who they were, even though they were once Seigaku's prized team about two years ago. However, knowing who they were wasn't important, at this moment. These youths were stunned by the news they had received, which was more than enough to make a few jaws drop.
Ryoma Echizen, their Ochibi and the Prince of Tennis, seemed to be dating Ryuuzaki Sakuno, their former sensei's granddaughter.
"Hoi... How could Ochibi hide such a thing from us? I mean, we were so close," Eiji said with a frown, obviously disappointed. He and Momo had spent many times looking over the freshmen when they were in junior high, but now he didn't even get the memo from his kouhai.
"Hmmm... Well, the having-a-girlfriend thing doesn't sound like Echizen, but the hiding it part... That's exactly what he would do," Oishi said with a smile, very good-natured about the whole thing. He was, after all, the worrier of the group but he was careful of Echizen. He knew that the young man didn't like being watched over, though his senpai-tachi did so anyway.
"Saa... Looks like our kouhai are much older than when we left them, neh?" Fuji Syuusuke said, amused by the situation. Of course their rookie would have to grow up eventually. However, it seemed as if everyone expected Echizen to wait a little longer, so they could amuse themselves in high school.
More chatter ensued, though it was hushed. Mumblings of data as well as some concern passed through their conversations. Although they were not ones to gossip too much, it was known that these players always cared for their own, and Ochibi was their most valuable player. Whatever effected him effected everything around him, which meant his tennis and his teammates. However, they weren't going to sacrifice their chemistry unless it helped him, or at least doesn't cause him to waver in his matches.
"I suppose the game will decide whether or not he's changed," Inui said, closing his notebook with a slight pat against the pages. He gathered them as they began their journey to their court. Eiji and Momo were still very bent on talking about it, though Oishi had asked them to stop. It was rude to talk behind you're friend's back, after all. Only when Kaidoh's voice chimed in did their conversation end, and an argument ensued.
Xx Court xX
As the high schoolers approached the court, they weren't surprised by the female crowd. Echizen Ryoma had many admirers and, since the senpai had all left, most of them had become his undivided followers. It was as if a cult-like adoration had overcome them and were now loyal supporters. He could easily command them too, though the prince was too afraid to look them in the eye. Fangirls were mysterious things. Some may be shy and calm, which was fine with him. Others, though, were loud and obviously wanted attention, which he left to someone else to give them. It wasn't his problem.
Taking a brief glance at the scoreboard, the proud smiles they had always had for their kiddo were now on their faces. The game was an easy 5-0 score, and it was his service play. Since the day that Ryoma had become the Pillar of Seigaku, he had refused to lose a match and burned with the passion that had been passed to him by Tezuka. In the end, no one was prouder of him than the teenaged boy with thin-rimmed glasses.
His infamous twist serve was seen and quickly returned when the opponent read the shot, knowing it after Ryoma's other two service games. However, he gave it a quick forehand and the ball was out of the opponent's reach in seconds. The skill he was known for had not left him and had seemed to grow with even the tiniest experience. That was what tennis did to a person, once they found what they truly wanted from it.
The game ended in record time, while Ryoma merely waved off the cheers of the crowd. Taking his opponents hand, he smirked slightly when their eyes met. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. He was playing lightly and it was a nice little stretch. He hated remaining inactive, which made him wish for the old days with his first team. Then he thought of Inui's concoctions entered his mind and he quietly said a prayer that he had another year to remain sane.
He was engulfed by the arms of his teammates, both from the past and present. The continuous glomping of Eiji-senpai and Momo-senpai was a memory that was bittersweet. Sweet because he never really felt it as much before and he missed his senpai-tachi's presence. Bitter because now he understood why he hated being in that death hold.
Like right now, for example.
The squeezing of his ribs and the sound of his bones cracking were now in his ears. It was uncomfortable but very familiar embrace, one that he desperately wanted out of. His senpai never seemed to be able to take hints because his lack of movement should have been easy enough to read Then again, they were always a little slow on the update when it came to others' wellbeing.
He was released for the "hug", which was a nice way to put it, and was soon pulled into the crowd. Excitement from his teammates and the know-it-all voices of his coach and senpai-tachi reached his ears. He was even able to hear his fans screaming and jumping because of the match, knowing that they would be at the next one too. He saw everyone but...
"Ryoma," came the quiet voice and it brought a smile to his lips.
The bowed head of a teenaged girl was what he noted. She seemed to find his shoes fascinating, which was strange since she had found his eyes quite captivating once before. He couldn't just let her slip back into the passive mode again, could he? He smirked, knowing she'd probably glare at him after he did this.
Taking his left hand from his pocket, and quite wary of the many spectators, he pulled the downward chin to face him. The blush he knew from many years ago was now on her face again, along with the angry pout that he had gotten to know pretty well in the last few days. Her eyes narrowed with her embarassment mounting, which only further amused him. For some strange reason, knowing he held all the cards made him very cocky. Then again, it's not so strange when you know it's Echizen Ryoma.
"Now now, Sakuno," he said, knowing he was pushing his luck with her and her growing horror, "You should always look at the people you're talking to. It's rude not to."
Her blush deepened, giving Ryoma that twisted satisfaction again. He remained very aware of the dropping jaws, wide eyes, and even the few girls he knew that fainted in sickened shock. However, he was very sensitive to Eiji and Momo's laughter, a few knowing smirks, and the constant writing of Inui's pen in his notebook, along with the mumblings of percentages.
Ignoring them for the time being, he removed his hand from her chin and patted her head affectionately, ruffling her hair on purpose. She huffed, as he walked passed her, and she held her tongue to keep her from spatting hurtful words. Self-control was something she was learning to master, but he always did this. He gave her the need to do something, to go out on a limb and do something stupid. However, she was going to wait till it was just him before she yelled in his face. After all, she had to remain composed. It was her promise after all.
She followed him, feeling a hand grab hers and drag her unceremoniously after him. She saw the many faces of Ryoma's everpresent entourage. Sakuno could clearly see the stunned faces of his teammates, the paled angry and upset faces of his fans, and the winks of their senpai-tachi as she was pulled after him. Silently, she cursed him in her head.
'Damn you, Ryoma.'
Xx Changing Room xX
Sakuno waited patiently, tapping her foot idly against the ground. Her arms had crossed over her chest and she sighed. How long did it take him to change? Although it had only been a few minutes, she was fidgety after that very open display of affection. He constantly surprised her, and now was one of those times. His timing was always perfect, and it was just a tiny bit irritating.
The creaking of the door opening and closing made her turn. Ryoma stood in his uniform, the black suit complimenting him well, as it always had. His bag was swung over his shoulder and he watched her with the same nonchalant eyes he had always given her. However, she was not going to let him off so easily.
"Why did you do that?" she asked, approaching him with a stomping walk, her eyes narrowing in accusation. He raised a brow questioningly, innocently even, as if he was the most honest man in the world. He was a deceiving young male and she didn't like it. Whenever he was involved, something bad was definitely going to happen.
"What?" he asked, shrugging his shoulders and blinking very slowly. He played dumb because her face, when it was on the brink of anger, was adorable and it always set her eyes ablaze. Ryoma had seen the fire she had, once she began something and planned to finish it.
"You know!" she said accusingly with a frown, "What you did in front of everyone! How could you? Now I'm going to be on every teenaged girl's 'Hit List' and it's all your fault!"
Her face had approached his and was now close enough to touch his nose to hers. Her eyes narrowed, hands fisting at her sides. He always did this! Ignoring the subject at hand and making it fit him. Sakuno, unfortunately, didn't notice the flash of a very primal instinct flash across Ryoma's eyes briefly. If she had then maybe she would have backed away.
But she hadn't, and it was her fault for not paying attention.
Before she knew it, her back was pressed against the door of the changing room. Ryoma's right arm was pressed against the door, while his other was jammed into his pocket. He kept the distance between them, which was too close now that their positions were switched. She was trapped with him against her, and the narrow eyes she had once were now wide. Her mouth dropped lightly, tasting the breath of the Prince on her own.
Alarms in her head went off. 'Too close, Too close!' her mind screamed, but she had nowhere to go. He kept her pinned to the wall, and his half-lidded eyes told her that he was not thinking of moving. Also, there was nothing to distract him from her at that moment.
Her head went blank when Ryoma's lips touched hers and she lost herself again. It was a light touch, a chaste kiss, but it still sent her knees seeking the floor and her head dizzy from the sweet taste. But, as soon as they touched, he backed away, keeping his lips still against hers slightly. She could feel his curse against her lips as he backed away slowly. Sakuno opened her eyes and saw that Ryoma still had his closed, his mouth in a firm frown.
"You can come out now," he said, and pushed himself off the door. Sakuno turned her head to see past Ryoma and to their half-guilty but half-amused senpai-tachi. If she even began describing their faces at that moment, then she knew it would take her even more time to recover from the smiles and playful eyes. Her blush returned as Eiji and Momo occupied themselves with their Ochibi-chan.
"Way to go, Ochibi!" Eiji said, ruffling the hair on his head.
"We didn't even know you had it in you!" Momo said with a laugh, winking at Sakuno. Her blush grew as she followed Ryoma. She listened to the many taunts and jokes tossed at her and the captain of Seigaku's Junior High School. His hand enclasped hers, as she noticed his eyes close with frustration. The twitching of his brow hinted annoyance and she smiled. With every relatioship, I suppose you could call it, came with it's thorns.
It's just that this one came with eight other people.
But, no matter the circumstances, she would hold onto this feeling and this Prince as long as he'd allow. She'd stay by his side for eternity if he wanted to. Of course, it all depended on Ryoma and if he felt anything she was feeling. It all depended on if she could keep his attention, despite the fact that he didn't really care for anything long unless it held him there.
How long she'd stay, though, was anyone's guess.
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AN: I'm sorry for the late update! School's been hectic and I have STAR testing. It sucks so please review and help me feel better. Thanks in advanced!
Well, till next time!
Much love,
Adobo-chan
