AN: I'm very sorry for my late update. Unfortunately I've been neglecting my writing. I just haven't been feeling the need. I really can't say that I'll stay into writing forever. It happens only if something sparks my interest. We'll see what happens because people seem to enjoy giving me a hard time when I don't update. I can't say I enjoy it so it depends from other fandoms and fans.

That means that this fic will end in this chapter so I won't make anyone else upset (not to mention I have no more plot developments for this fic). It's all been pretty much done. I'll start different projects for this couple and for others. I really need to expand my horizons. Thank you everyone, for your support, and I hope to see you in my next fic.

Disclaimer: All rights reserved.

Part 6: One Day of Many

The celebration for the team's 'Ochibi-chan' was held in the sanctuary better known as Kawamura's Sushi. The regulars of the past met the regulars of the present, which lead to both Ryoma and Tezuka, our two pillars and captains, to damage control. When you have reminiscent regulars, like Kikumaru, Momo, Inui, and a sadistic Fuji Syuusuke, the control could always vary amongst those who had stories to tell and those that wanted it to end. Of course all of these stories were directed at the current Seigaku Junior High buchou, which did not help his reputation... and sanity.

Series of different events passed the mouths of the former regulars. Kikumaru enjoyed grabbing onto the younger boy, who was no longer so chibi, and tell stories of the golden year in their last school, including some embarassing ones with Momo-senpai's help. Inui gave off little pieces of data to help give the stories some real-life evidence. Then there was the combination of Fuji's not-so-sweet comments that gave Ryoma more things to worry about. If any of this dripped to school, then the club would be going through the nine cycles of hell, if he had anything to do with it.

Of course Oishi did his best with his overexcited double's partner, who couldn't seem to be able to stop his mouth even if he tried. Momo was distracted easily enough, with some 'help' from Kaidoh. Inui was being held back by the murderous look that Tezuka gave him, but only a little bit. Unfortunately, there was still no remedy known to man that could stop Fuji. The tensai smiled and took in the stunned faces of his kouhai from his former junior high, whose minds had been littered with their captain's story in a good three hours.

"I can't believe buchou was so... different from now," said a second-year, a chorus of affirmation meeting his voice. However, the glare of golden eyes from their esteemed captain told them that anything they said would be used against them. He was raised in America, where what you said could be used against you in the most vicious way. He had half a mind to give them laps for his senpai-tachi's meddling. Though it wouldn't be fair, it would make him feel better, if that was worth any consellation.

Among the mixing of the social gathering, Sakuno watched with mixed feelings. This was how things were supposed to be, and next year would bring back the golden team's reunion once more. The trials two years ago forced a bond between the regulars of that year and it would only make them stronger once their final player joined. Knowing that tennis would be his main priority was hard, but Sakuno was glad that he chased after his dreams. He supported the weight of Seishun Gakuen's tennis team on his shoulders alone, for his last year, while breeding a new pillar for a new generation. Doing all of this in his short amount of time would make anyone wonder where he got such strength.

And, of course, those who needed to know, did.

She wasn't among them but she looked forward to the day when he would finally take on a new challenge, in combination with a few old ones. Would he even have time for school and family, once he assumed the weight of the new high school club once more? He had done it once, so there was nothing to stop him from doing so again. Of course, there was also the question of where she stood in all of this, if she was even a part of his plans for the future.

But, she reasoned to herself with a frown, that's selfish. Whatever he did for her now didn't mean he would continue in the future. After all, the year was still only in mid-bloom with many new things just waiting to sprout from it. She couldn't help it if her feelings would resurface from time-to-time. And, even if this was just a one chance in a billion, she didn't regret taking it. One memory, just one, was enough to leave her content if he decided to retain his duties as captain as his top priority.

There would be no bitter feelings because she knew that he valued tennis over everthing else. Sakuno was glad to know that she was able to be a priority in his life, even if only for now. However, pondering these feelings were really starting to get to her. Depression was something she was prone to when it came to Ryoma and she wasn't surprised when her legs moved on their own and stood up from her seat. In the ruckus of the room, few saw her leave, namely a silent Tezuka, a smiling Fuji and a quick-to-follow Ryoma.

But the young captain wouldn't forget to assign laps to his team when Monday rolled around.


"Oi, Ryuuzaki," called a familiar voice, which made her stop in surprise. She half-turned to him and saw Ryoma stop a few feet behind her. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, a questioning gaze glazing his features. She had watched him with more than enough times to know what he was asking, but feigning ignorance was what she did instead. He didn't need to know she was fairly aware of what he wanted. That made her seem like a stalker.

"Don't you have a party to be at, Echizen?" she asked, referring to him in a more respectful way. His eyes narrowed at her distanced tone and polite tilt of her head. Where was the girl a few hours ago, who allowed him to hug her with a crowd surrounding them? She was changing again and that irritated him. She just kept turning into a different person around him. It was starting to get irritating.

"You just got up and left. Isn't that a bit rude?" he asked, his watchful eyes glaring as she faced him completely.

"It's not me who won the tournament to allow the team to get into the Kantou tournament," she smiled, faking her grin as she made eye contact. She didn't waver, even as he bore down on her with a hint of annoyace sparking his eyes.

"That doesn't mean you can just leave."

"I'll apologize next time. Don't worry so much about me. Now, why don't you go back and enjoy your victory? You're team expects it of you." There she was again, trying to act as if she didn't want him to follow her when all she really desired was to have him around. But even playing saint was going to get her out of this.

"Yadda."

That arrogant smirk resurfaced and she bit back the notion to narrow her eyes. He was really annoying when he wouldn't just shut up and go enjoy himself. What did she have to do to get him off her back? It wasn't as if she didn't want him, it was the fact that wanting him seemed too selfish, even for her. He kept sending mixed signals and it was really starting to get on her nerves.

"Fine then. Do as you want," she replied haughtily, turning on her heel. She heard his footsteps match hers as he walked behind her. However, his pace fell out of step with her own, as he caught up to her and trotted by her side. She watched him with apprehension but said nothing as they walked. He walked alongside her and watched the traffic of the streets and sidewalks. Although both seemed to be at ease, Sakuno had to keep her frustration to herself while Ryoma grinned a bit at her obvious discomfort.

They walked for some time, not really picky about a destination. The highschool girl had expected to go home when she left, but this stray wouldn't leave her alone. Instead, she opted to walk along the busy streets. Time had been lost from the moment as they scurried through crowds, sometimes pushing and shoving. By the time it was dusk, they noticed they had reached a station. Since it was late, she knew she had to get home and he would have to go to his own. Silently, she bought a ticket for herself only to have him follow suit. Her questioning glance pierced him, seeing that he was still following, and he replied with a slight tilt of his head before saying:

"Can't have you getting lost, now can I?"

The arrogance in his voice screamed volumes as she made her way to the train's platfrom, since they had already entered the gate and passed the ticket machine. He followed as she stomped to the awaiting train, him following with a pleased smile. You'd think two years of one-sided devotion would mean that he'd forget one little mistake! He could remember that but not her name when they first met up in school?

'The nerve of that cocky tennis star!' Sakuno thought angrily, glaring at the opposing seat of the train. She had failed to note the emptiness of their compartment, even as Ryoma stood near the doorway. He watched her because she had the most hateful look in her eyes and seemed to be trying to murder the bench opposite of her. He shrugged it off, not really caring since it didn't concern him, or so he thought.

"Why are you doing this?" came Sakuno's abrupt question, which made him glance over at her once more.

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you, all of a sudden, so interested in me? You never even considered me before. Now you act as if you like me. I don't get it."

He shrugged again, as he turned his back to her, before replying, "You left. And I noticed."

"What exactly does that mean?" she asked, staring outside of the window opposite of her, watching as the tunnel went by. "You never seemed to care before. What makes now so different?"

"I couldn't sense you anywhere," he said, pausing briefly to choose his words. "It was strange not seeing you or speaking to you. I'm not a big fan of change unless it's to my advantage."

"You chase me because I stopped chasing you?" she asked, bisbelief lacing her tone. When he said nothing, she took it as affirmation. "That's the most selfish thing I've ever heard... You can't just play with someone's feelings like it's a game. This isn't tennis!"

At the sound of her anger, his eyes narrowed in her crude comparison. Tennis was much more than a game to him, much more than just something he 'played.' He wasn't Fuji-senpai after all, playing games with other people's minds just because they were there or playing tennis just because it was there. He wasn't that time of person, nor was he like his oyaji, who still toyed with him like Karupin with its toy snake.

"I'm not playing anything," he defended, crossing his arms in front of him.

"Then why do this to me, Echizen Ryoma?" she asked, her eyes reflected in the opposite window though slightly transparent. The narrowed, fire-lit eyes showed sparks of shock and anger, all directed at one person. "You could have left me be. You would have gotten over it and I would have too. There's no reason to keep trying to come after me. I don't need it.

"I want you to stop chasing me, so I can stop chasing you. I don't need this. I don't need these feelings, your presence, or your pity. It's not fair that I have to keep pretending to be a great tennis player to get you to notice me. I don't want to keep hoping for a tomorrow that'll never come, where you'll actually be there, waiting for me. I want to stop wishing that you'll finally catch up to me... It's pathetic, I know, but I wanted to believe in those dreams. But I can't because you don't understand emotions, Ryoma. The things you hold dear are few and I know I'm not one of them. So, for once, just listen to me and stop chasing..."

They had come to a stop, one before their own. The train was sliding slowly and they saw that there were a few people in line, waiting to enter their once-private space. But before the doors could open and let the newcomers in, before their conversation shattered completely, Ryoma spoke in a soft voice, "I can't... I've tried, but I can't stop chasing after you. You've really..." A half-hearted laugh. "You've really gotten under my skin..."

Her eyes squeezed shut to keep her emotions at bay..


The walk back to her house was silent, but there was little tension, thankfully. Sakuno was preoccupied with her thoughts and both of their sudden confessions while Ryoma seemed to be content with no noise. It was as if they hadn't just talked about why Ryoma's drive to get Sakuno was so pointless, so utterly unreasonable, without any valid point.

And yet, it seemed to work in Ryoma's favor.

They arrived, but neither moved. Sakuno stood at the steps of her house but opted to turn towards Ryoma. He peered at her from the corner of his eye and followed suit. She stared at him with determination glazed in her eyes, though the glazed look in Ryoma's looked more tired than anything. She glared, annoyed with his lack of response, but sighed instead. She walked up to him, keeping eye contact as she did. She stopped when she was only a few inches from his body and she kept his gaze in hers. Then she went onto the balls of her feet as he was about to stare down to see her face a bit more.

And she kissed him.

She pulled away, taking in his wide eyes and slightly dropped jaw with a smile. The kiss was chaste really, just barely skin against skin. But the fact that she initiated it was the real surprise. She knew she couldnt expect him to be there for her everytime she needed it because that would be selfish. And he couldn't depend on her to remain by his side forever, especially when he was still planning on becoming the best in the world, since that was selfish too.

But, she would be there when he needed her, like when the game ended with another victory. He would be there for her when he could, whether it was a walk home or just a simple hello, it was going to have to be enough. Right now, they were content with the little things because that's all they had to offer each other. Giving themselves completely wasn't something they could do because they still had many other things to do and other obligations that needed to be completed.

They would drift apart and away, they knew, because there wasn't much holding them together. But, even if they couldn't understand that now, there would always be memories to ease that painful loss of youth. They had each other now, even if it wasn't in a deeply romantic or connected way. And yet, at the same time, they were bonded for eternity, despite the disasters that might happen along the way back to each other.

After all, once you were under Echizen Ryoma's skin, it was almost impossible to escape.

The End


AN: It's done! ((prances around the room like an idiot)) I'm happy. Now people can wait for my other fics (old and up-coming)! Yay! I write like a turtle, slow and steady. But that's life and life is only so easy to deal with when people can actually work with me. Oh well. Please review and I'll have the second part of Caught Between Reality and You up in a little bit (I hope).

Well, till next time!

Much love,

Adobo-chan