AN: Minna-san, I'm so sorry for delaying the progress of this fics as this fics are meant for X'mas. Sorry, sorry!! I know that everyone will be quite disappointed especially, Umi-chan. You're the one and only who reviewed my fics...arigatou...!! And as for your request, I'll make it possible in the next chappie...yes sometimes, obstacles will strengthen one's faith in love...as I always believe!! Hee hee...that's what we consider as 'fate' Still my sincere apology to Umi-chan and other readers who's been reading my fics...owari!!
"..." denotes speech
'...' denotes thoughts
'...' denotes phantom's speech
'...' denotes flashbacks
(...) denotes author's note
Pairing: RyoSaku/FujiSaku (Slight)
Warning: Might contain OOC, readers had been warned...
Standard Disclaimer: I've written a note to Santa Clause but till now I still couldn't get the ownership's recognition inside my red sock?! Perhaps Santa-sama preferred something more striking!!
Phantom of Christmas
Recap of Part I:
'Yes, Kaede-san, after hearing your story, I just can't turn you down!! I'll become a bad person, besides, this would be your last chance...and it's so hard for you to meet me...after waited so long...so, lets do it together...'
'Sakuno-chan...thank you...thank you...'
Part II - Meet Masayoshi!! Sakuno's X'mas Date!!
From Home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another. The warmth and joy of Christmas, brings us closer to each other.
-Emily Matthews-
"Sakuno...wake up...Sakuno!!" a lady's voice bellowed with concern.
"Er...em...Kaede-san, please stop disturbing my sleep...let me take more rest..." Sakuno murmured and covered her head with a thick pillow, at the same time, burrowing her body in bed to seek for more warmth.
"What are you talking about...who's Kaede?" she quried with a rather astonished tone.
"Er...who's this?" she lazily took a peek of the lady that was standing in front of her. 'She looks familiar...'
"I'm your grandmother....Ryuzaki Sumirei, Seigaku Tennis Coach..." heaving a sigh, the coach's replied her granddaughter, who's still half way back from wonderland.
"O...O...obaa-chan..."upon registering her grandmother's presence, Sakuno sprank up from bed "Gomen ne...gomen ne...obaa-chan...I was...I was..."
Ryuzaki-sensei regarded her for a moment, her mouth crooked into a faintly quizzical smile "Dreaming?"
Sakuno nodded without speaking and her granny looked at her for a moment in silence.
"Sakuno...everyone's worried about you...and even Tezuka had called me to check on your status... " Sumirei said with another smile on her face "hm...I guess they'll be here at any time. Hora, Sakuno, why don't you get up from bed and get yourself ready, instead of letting your senior seeing you like this..." the coach pointed an index finger towards Sakuno's now semi-exposed chest.
"Yikes!! Obaa-chan..." blushing furiously, Sakuno quickly covered her partly exposed chest with both her hands and walked over the the attached bathroom "I'm...I'm taking my bath right away..."
Not long after Sakuno entered the bathroom, Kaede telephathied Sakuno.
"Kaede-san..." Sakuno let out a soft squeak "Where have you been?"
'Oh...no, Sakuno-chan, I'm all the while here, it's just that I wouldn't dare to interrupt your conversation with your grandmother...'
Sakuno could not believe of what she had encountered. Earlier she had thought that her meeting with Kaede was just a dream, a fantasy that would never happened in reality. Somehow, after attesting the phantom's existence with her own eyes, Sakuno let out a faint chuckle "I never thought I would be so brave, talking to a ghost...I had alway been a coward when it comes to horror movies..."
Comprehending Sakuno's thoughts, Kaede joined her and both of them laughter inwardly.
Hearing that Sakuno had been talking and laughing to herself, the coach massaged her throbbing temples 'Oh...no, perhaps she'll need to stay back for another couple of days for further medical observation!!'
It has been a pleasent morning, with doctors and nurses scrolling around the med building, persuing their daily routines. However the moment of slience wouldn't last long, especially with three typically handsome male teenagers standing in front of the entrance, earning several stares from the opposite sex. The trio, Tezuka, Oishi and Fuji had been waiting for the others to come, before proceeding to visit their coach's granddaughter.
"Ne...look at them...they look adorable, aren't they..." the receptionist commented "especially the guy with specs, who stood at the far near corner, he's so cool, suteki (wonderful)..."
"They are...but don't you think they are too young for us?" her colleague snorted.
"Ooh..don't be such a kill joy and admit to yourself that they're just too hot!!" she retaliated.
"Of course they are!! Ah...How I wish I could be a few years younger?" another bypasser commented.
"Yare, yare (oh boy), perhaps they would go for a second thoughts?" she remarked dreamily.
"Ne...kawai no boya tachi (Hey, cute boys), please look over here!!" another lady called out.
Although the trio could heard the ladies loud and clear, but they decided that it would be the best for them to ignore their conversations. After waiting for quite sometimes, the three of them began to lose their patience.
"Fuji...are you sure that Momo will be here too? He had been keeping us waiting for quite sometimes already..." Oishi asked anxiously when he noticed Tezuka's stern facade slightly changed hue.
Tezuka: 'I'll make sure they'll have to run 20 laps before seeing the Ryuzakis!!' (A/N: Sasugai bucho!!)
"Em...Momo said that he's going to get Echizen to come over as well!!" Fuji replied with his trademark tone "Osakada-san said that Sakuno-chan would be so happy if Echizen could come"
"But...what took them so long?" Oishi sighed "especially, we have to endure with...verbal harrassement" a faint blush could be seen stretching across his face.
"Oishi, Fuji, perhaps we'll just meet up with the Ryuzakis first!! Momo should be able to meet up with us..." Tezuka suggested sternly. Just when the trio were about to enter the hospital, Momoshiro called out from distance to get the seniors attentions.
"Bucho...Oishi-senpai, Fuji-senpai...wait!! Oi, hora, Echizen...why can't you walk a bit faster than usual...the seniors are leaving us behind already!!" Momo cursed.
"Momo-senpai...if you think that I'm being slow, you could always come here by yourself!! Beside, you're the one who intruded my house (paused)... 'luckily my baka oyaji's not at home...otherwise...' and then my bedroom too, disturbing my sleep and without my concern, you dragged me out of my house and bring me here!! And by the way, why the hospital? I thought you would come and challenge me for a eat-all-you-can burger competition!!" Ryoma retorted with his usual tone "Hn...mada mada dane" he ended his retaliation with his trademark libertto.
"Echizen?!" astonished by Ryoma's ignorance, Momoshiro flicked his dark brow swiftly upwards in query "didn't I told you that we're here to visit Sakuno-chan?"
"Ryuzaki??" Upon hearing that, Ryoma's feline eyes stared at Momoshiro for a moment and within less then 30 seconds, he resumed his customary cool facade.
"Zen zen (not at all)..." Ryoma replied nonchalantly "Do you expect me to hear you while I'm still sleeping?"
While walking over to meet up with their seniors, Momoshiro explained to Ryoma about Sakuno's admission.
"De? Then, how's she doing now?" he asked again. Although Echizen might have sounded cold, somehow, Momoshiro could tell that the first year tennis regular is REALLY concern about Sakuno.
"Why don't you go and see by yourself" Momoshiro teased "since you're so worried about her..."
"As much as I hated to admit..." Ryoma said in an unusual soft voice "I really don't get what you mean, perhaps next time you can just get straight to the point" he continued sarcarstically. However, his sarcasm earned no more than a brief grin from Momoshiro.
"I'm already trying to be as straight forward as possible and you are actually denying the fact that you're concern and that you're worry about Sakuno-chan..." Momoshiro prompted "Seishun daro..."
Leaving his senior behind, Ryoma instantly ignored Momoshiro's provocation as he began to pace up to meet with the others who have been waiting for them for quite sometimes. (A/N: Sorry, I almost forgot that the trio are waiting outside the hospital...tee...hee)
'I'm worried about Ryuzaki? Silly him, how could he simply said that? He don't even know me? Did I really looks like I'm concern?' while walking, Ryoma pondered.
"Oi...oi, Echizen...wait..." Momoshiro bellowed and quickly chased after Ryoma.
Just as soon as they approached their other three seniors, they stood fridgeted when the trio shoot them with dead glares.
"Ne...Echizen, what's wrong with our senpais today?? Especially Oishi-senpai..." Momoshiro jerked.
"Heh...beats me...I wanted to know too!!" Echizen replied.
"Let's go!!" Tezuka suggested cooly and take the lead as the five of them enters the hospital. As soon as the Seigaku regulars 'five' entered the hospital's main hall, exciting screams could be heard. (A/N: Err...that's what I call the POT charisma...I guess...)
"Ah....kawai...look there's another two cute boys joining them, ah...ochibi-kun...ah, totemo kawai!!" the receptionist's colleague commented.
"O...Ochibi-kun? Who are you calling Ochibi-kun?" Ryoma frowned and quizzically muttered "kawai??"
"Ne...ne, her and talk to us?" another lady bellowed.
"Ne...ne...Megane-kun...please be my date for X'mas..." another suggested.
"Megane-kun?!" the four of them interrogated in unison. (A/N: Megane means spectacles, it also a way that people addressed someone's who wears specs)
"Hn!!" Tezuka who still sticking up his usual stern facade, had ardently ignored the ladies' harrassment as he walked pass them.
"Echizen, now I understands what caused their mood swing..." Momoshiro muttered "they had gone through all these, while waiting for us...poor senpais..." Echizen could only nodded in agreement
"Mada mada dane..." Ryoma sighed.
"Sakuno? Are you done? What took you so long?" the coach asked impatienly. Sakuno had been inside the bathroom for quite sometimes.
"I'm almost done...obaa-chan..." Sakuno replied as she finished braiding her long and beautiful reddish-brown lock into two pig tails. She then clip the side of her hair with her favorite hairpin. Before exiting, she tucked her baby pink sweater into her thick khaki trouser.
'Kaede-san, how do I look?' Sakuno asked anxiously, thinking that she might not look pleasant.
'Nice and neat...' Kaede nodded and replied with a smile.
'Yosh...then, let's go...' with that Sakuno quickly exit the bathroom to avoid her granny from reprimanding her again. Just when she came out from the bathroom, she could see that most of her belongings were properly packed up.
"Obaa-chan, arigatou..." Sakuno could tell that her grandmother is still very concern about her condition.
"Alright, Sakuno...are you sure you're okay?" Sumirei asked concernly "perhaps you would like to stay back..."
Sakuno, couldn't help but was starlet by her grannys query "Obaa-chan? Of course I'm alright, didn't the doc says so?"
Sumirei let out a sigh "Yes...the doc did said you're free to go home...but, Sakuno...you..."
Their conversation was interrupted when someone knocked on the door. Sumirei went over to answer the door. When she opened up the door, Momoshiro quickly pushed Ryoma into the room.
"Momo-senpai...what's that for..." Echizen fumed.
"Oya? It's not usual to see you here?" Sumirei teased as she invited the rest of her apprentices into the room.
'They dragged me here...' he frowned inwardly.
"Ryoma-kun?" Ryuzaki blushed "thanks...thanks for coming..." she stuttered with her face tainted with light crimson blush 'Hazukashi (Embarrassing)...Ryoma-kun's here...he's here...'
'So...he's the one that you have in mind' Kaede could instantly felt the raise of Sakuno's heartbeat, especially when she saw the guy whom she regarded as Ryoma. She let out a slight chuckle.
'Kaede-san? I'm so nervous right now...doushiyo?'
'Don't worry dear...just be yourself...and I can tell that everyone here are so concern about you...'
'Yes...they are...but...Ryoma-kun...Ryoma-kun's here too...'
"Domo..." Echizen greeted her coach nonchalantly while the rest bowed before their coach.
"Yo...Sakuno-chan, how are you today..." Momo who stood behind Ryoma and with both hands resting on the junior's shoulders, asked cheerfully.
"I'm fine..." Sakuno smiled genuinely "and thanks for coming..."
"Sakuno-san, there's something for you from Osakada..." Oishi said softly and pass a card to Sakuno. "It's a 'Get well soon!!' card"
"I'm so happy..." Sakuno declared with another sweet smile.
After seeing the absence of the tennis prodigy, Sumirei raised one eye brow "By the way...where's Fuji, I thought he said he's coming too?"
"Fuji's going to buy something for Sakuno-san, he'll be here shortly..." Tezuka informed.
"Something for me?" Sakuno flickered her eyes for a few times until she finally comprehended the captain's word.
"Oh...but...but, I'll be discharging by today..." she hesitated "It would be another trouble that I have cause..."
"Hora, Sakuno-san, don't worry about little things like this...besides, all of us are looking forward for your return..." Oishi said and eased Sakuno's anxiety with a warm smile.
"Hai...then I won't hold back...and accept everything with gratitudes..." Sakuno hesitated no longer "I'm now full of energy...juden...kaigyou (energy refilled)" Sakuno blushed when she failed to imitated Eiji's libertto.
"Eh...Sakuno-chan? Change over? Suge yo...I can only imitate Inui senpai..." Momo teased and soon the room was filled with everyone's laughter, except Tezuka and Ryoma. Somehow a faint smile plastered across their emotionless facade.
"Mada mada dane..." Ryoma muttered quietly 'So...Sakuno-chan's getting better...Sakuno-chan?? I used to call her Ryuzaki...?' he pondered again.
Not long after their conversation, someone knocked lightly at the door. "Minna, I'm here..." the tensai called from outside. Everyone began to divert their attention towards the door as Oishi went forward and let him in.
"Ohaiyo (Good Morning)...Sakuno-chan, looks like you're very enegertic this morning..." Fuji commented "I could heard laughters coming out from this room awhile ago..." he chuckled
"This is a gift for you..." he continued.
Staring at Fuji, Sakuno's body began to trembles 'Naze (Why)? I can't get hold of myself...Kaede-san, what happened to me...I felt like...'
"Sakuno?? Are you alright...your face looks pale..." Sumirei asked worriedly upon seeing Sakuno's face turns pale green and her body keeps on trembling.
"I...I'm..." unable to reply, Sakuno quickly dashed into the bathroom and she began to throw out. 'What is this feeling?? I feel sick'
"Sakuno?!!" Sumirei bellowed while the others just stared anxiously at the coach's granddaugter. Not wanting them to worry for her, Sakuno waved back to show them that she's alright.
'Kaede-san? Why do I suddenly felt so sick...' While taking her time to refresh herself, Sakuno telephathied Kaede.
'Sakuno-chan...' Kaede trembles 'He's...he's here...Masayoshi-sama...he's here....'
Upon hearing Kaede's word, Sakuno quickly turned around and scanned the surrounding, gaining more suspicious stares from everyone inside her room.
'Where?' She asked frantically, but somehow she had already knew the answer 'Moshikashite (possibly), Fuji...senpai...'
Comprehending Sakuno's thought Kaede nodded 'Yes, he's the one...'
"WHAT?" Sakuno cried out loud and instantly fixed her stares at the tensai. At the same time she's also earning stares from everyone in the room. Noticing that she had caught herself in an embarrassing state, she faked a faint laughter.
"Ano...I mean...what...what was the basket that you're holding?" she lied and that was definitely too lame for everyone to believe.
"This one? Kudamonokago (fruit basket)..." although, knowing that it was very obvious to everyone that it's a fruit basket that he's been holding, yet Fuji had determined to help the poor girl to get over her embarrassment "Hope you'll like it..."
"Fruit basket?! Wahaha...fruit basket!! Of course I loved fruit basket!!" She faked another laughter, but inwardly she's already shedding tears.
'Kaede-san...doushiyo?' she lowered her head and frowned again.
'Sakuno-chan!! He's here...' Kaede remarked with joy and excitement 'I can't believe that I could meet him this soon...Sakuno-chan!! You're the best...'
'Me...too...' she let out another sigh 'but...I've never thought that your Masayoshi-sama...would turn out to be...Fu...Fuji..Fuji-senpai?!'
'Oh...Masayoshi-sama, he's still as handsome as ever?' Kaede commented as she dreamy left Sakuno's side and float over to stood beside Fuji.
"Ka..." Sakuno was about to stop Kaede but knowing that the others would not be able to see the phantom, she twisted "Ka...kaeru ka?(going home?)" she sighed and whimpered inwardly 'I must have acted like a fool now...fu...hu...hu...doshiyo...'
"Sakuno-chan...what's with that sudden frowning face?" Momoshiro queried "it's not like the usual Sakuno-chan..."
"I'm fine...see...ah haha ha...ha" she faked another unusual wicked laughter that would sounds like Tomoka.
Then, Sakuno tilted her chin, stared at Fuji and then at Kaede through her lashes. Blue orbs caught the hazel one, without hesitation, she quickly looked away.
'Kaede-san...please restrain yourself...' she mentally begged
'Ah...yes...gomen ne...Sakuno-chan' Kaede frowned apologically and quickly went back to Sakuno's side.
"So...since you insisted to go home...we'll waste no time here!!" Sumirei remarked "By the way...would anyone here volunteer to go to the registration counter to get the discharging papers done?"
To Sumirei surprise, none of the guys had said anything, not even a slight body gestures 'What's wrong with them??' the coach furrowed her brows.
"Very well then, I guess I'll have to do it then..." the coach heaved a sigh "but perhaps at least someone help us to carry those stuff" she gestured. Upon hearing that everyone nodded.
Just when the coach left the room, the members began to query about Sakuno on her condition.
"Ryuzaki...are you sure you're alright?" Tezuka began "we can understand that perhaps you didn't want sensei to worry about you"
"Yes...Sakuno-san, you can tell us now..." Oishi continued
"Oishi's right, maybe you would like to share with us..." Fuji said and the rest of them nodded with consent.
"Senpai..." Sakuno was touched by their concern "thank you...but really...I'm fine...I just can't wait to be back home again..."she assured them with another genuine smile.
"Heh...Sakuno-chan, you're just as stubborn as Echizen...and you know what...that makes both of you a very cute couple..." Momoshiro teased and then winked at the two first year ?!
"Couple?! Momo-senpai!!" swallowing hard, both Echizen and Sakuno bellowed in unison, with their face as red as tomatoes. Upon seeing that, the three senpais laughed out loud.
"Hmp!!.Momo-senpai...urusai (noisy)" Ryoma hissed quietly as he looked away from the others to hid his slight blushing face. Their arguements continued for quite sometimes until Tezuka finally interrupted.
"Minna, let's get going...it's almost time for sensei to finish her paperworks..." Tezuka suggested.
"Sakuno-chan...your belongings?? Let me carry them for you" Fuji volunteered.
'Masayoshi-sama...you're still as gentleman as ever...' Kaede commented happily
"Ano...it's okay...it's only a small bag..." Sakuno said politely, at the same time she felt uneasy especially when Kaede's affection towards Fuji had seem to have swayed her conscience.
"Oh...no...Echizen...go and get Sakuno's bag..." Momoshiro commanded.
"Huh? Why me?" Echizen protested and stared curiously at Momoshiro but right after his protest, he walked towards Sakuno and grabbed the bag, knowing they'll only waste more time, arguing with each other.
"Ryoma-kun??" seeing Ryoma's initiatively took her bag, Sakuno's heart began to pound heavily "Arigatou..."
Before heading back to the Ryuzaki's residence, they stopped by at Kawamura's place. When they entered the restaurant, the rest of the members were already there waiting for Sakuno's arrival.
"Yo...Sakuno-chan..." Eiji winked "welcome...welcome" he quickly walk over and gave Sakuno a crashing bear hug "hoi hoi...senpai's so worried about you...nya...let me give you a big and warm huggie..."
"Kikumaru-senpai" Sakuno blushed when Eiji hugged her. Knowing that Eiji had always been those passionate type, the others walked pass the two of them and look for a place to sit.
'Sakuno-chan?! Who's he...?' Kaede asked curiously 'this guy...he's...he's hugging you...' in process, she covered her face to with embarrassement.
'He's Eiji Kikumaru-senpai, and why are you blushing...I'm suppose to be the one who should be embarrassed...' Sakuno complained.
'Of course I will too...we're now sharing the body, remember? Oh...Sakuno-chan, please stop him...this's my first time of being hugged by a male...'
'How ?' Sakuno let out another inaudible frown 'who'll come and aid me?'
Just when Sakuno's busy thinking about how to get herself release from Kikumaru's bear hug, to almost everyone's surprise, Ryoma approached Kikumaru.
"Ne...Kikumaru-senpai...just like to know, if you have any intention to send Sakuno back to hospital..." Ryoma remarked sarcarstically.
"O...Ochibi..." Kikumaru stared at him at first but later his stares soften and replaced with a mischevious grin.
"Ochibi wanted to save his dear Sakuno-chan...how cute...but...hero have a price to pay though" he said "Ochibi...your turn..." happily Kikumaru groped Ryoma like the way he used against Sakuno.
"Ki...Kikumaru-senpai...let go...hanase..." Ryoma hissed 'Taku (cursed), why do I have to get myself into such trouble...'
As soon as Kikumaru released Sakuno, she let her breathing took over her and while doing so, Inui approached Sakuno with a glass of multi-colored substance.
"Ryuzaki-san, you must be thirsty by now...here, have some drink..." Inui said wickedly.
"Arigatou..." without registering of what Inui had in store, Sakuno gulped the whole glass and within seconds her face turned green.
The rest of them just stared at Sakuno with amazement. At that time, they were not awared that Inui had eventually approached her with a glass of his remarkable invention. They only noticed it when Sakuno was almost done with the drink. Upon seeing the fridgeting Sakuno, Kikumaru stop groping Ryoma, Tezuka, Fuji and Oishi quickly stood up from their seat and walk towards Sakuno. Both Sumirei and Kawamura stop their conversation.
'Ah...what's that...it tasted terrible...' Kaede jeered.
'Kaede-san...help me...I think I'm passing out again...' she declared inwardly 'Kaede-san, can you please take over me...I...I'
'Sakuno-san...Sakuno-san...hang on there, Sakuno-chan...' Kaede shrugged 'the substance is so terrible, she even lost her inner consciousness...'
"Sakuno-san..." Oishi called and in process he shooked her body "Sakuno-san, are you alright..."
After seeing that there's no reply from her, all of them shot an accusing glare towards Inui who in turn was about to escape.
"INUI..." they bellowed in unison.
"I...I was only...thinking that she'll get better after this..." Inui shrugged "haha...ha..." he frozened.
Then again they noticed that the fridgeting girl began to stir a little, they turned around and stare at her for quite sometimes.
Within a few seconds, Sakuno tilted her head up and curiously look at her surrounding "Ano..." her familiar voice lingered their ears. The guys, including Tezuka and Ryoma, stared at her with disbelieve. Till date, among the regulars, only Tezuka and Fuji had survived without passing out after drinking Inui's Juice.
"Sakuno-san...you survived?" Oishi said in a deceptive calm tone "Unbelievable..."
"Suge yo....Sakuno-chan, counting back, you're the third person whose able to finish up Inui-senpai's juice without passing out..." Momoshiro complimented.
Kaede, who is now possessing Sakuno's body, had ignored Momoshiro's compliment as she curiously scanned her surrounding.
"Watashi...watashi...ikkiteru...ka (I alive, am I)?" she asked softly and then her eyes fixed on a pair of legs that touches firmly on the floor.
"Heh...Sakuno-chan...you're just like me..." Eiji remarked "always pondered about life and death when I was forced to drink Inui's juice...or the penalty tea....eew..."
"Ryuzaki...like I told you so..." Inui regained his composure "you'll feel as energetic as ever after drinking my special juice..."adjusting his specs, he faked a smirk 'she finished the whole glass of my new invention...without passing out...Ryuzaki Sakuno...I'll remembered this...' while cursing inwardly he took out his notebook and scribbled some words on it 'must add in more ingredients next time'
"I'm alive...yogatta (great)....I'm alive..." she laughed and made a few spinning around in process "Ii no kanji desu (feels good) ..."
"Oya...oya...Sakuno...you don't have to be so overwhelmed" Sumirei shooked her head "it's not that Inui's feeding you with poison..."
"I'm so sorry..." realizing that she had been overreacted, Sakuno (Kaede) blushed and again she approached Inui and apologized to him.
"It alright, I should have inform you before hand" Inui remarked "at least you could have get yourself prepared"
"Oh no...no...if not for your drinks, I wouldn't have feel as lively as ever" she bowed again.
"True as it seem..." Inui agreed "Ryuzaki...your words have given me more confidence" he smirked genuinely. Adjusting his specs he turned and look at the regulars "I would definitely work harder on the next experiment, so that the all the Seigaku members could be as healthy as you!!" he then flashed another wicked smile at the rest of the regulars.
"Inui/Senpai...?!"all of them protested in unison "drink it yourself!!"
'Hmp...that Ryuzaki...how could she give so much confidence to that Inui-senpai...doesn't she knows that I've always hated those Inui's Juice? I would rather have a can of Ponta instead!! Wait?? Why should I care if she's concern or not?!" again Ryoma shruggled inwardly.
"Look, if you guys still keep on wasting your time, fooling around" the coach said out loud "then, I guess we'll just end this little party here..."
Upon hearing what their coach had announced, they quickly resumed back to their seats and start ordering their food. Just when Fuji was about to get back to his previous seat, he noticed that Sakuno's still standing there, her eyes staring intensely at him.
"Hm...Sakuno-chan?" he asked softly "would you like to come and sit with me..." he offered.
"Me??" she asked timidly as she frantically look around her before pointing one fingers towards herself 'He's talking to me?'
"You're Sakuno-chan right?" he chuckled "Why? I do know that there are two Ryuzakis here, but I was not awared that there are also two Sakunos too..." he teased.
"Hontoni?" her eyes widen upon hearing his offer.
"Why, of course you can...unless you don't really want to..." he let out another chuckle. Sakuno (Kaede) nodded and slowly walk over to join Fuji.
Ryoma, who was sitting beside Momoshiro, stared at Sakuno as she walked pass their table. He doesn't know why he had to stare and why he doesn't like the idea of letting Sakuno to sit beside Fuji. 'Cheh...it's none of my business' he hissed 'and why is she so eager to sit beside that cunning Fuji-senpai...she could have sit with me...what was I thinking...' (A/N: Gomen ne...Fuji-senpai no fans tachi...)
'Unbelievable...I'm now talking to Masayoshi-sama in person...kami-sama, arigatou!!' Kaede screamed inwardly.
"Nya...Taka-san...anago sushi for me.." Eiji bellowed "Oishi wants tako sushi..."
"Anago...?" Momo shrugged "Ah...Taka-senpai, me too..."
"Another one for me please..." Ryoma said cooly.
"Hai..." Kawamura nodded while taking down their orders "Fuji, Sakuno-chan...what can I get for both of you?"
"Wasabi sushi..." both of them said in unison. Fuji was starlet when he heard what Sakuno had ordered.
"Sakuno-chan" he began "I didn't know that you like wasabi-sushi too..."
When Sakuno (Kaede) heard that she chuckled inwardly 'In the Rekishita's household, only Masayoshi-sama and myself enjoyed spicy foods...natsukashii(missed)...'
"Ano...actually wasabi sushi is one of my favorite types of sushi" she declared "I personally think it's the best of sushi..."
"Sou ka?" he smiled "now I've get to know more about you..."
"Eh...em..." shyly she nodded and turned to look away from Fuji 'his smile...Masayoshi-sama no egao, totemo o yasashii (his smiling face is very warm)'
Meanwhile Fuji and Sakuno (Kaede) were having great time talking to each other, Ryoma was staring at his tensai senior and the coach's granddaughter. He felt something pricking his heart, he felt uncomfortable. He didn't even realized that while he was staring at Sakuno, Momoshiro had be observing him too.
Momoshiro could tell that Ryoma is definitely jealous upon seeing Fuji and Sakuno sitting together. Yet he didn't bothers to point it out, knowing that, Ryoma would deny everything at the end. Perhaps this would also be a chance for the first year tennis regular to acknowlege his true feelings towards Sakuno. 'Now, Echizen...let me see, how would you deal with it?'
"Heh...Sakuno-chan, today...you seem alot different..." Fuji commented
"Eh...is it?" she sweatdropped 'he can tell?' "what makes you say that?" she faked a smile 'he's sharp... should try to act more like Sakuno-chan...eto...how is she like?'
"Like...you're being possessed or something..." he prompted "though I've never believe in things (ghost) like that..." another smile.
"Yada...senpai...hidoi..." she faked another 180 degree high pitch tone "I'm just myself..." 'heh, I guess I'm now more like Sakuno-chan...maybe??'
Couldn't tolerate to see the Fuji and Sakuno teasing each other, Ryoma stood up and walk away from his previous seat. Momo diverted his attention to Ryoma 'So...he decided to retreat heh...' but somehow understanding that it's best to leave the first year alone to let him do whatever he want.
"Momo-senpai" Ryoma said dryly "I'm going to join Ryuzaki-sensei, her place have more foods to offer..." he lied.
"Is it? Well, I guess, I'll stay..." Momo replied nonchalantly "don't kinda like the idea of sitting with coachie..."
"Up to you..." without looking back, Ryoma walked away.
At that time, he had hoped that the hazel haired girl would noticed him taking his leave and would wanted her to tell him to stay. However, that never came into the picture. 'What's wrong with her today?? She's typically close to Fuji-senpai...kuso'
The coach instantly noticed Ryoma's presence as he quietly sat himself beside her.
"Ryoma? What makes you come over here and join us, the old bones..." Sumirei teased.
"Isn't it obvious!!" he replied and with that he took a pair of chopsticks and began to dig in some food into his plate.
"I see...so you've seen some good stuffs here eh....kid??" Kawamura's father remarked proudly "take as much as you can...my treat..."
"Hn...ma..." he paused "ma ne...(seems so)" he continued and sighed inwardly 'mada mada dane'. While eating, his gaze still fixed on the place where he left eariler.
"By the way, sensei, here's the sake...best for keeping your body warm..." he passed a bottle of rice wine to Sumirei.
"Ma...I think I still prefer ocha, besides, I'll have to drive later..." she declined politely but when she noticed a slight frown appeared on the owner's face she gave in "perhaps a little bit won't harm..." with that she took the bottle and poured the rice wine into her cup.
After sometimes, the real Sakuno regained her consciousness and spontaneously redeemed her body from Kaede. In process, Sakuno's body trembles a little just when Kaede's soul being withdrew from Sakuno's body. Noticing that, Fuji quickly get hold of her tiny hand and gave her a light squeeze.
Ryoma who had been watching them with green eyes, began to speed up his food intake 'Kuso...what does he think he's doing, holding Sakuno's hand'
"Sakuno-chan?? Are you alright?" he asked softly and yet concernly "Are you feeling cold..."
With the aid from Kaede, Sakuno was taking her time to pick up the events which she had missed when she was in her senseless state without noticing that Fuji had been holding her hands for quite sometimes.
"Sakuno-chan..." he called again "I'm asking...if you're alright? Did you feel cold..." his blue orbs stared intensely at her.
"I'm...fine..." she shrugged when she realized their close proximity. This would be her first time to face Fuji with such closeness and if others are not aware, they might think that he's going to kiss her.
'Kaede-san!! He's holding my hands...he's staring at me...what should I do now?' she screamed inwardly.
'Push him away' Kaede commented with slight jealously in her tone.
'But...but that would too rude...moreover, he's only concern...'
Letting out a sigh Kaede said again 'perhaps he'll buy the 'I'm going to washroom' idea...'
'Arigatou...' she heaved a sigh and quickly stood up "I...Excuse me...washroom..." unable to enunciate what's in her mind, she quickly walk away and went straight to the washroom.
Fuji stared at her with amusement 'She's so funny today...omoshiro...I guess I would enjoy teasing her more...' he thought mischievously.
'Masayoshi-sama...why aren't you looking at me now...' Kaede, who decided not to follow Sakuno, stared sadly at Fuji from behind 'back then, we had lots of good time together...'
Ryoma has been keeping his eyes on both Fuji and Sakuno for so long, even with his hands and mouth moving at the same time, his eyes, they had never leave the couple. When Fuji touched Sakuno's hand, Ryoma had instantly registered in his mind that the senior was taking advantage of a younger girl. Without being cautious of the amount of food he put into his mouth, Ryoma impetuously choked himself!! His coughing had lured everyone's gaze towards him.
"Ryoma...are you alright" Sumirei asked concernly. Seeing Ryoma's situation turned worst, the others quickly rush near him.
"Oi...oi, ochibi...are you alright??" Eiji said and gave him a few hard slappings on his back.
"Eiji...that's too rough...you should stoke instead of slapping like that?" Oishi quickly stop what Eiji did.
"Oishi...what do you mean I'm wrong? I'm not slapping him!! I'm just patting..." Eiji retaliated when he saw Oishi stroking Ryoma's back in slow "
"O...cha..." Ryoma decoded the words with difficulty, there was a lump of food that was stuck in the middle of his throat
"O...ocha...wait, I'll get ocha for you..." Sumirei panicked and instead of passing him a cup of ocha...she passed him a cup of rice wine.
Ryoma hungrily gulped the drink, but half way through, he dropped the cup. His face is now as red as a tomato. He felt his mouth as well as his body are burning and he feel like throwing up. He rose up from his seat and turn around to face his seniors.
The wine instantly take effects over Ryoma. 'Eh...why, there are three...Oishi senpais? Eiji senpai's too...' his movement became wiggle-waggle. Everyone watched him attempting a few wobbly steps and then fell flat on the floor. (A/N: Yes, I know this wouldn't be happening in reality...but since it's a fanfiction...please bear with me...)
"Ryoma/Echizen?" all of them exclaimed with surprise.
Inui quickly came forward and examine the dead faint Ryoma. Sniffing the scent from Ryoma's body, Inui declared that the first year had been consuming alcohol and is now at a drunken state.
"What?! When did..." Sumirei interrogated.
"Sensei...the cup...you gave him...just now..." Kawamura said right after he sniffed the cup which Ryoma had drank to ease his choking.
"Oh...no..." She massaged her temple shortly after knowing that she had done something stupid.
"Poor Echizen..." Fuji said softly.
"Ah...he's just like Sakuno who had accidently consumed Inui-senpai's juice!!" Momo remarked "that's why I said, they're just too compatible to become a couple..."
Inui who had heard Momo loud and clear cursed inwardly 'Ryuzaki didn't drank the juice by accident...Momoshiro, next time I'll make sure you have your share too...' (A/N: Sorry, for turning Inui-senpai into a baddie...but of coz doesn't mean I don't like him...I loved everyone from POT!!)
"Sa...Sakuno..." Ryoma murmured
"Heh?! Sakuno?" everyone bellowed again.
"See...told you guys that this kid's really serious about Sakuno..."
"By the way, where's Sakuno..." the coach asked when she realized that her grand daughter was not around.
"Sakuno-chan is still in the washroom..." Fuji informed but paused when he spotted the girl came out from the washroom "she's here..."
"Sakuno, come here..." Sumirei called out "we need your help..."
'What happened, everyone seems very tense...'
'Sakuno-chan, right timing...' Kaede explained the whole incidents to Sakuno when she was taking sometimes to walk over to join the group.
'He even called your name...' Kaede teased
'He did?' Sakuno blushed furiously for a moment and quickly regained her composure right after she took a stand beside her grandmother.
"O...obaa-chan...what happened?" although she had already been told, yet she decided to play dumb "Ryoma-kun...how's he doing?"
"It's my fault, that I've wrongfully passed him the cup of sake...then, he keeps on calling you, then I thought you might be able to help him up...take care of him..." the coach sighed.
'Obaa-chan? I'm not a doctor or some sort of physic...how can I...' she sighed inwardly and then paused when she saw Ryoma began to stir a little.
"Sakuno...." Ryoma called again. Sakuno's pulses were pounding wildy and blood rushes all the way up to her cheek. Everyone turned around stared mischievously at Sakuno, the girl whom they regarded as Ryoma's dream girl.
"Ano..." Sakuno was too embarrassed. She doesn't know what to say anymore.
"Sakuno..." Ryoma muttered her names for the third time. Inui realized that everytime when Sakuno speaks or someone mentioning her name, Ryoma would instantly react towards it. Thus, he told Sakuno to talk to him, eventhough Ryoma's in his drunken state, he'll react upon hearing Sakuno's voice. Sakuno nodded and she took a deep breathe before she speaks.
"Ryoma-kun...it's me, Sakuno...daijoubu?" she remarked faintly. Seeing that there's no reply she sighed. Inui sweatdropped when his theory didn't work well.
Then again, Momoshiro interrupted "Ne, Sakuno-chan...say 'I love you' to Echizen..."
"Momo-senpai!! How can I say 'I love you' to him...it's so embarrassing!! Besides..." she paused when she noticed Ryoma's stirring a little.
"See..." Momoshiro gave Sakuno a mischievous grin. The others just couldn't help but giggles. At this point Sakuno was too embarrass to even to let out a squeak.
A short moment later, Ryoma began to speak again.
"Sakuno..." he muttered "ponta...where's my ponta...." with that he ended his words with a faint snore.
"PONTA?!" a loud bellowed could be heard in unison. Sakuno gets the shock of her life. All the while she's been thinking that she's the only girl that's in his heart. All her hope had gone all the way down to rock bottom.
"Echizen..." Fuji laughed hard "you're such a funny guy..." Tezuka who had stood there silently, could only shook his head.
"Nya...this is fun..." Eiji remarked happily "Oishi...let's rub in more...'
"Eiji? Don't you think it's not appropriate..." Oishi blushed while he could only heard protestion from Eiji saying that Oishi also wanted to have fun too.
"Eiji's right...we can have lots of fun..." Fuji nodded "perhaps we can try something like this..."
"Echizen..." Fuji brought himself down and mimicked a few audible words into Echizen ear "Sake (rice wine) and ponta...which one do you prefer..."
Moving his hand to shove away the tickleness that Fuji had caused, he muttered again "Ponta...ponta's the best..."
"He answered?!" Momoshiro exclaimed "Fuji-senpai...my turn..." he giggled
"Echizen...Ponta and Sakuno...which one's the best?" Momo asked out loudly, just to save himself from bending down.
"Ponta..." Ryoma smirked with satisfaction and nibble his mouth in process. (A/N: Minna-san, like I've mentioned earlier, very OOC)
When everyone heard that, their face turn pale. They turned their heads over to face the coach's granddaughter, there's no words that they could think of the describe the girl's expression. Sad eyes, half open mouth that no words would come out of it. Seeing that many pairs of eyes staring at her, the girl quickly dash out of the restaurant.
"Sa...Sakuno!!" Sumirei called out "come back..." she paused when she saw Fuji went out and chase after her.
'Fuji??' Sumirei pondered 'I'm counting on you...' heaving an audible sigh and diverted her attention towards the group of people who keeps on accusing each other for causing such embarrassement. At the end all blames goes to Ryoma who had chosen a can of Ponta over a cute girl like Sakuno.
She could bear it no more and especially not from Ryoma whom she had looked upon as someone who she dearly loved and would not hurt her. Bright and shining tears in her eyes, she kept on running.
'Sakuno-chan...'
Her legs felt oddly weak and she could hear nothing as she went, for the heartbeat that drummed loudly in her ears and she did not yet see the similarity to yesterday, when she and Tomoka had fled to the antique shop.
The coldness of the carpet of virgin white snow made her retreat soundless but for the gasping sound of her breathing broke before her headlong flight. She had no idea of the direction she was going, anxious only to put as much distance between herself and Ryoma as possible.
Fuji, who had been following her eversince she ran out from the restaurant, had been keeping a certain distance away from Sakuno. He could only watched the poor girl to grief in pain. Although Kaede had long knew that Fuji's just behind them, she never bother to tell Sakuno about his presence. It would be a good idea for Fuji to keep an eye on Sakuno.
It was bitterly cold, even colder than she remembered. Coughing and spluttering with cold, she tripped and collasped in a wet and weeping heap.
'Sakuno, are you alright?' Kaede's heart twinged 'enough already...don't push yourself so hard...you might hurt yourself...'
Just then, Fuji emerged from behind her "Sakuno!!" his voice was anxious and for a brief second she thought it might be contrite Fuji come to her aid, but there was no mistaking the owner of that voice, nor the lithe hands that suddenly lifted her and held her close, until the warmth of his body clamed her shivering, one hand pressed her tearful face to his chest and he rested his face on her hair.
"Fu...Fuji-senpai..." she whimpered.
'I'm totally shocked...who would have thought that things would turn out like this!!' Kaede sighed and divert her gaze to Fuji then back to Sakuno, the girl whom had been weeping all her heart out.
A while ago, after comforting Sakuno, Fuji had dragged Sakuno into a food court instead of returning to Kawamura's place. He had been in queue for quite sometimes just to get both of them some hot drinks.
'Kaede-san, what should I do now? I don't think I can even have courage to face Ryoma-kun anymore...'
'What? Sakuno-chan...you shouldn't be avoiding him!! You're not at fault!! He's the one who caused all this embarrassement, who asked him to choose (paused)...Sakuno-chan, you're far better than the girl called Ponta...'
'Kaede-san, Ponta is a name of a drink...' Sakuno frowned at first but later smirk can be seen from her sorrowed face 'thank you, Kaede-san!!'
'There, he's coming!! Your tranquilizer and my prince...Sakuno-chan...perk up...' Kaede smiled when Sakuno turned her head to stared at the said person.
"Fuji-senpai??" she pondered 'he's such a nice guy...'
'Desho...' Kaede nodded with excitement when Sakuno complimented Fuji.
"Nani kai (What)?? Although you've been staring at me, but your mind seem to wander off somewhere else... " he smiled as he passed Sakuno a cup of hot chocolate "here, it's hot, that would warm you up!!"
Sakuno gratefully took the cup with both her hands "Arigatou..." she lowered her head and blushed "and sorry about what happened just now..."
"It alright, otherwise, I wouldn't have this chance to come out with you, right?" he smile again.
Upon hearing that Sakuno almost spilled her drink before she could even brought it near to her lips.
'What was that? Geez...Masayoshi-sama, enough of that lovey-dovey stuff!!' Kaede fumed.
'Kaede-san...Fuji-senpai is always like this...he's just teasing me...' despite of Fuji's presence, Sakuno let out a faint giggles upon hearing Kaede's fumings 'beside...back then, did he just said that, he's comfortable with you being around??'
'Yes...he did, but all the while he's been staring at you...he only knows your existence...'
'Then, would you like me to tell him about you? I think he'll understand, then you can openly confess your feelings...and then, you will be able to end your grudges...!! Great isn't it, Kaede-san...' she suggested exiciting with some body language in compliment with.
"Sakuno-chan..." Fuji furrowed his brow. He noticed that the girl's mind had been wandering off somewhere else and her weird body languages had replaced his curiousity to anxiety.
Both Sakuno and Kaede had totally ignored Fuji's presence as their inner conversation continues. (A/N: Let's assume that Fuji's now transparent...just kidding!!)
"Sakuno-chan?" Fuji whispered her name again, yet the hazel haired girl was still drowning in her own world.
'Sakuno-chan...I...I can't, like I said before...he can't see me...' Kaede's expression sadden 'moreover...he also told me that he doesn't believe in the existence of ghost...how can I expect him to see me, if he does not believe in my existence...'
'Ano...I'm sure, at least there's something that I can do for you...' Sakuno sighed deeply and audibly.
'She sighed?? Something has been bothering her??' Fuji stared at the girl who sat across her with amusement 'and she's still ignoring me...' he shooked his head, nevetheless his smirk never leave his face as he seem to enjoy watching the girls frowning face and her slightest body languages.
'Sakuno, Sakuno-chan, please...you've got to ask him out...' Kaede begged 'at least, let me spend the rest of my day to be with him...'
'Kaede-san...' she hesitated for a moment before replying Kaede's request 'I've always wanted to spend my X'mas with someone I love...but...'
'Sakuno-chan...' staring at Sakuno's sullen expression again she knew that the poor girl was deeply hurt 'Sakuno-chan...is there anything that I can do for you too...'
"I've decided..." Sakuno immediately shoved off her sadness and declared ostensibly.
"Decided?" Fuji mused audibly this time.
"Ah...Fuji...senpai...ah, I'm so sorry...I was..." Sakuno stammered "I was..."
"Wandering off again?" instead of smiling, Fuji's stared at Sakuno intensely "you've been unsettled for a while now...not like the usual Sakuno..."
She looked away from Fuji's stares and steadied her pounding heart before she could apologize to him. To her surprise, a soft chuckle could be heard from the tensai.
"Fuji-senpai...you're laughing?" Sakuno eyes spranked open with disbelieve.
"Gomen...Sakuno-chan...I..." while trying to reply Sakuno's query, Fuji tried hard to supress his laughter "I noticed that your mind were dozing off..."the giggling continued "I...your expression is priceless...cute..."
"Honestly...I've not been enjoying laugh for quite sometimes..." a moment after he managed to get over his chortling, Fuji took a glass of water to ease his drying throat.
"Fuji-senpai..." Sakuno blushed frantically, her face is hot enough to produce steam.
'He's laughing at you...mou....Masayoshi-sama...you're so cruel' Kaede protested
'That we can't help...teasing people is also part of his interest, I assume...' Sakuno sighed. There's a time she had heard from the tennis club '2 years experience' loud mouth Horio, saying that Fuji can be mischevious at some extend and not to mention that the tensai had openly admitted that he loves to see other people in suffer 'I guess...beside teasing people, he has no bad intentions...he has all the good quality of a rigteous man...'
Seeing Fuji had regained his composure, Sakuno immediately ended her conversation with Kaede and divert her attentions towards Fuji.
"Sorry...I was not laughing at you (in fact you are)...I was just too surprise...although it's only two of us here, yet you've given me the feeling like...like...there is another person's presence here..." Fuji explained "I know...Isounds weird,do I?"
'He could...feel my presence...Sakuno-chan...' Kaede shrugged, yet a happy smirk could be seen from her pale facade.
"Oh...no...not at all...me too. I should apologize for...for...ignoring you" Sakuno had admitted the facts "I know I was rude...Fuji-senpai...sumi masen..." she managed at last and he smiled.
"Hmm!!" He eyed her for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully "I suppose you owe me an explaination rather than an apology" he suggested, and Sakuno blinked for a moment uncomprehendingly.
"Well?" he prompted.
"I...I...was..." Sakuno said at last in a small voice "I was thinking how to...ask you out..."
"Excuse me?" Fuji asked, and cocked a brow at her. Sakuno hastily shook her head again. "Oh...nothing..." she told him, and rapidly recalled the subject of his question.
"I rather think it would be nice if you told me that your earlier statement's still valid...about asking me out..." he told her quietly.
Stunned for a moment, Sakuno stared at him "I...I don't understand...you do?" she asked. Fuji, however, seemed no more than mildly amused by the requisition and he was smiling.
"Fuji-senpai...please...please...be my date..." shutting her eyes tight, Sakuno gathered all her courage say these words on behalf of Kaede.
"Well, a date? Why not? I would love to... " Fuji replied with another warm smile "besides...it's would be my pleasure..."
Fuji's reply took Sakuno by surprise and she looked up swiftly 'Kaede-san...he agreed...'
'Sakuno-chan...thank you...thank you!! I'll make good use of these few days...' Kaede couldn't help but shed her tears of contentment 'Kami-sama...kanza shimasu (thank you)...!!'
TBC...
A/N: Phew...a long and boring story I guess...but I hope that at least some people would give me their opinions after reading this fics. And I sincerely thanked Umi-chan for her wonderful reviews that once again enlightened my hope of continuing till de end...
To all people out there - Merry X'mas and a Happy New Year. And a special request from me to those who read my story...please pray together to our Lord Almighty for those peoples who are suffering from the Tsunami Disaster.
owari...