Phantoms of Christmas Chapter 4: The Tenipuri's X'mas, a prince of tennis fanfic

AN: Konichiwa, minna-san, long time no see! Sorry for dragging the updates again. I was stuck in many part since this is the end of the story and plus, this is my first complete story. Bansai...bansai...! Finally, my first completed fics! Mi-chan's so happy!

There's so many people I wished to thank, for their patience and support! Without their encouraging reviews, I think I wouldn't have made it till de end. My sincere thanks to all readers who spend their precious time reading my fics.

Eto, I almost forgot! Based onthis story, I've drew a RyoSaku Fanart. If anyone'sinterested please visit the link whichI'vepostedon my profile.

Pairing: RyoSaku/FujiSaku (Slight)

Warning: Might contain OOC, readers had been warned...

Standard Disclaimer: "Welcome to Santa's North Pole Hotline.For enquiry, press 1, for dedications press 2, for private message press 3...you've got 1 message...After weighing all pros and cons, we regret to inform you that your request for keeping the Tenipuri ownership has beenrejected.Santa-sama would also advice mi-chan to put up a standard disclaimer when writing a Tenipuri fanfics..."

Phantom of Christmas

Recap of Part III:

Ryoma had given his family members another surprise since they had never seen him out of words before. Sakuno has definitely proof to them, her effects on Ryoma.

"Not yet your girlfriend!" this time Nanjiroh managed to utter a word.

"Anata! You'll keep quite! I'm not done yet!" Rinko ordered "One more interruption, all your perverted mag will turn into trash!" (Anata - husband)

"Hee?" Nanjiro shrugged and soon protest could be heard from the retired tennis pro.

Shooking his head with a smirk, Ryoma muttered libertto "Oyaji, mada mada dane..."

While listening to his parents dissension, staring at the beautiful snow white garden, Ryoma began to thought inwardly 'I'm anticipating for tommorrow's arrival! Till then...'

Epilogue - Smile, the Tenipuri's X'Mas

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.

-Laura Ingalls Wilder-

(Mirai - Future)

"Sakuno..." His sky-blue eyes diverted its gaze from the latest issue of "PRO-T Tennis Magazine', the man's voice asked concernly "Did I wake you up?"

"Fuji..." her drowsy eyes began to batter a little, blurry images of the obsure-brownish haired man who was sitting beside her bed "No, just that the anesthesia's wearing off..." she replied weakly. Her once swallowen belly which she had beared for almost ten months is now flat and loosen with some extra fats she which she had gained during her pregnancy. Sakuno slowly could feel sharp pains from the newly severed wound at the lower part of her belly.

"Where's my baby?" Sakuno's voice was weak but anxious when she saw an empty incubator placing beside her bed "What happened to my baby?"

"Don't worry dear. A while ago, a nurse came and had took the baby to the nursery room" he smiled, took her hand and gave her a light squeeze of encouragment "Very soon you'll see your baby...right now you'll need more rest..."

"Hm..." Sakuno gave Fuji a weak but relieved smile before she laying back to rest.

The End...

A./N: Thank you minna-san, for keeping up this with me! Bye...

A/N: Surprise Eh...not surprise at all? Mou...mi-chan's no good in surprising ppl. Zanne! But still, hope that minna-san would enjoy reading this chappie. Oh well, not kinda enjoyable coz this would be the longest.

Change of scene (Imadoki - Present time)

"Eh, Sakuno-chan, osoi sugi..." Eiji muttered at the same time, lazily, he passes the colored balls to Oishi for decorating the X'mas tree, whereas others are concentrating with their chores. (Osoi sugi - very slow)

Seeing that there's no feedback from his teammates, Eiji continued to grumble "Mou, even Tezuka's here already! She's out since this morning and now it's almost lunch time!" Still no response from his teammates, Eiji decided to think of some other topics to attract their attentions "Maybe something unfortunate happened to her, mayoi toka..." hearing that, the others instantly stop doing their work. (mayoi - lost, toka - such as)

'Yosh, progression! More...' Eiji laughed inwardly as he continued to rub in more fun "Heh, moshikashite, sarawareta?" (moshikashite - perhaps, sarawareta - kidnapped)

"Eiji/Kikumaru-senpai!" everyone began to turn and stared sternly at the arcobatic player.

"Hee...hee, joking...joking" Eiji stepped a few steps backward when he noticed that except Oishi, Tezuka and Kaidoh, his other teammates are slowly approaching him.

"Too late...Kikumaru-senpai" Momo grinned devilishly "prepare for the punishment! Inui-senpai's newly formulated 'Triple Xtra concerntrated X'mas Penalty Fruit Punch'!

Just when Momo together with Inui and Fuji was about to get hold of Eiji, a familiar laughter intermitted them.

"Sakuno/Ryuzaki!" again the group bellowed in unison as they were surprised to see the hazel-haired girl suddenly standing in front of them. Awhile ago, everyone's worried that what if Eiji could be right with his words. Seeing the girl in person makes their heart skip a beat, yet somehow, they were glad that nothing had happened to her.

"Sorry for the interruption..." Sakuno blushed at the same time supressing her giggles. Eiji instantly heaved a sigh 'Nya...saved by Sakuno-chan'

"Sakuno-chan!" Momo began "What took you so long! Did you managed to meet up with Echizen!"

Sakuno fluttered her eyes with confusion "Meet up Ryoma-kun? Ano...Momo-senpai? I don't understand..."

"Mou, Sakuno-chan, don't be shy" Momo said with a teasing tone "Tell us, what happened? Did Echizen keep you accompanied? Or did he...fu huhuhuhu" he covered his mouth with one of his hands as he laughed grimly. (A/N: Minna, please imagine Kakashi-sensei (Naruto) reading the Icha Icha Paradise!)

Scratching her head, the word 'confused' was imprinted on her face "I'm sorry, but I still don't get you ? I don't remember of going out..."

All of a sudden, Momo's jaw went ajar when Sakuno gave him a sweet and innocent smile.

"Wait? Sakuno-chan! You said that you were going out to look for Echizen, isn't it?" Momo continued and everyone nodded with agreement.

"Huh? I did? Senpai, please stop making fun of me..." more confusion was brought into the conversation.

"But...you...were" Just as when Momo was about to clarify further, Eiji patted his shoulder and signalled him to stop.

"Ah, looks like the place will be ready in no time..." she remarked cheerfully with another smirk plastered across her face. Just then, when Sakuno glanced the clock and had realized that it's almost noon. "Gosh! It's so late already! Gomen kudasai, minna! I need to do some shopping!" (Gomen kudasai - excuse me)

It was quite an evident to the Seigaku regulars by now that something was wrong with Sakuno. All sorts of possibilities began to flow in their mind of why Sakuno would have acted so. Shortly, right after Sakuno left them; Eiji, Oishi, Inui together with Momo and Kaidoh gathered around, forming a circle to start their discussion.

"What's wrong with Sakuno-chan?" Momo asked as he stared at his seniors, a little confused.

"I know" Inui said shortly, adjusting his lens, he began to scribble something on his data book.

"You do?" Eiji and the rest of the regulars (including Tezuka and Fuji) began to pay attention at Inui.

"Just now, those were the symptoms of a temporary amnesia. Symptoms generally includes memory loss, confusion, inability to recognise familiar faces..." the regulars stared at Inui with big eyes when he read out the long list from his data book "Amnesia could be caused by a wide range of conditions, including head injury, severe illness, high fever , seizures, emotional shock or hysteria and so on"

"Memory is mysterious. The way the brain codes and stores information remains a mystery. Current and often conflicting theories include, widespread distribution of memories across the outermost layer of the brain (cortex), widespread distribution of memories, with certain structures (such as the hippocampus) playing important roles, localised memory areas in certain structures of the brain only, memory storage in brain molecules, memory storage in clusters of nerve cells (neurones)"

"Wow, Inui...you sounds more like a physciatrist now..." Eiji remarked, although he's still blank with those terms which Inui had come out with "That means, she really did fell and knock her head?"

"Most probably not, I would assume that Ryuzaki-san would have most likely to suffer from emotional shock" Inui replied sternly "And the cause to it could only be one possibility, Echizen Ryoma"

'Kaede-san? What on earth is happening to Sakuno-chan? Could it be...' Fuji wondered. While others were listening to Inui, from behind, Tezuka has been observing Fuji . The tensai is unusually quiet, he noted. Worried that Fuji might not be feeling well, he went over to check out on him. Just when Tezuka was about to pat on Fuji's shoulder, he turned around and excuse himself from the crowd, only noticed that the Seigaku bucho is only a few steps away from him.

"Tezuka?" overwhelmed by Tezuka's sudden approach, Fuji raised a brow, his blue eyes stares at him, bright and quizzical "Is there anything?"

"Fuji" Tezuka coughed a few times before saying a word "I...just want to check if you're alright"

"Tezuka" Fuji said with an extremely passionate voice "I didn't know that you're so caring, especially towards me..." his eyes stared affectionally at Tezuka. Though Tezuka might have been petrified by Fuji's stares and words, yet he decided to stick up with his plain and stern facade.

"Seems like you're alright now..." remarked Tezuka in monotone "Then just ignore my earlier statement, that's it"

"Oh, that's it?" Fuji gave him another teasing smile.Then again Kaede suddenly appeared and was floating behind Tezuka.

'Masayoshi-sama? You're looking for me?' Suddenly Kaede appeared and was behind Tezuka, giving Fuji a shock.

"Aah!" this time, unable to retain his tranquility, Fuji screamed directly in front of Tezuka's face. Not only Tezuka was surprised, but the others too were anxious when they heard the tensai's scream, moreover, it would be their first time of seeing the tensai screaming in despair, though there was a time when he drank Inui's special formulated 'penalty vinger' and fainted without letting a sound.

"Fuji/Senpai?" they called out in unison.

"What is it?" noticing that Fuji's stares was towards his back, the Seigaku bucho's head tilted his head backward to see if there's anything there. Seeing there's nothing there, Tezuka turned back and gave him a questioning stares.

"Fuji, are you alright?" with concern, Oishi asked.

"No...nothing...ex...excuse me..." panicky, Fuji ran out from the dinning hall, leaving others with great curiousity.

"What's wrong with Fuji-senpai?" Momo asked and began to divert his stares at Tezuka. Others too were doing the same.

"Don't ask me..." Tezuka scoffed, ignoring their stares, he resumed back to his earlier task.

"Nyah, I'm so worried..." Eiji muttered, letting out an audible frown "Both Fuji and Sakuno-chan are so weird nowadays"

Right after he left the crowd, Fuji made his way to the washroom. Locking the door behind him, he began to search for traces of the phantom.

'I'm over here, Masayoshi-sama!' She whispered as she made herself visible before Fuji's eyes 'and sorry for troubling you...I thought you can't see me clearly...'

'That was days before, but right now, I'm getting a clearer view of you' he explained 'Now I know, that day, Sakuno-chan was acting so weird! It's because of you...' he stated with a faint smirk on his face.

'Talk about Sakuno, I was wondering if you were responsible for her partial memories lost?' he continued.

'Yes...' Kaede nodded solemnly 'I used my spiritual power to erase part of her memories'

'I don't believe that you would have such power to do so...' Fuji shooked his head and let out an audible frown 'And would you mind to tell me why?

'I can't bear to see Sakuno-chan suffering...she was crying in her room' Kaede explained fearfully.

'So she had been crying just now? How pathetic!' He massaged his throbbing temple and sighed 'I'm now beginning to wonder if we've really done the right thing, about matching them!' Fuji pondered "Troublesome couple!"

'I was there with her earlier! Ryoma-san had said very harsh words to Sakuno-chan! Although Sakuno-chan might not understands why he had hurt her, but I was reading Ryoma's mind! His words were out of jealousy! He was jealous of you and Sakuno-chan!' Kaede continued

'Wait a minute...you what?' Fuji asked out of surprise 'You...read minds?"

'Yes, I do...' Kaede confessed, sensing that Fuji's expression changed a bit 'provided, that person's mind frequency is strong enough' she ended her words softly.

'And he's jealous, why...you should have tell me earlier...' Fuji giggled 'so, he's jealous! He should be, afterall, I'm so good with the rubbing on jealousy!' soon his chuckles were replaced by soft laughter.

'Masayoshi-sama?' Kaede furrowed her brow

'Sorry' he apologized 'I was laughing because I thought that Echizen had no interest with Sakuno-chan, that's why I was worried at first, moreover you were telling me that he had said harsh words to her! So he acted so was just because he's jealous! That imprudent guy!'

'Masayoshi-sama, that's the best I can do! The rest, I leave them to your good hands!" Kaede said weakly, her face was paler that usual! Unable to brace herself, Kaede collapsed.

'Kaede-san!' Fuji eyes widen. Instantly, he braced the weak phantom in his arms 'Kaede-san? Are you alright?'

'I'm fine' she said weakly 'Like I said, I won't be here long...Masayoshi-sama, please, promise me to get the two of them back together...'

Fuji nodded 'Hai, yakusoku da...so please hold on, at least till tomorrow...' (Yakusoku da - it's a promise)

'Hai...and one more thing...is it alright if you could hold me for a little longer...just for now?' Kaede requested and Fuji blushed and gave her another nod 'Yes, just for now...'

(A/N: Sorry all Fuji's fans coz he's in love with a phantom...just kidding! Fuji's mine! Ouch! Who throws me the eew...rotten cabbages? If not, at least let me have Tezuka-bucho :P)

Fuji had spent quite sometimes in the washroom. The others began to worry about him, thus they decided to check out on him. When the group were standing right in front of the washroom's door, Fuji suddenly opened up the door and gave all of them a shock.

"Ah! Fuji!" Oishi bellowed.

"Nyah...Fuji? What took you so long? Constipation?" Eiji shooked his head and gave him a you-know-that-we-worried-dead-about-you-look.

"Exactly!" Fuji agreeded with Eiji, a smirk on his face "since it's winter and my system's not functioning properly..."

"Fuji! Constipation is a very serious problem! Come, I'll spare you a bottle of my new invention. Once you drink this, constipation will instantly say bye bye to you!" Inui remarked proudly.

"Yeah...constipation says bye bye but diarrhea says yoroshiku!" while the data player keeps on convincing Fuji to have the drinks, Momo muttered softly, his mind is now imagining the tensai's (Yoroshiku - nice to meet you)

"Minna-san! Let's not talk about me. There would be some changes on our plans for tomorrow" Fuji stated mischievously.

"So..." Ryoma finally looked down from the where Momo settled.

"You've decided to go, haven't you?" Momo asked. Right after the group finished their job at the Ryuzaki's residence, everyone headed back home, but not for Momo. He has been directed by Fuji and had to stop by Ryoma's place and to pass him an invitation.

"Troublesome...apparently I was thinking for the whole morning if I should go?" Ryoma muttered while putting on his red jacket to beat the coldness. 'By all means, I have to go...'

Momo eyed Ryoma like a fashion consultant. "I think this red jacket no longer fits you."

"Hm" Ryoma examined himself for a moment before taking off the jacket and put it back on the rack "Guess it is! Time flies!" he muttered while searching for another jacket.

"So what is your final decision? You are coming to the Christmas party tomorrow night, right?" Momo asked Ryoma when they walked out of the room and made their way to the dinning hall.

"Yes, since I have nothing else to do anyway" he replied casually

'Though mum had asked me to bring her back home, but, not a chance, especially when oyaji is around! I would rather go there than bringing her back here and suffer from oyaji's merciless teasing!' he thought inwardly.

"Well, I am sure those girls in school will be lining up to have a date with you." Momo grinned. "All those girls in the Ryoma-sama No.1 Fanclub" he added

"I would rather spend my day alone than with any of those bunch of annoying girls!" Ryoma said (Ryoma's heart: I want to spend this special day with her, sore dake). Letting out a long and dreadful sigh he continued "It surprises me how all these girls manage to survive with an IQ lower than Horio! Mada mada dane..."

(A/N: Gomen ne, Ryoma-sama no fans tachi)

"According to Inui-senpai's researches, almost all tennis players have an average IQ of above two digits" Momo smiled. "Believe it or not, Horio is not the one with the lowest IQ score."

Momo's smile widened upon Ryoma's questioning gaze, "That freaking Mamushi would definitely had the lowest score! 93?"

"I know, you wouldn't get past two digits either" Ryoma shooked his head and muttered his libertto again.

Momo nodded his head with agreement at first and but just as soon as he registered what the first year had said, he bolted out like roaring thunder "Echizen!"

"Kidding" sticking out his tongue, he quickly distanced himself from his raging senior.

As soon as they were at the dinning hall's entrance, Momo asked again "Now, back to the Christmas party, I've countered you in!" he winked "I wondered if you're inviting Sakuno-chan as your partner?"

"Partner?" Ryoma settled himself down "What do you mean by Ryuzaki as my partner'?"

"Nothing in particular, but then after the other day I thought you would ask Sakuno-chan and spend that special day with her" Momo shrugged

"What other day?" Ryoma narrowed his eyes. 'What the heck is he talking about?' He thought. 'Is he still talking about that drunken incident?'

"Oh yeah, you forget everything when you were drunk…" the sophormore laughed under his breath. "Never mind what I say..."

'Confirmed...he's digging 'THAT TOPIC' out again!' Ryoma thought wearily.

"It's really nothing…" Momo suddenly felt a chill down his spine. At the corner of his eyes, he could see Ryoma giving him a don't-remind-me-of-such-incident-again-or-you-are-going-to-have-a-taste-of-my-twist-serve stare.

"Well, since all of us noticed that she likes you too...you know what I mean..." Momo let out a sigh of relief when Ryoma finally diverted his gaze to the window.

'She is? How nice…wait...what if they were wrong? What the heck was I thinking?' Ryoma shook his head frantically, while Momo watched with amusement.

"By the way, Echizen..." Momo let out a few coughs to have Ryoma's attentions "I was wondering, this morning, right after you left us, did you by any chance had met Sakuno?"

'Hm? Did Sakuno went back and complained to them that I've made her cried?' Ryoma shrugged inwardly 'but then, if she did, I'll already be dead by now. Those senpais, wouldn't be so kind enough to let me live if they found out what I've done to her...' swallowing a lump, coldsweat rolled down from Ryoma's forehead.

"Echizen..." Momo said in a quiet and slightly dangerous tone "You know, when I asked her, if she had met you...she told me that she doesn't even remember of going out. Obviously something must have happened to her ..."

"She what!" Ryoma shrugged at first, but quickly covered his mouth when Momo was surprised by his words 'How could that possibly be...Sakuno...she don't remember...'

At this time, guilt is now eating him 'I wondered if she's okay? Baka, how could she be? Echizen Ryoma, you're such a...moron' he scolded inwardly.

"Momo-senpai..." Ryoma paused, not sure whether he should tell his senpai of what had happened to them. The dinning hall has been quiet for quite sometimes. Neither one of them wanted to say a word.

"Stop pestering me..."

"I'm sorry...I didn't know that my annoyance would be the cause of your perturbation!"

'I have to tell him...' shoving away all his thoughts, Ryoma gathered all his courage and had decided to reveal the truth "Momo-senpai, this morning..."

"Actually, I don't really agree with what Inui-senpai had said about Sakuno-chan " Momo continue "I know, she would have by all means acted as if nothing had happened..." he paused "she doesn't want anyone of us worry about her, moreover, she wants to protect you...Echizen" Ryoma eyes widen when Momo interjected.

Ryoma regarded his senior for a while then he looked away and divert his attention towards the garden outside his house 'She doesn't want to get me into trouble? Yet I...' his fist tightened.

"Ne, Echizen, I know. It must've been a hard time for you too..., tennis or love, dochi ga kimetteru?" Momo suddenly jumped his topic and asked with a slightly amusing tone when he saw Ryoma's unreadable expression. (Dochi - which, kimetteru - decide)

"Both..."

"Echizen!" Momo had taken Ryoma's word by surprise "What did you say?"

"Sakuno or tennis, right now, I've decided to have them both..." he said in a soft and yet detemined tone.

"Heh...so you wanted both eh..."he teased "that was not an answer that I would expect from you, Echizen"

"But, I should say, you're a lucky little greedy brat! You just didn't know how lucky you are. You're so good in tennis and now there's a girl whose willing to do anything for you..." he walk over and gave Ryoma a headlock attack "Uraiyamashi...uraiyamashi..."(uraiyamashi - envious)

"Ouch, Momo-senpai...it hurts..."

"Hn, you deserve this...ma, better get going before the weather worsen"

"See you tommorrow" Momo flashed Echizen a toothy smile before leaving.

"You sounds weird..." Echizen smiled back "but anyway...thanks for your concern, Momo-senpai..."

"See you tomorrow?" Sliently Ryoma began to ponder again.

"Sakuno..." Ryoma whispered softly her name "I wonder what are you doing right now, Sakuno?"

Kitchen's Door : Sign reads 'Warning! Work in progress, do not disturb!'

For hours, the kitchen was occupied by Sakuno. Humming one of her favourite X'mas song 'Rudolf the red nose reindeer' (A/N: My favourite actually), Sakuno added in the last drop of the vanilla essence into the bowl of mixture and gradually stir it well for quite sometimes. Scooping out the last ounce the mixture from the bowl into a round-shaped mold, Sakuno declared happy "Done, kanpeki!" (Kanpeki - perfect)

'Mou, I wondered, what's Ryoma-kun doing right now?' Sakuno thought to herself 'I just can't wait till tommorrow' she let out a soft chuckle while placing the mold of cake mixture into the oven to bake. While waiting for the cake to be cook, Sakuno continued her pondering 'I wondered, if he's coming tommorrow?'

'No worry dear, he'll come' a faint voice whispered.

'Really?' she asked happily at first but paused when she suddenly an awareness came to her that she was all alone in the kitchen. Frantically she look around her, there no sign of anyone's presence. Sakuno gave herself a knock in her head 'Mou...Sakuno-chan, you're scaring yourself off, perhaps you'll need to have a good rest soon. Wait, when did I had such habits of talking to myself?'

As soon as she was about to return to her chores, the phone rang. Sakuno quickly rush out of the kitchen to answer the phone.

'Sakuno-chan...I'm wishing you joy and happiness...' Kaede take one last look of the girl's back before vanishing into the air.

All Seigaku tennis members were invited to the Christmas party at the Ryuzaki's residence, yet only less than half numbers of the group had turned up. Sumirei had also invited some participants from the American-Japan's junior exchange games to join their party! Inui was doing his recording since the very beginning. Since most of the participants were males, the females had out numbered by 8:2 in ratio.

Fuji made his appearance promptly at 8:30 after having his family dinner, and to everyone's surprise, Sakuno was right beside him.

"Yeah! Momo, you are bound to loose big time. Much more than when you bet on Horio-kun and Osakada's outting!" Eiji placed his arm around Momo and smiled widely. "You'd better prepare to get yourself a bottle of Inui's superb disgusting vege-juice!" he laughed and Momo frowned slightly.

"Kikumaru-senpai! It's not official yet, right?" Momo finished his fruit punch in one gulp. "At least I will have Kawamura-senpai to share the other half with" Momo's gaze quickly made it's way to the sushi bar, where Kawamura, the 'power' tennis player is. He's there to perform to others his sushi making skills.

"Easy with the drinks, Momo, it's not even 10 yet! I don't think you'll be able to survive till the end of the party" the new comer left out a soft chuckle.

The two turned to see Fuji standing behind them, with Sakuno smiling next to him. "Ano...Momo-senpai" she began shyly "you might black out before midnight if you overconsume the fruit punch"

"You look beautiful tonight, Sakuno-chan" Momo stared at Sakuno, who was dressed in rose silk charmeuse and tulle dress with embroidered celtic appliqué, and smiled. "So in order to keep my hands off the drinks, would you be my partner for the first dance?"

"Momo-chan?" Fuji interjected "I'm sorry, but I've already invited Sakuno-chan to have the first dance with me." Fuji smiled and took Sakuno to the dance floor.

Sakuno began to stuttered "but...but, Fuji-senpai, I'm not good in...danc...ing..."

'Fuji-senpai?' Seeing that Fuji was ignoring her pleade, Sakuno began to weep inwardly 'Doushiyou...Fuhuhu...'

"And you say he's not interested in her..." Eiji stated matter-of-factly.

"Maybe I should ask Kawamura-senpai to standby here too, just in case..." Momo muttered to himself while pouring himself another drink.

Change of scene (Mirai - Future)

"Congratulation, Sakuno-chan!" the acrobatic player said cheerfully "Eh? So you guys are here too?" the national seeds, Tezuka, Oishi, Inui, Momoshiro and Kaidoh greeted back upon seeing the acrobatic player's entrance.

"Eiji-senpai...arigatou..." Sakuno managed softly.

"Senpai te? Nya, Sakuno, you're definitely making us sounds older!" Eiji winked.

"Ne...ne, Sakuno-chan where's our dear aka-chan! Eiji-jichan's anxious to play with dear aka-chan! Wa...ha...ha, I'm so excited!" (aka-chan - baby)

"Eiji?" Oishi let out a few cough and shooked his head "the newborn is still too young to play with you, moreover, you sounded like they are your toys!"

"I know, I know" Eiji covered both his ears to avoid Oishi's lectures "You're giving lectures to an experience father of two kids now, eh...save it for others..."

"We're not like you, Eiji..." Oishi teased "Most of us here are still in the 'Eligible Bachelors' list! Now I really pity Tomo-chan! Bet this is what she get from you everyday...Poor Tomo-chan" (A/N: A surprise pairing! I'm such a devil, but minna-san, pluzee do not hate me, coz I've got a very good reason for it!)

"Oishi!" Eiji was furious and he's definitely mad and embarrassed "I know! You're jealousy!"

"Jealous?"

"Yeah, jealous that my wife looks so much like one of the members from the Chocolate! That's why..." (A/N: Here's my reason. Yes, I personally thought that there's a girl from the Chocolate looks very much like Tomoka! And Chocolate is Eiji's favourite girl band!)

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"IS NOT"

"IS TOO!"

"Both of you..." Tezuka warned sternly and gave them a deadly stern glares, dangerous enough to stop the national golden pair. "The patient needs some peace at least..." seeing that Sakuno's face turns paler, Tezuka put the argument to an end.

"By the way, where's Fuji?" fearing that Tezuka would continue his lecture, Eiji quickly shifted topics.

"We've not seen him around eversince we came in..." Momo replied nonchalantly as he leaned his back againt the wall.

"Huh? That's boring! I've been thinking lots of ways to tease him...besides, this was his first experience..." Eiji frowned.

"Oh...he went home and have some rest since he did not have any sleep for the whole day..." Sakuno said shyly.

Change of scene...

"Eiji, Momo, do you notice a rather scary aura over there?" Oishi walked over after greeting the members from Fudomine, Yamabuki, St Rudolph, Rokkaku, Jyousei, Houytei and Rikkai.

(A/N: Gosh, how could I ever forget these bunch of cute guys, though they are rivals of Seigaku but still, most of them are too cute to be ignored. So, minna-san, let's assumed that the Ryuzaki Residence has big function hall, at least big enough to accomodate these cute guys...)

"Scary aura?" Eiji looked over to the corner of dinning table "Yeah, it is rather scary, isn't it? Gives me chills down my spine…."

Ryoma was standing in a dark corner of the dinning hall, observing happy pair on the dance floor. 'So she is with that cunning sly fox again...' unknowingly by himself, Ryoma's eyes were shooting daggers to the dance floor.

"Echizen?" A voice rose behind him, he turned to find Oishi standing there with Eiji "Are you ok? You are giving off a, err…, rather strange aura…." Oishi asked concernly.

"Bezuni..." Ryoma muttered cooly, which in reality had scared the hell out of the golden pair as his handsome face had twisted into something comparable to the famous Picasso's painting. "and would both of you excuse me?" He walked over to Momo and prompted to have a eat all you can contest. (Bezuni - nothing)

"There, the steps are easy, aren't they?" Fuji asked as he smiled lovingly at his partner.

"That's because you're leading well..." Sakuno stammered and blushed at his comment.

"Oh, that's because you're a good learner...is that what you're trying to hear from me?" Fuji teased.

"No...no, I've never thought of that..." Sakuno stuttered again.

"No worries, I'm just teasing you" Fuji chuckled "By the way, you look really different tonight...very lovely as I should say" he praised.

Pausing her steps, Sakuno began to blush madly "Fuji-senpai? Mou...please don't tease me anymore" she pleaded.

"This time I'm serious...everyone's eyes on you..." Fuji whispered softly on her ears "hora, take a look around..." Indeed Fuji had pointed out the facts which Sakuno had never noticed from the beginning.

While taking a quick glance across the hall to confirm Fuji's statement, Sakuno could see Inui's scribbling more notes into his data. She let out an inaudible sigh and thought 'How I wish these words would have come from Ryoma-kun...'

Then again, she turned around to search for traces of Ryoma only to noticed that he and Momoshiro were at Kawamura's sushi bar and were eating like cow. The 'Powerhouse' Kawamura looks worried that his supplies wouldn't last till midnight if the two keeps their eating pace steady.

"Ano...Momo and Echizen, please watch out, especially Echizen. Don't get yourself choked like last time" Kawamura said in a soft and embarrasing tone.

"No problem, Kawamura-senpai" Momoshiro winked "Echizen would die to avoid himself to repeat the same incident since he had experienced a bad day right after consuming the rice wine"

"Momo-senpai, urusai! You'll get yourself choke too for talking too much while eating..." Ryoma retaliated and he doesn't like it when Momo is digging up that topic again "If this time you happened to get choked, I'll serve you with a glass of Inui-senpais's specialties"

"Just wait and see who serves who first" Momo snorted.

"Mada mada dane..."

"Mou, both of you..." Kawamura sighed.

"Ano...Fuji-senpai, sorry but please excuse me..." Fuji placed a finger on her lip and gave her a smile that would kill millions and zillions of his fans "I know, you must be tired by now" he paused and slowly lowered his head to match with Sakuno's level "After all, you've been spending quite sometime to get that thing done just for him. That makes me so envious. How I wish I could be him..." Sakuno blushed upon hearing those words.

"Momo-senpai, you know, I kinda dislike the enviroment here" Ryoma stop eating when he caught glance of Fuji sticking so close to Sakuno. 'I doubt they will kill each other soon, see how Horio and Tomoka are right now' he cursed inwardly.

"I shall go and meet up with Yuuta. He must have miss me already..." Fuji informed with another wink "I'll leave the rest of the night for you to spend with him" he whispered softly and give a peck on her cheek before proceeding to leave. Upon seeing that, Ryoma tightened his fist, so tight that he had broke the pair of chopsticks into halves. "What the..." he hissed inaudibly.

Right after the Fuji-kissed-Sakuno-Ryoma-gets-flared-up-incident, Fuji walked away from Sakuno. Ryoma heaved a sigh when he saw Fuji had left Sakuno, but then his peace in mind never lasted long when he noticed that few guys from other schools approached the hazel-haired girl. Instantly Ryoma placed down his plate and pay full attention on Sakuno and those guys.

"Haha...Echizen you were bound to lose a big time" Momo teased as he continued taking more food from his plate.

"Hm? Echizen? Doshita no...Echi...zen..." Kawamura asked anxiously but paused as soon as he realized that the first year was watching over Sakuno.

"Hi, you are Ryuzaki Sakuno-san right? Remember me? We've met few times before in different occassions?" the orange haired bishonen, Sengoku of Yamabuki was the first to speak out.

"Hmm...hmm...hmm...hm..." a familiar wicked laughter interjected the scene "Ryuzaki Sakuno, I've been observing you for quite sometimes. You were with Fuji Syuusuke earlier right? As expected from my rival, we're destined rivals in everything...skills and even taste...hmm...hmm...hmm..." While Mizuki, the St Rudolph's leader is still there, drowning in his own world, the others had long ago ignored his presence.

"How lame! Is this the ways that you bunch of fools used to pursue a sweet girl like her?" Atobe, the well known all ladies' man said with a usual tone "I would rather be more straight forward!"

He step forward and stood right in front of Sakuno and grab one of her hand before he begin his serenading "A girl that blossoms so beautifully in winter's time, makes my heart skip a beat! Please accept my sincere declaration of love for you and dance with me all nite long!" his trademark smirk plastered on his arrogant face.

The rest of the guys had goosebump all over their body right after hearing Atobe's serenading. Even Sakuno also could not help but shiver with thrills.

"Kabaji" with a snap of his fingers, Kabaji immediately stood by his side.

"Wheez!"

"Flowers" Atobe ordered while his hand is still clutching on Sakuno's.

"Wheez!"

"Ano..." Sakuno stammered "I'm...sorry...but...but" she then felt Atobe's grip tightened when she tried to pull away from it. Terrified and don't know what to do, Sakuno could only pray for someone or anyone to get her out of this 'Please, anyone, please get me out of here...'

"Are you guys by chance have any problems with partner?" a familiar monotone interrupted. Sakuno was more than surprise to see Ryoma. He had even declared openly that she's his partner. Those words had made her blushed furiously. At the same time she's at ease. She knew he's here to save her, he'll always be there for her whenever she's in trouble 'Ryoma-kun...'

"Echizen Ryoma?" the pursuers bellowed in unison.

"She's your partner?" Atobe raised his brow and studied Ryoma for quite sometimes. Eyes to eyes, they exchange glares.

"Hm? You guys have any problem with that?" Ryoma asked coldly. His voice is colder than usual "Maybe you would like to buy yourself a 5,000 balls competition from me, admitting your defeat and to let go of my partner"

"Ryoma-kun?" Noticing that Atobe had loosen his grip, Sakuno quickly pulled away from it and quickly she walk over and stood behind Ryoma.

"Sakuno, let's go..." possessively he took Sakuno's hand and was about to drag her out of the dance hall, when Atobe stopped them. Both rivals exchanged death glares for a moment. Some guests stopped dancing and divert their attentions towards the two heated guys.

Not wanting to stir more troubles, Atobe raised his hand with defeat "Fine, you can take her with you...but..."

"Kabaji..." Atobe snapped his fingers again.

"Wheez" holding a bunch of beautiful red roses on his arm, Kabaji passed it to Atobe.

Again, Atobe approached the couple "Sakuno-chan" his sparkling eyes on Sakuno and said "Here's a token of my heart for you..." handling the flowers to Sakuno, he took out from his pocket, a namecard "call me whenever you feel like considering me..."

"Wait..." Ryoma said in a cold and calm voice as he took the flowers and the namecard from Sakuno's hand and shoved it back to Atobe "I don' think she'll need this! Besides..." he paused, walking back to Sakuno's side. His firm hand grabbed Sakuno's slender arm, gently pulled her towards him and embraced her possessively "This girl's mine!"

(A/N: Music played, another great song from Full Moon, Smile)

If the sky was crying for you

I'll turn into a sea and embrace it

even if we're swallowed by the storm and lose our map

your back is the signpost for me now

like the moon and sun, even when near or far

please be close enough to capture my light

'Ryoma-kun...' Ryoma's words, a cool and determined declaration had took Sakuno's breathe away. Her legs becomes weak. She could feel the warm breathe of the prince caressing one side of her cheeks. Gently parting their embrace, Ryoma stared deeply into her eyes. Ryoma gave Sakuno a promising I'll-get-you-out-of-here gaze . Sakuno's worlds seems like spinning around. Everything turns slow motioned and it seems like their time had instantly stopped.

Like the actor & actress of the famous 'Titanic' movie, the couple escaped from the crowded ball room and flee to a place where they could have some privacy.

"Ryuzaki, ikkuzo..." Ryoma quickly pulled Sakuno and both of them walk away from the crowd. Putting on their winter's gear, both Ryoma and Sakuno walked out of the Ryuzaki's Residence. (ikkuzo - Let's move)

"Sakuno!" Sparkling golden orbs gazed affectionately at the hazel ones.

"Ryoma-kun..." seeing that Ryoma is inching closer to her, she heaved a sigh and gently she closes her eyes. She could feel his warm breathe on her burning face. She's been longing for that magical moment...

"Ryuzaki..."

"Ryuzaki?"

"Ryuzaki!"

Ryoma's voice brought Sakuno back to reality.

"Ha...hai..." Sakuno stuttered and frantically regarded Ryoma for a moment. Her face is now hot and red, hot enough to melt the snow. 'My imagination?' slightly disappointed, she gave herself a gentle knock in her head.

"Hm? What's that for?" Curious upon seeing Sakuno's gesture, Ryoma raised a brow. Somehow he had to admit that those tiny gestures of hers were rather cute.

"No...nothing..." shooking her head, Sakuno turn away from the prince to hide her blushing face. 'That's embarrassing, Just now I was thinking that...that? And now he's staring at me...' Sakuno felt like she's running out of air. Every moment she could have die of heart attack. 'Doushiyo...do something or say something, Sakuno' she scolded herself.

"Ah...ah...ano..." Sakuno was too shy to even utter a proper sentence "Ah...ah, Ryo...Ryoma-kun?"

"Beautiful isn't it?" Ryoma's voice interjected.

smile smile

watch me always, watch me forever whenever

smile smile

want to believe, want to feel it forever

smile smile

being able to understand happy mornings and sad nights

I won't forget to smile

I cannot live without you forever

"Huh?" Suprised by Ryoma's word, Sakuno regarded him for a while. A gentle smile plastered on his handsome face. Such heartthrobbing smile which Ryoma had never showed infront of anyone before.

"The snow..." his eyes soften right before he had turned to stare at the sky and then back to the girl again.

"The snow?" Sakuno take a look at the dark sky, witnessing beautiful snow dancing in the sky.

"Yes, they are" Turing her attention back to Ryoma, Sakuno gave him another blushing smile.

"Ryoma-kun?" her heart is now pounding crazily against her chest when Ryoma stepped forward and stood in front of her. So close, Sakuno could once again experience the heat of the tennis prince's body in the cold.

"I...I..." Sakuno shrugged 'Sakuno, now is the right chance to tell him your feelings...' she noted inwardly.

"I've got something for you, hope you'll like it..."Ryoma's unusal soft and gentle voice interrupted Sakuno's thought.

"For me?" Sakuno felt like atomic bomb hitting her head. Everything's happening too fast. A moment ago, both of them were standing in this open field watching snow and right now, he even had a present ready for her "Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno's heart filled with great anticipation while watching Ryoma tucking his hands into the pockets of his winter's coat, to take out the gift.

"Here..." slowly Ryoma uncovered both hands to reveal a small and beautifully wrapped box to Sakuno.

N and S, like magnets, when we notice someday

we'll be pulled together as if that was ordinary

like that secret, unstoping clock that noone knows

the two continues to move on the same face

I dream about your long hand (The long hand refers to the hour hand of the clock)

the small hand overlaps to deepen the love (The small hand refers to the minute hand of the clock)

"Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno eyes widen "That's...that's..." tongue tied, the girl swallowed a lump.

"Don't like it?" Ryoma raised his brow and regarded the girl for a moment

"No...yes, I mean..." Sakuno blushed and frantically shook her head "Ryoma-kun, arigatou!" showing her sincere thanks, she quickly took the gift from the prince's hands and bowed before Ryoma.

That suppose-to-be a ninety degree bow stopped at a forty-five as without awareness of their proximity, Sakuno's head is now laying on Ryoma's broad chest. As soon as Sakuno realized her own clumsiness had caused another embarrassement, she quickly braced herself was about to pull away, but then, he reached out a hand and just lightly touched her cheek with his fingertips causing the inevitable chaos to her senses. The other hand was at her back, drawing her to him until she was in his arms.

"Ryoma-kun..." a soft and uncertain voice could be heard from Sakuno.

"I didn't know..." Ryoma said in a deceptively soft voice "you would thank me in such way?" The endearment, spoken so softly in that deep, quiet voice, did incredible things to her heartbeat. "Yappari...dandori warui sugi..." he continued with a teasing tone.

"Ryoma-kun?" Knowing that Ryoma had said these words to tease her, Sakuno decided to play along "I'm not always like this, you..." voluntarily, she raised her head as she speaks, golden orbs meets hazel ones "...know..." Her pulse were pounding wildly and her heart seemed to have gone completely out of control.

Both of them had made no attempt to break away from each other's gaze. It was a delicate, sensitive moment of suspense, and Sakuno could feel her whole body trembling.

smile smile

watch me always, watch me forever whenever

smile smile

want to believe, want to feel it forever

"De..." Ryoma managed and had gathered all his strenght to break the silence 'Dang! This feelings... it just seems so right! Somehow, I remembered... I've dreamt of touching her like this...'

"Ano...ano..." Sakuno stuttered "Can I open up the present?" Reluctantly she broke away from his embrace and asked in a soft and shaking shy voice.

At that moment Ryoma was thinking that it would be the best chance for him to confess his feeling for her, but just as soon as Sakuno broke away from his embrace, he decided that he'll have to refrain his feelings for a little longer 'Maybe she's not ready for it yet...' he sighed inwardly.

"Did you said you want to open up the present?" he asked quietly. He had never used such gentle and delicated tone to talk to anyone else.

"Can I?" Sakuno asked timidly and stared at him to seek for his approval.

"Sure..." he said with an unusal warm smile "unless you wouldn't want to..."

smile smile

being able to understand happy mornings and sad nights

I won't forget to smile

I cannot live without you forever

"Hai, I would love to..." she smiled back and delicately she unwrapped the box. She then open up the box and pour the content onto her palm.

"A film canister?" Sakuno raised a brow and then look at Ryoma again. "I wonder, what's inside it..." she said with a soft chuckle. Unable to hold her anxiety any longer, Sakuno took a deep breathe and flipped open the cap. Her eyes widen when she found a pair of tiny butterfly barrette clips fashioned with sparkling rhinestone inside it.

"Ryoma-kun..." Sakuno's heart lurched wildly and she felt suddenly as if everything she ever wanted to happen is happening now "This...this...is beautiful..."

"Like to try it out?" Ryoma asked with a satisfying smirk on his face 'Great, she likes it!'

"I would loved to but..." Sakuno blushed "but...I can't fix this without a mirror..." she ended with a soft mumble.

For a moment, he said nothing. Comprehending what Sakuno meant, Ryoma extended a hand out and offered to help her to put on the clips. Surprise at first, but without further hesitation, Sakuno passes the clip to Ryoma and expressed her thanks to him "O...Onegaishimasu..." (Onegaishimasu: Please)

Biting her lower lips, Sakuno shyly waited for Ryoma to perform his job. Once again their body were closed to each other. The warm breathe of the prince caressing her face. She could feel his fingertips making gentle strokes on her long hair. It took Ryoma quite sometimes to adjust the clip as it was his first experience to do things like that.

"Yappari...kaminoke...nagai sugi..." remembering a phrase which Ryoma had always used to describe her hair, Sakuno let out another soft chuckles when she joked. (Yappari - as I thought, kaminoke - hair, nagai-long, sugi - too)

"Kaminoke...nagai...sugi..." unable to refrain his feelings any longer, Ryoma confessed with a low and deep tone "demo...suki da..." (demo-but, suki da - I like)

Sakuno heard his words and was too overwhelmed to react. All she could do was to stare at him with big stunning eyes. One of his hands came down and place on her blushing cheek, the other is still tangling with her hair. 'A confession?'

She could tell that their faces are inching closer towards each other. "Ano...Ryoma-kun..." adjusting her head a little to the left, Sakuno uttered breathelessly.

"What is it?" Ryoma hushed. Passionate feline eyes melt on hers.

"Hmm...otanjobi...omedetto..." (Otanjoubi Omedetto - Happy birthday)

"Arigatou..."

The young and inexperience couple was tilting their head left and right, adjusting the right position for quite sometimes. Drowing in their own world, they didn't even notice that there were other people watching over them.

"Hey...you guys from the back...stop pushing me..." Momo uttered softly, so soft that sounds more like squeaking.

"Nyah...can't help it, Momo, this place ain't good enough to hide three people"

"Then, find yourself another place to hide, Eiji-senpai..." Momo hissed "I don't like the feelings of a man sticking on my back"

"I don't like it either and I'm willing to die to have a better view but..." Eiji gestured Momo to take a look around them. When Momo did, he was shock to see, beside them, they were more sneaky people, hiding in the bushes just to watch the couple.

"Hey, I never know Echizen-kun could be so shy..." Sengoku commented 'Well, who doesn't? That brat had got himself such a lovely girl"

"Sengoku senpai...we're not suppose to interrupt on people's privacy" comprehending what they would be expecting next, Dan could not help but blushed furiously.

"Heh...Dan, you're here too?" Sengoku mimicked.

"Sorry...senpai, I can't hear you..." Dan replied back softly

"Echizen Ryoma...you so lucky. Guys like you would never know the meaning of 'hardship'. This makes me so jealous..." Shinji began his soft gibberish mumbling. His teamate, Kamio could only shook his head and drag him out of the scene. "Comeon Shinji, we shouldn't interrupt the couples"

"Wait...Akira-kun. You too. You're so lucky that you've got Ann-chan with you...nandemo nai" Shinji was about to continue but stop when Kamio shot him a deadliest glare. (nandemo nai - nothing)

"That Echizen! It's like taking him forever to get his lips on that girl..." Momo shooked his head and sighed inaudibly.

"Fushuu...Urusai...bet you don't even have a chance to get your stupid lips on a girl..." Kaidoh interrupted.

"Hey, Mamushi...I can hear you...you freaking mamushi..."they started off with a soft but heated arguement.

"'Beep' You!" Kaidoh enuciated softly.

"'Beep' you" Momo did the same.

(A/N: 'Beep' emphasize the censored swearing words. Thanks to my friend Liz, she's the one who gave me this idea)

Still haven't got their lips lock together, Sakuno ushered "Ano...Ryoma-kun, did you hear anything coming from the bushes..."

"Hm...perhaps it's howling of the wind?" he replied softly "maybe it's wild cats or something else..." Just when Ryoma was attempting to kiss Sakuno again, a louder sound could be heard.

"You could always go somewhere else instead of sticking so close to me, Mamushi!"

"Fyushuu...Do you think I enjoy it? You idiot!"

"Ma ma, both of you..." Eiji frowned.

"Shh...you guys over there, not so loud..."

Instantly the couple stopped their activities and gazed suspiciously at the bushes surrounding them.

"Hm...maybe you're right, Sakuno..." Ryoma smirked "seems like we've got outselves caught into unnessessary centre of attraction"

"Ryoma-kun..." she blushed frevently when Ryoma called her given name for the very first time "Dou...doushiyo?"

"Don't worry...I take good care of them..." Ryoma winked.

"An idiot like you would never learn how to keep your stupid mouth shut!" Momo exclaimed

"And you think you know!" Kaidoh retaliated

"Ma...ma, both of you, stop it! We might be heard..." Eiji persuaded.

"We've already heard you guys..." a cold familiar voice said. The three of them instantly stop and stood frozen. They could feel a killing aura behind them.

"Echizen!" the three of them bellowed, their expressions were totally terrified when Ryoma stood right in front of them with his trademark killing glares.

"I wondered what three of you doing here..." he asked cooly with a slight disappointment in his speech.

"Three of us?" the three stared at each others with confusion before diverting their gazes back to Ryoma.

"Yeah, three of you...is there anyone else beside you three?" another frown could be heard from him.

"Wait a minute, Echizen, can't you see the..." Momoshiro paused when he realized that other spectators were all gone. "Where have they gone to?" he scratches his head.

"Fushuu...you idiot!

"Nandatto!" Momo screeched in shock. (Nandatto - What's that?)

"Well, they do look cute together, don't they?" Fuji said to Yuuta as the two brothers were having their dicussion on both Ryoma and Sakuno. Yuuta nodded with a smirk on his face "Nee-san, is that one of your mischevious deed?"

Fuji chuckled upon hearing Yuuta's question "I'm not solely responsible for it...with the help of others, our plans work out flawlessly"

"Yes, especially, Atobe-san! I didn't know that he's so good with acting" soft chuckles could be heard from the Fuji kyodai. (Kyodai - brothers). When Atobe heard his names being mentioned, as fast as superman he made his appearance in front of the Fuji's brother.

"Oh, of course I am!" Atobe remarked proudly "Didn't I ever told you people that I've ever won myself an oscar before?"

"Kabaji"

"Wheez"

"Bring me the award"

"Wheez"

"Er..." both Fuji brothers sweatdrop "It's okay, we agreed that you're great" Fuji quickly added incase if Atobe might felt that the brothers are less enthusiastic with his achievement.

"Ne...nii-san, did he always carries it with him whenever he go?" Yuuta mimicked softly.

"Ma ne..." Fuji replied

Just when Atobe was about to say a word, someone attracted his attentions "Em...I didn't know there's so many pretty hot babes in here...time to go out and show you guys my bashing attractiveness"

Once again the Fuji brothers sweatdrop.

"I don't know Echizen-san that well, but I think he'll would want a girl like Ryuzaki-san."Yuuta commented over to the couple. A moment shortly Tezuka and Kawamura joined the Fuji's brother.

"Don't you think it's really nice to get to see such rewarding results, Tezuka, Taka-san?" Fuji winked

"Yes, I thought that it was just my imagination that Echizen-san would go over and save Ryuzaki from those persuers, yappari, both Inui and you are great planners"

Tezuka regared the prodigy for a moment before making a stern remark "I'm not interested"

"Ano..aniki, that's Kawamura-san? He looks different" Yuuta mimicked softly.

"Eh? You want to see his other side?"Fuji asked and then he bend down and took a racket that was placed underneath the table "Hora, Taka-san, the racket"

"Ee?" Kawamura stare quizzical at Fuji when he passed the racket to him. A few seconds later his body was engulfed with flames "Burning! Bwahaha, that brat sure have guts! Now that Echizen is ahead of us! Guys, we've gotta work harder, bwahaha!"

"By the way" Tezuka interjected "Where's the others?"

"They..." Just when Yuuta was about to reply, Sumirei joined the group.

"That's strange. Fuji, it seems like the hall has become more spacious" Sumirei asked anxiously "Even Sakuno and Ryoma were not here? Where are the two of them?"

"Both of them left this hall eariler, I guess..." Fuji winked "to get some fresh air or something? Na Yuuta, Isn't it nice, to spend Christmas Eve and birthday with someone you loved?"

"Hey? So that seshounen were out somewhere else eh?" a baritone interjected "Bet he's now doin something indecent to that cute little girl..." he smirked grimly as he commented "Seshounen" he ended his phrase with a sing song tone.

"Eh? Sumirei-chan, who's this 'Mr' beside you?" Fuji asked anxiously. Beside Tezuka and Kawamura, there stood an unexpected guest behind the Seigaku coach.

"Fuji! Told you many times that you're not suppose to call me by name and with the 'chan'" Sumirei lectured Fuji before introducing the man beside her "He's the guy whom I've always mentioned to you all and he's..."just as when Sumirei was about to go on with her introduction, there another voice came from the entrance interjecting her.

"Oyaji?" Ryoma's called from behind. Ryoma could believe with his own eyes he quickly rush over and gave his father a hard pinch.

"Ouch! What...what the 'beep' are you doing!" the man growled in pains. (A/N: 'Beep' another censored word)

"Kinosei naishi?" he stated with a low and terrifying tone. (Kinosei - imagination), nai - not, naishi - Ryoma's accent)

"Eh? Nande koko ni iru no?" (Nande koko ni iru no - Why are you here?)

"Oyaji?" As soon as the crowd registered Ryoma's eariler phrase, they bellowed in unison. Even Tezuka could notretain hisusual composure.They looked at Ryoma at first and then at Nanjiroh.

"Nanjiro jii-chan? You were here too?" Sakuno quickly went over to greet Nanjiroh.

"Sakura-chan, long time no see..." he paused as he studied the girl from head to toes.

"Eh, you look very pretty tonight" he continued his comments with a slight perverted tone, his glittering eyes staring slyly at the girl.

Just when he was about to take a step or two forward, Ryoma quickly interjected him and stood in front of Sakuno in a protective mode. "Oyaji" he began dangerously "Stop where you are right now"

"You're Echizen's father? The famous tennis pro that once terrified the world of tennis? Echizen Nanjiroh-san?" Momo asked with excitement

"Hm" Nanjiroh smirked "so, my fans eh, but please, no autographs" he said cooly as he make a slow motion on brushing his hair with one of his hands in a stylish way.

"Bleh, who would want to have your autograph" Ryoma muttered with disgust.

"Ryoma-kun..." Sakuno sweatdrop "That sounded a little to harsh"

"Not at all" Ryoma said as a matter of factly "I think I sound okay"

"Wow, I'm so happy! I've longed to meet you in person..." As soon as Momo took a closer view of Nanjiroh, he eyed him supiciously "Ano? Did we ever met before? You looks kinda familiar"

"Mm, as Momo-chan said, Nanjiroh-san sure looks familiar" Fuji rubbed his chin as he walked over and study Nanjiroh closely.

"Ya...yabai!" Cold sweat roll down from his face.

"That's that's..." Ryoma began to stammered.

"Hm?" Everyone than turned and looked at him.

"Oh, the birthday cake, let's get the cake out! It's almost midnight. Ryoma-kun, would you like to come and help me?" Sakuno quickly asked in order to save the Echizen's from trouble.

"Oh yeah! We almost forgot the special occassion" Momo and others instantly divert their attention back to the party.

"Phew" Both Nanjiroh and Ryoma heaved a sigh 'Saved!'

"Ryoma-kun, let's go" Sakuno smiled sweetly and extended a hand, to ask him to go with her.

"Ah...em" Ryoma nodded and lowered his head to hide his now blushing face. He took her hand and both of them made their way to the kitchen.

"Nyah...let's follow them and see if we could give'em a hand..." Just when Eiji and the others were about to make their move, Fuji stood up from his seat and stopped them.

"You guys just never learn to spare people some quality time. Echizen-kun is pretty shy when it comes to love" Fuji chuckles as Yuuta and him shared a grin. While waiting for the couple to bring the cake out, the anxious group gathered around and asked the eye-witnesses of what happened during their scouting.

Just as when the couple came out from the kitchen along with the cake, everyone in the hall bellowed in unison "Happy Birthday, Echizen!"

"Oya, oya...what took you guys so long, staying in the kitchen?" Sumirei smile grimly and the rest of them stared at the two new love birds. The two blushed furiously as the group keeps the teasing game on.

"Naisho" both of them said in unison.

"Ne...ne, Sakuno-chan, where's your present" Tomoka asked "fuhuhuhu, what did you have for him?"

"Ah yes, I've got this" She quickly shoved out her present from her pocket and entrusted it onto her boyfriend's hand "Happy Birthday, Ryoma-kun"

"Em? A tennis ball?" Ryoma raised his brow at first but as soon as saw a chibified form of Sakuno and himself together, he chuckled "Heh? Another collection?"

"Thank you, I loved your chibified form too, just like you, kawai" he said softly and gave Sakuno a peck on her cheek. That earned more teasing from the crowd

"Hai, hai, minna-san! Let's take a group picture!" Shiba announced

"Heh? Shiba-san? Inoue-san? When did you guys came?" Sakuno asked

"Bet you're too attached to Ryoma-kun so you didn't even noticed our presence" Shiba teased "Comeon, let me take a picture of you and Ryoma-kun, as a remembrance"

"Minna-san, Ichi to Ichi!" Shiba say out loud (Ichi- one, to - and)

"Ni!" The group bellowed loud and cheefully (AN: The Japanese way of saying 'Cheez')

"Merry Christmas!" Everyone shouted.

"As the organizer of this party, I would like to thank everyone for coming and spend time with me and my family." Sumirei stood on a small stage and happily announced. " Now let's enjoy the rest of the happy times!" Everyone cheered.

"Hey! Where's the mistletoe?" all the girls cried out from the back of the room, looking for the Seigaku famous trio. Seeing so, Tezuka, Fuji and Oishi quickly hide themselves away from the fangirls, whereas the rest of the Seigaku regulars turned and watched the scene 'Hungry fangirls searching for Seigaku's Famous Trio'

(A/N: Nyah...I wanted to be in it too...)

"Hey! Lay off! Tezuka-sama is mine!" one of Tezuka's fans shouted.

"Oh, no he's mine!"

"Fuji-senpai! Where are you?"

"Oshi-senpai!"

Those fangirls are now out of control. Even the most fearsome Ryuzaki Sumirei also couldn't get those crazy fangirls in control.

"Ladies! Looking for the the famous trisome?" Yuuta asked and stood himself before the bunch of fangirls.

"Oh...you're Fuji-senpai no ototo?" one of Fuji fans asked (Ototo - younger brother)

'Fuji no ototo? Right, I don't want anyone to remind me of this!' he fumed inwardly, nevertheless controlling his tranquility he said "I have to say that they had already left the house"

"Is it?" the fangirls bellowed in unison "Oh...we've waited for so long just to have this opportunity..." some were dissappointed by the announcement whereas most of them believed that the trio are still hiding somewhere in the resident. They gathered into tiny search teams and began to search around the house.

The trisome...

"Mou, Fuji? How long do you think we have to stay here?" Oishi frowned "Should have know that it wasn't a good idea to invite the members of girl's tennis club. Look we've got ourselves stuck here, and for god sake, it's X'mas" he murmured "And why the hiding place has to be Sakuno's closet?"

"Ha ha, Oishi, this is the first time I heard such long complains from you" Fuji chuckled as soft as he could "According to Inui, this would be the safest hideout. Sine we are the infamous trio of Seigaku Tenipuri, no one would ever thought that we would hide ourselves in a girl' s closet. Tezuka? Aren't you gonna say something?"

"I don't want to get my self suffocated inside here" Tezuka replied sternly.

"Tezuka, you must be joking. We still get air supply from the ventilator"

"Fuji, you must have enjoy hiding inside here..." based on Fuji's stance, Oishi commented.

"Of course I do" Fuji replied cheerfully. No one could ever tell what's the tensai's thinking "especially, seeing others in misery makes me happy"

"Otou?" Fuji sensed that he had stepped on something "Something's on my feet"

"Eh?" both Oishi and Tezuka gave threw Fuji a quizzical look.

"Eto, let's see, ops, Oishi, excuse me..." Fuji carefully bend down and pick up the object "Oh, Oishi, Tezuka! Look what I've got here" he declared happily, his smiling face filled with enjoyment. Instantly hot steams could be seen coming out from Tezuka and Oishi's face as soon as they registered what Fuji had just picked up.

"What is it?" Fuji asked nonchalantly.

"Fuji! It's a br...br" Oishi instantly stood fridgeted when Fuji hold the garment higher to have a better view of it.

"Nani kai?" Fuji smiled

"Keep your hands off that thing!" both of them bellowed in unsion.

From outside the room

"Hey, I think I've heard something from this room" one of the fangirls informed loudly

Again inside the room

"Oh no...they must have heard the scream" Fuji said and stared sternly at his two teammates.

"Fuji, it's all your fault" Oishi murmured inaudibly.

Outside the room

"It must be your imagination. How would the famous trio get themselves hiding in a girls room" soon many fangirls gathered around and stood infront of Sakuno's room. (Door sign: Sakuno's room)

"Hm, but I'm sure I did heard some noise coming out from this room" the fangirl said firmly.

"Oh well, there's only one way to find out!" the leader of the search team remarked and was about to open up the door when Sakuno quickly rushed over and stopped her.

"Ryuzaki Sakuno?" the leader of the Tezuka's lovey dovey fan club, Ayuya Hisashi stared at her quizzical at first, but soon her stares turns suspicious "I know it's kinda rude for entering your room without a permission, but, for tonight, in order to get what we've wanted, Ryuzaki-san, please give way!"

"I...I...can't" she could felt those killing glares coming from the Fuji's love you forever fan club members and others too, including the Oishi's deadly in love fan club.

"And why is that?" Ayu prompted "Don't tell me that our prince are really inside this room"

"How...how could it be?" Sakuno faked with a soft giggles, coldsweat formed on her forehead.

"Then why? If they weren't inside, then you should've let us have a look?"

"That's, that's because..." Sakuno instantly stood petrified, her jaw went ajar and she has ran out of words.

"Because?"

"Because, if she opened up the door, Wan-chan would come out and attack unwelcomed guest, especially bunch of annoying girls like you all" Ryoma interjected sarcarstically. (wan-chan: usually refers to as dog)

"Ryoma-kun" Sakuno instantly heaved a sigh when she Ryoma came around and once again had saved her from awkwardness.

"Echizen-san!" the girl bellowed angrily when they heard his sacarsm.

"Wan-chan?" one fangirl asked curiously. Sakuno regarded Ryoma for a moment.

"Sou suu, wan-chan" Ryoma glared at those fangirls but right after that he turned and gave Sakuno a wink "Sou daro? Sakuno-chan..."

"Ah...yes, of course! Wan-chan's very nasty and doesn't get along well with with strangers!" Sakuno decided to play along, since Ryoma had already started it.

Back to the trio...

"Looks like we're saved. Echizen and Sakuno-chan's outside blocking the fangirls" Oishi mimicked

"Wait, those girls are no fools either" Fuji replied "We aren't any safer if these girls continued to stay here"

Outside the room...

"Hora, Wan-chan is very fierce! That's why I'm locking him inside my room" Sakuno lied

"But, but, the sound I heard just now was no dog barking or whatever, it's, it's like someone's shouting"

"Huh?" Once again Sakuno's being cornered "That...that..."

"Hm, that must be your imagination" Ryoma added shortly.

"Like Sakuno-chan said, Wan-chan's very fierce. That must be his BARKING" Ryoma intentionally ended his last word aloud so that the trio inside the room could heard him.

Inside the room...

"Oishi, did you heard that?" Both Fuji and Tezuka eyed on Oishi.

"Fuji? Me?" Oishi asked with disbelieve.

"Fine, I'll do it..." among the regulars, Oishi would be the most considerate one. He'll do anything to protect his team and friends.

"Hurf, hurf..." there came Oishi who imitated the barking of a ferocious dog.

"See?" Ryoma flashed a satisfying smirk "Wan-chan might attack anyone who came closer to him..." again he said it aloud. A moment later a loud thudding sound followed by the barkings could be heard from inside the room

"That..." Sakuno eyes widen when she saw that her door has shaken by some force. "was bad. Wan...Wan-chan got angry..." Sakuno said with a terrified expression.

"Hm...kono mama de, Wan-chan would be out there in no time" Ryoma said nonchalantly. (kono mama de - at this rate)

"Oh no...minna, kaisan!" the head of the group shouted and within seconds all the fangirls left the house. (Kaisan - dismissed)

Right after their final confirmation of the fangirls' departure, Ryoma and Sakuno quickly went into the room to get the trio out.

"That was close" All three of them wipe off their cold sweat.

"What was that loud banging sound?" Sakuno asked curiously

"It's Tezuka and his serving" Fuji explained "he had controlled the strength well"

"Hm" Ryoma let out a smirk "Just as I expected from the Seigaku Bucho"

"Echizen, Sakuno-chan, sorry about that" Fuji apologized with his trademark smile plastering on his face "We've cause some trouble"

"It was no..." Ryoma paused with eyes widen as soon as he registered the object in Fuji's hand "WHAT?"

"What?" Sakuno blinked upon seeing Ryoma now very red face and steamy face.

"KYAH! Fuji-senpai! That...that...was my br...a" Sakuno almost had her heart fell out.

"Ah, so it's a bra. No wonder Oishi and Tezuka's were blushing back then" he said "Gomen ne, I'm not good when it comes to seeing objects in the dark" Fuji chuckles "By the way" Fuji took a moment to study the bra before saying a word "I should say, Sakuno-chan has grown well"

(AN: Apology to all Fuji's fans, that was inevitable!)

"FUJI/SENPAI!"

"Yuuta...sorry for draggin you into situation like this!" Fuji heaved a sigh.

"No problem, I've expected so..." Yuuta gave him another toothy wink "Must be hard time for you too"

"De, did you guys enjoyed yourselves while hiding in the closet?" Yuuta teased. At any moment the Seigaku Tennis Club's bucho could have die from embarrassment as soon as he comprehended what Yuuta meant.

"That would be the one last thing I would have done!" Tezuka exclaimed. His face is as red as a tomatoe. Not to mention the scene of Fuji hold Sakuno's garment came into his mind.

"Ma...ma, Tezuka, calm down. Back then, it wasan accident" Fuji chuckled "But frankly speaking, it's really fun, deshou Oishi"

"Fuji!" the two bellowed.

"Hey, where's the mistletoe?" You can't have a Christmas without mistletoe, can you?" Arai, the Seigaku 2nd year player asked impatiently.

"It's on the Christmas tree." Tomoka replied lamely.

Suddenly, all the couples dashed for the Christmas tree. "Am I the only female here without a date?" Tomoka looked around and saw Ann standing not far from her. "Ann-chan? How come you are here?" She looked at the very blushed Ann, then noticed the equally red Kamio standing next to her.

"Well, oniisan is here…" Ann looked over to Tachibana Kippei and other Fudomine's cast, who were singing loudly to 'Rudolph the red nose reindeer' (A/N: Another OOC)

"Aren't you two officially a couple though?" Tomoka watched the two of them getting even redder. "Oh well, there is another mistletoe hanging near that walkway, so…" Before Tomoka could finish her sentence, Kamio had already pulled Ann away. "Lovers." Tomoka laughed behind them.

"Tomo-chan, there you are." Eiji walked up from behind. "Can you bring me some..." He put on his goofy smile and was about to ask Tomoka for assistance when Inui interjected them.

"Eiji..." the data tennis player threw them a wide and mischievous grin before pointing his fingers on top of the high ceiling. Curiously, both Eiji and Tomoka looked up where Inui had pointed at and blushed furiously as soon as they registered the object.

"Huh?" Tomoka shrugged "how come there's another one up there?"

"Hm...hm...well, of course, since all the Seigaku regulars knows where the mistletoes were place, they would do anything to avoid that area. In order to let everyone enjoy this party, I've personally hang up a few mistletoes. Nobody except me knows where these mistletoes were placed...hmm...hmm...hmm...not even the owner of the house!" a wide grin plastered on his face.

"Ya...Yabai" Eiji was about to walk away from the zone when Inui stopped him and threatened him with a glass of his penalty juice if he dare to go against the holy ritues of X'mas.

"Eiji...according to the rules, if a couple were caught standing under a mistletoe, they'll have to abide and perform a traditional ritue. The ritue...Eiji, you know what I mean?"

"Inui/Inui-senpai!" both Eiji and Tomoka protested. They look at each other and then back to Inui. "We're not lovers you know..." realizing they are saying the words in unison, both of them blushed furiously.

"We'll, you don't need to be lovers to kiss if you're caught standing under a mistletoe" Inui prompt "otherwise..." another wicked grin could be seen from Inui "those who go against the rules will have to take a glass of my newly formulated "Merry-cherry-hally-berry X'mas penalty vinegar"

As soon as the two heard Inui's proposal, their face turns paler than usual. "I'm not going to take it!" once again, the two echoed in unsion. After a moment of heated arguement, they realized there's no way they could win over the tennis data player.

"Oh well, I gave up, Inui, you're such a devil!" Eiji say in defeat

"Tomo-chan..." Eiji called her name and quickly pull her towards him and stared directly into her eyes.

"Ki..Kikumaru-senpai..." never had she thought that she would ended up like this, embraced by the acrobatic players. He lowered her upper body and supported her back with one of his strong arms. Slowly, Kikumaru inched near and nearer until finally his lips claimed hers. It was a moment of thrills and excitement. They stayed at that position for quite sometimes, sharing a rather passionate kiss. As soon as they broke away from that rather passionate kiss, they face redden as they were grasping for more breathe.

"That...that was impressive, Kikumaru-senpai" Tomoka praised weakly, with two wobbly legs due to the after kiss effects.

Kikumaru licked his lower lips with satisfaction "I kinda like it too..."

"Shall we do it again?"

"I would loved to..."

A satisfying smirk plastered on his face, when the data player saw what he want and quickly scribble something into his data book 'Eiji Kikumaru and Tomoka Osakada, first kiss on...'

"Whoa! I win! I win!" Momo jumped in the air then jumped onto Fuji, putting his face close enough to even kissing the tennis pro. "Fuji-senpai, you're my saviour! Eiji senpai! Prepare for the penalty! Whoa!"

"Can somebody explain what's going on here?" Fuji asked with a confused voice.

"They were betting whether Sakuno and you are together..." Oishi said with a sigh "You know, you really mislead people to believe you do"

"Guys...like I said before...there's really nothing happened between me and Sakuno-chan..." another frown could be heard from the prodigy "It's just that..." Fuji expression suddenly sadden.

"What is it, Fuji?" Oishi asked when he too noticed that the prodigy's sudden mood change.

"Nandemo nai..." Fuji said softly "Excuse me..." he excused himself and headed towards the balcony. (Nandemo nai - Nothing)

"Fuji?" Oishi eyes widen at first. Just when Oishi was about to follow Fuji, Tezuka stopped him "It's better to leave him alone"

Oishi nodded and stared at Fuji's back from afar 'Could it be, Fuji also likes Ryuzaki-san?'

In the balcony...

'Kaede-san?' Fuji whispered inwardly 'Did you see them? I've kept my promise' he extended out a hand to grab those cold and white snow that decended from the dark sky.

'Are you too happy to see them together?' Fuji smile weakly 'that's how you show them your happy tears'

'I felt like I've been missing something' Fuji's grib tightened 'Especially now that you're gone'

'Masayoshi-sama' a very fade voice called 'My voice, can you hear my voice'

Fuji eyes widen. The familiar voice he had wanted to hear. Frantically he turn around but there's no one. He's alone in the balcony.

'Masayoshi-sama' again the voice called.

Fuji took a deep breathe and he closes his eyes to try to feel her presence. Out of darkness, a bright and shiny light appeared before him

'Masayoshi-sama' Kaede called, she smiled serenly.

'Kaede-san' Fuji smiled 'Yatto, mitsukettaze' (Yatto - finally, Mitsukettaze - found)

'I'm here to say farewell' Kaede informed and bow before Fuji 'Thank you for everything, Masayoshi-sama. Thanks to you, I could now rest in peace'

Fuji nodded with a warm smile 'I'm glad to hear that'

'Masayoshi-sama, I'm so happy that I could meet you. I have no regrets, for now or forever' Kaede said sincerely

Ah...' Fuji smiled 'Me too. I'm glad to get to know you too. Although it's only a very short time, but I cherished those happy times we had shared' the fond memories of him and Sakuno came into his mind.

'Because of you...' Fuji slowly reopen his eyes and turn around to search for the hazel haired girl 'You've somehow got me fallen for her'

'Her happiness had meant alot to me, especially her warm smile' Fuji lowered his head and once again closes his eyes so that he could see the phantom again.

'I know you do' Kaede confessed 'from the very moment you embraced her, I could tell that you really like Sakuno-chan...'

'That is why, you've tried you best tomakeherhappy' Kaede said with a slight sad tone 'It's so Masayoshi-style'

'Hm? At least I've got your compliments' Fuji joked

'Hai' Both Kaede and Fuji broke into laughters.

'I really have to go now' Kaede said 'Mata ne' (Mata ne - See you)

'See you?' Fuji pondered 'What do you mean?'

'Himitsu...' with that Kaede disappeared in front of Fuji's eyes (Himitsu - Secret)

As soon as Kaede's departure, bright light appeared and shine into the big dinning hall, brighten the hall in process and earned everyone's attention.

"What's that!" The hall is now filled with curiosities. All of them ran over to the nearest window to take a better view of the outside scene.

"Hanabi?" Some says (Hanabi - fireworks)

"Aliens!" Others claimed

"Maybe it's Santa Clause and his reindeers" someone remarked with great excitement

"Bleh, that's childish..." others gave harsh comments.

"Fushu...Santa Clause?" Kaidoh pondered and took a glance from the nearby window. His eyes widen when he sees a gaily-faced man with white hair and beard, riding on a cart pulling by reindeers, flying in the sky "Fushuu...fushuu..." too shock to react, Kaidoh quickly pulled his rival shirt to gesture him to look outside.

"Stop it, Mamushi, I'm busy" Momo ignored Kaidoh and that had enraged him.

"Oh yeah, where is Inui-senpai now? I need to get a bottle of the deadly mixture? Ne, Mamushi, did you see Inui-senpai?" Kaidoh did the same, since Momo was the one who ignored him first. 'Mou, what's wrong with Mamushi?' Seeing the angry Kaidoh stomping across the hall, Momo pondered inwardly.

"NANI!" totally forgotten of his eariler bet with Momo, Eiji bellowed with so much horror when Momo placed a big bottle of Inui's specialities infront of him.

"Mou, that's not fair!" he continued to protest "Why do I always have to be the one to drink it? Moreover, I was earlier threatened by Inui to drink those disgusting stuff if I don't ki..."

"Dame, dame! Eiji-senpai! A man should keep his promise no matter what!" Momo winked mischievously "What did you said just now? What ki?"

"No...nothing..." Eiji blushed when he thought of the moments.

"Don't tell me that you suddenly want to back out!" Momo prompted.

"No way!" Eiji retaliated and stuck his tongue out 'Though I've really planned so...fuhu...hu...'

"Mou, Momo-senpai! Please spare Eiji-kun from those disgusting stuffs!" as soon as Tomoka heard Eiji's exclamation, she quickly walked over and had heard their conversation. She's now standing in between the two, her back facing Eiji, with two hands spreaded protectively as she pledged. "I'm willing to take drink it on his behalf" she prompted.

"Oh? Osakada-san?" Momo regarded Tomoka curiously for a moment before he could even say a word "Why...I mean...the bet...it's between me and Kikumaru-senpai...there's nothing to do with..." he paused "you...Wait a minute, you just called Kikumaru-senpai...Eiji-kun!"Momo made a quick recovery from shock and gave the two another mischievous look "Hm...a new topic?"

"Eiji-kun..." ignoring Momo's query, Tomoka turned around and face the acrobatic player, her new found love "Daijobu...I'm here to save you from those disgusting stuffs!"

"Tomo-chan?" Eiji's eyes soften "you don't have to take it for me. I'm a man and a man should not let his love ones suffer" he winked "and I'm not going to let you have it either!"

"Don't worry about me..." Tomoka insisted "since Sakuno-chan can tolerate with it, so can I!"

"No, I won't let you have it" Eiji fumed but his eyes once again soften when he sees that the girl's dying hard to protect him "I know...but I just could make myself to see you suffer either" he said in a soft and passionate tone, one hand gently stroked a few strains of hairs and tugged it behind her ear. "I'll take it...for me and for you too" he rubbed his nose and gave her another trademark wink.

Despite of gaining teasing gazes from the crowd, Eiji and Tomoka embraced each other tightly.

"Hm? Guess we'll have to get ourselves some updates from Inui...about the two?" Fuji said as a matter of factly whereas the others just continued their teasing at the new couple.

"Eh? Fuji! When did you came in?" Oishi was taken by surprise by Fuji's presence

"Oh, not long after the crowd settles down" Fuji smiled.

"Yeah ha...the Seigaku had accomplished two match making cases. I now pronounce of mission 'Success'" Momo cheered along with others "Eh...yes, where's the other pair?"

Momo looked around and his face suddenly froze at where the Christmas tree was. Everyone turned to look at why Momo was in shock and all of them froze in unison upon seeing the Christmas tree.

Ryoma and Sakuno were kissing passionately under the mistletoe.

Change of scene...

The raven-haired man had been keeping his eyes on the sleeping form of the hazel-haired woman, observing her closely until she slowly opens up her eyes to meet his feline ones. As soon as she registered the man infront of her, a few trickle of tears rolled down her cheek.

"Are you in pain?" Ryoma asked concernly as he placed a blanket over her lap and seemed intent on pampering her.

"Oh...no, it's just that, I can't believe...you're back..." she said in a shaky voice as she extended a hand to touch his handsome face.

"Ah...I managed to catch the night flight back here..." he murmured "Fuji-senpai called me right after you entered the surgical room..."

"Tadaima..." he said softly and gently wiped off her happy tears. (Tadaima - I'm home)

"Anata...okaeri-nasai..." Sakuno greeted back (Anata - Husband, Okaeri nasai - Welcome back)

Swamped with emotion, he lower his brow to hers "God, I missed you so much" he pressed his lips to her hands.

"I'm so sorry that I wasn't by your side when you gave birth to our child..." the faintest of smiles touched his mouth.

"Anata?" She eyed her husband quizzically "It's not true. You've always be here with me, in my heart..." she smiled

"Sakuno" His face suddenly brightened up. He squeezed her hand "Thank you"

"Oh yes...our child, have you seen her yet?"

"Yes, she's beautiful, just like you..." he nodded and smiled serenly at his wife "When I arrived, I noticed that you were smiling in your sleep. Having a sweet dream?"

"Yes..." Sakuno nodded and Ryoma smirked "a very sweet one?" he continued his teasing.

"Emm...em...they're all past memories..." Sakuno shooked her head "I dreamt about one of our X'mas party...and..."

"And?" Ryoma prompted

"Naisho..." Sakuno replied sweetly. (Naisho - Another way of saying secret)

"Hm?" Ryoma crooked his brow "Ma...guess that's how you treat a husband...figures" he faked a frown and leaned back in his chair.

"A...wait, I'm...I'm just..." she stammered.

He doesn't have to look at his wife to tell that her expression is priceless. Just when he decided to continue his teasing until he's fully satisfy, something had caught his attention.

"So, I can tell that the others were here yesterday..." Ryoma paused and gave her a winked "based on those visible evidence?" his index finger pointed on the piles of present placed at the far corner of the room. Sakuno nodded with a blushing smile on her pale face when she finally realized that her husband had actually pretended to be mad. 'Mou...he's teasing me again, hidoi' she complained inwardly but somehow she enjoyed it.

Seeing that Ryoma had stood up and walk over to those gifts, Sakuno chuckled inwardly.

"Baby Gift Sets?" Ryoma took out an item and raised a brow as he delicately shook the box.

"It's from Oishi-senpai..." Sakuno informed.

"Well, figures" Ryoma joked "he was on a 'Buy 12 Free 1 promotion spree. Back then he had given away four sets of these to Eiji-senpai. two more sets here, that means, he still have 7 more sets to give away...what a conservative guy" Ryoma smirked as he was doing some calculus on Oishi's stocks "Ma...that's our Oishi senpai, a considerate gentleman indeed" he commented as he laid his hands on another item.

"Handbook for novice babysitter?" Ryoma took the book and a note fell out from it. Spontaneously, Ryoma grab hold of the note before it landed on the ground.

'Echizen, this handbook will be handy for you! I've done many researches on babysitting(thanks to Eiji, I should say)...plus, if you want your baby to grow healthly, I've got some new formulations of how to prepare nutrient drinks for newborns and toddles. It's recorded at the last few pages of this book! Once again, congratulations for having another member in your family, Sincerely yours, InuiSadahara!'

"Inui-senpai..." Ryoma sweatdropped upon reading Inui's note. Ryoma could remembered, his school life, surrounded by terrible memories of Inui and his invention 'No way I'm gonna let my child to have this weird stuffs! Zettai...' he mentally nodded and was about to tear off the last few pages from the book, but quickly restrained when he realized that Sakuno's eyes is still on him. Sakuno would not approve him to do that. She treasured each and every gifts from her seniors.

"His surname is Sadahara? Hm...this is new to me..." he added nonchalantly before putting the book back to it's formal place 'I'll take care of you later...' he made another mental note.

"Eto...lets see, Eiji-senpai...'Nursery songs by Teen Stars of the Year?" Ryoma shooked his head. Though Eiji had started to date Tomoka, the couple had eventually married each other right after Tomoka had completed her high school, had raised a happy family, nonetheless, he's still the same old Eiji whom they knew for years. "He's still a fanatics of musics and tennis" he added lastly.

"Kawamura-senpai had brought us a baby chair?" Ryoma rubbed his chin "Now, guess, I'll have to place this in our store room first, for later use..."

"Mou...anata, if you place the chair in the store room, Kawamura senpai would be so sad and thinks that we doesn't like the gift at all"

"But, Sakuno, we're not using it yet..." Ryoma retaliated at first but then when he saw that Sakuno had stand firm of what she said eariler, Ryoma gave in "Fine, fine, to the dinning hall the chair will go..." he sighed. Eversince Ryoma started to date Sakuno, there's a great change towards his attitudes.He's more approachable and had smile alot, but only infront of his love ones and close friends. He had also mastered the word "Patience" on his forehead.

"Hai...and I want it to be place just in between both our seats..."

"No..." Ryoma demurred "no one will go in between us..."

"Ryoma-kun..." instantly interjected sotfly "That's not true..." a smile plastered on her serene facade "There would be no distance in between three of us. We'll always be togther as one...itsumo isshoni dakara..." (itsumo - forever/always, isshoni- together, dakara - like I said/therefore)

"Sakuno..." Ryoma regarded his wife for a short moment. "You're right..." he smiled back "It's only a chair...I can accept that..." he paused with a smile as he slowly walk back to Sakuno's side "as long as you don't tell me to put a cradle in between our bed" he joked.

"Ryoma-kun..." Sakuno blushed madly upon seeing a mischievous grin plastered on her husband's face.

"Da me" again he protested "after all these years, you still add a 'kun' after my name...I'll get mad" a slight frown could be seen from his handsome face. (Da me - Cannot/No, the 'me' is pronounced as 'me' in member)

"De mo...Ryoma-kun..." Sakuno's words was cut off when Ryoma place a finger to slient her "No 'KUN'" he hushed and press his lips onto hers. (De mo - but)

"H-Hai..." Sakuno replied breathelessly as soon as their lips parted.

"Good" Ryoma winked and licked his lower lip with satisfaction. "Let's continue with what I was doing earlier!" he declared cheerfully.

"Hm" Ryoma paused for a while and bend down to pick up something from under the table.

"Ne, Sakuno...who brought this here?" Ryoma asked and showed the big bag to his wife.

"It's from Tezuka bucho..." Sakuno replied "I wondered what is inside it?"

"Something very important" Ryoma smiled confidently as he took out a brand new tennis racket from the bag. "Na...Sakuno..."

"Hai?" Sakuno smiled.

"I used to wonder why did oyaji had given up his chance for being world's No.1 tennis pro..."

"And why was that?" Sakuno asked and patiently she anticipated for his answer.

"He said he had something more ambitious than becoming a world's No.1" Ryoma chuckled "he made me everything that I am now. But also need to thanks to those dreadful days I had with Seigaku. All of these had made me stronger..."

"Now...I have you...and our baby...a family" Ryoma continue "Sakuno...I've decided" he paused for a moment and locked his feline eyes onto Sakuno's

"I'm going to make her a Tennis Princess!" he declared confidently.

"Hm...Great! A tennis princess! Hope it won't turn out to be another uncute tennis freak like you, Echizen..." a familiar chuckle interrupted.

"Fuji-senpai!" Ryoma quickly turned around and face the blue eyes tennis prodigy and stares at him with much shocking look on his face "When did you come in?" he continued sarcarstically "and why are you here so early?"

"Em? Easy Echizen...you glared at me like you're gonna skin me and dry me under the sun..." Fuji flashed the couple with another trademark smile and that annoyed Ryoma even more.

"Ano...Sorry, Fuji-senpai.. Maybe Ryoma's too tired, hora, anata...please apologize" Sakuno quickly elbowed her husband lightly to stop him from glaring at Fuji.

"Gomen..." Ryoma abided but his glare never lightened as another smirk could be seen from Fuji and that's a provoking one.

"Hm..., I guess we'll have a few words!" Suggesting from their stance, the two guys are about to start 'THAT' again. 'That' as far as Sakuno remembered. 'THAT' the last time they had it was fews months ago before Ryoma left for Wimbeldon. 'THAT' could last for hours, and 'THAT' is about to begin.

"Sakuno, me and Fuji-senpai's going out to have some fresh air and a nice chit chat in process" Ryoma excused himself and dragged Fuji out of the room "Maybe you would like to rest more...we'll be back here soon!"

"Ano...Anata? Fuji-senpai?" Sakuno anxiously watched the two men leaving her room. She could still heard Fuji's protest as Ryoma continued to drag Fuji along with him "Doushiyou? Fuhuhuhu..."

"But...Echizen-kun...I've not greeted Sakuno-chan yet..." Fuji protested

"You already had!"

"But...but, I've not kiss her goodbye before leaving with you..."

"We're not leaving this building yet! And save your kisses for someone else!"

At the hospital rooftop...

"You never spare my wife" Ryoma fumed a little "When will you stop teasing her?" he tugged both his hands into the thick pockets to beat the cold.

"Heh? So you're jealous after all" Both Fuji and Ryoma regarded each other for quite sometimes.

"Yes I am!" Ryoma admitted

"Eh? Echizen?" Fuji was surprised by Ryoma's answer "You're typically honest today"

"Hm? Are you complimenting me?"

"You've changed, Echizen"

"Thanks to you..."

"By the way" Echizen walked and stood beside Fuji "I've been keeping this in my heart"

"What is it, Echizen?"

"Till now, you stilllove her, aren't you?" Ryoma said quietly.

"Ah..." Fujinodded as he replied.

"That was too quick" Ryoma was shimmered with slight irritation"You didn't even think it over!"

"I'm just being frank" Fuji chuckled

"I knew it" Ryoma sighed "De...then why did you let go. Back then...you could have...but why?"

"Isn't it obvious! From the very beginning,Sakuno-chan had already made her choice" Fuji interjected "No matter what happened, there's nothing in this world that could separate the two of you, moreover..." he paused for a moment and divert his gaze back to Ryoma "moreover, the angel of love has cast a spell on both of you, a spell of invincible love"

Ryoma smirked "Hm? Mythology? Why, I really need that so that I could tell'em to my kids"

"What about you?" Fuji asked back "Back then, you've always trashed Sakuno's skill, yet, you've fallen for her. I thought you despise weaklings"

"If I am to humble myself , at least let me go on with it" Ryoma snapped "I never sees Sakuno as a weakling. Weak is something I don't believe Sakuno could be, what I see in her is a woman with a tender heart. If arrogance, that's how I am and I don't trash her, I was just teasing her"

Once again, there was a moment of silence in between the two men. "Ano..." Ryoma was the first to break the silence "I know it would be a little awkward to say this now, but, Fuji-senpai,thank you!" he quickly turned away to hide his slightly blushing face.

"Thank me?" Fuji asked with teasing tone "What's wrong with you today? Are you really Echizen?"

"You don't have to take advantage of teasing me like this" Ryoma muttered, regretting of showing his softer side to Fuji. At first Fuji started off with soft giggles, then both of them broke into laughters.

"Ah! So both of you are here?" Eiji interrupted "Takku,Sakuno-chan's worried death about the two of you. She told us that both of you shot daggers at each other and in process to kill each other"

"We do?" both Fuji and Ryoma blinked at each other upon hearing what Eiji had said "I think my wife could be over worried sometimes"

"Who doesn't" Fuji added "Like I said before, you looked like you're gonna skin me and dry me under the sun"

"For god sake, it's winter!" Ryoma retaliated "If I hate you, I wouldn't asked you to take care of Sakuno while I was away"

"Hai, hai" Eiji interrupted "Better get going now, otherwise, Sakuno-chan would never stop worrying"

Both of them nodded and followed Eiji back to Sakuno's room.

As soon as Ryoma opened up the door, few popping sound could be heard. Ribbons landed on his head and everyone in the room cheered.

"Happy Belated Birthday, Echizen Ryoma!"

"Eh!" Ryoma was too surprise to utter a word "What...what was this?"

"A surprise party" Momo winked and pulled Ryoma to the center of the room.

"Minna-san, thank you..." Ryoma said in a deceptively soft voice "I'm so happy"

"Of course you are!" Oishi added "Becoming a father on your birthday. That would be the best gift for you from your wife, wasn't it? Way to go, Echizen!"

"Yeah! You've surpassed my data calculation skill, Echizen-kun!" Inui complimented

Ryoma smirked "Atarimai daro!" (Atarimai daro - that's for sure/of course)

"Ano...ano, it wasn't planned, it's coincidence..." Sakuno blushed furiously "Guzen desu" (Guzen - coincidence). Everyone laughed upon seeing Sakuno's blushing face.

"Ano, Echizen-kun, Sakuno-chan, have you named your baby?" Kawamura asked

"Not yet" Ryoma replied and placed a hand behind his head "Hm...I'm not good at naming, especially when it comes to girl's name"

"Are you sure?" All of them asked in unison.

"Ano...I've actually wanted to..." Sakuno said shyly.

"Hm?" Fuji noticed that Sakuno was about to say something "Nani kai? You wanted to say something? Sakuno-chan?"

"Hai...I wanted to name her, Kaede, Echizen Kaede"

"Kaede?" Fuji instantly stood petrified. The name reminded him of the phantom's last words to him

'See you' Fuji smiled 'So that's what you mean...' slowly he made his way to Sakuno's side. He extended one hand to touch the baby's pinkish cheek "Welcome to the world, Kaede-chan..."

"Fuji?" Ryoma fumed "told you not to get stick so close to Sakuno!"

"Ah, Echizen-kun's jealous!"

The party ended shortly after a nurse burst into the roomand complained about the distraction.

As soon as everyone left home, Ryoma settled himself back to where he sat eariler.

"Well, I really didn't expect to get everyone to celebrate our birthday in places like this" Ryoma smiled warmly "Sou desu ne, Kaede-chan" Kaede yawned in process when Ryoma lightly brushed her soft cheek.

The couple looked deep into each other eyes as Ryoma's hand slid over and into her hair. Then his mouth was on hers. His lips skimmed, sipped, nipped and nuzzled until hers went pillow-soft and warm under them. Just when they were about to continue further, the baby's hand popped up andhit directly on Ryoma's chest.

"Ops! Kaede-chan's first punch?" Ryoma teased "You little devil, you're disturbing your daddy and mummy"

"Shouldn't it be the other way round?" Sakuno added.

"Mada mada dane..." both of them chuckles.

Eight years later...

"Yeah, I beat you, I beat you" Sakuno said in a sing song tone and in process of shaking her body when her opponent missed the ball.

The raven haired boy puffed his reddish cheek and complained "Mou, Mama's a bully"

"A man should admit his defeat" Sakuno added "From now on, Takumi, remember our deal, do not waste food!"

"But, Mama, I hate capsicum" the five year old,Echizen Takumi protested. (AN:Echizen TakumiakaET, Ryoma - ER, just kidding)

"No but!"

The other two, Ryoma and Kaede who where practicing in the other court had saw the whole incident couldn't help but broke into laughters.

After a short good laugh, Ryoma prompted "Kaede? Are you ready?"

"Hai, Otousan! I'm always ready! This time, kanarazu, I'm gonna gain a point from you" her words filled with determination. (kanarazu - certainly)

"Er? We'll see about that!" Ryoma remarked with his trademark smirk and tossed the ball up into the air. He performed his famous twist server.

Kaede skillfully returned his father ball. "That was close, tousan" Kaede commented as she approached the net.

"Em...that'sa bad decision" Ryoma jumped up andsmashed the ball hard. Ryoma eyes widen when the ball flew and hit the baseline of his court. "That...that was..."

"Tsubame Gaeshi!" both Sakuno and Takumi bellowed in unsion.

"Hm, she has shown improvements" a familiar voice interjected.

"Fuji-jichan!" Takumi smile widen. Hequickly ran overto hug the tennis prodigy.

"Fuji-senpai? You taught Kaede your skill?" Sakuno eyes widen.

"Nope, she's a good observer. I've only showed her once" Fuji smirked.

Ryoma and Kaede noticed Fuji's presence. Ignoring his father, Kaede instantly ran out from the court to meet up with Fuji.

"Kaede? You're not suppose to leave the court..." Ryoma fumed but realize that did not stop his daughter from running away "Mada mada dane" he shooked his head and sighed.

"Fuji-jichan! Did you see that? I used tsubame gaeshi to return tousan's smash!"

"That was great, Kaede-chan" Fuji smiled and gently patted her head.

"Yeah, Kaede-chan, that was a beautiful return" another familiar voice interjected

"Momo/Momo-jichan" the Echizen family bellowed.

Momo flashed them a toothy smile "Not only me, the other arehere too!"

"Sakuno!" Tomoka quickly ran over and give Sakuno a deadly bear hug (A/N: Learned from Eiji) "Mou, I've missed you sooo much!"

"Me too..." Sakuno said happily

"Ano? Tomo-baachan" Kaedeaskedanxiously"Whereis Kenji-kun and Shouji-kun?"

"They were at the canteen to have something to drink" Tomoka said.

"Tomoka-san?" A dreadful frown could be heard from behind "Why waste money? I've brought here my latest Inui's special drink menu. This time I've added honey in it"

"Er...thanks for your offer, Inui-senpai" Tomoka quickly turn him down "Bet they already had what they want"

Tomokaturn and smiled at Kaede"Don't worry dear, they'll join you soon"

"Hai! I just can't wait to show them my new skills" the girl then left the two women and headed back to Fuji's side.

"Sakuno, Kaede-chan is strong" Her eyes never left the girl.

"Hai" Sakuno nodded "Like father like daughter"

"Not only that, I can tell that Fuji-senpai is extremely fond of her" Tomoka winked

"Ah...Tomoka!" Sakuno eyes widen "That...couldn't be..."

"Don't worry, I'm just teasing you"

"Mou, Tomo-chan tara...hidoi" (hidoi - bad)

"Heh? So Tezuka-senpai and Oishi-senpai arebusy with upcoming championship" Ryomasat comfortably beside Momo.

"Yep! Thenagain, Kaidoh hassupervise his father'sbusiness for awhole week"

"Hm" Ryomasmirk "No wonder Inui-senpai's so free. I thought he wouldgo around and collect more datas?"

"Mada mada dane" Ryoma muttered his libertto as he stood up from his seat

"Echizen? Where you going?"

"To get myself something to drink"

"Ponta?"

"Er...I've stop buying Ponta"Ryoma slightly blushed. There's no need for him to explain the reason behind since it has always been a well known issue among the Seigaku tennis members.

"Comeon, let's go together" Momo smiled and both of them walk towards the nearest vending machine. They walked halfway and saw Takumi rushing towards to their seats to grab his racket.

"Ne...Takumi? Where are you going with your racket?"

"Papa, Kaede-neechan said she's gonna teach me tennis" he said with sparkles in his feline gold orbs "so next time, for sure, I'll win Mama"

"Er? Nee-chan's teaching?" Ryoma asked anxiously.

"Dame ka?" Takumi threwhis father a deadly cute puppy eyes "Pluleez..."

He regarded his son for a moment. Just when he was about to say another word, Momo interjected him "Comeon, let him have his way"

"Can't help it, but..." before Ryoma could finish his words, Takumi has already excused himself and ran over to meet up with his sister.

"I can't understand you, Echizen" Momo giggles "there's nothing wrong for the slibings to share they skills. Don't be overprotective"

"I'm not" Ryomaprotested "It's just that, you guys don't know Kaede well"

A moment later a loudwailing sound could be heard from thenext court.

"Wha...what happened? Wasn't that Takumi's voice?" Momo stated worriedly

"See? I told you"Ryoma let out another audiblesigh

"Takumi! Chanto boru mitteru no" (Concerntrate more on the ball)

"Sono gurippu hen daro" (The gripping looks strange)

"Ah ha...Nee-chan's trashing me" the wailing continued.

"Your movement are too inflexible. At least try to hold your racket properly"

"Takumi! The problem about your'shaking hands'? That's theeastern grip"

"Mada mada dane..." Kaede muttered under her breathe.

"Yappari. Like father like daughter" the group said in unison "The future tennis princessu"

"Nee-chan, hidoi"

"Hm" Ryoma shooked his head "Mada mada no mada dane"

The End

AN: Finally, my first complete story. I felt at least I've made some progression. In fact, I need to apologize, coz I know the ending doesn't seem so promising. Gomen ne, perhaps that's the best I could do at this time coz I'm still mada mada dane. Once again, I sincerely thanks all readers for spending their precious time reading my story. I'll work harder on my other POT fics.

My special dedications to:

Umi-chan - Thank you for your continuoussupport! You're the first readerwho had given me so much encouragement for continuing this fics. Hope you'll will find the ending acceptable.

Silvya-san - Thank you so much for your wonderful review.

KaguyaEvenstar - Thank you so much for reading my fics and I'm glad to know that you like the songs as much as I do. Wi...winter sonata, the most popular Korean drama? Tell youthe truth,I've never watched Winter Sonata coz it's very expensive to get it here (Mi-chan wanna cry)

Jade-san - Ano ne, actually, I first planned to write something like 'The X'mas Carols'. I never expect that many readers, including Jade-san would think that the idea is from HNG. Well, the instinct of a reader is alwz right.

Darkus-san - Thank you very much for your guidance. I'll try my best to improve myself. Maybe you're right, a beta reader, eto, I'll see what I can do about that. Yes, I will keep writing more and more fics. Please guide me more on this.

Kurama-san444 - Thank you, thank you. Wanna see Ryoma-kun apologize? Hope that it won't disappoint you though I didn't managed to get Ryoma-kun to apologize to Sakuno-chan, coz he's the cool andarrogant Ryoma-kun afterall.

katrinakaiba-san - Thank you so much. Agree, he's confused. What can we say, his passion for tennis's too strong. Yet in the real tenipuri story, Ryoma wasn't that dumb about love either. Just that he express love in a different way.

haruxsakura-san - Oh you really find my story funny? Ah, thank you!I've alwz thought that I didn'thave great sense of humor.

Chaco & Lily-san tachi - HNG and POT? Mi-chan actually planned to do an X'mas Carol sorta ficcy, then again, Mi-chan no sei de, misleading many ppl to believe in HNG POT, demo ne, isn't it great? Twopopular anime becomes one storyline! Yappari mi-chan ahou ya! Sou desu ne, Chaco-chan, parents are alwz being sensitive but can't blame them also coz they really care for us. It's just that they had expressed their concern in a different way. Lily-chan - no worries,I'vemet someone even more terrifying, just kidding.Yeah, theFuji and Co.they're the best Matchmakers! Hope you like the ending.

Youkaigurl - Ara, osashiburi, so glad to hear from you again. Thank you. I like this story myself too. Tee hee, I've already done what you've asked. Hope you enjoy this chappie.

Kane-Laura591- Thank you for your review. Agreed! I'm also a POT fics reader. More POT fics.

Also my gratitudes to other readers who spend their times reading my fics. Lastly thank you for all your support and patience.

Owari

mi-chan