A/N: In the middle of preparing her death by real fans of the series Oh, hey, you're actually going to read what happens? Hehe, thanks, but yeah, it's horrible. Just run.

Disclaimer: Especially after a stinker like this one, I so don't own Prince of Tennis.

Advantage Point

Epilogue - Game, Set, Match

As Sakuno entered the school gate, she was greeted with the expected, "Whoa, Ryuzaki-san! That was so cool! You should play in the big leagues!" or the "Aie! Sakuno! That was amazing! We were wrong! We're sorry for saying you were bad!" and the "Ryuzaki-san, you should've given us a heads up so we could've expected an intense tennis match from you!"

However, she didn't really listen to what they were saying. That 'tennis player' they were talking about, it wasn't her. After accepting her feelings for Ryoma, she thought her frustration was that tennis player; she didn't want that, she wanted to be Sakuno.

Tomoka approached her greeting her with the typical 'good mornings' as they walked to their classes.

"Sakuno-chan, I still say you surprised everyone! How did you do it?" Sakuno blinked at Tomoka's sudden question. She shrugged and smiled, "Mou…I just…over practiced…and well I guess it turned out for the best." She saw as Tomoka's eyes lit up with a plan.

"…I know I'm not going to do that again." Sakuno looked at her friend confused. What was she thinking about? "Aw, Sakuno, are you sure you don't want to be a pro tennis player again? You were awesome!" Not saying anything but raising a confused eyebrow, Tomoka continued her idea.

"If you kept up your super-cool-awesome-like-Ryoma-sama training, you could be like Ryoma-sama!" That still didn't convince Sakuno; all she did was frown becoming more lost in this idea. "Well! If he's the prince of tennis, then you could be his princess of tennis!" Tomoka started to flap her arms excitedly.

Sure, both girls knew that the other had an eye for the dark-haired young boy, but Tomoka didn't mind if she gave Sakuno ideas of being with him; it would encourage her to be more like Tomoka.

Sakuno finally understood what Tomoka was getting at. She looked down a little sad, then looked 'happily' at her friend, but shook her head, refusing Tomoka's offer. Tomoka's nose wrinkled in disappointment. She wanted Sakuno to at least try to seem like she wanted to fawn over Ryoma. She sighed in short defeat.

But…Tomoka didn't stay silent for long. During lunch to two girls sat under a tree to protect them from the stinging heat of the sun. Tomoka chose to skip out on her club meeting because the idea was still loose, never really answered.

"Nnn! Sakuno-chan, I'm telling you, go for it." Tomoka resisted a motherly: 'it's healthy for you!' but chose not to risk the chance of not being taken seriously.

Sakuno cringed. She knew Tomoka wouldn't give in. She got up with her lunch and started walking. Ooh, I just don't want to deal with that idea right now…it's too pathetic.

She thought sadly. She'd already lost and her idea was already hit with reality: she can't defeat Ryoma. She started walking faster as she heard Tomoka talk louder to Sakuno. The fast trot turned into a jog, than into a run and then a frantic sprint with her lunch still grasped in her hands.

Her lunch. The contents were her meal, and an accidental, out-of-her-usual-habit, extra meal for Ryoma. She sighed still sprinting. Why was she so pathetic? Sakuno squeezed her eyes tight; hear Tomoka squeal about the possibilities of being hand in hand with Ryoma. She tried so hard denying her feelings and tried so hard not allowing herself to cry. The girls were unsure where they were running towards; they were just running. Anything could happen, right?

"But Sakuno…ACK!" A speeding green object dented Tomoka's face and silenced her for the time being. Unaware of her friend's status, she continued running, not sure where her destination.

"Oi, isn't that Sakuno-chan?" inquired Fuji, pointing to a small girl sprint unusually across the tennis courts. The rest of the boys looked over to where Fuji was pointing, and gasped.

"Hey…yeah, it is! Sak—" before Oishi could say anything he looked over to Ryoma who seemed to look up quickly, then looked back to Sakuno. "O-oi, her eyes are closed! If she's not careful she'll crash into the wall!"

Clumsy…he glared in her direction. Why did he care if she was about to hit into the wall? It was typical Sakuno, hurting herself in one way and losing herself in another. He shivered, 'hurt?' He squeezed his eyes shut and sighed. Sakuno dashed apparently having her very own internal struggles. He thought it was annoying how she just couldn't keep one personality. First it was the misleading innocent girl, than the clumsy innocent girl, then the unbelievable tennis pro, and now it's the internally struggling, highly emotional klutz who didn't even notice the fact that she was about to hit into the wall.

…But, Ryoma has more important things to concern himself with. He was having a tinge bit of trouble trying to think of what that important thing was. He began to shake with annoyance. Dang…it! He looked over to Sakuno who was mindlessly running straight into a wall.

"You'd think by now she had already crashed into it, but whatever,"

Inui inquired hoping that was dropping the hint for Ryoma to actually do something to stop her, but Ryoma was steps ahead. Ryoma bolted towards Sakuno's direction. He was fully aware of what would happen if he let her keep running.

Sakuno closed her eyes tight and tried blocking out Tomoka nonexistent voice. She sighed in relief when she thought she successfully blocked her out, but surprised when she crashed into something. Still not opening her eyes, she fell to the ground on her bottom, dropping the lunch box. Her eyes trembled when she sensed someone in front of her.

Believing it to be Tomoka, she began rubbing her eyes, trying to stop tears from coming. In a failure, she broke down and chose to just spill what she was thinking to her 'ghostly' companion. She brought her knees up and hugged them, facing the ground before she started talking.

"D-did it ever cross your mind that I thought myself to be the Princess of Tennis during that time? Why do you have to keep reminding me of something I can never be? It's impossible!" She yelled in between sniffles. "…my rightful place isn't beside Ryoma…" she cried softly. Everything hurts…

Quivering Sakuno didn't look up. She didn't want to face Tomoka after her little outburst. She could imagine Tomoka crying. But when she felt pressure on her head her eyes popped open. Sakuno's gentle glazed eyes widened at the contact. What she saw made her completely shocked.

"R-Ryoma-k-kun…?" She slowly put her hand to her mouth as she recalled her words. Embarrassment struck her and she wished she could just disappear. She poured her heart out to the wrong person…the person whom she didn't want her words to reach their ears.

She saw his hand resting gently on her head.

He heard every part of it…Her face a just one big red beet on her neck with hair, that's what she looked like at the moment. She was at a loss for words.

No worries, Ryoma spoke for her. "You don't think your place is at my side, Ryuzaki-san?" Her heart stopped. It was so not a good time to be joking. Her hand clenched and she bit her lip feeling humiliated.

"W-why do you a-ask that, Ryoma-kun? Are you trying to make fun of me?" Her eyes glistening, it prepared to moisten again with her tears. She was surprised when he shook his head.

"I want your honesty. Now, let me ask you again," he said in a monotonous, stern voice, his eyes looking deep within her chocolate ones, "did you say that your place isn't by my side?" He brought his hand, and crossed his arms, crouching at her level so he could face her, eye-to-eye with her answer.

Why does he care…? She swallowed about to open her mouth until…

"Oi! Ochibi! What are you doing to Sakuno-chan over there, huh? Are you picking up on her in front of everyone? Where's your sense of romance, hmm!" Momoshiro hollered while the rest of the regulars laughed.

Sakuno couldn't take the embarrassment. She wasn't sure if Ryoma doing this in front of everyone was apart of his joke, or if it was by coincidence. Why had Ryoma acted that way? She was too flustered to stick around and find out. She was already out of the courts.

Ryoma watched as Sakuno ran off and glowered at his male audience. He couldn't fathom the reason why they didn't have a shred of decency. Simply idiotic…

Sakuno was already far from the tennis courts. Her emotions were running wild and she was still trying to understand Ryoma's cryptic interrogations. She spotted a tree, the one she and Tomoka were talking under and ran to it hugging her knees yet again, frowning. She sighed.

Her mind began replaying all that's happened up to now. Starting backwards, she thought of that previous incident, instantly believing he talked to her only to tease her. Tomoka, who chased her down, that lead her to the tennis courts.

Her loss to the great Ryoma, made her frown but her wins that got her there, made her smile, slightly. She remembered how she changed for a short time before the entire even occurred. That wasn't her, and she didn't believe in changing herself just to please everyone else. She was an individual, not a walking tennis-pro robot!

She recalled her reasons for her improvement, and how she didn't gain the respect she hoped.

…Was it really respect she wanted from Ryoma? No, it wasn't…I wanted him to see me more as the clumsy Sakuno Ryuzaki…I-I wanted…I w-wanted t-to be his…

"Princess," her eyes widen at the sound of the familiar voice. She turned around to the source of the voice and her glimmering brown eyes met smoldering dark ones. (A/N: Ermm…what color are his eyes…? -.-;)

He walked out from behind the same tree she was huddled near. He sat himself right beside her studying her reaction to his sudden appearance.

"R-Ryoma-kun?" She looked at him, slightly dizzy from all the teary eyed moments.
Something in her mind buzzed as what he said finally got into her brain. When it did, she blushed like crazy.

He tilted his head to the side and stared at her some more. He watched her face become a dark red. Hn, she reminds me of the strawberry on the Strawberry Ponta can… He pouted, why was she being so quiet?

"Ryuzaki-san, you never answered my question…" Her eyes quivered, and sweat began to form just a bit. She swallowed and she glanced over to Ryoma to see if there was any doubt, or hidden joke within his eyes.

…She saw none, but then again, he was good at using a mask. Sakuno gripped the skirt of her uniform, and swallowed hard, even Ryoma heard it.

S-should I tell him? Ah, he's looking at me so much! Just like last time, he won't stop…looking…her mind went into a 'duh' mode. Could it be…? Was there even the slightest chance that…

Ryoma's eyes narrowed impatiently. His pout turned into a scowl. This caught Sakuno by surprise and noted she was stalling. "Well?" He huffed impatiently. Her answer seemed so important to him, so there could be…

"A—" just before she could even say anything, their lunch had ended. Their eyes widen by the sudden conclusion to Ryoma's question. And that conclusion was: wait until later.

Ryoma clenched his hand into a fist, frustrated with the circumstances. He looked to the frail girl who was carefully standing up. She looked to him nervously knowing he was probably mad that she took so long.

She sighed and neither of them said another word as they left that spot under the tree.

Sakuno felt ashamed. Her perfect chance to just let her feelings out in the open, and she blew it. As she looked out the window of her math class, she began to think that the tournament had paid off. If it weren't for that experience, she probably wouldn't be thinking about Ryoma's concern for her thoughts. She giggled to herself. Ryoma-kun actually cares about what I think!

She must tell him the truth after school. Sakuno made her goal that by the end of the, Ryoma would know everything it was about what she thought and why she joined the tournament. Killing two birds with one stone, she thought but didn't like that figure of speech about killing birds.

As the classes ended, it was nearing her time to shine. By that time, she was convinced he actually respected her…or well, she thought so. Sakuno thought that after she confessed, she would find out the way he sees her.

Waving good-bye to Tomoka, she walked to the school gates about to leave the school grounds until someone gripped her arm. At first, she thought it was a stalker, until she turned and again, stared into the cat-like eyes of Ryoma Echizen.

"Ryuzaki-san…we weren't done yet." He said flatly. He released his grip on the small girl and looked at her. She looked at him and blushed.

Sakuno cursed to herself, half regretting she hadn't lost that ability to not blush in front of Ryoma. She sighed tiredly and her eyes glittered by the setting sun of the afternoon spilling into the evening.

(A/N: Hehe, yes they took that long. Strict teachers forcing students to stay after school, anyone? Or better yet, the mind-numbing announcements about things that don't interest you and the teachers who believe it is important hold you back from freedom! Plus, doesn't it add a romantic aura around these two? ;) )

"R-Ryoma-kun…it…it's been just a dream…to actually h-have you by my side…and…I-I've felt that…y-you don't really…respect…" Notice…she thought closing her eyes, "…me…s-so…a-at the tournament, Ryoma-kun…it didn't feel real that I was actually there…I…felt like I didn't really belong beside…the…Prince…" the whole time, Ryoma never left his steady gaze on her.

"Ryuzaki-san, I don't know where you get your crazy information about me not respecting you, but…I do…I respect your strength, and your courage. You do things on your own unlike some people I'm aware of who'd do things what other tell them in order to be accepted."

"When you came to the tennis courts to ask Ryuzaki-sensei to enter you in that tournament, I thought that was strange but admirable. Sure, it was stupid since you were so bad in tennis, but you must've had a lot of courage to actually ask her, regardless of what anyone said."

His eyes show disappointment as he continued, "…but if you mean to say that you joined the tournament just to prove me wrong…because of what I thought of you…then you might as well just join the rest of those followers, since I don't associate with cults." He looked down and waited for her to reply, and when he was given nothing, he turned on his heel and strode away.

Sakuno's eyes were trembling with fear. He'd accepted even though she was a terrible tennis player. He didn't care about her skills; it was because she was who she was.

Something inside the small girl bubbled up. Fear, frustration, love, hate made its way through her veins and erupted in her heart, "Notice me Ryoma-kun!" She screeched, clenching her hands into a fist.

Ryoma quickly turned and saw her shaking. "W-what…?" He saw this small girl shake, and was surprised by her sudden squeal. Sakuno slowly looked up at the boy, with tears capturing her eyes. She started rubbing her eyes as she struggled for the right words. "I-I…I've always wanted you to notice me…Ryoma-kun…but you never did…I wanted you to see me…me, not some crazy fan girl…that's all I've ever wanted…that's…that's why I wanted to enter in the tournament…" It was no use; none of her words she expressed made her feel any better. Sakuno wouldn't stop crying after her confession.

I really wished that after the tournament, I would be your Princess…

She thought back to the time he treated her face, when the ball hit her. He was so gentle, and he didn't tease her so much, any less criticize her clumsiness…much.

"…I…really wanted to be your princess…so much…" She said softly.

She made a small whimper when she felt warmth on her cheeks. She looked up and at Ryoma again, seeing him hold her face in his hands. Sakuno was speechless, yet curious for what he was thinking.

He stared at her trembling figure and leaned in.

Unaware brown eyes grew as she felt warmth pressing upon her lips. She felt his arms slide around her waist and rested on her back then brought her closer to the warmth of his body. Stiffly, she brought her arms up against his chest.

Slowly retreating, he brought his head back to look down at this girl he kept close to him. Feeling nothing warming her lips, her eyes slowly open. Warmth however, spread across her cheeks, showing physically in the form of a blush.

"….eh?" Sakuno softly breathed, unsure how to act after his action. He held her close, looking into her eyes.

"What you said…if that's true, then you lied about it being right to be by my side. Your rightful place is by my side." He tightened his grip on her just a bit, before adding, "You belong there." Seeing her sweet smile from her teary eyed face made him comforted. Sakuno felt at ease at his words, making him happy.

"Hn, but you couldn't be a princess, Ryuzaki-san. You're too clumsy," he teased smirking. He smiled at her cute pout and gave her a soft kiss on her fore head, as the night spilled into the starry sky.

A/N: Mmm. Well, there's my lame conclusion to my first Prince of Tennis fic. Sigh, I'm sorry if it was so lame. The beginning was lame, the middle was lame, and now the ending was the lamerest!

Thanks for reading it though; it makes me feel like I was actually doing something right.

…

Ryoma…never mind about Sakuno being OOC, it was all Ryoma! It was, wasn't it! Ohmigosh, I'm so stupid! Gah, okay, I'll await the true RyoSaku fans arrival to punishment, so I'll prepare cookies and milk! ;)

Oh, and if you have any questions about what the hizzy just happened in this fic, ask, and I'll make sure I could clear things up for you. But if you want to know what the hizz-o just happened, don't…hehe, if you didn't understand the whole thing once, I don't think my lame-brain summaries would help. Hehe.