Well, it sure has been a long time since I updated anything… and I guess I might as well start typing, hehe. I realised I've made quite a few mistakes in the previous chapter, I guess I'll go back and fix them when this is all over with!
Another note, the bbold/b writing is Kalpin talking, though it is only heard as a meow of some sort… don't ask…
It's been so long… I've got up to number 11 in the P.O.T series! Oh, I can't wait for the next volume to come out! Anyways, I'll shut up and type now!
Thanks for all the reviews! I love them!
Disclaimer- I own nothing, but I did get a toaster for Christmas!………… I'll go weep in my corner now…
Ryoma's POV
"Good…" I let go of her and let her get used to the form. She shook her head and took a deep breath. My heart was beating fast but I ignored it; I had tennis on my mind now. "Alright, next step…" I moved in front of her and grabbed her hands. "Relax them, and move your hands here. I'll teach you other grips later…" I moved her hands and backed away. She actually looked professional for a moment… then she moved. "NO! This hand here!" I grabbed her hands again and fixed them, then looked up at her wide eyes. She was starring at me, and I was starring at her. It was so quiet, despite the noise coming from the traffic outside the courts and the train full of people that passed overhead. She smiled, and it was then I knew I wanted her.
"Ryoma…" she was always saying my name. I loved it when she said it…
"Sakuno…" I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to my chest, squishing the racquet between us. I felt like I was back in junior high, going on a walk late at night with Sakuno when I should have been studying…. Standing like this, her embraced in my arms… and kissing her soft lips; Just the pure simple moment. It was all so simple then. What had happened? Why did I have to be such a fool?
I looked down at her. Her hair was wet, our clothes were wet… and it was raining. She looked up at me.
"I'm-" I cut her off with my mouth, pressing my needy lips against her willing ones, afraid that her words would shred this moment. Our tongues forcefully met halfway and wrestled inside the confines of our locked mouths while I pulled her closer to my now-soaked chest. The rain beat against our numb bodies, and lightning lit up the darkened sky. None of this forced us apart; only lack of life supporting oxygen tore us from each other.
"I missed you so much Sakuno…" I breathed in to her ear.
"I missed you too…" she clung to my wet shirt, her own clothes revealing more than enough to get me excited. Thunder roared and still the rain refused to stop. "I… have to go…" She sounded desperate. No… please… stay with me. Let me take you.
"Yeah…" I looked away. Come one! Just pin her against the wall and- "One sec…" I ran to my bag and grabbed my things. I walked back over to her as she shivered. "Here…" I wrapped my jacket around her bare shoulders and swung my bag over my own shoulder.
"What about this one?" she motioned towards the racquet I gave her. The one she hadn't let go of yet.
"Keep it…" I walked with her to her car, desperately trying to keep myself together.
"Ryoma… how did I do today?" she had her back to me as we reached her white car. I had to think on this one. We barely got anything done…
"Satisfactory… but you still have a lot to work on…" she turned around and smiled, and we kissed one last time before she got in her car and drove off. I walked home, smirking all the way.
Tezuka's POV
I got home late again that night, but she didn't seem to mind. She seemed happy.
"How was your day Kunimitsu?" She shouted from the bathroom. She must have been changing. She never changed in front of me.
"Same old…" I replied, leaning over to the TV and flicking it on as I removed my shoes.
"Tell us! What is it like being engaged to a world renown tennis star and accomplished businessman?" Reporters gathered around the couple. The woman smiled and giggled, clinging to my reflection.
"Oh, were on TV again? Care to change the channel?" she stepped out from the bathroom.
"Oh, hehe well it has it's up's and downs…" she smiled and kissed his cheek. Then, the screen flicked and went black. I turned around and she placed the remote on the end table.
"Come on Tezuka, you know how it ends. You bend down and kiss me while camera's flash, trying to find the perfect angle of the Kodak moment, and the next photo for the cover of some magazine… Famous this, money that…" she sighed and curled up on her side of the bed. I shook my head and flicked off the lights. "Do you think the lies will ever end Tezuka?"
"Go to sleep…"
Momoshiro's POV
I starred at the TV screen, shocked.
"I'm home…" I scrambled with the remote and flicked off the TV as Ryoma appeared in the doorway.
"Uhh… hey!" he blinked a couple times then turned to leave.
"I'm gonna take a shower and go to bed…"
"Alright! Hey, don't forget about tomorrow's party."
"Oh… right sure…" he seemed dazed. Did something happen when I drove away?
"Hey kid! What's your name?"
"Huh? Uh… flower…" he disappeared in to his room. Yup… something had happened between him and Sakuno… and I could only bet it meant bad things.
Kalpin's POV
Ryoma took a shower and changed as I sat on his bed, licking my paws. Ah, grooming, my favourite pastime. He fell on his bed as he came out of the bathroom. I laid on my back and looked at him as he rubbed my belly.
"How was your day?" No answer, as expected. But what wasn't expected was the random smile Ryoma gave me.
"Kalpin… I'm in love again… I 'spose I was never NOT in love with her…" he scratched behind my ears.
"Oooooh! Spill! You can never keep anything from me! I am Kalpin, the almighty!"
"Ugh… I'm such a fool…"
"Huh? What are you talking about Ryoma? Huh…. Ryoma?" The scratching ceased, and Ryoma was asleep. "Ryoma! Pet me! Pet- … oh well…" and so, I fell asleep on my back.
Ryoma's POV
I woke up to the quiet of my dark room. Momo wasn't up yet… I think.
I turned my head and brushed the hair out of my eyes, gazing at the digital clock. Already 10:30… I had missed my first class. Oh well, might as well skip the whole day. I sat up and looked in the stand up mirror. And then, everything caught up with me, like I had been hit in the head with a sledgehammer. What had I done? I had re-kindled my relationship with Sakuno. In my current state… I was pathetic, losing control of even myself. I laid back on my bed and starred at the ceiling.
Momoshiro's POV
-11 hours and 25 minutes till the party- 10:35 am
"Yeah, he's not up yet…"
"Really? What about his classes? Hey! What about your classes!"
"Heh heh… well… oh well…" I sat on my bed, reading a tennis magazine. I hated school anyway. I was talking to Fuji on the phone.
"You guys…"
"Fuji… did you know that Tezuka is engaged?"
"Yeah…"
"To-"
"Yeah…" he cut me off. I sighed.
"Wicked weird…" he began laughing.
"Well, that's Tezuka for you…"
"Yeah… ahead of us all…"
Ryoma's POV
-10 hours and 11 minutes till the party- 11:49am
I was able to sneak out of the dorm without Momo knowing, and catch some time to myself… not like I needed any more of it. I guess I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Sakuno. I had no idea where she was working… but I knew where she was going to school. I wouldn't go there… and 'all girls' art school or something… blech.
I ran down the sidewalk, avoiding pedestrians, dressed in my very, very baggy Seigaku sweat pants and a loose white t-shirt. I had ordered a larger uniform, even though I didn't play for their team anymore. The manager of the store didn't seem to mind, seeing how my old teammates had all done the same. It seemed odd… we all wanted to hold on to the good years.
It began raining again. Many people cleared from the streets, others whipped out any umbrellas. I just kept running. People began to second look me as I past. I wondered why… I had seen plenty of runners down this street before. Maybe it was because I was running in the rain? Oh well…
I stopped in front of the café and waited for the light to change, so I could cross the street. It was cold now, and I could see my breath.
"Ryoma! Hey Ryoma!" was someone calling me? I looked around. A woman waved from under the protection from the overhang in front of the café. The light changed, but I turned around and walked up to her. "Running in the rain? Oh, you're going to catch cold…"
"Sakuno…" I sighed, "Why are you here?"
"Oh! Uh… lunch with some girlfriends…"
"Oh… well… you free tonight at 10?"
"Um… well I had plans."
"Whatever, some other time?"
"Uh, yeah sure…" I could see her friends in the window, pointing at me with a shocked expression. I decided now, would be the time to leave.
"I'll see you later… actually, I'll call you."
"Oh… um bye Ryoma…" I waved and left, running as fast as I could. I was happy to see her just once today. Now I wouldn't stop thinking about her.
Sakuno's POV
-9 hours and 52 minutes till the party- 12:08pm
I ran back in to the café and sat down at our table, adjacent to the window. I was followed by a unison squeal from my friends.
"Oh my god! That was Ryoma freakin' Echizen!" another squeal. I placed my hands around the mug containing my cappuccino.
"Uh… yeah…"
"You are freaking obsessed with that guy!"
"What! How do you-"
"I seen that sketch book full of those pictures you drew! Girls, you should see how she draws him… beautiful…"
"You weren't supposed to-"
"That extra sketchbook she carries around all the time?"
"Yeah!"
"Oh… now I want to see!"
"Show us Saki!"
"No! Guy's just-"
"Oh… he's so dreamy…"
"I wouldn't mind a piece of that ass!"
"Hitomi!" I yelled. How dare she talk about my Ryoma! Wait… I wasn't getting jelous… was I?
"Hehe, all in good fun! You don't get all the hotties!"
"The tennis hotties especially! We seen that guy you left with! And don't forget the almighty-"
"You mean Fuji? He wasn't hitting on me! I've known Fuji since… well… junior high really…" What was the deal? Everything seemed to be leading back to junior high… and Ryoma…
"Fuji? Wasn't he on that junior high team that won the… whatever?"
"Yeah…" I sighed. Ryoma was too… "Just drop it."
"So, has anyone been to the new store that opened up down the street?"
"No…" I took a sip.
"Nah…"
"Uhuh…"
"Well then let's go check it out!"
Fuji's POV
-3 hours and 30 minutes till the party 6:30pm ((hehe, big time skip))-
"So you're telling me that they've confronted each other?" I talked to a familiar old woman on my cellphone while I sat in the airport.
"Yup. Hehe, they're so cute."
"Must have been my little Sakuno… Ryoma's too stubborn." I laughed.
"You're right, but we are not dealing with out regular Ryoma."
"Ahaha, I bet he's acting different. What a change. But if what you are saying is true, we may have a really big problem on our hands."
"With Sakuno's end?" she laughed this time.
"No dear, with Ryoma. If he's anything like his father, his injury did him more damage than you know. Just keep a close eye on him Fuji."
"Yes Mam'n."
"By-the-way… how is Sakuno?"
"Well, why don't you come up and see your granddaughter?"
Momoshiro's POV
-0 hours and 43 minutes till the party 9:17pm-
"RYOMA! HURRY UP OR WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE!" I jumped up and down, urging Ryoma to hurry. He had locked his door so I resorted to yelling rather than peeking. "You change like a god-damn woman!"
"Oh, I'm sorry… I forgot… which one of us gets all the ladies?"
"Arrogant rookie!" I shoved my hands in my pockets. Damn kid was right though. I starred at my feet. White sneakers, baggy pants and a black t-shirt that said 'Fcuk You' on it; Man, I still got a kick out of that. And to top it all off, spiked hair. What more could a girl ask for? Oh yeah… Ryoma! I wasn't jealous! Really… I was just surprised at his skill, no, amazing skill with the ladies. Damn everything!
"Momo… you stopped yelling… I thought you died." Ryoma stepped out of his bedroom, Kalpin on his heels. I looked up at him. Predictable Ryoma… Fila shoes, baggy pants, a short sleeve shirt with a long sleeve shirt underneath, large rings and black jelly bracelets and a metal link collar tight around his neck; The perfect lure for any chick.
"Overboard?" he asked.
"Since when did the ladies man need advice?"
"Ha ha… let's just go."
Ryoma's POV
-0 hours and –23 minutes till the party 10:23 They're late Momo's driving sucks.
I was able to ditch Momoshiro as soon as we got to Christina's house. I didn't like sticking with other guys at a party… it felt too weird. The music was blaring and people were jumping around breaking things. I smirked as a scantly clad female walked towards me stopping right in front, and a little close, too.
"Finally made it. You look good."
"Yeah, you too." She pressed herself against me and it wasn't long before her arms were around my neck. She was an inch taller.
"Babe, it's been so long."
"A week." I scoffed. How sad…
"Let's dance!"
"Nah, let me grab something to drink."
"Sure thing!" she disappeared off in to the mob. I walked down the hall by myself and in to the kitchen to grab a cooler. Christina fit the normal profile… blonde cheerleader with a history of being a good fuck, that, and she was the latest bimbo I was screwing. I walked out in to the backyard, cooler in hand only to see Momo's attempt to pick up a chick way out of his class. People were drinking, laughing and dancing around the pool. It just spelt out trouble. I took a sip from my cooler, and nearly chocked when the girl pushed Momo in the pool. With no attempt to hold my laughter in, Momo swam over to me while I clutched my chest. I just couldn't stop laughing.
"Ryoma!"
"Hahahahaha!….. HA!"
"Help me!"
"Ah… sure." I held out my hand, still laughing. Big mistake.
SPLASH
I opened my eyes underwater, panicked, and kicked my legs until I surfaced.
"HAH!" I hit Momo as people began to cannonball in to the pool, following our lead. There were about fifty teenagers and one really fat guy crammed in before I managed to squirm out alive. Walking back in to the house, I sat on a kitchen counter, soaking wet.
"Heh, quite a fall. Very graceful Ryo-kun." Christina threw a towel on my lap, then handed me a glass full of god knows what. Fully knowing it was probably spiked alcohol, I accepted and downed it, then wiped my mouth with my sleeve, dry my face with the towel then throw it partially over my head. She laughed.
"Ryoma, let's get drunk."
"Much agreed."
So, we downed a few dozen different types of alcohol, then a couple drugs, which names I couldn't remember anymore. I didn't really care either; all I needed was to drown everything away; the letters of denial for singles in Japan, China, and even the US; All because of my ankle.
I lost track of time and I lost track of Momo… and I lost my head. Christina was taking full advantage of me and I knew it. We were in her room, and I sat on the edge of the bed while she sat on my lap, kissing me. She was nowhere near as good of a kisser than Sakuno. Sakuno knew what to do exactly when I needed it. Of course, that meant less when we were in junior high.
She took off all her clothes quite easily, but I wasn't paying attention. Somehow, my shirts had been torn off, and I was now pinning her to the bed.
"No more kissing." I could hear the music blaring downstairs.
"Fine. You were always odd in bed, wanting this and that." She wrestled with my pants.
"No conversation either. Just sex." My head hurt…
"You are so rough when you're hammered…" she bit down on my shoulder, then looked up proudly. I wasn't only drunk… I think I was high off something too.
"Shut up…"