Together on the Courts

Chapter Two:

The Only One

"I'm so happy for you, Sakuno!" Tomo-chan exclaimed, squeezing Sakuno's hands as she grinned, "but it's expected isn't it? After all you're one of the top students in our class and you're doing pretty well in tennis, thanks to the help of Ryoma-sama!"

"Tomo-chan..." Sakuno said softly as her friend dropped her hands and walked over to the railing, her back to her now as she stared up into the clear blue sky. She was slightly startled at how her friend's eyes had began watering slightly and couldn't find her voice while Tomo-chan continued her voice still loud as if trying to fight against her own emotions.

"Don't think that just because you're there," Tomo-chan said, her voice wavering slightly now, "don't think that you can- can forget us."

"Tomo-chan--" Sakuno began walking to her best friend before stiffening again as her friend placed a hand to her face, crying softly now. "D- don't cry, please..." she begged, rushing over and handing her a handkerchief.

Sniffing, Tomo-chan gave her a small grin before taking the handkerchief with a muttered thanks. "I don't know why, but it feels like you'll be leaving us forever..." she whispered, looking back out over the railing, this time her eyes looking to the pavement.

"Maybe, Ryoma-kun's right," she thought out loud sulkily, standing outside the classroom, "maybe, I am an idiot." After rushing towards the bathroom and arriving back to class late, the teacher had kicked her out of the room and forced her stand and wait outside. She had obliged greatly, avoiding both Tomo-chan's and Ryoma-kun's eyes as she entered and left.

When news came that she could enter Hyoutei's high school on a full-scholarship, she was shock to say the least. Yes, she had good grades but there were better students. Yes, she was now a good tennis player by junior high standerds but, yet again, there were better. So, over and over again, she'd wonder why they had chosen her. Her Obaa-chan had been proud, hoping she would choose that path even though Sakuno knew she was slightly disappointed in how she wasn't going to Seigaku's high school.

When she had told Momo-chan-sempai, he did look shock before laughing out loud saying, "interesting, very interesting." She had done what Tomo-chan suggested and went to talk to Momo-chan-sempai about confronting Ryoma-kun. After treating her to some ice cream, they had sat down at the park while he told her to go for it because it was already starting to be too late seeing as she had gotten the notice two months before school ended.

"Nothings worse then bad news from someone you care about, after all."

She hid a snort, as if Ryoma-kun cared about her or anything else besides tennis and Karupin-chan (which she met once on her way home). She sighed, running a hand through her long hair before staring at her wrist, the elastic Ryoma-kun took and gave back was sitting there, their strings ripping by the metal while a part of it was stretched quite badly. She had begun toying with it without her knowing and jumped when the door besides her opened. Looking up, she stared at Ryoma-kun who gave an audible, "che."

"Ryoma-kun," Sakuno said, blinking curiously at the taller boy who leaned onto the wall besides her.

He didn't speak to her so she looked away, placing her hands behind her back as if she was now ashamed that she had even played with the elastic in her utter boredom. Looking to the other side of Ryoma-kun she stared down the long empty hallway, vaguely wondering what Ryoma-kun had done to be sent out into the hallway. However, if he was angry with her for not telling him in the beginning than she decided not to speak to him as well. Her gaze shifted back to the window and she wondered if she was ever going back to class or if the teacher had already forgotten he had ever sent her out. Sakuno had noticed he did this when Ryoma-kun was sent out for talking back once or twice.

"You really going to Hyoutei?"

Her head snapped to Ryoma-kun, she eyed him for a bit noticing how casual he looked as he leaned against the wall, a hand in his pocket with his face facing out the window just as she had done. She nodded, "Obaa-chan already sent the letter."

"Che," Ryoma-kun said again, looking to away from the window but still avoiding her own gaze.

It was silent again and she looked away, feeling awkward for the first time in ages. It wasn't to say that they had become comfortable around each other but, it was the type of friendship where they could stand alone together after their friends had left, not say anything, and still be content. However, this atmosphere was different. Awkward and tense, something Sakuno had forgotten and a small memory of her going to get her racket fixed with Ryoma-kun when they were both first years caused her to giggle out loud. God, did they really change that much?

"What's so funny?" Ryoma-kun asked, still not looking at her.

"Hm, memories," she said, tucking her hair behind her ear and looking at Ryoma-kun who finally looked back, unfazed as their eyes met. "Do you remember when we were first years?" She leaned over and nudged him, scarcely noticing that this changed the atmosphere around them, "you were so cruel to me."

Ryoma-kun shrugged and turned his head again but Sakuno smiled when she noticed he was smirking, probably remembering as well. At ease now, she breathed in feeling like a weight had lifted off her shoulders before turning to the window and wondering, for the hundredth time since Ryoma-kun became her friend, how she had ever gotten this lucky.

"Ryuzaki, don't go to Hyoutei."

She had barely heard it and wondered if she had imagined it but when she turned to Ryoma-kun and found him looking back at her before turning with a small wave and walking down the hallway. She was shocked, frozen in her own surprise before she shakily turned back towards the window.

She realized it then, slowly but quite happily that Ryoma-kun was the only one who had told her to stay.

End

Chapter Two

Author's Note: I think I'm addicted. Hehe, I couldn't wait to write this chapter and when I finished I couldn't believe it because I can barely write for my HP account (D.W.Lam) now and I always thought anime was too hard but, this story is coming along quite nicely.

Thank you for reading and, if you want, reviewing!