Disclaimer: I do not own characters from Prince of Tennis. I don't own Ponta Company either. The rest are mine. :D

Title: Celebrate Celebrity

Summary: Ryosaku Sakuno had just won her best actress and model award, while Ryoma had just become number one in the tennis world. They have been called together for a photo shoot, and while the old friends reconcile, will it get any further than that? Or does it stop there?

Warnings: This story is mainly Ryoma & Sakuno, so if you do not like this pair, please don't read it. Flames on the pair will be ignored. You have been warned! Lol. :P

Random Note: Thanks to all those who reviewed! I updated fast for this chapter, but don't be expecting the next chapter soon! I will be leaving for an orientation camp, so I would be away from the computer. But don't stop reviewing! Please review!

Chapter Two: And Again

Sakuno sighed sadly whenever she passed a huge advertisement of her and Ryoma. It'd been three weeks since the shoot, and they hadn't met up again. So much for enjoying working together.

Both of us are busy with work, Sakuno supposed. There was no other explanation for that. Ryoma had not bothered to keep in contact with her and she hadn't the courage to call him up. What could she say, anyway?

There was usually silence between them. One wasn't talkative, and the other was too shy. What, they were supposed to communicate without words?

This problem had frustrated Sakuno since her crush on Ryoma back in middle school. She did not have a personality like Tomoka who could just be straightforward and talk like anything. Tomoka hardly blushed of embarrassment or shyness.

Sakuno almost laughed at herself. She could smile, talk and walk confidently on the catwalk, but with Ryoma, it was anything but confident. It was amazing how Ryoma still affected her after so many years apart. Or maybe it was just because she saw him frequently on the media.

"Miss, as a driver, I should keep quiet. But as your friend, I would like to ask if you're feeling alright." Will looked at her in from the back mirror.

Sakuno smiled at Will's friendliness. She'd realized that Americans were a lot more friendly strangers than Japanese people. "I'm fine," Sakuno managed to choke out. She had never been good at lying.

"If you say so. But is this about the article?"

Not soon after the advertisement was released, many rumors had emerged from different parts of the media. Some said they were just work partners, while others said they were getting together again. Some said they were meeting in secret.

These gossips had pervaded her fans, and there was excitement in the air again. Pesky reporters caught her in her most awkward moments and inquired impossible questions, and completely ignored Aiko's malicious eyes.

Luckily, things died down and Sakuno was spared from nosy reporters.

"No, that was ages ago, Will." Sakuno stared out of the window. Suddenly, she had the urge to tell Will everything about Ryoma. She pondered about the option. Why not? Will was her trusted friend, and he wouldn't spread rumors about her.

"Something you want to tell me, miss?" Will's voice pulled Sakuno out of her reverie.

Before she could think, words were spilling out of her mouth and didn't stop until her story was finished. When she finished her last sentence, Will smiled and said with no inflection in his voice, "I'm glad you told me, miss."

Sakuno slumped with relief when she heard that. It was a huge thing off her chest; even Tomoka had not known about the shoot.

"I suppose if Sports Ponta sells really well, you two might be called back again, you know," Will said amiably. "And it depends on what the results show at the end of this month."

"Really?" Sakuno asked hopefully.

"Yes, miss. And now, we've reached." He pulled into a parking lot and Sakuno put on a cap and sunglasses. Even the short way between the carpark to the building might be ambushed by fans and reporters.

It was announced that she would be going there to sign autographs, and from experience, she knew that no matter how early she was, there would still be people there.

--

Ryoma stared vacantly at the reporter sitting directly in front of him. Why was he making such a big deal about him taking pictures with Hanashi Rin a.k.a Sakuno? And there was this Kiyori Kake that was constantly mentioned.

Sure, he knew Kiyori. She was the loquacious girl that kept calling him and asking him out. She was pretty annoying, actually. And her loud voice reminded him of Osadaka. However, if Ryoma's memory was in order, he was pretty sure that Osadaka had a better personality than Kiyori. Kiyori was rude to others, though never to him. And he sort of knew why, but he preferred not to understand the whole situation. It meant fewer problems.

At that moment, Ryoma knew, however, if the roles were reversed and he started asking questions, more trouble would come knocking at the door. So, as questions came one after another, Ryoma kept his answers as short as possible.

He remembered that Kiyori was the one who announced that they were going out. Ryoma had no say in that, nor did he bother to change the fact. He'd just continue his tennis and shook his head when someone asked him about her.

She was irritating, yes she was.

Finally, the meeting was over. Ryoma had always hated one-to-one interview, because that meant invading his personal space. Facing a whole swarm of reporters was a hundred times easier.

Jason walked in as the reporter glided out.

"There are still others waiting for a one-to-one," Jason informed.

"Tell them that I'm busy…training," Ryoma replied.

"But the interviews bring in a lot!" Jason half-begged.

Ryoma huffed. He didn't like his manager. His manager loved money. He was changing him as soon as the contract expires. Ryoma couldn't believe that he had to put up with him.

The twenty-one-year-old promptly got up from his sofa and took up his racquet. "I'm training."

"But you've already made it to the top! What else are you training for?" Jason argued, refusing to let Ryoma pass.

"Tennis. Now let me pass."

"But-"

"Let me pass or I'll fire you, like I should have done so ages ago," Ryoma said coldly. Why was this man so fond of money that he didn't care about other people's feelings? Ryoma wasn't in the mood to answer useless questions.

The threat worked. Jason backed down immediately. "You're…you're my last client, please don't fire me…"

Maybe it was pity that made Ryoma stay with Jason for so long.

--

Ryoma continued practicing his already perfect Twist Serve. Again and again, he hit it swiftly across the court. He had a personal tennis court and it was guarded so that no mad fans would slip in and interrupt him. And at most of the times, it was pretty quiet.

"Oi, Echizen!"

Ryoma turned around. He tipped his cap. "Momo-sempai."

"Just came here?" Momoshiro asked, plopping down on a bench near Ryoma.

"Been here a while," Ryoma replied.

"Say, thanks a lot for letting me use this place for coaching."

Ryoma nodded. Momoshiro had taken up the job of coaching tennis. He took in students of all kinds, and taught them everything he knew. His best move was still Dunk Smash, and he passed it all selflessly to his students.

"You know, I've read a few articles on you and…Hanashi Rin?" Momoshiro said out of the blue, gazing anywhere but at Ryoma.

"She's Ryuzaki Sakuno."

Not you too, Ryoma thought, frustrated.

That jerked Momoshiro's head towards him. "What? Eh?" A pause. "Ryuzaki-sensei's granddaughter? No wonder I thought she looked very familiar."

Setting down his racquet, Ryoma started to pick his balls. Momoshiro had just dampened his mood for playing tennis. He didn't have a competition until October; so there really was no special need to train.

"Want to go for a burger?" Momo asked lightly. He'd noticed that Ryoma wasn't very happy today.

"No thanks. I'm going home. Bye."

Ryoma left quickly with a wave of his hand.

--

Ryoma stared at the ceiling. Sakuno, Sakuno, Sakuno. After a day of hearing about her, he couldn't get her name out of his mind.

The day at the photo shoot had made a heck of impression. He'd remembered her as a shy and awkward girl, and she was pretty horrible at tennis. Now, she walked and talked with confidence and yet she wasn't proud. And she had a hot body with beautiful features and skin to go with. In other words, she'd changed a lot from what he remembered.

Ryoma hadn't noticed girls before, but he sure had now. Only Sakuno, that is.

He'd especially liked the brown, big, round eyes she had, they made her look so innocent. Her hair was the most memorable one. Ryoma couldn't recall when he had last seen such long yet beautiful hair. He had wanted to just reach out and comb right through it, but there wasn't a time for that.

Even when after the shoot, when he went to see her privately; he hadn't been able to do it.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Echizen! Jason here. Ponta Company just called and said that they would like to have you back for another shoot. Please agree!" his manager said in one breath.

Sakuno.

Will she be there?

"They have also invited Hanashi Rin back," Jason said, as if he had read his thoughts.

Ryoma was startled, but he remained silent.

"Echizen? Echizen? Are you still there?"

Ryoma inhaled. "Yes."

"This would bring in money even it isn't related to tennis!"

Ryoma removed the phone from his ear and stared at it incredulously. Trust Jason to move to the money topic.

"Fine."

"Right! I'll reply immediately!" Jason said hurriedly and hung up.

Will Sakuno be there?

--

Sakuno could hardly believe her ears. Aiko had just informed her that Ponta Company had sent another invitation.

"Really?"

"Seriously, yes. So what is your answer?" Aiko asked, smiling.

"Sure, I'll do it," Sakuno assented.

Aiko's smile grew wider and gave her a thumbs-up. "Good job you've done this time, Rin. The company said that the sales results rose by nearly 50 percent!"

Will Ryoma-kun be there? Is he invited too? Are we working together again?

Sakuno locked her fingers at the thought.

She couldn't wait to see him again.