Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Prince of Tennis.

Title: Celebrate Celebrity

Summary: Ryosaku Sakuno had just won her best actress and model award, while Ryoma had just become number one inthe 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 this. Flames on the pair will be ignored. You have been warned! Lol. And I might add a teensy bit angst in this story, if it's all right with you guys. Or else it'd be too sweet. But happy ending, still!

Random Note: Missed me? I know, I took a long time to update. But, you guys are in luck! The plot is almost complete! Which probably means I will complete this story as well. And I revised this story for the tenth time. By the way, I'd like to remind you guys of the timings in case you're confused. I know I myself do that sometimes. Haha.

Timeline: It was nearly the end of the month when they took the picture. Which means they (Ryoma and Sakuno)weren't in Japan for that long without visiting their relatives and friends. Which also shows just how much the results were raised.

I haven't decided which month it is now, though. :P

Chapter Four: Where Did You Go?

Sakuno was in a huge dilemma. She couldn't decide just what to wear. Being the rich and famous girl she had become, she had an absolutely countless number of tennis outfits to choose from. There was this pretty pink outfit that would make her look cute and then there was this gorgeous blue outfit that would simply bring out her figure.

What was she supposed to do? She might as well wear nothing.

Sakuno blushed at the thought. Where did that come from?

Deciding to get some advice from her best friend, she picked up the telephone and punched in the ever-familiar numbers.

"Moshi-moshi?" came a voice from the other end of the line.

"Hello, Tomo-chan, how have you been doing?" Sakuno asked pleasantly, pleased to hear her voice.

"SAKUNO!" Tomoka's over excited voice came bursting through the line. "SAKUNO! Finally you've called me! Haven't you missed me, ne?"

Sakuno held the phone several centimeters from her ear. She'd forgotten how loud her best friend was.

"Of course I missed you, Tomo-chan," Sakuno assured Tomoka.

"Good, good…" she trailed off.

Suddenly, it was very awkward. It had been quite a while since they'd talked, not to even mention met. Both were silent at their end of line.

"So…" both of them began at the same time.

Tomoka burst out laughing. "This is so weird. All right, what's up?"

Sakuno smiled. "Well, actually, Ryoma-kun is coaching me tennis again."

They giggled, as if sharing a secret. "Really?" Tomoka exclaimed, and Sakuno could imagine her jumping up and down at the end of the line. "Oh my gosh! That's fantastic. Any way you could take me along?"

Sakuno grinned inwardly. Tomoka was straightforward as ever. She was shameless whenever it came to Ryoma.

"Well," Sakuno began, "I might if you'd tell me what to wear. I can't decide."

"No problem! When's the date?"

"It isn't a date!"

"Oh yeah, it definitely isn't, because you only choose what to wear when you go on a date. Yeah, right." Tomoka's voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"Tomo-chan!"

"Whatever, when is the date?"

"Five. Today." Sakuno couldn't suppress another giggle.

"Ha! I'm coming over right now! You haven't moved, have you?"

"No," Sakuno shook her head. She'd always had this problem, when someone finds out where she lives and sells the information to the media; she would have to move immediately in case of fans and reporters.

"Oh good, I can hardly keep track of you nowadays, my rising star. See you in ten."

"Sure."

Sakuno removed the phone from her ear and placed it back to its rightful place. For a second there, she thought Tomoka sounded remorseful. After all, it was Tomoka who wanted to become a celebrity in the first place. Sakuno was just the tag-along. Who knew that she would get it in the end?

Shaking the negative thoughts out of her head, she drew in a deep breath. Somehow, Sakuno felt that their relationship had been strained ever since the day the judges decided her fate.

Why am I still thinking about that now? They are the past. We are still friends now, aren't we?

But not as innocent and naïve as before.

--

Ryoma wished that he were deaf. So that he would not be able to hear those annoying voices belonging to those pesky reporters. Apparently, they had entered his dressing room to interview him but found him missing. Then he was found walking out of Hanashi Rin's dressing room and was immediately found guilty.

Nonsense.

The voices grew louder.

Irritating.

The words were incoherent to him.

Unreasonable.

What had he done wrong? He just walked out from Sakuno's dressing room that was all. What was so special about that? Couldn't they just leave him alone?

He had to get ready to meet Sakuno, after all.

Finally, his patience snapped. "Please. Leave. Me. Alone. Where is Jason?"

Somehow or other, his reaction must have amused the reporters tremendously, because they did not die down but instead grew louder as some of them started scribbling frantically in their notebooks.

If he had a racquet in his hand, he would have Cyclone-smashed the person's head right in front of him. There was no way he could do that however, for one, he did not have a racquet; two, he would be jailed.

So Ryoma did the only thing he could do. He clenched his fists and teeth tightly as he moved slowly and unsteadily through the swarm of reporters.

Unfortunately, half-way through his trip, someone with honey-brown hair stood in front of him with an expensive camera in hand.

Fuji Syusuke grinned at Ryoma wickedly. "Say cheese, Echizen-kun."

Ryoma nearly laughed. To think the first ex-teammate he met in Japan was the former tensai player. Ryoma pointed towards his dressing room's door and pushed his way, this time a little more roughly, to his room.

And the only person he allowed in was Fuji. Ryoma could hear shouts from the various reporters outside calling out numbers for Fuji to give them Ryoma's pictures and interview. Stupid people.

"Aren't I lucky," Fuji said, smiling up at Ryoma. It was then he realized that he was actually taller than his sempai. "So, how have you been?"

Ryoma was taken aback. Fuji was actually talking to him like he was a normal person he'd just met on the street! Ryoma didn't know whether to be disappointed or to rejoice. He settled for the latter.

"Not bad… You?"

"Oh, just been waiting for a chance to finally meet you. I'm a reporter now, you know?"

"…" Ryoma couldn't really just say, 'Yeah, and I'm a tennis star now,' much as he'd like to.

"Don't worry," Fuji said, "I won't be reporting what you're saying now. I'd let you know when I start working."

"So what's the camera for?"

"Selling your picture at one million yen," Fuji joked.

Ryoma managed a smile. He didn't really know what to say. After so long, what they had in common wasn't tennis anymore. Nor was it the horrible Inui drink they had to endure (Fuji's excluded) or the many tiring trainings they had to go through.

In other words, they had nothing to talk about. Ryoma didn't like this feeling. And so, he ignored it, like he always did.

He remained silent, and preferred for Fuji to continue to conversation.

"How have you been doing, really? Have you contacted any of your own teammates? We've missed you."

Ryoma whipped around and met Fuji's blue eyes. Except that this time, it wasn't so blue. The color seemed to have faded slightly, as if wasted over the years. For the first time, Ryoma felt like he was looking at an adult, whom he had remembered as a teenager.

"Where are they?" Ryoma managed to say casually, shrugging slightly.

"Going on with their own lives, but still in Japan. Oishi and Kawamura had been around and back. The only one I've lost contact with is Tezuka."

"Oh?" Of all the people, Tezuka was the last person Ryoma thought Fuji would lose contact with. Besides, it wasn't that hard to lose contact with the Tezuka, who was currently in a competition, according to his manager. There had to be newspapers filled with reports about the super player.

"We're very busy," Fuji said briskly. "Anyway, since it has been some time, do you want to have tea?"

"Somewhere private only."

Fuji raised an eyebrow. "You've certainly gotten richer."

"Safety reasons, Fuji-sempai. My manager can arrange someplace immediately."

They left the building quickly, and got into the limousine that Jason had hired. They were taken to a very elite restaurant. The air of quiet elegance was comforting as they entered the darkened place. Ryoma generously told Fuji to order anything he liked; he was treating.

"So," Fuji began, taking a sip of his cappuccino, "any plans later?"

"Something around five," Ryoma shrugged, mimicking Fuji's move.

The silence was almost unbearable, if not for the gentle background music.

"I haven't congratulated you for your successes yet, have I?" Fuji asked. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," Ryoma nodded.

"You know, it's not fair that I start every conversation we've had. Think of something," Fuji pointed out.

Ha, so Fuji was just that bit frustrated as he was.

"I have nothing to say," Ryoma replied bluntly.

"Please, I'm not a reporter here, I'm an old friend."

"And I'm still the stuck up ochibi you knew from middle school and high school." Ryoma fought to keep a smile off his face.

Fuji laughed.

--

"That doesn't look bad either."

Sakuno was getting desperate. This was the fifth outfit that Tomoka had said that 'doesn't look bad.' Was she trying to help here?

"All your clothes are so pretty!" Tomoka squealed. "They are all so nice! I can't decide which would be better to wear to Ryoma-sama's lesson!"

You're just thinking about yourself, Sakuno's selfish side talked. You're not helping me choose my outfits at all.

Sakuno was now officially depressed. Who knew a simple dress up would be so difficult? And she had to be prepared to perspire. There was no way she could wear makeup. It was supposed to make things easier.

Somehow, they did not.

Sakuno sat down on her clothes-filled bed and stared tiredly at Tomoka, who was going through her closets at the moment. Yes, she has two closets full clothes. And she would need another one soon. Sakuno could imagine the fun Tomoka was having.

Suddenly, she didn't feel so good. There had been a vibe emanating from Tomoka since she arrived at her doorstep. What was this feeling? Guilt? Afraid? Sakuno couldn't believe it. There was something…different about her best friend. It was the change she had felt. Then she remembered something.

"What are you doing now? I mean, working as?" Sakuno asked softly, in case it might hurt her best friend.

"Oh, I'm a caretaker now," her best friend answered with forced cheerfulness from inside the closet. Her voice was muffled. "You know, I used to take care of my brothers, and I swore I wouldn't have anything to do with children when I grew up, but look at me now! Caretaker! Ha."

She knew it. They both knew it. It was all her fault.

"I'm sorry," Sakuno whispered. Tomoka either did not hear her or did not choose to reply.

She wasn't supposed to win. She was supposed to be there only to support and cheer her best friend on. Then they were to leave either happily together or with a sad Tomoka. If her friend did not make it, she was supposed to be there to comfort her. But, no.

"The names that were just read out, please stay back for a while. I am sorry for the rest, but the judges have made their final decision. You may leave. Thank you."

Tomoka gave Sakuno's hand a squeeze. She smiled gratefully at Sakuno. "Thanks for accompanying me here, Sakuno."

Somehow, Sakuno felt as if her eyes said something else. But she swallowed and replied gently, "No problem."

Maybe it came out a little too harsh, because Tomoka had turned suddenly and departed quickly. Sakuno couldn't find her best friend anywhere when she got out.

She called Tomoka but no one answered. So she tried her home number. Her brother said that his sister was not back yet.

Sakuno never got her chance to comfort Tomoka. When they'd met the next day, Tomoka was her usual bubbly self again. She'd even hugged Sakuno and said that she was glad she made it.

Sakuno decided that the only thing she could do was to make sure that she did well, so as not to let Tomoka down.

And she didn't, she hoped.

--

Fuji had glanced at his watch and left in a hurry.

So Ryoma was left alone by the windowsill, which boasted the landscape of the beautiful city below. The tiny cars were cruising along at snail pace, while the people rushing by were not more than ant-size.

The background music had subsided to nothing; Ryoma supposed they'd left for a rest. There was nobody else in the whole restaurant but him. The waiters left him alone.

Suddenly, his handphone rang. The familiar ring tone rang through the silence as Ryoma fumbled for his phone.

"Hello?"

Ryoma could her fidgeting sounds in the background.

"Who is it?"

"It's...Sakuno," came a small voice from the other end of line.

"Yes?" They were supposed to meet at five, why was she calling now? Was she there already?

"It's nothing…just that, well, do you, um, remember Tomoka? Can she come too? It's been a while since you've met, right?"

Ryoma racked through his brain for a Tomoka. Tomoka…Tomoka…oh yes, the one he'd compared with Kiyori.

"I…guess so," Ryoma shrugged, but there was something in her voice that bothered him. "You don't seem that pleased, though."

Ryoma guessed she was surprised. She'd kept suspiciously quiet.

"I… No, of course not! Why would I be not pleased to have my best friend along? I'm pleased, of course I am! It's not that I sound that I'm not pleased, Ryoma-kun! Really! I'm very happy that Tomo-chan is coming along!"

Ryoma raised an eyebrow. It had only been a comment, why was she so worked up over this? But then, Ryoma decided, girls were always fretting over little things.

"I'll see you at five, then."

"Ryoma-kun, you have to believe me! I'm really glad to have her with us, really!"

Now she was getting the slightest bit irritating.

"I know."

He heard her suck in breath as if she wanted to say some more, but she stopped herself in time. "I, I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"See you."

"See you."

He hung up.

He let out a breath. She had quite a lot to say.

Random Note (2): Please bear in mind that the POVs are biased. What Ryoma and Sakuno thought might be exaggerated or taken too lightly. :)

Random Note (3): I'd like to thank Strawberry'd for helping to correct my mistakes! Your suggestions were really helpful! And I would also like to thank the rest of the reviewers for encouraging me to continue this story! Any of you reading my Reviews Replies' Page?

Love ya all,

A.Renika