Disclaimer: The Prince of Tennis does not belong to me.

Chapter Ten: Meeting the Rikkai Regulars (Last Part)

They went back to the side-bench where everyone was gathered. Yagyuu was just standing up as they walked near.

Yagyuu said coolly, "The bandage was tight enough but your ankle is still very swollen. When you get home tonight, put some more ice on it just in case. I think Amano-sensei would have told you but I want you to make sure you remember to do it. With your ankle like that, you should not have stood up on both feet and so heavily too."

He was not loud or harsh but so reasonable that Sakuno felt chastised all the same. She hung her head, her braids swinging by the sides of her face, "G-gomen-nasai, Yagyuu-senpai, I-I forgot that my ankle was hurt." She could feel the blood rushing to her face at her foolishness.

Yagyuu's eyes were hidden behind his glasses but he was surprised. After all, he had not expected this answer. However, not being an overly curious person, he did not press her to explain.

Instead, he knelt in front of her again and lifted her chin with his long and beautifully-shaped fingers. As a gentleman, he should never have said anything to induce such shame in a girl like Sakuno and for that he was about to make amends.

"Look at me, Ryuzaki-san." He commanded quietly in his cultured voice.

Sakuno looked at him with some trepidation.

Yagyuu said softly, "I am not scolding you. I was just worried that your ankle would get worse. A lady should always take care of her body because it is very precious and beautiful. Do you understand, Ryuzaki-san?"

Sakuno looked a bit puzzled but she answered in her obedient manner, "H-hai, Yagyuu-senpai…"

Yagyuu smiled gently, "Yosh, good girl." Then he released her chin and stood up.

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As soon as he left to pack his racket into his tennis bag, Bunta hopped in front of Sakuno.

He had already gotten the cakes Sakuno had made him out of his bag and was munching happily. He was even so gracious as to offer Jackal one but Jackal said that he would be fine, thank you very much.

"Sakuno-chan, do you want a cake? It might make you feel better." Bunta always felt better after he had something to eat.

Sakuno giggled at Bunta's face; it was stuffed with cakes. She wondered out loud how he managed to speak so clearly with all the cakes in his mouth.

Bunta blinked, "Well, I never thought about it… probably practice." He was not too concerned about things like that; it made life so much easier. Sakuno giggled again at his answer. Really she was most easy to please.

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Around them, everyone was starting to pack up their rackets and the tennis balls. All of them knew that practice for today was officially over.

Yukimura was wondering as he was picking up tennis balls and hitting them into the basket whether he should take Sakuno home or maybe someone else should. After finding out that she was on such good terms with his sister, he had unconsciously put her in his 'someone to protect' category.

Niou and Akaya were both thinking the same thing but for slightly different reasons. They were not aware of each other as they made their way to Yukimura. However, as he looked up and saw them, he said, "Niou, Akaya, what brings you together?"

Niou and Akaya glanced at each other and both decided to ignore Yukimura's comment. Niou said, "I…" while Akaya spoke up at the same time, "Buchou…"

They glared at each other while Yukimura stifled a small grin, "What is it, Niou?" He was not ignoring Akaya on purpose but Niou was elder of the two after all.

Niou smirked at Akaya and answered shortly, "I just wanted to tell you that I am taking Sakuno home on my bike."

Akaya frowned, "Niou-senpai, you don't have to bother because I am taking her home. It's my responsibility that she worsened her injury after all. Besides she's my pet."

Yukimura would have smiled at their words except for Akaya's last comment, "Pet, Akaya?" Akaya turned back to Yukimura and boldly explained, "She reminds me of a bunny so she's my bunny now."

Niou and Yukimura did not know what to make of this so they decided to pretend that Akaya did not say anything.

Yukimura, always the peace-maker, aside from anything to do with tennis that is, sighed and said, "You can both take her home. That way, there will be two of you to watch over her and explain to her family what happened. Ask Yagyuu if he can come with you. He deals better with parents and such than you two."

For all his faults, not that people say he had them, but he was human after all, stupidity was not of them and he knew very well the kind of impression Niou and Akaya usually gave.

Insolent would be too mild to describe their air of arrogance and pride; though arrogance would more be Akaya's image but Niou's was not much better. No matter how he hid it, his canniness and mischievousness could be seen too clearly.

Niou and Akaya wanted to argue but with Sanada looking their way, they knew better.

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In the end, Yagyuu agreed to come along to be a spokesman. Bunta insisted on joining them, saying that these guys would scare Sakuno-chan and he dragged Jackal along because they were partners, Bunta said.

It did not make much sense to Jackal but he had been partners with Bunta too to bother arguing a bound-to-lose argument with him.

Sakuno did not really want such a large group with her. Even though they had been very kind to her, they were very tall and as a result, rather intimidating in her eyes. Bunta was slightly better because there was no way he could look scary with his cakes and later bubble-gum. Also he was shorter than the other players.

On the way, Niou carried Sakuno on his back because he could not ride his bike with the others walking. He made Akaya push his bike, which he did unwillingly. The rest of the group also put their bags together with Sakuno's onto the bike, on purpose of course, just to annoy Akaya.

Sakuno took pity on Akaya and asked him if he needed help,although she could not really helpbut she could not just leave him like that.

The regulars already had some idea of her soft-heartedness and so they were quick to reassure her before Akaya could say anything that 'Akaya was actually very strong despite him being so lean' and 'he needed the training' and 'he was very pleased to do it' and such nonsense.

It was as much to annoy the Junior Ace as it was to make Sakuno feel better.

She was not so stupid as to really believe all that but since they said it and Akaya did not protest, except for his expression, she did not ask him again.

Thus, just like that, our merry company made their merry way to Sakuno's house beneath the dusky sky with the first star twinkling down at them.

The End…

Of Part One only, so don't shoot!