Yo, minna-san! Wah, sorry if I update very late in these times. I think being connected with DSL is such a good thing, but now it isn't. I disable it every time I shutdown my PC, but now, it isn't functioning properly. I can't connect to the net, and it really grates my nerves! Argh! Hmp, this inconvenience came in a wrong time. I really need to be online now, because I need to read and download other music files! And about the DSL thing, and about my anti-virus thing, had failed. Aw holy crap this is ridiculous. I hate it.
Meow. Alice Academy is already finished. I'll miss Natsume. I wonder if that's the last episode, I just can't see that it had really ended. I wish they'll make season 2 of this anime. I loved Natsume and Mikan together! Surely, I'll miss them!
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis. I might have ruined their life if I do. Just kidding! I love typing this chapter. So much. Haha I am evil!
"Sakuno…"
"Hmmm…."
"Sakuno nee-chan…"
"Hmmm…"
"Sakuno!" Tomoka and Yume shrilled inside the girl's room. It is already 7:00 in the morning when they decided to wake her up. Sakuno opened her eyes and saw the two girls staring annoyingly on her. She looked on her wrist watch that was placed at the desk beside her bed.
"S-seven A.M.?" Sakuno mumbled. She got her pillow and covered her face with it. "Geez, it's so early." She murmured.
"Hey Sakuno, I thought you said you want to be a manager too, ne?" Tomoka placed her hands on her hips and exclaimed. Yume climbed on Sakuno's bed and took off the pillow from her face. "Sakuno nee-chan, time to get up…" she said. Sakuno peeked at her friends and closed her eyes. "Ne, I think you should help me get up… I think my back was stuck on the bed and I can't get up."
Tomoka and Yume's eyebrows twitched. "Sakuno…"
Sakuno looked at Tomoka and Yume and blinked several times.
"GET UP!!!"
"Ne, Tomo-chan… I want to sleep more…" Sakuno mumbled once more. Yume, Tomoka and Sakuno were walking towards the kitchen. Yume was holding the schedule for the day and read it.
"Managers should cook food at 8:00 A.M." Yume reads aloud. Sakuno held Tomoka's shoulder and leaned her head on it. "Eh, I think 7:00 is too early for us…"
"Sakuno, we decided to wake you at 7:00 because we know we'll have hard time making you get up." Tomoka protested. Sakuno looked at her best friend and smiled. "I think I should get used to it now."
"Good morning, Sakuno-chan!" a guy with red hair greeted Sakuno. Sakuno looked at the door of the kitchen and saw Kintarou. "Good morning to you too, Kin-chan!" she greeted back. Her eyes widened when she saw Kintarou's outfit.
Why is Kin-chan wearing an apron? She thought of.
"Ryuzaki-san! Long time no see!" Horio greeted from Kintarou's back. He was carrying an onion at his right hand and a knife on his left. Sakuno's sweat dropped.
Geez. Horio-kun looks like an onion killer.
"Ah! Kachirou-kun! Katsuo-kun!" Sakuno greeted when she saw Kachirou and Katsuo inside the kitchen. The three girls entered and took the aprons. "Good morning, Ryuzaki-san!"
"Ne, we are cooking breakfast?" Sakuno blinked several times when she saw a box of onions in front of her. Her sweat dropped once more. "I think we're going to cook food with so many onions on it?" she spoke softly.
We are going to kill onions, I guess.
Kintarou wondered when he saw Sakuno looking at the onions. "Sa-chan, what's the matter?"
Sakuno shook her head and smiled. "Nothing. Let's start cooking now, ne?" she said and took an onion. Kintarou did the same way too, while the others take care of cooking and preparing other stuffs. Sakuno got a knife and started peeling off the onion's layer.
Kintarou looked at Sakuno amazingly. "Sakuno-chan is not just the number one onigiri maker, but also the world's best onion peeler." He said. Sakuno looked at Kintarou sheepishly.
World's best onion peeler? Crack.
"I-itai!" Sakuno cried lightly when the knife slid on her finger. Kintarou looked at Sakuno anxiously. "Sa-chan, what's wrong?" he asked, and then he saw Sakuno's bleeding finger. "Sa-chan, you're finger is bleeding!" he said, his eyes forming concern. He took her hand, but Sakuno refused. "Kin-chan, this is okay. I'll just get some bandage…" she smiled and headed towards Sumire's room to get some bandage.
I'll let it this time. I'll just cure it after cooking so the food won't taste like alcohol. She thought of while putting the bandage on her finger. She quickly got inside the kitchen and took the knife to peel garlic, but Kintarou didn't allow her.
"Sa-chan, I think you should cure it now…" he said. Sakuno just smiled and spoke. "Nope, this is okay. I know how to handle it." She said and continued cooking. Kintarou just looked at her and sighed. "Okay."
A few minutes had passed and they finished cooking. Yume took the scheduler and read. "Needs to check if everyone is awake to take breakfast. Ne, we need to check their rooms? Sakuno nee-chan, could you do that?" she asked. Sakuno nodded and took off her apron. "Okay." She said and ran towards the second floor.
"Mou… I thought I could cure this injury after cooking." She mumbled while holding her hand. The bandage was tainted red. "Itai." She reacted. She was walking towards each other's room, and knocks at the doors to check.
"Anou… excuse me… breakfast is ready. You could go at the kitchen now." She said respectfully to each other's rooms. Everyone answered yes and got off from their rooms.
"Yes. Just a room left. I could endure this." She said to herself, but saw the bandage getting redder than before. She walked in front of the last room and knocked.
"Anou… excuse me… breakfast is ready. You could go at the kitchen now." She said again. Momoshiro opened the door, his eyes closed.
"Oi Echizen, just go at the kitchen if you already want to get up." Momoshiro said without opening his eyes, and walked towards the corridor while humming. Sakuno was sweat dropped when she knew that Momo didn't even saw her.
Ne, Echizen-kun is still inside? She thought of and peeked inside the room. "Anou, Echizen-kun, breakfast is ready. You should get up now." She said and saw Ryoma covering his face inside his blanket.
Ryoma groaned. What is she doing here? He thought of and faced his back to her.
"Anou… Echizen-kun…" Sakuno determined herself and walked towards Ryoma. "What's the matter?"
"Nothi-"
"Echizen-kun is still sick." Ryoma's words were cut off when Sakuno spoke and placed her hand over his forehead. Ryoma felt some warmth rising on his cheeks. He looked at her, his cheeks still covered by his blanket. "I said this is nothing." He said and placed his hand above Sakuno's and tried to put it off.
"I-Itai…" Sakuno reacted and pulled her hand. She held her hand and looked at the red bandage.
Ryoma sat up from his bed when he saw Sakuno's bandaged finger.
"Oi, what happened to you?" he asked while taking Sakuno's hand and looked at it. Sakuno's heart felt sudden rapid heartbeat when she felt Ryoma's warm hand.
I can feel it again… she thought of. She wanted to pull back but her body won't let her.
Ryoma blinked several times when he saw Sakuno's chocolaty eyes staring on their bonded hands. He decided to hold her hand gently and placed it over his own hand. He touched the injured finger when he saw the bandage already red.
"Itai!" Sakuno yielded. Ryoma looked at her and apologized. "Sorry." He said and let go off her hand. He faced the desk beside his bed and opened the drawer. Sakuno wondered. "Echizen-kun?" she spoke softly. Ryoma took a peek on her and took a deep breath. "Stay here and sit on my bed." He said.
Sakuno felt warmth creeping at her features as she sits on his bed.
"Come here." He said. Sakuno felt another shade of blush covering her cheeks. She sat nearer to Ryoma and cleared her throat.
Mou… what is he trying to do….
"Ah!" Sakuno reacted when Ryoma took her hand with slight force. "Ne, don't be so noisy." Ryoma warned.
"Anou… Echizen-kun! What are you trying to do?!" Sakuno asked nervously. "Oi, I said don't be so noisy." Ryoma protested. "Hey!"
"Echizen-kun! Don't even dare to continue what you're planning to do!" Sakuno complained and shut her eyes closed. "Eh! This is for you so don't scream!" Ryoma said and tried to cover her mouth. "E-Echizen-kun!" now, Sakuno's mouth was half-closed. "Oi! Ryuzaki!"
"I said stop that!" Sakuno complained and tried to get away from him. But Ryoma was holding her hand. Ryoma held her hand tightly and put her back to bed. "Oi! Don't be so-" Ryoma's words were cut off because Sakuno was trying to get up from bed. "Hey! Don't go!" Ryoma said and pinned her on his bed. He gripped her injured hand and made Sakuno yield.
"Itai! I said stop that, Echizen-kun!" Sakuno kept her eyes close and tried pushing Ryoma off from her. "Oi Ryuzaki, I said don't move a lot!" Ryoma said and gripped her hand tighter. "Itai! Echizen-kun! Stop that! Echizen-kun!"
"I'm just trying to REPLACE that BANDAGE!" Ryoma shouted. Sakuno went numb. "What are you thinking of?" He asked.
Sakuno looked at him directly and blushed.
I thought… baka no Sakuno!
"Oi. What are you thinking of?" Ryoma asked once more. "Tell me."
"Ah… anou… eto…" Sakuno sat up and leaned at the wall. Ryoma was looking at her directly, damn it. This is so embarrassing!
A smile was trying to creep out from Ryoma's features as he tries to figure out what she was thinking of.
Che. She thought that I'm going to rape her. For Kami-sama's sake! Taking someone's virginity is cruel and actually NOT my attitude! Ryoma thought of. He really wants to grin and tease her. I could only do that if she's already my wife. Che. Talk about marriage thing.
"Tell me. You thought I'm going to do something you'll never ever forget, ne?" Ryoma asked directly while looking at her. Sakuno blushed more and nodded.
"Che." Ryoma mumbled. Suddenly he broke down into laughs.
Sakuno blushed in embarrassment. "What's so funny about it? I almost break into tears. You stupid ignorant." She mumbled. Ryoma heard her and looked at her. "Me? Stupid ignorant? Hey, who's the one who thought that I'm going to do something to her while I'm trying to help? Ne?" Ryoma protested back.
"You don't need to push me to bed, Echizen no baka." Sakuno said, as if she was too pissed off. Well, every girl will be pissed off if a guy laughs on them because of a wrong thought.
Ryoma twitched his eyebrows. "Oi. Be thankful that I'm going to cure that little injury or else-"
"Itai…" Sakuno mumbled when she felt the cut on her finger ache. She held her hand and saw blood coming out from the bandage.
"Oi Ryuzaki. Just be patient, I'm going to cure that now." Ryoma said and took the alcohol and the bandage he dropped at the desk because of the sudden events. He took off the over-blooded bandage and carefully poured the alcohol on the cut.
"Itai!" Sakuno yielded. She took her hand and grunted. "Mou… Echizen-kun, be gentle…"
"I'm trying to."
"Hey Momo, where is ochibi?" Eiji asked to his former teammate.
Momoshiro shrugged. "I think he's still in our room. C'mon let's get there."
The two gentlemen walked upstairs and hurried towards Momoshiro and Ryoma's room when…
"Itai! Echizen-kun, I said be gentle!" Sakuno protested and tapped Ryoma's shoulder.
"I said I'm trying to! Don't move so much! I won't be able to do this!" Ryoma responded.
"M-Momo! What is ochibi doing to Ryuzaki-san?!" Eiji whispered to Momo. Momoshiro shrugged and tip-toed towards the front door. "Let's find out." He said. Momoshiro peeked inside and saw Ryoma and Sakuno on the bed. He hurriedly faced Eiji with a pale face.
"What now?" Eiji asked. Momoshiro panted and said, "Better look for yourself, Eiji-sempai.". Momo and Eiji switched places and Eiji quickly peeked inside.
"Echizen-kun! I said that hurts!" Sakuno shouted.
"That hurts because you're moving too much!" Ryoma said back.
Eiji faced Momo with a pale face. "Momo, I think we should get them. If they take the blanket, it means that thing!" Eiji said. Momoshiro nodded.
"1…2…3…"
"Hey what are you two doing…" Momo and Eiji stood in front of the door and pointed Ryoma and Sakuno.
Ryoma and Sakuno wondered and looked at Eiji and Momo. "Sempai-tachi?"
"…there…" the two were numb and dumb.
Ryoma accidentally poured the alcohol on her injury. "Itai! Echizen-kun!" Sakuno protested once more.
"Eh!" Ryoma responded.
"Ah… so you're trying to cure Ryuzaki-san's cut, but she's moving too much and complains about the alcohol…" Momoshiro said when Ryoma explained everything.
"What are you thinking of?" Ryoma asked. Sakuno and Ryoma looked at each other with a 'bummed out' expression on each faces, remembering the event that happened before these two came.
"Don't try to tell it to him…" Sakuno said and walked out. Ryoma looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Oi, where are you going?" he asked. "I'm going to eat, Echizen no baka!" she said hardly and quickly got out from the room and slammed the door.
The three boys closed their eyes as they heard the slamming sound. "Thanks after treating you." Ryoma mumbled.
"Eh, sometimes she's really scary…" Kikumaru said.
"Oi Echizen, why didn't you get up earlier? Are you really waiting for Ryuzaki-san to come?" Momoshiro asked.
"No. That's not it." Ryoma closed his eyes when he felt that some blushes will try to invade his cheeks. He was just sick and he doesn't want them to know about it. Haha. If she's the only one who knows, it only means that she's the only one responsible to take care of him. Smart!
"Yeehee! Ochibi, suki!" Eiji squealed. Ryoma glared at his sempai-tachi. "Che."
(A/N: Suki- sweet)
"Sakuno-chan, where have you been?" Kintarou asked while wiping his hands on his apron. Sakuno sighed deeply and looked at Kintarou disappointedly. "I don't even want to say where I had gone." She said and turned around.
"Ne, Sakuno nee-chan, what are you doing?" Yume asked when Sakuno opened the oven. Sakuno turned around and smiled at Yume. "I'm going to bake cake, Yume-chan." She said and started baking a cake. Tomoka looked at her friend and wondered. "Sakuno, it's breakfast now. You're not going to eat with us?" She asked. Sakuno looked at Tomoka and smiled once more. "Oba-san asked me to do the desserts. So, go on and do the table now." She said and got back to work. "Okay." They said.
The table was filled with plates and dishes. The Seigaku regulars sat together. Behind them were the managers. Ryoma sat between Momoshiro and Eiji. Well, he didn't sit there because he wants to, but Momo and Eiji dragged him there. Tomoka and Yume reserved a seat for Sakuno, and they were behind Momoshiro and Eiji (which means the reserved seat for Sakuno was behind Ryoma).
"ITADAKIMASU!" all of them prayed before eating their breakfast. Momoshiro ate his food greedily, which made Ryoma and Eiji's sweats drop. Minutes had passed and all of them are already done with eating their meals. Now, it's the time for the desserts.
"Mmm… I smell something yummy…" Momoshiro hummed when he smelled the aroma of Sakuno's cake. He stood up and followed where the good smell comes from.
"Eh? Momo sempai?" Sakuno wondered when Momoshiro went inside the kitchen. "Haah! AROMA!" Momoshiro said loudly and ran towards Sakuno. "Hey Ryuzaki-san, where did that smell comes from?" he asked. Sakuno was sweat dropped and smiled. "Eh, Momo-sempai….I bake some cakes for the dessert so…"
"Yatta! Cakes! I love cakes!" Momoshiro yelled loudly. Everyone in the dining table heard him and was sweat dropped too.
"Oi Momo, I think I should get you on your seat now or else everyone of us won't be able to taste Ryuzaki-san's delicious cake…" Eiji said and quickly grabbed Momoshiro by the collar.
Sakuno smiled faintly. "They seemed like so happy." She said. A few minutes had passed and the desserts are ready. Sakuno called Kintarou and Tomoka to help her. They started cutting the cake into pie pieces and distributed it to everybody. Momoshiro was craving invigoratingly and can't held staring at Sakuno's tray. At the opposite seat was Yume, who was also staring at her Sakuno nee-chan. She was not staring at Sakuno because of the cake but because of her face.
I just noticed that I look like Sakuno nee-chan… hmm… is she my relative or something? He-he… an impossible thought, I guess… Yume giggled at herself. She looked at her once more, but to her surprise there was Kintarou, offering something at Sakuno.
"Hey Sa-chan, I'll take care of your tray now so you are able to eat your breakfast now." He said with a smile. Sakuno looked at Kintarou and smiled. "No thanks, I'll take care of these.." she said.
"I wish you'll trip your foot and dump your face at your cake." Yume mumbled. She looked around and saw Ryoma looking at Sakuno and Kintarou.
"Ryoma nii-chan, jealous, eh?" Yume blinked. Ryoma looked at Yume and blushed faintly. "Keh, you brat. I heard what you said about Kintarou." Ryoma said back. Yume raised an eyebrow and grimaced evilly. "Eh. If I know you also want that thing to happen." She said naughtily. Ryoma looked at the girl and smirked. "Heh. Naughty but smart." Ryoma said.
"Eh! Kintarou-kun! What happened to you?" Sakuno asked worriedly when Kintarou tripped his foot and dumped his face in the cake on his tray. Kintarou looked at Sakuno and smiled sheepishly. "Eh. I'm okay."
"Eh?" Ryoma and Yume looked at each other.
"Haha… it really happened…" Yume tried to stop her laughs. Ryoma covered his mouth and laughed silently. A few seconds had passed and it's the time to serve the plates at Momoshiro, Ryoma and Eiji's table. Sakuno walked towards their table with the tray which contains two pieces of cakes.
She first served the cakes at Momoshiro and Eiji. "Here you go, sempai-tachi.." she said sweetly. Ryoma blinked several times above his table. "Oi, where's mine?" he mumbled. Sakuno heard it and glared at Ryoma. "Good thing that I have conscience or else I may not have give you some." She said with an annoyed glare at Ryoma. Ryoma was like covered with darkness and felt coldness. And then he shrilled because of her glare. Sakuno walked towards the kitchen and brought the cakes.
Heh. She's too scary. He thought of as a sweat passed down through the side of his cheek. Sakuno came and served his cake. "Don't eat too much or else you'll die because of its delicious taste, Echizen-kun." She said hardly and served the other cakes at Tomoka and Yume. Ryoma shrilled once more.
Until now she remembered what happened last morning? He thought of and started eating his cake. A few seconds had passed and Momoshiro started blabbing too much.
"Ahaha! I love this cake! I love this cake!" he hummed and forked the cake. He noticed that his cake was almost done. He looked at Ryoma's cake and noticed that it wasn't even a half. "Oi, Echizen." Momoshiro called on. When Ryoma faced his sempai, he saw an arrogant and a bully face. "Give me your cake." Momo said commandingly.
Ryoma was sweat dropped. He frowned and pulled his plate to his side and said. "I'll never do that." He said hardly. This cake is too delicious, there's no way that I'm giving it to you.
"What?! Give me that!" Momoshiro shouted and started chasing Ryoma. "Eh! Stop that, sempai!" Ryoma protested. He pulled the cake closer to him and quickly forked it.
"Anou… Yume-chan, what do you say about my cake?" Sakuno asked to the brown haired little girl beside her.
"Echizen give me that!" Momoshiro protested on his side. At the opposite side was Yume, munching the cake joyously. "Yume-chan, please tell me…" Sakuno smiled.
"Mada mada dane…" Ryoma said at the opposite seat. Sakuno heard it and felt something hurting her. "Mada mada dane, eh?" Sakuno said and stood up. Momoshiro, Yume and Tomoka looked at Sakuno. "Sakuno nee-chan? Where are you going?" Yume wondered when Sakuno started walking away. "To the bathroom." She said dimly and walked out.
"Mada mada dane, Momo-sempai. You'll never get my cake." Ryoma said stubbornly and ate the whole forked cake.
Besides, she's the one who served me this. And I'll never give this to you. You wish.
He is eating my bentou…what if I ask him what it tastes? Anou…ma-kun..
Mada mada dane…
Mou! Ma-kun, how ironic!
Sakuno stared at her face at the mirror in the bathroom. She opened the faucet and water started flowing out from it. She soaked her hands in the water and started wiping it on her face.
"What does that mean?!" she asked to herself and continued wetting her face. "I need to remember his name! I need to remember his face!" she screamed to herself and quickly wiped her face. Her bangs were already wet by water, and it ran down to her flushed cheeks. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw her cheeks blushing. She also noticed her heartbeat beating so fast, as if it was a candidate in a marathon match.
"Why can't I remember it?" she asked to herself and started crying. "Will hope smile at me? Will I have more faith to believe that I could remember him in a week? Will I? and…can I?" she asked to herself and started closing her eyes.
A few seconds had passed and Sakuno finally opened her eyes. "Maybe Tomo-chan knows something about it!" she said and continued at the lobby.
"Eh! Sakuno, you're late! Had you forgot? We are going to tour around the rest house. Your oba-san gave us this map and told us to tour the regulars around.
Sakuno blinked several times. "Tour around the rest house?" she asked. Yume looked at her nee-chan and noticed that her bangs were set on the side of her face, as if it was wet. She looked at Sakuno's sleeve and touched it.
"Sakuno nee-chan, did you soaked yourself at the water sink?" Yume asked frantically. Sakuno looked at Yume with a sad glint in her eyes. She smiled faintly at the franc girl. "I just washed my face at the bathroom."
Yume noticed the sad glint in her eyes and frowned. 'Sakuno nee-chan is sad. Sakuno nee-chan! Why are you sad? Did something happen?" Yume tugged Sakuno's sleeve and asked. Sakuno knew that the little girl had noticed her sadness, and it brought her smile into a sad grimace. "Yume-chan, it's a long story." She said and looked at the front door. "Yume-chan, is it alright if I ask you something?"
"Sakuno nee-chan, where are we going?" Yume asked and tugged Sakuno's sleeve once more. "I know that that room is here." She said. "Room?" Yume wondered. Sakuno nodded.
"Ah! There it is!" Sakuno said and quickly dragged Yume beside her. They entered a room. Yes. A room outside the rest house. It was purely made of wood, and was located behind the house. "Ne, Sakuno nee-chan, why bring me here in the stock room?" Yume asked.
Sakuno smiled at the little girl. "Did you know that someone saved me from a bear when we were stuck inside this room?"
Yume pointed her index finger at the side of her forehead. "Ah. Maybe that's why it was called stock room." She said. Sakuno was sweat dropped and smiled. "Yume-chan, this place is called 'stock' room. Not 'stuck' room." She said. Yume smiled widely. "I know."
"You know what, Yume-chan, I wish that guy who saved us is just here. I just can't remember his face." She said sadly. Yume noticed it once more and tugged her sleeve.
"Sakuno nee-chan, why can't you remember him?" she asked. Sakuno's eyes were full of gloom and tears quickly resided in it. Yume was shocked and hugged her nee-chan. "Sakuno nee-chan, don't be sad. I'm just here. Ryoma nii-chan is also here. Don't be sad."
Sakuno was full of glee when Yume said it to her. But why include Echizen-kun?
"Yume-chan, let's go back to the group now." Sakuno said with a smile on her face. Yume looked at Sakuno and said. "Hai! Sakuno nee-chan!"
A/N; Anou, minna! I'm really sorry for this very late update! I was preparing some requirements for this upcoming school year and at the same time we were making a forum group for Filipino fiction writers. I'm really sorry for that! Gomen nasai! As in to the highest level of saying sorry! Oh no! Not the potatoes! No! Not them! Takes off a shield. Aaah! Don't hit me!
To the persons who want to make Ryoma sing Rising, just wait and I'm going to add it here. Or, I could make a oneshot of it. Ahehe. To Sakuno-chan, I'm really sorry for this late update! I think I already made you go at com shops just to keep updated to my story! Promise! I'm going to balance my studies with writing these fictions! To Iris-sama, I like it when you said that Ryoma's hormones were kicking. Ahaha. Now I can say that in this chapter, it's Sakuno's hormones' turn. To those who reviewed and didn't, thanks! And thanks for reading my very late update! Oh no, people are going to throw potatoes- oh no! They are tomatoes! Dodge!!!!! Retreat!
And please don't forget the forum group for Fil Anime Fic Writers. See it on my profile. Please be active and keep our forums keep on going! (It was a forum group made by me and seru-chan/neko11lover/neko-chan.) So please, visit, join, and be active!
Ja'ne!
rookie-chan