Yo, minna-san! Finally, another update! I've been pushing so hard –and see?- to make this 15th chapter. Some people sent me PMs a few days ago, and started asking questions. He-he, it amused me! It has a really good feeling in it! Something like, making new friends! He-he. YAAAAAY! We're on 200+! Hahaha! Just like what astral-chan said (making my goal higher than 200 and making new chapters), I think somehow I should aim for that. You know, making this fanfic into a novel! Ha-ha! Let's see how many we could get. And yeah, we're reaching one year! It's really obvious that I'm already laughing so hard, remembering what kind of a late-updater I was. –wink-
Remember my last A/N about the Arrancar Arc? Ha-ha! I'm not yet done! Really! I stopped because I'm having real trouble about my schedule and my LAZINESS. Haha! Much worse is that I'm getting hooked (again) to other animes like Daa! Daa! Daa! Or UFO Baby, getting really addicted to manga especially Naruto and PoT! I'm also planning to watch Kyou Kara Maoh! Kyaaa! –fangirling- Wolfram! Yuuri! Kyaa! Plus, Daax3 is really interesting to read and watch! Hahaha. Miyu and Kanata really look cute together, especially when Kanata gave Miyu a daisy. Hahaha! I think Kanata was jealous because he always sees Miyu brighten up just because of Nozomu's roses, and gave a daisy instead! KYAAAA! By the way, I'm also planning to add this fanfic for Daax3 fans like me: The Truth beyond the Pages.
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis. If I do, UBER-CUTE and UBER-HANDSOME bishounens will be mine, especially RYOGA! BWAHAHAHA!-pokes myself-
"Lights on," Sakuno smiled and turned on the lights. She started to look around for her clip, and circulated the whole room. The only place left was the box that she carried a while ago. She quickly ran towards it, and at last, she saw the clip that Kintarou gave to her.
"At last," she smiled while putting the clip at the side of her hair. She looked back at the old box and saw that it has a hole on it. She raised an eyebrow as a sign of curiosity. She lifted the cover of the box, and saw lots of stuffs in it.
She gasped.
"T-This is…" she arched an eyebrow as she stared at the objects inside the box. She slowly reached the said objects from the box and said, "W-what's this?" she wondered. Sakuno scrutinized the white cylinder-like bottle with her brown orbs and then looked at the box. "A medicine…"
Sakuno nee-chan, you ran your fingers through my hair, right?
She cleared her throat. "Does it have anything to do with Yume-chan?"
"Nee-chan…" a childish voice came from the door. Sakuno quickly turned around, only to see another brunette standing by the door. Sakuno heaved a sigh and pushed a smile. "Y-Yume-chan!"
"Sakuno nee-chan, I'm sleepy. Let's go in the room now…" the little girl whined while rubbing the lid of her mahogany eye with her little fingers. Sakuno walked towards her with a worrying smile and whispered, "Let's go now, Yume-chan…"
I think I should come back to this room after everyone has fallen asleep. Sakuno thought as she placed a hand over the child's head. "It would be very bad for you to sleep late," she murmured while guiding her towards their room.
And I promise to come back. I think I saw other stuffs inside the box… she heaved a sigh while groping for the door knob. Something like pink in color, a yellow round object and a rectangular frame with a picture of a girl and a boy in it…
Sakuno closed the door and led the girl towards the upper part of the double-decked bed. "Sweet dreams, Yume-chan…" she whispered and kissed her forehead. Just when she was about to walk towards the door…
"Nee-chan…" the little girl called once more. Sakuno turned around with a graceful smile and asked, "What is it, Yume-chan?"
"Sakuno nee-chan…" she spoke with a gloomy voice. Sakuno felt something strange when she heard the little girl calling out to her. Yume used to be energetic from the start of the day until the end of the night, but 'she', calling her so-called sister with that kind of tone, was unusual. Was she just sleepy? Or was she predicting something that she didn't want others to know?
"Yes, Yume-chan?" she asked softly as she climbed at the upper deck and sat on the foot of the fluffy bed. "Do you need something?"
"Sakuno nee-chan, would you please… sleep here beside me?" Yume asked while trying to avert Sakuno's gaze, her little voice faltering.
Sakuno was moved. She scooted nearer towards the little girl and laid on the bed. "Here we go…" she said as she covered the girl with a pink blanket. "Yume-chan…" she whispered.
Yume looked at Sakuno with sad eyes. "What is it, Sakuno nee-chan?"
Sakuno looked at the transparent ceiling glass-window and gazed the stars. "Is there something bothering you, Yume-chan?" she asked.
There was a strange silence.
"Gome ne, Sakuno… nee-chan…" Yume apologized sadly as tears started to form at the corners of her eyes. She meekly embraced Sakuno's chest with her short arms as the tears started to flow through her cheeks.
The room was too dark for the older brunette to see. "Y-Yume-chan, why are you apologizing?" she asked and faced her. She touched the kid's eyes and smiled. "She's already asleep…" she mumbled and prepared to sit up, but halted when she felt that the kid's cheek was some kind of, wet.
"W-what is that... just by now? Is she crying?" she wondered then checked the kid. She felt relieved when she knew that the kid was already sleeping.
Now, I should check the basement… she thought and sat up. When Sakuno was about to go down, she noticed that Yume's hand was clutching her sleeve. Y-Yume-chan…
Sakuno laid on the bed and hugged the little girl. I think I should take care of Yume-chan first before anything else. she thought before she fell asleep.
It was a brand new day when the sun started shining brightly. The birds that perched on the trees sang a new song while feeding their offspring; and the calm, soft breeze brushing through the long grasses that surrounded the rest house, causing them to dance and sway with the wind.
A lad with cat-like eyes outstretched his arms as he looked through the transparent window, the beams of sunlight striking the cabinet beside his bed. "The light feels so warm…" Ryoma Echizen muttered while sitting on his bed after his little stretching, and then focused his eyes at the ceiling. "I wonder what will happen today…" he muttered, then observed the room.
Ryoma raised an eyebrow when he saw Momoshiro's bed. He yawned and then walked towards the bathroom. That's strange. Momo-sempai made-up his bed.
He reached the cup near the mirror and filled it with mouthwash. Rubbing his leg with his other foot, he gargled while thinking of something. Something unexpected will happen today. he frowned, then discharged the water from his mouth. Ryoma faced the mirror with his usual expression and sighed. "I wonder what she's doing right now. She might be sleeping, or cooking at the kitchen…" he muttered, then started rinsing his face.
Ryoma reached the face towel that was placed beside the mirror and dried his face. He dragged his feet towards the door and finally left the room.
"Eh, still sleeping?" Tomoka raised an eyebrow while staring at the upper deck. She smiled as she observed the two brunettes sleeping soundly before her. "Sleep tight…" she whispered then walked towards the door.
"Yosh! Time to do the house chores!" she cheered herself, then hurried towards the kitchen.
Hn? Osakada? Ryoma arched an eyebrow when he saw Tomoka leaving the room alone. She's not with Ryuzaki, or Yume… he thought as he stared after Tomoka. When he knew that she was already gone, he walked towards the room's door, held the knob and slowly turned it open.
Ryoma quietly observed the silent atmosphere of the room as he walked inside. The first thing that caught his attention was the ceiling window that let the sunlight beam through the whole room. "Nice room, huh?" he smirked. Ryoma looked to his left and saw a double-decked bed.
No one is sleeping in the lower deck. Maybe she's already working at the kitchen… He thought and shrugged. He climbed the short ladder of the bed, and saw two brunettes hugging each other while sleeping so soundly at the upper deck.
The lad sat at the foot of the deck and smiled. He faced down, and then crawled beside Sakuno. He looked at Sakuno and Yume with a pleased expression and smiled once more. "They look like… twins. With the other much smaller," he mumbled and let out a soft chuckle.
"Mmmaaahhh…" Sakuno moaned as she stretched her long arms and turned to her right.
Ryoma's eyes widened and panicked mentally. S-she's going to wake up! He thought and planned on escaping, but didn't even have the chance to sit up. He observed her actions nervously, afraid that his sneaking inside their room will be discovered. His body stiffened as he saw her facing him with closed eyes and arms outstretched. Ryoma Echizen shut his eyes closed eyes as the thoughts of him being strangled by everybody present in the camp ran through his mind.
The Prince of Tennis cleared his throat when the sleeping maiden in front of him stopped moving, her eyes enveloping his waist, making him face down flat on the bed.
Ryoma Echizen's mouth incredulously hung open wide upon seeing Sakuno's face too close in front of his. It was as if he moved even a little inch, their lips will already meet. Ryoma's cleared his mouth and stiffened, all thanks to the unexpected event!
"Mrrrr…" a moaning voice came from Sakuno's back. Yume's teeth gritted as she scratched her head. "Ya-me-te… bunny-chaaaan…" she moaned then involuntarily kicked Sakuno's head lightly.
N-no, Yume!! He thought and closed his eyes.
It was at the split second—no. It was just a blink of an eye. When Ryoma felt something that occupied his empty lips, he knew it. It was her. It was his first.
It was his first kiss. He was too lucky to receive it from her, especially that they were lying on the same bed.
His eyes blinked several times. He was having a mental block—her lips pursing onto him was really unbelievable and unexpected. Ryoma was too stunned to think if it was true, or not. He felt the warmth rising at his cheeks, his heart pumping so fast. Ryoma couldn't help it, but it was as if he was already doing things on his own—kissing her even more deeply. He closed his eyes with his hands trailing around her waist, savouring every moment when their lips met each other.
Wait! Ryoma suddenly withdrew back and disconnected their lips. She was… sleeping. Why did I…? he thought as he took off his hands around her waist, lifted her arms and took it off from his waist. He sat up and looked at the glass window. What did I do to her? Isn't it like… raping her?
He chuckled at his own thoughts. Raping? I don't think so. It was… an accidental kiss. All thanks to that kid. But, is it okay that I even pressed mine even deeper while she's asleep?
Ryoma slapped his own face. Baaa-ka! Of course not! He mused and looked at her.
"Mmm…" Sakuno moaned and then licked her lower lip. "C-chocolates…" she murmured.
Ryoma's spine shivered. C-chocolates? He thought. M-My mouthwash was not flavoured chocolate but tastes just like it. He thought and brushed his fingers through his hair. His eyes focused on the window, then shifted its interest towards the girl beside him. "R-Ryuzaki…"
The young handsome man looked at Sakuno's angelic face closely and smirked upon seeing her half-closed mouth. "Chocolates are bad during the morning, Ryuzaki…" he murmured as he pursed her pink lips with his index finger. Ryoma withdrew back and smiled. "You're still too innocent, Ryuzaki."
"R-Ryoma nii-chan… what did you do…to Sakuno nee-chan…?" Yume suddenly blurted out while staring at Ryoma with a stunned look. She glanced at the sleeping lady, and then shifted her sight towards him. "Nii-chan, did you kiss her?"
Ryoma cleared his throat. Y-Yume saw everything…
Yume's lips formed a smile. "Don't worry, Ryoma nii-chan!" she said in a hushing tone. "Yume-chan will never tell any soul about Ryoma nii-chan's rape to Sakuno nee-chan!"
Ryoma was comically hit by a bazooka, leaving his forehead marked by the word 'Rapist'.
The young man heaved a sigh and pushed a gentle smile. "Never tell a soul, okay?" he said and showed his pinkie finger. Yume entwined her little finger with his and plastered a determined smile. "I never will, Ryoma nii-chan! That's a promise!"
Ryoma nodded and patted Yume's head. "Nice, Yume."
"O-HAYOU, OCHIBI! You're late for breakfast!" Eiji exclaimed when he saw his former kouhai coming near at the dining room.
Ryoma looked at his sempai with an unusual smile and nodded, "Sorry, I'm late." He apologized while taking the seat beside Eiji.
Momoshiro gulped down his coffee and looked at Ryoma unbelievingly. He placed the cup on the saucer and yelped. "N-NANI?!" he suddenly jerked. "Owww!!" he cried out when he felt the hotness of the coffee. It was as if his tongue was being bitten by small, prickly ants!
Eiji bent towards Momoshiro's ear while looking at Ryoma suspiciously. "Oi Momo, did we hear that right? O'chibi apologized!" he whispered sceptically.
Momoshiro nodded with his eyebrows twitching. "A-ah. T-that person could be a f-fake..." he stuttered. Waaaah… my tongue!! he mentally panicked.
Ryoma took the seat beside Momoshiro and smiled. "The sun shines really bright, right?" he suddenly blurted out while facing Momoshiro and Eiji.
His former seniors moved backwards.
Kikumaru pointed his index finger at Ryoma sharply. "O'chibi! YOU ARE BEING AN OOC!"
Ryoma raised an eyebrow. "Eh? OOC?" he asked, with Momoshiro and Eiji nodding behind him. "What's that?"
"Out of Character." Momoshiro blurted out while throwing a suspecting glare towards Ryoma.
"Keh." Ryoma smirked as he crossed his arms together. "Got'cha." He piped out as he smugly looked at Momoshiro and Eiji.
"What 'got'cha'?!" Momoshiro grunted while messing Ryoma's hair.
Eiji pinched Ryoma's cheeks with an annoyed smile and threw a devilish glare at him. "O'chibiiiii…"
"T-that hurts, sempaiii…" Ryoma complained while trying to free himself from his seniors' wrath.
-BAM
The threesome's conversation was immediately cut off when they heard a familiar sound- the sound of a large plate placed on the table. Momoshiro and Eiji quickly freed Ryoma as they took their proper seats. "ROASTED BEEF!" the two of them cried out and comically drooled over the food.
"Happy eating!" Tomoka greeted with a huge smile as she prepared the water glasses at the side of their plates.
After doing so, she immediately sat beside Sakuno with a huge smile. "Let's eat, Sakuno!" she excitedly uttered as she took her spoon and fork. "Sakuno?"
Sakuno blankly looked at Tomoka like a robot and nodded faintly. "Ah…" she responded meekly while taking her own spoon and fork. "Itadakimaaasu…" she droned. Sakuno took a big chunk of the roasted beef served before her, placed it on her plate and stared at it blankly.
Tomoka and Yume's eyebrows twitched. "Sakuno nee-chan, why don't you eat now?" Yume asked while staring at her suspiciously.
Sakuno forked the roasted beef and stared at it. "Eat?" she muttered. She swallowed her food, and then moaned. "Delicious… but why does it taste like… chocolates?" she asked while gawping at her plate.
Ryoma, who happened to sit behind her, overheard the conversation.
Mmm… C-chocolates…
He smirked while recalling the previous event that happened between the sleeping Sakuno and him.
Sakuno munched her food childishly, licked her lip and sighed. "It still tastes like chocolate…"
Yume chuckled and looked at Sakuno with a huge grin. "Sakuno nee-chan, did you eat chocolates a while ago?"
The young woman shook her head. "No, I didn't."
Ryoma, who was still eavesdropping at the brunettes' conversation, took his drinking glass and gulped some water.
"A-ha…" the kid hummed and pointed her index finger towards Sakuno. "Maybe a certain 'someone' kissed you after eating a chocolate!"
"PFWAAAH!" Ryoma spurted out the water like an erupting volcano.
"Grr, E-CHI-ZEN!" Momoshiro and Eiji growled when Ryoma spurted the water towards them.
Ryoma scratched his head, stood up and walked towards the door.
Sakuno's cheeks madly reddened upon imagining the little girl's statement. "Y-Yume-chan, THAT'S IMPOSIBBLE!" she whined.
O-Or maybe, I did… But, that 'kiss' was just a dream, right? She thought while recalling her 'dream' that happened while she's asleep. It was a dream since it was Echizen-kun who kissed me. Yeah, yeah! A dream, right! Sakuno chuckled while convincing herself that the kissing thing was just a dream of hers.
Kintarou tucked his chin on his hand while staring at the window. Impossible or not, I wish that 'someone' who kissed Sakuno-chan will trip over his foot.
"ITAI!"
The red-haired manga lover searched for the person who exclaimed, and it was pretty obvious that he was somewhat, stammered when he saw Ryoma face down on the floor. "Oi, Koshimae…" he called out.
Embarrassed as he was, Ryoma quickly stood up and regained his composure. "What do you want?" he straightforwardly asked.
Kintarou raised an eyebrow. "Did you trip over your foot?" he asked, also straightforwardly.
Ryoma quickly shifted his sight towards the door, averting Kintarou's scrutinizing look. "What now if I did?"
"Nothing." Kintarou smirked due to the fact that the famous tennis player tripped himself, but suddenly scowled when he remembered his wish. He tripped his foot. Was he the one who kissed Sakuno-chan?
Kintarou shook his head and pushed a smile. "Keh. Impossible." He cockily said as he forked a lettuce.
I should take a move too! Kintarou determinately thought.
"Here, Sakuno-chan! You like lettuce, right?" he smiled while handing the fork over Sakuno.
The brunette smiled, took Kintarou's fork and nodded. "Thanks, Kin-chan!" she gratefully replied. Sakuno placed the forked lettuce in front of her mouth and was about to swallow when…
Oh no! If Sakuno nee-chan swallows Onigiri nii-chan's fork, it would be… AN INDIRECT KISS! NOOOO! Yume mentally panicked. She stood on her chair and…
"Saaakuuunooo nee-chaaaaan…!" she shouted in slow motion. Sakuno looked at Yume and wondered. "Yume-chan?"
Yume yelped as she tried to reach the fork. "Dooon't-"
The little girl's slow-mo-action was cut off when Sakuno put the forked lettuce inside her mouth. Yume stood up straight and munched the lettuce. "Mmm, tastes good…" she murmured.
Kintarou's head hung low. Waaa… it didn't work…
Yume's eyes widened like dinner plates when she realized that it was her Onigiri nii-chan's fork. "Kwaaaa!!" she staggered while comically choking the lettuce, her chair moving unsteadily. Indirect kiss! Indirect kiss! GWAAH!
Yume's heart skipped for a moment when she felt that she was going to fall from her chair. "Sakuno nee-chan…" she meekly called out. The little girl closed her eyes in fear that she's going to fall.
"Yume-chan!" Kintarou shouted. His voice called out attention, causing everyone to look towards their table. Kintarou quickly caught Yume's falling body at the brink second and…
"Open your eyes, Yume-chan…" the red-haired guy beside her said gently.
Yume slowly opened her brown eyes. "O-Onigiri… nii-chan…" she timidly uttered while looking at his face directly. She blushed as tears formed in the corner of her eyes. "Kin onii-chaaan!" she shouted and cried as she enveloped Kintarou's body with her short arms.
Ryoma arched an eyebrow. Yume called him Kin. It means that she has accepted him as another brother… he thought. He hurried towards 'his little sister' and knelt down before her. "Oi. Yume!"
"Yume-chan, are you okay?" Sakuno quickly asked as she approached Kintarou and Yume. "Yume-chan!"
The younger brunette stood up and dusted her shirt, bowed before Sakuno with a sad face and murmured, "Gomen, nee-chan… I made you worry-"
Sakuno placed her hand above Yume's head and smiled. "It's okay, Yume-chan. As long as you're fine…" she kindly said and helped the young girl to fix her messed hair.
Ryoma looked at the table and grabbed any nearby lettuce he could get. "Here, Yume. You like it, right?" he said, and then placed the lettuce in front of her mouth.
Yume opened her mouth wide and swallowed the lettuce. She munched the said vegetable, gulped it and smiled. "Arigato, Ryoma nii-chan!"
Ryoma nodded and stood up. "You're okay now?" he said and brushed her hair. Yume nodded and gave out a large smile. "Hai, onii-chan!"
After hearing the little girl's jolly reply, Ryoma turned his back to them with a smirk and sat at his previous seat.
"Echizen… what did you do… just by now?" Momoshiro asked while eyeing him with an unbelieving guise.
Ryoma looked at his sempai and raised an eyebrow. "Giving her a lettuce." He said straightforwardly, and then proceeded on eating his food.
Momoshiro and Eiji's eyebrows twitched in annoyance. "Brat."
"Sakuno nee-chan! Bears are really cute, right?" Yume gleefully said while narrating some stories about huge and cute bears to Sakuno.
Momoshiro, who accidentally overheard the conversation, thought of something. "Ah! Kikumaru-sempai…" he exclaimed, bent towards Kikumaru's ear and whispered.
Kikumaru's lips curved to a smile when he heard Momo's message. He nodded and gave out a huge evil grin. "You're right, Momo!"
-PING!
The two lads plastered a sadistic smile, their eyes gleaming. "BEAR PLAN STARTS… NOW!"
Ryoma looked at them blankly while munching his beloved Roasted Beef.
"Horio, be sure to arrange the gases in the stock room, okay?" Sumire said in a loud and commanding voice while pointing the delivered cooking gases to Horio, Katsuo and Kachirou.
Horio pounded his chest proudly and yawped, "Don't worry, Ryuzaki-sensei! I, Satoshi Horio, will assure you that the gases won't leak out and keep the flammables at a far distance!" he bragged out with his chin kept up.
Sumire sighed upon watching her former student's little talk show. "I'm leaving it all to you then…" she said and exited.
"Let's go now, my servants! Carry those gas tanks!" Horio ordered, as if he was as strong as a troop lieutenant. He placed his hands on his waists and shouted, "Put them inside the stock room!"
Katsuo looked at Horio with an annoyed guise and scowled. "You're not a leader. I will never wonder if you forget to check if there's a candle and a handy lighter left inside the stock room."
"Yeah. You're never worth it, Horio." Kachirou piped up as he carried a gas tank together with Katsuo.
Horio raised an eyebrow. "Stop talking while working-"
-PAK!
"Ouch!" Horio yelled when he felt that his leg was pricked by something. "What was that?" he wondered while scrutinizing the place.
"Oi Commoner nii-chan! Stop acting like a leader! You don't look like a leader at all!" Yume protested while prickling Horio's leg with her fingers once more. "You're only a commoner, get it?"
"ITAITAITAITAI!!" Horio cried out while trying to free himself from Yume's raging fingers. "Yes ma'am! I'm going to stop- ITAITAITAI!"
Yume released the guy's leg and smiled. "That's what you call power," she murmured.
Katsuo and Kachirou cleared their throats. "Y-Yes ma'am! We're going to arrange these gases inside the stock room safely, ma'am!" they chorused while carrying a big gas together.
Yume nodded in victory. "That's it," she said. She focused her eyes towards Horio, who was currently taking flammables out of the stock room. When Horio dropped the lighters at a bush near her, Yume picked up a red lighter with a smile playing on her lips.
After a few minutes of transferring the tank gases, Yume stood in front of the door while scrutinizing the surroundings. "So, this is the place where Sakuno nee-chan was trapped…" she said childishly and walked inside the room. "It sure is dark…"
-BAM!
"E-eh?!" Yume spun around when she heard the door shut. She pounded the door with her little hand and cried out, "Let me out! Let me out!" she shouted. The little girl ran hastily towards the window and started shouting once more. "Commoner nii-chan! Help!" she cried while pushing the tree's leaves.
All of her shouts and cries were of no use. The window was almost stacked by thick leaves, with the old door closed. She knew that nobody was left near the stock room, because she saw Horio and his company leave the place with her two eyes.
Yume was taken aback when she felt the coldness of the room, and was thrilled when she couldn't see anything. She groped the things around her with her trembling little hands.
"A-ah! This could be another door!" She said while hoping for another door. She tilted the round and door-knob like object and persevered hard to open her 'door', which was actually a gas tank.
Yume's lips formed a frown when she knew that she'll have a hard time opening the tight knob. She handled the knob with courage inside her heart, determined that she will be able to open it. "One more time!"
"Those costumes fit the two of you perfectly," Fuji complimented while watching the two, furry bears in front of him. "Especially you, Eiji."
The brown furred mascot took off his bear head, revealing a man with red, short hair. "Fuu! These mascots are really hard to wear!"
"In addition to that," Momoshiro, the black bear, spoke. "It feels really hot while wearing this costume!" he piped up while fanning himself with his hand.
"There's a possibility that Ryuzaki-san will remember the bear rhapsody, especially if Echizen plays along," Inui murmured while rereading some notes inside his notebook.
"If I play along?" Ryoma asked while leaning his back against the frame of the window.
Fuji flashed a creepy smile while staring at Ryoma. "Of course. You were the one who 'totally' saved her, right?"
Ryoma scowled while averting his gaze towards the door. "It was because the four of them are already in a big trouble," he hastily said. "With most of you missing the main target, and hitting Horio instead." He arrogantly bragged out while recalling the event when Sakuno, Horio, Katsuo and Kachirou were trapped inside the stock room, with a bear (who was actually a robber) scaring them.
The sadist brunet let out a soft chuckle. "Echizen, pick out the right words." he smiled while looking at his discouraged teammates, who were droning about the event. "They might get discouraged after recalling that event."
-TING
Ryoma's sweat dropped. "They are taking it too heavily," he said when he saw Momo, Eiji and Inui hanging their heads low with a dark atmosphere covering them.
Momoshiro dragged his feet towards Ryoma like a zombie, and placed a hand over his shoulder.
The cat-like eyed boy's spine shivered as he gawked at Momoshiro. "W-what?"
"He-he-he-he…" Momoshiro started laughing like an evil monster.
After observing Momoshiro's sudden actions, Kikumaru strode towards Ryoma and placed a hand over his free shoulder too. "O'chibi, you're going to save her after we scare her, okay? Never screw up…"
Ryoma nodded like a robot and answered, "Y-Yes, of course…"
"Thank goodness!" Horio yelled out as he flopped on the chair. "Those tanks are really heavy!" he sighed while clenching his hands together, feeling the atmosphere of the kitchen. Aah, far from work…
"Welcome back!" Kintarou shouted and walked towards Horio. "How was the work?" he asked while patting his shoulder.
Horio heaved another sigh before starting to utter a word. "Really… hard…" he said lazily. "Especially that we were bossed by Yume-chan…"
PLACK
"By the way," Sakuno spoke as she washed the dishes. "Where is Yume-chan?" she asked while turning off the faucet.
Horio sat straight and raised an eyebrow. "I think… we left her…"
Tomoka, who was standing near beside Sakuno, raised an eyebrow. "Left her? Where?"
Horio slumped over the table and said, "At the stock room…"
Sakuno's heart skipped for a second. "At the stock room?" she asked while taking off her pink apron. She clenched her hands together after receiving a nod from her past schoolmate.
"I wonder if she'll be okay…" she said while walking out of the kitchen, leading her way towards the corridors of the large rest house. Sakuno closed her eyes while thinking of the child, and of course, recalling the event when she brought Yume at the stock room.
Sakuno nee-chan, don't be sad. I'm just here. Ryoma nii-chan is also here. Don't be sad.
Sakuno heaved a sigh. "She's all alone. What if… what if she gets stuck inside the room-"
Her murmuring was suddenly cut off when she bumped against a pair of two big furry animals in front of her. Sakuno blinked several times. "B-bears?"
The two bears didn't move an inch, thinking that they would eventually screw up if they did.
Sakuno wondered while trying to place her index finger at the tip of the black bear's nose. "How did it get here?"
Momoshiro, who was currently wearing the black bear, saw a 'thumbs up' signal from the turning point of the corridor.
"E-eh?" Sakuno wondered after successfully touching the bear's nose. She blinked several times, her eyelashes brushing through her cheeks. She pouted her lips as she tilted her head. "T-these bears aren't real," she said.
"BOO!"
Sakuno tilted her head while observing the bear. "The bear… talked?"
Momoshiro and Eiji were sweat-dropped. S-She didn't become afraid?
Eiji gritted his teeth. "I'M A BEAR. FEAR ME!" he exclaimed while outstretching his furry arms.
The brunette's eyes blinked. "F-Fear you?" she asked. Sakuno scrutinized the brown bear, clenched her hands together and looked at him with scared eyes. "I-I'm afraid of, BEAR-SAN!" she shouted out.
Fuji and Inui, who were currently spying, raised their eyebrows. "R-Ryuzaki-san could act dumb sometimes, eh?"
Momoshiro cleared his throat. "WE'RE BEARS! FEAR US AND RUN AS YOU SCREAM!"
"AAAAHHH!!" Sakuno screamed out loud after Momoshiro told so. She hastily ran towards the turning point of the corridor while panicking. "HEEELP!" she screamed out when she knew that the bears are running after her. "HELP MEEEE!"
-PUFF!
"The door already opened!" Yume happily said when she knew that she successfully tilted the knob. But her eyebrows suddenly narrowed when she smelled something strange. "B-but why is it that there are no any light?" she wondered, pertaining to the fact that light should pass through the opened side of the door.
The little girl was taken aback, fearing that there was a large ferocious monster waiting ahead.
-CLINK!
"W-what was that?" she asked to herself. Yume turned around with her long braided hair bouncing behind her. She groped for the thing that fell from a table. She picked up a cylinder-like object and felt its texture.
Her face cheered up when she knew that it was a candle. "Right! If I set fire to this candle, I will be able to see what's going on!" she retorted, and then delved her hand inside her skirt's pocket. "I think I have a handy lighter here…" she murmured when she remembered that she picked up a lighter a while ago.
Yume quickly kindled the candle with the lighter while thinking that she should get out of the room. "This is it! Beware, monster!" she shouted out while ignoring the strange smell that comes out from the 'knob'. Yume quickly ran towards the knob and…
"Ah!" she stammered when she tripped over her own foot. Yume accidentally threw both the candle and the lighter into the air and both fell at the opened gas tank.
Her mahogany eyes widened in surprise when she saw a blazing fire in front of her.
Sakuno kept on running, thinking that she should reach the turning point of the corridor. "HELP!" she screamed.
"Oi, take my hand!" a familiar voice shouted. She glanced at the side of the turning point and saw Ryoma lending his hand to her. "Quick!"
Sakuno did what he told her. She quickly took his hand, helping herself to run even faster than before. "E-Echizen-kun! How did you…?"
"Let's talk about that later! What we should do now is to focus on escaping from those two bears!" Ryoma exclaimed while holding her hand tight and running away with her as fast as they could.
The brunette nodded with determined eyes and courageously agreed. "B-but, how can we do that?"
"Just follow me!" Ryoma smirked and continued on running.
After a few minutes of running, the two of them reached the backyard. Ryoma halted, which caused Sakuno to bump at his back. He ignored her and then groped for a button.
"Echizen-kun, what are you doing?" she asked while trying to stop her panting.
Ryoma wiped away the sweat on his forehead and said, "I'm activating a trap." he smirked and then switched a button. "Let's go, Ryuzaki!"
Sakuno nodded and answered, "Yes!"
Meanwhile…
"Aah, those two are pretty fast! Right, Momo?" Eiji exclaimed while running hastily. Momoshiro looked at him and fervently nodded. "Yes, they really are!"
"They're there!" Eiji shouted when he saw Ryoma and Sakuno starting to run away towards the vast backyard.
Momoshiro snickered. "You two won't be able to esca- EHHH??" he suddenly gawked when he skidded at something.
"T-Tennis Balls! That O'chibi…" Eiji growled when he slid at a number of tennis balls that was scattered on the floor.
"RAAAWR!" Momoshiro growled louder while trying to stand up. "ECHIZEN! Traps are not even a part of the deal- eh?" he suddenly stopped ranting when he noticed something.
"O-Oi, Momo…" Eiji called on as he took off the bear's head. "Did you also smell that?"
Momoshiro nodded immediately. "I think that's smoke."
"I think… we finally… escaped… haah…" she panted as she flopped herself at the grass.
Ryoma nodded while leaning against a tree. "You're right…" he answered while trying to cool himself with his shirt. "E-eh?" he wondered when he smelled something.
"S-Smoke!" Sakuno exclaimed. "Is there a fire or something?"
"Let's check it out!" Ryoma shouted, took her hand and ran towards the place where they could smell the smoke. They ran and ran until they reached that place—the old stock room.
Sakuno's eyes widened in shock when she saw the small stock room blazed by fire.
I think we left her at the stock room.
"H-help me!" a small voice came from the blazing fire.
"Y-Yume-chan… Yume-chan!" Sakuno yelled when she remembered that the little girl was left inside the stock room. She freed her hand from Ryoma's grasp and then hurried towards the burning little room.
Ryoma gasped as he grabbed Sakuno's wrist. "W-Where do you think you're going?"
Sakuno panted and faced him with determined eyes. "I think Yume-chan was stuck inside that burning stock room! I should help her!"
Ryoma raised an eyebrow. "But the fire is blazing like mad! You might get hurt!" he scolded.
"PLEASE, HELP ME!" Yume cried out once more.
The brunette's eyebrows narrowed, wrinkles forming at her forehead. "I DON'T CARE!" she shouted as she freed herself from his grasp once more. "Yume-chan!" she winced and then hurried towards the stock room.
Ryoma turned his back from the blazing fire and then hastily ran towards the rest house. "Ryuzaki! I'll go and tell others about the fire!"
Sakuno nodded while wiping her sweat. "Hurry!"
"H-help… I can't… breathe…" Yume pleaded meekly while clutching the ribbon of her blouse. Her small body flopped at the heating floor while trying to reach the true knob.
-BRAAAM!
"Aaaah!" she winced in pain when she knew that the heat from the fire singed her fingers. She touched her neck while trying to catch her breath.
Is this… the end of me? she thought. Everything around her was dark, and the only thing she could ever see was the doorknob. I don't want to. I should… reach… the knob and... it's over…
Yume withdrew her outstretched hand, her body collapsing on the hot, wooden floor.
"Everyone!" Ryoma shouted.
The noise inside the house was cut off, as all of the attention shifted to him. "The stock room is burning!"
Horio gasped. "It can't be! We arranged the tank gases in a safe manner!" he reasoned out. "And we even kept the flammables far from the stock room!"
"The fire won't start if someone didn't trigger it," Fuji said while looking sharply at Horio.
Inui's eyeglasses gleamed. "Someone could have opened the gas, and cause it to leak out."
Ryoma exclaimed, "Let's hurry! Yume-chan was stuck inside the room and Ryuzaki-"
Kintarou stood up, causing his chair to fall on the floor. "Where is Sakuno-chan?"
"She was trying to help the kid and-" Ryoma's words were cut off when he was grabbed by his collar.
Kintarou glared at him fiercely while gripping Ryoma's collar. "Why did you left her?! Aren't you the one who was supposed to help Yume-chan out?" he shouted out.
Ryoma gritted his teeth. "She was persistent! And I can't find any other way how to stop her!"
The red-haired lad was really furious. "You-"
"There's no room for fighting, especially at this moment." Tezuka spoke as he ran towards the door.
Everybody was puzzled. "T-Tezuka?"
Tezuka glared at all of them, his hand reaching the doorknob. "We should help Yume-chan out! We couldn't let her die there!" he shouted out and then hastily ran towards the backyard.
Y-Yume-chan…
BRAAM
Sakuno sprinted towards the door. "Yume-chan!" she exclaimed as she turned the knob.
-BAM! BAM!
"It won't open!" she shouted out as she banged the door a couple of times. She pounded her hand on the door and cried out. "Yume-chan! I'm here!"
She's not answering! Something could have happened to her! she thought after pounding the door. She brushed her foot at the grass and kicked the door as powerful as she could.
The door opened, revealing a small figure lying on the floor. "Yume-chan!" Sakuno cried out as she carelessly entered the room. She hurried towards the little girl, bent her knees and lifted the child. "Yume-chan, I'm here… Please wake up!"
Yume's mahogany eyes lit up. "S-Sakuno… nee-chan…" she murmured while trying to reach Sakuno's porcelain-like face. Unfortunately, her hand withdrew back and lied helplessly on the floor.
Tears started to form at the corners of Sakuno's dark brown eyes. She shook her head in despair, hugged the little girl's body and cried.
"YUME-CHAN!"
Everyone's eyes widened in surprise while staring at the blazing fire in front of them.
"Water! Get some water!" Tezuka shouted in a commanding voice while pointing the green water hose. Horio, Katsuo and Kachirou hurried towards the said hose and quickly turned the faucet.
"Tezuka-bucho, it's no use!" Horio exclaimed when he knew that there wasn't even a drip of water coming out from the hose.
Fuji and Inui looked at each other. "Let's get some buckets then fill it water!" Fuji stated as he hoped to see any nearby waterline and bucket.
Inui nodded immediately while facing Fuji. "I think we would find them near the bathhouse."
"No need!" Eiji and Momoshiro suddenly showed up while carrying buckets of water. They hastily walked towards the group and then pointed Ryoma.
"Echizen," Momoshiro called on.
Ryoma looked at him hesitantly for he was thinking of many ways how to enter the blazing stock room.
-SPLAAAASH!
"Oi! What do you think you're doing?!" Ryoma complained when Momoshiro and Eiji poured the water on him.
Eiji looked at Ryoma determinately and said, "Go and save Ryuzaki-san!"
Ryoma nodded while facing them with gratitude. "I will never screw up!"
W-What is this feeling?
Everything around the little girl was drabbling. Her heavy eyes scrutinized the place before her, seeking for light. Yume opened her eyes, only to find herself lost in pure darkness.
Sakuno nee-chan!
The young brunette called out. She was sure that she saw Sakuno a while ago. She saw her before she became unconscious. Suddenly, tears started to flow out from her eyes and realized that she was crying. Why?
Please open the lights! Sakuno nee-chan!
Yume kept on calling out, expecting that her so-called sister will response immediately. But she was disappointed. The only thing she could hear was silence, and the echoes of her tiny voice.
Everyone! Where are you? Please answer me!
She called on once more as she ran and ran through the darkness. She rubbed her eyes with her small hand, but whatever rubbing she does all she could see was only darkness. Or was she just blind?
Yume kept on wandering the dark place until she tripped over her own foot. Her eyes widened in surprise when suddenly, a huge and raging fire started flaming and blazing like mad in front of her.
There was silence no more. Everything she could hear was the sound of the wrathful fire, lighting the darkness that blinded her a while ago.
F-Fire! No! I don't like fire! Please… extinguish the fire! Stop! Stop!
Tears started to form in the corners of her mahogany eyes as she ran her fingers through her auburn locks with fear. She cried out loud, wishing that the darkness should have overcome her instead of the dreadful fire. The fire that she truly hated, detested, and loathed. But… why?
Stop the fire… please… stop… you already took my real sister, so please, stop! Don't… don't kill me like what you did to her!
She whined while trying to avert her gaze from the fire. It was the fire that killed her real sister; the same fire that made her alone and sad. She was very lonely since when her sweet, gentle and kind sister left her, all because of the raging fire. And it's all because of those dreadful flames.
Onee-chan… please… save me…
Yume chanted as she curled up in a fetal position. Her tears gushed upon the little girl's blushing cheeks, her hands covering her eyes from the fire.
"Yume-chan!"
The young brunette's mahogany eyes were shot open when she heard a familiar voice calling out to her. Yume slowly stood up and wondered when the fire around her was lost in a blink of an eye. She sprinted and started searching for something.
She was searching for the speaker's voice.
Yume kept on running at the endless road, hoping that she will be able to make it at the final point of the endless-like path.
She was praying that at the end of that road, she'll be finally able to see the shining light.
Onee-chan! She cried out. Onee-chan, please help me!
Yume closed her eyes, trying to gain enough courage to embark the lonely road she was facing. She gathered every memory she could gather, thinking that if she failed, she won't be able to return to her reality.
Her eyes opened wide with determination as she sought her true and guiding light.
"Yume-chan, please wake up!"Sakuno cried out while covering the kid from the ashes. "I'll take you out of this!" she exclaimed while lifting Yume's petite body.
KRAAAAAM
Sakuno looked up and saw the ceiling already cracking. She carelessly carried the child to the right side of the house—the place where the leaking tank gases were located.
KRAAAAAM
"It's no use…" Sakuno murmured when the tank gases beside her started emitting fire. "Yume-chan!" she cried out.
Her tears fell relentlessly on the little brunette's hot cheeks.
Please help us…
Somebody is… calling me. Who is she?
Yume wondered when she heard the familiar voice calling out to her once more. She looked at the dark sky with her sad mahogany eyes, her lips gaped from each other.
Plink. Plunk.
R-Rain? she wondered when something dripped on her cheeks. She wiped it with her cold hand and started crying.
Sakuno's eyes widened in surprise when she knew that the fire around her was spreading out faster. More tears came out from her eyes, not only because of the thick smoke that hit her eyes, but was also because she's already loosing all of her hope.
KRAAAAAM!
"Aah!" She screamed out loud when the ceiling rustled. The flames around her started growing even larger, with the smoke descending from the ceiling in great smothering clouds. Sakuno's eyes emitted tears once more. "Kaaah!" she gasped as she touched her throat. I-I can't… breathe…
"Huuh!" The other brunette let out a gasp, her eyes slowly opening. "Sakuno… onee-chan…" Yume murmured while reaching Sakuno's cheeks.
Sakuno's lips formed into a smile, all thanks to Yume's waking up. "I-I'm… glad, Yume-chan…" she said weakly, and then finally collapsed on the floor like a lifeless dummy.
Staring at Sakuno's flopped image anxiously, tears started to stream out from Yume's mahogany eyes. "S-Sakuno… onee-chan…" she stammered.
"Onee-chan! Don't leave me! Onee-chan!"
Yume wheezed while reminiscing her sad past about her real sister. She reached Sakuno's shoulders with her trembling hands and whimpered, "S-Sakuno… onee-chan…"
Ryoma's eyebrows furrowed while feeling the guilt burning inside him. He quickly ran towards the blazing room while gaining his courage to embark the mad flames. "Ryuzaki! Yume! Where are you?" he called out while trying to see through the thick smoke.
"S-Sakuno… onee-chan…"
There they are! Ryoma mused while pushing the door that blocks his way. He dodged the ashes that kept on falling as he hastily ran over the two brunettes.
WOOOSH!
A big piece of the wooden ceiling fell on the floor, straight down towards him. Ryoma quickly moved away to avoid the said wood that blocked his way towards the . He turned around and saw someone who was significant to him.
His eyebrows furrowed upon seeing Sakuno's body flopped lifelessly on the floor. "Ryuzaki!" he called out.
Ryoma's loud voice snapped back Yume's unconsciousness to reality. Her tears continued to flow out from her eyes as she turned around to see him. "R-Ryoma nii-chan! Sakuno nee-chan is…"
The lad gave out a nod as he outstretched his hand. "Just take my hand!" he shouted.
Yume nodded while trying to stretch her short arms. "Onii-chan!" she called out while reaching his hand. The wood was too large and there was only a little space. Ryoma and Yume persisted determinately as they reached each others hand despite of the little space the two of them were sharing.
KRAAAAAMKRR
"Shit!" Ryoma cursed when the hot ashes fell on his arm. He withdrew back while waving his hand. "Yume! Walk backwards!" he exclaimed.
Yume did as she was told so. "Hai!"
BANG!
Ryoma kicked the wood powerfully, making the space even larger. His sweat dropped as he reached the little kid's hand again. "Take my hand and pass through the hole!" he shouted.
Yume grasped Ryoma's hand and then crawled out. She dusted her shirt and then hugged him with tears in her eyes. "Nii-chaaan! Please save Sakuno onee-chan!" she cried out.
"Yume, just wait for her outside," he hastily said. "And leave the rest to me."
The little girl gave out a fervent nod and then quickly ran out of the room.
"Ryuzaki…" he murmured while looking at her image from the wood's hole. "I'll save you!" he exclaimed as he continued to kick the wood to make a larger hole where he could pass through to reach her.
Gah! She gasped while observing the place around her. Sakuno arched an eyebrow when she knew that she's inside a dark and cold room, when the last thing she could remember was fire. Fire? Where did the fire come from? She asked to herself.
The auburn-haired youngster dragged her feet towards the room's door, cupped her hand onto the doorknob and turned it.
It's no use. She thought when the door did not open. Sakuno walked around the room, and heard the creepy sounds made by the floor's old wood. She cleared her throat while staring at the floor, her eyes emitting tears.
She quickly wept away the tears and pushed a smile. Why was she crying? Was she crazy, or was she just thinking of something she thought she had regretted a few days ago? Thoughts continued to stream in her mind, and it seemed that all of them were questions like why she was in such a place like that, or why she was alone.
Sakuno shook her head when she remembered that she wasn't. She was with Yume, the little kid who resembles her younger image. Sakuno looked around her and tried to search for the little girl, but she wasn't there. With that, she knew that she's really alone.
The young lady stood in front of the window, wishing that she'll be able to get out. She knew that it was just a dream—a dream that she must escape, a dream where she should get out. It was likely a nightmare for her. Being alone at such a time and such a place like that.
Sakuno looked at the dark skies, and she knew it. The rain will pour out anytime. She kept on observing the stratus clouds as her hand reached her shirt's ribbon.
I-It's raining. She thought while trying to recall something. It's the pouring rain. The city's lights were open, as I crossed the streets to reach the city's mail box.
She suddenly gasped. Where did all of those thoughts come from? She blinked, and within a split second, she saw that people are gathering around her. Why?
R-Rain? she wondered and looked at the skies. O-ouch! She yelled out when she felt that her head hurts. Her soaked wet hands reached her forehead and wiped out a reddish liquid. Sakuno stared at her hand, and was shocked when she knew that it was blood. W-What's happening?
Sakuno was even more perplexed when she felt that someone is carrying her, with the people around her murmuring gossips with each other. She raised an eyebrow when she knew that those people were gossiping about a girl who was hit by a car in the middle of the pouring rain.
"Oi, Sakuno-chan!" a familiar voice spoke.
Her hands involuntarily touched her lips, her eyes widening in surprise when she knew that she was the one who was being carried. She cleared her throat and uttered, I-I was hit by a car and then I was immediately sent to the hospital. Does it mean that the girl who was being carried by that man was me?
She didn't blink an eye, especially when something unexpected entered her mind—the images of her and a prominent person she used to like… and love.
"I am Ryuzaki Sakuno. Nice to meet you."
"Don't you remember? It's me, Sakuno Ryuzaki!"
"Oh no… he forgot who I was!"
"I'll be rooting for you then."
"Ah, advice!"
"It doesn't matter if my hair was long or not!"
Her hands grasped her ribbon even tighter. The said garment was riffled as she continued on reminiscing about her forgotten past.
"You were in the same train? Where did you sit?"
"Who are you?"
"Your knees are too straight, your elbows are too bent and the way you swing your racket was wrong."
"Your hair is too long."
Tears started to form in the corners of her brown eyes as she remembered the boy's voice, as well as his face—his very handsome and cool face. Remembering that guy's demeanor makes her lips curve in to a smile with her heart overflowing in happiness.
"Ryoma-kun, you were the main reason why Horio-kun is standing here! So come and help him!"
"He's not just a player, but an injured player as well!"
"Ryoma-kun…"
"It's about the whole world and you being number one. I know you can!"
"FIGHTO, Ryoma-kun!"
Sakuno wiped out the pouring tears, stood up and smiled. I'm sure! He is... RYOMA-KUN! She mentally shouted out while savouring every moment of her happiness.
KRAAAAAMKRR
W-what's that? Her eyes shot open when she heard something familiar. It was the sound of fire, a blazing fire. With a blink of an eye, she realized that she was already cornered by the fire. W-What's happening?
Sakuno closed her eyes in fear of being devoured by fire.
R-Ryoma-kun… she wished. Please help me… Ryoma-kun…
"Ryuzaki!" Ryoma shouted out while tapping her cheeks. He knelt down, carried her unconscious body and called out once more. "Ryuzaki… just wake up!" he cried out as he stared at her motionless figure.
Sakuno's eyes slowly lit up, with her lips involuntarily uttering something. "Ryoma-kun… save me…" she muttered as tears started to flow out from her eyes. "Ryoma-kun…"
A/N: There you go, the 15th chapter! I also wanted to apologize for updating very late (like an update for a month or two). I wish that you'll continue on reading, especially that she's finally regaining all of her lost memories. Was the chapter too long? I hope it didn't bored you. Please tell me your suggestions! Hahaha XD
Personal Notes: Wooo! Another set of Congratulations to me! Yesh, an update! This is a serious update (well the upper part, it is.. hoho XD) I thought of giving myself a deadline, but then, I didn't met the settled date! Hohoho! My online best buds know that! HAHAHA XD You're bad, rookie-chan! You're bad! Hohoho. People, I really enjoy chatting with all of you! Bwahahaha XD. Thanks for all the reviews and critics (especially to IU forummates who kept on making me smile and hyper with their LOOONG reviews)! I really enjoyed reading each of them, though it sometimes pressures me when someone thinks of what happens next. Hohoho. Don't worry, it is okay! Hihihi XD By the way, to the reviewers, thanks for putting the 'UPDATE SOON'. Haha. Don't worry, I'll make Kintarou fight back. Let's wait. –smile-
Special Mention: Arah-chan, thanks for pointing out the sequence of events. I think I'll be able to update faster now. Hahaha XD. By the way, I wish your friendster could breathe from the comments. Haha. (You know, your comments box is already flooding, all thanks to us! HOHOHO XD) Thanks for the beta ah? Hahaha.
Ja'ne, minna!
rookie-chan