Pure Essence: Hi guys! I want to thank all the people who reviewed. I'm trying to update as fast as possible because I'll be on vacation soon and I won't have time to update while I'm away. I'm really happy that many of you enjoyed this story. Your reviews always push me to do better and update faster. So keep it up!

If there's anyone here who is looking for Koko Dake No Hanashi (A RyoxSaku song) check out my profile. It has all the details there.

I wish everyone a Happy Independence Day! Go see the firework display! They're very pretty! This chapter is my treat to you guys. Hehe! Enjoy!

…I made this chapter longer MUCH longer than the ones before… So have fun reading and review!

Disclaimer: I don't own P.O.T.

Chapter 3- Precious Moments

Ryoma and Sakuno each sat at different spots on the roof.

Ryoma seemed to enjoy his spot near the door. Probably, because of the wall that he could lean on when he felt like sleeping. Sakuno sat about three feet away from him. To him, three feet was quite close. But, since it was Sakuno, he didn't really mind-not like he ever did.

Sakuno wasn't exactly the talkative or braggy type like her best friend Tomoka. Instead, she was always shy, calm, quiet, and clumsy. Ryoma sometimes admire those traits that she possessed probably because he preferred them over the rude, loud, talkative, braggy, and annoying traits that the other girls possess.

He took a sip from his grape flavored ponta and looked over to her side.

She had long finished her lunch he saw.

He looked down to his own lunch which was only half finished. 'Who knew a girl like her could beat me when it comes to eating?' he grinned then picked up his own lunch and began eating again.

PLOP! Fwish!

Sakuno had accidentally flipped over her open book bag. Her books and papers tumbled out onto the roof floor in a messy pile.

'How did taking out my English homework lead to this mess?' she mentally cursed her clumsiness.

"Mou…" she muttered as she collected her books into one pile. She continued to stack her books on top of each other then, began putting them neatly back into her book bag. She was up to her last book when Ryoma grunted causing her to turn her attention to him.

Ryoma waved a few sheets of paper at her when he got her attention.

"You suck," he told her straightforwardly.

"Eh?" Sakuno replied confused.

"These are yours aren't they?" he waved the sheets of paper closer to her so she could see it clearly.

"AH!" she slapped her hand over her mouth in realization. Those were her English test papers! She blushed in embarrassment. She had done absolutely terrible on those!

"A-Ano… Ryoma-kun…" she crawled on all fours over to him. "C-Can I please have them back?" she reached out a hand for it.

Ryoma moved his hand farther away from her.

"Iie." He simply replied. "You suck in English," he said again.

Sakuno showed a visible frown. "Mou…You didn't have to rub it in…" she muttered under her breath.

Ryoma ignored her last comment and looked over her test papers. "You could've done better if you put some more effort into it." He told her.

Sakuno sighed. 'Easy for him to say…'

"Hai, Ryoma-kun" she said and once again reached out for her test paper. But, Ryoma once again moved it away from her reach. "Mou!" she said frustrated at his stubborn behavior.

"Can I have it back please? Ryoma-kun!" she asked him again.

Ryoma waved the paper above his head and Sakuno, at a desperate attempt, crawled onto his lap and reached for her test papers. They were now face to face. Ryoma, who was surprised at her action and her desperation to get those papers, nearly dropped the test papers in his hand.

They were suddenly too close.

Sakuno continued her attempts to get her test papers back from him. She hardly realized what she was doing to him since her mind was set on retrieving her test papers. She wiggled and shifted in his lap causing Ryoma to shudder.

"Onegai?" she pleaded and he felt her warm breath on his cheek. He didn't answer. She continued to wiggle in his lap as she tries to snatch those papers off his hands. By accident, she pushed him a little too hard and Ryoma gasped when he felt himself falling backwards.

"Itai!" Ryoma grunted as he tried to get back into sitting position but a weight on top of him prevented him from doing so. Sakuno lied on top of Ryoma and her face was deeply flushed. Her body on top of him brought back the memories of this morning.

'How did one thing lead to another?' she thought to herself.

She looked up only to see Ryoma staring down at her.

Sakuno froze.

The test paper lay forgotten near him. Sakuno quickly crawled off him and snatched it before he could get to it.

Ryoma gasped when she crawled off of him. 'She has no idea what she's doing to me!' he shivered as a ticklish sensation ran through his spine.

When he finally sat up, he noticed that she had already taken the test papers and stuffed it in her book bag.

"That wasn't fair," he said to her. "You took it when I wasn't on guard."

"Gomen," she apologized meekly. "I had to or you wouldn't have given it back to me" she mumbled the last few words.

He grumbled a few incoherent words then turn his attention to what she was doing.

He looked on as she finished stuffing her last book back into her book bag and zipped it up. Sakuno flipped her hair behind her shoulders. It was getting annoying. Perhaps Ryoma was right about it being too long.

Ryoma saw her flip her hair and a realization suddenly hits him. 'Ah!' He still had to return the rubber bands that he found earlier this morning. He reached into his shorts and took it out.

"Ryuuzaki," he called. "I think these belong to you."

Sakuno turned around to see what he was talking about. Ryoma opened his palm to reveal two pink rubber bands that she had lost this morning.

She reached out and took it from him. "Arigato Ryoma-kun." She gave him a thankful smile. It was good timing because she needed it to tie her hair up right now. She reached behind her to split her hair in half then, tied it at the base of her neck- making two unbraided low pigtails. She didn't bothered braiding it.

Her hair smoothed out near the top of her head and curled right below the rubber bands. She looked different to Ryoma's point of view – But nice.

Ryoma continued to look on as she begins to dig out something again from her book bag.

This time, Sakuno had managed to take out her English assignment successfully, without creating a mess. Then, she stuck her hands into a small pocket of her book bag and took out a blue pen.

Sakuno began to read over her assignment.

'Eto… How do I do this?' she wondered as she tried to translate the English words into Japanese. She didn't go anywhere after 10 minutes. All she managed to do was write her name on her paper. 'Mou… this is hard!' she huffed.

"What are you doing?" Ryoma asked when he saw her frustrated face. "You're frowning quite a lot."

"Eto…I'm trying to do my English assignment due tomorrow…Demo…" she trailed off. She didn't think she needed to go any further especially when Ryoma just looked over her horrible test papers. Ryoma raised an eyebrow as if he understood what the problem was.

"But?" he pretended he didn't know what she was trying to say. He didn't have to help her. Most of the time, it was her grandmother that asked him to help her. If she really needed help, then she would have to ask him personally.

"Demo…I don't know how to do it…" she finished.

"And?" he asked as if expected her to ask him already.

'And?' Sakuno thought. Did he actually want her to ask him for help? 'Of course not…' There was no reason why Ryoma would do that for her. She was already a nuisance to him. He helped her with her tennis form and shots. She couldn't possibly ask for more.

Sakuno glanced at her test paper below her. 'Or maybe not…' she thought when she couldn't understand a single word on the paper. She sighed finally giving in to his offer.

"And…can you help me on it?" she asked him politely. "Onegai?"

Ryoma smirked inwardly. He would not show the satisfaction he felt when she asked him for help like she really needed it. Ryoma scooted over to her side and took the paper from her hand.

He read it once. 'This is a piece of cake.' He thought and turned to Sakuno who was fidgeting nervously. 'To me that is.'

Sakuno peered over him as he began explaining and made a list of vocabulary that she needed to study and build at home.

Sakuno tried to follow what he was saying and realized that her assignment wasn't that hard at all. Ryoma made it easy for her to understand. The way he talked and explained everything in detail helped her a lot.

'If he was my teacher, I'll probably be doing better in English than I am now' she giggled at the thought of an older Ryoma teaching English with a grumpy face.

Ryoma turned his head to her when he heard a giggle and frowned. 'Is English that funny?'

Suddenly, he realized that they were very close. Their faces were maybe only 1 or 2 inches apart. He held his breath when her eyes locked with his. He quickly turned his attention back to her assignment and pointed out a mistake he found.

Sakuno blushed a dark shade of red when their eyes met but didn't say anything. She ignored what just happened and corrected the mistake Ryoma told her to correct.

Fifteen minutes later, her assignment was complete. Sakuno breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Ryoma politely.

"Mada Mada Dane" he replied with his famous phrase.

Sakuno grinned. It felt like the weight on her shoulder's been lifted.

Somehow, Ryoma always managed to make her day better. 'He's like my knight in shining armor' she dawdled and blushed at the thought.

Then, the bell rang.

Sakuno jumped. The lunch period felt like it had lasted forever. It had been so quiet with only Ryoma and her. She couldn't help but feel a bit reluctant to leave.

She turned to Ryoma who once again had gone back to his resting spot on the roof. 'Why isn't Ryoma-kun going to class?'

"Ryoma-kun, I'm going to class now." She told him as she made her way to the exit.

Ryoma only nodded to show that he heard her. 'Mou…' Sakuno thought. 'Suddenly he's so quiet.'

"Ryoma-kun, Aren't you going to class?" she asked him when she opened the roof door.

"Ryoma pulled his cap tighter around his head and looked at her. "Iie" he said. "I'm skipping today." Then, he pulled his hat lower to shade his eyes and lied down to sleep.

Sakuno sighed. 'That's Ryoma-kun' He was always so carefree, arrogant, cocky, and smart. He probably had no problem in passing even if he skipped class for a few days.

But she couldn't skip class even though she longed to stay with Ryoma for the rest of the day. If she did, her grades would drop below standards, and she might not even pass.

Sakuno sometimes wished she were more like Ryoma-who was able to do so well in tennis and in school. 'But, that will never happen' she thought sadly. She was too clumsy to be like him. She lacked grace, intelligence, and boldness.

Sakuno turned to look at the already sleeping Ryoma one last time then, quietly closed the roof door behind her.

The rest of the day went smoothly for Sakuno. With her English assignment completed, classes ran more quickly and less boring.

Finally, the bell rang signaling that school was over for the rest of the day. Luckily for her, she had no homework besides the already completed English assignment.

'I wonder if Ryoma-kun left school yet…' She thought as she stepped out of her classroom all packed and ready to go home. 'He probably did.' After all, Ryoma couldn't sleep all day long.

'Could he?' she wondered. If it's Ryoma, he probably could.

Sakuno finally decide to check the roof. It wouldn't hurt to just take a peak. If he wasn't there, then she'll leave. If he was still sleeping up there, well, she'll just have to wake him up. She definitely didn't want him to get locked in the school for the whole night!

It's as simple as that.

Sakuno put on her book bag and made her way to the staircase leading to the roof. When she reached the roof door, she pushed it slowly open hoping that it wouldn't make the squeaky sound it usually makes.

Thankfully, the door opened smoothly with no sound. She stepped into the roof. The first thing she noticed was the orange sunset lighting the roof with a pale orangey yellow light. It looked dreamy and definitely romantic.

"Sugoi..." she muttered under her breath as her eyes watched the beautiful sunset.

For a moment, Sakuno forgot her purpose of coming to the roof in the first place. Her eyes darted back and forth as she watched the cars and trees below her swayed and moved.

Finally, she snapped out of her trance when she heard a truck below honk.

She had a purpose here and she better get to it before the school gets locked. She turned around and looked for Ryoma.

She frowned when she spotted him. He was still sleeping. His cap was over his face and his arms under his head.

'I guess he could sleep forever.' She thought in amusement.

Sakuno walked up to him and gave him a nudge. He didn't budge and Sakuno pouted.

"Mou… Ryoma-kun…" she nudged him harder. "Wake up already… School is over…"

Ryoma rolled over to his side but did not wake up. Sakuno got up and walked around him to the side he was facing. His cap fell off when he turned and Sakuno observed his sleeping face.

Ryoma looked so young, innocent and peaceful when he was sleeping. It seemed as if he was a totally different person. Sakuno couldn't help but crack a tiny smile.

She gently slipped her hand into his messy hair and caressed the soft dark green locks. It felt good against her fingers. Ryoma didn't seem to move or notice that she was touching his hair.

He continued to sleep.

Sakuno daringly traced his jaw with her finger and lightly caressed his soft skin. Oh, how she loved him. 'But, he will never know that…' she thought sadly.

"Sakuno…" Ryoma started.

Sakuno quickly pulled back her hand. Did he see what she was doing? Her face flushed at the thought.

'He called me by my first name…' she grinned happily.

"You suck." he mumbled in his sleep. Sakuno pouted. Did he have to tease her even in his dream?

"Ryoma-kun is so mean…" She whispered low enough for him to hear. But he didn't seem to hear it. Sakuno sighed. When will he wake up? The school will lock soon. She bent low and poked him in the face.

"Ryoma-kun!" she called louder. Ryoma mumbled a few incoherent words but his eyes remained shut.

"Karupin…" he mumbled loud enough for Sakuno to hear. 'Eh?' Sakuno wondered what or who Karupin was. Sakuno put her palm on his head and pushed it back. He landed on his back but still wouldn't wake up.

"Karupin…come here…" he mumbled unconsciously and pulled Sakuno on top of him.

'Eh!'

She struggled to break free from his grasp. But, he held on tightly. Sakuno sighed in defeat. She allowed herself to be pulled on top of him and flushed deeply when he puts his hand on the small of her back and patted it. "Ryoma-kun…"

'Mou… How did it end up like this?' she blushed.

His body against hers felt good. He was so warm. She snuggled closer to him and felt his grasp slowly begin to loosen. She took this opportunity to pull her wrist free and got off of him even though she hesitated to do so.

Now she definitely knows that Karupin wasn't an object. Could Karupin be his girlfriend? He sure treated it like it was some living thing. Sakuno felt her heart drop. So many questions were revolving around her brain. She shook them off. She had to wake up him first.

She bent low and nearly yelled out "Ryoma-kun!" He treated it as if he was deaf and her cries were left unheard.

Sakuno crossed her arm in frustration. Who knew the "Prince of Tennis" was such a deep sleeper. Without any other way of waking him up, she pinched his nose and pushed his chin in to close his mouth. She waited for a few second before Ryoma started sputtering and gasping for air.

Sakuno giggled. 'Plan succeeded'

Ryoma pushed himself up and glared at Sakuno.

"Why'd you do that for?" he snapped.

Sakuno gave him an innocent look. "Demo, Ryoma-kun! You wouldn't wake up." She told him. "The school is going to lock up if we don't leave now."

Ryoma got up and checked the time on his cell phone. She was right even though he hate to admit it.

Ryoma yawned and picked up his tennis bag. He walked to the roof door lazily and opened it. Then he turned around and gave Sakuno a questioning look.

"Are you coming or not?" he asked then smirked. "Or do you want to get locked in the school with me?"

Sakuno blushed and stared at the floor. "H-Hai… I'm coming" she said and ran up to him. 'Although I wouldn't mind getting stuck here with you' and blushed a darker red at the thought.

They both exited the roof and the door slammed shut behind them.

Thankfully, the gate was still open when they exited the school. Sakuno walked besides Ryoma. He was quiet and had very little to say. Sakuno didn't say anything either. Occasionally she would turn to look at him. But he would continue to stare ahead.

Sakuno wondered if this was the right time to ask him about Karupin. 'It's now or never.' She told herself.

She summoned up her courage and stopped Ryoma for a minute.

"A-Ano…Ryoma-kun" she began barely meeting eye contact. "Eto… Who is Karupin?"
She mentally hit herself. How could she be so straightforward? Now he'll wonder where she got that information.

Ryoma eyes were wide and he blinked in confusion.

Sakuno began to wave her hand wildly trying to make herself look less suspicious "I-I mean…I just heard you mumble that name… a-and I was just wondering who that was…" she trailed off and giggled nervously.

"I-Is she your girlfriend?" Sakuno blurted out. That was what she was trying to ask the whole time.

Ryoma stood there dumbly. "Karupin is not my girlfriend" he told her and stared at her weirdly. "Karupin is my cat."

Sakuno stood there dumbfounded. 'Karupin… is Ryoma-kun's cat?' Her face was flushed in embarrassment. "S-Souka" Now that she thought of it, Karupin didn't necessarily have to be a human being. Oh, what a fool she made of herself!

Ryoma couldn't help but grin when he saw her face all red in embarrassment. 'Karupin's my girlfriend?' That idea was just silly and unheard of. Sometimes, he wonders how Sakuno manages to come up with all the weirdest ideas.

Sakuno continued to giggle nervously. "Forget I asked." She told him. This was just too embarrassing! Ryoma nodded and they both continued to walk in silence.

When they were finally at the intersection where they go separate ways home, the sky was already getting dark. The sun was already going down the horizon and only a line of orange could be seen.

Sakuno stopped and waved good-bye to Ryoma.

"Sayanora Ryoma-kun" Then, she walked in the direction of her home.

She walked steadily and quietly until she heard footsteps behind her. Was someone following her? Sakuno grew afraid and she quickened her steps. The steps behind her seem to quicken as well.

'Mou…why did this have to happen to me?' she thought as she half-walked and half-ran.

She was getting tired and was almost out of breath. She decided to stand her ground and confront the stalker. 'Stand strong, Sakuno!' she told herself. She took off her book bag and got ready to hit the stalker with it. She quickly hid behind a corner.

She could hear the person getting closer and closer…

Sakuno became even more nervous. What if her plan failed? What if the stalker was stronger then her? A million of 'What Ifs' raced through her mind.

She took a few deep breaths and waited. Soon enough, the footsteps seem to be so near as if it was right next to her. She stepped out and whacked her stalker with her book bag.

"Itai!" the stalker cried when he got hit. Sakuno froze. 'That voice is…'

"Ryoma-kun!" she yelled in realization and quickly helped him up. "Daijoubu?"

She hoped she didn't hit him too hard.

"Gomen-nasai!" she repeated over and over trying to express how sorry she was.

Ryoma grunted and folded his arms in annoyance. "Why did you attack me?" he asked impatiently.

Sakuno winced at his choice of words. "I-I thought you were a stalker…" she explained.

He frowned. "Do I look like a stalker to you?" Ryoma couldn't believe it. This girl was so insecure!

Sakuno shook her head no.

Ryoma sighed and rubbed his sore head. She had hit him with her book bag full of hard cover books.

He growled when he felt a small bump on the top of his head. What did he do to deserve this? All he tried to do was make sure she got home safe. Then she comes out of nowhere and whacks him in the head.

"Itai, Itai!" he winced when he rubbed his sore spot a little too hard.

Sakuno stood by him looking very sorry. He turned to her and she avoided eye contact.

"Forget it" he told her and began walking again.

"Ryoma-kun! Where are you going?" She quickly caught up to him.

"Your house" he answered not bothering to explain.

"Eh!" Sakuno's eyes were wide. "A-Ano… What do you mean Ryoma-kun?"

He sighed at how simple minded she was. "I'm walking you home." He said. "Since you were so insecure and worried about stalkers."

Sakuno blushed at his last sentence. It wasn't her fault for being so insecure. He never told her he was going to walk her home when they were suppose to go separate ways. How was she supposed to know it was him who was following her? Also, it wasn't her fault that she's worried about stalkers especially this late in the evening. Anything could happen.

'Ryoma-kun no baka!'

They finally reached her house and she had long forgiven him for what he said. She concluded that it was his way of showing that he cared for her safety. 'Although he had a weird way of showing it'

They stopped right in front of her house. Sakuno invited him in but he rejected the offer. She felt disappointed but hid it well. She only nodded as if she understood his decision.

"Sayanora then" she waved him good-bye as he turned to walk in the direction they came from. "Arigato for walking me home this late, Ryoma-kun." He waved his hand with his back facing her and continued to walk away. She sighed. Ryoma could be so unpredictable sometimes.

The sun had fully set by now and it was getting chilly. She turned and made her way into the house.

When she got in, her grandmother was at the kitchen table. She turned around when she heard Sakuno come in.

"Ah… Sakuno" her obaa-chan greeted and waved a hand at her telling her to come over.
"I have something to tell you"

To Sakuno, it doesn't sound like good news. She frowned and her eyebrows knitted together in worry.

'Obaa-chan wants to talk to me?' she thought.

"H-Hai? Obaa-chan? Is something the matter?" Sakuno asked as she slowly approach her grandmother.

"Sakuno," her obaa-chan told her "We're leaving Japan."

"EH!"

Pure Essence: TADA! My super duper long chapter! I guess I wont have to update for a month or 2 because of this long chapter. Lol Just kidding! But there were a lot of Ryo x Saku moments isn't there? Well R x R! I'll be reading your reviews over in my vacation spot! So keep it coming! I bet I'll have a better vacation if you guys review and make me feel like I've done a good job on this chapter before I left! So pweese!