Sakura Lain says,

"I still don't own it… -sigh-."

…and on to the fic.

A/N: Listening to Muse and Kill Hannah while writing this chapter really made the task that much easier to me. I didn't rush and made an effort to take my time with this one. Music's so great… -dreamy look-

Chapter 6: Don't Wanna

I haven't seen Ryoma-kun for two days now. It was nothing, really, when Sakuno thought about it. She couldn't expect him to be there at her place all the time. He obviously had other things to do, and the other old Seigaku tennis members to hang out with. He also had… his father to watch over.

Sakuno sighed, turning away from the magazine aisle and moving on to the produce. Grocery shopping didn't quite have the healing effect she thought it would have on her. Not after that cancer scare and then Jay's call. Tomoka still wouldn't leave her alone about the call.

And why, oh why, was she even thinking of Ryoma Echizen at a time like this?

It was simple, really. She was worried about him, as a friend. He clearly had a handful on his shoulders and it became apparent to Sakuno now what Eiji Kikumaru was talking about the other day. But Ryoma's mother was there and she would surely watch over him and his father if anything went wrong. And yet Sakuno felt that wasn't enough. She wanted to help, too.

Or at least that's what she told herself. She didn't really believe it was all just worries because half the time she thought about Ryoma, her thoughts didn't necessarily revolve around worries. She denied it but… she was thinking of other things as well. She thought her old childhood fantasies revolving around Ryoma were just that—a part of her old juvenile crush on the tennis prodigy. Seeing Ryoma again, however, changed things a little bit.

Sakuno wasn't happy about it. It wasn't going to go anywhere. It would end up being just another great, big disappointment. They were friends, friends! Why was it so hard to follow that one, simple concept now?

Her cell phone rang then, and Sakuno flipped it open to hear Tomoka's loud voice on the other end. "Sakuno, come on, what's taking? I really need those ingredients or I won't be able to finish dinner tonight!"

"Gomen ne, Tomo-chan… I'll be almost there."

"All right. I'll see you later, then! But hurry!"

"Hai."

Sakuno put her phone away and glanced at the produce again. Grocery shopping it is, then.

Sakuno walked out of the supermarket holding a heavy bag in each hand. This is so heavy! she thought. She couldn't believe Tomoka had planned to make a huge dinner feast tonight, just for the two of them… without even checking if there were any supplies left in the kitchen first. It was just like her, and the thought brought out a chuckle from Sakuno.

It was sunset now. The neighborhood was calm and quiet. Sakuno even slowed down her steps just to enjoy the peace a little bit more before returning home. She closed her eyes, smiling. So quiet… it was so peaceful, feeling like there was not a care in the world…

"Hey, watch where you're goin'!"

"Huh?"

Too late. She bumped headfirst into someone tall and hard and fell back on her bottom, the contents in her bags falling on the ground. "Itai…" she muttered. She rubbed her aching head and opened an eyelid to look at the person she bumped into.

"Gomen nasai," she started to say, "I wasn't looking…" And she recognized the face almost immediately.

"Of course you weren't looking, you stupid girl! Man, I swear…"

"K-Kuminitsu… Jay?"

The man stopped straightening his black leather jacket to look down at Sakuno and recognition fell upon his eyes. "Oh, Ryuzaki," he said. He was a tall man with long, shaggy dark navy blue hair and light emerald eyes. His face became smug. "So we meet again, finally."

As he wasn't going to help her up, Sakuno helped herself off the ground, patting dirt off her skirt. "You wanted to see me?" she asked in a quiet voice, slowly meeting his eyes.

"Heh," he smirked. "You're a smart one. Look, I called two days ago and some 'Osakada' answered the phone instead. I was hoping it'd be you instead."

"I know," replied Sakuno, some bitterness growing in her voice. "That was my friend. And you threatened her."

"Ha," Jay chuckled, then broke into loud laughter. "I didn't threaten her. I was just a little irritated, that's all. I really thought I'd find you."

A dangerous gut feeling came to Sakuno then. Jay had been a different person the first time they met. He had been nice, comforting, and listened to her when she talked to him about her grandmother. But now she was beginning to realize that all of that may have just been act. An act to gain her trust (and being so vulnerable at the time, she easily fell into the trap), then bring her home and do Kami-sama knows what to her. Right now, Jay looked everything like a menace to her now. He wasn't playing nice anymore.

"Why… Why did you want to come find me?" The answer was pretty obvious. But in her anxiety, Sakuno looked for a way to stall, not really sure what else to do but run should the moment present itself.

At this inquiry, Jay's eyes narrowed to slits and his facial expression darkened considerably. "No one walks out on me," he said in a dangerously low tone. His eyes brightened very much soon after. "After all, Sakuno, you're a very nice girl. I was so disappointed when I found out you ran out on me. It took a while to find you in the yellow pages, but I soon found your number. And then you don't even bother to be there when I call?"

"I… I wasn't expecting your call," replied Sakuno quietly. Why was she being so stupid?

Jay saw through her ridiculous questions. "Sakuno, don't be nervous," he said softly. "What do you think I'm going to do? Rape you or something?"

"N-No," replied Sakuno, hands trembling in front of her. "Ano, Kuminitsu-kun… I-I'm sorry for doing that to you. I wasn't feeling very well and I'm sorry you feel this way…"

"Then don't run out on me again!"

Without a moment to realize what was happening, Sakuno felt Jay's rough hand grasp her neck forcefully and pulled her an inch above the ground. "Ah… K-Kumi…nitsu…" Sakuno choked out, her hands hopelessly trying to pry his hand off her neck.

"Oi! Oi! Teme!" Much to Sakuno's relief, she could hear someone running towards them, and wished they would get Jay's fingers off her neck soon. And very much to her delight, Jay's fingers let go of her, stumbling a few feet in front of her. Sakuno struggled to breathe at first, rubbing her fingers on her red neck.

"What the hell's the deal, eh, bastard?" It was Momo's punch that sent Jay stumbling backwards and Sakuno was extremely grateful Momo was there.

Jay held a finger up to his lip, where fresh new blood had begun to ooze and trickle down to his chin. "Shit…" he cursed. He glared at Momo. "There was no need for you to intervene in our private matters."

"And that was no way to treat a young lady, you fucking bastard!" cried Momo, raising another fist in the air.

"Momo, please…" Sakuno tugged on Momo's sleeve, holding him back to keep him from pouncing on Jay again. She didn't want this to turn into one dangerous brawl. Jay looked dangerous and she didn't want Momo to get hurt because of her.

Jay smirked. He looked past Momo, his sly eyes landing on Sakuno. "I'll see you later," he said. He turned and walked away, disappearing after a corner.

Momo pulled his shoulder away from Sakuno's hand. "Why the hell did you have to stop me? I could've smashed his face in!" Sakuno didn't respond, her head hanging low. "Ryuzaki, you know this guy?" he demanded furiously.

"Un," replied Sakuno, nodding once. "We've met once before."

"Then why was he treating you like that? Argh, I'm going to find that guy and kick his ass!" said Momo, punching a fist in his palm.

"Momo…" said Sakuno, her eyes begging him. "Please don't. I don't want you getting hurt because of me."

Momo scoffed. "Ha! Right. As if that asshole could do anything to me," he said, growling. He noticed the bags and their contents sprawled on the floor and sighed, however still looking irritated. "Come on, I'll help you take these home," he said, bending down to pick up the bags.

"Thank you," Sakuno mumbled, following him home.

"You were ATTACKED?!"

"I'm fine, though. Please don't worry, Tomo-chan."

"It's not just that, though… Sakuno, he could be anywhere! What if he attacks you again?"

Sakuno couldn't argue with her because she knew Tomoka was right. Although she insisted that Jay just wanted to talk to her, her friend couldn't be convinced. And Sakuno, too, was unable to convince herself either. This is all my fault for being stupid that night, she thought.

Momo had insisted to stay with them longer before leaving home, wanting to know what this whole situation was really about. Sakuno felt so embarrassed and ashamed of herself, however, that she wouldn't talk about Jay in front of Momo. Even though he left… Sakuno was sure he tried to stall as much as possible on the way out, trying to listen in.

Sakuno collapsed on the living room couch. "You chose one pretty exceptional guy to go sleep with that night," said Tomo with heavy sarcasm. "So exceptional, he's bound to go psycho on all of us!"

"I know," replied Sakuno, a rather pensive look on her face. "I'm sorry to bring this trouble on you, Tomo-chan. It's all my fault. You're doing me a favor and I'm only dragging you into this mess."

Tomo's face softened. "You don't have to feel that way, Sakuno," she said. "I already said I don't mind taking care of you or having you here."

"But now because of this mess, Kuminitsu could do something to you," Sakuno whispered. "He's already threatened you on the phone, Tomo. It's my fault…"

"Stop blaming yourself! It's this guy who's crazy!"

But Sakuno wasn't listening. "I'll leave you alone, Tomo-chan," she said. "I won't bother you again. If I'm not here, then there's no reason for Kuminitsu to come back and possibly hurt you." She was rambling on, and before Tomo could stop her, Sakuno was up from the couch and upstairs.

"Oi, Sakuno. Sakuno!" cried Tomo, pounding a fist on the locked bedroom door. She could hear Sakuno going through her drawers inside. "Sakuno, what's gotten into you? You don't have to leave! This Kuminitsu bastard, I can kick his bastard ass!"

"Sorry," said Sakuno, opening the door and facing Tomo. She had a bag over her shoulder, her things packed. Her eyes were set and determined. "But this is my problem and I'm not letting him do something to you because of me. I'm leaving."

She began to descend the stairs, Tomo following closely behind her. "But where are you going, then? There's nowhere else to go—"

"I'll figure something out."

"Demo, Sakuno—!"

Sakuno held the front door open. "I'll be fine, Tomo-chan," said Sakuno, smiling at her friend. "I just need some time alone. And it'll only be until the Kuminitsu thing is worked out."

And before Tomo could say anything else, Sakuno stepped out and shut the door.

Tomo thought of a plan furiously. "Momo!" she cried out, and went to get her cell phone to dial his number. She waited for a few rings before Momo finally answered.

"Hmm…?"

"Momo! Where are you?"

"Just got home…"

Tomo groaned. "I was hoping you were still out so you could follow Sakuno… She just left, said she was going to find some place to stay."

"Why would she want to do something like that?"

Tomo bit her bottom lip. "That Kuminitsu guy's bringing all the problems," she said.

"Bastard…" she heard him mutter on the other end. "But, Osakada, I can't do anything about it right now. I'm taking care of my younger cousins this evening, I can't leave them."

"But I need you to go find Sakuno and talk to her!"

"Look, she's probably just upset right now and will come back later."

"Sure didn't look it. She looked too sure of herself. I'm afraid…"

"Afraid of…?" Momo urged her on.

"It isn't like Sakuno to do it, but since her grandmother passed away…" said Tomo, "I don't want another unpleasant accident to happen, not like the one that happened at the reunion."

There was silence on the other end. Tomo hoped he could do it. Sakuno wouldn't listen to her anymore but maybe if Momo talked to her… he was the next closest friend she had next to Tomo.

"Tell you what," said Momo, sending Tomo's hopes flying. "I'll ask Echizen if he could do it."

And Tomo's hopes were immediately crushed. "ECHIZEN?" she yelled. "Are you stupid?! Those two hardly talk!"

"Yes, Osakada, demo… I know something's wrong with Ryuzaki-san, and believe me; I want to help her as much as you do. But if she won't talk to you, I doubt she'll talk to me. Besides, you know how it's always been…between her and Echizen…I don't know, maybe with Echizen, she'll open up, even if a little."

"They hardly talk," Tomoka repeated firmly.

"And, hey, maybe that's exactly why she'll talk to him," said Momo, dismissing Tomo's firm tone. "Typical scenario here: 'Too ashamed to talk to friends, so she instead confides in a stranger, someone who doesn't know a thing and can't possibly judge her.' And well, in this case, Echizen's the stranger…"

A moment's pause.

"Your weird logic is really pissing me off, but…" Tomo growled, speaking slowly. "All right, if it's the best you can do… Can't expect much."

"You hurt my feelings, Osakada! Take that back!"

"This is serious!"

"Fine, fine… I'm going to have a long talk with Echizen."

Tomo hung up and frowned. Ryoma-sama was capable of many things; he was even her biggest idol during her childhood (which didn't really prove her previous statement, but anyway).

All she could do now was hope.

"What is it now?" The older man had developed a necessity to call Echizen for what seemed like every five hours, just to hear his voice. 'It's been TOO long, Echizen!' he would say. Ryoma's eyes drooped, already expecting another boring conversation to begin. Momo never had a point in mind when starting a conversation on the phone.

"Echizen, I need you to do a quick favor for me!"

Ryoma looked at his sleeping father on the bed. "I'm busy," he said.

"Please, Echizen? I just need one favor, I have my little cousins to take care of and…"

"I am not taking care of kids."

"Jeez, let me finish…! I need you to find Ryuzaki for me."

"What's wrong with Ryuzaki?" His voice was indifferent, but something began to nag at him then.

"Osakada says she ran away from home. I think I know where she might be. So could you just… find her and talk to her? At least convince her to come back home."

Ryoma sighed. His father was asleep and Rinko was home, so it wasn't like he was leaving him completely unattended. "Where's the place then…?"

"I'll tell you in a sec, but I have to talk to you first…"

Faking his sleep, Nanjiroh opened one eyelid to look at his son's back. He was standing in the corner of the room, listening to a long conversation on the phone, occasionally saying a thing or two, but nothing else. How secretive. Nanjiroh smirked. Eh? Is this a secret arrangement? A secret love affair? Sesshonen, you sly, sly dog…

"Oi, Sesshonen," called Nanjiroh from the bed, when Ryoma snapped shut his phone and began to collect his jacket. He didn't seem surprised that Nanjiroh had been faking sleep. "If you're leaving me alone like this, it'd better be because of a date!"

Ryoma turned to face Nanjiroh, buttoning up his jacket. "It was just Momo," he said, his eyes narrowed.

"GYAH!! I knew it! I knew it! My son's homosexual!"

Ryoma tripped on his way to the door. "Oyaji!"

One more drink, Sakuno thought hazily. As she waited for her drink, Sakuno leaned back on the stool, her eyes staring at the black ceiling, the soft music calming her down and quite pleasurable to her ears. She leaned back and back, closing her eyes, not noticing how dangerously close she was to falling…

Two hands, however, grabbed a hold of her shoulders then, but she didn't mind. I'll just fall asleep like this… she thought blissfully.

"Ryuzaki…?"

A small shake and Sakuno immediately straightened up. "Huh?" she looked around with dreamy eyes. Ryoma let go of her shoulders and sat on the stool next to hers, looking amused. "Oh, Ryoma-kun…"

"You were going to fall off your stool," he said, resting his chin on his hand.

Sakuno giggled. "I was? I was actually hoping I'd fall asleep…"

"By hitting the hard floor?"

Sakuno shrugged, grinning. "But then you felt like such a pillow," she said. Ryoma looked back at her with an unclear expression, not sure what to make of being compared to a pillow.

She also looked like the effects of alcohol were just beginning to have an effect on her, her cheeks looking slightly pink. The bartender came by to put Sakuno's next drink in front of her but before she could make a move toward it, Ryoma's fingers held the rim of the glass, pulling it away from her.

"I'll have that," he said, placing the glass on his other side.

Sakuno pouted. "But you're not drinking it!"

"And neither are you." His tone had a trace of finality in it. Sakuno knew it would be useless to carry on.

"Fine!" she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why are you here, anyway?"

"Just happened to be around," Ryoma replied indifferently.

"Really…" If she wasn't drunk as she was, she would have found his feeble response to be a little suspicious.

"Why are you here?" Ryoma turned the question back on her. "Shouldn't you be with that loud friend of yours?"

"Tomo isn't loud!" replied Sakuno, frowning. "At least…not always…"

"You didn't answer my question."

"Er…" Sakuno paused, then broke into quiet laughter. "It seems very juvenile, now that I think about it… I left our place, I didn't feel like being there."

Ryoma's gaze continued to scrutinize her and suddenly Sakuno felt like a child caught red-handed with her hand inside the cookie jar. She felt the need to defend her reason further. "It's nothing personal toward Tomo-chan! If that guy hadn't…"

"That guy?" Ryoma raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, he's the one who…"

"…Momo punched earlier?"

Sakuno froze, just beginning to realize what she was saying. And Ryoma seemed to know much more than he had been letting on as well. As if to confirm what she was thinking, Ryoma smirked.

"No, no, no, no!" Sakuno shook her head several times, turning away. "I don't want to talk about that! I don't wanna…!" But she soon found that shaking her head like she did only gave her a headache. She wobbled in her seat, and Ryoma caught her in the air again by the shoulders. She wouldn't look him in the eye now.

"He was just a stupid, stupid bastard…and I went straight to him!" She looked up now, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Ryoma felt even more puzzled now. He didn't understand what she was saying. I can't believe I'm doing this, he thought. It had been just a favor for Momo. Momo said this had been triggered by a small incident in the afternoon, that all he had to do was talk Ryuzaki into going back home, but now it seemed like things went much deeper than that.

And he could just leave Ryuzaki here, and tell Momo his effort had been in vain. But he convinced himself that he couldn't, not in her state. Something else also nagged at him, had also convinced him otherwise, but he dismissed it at the moment.

"Oi, Ryuzaki…" he said, but then he realized the young woman had fallen asleep in his arms while he had wasted his time thinking. Great…what now? He thought about Ryuzaki's reaction toward the other man then. He knew it wasn't any of his business, but it had definitely perked up some of his interest. It didn't sound too good either. He looked at her angelic, flushed face.

What'd he do to you?