Never Forgotten

A RyoSaku romance fanfic by Bunny

Chapter Three – Stare Down

It would be six months before I saw Ryoma-kun again. That day I met him at Wimbledon was the most precious day of my life. I had talked with him! While at first, I had thought that maybe he didn't like me at all, after talking with him and helping him out, I realized it hadn't been personal. He was trying to warn me to get off the court since I seemed to be violating some rule. I didn't fully grasp the situation until I got home. I read up about it, and I watched my embarrassing stunt broadcasted on the sports channels for months afterwards. "Japanese Girl Rushes to Echizen Ryoma's Side During his Injury!" It was the biggest sports scandal in a while. Hearing the commentator's thoughts translated into my own language so I could really understand what had happened proved to embarrass me further.

What was I supposed to do, though? He was hurt. He was bleeding and nobody was doing anything! What was wrong with these people? It was a stupid rule! If a player is bleeding on the court, somebody needs to go and help them immediately! Sometimes, tennis really frustrated me.

Ryoma-kun though, he had been everything I thought and more. He was so confident and self-assured. He was so positive in his abilities. He was not discouraged by being injured. He had shined so brightly sitting on the bench glaring at me with his good eye. I wanted so desperately to rush him off to be treated; my concern for him being foremost. However, Ryoma-kun would not be Ryoma-kun if something like that had stopped him from finishing his match at Wimbledon. No, Ryoma-kun had to finish his match. So, I did all I could do for him. I did what I had always done for him. I supported him.

I think he understood. The look he had given to me said he understood. Sometimes though, I doubt, I wonder. If he saw me again, would he even remember me?

Soon enough, I would find out.

Just after turning 16, I was able to go to the Australian Open. It was the anniversary of Ryoma-kun's first title. The title he obtained that triggered the beginning of his fame - when his name began to be splashed all over magazines, TV, and other forms of media. "The Prince of Tennis – Echizen Ryoma Wins Again!" The beginning of the time when other girls my age fawned over his pictures at school and his name was frequently heard in the classrooms.

I continued to support him in my silence. Sure, those in my school who knew me and had seen the footage of Wimbledon gave me strange looks at times; others would grill me for details about "Ryoma-sama!" To the rest of the world though, I was the nameless Japanese girl that made a fool of herself bandaging him up during the semi-finals of Wimbledon. You know what? I would do it all over again in a second, so there!

I had desperately wanted to go to all of Ryoma-kun's matches. It was impossible though. He was traveling all over the world, and he was very busy. I was also busy living a normal Japanese high school life working diligently at my studies, but I was also thinking of him constantly. It had taken until the Australian Open for me to save up enough funds to get on a plane to go see him, as well as, get permission to fly off on my own again.

I was in so much trouble last time. Admittedly, I am a bit of a scatterbrain when it came to schedules, directions and other things of that nature. On the day I met Ryoma-kun I had discovered even before his match ended that my departing flight home was actually THAT DAY. I had completely messed up the time schedule in my confusion between the time zones of England and Japan. I had cried the whole way home, so unbearably disappointed that I couldn't congratulate Ryoma-kun on a job well done and see him in the finals.

This time, I would somehow get it right. I would see Ryoma-kun again.

I was filled with nervous anticipation. Would he remember me? Did he ever think of me after that day? Would he want to get to know me this time? How would I be able to get his attention? Somehow, I would make this work. Somehow.

This time, I planned to arrive a day early, before the official matches even began. Upon arriving at the tournament grounds I had immediately set about wandering the courts, hoping I would be able to find Ryoma-kun practicing or warming up somewhere. I knew he was very strict with his training and constantly tried to improve his game. He wouldn't be out doing anything right now except playing tennis. I just needed to track him down.

It must have been my lucky day. As directionally challenged as I could be, I stumbled upon Ryoma-kun almost right away. He was tucked up on a small open court obviously put there for warming up. He was playing against a middle-aged man – who was not only consistently taunting him, but was also scoring many points against Ryoma-kun at tennis. Not that they were keeping a count, but still…unbelievable! Who was this man? I glared at the back of the man's head as I took a seat behind the chain link fence separating the court from the spectator's benches. There were a surprisingly large number of people sitting around the court, watching the two playing.

After settling and looking around to observe all the people present, I looked back towards Ryoma-kun only to find his eyes pinned on me. Oh God, oh God, oh God, he's looking at me. Does he remember me? He's staring at me.

His face was expressionless as he continued to volley the ball back and forth, never taking his eyes off of me. How could he play without looking at the ball this way? Is this how he was able to win the semi-final game at Wimbledon last year? Could Ryoma-kun really play so well that he didn't need his vision?

Mesmerized by his intense stare, I couldn't look away. The world around us seemed to fade away. There were just Ryoma-kun's intense hazel eyes and the sound of the tennis ball contacting with the racquets and the ground.

-pok-

-thump-

-pok-

-thump-

-pok-

-thump-

-pok-

The taunting continued between plays. Ryoma-kun didn't respond, he just kept playing and staring into my eyes. Finally, after several volleys, the other player commented on his lack of watching the ball.

"Hey boy, what are you looking at?" he yelled. Wow! Did Ryoma-kun usually speak Japanese instead of English? Sure he spoke to me in Japanese, but the reasons for that were obvious. I found this so surprising, I mean, didn't he live in the United States? Wouldn't English kind-of be his first language? Well, then…maybe it was because there were so many people watching and they didn't want to be overheard?

Ryoma-kun finally broke eye contact with me to glare at the other player. The man turned then and scanned those of us sitting on the small stands behind him. A moment later, his eyes rested on me, and giving me a smirk not unlike Ryoma-kun's he turned back towards the court and served the ball.

I blushed and looked away in embarrassment. Did that old guy just figure out that Ryoma-kun was looking at me? Maybe I should just go? I don't think I can handle all this attention after the embarrassment of what happened last time. Yes, I would do it again, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be embarrassed. I looked back towards Ryoma-kun to find his eyes watching me once again. It was seconds before I found myself completely locked into his gaze.

Ryoma-kun – make the world melt away and take me with you. Wherever you go, whatever you want to do, I will support you. Let's go. Staring at him like this, and feeling his attention on me…it was addicting.

Finally, the ball stopped its constant volleying.

"Okay boy, that's enough. Go rest up we have an early start tomorrow. Try not to get so distracted by the cute girls in the audience during your matches," the man said.

"Shut up," Ryoma-kun answered as he passed the man on his way across the court, still not breaking eye contact with me. He stopped at the fence separating us.

"Oi! Are you going to come here and say hello to me or what you stupid girl?" he yelled up to me.

Rattled, I had frantically looked around, wondering if he was really truly addressing me or not. Wasn't it strange for a player to speak with the audience? Even if it was just practice on a small open court, this wasn't really done, was it? Resigning myself to doing something embarrassing yet again, I had finally stood up to make my way down to him when Ryoma-kun was stepping back from the fence to avoid the flood of girls that had suddenly congregated in front of him.

Oh no! Maybe he didn't mean me? Really, what would he have to do with me? He probably didn't even remember me, right? Who was I kidding? I was just a plain nobody girl, it's not like I would ever really have his attention. I sat back down dejectedly.

"Hey you stupid girl, will you get down here?" Ryoma-kun yelled from the court floor.

I looked up at his call and noticed him giving me that irritated look I had been subjected to at Wimbledon. Not knowing what else to do, I scrambled down the few steps to the court, "R-r-ryoma-kun?"

In a flash, Ryoma-kun had unlocked the gate, yanked me into the fenced in court and slammed the gate behind me. I looked at him, startled that he had dragged me inside like that so quickly. Well, I wasn't really expecting this…

"Are you embarrassed?" he asked as he turned away from me and started walking to the other side of the court.

Assuming he wanted me to follow him, I walked behind him slowly trying to comprehend what was happening.

"Consider it payback for last time," he said, turning to look back at me. The distance between us was getting larger as he was walking at a normal relaxed pace and I was trailing behind rather slowly.

"I'm sorry, Ryoma-kun," I finally said. There, I apologized for embarrassing him.

He didn't comment, instead turning back to me, "Hurry up then. I don't have all day."

I rushed forward, slowing my pace again to match his as we made our way to where Ryoma's tennis bag was placed on the sideline bench.

"I was worried that if I took my eyes off of you that you would disappear again," he offered as he lifted his large tennis bag from the bench and took a sip from his sport's bottle.

"Disappear?" I questioned.

"Yes, stupid girl. What happened at Wimbledon?" he snapped.

"My name is Sakuno!"

Oh goodness, where did that come from? Did I just yell at him? Okay, so maybe I didn't like being called stupid girl, but I shouldn't have yelled at him.

He gave me a satisfied smirk. What? What was that all about? Why did he look like he just won something? I just yelled at him.

"Well then, Sakuno-chan let's go," he said.

"Go where?" I questioned as I followed him out of the court directly into a long building. We were in some sort of corridor that had doors on the sides. Maybe this was some sort of locker room for the players?

"I never got to thank you for fixing my eye, so I'll take you out for dinner," he was saying as we walked through the hallway that seemed to separate the "ladies" from the "gentlemen" areas.

"A-ano…Ryoma-kun doesn't need to do that," I found myself saying. No, wait! I would really love to have dinner with you Ryoma-kun!

"Is there a problem?" he asked.

"N-n-no," I stuttered, suddenly feeling extremely nervous. I was suddenly so anxious and nervous I couldn't even begin to control my racing mind. What was wrong with me? I'd never been so nervous around a boy before. I wasn't nervous like this around Ryoma-kun last time. Well, last time I was pretty distracted by the blood and my concern, but…DATE!!! Didn't this constitute a date? Oh no…nonononono, I'm not even wearing something cute enough for a date! Mou! Does this mean Ryoma-kun likes me or is this really just a thank-you? Wait, he remembered me didn't he? Didn't that mean something? Waitaminute - didn't - didn't - didn't things like kissing happen on dates? I've never kissed anybody before! What if I'm terrible at it? What if Ryoma-kun likes me now, but then after he kisses me and I'm a terrible kisser that he loses whatever interest he possibly has in me? Oh no!! This was a disaster waiting to happen. I mean, I wanted to spend time with him, I mean, wasn't this what I wanted?

"All right then, we can go to my room so I can shower and change and then we'll leave," Ryoma-kun said continuing to make his way through the large complex.

I continued to walk with him and glanced at my watch, knowing I had to check in with Grandma by calling her soon. Oh no! This was my chance to spend time with Ryoma-kun, but Grandma would never let me go to another tournament if I didn't call her as I promised to each day. What to do? What to do?

"What's the matter?" Ryoma-kun asked. He seemed to have picked-up on my nervous twitching.

"I'm supposed to call my Grandmother soon," I explained, hoping he would understand.

"You can call her while I shower," he answered.

"Oh no…long distance to Japan, Ryoma-kun, I couldn't," I found myself saying.

He stopped walking and stared at me.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

Oh…now why did he have to go and ask me that? I broke eye contact, feeling my face heat up.

"I-I, ano, I came to see you," I confessed.

"Why?"

"I had to."

"Why?"

I looked back into his probing eyes, wondering why he was grilling me, "Ryoma-kun."

He broke eye contact, and glared at the floor, his annoyance obvious.

"Sakuno-chan, you better not disappear again," he finally mumbled to me. He adjusted his baseball cap, and that's what set me off. Ryoma-kun was actually nervous too. He always messed with his hat when he was nervous. Wow…did that mean…?

Compelled, I reached out my hand to his shoulder, "Oh no! I'm going to be here all week, Ryoma-kun! I don't think I messed up the schedule this time because the time difference is only an hour here from Tokyo, so I won't have to leave early again like last time!"

He turned startled eyes to me, "You left last time because you mixed up the days in your schedule?"

Mortified that I'd spilled out my dirty secret I removed my hand and looked down, "Ah…yes. I'm not very good with these things."

"Mada mada dane, Sakuno-chan," he taunted as he let out an amused snicker. Why did he suddenly look so satisfied with himself? He took my hand in his and started pulling me alongside him out of the complex and across the street into a big hotel. He was holding my hand! My heart raced.

"Wait, Ryoma-kun, where are we going?" I asked, as I was being pulled into a lobby elevator. I was trying unsuccessfully to slow us down by dragging my feet, forcing him to pull me along behind him. This was maybe just a little too fast for me. I suddenly felt like prey, and Ryoma-kun was the hunter.

He stopped to look back at me again and gave me a glare.

"Okay, never mind," I conceded as he pulled me into the empty elevator. He was so stubborn sometimes, I just didn't know what else to do but give in. Grandma, I'll call you soon, I promise. I glanced at my watch again.

A few minutes later we found ourselves in a large suite close to the top floor of the hotel. Ryoma-kun threw his bag on the couch, and sat down, making quick work of his shoes and socks. Standing up again he started lifting his shirt over his head as he walked towards what I assumed to be the bathroom. He stopped as he reached the door and threw his shirt on the floor.

"The telephone is on the nightstand, make your call. I'll be out in a few minutes," he instructed before he closed the door behind him.

Ryoma-kun…is this for real?

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And that's it for chapter three. Five more to go. Whoo hoo! Thanks to everybody that's reviewed so far. I really appreciate the feedback, it's nice to know that some of you reading the story are enjoying it. smiles

Izaquix078 - thanks for the welcome back :)

It made me happy to see that some of you that read my last chaptered story were reviewing for this one too. They are really different stories after all. grins

anonymous jane - you always seem to understand my writing so well. Thank you, that makes me happy. feels understood for once in her life LOL :)

FujixSaku0709 - 3 back at you

fuga - hehehe...yeah there is a lot of embarrassing awkwardness in this whole fanfic. grins

Kountry101 - your comment made me excited about posting up this chapter.

animeandmangaaddict - thank you, I'm so happy you like the plot. I wasn't sure if an AR would be very popular or not with the readers, you have encouraged me.