Way Back Into Love

A Ryoma & Sakuno from The Prince of Tennis romance fanfic

By: Bunny

Disclaimer: The Prince of Tennis / Tenisu no Ōjisama is copyright Takeshi Konomi/Shueisha.

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Chapter Two – Old Perspectives, New Perspectives

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Twenty-two year old Ryuzaki Sakuno however, had a much different morning than her younger counterpart. She had woken to the nostalgic sound of her old alarm that had serenaded her awake in her early teenage years. Thinking it was a pleasant dream, she had allowed herself to snuggle further into her warm twin-size bed and enjoy the music. After a few minutes of the music not ending, and her mind waking up further, Sakuno started to realize that something may, in fact, be amiss.

She sat up slowly and took in her old childhood bedroom at her Grandmother's house. She turned around and glanced out the window across the street to confirm she was where she thought she was. Then, just for good measure she put her smaller-than-it-should-be right hand on her smaller-than-it-should-be left forearm and gave it a good pinch!

"OWWW!" she heard her younger voice complain.

Oh boy. Either Sakuno had just had some kind of crazy long dream where she grew up or she'd had some kind of weird body-transfer time-traveling experience. She idly wondered what the percentage Inui-sempai would give her of this actually being the case as she went about her old routine of washing up, getting dressed and ready for school that she had done as a twelve year old each day.

It was a familiar and comforting experience and by the time Sakuno was walking on her way to school, she had the urge to skip with giddiness. Was she truly twelve years old again? It was almost too good to be true. The real question at hand though, was how did she end up in the past? She definitely remembered the last ten years, so she was pretty certain that wasn't just some crazy long dream. She just needed a test subject.

"Sakuno-chan! Good morning!" she heard her old school chum Tomoka call out to her cheerfully.

'Perfect,' Sakuno thought as she turned to her friend.

"Good morning, Tomo-chan!" she called back. Wow…it would take some getting used to her younger more high-pitched voice - that was for sure. And this tiny little body. She wasn't a big girl by any means as an adult, but she had been really small as a twelve year old.

And then just as she was figuring out how to use Tomoka as her test subject, Sakuno's day got even better.

"Ryoma-sama! Good morning!" Tomoka called out.

Sakuno turned away from Tomoka and looked towards the school gates. Her eyes met Ryoma's as he made his way onto the school property. Her heart stopped for a moment as she took in his twelve year old form and his characteristic smirk. A bit startled at being confronted with Ryoma at twelve again, she stopped walking abruptly. Could he possibly have been transported from the future too, or was this the real twelve year old Ryoma? She couldn't help but wonder as she unknowingly gave Ryoma a sexy, knowing grin.

Ryoma stopped dead in his tracks as his eyes met those of Ryuzaki Sakuno. What did THAT LOOK mean? He wasn't sure, but for some reason it made him scared and excited all at the same time. As his heartbeat raced he broke eye contact, and continued on his way.

Sakuno hummed to herself in curious contentment as Ryoma walked away and decided to test him out and see what he would do. She would know if it was her twenty-two year old Ryoma, or the Ryoma she had known as a young lady in no time.

As his day wore on, Ryoma found himself getting irritated. He couldn't get the image of Sakuno's sensual smile out of his mind. What was with that girl today? Honestly. What was she up to? It wasn't like her at all, looking at him like that - like she knew some deep dark secret of his. By the time afternoon tennis practice came, he had managed to work himself into a fit. To make matters even worse, Sakuno wasn't there to watch their practice. Where did she go? She never missed a practice unless she was sick. Her absence increased his ire ten-fold. Next time he saw that girl, she was going to get it!

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Twenty-two year old Ryoma flailed as twelve year old Sakuno in twenty-two year old Sakuno's body threw herself at his chest.

"Ryoma-kun!" she wailed.

Worried, and baffled at her odd behavior, Ryoma put his arms around Sakuno's smaller body and gently led her back to her bed. Sitting down on the edge of it, he watched as she rubbed the tears out of her eyes and sniffled for a few minutes.

"Sakuno," he finally began when she had quieted. "What is this really about?"

"Ryoma-kun," Sakuno began, only to be cut off.

"Will you stop calling me that, like we're still twelve or something?" Ryoma butted in.

Startled brown eyes looked up at Ryoma's irritated look, weren't they twelve? "What do you mean?"

Ryoma stood up and towering over Sakuno gave her a long, hard glare. "Listen, I know you're upset with me about this whole marriage thing, but you don't need to take things this far to prove your point. Kicking me out last night was enough. I get it."

Sakuno gave Ryoma a puzzled look and tried to process what he was talking about. Marriage? Upset? Kicked out? Prove her point? What in the world was Ryoma-kun talking about? She was just trying to figure out how she got here and what he was doing there, and why they had suddenly got so old.

Gathering her thoughts together, Sakuno finally spoke, "Ryoma-ku-" she stopped as he gave her another frustrated glare and corrected herself, "ano…Ryoma," she paused in disbelief as he gave her an approving look. What the hell? She tried her best not to focus on the weirdness that was Ryoma-kun insisting on the –kun being dropped while saying, "I'm sorry, there seems to be a misunderstanding. I don't expect you to m-m-marry me." Whew! She got it all out. This had to be the weirdest conversation she had ever had! Talking about marriage with an older version of Echizen Ryoma…what was next on her weird stuff that has happened to me today list?

"Then what was your whole lecture, kicking me out, nagging fit last night all about? Sakuno, I didn't even know you had it in you to act that way, I swear, you are driving me crazy! Can you just tell me what it is you want so we can be happy again?" Ryoma exploded as he began to pace back and forth in front of her.

Sakuno was even further confused by seeing Ryoma all worked up and emotional. This was too weird! She ignored his outburst and tried to stay focused on the issue at hand. Why did Ryoma-kun have to be the only person around? She wouldn't be this nervous with anybody else and she would be able to tell them the whole story! Ryoma-kun's presence alone made her nervous, but adding on to that his yelling and marriage talk was just fraying her already exhausted nerves. Mou! There was something seriously wrong with her! "W-well…I…you see, I think I need to go see a doctor," she confided.

Ryoma stopped pacing and gave Sakuno a startled look.

"Sakuno, you-you aren't pregnant are you?" Ryoma asked in a deadly quiet voice.

Sakuno's mind reeled. Pregnant! How the hell could THAT have happened? Oh nononononono, this conversation isn't going where she thinks it is. No way. She is absolutely not going to talk about sex with Ryoma-kun. Nonononononono….

"Sakuno!" Ryoma exclaimed as he resumed his seat next to her. He grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. "Sakuno – please, tell me – are you?"

Sakuno shook her head in confusion, "Ryoma-ku- Ryoma – I - that's not even possible, I – I – I've never - ano, where's my Grandma, or Tomo-chan? Please?"

Looking very put out, Ryoma stood back up and grabbed a cell phone off the nightstand closest to them. He punched a few buttons and handed the phone to Sakuno before sitting back down next to her and crossing his arms over his chest. He looked very unhappy. Sakuno normally would have worried further, but couldn't really focus on Ryoma's problems at the moment. He was getting way to personal, and this whole morning had been one weird thing after another already. She needed something a bit more familiar before she went crazy. Or maybe she already was?

"Hello?" Sakuno heard Tomoka's voice ask over the phone connection.

"Tomo-chan!" Sakuno exclaimed, relieved to hear the voice of her best friend.

"Sakuno-chan?" Tomoka questioned. "What's going on? Aren't you busy getting ready with Ryoma-sama?"

Sakuno gave Ryoma a nervous look and asked, "What do you mean, Tomo-chan?"

"Sakuno!!" Tomoka whined to her in obvious exasperation. "Don't tell me you forgot that today all the old tennis team are getting together?"

Sakuno processed this new information for a second and re-assessed her situation. Maybe she was going crazy. Or maybe she just woke up with some kind of weird amnesia or something. She was definitely older. So was Ryoma-kun. So was Tomo-chan. Something was going on with her and Ryoma-kun, but they were definitely fighting. The old team was getting together that day…but wait…just how old? Sakuno stood up and made her way out of the bedroom, away from Ryoma's prying ears and whispered over the phone, "Tomo-chan, please don't think I'm crazy, but can you tell me how old I am and why I would wake up to Ryoma-kun kissing me?"

"WHAT?" Tomoka yelled through the phone.

Nearly deaf from the shocking volume, Sakuno held the phone away from her ear as Tomoka continued yelling, "what do you mean how old are you and why is Ryoma-kun kissing you?" she heard blaring through the earpiece.

She nervously glanced towards the bedroom hoping Ryoma couldn't overhear Tomoka, only to come face to face with Ryoma. Oh no…he'd heard everything Tomoka just said. Ryoma took the phone out of Sakuno's hand while Tomoka was still yelling about Sakuno going crazy, and putting the phone mic up to his mouth said, "Tomoka-san, Sakuno will call you back." He disconnected the call and gave Sakuno another long, hard look.

"Sakuno, what's going on?" he asked yet again.

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End Chapter Two

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AN: I actually added this chapter a bit sooner than I planned to, but I'm going to be really busy the next couple of days, so I doubt I would be able to update otherwise.

Much thanks to all those that reviewed so far. 'kawaiihanah - FujixSaku0709 - Izaquix078 I really appreciate it.

Izaquix078 - I hope this chapter clears up your confusion. Sorry if the story summary is what initially threw you off. TT