SUMMARY: Ryoma and Sakuno are the best of friends. But why is that such a bad thing?

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis is not mine. (sighs)

a/n: all thanks to the people who have given me reviews- Kawaii Chou, Elme, CrazyGirlofManyNames, Jomai, The Sakura Snowflake, Fullmoon05, Hazelnut, pinkfloweree, and YummieCreamy! Thank you so much!

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Chapter 2: Together

Ryoma woke up, feeling something akin to satisfaction. He sat up, yawned, and was faintly surprised but undisturbed when he discovered it was the end of the school day. He could hear the students of Seishun Gakuen making their way out of the school grounds, obviously relieved. He stretched for a few minutes (better get ready for practice) and was about to leave when he saw a pile of letters on the ground. He frowned.

Girls are really so annoying.

He thought for a while. Except maybe... one.

Sighing, he gathered the letters and stuffed them as much as possible in his pockets. He had half a mind to leave them there, but he remembered what happened the last time he did it. Those girls would think Sakuno didn't give it to him. So, his pockets bulging, he went down to the locker room (using the quickest and least populated way), dumped all the letters in a bag, and changed into his uniform. Taking his tennis bag, he proceeded to the courts, all the while thinking about battle tactics and future tennis matches and Ryuzaki.

He was halfway to the courts when he realized something.

Wait, Ryuzaki?

Oh. Right. The old hag was out of town. He needed to walk her home. He nodded. Right.

So his thoughts resumed... Horio needs to put more power into his strokes... fifty laps for all the regulars... I need Inui-senpai to make more of his Aozu v. 29... Ryuzaki's hands are so soft... a scheduled practice match with St. Rudolph... I wonder if I can keep Ryuzaki company tonight... a boys' night out at Momo-senpai... I need to buy more catnip for Karupin... does Ryuzaki have any suitors? Could she-

Ryoma's train of thought promptly screeched to a halt. He did NOT like where his thoughts are going. Since when did he want to keep Ryuzaki company? At night, no less. He snorted. Stupid perverted oyaji thoughts...

"Hey, Echizen!"

He looked up, saw his vice-captain, Horio, and pasted the usual bored look on his face. He didn't realize he arrived. "What're you doing?" He frowned, seeing him in his school uniform. "Why aren't you ready for practice?"

Horio looked at him weirdly. "Uh, Echizen, practice's cancelled, remember? Big storm coming? Everyone needs to go home early?"

Oh. How could he have forgotten that? He was thinking too much. Honestly. If thoughts of Ryuzaki as his friend already distract him, what more if- he will not- never- go there. His frown deepened. "What're you here for?"

Horio scratched his head. "Um... wait a sec... oh! I was at talking to Osakada minutes before when Ryuzaki-chan told me she's sorry she can't wait for you. She said she needed to- wait, Echizen!"

Ryoma didn't know when he moved, but he later found himself walking briskly outside the school grounds, determined to find his coach's granddaughter. They always walked home together. He always walked her home... so why the hell did she walk home ALONE? When he rounded a corner, he broke into a run. If his calculations were correct, Ryuzaki had a good five-minute head start- but he had longer legs. And he was running. Fast. His keen eyes spotted an auburn-haired girl walking sedately at a distance. He slowed down, pleased. He was positive that girl was the one he's looking for. Tugging his cap further down his head, he walked until he was almost a foot away behind her. "Hey, Ryuzaki."

She gasped, turning around quickly to face him, a hand over her heart. "R-ryoma-kun! Please don't scare me like that!"

He shrugged indifferently. "Sorry."

"Why are you here?" He scowled at her tone. She sounded like she didn't even want to see his shadow. "And..." She reached out and touched his temple. "You're sweating... have you been running?"

With a start, he realized she was right. And like hell he was surprised! He didn't even break a sweat when having a match with his non-regular members. He must have been really desperate... kami, what's happening to him? At a loss for words, he simply shrugged again.

Sakuno sighed, took a clean white handkerchief from her bag, and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Really, Ryoma-kun... you could catch a cold..."

He smirked. "Who's acting like my wife now?"

Her hand jerked in surprise, her eyes wide. "I-I'm not!" He chuckled, making her throw the handkerchief at his chest. "Stop teasing me!"

He put on his best affronted look. "Honey, don't be so brutal."

Her face flamed. "RYOMA-KUN!"

He laughed, walking forward. She really was too fun to tease. "Let's go home, love. Wouldn't want to leave our kids waiting."

She almost screamed. "Ryoma-kun!" She ran after him and glared at him for good measure. "You're so weird sometimes..." she muttered. He smirked.

Unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes was watching.

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Ryoma sank down on the couch, watching with hooded eyes as Sakuno made him some hot chocolate. It was half past six, it was raining hard outside (he belatedly remembered Horio's warning), and she had invited him inside for something to warm him up. He stifled a yawn.

"Here you go, Ryoma-kun..."

He nodded and took the offered cup. "Thanks."

She smiled. "Please wait for a second. I'm just gonna change." He must have made some sort of affirmative noise because she left. He took a sip, grateful for the warmth of the drink. It had been really cold, and he was thankful they barely got wet. Minutes later, he heard a door close. He looked up, and his jaw dropped.

She was wearing a black skirt that didn't quite reach her knees and a white sweatshirt that was much too long for her.

She looked absolutely gorgeous.

He quickly ducked his head, faintly aware of the blush on his cheeks. Stupid hormones... She sat down beside him, oblivious of his inner turmoil. "Mou... it's so cold..." She glanced at him. "Aren't you?"

"I don't mind it."

"What if you catch a cold?"

"I won't."

She chuckled. "OK, Ryoma-kun..." She noticed his empty cup. "Would you like another one before you go?"

It was out of his mouth quicker than he had thought. "Can we watch a movie?" He blanched. "I mean-"

She shook her head, smiled, put a CD on the player, turned off the lights, and plopped back down beside him. "All we have here is chick flicks. I hope you don't mind..."

He honestly didn't care even if they were watching an action movie or something. He just didn't care.

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Two Hours Later

Ryoma groaned, annoyed by the sudden beeping noise coming from his bag. He knew he should have turned the damn phone off... Growling when the beeping didn't stop, he gently moved Sakuno off him to get to his phone. "What?"

"You brat, where the hell are you?"

Stupid oyaji. "What the hell do you care?"

A snort. "I don't. Your mother's calling all your friends asking where on earth you are. It's almost nine, you idiot. The least you could do while frolicking with a girl is to call us."

"Che... we're just watching a movie..." he grumbled.

"Fine, fine. You have such a dull life, brat. Wait... you didn't... you're with a girl?! Kami, what did you do to my stupid son?"

Such a drama king. "Look, oyaji, don't worry about me. I'm just staying with Ryuzaki for a while because the old hag's on some kind of adventure... now please let me sleep?" he muttered. "Worst timing..."

A chuckle. "Hah! I knew you liked cute innocent Ryuzaki-chan!"

He scoffed. "Whatever, oyaji."

"What time will you be home?"

Ryoma thought for a while. "I'll be back there before morning... probably to change."

"Che. Sure. Play nice!" Beep.

He groaned, turning the phone off. "Why do I have such a weird family?" He noticed everything was dark, and belatedly realized the movie was already finished. A soft weight landed on his shoulder, and the scent of strawberries assaulted his senses. A gentle smile graced his features when he saw Sakuno's sleeping figure slumped against his. Unconsciously, his hands reached out to touch her face. She stirred, and he pulled back quickly. A blush stained his cheeks. Kami-sama, what was happening to him?

"Ryoma-kun?"

He started. "You're awake."

She smiled softly as she curled herself around him. "I'm sorry I've been such a bother. Are you all right?"

"We were just sleeping. Don't think so much about it."

"Un... what time is it?"

"A few minutes after nine, I guess..."

She sat up quickly, disbelief etched in her features. "Nine? Ryoma-kun, your parents must be worried! Mou... you shouldn't have stayed..."

"And leave you here all alone? I think not." His tone was too sharp and too worried for his liking.

Sakuno almost melted at his words. Who knew her Ryoma-kun could be so terribly sweet? "I'll be all right, Ryoma-kun. I don't think obaa-chan's going to take long." To be honest, her grandmother would be gone for a few more days, but Ryoma doesn't need to know that.

He laughed dryly. "Right. A week at most. I happen to listen to her sometimes, you know."

She sighed. Well, there was no escaping him. "Oh, all right. But I'll be fine. I'm already seventeen years old, Ryoma-kun."

"And you're a girl," he pointed out.

"And you're a boy," she countered, grinning. "What would other people think?"

"I don't care what other people think. What?" he asked at her incredulous look. "You want to stay at our house?"

She laughed warmly. "I think I'd like that but-"

The idea popped into his head as soon as she agreed. If Sakuno stayed at HIS house, he needn't worry about her anymore. Besides, the old hag knew about his father, and he was positive she'll have no qualms about her granddaughter staying at the Echizen residence. "Good. I'll ask oyaji to get us as soon as your things are ready."

Her eyes were wide and almost luminous in the darkness. "Ryoma-kun, I was joking."

"I'm not."

"But I can't! Echizen-san-"

"-will not mind it. You're my best friend, aren't you?"

She moaned in frustration. Was he dense or what? "Kami, all the girls will kill me. I'll be at the hit list of every human being at school..." She glared at him. "If something ever happens to me, just remember you're the cause of it."

He raised an eyebrow. "It's either you stay in our house, or you're going to stay in our house, or the old hag will return and find me curled outside your bedroom door. Choose your pick."

Her mouth twitched. "Is that a threat?"

He shrugged. "Now will you go to your room and pack, or will I have to physically carry you there? Or maybe you'd simply want to go to my house and wear my clothes?"

She stifled a giggle. "Why do all my options involve you being physical with me?"

"Because I know you'll have no choice but not to pick them."

"You're so sarcastic."

He smirked. "Well, that's why you like me, right?"

"God, but you're so insufferable," she muttered. "Fine. I'll go pack." And she left, leaving Ryoma with a completely satisfied smirk on his lips.

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a/n: am I any good? I hope so.

any review will be highly appreciated. thanks!