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: waaa… I got tons of really cool reviews! Thank you for supporting my fic! This chappie is for all of you! All thanks to Kawaii Chou, Elme, CrazyGirlofManyNames, Jomai, The Sakura Snowflake, Fullmoon05, Hazelnut, pinkfloweree, YummieCreamy, ignoredflower, KrisMs, nertz, pinklove, Forever Dreamin, larsha, Cyansilent, 2756, kanomie08, Sumaru93, KenRik, loki lee, pabi chan, The Magical Whatever, and jHeyTTernallie! Arigato gozaimasu! And a belated Happy New Year!

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Chapter 3: Love and Pain

Sakuno started when a car pulled up outside their house. She locked gazes with Ryoma, positively terrified. "Anou, Ryoma-kun, are you sure?"

Ryoma shrugged again, taking her bags. "No, but don't worry too much. It's not like you're gonna get eaten or something. Oyaji's harmless... most of the time."

Sakuno nervously adjusted her rose-colored pajamas, worn under her black coat. "Do I look okay? Should I change again?"

Actually, Ryoma thought she looked pretty good, but he wasn't about to say that. "Che. It's almost eleven in the evening, Ryuzaki. Even if you were wearing nothing, I'm sure my family wouldn't mind," he joked.

She flushed. "That wasn't funny."

There was a loud banging on the front door. "Look, kiddies, you can continue whatever kissing session you're having at the house. Open the damn door."

Ryoma frowned, opening the door quickly only to meet face-to-face with his father who was holding a large umbrella. "Watch the language, oyaji." He brushed past the older man, not even bothering to shield himself from the large drops. "Let's go, Ryuzaki."

Sakuno nodded, bowing timidly to Nanjiroh before locking the house. "Um... good evening, Echizen-san... Ryoma-kun, you're getting wet!" she called out worriedly.

Nanjiroh smiled at her cheekily. "Nice to see you too. So, since my stupid didn't even bother with details-" At this, he winked suggestively at her. "Do you mind- oomph!" He was promptly elbowed by one very pissed-looking Echizen Ryoma.

"Stupid oyaji... I told you she was off-limits..." Ryoma muttered, grabbing her wrist and guiding her to sit on the backseat of the sleek black sedan but not before shielding her with a large coat.

Nanjiroh grumpily followed them, rubbing his sore side. "Che... I was being polite, you brat! And you're going to get the car wet!"

Ryoma rolled his eyes, smirking briefly at Sakuno while his father started the car. "Right, oyaji. Polite."

As Nanjiroh's grumbling continued, a smile graced her features. She may be really nervous about everything, but she was sure everything's going to be all right in the end. She hoped, at least.

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As soon as Sakuno stepped out of the car, she was promptly hugged by Ryoma's cousin, Nanako. "Oh, Ryoma, you brought her to meet us!"

Sakuno returned the hug, feeling more than nervous. "Um... I'm sorry to be such trouble..."

"Oh nonsense. It's not everyday Ryoma brings someone to our house, much less a pretty girl like you!"

Nanjiroh chuckled. "Actually, the little brat never brings anybody here, even his former teammates."

"So you must be really special," Nanako added.

Sakuno shook her head. "Anou, it's not like that..."

Ryoma, who was carrying Sakuno's bag, breezed by them, a scowl on his face. "You're making it sound like she's my girlfriend or something..." he shot back.

Nanako laughed, following him inside and pulling Sakuno along. "Well, isn't she?"

Ryoma entered the guest room, the one adjacent to his, and set Sakuno's bag on the floor. He gave Nanako a deeper frown. "She's my coach's granddaughter."

Nanako shrugged, smiling, and left them both, but not before saying, "Whatever you say, Ryoma."

Sakuno almost giggled at the insulted look on his face. He was really too cute sometimes...

"I hate it when she does that..." he grumbled.

She smiled, removed her coat, and flopped down on the bed. "She's really nice, Ryoma-kun." She ducked her head, flushing again. "Thank you for making me stay here... it's very kind of you."

He shrugged. "Breakfast's at six. See you." And he made to leave.

Her hand shot out to grab his impulsively.

He blinked.

She blinked. Suddenly, she just seemed too shy. What was she about to say to him again? "I'm sorry I made you worried... I just... I just needed to be alone, I guess..."

He smirked, but relief was evident in his tone. "You always say sorry about everything. Don't think too much about it, Ryuzaki."

She nodded, smiling. "Good night Ryoma-kun."

"G'night."

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Beep. Beep. Beep. BEEP!

Ryoma turned the alarm clock off, yawning. Running a hand through his tousled hair, he shuffled to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, took a bath, and changed to his uniform. He looked groggily at the clock, 5:45, and went to the dining room. He plopped down on his seat, his head resting quickly on the table. He didn't even notice his mother, who was shaking her head disapprovingly at him. Meanwhile, Ryoma was wishing fervently that they'll be having a Japanese breakfast... he always did hate western food...

A hand touched his shoulder gently. "Ryoma-kun?"

His head shot up quickly, barely missing Sakuno's chin. "Ryuzaki!"

Sakuno laughed softly. "I never knew you were so disoriented in the morning."

He scoffed, laying his head back down again. "I never knew either." Before he could close his eyes, his head shot up again, startling Sakuno. "What are you doing here?"

She blinked. Did he actually forget? "Um... you brought me here, remember?"

He blinked. "I did? Oh. Right." Sighing, he offered her a small smile. "Did you sleep well?"

She smiled weakly. "Hai. Did you?"

He was about to say no, which was the truth, but could he tell her SHE (how she was so close, if his baka oyaji would suddenly creep into her room like some pervert- causing him to sit up quickly in his bed more than once) was the reason why he couldn't even close his eyes in the first place? "Che..." Before their talk could continue, a plate of steaming Japanese food was set before him. His eyes widened, looking disbelievingly at his mother.

His mom shrugged. "Sakuno's here, so I figured she'd prefer an eastern breakfast."

Ryoma couldn't believe his luck. He grinned, smiling playfully at his best friend. "God, you've got to stay here forever..." It was said so sincerely that Sakuno couldn't help but blush.

----

Ryoma never realized the consequences of his actions. That was until he stepped foot into Seishun Gakuen with Sakuno in tow. An indestructible wall made of dozens of students, boys and girls alike, towered before him. His first thought was, "What the hell?" Sure, he knew he was fairly good-looking and all but boys? He was about to give them his famous 'mada mada dane' until he saw their faces.

Murderous. With the intent to kill.

It would have been all right, he mused, if they were trying to kill Horio, or even Momo-senpai, but NOOO. His instincts kicking in, he grabbed Sakuno's hand and made a speedy exit even before the human wall could make a reaction.

And so he found himself running for his life.

Sakuno was breathing heavily behind him, her hand clutched tightly in his. "R-ryoma-kun, w-what's happening?" she panted, trying her best to catch up with him.

Ryoma turned to look at her and saw the murderous crowd hot on their heels. Without even thinking, he stopped, pulled her into his arms, and began running again. She didn't even have the chance to react. "Heck, I don't know!"

Never in her life did Sakuno picture herself being carried by THE Echizen Ryoma. It would have been amusing and blush-worthy if they weren't about to be killed. As it was, she found herself looking horrified beyond his shoulder, praying-praying they would somehow make it alive. The girls could be brutal. They turned a corner, and his keen eyes saw a row of lockers. He jumped into one, making sure she was at the most comfortable position possible before locking themselves inside. He let out an audible sigh of relief when the crowd passed by the row of lockers without even stopping.

"Um... can you let me down now?"

He started, looking into Sakuno's deep brown eyes. He slowly let her down, embarrassed. "Sorry."

She gave a nervous smile. "Are we..." she swallowed. "What happened?"

He shifted and found himself flushed against her. He resisted the urge to fan himself. God, it was hot. "I-I..." he stuttered.

She didn't seem to notice. She peered through the slits in the door. "Are we safe now?" She sighed. "I'm positive I did nothing out of the ordinary, Ryoma-kun... I don't know why they're suddenly angry at me... I'm sorry you had to be involved."

He looked at her weirdly. "At you? Heck, they were going to murder me!"

She blinked in confusion. "I... um... why would they?"

"Because they-" He stopped, blinking. "I don't know. You don't think they... wait. Girls only get angry at you when they think you're getting too close to me... so..."

She shuffled nervously. "Do you think they know I'm staying at your house?"

"What does have to do with anything?" he asked, a tad defensive.

Realization struck her quickly soon after. "Oh Kami-sama... everything makes sense! Oh God, they're going to kill me..." she muttered feverishly.

"What? So what if they find out you're at my house? You're my best friend, aren't you?"

She stared at him, a tinge of regret in her tone. "But they don't know that, Ryoma-kun. They think I'm just an attention-grabbing girl who's head over heels in love with you."

Something she said made his heart twinge. "And you're not?" His tone was almost daring.

She smiled softly, reaching up to brush a lock of hair away from his face. "Hmm... maybe not the attention-grabbing part."

His breath hitched. As dense as he may be, if he wasn't wrong, his best friend just made a weird sort of confession of love. "Good," he murmured. For one moment, they were staring at each other, and the next, she was pinned to the closed door, his mouth gently moving over hers. With much willpower, he pulled himself away from her, albeit momentarily. "What are we doing?" he gasped.

"Ryoma-kun, I-I-"

He swooped in to kiss her again. "Don't answer." And then he was all over her, his hands fisting in her dark hair as she pulled him flushed against her. And then she was brushing her lips against his forehead, his eyelids, his cheeks, planting butterfly kisses all over his face. "So," he said softly. "Does this qualify me as your best friend anymore?"

He had meant it to be a joke, or maybe a hint of his intentions to make their relationship a step further. Because he did want to bring things to the next level. The first kiss they shared was a sign of their feelings for each other, right? 'Right,' he thought resolutely.

To her ears, though, it was a jarring wake-up call.

She tore herself away from him fiercely, her eyes wide and shining with unshed tears. What had she done? "Oh, Ryoma-kun, I'm so sorry!" And then the locker door opened and she was gone.

He didn't understand. All he could think about was how drugging her kisses were, and how soft she was, and how beautiful she had been, and how right she felt in his arms, and how he wanted to repeat this moment again and again and again...

She was crying, though...

His fists clenched. What the hell had he done?

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a/n: there. all fluff galore and their first ever kiss. ha! I'm so-

was it good? too much drama? needs... I dunno, more drama?

anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chappie.

I'll be waiting for your reviews. thanks for reading!

ja!