cookiiex: Well the story is becoming a hit so .. :D Yea. THankyou for the reviews! I also want to thank Michiko Yokisama for giving me constructive critisism. She (or he?) is probably not reading this right now, but I would still like to thank her (him) for pointing out the mistakes in my story. I'll try my hardest to improve! Arigato gozaimasu! Oh and sorry for the OOC-ness. Mi faulta. Anywho here's chapter two! Enjoy:D

I Pray To You
Authoress:cookiiex
Chapter TWO: Fly

She just boarded her plane. She hasn't told anybody yet. Not even her beloved father who she cared deeply for.

She was going back to Japan.

She had purchased the ticket last minute two days ago. Spending a few hundred dollars didn't really hurt her wallet. Her father was wealthy and was CEO of a big business in London.

Sitting in her window seat of the first class, she couldn't help but feel her heart tightening. She really did love her father but her would not allow her to go back to Japan after spending four years here. He said she was bothering her obba-chan. Which she probably was doing.

Her mind told her to stay but her heart can't take it anymore. Not after what they, no, he put her through. Not after all that has happened.

She couldn't even look at garden without crying.

The roses. The tulips. Everything. They planted it together.

Together.

That's a funny word now due to the fact that they had parted. They had parted... Ugh. She really can't deal with this right now. In a couple of hours she would be in Japan with her friends. She didn't need to be reminded of this one guy right now.

She overcame harder times before. There was her mo-, no wait, that woman. Also that crush on that freshman who was extremely good at tennis. She had gotten over that after meeting... RAWR! Didn't she say she didn't want to be reminded!?

Deciding on not thinking anymore, she sunk into her seat. It wasn't very comfortable but bearable. Unlike some other things in life. Like a certain someone.

She was about to drift off to sleep before a tap on her shoulder stopped her.

The flight attendent smiled down at her. "Miss, we are about to take off, please put on your seatbelt." And with that she walked further down the isle.

Maybe sleep was too much to ask for.


After a few hours, Sakuno had arrived in Tokyo, Japan.

People were chattering as they waited for their luggage. Sakuno stood with a cart in front of her.

She looked at her watch, 4: 30 PM. She let a grunt of aggravation slip out of her mouth. 'Five more minutes. It will come in five more minutes.' She kept telling herself.

A cry erupted a few feet away from her. Sakuno blinked. 'Sounds like a child.' She thought.

The little girl stomped her feet. "Ma! I don't wanna carry it." Her face was becoming red.

The other looked equally irritated as her daughter. "Look, Mika, you're carrying your bag, understand? I'm not wasting 1,000 yen for a cart."

The little girl, Mika, just kept whining. "Demo!! Mama! Please! This is so heavy!" She stomped her feet and crossed her arms, tears coming out of her eyes.

The mother knotted her eyebrows, a glare set on the girl. "Insolent brat! I'm not getting it!" She raised her hand and Mika cowered as she cowered with her hands out defensively.

As the mother's hand was about to come down, Sakuno caught it. The woman looked at her with a glare and Sakuno just had a warm smile on her face. With her an empty cart.

With a smile, Sakuno pushed the cart towards the woman. "Here, Madam, take my cart. I'll just go buy another one." Then bent down to come eye to eye with Mika.

"Okay, Mika-chan, now don't annoy your okaa-san anymore, okay?" Sakuno smiled warmly at the child. Mika, getting a good vibe from the girl in front of her, nodded.

"Arigato, nee-chan" Then she went back to her mother, helping her put things on the cart. However they just went back to arguing. ("Mika! See what you did?! Now that nice girl doesn't have a cart!" "Well she did give it to us, Ma!" "Is this how taught you!? Where did your manners go!?"

Sakuno grinned before slipping another bill into the machine. 'How cute' she thought. She couldn't really say the same her own mother.

'Okaa-san..'

Sakuno couldn't help but glare at nothing. Her mother.. somethings just weren't meant to be. Sadly, she guessed, she really didn't miss her. However she wished she could just have those moments of mother and daughter with her. But her mother did find that a waste of time.

Sakuno let out a grunt as she loaded her cart with her bags. Her mother always did hate this habit of hers.

'Take that mom.'


Sakuno deposited 200 yen into the phone before dialing some numbers. Long distance is nothing she can't afford. The dial tone rung until it was went straight to the answering machine.

"This is the Ryuzaki residence. We're not able to be reached now, please leave a message." It repeated that sentence twice more, once in japanese and once in french.

Not knowing when her dad will be home, she left a message.

"Daddy? Hey it's Sakuno. I know what you're wondering right now. Where am I? Sorry daddy I.. kinda went to Japan. Before you get mad please let me explain! I couldn't just forget my friends here, so a visit wouldn't hurt anyone!" Well that was partically the truth.

"So I'll be back,.. maybe a year? Please don't ask for a date earlier. I need this time. Daddy you understand, right? So take care okay? Don't overwork yourself. And make sure you get something to eat in the morning. Coffee doesn't count."

She felt her temper rise as she blurted out the next sentece.", And while you're at that tell Naito-baka to take the trash out once in a while. Berta hurt her arm yesterday so tell him to do something in the house. That doesn't count breaking things. Alright daddy, I love you. See youn in a year." Then she hung up.

Depositing another 200 yen into the pay phone and dialed a number. It rung a few times before someone picked up.

"Hello?"

"Ah, obba-chan! This is Sakuno, I kinda need a ride from the Tokyo Airport."


Sakuno looked at her Grandma through the mirror.

"Obba-chan?"

Sumire sighed. "Yes, Sakuno?

"Can I see Seigaku for a minute?"

Sumire was confused. Then she smirked, having a little scenario played out in her head. "Why? School ended and a certain tennis player isn't there." Teasing like always.

However she got nothing of a blush but a confused look. "I'm not looking for a tennis player. I know it's closed now but I just want to see it. Please, obba-chan!"

'So it had nothing to do with Echizen.' Sumire nodded. "But only a few minutes."


Sakuno couldn't help the sensation that ran through her viens. It sort of felt like a wave of gloom washed over her and yet a part of her was really, really excited. Bittersweet, perhaps? Not really. It was like an adventure. Sure the gates were locked but that didn't ruin her mood. This place was a second home.

This was a important part of her life. Her friends, the tennis team, everything. She missed it.

She pocketed her shades, making her way towards the school.

Seishun Gakuen.

It looked the same, except the gate was starting to rust a yellow-brown color. Also a few plants that weren't there before. Well she had to admit, a lot could happen in four years.

' I wonder how Tomo-chan is doing. And Ann-chan.' Sakuno mused on the idea of her friends actually getting along. Sakuno shuddered. That would be the aplocolyse. End of the world! Hell freezing over, if you will.

And Ann with hair that is growing out? Sakuno would kill to see that.

And she will.

In one of Ann's letters, she said she was going to let it grow! Sakuno actually started screaming in joy that day.

Then, there were the regulars. So she wasn't particularly close to them since during those she was-

"Sakuno, you still need to unpack." Her obaa-chan called.

Reluctently, she tore her hand from the gate and headed for the car. "Hai obba-chan"


'One more bag..' Sakuno unzip her Louis Vuttion luggage bag (Monogram Canvas Pegase 70). Taking out more pants, she marvelled at how much clothes she has. And the fact most of them were brand names.

She pouted. 'Stupid Naito. Always bringing me to those upscale shopping malls.' If her obaa-chan saw this, she would rip each and everyone of them up. Sakuno grinned. Her obaa-chan was so amusing at times. With her belief of 'a shirt should not cost over twenty dollars' had really got most of Sakuno's aunts going in France.

She could still remember Aunt Hitori's look of horror when she even mentioned the words Prada to her obaa-chan. She pratically ripped off Aunt Hitori's head opened. Sakuno sweatdropped.

Her obaa-chan can be scary when she wanted to.

She unpacked a few more shirts before her hand brushed something that didn't feel like fabric.

Looking down she saw a folded piece of paper. She opened it with an annoyed frown. Inside, familiar hand writing graced her eyes.

Will you love me if I leave you?

Forever and ever, babe.

Why the hell did she pack this? This note was from that- that even being. More of his lies.

If she found this before maybe she'll cry, but after that promise to herself after that incident, she would not waste anymore tears on such a useless bastard.

Sakuno was quick when she took that lighter and that note to the backyard. Not even her obaa-chan noticed.

She positioned the lighter under the note. 'Disgusting thing' she thought venomously.

"Here," She started. ", to a new beginning." Sakuno started the lighter, burning the note and the fire burning in her mind, burned the mask she wore for such long years. "Yes, a new beginning" A whisper, but she knew she had said it. Her eyes had closed, treasuring this moment.

Her emancipation.

"Sakuno!" Sakuno's eyes flashed opened as her obaa-chan ran towards her. "What are you doing? Playing with fire now? At age 16?!" Sumire demanded.

Although Sumire's expression was absolutely terrifying, Sakuno could only smile.

"Daijobu (I'm fine.) obaa-chan." Sakuno smiled sincerely. "My mask, it's off." Sumire only raised her eyebrow.

Sakuno grinned saying the next part.

"I'm free."


After her episode, Sakuno bathed and was currently lying in her bed in her pajamas.

She thought of how her obaa-chan's expression after she told her. The absolute joy in her eyes. Then Sakuno was swooped up in her obaa-chan's embrace.

Sakuno's eyes watered.

She was finally free.

Free from him.

Free from her mother.

And especially, free from that mask.

TBC..


cookiiex: ..Right. So what's going to happen to Sakuno-chan? Find out next time!