I'm sorry if this is a really slow update. Please enjoy. :D This is the most fun chapter to write. Hope you find it fun too.
XxXxX
The sun was shining brightly, so bright that it was hurting Sakuno's eyes when she woke up.
Sakuno rubbed her eyes, and pushed her banket away from her, struggling to get up. Then she kicked something soft at the side of her bed.
Is it her pillow? But her pillow was still nicely put behind her head.
She blinked her eyes to focus and crawled up to the soft thing she kicked. There seemed to be something round at her bed, covered by the blanket she threw over. Carefully, she grabbed the thing. It was like a ball, but a little bit out of shape. She pulled the 'ball'.
"Ow, ow, ow!" The 'ball' shouted.
A ball? Talking? Sakuno stared in shock as she let go of the 'ball'.
The 'ball' wriggled in the blanket, levitating higher and higher as it go closer to Sakuno.
"What is this thing?" Sakuno was freaked out, and she moved as far away from the 'ball' as possible.
"You don't have to pull my head like this, Kevin. Who told you to do that? Is it Jennifer..." The 'ball' travelled in front of Sakuno as it slowly revealed itself.
"Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno exclaimed, as the boy stared back in equally surprised expression.
What was happening? Why was Ryoma in her room? And on her bed? Sakuno blushed as she noticed the position they were in now; she was lying on the bed with Ryoma crawling on all fours on top of her.
Ryoma blinked, and frown as if in deep thinking. Then his eyes lit up in sudden enlightenment. "Oh, hi, Ryuzaki. I came here to pick you up, but you were sleeping, so I waited for you. It seemed that I had fallen asleep on your bed. Sorry about that."
Sakuno nodded, not daring to look at Ryoma.
Ryoma sighed. He looked around. "I'll wait for you outside." He said as he crawled out of the bed. "Gosh, your bed is so uncomfortable."
"Could you help me close the door please?" Sakuno shouted behind Ryoma.
Ryoma slammed the door in answer.
Sakuno jumped out of bed. She took the clothes she had spent a few hours choosing and stood in front of the mirror. A few of her buttons were loose on her night gown. She flushed red as she remembered how Ryoma was staring down at her. She grabbed her clothes tightly and shook her head.
She slipped off her clothes and started putting on the only few really nice clothes she had.
"Ryuzaki, can I eat the cookies on your table?" Came the muffled voice of Ryoma.
"Help yourself." Sakuno shouted back as she increased her speed. She would not admit it, but she was waiting for this day very excitedly. She had made this weekend free of any plans, and had instead stuffed everything into the week before and after. She had always wanted to have a date with Ryoma, and the 'dates' she had with Ryoma in Japan was disappointing, no matter how much the seniors were supporting.
Sakuno combed her hair. She had always wanted a date with Ryoma, but she could not afford to get herself hurt again. If Ryoma disappoint her again, she'll never go on another one with Ryoma. After all, Kevin was still very nice to her. Yesterday night he called, and even helped in the selection of clothes.
She opened the door. The cookies on her table was completely eaten.
"Ryoma-kun?" She called out.
"Here." Ryoma appeared from her back. "You're wearing this?"
Sakuno looked down on her. It was a normal plain pink shirt, and a black frilly mini skirt fitted below. "What's wrong?"
"That's all? A plain shirt and a plain skirt? No make-up?"
Ryoma said it as if it was the worst thing a girl could do. Sakuno tried to fight back her tears. "What's wrong with it? These are the nicest clothes I have." Her tone sounded unintentionally harsh.
Ryoma shrugged. "It looked pretty good on you. It's okay, I'm not wearing anything special too, and it won't attract any unnecessary attention this way. Let's go."
Ryoma opened the door for Sakuno to walk through. Ryoma followed Sakuno, closing the door gently, pulling his cap down.
Ryoma was walking very far away from Sakuno. It reminded Sakuno of the numerous 'dates' she had with Ryoma; Sakuno walking behind, always trying to catch Ryoma. But this time it was Sakuno walking in front. It was the same. Sakuno wringed her hand sadly. Guess she could not have too high an expectation on this date.
"Don't look back Ryuzaki, pretend I'm not here." Ryoma whispered softly at Sakuno's ears when she tried to turn back and wait for Ryoma.
"Huh, why?" Sakuno asked. Her questions were answered by a few girls walking past them.
"Oh my gosh, isn't that Echizen Ryoma?" " Oh my gosh Ryoma is here!" "He's here again!" "Ryoma, I love you!" "Ryoma!" The girls started running towards them with an increasing number.
Ryoma groaned. "Damn those fans." He grabbed Sakuno's hand and ran outside.
A Jaguar car was waiting outside the boarding school. Ryoma opened the door and rushed Sakuno in before jumping into it too.
Sakuno watched as fans crowd around the car, some even banging on the window. This was not the first time Sakuno witnessed the fanatical fans of Ryoma, but she was still shocked. "What's wrong with them?"
"Don't ask me." Ryoma answered, slumping on the car seat. He looked exhausted.
"Are you okay?"
Ryoma nodded, and dug out a long piece of paper from his pocket. "I made this list yesterday. I don't know what are you supposed to do in a date, so help me choose one."
Sakuno took the list. It was written in a very untidy scribble.
Things to do tmr: A/N I actually wanted to strikethrough, but apparently doesn't allow it...so...
Have a good sleep
Buy a good pillow
Buy a toy for Karupin (x)
Play a friendly match
Buy another racket
Kick Kevin for breaking my racket (x)
Throw Kevin over the Grand Canyon for disturbing my sleep over this stupid date (x)
Hug and kiss Sakuno in front of Kev (x)
Watch a movie
Watch another movie (x)
Invade the cinema and get a whole theatre to ourselves (x)
Bake a cake (x)
Mess up the kitchens (x)
Party (x)
Kiss Sakuno (x)
Eat
Walk through the entire house
Get drenched in rain
end of list.
Sakuno stared at the 'list'. What sort of list is this? Half of the options were cancelled, and those remaining were weird ones. She blushed. This list of Ryoma seemed to be a confession of love in disguise. She turned and saw Ryoma sleeping. She smiled. It's okay, he was just fulfilling the first criteria. He must be really tired.
Perhaps Ryoma sensed Sakuno staring at him, so he woke up. "So, what should we do first?"
"I don't know. Watch a movie first?" Sakuno answered, picking the easiest and least weird of option of the list.
"Okay."
XxXxX
A/N: Let X be the person that Ryoma defeated not too long ago in the semifinals and him be a very good tennis player that have the potential to be top. And let Tan, Sin, Cos, Log and In be his followers. I don't feel like putting on a real guy's name, so...
"Damn that kid." X threw the racket on the floor, and watched it smash into pieces. He stepped on the pieces angrily.
"Isn't...that your best tennis racket?" Tan asked meekly.
"Shut up!" X kicked the broken racket at Tan, causing him to cower in fear.
"This racket..." X hissed, walking up to Tan to crush the racket some more. "...It was this racket that made me lose to that kid! It has a curse! There was no way, me, the almighty X, can lose to a pathetic underage kid! He must have put a curse in this racket!"
"Nineteen-year-old is not really considered underage..." Tan muttered, and got a whack on his head.
"That kid...what's his name again?"
"Echizen Ryoma." Cos answered.
"Right, Echizen Ryoma. A stinking Japanese boy. No Japanese had ever made it to this far in a grand slam. There must be a curse somewhere..."
"Maybe he really is good..." Tan muttered, and got another whack on his head.
"How can that cocky brat be this good? Remember when we meet him in the changing room? Do you remember what he said to me? What did he say?"
"'Work on your backhand, it's really horrible. Mada mada dane.'" Sin answered.
"Right. As if his backhand was good. And what does the last sentence even mean? It's apparent that he's an idiot. There is no way I can lose to such an idiot, cocky brat! It's humiliating! Utterly embarrassing! This mark the end of my career! I want a rematch with him!" He declared, and stared at the rest of his gang.
The group of X followers stared at each other hopelessly.
"Well, you can always go find him." Tan suggested, trying to be helpful.
"No I can't. He is always with his team, and even lives with them for goodness sake. I want a private talk with him." X shouted, clenching his fists.
"It's the weekends. During weekends, the team will be allowed home." Log said.
"But he has his stupid bodyguards everywhere!"
"I hear he always go to private and quiet tennis courts to practice every midnight during weekends. Nobody knew where though, or else it won't be private." In said.
X glared at his gang. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go find out! I'm going to meet this brat tonight!"
XxXxX
"Don't look at me." Ryoma ordered. His back was turned towards Sakuno, as Sakuno stared at him, amused, carrying Karupin who was purring, equally amused.
They had just watched a movie together. Sakuno cried first, then followed by Ryoma, who was, very obviously, trying hard to control his tears. The whole floor now was covered in tissue papers, and Ryoma was blaming it on Sakuno, saying that her tears were 'contagious'.
"I'm not crying anymore, Ryoma-kun, so you can turn around now." She said, poking Ryoma's back with Karupin.
Ryoma sat stiffly and stubbornly. "I'm not letting you see my face."
Sakuno chuckled. Ryoma was trying to hide his crying face from Sakuno, trying to hide his weakness. "Come on, turn around."
"No, it's embarrassing."
Sakuno laughed again.
"Don't laugh."
Sakuno could not help but smile.
"I know you are still laughing. But it's not funny!"
"Okay, okay I know..." Sakuno said, trying to suppress her laughter. "Need more tissue?"
"No! I'm not crying! I have never cried at all in my whole life. This.. I must have too much water in my body."
Sakuno caressed Karupin, as it purred comfortably in her arms. She was starting to love this cat more and more. She never knew Ryoma was the type that kept such cute animals and care for them so tenderly. When they stepped onto this house, the first thing Ryoma did was to call out for his cat, scoop the cat up and feed it while smoothing the fur. Ryoma even kissed the cat, but stopped when he realised Sakuno was in the room too.
Sakuno smiled. Ryoma was a really nice person, why did he have to hide it?
"It's not bad to cry, you know. It lets your feelings out. And it proves that you have emotions too." Sakuno said, trying to cheer Ryoma up.
"Emotion is not good. It makes you weak, and it hinders your path to improve."
"No, it's not."
"Yes it is."
"No. If you don't have emotion, how do you love me?"
Silence.
Sakuno blushed as she realised what she had just said.
Ryoma turned around slowly. "There, happy? It's getting late. Let's grab some lunch."
He took Sakuno by the hand and pulled her up.
"Karupin, time for lunch." Ryoma took Karupin from Sakuno's arms. Karupin struggled and cling on to Sakuno, growling at Ryoma. Ryoma stared at his cat, and shrugged. "I think he likes you. You feed him then."
Sakuno stared down at Karupin. Karupin stared back with his big eyes, and his lips curled up, purring, rubbing his head on Sakuno's chest. Karupin is the cutest cat she had ever met. "He reminds me of someone."
"Who?"
Sakuno looked up at Ryoma. Ryoma was staring back with his big eyes. "You." She said softly.
Ryoma looked down at Karupin. "How I wish I'm Karupin now." He walked to the dining room with Sakuno blushing slightly.
XxXxX
"Found someone with information."
"Who?"
"Ryoma's teammate."
"Ryoma's teammate? You fool, how can his teammate help?"
"He hates Ryoma. So he is willing to help."
"So who is he?"
"Daryl."
"Heard of him. How do you know he hates Ryoma?"
"He said Ryoma stole his girlfriend, and his fame. Whatever. But whether he is to be trusted is up to you."
"Hmm..."
XxXxX
"It's so...empty..." Sakuno commented, looking around her. They were at Ikea. Ryoma had declared after the fanciful lunch in the house that he would never have another good night's sleep if he did not buy a good, comfortable pillow, so they travelled to Ikea.
"I booked this whole place for two hours." Ryoma answered.
"What? Why?"
"I don't want any fans to be bothering me now."
True, Ryoma's fans were scary.
"But we are only buying a pillow." Sakuno said, trying to catch Ryoma. Ryoma was walking as fast as Sakuno, but he always seemed to end up so in front of Sakuno that Sakuno had to run up every 5 minutes.
"If there are people bothering me, I will tend to speed up, and speeding up will decrease the quality of the pillow which I am expecting, resulting in my continuation of my uncomfortable sleep."
"Okay..." Sakuno said. But still, it's only a pillow. You can still sleep even without a pillow. Ryoma was so spoilt.
"There, the bedroom section." Ryoma said. They walked up to a bed.
"So, how do you go about choosing pillows?"
Ryoma grabbed Sakuno by the shoulder and flung her onto the bed. "What..?"
Ryoma stood above Sakuno and stared down at her. "You try them one by one." Ryoma smiled, tossing Sakuno a pillow.
Sakuno blushed, and placed the pillow behind her. "But I'm not the one buying the pillow, so why am I the one trying?"
"You're not the one trying. I am."
"Then why am I..." Sakuno stopped in the middle of her sentence. Her blush deepened when Ryoma climbed onto the bed next to her.
"You're just helping me to soften and heat up the pillow." Ryoma placed his head right next to Sakuno.
"So? Is this pillow good?" Sakuno asked after what seemed like eternity. She could feel Ryoma's eyes boring into her.
"Not bad..." Ryoma said, letting his breath tickling her, as her face turned into a deeper red.
Ryoma wrapped his arms around Sakuno's neck.
"What..." Sakuno said, surprised, as she tried to get up.
"Don't move. Just relax. I'll be doing this every time we change a pillow. So you just sleep."
How could she sleep with so much blood pumped into her head? Sakuno thought as Ryoma's hands slipped gently in between her hair, lifting her up slowly. Then her head was landed on a softer pillow. Ryoma breathed out a relieved sigh. Sakuno blushed even more as Ryoma's breath warmed her up.
The process repeat itself for about ten times before Ryoma found a truly suitable pillow.
"Okay." Ryoma said lazily as he lied on the bed, on his newly-found pillow. "I found it, the perfect pillow. Now get up."
Sakuno climbed up hurriedly. It had been so awkward, and she just want to leave this place. Suddenly she felt a hand pulling her from the waist as she fall back once again.
She fell onto Ryoma body.
"Wha- Ryoma-kun! Let go of me!" She squealed as Ryoma hugged her to him tightly.
"Mm..." Ryoma rubbed his head on Sakuno's neck. "This is a nice bolster. May I know how much it cost?"
"I'm not a bolster, Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno fought, pulling herself away from Ryoma.
Ryoma was laughing as Sakuno panted and blushed. "It's not funny!"
"Sorry." Ryoma chuckled, grabbing the pillow he had chosen. "It's just a small joke."
Sakuno watched as Ryoma gave the pillow to the counter. She could sense Ryoma pushing this relationship. It was going too fast. It's not good. Furthermore, Sakuno's real official boyfriend is Kevin...
"Ryuzaki!" Ryoma called. "Let's go! It's almost two hours already, the crowd is coming!"
"Coming!"
Even so, it's a really fun date so far.
XxXxX
"You sure Ryoma coming here today?" X asked.
"100% sure." Daryl said. "Tonight. He'll be bringing his girlfriend along too."
"Girlfriend? I thought it wasn't allowed."
"Of course it wasn't. But Jennifer allowed him." Daryl scowled. "That Jennifer...What's so good about Ryoma anyway? Nowaday he always get his way..."
"Maybe we can have some fun with his girlfriend."
"Maybe. But Ryoma is still the main target. Make sure I get part of the fun too."
"No prob. If Ryoma ever appears."
"He will, don't worry."
XxXxX
End.
Is the ending a bit too rushed? I'm so sorry about that, I was rushing through it...
Anyway, hope you enjoyed.
I want reviews!
