The Devil Plays Tennis
Summary: When Kintarou finally remembers, Sakuno only thinks she has the idea, and Ryoma is left in the dark.
I'm amazed that I'm talking to you...
You got so much love in you...
Rocket Summer (So Much Love)
FOUR.1
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She's not your Princess, and you're not her Prince. The Jester should learn his place.
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There was something quite delightful in Ryuuzaki Sakuno's lunch, Kintarou decided as he greedily ate a riceball.
It was the way each and ever component was made- giving every food morsel love and equal attention.
It was the way each lunch was perfectly wrapped up in a folded piece of handkerchief; tied neatly with a grandma bow.
It was-
"There you are."
Making his sigh deep and purposely painful sounding, Kintarou looked up at Ryoma.
"Mou, Koshimae! Couldn't you find your own lunch?" Kintarou whined.
Ryoma's eyebrow twitched. In his head he counted to ten before saying, "It's on your lap, fool."
Kintarou had the grace to at least look offended, "Koshimae! How could you? You know how the cycle works!!!"
Not even surprised, "Cycle?"
Eagerly nodding, Kintarou wiggled his forefinger in front of Ryoma's face as he explained the simply rules to their "friendship" lunches.
The Sun was eager that day, shining brightly on Kintarou's bright, red hair. Due to the tree's shade, Ryoma himself was half in shadow and half bathing in light.
"Let me get this straight," Ryoma muttered. He resisted the urge to rub his temples, "You get my lunch, Ryuuzaki gets your lunch, and I get hers."
Kintarou nodded, "You got it! And the cycle changes in counter clock-wise every two days. So tomorrow... I should be getting Sakuno chan's lunch and you'll be getting mine! Get it?"
Crossing his arms, Ryoma smirked, "Oi, Kintarou. You do you know that Ryuuzaki makes both mine and her lunches right?"
Oh, busted.
Kintarou forcibly laughed, "Oh, is that so? So that would mean I would be eating Sakuno chan's cooking every day, huh? How weird!"
"Something tells me," Ryoma said. He walked over casually towards Kintarou and placed a hand next to the boys head, "You already knew that."
Kintarou gulped.
Ryoma sneered.
And he pegged Kintarou quickly with a tennis ball.
XXXXXXX
"I don't think they get along well at all," Tomoka said in a matter of factly.
"What are you talking about?" Sakuno asked. She was in mid pause of eating Ryoma's lunch, "I think Ryoma kun and Kintarou kun get along just fine."
"Nope," Horio interjected, "For once I agree with the loud mouth-" He ducked in time from Tomoka's slap, "-I think the Prince and the Jester definitely don't mix together. Take it from me."
"Because you're so knowledgeable," Tomoka rolled her eyes. She used her topics to point at Sakuno, as if accusingly, "Listen to me, Sakuno. If you don't get rid of the Jester soon, you're going to give off the wrong impression to not only every one but the Prince himself!"
And as if the issue was now done and said, Tomoka proceeded to try and sneak the delectable teriyaki sample from Sakuno's lunch.
Sakuno's eyebrows furrowed together, "Why do you call him that?"
Tomoka's chopsticks halted, ah so close, and she looked up at Sakuno's thoughtful face.
"Eh? Call him what?"
"A Jester," Sakuno said. Her hands were folded neatly on her lap. She nodded.
Horio let out a scoff which turned into a coughing fit from the food being sucked into his throat.
"Why do you think?!" Tomoka exclaimed, "Always jumping around and fooling around the Prince... he truly is a fool you know! Everybody's been saying that!"
"Now that's not nice," Sakuno argued. She sounded as if her child had been insulted, "I don't think Kintarou kun is a fool at all! And also, him and Ryoma kun get along much better than you think!"
"Oh really?" Tomoka didn't seem a bit fazed, "How about a wager then?"
Sakuno straightened her back, "About what?"
Tomoka changed her posture to to lean on her palm as on hand pointed at Sakuno, "Why don't you get the Prince and The Je- Kintarou kun to participate in the "Golden Pair Competition" this year?"
Ah, the "Golden Pair Competition", Sakuno immediately remembered. It was a laid back doubles-tennis tournament Eiji and Oishi held every year for scoping out all the good doubles team- "New Blood", Eiji called it. The doubles team who won naturally got a small prize, usually being free tickets to an amusement park or coupons to their favorite store. However the best part of winning the tournament was the chance to play against Eiji and Oishi in a match.
The chances of your double team winning a match against Eiji and Oishi earned immediate recognition. Because of that the tournament was usually rimmed with exceptional double teams, however usually young and new.
"A doubles team will prove they work well together," Tomoka grinned, "So what do you say, Sakuno?"
Sakuno nodded positively, "You're on, Tomoka chan. If Ryoma kun and Kintarou kun wins the "Golden Pair Competition" you'll have to change Kintarou's nickname- but nothing of similar meaning either, okay?"
"Okay!" Tomoka easily agreed, "And if I win you'll have to go on a date with Kintarou!"
Sakuno's eyes nearly fell out of her sockets, "What?!"
"Oh yes, you heard me! Nothing too bad. Just one date- one dinner and movie," Tomoka nodded, "It's harmless unless you take it up the next level.'
"I could never do that to Ryoma kun," Sakuno said softly.
Tomoka quickly felt sympathetic and shook her head, "Ah... way to take the fun out of it, Sakuno. All right here, if I win then you'll have to make me lunch every day for a month, got it? And you can't make any for the Prince and Kintarou kun!"
Nodding, Sakuno smiled, "I think I can handle that."
"Good. Let's shake on it."
Sakuno and Tomoka both reached across their desks and shook hands at each other.
"Better get my lunch box ready, Sakuno," Tomoka grinned.
Scoffing, Sakuno picked up her lunch again, "Mou... I have complete trust that both Ryoma kun and Kintarou kun will get along just fine."
Horio peeked out the window in time to see a certain Prince peg a red head with a tennis ball. Dry eyed he looked back to Sakuno.
"Sure, why not."
XXXXXXX
The alcohol Sakuno was patting on Kintarou's bruised cheek made the latter yelp.
"There, there," Sakuno softly comforted, "You two shouldn't really be teasing each other like that, you know."
"Who said we were teasing?!" Kintarou whined loudly. He pointed accusingly to Ryoma who leaned against the wall opposite from where he and Sakuno sat, "He's the one who went psycho!"
"Tch," Ryoma snorted and he stubbornly turned his head, especially from Sakuno's disapproving face.
It was ten minutes before lunch ended that Kintarou burst into Sakuno's classroom. Sakuno barely registered the odd-tennis shaped bruise on Kintarou's cheek before he ducked behind her and Tomoka. Horio, in his bored tone, counted down from five and that's when Ryoma stalked into the room with a tennis racket and ball in either hand.
A feral look, Ryoma looked aimed to kill until Sakuno had to rightly interfere.
Now they were all three seated in the nurses' room; Sakuno, assuring the nurse she could handle her two boys to the nurse.
"Oi, say something," Ryoma grunted.
Sakuno knew full well he was fidgeting due to her silence towards him. Ryoma played off as not being overly self conscious to other people, but that was only in most cases. Like most human beings, when placed in a situation one is not usually in (this case- relationships), one could easily lose all cool and collective-ness.
Patting a cotton square on Kintarou's bruise, Sakuno said, "There you go, Kintarou kun. All nice and bandaged up."
"Thanks, Sakuno chan!" Kintarou grinned. He uneasily shot a quick eye at Ryoma before saying, "Let me reward you with a kiss!"
The words barely registered in her head before she felt her face quickly flush. Her protest was only half way out her mouth when Kintarou smoothly cupped her face with his calloused hands.
For a brief moment her eyes fluttered shut, something she would kick herself for later. The rough tip of his fingers reminded her of someone-
A sun patched area.
He cradled her face with his hands.
Warm hands.
Ryoma cursed something in English*, Sakuno didn't quite understand before the hands left her cheek cold.
"Of all the-"
"-Help! Sakuno chan, he's hurting me again!"
"-Impudent idiots-"
Her face flushed, Sakuno smothered her face with her hands. Oh my, oh my, oh my...
"Come, on what can one kiss hurt, Koshimae?! I mean, you kiss her all the time, right?!" Kintarou yelled. He gave out an awkward sound as Ryoma tugged on his shirt.
The red head didn't miss Ryoma flinch.
Aaah, I see.
"Geez, you sure suck at being a lover," Kintarou said in all bluntness.
Back to the situation, Ryoma jerked on Kintarou's collar, "You little-"
"Ry-Ryoma kun stop!" Sakuno said, regaining her reality. She hugged the back of her boyfriend, as if trying to pull him off Kintarou, "It was- It was nothing, really! I'm sure he didn't mean any harm!"
Dropping Kintarou, who actually landed on the bed, Ryoma incredulously cranked his head over to Sakuno.
"What," Ryoma gritted out.
Still hugging Ryoma, Sakuno gulped.
Maybe this could work to her advantage?
"A-And after all," Sakuno mustered all the courage she had-
Oh, but his eyes were so golden and beautiful, pinning her like she was the only person in the room. Her arms wrapped around his strong, but slim built. Sakuno felt her face flush, but she held on, willing to not break eye contact.
- And Sakuno said, "Y-You took away some of my class time!"
Gawking face, comical for Ryoma, "What?"
Sakuno let go of Ryoma and backed away. His confused and prodding gaze made her feel quite cornered so she defensively crossed her arms.
"Well, I always have to look after you and," Sakuno motioned to Kintarou, who was watching with child like curiosity, "Kintarou kun. When really this should be settled between you two, only."
"But that's because you love us!" Kintarou grinned, "You're like a mother, Sakuno chan!"
Oh, so cute, Sakuno inwardly moaned. She briefly pondered if Kintarou knew how innocently charming he was before Ryoma coughed to get her attention.
"As I was saying," Sakuno continued bit darted her face towards the floor. She tried to make eye contact with Ryoma, but it was something she still couldn't get used to, "It's not only today but every day that Ryoma kun and Kintarou kun always make trouble. I always get harassed by Tomoka chan about this you know. And Fuji senpai even commented-"
Ryoma's cat eyes angled and hardened, "Fuji senpai?"
Oh no, wrong person to bring up, especially around Ryoma. Sakuno wanted to shield away then and just call off the whole conversation.
"Y-Yes, you remember that Fuji senpai still tutors me, Ryoma kun," Sakuno uneasily replied. Her arms were no long crossed but were now playing with her braids.
Ryoma took a defensive stance, "No, I don't remember."
"See!" Sakuno proclaimed, "Y-You uhm- you don't trust me, do you?"
Ryoma flinched, where did she learn to turn the argument around?
"It's not you," Ryoma gritted.
"Well it can't be Fuji senpai either because you were on the same team right?" Sakuno questioned. She was gaining a bit more confidence, now her arms were at her side, "And... and also! You know I would never do anything behind your back!"
"Marui Bunta-" Ryoma tried to catch back the name before they left him but it was said loud and clear.
Honestly horrified, Sakuno gasped, "Ryoma kun... you're still upset about that?"
She looked so hurt and so vulnerable. It was meant to defend herself at first, but Sakuno realized that trust clearly has never been and issue between her and Ryoma.
"You're making her sad, Koshimae!" Kintarou yelled. He hopped off the bed and brushed passed Ryoma.
Seeing Kintarou hug the sad, poor Sakuno made Ryoma want to punch the wall.
"This is ridiculous," Ryoma muttered. He rubbed his neck as he swayed and looked at the ceiling.
"Hey! You should apologize, Koshimae! It's your fault Sakuno chan is upset!" Kintarou accused.
"It's your fault too, fool!" Ryoma snapped, "She accused you as taking her class time as much as I do!"
Gasp, "Don't say that! I would never do anything to hurt my sweet Sakuno chan!"
"She's not yours!"
"Well she ain't yours' either," Kintarou snapped. Ryoma looked eager to kill but the red head continued talking, "Stop being stubborn! We should do things to make Sakuno chan happy- not sad!"
Aside from the corny lines, Ryoma was starting to get really upset concerning with every word Kintarou emphasized, he was hugging Sakuno closer and closer to his body.
"And what," Ryoma said, his face as serious yet voice dripping with sarcasm, "Can we do to make her happy that involves both of us."
It wasn't said as a question, obviously Ryoma was clearly getting to the fact that it was his single job for Sakuno's happiness as her boyfriend (and not Kintarou's), yet Sakuno peeked her head from Kintarou's arms, looked up at Ryoma and gently said,
"I know what you two can do for me."
Tomoka changed her posture to to lean on her palm as on hand pointed at Sakuno, "Why don't you get the Prince and The Je- Kintarou kun to participate in the "Golden Pair Competition" this year?"
XXXXXXX
"Oh my geez- oh my geez. I'm going to play doubles with THE Koshimae. THE Prince of Tennis."
"Che."
"I'm practically foaming at my mouth. Koshimae, do you think we'll be a good team? I think so."
"Just stay out of my way."
"No way! We're totally going to dominate the Golden Pair Competition! Oh man. Together. Playing-"
"Oi."
"-Me and Koshimae. For Sakuno chan."
"..."
"... So does this mean I move up in the tennis club?"
Ryuuzaki, Ryoma decided, was damn lucky that he could never say no to her.
XXXXXXX
Well damn, Horio seemed to say, if he didn't check the weather for flying pigs because it wasn't every day Echizen Ryoma, Prince of Tennis, would actually be playing side by side with a certain red jester.
"Koshimae! That was my ball!"
"Che."
Kintarou stomped his feet in a child like manner before point accusingly to the Prince, "Haven't you played doubles before?! We're suppose to use teamwork!"
The Sun beat down on the two tennis players, who were currently practicing against another doubles pair from their regulars team. Although the other two were no where as experienced at Ryoma and Kintarou, it didn't change the fact that the Prince and Jester were completely amateur at best when it came to doubles.
Count to ten, Ryoma reminded himself.
Count to ten. Count to ten. Count to ten.
"Koshimae!!!"
"Shut up," Ryoma muttered, then louder, "I'm serving."
Horio leaned against the fence, taking a drink from the cooler and popping the cap off.
Play ball.
The first time was Ryoma serving perfectly cross court, however when the ball was returned Ryoma moved to receive it but Kintarou, of course got in the way, making the former trip horribly on the pavement.
Horio, not surprised, took a sip of his drink.
Strike one.
They argued for about seven minutes- Kintarou pouting and Ryoma staying as cold and collective as always. Kintarou was yelling how the front was his area and that "Koshimae" should just cover his back like a good teammate. Meanwhile, Ryoma's stance let out that he was still in control, yet his voice was snappy and his eyes were glaring holes into the red head.
The argument ended with Ryoma whacking Kintarou with his racket and telling the red head to "serve the damn ball."
The second time was Kintarou serving. He was as skilled as Ryoma, this was for sure with the ace Kintarou served across the court. Obviously, Kintarou was pleased and eagerly asked if Ryoma was awed by his "super cool moves". When the latter didn't even flinch to respond, Kintarou pouted and got ready to serve again, moving to the left hand side.
Whether it was accident or not, the third time was Kintarou hitting another swift serve.
Either the ground slipped under or maybe it was the odd projection of the ball, yet Horio couldn't help but spat out his water when the ball flew and knocked Ryoma square on the back.
Silence.
Then,
"Kisama!*"
Kintarou dropped his racket with a clatter and held up both hands in a defensive pose.
"H-Hold on Koshimae! It was an accident- promise!"
Horio sighed as he watched the Fiasco unfold in front of him. Having enough he tossed the drink to the side.
XXXXXXX
"My first kiss?"
Sakuno looked at Tomoka and nervously laughed.
"Why do you want to know?"
Tomoka shrugged, "Just wondering. You said that you flushed when Kintarou kun tried to kiss you so I thought that was kind of weird."
Looking off to the side, Sakuno sighed and set down the homework her and Tomoka were doing. Sakuno always waited for Ryoma to be done with practice so that they could walk home together. Today, Tomoka decided to join Sakuno as she needed help with homework anyways.
The second reason, apparently, was to bring up Sakuno's love life
(Or lack there of).
"..."
"...Sakuno?" Tomoka eyed her friend curiously.
Sakuno returned with a quivering smile, "Well, you know how Ryoma kun and I aren't really your normal couple."
Tomoka let her jaw drop to the floor, "Good GOD, Sakuno. You've bee dating since middle school!"
"Well-"
"That's sick, dude!" Tomoka exclaimed. She fully turned towards Sakuno and gave her an eyeful, "No, seriously. Explain, I simply can't wait for the excuse on this one."
Sakuno's cheeks reddened and she looked down- partly out of embarrassment and other because she was honestly horrified of what her friend was saying.
"It-it was never the right time, you know?" Sakuno said softly, "Ryoma kun always did feel self conscious when it came to showing public affection and I think it got worst when he found Fuji senpai and the others spying on us."
Tomoka scoffed, "You're kidding."
Smiling, Sakuno shook her head, "Nope, six dates and all recorded in Inui senpai's notebook."
"Those guys seriously must have no lives," Tomoka groaned. She thought of Kaidoh spying on Sakuno and Ryoma's date and silently reminded herself to smack the snake like man next time they meet.
" And Ryoma kun and I see each other almost every day," Sakuno continued, "So I guess we're so used to each other that even eating dinner together is nothing special."
Tomoka sighed, "You two seem like an old married couple- boring! So you never had your first kiss?"
Sakuno shook her head again, "Not that I can remember... But..."
"But?"
"But..."
There was a slight touch, his hands on her cheek. She dreamed it was him because the hands were slightly smooth with callous, probably from tennis.
She felt the proximity increase and his presence was only the whisper on her skin that seemed to make her tipsy with fluttering, increasing nervousness.
And then when he finally kissed her-
"It was last summer, I think," Sakuno vaguely said, "Last summer when..."
Smooth, calloused hands cradling her cheeks.
XXXXXXX
"Oh ho, so the Prince is in trouble, is he?"
Ryoma was in mid pause of murdering Kintarou. He looked up, his was still unamused as he said, "What do you want, Horio?"
"Horio! Save me!" Kintarou yelled.
Horio sighed and tapped his temply. He said, "Tisk, tisk, Ryoma, you should know that I, Horio of tennis experience with two-plus years has some valuable information that may be- hey! Hey! Where are you going?!"
Ryoma and Kintarou turned around from resuming their game.
"Practicing," Ryoma bluntly replied.
"You don't care what information I have for you?!" Horio yelled incredulously.
"Not really," Ryoma shrugged.
"Hey, who is this guy, Koshimae? He makes funny faces," Kintarou grinned.
Horio's jaw dropped to the ground before he hotly replied, "I'm the one who told you Sakuno went missing hat one time?! We see each other every day since the three months you transferred!"
"Eh... I'm bad with faces. My captain told me the same thing at my old school," Kintarou sheepishly replied.
Actually smirking, Ryoma pocketed his hand while bouncing the tennis ball easily towards with air with the side of his racket, "Okay, I'll bite."
"You're just asking me out of pity, aren't you?" Horio asked, but he already knew the answer.
Ryoma was easily leaning with a smirk on his face and Kintarou just folded his hands behind his head. The two were easily the same height, both were a half a head taller than Horio. It was a case itself to wonder if these two knew exactly how intimidating the could appear to look. Both were very well athletically built with stringy, slim muscles. They didn't have the broad shoulders and slim hips that Fuji and Tezuka had, nor the powerful, solid structure that some of the other Seigaku regulars possessed. However both Ryoma and Kintarou had that special pulse around them, that beat with energy and drew people to them. Whether it was with Ryoma's confident stride or Kintarou's anxious energy.
Between Ryoma's arrogance and Kintarou's annoying high energy, Horio briefly wondered which one was worst in taking the information he was about to deliver.
"I want something for exchange with my information, you know," Horio tapped his noise, "Valuable stuff, I have."
Ryoma still looked bored and Kintarou just looked as curious as ever.
"And what would you want," Ryoma asked. Though it was more of a statement than a question.
It didn't take long for Horio to answer, clearly the idea had been on his mind for a while.
He blurted, "A nickname."
Silence and then Ryoma replied slowly, "A... nickname."
Nodding with confidence, Horio crossed his arms and huffed, "That's right! I want a nickname!"
"Well that's easy," Kintarou grinned, "We can call you one-brow!"
Defensively covering his uni-brow, Horio flushed indignantly yelling, "Not that that! I want an actually title!!!"
"Uh huh," Ryoma slowly nodded. He was still bouncing the tennis ball off his racket, "Do you want the title, "Court Clown", then?"
Horio let out a yell, "This isn't funny, Ryoma! I want something cool- you know how you're Prince and even Kintarou here got labeled by his peers and he hasn't had a full semester here, yet!"
"I have a nickname?!" Kintarou grinned, "How awesome! Am I Sakuno chan's White Knight?!"
"No..." Horio muttered, "Actually that's how this all started..."
Ryoma seemed a bit interested now, "Oh? Tell more."
"Not until you promise me a nickname!" Horio strongly replied.
"Aah," Ryoma easily said, "I'll see what I can do."
"Koshimae, can you really do that?" Kintarou whispered.
Ryoma returned with a hard glare, but fortunately Horio didn't notice it.
"Okay," Horio said finally and he grinned, "Well I forgot how they got on the topic, but Sakuno and Tomoka were basically talking about how Kintarou was labeled something like... "Jester"."
Scoffing, Ryoma stopped bouncing his ball and Kintarou meanwhile looked bemused.
"So Sakuno chan was talking about me, eh?" Kintarou wiggled his eyebrows at Ryoma.
"About you being a Jester," Ryoma said.
"Anyways," Horio quickly said before things got out of hand, "So something about how you and Kintarou don't get along also came up so-"
"Aw, see? Now even Tomoka thinks we don't get along!" Kintarou yelled.
"Let me continue!" Horio yelled as Ryoma was about to conjure another sarcastic comment.
"Sorry," Kintarou sheepishly replied.
"..."
"..."
"... Jester," Ryoma said before smirking to himself.
Horio sighed.
XXXXXXX
I cupped your face, not sure if you were really tangible.
A year ago.
A year ago he was early for summer camp, of course. Count on him to be on time for any thing to do with tennis.
With time to spare, he decided to take a detour and quickly he dashed off the streets and onto the grassy knolls of the park.
It was there, on one of the patches of sunlit grass that he saw her.
The image of the light making her skin glow like soft magic made him stop. She looked like a serene picture taken from a cathedral.
As cheesy as that seemed, but then he knew he would probably never say those words out loud.
Her hair wasn't in braids, then, was it? Instead it was undone and cradled her head with its warm chestnut color.
Maybe that's why I didn't recognize her.
He panicked then. He thought that maybe she had heat stroke and wasn't going to wake up. So he quickly darted over to her angelic self.
Upon closer inspection, however, he found her face looking just as angelic as ever. If she were to have heat stroke she certainly would look more distressed, wouldn't she?
He was worried then, that maybe he was the one who was influenced by the heat and was imagining her.
So, he decided to touch her- not in that way of course. He was far too single minded to be thinking such thoughts, anyways.
The first thing he touched was her hair, at feeling the strands between his fingers, he relaxed.
She was real.
So, he decided to move her under the shade, silly girl, must she trouble him in times like these?
Even back then she was really careless.
He stopped at her breathing and before he could think, he cradled her cheeks, making sure her face wasn't hot from heat stroke.
Calloused hands.
Cupping me in worry.
She sighed into him. Her light was warm and inviting.
How cute, was his first thought. She looked so adorable and pretty and angelic and serene that he could just kiss her.
Without knowing (or caring), he did that, pecking her on the lips cheekily before she sighed.
That's when it hit him.
You don't kiss angels.
You don't kiss strangers.
Ashamed and embarrassed of himself, Tooyama Kintarou had darted off away from the patch and ran far away from the enchanting girl. All the meanwhile, trying to rub off all traces of sunlight from his lips.
-
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Kintarou jumped from the bed.
Kintarou pressed his lips together in confusion before it dawned on him.
Kintarou remembered.
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She's not your Princess,
And you're not her Prince.
EPISODE FOUR.1 - END.
Saturday, February 28, 2009 (2:52 AM)
Wow, so what else can I do but to say thank you?
I am honestly very surprised and flattered I still get people telling me that they follow this story. I don't consider myself a "good" writer, so I feel very honored when people acknowledge this story.
With that said, thank you so much and I apologize for the long wait.
I read every review, and I will reply to any one who has questions. :)
*Since they are in Japan and assuming they are speaking in their native tongue, after all.
*A cuss word, for some reason I felt it better it type it in Japanese.