Hello, hello minna-san~! This is the longest chapter I have written so far... This is also not yet beta-ed... But then again... hope you'll still enjoy it... ^_^ One more thing... the italicized words meant they are memories that just came flashing back...

Secret Garden

Chapter 7

"That must have been so sad for you. What is the name of the girl?" Sakuno asked.

"I call her 'Hime' and he calls me 'My Prince'." He replied.

~oOo~

"Hime, let's play hide and seek!" said a boy with a midnight blue hair with green highlights.

"Hai, Oujisama!" said a girl in a baby blue satin with an organza overlaying it.

Its sleeves were adorned with organza flowers with a ballroom ribbon trim adorning the hemline on the bottom half of the dress.

After a while, a scream was heard from the little girl. The little boy was alarmed and ran to the place where the scream had originated.

"SAKUNOOOOO….."

Then darkness engulfed her.

~oOo~

Sakuno now realized that it was Ryoma after all. That's why she feels that somewhere, they have met.

She now know that he is there at times when she is in trouble because he feels that he must protect her, to repay what had happened to her the last time.

She looked to the direction of Ryoma. Seeing him so sad made her guilty too. She gave him a pat on the back.

"I'm really sorry about it. If only I protected you, if only I was there you wouldn't fell off of that cliff." He said.

"I love Hikari but it changed when you came back. I came to realize that I would be lying to myself if I wouldn't confess that I love you. But first of all, I hope you have forgiven me from the mistake I have made few years ago." He continued.

"The moment I woke up from the hospital, I felt that I was blessed. I said that I shouldn't waste any time from this second life of mine so I should learn how to forgive and love. Ryoma, I have long forgiven you. I also couldn't keep this but I love you too." She told him.

With this, they shared a long embrace. An embrace that made them feel they are now together.

~oOo~

During the break, the next day, Ryoma slowly approached Hikari. He told her to meet him underneath the sakura tree.

"Good morning, Ryoma-kun! I was so worried about you-" Hikari greeted him cheerfully.

"I want to end our relationship." Came in Ryoma's simple but hurtful statement.

Hikari's smiling face turned instantly into a frown. "But why? Is it because of Sakuno?" She asked as she tried to hold back her escaping tears.

"Hikari, you're such a great person. It's just that I couldn't be with you anymore. I just love her so much." Ryoma replied.

A resounding slap was received by Ryoma. Hikari then turned her back and rushed to the comfort room.

In there, she wiped her tears but since it was still school hours, she immediately fixed herself.

~oOo~

During that night, she cried so much. Her pillows were soaked with her salty tears.

She asked herself "how she can gain him back?" She thought of different ways.

When she finished thinking about it, it made her a little bit satisfied. So she slept. But their sweet memories kept on haunting her even in her sleep.

~oOo~

As Hikari was about to talk to Ryoma about fixing their relationship, she saw both of them already at the canteen.

Ryoma was full of life, his smile reach from ear to ear. He was laughing along with Sakuno and her friends.

She has never seen Ryoma do anything like this before, even when they were still in a relationship.

Nevertheless, she still wants to pursue Ryoma and beg so that they will together again.

~oOo~

"Hey Ryoma!" Hikari called. Ryoma and Sakuno looked in Hikari's direction.

"What do you want?" came in Ryoma's cold voice. "I just want to talk to you." Hikari replied.

"Umm… I think I should go to my classroom now Ryoma-kun." Sakuno said.

"Wait a minute. I'll accompany you there. This will be short I believe." He said while eyeing Hikari.

"But… this is private. I need to speak to you alone." Hikari tried to interfere.

With this, Sakuno decided to go back to her classroom but Ryoma held her hand tightly, showing that she must stay and hear what Hikari has to say.

Seeing this, Hikari said in a small voice, "I want you back. Please come back to me." Then she turned away from blissful couple.

~oOo~

She just couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't stand seeing them happy while she is suffering from a broken heart.

So she had a plot, a terrible plot, a plot that would involve killing the most important person in Ryoma's life: Ryuzaki Sakuno.

~oOo~

The next day, Sakuno received a letter signed from her most beloved prince.

Dear Sakuno,

Words are not enough for me to tell you how much I love you. That's why I thought we should go to the park and have a picnic there this afternoon.

-Ryoma

She never felt so excited before, she knew the place to well. So she prepared herself for that afternoon, never knowing the evil plot that lies ahead.

~oOo~

As Sakuno was crossing the street, she did not notice a car coming her way.

It was Hikari driving and she was driving full speed She wanted to hit Sakuno and caused her death!

Luckily, Ryoma saw this and was in time to save Sakuno from her untimely death.

Hikari then stepped on her brakes to stop from colliding with Ryoma.

But alas, Ryoma had hit his head, causing him to be unconscious.

"RYOMA-KUN!" Sakuno shouted from the top of her lungs.

He was then brought straight to the hospital. Outside his room was so full of tension. Sakuno was crying rivers of tears but with Tomoka comforting her, his family was very worried. They are all waiting for the results.

Meanwhile, Hikari tried to explain to Ryoma's parents.

"Auntie, I didn't mean to-" Hikari was cut off mid-sentence. "How could you do that Hikari? My God, you almost killed my son!" Rinko said.

"Antie, it was not meant for him! I could never bring harm to Ryoma. You know that!" Hikari replied.

"But still, driving isn't for taking someone else's life! It is for you to travel to many places. And now, what if he never wakes up? What will you do?" Rinko said again.

Now, hot tears were falling on Hikari's rosy cheeks. She never thought of this. It was all meant for Sakuno yet, the one she loves was the victim.

The doctor now came out from Ryoma's room. He was looking for the tennis prince's relatives.

"Are you Ryoma's mother?" said the doctor to Rinko. "Yes, I am doctor. How is he?" Rinko asked.

"Well, he is in very good condition, although he had some bruises in his head. He should be okay though. You can visit him in his room now." The doctor said.

"Thank you, doctor." Rinko replied. She was relieved that nothing serious was going on with her son.

~oOo~

Sakuno and Hikari came together in Ryoma's room. There she found Ryoma half lying in bed.

Hikari was the first one to hug him very tight. "Ryoma-kun, I'm so sorry! I really didn't mean it."

"Uh… so should not be apologizing to me, it should be to Sakuno. She was almost killed for goodness sake Hikari! What were you thinking, huh?" Ryoma said.

"Ryoma, I know it was wrong and I am sorry for it. I could never hurt you." Hikari said.

"But what about Sakuno? She was your best friend! I never thought that you could do that to her!" Ryoma replied.

"But I love you so much Ryoma! I cannot accept the fact that you and my best friend would be together! She knew how much I love you yet she betrayed me!" Hikari now said in a loud voice.

"Oh for goodness sake! Will you please stop it?" Sakuno now interfered.

"Sakuno, you know how much I love Ryoma." She said while facing to Sakuno, "Now Ryoma-kun answer me, do you still love me?" She asked.

Silenced answered her. "If you couldn't answer then let's do this. On the 6th of August, we will each prepare a dinner for you. You must go to the girl you love and the losing girl must accept she lost. Agreed?" She asked.

Sakuno had no choice but to give a faint 'yes'.

~oOo~

Everything was prepared; the place, the decorations, the atmosphere… everything. They really put effort to it. And they were very excited and nervous at the same time for the decision.

Who will it be?

Minna-san.. are you curious? Hehehehe... watch out for the last chapter...`!