Pairing: Echizen Ryoma x Ryuzaki Sakuno
Genre: Romance/Humor/Drama
Timeframe: Senior High School Year 3 (Final Year)

Warning: Sakuno centric. Readers had been warned.

Rating: Rated (T) for suggestive adult theme

Song title: Koibito Doushi by Jyukai (The song is really good!! I recon readers to listen to it while reading this story. If anyone would like to have it, please let me know).

Standard Disclaimer: Tenipuri belongs to Konomi sensei

"…" denotes speech

"Italics" denotes flashback

'…' denotes thoughts

Bold denotes lyrics

Title: Kissing Ryoma-kun 101 Excuses

Epilogue: Part 10

Part 10 : BLESSINGS

At the beginning of our story
I feel that I'm not alone
Even though my smile is a little shy
I held your hand

"Ryouji?!" Rinko crouched down to find her five years old son hiding underneath the reception table outside the ceremonial hall.

"Stop playing hide-and-seek!! You have to go over to congratulate your brother" She demanded.

"I'm not going" his hard headiness can be compared to his older brother, Ryoma. "Sakuno-neechan is going to marry that bad guy!!"

"Ryouji-kun, what are you drawing?" A teacher asked.

"My family picture!!" he replied with a toothy smile.

"Wow, it really good" she praised. Though she would not expect a five years old to draw something in a professional level, he did a good job, the future Picasso of Japan.

"And, who are they?"

"My daddy, mommy and my beloved Sakuno-neechan"

"She's beautiful" she commented.

"Yeah, she's my girlfriend" he rubbed his nose and declared proudly.

"Er…is that so" the teacher sweat dropped. Kids are unpredictably mature nowadays, she noted mentally.

"Eh? Why is there a demon in your picture?"

"He's the demon; my brother…" he replied "He has body of steel, his fingers released deadly toxic and his san paku gan released laser beam. That's what other big brothers said!"

'This child must have been badly influenced by his brother's teammates' she thought pathetically.

"He's the demon who forced my girlfriend to marry him" he added at last.

"So your brother is getting married soon?" She asked curiously.

She is also a big tennis fans who read Weekly Tennis magazines. Ryouji's brother, Ryoma is also a celebrated tennis star who leads the National team in defeating many games. So the rumor is true that he's marrying his old times girlfriend, the beautiful manageress of the team.

"He's a demon. She always cries because of him" he muttered agitatedly.

"So, this is your new hiding place" Ryoma muttered nonchalantly, the identical pair of feline eyes gazed at him imperturbably.

"What…what are you trying to do?" the child wailed when his brother pulled him out and carried him away from the reception and head toward the bride's room.

"Hey, I won that match and you promised that you'll go and congratulate her"

"That's because I'm still young!! I'll definitely ousted you in ten years time"

"When that time comes, you'll have to deal with my kids" he smirked "besides, I don't really like video games"

"Let me down!! You meanie, devil, liar!!" he wailed.

"Did you get to learn those words from her?" Ryoma stop his pace. He lifted his little brother up high in the air for a moment before dandling him around.

"I…I'm not afraid of you!!" As soon as Ryoma stops dandling him, he continues to retaliate.

"Listen…" Ryoma face smoothened up "Didn't you told me that you want to see the legendary princess smile?"

"I don't need your help!! She's always showing it to me!!" he boasted.

"Didn't you say that you'll make her happy?" Ryoma asked again.

He really dislikes this kid's attitude. And why on earth are people telling him that they are very much alike? He didn't see any similarity in them. He was much adorable when he was at his brother's age. At least he's not talkative.

"I will. I will protect her!! You have no right to tell me this!! You're always making her cry!!"

"Ryouji? What's wrong? You're not going to bed?"

"Mommy, why is Sakuno-neechan marrying brother?"

"That's because they love each other"

"But…she's always crying. That day I saw her cried again"

"Because, she wants attention from your brother, just like when you wanted attention from us. Besides, she cried doesn't mean that she is not happy"

"You said she cried because she's happy?"

"Yes, she is happy"

"You always tried to separate us!!"

"Hey!! Stop acting like a baby koala bear!!"

It seems like the Ryouji is trying to test Ryoma's tolerance. First he asked Sakuno to bathe him and then now he hugged her like a baby koala bear attaching to the mama koala bear. He even rubbed his face against her assets!!

Rinko announced on her pregnancy few years ago and everyone was happy to hear the good news.

Ever since Rinko gave birth to Ryouji, Sakuno played a roll as his big sister in place of Ryoma, the busy tennis superstar who continues his trainings in the States. She baby-sit him, pampered him and loves him dearly.

"Stop pulling my legs, demon!!"

"Stop rubbing your face against her breast!! You little pervert!!"

"Mou, both of you stop pulling!! The shirt is going to be torn off" Sakuno complained while trying to stop the two.

"Nice job, my sons!! Just a little more force it'll come off…" Nanjiroh cheered mischievously.

"LOVE!! Stop craving over your future daughter-in-law!!" Rinko bolted from behind, threatened the legendary tennis player to burn all his precious adult magazines.

"You tricked her!!"

"Ryouji-kun, will you congratulate me during my wedding day?"

"I will not!!"

"Why?"

"Because I hate him!!"

"Don't say that…try to get along with your brother, okay?"

"Why should I? We're always together until the day when he came back and took you away from me!!"

"Ryouji…"

She felt sorry for him that ever since Ryoma returned, she wasn't able to spend more time with him like she used to. She'd tried to get the three of them together but it seems like the two brothers could not get along well since day one.

Ryouji would cry and wail like as if the whole world is against him. Ryoma would tease him further and make the situation worse. The person who suffered the most is Sakuno, being the middle person.

"Onee-chan… would like you to give me your blessings before I get married"

"Don't you want to see Sakuno's happy expression?" Ryoma asked and with that he passed a bouquet of white roses to his brother.

"Go in and give this to her and give her your blessings. She'll be happy" he assured as he push his little brother into the bride's room.

"Hey?! Don't push…" before Ryouji could get even with his brother; Sakuno called.

"Is that you, Ryouji-kun?" a soft voice asked happily.

She turned over to face him. Little Ryouji couldn't help but blushed.

Rinko and Sumirei who stood by her side complimented her.

"Sakuno-chan, you're very beautiful"

She wore an elegant white satin gown with sweetheart neckline, embroidered with lace crystal & pearl beads, a sequins A-line floor length skirt that shows her body curves perfectly.

Sakuno gently adjust her two tier chapel length veil before stooping down to welcome Ryouji and hold him into her arms gracefully.

"I'm happy to see you here, Ryouji" her voice cracked.

"Onee-chan would like you to give me your blessings before I get married"

In return, Ryouji gave her the bouquet and hug her back before saying "Onee-chan, congratulation on your wedding"

At this moment Sakuno couldn't stop her tears of joy. She wept with a smiling face.

"Thank you, thank you"

'Besides, she cried doesn't means that she is not happy"

'She cried with a beautiful smile' Ryouji thought 'Sakuno-neechan is happy. I remembered I saw the same expression last time when Onii-chan returned from America…she cried happily'

'She's blessed'

Wedding songs played softly in the background; with little Ryouji taking the lead, Tezuka and Sanada escorted the bride down the aisle to the makeshift altar, where Ryoma waited.

Everyone stood up from their seats. and watched as the bride walk towards the groom.

Sumirei, Rinko and Nanako stood off to the right, in front row, weeping decently.

Loud sniffing could be heard from Ryoma's former seniors who sat on the other side. His other teammates who also attended the wedding occupied the second and third rows.

Sakuno's best friend Tomoka and Ann were serving as maids of honor while Fuji Shusuke and Fuji Yuuta were asked to be Ryoma's best man.

Ryoma held out his hand as Sakuno stepped towards him, smiling happily. They exchanged vow of everlasting love.

Everyone cheered when the groom bent over to kiss the bride compassionately.

All the ladies lined up outside the chapel awaiting for the bride to toss the wedding bouquet.

Some guys cheered for the ladies in waiting while others teased them and some even tried to challenge the ladies in getting the bouquet.

Sakuno turn around with her back facing the passionate crowd and before tossing, she closed her eyes to pray that the person who has this would also share her blessings.

As soon as the bouquet was tossed out; the crowds began their crucial battle to fight for the ownership.

To everyone surprise; the bouquet ended up in Sumirei's hand.

"Oh, no…I'm surprised!! An old hag like me would still get a second wedding?" she joked and the crowd laughed.

TBC

AN: Phew; finally I got the second last part completed. I hope this part is still okay. Though I hope I could get more players involve into the wedding scene; then again it would have prolonged the epilogue. I'm sorry if the ending is a little lame.

Oh, there were also many flashback. This part is mainly based on little Ryouji's point of view. Ah, Ryoma is a little cruel to his lil' brother; but I guess I'm portraying him like his step brother Ryouga.

tennisfan101: Thank you so much!! Guess I'm a little over worried. Maybe I should have somehow mentioned that he was here for a break.

Na-chan: Thank you so much for your review.

Bunny-chan: Thank you!!

All: Thank you for all your wonderful reviews. Mi-chan loves you all!! And please believe that this story is made possible because of all your positive encouragements that keep me going on and on.

Special dedications: Angel-chan, Tsubame-chan, Chibi-Kari, Jomai, animeandmangaadict, Arihdni, tennisfan101, rose12136, catseyes007, oreocat101, RAMEN-monster, Fullmoon05, kawaiihanah, Houtori, Na-chan, Eternal Angel, BunnyChan, Laura-chan, lil.ramen.lover, DreamingAboutYou15 Arenja, Car2nfreak, animegal.zeronine, animelover11368, lilaznbunny, kawaiikireitenshi, SecondStoreyStairway, Dita5000, Forever Dreamin, reader713, Theresa, Karis Lee, Not Telling, NeverxAlone, sakunofan14, mALdiTa's Kiss, younggem, tiang-mei.na, SesshoumaruxRin.

And to all my friends; readers, RyoSaku fans; Tenipuri fans; this story have come this far is all because of you!! Thank you for reading.

Please read and review.

With lots of love,

mi-chan yori