Hi! I am very sorry… I know that you are tired of hearing this from me… Sorry… I hope this will be the compensation to my absence… Domo… Internet Connection and Cafes are neglecting me now... Why is it so hard to update now... Sorry... :(

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Prince of Tennis and never ever will.

johanna - tee hee hee... you'll know... maybe... Thank you for the wait... Next chapter is up now... ^^

Chapter 11: False AlarmS

Chapter Summary: She was panicking not once but twice. Why? They were getting on her nerves and she couldn't stop being bothered by it.

She didn't how long she had been holding her breath. All she knew was, she was still holding it up until that very moment. In front of her, and in a few inches from her, there was a guy staring with his scarlet red eyes straight to her widened-hazel eyes.

…Perfectly cornering her at between the door behind her and him.

Did he know?

She would be doomed if he did know something about her identity. She was aware of that since the very beginning. She mustn't act like a girl in front of them but it was a play and she thought that it was alright. Then again, what was the difference between the drama club and the play?

She put herself in danger in the first place.

"What is your secret?"

That was it. He would reveal it to herself. It was her end of staying there, the end of her days in Seigaku.

"How did you do it?"

She must brace herself for this. She must face the truth.

"How could you act like a real actor?"

Goodbye Seigaku, Goodbye—eh?

"How could you act like a real girl?

"W-what?" She blinked her eyes twice.

The 'mad hatter' removed his hand from the wall and faced both of them in front of him "I hate acting but buchou wants me to do it," He gripped his hands while was staring at them ,"How did you do all those things?"

The seaweed character kept rambling his thoughts and all she could do was to sweat drop. That only meant one thing.

Her secret was still safe.

This student was asking her about her 'acting'? Was he for real? She thought that he was scary on the first day because of the way he stared at her but she was beginning to doubt about it now. Her reverie was cut when Akaya's hands grabbed her shoulder in the process.

"Tell me how!" He said glaring at her, "or I'll keep bugging you!"

She was beginning to panic once again. The glare was coming back to him. She felt uncomfortable because of the glare that he was giving her. How was she going to reply if he kept doing that?

He was creepy.

"Ne, seaweed head!"

"What?" Akaya slowly looked at the last person who talked and so as she.

"Ryoma-kun!"

"You are creeping him out." Ryoma stoically said walking closer to them.

"What did you say?" He asked releasing her in the process, "And who do you call a seaweed head?"

Sakuno was able to walk behind him when she heard him grunt a little;

"I am pretty sure that it isn't me."

"Why you—"

"Just be yourself," He interrupted before he turned around away from him, "No questions asked."

Sakuno followed him but not missing to bow at Akaya, "I agree with Ryoma-kun, Kirihara-san. Just be yourself, ja." With that, they totally walked away from the very stunned Rikkaidai ace player as Inui informed about him.

Later on:

"Arigatou, Ryoma-kun," Sakuno said as they walked on their way to the gym for the announcement, "from back then."

"Betsuni." He said shortly as usual.

That was close though. She thought but she never blurted it out. Good thing that Akaya saw her acting like that. She must be aware of her actions from now on.

"Why are you still wearing that?"

"Eh?" She looked at herself and she remembered that she was on her 'Alice' get up, "I forgot to change."

"No wonder that he mistook you for a girl." Ryoma reminded her. Ryoma was back to his old uniform. He cursed the dress for the whole month and finally he was able to get rid of that at that very moment.

"I'll change after the awarding, geez!" She said in a masculine way before she walked recklessly ahead of him, "I am not a girl," She whispered as she pouted, "at least not in this school."

Little did she know, Ryoma was snickering from her back. He shook his head as he followed the rebelled 'boy' in front of him to the gym.

At the gym:

The announcement started as soon as everyone was gathered in the area including the exchanged students. The emcee had started to announce the winners.

"The third place goes to…" The announcer paused for a while making the crowd in suspense, "Maid Café of class 3-2!"

The third year students rejoiced even though they only received third place. They could get an additional allowance for the whole week as price.

"The second place will be…" The emcee announced once again, "Cinderella in Wonderland of class 1-1!"

Her eyes widened when their class was being called. Her classmates rejoiced after that. They won second place. It wasn't bad at all. They received additional ten points for every exam that they would have in the future and can stay an extra hour outside the dorm for next week.

"The first place is…" The emcee announced the winner for that month, "The magic-comedy show of class-2-1!"

The second year students rejoiced when they heard the winner of the month. They would be receiving the first prize for that month which was to be implemented next week of the second month of the festival.

"At least we won second place." Horio said shrugging in the process.

"Yeah, it's not that bad." Sakuno agreed.

The rest followed and felt satisfied at their prize. At least they would have an extra hour outside of the door anyway. The whole cast of the role-play would be receiving the same prize. That was why his senpais and the other students from different schools were really excited about it. Ryoma and the other two nodded.

"Bishounen-chan!"

Everyone was surprised at the jungle boy's appearance… from Sakuno's back hugging her in the process.

"T-Touyama-kun!" Sakuno tried not to blush but his cheek was brushing against her cheek, "Let go of me!"

"I don't want to!" Kintarou protested, "I like your get up. You really look like a girl!"

"A-aho!" Sakuno brusquely retorted, "This is just cross-dressing! Don't mistake me for a girl."

The others saw how Kintarou turn her around and faced him. She was utterly shocked when he did that.

"You said that you have a sister, right?" Kintarou asked, "I want to see her again. I'll tell her that I like her. I am telling you that I like you because I see her in you."

Everyone sweat dropped when they heard that. His words were complicated but somehow they understood him especially Ryoma. The jungle boy was really something and somehow, he didn't like what he was seeing.

"I regretted of not talking for her that time," Kintarou became serious all of the sudden, "I think that is love at first sight."

Sakuno blinked as she didn't know what to do first… to blush or to panic. Someone fell in love with her as a girl. Well, she was panicking now.

"Please bishounen-chan," Kintarou pleased grabbing both of her shoulder, "let me talk to her."

"W-well… I—" She tried to reason out.

"Arrrgh! Why do you look like her?" Kintarou looked down for a few seconds before he suddenly looked up once again, "It makes me want to kiss you."

Her eyes widened when he said that, the same as the others, Ryoma was also included of course. Now her blush was present at that.

"You look like twins so if I kiss you, I felt like I have kissed your sister as well." Kintarou said before he leaned closer to her making her eyes wide.

She couldn't react at her location nor were her reflexes working on her. The next thing she knew, someone pulled her backwards. She saw Kintarou was also being pulled away by his captain, Shiraishi.

"You've gone too far, Kin-chan." Shiraishi said. His eyes were closed but his smile was something dangerous.

"Eehhh, but Shiraishi," Kintarou protested, "I only want a kiss from bishounen-chan."

"You can't," Ryoma said, the one who pulled her behind, "He already has a girlfriend."

"What?" Kintarou jaw dropped.

"And a boyfriend." Someone added making everyone look at the person who last talked.

"F-Fuji-senpai!" Sakuno reacted as she shouted a little manly at him.

"Then you are my rival!" Kintarou suddenly pointed at Fuji.

Fuji tilted his head to his side, "Pardon me?"

"I'll steal bishounen-chan away from you!"

"Kin-chan!" Shiraishi warned him. What the captain was shocked about was Kintarou did a summersault and escape away from him.

"While I am here in Seigaku, I'll be your suitor to be your boyfriend," Kintarou said giving them a satisfied grin, "because I like Cherry-chan!"

Her eyes widened when he said that. She then followed him with her eyes as he started to run away from that area.

Just what was happened?

Touyama Kintarou just announced his declaration of love to her… as a boy.

"Sorry about that," Shiraishi apologized, "When he focuses at something, he will not let it go until he will get it."

"Eh?" She looked at him.

Shiraishi sighed before he continued, "Kin-chan is serious about you so be careful." He bowed before he walked away and followed his kouhai, "Sorry again." He waved as he continued to walk.

"Looks like there's going to be a rumble." Fuji smiled as he looked at her reaction.

"School Rumble or Rumbling Hearts?"

Everyone looked at their back only to see Momo and Eiji standing next to each other.

"Momo-chan-senpai, Kikumaru-senpai, you are here." Sakuno approached them.

Momo nodded and smirked, "And witnessed everything."

"Don't rewind it, senpai." Sakuno warned.

The others laughed after that. Aside from that everything was back to normal. Since it was at the end of the month, it was time for students to go home for the weekend. The exchanged students were the same too and they would come back on Sunday night just like the Seigaku students did every month.

Night:

Sakuno was preparing the things that she needed to take home. She didn't have the chance to visit her apartment last month because of the date she had with Fuji. Sumire had told her to visit their apartment this weekend.

She set everything up for tomorrow.

"Ne, Ryuzaki."

She looked at her roommate who was just lying on his bed, "What is it, Ryoma-kun?"

"Have you told her?"

"E?" She blinked her eyes twice, "I told what to whom?" She wondered about his question.

Ryoma sat up and stared straight at her, "Ryuzaki Sakuno, I'll meet her tomorrow."

Her eyes widened when he said that. It took for a few seconds before she reacted, "E-eeeh!"

Ryoma frowned at her, "You act like a girl, don't you know that?"

"But your words," Sakuno looked away, "R-really, tomorrow?"

"Tell her that I'll meet her at the central clock at ten am tomorrow." He said straight to her eyes before he went back lying on his bed ready to sleep.

She was flabbergasted after he said that. She knew she was blushing. Ryoma wanted to see her.

…As in her.

…The girl version of her.

Her eyes widened for another realization. Why would he want to meet the real her, anyway? She collapsed on her bed and buried her face to her pillow. Just thinking about what would happen tomorrow made her nervous at that point on.

I hope everything would be fine tomorrow.

The Next day:

The same old routine before the temporary separation happened to them. Tomoka still picked her up as her 'girlfriend' and would go on a date as usual. She already explained to Fuji that she couldn't go on a date with him which the latter chuckled at her.

The tensai was only kidding when he asked for another date and whispered to her that she should give the other a chance.

She blushed really hard when she remembered his words.

They started to walk away and headed to their respective destinations. The students from other schools did the same as well.

When it was only the two of them, she faced her best friend and grabbed her hands;

"Tomo-chan! You've got to help me!"

At the central clock, 9: 45 am:

He just announced his arrival in their ancestral house. After eating breakfast, he went upstairs and changed his clothes. He told to no one about his leave that morning.

And that was where he was now, waiting for the girl, the girl who happened to be his roommate, who was disguising herself as a boy because of him.

He couldn't believe that he was doing it. He was curious after all. His roommate was sure interesting so he wondered about the real her, where she didn't need to disguise in front of him.

xxx

One thing, that 'Jerry' hadn't told him about something. His eyes were already twitching—err—fighting not to twitch visibly.

She was fifteen minutes late.

Just where was that girl now?

As thinking of her being late, he could hear footsteps running closer to his location. And there she was, panting and catching for her breath. He had the time to observe about her. She was wearing her natural pink dress completely different from the last time and he didn't want to remember. She was also wearing her signature hairstyle despite that it was only a wig.

She was exactly like how he pictured her before.

"G-gomen for being late, Ryoma-kun," She said looking at him, blushing in the process, "I… I lost my way here."

He stared at her before he replied, "You really are like your brother."

"Eh?"

"You both lose your way."

"M-mou!" Sakuno pouted when he said that, "S-stop teasing me!"

"Heh," He smirked as he inserted his hand to his pocket, "Ikou." He started to walk after that. He could hear her catching up to him.

"A-anou, where are we going?" She asked.

Ryoma just shrugged not really planning to answer her. He wanted to know her reaction as a girl if he would not answer her. Sakuno pouted as he peeked an eye on her. Hmmm… nothing changed much.

They continued walking until they reached the park. He looked at her and said;

"I just want to talk to you. You wouldn't mind that, would you?"

Her eyes widened as she shook her head, "I-ie. It's fine by me," She looked down and fidgeted with her fingers, "but… why do you want to talk to me?"

He observed her. This is the other side of her that I haven't seen. He thought, "I am just curious." He said instead.

"Curious?" She tilted her head to her side.

Ryoma walked to a bench and sat, his hands were still in his pocket. He looked at her at the corner of his eyes, "About you."

"A-a-about m-m-me?!" The girl blushed and stuttered at the same time.

Is this the real her? Omoshiroi. He thought but he hid that. instead, he sighed and stared at her, "Mataku, you don't have to repeat what I said."

"G-gomen…" She looked down. Her face was really red.

He didn't know why girls would usually blush in front of him. Technically, he didn't know why because he had been surrounded by boys all his life except of his mother and cousin. If he would choose, he would have preferred to see girls blush on him rather than boys.

Thinking about the other way around could make his stomach churn.

He patted his side indicating for her to sit down. She slowly walked closer and sat beside him. Sakuno was different when she was being a girl and yet a total different person when she was a boy.

He didn't know who the real Ryuzaki to be honest.

"Anou… what do you want to know about me?"

His thoughts were cut when she suddenly asked a question. He looked at her and said, "Do you play tennis like your brother?"

"E?" She looked back at him and replied, "Hai. N-nii-san teaches me when he's available."

"Hmm," He nodded, "really?"

"Actually," She looked down as she was trying to reason out to him, "I only became interested when y-you saved me from those thugs using the gear. O-our grandmother is a tennis coach so it is not that hard to learn."

"You are just starting then?"

"H-hai…"

"I should play you." He tested her.

"E?"

"Let's play tennis."

She stood up and reacted, "R-Ryoma-kun, I—I am not good like my older brother. Y-you will only get bored playing me."

"Don't worry," He looked up at her, "Your brother has a long way to go too."

She pouted when he said that, "My brother is good!"

"Heh," Ryoma smirked as he stood up, "I'll play you then."

"B-but—"

"Let's see how far Ryuzaki taught you." Ryoma said looking straight at her. He was actually thinking something ridiculous. He was pertaining to one person and he challenged the same person as well. He was also curious at Ryuzaki's girl version.

…The real Ryuzaki that he wouldn't know for the public.

The girl hadn't said anything so he continued;

"The next time we meet," Ryoma said catching her attention, "for sure."

"Y-you want to see me… a-again?"

"Is it not okay to see you again? Is your brother forbidding you?"

Sakuno shook her head and blushed, "I… I would love to, Ryoma-kun. Arigatou…"

Ryoma stood up as well and looked at her, "You really look like your brother."

"Eh?" Her eyes widened when he said that.

"And he looks like you." He smirked as he walked away to the vending machine.

"M-mou… we're siblings of course!"

Yeah, right. He thought. If he hadn't discovered that his roommate and the girl in front of him were the same, he would have believed her. But that was a different case now. He hadn't taken a few steps when someone shouted near them.

"AHHHHH!"

Both of them looked at the person who screamed. Ryoma twitched an eyebrow when he spotted a leech—err—a boy glomping Sakuno in front of him. The girl was really blushing at that very moment.

"IT'S YOU! IT'S YOU! IT'S REALLY YOU!" The person repeatedly said as he continued hugging her, "I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU EVERYWHERE!"

The person let her go and she blinked twice, "Y-you are…"

"It's me," The person grinned, "Touyama Kintaro, at your service. I am your brother's boyfriend."

"Idiot…" Ryoma muttered as Sakuno sweat dropped.

"That is only when I am in Seigaku but I really want to see you, bishounen's sister?"

"Eh?" She was panicking as he could see her reaction.

"I like you and I've been looking for you." Kintarou seriously said, "I know that we've just met but-but—arrgh!" He pulled his hair because of his frustrations, "I just can't stop my heart from searching for you."

"T-Touyama-kun…"

"Give me a chance," Kintarou said leaning closer to her, "Let me court you."

"Eh?" Her eyes widened when he said that, "Eeeeeeh!" Her reaction was delayed.

"Ne!"

Both of them looked at him. Kintarou looked at him as if he had just seen him there.

"Koshimae!" He beamed, "I am glad to see you here."

"I am here prior to your arrival…" He stoically said.

Sakuno walked closer to him and said, "G-gomen ne, Touyama-kun b-but I am with Ryoma-kun now."

Kintarou's eyes widened when she said that. Well, he was a little surprised when she said that either but he knew that she meant another thing. It wasn't like what Kintarou was thinking right now.

"Y-you're dating koshimae?" He said walking closer to her.

"N-no… t-that's not what I meant?" Sakuno answered him.

"Are you dating someone then?" Kintarou insisted.

"Touyama-kun…"

"I don't care!" Kintarou stubbornly said, "I still don't care. I think I love you even more today."

Ryoma couldn't take their conversation as they were making a commotion around them. Sakuno kept rejecting him despite her panicky situation and reaction while Kintarou kept insisting on her to agree with him. Not taking it anymore, he pulled Sakuno's arm and announced in front of him;

"I am courting her so back off!"

Both Kintarou and Sakuno were shocked after he said that. Sakuno blushed really hard while Kintarou was frozen. He snapped because of the jungle boy's annoying words and he knew that it was the only way to stop his words.

Thus, the place became quiet after that.

Done! Done! Done! How was this chapter? Now what? Okay, I am telling you in official. There are three boys that are interested in Sakuno; Fuji, Kintarou and Ryoma. Only them and nothing more.

Well, for Fuji… I'll confuse your mind about him. Kintarou would be the best rival of Ryoma for Sakuno here. I'll give these rookies a chance when it comes to love triangle.

Tell me what you think guys, need motivation. I need it now that I am having a problem and fear right now… please… domo…

School rumble and Rumbling hearts – different animes with complicated love stories. Tee hee hee… I don't own them. Zero-related… capiche?

Last Note: For the readers of my others fics that I haven't reviewed yet... I am very sorry but I promise... I'll reply to them next week along with the others... Thank you for sticking with me until now.. You are all my inspiration... I love you very much... *blush*blush* Oh, and if you don't know yet, I've posted a sequel of 'Fantasy Beyond Reality' named 'The Lost Butterfly'. I have other updated fics today. 'Threads to Life' and 'Musical One-Shot Compilations'. If you have time, please feel free to visit them domo... ^^

Next Chapter: What Happened?