Love is Just a Word
Chapter 5: Poker Face
"They spoil every romance by trying to make it last forever."
-Oscar Wilde
--
What do you say to someone who you went out with for four years?
Someone who made you smile and laugh, and held you when you cried.
What do you say to the same person who broke your heart and left you alone to twist in the wind?
These were Sakuno's thoughts as she sat stiffly on the large and heavily cushioned seat of the private jet.
Momo sat next to her, currently making himself at home by flipping through all of the available video games for the Xbox 360 in the plane. If you looked at him now it would be near impossible to tell what he had been going through the past week. As soon as she mentioned their plans to visit Ryoma, Momo immediately brightened; he even was willing to detach himself from her long enough for her to inform her boss of her plans.
She did feel infinitesimally better about the trip after that. It showed her that Momo did indeed need the comfort from his friend and that she wasn't doing this just so Eiji and Fuji could have a good laugh at her pain.
"Damn, he took out 'Dead Planet'…" Momo mumbled disappointedly. He picked out some other American game instead. He quickly popped the disk into the open slot and pulled out the wireless, silver controller. He half turned to her, while keeping his gaze on the monitor. "You wanna play?"
"Nah, I'll watch." She reassured. He shrugged and turned back to the game. She didn't miss the way he angled his body; half toward her and half toward the screen. He had done this a lot recently, always keeping a look out for her, making sure Sakuno didn't leave like his fiancé had.
Sakuno's heart ached at the thought. To think that you are completely and totally in love and then have your partner leave. She couldn't even imagine that…or could she? No, she and Ryoma were totally different; they were simply never meant to be.
She made it easier for Momo and leaned closer to him, their shoulders brushed slightly.
At another time in her life, she would have blushed from this simple contact. These days though, Momo and she were almost attached at the hip. He would hardly leave her side; he apparently had no problem with changing and showering in front of her. She drew some lines though, and she needed time to herself. That's what this trip was for, to give Sakuno a break and give Momo someone else to hang onto.
A loud smacking noise shook her out of her thoughts.
She flicked her gaze over to their large, four-legged companion. The black and white Great Dane was munching on the available dog treats that were normally reserved for the guard dogs that accompanied Ryoma on long trips.
She sighed before she gave him a small, warm smile. "Moose, ya big dope; you're going to ruin your dinner." He ruffed quietly and continued to eat the treats, unconcerned.
She rolled her eyes and turned to give the magazines on the table in front of her another glare. They were all sports magazines and, unsurprisingly, they were covered with Echizen paraphernalia.
She silently scolded the magazine cover-shots of him in her head.
You're spoiling my dog you know. I can't feed him like this every day! He eats a ton as it is!
She had been forced to get over her avoidance of his face as soon as she set foot on the jet. For you could not avoid it here on this flying mansion he called a private jet. Ryoma Echizen's face practically plastered the walls. There were movie posters, commercials with him on the TV's, there was even a small picture of him on the beer and soda cans for God's sake!
When she, Momo, and Moose had arrived at the airport that morning, she was fully prepared to pay for a ticket for Moose. He didn't enjoy solitude as it is, and she didn't want to test him by stuffing the large animal in a small, dark, and lonely crate in the cargo shoot. She thought that she could just trade in their first class ticket and get three lower-class ones instead, Momo would understand. But the moment the flight attendant saw those accursed tickets she escorted them to another end of the airport and showed them to a privet jet. She bowed and left them alone, but not before alerting every airport visitor within shouting distance that they were indeed acquaintances of The Ryoma Echizen and would indeed be visiting him.
She thought she would die of humiliation. Some things never change, she supposed. Even though he was in another country, on the opposite side of the planet, he still found a way to make her miserable.
Once they finally got onto the privet jet, the first words that flew from Momo's mouth were "Oh good, he sent the one with the open bar."
Needless to say, she nearly fell flat on her face after hearing that. "You mean he has more than one?" She had cried in shock and outrage.
"Well, only two…" He replied sheepishly.
That, honestly was the first look she had had into his celebrity life. She had refused to look at any of the ads or articles about him; she pointedly switched off the TV whenever he appeared; and she would politely excuse herself whenever conversation switched to the 'Asian sensation tennis champ."
The wounds were still sore, even now as she gazed at magazine covers, her heart throbbed painfully.
She shook her head, hoping the erase her thoughts like an etch-a-sketch. She couldn't think like that, especially now that she was about to see him for the first time in five years.
She abruptly stood up and walked toward the bar.
Momo's head whipped around so fast it looked he had been punched. He grabbed her arm and jerked her back into the seat looking horrified.
"Where are you going?" He asked his timing a little late. She smiled comfortingly.
"I was going to look around the bar a bit; might as well take advantage." She didn't acknowledge his actions. She could tell he felt bad enough as it was, so she just brushed them off as the norm.
He responded with an embarrassed smile. "Oh okay, get me a beer while your at it."
She thought about this for second. The doctor had said to keep him away from medication and pointy objects, in case he got any suicidal ideas. He also did say to watch alcohol intake, but she didn't want Momo to feel any worse than he already did so she decided to let him bend the rules.
"Alright…but only one, okay? I don't want you to be drunk when we get to America." She lightly scolded.
He nodded his head in agreement.
She strolled over to the bar and read off the various types of foreign alcohols that were available. Momo chose some sort of German brew that she vaguely recognized as a type that Tezuka brought back after his trip to Germany.
She picked out one of the available Pontas for herself.
Momo laughed as she opened it.
"What?" She questioned mildly, her attention directed toward Moose as he licked the now empty dog bowl clean.
"I can't believe that brat still keeps Ponta in his mini bar; what a dork! I don't think he'll ever change!"
That statement jump-started all sorts of memories in her head. She looked at the Ponta in her hands, and recalled the Ponta he had offered her on the night of their double date all those years ago. Then she saw all of the pictures of him around the cabin. Every picture of that trademark, arrogant smirk he always wore seemed to be laughing down at her. She poured the unfinished drink down the drain and held back tears.
She sat back down in her seat stiffly and watched as Momo blew off the heads of aliens on his game.
--
You couldn't fully comprehend how long an eighteen-hour flight really was until you were stuffed inside a small jet, filled with pictures of a person you'd rather not think about.
This was Sakuno's thought process as she was killed for what felt like the millionth time on this 'Halo' game.
Thirteen hours in to the flight and she was playing this horribly violent game all by herself as her dog chased his tail in a black and white blur and Momo slept off his drunken state.
She had told him only one beer and he had agreed to her giving him only one beer.
Apparently the four he grabbed when she wasn't looking didn't count.
She thought he might've been drunk when he started having conversations with his alien adversaries on the game screen. But what really gave him away in the end was when he thought Moose was Ryoma and started chatting with him about his visit with the aliens.
Momo groaned from his position stretched out over the row of cushy seats. She had put up the arm rests between their two seats and let Momo curl up over them. He mumbled something incomprehensible and flung his arm around wildly in search of something invisible. She was sitting on the furry, forest green carpet; leaning against his seat just for this purpose. She turned grasped his flailing hand and gave it a quick squeeze and a pat. He clamed and settled back down into a comfortable position.
Sighed, and switched off the game. With Momo a sleep it gave her a chance to really inspect the jet.
It was comfortable, very roomy. There was a small and unobtrusive door in the front which, she guessed, leads to a room where the pilots and staff must rest. Sakuno hadn't seen them since they had first boarded. They must be used to serving a much higher class of people than she and Momo. In the front there rested four large captain's chairs that were evenly spaced and each had a small, personal, plasma screen TV in front of them. She imagined he sent this jet to impress business clients. She and Momo currently sat in a section behind that, where there was a row of five connected bench seats lined up on one side of the plane. They rested comfortably across from a large LCD screen. This was attached to an Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Play Station 3, and had countless games to choose from. It was also right next to the full mini bar. She imagined that when Ryoma rode in this jet there was bartender behind there, waiting on him hand and foot.
That was a strange thought. Picturing Ryoma or other important, official figures riding, where she and Momo currently rested, she felt out of place.
She rose to her feet and drifted over to where Moose was in an epic battle between himself and his tail. She pulled him over into a tight hug right as he was about to get a mouthful of the furry appendage and be forcibly taught a painful lesson. Moose was only three years old, Ryoma had never met him. Sakuno almost wondered what he would think of the large Harlequin colored body that she slept next to these days. She giggled at the thought and gave the large dog a fond scratch on the ears.
"Hi Moosy!" She crooned animatedly. "How's my Moosey-moose? How's my big furry puppy?" He recognized her tone in the pet-to-owner gibberish she used and quickly crouched down on his front paws while raising his rump in the air and waggling his tail excitedly.
"Does he wanna play?" She questioned teasingly. He ruffed in response. She giggled and lunged for him. He dodged and scrambled away. For a hundred-and-forty pound dog he was really quite nimble. She lunged again and this time he whipped around and ducked behind the bar. She quickly followed behind giggling all the way. Unfortunately for the Great Dane the bar was closed off on one side and he ended up cornering himself. She pounced on him and they wrestled a bit. When it was over Sakuno sat victoriously, on Moose's back, panting.
"You let me win didn't you?" She asked suspiciously. He sat panting, but gave her a doggish grin showing all of his sharp canine teeth. She gave him a loving noogie and he barked playfully.
--
A seven hour flight away, Ryoma was waking up and greeting the morning with a growl.
Damn, he had that dream again. This was not going to be a good day.
He walked out of his room and went down stairs to where his cook awaited him with a hot breakfast. The elaborate omelette was placed in front of him as he sat down.
He wasn't really hungry but he learned early on that if he wanted the kitchen to be stocked with fresh and tasty food that he shouldn't piss-off the kitchen staff.
He took a large swig from his black coffee and winced as it burned his throat. The scorching liquid was strangely comforting in light of his bad mood, so he took two more boiling gulps and finished the mug.
'Why did it have to be that stupid dream?' he thought venomously. 'Why now?'
He wondered if anyone would stop him from making his coffee 'Irish'. He looked around but the liquor cabinet was locked so he gave up on that idea.
'This is all Horio's fault; where does he get the nerve, bringing up the past where it doesn't belong.' He tore viciously into his omelette; his mind as far away from his breakfast as it could possibly be. It wasn't until he was half-way through that he realized it was a vegetarian special and that he hated the peppery flavor entirely. He wasn't in the mood for a fight with the cooks about his health so he just finished it without complaint and stalked into his entertainment room. He slammed the door and then leapt on his huge 'man-couch' as Momo had dubbed it. He turned on the TV and watched it with an unseeing gaze.
Then the shine of his cell phone on the nightstand caught his eyes and he reached for it hesitantly. He stared at it anxiously and debated whether or not to open it. He did and immediately closed it with a snap.
No new messages. Damn.
This dream he had wasn't so much a dream as it was a distant memory, a memory which he happened to be very keen to forget. Unfortunately for him, his subconscious had other ideas. And now he didn't even have any work to distract him from his stupid subconscious.
So he switched on his Xbox and pressed start to the game Dead Space. He watched the intro blankly as the screen gave a false flicker and a crimson blood splattered with gory precision across his screen. He turned his head toward the large windows as an echoing, tinny version of 'twinkle, twinkle little star' played and was followed unceremoniously by loud hisses and roars of inhuman beings.
Momo loves this game.
Speaking of which; where the hell was Momo? He had gotten that phone call from Horio about a week ago and nothing since. And according to Fuji and Eiji, he dropped off the face of the earth. There was no trace of him in their conversations, even though they both had just attended his wedding; he was the furthest thing from their minds.
They were hiding something from him and this annoyed the hell out of Ryoma. He was already a million miles away and now they wouldn't even tell him about his best friends wedding? That's just sick and wrong!
So wrapped up, was he, in his justified anger; that he didn't even notice when there was the loud rapping of knuckles on the door. The door opened with a hesitant creak and one of his butlers called his name gently.
He jumped about a foot in the air and then whirled angrily on the hired helper. "What the hell; learn to knock would ya', Al?!" He snapped.
The man in question, a hired helper named Alfred, might have been offended if he wasn't so used to his superior's fits of temper. "I did knock sir; but I couldn't wait for a reply for there is an important message for you from the airline service."
Ryoma was on his feet and at his butler's side in an instant. "Message from the jet? Is someone on it?" He questioned excitedly.
Alfred was a bit taken aback by his master's enthusiasm. "Oh, well yes. It was boarded by Master Momo, an unfamiliar woman and her canine companion."
"Canine?" He asked, a puzzled expression playing across his face.
"Yes, they claimed to have tickets signed over from you."
"Yeah," He replied distracted. "I sent Momo a jet and a free pass on it for his wedding gift; sorry I forgot to tell you." This was more a statement than an apology but the hired man sighed in quiet acceptance.
"Do you think they got a dog?" Ryoma questioned aloud.
"I wouldn't know sir." He replied and started to leave.
"Hey Al, hold up a second." Ryoma called, quickly pulling Alfred out of his own ponderings. "You wanna play a game?" He asked while gesturing toward the Xbox and offering him a cocky grin.
Anything to take his mind off of his cruel nightmare.
--
She wants to touch me whoo-oo
She wants to love me whoo-oo
She'll never leave me
Whoo-oo, whoo-oo ooh ooh
At this point the music no longer sounded horrible, but anything you were forced to hear for six hours eventually became catchy.
Don't trust the ho
Never trust the ho
Won't trust the ho
Don't trust me
Sakuno had come upon a music player in her search of things to do in the plane and to her chagrin found it engraved with the initials of R.E. She decided to listen to it for purely scientific purposes. Maybe she could learn a little something about Ryoma's current life through his music. That sounded like a good, solid hypothesis.
That was a mistake.
She found that his music selection was extremely arrogant. How a music selection could be arrogant she didn't know, but he managed it in the end.
She would have taken off the headphones and chucked them across the room but she got a twisted sort of pleasure out of criticizing his music. What else could she do? She was stuck in private jet, playing his video games, eating his food and feeding her dog with treats meant for his guard dogs. It was the only thing she could do to save her drowning ego.
She flipped viciously to the next song.
When I arrive
I, I bring the fire
Make you come alive
I, I can take you higher
What is this, forgot?
I must now remind you
Let it Rock
Let it Rock
Let it Rock
It was like Ryoma's soul was coming out through the lyrics. This displeased her.
She flipped to the next song deciding that if it contained no redeeming qualities that the iPod was going down the toilet.
I wake up every evening, with a big smile on my face
And it never feels out of place
And your still probably working at a 9 to 5 pace
I wonder how bad that tastes
When you see my face
Hope it gives you hell
Hope it gives you hell
When you walk my way
Hope it gives you hell
Hope it gives you hell
Now where's your picket fence love
And where's that shiny car,
And did it ever get you far-
She ripped out the ear buds and chucked the iPod across the room where it hit one of the captains' chairs and bounced helplessly into the corner.
Moose threw it a curious look as Sakuno brought her knees to her chest and bit one of her knuckles to keep tears back.
"Stupid jerk! He doesn't even care! He doesn't even care about us…about me…" She spat through her bruised knuckles.
Though Sakuno could not hear it, the song continued to play, almost ominously.
You've never seemed so tense love
I've never seen you fall so hard,
Do you even know where you are
And truth be told I miss you
And truth be told I'm lying
--
When he got the phone call he and Al were on their feet and yelling at the screen, both trying to encourage their car to go faster through verbal motivation. Both had their shoes off and shirts untucked. Albert's previously prim and 'well-made' appearance was severely ruined as Ryoma's competitive taunts had driven him to action.
Another of his butlers had walked in the room and gave a pointed cough to announce his presence. Albert dropped his controller upon the second butler's arrival and immediately scrambled to remake his proper exterior.
Ryoma swore and hit the pause button before turning and giving the servant an irritated look.
"Well, what is it?" He snapped. The butler cast a skeptical glance over to Albert who was attempting to put on his shoes, tie his tie and button his jacket at the same time.
"You have received a call from the airport, Master Ryoma. Your guests are about to land."
Ryoma immediately brightened. "Of course! Send them a car- wait no! A limo. I'll get cleaned up quickly and then I'll be here to greet them." He ordered, switching off the game and dashing quickly toward his room.
The butler swiftly called after his superior. "Wait sir. They called to report that they are having troubles awaking the occupants."
Ryoma froze and quickly whirled on the man. "What do you mean? They aren't hurt are they?" He questioned seriously, looking fearful.
"Not exactly." Replied the butler dryly. "Master Momo seems to have taken advantage of the liquor cabinet. He drank himself into a stupor." Ryoma relaxed at the news and immediately started to snicker.
"That idiot." He observed affectionately. "Just help him to the car or throw some cold water on him." He laughed.
"Well what about the dog and the young lady?" Ryoma frowned.
"They're drunk too?" He asked unbelievingly.
The man gave him an eye roll before sighing and continuing patiently. Ryoma didn't appreciate this but said nothing. "No, master; they both fell asleep during the long ride. Shall we wake them?"
He pondered this for a moment. "Nah let them sleep as long as possible. Jet lag is hell if you don't have time to sleep it off."
The second butler nodded. "Of course master, I'll inform the staff right away." He then bowed and took his leave.
Albert, who had righted his previously messy uniform, gave him a bow and a small smile before turning to follow his associate.
Ryoma smiled before calling after him. "Don't think you're through with me, Al; I still want a rematch."
The man in question gave him a backwards wave and continued down the hall to finish his afternoon duties.
Ryoma turned toward his room and rushed into the bathroom to quickly shower before his guests would arrive.
--
He had just finished getting ready when heard the limo. He quickly bolted for the door to greet his long term friend.
He hadn't seen Momo since last summer, after he first met the woman. Ryoma had no idea how serious it had gotten until Momo called and asked his advice on how he should go about proposing.
Ryoma had gotten curious after he heard that news; were any of his other friends in a serious relationship? Or any of his ….acquaintances…female acquaintances. Was she in any relationships?
That was when he had started to rely on Fuji and his brutal truths. Though these days even Fuji held things back, he could tell. He was glad that Momo was here and he could finally hear the truth from idiot's mouth.
He opened the door as soon as he got to the large, wooden, entry way. He had expected to be greeted by Momo, his new wife, or one of his chauffeurs at the very least.
Needless to say, a large, harlequin patterned, 160 lb Great Dane pouncing on him was the last thing he expected.
"What…the…hell…?" He managed in between gasping breaths. The hound had knocked him backward through the large doorway and into his house. Luckily, there, he landed on the padded carpet and not the cold, hard, cement stairs.
"My apologies master Ryoma!" A man in black suit that he acknowledged as one of his drivers ran up and forcibly pulled the massive dog off of his chest. "He's not very well trained. He doesn't listen to master Momo at all." The man then gestured over to the hulking man being dragged across the lawn by two figures dressed in matching flight attendant uniforms which he recognized as the pilots of his jet.
Ryoma pulled himself to his feet and watched as Momo stumbled drunkenly up the steps in front of the entrance way.
As soon as Momo's half-lidded eyes met his own he gave a cry of delight and bounded up the stairs like a child. The sudden absence of weight caused the two jet pilots to lose their own balance and trip up the rest of the stairs after their mobile cargo.
"Echizen; Wassup buddy! I hasn't seen yoos since we was fightin' the aliens. 'Member? I gave yoos a doggy treat, you had to rolls over for it." Ryoma looked on in incredulous hilarity.
Just how much had Momo drunk?
"Sure whatever you say buddy. Come in and make yourself at home" He grinned and gestured for them to enter his house.
After Momo and his two pilot-turned-spotters squeezed through the door way, Ryoma turned to see where Momo's new bride was.
The sight that greeted him made his head spin. His dream from this morning immediately started to replay in his head, blasting him out like a boom-box in a tiled hallway.
There, standing before him, was very harassed-looking Sakuno Ryuzaki.
--
It always opened with that same quiet call.
"Ryoma-kun?"
He twitched but refused to acknowledge the soft voice any further.
"We have to get up; my grandma will be home soon." He felt her squirm against him and attempt to wriggle out of his grasp for a second time.
He groaned and just pulled her closer in response.
"Ryoma-kun…" She scolded lightly.
He grumbled and rewarded her with his attention by opening one eye.
"Good, you're awake…now let go and get up." She insisted in her musical voice.
"…don't wanna…" He mumbled and buried himself further into the sheets, pulling her with him as he went.
She laughed her twinkling laugh and shoved playfully at his shoulder. "I know you're not much for mornings but you have a plane to catch later today and my Grandmother will be home soon to give us a ride there. If she finds us like this…she'll probably make sure your plane is lost somewhere in the pacific."
He raised himself to the challenge by settling himself further into the bed. "I'm not scared of that old bat." He proclaimed resolutely.
She was quiet for a second, no doubt planning her next attack. He played with her long, wavy, chestnut hair which was draped over both of their bare shoulders.
"…did I mention that your parents are coming with her?" She innocently revealed.
What a wicked girl.
He couldn't get out of the bed fast enough then.
Her beautiful laughter filled the room once again as he was scrambling to pull on his pants.
"If I thought that would work I would have mentioned it sooner." She giggled, before slipping out of the bed and picking up her own clothes. She pulled the sheet along with her, still keeping her modesty intact even after all the times they had been together in the past few years.
He halfheartedly threw her a glare before pulling on his shirt. "Should I wait around for you to make me look like an idiot some more or go get breakfast?" He questioned snarkily.
"I do enjoy making you look like an idiot…" She teased.
He left the room with a roll of his eyes and a grin on his face.
After they were both dressed and munching on freshly purchased doughnuts, courtesy of Ryoma, they sat quietly in the living room, soaking up the significance of the day. They were both on the love seat, but there was a slight tension in the air.
"A-are you scared?" She broke the silence carefully.
"Of what? Remember, I lived in America for a while." He confidently stated.
"But not by your self…" She whispered, looking close to tears.
"The only thing I'm scared of is leaving you here. I should have gone to the community college in the area like you." He grumbled, a pang of regret filling him.
"No." She said firmly. "I'm not going to be the one to hold you back and rob the world of one of the best tennis players in history!"
"Bah, I don't wanna be a professional; those guys are just in it for the publicity." He said bitterly. He had grown up thinking this; he just wanted to beat his father not to become a professional. It was one of the few things he and his father agreed on.
"That's why you have to get to the top and rub it in their faces." She insisted passionately. Then her expression softened, to a more sorrowful look. "Even if you have to leave for a little while…"
He riled at her words. "I told you that I'm not going to leave you, didn't I?" He snapped, roughly pulling her closer. "I promise that there is no possible way I can go a day without thinking of you." He then pressed lips against hers feverishly.
After they parted, Sakuno grabbed his hand, which was pulled around her shoulders and gave it a light kiss.
"I trust you, and I give you the same promise." A few tears slipped from the corners of her eyes. Ryoma brushed them away without hesitation and pulled her into a passionate, final kiss.
Then everything fades to black as sunlight peeks through the curtains. He hears the damn birds chirping and the noisy cooks banging their pots and pans down a floor.
He then swears and desperately gets on with the day, eager to have something, anything to distract him.
--
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis/ Tennis no Oujisama. I also don't own 'Dead Space' (which is a terrifyingly awesome game), Xbox, Nintendo Wii, Halo, Playstation 3, Etch-a-sketch, LCD screens. I don't own 3oh!3- Don't trust me, Kevin Rudolf- Let it rock, All American Rejects- Gives you hell.
--
A/n:Woot!! another chapter!! How do you like me now? Take that society! It took awhile to publish, I have been having trouble with my computer but as loong as my friend's laptop doesn't give out chapter's will keep on coming!!
So is everything becoming clear? are you on the edge of your seats? ha ha! now you see some of the Ryo/Sakuness emerge. Review and I'll write more!
Critisizm of all kids are desired and welcomed--how else can I improve?
Till next time guys!!