Chapter 20: Stigma of Doubt

Little Falcon: Sorry for the long wait guys. There are a lot of distractions that keep my muse from looking my way. Thankfully, now she's graced me with her presence. I won't keep blabbering any longer. Enjoy this chapter, read and review like always.

Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!

Sakuno, what's wrong? His worried tone and gentle amber eyes, even in her dreams she never failed to forget. Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw the high white ceiling. As she looked around, her wandering gaze stopped abruptly on the patch of unruly dark green hair lying on her side. Still wearing his formal suit, but with his tie loose, he slept soundly with his head pillowed by his arms.

Ryoma-kun? Tears welled-up in her eyes before she knew it. Carefully, Sakuno sat up while her eyes never left his sleeping face. A weak smile formed on her lips as she felt a great weight in her heart was lifted just by him being at her side. How can I begin to explain myself to you? She brushed away the stray strand of his hair that covered his handsome face.

To her surprise, his hand covered hers and held it tightly while his eyes remained closed. "You cruel girl, you told me you'll wait for me," Involuntarily, her tears trickled down her chin as she bit back her sob. His eyes gradually opened and locked with hers. For a long time, they basked in each other's gaze while their fingers interlocked.

"Gomenasai, Ryoma-kun. Did you wait long?"

"No… not at all," he finally sat up.

Sharing the same helpless smile, they were about to close their distance with each other when the door opened.

Her chestnut brown eyes shook upon seeing a face she never knew she'll see again.

"Are you alright now, Hime-chan?" His mellow voice was exactly how she remembered it to be, as were his bright sapphire eyes that were reflecting her stupefied expression.

Saiga Toushiro… was everything I wish you were. A painful recall squeezed his heart as he saw how her eyes never dared blink while looking at the Ryuugan prince.

"Se…senpai?"

A haughty smirk appeared on his face before he pushed himself away from the door frame and approached her. Holding her gaze, Toushiro took her hand, ignoring the one that was holding on to it before he placed it in his face. "That's right, Hime-chan," he sat in between Ryoma and Sakuno. "It's really me,"

His fists clenched discreetly at his side as he quietly stood up, careful not to interrupt the moment. Ryoma-kun… Halfway towards the door, he somehow heard her call. Glancing over his shoulder, he was surprised to see her looking at him despite the person holding her hand.

His arrogant smirk lacked a bit of edge as he delivered it. Get some rest, Sakuno. Such was said by his mesmerizing amber eyes before he left the room. But he couldn't bring himself to leave them alone so he leaned on the wall just beside the door and waited. Why the hell am I here?

Thankfully, Ryoma didn't have to wait long. The Rikkai Dai player with curly hair and sharp eyes who was also Sakuno's stepbrother walked inside the room a few minutes after he left. "Oi, I don't care who you are. Get your paws off my sister," a victorious smirk broke the worry on his face and decided that he can leave now while he can still hear Akaya's death threats resounding from the room despite the closed door.

The details of Saiga Toushiro's reappearance were kept confidential. The media only kept its silence because they were too busy covering the events of the upcoming grant tournament for tennis teams all over Japan. The event was so prestigious that even foreign reporters came just to have their share of the excitement. Talent scouts, too, flocked the scene in search of new protégés.

Its fumy how the number of attention they were given didn't even affect the players. Each of them was bent on doing their best with or without the camera. In short, just like they always do. That week, the energy inside the courts was so overwhelming that even those who didn't even like the sport had to stop and watch.

That day when she woke up inside the hotel's infirmary was the last time she's talked with him properly. Their team demanded more of their time and Sakuno also has three other part time jobs to juggle. She never had the time to explain and he never had the chance to listen.

In their prince's return, the Ryuugan girl's tennis team stopped calling her "Hime-chan". They only meant to do so as an audible reminder that they never forgot about the damage she's done to their team but now that the 'damage' didn't really happen. The girls saw no reason to continue their punishment. However, they still haven't really accepted her into the team. Such was said by the icy glares they threw her way every time she plays. Sakuno took it all in a stride. Having other more pressing things to think about, her body was dedicated to work, her mind to her resurrected senpai and her heart to the Seigaku's prince.

Saiga Toushiro… was everything I wish you were. Standing behind the fence, his amber eyes not once looked at the players battling on the court but on her chestnut brown eyes that didn't almost blink as she watched the match intently. Something in his chest twinge painfully as he tore his eyes away from hers.

Adjusting his signature cap, he lowered the brim so that he can't meet anybody's eyes. "Woist, Echizen! You're up!" His dunk smashing senior cheered as he approached their team.

Without a reply, Echizen just took his racket and went inside the court. "Is o-chibi okay?" Their acrobatic teammate asked their vice captain as they felt the difference in his aura.

"I sure hope he is," Oishi prayed.

A force of habit made him look around and search for a particular face in the crowd but she wasn't there. Ryuugan must be having a hard time. He pulled his cap down. So… this is what's its like being second place. Amazingly, Ryoma Echizen never lost a game… if he did, he'll just challenge that person again then win in the re-match so it wasn't considered a loss in his vocabulary. In this dilemma, however, there was no 're-match'.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, ECHIZEN!" This game would decide if Seigaku was to push forward or withdraw. At first, they were confident about their trump card but seeing his sloppy play before their eyes, they began to get nervous his opponent constantly scored.

I don't plan on having another thing to regret. Returning to his normal composure, Ryoma displayed his skills that were a far-cry from the play he was doing a while ago. His opponent was still in shock even as the umpire declared it to be a match.

Seigaku released a sigh of relief collectively as they heard their prince's famous statement. "Mada mada dane,"

As his team rejoiced in their victory, he sneaked off to a quiet spot far from the ecstatic liveliness of the games. This was the first time he felt so tired that he can't even bring himself to get his favorite drink from the nearby vending machine. In spite the easy game he almost lost, his body felt like lead as he deposited himself on the empty bench under the shade.

He raised his head and looked through the thick branches. What the hell's wrong with me? My game sucked and my mind keeps wandering off. This is annoying! A heavy breathe escaped his lips. Sakuno, look what you've done to me.

A sudden cold sensation on his left cheek pulled him out of his reverie. Like a dream, her chestnut brown eyes gazed at him while she held a can of Ponta. "Omedetou, Ryoma-kun," her smile made him feel like everything was perfect. Quietly, he took the drink she offered as she sat down beside him; a few inches apart as if there was an invisible wall in between them. "You could've ended it earlier though," she added.

Ryoma almost choked upon hearing her follow-up. "You… you were watching?"

Sakuno searched his amber eyes thoroughly before she answered. "Each and every one…from beginning 'til end,"

"But how?" I never saw you…

"In most of your games, I was only on break from my part time jobs so I arrive just in the nick of time before it begins and I leave as soon as your match point hits the dirt. That's why I know that you're not your usual self from the very start of this tournament,"

Rolling his eyes before he closed it, he leaned back as he heard the leaves resound with the passing of a gentle breeze. Ryoma knew she wasn't lying when she said she's always present. Something blinded him in seeing this… it made him see only the part that Sakuno was always present in the other person's matches and not in his. "I thought you were watching his game?" He said under his breath. These sudden irritating realizations took most of his energy.

Sakuno smiled quietly as she peeked at his embarrassed face; an expression new to her eyes. "Are you jealous, Echizen Ryoma?" Arching her eyebrow, she waited for him to open his eyes.

Yes! Isn't it obvious? I've been messing-up more than ever! He remained unresponsive even as he felt her eyes on him.

"Well, you should be,"

NANI? His amber eyes snapped open then found her standing a few feet away from him with her back against him.

"He was my knight. He's sweet and caring. He made me remember how to smile again… how to dream again. The one who saved me from self-destructing. The one who could fill the void that was eating me whole…"

The empty Ponta can in his hand bent noisily as he unconsciously squeezed it. Hearing Sakuno talk about another man irritated him immensely but he kept listening.

"It wouldn't be difficult to fall for him since he made it easy for me to know that he likes me…"

"Enough!" Ryoma spat as he turned his head away in disgust. He thought he can handle it- hearing these things from her but his pain tolerance was lower than expected.

"That was what I thought," Sakuno continued then she turned around and stood right in front of him. "But in the years we were apart and when I was with him… no matter what anyone did… your position in my heart didn't change… even if I wanted it to,"

He blinked repeatedly before he looked up at her smiling face. "In the end, even if I have a knight by my side… I was always waiting for my prince," she gently placed her hand on his cheek then he smirked.

Sakuno leaned down and kissed him for all its worth. She made sure that the exchange would erase any kind of doubt about his worth in her life. It also contained the words they were yet to say in the time they were forced to spend without the company of each other. The crumpled can landing on the ground was ignored as their 'conversation' continued passionately.

His brilliant blue eyes burned in anger as he witnessed the scene. His blood boiled as he saw his hands wound around her waist, his lips sealing hers… and the mutual smile they had after.

Little Falcon: Read and review please, okay?