Hi! I am back with the next chapter. I really need to think of the plot and fast. But they are slowly forming so for now this is the continuation. Thank you…
DISCLAIMER: The Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi Takeshi-sensei and Gakuen Alice belongs to Higuchi Tachibana-san. All rights reserved to the both of them.
Chapter 7: A Date with the Enemy
Chapter Summary: It was supposed to be okay but she was wrong about it. Totally wrong about it.
Friday:
"Do not let your guard down even if you're a regular or not," Tezuka reminded the team about the upcoming ranking tournament and everyone was all fired up about it, "Do something productive and don't leisure around."
"Hai!" Everyone agreed as well.
"We will have an early practice training tomorrow morning," The Captain said once again and looked at Ryoma, "Do not be late."
Ryoma looked away as Momo snickered. They others followed as well for they all knew the most 'punctual' person in the team.
Tezuka had ended the training that day so everyone prepared to get home. Sakuno and Tomoka were watching the regulars from the fence as they waited for her grandmother to finish her work that day. Mikan told her that they would be having their training tomorrow morning before their class started and then they would continue in the afternoon. Since Natsume would be joining for the practice tomorrow morning it would be the girl's turn to train her. Tomorrow would be just the two of them.
When Sumire got out from the club, Tomoka waved good bye to her and the two went home together. It was already night and she had just finished her homework for tomorrow when her phone suddenly rang.
'Moshi, moshi?'
'I forgot to tell you something.'
'R-Ryoma-kun?'
'Karupin likes milk you so better bring one.'
'Eh?' She blinked when he said that. Ryoma called her just to tell her that? It made her heart beat faster. His voice from the phone sounded so nice to her ears and she couldn't help but smile, 'H-hai… I will not forget about it.'
'Un.'
'Anou… Ryoma-kun…'
'What?'
'Good luck tomorrow.'
'…It's just a practice.'
'But still you do your best even though it's only a practice,' She said as she gripped her phone really hard, 'And good luck for the upcoming ranking tournament.'
'…'
'…'
'Sankyuu.'
'Hai.'
'Ja.'
'Ja mata,' She answered, 'Oyasumi nasai.'
They both ended the call after that. Sakuno went to the bed and thought what really happened. Tomorrow would be a wonderful day for her and she knew about it.
Next day:
They were at the rooftop at that meantime. Mikan was teaching her how to sense an alice user nearby and how to release her smaller portion of her alice when she was in danger. They were sitting in front of each other. Sakuno closed her eyes and tried to observe the alice inside her.
"Feel them nearby but don't let them feel you," Mikan advised staring at her closed eyes, "Use your barrier alice while doing so."
She took a deep breath and tried to concentrate, "I can't feel yours, Mikan-chan."
"It's because I am using my alice against you."
"Your nullifying alice?" She peeked an eye at her.
Mikan nodded and continued, "Release your alice and let me feel it."
She concentrated once again and tried to transmit the portion to her.
Mikan smiled when she finally did it, "That's enough. You don't have to release more than that."
"Really?" Sakuno answered opening her eyes, "I am slowly getting used with the alices now."
Mikan smiled at her as she held her hands, "Just promise me one thing, Sakuno," She started looking intensely to her eyes, "Do not use the healing alice if it isn't necessary to do so."
She frowned at her when she gave her that advice, "I… I promise."
"Thank you."
"But why am I forbidden to use it?" She asked her.
Mikan was shocked when she asked her that, "It'll be best to hide it. People from my place are already looking for the stones if they figured out that you have those alices, they would force them out inside you."
She nodded as she looked away. She knew the consequences when the stone was forced out to her body. Her life would be at stake if she let her guard down.
"I am really sorry about this." Mikan apologized once again.
Sakuno gripped her hands that she was still holding, "Please don't be. I don't blame anyone for this. In fact, I am glad that I was able to meet you guys because of these stones inside me."
Mikan smiled at her and gave her a surprising hug, "Sakuno! You really are kind. I hope Hotaru is really kind like you."
She tapped her girl's back as she blushed. She was talking about a girl named Hotaru. Perhaps she was the girl's best friend in their world just like she had Tomoka in her world though. She wondered what the girl would look like. She also remembered her mentioning 'Ruka-pyon' before. She thought that they were interesting and she hoped that they could meet her friends in the future.
They released each other when they heard the first bell of the day indicating that classes were about to start that morning. They giggled before they stood up together and went to their own classes.
Later on:
Class ended smoothly and both clubs had practice that day. Their secret training would be until later. Sakuno was on their way to the court when she bumped into someone. If it hadn't for the person who bumped her, she would have met the ground. The person grabbed her hand before she could do so.
"Gomen," The person started, "I was not looking ahead."
She looked at the person and was pretty mesmerized by it. The person was pretty and brunette. He was tall as well and she thought that he was rather 15 or 16 years old of age. Judging from the person's clothes, she knew that he was not a student there.
"Miss?"
She blinked and blushed as she looked down, G-gomenasai," She then bowed vigorously, "I—I was not looking ahead as well."
The person giggled and replied, "You're pretty funny. Well, I was just looking for a school to enroll this break and I found this school rather interesting."
"Y-you do," She looked at him and smiled, "T-that's great! I hope you can get in."
"Thanks," He smiled as he closed his eyes, "I don't know the place yet and since I bumped into you, could you give me a tour for a while?"
"I—I loved too but," She looked away and at the direction of the court, "I have a practice to catch."
"I see…" He replied looking a little disappointed, "It can't be helped then."
"But I could tour you tomorrow if you like," Sakuno said suggesting to help him, "There's no class tomorrow too so you can observe each class by then."
"That'll be a great idea," He said and then looked at his own time, "I think you have to go, I'll see you here tomorrow morning in front of the gate."
"H-hai!" She said and then ran to the court's direction leaving the person there. She was pretty close at reaching the court when she remembered something, "I forgot to ask his name. I'll ask him tomorrow instead."
Night:
Her body was exhausted from all the training that she had. Tennis practice was tiring and Natsume's merciless trainings were even more exhausting. She dropped her body dead on her bed as she breathed really hard.
There were a lot of things that happened to her that night. She stayed there for a few minutes before she decided to change her clothes into something more comfortable to wear at home. She was brushing her hair when her phone rang and just like the any other day, a call from the tennis prodigy still surprised her to the fullest. Her heart was beating really fast when she answered the phone.
'Hello…'
'Let's meet tomorrow morning."
'Eh?'
'I'll bring Karupin.'
'Ah, yes,' Sakuno nodded in agreement then she remembered something, 'G-gomen Ryoma-kun, I can't go in the morning.'
There was no reply until a few seconds, 'Why?' He asked her.
'I… I sort of met someone today a-and he asked me about touring the school tomorrow morning,' She explained. She was happy that Ryoma called her just to remind her of their little 'meeting' tomorrow. But she couldn't commit her whole day to the boy, 'Why don't we meet in the afternoon instead?'
'…'
'I—Is that possible?' She asked.
Ryoma didn't reply so she thought that he didn't agree about it. Truthfully, they made an agreement before but she didn't know what time they would meet so she thought that she could buy some time for the other chores and that was to tour the new guy that she met a while ago.
'One pm sharp.'
'Eh?'
'Tomorrow in the park.'
Her eyes blinked when he cleared it to her. So he still on with their agreement. They would meet in the park and play with Karupin there. She was thrilled that Ryoma didn't back out of their conversation. She smiled as she replied, 'Hai.'
'Go to sleep now, you're tired.'
Her heart was really beating fast at the meantime. Ryoma had been a keen observant about anything. She didn't know how to contain all of her emotions at that very moment, 'Y-you do the same. I know you're tired too.'
'Un, ja mata.'
'Hai.'
And then the call was ended just like last night.
xxx
He sighed as he ended the call. He was staring nowhere after the call that he made. So, the rumor was true. During his ponta break, he heard some girls talking about her meeting a brunette guy in the hallway. The guy was not a student as they talked about him. But the guy was planning to enroll and for some reason, he asked the girl to be his tour guide.
His brow twitched at the thought. She shouldn't be talking to strangers like that and offered to be a tour guide to them. It was a bit stupid of him not to voice his thoughts out to the girl.
The girl was easily trusting to others.
Karupin suddenly jumped to his lap, cutting him from his reverie. The cat meowed at him and cuddled further to his shirt. Sighing, he lifted his cat to level his eyes and plopped his back down to his bed. His hands were extended so that he could still level Karupin's eyes to his with the steady position.
"Can't believe she'd chosen a stranger rather than us, huh?" He muttered observing the cat's reaction. But Karupin just meowed at him. He narrowed his eyes and muttered another word, "Stupid Ryuzaki."
Sunday morning:
She slowly made her way to the school gate. To her surprise, the brunette guy was already there leaning from the post near the gate. She hastened her pace to reach him.
"Ohayou…" She greeted as she smiled and bowed at him.
"Ohayou," He smiled back and bowed at the same time, "Thank you coming and being my tour guide today."
"Betsuni," She said waving her hand in front of them, "Did you wait long?"
"Nah, I just got here," He said and then gestured himself inside, "Shall we go inside?"
"Hai." She nodded and then walked ahead of him. She didn't notice the guy's reaction as she walked to enter the school.
xxx
The tour wasn't of a hassle to begin with. She was glad that the brunette guy could easily understand her explanations and the places were not that easy to forget. She knew that he was not directionally-challenged like she was and it was still a miracle that she hadn't lose track of the place yet.
And that was what she thankful for.
They continued the touring until they reached the last place that she preferred to visit the last. It was the tennis courts… for both boys and girls divisions.
"W-well, this is the last place that I wanted to show you today," Sakuno smiled as she faced him. "I hope that you like this school once you get in."
"You bet I will," He smirked for the first time, "This place is great."
She nodded as agreement. She watched him enter inside the court and looked at the area. She was a little worried because he was not allowed to enter the field unless you are a member of the club. But since no one could see them, she let it go. She followed the brunette guy inside and talked;
"This is where I usually play," She said touching the net, "Well, at least at our court that is."
"I see… you must be a good tennis player then?"
"Me? I-Ie. I still have lots more to work on."
"Really?"
"Hai," She replied then remembered something, "Gomen but I didn't get your name."
"Yeah, stupid me," He scratched his head and the back of his neck, "Do you really want to know my name?"
She blinked her eyes twice and replied, "H-hai."
"Okay then," He replied then he became serious and slowly touched his ear and continued, "Come here closer."
For some reason, she followed his order and walked closer to him. She was then standing in front of him. Her eyes widened when the guy smirked as he tipped her chin up and talked;
"You're a good girl, Ryuzaki-san," He said as he smirked once again, "My name's Reo, Mori Reo by the way."
"W-what?" She was surprised when he called her by her name. She hadn't told him her name yet. Blush appeared to her face as she realized what he was doing. He was drawing closer to her face and she had begun panicking.
"Thank you for the tour and now it's my turn to make my move to repay you."
Before she could even understand what he was about to do. A ball passed between them making the two separate from each other.
She didn't know what really happened but she felt like she was being hypnotized or something. When she recovered, she looked at the direction where the ball came from. Her eyes widened when she recognized the person but she couldn't call out his name at that moment.
"Echizen Ryoma, right?"
She was surprised when Reo called Ryoma to his full name.
"It seemed that you sensed my alice," Reo smirked as he face him, "Are you by any chance an alice user now?"
Ryoma didn't reply to his question. Instead, he narrowed his eyes at him and said another word, "Stay away from her."
"Hmmm," He reacted walking a little far from her, "Seems like your knight in shining armor is here to save you."
Sakuno was rather confused… at everything. She didn't even understand what they were saying.
"Ryuzaki, come here." Ryoma firmly said to her.
"R-Ryoma-kun…" She said as she was about to walk closer to him.
"No stay there." Reo said ordering her again.
For some reason, she obeyed him. She wanted to use her barrier alice but she couldn't. Her ability to concentrate was blocking her with some force that she couldn't understand.
"Teme…"
"You stay there as well." Reo as he looked at him.
He was shocked when Reo ordered him that and for some reason, he couldn't disobey him.
Just what in the world was happening at the moment?
Reo walked closer to her and reached for her face, "I am sorry but I have to do my work. I need to get those alices inside you now."
"Stay away from her!" Ryoma shouted as he tried to move but no to avail.
She was still speechless and didn't know what to do. She was about to scream when she sensed something thus, making Reo turn his back on her;
"You stay there either!" He said showing his whole palm to someone, "Natsume!"
"Tch," Natsume gritted his teeth as his flame was put to diminish. Good thing that he took a walk around the school and sensed an alice user in the vicinity and he was not mistaken about it, "You're such a pain."
"N-Natsume-kun, Ryoma-kun." She said trying to calm down. All three of them were stuck at his alice for some reason.
"You shouldn't have listened to everything he says. He had a voice pheromone that every person could unwillingly follow once it was heard." Natsume explained as he glared at Reo with his red eyes.
"Considering that you know my alice, you still let your guard down," Reo said making Natsume cuss incomprehensive words. That alone got him an interesting idea. He thought that he might have a little entertainment before he could get to his purpose. He studied the three of them and already had ideas from his subordinate.
"This is rather interesting," Reo said catching their attention, "Prepare yourself for a little game."
"W-what game?" Sakuno stuttered.
"Let's call it," Reo smirked at the three of them, "Make Echizen jealous."
"What?" The three of them reacted when he said that.
"That's ridiculous." Ryoma said gritted his teeth even more. He knew that it was something that he would not like.
"I assure you it's not," Reo said and touched his ear once again. Natsume noticed this and shouted;
"Don't listen to him. Just cover your ears as possible."
But it was too late for Reo had already given the order as he remove his earing making the three of them shock in the process.
"Ryuzaki-san should kiss Natsume for a minute."
Sakuno's eyes widened as she heard what Reo said. Ryoma and Natsume's eyes were no different to hers as well.
Kiss?
Natsume?
What was he talking about?
Before she could of anything, her own feet walked closer to the raven haired boy. Ryoma tried to move as he followed her movements.
"O-oi!" Amber eyes kid tried to call out to her.
"M-my feet are… moving on their own," Sakuno said blushing in the process. Her eyes went to Natsume's location. He was rather shocked as well.
"Try to break it."
"Stop talking Natsume," Reo said and then looked at Ryoma, "You watch their wonderful scene and enjoy it."
Ryoma glared at Reo and began cussing as well. He gripped his hands tight as he couldn't do anything. He didn't like the fact that he was ordered to follow the guy reluctantly. He didn't like the fact that he was seeing the girl slowly walking closer to the fire alice user. What happened to the favor he asked to Sakura had gone to if he couldn't use it at a time like this?
He didn't like one bit of it.
Sakuno was already standing in front of Natsume and she couldn't stop herself from moving. She was about to give her first kiss to the person that she didn't like. She liked Natsume but not in a romantic way. But he would be receiving her first kiss. Natsume was just looking at her face, his eyes were already dilated and he didn't know how to react.
"N-Natsume-kun," She tried to voice out as she slowly raised her hands and placed them to his cheek. I… I am going to kiss Natsume-kun against my will. Her lips trembled as well as her hands. I… am going to kiss him… in front of Ryoma-kun. "G-gomenasai…" She whispered as she slowly drew her face closer to his face. She shut her eyes tight as she continued moving closer. P-please don't look at me…
"What are you doing?"
She opened her eyes when she heard someone talk. The others did the same thing.
"Stop doing that Sakuno!"
A strong wave emerged in the area after that. And in an instant, she had immediately walked away and collapsed on the ground. Natsume moved a few steps backwards and blushed a little as well. Ryoma didn't waste his time and charged in front of Reo.
"Teme!" He tried punching him but Reo was even faster. The voice pheromone alice summersaulted and landed at the other side of the court.
"Dang, and it was the most exciting part. Why do you have to come and interfere them," Reo said smirking and looked at the newcomer, "Mikan-chan?"
"Stop playing the people's heart, Reo!" Mikan took a step forward and shouted at him, "I'll never forgive you for this!"
"Hmmm," Reo said and sighed, "Too bad if you don't. Well, it can't be helped. I guess I need to go for now," He then looked at the other three, "We will continue the fun some other time."
"Matte!" Mikan tried to stop him.
"You better enjoy your stay here, Mikan-chan," Reo said looking at her, "Before that person arrives and takes away everything you've got." With that, he immediately jumped away from the place and went off somewhere.
The place was still tense after Reo left the place. No one said a word. Sakuno was still on the ground looking down. Natsume looked away and his face was unreadable. Ryoma didn't move from his last position and just like Natsume his face was also unreadable. Mikan observed everyone inside the court. She just finished a call from the Alice Academy and something worse had already happened.
Reo was in Seigaku so it only meant that that person was also there. She bit her lower lip as she tried not to think about it. The fact that Sakuno was forced to kiss Natsume a while ago bothered her as well. It seemed that the girl was shocked at her own involuntary actions as well.
"Sakuno, are you alright?" Mikan called out to her and slowly walked closer.
Sakuno flinched when she heard her voice, "M-Mikan-chan…" She looked at her and asked, "J-just… what happened a while ago?"
It took a long time before Mikan answered her, "Reo used his voice pheromone on you. You do things at everything he says even though it's against your will."
"I… I see…" She blinked twice. She could see the trembling from her lips. It was a mere inch before their lips collided. She would definitely feel worse about it if she didn't come in time. Sakuno suddenly stood up not missing to move a little clumsy. She walked away a little further.
"Where are you going?" Mikan asked.
The others watched her leave the court. She was not even looking at them.
"I… I need to be alone… for a while," She murmured which was enough for them to hear, "Gomenasai."
"Sakuno…" She muttered as she felt sad for the turn of events. She couldn't blame the girl for that. Who would like doing things that had been forced for you to do? She would definitely feel the same thing. She also looked at the two boys around her. Ryoma and Natsume had their own thoughts as well…
Probably having their own to deal with.
Mikan looked away as well. She knew that they had to solve the problem before it got worst.
Done! How was it? Okay, Reo came into the picture now and he almost ruined the relationship of the four. What will happen next? Everyone was having a hard time? Who would do the first move? Find that out in the next chapter.
Reviews please… thank you very much…
Next Chapter: Let's date