Our Moments Prince of Tennis Fanfic

One Heart-racing Month

A/N: I'm going to use a little bit of Japanese here, but not much. This is going to be a very long fic, so bear with me. If any of you are confused, visit my page.

The first chapter is kind of rocky, please excuse my writing.

Day One

Normal POV

Sumire Ryuzaki had a problem: She was going to Hawaii for a month and didn't know what to do with her granddaughter, Sakuno. Sakuno's parents had died in a car accident when she was little, so, well, you know. Then she had a lightbulb-worthy idea. She would have Sakuno stay over at her old student's house! She was sure Nanjiro wouldn't mind.

-1-

"Oi, Echizen!" shouted Momoshiro. "Ryuzaki-sensei wants to see you!"

Ryoma tipped his hat in acknowledgment and went in to Ryuzaki-sensei's office.

"Ryuzaki-sensei, Momo-senpai said you wanted to see me?" said Ryoma, looking bored. Sakuno was also in the office.

"Yes, I'm going away to Hawaii for a month, so I asked your father if he would let Sakuno stay with your family, and he said yes. Please be nice to Sakuno and if she's upset, I know who to ask." Ryuzaki-sensei explained that last bit with a menacing glare.

Ryoma cringed. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good. That's all." And with that, she dismissed them.

"I'm sorry if I'm going to be a bother," said Sakuno earnestly. Ryoma didn't reply. Sakuno sighed and walked on.

-1-

Ryoma pushed open the gate and led the way into his home.

"It's very beautiful," complimented Sakuno.

"Hn," grunted Ryoma. "I'm home!"

A beautiful college-aged girl came to the door. She had blue-black hair and azure eyes. "Ohaiyou, I'm Meino Nanako, Ryoma's cousin. You must be Sakuno! Is that alright if I call you that, Sakuno-chan?" she asked, beaming.

Sakuno couldn't help but be pulled into her happy demeanor. "Hai!" she answered, cocking her head to the side a little and smiling sweetly.

"Gosh, Sakuno-chan, you're so cute!" exclaimed Nanako and Nanjiro, the latter hugging Sakuno.

"Baka oyaji," mumbled Ryoma as he climbed up the stairs past them.

"Otou-san, I think Sakuno-chan's getting a little uncomfortable," said Nanako pointedly.

"Hai, hai," complained Nanjiro as he released the prettily blushing brunette. "Sakuno-chan, why don't you bring your bags up to Ryoma's room?" suggested Nanako.

"Arigatou, Meino-san!" bowed Sakuno.

"Eh? Just call me Nanako-chan, okay?"smiled Nanako.

"Hai, Nanako-chan!" And Sakuno smiled right back.

-1-

Wow, Ryoma's room is so clean and organized! thought Sakuno to herself.

"You can put your stuff there." Ryoma gestured to the closet.

"Anou… where would I sleep?" asked Sakuno.

"Nanako will have something set up for you," replied Ryoma. "Dinner's in about half an hour, so if you want to wash up, the bathroom's right down the hall."

"Arigatou, Ryoma-kun!" said Sakuno.

"Hn."

-1-

The bathroom was also very neat and tidy. Sakuno took a shower, having set up her toiletries and whatnot before. She stepped out of the shower feeling refreshed. Quickly, she redressed in a purple and white long-sleeved scoop neck shirt, with a ruffled skirt. She went downstairs to find Nanako cooking in the kitchen.

"Hey, Nanako-chan!" said Sakuno cheerfully.

"Ah, Sakuno-chan!" said Nanako, turning around and facing her with a smile.

"Is there anything I can help with?" asked Sakuno.

"No, no, you just sit back and relax, okay?" replied Nanako.

"No, it's fine, really, it's the least I can do. How about I set up the dining table!"

"You're a guest! I can't let you do that!"

"No, I'd feel bad otherwise!"

"Don't worry, just relax! You're a guest!" And on and on and on.

-1-

When Ryoma arrived downstairs, the two were still kindly arguing. Irritated, he walked past them and said, "It's dinnertime already. Nanako, Western food again?" He made a disgusted face.

Suddenly, Sakuno's face lit up. "I know!" she cried. "I'll make you all a Japanese dinner!" And with that, she set to work, making sure everything was perfect.

"What smells so good?" asked Nanjiro as he walked down the stairs.

"Ryuzaki's cooking," replied Ryoma flatly.

"Mmm, you should bring home girls more often, Ryoma! They cook great food," winked Nanjiro.

"Shut up, baka oyaji," muttered Ryoma. "Besides, it's not like I wanted to bring Ryuzaki home in the first place. If anything, it's all your fault and it's one of your worst ideas ever!" This last part was said so loudly that as Sakuno came in with the dinner, she could hear it loud and clear.

Sakuno POV

When I heard Ryoma say that, I was shocked. Then, I just felt like I deserved it. After setting the dinner down, I quietly asked to be excused. I was going to pack up my stuff and leave.

Ryoma POV

Oh, crap. I mentally cursed myself for saying that in front of Ryuzaki. I was embarrassed, thanks to my baka oyaji, and it just slipped out of my mouth.

Without a word, I left the table, and went to find Ryuzaki.

I find her in the hallway, looking like she's about to cry.

"What are you doing?" I asked her coldly.

She turned around, startled. "Oh, Ryoma-kun! I was just going to pack up my stuff and leave. I know I'm being a bother to you all…" she trailed off. I'm shocked. Briefly, a thought flashed across my mind. Who said you could leave? Oh, kami. Saku- Ryuzaki is crying, and trying to hide it. She saw me staring and quickly hides her face. Dear kami. How do you deal with crying girls?

"Anyway, anou, if you could just tell your family that I'm not hungry and I'll be leaving, I'll go now," she said, her voice muffled by her hands. Then she turned around and ran up the stairs. I caught her wrist instinctively.

"Ryuzaki!" I said. She turns back around, surprised. I sigh. "Don't go," I said softly. For some reason, there's this part of me that wants her to stay. I have no idea why, but suddenly my mind flashbacked to something that happened earlier today.

-Flashback-

I walked down the hallway, yawning. I stopped suddenly. There was this guy, a grade above me, flirting with Ryuzaki. She was smiling and nodding. I felt angry. What were those guys doing, hitting on my Sakuno? Wait, what are you thinking? I thought to myself. She's not yours, you doofus. Yet, said an unrepentant part of my brain. I shook my of those thoughts, and continued walking.

Throughout the day, many more guys went up to her and flirted with her. I felt my blood boiling every time I saw them.

By the end of the day, I was so wrecked that Momo decided to wriggle some info out of me. I didn't even give him a chance to try out his, "Certified Psychologist Info-Wriggling!" theory.

I told him what happened to me throughout the day. He said that it's love, and protectiveness. I scoffed at him. Me, the great Echizen Ryoma, in love? No way. Still, I guess he might know, Ann being his girlfriend and all. But still, I'm definitely not in love.

-Flashback over-

Normal POV

"If you go, I'll have to eat Western food for the rest of the month," Ryoma said coldly. "At least with you around, there'll be someone who can cook good Japanese food."

Oh my. Sakuno felt quite surprised. "Hai," she replied meekly. "I'll stay."

He nodded, satisfied, and walked away.

Sakuno POV

I watched him go, smiling wistfully. As I trudge up the stairs, I think about me and Ryoma's relationship. The last few weeks of the summer before junior year he spent in America. And then he came back to Seishun Gakuen for junior year. Everybody thought he would go to America and further his career, but he came back. I was so happy. I suppose over the course of junior year we progressed a bit to become actual friends. And now we're third-years. Momo-senpai and Kaidoh-senpai are freshmen in high school, and the rest of the tennis team are juniors in high school. They're still at Seishun Gakuen, did I mention? But Ryoma? He's still the same. Same old, same old, right? I still haven't gotten over him. I tried to, the summer before our third year, when he went to America again, after attending the Japan Nationals. Rumors kept popping up about him and this American girl, Alicia. Blonde hair, blue eyes, the whole package. I saw her face on a magazine that Tomoko forgot at my house. She was very pretty, and she was a model. No wonder that Ryoma would ever pick her over someone as clumsy, shy, and nervous as me. Though, I can tell you, I'm not clumsy anymore. Last year, obaa-chan made Ryoma teach me tennis. And what do you know, I got better! If there still was a girls tennis team (they disbanded it after they found out that the girls were there just to watch Ryoma), I would be captain. I've become less shy, too. Now I have several senpais for friends, but they're more like sisters. They used to be on the tennis team, before it got disbanded. And Tachibana Ann transferred to Seishun Gakuen, so she's one of my friends too! I found out so many things about my senpais by being their friends. For instance, Ann likes to cheer. She's on the cheer team. Mashiro Suki, Ann (both freshman in high school), Churumaru Lucy, Aozuki Beth, Minami Natsumi, Yagome Isabelle (who we call Izzy), Azuki Mitchiko, and Roka Sofie (all juniors in high school), are my friends. Suki likes to draw, and she's definitely an artist. She's the head of the art club. Lucy likes to cheer as well, along with Mitchiko and Izzy, which is why the two of them are also on the cheer team with Ann. Beth is a writer; she's president of Writer's Nook, and the head editor of our school newspaper. Sofie reminds me a lot of Inui-senpai. She's mainly a tennis player, and she coaches anyone who wants to play tennis. She's a data player. Natsumi is a sadist, rather like Fuji-senpai, but her intentions are good, like him. Of course, Tomo-chan does the "Advice from Me" column for the newspaper.

And then there's me. I'm a singer. I'm head of vocal club. I still play tennis occasionally, though, with my friends. With their help, I no longer stutter or blush. Yay me. Yet Ryoma still doesn't notice me as anything other than a friend. I still love him.

And then I collapsed on the bed, bolting out of it a second later. Mou, that was Ryoma-kun's bed!

-1-

Ryoma POV

Good, I'm satisfied. Ryuzaki's staying.

"Ryoma, Ryoma!" said Oyaji slyly. "Thinking about your girlfriend, Sakunooooo-chan?" he cackled gleefully in a sing-song voice. Ugh. Baka oyaji. And that's exactly what I told him.

-1-

Normal POV

After finishing dinner Ryoma trudged up the stairs to do his homework. He opened the door only to find Sakuno crouched down on the floor, petting Karupin. Seeing his master, Karupin immediately left Sakuno and wound a figure eight between Ryoma's legs. Sakuno couldn't help but giggle at the confused look on Ryoma's face. Standing there, in a white t-shirt, red shorts, and rumpled hair, he looked so cute!

Ryoma sat down on the floor next to Sakuno, placing Karupin in his lap. He asked, "What's so funny?"

"The look on your face. Like you forgot that i was here and was confused why some stranger was petting your cat." By the end of this, Sakuno's face had fallen. He forgot about her? Probably.

Ryoma noticed Sakuno's expression and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Ne, Ryoma-kun?" she asked. "Do you think of me as a friend?"

"Hai." And he was relieved to see her mouth smile afterward. "You look better when you smile." Oops. That just slipped out.

"A-arigatou." Ah! The stuttering and blushing came back halfway.

"Hn." Ryoma looked elsewhere.

"Ryoma-kun, can i use your desk?" she asked.

"Hai,"

-1-

Fifteen minutes later, Sakuno was twirling a lock of hair absently. She had discovered her talent for languages only two months ago, when school started, and now she was thinking over a particularly hard Italian question. She thought for a few more minutes, then wrote down her answer. With a relieved sigh, she put her homework back into her bag. She then turned curiously over to Ryoma, who was flopped on his bed, earplugs connected to his iPod. She giggled. Who knew Ryoma liked such ordinary things like music!

"You want to listen?" he asked her. Shyly, she nodded. He motioned to her, and she came closer. He rolled his eyes and pulled her into bed with him. And she blushed. Obviously! She was lying on his bed a mere six inches away from him! He handed her an earplug, and they listened to We the Kings together. And like that, they fell asleep. Side-by-side, and by the middle of the night, hand-in-hand.