This is the ending for Ryoma lovers. Enjoy.

Ryoma sat idly on his porch waiting apprehensively for Momoshiro to arrive on his bike to escort him to the party. Mentally he was checking off things that he would need for his evening.

'Present … check … Bathing suit … check … towel … check … am I missing anything?'

But before he could finish his train of thought Momo came riding down the pathway.

"Are you ready Echizen?" Ryoma

That afternoon people arrived one by one, all clad in swim wear and sun tan lotion. Everyone was out in the pool having a fine time, except for Sumire, who was sunbathing in a modest one piece.

'Things like this makes me realize that Sakuno doesn't have many girl friends,' Sumire thought to herself, 'More than half of the people here are male, and not just male . . . they are quite handsome also, I guess I won't have to worry much about her love life.'

There were only a handful of girls there. There was Sakuno of course, in a simple pink bikini. There was Tomoka, who wore a daring 'one piece' – a bikini connected with a single string. And then there was Ann, who was in a halter tankini and with a pleated bottom, almost like a tennis uniform.

As beautiful as the girls were, they weren't getting much attention as the normal person would think. This is because the boys at the party were extremely competitive.

Everyone at the party used to go to Seigaku, excluding Akira – who came to see Ann – and Kippei – who came to make sure that no one tried to do anything to his little sister.

All the male guests were in the middle of one of there infamous challenges, this time the sport was water volley ball. It was the standard rules; losers drink Inui's 'Penal Tea.' The final match was at hand and half dozen boys lay unconscious on the patio.

The pairs for the final match were Fuji and Ryoma vs. Momo and Kaido. The score was tied and the tension was raised, the last play had been made: a spike by Momo. It was Fuji's territory, but he let the ball go.

"Fuji-senpai, you did that on purpose!" Ryoma was definitely irritated.

"I wanted to try this batch; I heard that it is triple the strength!" Fuji smiled before gulping down the inedible goop, and immediately passed out. Ryoma followed seconds after, and they were both set to bed in Sakuno's room.

The hours passed by and the night seemed to cool everyone down. After the contest all of the 'men' had started to eat and the girls found time to sneak away and do there hair and dress for the evening.

"Hey, do you mind if I borrow those shoes?" Ann asked Sakuno, straying at Sakuno's boots. The girls were in Sumire's room getting dressed, Sakuno and Ann were getting dressed in front of the mirror. And Tomoka was putting the finishes touches on her ensemble.

"Yeah, the boots would go nice on with your shirt and jeans," Sakuno replied, "Hey can you help me when you are done?"

"Yup, can you help me lace the back though?"

"Of course," Sakuno began to help lace when Tomoka strolled out of the bathroom.

"Don't you think that that is a bit much?" Ann asked, raising her eyebrows at Tomoka's questionable outfit.

Tomoka wore a shirt that barely covered her stomach and a miniskirt that covered the top of her thighs. Her hair was parted to the left, in order to make her seem more sophisticated. Her face carried a noticeable amount of make up, her arms filled with bangles and her neck weighed down with necklaces. She definitely looked ready to party . . . maybe a little overly eager.

"I think that my outfit is just as modest as yours," Tomoka replied haughtily.

Ann wore a white halter top and boot cut jeans, hair let down and loose. She just applied some blush and lip gloss, she wasn't all that into the make up like Tomoka was. She wore a tennis bracelet that her brother had given her, and on her ears were simple hoops.

"Please don't argue with each other. It is my birthday, please try to be happy," Sakuno begged her two friends.

"Right," Ann agreed, "Let's just get you ready for the party."

"Yeah, we can't leave the guys without us for too long," Tomoka giggled and the mood was light once more.

The real beauty of the night was going to be Sakuno. She wore a kimono with a simple pattern. Half of her hair held in a bun with intricate chopsticks, the rest of it curled into tight ringlets.

"Your face is so nice that we don't have to put any make up on you, your skin is so beautiful already" Ann stood and looked at her handy-work, "Sakuno-chan, you look so beautiful!"

"Yes, very beautiful," Tomoka agreed coolly.

"Thank you," Sakuno blushed.

Down at the pool the boys were getting the pool ready for the evening. There were little boats with candles, paper lanterns, and wonderful food all over.

Kikumaru and the Golden Pair were sitting by the side of the pool. They faced the setting sun and gently let paper boat into the lake and lit the candles inside.

"Do you think that Ryoma will wake up soon?" Momo had a bit of a worried face on him.

"Of course he will, he is the most stubborn kid I know," Oishi replied.

"If anyone can do it Ochibi can!" Eiji agreed.

"That is where you are wrong," Inui interrupted, "The juice he had was triple the strength that the normal tea is, the only one who can revive from it quickly is-"

"Hey is there anything that you need?" Fuji asked the four clueless tennis players. He was obviously feeling in top shape.

"You're better already?" Momo asked in shock.

"Yes, the tea was actually quite good!" Fuji replied contentedly, "Is there anything you need?"

"No we're fine," Oishi finally replied, recovering from the awe.

"Okay," and with that Fuji left to find someone to help.

Silence spread by the pool-side, until it was broken with the bearer of bad news.

"The chance the Fuji is up to something is 89 . . . and the chance that Osakada is in cahoots is 100," Inui informed his former teammates.

"Why would Fuji do something terrible like that? He is a good guy!" Oishi replied contradicting his friend.

"Do you want the facts?" Inui asked pulling out a small palm sized notebook entitled 'Fuji/Oskada Conspiracy.'

"Where did that come from?" they all gasped in horror at how creepy the whole thing was.

"I started it after Fuji purposefully lost the match, which by the way is the first fact," Inui pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose, letting it catch the lights' reflection. He inhaled, readying his lungs for the long explanation.

"Fact two: Fuji requested the game and pairings,

Fact three: Fuji requested the extra strength tea,

Fact four: Fuji and Oskada seem chummy,

Fact five: They've been meeting every other day planning something

Fact six: Oskada didn't seem surprised that Fuji didn't get the volley ball

Fact seven: Fuji is in love with Sakuno-"

"WHAT?" the trio interrupted.

"Let me finish," Inui sighed irritatedly, "Fact eight: Oskada has been eyeing Ryoma more creepily than usually."

He closed the notebook, and placed it in his pocket.

"Now do you believe me?" Inui grinned.

"How did you know all of that?" Eiji wailed.

"It's obvious."

"Fuji is in love with Sakuno?" Momo repeated in shock.

"Yes."

"What are we going to do?" Oishi murmured.

"We can't do anything, it is all up to Sakuno now," Inui tried to look wise, but in reality, he looked a bit idiotic.

"Surely you have a probability of her choice!" they all cried.

"Of course I do, you just have to sit back and enjoy the evening. It is going to be very . . . entertaining," Inui finished sadistically.

That night was too beautiful to describe with words of any kind. The candle boats and paper lanterns gave the place a glow. Some ate food. Others talked. And a few brave souls danced, yes danced.

At first there was a very fast beat playing and they all gathered on the lawn dancing awkwardly. The girls were all dancing in the middle and the guys seemed to surround them, it was quite a sight.

Although the night was beautiful and exciting, Sakuno couldn't help but steal glances at her bedroom window praying that Ryoma would wake up and join her.

Then the time finally came, the moment of truth. The most crucial point in Fuji's plan: the slow dance.

Tomoka claimed that she was tired and had to rest.

Akira and Momo were fighting over who go to dance with Ann, while Kippei got himself ready to assault the one who won.

Her friends gone, she was the only person on the dance floor.

"Would you like to dance?" Fuji whispered into her ear scaring her.

"Of course," Sakuno replied, turning red yet again.

They sway clumsily back and forth, due to the fact that Sakuno was in a kimono. Eventually the got used to it and they flowed together was one. They laughed and smiled at each other as they swayed back and forth on the seemingly barren 'dance floor,' all the while eight pairs of eyes stay glued to them, watching their every move.

"Sakuno you don't seem to be fully enjoying yourself," Fuji noted, catching her peeking at her bedroom window, "He is fine Sakuno-chan, you should enjoy your evening," Fuji pulled her closer, not wanting to let her go.

"I'm sorry Shusuke-kun, I'm just worried for Ryoma-kun. He has been unconscious for such a long time-"

"Hush," Fuji murmured amorously, "He has been through worse scrapes before."

"Shusuke-kun, I-"

"Sakuno-chan, will you be my girlfriend?" he reached smoothly into his pocket, revealing a small box, he pushed it gently into her hand.

She opened it and inside wasn't jewelry, but a picture. A candid picture of her and under her picture it read, 'Beauty and Grace Command the world.'

She felt the full impact of just how romantic this moment was, just how perfect it was. But in her heart, there was no room to love Fuji in that was.

"I'm sorry Shusuke-kun, but-"Sakuno was on about to cry.

"Don't cry, I'll be okay," Fuji knew he had lost, and that he had to do the chivalrous thing. He kissed her chastely on the cheek and held her face to look into his eyes, "Go to him."

Without a word, she thanked him and scurried off.

Not long after she left Tomoka replaced her presence on dance floor.

"What are you thinking Fuji-senpai, you just let her walk out of your life so easily?" Tomoka scolded, "You need to be persistent! You need to-"

"Oskada-san is it worth having her love me if I hurt her to get it?" his eyes pierced through her, "I do this because I know she would be happier with him, maybe you should do the same."

"Good bye," and with that Fuji left a distraught Tomoka alone, in shock.

At a nearby table there were four boys smiling at the scene.

"That was just like a drama," Eiji said enthusiastically, "I give it five stars!"

"The drama isn't just over yet," Inui reminded him.

When Sakuno reached her room she opened the door and found a struggling Ryoma trying to roll out of her bed.

"Ryoma-kun," He turned and saw her.

"Ryuzaki I'm sorry I'm not at the party . . . I tried my best to wake up, but it seems that my body is temporarily paralyzed," Ryoma stammered, trying to find the right words. He tried to move again, but it was all in vain.

"Let me help," Sakuno rushed over offering her assistance, helping him position him comfortably.

"Ryoma-kun . . . thanks you for coming to my party."

"Sakuno-chan, I have a gift for you inside of my pocket, could you get it?" Ryoma tried not to act nervous at the strange request.

She obeyed him, slowly and carefully reaching her hand inside of his pocket retrieving the present.

"Open it."

Again she did as she was told. She savored the sound that the wrapper made when she crinkled the paper.

She had to catch her breath when she saw it, an Italian charm bracelet, with seventeen charms for her birthday.

"The first charm is a tennis ball," Ryoma explained, "The second is an onigiri for that time you made me a lunch and took it away, one is Ponta for all those times you offered drinks and I ended up paying, fourth is a cat like Karupin, next is a girl with braids, which represents you, then a racket to match the tennis ball, there is the kanji for blush since you constantly are blushing, then they are spaced out with eight hearts and at the center is your name."

She really liked it. She could tell that he'd put a lot of thought into it. She tenderly slid it onto her wrist.

"Thank you Ryoma-kun," she bowed her head humbly.

"You don't need to bow your head," Ryoma said embarrassed, "And I'm going to get you a charm every year as long as we're together."

Sakuno felt a mix of shock and happiness.

"When did you ask me out?" Sakuno smirked.

"I don't need to," Ryoma retorted cockily, and the both laughed together lovingly, not knowing of the four boys on the other side of the door listening to it all

Owari