Title: To Love
Rating: PG
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Ryoma x Sakuno
Disclaimer: Nope, nope and still nope.
It was during the last year of middle school that she uttered those words to him for the first time. Ryoma had paused in his eating, and stared down at the bento boxes she had packed for him. Everything was silent for a while, and Sakuno felt the weight of the unsaid rejection crush down on the air.
"G-Gomen nasai, Ryoma-kun." Her shattered voice seemed to mirror her shattered heart as she clumsily stumbled up, tears threatening to spill. She bit her lips tightly and turned to leave.
"Ne, Ryuzaki," Her hand paused on the knob; as the familiar voice drawled behind her, "Did you mean what you just said?"
A tear fell, and she clutched her skirt tightly.
"Hai..."
A gentle breeze swung past, and there was a sound of shuffling. Sakuno almost jumped when a hand clasped onto her shoulder and spun her around. Bright hazel eyes locked onto hers and the familiar swoop of butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She gazed back, not daring to look away.
"Then say it again." He ordered.
Sakuno shivered; her soul felt bare under the intensity of his eyes.
"I…" Her voice faltered and she gulped, trying again. "I love you… Ryoma-kun."
A torturous second passed, Sakuno felt her heart scream at the silence. She waited. Then Ryoma's lips lifted into a smirk. He yanked her towards him unexpectedly and almost laughed when she yelped in surprise. Her lips tasted like cherries and Ryoma was greedy to extract every ounce of it.
He didn't need words, his answer was given.
"Game set and match. Six games to four. Winner: Echizen Ryoma!"
Five years later, the same hazel-eyed prince stood at the centre of a tennis court, smirking as he lifted his racket towards the crowd, and laughed as they roared back in reply. He was world no.1 at last, not that it wasn't expected. His opponent stood up and amicably shook hands with the young crowned prince, and barely heard the trademark phrase before the crowd erupted into cheers once again.
"Ryoma-kun!!"
His ears perked up, and the towel dropped from his hands. Carefully, he pocketed a small box into his jacket before turning to see a pretty, braided young woman running towards him.
Ryoma caught her just as she threw herself into his arms, and smiled as the smell of cherries permeated his senses. Sakuno… She cried into his shoulders and he swung her around, knowing that she was crying out of joy for him.
"I knew you could do it, Ryoma-kun!"
He set her down gently, as Sakuno wiped her tear-stained face absent-mindedly. Her makeup was smeared and her eyes still red; but Ryoma never thought she looked any better. She brushed a strand of hair from his forehead and leaned into him, whispering, "I love you, I love you…"
Her lips touched his and the crowd "aw"ed at the scene. Blushing, Sakuno drew back quickly, clearly forgetting they were in public. But Ryoma laughed, and pulled her towards him again, capturing her lips in his.
After all, he grinned as his hand enclosed around the small box, this is how it was going to be for the rest of their lives, so she'd better get used to it starting right now.
Beep… Beep… Beep…
"Ano… Ryoma-kun…?"
Ryoma turned away from the window, where the sun was setting, and came to sit beside her. The heart rate monitor beeped monotonously in the background, but they had gotten used to it long ago. Gently, his calloused hands found hers.
"Hn?"
Sakuno stared at the man she married; no longer the handsome samurai who took the world by storm, and no longer the arrogant boy she had a mad crush on. But she found herself falling just the same; falling deeper and deeper as those feline eyes gazed into hers once again, no matter how long ago it was. And it has been a long time.
"Thank you," She said at last, pausing to take another breath. "Thank you for everything."
Ryoma blinked; and his throat hollowed.
"Is it time?" His voice is hoarse, but he didn't bother to clear it. Every moment was precious.
An old and frail Sakuno nodded, her once-brown hair was now grey but still she insisted on wearing it in a single plait. Her face has wrinkled through time and her voice was no longer crisp. Ryoma caressed her hands and barely noticed the warmth on his cheeks. Those innocent almond eyes shone as brightly as they did when they were seventeen, and looked through him; still so clear, still so kind.
"Ryoma-kun…" He had to inch closer to hear her now, for she was barely breathing the words out.
"I…" Her eyes fluttered shut, just as an expression of greatest peace settled on her features. "I will always love you… always…"
A gust of wind gently entered their little cottage, and drew the last breath out of Sakuno. Ryoma held onto her hand long after the heart monitor stopped, and his eyes never left her. His biggest fan, his best friend. His wife.
"Ahh…" Ryoma smiled, as he bent down to kiss her a last goodbye. "I know you will."
Author's Notes:
Great now I'm sad after writing that last line. Sentimental idiot that I am. The theme strayed from what I wanted to portray, but I like this new version just the same.
Hope you enjoyed it.