It all started when he came back from America...

"Hm, Ryuzaki?" a voice asked as he walked past a petite girl sitting, her back to a cherry blossom tree. The girl looked up, and took a moment to let her thoughts register as her eyes widened.

"Ryoma-kun!" she said, scurrying to get to her feet. Something came over her and she just had to hug him, and that's exactly what she did. Wrapping her arms around his neck, her head resting on his left shoulder, she smiled a smile that could be heard in her voice.

"You're back! I knew you'd come back!" she beamed. He looked at her with a confusion gracing his features. 'Why is she hugging me...?' Finally, she let go, looking straight at his face. It had been 4 years and his face had matured very handsomely. He had come back; he had come back for her. Or so she thought. But he came back, only to leave her again...

---

"Ohayo, Ryoma-kun!" she said, several months later in her usual cheerful voice that was slightly tainted by disappointment. Today was the day before summer vacation, and she knew she wouldn't see him for a little while, 'But at least he's here. And the next year will be a great new start with him!'

"Ryuzaki." he replied, acknowledging her presence. He looked at her, ironically quite sad to say goodbye. "Ryuzaki, I'm leaving to go back to America tomorrow." he added quietly.

"What?!" she said, gaping at him. He was leaving, he was leaving her? She couldn't believe it, after everything. Sure they were only friends, but ever since he'd come back, she'd always hoped that they would be more.

"I'm leaving." he repeated.

"No..." she felt a pang in her heart.

"Ryuzaki, I have to-"

"No, no! You don't get to do the leaving. You don't get to hurt me again. You're not leaving, you can't leave me. You can't!"

"Ryuzaki..."

"Just, just forget it." she whispered. "I can't believe you're just going to leave me like this again. Why'd you come back to begin with? To hurt me?"

"I'm sorry, but I have to leave for college in the U.S. I got a tennis scholarship to one of the best schools there. That's the best opportunity around for me right now. There's no other reason for me to stay if..."

"No reason to stay? What about me?"

"You...? We're friends, and I'll miss you, but..."

"That's just it! I thought we could be more than friends, I wanted to be more than that!"

"I..." Ryoma looked down. He knew she used to have feelings for him, but he thought she'd moved on. If he would've known... "I don't know if I understand."

"What's not to understand? I love you!"

"...you...what?"

"I love you! I've always loved you. But...but you don't love me too, do you?" she asked, holding back the tears. She was not going to let him make her cry again. If she could hold them back so far, she could make it. All she ever wanted to know was how he felt about her.

"Ryuzaki, I have to go. But maybe i'll...see you later."

"No, you walk out now and it's all or nothing. Goodbye or I love you. Tell me now...I need to know now!"

"Ryuzaki," he said sternly. He cared about her as a friend, but he couldn't put up with this for too long. "I have to go. I'll email you when I get there. Goodb-, I'll talk to you later."

And that's the way he left her. Her standing there, underneath the same cherry blossom tree they met underneath nearly a year ago, ready to fall apart, again. Never again would she love anyone the way she loved him and she knew it. Never again...

---

(A/N): Yeah this is kind of a short story. It's not a one-shot. Well at least I don't plan to make it one. But yeah, R&R and tell me what you think, and if I should continue it. Sorry if it's a bit OOC for some of of the characters, but I figured they'd be different as they've grown up, however I didn't want to spend an hour talking about how they've matured. Also if there are any grammar mistakes or anything you see, please tell me. It's always harder for someone to see their own mistakes, plus I wrote this on a notepad first then transferred it.