The Biggest Ferris Wheel

Ryoma X Sakuno

Disclaimer: Gomen,I forgot this on the first part, but really, I DO NOT own Prince of Tennis. I am merely a fan.

a/n: This is it..!!!! The ending…!!! Now, I can start my Kissmark Sequel…! Sorry for dragging this for SOOO long… Please enjoy!

Summary: A new transfer student, a girl who excels in Tennis, a Ryoma in love, and a heartbroken Sakuno.

THE PRESENT (The Prince's Mistress)

"I tried to say it but…" Ryoma hesitated a bit, "it's always the words that got in the way.. It's hard."

Sakuno didn't say anything.

A minute passed by with the two of them only standing under their umbrella. Two minutes. Five.

"7:00 pm tonight," it was Ryoma who broke the silence. "there's gonna be an exhibition match at the Tennis Garden VIP Court. Please…"

Please what..? Her mind is screaming.

"Be there." Sakuno can figure out that Ryoma's voice was shaking, though it might come unnoticed for other people. Was it because of nervousness? Impossible.

"You want me to be there?" She emphasized those two nouns. Then she chuckled sarcastically. "Are you playing me? Again?"

Then she left. It too was hard, for her.

When she turned around the corner, she let her tears fall. For the umpteenth time, teardrops seemed to become her best comfort.

She didn't go straight home. She walked around the park. She saw a lot of people. Kids, mothers… and, yeah --- couples. It was so nice seeing couples smile, though it seems to add insult on her injury.

She was thinking about everything. About Ryoma. About their love. Nothing made sense anymore. Not that it made sense from the beginning, though.

She was thinking that everything was really senseless.

Deep in her thoughts, she didn't notice where her feet are leading her.

"No," she said as she finally noticed the various colored light bulbs up in the air, moving with the giant Ferris Wheel on which they are attached. "not here."

"Drop the honorifics and be my girlfriend."

"You used me."

"I, Ryuzaki Sakuno, will have nothing to do with Echizen Ryoma anymore."

Memories. Funny how she got to hate them. It hurts.

Yet, she found herself buying a ticket and taking a ride. How does it feel again? To be innocent? To be naïve? To be pure and unknowing of how cruel the world might be? This is where she left those, right?

The city seemed to be so small from up there.

It was a nice feeling. A little bit refreshing, and a little bit uncomforting. Mixed contrasting emotions.

It was then that her phone rang. She didn't have the knack for gadgets and she is hurting, so she just turned a deaf ear on it. When the phone stopped ringing she turned it off. She noticed that the rain a while ago has started to fall heavily.

She watched every raindrop.

Maybe, the sky is crying with her. She just loves him so much that it really hurts. It was her first time falling in love. It was her first time to be treated like that, too. She was afraid of it --- the pain.

There are conflicts residing within her. Her inner self is saying 'forgive him', yet his other persona is saying 'what if I get hurt again?'.

It's so frustrating. Love that is.

It's so funny how billions of people got hurt by this four-lettered word. Just how powerful is it? Just how unfair is it? Just how painful is it?

Its funny how there can be love that is never returned. How everyone seemed to be intoxicated in it, yet in the morning wakes up realizing that it is just temporary.

Now for her love is the four-lettered word that preludes tragedy.

The wheel stopped. It was time for her to get off the ride. She ran amidst the rain, for she had no choice. She looked for shelter, fortunately an empty shed was nearby. She looked up.

'Seems like the rain won't stop yet.'

She tried to think of someone whom she can call to pick her up. The rain is really pouring heavily. She turned her phone on. As soon as the phone picked up signal, it rang. Sakuno saw in the screen that it was Tomoka.

"Tomo-chan," Sakuno greeted her friend as soon as she pressed the receive button.

"Sakuno, where have you been?" Tomo-chan said loudly. "I've been calling you up since an hour ago. Is something wrong?"

"Nothing. Everything's alright, Tomo-chan." She said, smiling bitterly. She heard her friend heave a deep sigh. "Tomo-chan?"

"Ne, Sakuno," her friend spoke, "aren't you going to Tennis Garden tonigh? You know, Ryoma-sama is playing and ---"

"No." Sakuno cut her off in mid-sentence.

"Demo---"

"No, Tomo-chan. After what he did to me?"

Tomoka remained silent for a while.

"I didn't know you are stubborn too, Sakuno." Tomoka said angrily. "Why don't you try to open your eyes and see what's really going on?"

"Tomo-chan." Sakuno wailed softly.

"I am your friend and I want you to be happy." Tomoka replied. "Ryoma-sama had been asking for forgiveness plenty of times already. And everyone can see that he's sincere. Every time you ignore him, it's not only him that's hurting. You too."

She didn't speak. Yeah, she's hurting too and very much afraid.

"Sakuno, give him another chance. For the two of you who just began to love, aren't failures and mistakes included in the package? I mean, hello, Ryoma-sama asked for a rematch to defeat Tezuka-sempai. You cooked for Ryoma-sama over and over even if he doesn't compliment your cooking, expecting to hear satisfying words from him yet fail every time. Ryoma- sama tried over and over again to perfect his moves. Look at it this way. Ryoma-sama is fighting for what he really wants. And, that is you. Are you willing to fight for the thing that will really make you happy? Are you willing to follow your heart and be happy?"

Yeah, right.

"Thank you, Tomo-chan." Sakuno smiled. "You really are my friend."

"Wait, Sakuno, what do you mean?"

She turned her phone off. Yeah, right. How could she be so stupid? Everything may be unclear right now, but everything will change if the two of them will talk things through, right?

'I don't have to think anymore. Just follow my heart and be happy.'

She looked at her watch. Fifteen minutes before the start of the Ryoma's game. She looked at the sky. The rain is still falling heavily.

She covered her head with her school bag. She ran and tried to take a taxi, but every car that passed her were all occupied.

The rain fell so hard.

She decided to run. She's going to run towards the Tennis Garden.

Not minding the rain, she dashed as fast as she can. Not minding the slippery pavement and her clumsiness, she gets up every time she falls down. This might be her last and final chance to be with Ryoma. She can't afford to miss it.

She panted really hard. She's lost.

'Oh my God.' Sakuno prayed. 'Please let me be on time.'

She felt her cheeks getting hot despite her cold body. She's been running for what seems like a lifetime, yet she can't see any signs that she's near.

'Don't lose hope. I can do this.'

Tennis Garden.

At last. She can see it.

She ran towards the VIP Court, the only court in that place that is covered like a dome.

'I can do this!'

Hurriedly, she opened the door.

"No." She spoke softly.

"Eww.. whose that girl?" Sunako heard some whispers.

"Poor girl, she's so wet."

"And filthy."

Giggles.

Her hands dropped. She didn't make it in time. The game has already ended. Her eyes started to sting.

Whispers. Faint whispers were all that's left.

Suddenly, she felt warm hands curled on hers. Hands that really are so familiar that even in the coldness of the rain, the warmth will seep through.

"Ryoma-kun." Those were the only words that came out as she stare back at the feline-like eyes looking at her.

"Hn." He said. "Let's go."

He's back to his cold self, yet Sakuno couldn't help but feel relieved. He draped his Seigaku jersey over her shoulders and gave her his cap.

He's not the same cold, cocky brat anymore. He's more than that.

She chuckled.

"What's that for?"

"Mada Mada Dane, Ryoma."

---end---

Author's Note:

Anyways, to aterjsa, thank you for sending me a message on how you liked this fic. Hope you liked the ending, too…

Really, I'm having cold feet here.

To all who left a review, I'm so grateful to all of you. Those reviews really made me happy.

To everyone who would read this, feel free to leave a review, comment, suggestion, remarks, or even grammar critics. I would welcome all of it.. LOL..

Anyways, thank you so much!