Well, this is a short story on how Sakuno will get Ryoma in the end. I decided that the only way to make Ryoma notice her was if she beat him in a tennis game, and she would need my help with that. Now I know Sakuno seems OOC, but in my mind she has a darker side she can't let out normally. And even the kindest person ever can't help but feel fed up by Ryoma's denseness once in a while.

Disclaimer: the only things I own in this story are Hana, because she's based on me, and Pierre. I don't own Prince of Tennis. I don't even own a tennis racket.

~X~

"Mada mada dane, Ryuzaki"

Ugh! That arrogant bastard, I will to punch that smirk of his face!

..Oh, who do you think you're kidding Sakuno, you want to KISS that smug grin of his face! But that somehow doesn't seem as something Shy Sakuno would do... I think I just have to blush and stutter now.

"G-good game Ryoma-kun"

"Hn."

And... He walks away, typical. And "Hn" what is that supposed to mean? "Yes, Ryuzaki, you too" is that so hard? No, it isn't. Maybe he's just stupid or something.

Or maybe, he just can't be bothered to talk to you Sakuno, more like; he can't even be bothered by your existence. Great, now even my subconscious is against me!

You see, me and Ryoma-kun just ended a friendly tennis match -6-0 for the samurai junior... Do you even have to ask?- at a public tennis court. When I walked by and saw him, I just had to call his name, the guy is my crush after all, I couldn't help it and that's why I ruined a perfectly uneventful and therefore wonderful shopping trip. I swear, that guy is like a vampire, sucking away all my happiness. Or was that a Dementor? Oh, Who cares!

Anyway, after having said two words to eachother, we somehow ended up playing tennis. This in turn let to my complete and utter defeat.

I should really just give up on the tennis prince. He should just date his tennis racket. Okay! I'm going to give up on him!

….

…

..

…Okay, that didn't work. Shame, but it was worth the try. I guess love is not that simple huh?

Ugh, I swear I get so depressed of everything that is Ryoma Echizen. Why in the name of tennis, couldn't I have fallen for let's say... Horio.

…Oh ew, bad example! I'd date that Atobe guy before I'd date Mr. Unibrow. Don't take me wrong, he is a great friend but...

"Hey, you there! What's with the long face, boy trouble maybe?"

A girl, a very short girl called out to me. She had a tennis bag on her back. Well, time to stutter!

"N-no, I'm f-fine, thank you"

"You girl, are a very bad liar. Tell me what's wrong, maybe I can help!"

"N-no t-thank you…"

"Oh, come on~!"

She didn't look much older than me, had short blond hair, an overly happy look on her face and she didn't seem to take no for an answer. Time to play the shy girl card.

"W-well.. I don't really feel comfortable talking t-to a s-stranger… But really, I'm f-fine... "

"Stranger..? Oh, how rude of me! I wouldn't want to talk to someone either if they didn't give me their name! I'm Hana Sakamoto, from Rikaidai!"

Plan A: Failed. Plan B: Convince her that nothings wrong by acting happy and sweet.

"Nice to meet you Sakamoto-san, I'm Sakuno Ryuzaki, from Segaku"

"Ohh, so you CAN speak without stuttering!"

I can just feel myself getting red.

"Y-yes I guess so..."

"And call me Hana! Sakamoto-san is my father!"

"..Sure Hana-chan"

"Hana-chan huh.. How old are you?"

"14 years old, and you?"

"Haha, believe it or not, but I'm 16 years old!"

16 years old... but she's the same size as me! Is she a midget..?

"No way"

"Yes way Sakuno-chan, I'm your senior!"

Okay, I have to admit that up close, she looks more mature than me in some ways, she's just ridiculously short!

"W-well Hana-senpai it is then…"

"Cool! When you say it, it sounds so cute!"

There I go... blushing again. Someone should really make a medicine against blushing. I would kill for it, no maybe not, well…some people who just deserve it...

"Now tell me what is wrong, senpai's order!"

"Okay, you were right... It's a boy. "

Maybe she'll leave me be if I tell her of my miserable existence.

"I like him, I like him but he is an arrogant bastard who only ever thinks of tennis"

Hana looked at me with wide eyes, then a Cheshire cat grin forms on her face. Oh God...

"Ha! I knew you weren't as shy and sweet as you try to be!"

And... I blush again.

"I guess that's just the impression people get of me, I wouldn't want to disappoint them"

"Though I'd like to say it's best to just be yourself, I'd be a hypocrite, 'because that's exactly what I do sometimes..."

"You do?"

"Yes. But now for your problem, I can understand the matter completely, knowing some tennis players myself. Tell me, is he talented?"

"Oh, yes.. As talented as you get them."

"Ah… So he actually has a reason to be obsessed by tennis"

"Yeah, He even has a reason to be arrogant as hell…"

"I see… Is he cute?"

And… Blush once more~!

"Very"

"Okay… Does he do anything besides tennis?"

"I honestly have no idea… it seems unlikely"

"Hmm… This crush of yours, is his name Echizen?"

Oh God, she knows him. Cue the blush.

"Y-yes! Ryoma Echizen. How did you know? Am I that obvious?"

"Haha, maybe, but the reason I guessed was because I've been to most of the tennis games my school has played for the last few years, and I have seen your schools regulars. After that is was not a hard guess. Echizen has the looks, the skills and the attitude"

"You a tennis fan Hana-senpai?"

"I play a little, but I don't have the hand-eye coordination it takes to be a real tennis player. That and my tendency to attract balls, with my head…

No, if you want a real tennis fan you'll have to talk to my friend, who forced me to go to every tennis match with her so she can fangirl over them."

"I feel your pain… Though I had Ryoma-kun to look at"

"Ohh, but I had more than enough to look at…"

"Senpai!"

"What? Can't a girl enjoy the view once in awhile? You know I'm right, babe"

"I guess you're right…"

"Of course!

"Back to the samurai kid though, isn't he the son of Nanjirou Echizen?" she even knows his 'title', who is she really?

"I believe so.."

"Wasn't that like a major womanizer?"

"I have only seen him a few times, but he has this whole 'creepy pervert' thing going on you know.."

~X~

Somewhere on the other side of Tokyo, a monk sneezes. He scratches his head "There must be some hot chicks talking about me"

~X~

"I see… That is a sign he was a player in the past… "

"You think so…?"

"I know so. Tell me, has Echizen junior the makings of a womanizer?"

"If you don't count the looks… Then, no I don't think so, I often fear he's asexual"

~X~

Somewhere on a train on it's way home, a young tennis prince sneezes.

~X~

"In some ways that is a pro for you, you won't have to fear for cheating"

"But I also can't hope for an intimate relationship"

"Very true, but if the pervert genes are there…"

On that note, it started raining, and not softly or anything. It had all the makings of a rainstorm. Hana and I looked at eachother for a moment, then started running.

~X~

"So, this is better"

We are in small café. It's warm, dry and has a nice atmosphere. I like it. We were both drinking café latte.

"uhuh, but can I ask you something Hana-senpai?"

"Ask away!"

"Why are you trying to help me?"

"Why? Because you are my new friend, and friends help eachother! And when I saw you looking all down in the dumps I wanted to help you!"

For some reason I just got a flashback of the many times Tomo tried helping me, it wasn't pretty.

"That, and I just love things like this!"

"I see…"

Not knowing what else to say to that, I just sip of my coffee.

"Well.. while we were running, I have thought about the problem at hand"

Oh, God.

"The problem is, he doesn't notice you, not more than any other person in his life anyway, so I have come to the following solution: you have to make him notice you!"

Is this girl stupid?

"And how do I do that exactly?"

"Oh, that's simple: beat him in a tennis match."

Is this girl for real? I, crowned Miss Wobbly Hips by Ryoma Echizen himself, have to beat the before mentioned Prince of tennis in a tennis match? She's insane.

"You're insane"

"Oh honey, there is more then one way to win a tennis match, skill is just a small part of the game. "

"Huh?"

I know, intelligent replay, but I can't comprehend what she's saying, as I've stated before; she's insane.

"Intimidation and manipulation, those are the key factors"

"You want me to threaten Ryoma-kun? I'll tell you that doesn't even work with GUYS twice my size"

"Intimidation isn't necessarily threatening, I have to admit, girls of our size couldn't be scary if we wanted to. But since we are girls, which means we often play other girls, the only thing we have to do is be hotter or more beautiful than the opponent!"

"Why would that help anything?"

"because 87 percent of the female tennis players has blond hair, is snobby and is insecure about their appearance "

Somehow I just hallucinated that a certain glasses wearing character was before me, making Penal Tea.

"Yes…? And?"

"So if faced with an insanely hot opponent, they unconsciously pay more attention to their own appearance, and in doing so, make stupid mistakes"

"You have really thought this out haven't you?"

"There has been a time in the past when it was needed that I won a few matches, so I developed this strategy"

"I see… But there is one flaw in your plan, and that is that Ryoma-kun isn't an insecure girl"

There appeared a dangerous smile on Hana's face, oh crap…

"Don't you worry, because my strategy has a 'how to beat a guy' part too…"

"There is…? I'm almost scared to ask…"

"It's basically the same"

"…It is?"

"The first thing you need is an outfit!"

I have a bad feeling about this…

~X~

Fifteen minutes later I find myself at the mall…

"I-I don't think this even counts as an outfit anymore Hana-senpai…"

"Oh, nonsense! It suits you, don't you agree boys?"

A choir of catcalls and wolf whistles is heard. Just great, I'm going to get arrested for indecency before that tennis match even starts. This is where I draw the line.

"I think we should go for a little less 'tennis girl' themed stripper and a little more to the subtle side"

I said as I walked out of the changing room in my normal and nicely covering clothes.

"Oh, whatever you want honey, but I still say you looked fabulous in that last one"

"And I still say I looked like a prostitute"

"Don't be such a prude babe"

Sigh… this better be worth it.

~X~

Even though I only met Hana this afternoon, I think we are a going to be very good friends. Even if Mission: Get Ryoma-kun To Notice Me try: 1001 goes wrong, I'll still have made a new friend.

After another hour, Hana and I found the perfect tennis outfit. Even I have to admit that I look wonderful in it. It somehow shows of the curves I have and creates the illusion of curves (read: boobs) I lack. Also it's very, very red. I love it, and if that grin on Hana's face counts for anything than she does too.

After that we both decided that was enough for one day, traded phone numbers and promised to get together later that week to discuss the rest of the Strategy™.

I have to say that this was interesting, I have finally had an afternoon in which I could be myself again for a while.

~X~

The rest of the week goes by in a flash, I went to school, did my homework, (tried to) talk to Ryoma-kun, and went for ice-cream with Tomo. Nobody has noticed anything different about me so far. (Okay, there is a 90 percent chance that Inui noticed, but what doesn't he notice. I like to pretend that he doesn't pay much attention to me, for my own sanity.) But there was something different about me. I was working on the Strategy™. I would meet Hana on Saturday, because we (in her words) needed the whole day for character forming, and flirting lessons. A feeling of dread washes over me just thinking about it. I think I need a cup of calming tea… Maybe I can beg some of Tezuka-buchou…

…Before I noticed it was Saturday.

Hana called me beforehand, saying I needed to come over to her house for mission consultation. Let me tell you something, Hana's house scares me. It's a big, strange European house, it looks kinda out of place in a neighborhood of old Japanese houses. Like a elephant between a group of fridge's… Wait, what?

At the door I was greeted by a maid in an outfit… Well let's just say that tennis outfit I tried on at the mall was decent in comparison. I'm scared.

The maid (who somehow exuded professionalism despite the outfit) drops me of at a door which read:

Hana's Room

Don't enter without permission

So I knocked. Knowing Hana, entering without permission would lead to being killed slowly and painfully, tore in may pieces and send to Australia in a box. Or something like that.

"Sakuno-chan! Come in! We have so much to do and so little time!"

…And I was pulled in the hole of the demon, I mean Hana.

~X~

"Okay beautiful, get ready to rock 'n' roll"

"Okay, sure..?"

"First things first, are you sure Echizen is a guy?"

"Yeah, very sure…"

I'm turning red again, you would understand had you been there at the time, it wasn't pretty…

"I'd love to hear the story behind that, but that will have to wait."

"You really don't want to know…"

"Yes I do, but right now, it's time for the hair"

"The hair?"

I swear I feel like a parrot sometimes when I'm with Hana… Wonder why.

"Yes, I hate to agree with your love interest, but it's too long for tennis, or seducing tennis players. Also: a new hairdo will attract his attention"

"Alright, you win. As long as you're not shaving me bald, go ahead"

"Woohoo!"

~X~

And that's how I ended up with hair in layers, just below my shoulders.

"Ohh, smokin' hot baby!"

"Whatever you say"

"Oh, Sakuno, you know I'm right. This is going to work, if Echizen is a guy, he will have hormones, even if he's gay, he will consciously or unconsciously be attracted to you, it's in his nature"

"…"

"And if I'm right and he has some of his fathers pervert genes, then this will have even more effect"

"Okay explain Hana, how exactly is this going to make me win the tennis match?"

"That's simple…"

There she goes again, everything is simple to her. Life is simple in her eyes, I suspect she's crazy.

"If he looks at your legs or chest, he doesn't look at the ball"

Okay, that in some strange way, made actual sense. Nice and simple, I like it.

"I see… Somehow I don't think this is going to work on Ryoma-kun, he's way to focused on the game"

"There's where the next step of the Strategy™ comes in"

"Yeah…?"

"Yeah, and that is, be 'unconsciously' sexy"

And.. Cue the blush.

"W-what?"

" 'unconsciously' sexy. In the tennis game he will be focused on you, on how you move and how you play"

"Probably…?"

"So if you move sexily, he will notice"

"And how do I do all this stuff ?"

"For that we have to move to the dancehall, there is an instructor there who can help with that"

~X~

"Look, like this! Remember Sakuno Honey, sexy isn't JUST skimpy clothes, it's a move of the hips, a look in the eyes."

Right now I'm being taught how to move, 'dance' sexily by, by far the gayest French dance instructor I've ever seen. Shut up, for all you know I'm acquainted with a million gay French dance instructors! With the occasional comment from Hana, like just now. The moment the instructor (is name is Pierre) heard of my problem with Ryoma-kun, he insisted on helping. He sees to enjoy this greatly.

"I think I've got it…"

"Oui! You're starting to learn Cherie, move a little more carelessly graceful.. Like a cat! "

"Like this…?"

"Oui, Oui! Tres Bien!"

Pierre reminds me of Hana. Ten bucks say it's her father.

"Okay Honeybee, try this, I think it's perrrfect for a volley!"

At that moment, my mobile started ringing. It was Tomo.

"SAKUNO! WHERE ARE YOU? I WENT BY YOUR HOUSE AND YOU WEREN'T THERE! YOUR GRANDMA SAID YOU WENT TO A FRIEND, BUT I CALLED THEM ALL AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE YOU WERE I'M SO WORRIED AND….."

"Tomo, calm down stop screaming, I-I'm fine really"

"Where are you Sakuno? Are you lost? Stay where you are I'll get you! Is that music on the background, are you in some kind of trouble, are you inside a strip club or something, should I get the regulars to save you, Don't worry Sakuno, I'll save you!"

"N-NO! Tomo… I'm really with a friend, I'll see you Monday don't worry"

"With who then? What are you doing?"

"With Hana. Just talking really… playing some tennis"

You would never believe it Tomo.

"With who? But okay, If you're sure, but tell me all about it when I see you again!"

"Sure, bye Tomo"

"Bye!"

"Wow she's loud" commented Hana.

"certainement "

~X~

Four torturous hours later, I think I made friends for life with Pierre, can just about seduce anything with eyes, and am dead tired. But luckily, we're just halfway finished. (Please note the sarcasm). Because even Hana and her twisted mind had to admit that skill is at least some part of winning a tennis match. Oh, joy..

And that is how I found myself at the special Saturday trainings session of the Rikaidai tennis regulars.

The moment they heard of the plan to make Ryoma Echizen notice me they were all in for it, saying that the tennis prince very much needed a girlfriend. But skeptic about me.

"How is that little girl with the braids going to make him notice her? She doesn't seem capable of doing anything remotely aggressive". Asked Akaya Kirihara, the demon tennis player I believe.

You don't do you, demon kid… Time to put those long hours of training to use.

"What little girl with braids, Kirihara-san?" I ask, pulling my hair back, moving my hip a little and smiling in a way that would have made Pierre proud.

"Ouch! So perfect it hurts! Go Sakuno-honey~!" Hana cheers.

Kirihara turns quite a shade of red and stutters.

"R-Ryuzaki-chan?"

"The one and only"

The jaws of the Rikaidai regulars hit the ground (Except for their scary vice-captain, who just blinked).

Then Niou, the trickster, wolf whistles.

"Nice"

I smile at him, a little teasingly, I swear Pierre is crying tears of happiness right now, I can feel it.

"You are totally right, but I believe there is some tennis to learn…"

"Alright~!" the red haired sweets addict sang. Did I imagine that longing look Hana just cast him? Hmm I wonder…

"Come on Ryuzaki-chan, show me a swing.."

And so I learned how to play tennis thanks to the regulars of my school's greatest rival.

~X~

It's time. Time to see if the Strategy™ will prove to be successful. The only thing left for me to do is find a time where Ryoma is alone, with a tennis court in it's direct surroundings. Then the games can begin, literally. Maybe that place where I lost to him last time… it's worth a try.

~X~

So, this chapter is finished. This was supposed to be a one-shot, but I think it's better if I make it a two-shot, maybe with some Ryoma POV in it in the next chapter.

R&R!