Hello! This is my first fanfic for The Prince of Tennis. I am not really original, another RyoSaku... It's kind of wird, since I prefer TezuSaku fics (maybe because they are hard to find? lol). Well, whatever... In this story, Ryoma and Sakuno are 15/16 (first year in High School) so if you've watched the anime (OVAs included) you'll find some weird things :P The same goes for those of you who have watched The New Prince of Tennis...

Anyway, I do not really know if I'm going to be able to post this fic regularly, since I am writing it in both spanish and english. Yep, english is not my mother tongue, so I'm sure there are mistakes... I just do not know how to correct them (and I probably do not see half of them...). I would like to have a beta-reader, but I haven't been able to find someone as of now... Some kind soul over there? lol Well, I'll do my best, and if you ever find some mistake or you want to give me some advice, it will be very much appreciated :)

I'll try to post it as regularly as I can, but I am slow writting, even though I have a sketch for every chapter of this fic.

Hope you like it!

Chapter 1. The unthinkable

They all have met at the entrance of the tennis courts. Since it was for a friendly tournament, only the regulars were there. All the other members of the tennis club were training, back in the school with the coach, who had asked Sakuno to be with them as the manager of the team. Sakuno wore the school's uniform and also had a basket with food to have a little picnic with them once the tournament was over.

However, they were starting to think they wouldn't be able to take part in said tournament. There were only ten minutes left for the inscription and Ryoma had yet to arrive. They had tried to call him, but not to avail. They only knew that he was in his way there, so it shouldn't take a long time for him to arrive.

"Should we start with the inscription?" asked Momo.

"Even though it's a friendly tournament, they won't let us if the team is incomplete", said Inui.

"Fsshh, baka."

"What did you say?!"

They started to fight, but only Oishi seemed concerned by it. Despite the fact that it had been three years since she had known them, some things hadn't changed, thought Sakuno while observing them with a smile. However, Sakuno was worried. At sixteen, Ryoma wasn't usually late. Maybe something happened? The girl looked up and down the street, searching for any sign of Ryoma but finding nothing. She sighed lightly and frowned. Where was he?

When there were only two minutes left, Sakuno searched for him once again, more and more anxious each passing minute. The other regulars were still talking, also anxious. It was then when Sakuno saw a white and blue figure with a big black bag running in their direction. She recognized him easily but, far from feeling relieved, fear invaded her. Ryoma was running to them, failing to notice the fast approaching of a car.

"Ryoma, NO!" shouted Sakuno at the same time as she broke into a run, letting go of the basket full of food.

The yell called the attention of the regulars, who saw her running away. Then, too late, they noticed what was happening. Ryoma, who also heard the cry, looked up in time to see her running to him. He stopped, confused, when suddenly he heard a car's engine, each second nearer, but he didn't have the chance to look at it.

Sakuno was now beside him and pushed him out of the way.

Surprised, Ryoma fell down, his head knocking the floor. Dizzy because of the blow, he heard a creak and two clashes. He sat in the ground, trying to figure out what had happened. There was a car stopped a few meters away and some black marks on the ground. His eyesight clarified and, remembering about Sakuno pushing him, he searched for her.

The moment Ryoma found her lying on the ground not too far away from where he was, it seemed like the world had begun to turn around once again after stopping for an endless second. He heard the engine's roar, willing the car to speed up away just when the regulars finally reacted and ran over where Sakuno was, calling her name.

All of the regulars stopped, paralyzed, when they reached her but they started to move just a second later. Oishi approached her, checking her condition while Inui called an ambulance and the police. Eiji and Momo, unable to keep looking at her, went to Ryoma to check if he was ok.

"Echizen, daijobu?" questioned Momo.

Ryoma, who was yet sitting on the road, didn't answer. Even though the other regulars blocked her from his view, his eyes didn't leave the spot. He stood up, staggering when his sight clouded over. He felt someone catching his arm, but didn't turn to see who. Instead, he walked forward to where he knew Sakuno was lying. Momo an Eiji tried to talk with him, but Ryoma never answered. Seeing he seemed able to walk on his own, Momo let his arm go and they both followed him.

Inui had already called the ambulance and the police, so he remained there with Kaidoh. Tezuka and Fuji, whose eyes were now open, went near Oishi, who was still kneeled by Sakuno's side with a very worried face. They all turned around after hearing Ryoma's voice.

"Sakuno…"

The whisper reached their ears, even though Ryoma didn't seem to be aware of it and his voice sounded weak and broken. He walked forward but, when there were only two meters left, Tezuka stepped in and blocked his way. Ryoma, however, didn't acknowledge it and simply tried to round him to keep getting closer. Tezuka, whose face remained blank even though the worry and the sadness where obvious in his eyes, surrounded him with an arm, almost like he was hugging the younger, effectively stopping his approaching. Both of them had grown taller, especially Ryoma, who was almost as tall as Tezuka himself.

Ryoma stirred stronger, trying to get to Sakuno, but Tezuka just tightened his grip and began to move him away without a word. Ryoma, still not fully aware of what was happening, turned around to face the older.

"Tezuka…let me go…Sakuno."

Tezuka and Fuji, who had approached to them, noticed the change of name but they both understood. Ryoma didn't know yet what was he doing or even saying. They didn't know if he was aware that Sakuno had saved him, maybe at the expense of her life, or if he just had a feeling something was wrong. What they did know was that he had recognized Tezuka, even if at that moment he wasn't important. Ryoma had addressed him only to attain what he wanted: to get to Sakuno. If Tezuka was his 'buchou' –as Ryoma always addressed him- and his senpai, it didn't mattered to the boy. Now, his world had been reduced to him, Sakuno and the person who prevented him to see her. Nothing more. Nothing less.

"No."

Tezuka didn't elaborate, fully aware that Ryoma's condition didn't allow him to be reasonable. So, Tezuka just refused while looking the golden and strangely big innocent eyes of Ryoma. Fuji, Eiji and Momo observed them, worried and serious, but the other regulars were focused on Sakuno like they were unable to stop looking at her. Tezuka continued to move him away, but Ryoma moved faster and stronger than what he had expected, successfully breaking free, and Tezuka couldn't stop him seeing her.

Sakuno was lying on the ground, but it was impossible to think that she was asleep. She had cuts all over her body and, although they were not too noticeable yet, she also had bruises because of the impact with the cars and the hard asphalt. However, the worst of it all, what made it impossible to think she was sleeping, was that below her head was a minute-growing blood stain, stealing away the color of her cheeks.

Oishi hadn't move from her side, checking her constants and trying, even if he knew it was futile, to make her react. Every now and then he looked both sides of the street, obviously hoping to see the ambulance. His knowledge of medicine wasn't enough for this kind of injuries. And he knew that, even if Sakuno was still breathing, she will die if she didn't receive treatment soon.

Ryoma, after seeing her, stumbled, but a second later he approached her while calling her by her name, now just a whisper, almost a plea, and with an extended arm towards her. Before any of the regulars could do anything, someone caught Ryoma, stopping his approaching again.

Kabaji.

People had gotten closer without them noticing. A driver had stopped his car in front of them in order to prevent another accident. Some passer-by were murmuring without helping at all.

When Ryoma started fighting against Kabaji's grip, the older one just tightened his grip, his face as stoic as ever, and started to move him away while turning around so Ryoma wouldn't see her. Then, Atobe appeared out of nowhere and, gripping his chin, made Ryoma raise his head and look at him in the eye. Those golden eyes were still wider than usual but, albeit the confusion was still present in them, the pain and angst had substitute the weird innocence Tezuka had seen.

Atobe's Corporation had promoted the friendly tournament, so he had invited Seigaku personally, hoping –though he would never recognized it- to defeat Tezuka and Ryoma. Atobe had been waiting for them with the rest of his team at the inscription's place but, seeing they were running out of time, he had went to the entrance with Kabaji, who was following him everywhere, as always. He distinguished the Seigaku regulars there, talking, but when he was about to make his entry, Sakuno's cry had him pinned there. He saw her starting to run and then pushing Ryoma away, who had stopped in the middle of the street without noticing the approaching car. He also saw the car running over her when she didn't have enough time to avoid it, causing her to fall hard on the ground. And, finally, he saw how all the other regulars woke up from the macabre trance and rushed to her side. He saw everything without seeing anything.

When he finally reacted, he called an ambulance and then approached them, observing without taking part until Ryoma broke free from Tezuka and saw her in the ground, more and more pale and blood filled. Too pale and blood filled. He made Kabaji stop him and approached them. However, when he looked at Ryoma's eyes, he discovered that there wasn't anything left from the arrogant rookie they all knew.

Atobe hold down Ryoma's chin with his strength and frowned, disgusted. He knew he was hurting the young one, but he didn't care and Ryoma didn't seem to be aware.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked Ryoma with a hard voice and still looking him in the eye. "She has just saved you. Do you think you're going to get something whimpering and calling her name?"

"You don't know a thing!" shouted back Ryoma, struggling stronger and almost beside himself.

"I do know. I've seen everything. And you're eyes also say everything. Guilt, remorse. Where's the arrogant prince of tennis now? If she could see you now, she would probably regret saving you" said Atobe, so annoyed that he even forgot to call himself 'Ore-sama'.

"Oi, Atobe!" exclaimed Momo, but Tezuka raised an arm to prevent him to approach.

Oishi and Eiji were looking at Atobe and Ryoma, worried but without taking part. Momo was furious, but obeyed Tezuka and didn't do nor say anything else. Kaidoh, Inui, Tezuka and Fuji –his eyes still open- looked at them without uttering a word and with a serious face.

Atobe saw a new glint in Ryoma's eyes: sadness. He let him go and straightened, his eyes always looking at him. Ryoma's endurance fade away and he bowed his head, although Atobe and Tezuka had already seen the tears collecting in his eyes.

It was then when, finally, they heard the hooters of the ambulance and the police. The EMT* and the policemen hurried to them, asking for what had happened. The regulars and the other witnesses managed to explain everything.

One of the EMT who had been trying to stabilize Sakuno's condition in order to drive her to the hospital turned to Ryoma once they learned he had been involved in the accident. Ryoma stood there, still, while looking at them helping Sakuno.

"Did you hit your head when you fell?" asked the EMT, Nakayama.

Ryoma didn't react. Tezuka approached him and called his name. Ryoma lifted up his head slowly and looked at them. Nakayama repeated the question and the lad looked at him, confused.

"I…I don't know."

Nakayama's face softened, understanding, and went closer to Ryoma.

"It seems you have knocked it pretty hard. You'll come with us to check there's nothing wrong. If you feel dizzy or you suddenly get sleepy, tell me" he said, seeing him grimace in pain when he pressed a point in the back of his head.

Despite the EMT was talking to Ryoma, he also looked at Tezuka, obviously aware that he seemed to be in charge. Ryoma just nodded, once again looking at Sakuno, and Nakayama went back to the girl to help introducing her in the ambulance.

Meanwhile, Inui and Fuji gave the car's registration number to the police. The EMTs exchanged worried looks when they realized that Sakuno didn't have a guardian since her parents died years ago and his grandmother was on a journey and they couldn't contact her. Inui, however, gave them the medical information about Sakuno they needed, so they asked him and Tezuka, who had taken responsibility for Sakuno, to go with them to the hospital along with Ryoma. Inui got into the front part of the ambulance, in the co-driver's seat. Tezuka, after a talk with Oishi, Fuji and Atobe, got into the back with Ryoma and the other EMT who was checking at both Ryoma and Sakuno.

Once the ambulance had left, Atobe turned to the rest of the regulars.

"I'll drive you to the hospital once I've cancelled the tournament."

"No", said Eiji, surprising the rest. "Sakuno-chan won't like to know that the tournament has been suspended because of her."

"That's right" smiled calmly Fuji. "She'll feel guilty enough once she learns we didn't participate."

Oishi smiled while Atobe just nodded. Neither of them mentioned that, maybe, Sakuno would never be able to feel guilty again. A policeman approached them.

"We will drive you to the hospital. We've finished questioning the witnesses".

"Arigato gozaimashita" said Oishi.

EMT: Emergency Medical Technician (I've read it in a book, and I don't really know if it's right or not… That's why I came up with a name… in the Spanish chapter he doesn't have a name lol )