“Did you hear about Ryuzaki?”

“What about her?”

“She got beat up by a rapid fangirl the other day.”

“Really? Oh my god! That’s hilarious!”

“Hey!”

“Sorry. Man, I bet that Echizen was pissed off.”

“Not really.”

“What? Isn’t he like, freakishly possessive of Ryuzaki or something like that?”

“I thought so too… but from what I hear…”

“What- What did you hear?”

“I heard he did nothing about it.”

Ryuzaki’s Color

Final Chapter.

“Tch. Get lost again, Ryuzaki?”

Sakuno looked up through her wet bangs, peering up at the lean figure staring above her. With his gold eyes staring down, it didn’t take her long to realize who he was. Her heart skipping a beat, Sakuno picked herself up as Kintarou besides her did the same.

“Yo, Koshimae!” Kintarou greeted, holding up a hand.

Ryoma gave a curt nod before focusing back to Sakuno.

Feeling a bit exposed Sakuno tried to keep her eye contact with Ryoma albeit her face angled downwards.

“Hello Ryoma kun.”

“Hey.”

They were silent after that- as if measuring each other’s patience. Though remaining a passive demeanor, Ryoma kept a straight forward gaze on Sakuno’s face and though trying to seem nonchalant, Sakuno kept fidgeting her feet- a habit Ryoma knew only too well to be a sign of anxiousness.

And although the game of silence and patience was nice and dandy for Ryoma and Sakuno…

“Oh snaps, that puddle is huge!!!” Kintarou cried and he darted off, obliviously ditching Sakuno with the worst person ever.

“Ah, Kin-“

“What happened to your cake?”

The question was spontaneous and Sakuno nearly forgot about the cream treat until she turned around to the soggy cake box.

“Oh no,” Sakuno cried and she got on her knees.

Ryoma rolled his eyes, she just got up for cripe’s sake.

“Get up Ryuzaki, we can buy another one.”

Seconds later and Sakuno still not getting up, Ryoma started to get annoyed. Bending over her head with an annoyed glance, Ryoma called, “Hey, Ryuzaki.”

It was only the signal of her shaking shoulder that Ryoma realized she was crying.

What. The. Hell. Ryoma inwardly groaned. How dare she do this to him (Especially after his freaking revelation in front of Victoria’s Secret?)?

Ryoma then decided to do what he always did when Sakuno was crying.

Emotionless, he sat by next to her and waited it out.

However, under the graying skies and the pressure of rain, Ryoma felt this pitin his stomach. It was undeniable Sakuno was crying now- her shoulders were shaking and her sobbing was loud enough for him to hear. Ryoma flicked his cap, thinking how Sakuno knew how uncomfortable he was when she cried.

FLASHBACK

Ryoma quizzically looked at Sakuno. Well, it wasn’t really at her directly- but Fuji who had just ruffled her hair with a fondness Ryoma was unconsciously too familiar with. Leaning against the outside gates and adjusting his hat, Ryoma lightly pondered about their relationship.

Before getting too deep however, he was met as Sakuno greeted him with an easy smile filling her face.

He got off the wall. And as Sakuno got closer, he noticed small, dirt patches across her uniform and as Sakuno was standing next to him- the rice pellets in her hair.

Ryoma quirked his eyebrows and as if reading him, Sakuno immediately answered, “I-I got into an accident.”

His eyes hardened at that statement. “Are you okay?”

As if a bomb had been set off by his words, Sakuno exploded into tears. Slumping to the floor, she buried her face in her hands. Incoherent mutters could be heard from behind her palms.

Stunned, Ryoma got down to the floor next to her, unsure of what to do.

The sat like that for a while, Sakuno crying and Ryoma, nervous and awkward, being next to her. He managed to catch a few words (Bento, Fuji), but not enough to understand why she was crying. Assuming she just made a mess in the School kitchen again, and had to have Fuji help her, Ryoma brushed off the subject and waited for her to stop crying.

After sniffing, Sakuno smiled gratefully at Ryoma who waited patiently for her to pull herself together.

“Thank you Ryoma kun.”

Ryoma shrugged, “I didn’t do much.”

“No,” Sakuno said and she wiped the last of her dry tears, “Waiting for me is enough.”

Looking to the side and feeling unfamiliar warmth fill his cheeks, he replied, “I’m so sick of looking after you…”

The comment wasn’t meant to hurt Sakuno by any means, but turning around Ryoma didn’t catch the tense in Sakuno’s shoulders and her unconscious wanting to call Fuji later that night.

FLASHBACK END.

“If you don’t pull yourself together your boyfriend will get mad.”

Sakuno didn’t move.

Ryoma deeply sighed. They were sitting there for half and hour. Sakuno had muffled her tears down and now she was hunched over, staring into the puddle next to Ryoma. The silence got thick that even Ryoma- Ryoma had tried to start a conversation three and a half times (Half counting the fake cough Ryoma initiated). Efforts were in vain however, as Sakuno continued her doll like façade.

“There’s a bakery not too far down the street,” Ryoma said, taking out money and dropping it on Sakuno’s lap, “Buy a cake and hurry back here- If I take you to Fujis’ you’ll make it in time for dessert at least.”

Sakuno looked up at him, her eyes showing a bit of light now.

“Ryoma kun…”

“Go already!” Ryoma snapped.

Getting up, Sakuno faintly smiled before dashing off down the street. Slipping a few times due to puddles, Ryoma dully noted, but at least she was getting somewhere.

Now then, Ryoma muttered to himself and picking up his cell he quickly dialed.

“Hello?”

“Yo, Senpai.”

“Hello Echizen.”

“So just calling to tell you I’m wrapping the gifts in yellow paper.”

“I see, you should’ve told me sooner.”

“Hmm I thought Senpai trusted me with these decisions.”

“Of course Echizen. I’m only asking because I would’ve rather had the present wrapped in pink.”

“…Why?”

“It’s Sakuno chan’s favorite color.”

“…No it’s not.”

“Echizen, she told me herself.”

“She was putting up a front. She like yello-“

And moving around, Ryoma felt something drop out of his pocket.

RUSTLE.

His wallet and how coincidentally, it landed on a picture Momoshiro had given Ryoma.

“…Echizen? What was that noise?”

It was a picture of Ryoma sleeping and Sakuno sitting next to him.

“Nothing. Ryuzaki likes yellow senpai- trust me.”

Her eyes were on his sleeping form.

“Echizen I really don’t want to argue with you on this- when are you coming over?”

Funny, Ryoma never noticed it before.

“Hey, Senpai. Don’t you think a color represents a person?”

She was always watching him.

“Senpai, do you want to know why she likes the color yellow so much?”

Ryoma scoffed.

“It’s the color of tennis balls?”

She was always looking at him.

“Because they’re the color of my eyes, Senpai and at the moment, Ryuzaki can’t stop looking at them.”

In the picture, anyways- but that was a long time ago.

“Echizen… are you with Sakuno chan?”

“Mada mada dane, Senpai.”

“Ryoma-“

“I’m not an idiot,” Ryoma scoffed, “Senpai’s friendship is equally important to me too.”

“What?”

“I like you Senpai, so I don’t want to get into a fight because I like Sakuno more.”

“Echizen…”

“I like her a lot, actually.”

Silence.

“So,” Ryoma continued, “I won’t be afraid to pick her up if you break her heart.”

Ryoma’s heart missed a beat as Fuji broke a long silence with:

“Thank you, Echizen.”

Fuji hung up.

MEANWHILE.

“So please keep him company while I’m heading over there okay?” Sakuno begged into the pay phone.

“I got it. Leave it to me.”

“Thank you,” Sakuno replied and she hung up.

Sakuno walked back to where Ryoma was and sure enough, she saw his familiar hat peeking from just around the corner. Plastering on a fake smile, Sakuno hopped in front of Ryoma.

“Back!”

“Feel better already…” Ryoma muttered.

“What?”

“Don’t wear that fake smile around me Ryuzaki.”

Sakuno laughed nervously, “I can never fool you, Ryoma kun.”

“Do you fool Fuji Senpai?”

“Yes.”

Caught off guard by the agreement, Ryoma looked over next to Sakuno who was burying her head.

“I’m such an idiot,” Sakuno continued, “Fuji kun probably hates me by now.”

Ryoma was silent.

“This… experience… has made me realized how much I depend on you and Fuji kun for my happiness. I mean, so many people today have asked is I was still with you, and it made me realize that my happiness with Fuji kun and you feel the same.” Sakuno laughed nervously, “I need to learn how to be more independent don’t I? I mean, I can’t rely on others for my happiness.”

“Then why am I still here?”

Sakuno looked up to a very peeved looking Ryoma.

Ryoma sighed, “You don’t remember? Airhead.”

The Sun was peeking out of the clouds now and at this Ryoma took off his hat, shaking the water droplets from his hair.

“You said once,” Ryoma began, “That just waiting here will make you feel better.”

“No,” Sakuno said and she wiped the last of her dry tears, “Waiting for me is enough.”

Her eyes widened and Ryoma got up, standing in front of her. He pushed the hat on her head before leaning back.

“Well,” Ryoma said, “I’m waiting.”

The Sun was peeking out now, framing Ryoma’s body and Sakuno couldn’t help but seeing his smile almost sad.

MEANWHILE.

“Why do you look so sad to see us, nya?” Eiji asked, peeking out from behind Tezuka.

“He thought we were Sakuno, Eiji.” Tezuke explained and he brushed by Tezuke, taking a seat at the dinner table where a cold dinner sat.

Eiji bounced in, trying to not be disturbed by Fuji’s cold stare, “Oh! I love potluck!!!”

“It’s not for you,” Fuji said with a frost edge, “Please leave.”

“MY, someone is in a bad mood!!!” Fuji immediately had an urge to punch the wall as Atobe strolled in, his cape trailing behind him as he made his way to the head of the dinner table, “Well, nothing ORESAMA can’t fix! Now come on Fuji, pour us some glasses will you. Ah, Tezuka! Fancy meeting you here!”

“Right.”

“Atobe san…” Fuji warned.

Eiji tilted his chopsticks, picking at the cold, hard boiled egg before plopping it in his mouth, “Ooh! So yummy!”

“Ah! Save some for Oresama!!!”

“Hey! Tezuka get us some more chop sticks!”

Tezuka passively stood up and walked into the kitchen with a stride saying he clearly owned the place. He glanced behind him, motioning for Fuji to follow.

Feeling only a tad bit angry (Sure.), Fuji wasted no time in following his captain into the kitchen. By the time he got there, Tezuka had already taken out chopsticks, bowls, and cups to pour the drinks in.

“What are you doing here?” Fuji asked, trying to use the calmest voice possible.

Not looking from his task of picking out ice tea and pouring it, Tezuka replied, “Sakuno called us.”

Fuji paused and leaned against the counter, a defeated look resting on his face as he looked down, “Oh? And what did she say?”

Finishing the second glass and pouring the third, Tezuka answered, “She wanted us to make sure you were okay and to tell you she was coming in time for dessert.”

Hearing silence, Tezuka looked over to see Fuji still looking down, his face unreadable.

“She does love you, you know,” Tezuka said.

A scoff was heard, “I’m sure she does.”

Taking out a tray, Tezuka didn’t reply and simply loaded the items. The only sounds came from the clanking of the glasses before-

“UGH, get that dirty, wretched beast away from Oresama!”

“HELLLOOOO!!! THE KINTAROU IS HERE FOR THE GRUB!!!

“Nya! Where are those extra chopsticks, buchou?!”

Tezuka sighed heavily before walking out.

With his eyes heavy, Fuji dragged his gaze to the ever so nostalgic picture of him, Sakuno, and the slightly there, Ryoma.

“I’ll be there to pick up the pieces if you break her.”

“Feh,” Fuji said, “She’s the one who broke me.”

And marching into the dinner, where now Kintarou and Eiji were fighting for a piece of fish, he sat down next to Tezuka, who emotionlessly ate the vegetables which were ignored.

“AH! Fuji, you’re here, good now Oresama can talk so…”

“What can I do?” Fuji whispered barely as Atobe continued to talk.

Tezuka picked off a pickled radish, “Do you like Sakuno?”

Pictures of Sakuno’s smiling face whirled in Fuji’s head, her smile as he leaned over her, kissing her forhead as she giggled fondly at him. The way she cried as she told him her dark fears and how he held her. How he would nuzzle his head on that space between her shoulder and ear, the smell of honey that would envelope him. He loved her. He loved her.

“I love her,” Fuji whispered.

At this, Tezuka looked up at Fuji, “Then love her.”

“…AND SO THAT’S HOW ORESAMA SAVED CHRISTMAS!”

“Nya, boring!!!” Eiji declared and he put a thumb down sign.

“Agreed!” Kintarou grinned and him and Eiji high five-d.

“Insolent fool,” Atobe scoffed, “You should be lucky oresama-“

But before he could continue Bunta strolled in with his hands in his pockets before looking around, his eyes finally landing on Fuji and said:

“So, got any cake left over?”

“Nya, Fuji close your door!” Eiji rolled his eyes, “So many people coming in! How rude!”

“Oh really,” Bunta retorted.

Registering what Bunta has said, Kintarous immediately stood up with his eyes as big as saucers.“We got cake?!”

“Seriously?!” Bunta asked, his face mirroring Kintarous’.

“I don’t know, you tell me!!!”

“Ah, that reminds Oresama of a tale…”

“What if Sakuno chan and I don’t work out?” Fuji whispered to Tezuka again.

Tezuka replied, “Then Echizen will help her and…” Tezuka gazed around the table, “We’ll be there to help you.”

Speechless, Fuji stared at Tezuka. Then smiling, he looked down to his bowl in content, “I see.”

“Hey why is this bowl broken?” Kintarou asked and picking up the two pieces of the rice bowl Fuji had broke earlier.

“I was careless,” Fuji explained.

Eiji plucked the pieces from Kintarou’s hands and grinned, “Don’t worry Fuji, nya. We’ll patch it up!”

Surrounded by laughter, and spontaneous tales- at Atobe, mouthing off a rant, Kintarou who was picking at Atobe’s cape, Eiji, who was laughing, Bunta who was looking around for a familiar treat, and finally to Tezuka, who passively continued to eat.

“Someday I would like to come home and see her greeting me.” Fuji said.

“And maybe one day she will.” Tezuka replied.

Fuji smiled, “Maybe.”

MEANWHILE.

“The subway is almost here,” Ryoma said as he noticed Sakuno’s anxious face.

“I hope he doesn’t get upset with me,” Sakuno said.

“He won’t be.”

“Okay.”

Sitting side by side on the bench, Ryoma stuffed his hands in his pockets and tried to suppress the excited itch in his stomach. Ryoma tisked- was this how is felt like to have a crush? He looked over to the girl sitting next to him. Her hair was now drying, and she long ago had to take out her braids, letting the long strands run down her face, framing it.

Hair too long, Ryoma noted, but that was okay.

“Can you remember your way back?” Ryoma asked. Sakuno’s face panicked for a brief second and Ryoma sighed, “I’ll be here when you come back.”

If anything this made Sakuno more panicked, “No! It’s okay Ryoma kun! I don’t want to bother you and-“

“It’s fine.”

Sakuno paused, “You mean… it’s not trouble?”

“Sakuno,” Ryoma said and he glared at her, “I’m dripping, cold, and my tennis bag is soaked through. You already know the things I had to go through to pick up that gift that you have in your hands,“ -He pointed to the yellow package by her feet- “So yes, it’s trouble.”

“Ryoma kun…”

He went through a lot today, Ryoma won’t deny that- flashbacks of that annoying card salesman and his freaking philosophy with cards, his constant frustration of what to buy her, and those rude comments here and there made Ryoma realized just how unpleasant the mall was. Not to mention the embarrassment of being caught in Victoria’s Secret.

But…

“Are you going to buy something for your girlfriend?”

“I just think it’s cliché for a tough brat like you to buy something for his fragile girlfriend.”

“You were there for a while,” Minako cheekily said, “I bet you like your girlfriend a lot.”

“I don’t mind troubling,” Ryoma answered, “It’s fine… if it’s for you.”

There, it was out there and Ryoma could only try to hide his flushed face from Sakuno’s by turning his head to the sound of an upcoming subway.

“It’s here,” Ryoma said and he motioned Sakuno towards the subway, “Hurry before those fools you called up eat up Fuji’s kitchen.”

“Ryoma kun I-“

“I’ll be here to walk you home, don’t worry I’ll go home first and clean up then come back here.”

“Ryoma kun but I-“

“Go.”

With his finger tips lingering on her back the last moment, Ryoma gently pushed her on through the open door. They stood back, Sakuno, with her bags and Ryoma with an unreadable expression.

It hit Sakuno then. Taking care of her all these years, helping her out and keeping her safe, taking her home and making sure she doesn’t get lost- Ryoma had done all these things for her, even though it was troubling, he would still do these things without question.

Because it was for her.

The realization made Sakuno look behind her to Ryoma’s solemn gaze.

Not knowing what to say, Sakuno choked, “Thanks for the gift.”

“It’s from Fuji,” Ryoma shrugged, “I just had to pick it up.”

“I see.”

Air pressure was heard and the door moved to close. Gold met hazel and time felt slow as Sakuno looked at the boy in front of her. His damp hair spread out across his face, covering his golden eyes and framing his handsome face.

Sakuno then imagined the train beginning to move and as Sakuno looked behind her Ryoma grew smaller and smaller, his gaze will be slowly losing connection with hers’ and a part of her was afraid, soon she would be without Ryoma again and she would have to find her own way to Fuji’s house from here on.

Ryoma wasn’t going to be there to hold her hand. Because of her misconception of being a burden to Ryoma she lent herself into Fuji’s arm instead. But now…

She was so afraid.

“Promise you’ll wait here when I come back?!” Sakuno blurted out, wanting to say something before the doors finally closed.

The train moved suddenly and everything was thrown back into motion. Sakuno ran back to look through the window, catching glimpses of Ryoma’s face.

She was close enough to see him mouth, “Yes.”

And I’m going to miss you

Like a child misses its blanket.

But I got to get a move on with my life.

It’s time to be a big girl now...

And big girls don’t cry.

-Big Girls Don't Cry (Fergie)

One loves, the other waits, and the last one is finally moving on.

End of Ryuzaki’s Color.

Sunday, July 15, 2007 (4:52 AM)

Thank you so much to everyone who supported me throughout this Fanfiction. It means a lot to me and I really do read all your reviews and I smile each and everytime I see a “YES I AM SO READY FOR THE FINALE” or a RyoSaku or FujiSaku fan.

I put a little hint of TezuFuji for a reviewer who wanted to see a little bit- I hope they read it.

Thank you again and I’ll be writing more TeniPuri fics in the future. But I think I’ll work on my “The Four Finalists” Naruto Fanfic before starting on “The Devil Plays Tennis.”

Thank you for everything again.