Author’s Note: I have to say that this was a hard prompt to write on. I mean, why would Ryoma have trouble making Sakuno his? And the alternative of Sakuno being depressed about being unable to be with Ryoma appealed to me even less. That’s when this little idea hit me and I just ran with it. I must warn you to read carefully unto the end.

Important Note: I can take eight more prompt requests for this story. If you want me to take yours, simply send an email, a PM, or a review with desired situation/word/phrase. So please let me know what you’ve got for ideas!

Warning: Read carefully to the end of the chapter, otherwise things will not make sense. Also this chapter does follow chapter two – Unrivaled.

Summary: He loved her. But she loved someone else. And destiny was bound to keep them apart.

Prompt: #26 If Only I Could Make You Mine (follows chapter two – Unrivaled)

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis is not mine. If it was, Ryoma would smile at Sakuno more.

Kiss Kiss
#26 If Only I Could Make You Mine
Destiny

He watched with a growing sense of regret and remorse as she gave him yet another shy smile. From the angle he was at he couldn’t tell how the boy reacted, but it didn’t stop a feeling of anger begin to alit within his gut. That man didn’t deserve Sakuno. No one did. And yet, Sakuno choose him to devote all her affections to.

Even the knowledge that the pair weren’t dating didn’t stop him from feeling a bit envious. Even now, he felt like a voyeur intruding on some intimate moment anytime Sakuno gave that man a smile. His hands tightened into fists as he watched them walk together. He wasn’t a pervert or peeping tom. He was just a man who fell in love with a girl. Only problem was he found out two weeks ago that the girl loved someone else.

Now every time, he saw them together a mixture of anger and pain and regret stole his breath and left motionless. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. He was supposed to be the one she smiled at. He was supposed to be the one she walked home with at night. He was supposed to be the one she loved.

So why wasn’t he?

Why did she persist in bestowing all her concern on someone who continuously disregarded her feelings? Why did she continue to love someone, knowing that he would never love her in return? Why did she put herself through such pain?

He tried to ask her once, desperate to open her eyes to his feelings for her. Instead, his attempt pushed her even further away than ever before.

“Ryuzaki-san.”

Startled, Sakuno looked back. But when she saw who had spoken her name, she became tense and hesitate. She looked around the hallway for a familiar face to give her an excuse to leave but most of the students had already departed for the today.

“I just want to talk,” he said, wincing at the slight tinge of desperation in his voice. But really what choice did he have since she had started avoiding him for the last two weeks.

She shuffled her books nervously but finally nodded.

“I’m sorry,” the words didn’t come easily for him, but this girl he was finding himself willing to try anything.

Her warm brown eyes were wide with surprise as she stared at him in shock. At the start of her smile, he felt such relief that his brain shut off and his mouth kept running. “I really am sorry,” he said, with a smile, “I still don’t know what I said that upset you so much, but I am sorry.”

Immediately, the smile disappeared before it could fully form and with it went his last hopes of repairing the weakened relationship between them.

“You still don’t understand,” she said sadly, shaking her head, “I love him and I probably always will.” And with that, she sadly walked away. He remained where he stood in the now empty hallway. In one single moment, he had lost it all.

Another two weeks had gone by since then, making it a full month since everything changed. No longer was he permitted to sit and laugh by her side at lunch. No longer did he see her blushes and smiles as he walked with her to class. Now all of those things were set aside and reserved for another man leaving him with no other alternative but to watch her from a distance as she fell deeper in love with someone else. It hurt. But the thing that hurt most of all was watching as the man began to return her affections.

Lately, the pair had begun talking to each other more both inside and outside of class. He had even heard rumors that they had begun holding hands when he walked her home. At first he had dismissed it as idle gossip but tonight he saw for himself. He hadn’t intended on running into them. He had been just going to the store to buy something for his mom when he saw them up ahead. Without even thinking about it, he ducked behind a corner to see what was happening.

He watched them walk slowly down the street, hand in hand. He watched Sakuno giggle at something the man and watched him smirk in return. Then he watched something that froze his body both inside and out. The man leaned down and kissed Sakuno.

It was too dark to see but he was willing to bet that Sakuno’s cheeks were a bright shade of red. The pain of losing her still ached but he knew it time it would fade. He shook his head and sighed. He should have listened more to his classmates. They told him not to get involved with Ryuzaki Sakuno. They told him that he was doomed from the start. After all, Ryuzaki Sakuno and Echizen Ryoma were destiny.

And there was nothing that he, a transfer student from Morioka, could do to change that. Sighing, Ishikawa Katsu walked home leaving the lovers alone in peace.