Chapter one: Pucca's development

Sakuno was really thirsty. She'd been cheering all day for the Seigaku boys, as their match against Hyotei became a match you didn't want to miss. She didn't want to miss anything so had not gone to get a drink. Now that the team had won and they were on their way back to the bus, Sakuno noticed how thirsty she really was. Coach Ryusaki had gone to the bathroom during one of the breaks and had come back with a drink. Sakuno picked up one of the small containers of what she thought was blue berry cool-aid. It was sitting close to her grandmother's own glass of lemonade, so she thought her grandmother and gotten it for her when she'd gone to the refreshment stand. Taking a big gulp, she didn't notice the foul taste until it was too late. Her eyes began burning and she felt like she was going to suffocate.

As she was choking, she closed her eyes. Her head felt like it was full of coals and soon the sensation followed down the rest of her body. She fell to her knees in pain, and whimpered loudly. The regulars, who'd just come from the award ceremony, found Sakuno on her hands and knees trying to breath, they ran to her, calling her name and trying to find out what was wrong. Inui being the data collector that he was started searching around for signs of foul play, only to notice that his newest experiment was lying next to her. Picking it up hoping that she'd only knocked it over, but found the cap open and the contents empty. He cursed, he hadn't had time to test out his product so had no clue of what the repercussions would be. Looking towards Sakuno, Inui moved closer to her to see if she was okay, feeling guilty that he had not labeled the container with his name. Everyone knew to stay away from any of the things that had his name on it, not knowing what was dangerous and what wasn't.

By the time he made it through the freshman trio to get to Sakuno, she was still breathing heavily but with a more regular rhythm. She was lying still on the ground, eyes closed and held by Oishi, who as usual was in complete mother mode. Ryoma was directly in front of her having given Oishi his jacket and bag as a substitute blanket and pillow. After a few more minutes Sakuno was breathing fine, and seemed to be sleeping.

"It seems she'll be okay." Oishi said as he finished checking Sakuno's vitals. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but still wondered what could have caused her to behave as she had.

"What happened to Sakuno-chan?"Eiji asked as he looked over Oishi's shoulder. Several shoulders moved in the universal 'I have no idea' sign. Inui decided that it was time that he fess up and tell them what he suspected had happened.

"I think I might have an idea." Everyone turned to look at their data man. Lifting up the empty container for them all to see he began his explanation. "It seems Ryusaki-chan mistook this as a normal drink and drank its contents. What she must not have known was this is my newest experiment. It doesn't have a name yet, but I've been calling it 'pucca-1.0', short for Product of Unknown Causes for Causalities Awareness sake version 1. I haven't tested it yet so for now I have no idea what the effects, short term or long, they will have on her. We'll just have to wait and see." With that Inui's notebook appeared along with a pencil, as he wrote down the so far effects of the drink.

The commotion had not caught only the Seigaku regular's attention, but pedestrians, too. Yet not everyone stayed to see if Sakuno would wake up. After a couple minutes she began to stir; moaning as she brought herself into a sitting position. Sakuno tried to regain her sense of awareness, but she couldn't figure out why it was so dark out. Then memories of what had happened flooded back to her, and she realized she was on the ground. But the still answer why it was dark out. Had she fallen asleep? Then she realized it was because her eyes were closed. Opening them, the first person she saw was Ryoma. Without thought or understanding, she reached out grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him into a searing kiss. To say that everyone was shocked was an understatement. Even Sakuno couldn't figure out why she was doing what she was. Pulling back she looked into the equally confused face of Ryoma, when the urge to kiss him hit her again, and so she did. But I'm telling you it wasn't because she wanted to.

Don't get her wrong, she was crazy about Ryoma, had been for 3 years, but she'd never made the initiative to even tell Ryoma how she felt and now here she was kissing him, in front of everyone. That gave her the mental strength to once again pull away from Ryoma. Actually it was more like slamming her eyes shut, and pushing Ryoma away from her with such force he landed dazed on his rear.

"What's wrong with me?" Sakuno stumbled to stand only to fall into Eiji as she did. Her eyes came open, feeling dejected and scared. She tried to keep from look at anyone, but since she was surrounded by people it was impossible. Yet the urge that had come over her when she saw Ryoma wasn't there. Looking around at a slower pace to the others, she confirmed that the urge really wasn't there. Looking towards Ryoma, being helped by Momo, came into view her body physically lurched towards him. Trying to gain control Sakuno increased her grip on Eiji; her body seemed to be like a magnet physically picking itself up and trying to fly at him. The only thing Sakuno could think to say was. "Get Ryoma-kun away from me now! Something's wrong with me and its pulling me towards him!" No one thought to do anything but listen to her.

They all could tell that the actions causing her to behave as she was were not her fault. So they pushed him behind Tezuka, Kaidoh and Fuji; and out of Sakuno's view. In seconds her body completely stopped it's seizure like movements. Sakuno by now was more embarrassed than anytime before put together, tears were streaming down her face and she was so tired from fighting her own bodies reactions that she sagged, being kept standing only thanks to Eiji's and Oishi's help. "What's going on? What's wrong with me?" She repeated, tears clogging her voice.

"That's what I'd like to know." Ryoma's voice came. He didn't sound happy at his situation, and Sakuno's heart hurt at hearing it. Sakuno's body twitched when he's voice was heard but this time nothing else happened. She sighed in relief.

"I think I'm starting to understand, but to make sure, I'd like all of you're corporation." Inui said. At their nods, Inui went on to ask if all of them to get in a line in front of Sakuno, including the freshman trio and Ryoma. Placing Sakuno onto a bench, Inui asked Sakuno some questions. "Ryusaki-chan, do you know what you drank?" Sakuno shook her head.

"I thought it was just blueberry cool-aid, but after I drank it I felt sick and dizzy and then I remember being in pain, and then nothing."

"Do you remember what happened after you woke?" Sakuno thought a moment.

"Only that it was dark and that there was this burning sensation in my brain and then here." Sakuno pointed towards her heart.

"Do you still feel either of those sensations right now?" Sakuno shook her head.

"What did you feel when you look around."

"Nothing." Inui nodded again, when his head came up he looked at Sakuno.

"I'm going to try something and I want you to tell me how it feels, is that ok?" At Sakuno's timid nodded Inui waved his hand for the Regulars to step forward. The first were all Seigaku school attendees here for the game. The freshman trio was first followed by the supporting tennis team members not on the regulars, then the regulars excluding Ryoma, and then Ryusaki-sensai, who'd been updated by Tezuka when she returned from a meeting with the board, to when the regulars guarding Ryoma. And every time a new person would stand in front of Sakuno Inui would ask what she felt. Blushing Sakuno replied that she felt noting, just the usual. Finally when Ryoma, blockaded by Fuji, Eiji, and Kaidoh now came up to her, Sakuno felt a nudging beginning in her heart, a throbbing in her brain, right behind her eyes.

When Inui asked how she felt she told him, Inui nodded wrote down her reaction, and then signaled for Oishi and Momo to come closer to Sakuno. Then he signaled for the three man blockade to move, the moment Ryoma came into view, Sakuno felt her body jerk off of the bench and try to move to Ryoma, but arms encircled her wrists and upper arms, but she began dragging her captors, Inui, Oishi and Momo along with her, it gave her time to notice that the throbbing in her head and heart increased ten fold. Both feeling as though they'd be pulled out of her if she didn't allow them reign. She also noticed that her mouth burned and she felt thirsty. Inui, who was shocked at the power Sakuno possessed as she moved the three of them along with her. Inui told the blockade to cover Ryoma, and they did so. Once again Sakuno sagged as though a taunt string had been cut and she was let lose. (Ex. Like when you play tug-a-war, and the opponent falls and it causes the winners to fall backward from the tensions release. Well it's kinda like that.) When Inui asked what she'd felt, Sakuno whispered to him, feeling embarrassed. Inui nodded and wrote down. After some quiet, and flipping of pages Inui's head came up.

"I think I can explain what's going on now. From my observations, and from Sakuno's reactions. I can say that what 'pucca-1.0' is is a love potion." Exclamations from all parties, especially from Ryoma and Sakuno rang out. Inui's raised hand called for quiet. "It appears that whenever 'pucca-1.0' is drank, the consumer falls in love with the first person they see, they have to kiss them to find a release, or will suffer seizure-like contractions, headaches, and heart pains. What I still do not know is how long this lasts, or if it effects are determined by genders. So until further results it would appear that Ryoma and Sakuno need to stay away from each other. Ryoma you need to stay out of Sakuno's line of vision, until I can either find a cure or the effects run out."

"But Inui-sepia, that's impossible. Ryoma and Sakuno are in the same classes, are partners in chemistry class, and they live in the same neighborhood. How are they going to ignore one another?" Horio exclaimed. They sighed; it was the truth after all.

"I guess I could always miss school." Sakuno said speaking up. She really didn't like the idea, but that seemed it might be better. But Inui shook his head.

"We don't know the how much time this will last, if it ever dissipates." After quiet thinking, Ryusaki-sensei spoke up.

"Well as complicated as this all is, I'm getting a headache, so we need to get on the bus and head home." Turning Ryusaki-sensei leads them towards the bus.

"Let me think on it for a time, and all see if I can come up with a solution." Inui said, "For now just close your eyes and keep your head turned away from Ryoma's direction. We'll help as much as we can." Inui nodded and so did the others. After all they all liked Sakuno and not because of her stasis of being their ex-coach's granddaughter. They were all friends, and this new development wouldn't deter them trying their best to help. Sakuno looked around at all their faces and smiled knowing somehow things would work out. With a blindfold, Fuji somehow produced placed over her eyes, they all made it to the bus without many incidents, heading back to Seigaku high.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………