Disclaimer: The Prince of Tennis/Tennis No Ojousama does not belong to me. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The story from here on is purely from my own imagination.

A/N: Finally! Completed! Well, there's also going to be a Epilogue, but just ignore that for now.

RyoSaku forever! There's not much to say about this chapter, except that there's a small lemon near the end.

The XXXXXXXXX marks the beginning of it. You may skip it if you'd like. The story before that is basically the end, but the lemon contains some dialogue that (kind of) clears up how they live "happily ever after."

So, without further ado ...

Enjoy!

Please R&R!

Warning: This fic contains some coarse language and sexual implications. Read to your own discretion.

Watashi No Hikari: Part 3 - The Happy End

One could've been forgiven for mistaking the scene to being a funeral. It was, after all, extremely quiet. But it wasn't. Instead, it was a reunion … a sweet reunion for the two lovers.

The rest of the Seigaku tennis team and Rinko stood outside, waiting patiently, giving him all the time he needed … and boy, did he.

He approached her bed cautiously, both not wanting to wake her and wanting to shake her, to yell at her, asking her why she would do this to him. His every thought consumed by her.

"Sakuno," he murmured, gazing down at the beautiful brunette who lay peacefully on the white hospital bed, chest rising and falling with every breath, hands folded on her stomach, serene smile on her face …

The heart monitor beeped steadily at the side, and Ryoma unconsciously held his breath. He kneeled by her side and slowly reached a trembling hand to brush away stray strands of silky brown hair.

Her fingers twitched.

"Sakuno," he said again. "Sakuno …"

Her eyelids fluttered.

"Please," he whispered almost desperately. He was so close, after all …

Her eyes shot open.

Someone's calling me.

"Sakuno."

Again? But it's so calm here … don't wanna return …

"Sakuno." This time, it was a new voice, gentle and strong.

Who is it …?

"It's time to wake up," it said.

Why? But I like it here …

"You must return," it whispered.

Don't wanna remember, she murmured.

"Return to the ones you love," the voice said softly, gradually growing louder.

Love? But I don't have anyone left …

"Remember," it urged. "Remember!"

"Sakuno!"

Ryoma!

She opened her eyes, only to stare back at familiar, beautifully bewitching, golden ones.

She was still sleepy, but her mind was fully conscious. Her eyes roamed slowly across the owner of the eyes' face. Angular cheeks that long lost its boyish features, straight nose, the wonderfully tousled hair that looked like it'd been run through with a hand many times, the shadows under his eyes, the plush lips she had the honour of tasting … though his expression was curiously blank.

She brought a shaking hand up to touch his face, marvelling at the soft yet hard texture. He reached a hand and touched her own on his cheek, gripping it hard.

"Sakuno," he breathed.

"Ryoma," she whispered.

Suddenly, he broke out into a tired yet ecstatic smile. The first she'd seen in a long time, and she caught her breath.

There were no words needed, really. They conveyed their thoughts, emotions, through their gaze.

Tadaima, her liquid, chocolate brown ones seem to say.

Okaeri, his warm, golden ones seem to whisper.

I'm home.

Welcome back.

Ryoma could hardly believe his eyes.

She's alive! A part of him was exhilarated, thrilled that she'd returned to him. He showed a fragment of that happiness to her, for he didn't want to scare her. The knowledge of the immense his desire and need for her was frightening, even to him.

He wasn't sure if forever was what she wanted.

Damn you! The other part of him was angry. How dare she put him, the great Ryoma Echizen, in the place of a love-struck teenager, a puddle of worried goo?! And the way she was treated just made him want to punch the living daylights out of that Kuro douche. But he wasn't angry at her. How could he be? He was livid because he had failed. He hadn't been able to protect her like he'd promised. And for that, he would have to spend the next thousand lifetimes to make it up to her. He'd never let anything hurt her. Never again.

Ryoma drank in the sight of his princess. Glittering coffee-brown eyes stared back at him with unshed tears, her hair tangled, body weak and plastered with bandages, but she was gorgeous in his eyes. And he was utterly and completely, head-over-heels in love with her.

Now the only question was, is she? But he'd deal with that later. At the moment, all he wanted to do was wrap her in his embrace, and never let her go … and he intended to do just that.

Without warning, his arms shot out and tugged at her sides. Sakuno tried to sit up, but winced when the wound on her stomach throbbed.

"Don't move," Ryoma said softly. He stood up from his previous stance on the floor and leaned over her bed.

"R-Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno stammered, the recognizably cute blush donning her face once more. He liked making her flustered. She was so very cute. And oh, how easy it was.

Ryoma mentally slapped himself. Echizen, enough with the sappy crap, he scolded himself. He groaned inwardly. Just what had this pigtailed girl done to him? He'd never thought much of people, much less the female gender, but Sakuno … man, had she turned his life upside down. But he couldn't say he didn't like it.

"W-what are you doing?" she asked, eyes wide. Ryoma usually wasn't this straightforward …

"It's all your fault," he murmured, ignoring her question, when he finally had her in an awkward yet comfortable embrace.

"M-me? What did I do?" she asked in surprise.

"I can't help but think of you," Ryoma whispered, bringing his lips to brush near her ear, and she shivered. His lips curved into a smirk.

"R-Ryoma-kun!" she reprimanded him, though she felt lightheaded, overwhelmed with emotions.

"You fill my thoughts every second of every day," he continued, nipping her earlobe, pressing a kiss on her collarbone. A breathy moan escaped her mouth and she instantly burned in embarrassment. Ryoma growled. He felt his blood rush south. Oh, how he loved the sounds she made …

He trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses down her the elegant curve of her unscarred neck, down to her cleavage. She arched her back slightly, and her hands shot up to grip his emerald locks.

"Kiss me," she whispered, voice barely audible, but he heard it anyways.

He lifted his head up to search her gaze. His eyes darkened when he found what he'd been looking for this entire time—acceptance. Ryoma dove for her mouth, kissing, licking, biting. She responded with equal vigour. He swiped his tongue across her lower lip, asking, no, demanding entrance, and she parted her pink lips eagerly. He plunged in and explored her warm caverns roughly, groaning when he tasted her unique cherry blossoms-and-roses scent that was purely Sakuno.

She was caught in a whirlwind of emotions. Of pleasure. It was the first time someone had truly shown her passion.

"Stop," Ryoma growled in between kisses. "Stop," kiss, "tempting," kiss, "me," kiss, "Sakuno!"

"Mhmm?" she murmured, not wanting to stop yet realizing the situation may be something they were diving into too fast.

With enormous effort, Ryoma broke away from her, panting. The look on her face didn't help. Her eyes were half-lidded, auburn coloured orbs filled with lust, lips gleaming with wetness … Damn, looked like his hard-on wouldn't be disappearing anytime soon.

"We have to stop," he said regretfully.

Sakuno took a few deep breaths before refocusing her gaze on him, trying to push down her new-found desire.

"But what if we didn't have to?" she whispered. She was as shocked as he was by her own question. She meant it, though.

"You freed me, Ryoma. Maybe you don't want me the way I want you, but …," she trailed off.

Ryoma's eyes widened. Did she just say that she wanted him? Hell, it was her first time calling him by his first name by initiative alone and not by his usual urging.

"Sakuno? Did you just say what I thought you just said?" he said in disbelief.

She looked down. "A-ano … n-never mind, R-Ryoma-kun."

Oh, fuck no.

He grabbed her chin and forced her to look into his eyes.

"Sakuno I love you."

She gasped. His eyes were determined, and she searched for any signs of a lie. She found none, however, and was totally astonished.

"Y-you do?" she squeaked.

Ryoma nodded firmly. "I do."

"But … I know this is probably coming to you pretty quick, and I know you probably don't feel the same way, but even so, I—"

She shut him up with a kiss. Although he knew she meant it to be chaste, he just couldn't help himself. She was just so damn alluring! She had finally risen to a sitting position, and he tilted her head to gain better access, kissing her fervently.

"Sakuno!" he burst out when he finally ripped himself away from her.

"Sorry," she gasped, but her eyes twinkled.

"After," he promised, a large smirk threatening to escape.

Sakuno didn't doubt it. She couldn't wait, either. After all … with the dangers all over … she could finally live her life the way she wanted to.

Happily. Peacefully. With love.

With Ryoma.

"We should probably let them in now," Sakuno said, abruptly remembering that Ryoma hadn't come alone.

He sighed. "Do we have to?" he pouted. She smiled and patted his cheeks. "Yes, Ryoma. As much as I'd like to be with you alone, I need to thank them all first."

He frowned. "But don't worry. We'll have time to spend together," she added before he could open his mouth. He smiled. "Yes," he agreed, gazing at her warmly. "We have eternity together."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"How long were you planning to keep this on, Ryoma?" Sakuno purred, tugging at his pants, undoing his belt with practised ease, hands brushing across the very noticeable bulge in his boxers, giggling when he groaned.

"Sakunoo," he gasped as she wrapped a hand around his cock, thumb gently rubbing the top of the mushroomed head. She leaned forward, breath skimming across his erection. He moaned hoarsely, and nearly growled in frustration when she instead pressed a kiss on his inner thigh.

"Damn, enough teasing," he snarled, but his head dropped onto the pillow again when she flexed her hand around him and stroked him a few times, marveling at the soft yet extremely hard texture, and Ryoma thrust into her hand frantically.

"No? But you know you like it," she drawled with an enticing smile before licking her lips and going down on Ryoma as far as she could.

Ryoma cried out, his hands fisting at her long, glossy brown hair. Sakuno's graceful fingers played with his balls, rolling them between her hands as she continued sucking on his arousal. She was the only person who could make him melt like he did.

He clenched his teeth, trying in vain to stay still, but the feel of Sakuno's innocent mouth on his length was too much. His knuckles turned white as he felt his stomach tighten, and he couldn't help but thrust even deeper into her hot mouth.

He panted as Sakuno released him with a pop and kissing the tip before tracing a finger down his cock.

"Sa-ku-no," he breathed, struggling to regain his strength from her actions. She watched him with a mischievous smile lingering on her lips.

"You know, Ryoma," she whispered, sucking on her finger lusciously, before removing it and gliding it down her body, a trail of wet saliva gleaming in the afternoon sun—

"Fuck it," he cursed. His lover was a pure minx. A teaser. Damn if he knew where the hell she learned those tricks, but fuck did they turn him on. Ryoma flipped them around, all but throwing her onto their king-sized bed. Her body bounced slightly from the impact and her legs fell open.

Sakuno reached up and pulled her partner down, kissing him harshly. Ryoma gripped his erection, positioning himself at her hot entrance. His arms surrounded her, creating a human cage as he bit her pink nipples and sunk deep into her.

Sakuno gasped at both the sensations combined; her back arched off the mattress and she grasped his jade locks, tugging at them insistently.

Ryoma smirked as he continued lavishing her breasts, one hand molding on, tweaking the nipple, the other licking and sucking the other.

"Haa … aah," Sakuno moaned. He slid back out slowly before slamming back into her. She bit back a scream as he ground into her. He moved up from her tits to nip at the junction of her shoulder and collarbone. She knew there would probably be more than just a few hickeys the next morning, but at the moment, she couldn't conjure up a coherent thought.

She mewled, as he drew out again and slammed back. She sobbed, fist clenching tighter at his hair as she writhed, drowning in pleasure and love.

"Kiss me," Ryoma demanded harshly. She brought her head up, attacking his lips with her own. He sucked on her tongue, hands squeezing her breasts roughly.

"Come with me," he groaned. His cock was throbbing and the coil in his stomach seemed to grow tighter.

"Ryoma!" Sakuno cried out as her walls clamped down hard onto his arousal.

"Sakuno!" He moaned, his eyes rolling at the back of his head, the heavenly sensation of her hot, tight pussy clenching his cock was too much to handle.

They both exploded in euphoria of pleasure, screaming out their releases before collapsing onto the bed in exhaustion.

Ryoma rolled onto his back, dragging the covers and placing it over their bodies, turned his head towards Sakuno lazily, a satisfied smirk adorning his lips.

He threw an arm over her and drew her closer to him. Sakuno yawned and snuggled closer, sighing happily.

"You're just so damn tempting, you know that?" Ryoma murmured, kissing her forehead.

"Mmm," she hummed, smiling, her eyes remained close.

"I love you, Sakuno," he told her, his usual stoic gaze warm and inviting.

"I love you too, Ryoma," she blinked drowsily before reaching up and kissing him lightly. "Now sleep."

"Sleep? We still have," he glanced at the table clock sitting on the table next to him, "around five hours to kill before my next tennis match," he smirked arrogantly.

Sakuno groaned. "Ryoma! Honestly, you're never satiated," she grumbled.

He grinned and licked her nose. "That's because I have a large appetite," he murmured, hands already wandering.

"Ryomaa," Sakuno complained breathily, body reacting to his touch as her nipples erected. Damn treacherous body. It doesn't know that I actually need sleep. Though she had to admit; she wasn't against it. She was very welcoming, actually. For she, too, burned with an unquenchable desire for him.

"C'mon, Sa-ku-no," Ryoma whispered, breath hot against her neck. He was already pressing kissing down her body.

She sighed, unable to contain her delight.

"Okay," she finally relented. "But if I'm tired for work tomorrow, I'm blaming you," she warned, but the small smile on her face ruined the threatening affect.

"Mhmm."

Suddenly, her mouth was very busy. Occupied by his own, of course.

The room was once again filled with moans and groans, the bed shifting under their weight and activity.

Life couldn't be any better for Ryoma and Sakuno Echizen.

After all …

Kuro was gone, out of their lives forever.

Sakuno had finally found her Prince Charming.

Ryoma had finally found his light.

So maybe they had a rough start.

The journey was important … as was the end results.

So what if it took forever? At least they were content.

Because this … this was their happily ever after.

A/N: I really enjoyed writing this fic, although I wouldn't say it was one of my best ones, it was fun to write.

The Epilogue will be published sometime the week after, and will hopefully clear up some situations of the ending, since I hadn't really explained it much in this one. This "End" was simply for Ryoma and Sakuno. Their reunion. The next (and last) chapt will talk about how they got to that stage. Especially since Sakuno was at a very fragile state.

Sorry if the lemon sucked. Hey, I tried. Not the best, but I hope it somewhat pleased you guys.

Oh and thanks for all the reviews! They make my day :)

Please R&R, comment or PM me for future suggestions on other fics, or areas to improve on.

Thanks!

~Yuu-chan (IntertwinedRoses)