Title: Thanks To You
Summary: Behind Kirihara Akaya's demonic attitude hides a good soul that waits for the one and only chance to be exposed in the whole world. But, it chose the wrong time. It only came out when his two last words were said.
Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis, ok?!
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Demon. Evil. Merciless.
These words are one of those who hurt Kirihara Akaya; the words that caused him to bleed; the words that gave never-ending sadness in his heart; the words that tire his eyes out of crying.
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Akaya woke up the next morning with his eyes still red from crying really hard last night. He never really knew that simple words would stab his heart hard.
Trying hard to reach for his cup resting on the highest shelf in their small kitchen, a thought suddenly entered his mind. My life is like this, isn't it? No matter how many times I tried to reach something, to achieve something, to embrace victory, I always fail. My efforts are always useless; always paired with criticisms. No one understands me. No one tastes the pain I always feel.Except for them. Heh. He thought as a sad smile crept up his face and before he knew it, tears suddenly went out from his tired eyes. The tears slowly trailed down his cheeks, and more tears came, and more, and more, and more. Finally giving up in reaching the cups, he sat down in the kitchen floor, hugging his knees close to his chest, and cried once again. Maybe I'm just too weak. That's right. I'm nothing but weak. Akaya thought, burying his face into his shaking hands.
These past days, Akaya didn't go to school, which left his senpai-tachi worrying.
"Yukimura-kun," Yagyuu called out to Yukimura in his classroom.
"Yes, Yagyuu?"
"It seems that Kirihara-kun is absent again," Yagyuu reported.
"He is? It's been a week since Akaya started to stay home all day, no?"
"How about we visit him tomorrow morning, shall we?" Yagyuu replied.
"Hn. Good idea. Let's bring all of the regulars with us," Yukimura suggested, slightly smiling.
Later that day, Yukimura gathered all of the regulars for an important announcement.
"All of you are aware of Akaya's absence for a week now, right?" Yukimura started and got nods as response.
"Yagyuu talked to me earlier this day and we've decided to know the reason why he's not showing himself here," Yukimura added.
"Seiichi, there's a chance that Akaya's not attending school because of personal problems, not because he's sick," Yanagi said.
"Yes, maybe. But, whatever his problem is, we are here to help him, right?" Jackal said.
"So, how are we going to find out the brat's reason?" Niou finally spoke.
"We're going to visit him at his home, of course," Yagyuu said, answering his partner's question.
"And the details?" Marui also broke his self-silence.
"Tomorrow at seven in the morning. Let us all meet in my house," Sanada said.
"It's settled then. Be sure to come!" Yukimura said merrily and dismissed his teammates.
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The next morning, the regulars are already in front of Sanada's house before the assigned time.
"Bunta, ring the doorbell," Yukimura ordered Marui.
"Hai, Hai," Marui answered as he rang the Sanada household's doorbell.
After a moment, the regulars met a very serious-looking man that looks like Genichirou.
"Good morning, I assume you are Genichirou's brother. May we come in?" Yukimura asked as he flashed a bright smile as bright as the morning sun.
"Go ahead, Yukimura-kun," Sanada's brother replied, standing out of the doorway to make way for Yukimura and the other regulars.
When they entered the spacious home of their fukubuchou, they saw him eating breakfast and invited them to eat with him.
"So, we're going to Akaya's after we eat?" Niou asked.
Sanada then, answered with a nod.
"That's why eat fast so we can wake him up personally. You all know Akaya doesn't wake up this early on weekends," Yukimura said.
After they ate their breakfast, they started walking to Akaya's house only to find the once very clean and maintained house really dirty and send chills down the spine of whoever passes by the said house.
"Woah," Marui said, surprised by the new environment the house is in.
"Akaya used to clean up their house while his family is away, right?" Jackal said.
"Maybe he really is sick," Niou said, staring at the moldy walls of the house.
"Or doesn't care," Yanagi added, which left the rest to be more confused.
"How about we go inside now to find out?" Yukimura finally said, slightly irritated.
When Sanada tried to open the gate, he found it hard to do so for the gate was locked with thick and heavy chains.
"Wow. It's like Akaya doesn't want to get out," Jackal said
"I know what to do!" Niou shouted, earning looks of suspicion from his teammates.
"We can go over the fence!"
"Great idea, Niou," Yukimura replied with a smile.
The seven then climbed up the low fence and tried to listen to anything from inside the house. They then kicked-open the front door and entered.
The group was divided and searched for Akaya in any of the rooms. They searched in all of the dark rooms and the broken lights are not really helping.
They searched everywhere. They looked in the bathroom, Akaya's bedroom, kitchen, dining room, everywhere! But they can't find Akaya anywhere. Until they heard a cough, wail, and a voice talking. Obviously, the voice didn't come from someone from the group.
"It's Akaya!" Niou shouted and ran wherever his feet could take him. The others followed him into a very dark, dusty, and slippery room.
There they found Akaya, crying, muttering something incoherent. They decided to come closer, and closer, until they heard Akaya talking to…
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To be continued.
So, that's it for the first chapter. I've decided to write a fanfic to distract myself from a shocking event. A neighbor of mine died because of a serious disease. She is treated here like an alien. She doesn't have any friends here and I often see her before walking all alone. I'm so sad because she died not able to taste happiness with a friend.:(