Title: It Was All Just a Game
Words: 421
Summary: Victory was vital to Echizen Ryoma, but this intent was too insane-- too fragile, and when it breaks, everything shatters.
Authoress: The Wonderful K. Muffin
Rating: T
Warnings: AU, Character deaths, OOC(?), insanity!
[Crime/Horror]
A/N/: I had a little conversation with kaIshekk and we talked about if there was another Prince of Tennis fan fiction similar to her 'Battle Communication!'. Since I couldn't find one in my memory at the moment I decided to create one for her. I'm not satisfied with this fic, but I hope you like it, this is for you, kaIshekk!
This is my third death!fic of all time and this format of the story is similar to my other Atobe-centric story 'Checkmate'. I'm on a roll on killing Prince of Tennis boys! I took the idea from Battle Royale, which is a competition where you are forced into a game and you have to kill every other contestant in order to survive... I suck at horror.
I do not own The Prince of Tennis or Battle Royale.
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Throughout his entire life, Echizen Ryoma always thought that games were harmless, merely for entertainment, with little toys that run across the board, or simple words like 'tag', or even with tennis rackets and a net. Then there's that winner and the pride that's attached to it, and Ryoma had always wanted to be the victorious one since he was little: striving to beat his father and defeating the rest. How many times had he heard Tezuka say "Let us go to the nationals" or "Be the Pillar of Seigaku, Echizen"? Everyone else wanted to win too; it was a simple goal that was already implanted in their hearts on the day they were born.
So who would ever have thought games were so dangerous?
--
It Was All Just a Game
--
It was nothing but playful competition. Just another match for you.
It started on that day, when they were gagged and quickly taken off, without any goodbyes. Without any trace.
When you look back, you realize how much things have changed.
Empty fields, missing boys, people are in panic. Months go by; soon they are all presumed dead.
Your life lies on that thin line.
It's almost unbearable, no one to depend on, no one to seek comfort from. This is what he has endured for, all this pain, suffering, living a terrible time where anyone could be killed any second… Where he feels someone breathing on his cold neck…
Let it all end, let it all end…
It wasn't like he had any choice, it wasn't like anyone had any choice.
It was his life, or yours.
Surviving in the dark, thriving off a blood, waiting for this to finish, waiting for peace, waiting for silence to finally befall, this is what everyone experiences in this disgusting game. Ryoma is no exception.
"Please…Please don't kill me…"
After a few weeks, murdering isn't so frightening anymore. Hesitations mean death. No one is a friend.
People who ate with you, cheered you on, gave you reassuring smiles, none of those matters anymore.
When it's all over, he had nothing, yet he had gained everything.
"You've won, Echizen Ryoma," the last person falls, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth. "You've won," he whispers again, and again, and again.
Ryoma was still standing, staring straight down.
This is what he wanted, right?
"Congratulations, Echizen! You beat that Sanada to humiliation!"
"Let's eat sushi at Taka-san's place!"
It was…
"Nya, o'chibi, let's have fun~!"
"Don't let your guard down."
It was all just a game.
"Saa, Echizen, victory tastes sweet, doesn't it?"
[end]
