Band Of Brothers-s Chapter 1
He knocked on the door. In all honesty, he had come to dread these visits in the past few years. But he had made a promise to his mother that he would try harder to be a part of this family. So whenever his family came to America in the holidays he made it a point to visit them once after visiting his mother's grave to gather the courage. His hands were laden with gifts. Not only was this Christmas Eve but his younger brother's birthday too. He always got the same gift for him. He wasn't close to his brother but he was in enough tennis magazines, which made it a habit to always point it out that Ryoma Echizen loved Ponta. So he bought a whole carton for him, grape flavoured too. His father was even easier to shop for. Buy him anything tennis related, and he'd be as happy as a nut. He knocked again, louder this time. His cousin sister Nanako opened the door.
"Ryoga-san Merry Christmas"
"Merry Christmas Nanako" he greeted her equally politely. He did not know what to make of this sister of his. He didn't hate her but he wasn't sure if he liked her. All the while, he had come to know her; she was too polite for her own good. They behaved as strangers but of all his family members, she was the closet to the word 'family' in his mind.
"Come on in, uncle and Ryoma are in the backyard."
Ryoga stepped in and shook off the snow from his coat. The house was warm and decorated in festive lights. In a corner, presents were piled under the Christmas tree. He placed his own under the tree too.
"I hope you will stay for dinner."
"Isn't that why I always come here Nanako-chan? Your cooking keeps drawing me back"
He looked further around the house. Everything was the same as usual. His cousin did a good job of maintaining the house while juggling her medical studies. There was constant sound of a ball being hit back and forth. He made his way to the backyard where surely two men were playing tennis. Only they would be crazy enough to play in this cold weather. He sat on the benches with Nanako. There was no need to make his presence known yet, they would not bother. They were already too engrossed in their match. Nanjiroh Echizen never found any opponent worthy enough to make him play seriously, even in the pro circuits, so he retired from the game. And no other opponent could make Ryoma Echizen break a sweat, especially now that he had opened the last door, the Pinnacle of Perfection. That was why Ryoma and Nanjiroh never got tired of playing against each other. The only two in history to have achieved Pinnacle of Perfection played like they were in Grand Slam Finals instead of their backyard but Ryoga knew from experience that between them, there was never any 'friendly' matches as they continued to slaughter each other on the courts, torturing the ball flying between them. After another hour, the match ended at 67-65 tie break in Ryoma's favour. Nanjiroh of course chalked it down as 'a fluke' and his 'bones' which were getting too old to play in this cold weather.
His brother, now seventeen, was the first to notice him.
"Happy birthday Ryoma"
"Ah, thank you Ryoga. You got me my usual present I hope"
"Of course. It wouldn't do for me to disappoint you like that, ne?"
Nanjiroh actually had the audacity to scoff at the remark. Ryoga felt anger surge through him, but he bit it down. He wasn't here for this.
"Merry Christmas Nanjiroh" he could bring himself to address him as father, not that he was much of a father to him in any case.
Nanjiroh just nodded.
Anyone looking from the outside could see a picture perfect family of a father sitting with his two sons for a dinner on Christmas Eve. The older of the two boys was teasing the younger brother about something, while he whined about it to his father who in turn chided his oldest son. A young woman was laughing softly at the scene while serving them all dinner. She was too young to be their mother.
"Ne, Ryoma what did he get you for your birthday?"
"We played a tennis match"
"And for Christmas?"
"We will play again tomorrow morning" he answered as if it was the most natural thing in the world to play tennis as a gift to someone. For the two samurais though, it probably was.
Ryoma was delighted by the presents he received from Ryoga. He mentally calculated how long would the forty cans of the fizzy drink last. One week at the most, he deduced. For Christmas, he received a new tennis racquet from his father, new shoes from his brother while his cousin gave him a gift voucher to a sports store. Nanjiroh received a set of strings for his racquet from Ryoma and a beige sweater from Nanako. Ryoga had simply gotten him a tennis charm for his car. He was pleased by the sensible gift his youngest son had given him. Ryoga bought Nanako a simple chain and pendant set and was relieved to see her like her gift. Ryoma had bought Ryoga a dozen oranges and it amused Ryoga to no end. Nanako was more sensible than his Chibusuke and presented him with an iPod. It was already filled with his favourite artists.
"How did you know my preference?"
"You told me last year. I remembered"
"Thank you."
His father had grunted and taken out his wallet opening it and closing it again before pressing five hundred dollar bills into his hands and telling him to buy whatever he wanted since he didn't know what to buy
Maybe if you had bothered to get to know me, you would know what to buy for your oldest son, dad
As they sat down for coffee after all the present opening, the topic inevitably led to tennis. Again.
"You know I beat that Kevin Smith again oyaji"
His father laughed boisterously and patted Ryoma's back
"Now that's my son"
I am graduating from college this year dad on the top of my class. Aren't you proud your son is going to become a lawyer from an Ivy League?
"You should learn from your brother Ryoga"
Ryoga did not bother to reply to his dad's insensitive remark. Anything he said, it would leave both of them in a bitter mood in the end. He sipped his coffee, turning his attention to the girl in front of him.
"Nanako, how is Tokyo Medical coming along?"
"It's fine. It's interesting. What about you? Yale Law is certainly not easy"
"Yes, it certainly isn't the easiest thing to do but I will be graduating this year"
"Congratulations. I hope you will be inviting me to your graduation?"
"Of course. Though I have to warn you, people will keep pestering to be introduced to the pretty damsel that I have brought along with me. We lawyers can be very persuasive in putting our point forward you know"
Nanako laughed at his remark. At least she seemed to be the only one interested in his life.
Ryoga knew there had been a time when his father didn't hate him, his mother had been alive and they all had lived together. Rinko wasn't his biological mother but Nanjiroh was his biological father. He had never known who his biological mother was but all through his life, Rinko had filled in the role of a mother perfectly. Even though he was the living, breathing proof of her husband's infidelity, he had never been treated any different by her. "It's never about the genes or blood that tie two people in any relationship" she often said. Nanjiroh too loved him, coached him in tennis until Ryoma was born, who was a natural in the sport. While Ryoga had to practice each stroke, each shot and each movement of his, Ryoma was a true prodigy as he effortlessly challenged his father at his own game. By the time Ryoga was fourteen, things had already started to strain between his father and him but Rinko had been able to salvage her family. It was exciting to see his father play but seeing his mother, confident, in the courtroom gave him a thrill that tennis didn't. Still he tried to be a tennis player for his father but by now, he was too occupied in coaching Ryoma. The final blow came when he had been accepted into the law school four years ago, destroying any chances of being a tennis pro. His mother had died a few years later but not before making him promise to try harder. He had moved away from his house and chose to stay in the college dorms while the father and son travelled to Japan. He had kept in touch with his mother and inquired about Ryoma frequently.
"He is a carbon-copy of Nanjiroh" she had said.
But all this was in the past that was too distant to remember and too painful to be forgotten.
A/N: This was written in a sudden fit of inspiration. As always, review. Suggestions, constructive criticism, feedbacks are always appreciated very much. Still debating to whether to leave this as a one-shot or make it a multi-chapter story. Help me through your reviews to decide, ne?