Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own PoT

Always, Forever, Never

Afternoon practice had just ended, everyone was worn out from a hard day of training, and no one other then one Gakuto Mukahi was lagging behind to leave for the day. Covered in sweat and exhausted completely he dragged his feet against the pavement a deep frown set upon his face as less then happy thoughts plagued his mind. All of his teammates had already made their way to the locker room gladly showering, changing, and heading off for home in there families various expensive vehicles but he was in no hurry to leave. Yeah he was tired but right now he just didn't care, too much was on his mind, too many serious things to him.

By the time he had finally made it to said locker room the acrobat found it completely empty as everyone had already left. Making his way slowly to his locker he opened it only to stuff a few things in it before starting to undress. Grabbing a towel he walked over to one of the showers turning on the water to a blasting hot temperature.

Closing his eyes as he titled his head forward Gakuto let the steady stream of water fall onto and down his body using the almost calming effect to actually think. His short red hair quickly clung to his neck upon getting drenched but he hardly noticed his mind too preoccupied.

Gakuto's small yet still very fit body was slowly washed clean of sweat as he stood there almost unmoving under the waters steaming stream. He was sure that he would burn his skin or in the very least redden it but he couldn't care less. The hot water was almost soothing enough to calm his thoughts but not quite. Reasoning that nothing could calm his mind right now the unusually saddened acrobat opened his eyes and stiffly began to wash himself turning off the water after only a few minutes more.

Drying himself off with a towel he let his hair drip water onto his back and chest as he once more stopped in front of his locker. Pulling out his change of clothes he almost automatically dressed himself his fingers stumbling over the buttons of his shirt as he buttoned them. With a final shift of clothing he was done glancing into his locker to see if he had left anything before grabbing his bag and slowly leaving the locker room.

Not even thinking about calling his driver to pick him up the redhead started down the sidewalk heading for the exit to the prestigious school of Hyoutei. His purple eyes glazed over blankly as he threw his bag over one shoulder his head tilted down slightly so as to stare at his feet. Above him the sky had grown cloudy but he paid this no mind concentrating instead on his ever pressing thoughts.

Taking the long way home Gakuto wasn't even sure as to why he was walking only knowing that he needed to think, needed to sort things out. There was no doubt that he was feeling depressed, the absence of his bouncy attitude and almost cocky smile was a given. Instead he kept that same deep frown etched upon his lips and his mannerisms left no impression of happiness or even remote bounciness.

Slowly, very slowly, the redhead continued down the ever the same sidewalk his progress minimal to be the least sarcastic. His shoulders were drooped his eyes still downcast to ever complete his abnormal sadness. Oblivious to everything around him he barely even knew where he was going just that he was moving. So it wasn't any surprise when it took the feeling of his soaked clothes, even more soaked hair, and wet skin to realize that it was steadily raining.

Tilting his head upwards the dark gray clouds which where letting loose there burdens of water in the form of the rain he blinked his frown only growing deeper. Deciding to let himself be uncaring of the slight annoyance he was more preoccupied still with his thoughts, the depression that had its icy grip upon him. Compared to it the rain had no merit whatsoever in his mind, it barely existed to him right now.

Without even realizing it the acrobatic doubles player had parted his lips as the rain continued to streak down his soft pale skin. "...Why Yuushi...?" He questioned softly closing his eyes stubbornly as a streak of wetness ran down his cheek that had nothing to do with the rain.


The two third year doubles partners stood face to face behind the bleachers of the tennis courts with Gakuto looking expectantly up at Yuushi. Waiting for him to speak Gakuto bounced back and forth on the heels of his feet his tennis shoes squeaking slightly. As he impatiently waited for his partner to speak he scanned Yuushi's ever serious face to notice that he seemed...sad.

Furrowing his brows in confusion and worry he immediately thought the other was saddened because of something he did. About to yell out his apologies he was stopped by a finger upon his lips which effectively stopped all thoughts of speaking.

"There's something I need to tell you Gakuto..." the tensai began his voice trailing off almost weakly. His eyes locked with the redheads a note of sadness audible to Gakuto's sensitive ears towards his doubles partner.

"W-what is it Yuushi?" He asked tentatively suddenly getting the feeling that maybe he didn't want to know the answer. Yuushi was acting so strange...

"I wanted you to know before I announced it to everyone else on the team." Pausing Yuushi closed his eyes with a deep and certainly sad sigh escaping from his well defined lips. Agonizingly waiting for him to continue Gakuto unknowingly clenched his hands together in nervousness.

"I'm quitting the team..."


Sinking down to his knees upon the wet pavement he clutched his eyes shut tightly his hands shaking lightly against his knees as tears streamed from his closed lids. Why? Why did Yuushi do quit?! It was all he could think about, all that plagued his mind, everything that started the wave of depression and self blame.

Maybe he had done something to drive Yuushi away. He had lost them too many games because of his low stamina even though each time his partner had told him they were both to blame. He even knew that he was annoying as hell at times, clingy even, that was probably what drove beloved Yuushi away.

Letting himself burst into sobs upon the cold wet pavement the rain steadily drizzled down his back and into his hair of the pathetic ball that was now Gakuto. His doubles partner was gone now...gone...and he felt so, so alone.

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So ends the first chapter of my first serious fanfic :3 Please tell me what you think of it! Hopefully soon I will have up the next chapter for everyone to read, that is if anyone even likes this at all. So please stick around for it if you are interested in my story.

Oh and this is going to be a YuushiXGakuto HiyoshiXGakuto fic with quite a bit of angst if you haven't figured that out yet.