Summary: Ryoma and Atobe were desperately in-love, just not with each other. It tore them to realize they could never have their heart's desire so they turned to the next best thing… an affair with one another. Devoid of feelings, succumbing to their needs… until it became something else. But what if their feelings were actually being reciprocated?
Rating: T for adult contents, but nothing really that explicit yet. It might go up in the future if I decide to write lemons
Pairings: Royal Pair, Thrill Pair, Imperial Pair, Perfect Pair
Disclaimer: I DOn't own Prince of Tennis or any of its character. If I did it would officially become a yaoi anime and well… use your perverted imaginations!
Warning: This is a yaoi story. It has boy x boy love here so for those who can't appreciate such thing you are warned. This chapter is fairly safe. No real adult contents tp be worried about.
Chapter One: Echizen Ryoma and Atobe Keigo
Sometimes he asked some celestial beings why he had to feel the way he did. He knew he was withdrawn, anti-social, and he had cocky disposition. He knew he tended to be on the blunt side more often than not but as far as he knew he was only stating facts the way he observed them. He might have a large ego but he could always back it up. He was already cursed with an idiotic father; it was one irksome trade. So why, in all heavens, was this happening to him?
Have I angered some divine being? Why couldn't I just endure bullying or something else other than this?
Echizen Ryoma looked up again to see the perpetually plastered smile of his sempai as he was, once again, assigned to do stretching with one Fuji Syuusuke. The other was raising his left leg as far as it would go without hurting the younger boy. Ryoma bore the gentle feel of his leg muscles being stretched and instead focused on trying to ignore the warmth that was spreading throughout his body.
"Does this hurt Echizen?"
"Che," was the only reply the younger boy gave and Fuji flashed him his smile again, continuing his ministration. He kneaded the flesh that was exposed to him, relaxing the muscles at the same time working it out. Ryoma bit his tongue to keep the moan that threatened to escape his lips.
Fuji placed his left leg back on the floor and did the same thing to the other leg. Ryoma could count himself lucky Fuji had woken up earlier and had done his stretching so he didn't have to return the favor. When that was done Fuji stood up from their position in the floor and offered his hand to the younger boy. Ryoma took it without a word and he secretly savored the feeling of the soft hand in his grasp.
"Mind letting go of my hand now Echizen?" Fuji asked, still smiling. "Not that it doesn't feel good but coach Ryuzaki is calling us to assemble now."
Ryoma quickly let go of the hand and pulled his cap lower, trying to hide the tell-tale blush that was forming in his cheeks. He was saved from trying to make a comeback when Kikumaru Eiji chose to indulge his craving for a glomp-spree.
"Ochibi!"
Ryoma tried prying the arms that was slowly but surely choking him to death. The red head's ever reliable doubles partner came to the rescue, and Oishi Shuichirou pried the arms off the dangerously low oxygenized tennis player.
"Eiji! Please be careful," Oishi admonished his partner, while fussing after Ryoma. "Are you okay? You're not hurt are you? We could request an oxygen tank from the local health center if you can't properly breathe. I'm sure…"
"I'm okay Oishi-sempai," Ryoma gasped in between breathes. "We should go over sensei now."
So they walked to the assembly area where Ryuzaki-sensei started to explain the mechanics of the event. A race of some sort, testing the progress of their training for the Kantou Takai finals against Rikkaidai. Ryoma itched to find out how much the training had helped him improve. He was not going to lose to Sanada. Again.
But thoughts of his bitter defeat were driven away from his mind when he felt a certain tensai once again in his immediate vicinity. He tried ignoring the presence but he knew he was fighting a loosing battle. He had been ever since they resided under one roof for the training. At least back in Tokyo he had to deal with this… problem only during practice. Although even that was enough for his mind and body to react in overdrive. But here in Karuizawa they were in constant proximity 24/7, and even though he tried to keep himself from doing it he found it irresistible not to seek the presence of the smiling teen.
Ryoma was always honest to himself, and even though he tried to ignore what he was feeling he had already admitted that the feelings existed. He just didn't know how to go about them as of now. He could have just easily confessed to the older teen but there was one thing that was keeping him from doing it.
"Saa… let's not get careless here, Echizen."
That was right. Even apart Ryoma could never make any move to his sempai. And that was because of one Tezuka Kunimitsu.
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When he got the call he felt elated and then irritated. In as much as he wanted to pretend the phone call was meant for him he knew it wasn't. Tezuka would never waste his time and money for unnecessary calls if he could help it. No, the Seigaku captain would only bother when it came to his team, the pillar he was molding and specially his precious someone.
Atobe Keigo allowed himself to be led out of the bus along with his team with his trusty butler and maid in tow. He knew the place Seigaku were staying at would not be at par to what he deemed his level. At least he could pretend he was somewhere nice and not in the dingy property catering to the request of his secret love.
He flipped his hair just for the sake of it and sneered down at the dismal place. He was tempted to just ask them all to board the bus again and have the practice matches take place at his cottage. Yes, his cottage. One of the many his family owned.
He noted with amusement that he was not the only one to abhor the place. Mukahi and Ootori were fidgeting at the presence of the frogs and Oshitari was looking at the area with incredulous eyes. But he had a promise to fulfill, and even if he knew it was futile for his quest of the return of his affection he was still Atobe Keigo and an Atobe never backs down from his word.
He allowed Seigaku's coach and Oishi to explain to everyone the rules in the practice matches. Every match up was completely by chance except one, and he had made sure it would be so. He was just thankful that Tezuka had asked a hand for the brat. At least he could be objective about him. But he did not like the implication that he knew and trusted their team's tensai enough to leave him be with his abilities.
Nevertheless he knew in the back of his mind that it was just like that. Tezuka knew him well enough. After all, Fuji Syuusuke has always been whispered as Tezuka's special someone and vice-versa.
He tried to watch the practice matches with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. He was not particularly thrilled with the task at hand. He wanted to fight Tezuka, feel the rush of exchanging strokes after strokes to the Seigaku captain, to see him hitched breathlessly as he perform flawlessly at the court. His muscles straining, his body arched…
He noted with displeasure Fuji's win against Oshitari. He commended Seigaku's resident tensai for beating their Hyotei's own but it was still with ill feeling. He just could not help it. He glanced pass the smiling teen over to the outside of the court to observe the boy he would be facing later on. His brows furrowed as he tried to read the freshman. Then something clicked in his mind and he emitted an empathic smile he made sure no one would see.
Echizen Ryoma was in love with Fuji Syuusuke.
He wanted to laugh out loud at the situation so much like his own. He could have but he wanted to avoid the questioning looks he would get if he succumbed to the temptation. It was rather hilarious, really, this arrangement. He was the king of Hyotei; he could have anything he wanted. But the one person he wanted the most was outside his reach.
He knew Echizen was just like him in more ways than other. They were both cocky, both full of pride. They have humongous egos and they both hate to loose. But it seems like they would need to concede defeat in the hands of the two most tagged players of Seigaku.
***************************
"Echizen would serve first in this game. Ore-sama decrees so!"
Oishi looked cornered from the umpire's seat. Ryoma threw a smirk at the direction of Hyotei's captain and decided to help out Oishi from his predicament.
"It doesn't really matter to me," he said, taking a ball from his pocket and proceeding to the baseline for his service game.
"Ore-sama will find out for himself today if you're at Tezuka's level yet," Atobe announced.
"Che," was all the reply he got and the younger boy proceeded to deliver his famous twist serve.
The match continued each trying to prove a point; Atobe that Ryoma was far from the level of tennis Tezuka was confident the younger boy was capable, Ryoma that Atobe was completely wrong with his assessment. They have never really had an opportunity to talk to one another before, so their level of interaction was very minimal. All they knew about each other was second hand informations, observations at best.
But in this match Ryoma was surprised to admit he had enjoyed playing the diva. Atobe felt reluctant admiration for the tenacity and perseverance of the brat. As the last move was made and Ryoma tied their game at six games apiece he grudgingly admitted to himself he could be a force to be reckoned with. But he never said it out loud.
"Handshake?"
Atobe looked down at the smirking young boy and he felt amusement bubble inside of him. However it scared him to think, and he was sure the brat would be horrified if he verbally intone his observations, how they were really so much alike in a different way.
"I'll save the handshake in the future," Atobe declared regally. "Prepare to be beaten by then."
Oishi, who called the match, rushed to Ryoma's side as soon as Atobe turned and started his way out of the courts. He fussed over the situation of his wrist and Ryoma had to assure him over and over again that he was okay and that his wrists were fine. After checking it for himself Oishi finally felt satisfied and exited the court with him. Ryoma was in deep thoughts about his progress and the rush he felt playing Atobe that he didn't notice his companion had moved beside Fuji and started a conversation with the tensai. He did notice when they started talking about him.
"There is a definite improvement in Echizen's game," Oishi said enthusiastically. "This is so great. Wait till I email Tezuka."
"Saa… he will know by tonight," Fuji murmured.
"How is that nya?" Eiji asked, glomping his doubles partner suddenly.
"Hmn… Tezuka always calls this day, just to check things out," the tensai smilingly replied.
Eiji let go of his doubles partner and glomped his best friend. "Waah! Buchou calls you regularly? Even Oishi gets only emails form him. Nya, what do you talk about?
Fuji pried Eiji's arms from with relatively ease before answering. "Just stuffs. He talks about his rehab and I talked about what has been happening here."
"Is that all?" the red head asked suspiciously. "Maybe you guys are having… what was that Oishi I read in the magazine my sister bought the other day? Oh, I remember! Phone sex, nya!"
Everyone in the vicinity unfortunate enough to hear the loud declaration, and with Eiji it means everyone in the five kilometers radius, looked over their small group with different reactions. There were looks of disbeliefs, amusements, and scowls thrown in their way. But two people who were near enough to hear the whole conversation refused to allow their initial reflex to turn and follow suit with the rest at looking huddled group. Because if they did others might notice an entirely different reaction that only the two of them sported.
A look of hurt.
Atobe moved from his position decided to wander on the ground. It might do him good to slam it out for a minute or two, just to get those images from his mind. As he walked in the relative wilderness his mind skimmed over his predicament. It was really no use to pin after someone he always knew would never return his feelings. Even kings could admit defeat when it was staring them face to face.
Ryoma escaped the vicinity of the courts under the ruckus his hyperactive sempai had caused. He wandered around aimlessly, trying to clear his mind. What he wouldn't do to drive away this feeling he was experiencing. He always knew he was a lost cause in his quest for the reciprocal of his affection, never mind that he hadn't actually made a very evident move. He was ready to give up on it. There was no other way around.
"Maybe its time to let him go…"
Ryoma and Atobe were woken up from their contemplation when they realized they had said their thoughts out loud. Simultaneously. Ryoma looked up to gaze at the dark blue eyes of the proud king of Hyotei, noting that it seemed dull compare to the azure ones of Fuji-sempai. Atobe gazed down at the next generation pillar of Seigaku and decided those dark orbs didn't seem to even hold a candle to Tezuka's pair, specially when the older one's gaze were intense and concentrated.
Both just stood there for minutes, it seemed like hours, just staring at one another. The rest of the world was driven from their thoughts as they gazed at each other's eyes with so much intensity and calculating. This was their way of communicating, their means of telling their own story. No words were needed to be exchanged and the mere non-verbal exchange was enough to gain an empathizer in one another.
"You and Tezuka-buchou…"
"You and Fuji…"
They didn't know what happened after that. Neither knew who the initiator was and who was the initiated. One second they were staring at each others eyes and the next thing they knew the distance between them closed to almost non-existent, their lips locked. Ryoma hands found themselves encircled around the taller teen's shoulders, pulling him closer while he played with the soft purplish locks. Atobe hands weren't idle themselves as his right hand would its way to the younger boy's waist while the other clamped itself at his nape, guiding him to make the kiss more passionate.
The kiss was all about passion and hunger and craving. It was neither sweet nor gentle. It was a flurry of lips and tongues tangling with one another to release the passion they had bottled inside of them. There was no gentleness, just a quest of relief. Neither heeded the fact that this would more likely bruise their lips. It was pure animalistic instinct.
Neither of them knew what else could have transpired if they were left in their own faculties. But they were never alone, their teammates just a distance away. Maybe it was lucky of them they had decided to walk inside the beginning of the tame forest, or else their teammates would be having an eyeful of their impromptu make-out session. But an insistent call from one of the Hyotei player, both of them were in no way coherent enough to determine just who called, brought them out the moment they have weaved between them.
"Atobe…"
Atobe straightened and disentangled himself from the younger boy. He tried to retain some semblance of order in his appearance and he heard Ryoma chuckled.
"What is funny brat?"
Ryoma just smirked and proceeded to wipe the saliva that dripped at the corner of the diva's mouth, a souvenir from their heated kiss. Atobe smirked back and tried to arrange the shirt of the younger boy he had unknowingly almost taken off the lithe form. They gave each other a thorough once-over before focusing their attention to one another again.
"This remains our secret monkey king."
"Ore-sama is not chatterbox. Be awed by Ore-sama's prowess, for he has honored you with a taste of Ore-sama himself."
"Shut up monkey king. It's the other way around."
They gaze at each others' eyes and they let out a small chuckle simultaneously. The calling become more insistent and they both sighed, again simultaneously. They started walking back to the group, both thinking about what has just transpired. They still understood little of what prompted them to do it. But one this was for sure. Their relationship has just taken an interesting detour, one that they do not know the end.
TBC…
Whew! The first chapter is finally out. This story is by far not my first Prince of Tennis fanfiction but it's the first one I'm posting. I'm almost finished with this, but things could still change depending on the reviews and suggestions. Expect at least a bi-monthly update; if I have more time maybe even weekly.
Please review so that I know what I might be doing wrong and help me better this story. I would like to also ask you what pairings I should end it with. Should I go with the Royal-Perfect pairings or Thrill-Imperial pairings? You decide people!
Until the next chapter….
nicki-gurl