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.:I WILL GO TO YOU LIKE THE FIRST SNOW:.
Chapter 1: Wheels of Fate
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Fate. Fate is a weird thing, it is the force that predetermines inevitable events, it is the power thought to control all and may be impossible to resist. Some people believe in it, some people don't.
And this is a story of 9 girls. A story of love, fate, friendship, destiny, overcoming obstacles, trust and growing up. Because ultimately, everyone just wants to find their very own happy ending.
xxx
We are still captains of our soul
We are still masters of our fate
xxx
It was the first of February. Snow blew down on the apartment, hugging it like a day old baby, new and clingy. In this swirl of white the world was washed anew, like a new page to a new chapter of her life.
"I'll be heading out now, wish me luck!" a cheery voice chirped.
"Are you sure about this?" came another voice. Her shrill voice laced with concern and worry. "It's Hyotei for goodness' sake!" The shorter girl exclaimed while making wild gestures with her hands as though if it explained everything, "you can always come to Seishun Academy with me, their tennis team is brilliant as well, I'm sure – "
"You mean their boy's tennis team, Sakuno" the other girl interrupted, a smile lingering on her lips, "From what I've heard, their girl's tennis team is nowhere as near -" her voice faltered off as she bent over to capture a loud cough with her small hands.
The girl, Sakuno immediately bent over as well holding onto her ill cousin. "Perhaps Rikkaidai instead? I've heard that the girl's tennis team is very eager in obtaining their 6th consecutive national championship title this year" she suggested. "Besides that Aoi-Chan, we both know that Hyotei's uhm…" She lingered, brows furrowed as she pondered for a better word, "You know for…"
"Snobby rich kids?"
Sakuno laughed, she loved it when her cousin's humorous side came into play. Unfortunately, her shy and meek cousin spent most of her time hiding and cowering from guys to actually reveal her more humorous and cheery side. And this was probably why she knew that Ryuzaki Aoi was dead serious on the scholarship and entrance exam for Hyotei Academy. If the habitual Ryuzaki Aoi who always hid under her back when facing strangers or guys was willing to put in so much effort to enter Hyotei Academy – which was obviously a co-ed school, it was a tell-tale sign that she's very earnest about it.
It wasn't anything shocking though. The Ryuzaki family has always been a little… well crazy about tennis. Their grandmother, Ryuzaki Sumire, is a great and reliable tennis coach who has been coaching the Seigaku tennis club for more than 25 years. Both Aoi's parents and Sakuno's parents despite being normal office workers were avid and fervent tennis fans. And that was why the first thing Ryuzaki Aoi grabbed after she could start walking was precisely – a tennis racket.
And along the lines of being dragged to the tennis centre every single weekend, watching tennis matches, swinging rackets in their small and stifling room and visiting the nearby street tennis courts nearly every day it was sufficient to say Ryuzaki Sakuno did not appreciate tennis as much anymore. Her cousin, on the other hand, was still a very ardent lover of tennis.
"Here, pop a pill at least - before you head off" Sakuno chimed with her usual bright smile smile, her hands stretched out to offer her cousin some medicine, not realising the drowsiness warning written on the prescription provided. "Thanks, Sakuno" Aoi winked, gulping down the pill with water before rushing out of the door ignoring how lightheaded and dizzy she felt.
Aoi arrived at the train station a good 10 minutes later. The cold penetrated to the very marrow of her bones.
Pulling a worn out maroon scarf around her shoulders, she shivered again, before her body was racked with another wild fit of coughing.
She looked around with watery eyes, the hordes of people coming off as nameless, blurry faces. Her eyes then shifted up to the sky, as she stretched a hand out like if she was trying to catch a snowflake. Her breath fogging the air like a drifting, ephemeral white cloud.
She sucked in another breath, trying to conceal the soon emerging cough as her mind darted across in attempt to reminisce her revision notes. But it was futile.
Her head was spinning, her feet felt like air, her surrounding was spinning and all she could hear was:
"Hey, what's that kid doing? She's standing a little too near to the tracks…"
"Kids nowadays."
It was the little things that she remembered.
The smell of exhaust fumes.
The nameless, blurry faces.
The wonton chattering.
The mop of blue hair jostling across the crowd.
The way she went limp, knees buckling, body falling forward.
And all she could remember before her vision went dark was the low baritone voice with deep kansai accent, "Yare yare, what a troublesome child."
xxx
I might never be your knight in shining armour, I might never be the one you take home to mother and I might never be the one who brings you flowers
But I can be the one, be the one tonight
When I first saw you, from across the room, I could tell you were curious
xxx
Blaring bass, strobe lights, dancing bodies tangled with each other, neon signs aligning the ceiling, people making out in corners. This has been the weekly routine of Miyazaki Yuina for some time now.
"Yui" her partner breathed huskily, arms still wrapped around her tiny waist. If he was disturbed by her lack of attention, he certainly didn't show it. "Sorry, Carter" the said girl apologised, running her fingers through her perfectly styled brown hair, "I just… - haven't been really feeling it recently" she admitted, her voice trailing off at the second half of her sentence.
"Hey hey, careful there" Carter chided, his voice soft and tender, "You wouldn't want to accidentally pull off your wig in front of so many concupiscent boys out here and accidentally reveal yourself wouldn't you, miss supermodel."
"Right" Yui laughed, "I almost forgot about this god damn wig. Just excuse me for a moment… I'm going to the ladies" she smiled – a smile that did not reach her eyes. Carter chuckled, amusement darting across his dark eyes, "If you bail out on me at least ring me up will 'ya." To that response, Yui just gave a weak smile.
As she manoeuvred across the sea of people, a gorgeous looking boy with striking silver-blue hair and hooded eyes caught her attention. He stood hipshot with an expression that clearly screamed bored. Standing among a horde of people openly touching, dancing and even grinding he just stood there, aloof, cold, detached and impassive.
It was like if the background was painted rainbow and he was the only one that was black and white.
Upon noticing an intense gaze directed towards him, the gorgeous silver-headed boy turned his line of sight towards her. Their breaths hitched.
His beautiful ice blue eyes were as cold as ice glaciers, as blue as the ocean, as hooded as the night sky. Eyes of otherworldliness, eyes that could see into souls
And before she knew it, they were already at her house with fingers tangled within each other's hair. "In case you didn't know" the gorgeous silver head drawled, his masculine voice - alluring, husky and deep. "The name's Niou Masaharu."
But what all of them didn't know was the wheels of fate had already started spinning
xxx
But if you like causing trouble up in hotel rooms and if you like having secret little rendezvous
If you like midnight driving with the windows down and if you like going places we can't even pronounce
If you like to do things you know we shouldn't do then baby I'm perfect, baby I'm perfect for you
xxx
Aoi woke up with a jolt, her magenta eyes wide. "Ah, you're finally awake" a feminine voice greeted, and she whirled around only to find a dark-haired woman in her late 30's cladded in the medical doctors' gown. Her nametag read: Arishima Yumi.
Her eyes instantly scanned around, hospital beds, IV drips, the strong antiseptic smell lingering, intercom calling out code - a hospital.
"You fainted at the train station and almost fell down the train tracks. Luckily, someone saved you" she continued with a sweet smile. "It was a beautiful sight, I must say" she gushed, hands clasped together as she faced towards the sky like if worshipping some sort of god or something, "A gorgeous looking boy carrying you, his damsel in distress in his arms dashing across the hospital corridors." There were literally heart shapes in her eyes.
"I have to say that he was one of the most charming boy I've ever met" she went on while Aoi scrambled around looking for any possible device that displayed the current time. "Ah, but I'm afraid that I did not manage to get his name… although I recall that he was cladded in the – I think it was the Hyotei's tennis regular jersey" this finally caught her attention.
"Blue-haired and had just the most charming kansai accent."
xxx
God, tell us the reason youth is wasted on the young
It's hunting season and the lambs are on the run
Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars, trying to light up the dark?
xxx
"Oi, Yuushi, how dare you hang up on me like that" his doubles partner fumed, crossing his arms across his chest.
Oshitari Yuushi chuckled, "I apologise, I was rushing to the hospital" he took out his green BRIDGESTONE (WINGBEAM S65) racquet from his big tennis bag and strutted to the tennis court in his usual cool gait.
At that, Mukahi Gakuto instantly spun around, "Hospital?!" he screeched and Oshitari winced, "You're hurt?! How! When! Where! Who! Why!"
"Calm down" he waved in a dismissal gesture. "It's not me. I just brought this girl to the hospital."
Mukahi rolled his eyes, "Sure you did" then added a: "Must be a real beauty, right?"
At that Oshitari's dark blue-violet eyes twinkled slightly. The whole time he was just rushing back and forth, he didn't really remember much about the girl's appearance. Though, if she was a beauty he was very sure that he would have remembered how she looked like. "Hmm…"
Mukahi arched a brow, "Must be the legs then" he concluded.
Oshitari blinked, elegant fingers reaching up to lift his spectacles, "Her legs were…" He paused, images of her toned legs filled with bruises fluttered across his mind – he felt like it was the kind of bruises made when you get hit by real tennis balls. Then very softly did he say: "Very unforgettable"
Mukahi paused for a second, Yuushi had never described any women's legs as – unforgettable before. But then again… it was so typical of Yuushi to only remember her legs.
xxx
Sometimes, you have to tear yourself apart
To find out what you're made of
xxx
"Hey, you. It's too dangerous to use 2 tennis machine simultaneously!" the tennis centre staff reproached, concerned for the girl's wellbeing. "What speed are you even – gah!" he darted left, nearly slamming into the fence to avoid being hit by a very fast topspin.
He let out a sign of relief before trying again, "What speed are you even operating it at?"
"80mph."
"Wha -!" but the rest of his words didn't even register in the girl's mind as her legs sped across the tennis court returning the balls like it was second nature to her. Her mind still swirling with the past events that had taken place today.
She fainted, nearly fell onto the train tracks - she could have died. Then a stranger – a handsome one, to boot saved her carried her princess-style. Also… She missed the Hyotei's entrance exams. The last point though caused her to let out a soft tennis grunt, slamming the ball down hard, earning a loud yelp from the tennis centre staff behind her.
Aoi sighed, instinctively returning the balls with ease, unaware of the little crowd she was gaining right now. She had been desperate about entering Hyotei in order to join their female tennis club. She wanted to prove them wrong, the people who mocked and laughed at her during the tennis competition.
It wasn't like if she wanted to. Obviously she didn't want to be frozen stiff during matches due to nervousness or that she wanted her legs to turn all marshmallow and jelly or that she turned all awkward in front of strangers. She wanted to be strong, strong, strong –
"Every cloud has a silver lining."
She stopped, allowing the whirl of yellow to strike across her legs.
She twirled around to face the owner of the soothing voice. It belonged to a tall, slender, pretty brunette. The huge white tennis bag slung over her shoulder read H. Miyuki.
"Uhm…" Aoi blushed in embarrassment, instinctively moving to avoid being hit by the incoming tennis balls. "Did I happen to say all those out loud?" she was very much aware of her tendency to voice her inner thoughts out loud unconsciously.
"Yeah" a gentle smile formed across the brunette's face. "Here" she chimed, handing her a scholarship brochure.
Aoi blinked, eyes darting down to the scholarship brochure. "Seirin?" she choked.
"Don't be too upset about missing the Hyotei's entrance exam" the brunette offered, her smile still lingering. "As they say Sai Weng Shi Ma Yan Zhi Fei Fu!" At Aoi's blank expression, she quickly explained: "It could be a blessing in disguise" she winked while treading backwards towards the exit. "I still have grocery shopping to do. Until then, ciao!"
Aoi could only blink in surprise, the brunette came in a jiffy, and left in a jiffy, leaving her with only the scholarship brochure.
"Hold on" she paused, "What did she mean by until then?"
xxx
Kurisu Hanabi hated running, and if she ever did run – it will only be for two reasons: tennis or that she was late.
"Holy freaking cows."
"We're in deep shit. I bet she's gonna like slaughter me, skin me alive, peel me up like a living flower petal by petal, feed me to the sharks, let me run over a subway train, castrate me – "
"She's not going to castrate you" came another silvery, melodious voice.
"Oh boy, yes she will. She's gonna hold a knife with that sadistic creepy smile of hers while inching closer and closer to me and –"
"Sadist yes, but no she's not going to castrate you silly!"
"Oh, you don't know her true personality alright. She's –"
"Castration is for males, you moron."
"…"
"Really?"
"... I guess so?" then "Ayee, unless you tell me that you're male, then yeah."
"…"
"…"
"So now, stop rambling nonsense and pick up your pace before we really get our butts kicked!"
"Hey, I'm not rambling nonsense" she scowled.
Meet Kurisu Hanabi, a fellow 3rd year student studying in the prestige academy, Seirin Junior High School. Her wavy, shoulder-length long, light orange hair flowed down beautifully, so light it was peach. And with a pair of lovely, doe baby blue eyes that sparkled with passion and dainty beauty, it was needless to say she was quite a beauty. The only thing that did injustice to her adorable appearance was her horrible temper that sent her exploding like a volcano whenever she was pissed off.
Precisely that was why she was called raging volcano by her fellow sweet teammates.
"Says the moron who was rambling nonsensically about how she's gonna get castrate or something" her friend mocked with a playful grin plastered on her face.
And let's just say if she hadn't been Hanabi's best friend, she might have been strangled to death by now considering the endless insults she received from her.
Sayuri Sanada was the oh-so-beloved best friend of Kurisu Hanabi. Luxuriant, sleek, straight, waist- length raven hair flowed down, draping over her shoulders with a well-trimmed side-swept bangs. Her feline-like eyes was a unique shade of amber that glowed with a spark of mischief and playfulness.
"I" Hanabi growled, the gears within her brains shifting to come up with a witty, funny threat, " Swear one day I will hang you upside down – naked, mind you, outside of your dear Sanada's school" swiftly dodging people with god-like speed while dashing down the streets. Seems like Nyudo Mifune and Nanami's monstrous training regime did have its perks after all.
"Now now" Sayuri retorted back laughing, "I'm sure you can do better than that." She, herself dodging the crowd swiftly with ninja-like reflexes.
Hanabi rolled her eyes with a growl, "Someone please enlighten me on why you're my best friend again."
"That's because you loveee me."
"I definitely do not loveee you- oh, OPPS"
And with a grace of an elephant, Hanabi slipped and so coincidentally kicked the tin of red paint lying near her feet, sending it flying into the air –
Oh.
Crap.
Hanabi and Sayuri could only gasp in shock at the beautiful sight of luxurious, gorgeous red roses descending in the air followed by flying red paint.
The painter above could only let out a soft 'eep' and prayed to whatever gods out there that he doesn't get blamed.
It would have been a pretty amusing scene if there wasn't this guy cladded in Hyotei white and blue-gray tennis jacket with a cap dripping with red paint and roses all over him.
Well, at least their tennis jacket doesn't look that bad with the red paint and roses.
… I guess.
"Whoops… my bad" Hanabi apologized sheepishly, with a goofy grin only to match a murderous scowl.
"I was in a hurry and – I wasn't looking at the walkway and you know-"
"In a hurry, you say…" the guy growled, irritation visibly written all over his face, "Look girl you came dashing like a bull and did all this" he gestured to his obvious current pitiful appearance, "and that's all you can say?!"
Hanabi gasped, "Bull?!"
And yes, that was how bull got added into her long list of hideous nicknames.
"Yes bull. Got a problem with that shorty?!"
SHORTY?!
At the side lines, Sayuri chuckled amusedly, this guy was in for some deep shit alright, nobody gets away from calling Hanabi 'short' nobody. (Even though it's the truth.)
"Call me bull and shorty again and I will show you how it feels to never be able to celebrate Father's Day in your whole life!"
Yeah… Sayuri thought, this girl definitely needed to work on her threats more.
"Hou? Challenging me now shorty? I doubt you can even strike a good kick with that skinny limp of yours."
Hanabi twitched manically, "I'm not short you – you…cap boy!"
… Cap boy? This girl needed to improve on her nicknaming sense as well, sighed Sayuri.
"Well well, then allow me to show you how it feels to be kicked by quote unquote that skinny limp of yours" she smirked predatorily, pulling off a devilish smile as she raised her leg in perfect posture ready to strike until she got forcefully dragged away like a doormat.
"…?!" Hanabi exploded, trying to get away from Sayuri's strong grasp, momentarily forgetting how strong her best friend actually is. Sayuri, on the other hand, just sighed, seems like nobody could control Hanabi when she's in her well - 'volcano mood'
"Release me this instant before I hand you over to Nanami!" Hanabi growled, glaring daggers at her best friend while trying to claw out of her strong hold.
"Speaking of the devil, I think you've forgotten something very important."
"…"
"… Your point is?"
"T.e.n.n.i.s.p.r.a.c.t.i.c.e"
She emphasized on every single alphabet, enjoying every second on how Hanabi's face changed from confusion to deep in thought to shock and finally to a horror-stricken expression as if her doom's day was decided.
"ASDFKJFDLJFLDLKDLSDSKL."
Sayuri was mildly amused at how she was literally screaming out the alphabets.
"OH MY GOD! WE ARE FREAKING LATE. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!" she yelled, sprinting in top speed.
Her dooms day was definitely set.
xxx
But if you like causing trouble up in hotel rooms and if you like having secret little rendezvous
If you like midnight driving with the windows down and if you like going places we can't even pronounce
If you like to do things you know we shouldn't do then baby I'm perfect, baby I'm perfect for you
xxx
The only sound that echoed in the beyond sophisticated dining room was the faint sound of the cutleries that clanked.
Breakfast.
Breakfast, Atobe mused, is one of the most essential meals that is meant to be taken in peace with beautiful scenery served with tea, sandwiches, scone, muffins, tourtiere and English tea. But then again, with that barbaric crude bunch of tennis team of his, even the simplest morning could go wrong.
BAM!
And with a loud slam of the door that probably cost more than a normal student's entire year of pocket money, a beyond enraged Shishido strode into the dining room in the meantime staining Atobe's gorgeous white Axminster carpet with red paint and roses.
Twitch. Twitch.
Yup, Atobe could definitely feel his migraine coming at full speed.
Atobe sighed, an eye reluctantly taking in Shishido's overall appearance.
Dishevelled hair.
Scruffy tennis jacket stained with red paint.
Red roses sticking out of his bedraggled hair.
"Shishido…" Atobe began, elegant pair of hands lifting to massage his forehead while shaking his head in exasperation "I told you to get me real roses, and definitely not you Shishido."
"Do I even want to know" a blue headed bespectacled guy questioned.
"Don't. Even. Mention" Shishido replied through clenched teeth.
"And there you get your answer!" Mukahi chimed in brilliantly.
"Shut up Gakuto and stop puffing up your chest like that – you look gay."
"…"
xxx
The most dangerous drug I know has a heartbeat and blue eyes
xxx
"…"
"…"
"…"
"I'm not quite sure about this" came the shrill voice of Seirin's Academy principal, Seraphilia Ashford. "I definitely do think this is a good opportunity and all but obstreperous, hormone-controlled, debauchee and rowdy boys near my valley of white lilies? Definitely not a good idea."
"Well" Ryuzaki Sumire paused, slightly entertained "I'm pretty sure, no – I'm certain that these boys definitely aren't what you just described them as."
"In fact, I think it's abnormal how much these bunch of teenage boys think about tennis" Ryuzaki Sumire laughed, "It's as though their minds are just filled up with tennis and nothing else. Do trust me on this, Sera."
Seraphilia looked pensive for a moment and chose to turn towards a very dishevelled, scruffy-looking guy with a huge bear belly, "A penny for your opinion, Mifune?" she questioned. The said guy smirked shaking his sake gourd "Instead of a penny for my opinion, how about a penny for their opinion."
"Their?" both Ryuzaki Sumire and Seraphilia Ashford echoed.
As if on cue, the office door slammed opened revealing a platinum silver-haired girl. In a few strides, she was already next to the desk, flipping through the papers.
"Well, it's settled then."
"We're having a joint tennis camp with the male tennis regulars."
Author's Note: Pretty please do leave a review okay! It really motivates me to write on hurhurhur...
And for what happened to Yuina and Niou after that is... up to your imagination! It's up to you guys if you want to think whether they slept with each other or not x)).
And have you guys figured out who's the one that saved Aoi? Or what did H. Miyuki meant by "until then?"
Disclaimer: Obviously i do not own PoT but just my OC(s).