Title: White & Crimson Roses
Author: Jase Shadowstar
Summary:
(FujiRyo) AU-ish. After freshman year at Seigaku Junior High, Ryoma moves away to another city. Three to four years later, a very familiar someone walks back into his life along with an avalanche of trouble. Soon, the whole school finds itself caught in the weaves of magic and demons that they never knew existed in a play that is not quite what it seems.
WARNINGS: Alter universe (AU) and many, many original characters (OC)
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.
Prologue
Ryoma entered the restaurant with his heart full of apprehension. The diners was not large, composed of one large room and a few, smaller chambers off to the sides, divided by glass walls hung over by white curtains. At this time of day—sometime during the late afternoon—there weren't a great deal of customers and the place felt slightly empty in a peaceful sort of way. It was a nice place to be sure, but he was too preoccupied to pay too much attention.
He was here to wait for someone.
A waiter led him to a table in an adjoining room and handed him a menu with a welcoming smile. "Would you like something to drink, sir?"
"Just water," he muttered and sat down, the menu lying before him untouched.
Glancing up at the clock that hung above the doorway, Ryoma frowned.
He was late.
Bastard, he growled mentally. He could at least show up on time. He was the one who asked me to meet him here in the first place.
He nodded to the waiter as he set a glass of ice water before him and bustled off. Staring idly at the ice cubes swirling around in the concoction, Ryoma frowned. He was steeling himself for what he had to say to the other once he decided to arrive. Things had been running smoothly between the two of them, but an unexpected something had come up.
A distressed frown creased his brows.
Finally, the jingling of the front door announced that someone else had entered the restaurant. Looking up, he met smiling eyes as the waiter showed the person in. As the man left, he shut the door behind him, leaving the two in total silence for several, long moments.
"Good afternoon, Ryo-kun," the pleasant voice greeted as the light brown-haired youth took a seat beside him.
"You're late, Fuji-sempai," Ryoma stated simply.
The tensai chuckled. "Hai. Gomen."
Ryoma snorted in annoyance, turning his golden glare to the glass of ice water.
Fuji opened his eyes, examining his companion carefully. The other was uneasy.
"Saa…What's on your mind, Ryoma?" he asked lightly.
There was a long, awkward silence while the dark-haired teen traced patterns on the table with his finger. Ducking his head, he mumbled something.
Fuji scooted closer to him. "What was that?"
Ryoma finally looked up to meet his gaze, taking a deep breath. "I'm moving."
Ryoma peered out the window of the plane until the lights of the city were obscured by cloud.
With a sigh, he sat back in his seat, one hand reaching up unconsciously to grasp the locket he now wore around his neck. It was a beautiful thing, crafted of gold and molded into the shape of a rose. Clicking it open, he stared down at the tiny photograph within. It showed Syusuke wearing his customary, deceptively innocent smile with his arms wrapped around his kouhai's shoulders. Both were in their Regulars' uniforms and the younger boy in question was scowling up at the camera from under the brim of his hat.
Ryoma smiled despite himself as he recalled what Fuji had said right before they said farewell at the diner's the day before.
Saa, Ryoma, we will meet again. Just don't forget me in the meantime, ne?
Thanks for reading
