Title: Double Fault (a "Prince of Tennis" fanfic)
Warnings: Mature themes.
Started: 2006.07.07

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis does not belong to me. Also, I'm not making any money off of fan fiction...I just needed an outlet for many of the feelings I was going through at the time I started this story. Although much has changed since I started writing (not just my writing style, either!) I'm leaving this story up for others to read...sometimes it's nice to know that someone else has gone through a similar experience, so I will leave this story up. I don't think I will finish this story, but you never know.

I also don't own Too Soon to Say Good-Bye by Deborah Kent (which I used as a model for many of the earlier medical information, scenarios and emotional responses up until Ryoma is admitted. For example, Ryoma passing out at a competition). Not a good ides, I know, but I was an immature minor at the time... I later edited out some of the similarities and added some details about Japanese health care (there aren't any GP / family doctors. There are Syounika, pediatric specialists for people under 15, however), so this work has only one base source (Prince of Tennis) now.

Enjoy this story for what it's worth.

Status: Discontinued.

Author: (here: attackfish, Live Journal: bowlofkaki)

Summaries:

V1: It seems to Ryoma that summer training has gotten too rough for hot and humid Japan. To make matters worse, Momoshiro and Oishi have taken notice of the first year's uncomfortable disposition. Ryoma seems to be more sick than he realized. First person present, switching PoV.

Double Fault

by attackfish, a.k.a. bowlofkaki

(Echizen's PoV)

"Na, Echizen!" Momoshiro bellows, lingering on the vowels in my name, like that would help me hear him better, "are you paying attention?" Momo can be very loud when he wants to be, and right now, he really wants to make sure I pay attention to him. The second year regular puts a hand on my shoulder, like I hadn't heard him hollering at me a second before.

"Yeah, yeah," I mumble, leaning out of Momo's heavy grip and walking to the courts.

I knew it was supposed to be hot today- and humid. Japan is always humid. Hot and humid. It's that smothering kind of heat that makes you stay indoors, the kind of heat where my dad used to bring home popsicles and take me to the pool.

Not to mention, it feels a lot hotter on the courts. The heat was so fierce you could see it rippling across the green of the court.

"We're playing in court B." Momo didn't have to jog too far to catch up with me. I'm moving like a rock today. Today's warm-up jogging zapped all of the energy out of me...I don't know why we have to run today. Shouldn't we save our energy for the practice match?

"Echizen, Momoshiro! Get started or you're running laps!" Oishi ordered from his court. Oishi is trying really hard to be a commanding, authoritative temporary-captain since Tezuka is away in rehab.

"Yes, co-captain!" Momo yelled, as I tried to choke out some kind of affirmative. We jogged the last few strides to court B. Luckily, I call first serve. Maybe I can get it together if I take my time.

Exhaustion is throwing my game off. It's been really hot lately, and my game is suffering for it. Even night-time isn't a relief; I just toss and turn all night. I woke up tired again, but today's gonna be different. I've got to get my game back, or this summer will drag on, and on.

I'm already in position, hand digging in my pocket to grab a ball. Across the net, Momo is the picture of anticipation. I frown under my hat. Where does Momo get all that energy in the humid summer? I swallow as I bounce the ball, wishing I could take a break to get a drink.

I bounce the ball again, but let it fly back up to my hand. Need to get it a little higher...it bounces again, and this time I feel my arm stretching up, and my eyes zero in on the ball. I hit it with a solid thump, and it flies over the net. I didn't hit the twist serve, but Momo doesn't seem to care. He's already into the game.

In spite of everything, Momo plays a good game. He hits a couple of great passing shots to gain an early break. I win a few points off of him- unforced errors on Momo's part- but he had the advantage in that I was exhausted and he wasn't.

I'm breathing hard and sweating profusely. I'm still not into the game, and can't seem to work up enough energy to run the balls down. Momo wins the match in no time.

"Lets get a drink and stretch." Momo says easily, like he didn't just beat me 6-3. I nod, and grab a towel off the bench. The gate seems to sway oddly. Maybe it was me who was teetering, tilting off balance.

I wish there was a breeze.

I pause at the net to catch my breath. Momo stands a few steps away, waiting. I close my eyes, and turn to face the sun. Eyes open, I start for the water fountain. I know I'll feel better with some cold water on my face and a quick drink.

I lean heavily against the sink, pushing my head under the running water. The cold water feels good.

"Hot, huh? Yeah, it's hot!" Momo laughed and sprayed me with the other fountain. I glare at him, but really, it feels nice. "Tough week, huh? Your classes hard?"

I shrug. Classes are just something between morning practice and afternoon practice if you ask me. A wave of dizziness goes over me, and I hunch over. Not for the first time this week, I wish practice would be called off. I don't know how I'll get through the next practice match.

"Let's stretch some and do a couple of drills." Momo suggests. We stretch slowly, side by side. Momo lets me control the pace. I'm reluctant to stop- I still haven't caught my breath. Every time I think we ought to get started, a weight presses down on me. Around me the other matches continue, and first years do drills. Somewhere in the distance I can hear the bells that announce a train.

Slowly, I force myself to head back to the court. Momo follows me in silence. Back at court B, I start feeding Momo balls. He alternates hitting with his backhand and forehand. I keep feeding him balls, content to stand while I run my older classmate around the court.

"You wanna have a go?" Momo asks, catching the ball instead of hitting it. He knows I'm avoiding practice. I guess it's because I've been playing so terribly for the past week. I can't seem to get enough energy to get over the heat.

I'm getting worse, not better. I shake my hair out of my eyes and smile at Momo, smirking at Seigaku's power player. "You getting tired, Momo-sempai?" I bait him, trying to buy a little more time.

"You little weasel!" Momo whines, smiling. "You've been running me around in the sticky heat while you're just standing there!" Momo closes the distance between us in a few swift bounds. He grins wickedly and looks like he's up to something. "Staying cool while your seniors do all the work!" he teases, and lunges for my hat.

I protest and try to grab it back, but Momo's a lot taller than me. He dances around me while I reach for it, using it like a fan. I swear, Momo's more of a child than I am sometimes.

I've almost got the stupid hat when Momo stops grinning, and grabs my arm, instead.
"What's this bruise from? Looks pretty bad." Momo is staring at me, and I don't like the look in his eyes.

I look at my arm, and see a large, purplish bruise. I don't remember getting it.

I can feel my lips turn down, as I try to pull away. "I dunno. Probably from playing with freakishly strong tennis players." I can't keep the words light. I sound like a defensive little kid.

Momo looks at me uncertainly, unconvinced. He's squinting at me, looking at the assortment of bruises on my arms and legs.

I pull my arm away, hugging it to my chest. "It's probably from practice."

How I wish I had worn pants to hide the bruises on my arms and legs. I'm trying to find a way out of this conversation when I hear Oishi in the next court. Just in time, Oishi is calling for a team pep-talk. I jog ahead of Momo, eager to forget about his probing questions.

"Listen up everyone; we've got a rigorous training schedule planned for tomorrow. We've only got a few more practice sessions before our next big game, and we really need to strengthen our game if we want to win it!" Oishi's enthusiastic determination makes him look older than fourteen. Our team is lined up before him, regulars in the front row. The energy is overwhelming.

"You all have been practicing hard out there today—"

"Nah, Oishi! Do we get the day off?" Kikumaru jumps in, looking like a cat about ready to steal the fish off your plate.

Oishi frowns at his doubles partner, and shakes his head. "We've still got the second half of our training menu to finish today. We need to concentrate and really buckle down, right now!" Oishi looks happy. How can he look happy about working even harder in this kind of heat?

Around me, the team is yelling and whooping in agreement, catching some of co-captain Oishi's enthusiasm. I feel weak. I wish I stayed home today. Oishi calls out names to do drills, some to play more practice matches, but I'm not listening. I don't know how I'm going to handle more today.

"Echizen," Oishi has his hand on my shoulder, "are you feeling okay?" There's no one around us, the other team members have already started again. I try to remember when they left. "You're looking pale...are you sick?"

Oishi's concern is worse than Momo's. I feel uncomfortable. What had Oishi told me to do for practice? I can't remember. I shake my head wordlessly, and look to where Momo and Fuji are playing.

Oishi puts his hand on my forehead, trying to see if I'm hot. "Come with me to the nurse's room...I need to get some more supplies for the first aid kit." He tries to smile, but that worry tugs at his eyes, and I know that he doesn't really need any more supplies for the first aid kit.

Great. Now I have to go see the stupid nurse. "Co-captain Oishi, I don't think the nurse is in today...isn't it her day off?" I try to beg off. Oishi just tugs me along behind him.

"Oh, she's in today! I'm sure of it!" Oishi says, smiling that worried smile some more. I guess he's noticed my game this week. But then again, who hasn't? I'm losing to anybody.

We take off our shoes and put on the indoor-slippers. It should be a relief to step inside, but Seigaku- like any other school I visited when we first moved here- doesn't have central air. It's only a little cooler indoors than it is outside. I put my hat back on, tugging it down while I stare at Oishi's feet.

The nurse's office is on the second floor. It's close to Momo's homeroom but on the opposite end of the wing as my room. I stand in front of the door as Oishi steps inside.

"Excuse me, nurse..." he says quietly.

I stare at my feet. I wonder if Oishi would get too mad if I just start down the hall...there's a water fountain over by my classroom...

"Echizen, come sit down." Oishi urges, pulling me into the room. I allow him to pull me in, and he sits me down on the cot. "It seems the nurse has stepped out. You wait here while I go check in the teacher's lounge."

I look up for the first time and notice that Oishi is right. No one is in the room. We're the only two in there. I look at the clock. Practice had only been on for a little under an hour. I make a face- it seemed like so much longer than that!

"I'll be right back—" Oishi starts for the door, but I interrupt him.

"No, Oishi-sempai, I'll just go home." I look up at Oishi, begging for him to forget about it.

Oishi doesn't look convinced.

"I'll see the nurse tomorrow during homeroom." I really don't want the school nurse looking at me at all, but I can't think of any other way to keep Oishi from worrying. "You don't have to find her."

Oishi smiles at me for real this time. He thinks I just don't want to wait. "It will only take a few minutes, Echizen. Besides, your homeroom teacher wouldn't like you going to see the nurse first thing." He smiles at me, reassuring and scolding at the same time. Oishi would make a good teacher. He seems like one, sometimes.

"But-" I know I sound desperate, but I can't keep the edge out of my voice.

"I'll be right back." And he leaves. Co-captain Oishi leaves me in the tiny nurse's office. I wonder if he really thinks I'll stay put. There's no way I'm seeing the school nurse. I'll walk home before Oishi gets back.

My mind set, I decide to wait a little before leaving. I watch the clock for two minutes, and get up. The dizziness hasn't passed, but it's not as strong as it was before. I guess the inside of the school really is a little cooler than outside...

I move slowly, and peer out the door. Oishi is nowhere to be seen. I smirk to myself, and head down the stairs, keeping an eye out for my senior classmate. Should I go get my bag? Will one of the others stop me?

I'm reluctant to go to the locker rooms. I'm tired and want to go home. I can get my stuff in the morning. Who needs schoolwork, anyways? I should get some sleep and be ready for practice tomorrow. I'll be back on my feet and ready to play tomorrow and Oishi will realize I don't need to see the stupid school nurse.

So I go out the front doors, and start walking home in my tennis clothes. I left my racket by my locker, but I don't want to go back to get it.

Momo and I always walk home together, so I know the way. It's not even all that far- it just takes a little longer to walk than to ride. I wish I could be riding, right now, though. I'm so tired and moving too slowly. At this rate, I'll get home even later than usual.

Exasperated, I decide to rest a little by someone's house. I wish I took the bus. I let my head fall against the cool stone, and lean heavily against the wall.

I wish I were home.

(Momoshiro PoV)

I'm playing a good game. The problem is, so is my senior classmate, Fuji. We're more than half-way through the practice match, and Fuji has already sealed off my dunk smash...with a counter like his, why shouldn't he?

It's my serve. I blast the ball down the middle, but Fuji is already there. He returns the ball deep into the court, making me run for it. I half ran, half slid to my right and slice a backhand. Fuji rushes the net, but I guessed he'd do that. I'm already in position to counter his two-handed backhand with a smooth slice. Too bad for me, Fuji's anticipated this move perfectly and lifts an offensive topspin lob- baiting me, I'm sure. The ball lands softly right on the baseline- out of my reach.

In spite of Fuji's stead-fast control of the game, I'm still grinning like a lunatic. "Man, senior, it's hot today! Can't you go easy on your juniors once in a while? Yeah, you oughta go easy on me!"

But Fuji isn't smiling. In fact, he's not even looking at me, or switching sides, like we're supposed to. I follow the third year's gaze to see Oishi jogging out of the school. "Oishi!" I call out, "where's the kid?"

But Oishi isn't smiling either and doesn't respond to my question. He's asking Ryuzaki something, but I can't hear a thing. This doesn't feel good. Something's up.

"Sorry, Fuji," I grin over at my opponent and dash towards Ryuzaki-coach and our co-captain.

"...he probably just went home..." Oishi was saying, trying to sound casual, but looking like a worried mother.

"Well, co-captain, I expect you to see to Echizen tomorrow. Leaving in the middle of practice is unacceptable." Ryuzaki looks stern, but she's actually smiling a little. She doesn't seem too worried about the kid. "If he's well enough to sneak out of school, there's no need to worry about his health."

"What? Echizen snuck out of the nurse's office?" I can feel my face working up, mirroring Oishi's worried expression. "That's not good! Ryuzaki-coach, I'm going to go get him!"

My feet are ahead of my mouth, though, and I'm already running to the locker room, pushing through my classmates and underclassmen.

"Wait, Momo!" Oishi yells after me. Poor guy; now he's got two players ditching practice. Both regulars, nonetheless.

The locker room is small, but always feels smaller when everybody's in there. "Get outta the way, people! Coming through!" I yell, pulling two scared looking freshmen away from my locker. I thrust my racket in my bag and my school clothes into my book bag.

Now where's Echizen's stuff? I can only see two rackets in his bag. Where's the other one? Did he bring it with him? Then I remember Oishi took him to the nurse...maybe it's over there. In my hurry to go grab the stupid racket I forget to grab the kid's school things.

I hope he has a spare uniform to wear tomorrow.

I'm carrying both our tennis bags, plus my school bag when I screech to a stop in front of the lockers. "That little- he left his racket on the floor?" the racket is lying down in the first year's locker section. I swoop down and grab the thing, and dash out to grab my bike.

Once I'm on the road, I wonder why I'm doing this. Running all over the school to take care of a freshman. I've barely known Echizen for a few months. He moved in at the beginning of the school year, and nobody would call him warm and sociable. But somehow, I've managed to make a guy like that into my friend.

I'm trying to sort through my thoughts when I almost run over some little kid leaning against his house. My bike skids to the other side of the street- and into the gutter. "Watch where you sleep, kid-" I'm yelling, trying to tug my bike out of the irrigation. This kid is starting to- wait a second. That's Seigaku's uniform. "Echizen you idiot!" I yell, and at this, the brat stirs. Is he still sleeping?

I abandon my bike, and walk over to the sleeping rookie. "Oi." I shake his shoulder. "Wake up, sleepy."

Echizen opens his eyes. Blinks at me.

"Hell of a place to take a nap! Echizen, you idiot! If you wanted to sleep, why not stay in the nurse's office?" I pull him up. "Geeze, you didn't get too far, did you? We're barely two minutes from the school."

Echizen mumbles something indistinct, and rubs his eyes. He looks beat.

"What?"

"Hi, Momo." The kid rubs his eyes some more. "I said 'I wasn't sleeping.'" He repeats, more clearly this time. "I was just taking a break."

He could have fooled me.

"Well, since I'm here and everything, how about I give you a lift home?" I'm trying to sound casual, but Echizen makes a face like I offered to give him a handicap or something. Geeze, this kid is so arrogant. Though it could be a pride thing. I can understand that...pride is a guy thing.

"You got my tennis stuff." His voice is surprised, but slow and without luster, rather like his moves on the court not even a half an hour before.

"Yeah. Forgot your school stuff, though..." I put one embarrassed arm behind my head. I really had just taken off, back there.

I cross the street, and pull my bike out of the gutter. Our stuff is almost falling off, so I readjust it. Echizen waits for me to get on before climbing up behind me.

Echizen's oversized tennis bag makes him seem that much smaller. It's hard to remember that I was ever that small. To think, just a year ago I was about his height and still doing drills. I'm glad I'm not doing drills again this year! I don't think I could stand that.

I pedal down the neighborhood road, going at break-neck speeds down the hills, and busting my butt up them. The ride to Echizen's house feels like it's on a mountain! All these hills...

Hills aside, I guess this part of town is okay. The old neighbors are friendly enough, and everything is kept clean. It's just another terrace filled with houses in Tokyo, I guess.

"The old man isn't out today." Echizen notes.

The old neighbors will greet any old stranger walking down his street- especially students. They'll holler out a "welcome back" from their side of the street. The old man is usually tending the rice patch down this bend, but he's not out yet. We're much earlier than when we usually speed by this way.

"Yeah. Remember when he first said "welcome home" to you?" I laugh, remembering the freshmen's bafflement. Apparently no one in America says "welcome home" to traveling students. Neighbors must be complete strangers over there. I guess there's no feeling of 'it takes a village to raise a child' where Echizen grew up.

"How could I forget? You laughed at me the whole way home." Echizen sounds like he's far away, but I tell myself it's because of the wind.

"How couldn't I laugh?" I grin at the memory. "You actually told that old man 'I'm not home yet!'" I laugh some more, and feel my grin widen. "Did you see his face? What a riot!"

"Even you said it was weird, Momo!" Echizen grumbles into my shoulder.

"It was a little weird." I admit, watching the bushes go by. "That guy doesn't know either of us. Besides, most people don't do that kind of stuff anymore." I'm looking at the doorbell speakers on a traditional style house as I say this. Japan is a mix of old and new, though most people seem to try to get away from the 'old ways.' I shrug.

"But you didn't have to be so rude y'know. Kids should respect their elders, huh? Yeah, kids should respect their elders!" I laugh some more.

We're rounding a corner now, but it takes the kid a on my back a few seconds to turn into it. I correct our balance without a word. Echizen has been out of it for the past couple of days. Slept in on Monday- Horio told everybody how he came in after homeroom. Not to mention, he's been grumpy and tired throughout practice.

Though I guess he's always grumpy and tired.

We ride down the last hill in silence, and I stop at his family's gate. I watch the kid clumsily unload, and open the gate. I frown at the bruises on his legs.

Those bruises look angry. Big, blotchy bruises. No way he doesn't remember getting those. I brush those thoughts aside and grin after Echizen's retreating back.

"Get some sleep, Echizen! Co-captain Oishi's gonna have your head in the morning!" I holler after him.

The kid pauses at the door and looks back. His lips are pulled up in a quirky smile, "Yes sir!" he jokes, and disappears behind the door.

"Yeah, Oishi's gonna have my head, too...Geeze, I'm supposed to set a good example, and I take off like that..." I shake my head. "Man."

Thinking of all the laps I'll have to run tomorrow, I set off for my own home. I hope all Echizen really needs is a good night's sleep, but somehow I think that's not it.

He'll be okay. That kid's a winner.

Now if only I could make him remember that.

(Echizen PoV)

"Oh, you're home early, Ryoma!" Nanako chirps from the kitchen. "Welcome home!" She looks honestly pleased to see me, smiling like that.

I pull my hat down, telling myself that she probably actually is glad to see me. Nanako has a younger brother and sister and it just so happens that she likes taking care of kids. She tells me that all the time. Still, I don't know how she always sounds so cheerful.

I mumble the customary "I'm back" she's expecting. I trudge over to the fridge to pour myself a cup of plum juice my dad's mother sent us. It's good; sweet and tangy. It's a syrupy juice that needs to be watered down.

"Did practice let out early?" Nanako asks. She's chopping up vegetables.

"No." I answer. I sit at the table, and stare at the sink. The juice isn't agreeing with my stomach.

Nanako sits across from me. "Oh." She looks confused. Her eyes scan my face. "Do you have a test tomorrow?" she ventures.

I know Nanako is trying to be helpful, and is nice, but right now I wish she'd go back to cooking. "I left early."

"Are you-" Nanako starts, bringing her manicured hand out to brush my forehead.

"I'm going upstairs." I stand up, and retreat. I don't want more people poking and prodding at my bruises. I rush for the door, but it's opened from the other side before I can get out and head for the stairs.

"Hello, young man," my dad sings out. He elbows me back to the table. He's grinning at me as he continues, "do you want to play a game?"

I glance at the tennis ball in his hand. My dad is smirking a little, and edging for the table. "I was going upstairs." I grumble, reluctant to give any information to him, of all people.

Having said this, I duck under dad's arms and trot up the stairs.

Behind me I hear Nanako say, "I wonder if Ryoma isn't feeling well? He came home so early..."

I try to ignore this conversation and glare down at the bruises on my legs and arms. I don't know where they're coming from...I don't feel any clumsier than normal, but there's so many of them... I wish they would disappear.

I close my door, and lay on my bed. I don't want to get under the cover in this heat. I don't want to get changed into my nightgown. Everything seems so stupid! Nobody'll give me a break.

I'm so tired...

…tbc…

Thoughts?