The Sun will Shine Through
Author Note: I own no Prince of Tennis characters, strictly the plot. (P.S. Never written a story, so be nice please! :D)
"talking"
'thoughts'
Beep. Beep. Beep. Be-.
'Ugh. It's time to get up already.' Ryoma Echizen thought to himself as felt a tail brush his face. He looked over to see his beloved Himalayan cat, Karupin, sleeping with her tail in his face. He let a small smile grace his face as he made his way out of bed towards the shower thinking about his cat the whole time.
After his shower, Ryoma went to put on his uniform and headed downstairs for breakfast. He fed Karupin and then sat down at the table and looked at the food in front of him. There were eggs, toast, and sausage…an American breakfast.
"Why didn't you cook a Japanese breakfast Okaa-san?"
"I'm sorry sweetie, I and your otou-san are in a hurry."
"You and baka Oyaji? Why?"
"We're late for our flight."
"Hn, where are you going?"
"America."
'America!?,' thought Ryoma, 'why didn't they tell me they were leaving? And to America!'
"When will you be returning Okaa-san?"
"I'm not sure, but there's money on the counter, enough for to last quite a few months if need be."
"Hn."
"Well, it's time for me and your otou-san to leave."
"Hai."
"Be good and call us if you need anything."
"Hai."
"Jaa nee sweetie."
"Jaa nee seishonen."
"Hn. Jaa nee." As Ryoma's parents stepped out the door, a brief bout of loneliness erupted in Ryoma, but he quickly dismissed it with the thought of being able to take care of himself. Ryoma looked at the clock, only to notice that tennis practice started in ten minutes. Ryoma rushed to eat his breakfast and gather his school bag and tennis rackets. With everything ready, he pets his cat goodbye and rushed out the door.
On his way to school, Ryoma felt as if he was being followed, but every time he turned around he saw no one. He shivered involuntarily.' Nothing's going to happen', he thought, 'I'm just being paranoid.' He calmed down and walked at a leisurely pace, ignoring the fact that he was going to be late. Who cares if Tezuka-buchou would make him run laps, it would be a good warm up. All of a sudden, Ryoma felt himself being pulled backwards. He went to look at who was doing it but was faced with a fist hitting him in the face. Then he only saw black.
'What happened?' thought Ryoma, as he slowly sat up. "Ugh. My head." He looked around and noticed he could only see out of his left eye. "Must be the right side I got hit on then." He looked down and noticed a piece of paper taped to his chest. It read: Ryoma, quit the team…or else. 'Or else?' thought Ryoma, 'must be a prank…' Ryoma knew deep down in his gut it wasn't, though he wanted to make himself believe it was. He got up slowly using the wall to steady himself. He was shaking slightly. He hoped that this was all a big joke. But in his gut he knew it wasn't. He then remembered he was on his way to practice before this had occurred. "Aw man! Now I'm even later than before!" Ryoma rushed off, forgetting the note still taped to his chest.
Ryoma finally arrived at school, only twenty minutes late for practice.
"Hn. I'm not as late as I had thought."
"Echizen."
Ryoma turned around to greet his sadistic senpai.
"Ohayo Fuji-senpai."
"Echizen! What happened to your face?"
'Oh, I forgot, my face doesn't look very presentable at the moment.' thought Ryoma.
"Hn. Nothing happened Fuji-senpai."
Fuji ignored what Ryoma said and came closer.
"What's that on your chest?"
Ryoma looked down and noticed he had forgotten about the note.
"It's nothing of importance."
He went to grab it, but Fuji was quicker.
"Ryoma, quit the team…or else? What's this?"
"As I said earlier, it's nothing of importance." Ryoma almost growled out in agitation.
"Well, it seems more like a threat than 'nothing of importance' as you put it."
"Just leave it be senpai."
"Did someone do that," Fuji pointed at the swollen eye," and then leave this note behind?"
Ryoma was quiet for a moment.
"…Hai."
Ryoma said reluctantly.
"Who did it?"
Fuji said, now tense.
"I don't know senpai."
"Echizen…"
Ryoma could tell that Fuji did not believe him.
"I don't know. I was pulled into an alley…and then punched in the face… After that I lost consciousness for a few minutes…"
Ryoma was shaking now. Fuji noticed Ryoma shaking and went to approach his young kohai.
"It's all right Echizen, you'll be okay."
"Please don't tell anyone Fuji-senpai…please."
Fuji found this odd, Ryoma would never beg like this, or show this much emotion to anyone.
'He must be really shaken up.' thought Fuji.
"I won't Echizen." Fuji said softly. He then pulled Echizen into a heartfelt hug. Ryoma relaxed slightly, his shoulders becoming less tense than before.
"Thank you Fuji-senpai."
"You're welcome Echizen. Now, I think you should skip morning practice today. I'll tell Tezuka something came up, so you couldn't make it. Okay?"
Fuji looked down towards Ryoma's face. There was a very small, microscopic smile on it, almost too small for the eyes to see. But with eyes even better than Eiji's, the acrobatic ace on the Seigaku team, Fuji saw it. As fast as it appeared it was gone though.
"Hai Fuji-senpai."
"Good, now head to class."
"Hai."
With that Ryoma headed towards class feeling calmer than he had when he arrived.
Author Note: So how was it? Let me know! Review, Review, Review!! Suggestions are welcome! Should the relationship between Fuji and Ryoma be brotherly or more? Let me know!