Hi! I hope that you will enjoy my new story.
Disclaimer: I don't own "Prince of tennis" only this one story.
Warning: It's BL story (if you don't know it means boy's love)
Spoiler: Well, if you did watch until after the Kanto Tournament there are some informations, but I'm changing the story on base of Tezuka/Ryoma conflict from that day.
And please do tell me if you liked it:)
Chapter 1
I am myself.
His face burned, that slap that Captain gave him pained more then anything else that day. Position in that Goodwill Tournament or match with Kevin held no actual importance to Ryoma anymore. Sure he would like to play more – with good players, and Kevin was a bit irritating...
"He didn't have to hit me. And for what too... I'm not as he is – I'm sick of it. So what if I'm not as he is?!" Ryoma grip on the bag hardened "What is it, that got him so agitated?" he mumbled as he entered home, but in fact he knew why Captain expected him to be higher then anyone else. He knew damn well and slowly he stopped to care about it at all. "Became Seigaku Pillar of support... Go to hell!"
Ryoma noticed that someone was inside, he frowned last thing he need was an unexpected guest. But his face relaxed as he heard the voice from the main room.
"Captain?" he asked in shocked voice "What are you doing here?" he tried to smile.
Girl, about sixteen years old turned around to look at him. Her blonde, long hairs were put up in high ponytail – he figure was slim and perfect, eyes beamed of warmth that was only to be find with kind hearted people. "Ryo, how are you?" she asked softly while coming closer to embrace him tightly "I missed you." he let himself relax in her arms, trying to forget about all that happened.
"I missed you as well." said Ryoma in low voice "I'm happy that you came." he looked into her eyes as she let him go "Very much."
"I need to speak with you Ryoma." she stated "Nan-san, I'm going to take him out for one game." she informed Ryoma father
"As long as you need." he said shocked about his heir odd actions, sure Ryoma liked the girl – but to say this much, that he is happy.
Ryoma didn't want to play but he went with her anyway, it was a comfort to see her – one that was always happy, if not be her own fortune then by her subordinates happiness.
"What is it?" she asked "I can tell, that you are troubled by something. You somewhat knew that you will be dropped this time, right?" she smiled at his shocked face "Shocked that I know? Don't be – remember who I am."
"I know Captain Marie." he said in sad voice "As I wrote during the Camp I had the feeling – it was not as much shock as everyone else believed. It's not about Kevin, too." he assured before she asked
"I wrote to you that I can organize this match anytime you wish for it." Marie put her hand on boy shoulder "When you will be in full form – now you are not." Ryoma looked down, his cap covered his eyes "I will play you as long as I need to draw your power out." he lifted his eyes with hope "But first things first, what is the matter?"
"When I got stubborn and wanted to disobey the Captain today..." he lifted his hand to his face "He hit me – it didn't hurt much." he assured as he noticed fire lit in her dark orbs "And I started to think, why did he do that..." Ryoma moved to the court "He wants to created a copy of himself, I don't want to be a copy anymore. Not my fathers and not Captain Tezuka – I have my own ways and my own tennis."
"Then don't be." ball send by her went by Ryoma "You don't have too. You are Ryoma, you don't have to be anyone else – you were fine Captain before you came here." she played with the ball in her hand "Do what you want to do."
"I want to be myself." Ryoma said as he hit the ball back on her side "I want to return." he mumbled silently looking the other way.
"You can do what you want. I told you as you were leaving – I would take you back any moment." she smiled at the boy "But think of it a bit – if that's what you want. Maybe Tezuka-kun is unable to act differently." she moved and hit the ball hard "Next game to me, its 4-1 already." he bit his lip in irritation at hearing that.
"It's not my matter." he tried to get her by Twist Serve, but she responded easily "You got better again, Captain."
"If you say so." she took another few steps and hit the ball to the right corner "When?"
"And when you are going back?" he asked, he moved closer to the net and she did the same, match was now forgotten.
"In three days." Marie put her hand on boys head "You can go with me, if you want to. I will order others to prepare everything for you at Tornado and inform your previous teachers."
"Do so." Ryoma said looking past her, at his father who was listening for some time now "I'm going to join Aniki at the Tornado." he could see the shock in his father eyes, but 'old Samurai' nodded "Captain allowed me to go back, so I have nothing that would hold me here. I'm sorry, I cannot be like they want me to be."
"You and the rest of family can go too, Nan-san." Marie said "I could use good Coach." she proposed, but man just looked away "Any time is fine."
She looked at Ryoma and got a bit angry at this situation – she knew that in fact boy wanted to stay but something was keeping him. That Tezuka was a rot of all trouble here, Ryoma could think she didn't knew, but she realized it long ago – not only Tezuka tennis interested Ryoma. She decided to do as Ryoma wanted and wait to see like it would end. There was one more thing that she knew for sure – Ryoga won't be happy about this... that someone dared to hurt his little brother.
Next day, she woke up late – Ryoma was already out. After a meal she left the home and decided to find his school to check on the boy. Seigaku was a big school, but she managed to find to courts and noticed that Ryoma was entering the match.
"So, he wants to play a bit more here." she smiled a bit and came closer, judging from her charge look she knew that other player had to be strong. It proved to be right, ball that he hit were hard to get. It seamed as if other boy was not playing at his full potential. "You can do better Ryo." she said loudly "If you will play like with me yesterday – you will get to play real him."
Everyone noticed that there was unknown visitor on the club grounds and few people moved closer to check who she was.
"Captain Marie!" Ryoma laughed "I should know that you will came." he looked at Fuji to get his approval and as his senpai nodded he moved closer to Marie "I can survive on my own as you see, I feel much better since our game." others froze at the way he called the girl "There is no need to worry about me, Captain."
"How about introduction?" Fuji moved closer "Inui looks as if he was overloaded with data, he doesn't understand." he joked.
Ryoma wanted to speak, but Marie did it sooner "I'm Marie Johnson. Ryo friend from America – It's a pleasure to meet you all."
"I see." Fuji eyes were open and looked at her with interest "When you say Marie Johnson – you mean the Court Dancer, right?"
"Hmm, so it's so easy to figure out?" she asked, Inui made a strange noise and sunk in his notebook to read data he had on her. "Is that Fuji-san, you spoke of?" she asked Ryoma
"Yes." Ryoma smirked knowingly "You want to take over?"
"If I can." she moved to enter the court "But you wanted to play Him as well."
"I would enjoy to look at such match." Ryoma looked at Fuji and asked "Can Captain play you know, Fuji-senpai? We will end it one day."
"Sure." Fuji eyes beamed with interest, he heard much about this girl "To play Head Captain of the Tornado is an honour that no all can claim to have."
"You falter me." she said and entered the court "One set game, until one gets 6 games."
30 minutes later
"Game and match to Johnson 6-3." announced Ryoma
Marie looked slightly unhappy "You didn't played with your all. Do you think so low of me?" she said and left the court "When I play I expect other player to give me his all." she took a can of juice from Ryoma and drank some "Ryo, I was to tell you that right after school you are expected home."
"I see." Ryoma nodded "Do you need something form the shops?"
"No..." she stopped as she felt that her phone started to vibrate, she took it off "Ryoga is calling." she breathed hard and smiled at Ryoma "Hey... what up Ryoga-kun?... No its fine... Like I told you, nothing happened... I take care of that... Just be ready on your end, right?... No, there is no need... See you soon." she turned it of and gave Ryoma hard look "You are going to have a few troubles with him."
"Aniki is only troubles, so I got used to it already." Ryoma complained "How are they doing? I mean you left for a few days."
"Just fine, so there is no need to worry. As we are at it, I got the call from Thomas on my way here." she said while looking at new person that appeared near to them as she spoke by phone, by the aura he gave out she suspected that it was Tezuka. "He got in contact with Sky."
"Truly?! It's great – I mean how long it was?" Ryoma laughed "And?"
"They are on, as long as they get to play. But you are going to be scolded Ryoma..." she moved her head toward the Seigaku Captain
Ryoma frowned and put his arms crossed on the chest trying to ignore Tezuka. "Captain, you can go home." he spoke softly "I will be there right after school."
"You have to train after school, Echizen." Tezuka was irritated, why did Echizen called someone other then him a Captain, and why on earth was he ignoring him.
"I'm terribly sorry." said Marie "But Ryo is expected home right after the school." after saying that she petted Ryoma head and walked away "Do you best Ryo."
"Captain!" Ryoma shouted "Tell father to call Aniki – I need to be sure that won't do anything bad. About the deal that Thomas made I accept it by all means. I will call him back today."
"Sure thing." Marie waved her hand and left.
"Captain?!" asked Momo "Why are you calling that chick a Captain?"
"Saa... Momo-senpai, I would refrain from calling Her like that. As you noticed, she can beat Fuji-senpai. She is not just any girl." Ryoma gathered his things and prepared to go for classes "That is Head Captain and Owner of huge sport club in America. My family was always supported by Tornado, so..."
"You belonged to Tornado Echizen?" Fuji asked him with his eyes still opened "That makes sense now, you were strong for a first year, so that's why."
"I belong to Tornado." stated Ryoma "I never actually quit." boy moved to club-room "I was put away for the time I would spend here, that's all."
Tezuka frowned, he disliked this – not only Echizen actions today, but this girl as well. She seamed to know all Echizen Family and be in good terms with them. He didn't want to think what it could mean. Above all Ryoma was calling Her by His title – he was probably bitter about recent happenings. After classes Tezuka was thinking of recent events...
"All he has to do is to ask me to let him participate and I will tell him that he is eight person that was chosen, but I got a strange feeling that he won't ask." Tezuka looked at Fuji "What is it?'
"I got a bad feeling about that." Fuji frowned "Did something happened between you and Echizen? He seams to hold a grudge on you, but he won't show it openly."
"It's nothing Fuji." Tezuka said "Just few small things."
"I see." Ryoma voice hit them both "Small things you say." boy lowered his cap "I heard about being eight player. I decline this offer, so you must take someone else."
"Echizen!" Tezuka grabbed boy arm
"Tezuka-senpai I would prefer if you refrained from touching me." Ryoma took something off his pocket and handed it to Tezuka "The letter." he said and moved away "I am myself – I am not you or your Pillar of Support."
Tezuka froze and looked at the letter "resignation form." he whispered
"Small things?" asked Fuji, his eyes opened a bit more "Why did he looked so angry as you touched him Tezu?"
"There are places in which I can be myself – why would I stay in a place that want me to change?" Ryoma lifted his eyes on Tezuka "I was aware why I didn't got chosen, I don't hold a grudge for that. Kevin matter is my private thing – even is you messed with it I can understand why you did it – so I'm not angry with that either." boy lowered his eyes and let the cap to cover them "But I will not tolerate the way you acted back there." Tezuka realized that boy refers to slap he received "Despite of that I would still stay – its just I understood... you said that you want me became Seigaku Pillar of Support and you tricked me like one too."
"What do you mean, Echizen?" Tezuka asked
"I was not allowed to be weak – not allowed to step away from my path." boy face was sad and hurt "I was to became you instead of my father. But..." boy stopped and looked at Tezuka with hope that he understood.
"I see." one that spoke was Fuji "You are not Tezuka, you are still a kid at heart. You waver from time to time. Which is normal."
"Yes." Ryoma smiled at Fuji "At least someone understands. I am myself."
Without say anything more Ryoma left, leaving shocked Tezuka – who maybe for the first time in life was unable to speak. Fuji looked at his Captain and turned around leaving him alone.
"Tezu... you do realize that he is right. You had no right to judge him in comparison to yourself."
Fuji words vibrated in the air, Tezuka didn't move – his facial expression disappeared. Letter that Ryoma left stayed in his hand "Echizen." small whisper left his lips.