A/N Here's the second chapter everyone! I hope you've enjoyed it so far :) It's been fun to wind the intricate knots that Ryoma has to unravel.

Warnings: None.

Dedicated to: DemonGirl13. Happy Birthday luv!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Prince of Tennis.

During the Summers I'd been Away

By squishy the jellyfish

These past few days had been full of surprises, or rather, bad surprises. First, Ryoma had met up with a mysterious as ever Fuji-senpai, second he saw a very sick and/or, tired looking Oishi-senpai, and lastly…he found out that Eiji-senpai was confined into a wheelchair. To say the least, his 'vacation' had not started off well at all.

"I take it though you found Eiji-kun?" An elegant voice said, making the other male look up.

"Fuji-senpai…you're here?" Ryoma asked dumbly, straightening from his hunched over position. After the incident in Eiji's room, he'd run all the way out of the building and stopped only to catch his breath outside. "…What the hell's going on?"

Fuji's eyes were open, but were directed out into the street. "I'd never expect you to understand, nor would I want you to understand."

"Why?" Ryoma demanded, a frown adorning his pixie-like features. "What's there not to understand? Eiji-senpai's in a wheelchair. A fucking wheelchair."

Fuji glanced over at the younger man, his eyes intense. "…A lot of things have happened during the summers you'd been away, Echizen-kun, a lot of things that you were not present for."

Ryoma glared. "What happened to him? And why does Oishi look so tired and ill?"

"Wasn't that obvious?" Fuji chuckled suddenly, "The stupid fool takes care of his 'love', but he can't take care of himself. Honestly…"

Love? Were Oishi-senpai and Eiji-senpai together?

"Though they don't know that yet," Fuji paused. "Stupid fools don't even realize that everyone but them, know that they're in love."

What?! "Fuji-senpai-"

Fuji shot him a sharp look which silenced him instantly. "I think it'd be best if you avoided them for a while, ne?"

"But, what happened to Eiji-senpai? Why is he like that?" Ryoma asked.

Fuji shifted his gaze.

"Why won't you tell me?!" Ryoma shouted, his fists clenching at either side of his body.

"…Want to know what happened to the monster after it's fangs were lost?" Fuji's tone was hard and somewhat eerie.

"What?" Ryoma was confused. What was all of this leading up to?

Fuji narrowed his eyes and glared straight into Ryoma's eyes. He moved a bit closer to the other male. "It died."

In response, Ryoma moved back a few feet. Those words…Fuji's words were somehow ruthless and brutal.

Fuji took a step back and straightened up a bit. He slipped his hand into his pocket and drew out his wallet. Fuji closed his eyes. "You know…there's a great burger place just down the road called 'The Burger Palace' and I must insist that you go, Echizen-kun."

Ryoma blinked. He was kidding, right? Burgers are great and all, but really…this was not the time to eat fast food. In fact, Ryoma wasn't sure that his appetite had returned to him in one piece after the flight back to Japan.

The former tensai took out a few bills and held them out to the younger man. "Here, this should cover it, right?"

Ryoma fixed his gaze onto the yen and merely raised an eyebrow. "No, I really don't feel like a burger, but thanks-"

"Take it," Fuji urged.

"No, please, thank you any-"

"TAKE IT!" Fuji shoved the notes into the man's chest rather roughly, sending Ryoma back a few steps.

Ryoma grasped at the money and stared at Fuji, horrified by his behaviour and actions.

Fuji smiled. "Good, then I'll be going," he said before waving and departing in a different direction.

Ryoma looked back down at the yen again.

"Oh yes, before I forget," Fuji called out and turned back around. "You've become quite tall, perhaps even taller than…but anyway, please do tell me what is in your diet, I'll have to try it."

Ryoma nodded wordlessly before turning around.

"One more thing, Echizen-kun!" Fuji shouted, that elusive smile fixed on his lips. "Ask for the Burger Deluxe Special! It's delicious!" He turned and walked away quickly.

The Burger Deluxe Special? Ryoma stuffed the money into his back pocket and sighed. Perhaps this was what he needed. Something that may bring the good memories back and help him relax…besides, Fuji-senpai didn't look as if he was brooking for any disagreement. He shivered before turning on his heels towards the bright sign which said 'The Burger Palace'. The automatic doors swished open and Ryoma walked into the store casually…

"How about you try the Burger Deluxe Special, sir?" The tall man behind the counter asked one customer with blue hair.

Ryoma's mouth dropped open. "I-Inui-senpai?!"

"Oh?" Eyebrows rose over thick glasses. "Echizen!"

"Excuse me, but I think I was here first. Unless this is urgent I'd really like to be served without any distractions. I get distracted a lot, and it never turns out well. At least that what Kamio-kun says…. I wonder where he is. He was supposed to meet me here. I hope he's not standing me up. That would make me very sad…."

Inui grinned sheepishly. "Uh…sorry about that, sir. What would you like?"

The bluenette put his finger to his chin and looked up at the menu. "Hmm, what's good here? Are there any specials? I hope it won't be too expensive. I was under the impression that when Kamio-kun arrived, he'd be paying. Oh well. What do you sell here? Oh, wait…you sell burgers. I think I'll have a burger. There's a lot of burgers here. They're all different. Hmm…what should I get? What do you think?"

"The…Burger Deluxe Special," Inui said, holding out his hand. "That's four hundred yen."

The bluenette frowned as he burrowed into his pockets with his hands. "I don't seem to have the money…-"

Inui sweat-dropped. "I…think it's time for a break," he said to no one in particular as he excited the counter and walked over to Ryoma.

"Oi, wait. Where are you going? You can't do that. You could be fired. This isn't professional. Where the hell's Kamio-kun…?"

"Inui-senpai…you…work here?" Ryoma spluttered out abruptly, staring at the data man's odd stripy uniform and matching hat.

"…Ah. Why don't we sit down, Echizen?" Inui waved his hand towards a table with two chairs at either end. Perfect.

Ryoma sat down, but kept absolutely silent; unsure of what to say or do.

"Now…where were we?" Inui asked, plopping down unceremoniously into the other seat. "Oh yes…this is where I work now, yes."

Ryoma swallowed. "What about college?" Surely he was attending there, right?

Inui sighed and took off his hat, setting it neatly on the table. "Funds were unreasonable in my family's current…," he paused, "state."

"You're joking, aren't you?" Ryoma's expression was incredulous. "What about scholarships?"

Inui shook his head gravely, but then tried to brighten the situation by smiling, albeit a little sadly. Despite his somewhat stalker-ish ways, Inui still cared about his kouhai and didn't want to burden him with his own problems. "I tried for a while, but I never received one…not one."

Ryoma's eyes widened in response.

"So…how are you, Echizen?" Inui asked politely.

"…Good, thanks." Guilt was now gnawing away at Ryoma's insides. While Ryoma had fame, glory and money in America, Inui had suffered silently back in Japan. Ryoma frowned.

"Good to hear," Inui smiled. "Have you told Momo about your return?"

Crap. He'd forgotten all about that. "Uh, no…but I will," Ryoma replied hastily.

"I see…. Echizen?" Inui looked at the younger man who seemed like he was on another planet.

"Oh, sorry…I was just thinking about Momo-senpai."

"It's fine," Inui reassured good naturedly. "Now…how about you try The Burger Deluxe Special? For free."

"Um…yeah, sure. Why not?" Ryoma said softly, offering Inui a small smile before he got up and headed to the kitchen.

Ryoma sank back into the plastic chair and sighed heavily, but before he could even say 'mada mada dane', Inui was back, grinning like a Cheshire cat, plate topped with a burger in his hands.

"Thanks," Ryoma said, reaching for the plate and putting it onto the table. It looked normal enough…perhaps even delicious.

"NOOOO!! STOP!"

No sooner had Ryoma touched the bun, a flash flew across and snatched the innocent burger away.

"Oi! What the hell are you doing?" Ryoma demanded, glaring at the hunched over form of the burger-thief. He looked to be a man in his mid-twenties with dark hair….

"Sorry for the scene I made, but I had to save you!"

Inui looked as if he were on the verge of crying. "…How mean."

"Momo-senpai!" Ryoma exclaimed as the man got up and turned around to face him.

Momo's purple eyes revealed utter horror.

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