Disclaimer: I do not own POT, but I do own this story.
Dedication: I thank those who took the time to review the previous chapter of this story. You made my heart jump, and for that, I dedicate this chapter to you.
I'm not sure if my sister will read this, but I just have to express my gratitude to her for the inspiration she gave me and my apology for shooing her during the times when I was writing this. She has the penname with the initials W.L. in Fanfiction, but I don't know if she will allow me to mention the full one. Believe me; I'm quite nervous of what I will get when she reads this...a punishment? Or perhaps not that harsh. *shrugs*
Well, to my beloved readers, enjoy! :D
Aura of Yesteryears
By Misty Lassie
~CHAPTER 2~
The Meeting
The wall separating both of them was so high and strong that it would be really hard, even for the most rabid person, to destroy it, much less to have an incursion to it. Yet, the voice of that girl had impaled through it causing a slight damage, but it was never enough for them to get connected again.
His thoughts were sending him a cryptic message which until now, he couldn't decipher. Fuzzy memories flit across his mind. Only a single image had prevailed. Her smile, so true that it had always made him ecstatic, had done a valiant action by breaking the wall and escaping the other side to him even for just a fleeting moment.
His nostalgic feeling strengthened his will to play tennis-the sport they both loved, the warrior that would be strong enough to break the enormous wall, the seeker that would at least find a portcullis and raise it to provide an entrance. Every hit of the tennis ball on the wall would serve as a preemptive attack; every swing of his racket would bring his feelings to her; and every match would serve as a step toward her. A set of rationales never created but had always been anticipated. He was waiting for her.
I hope you're waiting for me, too.
His eyes never left the view of the sky now tinged with red and orange because of the sunset. He looked ahead and saw an old rambling building. He contemplated if the thought that what was in front of him was a hospital was only a stereotypical idea.
Why am I here?
Oh right, they were going to meet their creepy coach's ultimatum-an impediment on his on-going search. Time was so important, if only she knew. He could be practicing right now for the tournament or looking for the girl.
In a blink of an eye, Eiji was there, stooping, with his face few inches away from him. The red haired guy was wearing a curious look and was snapping a finger in front of him as if waking him from his trance.
"Hey, Ochibi, you alright?"Eiji asked.
Ryoma looked over Eiji's shoulder to stare at the building.
"Eh, don't worry. You know the saying 'Don't judge a book by its cover'?" Eiji reassured.
Ryoma didn't reply a word. That wasn't it.
Somehow, he was feeling peculiar about that building. Somehow, he was feeling that presence again.
They entered the hospital and weaved their way to room 143 the room where his "fan" and their coach were. Eiji winced when he learned about the room number, yet he prevented a laugh from escaping his throat.
Oishi volunteered to open the room. When the door was ajar, he slipped his head inside to examine the room. He gulped. It was the right room, of course. The coach and the patient were there. The room was definitely not like what their first impression about the building told them. It was illuminated by a single fluorescent light and was peacefully ventilated by an air conditioner placed at the far corner. The walls were painted light pink, and pristine things surrounded the whole area. But what disturbed him was spotting all the other regular members of Seigaku crowding the room. Some were having their natural, calm faces; while most were experiencing mirth.
Ryoma heard the laughter coming from the room; he had to know what was happening. Ryoma hauled Oishi away from the door causing the chin of the vice captain to bump the door.
"Awww," Oishi muttered while rubbing his painful chin.
Ryoma, carefree of other people, pushed the door open, and eventually, the laughing stopped. All turned their attention to the newly-arrived boy.
"So where's the badly-injured one?" inquired the apathetic boy.
He scanned the area and got surprised of its cleanliness and neatness, but of course, he did not show this. He saw their coach with both of her arms raised and rested on her hips, ready to chastise him at any moment. Her furious face made her older and was baying for compensation. Should he really try to appease that old woman for his tournament?
He noticed his teammates in the room, and this made him think that their coach convened a meeting. But for what? Their eyes were focused on him now. It was a great chance to tell them how annoyed he was. His feline eyes stared at every pair of eyes in the room. "Why are you all here? Is the patient that important? Hmp," he sneered.
The patient, right. The girl was on the bed. A white blanket covered the lower half of her body. She was wearing a simple, v- cut, pink blouse with a white inside shirt. Her brown hair was twin braided with bangs on the left side reaching a part of her eye. A bandage was wrapped around her head. She was looking at her hands placed on her lap. Her fingers were fidgeting out of distress. She was ashamed and was somehow telling that she had no idea of their plan and that she did not want to indulge herself into it but was forced to.
Ryoma found her quaint-looking but tried to reject the thought.
Eiji, coming from the outside, pushed Ryoma and made his way inside. "Yo!" he said energetically.
Within few seconds, Oishi got inside, too. He scratched the nape of his neck because of the embarrassment for what Ryoma had caused, though it was neither his fault nor his responsibility. "Guys, hello," he said shakily.
"Ryoma!" Coach Ryuzaki yelled and broke the silence that was enveloping the room a moment ago.
Ryoma remained calm, as always. He gave no hint of nervousness no shaking, no uncontrolled movement.
Coach Ryuzaki felt a twist of challenge. "Here is –"
"Your 'bf' has arrived," Momoshiro, a friendly looking member of the tennis team who obviously took time this morning to put gel on his hair to support his cool spiky black hair in its style, interjected, "Ryoma Echizen."
"Eh, bf?" Eiji exclaimed.
"Yep. Bf as in best friend of this girl," Momoshiro answered as he pointed to the patient. He gave Ryoma a sheet of paper with stark writings on it saying: WE'LL TAKE BOTH OF YOU FOR A RIDE. THIS IS ONE OF THE TERMS. Momo winked.
So the meeting was for this. Do I look like someone who is easily deceived? Pathetic, Ryoma thought.
Their coach handed something to Momo, and he gave it to Ryoma who was already plagued by their creepy plan.
1. Be the best friend of the patient who currently lost her memories.
2. You have to fetch her from house to school, and vice versa, until she gets well.
3. Go with our plans no matter how hard or impossible they may be.
Too formal. Tsk, Ryoma thought.
Ryoma glared at Momo. What do these supposed to mean?
Momo whispered to him, "For the tournament."
Ryoma closed his eyes for a moment to control his anger. He was daunted by the limits. He just wished he would still have at least a leeway. In the darkness, he saw a flash of the smile of the girl from the past. The aura still lingered...
Or is she...
Ryoma's eyes fluttered open. Then an unprecedented moment happened. He saw the girl with the hazel orbs looking at him curiously. She smiled at him, and the world seemed to belong to both of them only.
Is she the girl from the yesteryear?
~END OF CHAPTER~
Author's note: Thank you for reading! For the mistakes, I'm so sorry. I really am not that sure if I will be able to update very soon. Summer vacation's almost over, but I'll try...
If there will be no opportunity this vacation, I'll try to update on the next one.
Do review! Thank you!
To the readers and reviewers of my other story "Embers of Love", thank you!
To my dear sister, you might want to review, too. I'll really appreciate it. :D
