Prince of Tennis – We Are Here For One Another

Disc. : I DO NOT own Prince of Tennis and any of its characters. It's Konomi-sensei's.


Chapter 3 – Yukimura, Ready for Rescue! Go Echizen-kun!

The next morning, before practice, the regulars gathered in the clubroom, having been asked to do so after Ryuuzaki-sensei had called them all the previous night.

"What is it, Tezuka?" asked Eiji, clinging on Oishi's shoulders.

"Eiji…" Oishi choked in desperation. Momo laughed.

"There's something that Ryuuzaki-sensei wanted to tell us," Tezuka replied simply, folding his arms in front of his chest stiffly.

"Ah!" Momoshiro suddenly spoke; he remembered something. "I called the Echizen this morning before I headed to school, and they said that he was doing quite well, although he hasn't woken up yet."

"Ah, thank goodness!" Oishi exhaled a deep breath, causing Eiji to fall to the ground. "And how was his breathing? Did they say something? Has Echizen already had his breakfast? How about dinner last night? He hasn't eaten since yesterday afternoon, and he needs his energy and must eat! He probably-"

"Oishi," Tezuka called calmly. Everyone chuckled and Oishi's cheeks blushed slightly pink. "Pull yourself together."

The clubroom's door opened and Ryuuzaki-sensei walked in, followed by…

"Hello, everyone. Greetings! It's been a while since our last meeting!"

"Echizen…" Kawamura looked at the young boy, perplexed.

"Big Ochibi…" Eiji's jaw dropped, widely opened. "Nyaaa! Nooo! Ochibi is big! I can't hug Ochibi anymore! Nyaa, no fun! No fun! Since when did Ochibi become this big?!" Eiji began to bounce everywhere and ended up on Oishi's shoulder again.

Everyone sighed. "Eiji… he's not Ryoma, you know…"

"Fssshhh… what are you doing here, Echizen?" Kaidoh murmured under his breath.

"Echizen Ryoga." Tezuka nodded firmly, his face remained expressionless.

"Hm… Echizen Ryoga ne?" Fuji smiled. "Hello, Echizen. Welcome to Seigaku."

"Well, everyone," Ryuuzaki-sensei started, "this, as you knew before, is Echizen Ryoga, Ryoma's older brother. From today on, he will join our tennis club. And it means, there will be another ranking match within a week."

"Sounds interesting," Fuji chuckled. "Saa… practice, practice."

"Hoi, he's not Ochibi?" Eiji blinked several times.

"I'm not, Neko-kun," Ryoga grinned. "So don't you dare hugging me around!"

"Ne… Neko-kun?!" Eiji cried. "Oishiii! He called me Neko-kun! I'm not a cat, I'm not!"

"Fssshhh..."

"Ah, there you are Mamushi-chan!" Ryoga yawned. "I see that you haven't stopped your cute hissing!"

"What?! Don't you dare call me like that!" Kaidoh started hissing again.

"Ha, interesting! Well… whatever. I'm hoping for your guidance, so please take it easy on me!" Ryoga bowed slightly.

"How about a game, ne?" Fuji's eyes were opened, his angel smile spread over his face. "I want to see how much you have improved… interesting."

"The genius of Seigaku… Fuji Shuusuke," said Ryoga slowly, turned his eyes to Fuji. His face was serious, but the next second it was grinning again. "Why not? Do not underestimate me, Fuji. I'm an Echizen, after all."

"Ah, yes, I know that." Fuji nodded slightly, his eyes already closed.

"Well, everyone, get to practice," Tezuka said. "We will begin intensive practices from now on."

"Hai!" Everyone nodded and spread to the courts they were assigned to.


After that afternoon practice, the regulars decided to go to the hospital to check Ryoma's condition.

"Ah… I didn't know that Chibisuke liked all of you," Ryoga stated, bewildered, but, amused too.

"Nyaa! What are you talking about? Ochibi is our friend! And he is our kouhai, so we're supposed to keep an eye on him!" Eiji bounced back. "The 'Protect Ochibi' mission has started!"

Ryoga smiled. "Ah. After all, my cute little brother is a brat."

"He is, indeed." Momoshiro nodded, grinning.

They took the train to the hospital.

"He's been moved to the room number 241," Ryoga told them all. "This way." He led his new team mates to the stairs nearby.

When they arrived on the second floor, a familiar voice called them out.

"Seigaku? What are you doing here?"

"Hoi?" Eiji turned around and when he saw the person, his mouth agape.

"Fssshhh." Kaidoh started hissing again.

"Hm… it's you." Fuji chuckled.

"Who are they?" Ryoga interrupted, looked perplexed.

"Renji." Inui nodded. "There is a 97.4 percent that you came here to see your captain, Yukimura."

"Yes." Yanagi nodded back. "And… well… I don't know what are you people doing in here… because the eight of you are complete…"

"Oh, are we?" Fuji asked back. "Yanagi, I didn't expect you to be like this."

"Huh?" Yanagi blinked. Then his eyes widened a bit, finally understood the situation. "You can't be…"

"I'm not that cocky Chibisuke," Ryoga growled, sulking behind Kawamura. "In the name of God! Even I'm not smug like him! And I'm much more higher than him!"

"But you are an Echizen," said Sanada calmly.

"Yes, Echizen Ryoga," Ryoga replied nonchalantly.

"Another Echizen?" Yanagi asked as he wrote down something in his notebook. "What does this mean?"

Ryoga sighed. "Well, all right! I'm Echizen Ryoga, Chibisuke's – I mean, Ryoma's – older brother. Nice to meet you. I've just came back from America."

"Scary… another Echizen…" Yanagi murmured. "No wonder that your face matches his. In this case, there's a 98.5 percent probability that because of your presence here you…"

"Interesting, Yanagi-senpai," a voice stated from behind Sanada and Yanagi.

"Ah, Akaya," Sanada turned around, "where have you been?"

"Toilet," Kirihara pointed innocently at the hall to the toilet . "So? Where is that little brat? I want to pay him our last match."

"Akaya!" Sanada snarled. "Watch your words. This is hospital."

"Ah, Fukubuchou, you're no fun." Kirihara yawned. "Well, whatever. Where's he?"

The Seigaku regulars exchanged their glances grimly. "He's – he's not really doing well," said Oishi weakly, not knowing what to say.

"I don't get it," Kirihara snapped.

"Echizen has a brain tumour," Tezuka stated.

Silence fell between them. The three Rikkaidai regulars' jaws dropped opened widely.

"He has what?!" Eventually Kirihara yelled in disbelief.

"Brain tumour," Momoshiro repeated nonchalantly, glancing his eyes on the window. His voice was shaking slightly.

Sanada and Yanagi looked shocked. Ryoga sighed while Eiji began to cry, put himself to Oishi, looking for comfort.

"He's not…" Kirihara murmured. "No! He couldn't be! He just couldn't!"

"Akaya, get a hold of yourself!" Sanada snarled.

"You lied," said Kirihara slowly to Tezuka. "Tezuka-san, you lied!"

"I didn't lie," Tezuka replied his voice was stern, keep his face calm. "He has a brain tumour."

"But… he's still 14, for God sake!" Kirihara said, his voice was flat, even though his eyes and voice clearly clouded with bitterness and disappointment. "He's still has a long way to go! I haven't beaten him up yet!"

"Akaya!" said Sanada warningly.

"But it's true, Fukubuchou!"

"This is reality," said Ryoga bitterly.

"I'm going in first," Momoshiro muttered unexpectedly.

"Hoi, me too Momo!" Eiji stepped forward.

"No, Kikumaru, you're with Oishi after Momoshiro and Kaidoh," said Tezuka. Kaidoh hissed back in reply, glaring at Momoshiro.

"Then we will take our leave," Sanada bowed. "Sorry for the trouble. Until we meet again."

"Ah… yes," Oishi bowed quickly. "No, not at all. Thank you for your concern."

"Let's go." Kirihara turned his back to the Seigaku regulars and he vanished quickly. Tezuka sighed and rubbed his head.

"Not as easy as you expected, ne Tezuka?" Fuji smiled.

"Aa."


"Seiichi."

Sanada opened the door of room number 341. Yukimura was lying on the bed, smiling.

"Hello, Genichirou. You don't have to come to see me twice a day you know."

"Buchou." Kirihara nodded and stood next to the window, refusing to look at his captain.

"How are you healing?" asked Yanagi.

"Ah, I'm doing really well, Renji," Yukimura replied. "Genichirou? What's wrong? Why is Akaya-kun sulking like that?"

"Ah, he is," said Sanada calmly. "However, Seiichi… there's an unexpected news. Not really good, you see."

"Hm? What happened?" asked Yukimura, curious.

"You know that little freshman from Seigaku who beat you in the last final in the Nationals?" Yanagi began. "He… he's here, Seiichi."

"Here?"

Sanada sighed. "Tezuka-san told us that Echizen has a brain tumour. He is in room number 241."

Yukimura fell silent, his eyes widened at the news. He shook his head, "Oh God, no…"

"I know," Sanada sighed again. "Pity, isn't it? For someone so young, so talented like him…"

"Yeah," Yukimura replied softly. "That's why Akaya-kun is sulking like that? God… this is unbelievable… for someone… like him, right? But brain tumour can be healed, right Renji?"

"It depends with the tumour type," said Yanagi. "With surgery, usually. But it also depends on the person."

"I'll see Echizen-kun tonight," said Yukimura calmly, looking a bit sad. "If there's anything I can help, I will help him. He'll need support, right?"

"Why would you do that, buchou?" Kirihara asked suddenly. "He's not even our friend."

"You do think so?" Yukimura chuckled. "Well, I do belief that he is my friend. Everyone is my friend, Akaya. What are you feeling now if you don't think Echizen-kun is your friend?"

"I…" Kirihara hesitated, unable to find an answer.

"It's decided, then." Yukimura clasped his hands. "I will see what I can get tonight from Echizen-kun."

"Aa." Sanada and Yanagi nodded in synch.


Eiji opened the door slowly and chimed in when he saw Ryoma on the bed.

"Ochibiiii! I miss you soooo much! There's no one in the club I can hug anymore!" Eiji bounced up, carefully hugging Ryoma. "How are you doing?"

"Senpai… let go, or else I'll get the nurse right over," Ryoma murmured, annoyed by what his senpai did. Oishi smiled gently at his kouhai. Even though Ryoma acted like his usual self, his voice was hoarse and his face looked very pale; he was skinnier than before as well. A breathing mask was still on his face, and IVs were still attached to his various part of his body.

"How are you doing, Echizen?" asked Oishi.

"I'm fine, senpai," said Ryoma nonchalantly. Eiji laughed. But they could see Ryoma's smirk hidden under his mask.

"Senpai…" Ryoma said, but he stopped for a moment. "How is the club doing?"

"We're doing very well, don't worry," Eiji replied. "Just focus on your health right now, Ochibi, okay?"

Ryoma smirked. "Heh… I knew it. How is stupid Sei[1] doing? Did he manage to make it onto the regulars?"

"He did!" Eiji exclaimed. "He did! And he's good too, nya!"

"No. He's mada mada dane," Ryoma stated stubbornly.

"Well, even so, you're still much better than him," said Oishi gently. He smiled. Ryoma could not hold his smirk anymore. "Get well soon, Echizen. We miss you so much."

"Uisu. Thank you so much, senpai."

"Then we will take our leave now, Echizen." Oishi stood up, but Eiji protested.

"Oishi! Why so fast? I still want to be with Ochibi, you know!"

"Eiji, he needs his rest, so he can go back to practice soon. Then you will be able to hug him again, Eiji," Oishi patiently explained.

"Mou… all right! Then, Ochibi! Get some rest and sleep well!" Eiji squeezed Ryoma's hand tightly. "We love you!"

"Mada mada dane."


The doctor, Misaki-sensei, was already with the rest of the regulars when Oishi and Eiji walked out of Ryoma's room. Ryoma's parents were there too.

"Ah, here they are," said Kawamura.

"Good afternoon," said doctor Misaki. He bowed. "I'm Misaki Hajime, Echizen-kun's doctor. There is something more I want to tell to you all."

"Yes." Rinko nodded. Nanjiroh squeezed his wife's hand for comfort he himself badly needed.

"We found something on last night's test." Misaki-sensei slightly frowned. "We found another tumour in a separate part of his brain."

Everyone gasped. Rinko slowly asked, "Is it… dangerous?"

"It will, of course," replied Misaki-sensei. "We found it in his will experience continuous headaches and sickness. And slowly he will suffer sight problems and problems with his movement. Also, he might suffer temporary memory loss in the future."

Everyone was silent. They slowly exchanged their glances. "So, please, be there for him. He really will need your support. Especially when he starts to lose his sight and having difficulties with his motor functions."

"Is there nothing we can do about this, doctor?" asked Rinko faintly. Momoshiro clenched his fists. His nails were bruising his palm, but he didn't care.

"I'll do my best," said Misaki-sensei. "But let us hope he does his best to fight this tumour. He can do that at least, and he's in his best condition right now. I'm planning to schedule surgery next week."

"Surgery? Next week?" Nanjiroh repeated blankly.

Misaki-sensei nodded. "If I have your permission."

Rinko and Nanjiroh exchanged their glances, and nodded.

The Seigaku regulars felt helpless.


"Echizen-kun, good afternoon."

'Who?' Ryoma thought. His eyes were heavy. He forced them to open and saw a familiar face from the chair next to his bed.

"I know you." Ryoma murmured under his breath.

"Ah." Yukimura chuckled. "Genichirou told me that you are horrible at remembering names, Echizen-kun."

"Hn," Ryoma grumbled.

"I'm Yukimura Seiichi, Echizen-kun. Nice to meet you."


[1] Sei is the way Ryoma calling Ryoga, I believe. This was what I got. If I'm wrong, please do tell me!

-Chapter 3 : Yukimura, Ready for Rescue! Go Echizen-kun! / fin-

A/N: English IS NOT my first language, so please be patient. And if there are grammatical errors occurred, please let me know with PM to me. NO FLAMES, C&C reviews are highly welcome.

BETA STATUS : BETAED.