Pinnacle Genre: Drama Rating: T Summary : Like all good things, our world, the one we had together built around ourselves, had to end. We were at the top, the pinnacle, and from there we had nowhere to go but down.
Kuramagal
(A/N): New chapter! And it's on time. Very nice! (If you can't tell, I'm pleased with myself.) Anyway, thank you to those of you who reviewed last chapter Tressa and tezuKunimitsu. Thanks for your great reviews. I appreciated them! Anyway, I must give a thank you to my Prince of Tennis beta, Vierblith, for going over this for me and correcting my grammar. It was generous of her to take her time doing so. NOTE: I'M HAVING A PAIRING VOTE-OFF. IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC PAIRING YOU WANT TO SEE IN THIS FANFICTION IN TELL ME VIA REVIEW AND I WILL TRY TO INCORPORATE IT. THE PAIRINGS WITH THE MOST VOTES WILL BE THE THOSE USED IN THE STORY PAIRINGS. I think that covers everything, thank you for reading and enjoy the story.
Disclaimer: I claim no rights to this anime, though I am thinking about asking for them for my birthday.
Chapter Three: We Remain
"I refuse to let him lose himself. Not until he faces me."
"Drink this. You'll feel better."
Eiji Kikumaru felt something warm and smooth pressed into his right hand. However, he did not look at it. Eiji knew what it was, coffee. It was the same every morning. He would sit in the kitchen, head nestled in his arms as he tried not to let the light anywhere near his eyes. It was routine for him. Even so, he felt bad for not greeting his flat mate in the morning. Perhaps because she did this every morning or maybe because Eiji was just starting to realize how rude it actually was. But today he decided he would greet her, no matter how much he did not want to see the sunlight. So, daringly, he lifted his head.
Almost instantly, his blue eyes, after leaving the protective darkness of his left hand, were assaulted by the soft morning sunlight that streamed through the kitchen window. He was blinded by the brightness and headache it was giving him. But gradually his eyes grew used to the penetrating light, and then he was able to make out the gentle smile on his flat mate's face.
Sakuno glanced at Eiji from across the table with a look he had seen many times before. "Were you out late last night?" She asked the red-haired man softly as she ran a long finger along the rim of her coffee cup. Her question was asked in an innocent and unassuming way even though she already knew the truth.
"Yeah." The word was said evenly. There was no use lying, he thought calmly as he took a sip of his coffee. His red eyes and the dark circles plastered under them along with his dislike of light and loud sounds told her everything she needed to know. He was hung-over, just like always.
"So long as you had a good time," she offered unworriedly as she got up and walked over toward the cabinets. "I'm hungry. Do you want anything to eat?"
Eiji stomach protested violently at the thought of food, and his head pounded harder. He shook his head. "I'm good." Trying to get a hold of his churning stomach, he looked around for something to occupy his mind. His eyes rested first on the clock on the windowsill behind her. He glanced at the digits, which read six forty, and sighed. It had only been a few hours since he had gotten home and he knew already his stomach would not tolerate anything of substance. That was a lesson he had learned early on.
Sakuno shrugged as she carried a bowl, spoon and some cereal that looked like corn flakes over to the table. "If you are sure." She set the bowl and spoon down and then left the table again - to hunt the fridge for some milk, Eiji realized as he drank more of his coffee.
Eiji glanced at the mug. The strong brew Sakuno made every morning was usually enough to wake the dead. However, this morning he could not seem to shake the sleepiness that took over his body. Sighing once more, he buried his head in his arms.
"Hey now!" Sakuno's voice rose in the silent kitchen. "None of that, you have to stay awake. We have work today." He raised his head to see her sit across him and give him a meaningful look.
Sighing once more, Eiji pulled his sleep-deprived body up from the tabletop. "Ah Sakuno-chan," he whined half-heartedly. "This isn't fair! I got in really late last night."
Sakuno smiled. "I know. But we still have work today."
The young woman continued with her breakfast, but her words triggered something in Eiji's mind. The acrobatic player filtered them through his mind a few more times and finally realized what had caught his attention. "Sakuno, did I wake you up last night?" Eiji asked cautiously.
Sakuno glanced up. Brown eyes regarded him evenly for a second before she said, "It wasn't a big deal, Eiji. I just heard you when you came home."
Her reply was meant to make him not feel guilty, but in reality it made Eiji even more so. "Gomen nasai, Sakuno," he said with his eyes downcast. "I…" he paused. What could he say to her as an amend? He wouldn't do it again? No, Eiji knew that he would break that promise again and again. So what? What could he say?
Sakuno noticed Eiji pensive appearance. Sighing, she said, "Eiji, if the worst thing you do is wake me up in the middle of the night, then I think I can forgive you." Still noticing the ongoing brooding expression on her roommate's face, Sakuno continued. "This is the first time it has ever happened. Don't worry about it. I fell right asleep after that."
Eiji did worry, however. This was not the first time he had disturbed her peaceful world. He remembered a few weeks after they had moved in together. That night Eiji had gone out and had come home so drunk. It had been pretty bad that night. Eiji had not been able to walk himself through the door and, once Sakuno had helped him inside, he had tripped his way to the bathroom and thrown up until his throat was dry. But Sakuno had been there for him. She had rubbed his back to soothe him, held his head as he puked his guts out, and then finally put him to bed when he passed out. After that night, two things occurred. The first was that Eiji made it his mantra to never scare Sakuno like that again and, second, Eiji's respect for her grew immensely.
Sakuno, he realized, was not the shy and innocent little girl he remembered from junior high. The hands of time had caught up with even her. It saddened Eiji when he had realized that even she had had to grow up. Perhaps, what hurt him more was the fact that Sakuno had shouldered burdens that were not her own. Himself, for example, Eiji realized. It was not Sakuno's fault that he compulsively drank. Whose fault it actually was remained up in the air, but it was not hers. It was never Sakuno's.
That was why it was a big deal for him to disturb her. Sakuno worked hard every day, she deserved her sleep. Even when she got home, she took care of the two of them. The chores they split evenly, but Eiji always felt he did less than her. Cooking, cleaning, everything – Sakuno did it all, with a little of his help. She never complained or told him off for how he was. She understood, and he loved her for that.
"Sakuno?" Eiji's voice was uncharacteristically hesitant. "I'm sorry." It was all he could say. And despite the apologies shortness, Sakuno knew Eiji was baring his soul to her.
"There's nothing to forgive, Eiji-kun." A soft smile graced her pretty face. "I'll never hold that against you." The smile faltered. "Not when I know why."
Eiji felt his heart clench unpleasantly. However, Sakuno noticed as well. Eiji realized that probably had something to do with her next comment. "I got an email recently." Eiji nodded half-heartedly not really paying attention. "It was from Inui."
Eiji paused and sat up a bit straighter. "Inui?" he asked softly.
"Yes. He apparently wants to see me. He sent an email inviting me to spend a week with him at his villa Aruba." Sakuno paused when she saw Eiji's confused expression. "It's in the Carribean." Sakuno laughed. "Honestly, Eiji how can you be a teacher and not know where Aruba is?"
Eiji pouted slightly. "That's not fair, Sakuno-chan! I'm a physical education teacher not a history teacher like you!"
Sakuno's smile broadened. "True, true. Though, I'll expect you'll like Aruba when we get there." Then she pulled something out of her robe pocket. "I checked your email as well. He sent you one too." Sakuno said as she handed Eiji a print out of his email.
From: iJuice
To: hoihoi
Greetings Eiji!
I hope this email reaches you in good health. I also hope you actually receive it, as I know you first have a tendency not to check your email and, second, this might not even be your email at all. Anyway, perhaps now I should get to the reason why I am contacting you.
I personally feel it has been too long since we have seen each other. Therefore, I am planning a get together for us. Those who I have sent invitations to are of course you, Sakuno (who I am 99.9 sure is your flat mate), Kaidoh, Momo, Kawamura and of course Fuji. The rest I still require help reaching, if you are able to, please let me know.
At any rate, I am planning on having this gathering in approximately a month, which would be June 12 or so. I will send further instructions as for the exact time and place once I receive the general consensus from everyone. I expect you to reply and be there, unless of course you would care to sample some of my original Inui Juice creations. Please note, I am not joking and will go to great lengths to track you down.
Until we meet again,
Inui
Sadaharu Inui
CEO of Inui Health Products
Eiji looked up. "It sound like it might be nice. And our break starts the week before that. We actually could go."
Sakuno nodded. "I know. I've already told him we would." Sakuno smiled at her roommate's face. "You could use a vacation, Eiji. I could too. I figured it was what we needed."
Eiji smiled at her. It was his first true smile in a long time. "You know you are a lot like he used to be Sakuno. You're the like the part of him I liked best." Eiji's face suddenly grew stormy. "Sakuno." Eiji's face was a few shades paler. "Do you think he will be there?"
Sakuno shook her head lightly and shrugged. "It doesn't sound like it, does it?"
Eiji nodded numbly. "Good." Some of the color returned to pallid cheeks and then Eiji stood up. "I'm going to get dressed." Without another word or an ounce of real food, Eiji left the kitchen for his bedroom.
Sakuno watched him leave silently, all the while the words of her own email raced through her mind. For Sakuno knew she could not tell Eiji what her email had said. Not unless she wanted to ruin everything.
Sakuno-chan, I am also inviting Oishi. It is imperative for you to get Eiji to come, but not inform him that Oishi will be there as well. I know you have some influence over Eiji; thus, I am hoping you can convince him to join us. I think you agree that our golden pair has been apart far too long.
Inui's words have been so deliberate, that Sakuno wondered if he had individualized each of the emails he sent in order to ensure everyone would come. Regardless, Sakuno could not have agreed more with the final statement. It was time for the golden pair to get back together, and Sakuno would be damned if she let a chance like this slip through her fingers.
"Sakuno-chan!" Eiji's voice shrieked from the one of the backroom's. "I can't find my socks!"
Sakuno smiled. "I'll come help, Eiji." Let me help you…
I admit that was rather short, however I promise the next chapter will be longer. I'm not quite sure when said chapter will be out. It depends on my beta and her schedule. Anyway, I hope you liked it and remember:
NOTE: I'M HAVING A PAIRING VOTE-OFF. IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC PAIRING YOU WANT TO SEE IN THIS FANFICTION IN TELL ME VIA REVIEW AND I WILL TRY TO INCORPORATE IT. THE PAIRINGS WITH THE MOST VOTES WILL BE THE THOSE USED IN THE STORY PAIRINGS.
So yeah please review and let me know. See you all next time.
Kuramagal