I'm back, cured from coughs and colds. (Well, I still have them but not that serious.)

Thanks for the reviews anyone especially to animegurl088. You kept on sending me private messages while I was writing my ninth chapter for my other story (The Connection Between Us).

I did finish writing (and beta-editing) this chapter a month ago (or wasn't it two months ago?) but I decided to revise it for I find it weird. I ended up rewriting the whole chapter.

Without further ado, here is chapter three…


Disclaimer: I only appreciate watching and reading the whole Prince of Tennis series, not owning them.

Warning: Characters might not be in their right selves.

This means thoughts.

This means flashback.


CHAPTER THREE

Ryoma was still in a trance when he heard the news from the prime minister. This can't be true .He can't be dead. He... He fell on his knees with his eyes closed.

"Ryoma!" Mitsuki was by his side the next moment. "Get a hold of yourself. We can't lose you too." He shook Ryoma hard. "Ry-o-ma! Please, Ryoma. Wake up! RYOMA!"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Ry...o...ma..."

Forcing his eyes to open, Ryoma found himself staring into his mother's glassy eyes. "Mother, why..."

"I'm glad that you're safe, my son..." She smiled faintly to him; her bloodied fingers gingerly caressed his cheek. "Please don't hate your father because of this."

His tears slowly slid downon his cheek. "Please don't leave me, Mother. I can't live without you." He touched his mother's cold fingers. "Please..."

She chuckled softly. "My time is up, Ryoma. Take care of yourself."

"Mother, don't--"

"Good bye, Ryoma..." Her body went limp, and her eyes closed as if she was only asleep.

"Mother!" He embraced her still body, sobbing loudly.

Ryuusen, his father, who was only watching not so far from them, tried to comfort him. "Ryoma, I—"

"Don't you dare touch me, you son of the bitch!" Ryuusen flinched when he heard Ryoma's harsh voice. "You dare to call yourself my father How could you do this to her?"

"Ryoma, I am the ruler of this land. Even though she was my wife, she still committed a crime."

"Oh, really?" He slowly stood up from where he was next tohis mother's body and looked at his father with hateful eyes. "I'm glad that you're not my real father. I don't have a father who is a murderer."

Suddenly, Ryuusen slapped him hard. "Why do you hate me that much, Ryoma?"

"Because you stole everything from me," he said in a vehement tone. "… Everything. For that, I will never forgive you for the rest of my life." He ran away from his father, ignoring the whispers around them.

"Ryoma, come back here at once!" his father yelled at him. "I'm not done talking to you. Ryoma! Ryoma!"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Ryoma! Ryoma!"

Ryoma's eyes slowly fluttered, and he found himself sitting in a chair near the window. Where am I? He sleepily looked around and saw his uncle caressing his hand. Mitsuki...you've always...

"Ryoma! Wake up now. You don't want Haine to be left alone, do you?" He sighed inwardly. Never mind. I guess I have to calm him down.

"You're so noisy, Mitsuki. Are you trying to wake up the dead with your bawling?" Mitsuki looked at his nephew, who was smiling faintly at him.

"Mou," He hugged the boy. "You scared me with that fainting act of yours. Don't do it again, okay? You're my one and only nephew; I can't bear to lose you."

He rolled his eyes at his uncle's antics. "Will you let go of me, Mitsuki? Are you trying to choke me to death?"

Mitsuki quickly released him. "Sorry."

He observed Mitsuki for a while before he whispered, "Thank you."

"Hm?"

"Nothing." He looked away from Mitsuki's stare.

"I see." Mitsuki sighed. As if I haven't heard that, Ryoma.

"Ahem!" Both of them looked at the prime minister, who was watching them as if they were a couple of idiots. "If I may—"

"Ah! I'm sorry, Yamanaka." Mitsuki ruffled Ryoma's hair. "My nephew here is quite stubborn."

Ryoma stuck out his tongue at him. "I'm not stubborn."

"Hai, hai." Chuckling, he then glanced at the prime minister. "So about my brother-in-law's death, Yamanaka, do you think…she is involved in this?"

"It was reported few months ago that some of the people saw Ryuzaki Misaki outside Avonlea." The prime minister glanced at Ryoma. "I was hoping if you can confirm this."

Ryoma nonchalantly shrugged. "I'm not surprised if my stepmother survived our last fight."

"What are you planning to do, Yamanaka?"

"We have no choice but to force Ryoma-dono back to Avonlea."

"What do you think, Ryoma?" Mitsuki looked at his silent nephew.

Ryoma turned away, looking outside. "I'm going to stay here for a while."

"But, Ryoma-dono…"

"I have been in this world for some time now, Yamanaka-san," Ryoma said in a wistful tone. "I have to take care of some things here before I leave this world forever." He faced the prime minister. "I hope you'll understand."

"I understand. What will I tell the ministers?"

"Don't worry. I'll send a doll in my stead, Yamanaka-san."

The prime minister bowed deeply. "Well then, I'll meet your doll at the gate entrance. I bid you farewell." With a wave, he disappeared.

"Ryoma, I'm sorry…" Mitsuki said, trying to comfort him.

"You don't have to comfort me. My father and I weren't that close in the first place. I am used to it." The school bell rang.

Ryoma collected his things. "I have to go, Mitsuki. By the way, Haine will be coming here. Make sure she'll be entertained." He left the room, slamming the door behind him.

Mitsuki sighed in resignation. "He can be so stubborn when it comes to his feelings."

Then, his secretary came in, carrying a pile of papers for him to sign.


It was already four in the afternoon when Haine arrived in the front of the university.

"Wow!" She strolled around the university. "This university sure is huge and impressive. I'm glad that my father is teaching here."

She was passing by the tennis courts when she heard her father's name being mentioned.

Father? Thinking that Ryoma was talking with someone, she went towards the place where she heard the voice. As she arrived, she was disappointed to see two female students, chatting happily while watching a tennis match. Che! It's just a couple of girls. She sighed. And from the looks of it, my father must have casted his spell on them again. Why am I cursed with a handsome father?

She was still thinking about Ryoma when she suddenly felt a surge of magic in the university. What the--

Then it quickly disappeared. What was that? She furrowed her brows, looking at the rooftop. It came from up there. But who would…

She trailed off as she sensed another magical surge again. But this time, it was Ryoma's. It's Father's. But why would he…

She suddenly sped off, sensing the change of his magic. I must hurry up. He could get hurt. That magic before--

She closed her eyes momentarily, not noticing a bespectacled student walking in front of her. Father, wait for me. I'm--

BAM! She crashed into the student; both of them fell on the ground.


Meanwhile at the rooftop…

Ryoma was watching the university grounds with a note in his hand.

Rereading the note, his brows furrowed. To think HE came here after the war…He crumpled the note. This is so annoying. What does he want from me?

Suddenly, he turned around, barely catching an icicle in his hand. "Heh. Throwing icicles already, Ice Prince?" He smirked.

Haibara Akito, calmly walking towards him, merely smiled. "It seems that you haven't lost your touch, Marionettenspieler."

They kept on staring at each other for a while before Haibara broke the silence.

"I didn't expect you to come to this dimension." He lit up his cigarette.

Ryoma turned away from him, smiling sadly. "This has been my world ever since my mother's death."

"Ah. Ryuusen ordered the execution of your mother, didn't he?" Ryoma didn't respond.

Haibara idly puffed his cigar, standing beside Ryoma. "I heard he was murdered. My condolences."

Ryoma shrugged nonchalantly. "Thank you...I think."

"For a fool of a king, he should have died in peace." Haibara peered at him. "But I guess he deserved it after all those years you have suffered."

"What's past is past, Haibara. He's dead. That's all," he said in a flat tone.

"Oh?" Haibara puffed again.

"I've seen many people die in front of me. With these blood-stained hands, why would I be surprised when someone died? Even if that someone is my father--"

Haibara suddenly laughed aloud, making Ryoma frown at him. "You're such a cold-hearted person, Marionettenspieler. It really surprised me that you managed to hide this cold personality from those acquaintances of yours."

"Cut the crap, Haibara." Ryoma snapped at him. "What do you want from me?"

"Well, for starters, your stepmother is still alive--"

Ryoma interrupted, "I already know that. What else?"

"Let me finish, okay?" Ryoma stared, eyes narrowing. "Right, right. She's also reviving her army, especially her Knights."

"What?! I literally stole her powers during our last fight. Where do you think she got her powers?"

Haibara calmly answered, "She killed her own sons after the war and stole their powers."

"I see." Ryoma looked wistfully at the grounds, sighing sadly. "I put this world in danger again, didn't I, Haibara?"

"Saa…" Haibara threw his spent cigar on the floor and stomped on it. "I better leave. Mitsuki wants to see me." He slowly strode away from Ryoma.

"Ne, Haibara…" He stopped, gazing back at Ryoma. "Do you think I should have died that day?"

Haibara smiled wryly. "You can't die just yet. I'll be the one who will kill you, Echizen Ryoma." He finally left the place.

Ryoma sighed. "Yare, yare. That guy has to appear in this world just to kill me. Am I really worth killing for?"

Father, wait for me...

"Haine?" His phone rang, startling him a bit.

"Hello?" He ran his fingers on his hair. "Oh. It's you, Mitsuki. Wait a minute. How did you get my number?"

Mitsuki was calling outside the university infirmary. "I'm using your daughter's phone. Where are you? I sensed a magical surge earlier."

"It was nothing, Mitsuki. I'm at the rooftop right now. By the way, why do you have Haine's phone?"

"I'm at the infirmary right now. Haine…She got into an accident--"

Ryoma cut him off. "What?! I'll be right there." He turned off his phone as he ran downstairs to the infirmary.


At the infirmary…

Tezuka slowly opened his eyes, and saw Fuji and Oishi beside his bed.

"I'm glad that you're all right, Tezuka," Oishi sighed in relief. "You scared me out of my wits when I saw you unconscious outside the office. Some students were crowding around you and the girl."

Tezuka sat up in his bed. "My books…Where are they?"

"They're right here." Tezuka glanced at his books and bag beside his bed. "You got an ugly bruise on your side. She must have crashed into you really hard."

"Where is she?" Tezuka asked.

Fuji pointed at the curtained bed next to him. "She is all right. She's being taken care by Mitsuki-sensei. He was the one who brought her here."

The door flew open as Mitsuki entered the room. "Sensei, have you contacted her parents?"

"Yes. Her father is on his way here." Mitsuki glanced at Tezuka, awake in his bed. "You look okay now, Tezuka-kun. I better check too see if she's awake now." He went over the bed next to Tezuka.

"I wonder why the girl was rather in a hurry--" He was interrupted with the sound of the door slamming open, scaring the nurse-in-charge who was sitting near it.

"Mitsuki! Where are you?" Ryoma barged in, ignoring Fuji, Tezuka and Oishi, who were surprised to see him. "Where's Haine?"

Mitsuki drew back the curtain, shushing him up. "She's all right, Ryoma. There were no cracks when I checked on her."

Ryoma sighed in relief. "I'm glad but I have to check on her if she's really fine." He caressed her hair. "She must have thought that I was in danger when I used my magic up there."

"Your daughter really loves you that much." Mitsuki discreetly peered at him.

Ryoma smiled faintly. "Ah. By the way, did she hurt somebody? She tends to ignore anyone around her when I'm in danger."

"She did. He's at the bed next to hers. He's already awake with his friends beside him."

Ryoma went over to Tezuka's bed, bowing his head. "I'm sorry that you were hurt by my daughter's actions. Is there any way that I can make amends to you?"

"Please, sensei. You don't have to make amends. I'm all right." Ryoma raised his head, finally noticing three of his former teammates staring at him.

"Oh, my…" He trailed off, glancing at Tezuka, who was staring straight at him. Damn! I didn't notice they were here especially him…

"Father?" Ryoma quickly went to his daughter's bed as soon as he heard her whisper, ignoring them again.

Oishi looked at the two of them. "I'm relieved that she's fine, but to think she's…" He didn't finish the sentence.

Fuji nodded in agreement. "Ah. He's rather young to have a daughter. What do you think, Tez--" He saw the sad gaze on Tezuka's eyes.

Tezuka looked away, and carefully left his bed and grabbing his bag. "Help me carry my books, Fuji." Fuji raised a brow at him. "I'm fine now. Let's not disturb them." He walked out ahead of them.

"Tezuka…" Oishi frowned worriedly at Fuji, but Fuji merely gathered Tezuka's books.

"Let's go, Oishi. Tezuka is waiting for us outside." They also left the infirmary.

Mitsuki, who was watching the three leave, glanced back at his nephew and his nephew's daughter. I guess the secret is out of the bag. I hope this doesn't spread throughout the campus.

He cleared his throat, smiling faintly. "Ryoma, Haine. Will you have dinner with me? My treat, of course. Let's talk about the old times and stuff like that." Ryoma reluctantly accepted his offer while Haine smiled gratefully at him.

A few minutes later, they finally left the place.


Somewhere in Avonlea…

Ryuzaki Mizaki was at the cliff, overlooking Avonlea.

"How peaceful this place is," she murmured. "I would love to see chaos rule over this land again."

"My lady," she turned around as she saw her loyal aide bowing before her. "Prime Minister Yamanaka is already on his way here. Coming along with him is the Crown Prince, himself."

"That brat?" Mizuki laughed softly. "I don't think so. Marionettenspieler won't return here just to attend his father's funeral. That kid really hates his father. I can't blame him though. Ryuusen was the one who ordered the execution of his mother."

"It was announced earlier that the prince will be coming back."

She merely scoffed at her aide. "He's only sending a doll in his stead."

"But how can you make him come back here?"

"That's right." Mizaki mused for a while. "Ah!"

She snapped her fingers; in an instant, two hooded figures knelt before her.

"What is it that you want, my lady?"

"Bring Marionettenspieler's doll to me, and both of you will be rewarded lavishly."

"For you, my lady, my sister and I will follow your command." Suddenly, they disappeared into thin air.

Her aide stood beside her. "Do you think they'll succeed in stealing her?"

Mizaki smirked. "I don't know. It will be interesting. Don't you think?"

Her aide sighed in resignation. "My lady, we better go now. It will be night soon."

"Of course." Her aide went ahead of her; she looked back at Avonlea again. "Soon, Avonlea will be under my control once more."

Mizaki finally left, her evil laughter ringing throughout the land.


If anyone of you can read German, will you send me the translation of a review sent to me by Kit through PM? I only knew a few German words. I don't know what those sentences means. Please?

For now, please read and review.