Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis in anyway or form.

A/N: I decided that I should probably update this story since it's really been quite a while since I typed anything...

No pairings here!

Lil_Dog: I'm glad you got it, Lil_Dog. As for Ryoma and Himiko, they needed a base, a mark where their relationship as cousins lie. I tried to make them as human as I can without them being OOC. About Ryoma being more like a child and Himiko being more mature, I guess that's your view. To me, Himiko was just being stubborn like her cousin. As for your comment about Himiko being tougher even if she's a girl, I was slightly offended. Just because she's a girl doesn't mean she's weaker. I've proved that to you many times back then, remember? Anyways, thanks for the review, dude. I dedicate this one to you, mah friend.

Title: Gebrochen Lächeln can be translated to Broken Smiles in German.

Warning: Possible OOCness of characters.

Rating might go up in later chapters.


Chapter 6: Hilflosigkeit [Cluelessness]

The next day, Himiko and Ryoma ignored all the looks they received when they entered the school campus. They guessed that the ones who saw them, other than Fuji that is, had mentioned it to some other people and spread the news to the whole school.

"They're quite bothersome, neh?" Himiko asked her cousin in a whisper.

Ryoma simply nodded as they approached their friends and cousin. Fuji, Tezuka and Kirihara were waiting by the front entrance.

"Hey guys." Himiko sighed.

"What's the matter, nee-san?" Kirihara asked.

The younger teen wasn't informed about the fight his cousins had the day before. They wanted to stay that way but Himiko didn't have any other reason to say to him.

"She's tired from the late practice we had yesterday." Ryoma lied for her after noticing his discomfort.

Himiko gave him a thankful look before smiling at her cousin.

"I'll be okay, Akaya. Just a little tired like Ryoma said." Himiko waved her hand dismissingly.

"Okay…" Kirihara said but he was still doubtful of his cousins' words.

Himiko hoped that Kirihara would ask further. As if granting her wish, Fuji spoke up.

"Practicing for what, Himiko-san?"

Okay. She was now wishing that Fuji just kept his mouth shut. She gave Fuji a very small glare before looking at her cousin, Ryoma, for help. Ryoma caught her look then inwardly sighed.

"Himitsu." Ryoma simply said.

Himiko mentally smacked her head and mentally scolded herself.

Why didn't I think of that?

"Oh? Why are you the one answering for Himiko-san, Ryoma-kun?" Fuji asked with his smile still in place.

Himiko was threatened to really strangle the ever-smiling teen right then and there.

Fuji Syusuke, you're so dead when I get my hands on you…

It was Ryoma's turn to give a small glare at his smiling sempai before sighing inwardly.

What a bothersome sempai I have…

"I was the one who held the late practice. It was my fault she's tired." Ryoma lied smoothly.

Damn. It's like those times again. Saying lies after lies…

Ryoma mentally cursed. Fuji was really going to pay big time. He hates having to lie so much again.

Isn't my life a big lie enough?

Ryoma thought, inwardly sad. He was getting tired of all of this. Sure, he had Kirihara. The green-eyed teen would surely understand what he felt that time because of what happened before but being the person he was lying to, it wasn't going to help at all.

Why do I get myself in these kinds of messes?

Ryoma mentally asked for no reason at all. He sighed deeply; feeling tired all of a sudden.

Meanwhile, Himiko noticed the difference in the way Ryoma held himself. Her cousin was beginning to slouch. When Himiko looked at Ryoma's face, she inwardly gasped. Ryoma was becoming pale and tiredness was obvious in his features.

When Ryoma started to sway a little, Himiko held him up discreetly. She mentally thanked the Gods that no one noticed as they were busy talking about something else.

"Hey guys. Ryoma and I need to talk for a while. See you later." Himiko said coolly before walking away, nearly dragging her sleepy cousin along the way.

When they were out of sight of their friends, Himiko carried her cousin to the infirmary.


Later…

Where am I?

Ryoma thought as he woken up. He only remembered that Himiko was carrying him to somewhere before he finally passed out. Suddenly, he heard a gasp. He turned his head to the source to see his cousin.

"Himiko-nee-san…"

"Ryoma, you're finally awake!" Himiko hugged her cousin to her chest, feeling relieved, then let him go.

"Why am I here, nee-san?" Ryoma asked when he took note that he was in the infirmary.

"You passed out on the way here, Ryoma. The nurse said that you've probably been really stressed and tired." Himiko explained as she sat on the side of the bed.

Ryoma didn't speak as his mind went back to a certain person at home. Just when his mind started to wander, Himiko handed him a bento.

"Here's your lunch. Aunt Rinko went here herself since you left it in your haste this morning." Himiko explained.

"Okaa-san…" Ryoma's fist tightened as he stared at the bento. He slowly opened it to reveal some of his favorite foods.

Okaa-san…

Ryoma thought sadly as a small, melancholic smile broke played on his lips. This did not go unnoticed to Himiko though, but she kept quiet, letting her cousin have his peace for once.

What happened to you in the years I wasn't here, Ryoma?

Himiko sadly thought, as she held back silent tears.

If I only came sooner like I had originally planned, could this might still happen to Ryoma?

Himiko thought as she watched her silent cousin ate his lunch in peace. It was so rare to see him so peaceful these days. He was always hiding behind that mask of his, untrusting and cold. That's when it hit her.

Why is Ryoma so untrusting and cold to others? Could that mask of his the one protecting him from something? Did something happen to him back then?

Questions came to her one after the other but it focused on one thing.

Ryoma's life, before I came… What was it like?

Those were the only words in her head. She knew much about her cousin but it wasn't even half of it. She didn't want hear his life story; she just wanted to know what happened to her cousin. Unknown to her, it was Ryoma's life story that she needed to hear.

"Himiko-nee-san…" She heard that smooth voice call her out of her thoughts.

"Did okaa-san say or give anything to you for me?" Ryoma asked, inwardly nervous.

"Oh! Aunt Rinko told me to give you this." Himiko gave a piece of paper to the boy.

Ryoma took it and opened it gently, as if it would tear if he didn't. He carefully read the contents then sighed in relief.

"Now that's done, let's go home." Himiko said as she stood up and took their bags.

Ryoma glanced at the clock and noticed the time. That's when he slowly realized that he slept the whole day of school. Even with that in mind, he just nodded at his cousin then followed the older teen. They were seen by their cousin and friends by the gates.

"Ryoma-kun, your teacher told me to give you this. It's your homework." Fuji said as he handed a few papers to Ryoma.

"Thanks, Syusuke-sempai…" Ryoma muttered as he took it then placed it in his bag.

"Guys, Ryoma needs to go home early today. See you tomorrow!" Himiko said while she started to walk away.

"See you tomorrow!" They heard Fuji and Kirihara say before they went out of hearing range.


Later that evening; Himiko's room…

Himiko had been thinking about Ryoma and his past for quite a time now. She knew he was keeping something from her, she knows that for sure.

So does Syusuke-san and Akaya… I don't know much about Kunimitsu-san's though…

She didn't know why but she had a weird feeling that her cousins and friends were somehow connected to one another. She focused on Tezuka first.

Kunimitsu-san was saddened because his fiancée was murdered. That's what he told me.

Himiko wrote that under Tezuka's name on a page of her notebook .

The killer was never captured. He never told me how she was murdered and why though.

She added that to her notes. On the next page, she wrote Fuji's name on top.

Syusuke-san goes to the hospital monthly for his check-up. He has been doing that for nearly three years.

She took that first note down.

So that means something happened to him during the end of his third year of middle school. I wonder what…

She turned the page then wrote Kirihara's name.

Akaya was always sensitive about his family life, mostly if it was about his nee-chan…

She noted that down.

Now that I thought about it, I never met his nee-chan yet…

She also wrote that down before turning the page. She wrote Ryoma's name on top.

Well, Ryoma is extremely sensitive and private about his life, mostly about his family…

She took that down as her first note.

He acts differently when Aunt Rinko is involved though. I should write that down.

She did just that then saw a small connection on her notes in Fuji's then Ryoma's when she read it all.

For Syusuke-san, something happened to him three years ago, by the end of his third year of middle school... For Ryoma, he's extremely sensitive and private when it's about Aunt Rinko…

The wheels in her head were turning as she thought up the possible time for Fuji and possible reason for Ryoma.

Syusuke-san's time was the end of his third year, to be exact. Ryoma's reason was Aunt Rinko.

She wrote that down in their respective pages before she went to sleep. Unknown of what she's getting herself into…


A/N: That's all for now. I hope you guys liked this chapter. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Important note: Like I said before, I'll try to update weekly. I'm kinda busy doing other things and stuff. ehehehe...

Anyways, please Comment or Review!

+ Emiko-chan +