AN: so I had half this chapter on my hard drive the entire time and just plum forgot about it. oops

Chapter 9

"Tadaima!" Ryoma called as he threw open the house door.

He was met with absolute quiet and wondered where Kevin could be. The television was on but it didn't seem like anyone was in the house. Ryoma shrugged his back pack and tennis bag from his shoulders, putting them down on the atrium floor and kicked off his shoes before entering the living room.

"Kevin?" he called.

Still no answer.

"He must be upstairs," Ryoma reasoned, crossing the room and moving to sit down.

That was when he noticed his cell phone sitting on the coffee table. He stopped in his motion to sit down, and instead leaned forward to pick up the phone, before falling back into the couch cushions.

'So here it was all along,' Ryoma thought as he went to check for any missed calls. There were none which came as no surprise. Kevin was practically the only one who called him other than his mother and stupid old man.

It was then he heard the sound of Kevin's steps coming down the stairs.

"Hey, Kevin," Ryoma said, moving to set the phone back on the coffee.

"You left your phone. What if I needed to call you?" Kevin asked, sitting beside him.

"It's ok," Ryoma replied. "Apparently you didn't so it all worked out."

Kevin let out a slight chuckle at that and then grabbed Ryoma by the chin and turned his head his way, "You did get a call though."

"It said I didn't miss any," Ryoma said, not moving out of Kevin's grasp and meeting Kevin's blue eyes with his golden ones.

Kevin shook his head, "No. I picked up the phone."

"I bet it was my stupid old man," Ryoma grimaced. "What did he say."

"No…" Kevin said. "It wasn't him either. Guess again."

"This a guessing game, huh?"

"Humor me."

Ryoma rolled his eyes, "Che, fine. It was Cory."

"Why would Cory call you?" Kevin asked. "He saw you at school, didn't he? Come on be more creative."

"Uhm, Gerard?"

"Nope."

"Just tell me," Ryoma snapped, finally swatting Kevin's hand away from his face. He leaned forward to retrieve the remote control from the coffee table and began flipping through channels, apparently losing interest in the conversation.

"Fine, it was Tezuka-san."

"Buchou?" Ryoma asked, nearly fumbling the remote.

"What's with the over the top reaction?" Kevin smirked.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ryoma said, resuming with his channel surfing.

"Oh? Aren't you going to call him back?"

"Maybe later."

There was a lingering silence between them. The television was blaring in the background and Ryoma was resolute in facing forward but Kevin was watching him, studying his face for any signs of discomfort or a secret. Ryoma finally stopped on ESPN 2 and put the remote down on the couch between himself and Kevin.

"I'm thirsty. You want a drink?"

Ryoma bounced up and went across the living room and into the kitchen.

"Orange juice is fine," shouted Kevin.

"Ok."

Kevin heard the sounds of Ryoma getting two glasses out of the cupboard and then him opening the refrigerator and getting the juice.

"We need to go grocery shopping. It's practically empty in here," Ryoma commented.

"Yeah I know," Kevin replied with a shout.

Ryoma came back in with two glasses in his hand. He handed one to Kevin, which the blond took, and then returned to his seat.

"Ryoma-- How did Tezuka know your number?" Kevin asked.

Ryoma sighed, "Why are you making a big deal out of this?"

"I'm not making a big deal out of this."

"Really? That's how I see it."

"No. First of all, I merely asked a simple question. All you had to do was answer it, instead you got all defensive," Kevin said. "Besides, I remember you telling me some time ago that you merely saw Tezuka in passing. How did seeing Tezuka in passing suddenly become him calling you on your cellphone? As I recall, you said you two didn't even exchange any words."

"Remember I said Gerard had someone to introduce me to? Well it just so happened it was Buchou," Ryoma said casually.

Kevin observed Ryoma before speaking. The Japanese youth's eyes were once again trained to the TV and he was taking a long gulp of his drink.

"When were you going to tell me it was Tezuka?"

Ryoma removed the glass from his lips and gave Kevin an incredulous stare.

"I mean it, Ryoma," went on the blond. "I would think it'd be fairly normal for you to have come home and tell your boyfriend, which is me, 'Geuss what! That guy Gerard wanted me to meet was Tezuka the entire time. Isn't that funny?' But you didn't. You hid that from me."

"I didn't think it was important."

"It is important," Kevin said, turning his whole body now.

"How?"

He hated being the one to yell like this when Ryoma wasn't the least bit flustered. However, Kevin was always a bit hot headed and he just couldn't help but feel touchy about the subject, especially with Tezuka involved. Kevin knew about the feeling Ryoma had for his captain back when he was in Japan and he just wanted to make sure all of those were gone. He couldn't help but wonder if Ryoma were still harboring strong feelings for Tezuka and the other for him. He was insecure, but he didn't want to admit that.

"N,never mind," Kevin said, looking down into his glass of orange juice.

Ryoma frowned and crossed his arms, "Fine. I'm going to take a bath."

He then stood and went up stairs leaving Kevin alone in the living room, quietly seething. That wasn't how he wanted that conversation to go. He wanted to have Ryoma squirm and beg for forgiveness but instead it seemed like Kevin was the only one with any sort of feeling. Ryoma had the upper hand the entire time. That wasn't fair!

Kevin growled and stood abruptly, slamming his cup onto the table. He went up the stairs and opened the bedroom door to see Ryoma pulling the shirt over his head.

"Geez, would it kill you to knock?" Ryoma asked, unbuttoning his pants.

"It's not like I haven't seen it," was Kevin's retort. "Look Ryoma, about what I was talking about downstairs."

"I thought we already finished talking."

"You're right we did but I didn't say everything I wanted to say."

"Ok."

"Ryoma I'm not comfortable with you seeing Tezuka."

"Ok."

"So… I'd like you to not see him anymore-- even for tennis."

"What's wrong with me seeing Buchou?"

Kevin leaned against the door frame, "Ryoma stop playing stupid. We both know you had feelings for Tezuka."

"Kevin that was years ago. I was 12 years old."

"Ok, well obviously something is going on because you damn sure don't want to talk about it. If nothing is going on why is it a problem that I ask a simple thing from my boyfriend. Just don't see Tezuka anymore, ok. It's not that I don't trust you but I'm not comfortable, ok."

"Hmph," Ryoma kicked his boxers off his feet and grabbed his towel, wrapping it around his waist. "Whatever."

"So you agree?" Kevin asked, running his fingers through his hair.

"I don't care."

"Are you mad?" Kevin asked.

Ryoma walked towards the door where Kevin was standing, "No. I understand, ok."

Kevin leaned forward and kissed Ryoma's cheek, "Thanks, babe."

"Don't call me that," Ryoma growled.

The Japanese youth then stalked off into the bathroom and locked the door. Even though he didn't show it he felt extremely conflicted from the conversation he just had with Kevin. Why was Kevin making such a big deal out of him seeing Tezuka. Sure, when he was 12 he liked the older male and they did share some very clumsy kisses, but that was over now… right?

Ryoma subconsciously found himself holding his hand, the very hand Tezuka had held the other night. How exactly did Ryoma feel? He couldn't help but admit that just that simple touch almost made him lose control. So maybe Kevin was a little right for being a bit insecure, though it did make Ryoma mad. Why couldn't Kevin just trust him? If he was going to cheat with Tezuka he would have already done it-- that is if Tezuka was willing.

Ryoma shook the thought from his head. He didn't know what he was thinking last night. He was with Kevin so his feelings for Tezuka, whatever they were, were irrelevant. He would just have to explain to Tezuka that they could no longer see each other. Or maybe just explain that it was just as friends. Yeah, Kevin shouldn't have a problem with them being just friends, right?

Satisfied with that, Ryoma turned the faucet to begin his shower.

To be continued…

AN: thanks for reading please review!