Secrets Kept
Another chapter up!! funness... warning!! more randomness may follow... i think the rest of the other chapters may be a bit random too... p Have fun reading!!
CHAPTER NINE
"Did we say something funny again?" questioned Kirihara.
"Of course I'm in love with Rinko," laughed Ren. "But I can't deny that I love Ryoma also…"
"You can't love them both!" said Eiji as he pointed his finger at him.
"Of course I can," said Ren calmly, "Ryoma of course loves me as well… I can never be in love with her… I for one don't want to be charged for being a paedophile…"
"And does she know that?" asked Fuji with open eyes.
Ren smiled which surprised the prodigy since Ren wasn't scared, "Of course she knows… she knows it better than anyone else…"
"EH?"
"After all she is…" started Ren, but was interrupted when they heard a big boom; Ren bolted, "RYOMA!"
They all ran up the stairs to see if the girl was okay; around the corner they saw Ray covering the girl from what seemed to be an exploded door.
"Ray-san… are you alright?" asked Ryoma from underneath him.
"I'm fine ma'me," said Ray as he got up and helped her up to her feet.
"Ryoma…Ray are you alright?" called out Ren as he rushed over.
"We're fine," said Ryoma, as she dusted off her skirt. "Another reason I want to kill Atobe-san…"
"Why do you want to kill Ore-sama's father?" demanded Atobe.
"Because of him… they know I'm here…" snorted Ryoma with a glare; a glare that was scarier that anything they've seen in their whole life, "Which means it's only a matter of time where the big guns come in…"
"What's going on?" asked Momo.
"It's a war, Momo-sempai," said Ryoma. Ryoma had a gleam in her eyes, as she smiled, "It seems life has become more complicated… welcome to the Society of the Red Tape, where you're life can end in a blink of an eye… and anything illegal is considered legal… the ring leader: Echizen Nanjiroh…"
"What does Ore-sama's father has to do with this?"
"Have you ever wondered how you're family is wealthy?" asked Ren.
"Ore-sama does not know… but Ore-sama is sure it's legal…" said Atobe.
"He's part of this society, Monkey King," said Ryoma looked at the remains of the door. "He's part of the conspiracy… his only the worker…"
"What are you saying brat?" demanded Atobe.
"Keigo… what Ryoma is trying to say… is that besides doing business, on the side lines your father has been dealing drugs," said Ren.
"That is baloney," scoffed Atobe. "Okaa-san assured me that everything we've done is legal…"
Ryoma snorted, "then you're father's been lying to her too…"
"I'm not listening to a brat who ran away from home to be with a man who is more than three times older," scoffed Atobe. "You should go home…"
Smack
"I'll make this clear… I did not just run away to hear you rambling about why you think I ran away from home," said Ryoma in a deadly voice, "I did not come all this way to be reminded that Okaa-san died in the hands of the person she married, pooled in her own blood that stains the tennis court that she loves. She began on the courts and she ended on the courts…"
Ryoma didn't even blink, as her rage continued, "I didn't get this far to turn back to act as a drug mule because they think I'm male and I'm going to do big things… I don't… I don't…"
"Ryoma…!" Ren cried as he appeared by her side, but Ryoma pushed him away and looked Atobe, who sported a red cheek, with a death glare.
Ryoma breathing became laboured as she placed a hand on her forehead, the world around her started to fade, "I don't care… what… what you say… I'm… not going back…"
Ryoma's world went black, the regulars panicked as Ryoma stared to fall, Ren was right next to her to catch her. He swept her into his arm effortlessly, and walked away wordlessly.
Ray turned to them, still composed, "If you please follow me, I'll lead you back to the lounge…"
Atobe was just gaping like a fish, he was speechless and he could say anything because everything he was trying to take in was still jumbled.
randomnessrandomnessrandomnessrandomnessrandomnessrandomnessrandomnessrandomnessrandomnessrandomnessrandomnessrandomness
"Is she alright, sir?" asked Ray.
"Its worse," sighed Ren as he collapsed into a seat. Yukimura was speechless, as it was his first time he saw his doctor look so stressed. "Her fever's higher than last time… I'm surprised that she isn't delirious… or better yet in a coma…"
"!"
"Ochibi…! We're sorry!" said Eiji as he stood up and looked like he was planning to visit Ryoma.
"Kikumaru-san… please sit down," said Ren as he massaged the bridge of his nose, "You need to know about the Echizen's and the Society and what Ryoma has been through…"
And so Ren recounted what Ryoma had told him about the history of the Echizen's; the death of Rinko, the new woman and the reason Ryoma was a 'boy'.
"We're sorry for causing this mess," apologised Tezuka.
"Its fine," smiled Ren, "Ryoma really missed her sempai-tachi… though she doesn't say so… I know they say she talks about each person, she really cares about you…"
"Ochibi talks about us?" asked Eiji as he bounced in his seat.
"How did you meet Ryoma? If she didn't run away to be with you?" asked Yukimura.
"I actually met her by a vending machine," said Ren with a smile and the look of nostalgia, "we both have a fondness for Ponta…"
The Seigaku regulars' just sweat dropped, they should have suspected that Ryoma would still drink that fizzy drink.
"I recognised her the moment I saw her, the same person that defeated Seiichi-kun which mind you is a big feat for a twelve year old," said Ren. "I'm thankful that I sneaked out to get a drink or else I would have never met her… she's help be regain the memories that I've lost for so long…"
"Memories..?"
"Ah… twelve years ago, I lost my memories and Ray, my butler found my on the seashore…" sighed Ren.
"So you're not using Ochibi to get over her mother?" asked Eiji.
Ren laughed, "Why would I do that? I might do outrageous things but nothing so shallow…"
"So what was that couple display and the 'honey' thing?" asked Jackal.
"I've always wanted to do that when I come home from work," laughed Ren.
"Rest assured, Ren-sama does that even before Ryoma appeared," said Ray; everyone sweat dropped.
'Weirdo,' thought the regulars.
Ren sweat dropped as he had a feeling that they were thinking badly of him, but it wasn't the first time this happened. After all he was always called childish and strange.
"How is it, that Ryoma helped you retrieve you're memory?" asked Inui.
"She resembles Rinko so much…" sighed Ren, "We were lovers… childhood sweethearts… we actually planned our lives out under this same roof…"
"Ryo-chan knew exactly who I was when I told her about my broken memories… Rinko has strange taste when it comes to bedtime stories," chuckled Ren, "I'm surprised how Ryo-chan turned out the way she did, with her upbringing. But I guess it comes from Rin-chan… tennis runs through her veins and the sense of justice…"
No one dared interrupt his musing, "Then again, Ryo-chan is more like her father… stubborn… isn't that right Ray?"
"You're right sir," agreed Ray, "and may I add, some of the father's habits… and love of animals…"
Something hit Fuji, "The party… she said 'just one more time'… is she quitting tennis?"
"Ah… she never really wanted to take tennis seriously," smiled Ren sadly, "Though it is in her blood… she said she doesn't have the heart to play competitively… I guess you've lost a regular…"
"Why…?" asked Kirihara, "the kid can still beat all of us hands down… is she bored because there's no one her level…"
"It's not the matter of the opponent," said Ren, "it is to do with her resolve to play tennis… the reason she started to play tennis…"
"The reason she started to play tennis…?" repeated Sanada.
"Yes… the reason she took up tennis… to be stronger… to defeat all her opponents…" said Ren, "was for her mother…"
"Her mother…?" questioned everyone.
"Rin-chan was a rising tennis star, she was defeating professionals left and right," explained Ren, "however she became pregnant with Ryo-chan and she's never picked up a racquet ever since…"
"What does that have to do with…?" started Marui.
"Ryo-chan took it upon herself to start tennis for Rin-chan," interrupted Ren, "she thought that if she played her best and somehow inspired her mother; Rin-chan would pick up and racquet again and play a match with her. Ryo-chan's dream was to play tennis with her mother, to see her mother continue on with her dream…"
"I wanted to play tennis with all I have," said Ryoma with a look of determination, "I believe that if Okaa-san sees me play, she'll give into the temptation and pick up a racquet. And maybe… just maybe… we can have a match together… I want to see the passion in her eyes that I saw in the videos for myself… the determination when she calculates the next move… I wanted Okaa-san's eyes to lose that sadness…"
Ren slouched in his chair, "only now… neither of them can complete their dream… their dream will now always remain a dream… I know… I just know that Ryo-chan I had a different dream and once upon a time wanted to fulfil… before she gave it up to play tennis… but I don't know… she won't tell me…"
"I tried talking to Yoru-san, but it seems Ryo-chan already sworn her to secrecy," shrugged Ren.
"Can it be song writing?" asked Renji.
"No… I've already eliminated that… I've also eliminated voice acting and medicine," said Ren. "Ryoma… you have definitely surpassed Okaa-san and Otou-san… Apparently you're the walking definition of a prodigy…"
All the regulars did a double take, 'Ryoma is a prodigy…'
Meow
"What is it Rin?" asked Ren, as he looked at the kitten near his feet.
Meow
"Ryoma…?"
Meow Meow
Ren stood up, "What's wrong with Ryoma…?"
Ren swiftly left the room; Ray followed him, as did the guests. They reached a door and could here a groan from the other side. Ren swung opened the door to find Ryoma struggling out of bed; he immediately went to her side.
"Ryoma… lie down… you're not well…" insisted Ren, "get some sleep…"
"I can't," said Ryoma tiredly, as she frowned, "I can't stop thinking… it's giving me headache… I never think… arg… it's all Monkey King's fault…"
"Lay back down," said Ren, in the background Atobe huffed "I'll help you clear your mind…"
Ryoma shook her hand, "I want to see Okaa-san…"
'She wants to die?!' panicked the regulars.
"Come here," said Ren as he picked the girl up and sat on the window ledge with his arms around Ryoma. They both looked out up into the sky, the Seigaku regulars recognised the distant look in her eyes. Her frown disappeared as Ren started to hum a soft tune under his breath. Ryoma leaned against Ren as she slowly closed her eyes, the face showed peace and at the same time there was a soft pleasant smile present on her face. It wasn't long before her breathing got deeper and they knew she was fast asleep. Ren was still humming when he lifted the girl and placed her back into bed and tucked her in.
"For you are not alone…" whispered Ren as he brushed away the loose strands on Ryoma's face and stroked her cheek lovingly.
"Ochibi looks peaceful," whispered Eiji, as they crept out of the bedroom. Ren softly closed the door as they all left.
"Ray… please secure the area," said Ren in a business like tone that the regulars never heard before. His cell rung once before he answered it, "Echizen… what a pleasant surprise… no I'm still alive and well… you're son…? What ever do you mean…? I never met the boy… and I swear it on my life… Atobe…?"
Every one hung onto every word, each one was short and pleasant, "Cross dressing…? Is that what Atobe said? Seriously… the only cross-dressing partner I took to that party was my butler, who Atobe thought was his sister…"
"I know… rest assure I'll keep that in mind," Ren's eyes then hardened, "give my regards to you're wife ne?"
"It's only a matter of time now…" sighed Ren as he ran his hand through his hair, "the impending war has just come closer…"
Ray came back, "Sir, the area is now fully secure… is this the beginning of the end, sir?"
"Yes it is… I've finally found my purpose in my bleak life… the reason why fate took away my memory," said Ren.
"Sir… you can't possibly…" started Ray.
"Can I trust you to side with me, old friend?" asked Ren.
"Of course, sir," bowed Ray.
"Well boys… I think you should all go home," smiled Ren as he looked at the regulars, "You've found what you were looking for but you shouldn't go back to the Atobe estate… it is only a matter of time when word gets out and Echizen finds out what is going behind his back… you're safety is in peril."
"What about Ochibi?" asked Eiji.
"She'll be safe with me," smiled Ren.
"But you're the target!" said Oishi.
"Iie… Ryoma is the target, they want her back…" said Ray, "Ren-sama is just an obstacle to their objective…"
"Then you're risking you're life to protect her?" asked Yukimura.
"I'll risk my life again and again if I had nine lives," said Ren, "She, after all, represents my love and it is after all my job to protect her… and even if I have to forfeit my life for hers I'll do it in a snap…"
"You really do love her," said Fuji with a smile.
"Of course I do, even more than Ponta…" said Ren. "She is after all my daughter…"
secrets out!! whoop!! fun fun fun!! fatherly love!!next chapter... some one dies... more like three dies... someone gets kissed... someone leaves... and a funeral... who can it be?? they all could be the same person... next update is next week!! i'll try updating earlier... but i doubt i could... sorry!!