A/N: I'm back! Sorry for the long awaited update. I hope all of you still read my story after this. Hope y'all aren't too mad. But let the updates continue! I'm back and ready to write, cuz my muse is back and I'll be updating more regularly from now on. It's an early christmas gift!! This story is almost done and it will be done by the end of the year, which is only a couple of weeks away. Read and review.

Chapter 10

It's now mid afternoon and the reporters and fans are still camped out in front of our house. So Nanako and I decide that we have to make an announcement to those people out there. Hopefully it'll get them off our backs.

"Ryoma-sama and Nanako-sama wish to express the gratitude to everyone for the continued support and heartfelt condolences. We are all incredibly saddened by the loss of Echizen Rinko and Echizen Nanjiroh. They were both wonderful and kind people. They will be greatly missed. We are all mourning the loss of Rinko and Nanjiroh and we hope that everyone can respect their privacy during this delicate situation. They would also like you to know that the company will be taken care of and it is still as strong and stable as it ever was but we ask that all other questions concerning the company be directed to the Vice President of Takeuchi corporations, Nakamura Hideki" Said Takahiro as Nanako and I watched them on the television from inside the house.

As the minutes passed the crowd began to disperse. There was the occasional passer-by that dropped off flowers or to light a candle but for the most part, the reporters and all the news vans had all but left the property, satisfied with our brief statement. I had hoped that they had all gotten the message and left us all in peace but, a few moments later, that hope was squashed.

*Bzzzz Bzzz*

"We'd like to talk to Echizen-sama…" I hear the voices of some fangirls coming from the intercom.

"I'm sorry Master Echizen is not taking any visitors at the moment, you may leave the flowers beside you. We thank you for your condolences and your support." I heard Takahiro say to the random girls.

*Bzzz Bzzz*

Takahiro took about two steps before the intercom buzzed once again.

"Hi. I'm a reporter from Tokyo XXX. I was wondering when Echizen-san and Nanako-san will be available for an interview."

"I'm sorry but they are both busy and won't be available for any interviews any time soon" said Takahiro.

And that's how it continued. I hoped that everyone had some semblance of humanity, of decency, but I guess I was wrong. What do they really expect of me? Am I not a person just like them? They think just because I'm famous, just because my parents were well known, that they have the right to know every last bit of detail of our lives. Do we not have the right to privacy as well? I didn't ask to be famous. I didn't want to be famous; all I wanted was to play tennis, to play amongst the best of them. That's all I wanted, yet these people, even during this time, when my parents have died, they still feel the need to hound me every day, every second.

*Bzzz Bzzz* Oh kami-sama. I groan as I hear the buzzard once more. It's probably them once again, those vultures who want a piece of me.

"I see. You may come in." The moment I hear Takahiro letting someone in, my ears perk up and curiosity overtakes me. Who could it be?

"Ahh. Master Echizen. Master Atobe has come to see you," Said Takahiro as I approached the door.

"Ryoma," said Atobe as he pulled me into a hug. "I'm sorry. I heard about everything. I would've gotten here sooner, except the mob at your front gate has prevented me from doing so." He says as we enter the living room, where Takahiro has placed a cup of tea in front of both us.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? Why did I have to find out about it like everyone else on the evening news?" he yelled in anger.

"If you hadn't noticed, I had other things on my mind!" I told him, but truth be told, I just didn't want to admit it. Yea I've talked about it with Nanako and Takahiro, but that's different. I know it may sound stupid, but telling others, saying it out loud myself would have solidified it all. Part of me has had trouble believing any of it is actually true. Even faced with their dead bodies, part of still believed that I'd hear Oyaji call me "bishounen" or wake up and find out that 'kaa-san made me a western breakfast once more. It all happened so sudden that it felt like it was all a dream, that eventually I'd wake up and everything would be back to the way it was before. Everything would be normal again. However, as I sat there in front of Atobe as he continued to blabber on about how he'd help me in anyway and how is father offered his assistance in any business problems; I knew I couldn't deny it any longer.

"They're gone." I whispered as Atobe looked at me with a knowing look, understanding why I had just said those words. The rest of the afternoon passed by pretty uneventful. I had the occasional buzz from a fan or reporter, but for the most part, everything had begun to die down and the public had left us in peace.

I lay there on my bed as I stared at my cell phone and I stared at the clock. 1 am is what it read. It's been a day since everyone found out, a day since it was all announced to the public and yet not one single phone call or visit from those who were supposed to be my friends. I knew it. It was so stupid of me to get my hopes up. It was so stupid of me to expect them to be different from everyone else. I had text messages, voice messages, and emails left from people all over the world giving me their condolences, their support. Yet the people, who were supposed to be my closest friends, haven't called me once. I put my trust in them, hoping that this time would turn out differently, but I was wrong. This is the last time I'll ever be wrong about another person like this again. I was stupid to think that people could be trusted and that there were people out there who didn't care about my wealth, or how much I excelled in sports or academics, but I won't make that mistake again. There is no one else out there who I can trust and who I know who doesn't want me for wealth, fame or my talents. At least this way, I'll never get hurt or feel betrayed like this again.

A/N: So what do you all think? Sorry it's short. Sorry if there are any grammer mistakes, I wrote this chapter a while ago, it's just that I couldn't post it because I wasn't sure if i wanted to change certain aspects of the story or not and this chapter was crucial to the change, although I don't really remember what I wanted to change about it, and then I had major writer's block. so anyways, I hope you like it and I hope you continue to read and review my story. Please review cuz I want lots of reviews and I won't know if all of you like it or not.

BTW,
if you go to my profile page, you'll see a new story I'm currently working on as well, simultaneously to this one. HAHA my muse is back in full force baby! But don't worry, I'll be updating this regularly, expect the next chapter to be up after the weekend, probably by mid week.

review review review pretty please with a cherry on top.

Happy Holidays to all. I wish you all a great holiday with all your friends and family and lots of food. I'm so getting into the christmas spirit. lol. but i still don't like the music all that much.