A/N: Isn't everyone glad I write drabbles when class gets too boring? Well I got an okay to spread the angst even on my drabbles so prepare to be dunked in that as well
Otherwise, a Happy birthday to my sister who has encouraged me endlessly and was my muse to the very end when all other muses abandoned me! So all hail the great muse who help to create awesome scenes, plot lines and introduce me to Thrill!
Besides that my devoted muse has offered (Because I'm so lazy) to do the plot for any two story that gathers the most votes on my profile! So vote for your favorite because the deadline is June 30th so I'll have enough time to write it in time for July 4th!
rebeccasanfujieijilvr- Hopefully you'll continue to love them :)
edenforest1- Thank you for even bothering to read and review for short drabbles on Thrill.
nicki-gurl- Why of course :3
It's only right I should come back with a total BANG after a three-month hiatus. You're encouraging me to break your hearts and twist a knife in it? :o
Well then I'll gladly add more of my angsty ones in that I usually don't post XD
Pax Silva- It's okay to beat the characters up once in a while.
MARYLOVER- I dunno why but it's eager to grip me these days XD
Especially trying weakening Ryoma and Fuji to a certain degree. I'm playing around with ideas and pushing their characteristics to the max just to see what can be done :D
Moonlit Crystals- Well why else would they be called thrill if the activities they did didn't have thrill in them :)
TeNsHi No ToIkI- I'm already wondering what new drabbles will hit me in a boring class next XD
Property Of
"I'm worn out!" Kikumaru complained leaning against the lockers while trying to regain his breath. "Why do we even get tested on how fast we can run to the clubroom?"
"I need food!" Momoshiro said from where he was lying on the floor of the clubroom. "Need…energy," He continued breathing out a word with each breath he heaved out.
"Baka…" Kaidoh merely muttered as he sat on a bench and started getting out of his Seigaku jerseys.
"You have too much stamina!" Kikumaru complained, as Oishi appeared to hand him a water bottle.
"And you need more Kikumaru…" Inui announced walking into the clubroom writing quickly in his notebook. "You all did a minute better than yesterday but it could've been better if Kikumaru and Momoshiro didn't both get stuck in the doorway in."
"Give us a break…" Kikumaru muttered closing the water bottle as he slid to a sitting position on the floor.
"So who lost Inui?" Fuji asked with a 'smile' that always seemed to appear when the latest juice was issued out.
"Well…Echizen did when you tripped him Fuji." Inui said looking straight at the Tensai who smile innocently back.
"Did I trip him?" Fuji questioned looking towards the door where Echizen had yet to come in with Tezuka who supervised the punishment to make sure it was carried out.
"Maybe not…" Inui stuttered out after seeing Fuji advance a bit.
"I wonder what's taking them so long?" Fuji mussed instead.
"Well I would have to wash my mouth out a million times if I was the one who had to drink that stuff." Momoshiro said standing up to get out of his jersey.
"Here's your water bottle Oishi!" Kikumaru said rolling it back towards Oishi.
"There they are," Kawamura said changing the subject as he began changing out of his tennis shoes. Everyone started to leave the clubroom as they finished and Kikumaru was busy dragging Fuji towards the door to talk about homework while Oishi worried over Momshiro's and Kaidoh's newest fight about eating too much.
"Well I'm off! I have to help my dad out today!" Kawamura said to anyone who cared as he slug his beg over his shoulder and headed towards the front gate to walk home.
"See you later Kawamura" Inui muttered as he stood next to Oishi who was trying to still pry Momoshiro and Kaidoh off one another.
"Ja Taka-san…" Fuji said before he returned his attention back to the newly reenergized Kikumaru. Although he was listening to Kikumaru chatter off, he kept an eye on the clubroom door hoping to see Ryoma coming out soon.
xXx
"Buchou…" Ryoma said with a scowl. "That wasn't very nice of you to help Inui make sure I drank it!"
"A worthy punishment for being last Echizen," Tezuka said not slowing his pace as he packed his own things or bothered looking at the grumpy 1st year behind him changing.
"Che!" Ryoma merely said before Tezuka turned to look at him.
"It was either that or an extra ten laps." Tezuka informed.
"Well I-"Ryoma started moving forward with annoyance before he realized he was falling backwards after stepping on a…water bottle?
"Echizen!" Tezuka said a bit roughly laced with panic at the younger boy's fast fall. Grabbing for anything, Tezuka managed to grab Ryoma by his shirt and pull him upward while twisting himself on the bottom to cushion the boy's fall.
THUMP
The leftover regulars, hearing the thump and shout for Ryoma, looked into the clubroom to see a scene only Tezuka could classify as 'Improper conduct'.
The regulars found Tezuka sprawled on the floor, with Ryoma's ripped shirt in hand and Ryoma plastered on Tezuka so well that they're lips were pressed against each other indefinitely. Although everyone was surprised that their stoic buchou would allow Echizen to top, Kikumaru believed it was Ryoma's moan that snapped Fuji's cerulean eyes open. They took their time rising from the ground since it took a moment for Ryoma to sit up on Tezuka and locate Tezuka's glasses where they were sprawled to hand back to Tezuka. Meanwhile from the regulars watching, Kikumaru backed away a bit from a 'bothered' Fuji who had noticed that Ryoma wasn't getting off Tezuka…yet. Actually, the majority of the regulars slightly notices the change of aura on Fuji and didn't quite know why he was changing aura.
"Are you okay?" Tezuka finally managed to say sitting up while the boy was still straddled on his lap.
"Yeah… just a bit rough on one knee." Ryoma muttered. " Although you ripped my shirt…"
"Sorry…" Tezuka muttered looking at his left hand that still held part of Ryoma's ripped shirt while the rest of it dangled off Ryoma. The rip had torn a large hole that revealed a slim shoulder and collarbone to everyone watching.
"Just how long do you two plan to stay like that?" Fuji finally voiced from where he stood by the door.
That caught both Tezuka and Ryoma off-guard as Tezuka practically lifted the boy to the side and stood while Ryoma tried to straighten his shirt that could not be straightened.
"Gee O-chibi… I didn't know buchou and you were THAT close" Kikumaru said with a slight grin.
"We aren't…" Ryoma said pulling his ripped uniform shirt off while pulling on his white button up shirt.
"That's not what it looked liked!" Kikumaru said with a snicker, " right Fujiko?"
"Saa…" Fuji merely said although his eyes were glued on Tezuka who hadn't yet realized he was still clenching a part of Ryoma's shirt in his hand still. Dark shadows seem to enclose his mind as clouds of jealousy poked at him. It wasn't everyday Fuji let others get to see something from his perspective…especially if it was Ryoma on top. Although he had promised not to make Ryoma and his relationship official to everyone until they had graduated, this scene clarified that he would need to stake his claim now.
"Quit it Kikumaru-senpai!" Ryoma said with a frown knowing how jealous his real boyfriend can get. "I'm already going out with someone!"
"Eh? Before me?" Momoshiro said in disbelief.
"You'd probably be the only one who CAN'T get a date!" Kaidoh said rubbing it in a bit.
"Are you saying you're dating too?" Momoshiro asked provoking him as well.
"He is," Inui answered.
"Eh? And how do you know this Inui?" Kikumaru asked with a raised brow at the man who nervously adjusted his glasses.
"Because… I do," Inui stuttered out.
"It'd be more effective if you just told everyone Kaidoh and you were dating Inui." Fuji said a bit bluntly as he stared at his little prince whom happened to be distracted by Tezuka yet again!
"Eh????" Kikumaru said with surprise. "Oh my god Oishi!"
"Don't act so surprised Kikumaru-senpai," Ryoma said with a frown. "It's obvious Oishi-senpai and you two are also going out."
Kikumaru and Oishi immediately reddened and started sputtering out incoherent lines of denial while Momoshiro hung his head and sat beside Kawamura.
"Kawamura-senpai… at least you and I are single."
"Actually-" Kawamura said a bit hesitantly not wanting to break Momoshiro's heart even more. "I-"
"You're dating too?" Momoshiro breathed out in disbelief.
Kawamura nodded almost unwillingly which sent Momoshiro reeling towards Tezuka.
"Buchou… you and I are the only non-hormonal ones aren't we?" Momoshiro stated with a frown at the others. "Oh, and Fuji-senpai."
Tezuka didn't answer but merely sighed rubbing his head a bit. "That's not a concern towards tennis Momoshiro."
"I know buchou but it's quite surprising to see that everyone has their own property except you and I."
"Tezuka's seeing someone as well," Fuji gritted out more for Ryoma's sake then Momshiro's.
"Oh man!" Momoshiro said with a huge frown. " The Fuji-senpai you're not dating right? Is it just us two?"
"I'm sorry but I own someone."
"WHAT?!" Momoshiro said dropping to the ground. "Who would date you?"
Fuji merely smiled and roughly dropped a hungry kiss on Ryoma's lips who in turn responded to the challenge forgetting where they both were.
Breaking the kiss unwillingly since he had stated his point. Fuji glanced up and smiled at everyone's shocked expression.
"Ryoma would,"
And that's how everyone found out that Echizen Ryoma was the property of Fuji Syuusuke.
Listen To Your Heart
Ryoma hesitated slightly as he reached for Fuji. He knew the Tensai had feelings for their buchou but he was leaving back to LA tomorrow and he wanted to get his feelings off his chest.
"Is there something you needed?" Fuji asked noting that Ryoma was behind him as if waiting to talk to him.
"Yeah… kind of." Ryoma said pulling at his cap. He was trying to figure out how to say what he was feeling but his heart was raging 'I love you' only and THAT was the last thing he wanted to blurt out in the spur of the moment.
"Well… I…you know there's something I wanted to tell you before goodbye." Ryoma immediately regretted his sentence since there was so much to mention but he couldn't find the right words!
"Goodbye?" Fuji questioned looking at Ryoma fully now. "Are you going somewhere?"
"I… yeah… Ne Fuji-senpai… I-"
Fuji didn't say anything as he continued to look at Ryoma fidget and pull his hat lower over his face.
"Well… I-"
"Just what are you trying to tell me?" Fuji asked a bit amused at how much Ryoma was stuttering when he usually was so forward.
"I love you." Ryoma stated before he could even reconsider not saying anything so forcefully. Just exactly what his heart told him to say… he said it.
Fuji calmly reached under Ryoma's face and cupped Ryoma's chin forcing him to look at him.
"Ryoma…"
"What?" Ryoma said reverting to the bratty side of him rather than the nervous side.
"Those words shouldn't be said before goodbye." Fuji stated
"Then when are they supposed to be said?" Ryoma demanded getting irritated that Fuji was going to get smart on him at the moment he was spilling his thoughts out.
"They should be said when you're ready to devote yourself entirely to me and never will there be a goodbye between us," Fuji stating till his lips were inches from Ryoma's. "There will only be till next time."
Putting On A Smile
Fuji sighed as he stared at his reflection. He knew it was all coming down to the question but he really wished it wouldn't come. He knew Ryoma wanted to go professional but he didn't want Ryoma so far from him. When the team had asked if Ryoma was going to go professional with his skills, Fuji had told them that Ryoma was staying with him jealously. Ryoma hadn't said anything but the disappointment was there in his golden eyes. Now Fuji felt bad…
His love for Ryoma suddenly felt wrong, because even he knew loving Ryoma would mean supporting him no matter what it was.
He knew living life meant taking chances and tomorrow was not always going to be like yesterday.
'But love stays the same…' Fuji reminded himself as he watched Ryoma from across the room. Ryoma probably didn't notice it but he had been sitting on the sofa for a while now clinging on to the tennis ball that still continued to pass between his hands in thought.
"Ryoma…" Fuji finally said moving over to sit beside him.
"Hm?" Ryoma said putting the tennis ball down as if it had never been in his hands while trying to focus on Fuji.
"I love you."
"I know that." Ryoma said with a slow nod.
"Because I do, I want you to chase… that dream." Fuji said trying to find the right words as his hands reached fro Ryoma's.
"But I thought-"
"I'm walking beside you Ryoma, because I know the distance will hurt but it won't kill us." Fuji said putting on his smile. "Loving you I won't ever regret, so supporting you… I won't either."
"But I'll be gone months… we may never see each other for long months…" Ryoma said searching Fuji's face.
Fuji knew clearly what he was saying… it was a restless fear that nestled in his heart, one that joined the 'what if he meets someone else…' floating in his mind but he wouldn't be voicing that. No… he wanted Ryoma to have no regrets, he wanted to be Ryoma's strength, not his weight.
"It's a sacrifice I'll make," Fuji said finally. "After all, it'll make us closer and not farther right?"
"Well… I'll still be under the same sky and the same world." Ryoma said with a slight smile.
"You will," Fuji said gripping Ryoma's hand. " So go."
He'd put on a smile; he'd throw all fears, as long as Ryoma was happy.
Far Away
Fuji almost smiled as he checked his text messages. It was rare to receive any from Ryoma but today there had been two. It had been nearly three months since he'd last seen Ryoma who had left to conquer Wimbledon.
' I'm coming home'
Fuji brow quirked at the bluntness of the second one; it was like Ryoma to always get straight to the point.
"Missed me at all?"
Fuji turned from where he sat on the sofa to see irritated and tired golden eyes peeking out from under the Fila cap while his lips pouted before it turned into a frown.
"Okaeri." Fuji uttered opening his arms for the irritated man who unwilling walked over and into his arms.
"Un…" Ryoma merely said pressing himself into Fuji's arms to make sure he was really home.
"I'm never texting you again…"
"Why not?" Fuji asked trying to contain his laughter.
"Because you don't answer." Ryoma said pointedly.
"But I do call you," Fuji said removing Ryoma's cap.
"Yeah, but always during the wrong time!" Ryoma complained.
"I'd rather hear your voice when you're far away…" Fuji muttered as his lips touched Ryoma's neck.
"So you say…" Ryoma said as his breath unwillingly hitched slightly and his arms tightened around Fuji. He could never win a fight when Fuji was like this.
Home
Ryoma stared out the car as his manager drove him back to his apartment. He was tired of the tournaments, tired of being away from Fuji. It had been almost half a year since he last seen his lover and he missed his lover terribly. It didn't matter about all his wins, all the fans… he was just worn down to the fact that he wanted to go home… into Syuusuke's arms.
There were many times when he wanted to call Fuji or even write him from all the places he's been but he hesitated each time, knowing Fuji was tired from his own activities and his words would never carry his emotions that he wanted to send.
You're doing well Ryoma… are you sure you want to sit the Australian open out for a vacation?" his manager asked.
"I do," Ryoma said never tearing his eyes from the scenery. He knew this was his dreams and not Fuji's… that's why he didn't come along but Ryoma knew better than anything else that Fuji always believed in him and loved him from every phone call he called and every text he sent.
Sometimes Ryoma wished he had the same warmth to send Fuji… yet he didn't have it in him.
"There you are." His manager announced stopping at the apartment complex. Ryoma didn't answer; he merely grabbed his tennis bag and stepped out to shut the door. Heading up without looking back, Ryoma pulled out his key and unlocked the door with a sigh.
"Long day?"
Ryoma looked up in surprise to see Fuji sitting on his sofa.
"Okaeri[welcome home]…" Fuji said standing to come towards Ryoma.
"Taidaima[I'm home]" Ryoma uttered with a relieved smile as he entered Fuji's arms without another thought. Yes, home was where the heart was… and his heart was where Fuji was.
Fairy Tales
Fuji sighed as he looked at the fairy tales aligning the table in the bookstore. His eyes caught a music box where a couple danced happily. It reminded him of a little prince, a prince who had bluntly told him that love and fairy tales were foolish dreams that one's heart makes.
But Fuji himself didn't believe that. He knew his little prince was just scared to open his heart up to his love. He believed that one day Ryoma would definitely see that fairy tales could indeed come true if you believed.
But that was before… before he knew that another occupied his little prince's heart. The smiles that he had thought were smiled for him weren't… the gaze never had landed on him.
Walking away from the table with a bitter smile, Fuji knew better now, fairy tales and love was just the lies he had been telling himself to keep from falling. It wasn't true that when meeting your prince he'll choose you and you'll get that happy ending.
"Ne Fuji-senpai!"
Glancing up, he replaced his bitter smile with the normal one he usually wore and walked over to the man who called for him.
"What is it Echizen?"
"Looking at Fairy tales again?" Ryoma asked glancing at the table Fuji had been looking at.
"Something like that…" Fuji said softly. " Are you here with Tezuka?"
"Aa… he's getting something." Ryoma merely said while cocking his head towards the fiction section where the stoic man could be seen looking at books.
"Then I'll leave you two." Fuji said with a slight nod and turned away to leave.
Yes, He couldn't make his prince's heart beat only for him … It was merely a foolish dream.
The Last Melody
[Ever wonder what happened after 'I'm Right Here' ?
Unreleased short scene]
The man sighed as he stared at the young man torn between leaving his lover who had already moved on and beginning a new life that WAS awaiting him when he could peacefully leave his past. He himself had not wanted to pressure the golden-eyed man who viewed his lover's life from a distance but time was cutting short and really, it was time to move on.
'Once more… just once more.' The young man pleaded with pain-filled gold eyes
And being weak, he had allowed the young man that.
The young man turned and saw him looking.
"You promised," The man reminded him.
The young man nodded and entered the apartment.
Ryoma's eyes lingered hungrily over the pictures of the man he loved that hung on the wall. His eyes danced across the spacious room with sparse furniture and a white piano sitting near the balcony, which had been left open so the sunlight and breeze could come and go. The white drapes blew gently inward as a small breeze rushed in and Ryoma held back the tears as he rounded the piano to sit at the piano bench. This apartment… this place could've been theirs if he hadn't jumped to conclusions, if he hadn't… destroyed what they had.
His fingers danced across the keys of the piano as he stared straight ahead not looking at the notes but playing from heart. It was a song that was engrained in his body as much as breathing was to anyone else. He found himself alternating from a sad tone to an aching one; and from there more tones of anger, regret and sorrow spilled as his vision blurred slightly more from the scenes that ran through his head rather than the tune itself. After all, it wasn't everyday that the one he loved was taken from him. No… it wasn't everyday that he misunderstood, fought, and watched the one he loved disappear from his grasp.
Closing his eyes, he felt the fat tears he held in check spill over his cheek as he swallowed a painful lump in his throat and softly touched the last notes.
A sigh and footsteps interrupted Ryoma thoughts making his rise and back himself into the shadows of a large plant and the white drapes near the balcony. Ryoma looked up seeing Syuusuke carrying a two- year old boy into the living room from the hallway and watched Syuusuke glance at the piano with an emotionless expression.
Ryoma watched as Syuusuke glanced around the room a bit before coming towards the piano where he sat his son on the ground while sitting on the bench. The same sad tune filled the room once more as Syuusuke's hands danced across the piano keys; not quite as smoothly as Ryoma's but nonetheless a sadden, soothing play.
Ryoma watched from behind Syuusuke with a pain filled face as he fisted his hands hard to avoid touching Syuusuke. Suddenly the spell was broken as Fuji struggled with the last verse…
'Baka….' Ryoma muttered as he reached out and hit the note Syuusuke always tended to forget. Hearing the right tone, Syuusuke glanced up to see nothing beside him…
he almost thought it was Ryoma… almost thought it was him scowling that even after all this time, he hadn't been able to let go nor play the melody to the very end.
"Anata?"
"Yes?" Syuusuke answered glancing up at the auburn haired woman who came out of the bedroom.
"Playing that tune again?" She teased coming round the piano to place a chaste kiss on his forehead before picking up her son.
"Aa…" Syuusuke merely answered as he continued to stare at the note he knew he hadn't hit but had definitely heard… just like earlier when he swore the melody had been playing…
"You got it right a few minutes ago." The woman said with a playful frown. "You're just not a piano person."
Hearing the doorbell, the woman rose with her son to answer it.
"Maybe…" Syuusuke muttered never knowing that behind him on the balcony the person who missed him so was leaving for good this time.
"No more regrets Ryoma, you have to go this time." The man said as silver steps descended from above. " You don't want to be a wandering spirit with no where to go right?"
"Aa… but still… if even for a moment, I wanted to hold on to what I could've had…" Ryoma whispered as he stared back at Syuusuke and turned to place his foot on the first step towards a new life that awaited him.
It seemed this time; there would never be another time…the very last time.
A/N: There's the next set of drabbling :) do review if you have time although there's no pressure if you don't want to.