Will of the Heart
By: SamLien (SamanthaLienne)
Super Disclaimer: I do not own Tennis no Ohjisama or any of its characters. I only take sole ownership to the plot and OC's that would be making their appearances in the later chapters.
Warnings: Yaoi/Shounen-ai, May contain OOC's
Pairing: YukimuraXEchizenXAtobe implied TezukaXFuji
Chapter dedicated to the following reviewers: apocadelic, DemonGirl13, 1xmocha, Sprig, FlyingShadow666, dichan, RuByMoOn17, eiarim.miraie, Empress Satori
A/N I'm back and I've got two good news to everyone. As of this moment I am already polishing up the frameworks of my upcoming fics. The only problem I'm having as of now is that I don't know which of them should I post as soon as WOTH (will of the heart) wraps up. Anyway the second good news is that my muse came back recently hurray. . . and new ideas for this story kept sprouting so expect more twists and there is a big tendency that I might extend the run of this story. Hehehehe. . .
And if you'll notice the title has a part one in it, so this means that this would be a two part installment. The second part would be posted also within this week as soon as I finish polishing it up.
Pardon the grammatical errors and the incorrect spellings. Flashbacks and Dream sequence are in Italics while English words would be typed in bold. Thoughts are italicized and has single quotation marks enclosing it. Emphasized words between dialogues and paragraphs are italicized.
Enjoy Reading. . . .
Chapter Eleven
Fuji's secret, Kevin's agony and Ryoma's fear Part 1
Tokyo, Japan
Japanese team camp
Tezuka sighed as he walked over to the balcony of the room he's currently sharing with Fuji. He leaned himself against the steel railings barricading the edges pondering onto himself. His ears were on high alert as he heard the door of the bedroom opening and then shutting close. Familiar footsteps resounded from inside and the glass sliding doors leading to the balcony was opened.
The Seigaku captain didn't move an inch from his position as his eyes darted skyward watching as the clear blue sky started to get darkened by the ominously black clouds rolling across it. The previously calm and gentle wind started to blow sharper making the leaves of the nearby trees to rustle violently against it. The signs of a foreboding storm didn't escape the captain's watchful eyes.
"What do you want to talk about Kunimitsu?" the voice sounded from behind him unceremoniously.
Tezuka tilted his head slightly towards the tensai who was now standing behind him, before resuming in watching the sky like it was something enjoyable to look at. Lately he was being constantly bothered by the tensai's obvious interest towards Seigaku's valuable freshman regular. He had to admit he wasn't any different from Fuji for he was also interested in the young boy.
From the first time Ryoma set foot in the Seigaku tennis courts he knew that he finally found the next pillar of support for the tennis team. And he made sure that Ryoma would know his plans for him. He could see his endless potentials in the game that is why he tried his best to bring out the real Ryoma. For him to not merely be a copy of his father the legendary Samurai Nanjiroh, but a person of his own.
But with regards to Fuji's interest with the prodigy is starting to alarm him as of lately. At first he saw it as a brotherly thing between the two. He's seeing the signs before but he just shrugs it off and just opt to think that what Fuji was doing is purely out of concern for he is his kouhai. And now he is starting to think otherwise. Fuji seemed to have grown an obsession towards the young prodigy. A streak that might end up into something else and Tezuka didn't like theidea even for one bit.
He tends to have strange reactions whenever the boy is being associated with other people. Some people may not notice it but he knew Fuji like the back of his hand. Fuji might go fooling around about random things. Even the ruckus he had caused earlier in the cafeteria, he knew that he did it on purpose. The others may think that Fuji spouted those words out of carelessness but there was something in there that didn't go unnoticed to Tezuka.
There was anger and frustration being hidden along those eyes of his when he opened them for a fleeting moment. He saw how his fists clenched and his smile dropped when the others couldn't see him. And what happened earlier was the last straw. He definitely needs to be enlightened with this. He wasn't going to just let things slide off that easily.
"Fuji I want you to stop talking nonsense about Echizen. You're distracting everyone's attention away from the camp." He replied in a flat tone after a few minutes of intense silence.
"So this is about Ryoma." He responded calmly, crossing his arms against his chest.
"With what you are doing you'll start causing troubles for everyone." Tezuka felt like he's going to suffer a major headache after this conversation is over.
"I'm merely stating the truth. Why are you making it sound like it is something that would cause an apocalypse?" he snorted.
"Fuji, can't you see? Sanada could have strangled Eiji because of what you said. You know how Eiji reacts when it comes to Echizen."
"Aa, I know. A lot of people care about him," Fuji retorted back with a hint of disdain.
"I know you care about Echizen's welfare as much as you care about your younger brother Yuuta. But Echizen isn't really your brother so you don't have a reign on him. He has his own mind and he could decide all to himself." He said exasperatedly.
Fuji's smile immediately got washed away. Tezuka doesn't know if it was pure coincidence that when Fuji slowly opened his eyes, thunder started roaring down from the sky like a broken record. "You also don't have a control over me Tezuka. So you can't tell me what I could and could not do." He groused sarcastically making the captain to twitch involuntarily.
"Fuji—"
"I won't let anyone take Ryoma away from me." The tensai boldly stared at him. "Nobody can control me."
The stoic captain felt like his insides froze upon seeing those piercing blue orbs. "Fuji you are starting to confuse me with the way you are acting."
"You don't know everything Tezuka," he added up mysteriously.
"Fuji you're starting to bite off too much."
"Don't try getting in my way Kunimitsu. I may love you but I won't allow you to manipulate me. I won't allow you to pester me to fuck off of Ryoma's life. I can't humor you on this one Kunimitsu. So just save anything that you might want to say. Cause I'm definitely not going to hear any of it."
"Syuusuke. . ."
The tensai stormed out of the room making sure to slam the door loud enough to rattle everyone hounding along the vicinity. He could even hear Eiji and Momoshiro's nervous laughter as they tried joking around with the pissed off tensai.
Tezuka gave out a heavy breath as he sat himself down the wooden bench feeling completely drained out from the confrontation. "He's hiding something" he mumbled all to himself. He felt droplets of water falling down on him. But he didn't stir away and just allowed himself to be soaked down by the heavy downpour, not minding the bone chattering cold rain water that was slowly seeping down to his skin. "Tezuka Kunimitsu what have you gotten yourself into?"
He buried his face down the palm of his hands, while shaking his head in confusion and worry.
"Fuji what are you playing at?"
Ryoma moaned aloud and shifted on the bed to stir away from the offending ray of sunlight shamelessly fanning down his face. His hand flew over the other side and fell down a large fluffy material. Sighing in contentment he tugged the material closer onto himself and buried his face onto it.
"Hmmm. . . smells like strawberries," he mumbled out as he involuntarily caught the smell of the said fruit when he moved to hug the pillow closer.
He was about to fall back to his deep slumber when he heard a small barely audible chuckle from around him. Instantly, his senses were on high alert as his eyes frantically snapped open. His golden orbs squinted a little as he adjusted himself onto his bright surroundings. After regaining his normal vision, the sight of a peach colored ceiling had greeted him. He shifted his head on the other side and saw the white draperies billowing slightly against the cold morning wind gushing against the opened doors. His sight remained glued onto that spot as he viewed the lake which could also be seen when the curtains would move against the wind.
He was silently pondered onto himself on where he was and what had happened. The last thing he knew and could remember clearly is that he was chasing Kevin for teasing him and then he felt an unbearable pain that shot through his head. His world turned hazy as he clutched it with his hands. His vision dimmed as he lost his strength slowly. And then he fell unconscious. What happened after that he didn't know anymore.
"Aa, Ryo chan you're already awake." Came the delighted voice he knew all too well.
Ryoma almost let out a frustrated groan when he heard that voice. Golden eyes looked toward the opposite side and there, by the doorway stood the grinning Rikkai dai captain with a medium sized tray being held by both his hands. The sadistic boy kept smiling at him, making Ryoma shift against his spot uneasily.
"Aa, Ryo chan it seems that you've grown quite attached to Kei chan's pillow," he teased while settling down the tray on the bed side table. "Mou, you're making me jealous you know." He pouted childishly.
Before he could even answer the door of the room opened up once again, this time revealing a rather livid looking Atobe. He had a murderous look on his face while his hand kept on clenching and unclenching against a poor newspaper roll. The two occupants watched him strut across the room and slam himself down the settee near the large bed.
"What are you looking at?" he snarled when he noticed the inquisitive looks being sent toward his direction.
"My, My, Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed I see." Yukimura teased as he kept on drumming his fingers against his arms sending Atobe an irritating knowing look.
"Back off Yukimura," the Hyotei captain bit back burying himself against the soft seat even further. His eyes bore holes against the innocent walls of the room as he continued frowning.
The sadistic boy didn't seem to be the least taken aback by the divas hard boiled attitude as he moved to sit beside the seething boy. "Aa, Kei chan why don't you tell Ryo chan and I what's wrong with you," Yukimura murmured against the fuming boys ears.
Ryoma who started to feel quite uncomfortable with the way the sadistic boy is acting chose to look away moving his focus against anything random, just as long as he wouldn't see what Yukimura was doing at the moment. Who was obviously flirting with the gray haired boy.
"Aren't you interested to know what's bothering our precious monkey kings mind dear ryo chan?" Seiichi's voice pierced through his ears again.
"No thanks. I don't want another headache to go and bother me." He groused dryly trying to look and act as disinterested as possible.
"Aw Ryo chan is being a big meanie again," Yukimura chided before turning back his attention toward Keigo who was still glaring against the walls. "Come now Keigo tell me what's bothering you. Being so secretive is not good you know." He prodded on.
"That stupid American boy is at it again," he gritted those words against his teeth making it barely understandable.
"It's Kevin again?" He said not sounding even a bit surprised by this.
"That bastard is really pissing me off. I saw him hounding around the cottage since two in the morning." Keigo hailed out irascibly.
"Ah, maybe he just wanted to check up on Ryo chan and see how he's doing," he muttered shooting a wary look toward the young prodigy's direction. "They're CLOSE to each other you know."
Atobe scowled. "He's acting like a mother hen and it ticks me off. He makes it look like we're some evil perverts who'd go and dive to grab any given opportunity to molest the kid there," he yelled while also looking at Ryoma. "Ore sama wouldn't do such a thing. It's not fitting for a person of my stature to lower myself and molest someone. How dare him?!"
Yukimura sighed while running a soothing hand down Atobe's back. "I suppose you're just presuming everything that you are saying."
"And so?. . . anyone with eyes could see that the blonde kid is lusting over bratty boy there," he pointed at the prodigy.
"You've got some serious problem there Monkey King."
The two turned to look at the young prodigy's direction. It seems that the boy was also listening in on the conversation after all, even though he didn't appear like it at all.
"Give Kevin a break will you? Come on he wasn't even bothering you in the first place, so why do you keep on harassing him?" he threw a bored look towards the tray next to him and then at Yukimura who was also looking at him expectantly. "Hey is this food for me?" he questioned while pointing to the Japanese breakfast on the wooden tray.
Yukimura just nodded in response before he stood up from his spot beside Atobe and began arranging the Japanese breakfast in bed he prepared specially for the freshman.
"Oi, Oi, brat, are you saying that ore sama is the one who is at fault here?" the diva looked at the boy incredulously.
"If it isn't yours then whose fault is it, hmmm???" He shrugged before spooning over some of the yummy looking grilled fish.
"Are you taking sides now brat?" His voice turned up a notch higher than the normal.
"Atobe keep your voice down. It's still too early to go yelling around the room," Yukimura admonished as he assisted Ryoma in eating the food. The younger one kept on swatting away his hands insisting that he can do it alone but the older boy didn't budge from his deed. In the end he just ended up spoon feeding the young prodigy while the latter just kept on sighing in frustration as he chewed on his meal.
"To hell I care, ore sama can shout and yell whenever he wants to." He threw Yukimura a small glare before looking back at the bratty freshman heatedly.
"Neh Sei chan make Keigo stop blabbing like a monkey, he's giving me a migraine with all his yelling around," he shot the Rikkai dai captain a look before taking in another spoonful of his delicious breakfast.
"Aa. Kei chan stop being jealous okay. You know Ryo chan wouldn't exchange us for that blonde no matter what happens. He just loves us too much." He said innocently.
COUGH! COUGH!
"Ryo chan are you okay?" Yukimura dropped down his spoon and rushed to aid the choking freshman who kept on coughing like mad.
"WAT. . . ER. . . . WA. . .TER" he wheezed out as he continued thumping his chest trying to make the piece of fish that got caught in his throat to move away.
Keigo who was in the middle of his endless babbling broke out from his litany and ran to help Yukimura save the choking boy. He emerged back from the kitchen with a glass of water in hand. "Here drink this."
Ryoma eagerly grabbed the glass of water and gobbled it up swiftly. He felt relieved when the water went along his throat smoothly washing away the blockage along with it. He inhaled with rapid succession trying to get as much air as possible to replenish his deprived lungs. He coughed a little when he felt like his throat was being scraped when air went along against it.
Yukimura kept on patting his back while Keigo took the empty glass from him and settled it back on the night table, eyes never leaving his prone body.
"Ryo chan are you okay?" Seiichi cooed back at him with so much worry.
"Yeah I'm fine." He said while nodding weakly.
Keigo who looked like a torn was plucked out of his side, heaved out a heavy breath. Obviously out of huge relief. "You're such an accident prone person Ryoma. Ever since we we're kids you where always. . . "
Silence.
Ryoma gazed at the Hyotei captain, who had just fallen silent for an unknown reason. The older boy had that unreadable look plastered upon his face. He exchanged looks with Seiichi who just shrugged back at him, looking equally clueless as him.
"Neh, Keigo—"
No response.
"Oi Monkey King."
A vein throbbed against the side of his head when he still didn't get any reasonable and clear reply from the diva who looked like he was too caught up in his own little world. Shaking his head in annoyance, Ryoma reached out and started poking the unresponsive captain against his side several times.
Poke! Poke!
After several more attempts, he finally got a reaction from the latter. Keigo's forehead slowly creased before his eyes flickered toward the young prodigy's direction who had returned the look with narrowed eyes.
Poke!
"Oi stop poking me," he retorted icily glaring down at Ryoma's offensive hand.
"Che. . . I would if you'd tell me why you stopped talking all of a sudden."
"It's none of your business, so stop being a brat," he snorted uncharacteristically before inching away from them.
"I want to know what you were trying to say. I think that it is something important." He prodded. "Come on tell me."
"Ore sama just wanted to tell you that you've been such a troublesome kid ever since we were kids," he retorted back.
"Oi if I could remember it correctly you are the troublesome one, not me." He glared at the Hyotei captain.
"Yes you are. You almost died because of that attitude of yours you know." Atobe's eyes suddenly widened before his hand flew over his mouth covering it harshly.
Ryoma looked at him with surprise. "What do you mean?"
Instead of giving him a concrete explanation he just looked away turning toward the other captain with a helpless look on his face. Ryoma also turned to the other captain hoping to get his much needed explanation from the latter but to no avail.
"Aa Ryoma don't mind Kei chan here. He was just rambling something of no importance. Really," he laughed nervously.
He knotted his brows at them, suspiciously eyeing the two fidgeting boys "You're hiding something from me are you?" he asked bluntly watching their reactions carefully.
The two captains visibly flinched back but wisely kept their mouths shut. "Fine, I don't care what your secret is anyway," he said in retreat before moving to push himself up from the bed. He spun around and dangled his feet along the edges to slide his feet on his white fluffy slippers lying carelessly down the floor. After he had successfully donned the pair of slippers, he stood up and walked over to the bathroom door.
"Oi Ryoma where are you going?" Atobe's voice asked him authoritatively.
He looked over his shoulders and answered him back briefly. "I'm taking a bath. I'll practice today." With that he entered the bathroom and clicked the door close, safely locking it in place to make sure that no one would be able to go barging in on him.
"Whatever you're hiding from me, I'll find out what it is sooner or later."
Heavy breaths, they unknowingly held back, had been released once the door of the bathroom had firmly shut closed. A few minutes later and the sound of running water emanated from around the whole room echoing from the shower area where the young prodigy was currently at. The bed creaked a little when Yukimura silently eased himself up from his spot.
Atobe just followed him with a cautious stare, watching as the sadist trudged towards the balcony. He gently pushed the sliding doors wide apart and stepped outside. The morning breeze dashed against him making the seemingly fragile form to give a slight shake. His hair slightly danced against the blowing wind.
"You almost slipped," his tone was monotonous as he spoke towards the Hyotei captain who leaned along the metal railings just beside him.
"I know. No need to remind me," he answered gruffly tapping his shoe against the flooring.
"Be careful what you say next time Keigo. I don't think it's the right time for Ryoma to know the truth. To know what happened that night." Yukimura reminded him sternly. He crouched down and picked up a small rock that was lying carelessly down the floor. Without even bothering to know how a stone got in there in the first place, he threw it against the lake making it bounce against the water surface several times before it finally sank below.
"Ore sama understands what you are trying to say Yukimura so you don't need to repeat it over and over again. Ore sama is not dumb, you know," the Hyotei captain muttered while flicking his precious hair in place.
The wind blew once again, and birds safely perched up on their nests started to grow restless as they moved to flap their wings to fly away.
"Keigo about what we've talked about regarding Ryoma," Yukimura said out of the blue, his melodious voice cutting through the thick blanket of silence that hang around them.
"I told you I won't tell him," he said in slight annoyance.
The Rikkaidai captain shook his head vigorously. "No, I'm talking about the woo Ryoma part."
"Oh that part," he nodded his head in understanding. "What about that one?"
"Maybe this is our chance to bring our selves closer to him. As you were saying Ryoma is already starting to grow quite an attachment to the American kid and it might be quite unhealthy on our part. If the boy successfully captivates Ryoma's attention then our chance to be with him again could get lessened."
"So you are afraid of that American kid after all," he sniggered triumphantly.
He sighed. "Come on Keigo, I know that Kevin could be a major problem in the future. He may not be making a move up until now but I know that sooner or later he'll make his feelings known to Ryoma." He leaned against his hands while staring out at the view before him watching as the flowers dangling by the side of the lake dipped against the pristine water every now and then. "I'm going to tell him how I feel before Kevin does."
"We'll both tell him. Stop taking everything as yours Yukimura." Atobe pointed out with a hint of disdain.
"You are being too stingy you know." He laughed lightly making the not so happy Hyotei captain to frown more deeply.
"I'm just making sure that everything is clear between the two of us."
"Don't worry I know where I stand."
With that, a silent agreement had been sealed between the two captains.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
All noises emanating from around the courts had seized to exist as soon as the most anticipated match of the day had started only a few minutes ago. Only the noises of the balls being hit, balls bouncing against the concrete courts, footsteps running here and there, the breath of the players being released and cries as they hit back the ball with full force could be heard. Everyone couldn't do anything else but to anticipate every move being perfectly executed by both players. Even the game that had been happening at the same time was put to a sudden stop when their interest too got caught up with the other ongoing game.
They were too astounded by the game happening between the two nationally ranked tennis players to even bother making even a single noise.
Everyone watched as two of Seigaku's best players battle it out against the courts. Not one of them gave even a single blind spots to even allow the other to score a single point without catching up to the other just as fast. Supposedly this match isn't scheduled until tomorrow but with no opponents left for them play, and no games left to win, the coach's had nothing else to do but put them up against each other.
The two obviously annihilated every opponent that went past their hands, and it wasn't a pretty sight. It seems that the two were very eager to face each other that they didn't bother wasting any time to finish off their opponents.
"Neh Oishi isn't Fujiko being a little too serious in this match," Eiji whispered towards his doubles partner standing alongside him outside of the fenced courts where the match was being held.
The Seigaku mother hen gulped a bit when he saw Fuji hit another one of his triple counters to return Tezuka's drop shot. "Sou da ne," he agreed his hands gripping against the wired fence. "It's only the first set and yet Fuji had already used two of his triple counters thrice."
"Fuji is acting a bit off from his usual self," Kawamura voiced out worriedly.
"Fssshhhh. . . Fuji sempai looks really eager to beat Buchou." Kaidoh hissed.
"With the way Tezuka is playing now I think that he is also just as eager as him." Murmured Eiji as he watched the seigaku captain execute yet another drop shot.
"It looks like Tezuka Buchou and Fuji sempai are fighting over something," Momoshiro voiced out all of a sudden making the others to look at him in surprise.
"Nya, Momo how can you say so?"
"Fuji sempai looks angry at captain Tezuka." He inwardly shivered upon seeing the fierce look flash against the tensai's blue orbs when he executed another counter.
"Hoi. . . I think I remember it now." Eiji responded all of a sudden before turning toward the others. "Momo remember last night when we overheard the two of them shouting against each other." Eiji recalled.
Momoshiro seemed to have catched up with what Eiji was trying to point out. "Hai, I remember it now Eiji sempain. . . .Maybe this is what it's all about.'
"There is a hundred percent probability that this has something to with the fight they ahd last night. Hmm, I wonder what it was all about for them to act like this? Iie, data," Inui's glasses gleamed against the piercing sun as he bent down against his notebook to jot down some data he came up with.
"Damn you Tezuka!!!."
Everyone gasped when they heard the usually calm looking Fuji Syuusuke curse the respected Seigaku captain. Tezuka who was still trying to keep his cool during the whole match started to show signs that his walls of self control are already starting to crumble down his feet. His returns became much sharper and heavier.
"Fuji—"
"Gah," the tensai wiped away the small blotch of blood that trickled down the side of his lips. "Tezuka!!!"
"Oishi, can you tell us why your two players are acting like monsters trying to rip each other's guts out?" Asked the voice from behind the Seigaku team. The whole teams attention was plucked out of the game and focused against the groups who were approaching them calmly.
It seems that the other game had already finished for the two players involved in the game where also tagging along with the approaching group; Fuji Yuuta and Kirihara Akaya. The younger Fuji sibling kept on glaring at the Rikkaidai player who seemed oblivious of the deadly looks being directed to him. He just kept on tossing the tennis ball in his hand with a cocky grin plastered on his face.
"I'll win next time," he muttered under his breath, chugging his hands down the pocket of his shorts roughly.
"Ah, are you saying something Fuji Syuusuke's younger brother," Kirihara raised his brows at the boy in question.
"Bastard," he retorted before stomping off towards the Seigaku team faster than the others. His eyes automatically drifted off towards the courts, more specifically on his brothers form. His forehead creased as he watched the older Fuji play against the Seigaku captain, seriously. "Neh aniki's game looks odd. It looks like he wants to win so badly this time." He deduced as he followed his brothers every move.
"Hmmm . . . it seems that your brother is in the mood for a serious game. Maybe it would be nice if get to play with him instead of you. The game could have been more fun. I'll get to crush the Fuji Syuusuke." Kirihara uttered straight to the point.
"Teme—" Yuuta shook in suppressed rage.
"Kirihara stop provoking him," Sanada admonished his kouhai sternly.
"But—"
Even before he could mutter another word, Kirihara just wisely kept his mouth shut as soon as the Vice captain of Rikkaidai started emanating an intense aura that clearly translates as, complain and get punished. Satisfied of making the bratty player stop his useless whining, Sanada turned his attention from Fuji and Tezuka back to Oishi who was looking at him expectantly.
"Oishi as I was saying earlier can you tell me. . . is something wrong with Tezuka and Fuji. From the way I'm seeing things, it looks like those two are fighting there instead of playing tennis," he inwardly grimaced when the tennis ball hit back the tensai in the face once again, giving his cheek one good scrape.
Before he could even explain, Tachibana, who was standing behind the group, moved to go up front. "All of us noticed that your two players seemed to have been using this match to settle down their personal issues. And from the looks of it there would be a blood shed sooner or later if we don't stop their game at any moment." He added out while gazing toward the courts with a worried look on his face.
"Those two aren't going to listen to any of us. They'll do what ever they want and nobody can stop them." Oishi sighed. "I'm afraid we can't do anything else regarding the matter."
"Do you at least have any idea why those two are trying to kill each other?" Shishido asked bluntly.
"Shishido san,"Choutarou wisely nudged his doubles partners to warn him about the words he's using.
"As far as I know those had an argument last night and they were like that ever since this morning." Oishi answered. "They actually weren't in speaking terms even until now."
"They fought? Hmmmm that's interesting," Oshitari hummed to himself.
"Maybe it was because of the news where Yukimura and Atobe where molesting Ochibi," Eiji huffed while crossing his arms against his chest.
"Eiji,"the mother hen gave him a look before turning to Sanada apologetically. "Don't mind what Eiji is saying here. He's just worried about Echizen, that's all," he said while laughing nervously.
Sanada threw the acrobatics player a simple but acrid stare before resuming in watching the match attentively.
Whoosh. . .
The tennis ball blasted off and hit the fence with a loud smash startling everyone in the vicinity. Fuji fell back on the ground when the ball accidentally wheezed along his shoulder.
"Fujiko. . " Eiji whined out watching as the tensai lay motionless on the dirty floor with his racket still being tightly gripped by his hand. As for Tezuka, the captain stood on the opposite side, panting heavily as his eyes stayed glued on the prone form of his boyfriend.
"Fuji," he breathed heavily. "Fuji stand up. . . . stand up," Tezuka commanded without even batting an eyelash.
"Shut up," the sadistic boy chortled out as he twitched a little before moving fully to push himself up from the ground. His cold blue eyes pinned the stoic captain on his spot, anger and frustration being mirrored clearly against them. "Stop acting like you're a god Tezuka," he yelled before touching the abrasion that had appeared on his cheek when the ball had accidentally grazed his face earlier.
The Seigaku captain's eye glasses flashed dangerously
"I will do what I want and you can't stop me."
"Fuji—"
"Onegai Kunimitsu I don't want us to grow apart just because of this. Just leave me be." the tensai murmured almost pleadingly. He slowly crumpled down and kneeled on the floor. "Don't stop me from doing what I want."
"Aniki—" Yuuta felt like his heart clenched at the sight of his brother looking so helpless out there.
"Syuusuke. . ." The Seigaku captain said not minding if everyone could really hear him calling the tensai by first name basis. He knew that everyone was already aware of his relationship with the sadist anyway. He blinked several times but his attention never really wavered from his boyfriend kneeling down the ground on the opposite side of the net. By instinct his feet started to move, and before he knew it he was already standing before the tensai. "Fuji. . . daijobu?"
Fuji just smiled back at him weakly before wincing out a bit when he touched his swollen cheek. He extended his hands and touched the tensai's cheek lightly. "Does it hurt that much?" He asked while inspecting the wound.
"No it doesn't," he denied. "But this one hurts. . . a lot."
The captain moved his attention away from the injury and looked at the direction to where the tensai was pointing at only to find out that he was referring to his chest, to his heart in particular.
"I can't leave him alone Tezuka. . . please don't make me leave you instead."
"Fuji, what exactly is your relationship with Echizen. . . is he. . . . " he took a deep breath "Is he your lover?"
Fuji smiled bitterly, "No he's not."
"Then why are you acting like this Fuji? I can't understand why you're doing this."
"Everything happens for a reason Kunimitsu. But I'm afraid I can't tell you what my reason is."
"Why??"
"You'll know it yourself when the right time comes. For now, let's just leave things as it is." He laid down his hands on the Captain's arms. "Can I trust you Kunimitsu? Can I trust you not to tell anyone else about this?"
He sighed before he nodded in agreement. "Alright you can trust me. Just make sure that you won't do anything that might harm the others. Refrain from making side comments that might disrupt everyone's focus away from the camp."
Fuji's smile returned at that as his eyes once again turned to it's usual closed position. "Hai."
Tezuka then moved up to stand from his crouching position before stretching out his hands once again to offer him some support, in which the tensai gracefully accepted. Together, they gathered up all their equipments and headed for the exit, not minding the perturbed players standing by the gates. They just went past them, without a word, and like nothing had actually happened back there.
"Oi you two where do you think you're going? The game isn't finished yet," Ryuzaki sensei called out after them.
Tezuka stopped in his tracks before throwing the coach an apologetic look. "Gomen Ryuzaki sensei. . . but I think it's better to let Fuji rest for the time being. His energy had been immensely depleted and it wouldn't be advisable for him to continue in this kind of situation. Let's just reschedule the match tomorrow Ryuzaki sensei." He turned around and resumed into assisting the tensai to climb the stairs leading to the sleeping quarters.
"Gomen nasai Ryuzaki sensei," Fuji apologized.
The captain gave the coach a small nod before he resumed in assisting the tensai to climb up the flight of stairs leading to the sleeping quarters of the camp.
Ryuzaki sensei just kept on staring until the two weren't visible to her range of sight anymore. Shaking her head in frustration she glanced over to the two other coach's standing alongside her. "Kid's this days. . . . so troublesome."
A pair of eyes looked back when he heard the door of the room creak open. He saw a familiar figure walking in from the parted wooden door. He flicked his lighted cigarette in boredom before resuming in looking out of the large glass window located beside his chair.
"We're have you've been?" He asked the new arrival trying to sound as uncaring as possible.
The older man chuckled at him before strolling over to the liquor cabinet and extracted a new bottle of red wine. He watched from the corner of his eyes as the figure scrambled around the room, before settling himself down in the empty chair in front of him.
He opened the wine bottle and poured some on the two wine glasses he got from the cabinet. "Here have some," the man said to him while motioning for him to take the spare glass. He nodded in gratitude before grabbing the glass without a word. "I just went to visit a VERY important person." He muttered with a malicious glint in his eyes.
He just raised his brows at the man in front of him before daintily taking a sip of his drink. "Hmmm. . . so you were spying on him all this time?"
"In order for a plan to succeed one should know how his prey moves. . ." He chuckled. "Remember that my boy."
"I'll take that as a very important tip," he grinned before downing the drink in one gulp. "So how long are you planning to hound around them?"
"Until I get enough information, I won't stop tailing behind them. . . then I will strike. . . when they least expect it."
"You're one sneaky guy you know that," he sniggered.
"Thank you. . ."
"Then what are you planning with the other problem you have? It seems that you are focusing too much on him that you are forgetting that you need to take care of two pests that keep on getting in your way."
"I've got everything all covered up. Everything is going on smoothly and according to my plans. It's only a matter of time before phase two would finally reach its completion."
"Phase two??"
"The scare tactics part. . ." he laughed.
"Are you sure that you're really scaring them?"
"I'm more than sure my boy. . . . more than sure. . . and when I'm finished with them they wouldn't have anything left for them to able to start all over again."
He leaned forward and refilled both their glasses. After placing back the half consumed bottle back on the table top, he raised his glasses to offer a toast. "Let's toast for our upcoming victory."
"Cheers."
Ryoma sighed in relief when the coach's finally declared that practice was finally over. He eagerly went over to the wooden bench and grabbed his over sized face towel hanging on it and used it to wipe his face drenched in cold sweat. He ran the smooth cotton across his arms and back to rid off the sticky perspiration dripping down it before he chugged the soiled material back inside his tennis bag. He gathered up his racket, placed it inside his bag and hoisted up the strap on his shoulders.
"Oi Ryoma," Kevin hollered out as he appeared out of nowhere.
"Ooofff!!," the young prodigy coughed when he felt like air was knocked out from his lungs when the American literalydraped himself over him.
He immediately halted from his steps and looked at the hyperactive blonde hanging over his shoulders. "Kevin," he sighed. "What do you want?" His eyes were a little unsteady as he continuously looked around for any sign of Yukimura and Atobe. The last thing he want now is to have one ballistic monkey king and a sadistic Yukimura lurking around and creating a havoc.
"Awww. . . you're being a big meanie again," he pouted.
He tapped his foot along the concrete floors impatiently. "Spill it out Kev. I don't have all day you know."
Ryoma doesn't know if he had just imagined it but when he looked at Kevin he could swear that he saw his eyes flash a look of hurt and what else hmmm. . . . sadness???
"I got you some Ponta," he said in a low voice before handing him out a can of the said drink meekly.
He narrowed his eyes at the boy who in turn looked away from him not wanting to meet his scrutinizing stare. "Arigato." He pulled open the tab and started gulping down the cold drink. He gave out a sigh of satisfaction as soon as the cold beverage had hit his dried up throat. He started making his way out of the courts again with Kevin following him behind. "Do you need something else Kevin?" he asked without even looking back.
The blonde just scratched his head and laughed lifelessly. "I just wanted to congratulate you for being the singles one player. . . you deserve it."
He just nodded in appreciation. Earlier, a match had been held between the chosen representatives to see who would be earning the spots in the line-up. Coach James isn't your typical coach who just puts in the player of his choice. Rather he decides the line-up with matches. He was supposed to be fighting up for a spot in doubles since the coach's were still hesitant to place him in a game alone, considering that he is still recuperating from the shooting incident. But being the Echizen Ryoma, he had been too stubborn to even listen to any of their reasons no matter how convincing it is.
He didn't relent from his will to be placed in a singles match. In the end he had managed to win the battle of wits against the coach's. He flawlessly defeated all competitors and even though he was already exhausted and his whole body was already screaming for a long and comfortable rest, he didn't back down from the last threat imposed to be his rival in singles one: Atobe Keigo.
The competition between him and Atobe took quite a long time because the tie break's seemed to go on forever. But after revealing some tricks he had been hiding up his sleeves all along, Ryoma finally won and gained the spot of singles one.
"One more point and I'll win," Ryoma whispered to himself as he bounced the ball on the floor. He took a deep breath and looked at Atobe. "Ready to loose now Monkey King?"
"Just hit the damn ball brat and stop talking," the Hyotei captain yelled impatiently.
He smirked before throwing the ball up in the air and hit it back with full force. The rally went on and on until. . . .
"Oi what's happening to captain Ryoma?" Lawrence gasped along with everyone.
The said prodigy looks like he's glowing with that strong aura leaking out from his petite body. Even Atobe froze on his spot not being able to move even an inch away from his current position. The ball just went past him without even meeting any hindrance from the perturbed diva.
"Wha—What the hell was that?" Kazuhiko asked wide eyed.
Ryoma just smiled as he tapped his racket against his shoulders cockily. "Che. . . you were supposed to hit the ball not stare at it."
"It's the pinnacle of perfection," Yukimura answered back, his eyes sparkling with awe as he stared at the younger boy.
"Pinnacle of Perfection!" everyone said in unison.
"Ryoma. . . when did you open the last door?"
"Che it just happened. I don't know when did it exactly happen," he shrugged.
Atobe just snorted. "Lucky brat. Always trying to move one step ahead of ore sama"
"Mada mada dane Monkey King."
"Um Ryoma I'll go first," Kevin groused out. "You should also head back to your cottage and rest. You're still recovering you know, so don't force yourself too much."
He just looked at the American boy before nodding watching as the latter dashed away and disappeared back in the main building. He threw his empty can on a nearby trash bin and swerved towards the cottage, eager to step in the bathroom and take his well needed bath. He was already in the middle of taking his bath when he heard someone entering the cottage.
"Ryo chan are you here?" Yelled the voice. "Ryo chan!!!"
The young prodigy turned off the shower while scrubbing his body with his soap vigorously. "Yeah, I'm in the shower."
He didn't hear any response instead he just noticed a bunch of footsteps coming near the bath area. "Oi don't even think of entering the bathroom. I swear I'll pulverize you if you'd step in here." He threatened.
Yukimura laughed. "Okay. . . Keigo and I will just wait for you outside until you're finished."
"Good."
"Cocky brat," Keigo chortled out.
"Oi monkey king. . . I heard that."
After making sure that he had already rinsed off every soap from his body, Ryoma stepped out and changed onto his clean clothes. He ran his towel against himself to rid off the excess water that's still dripping down his body before donning the fresh set of clothing he laid out in the table a while ago.
Once he was finished he grabbed his comb and started to run it against his still damp locks. He flicked the bathroom lights closed and made his way back to the bedroom and found the two captains silhouettes standing out in the balcony
Still brushing his hair with his comb, he slid the balcony door open.
"Oi do you need something from me?" he asked.
The two exchanged knowing looks that irked his curiosity even more. In the end, Yukimura chose to fill him the details. "We need to talk to you Ryo chan."
Tezuka kept his focus against the book he was reading. He had it laid down in his lap while he leaned against the soft cushion of the chair he was sitting at. He could hear the sounds of balls being played from the outdoors since the games had been resumed after he and Fuji left a while ago.
The tensai immediately fell asleep as soon as his back had hit the soft mattress of the bed. Tezuka took the liberty of cleaning up the bruised and exhausted boy and settled him down the bed in a more comfortable position. Ryuzaki sensei, who didn't hide her obvious disappointment with the way they acted earlier came to check up on them several times to make sure that everything is going along fine with them.
"Ungh."
He squinted his eyes toward the bed when he heard the tensai shifting from his position while groaning slightly.
"Ungh. . . prince chan."
His forehead creased a little when he heard Fuji murmuring something under his breath as he grew restless in his sleep.
"No. . . don't hurt prince chan. . ." he sobbed. "Prince chan please be safe. . . please live."
Tezuka felt worried on how the boy is acting. He closed back his book and walked to sit beside the bed. His worry grew ten fold when he saw the droplet of tears slipping out the corner of the tensai''s eyes. "Fuji. . . " he lifted him up and cradled his head against his lap. His hand ran along the soft and silky tresses of his hair to calm him down.
"Don't worry prince chan. . . I'd always be here to protect you. . . ." he whispered with a small smile. His rigid body slowly turned lax in his hold.
New questions started to arouse within Tezuka as he hugged his boyfriend against himself. Something's telling him that things aren't over yet. These things are more troublesome and are rooted within deeper means more than they seemed to be and could only guess that things wouldn't be resolved any sooner. He could just hope and pray that the outcome wouldn't cause such big irrevocable damage.
He looked at the tensai once again and sighed. "Fuji, what secrets are you hiding from me? What?"
A/N: So much for the first part. . . well hope you guys liked it and before I forget I would like to express my sincerest apologies to everyone if ever my updates had been too late. School work are being too hectic so I'm really having a hard time to make a decent update.
My heartfelt thanks to those who had been giving me such wonderful reviews, even to those people who had added me in their favorites and alerts list.
ARIGATO GOZAIMASU Minna
Please read and review. No flames please.