Hey guys! Hope you're ready for what I have in store! God, it's been so long. Really sorry about it taking forever. Procrastination is a beotch.
I wanna give a huge thanks to all of the people who faved my story and all the people who have been commenting and subscribing. I wouldn't have been able to do this without you guys!
For the final time, as much as I wish it wasn't true, I DO NOT own Prince of Tennis.
Here it is. The last chapter. Hope you guys have enjoyed the story!
They only flew for about twenty minute before it was finally in view.
"Is that it?" Echizen asked Josiah as he pointed to a small black dot in the distance.
"Ah. That is the castle, your old home Heika."
"Heh. Finally." Echizen smirked.
Inside the Castle
"My Lord, one of the scouts has reported that a flock of angels is approaching from the east. What are your orders?" a demon asked.
The black-winged angel was sitting in the throne room and looked up with a smile. "Prince Ryoma. You've finally come home. I can't wait to meet you again after all these years."
Everyone decided to rest before they made their assault on the castle, except Echizen. "Hanashiteyo! You two are heavy!" Echizen shouted at the two dangling from his feet.
"Chibisuke I know how you feel but we need to rest!" His brother shouted to him.
"Bocchan please just go down with the others!" Leon said gripping his leg.
"How can he be so stubborn at a time like this?" Oishi said placing his hand on his head.
Everyone nodded and watched the spectacle that was going on above their heads. Ryoga and Leon were each holding onto one of Echizen's legs. When the idea of taking a rest was suggested while everyone landed on the ground Echizen kept flying. Thinking that he didn't hear them Leon and Ryoga went to tell him but he said that he didn't need a rest and kept flying. For lack of having a better way of stopping him Ryoga grabbed onto his leg and put his wings away. Echizen just kept flying. Ryoga called for Leon to come and the same. Now they were both hanging on to him trying to make him go to the ground.
"Hanashiteyo!" Echizen was doing his best not to fall to the ground.
"Chibisuke just-rest for a minute!"
"Bocchan please!"
"Yadda! Hanashiteyo!"
Ryoga sighed and looked to Tatsuo and nodded. Tatsuo nodded back. "Gomen Heika." He took out a small tube inserted a dart and blew it at Echizen. He felt a prick in his neck.
"Itai. What- was… th…" Echizen trailed off and lost consciousness. He began to drop and as he did Leon and Ryoga brought out their wings and caught him. They slowly floated to the ground and joined the others.
"What did you do?" Momo asked turning to Tatsuo.
"Simple sleeping powder. He should wake up in about ten minutes." He responded placing the tube back in his pocket.
"I really didn't want that to happen but I couldn't think of any other way to calm him down." Ryoga said gently placing his brother on the ground. "Anyway, we need to think of what to do when we get there. I doubt that we can just walk up to the gate and be let in."
"Ryoga-dono is right." Tatsuo agreed. "What will be our plan of attack?"
"How about we-" Momo was stopped by the stares everyone gave him. "Ah, maybe not…" He sweat dropped.
"I have thought of the most logical strategy of attack." Inui proceeded to take out his notebook and read everyone his plan. After a few minutes of talking everyone heard groaning behind them.
"Uuaaggh, Ryoga you bastard." Echizen said placing his hand over his eyes.
"But Tatsuo-san was the one that did it!" Ryoga complained back. Tatsuo gave him a 'you made me do it' stare.
"He's a bastard too."
"Are you alright Echizen?" Fuji asked. Echizen made no noise but gave a wave in their general direction.
"Heh. Someone's grumpier than usual." Momo said with a chuckle as everyone continued talking.
"Urasai." He sat up and rubbed the side of his face. 'What the hell did do?' He got up and began to walk to where everyone was talking but stopped and looked towards the trees to his left. There was a rustle among dead foliage on the ground and the somewhat alive bushes. Curiosity taking over he went to check it out.
"Heika?" A knight caught sight of him. "Heika, it's not good if you go wandering off." Ignoring him completely Echizen ventured into the bushes in search for what was moving them. "Heika, please don't go off by yourself!" Two knights went after him.
"Where are you going?" Josiah shouted to them.
"Ah, well, the Prince went into the trees." A knight replied as he pointed to the direction Echizen went.
"Mataku. Where is he going?" Ryoga said as he got up and headed to where the knight pointed. "I'll get him. Where'd you say?" He asked the knight.
"This way Ryoga-dono." The knight led Ryoga in the direction that Echizen was headed.
"Saa, I wonder where Echizen's going." Fuji said with a smile.
"Maybe he's trying to get to the castle without us." Momo said.
"Fsshhh, why would he bring us just to do that? Baka." Kaidou hissed. Momo gave him a glare.
"I'm sure he wouldn't do that." Taka reassured him.
"Anyway please continue Inui-dono." Tatsuo said.
Inui cleared his throat. "As I was saying…"
"Heika!"
"Heika! Doko ikuno Heika?"
"Oi Chibisuke where are you?" The three looked where they thought Echizen had gone. "Damn it. Where'd he go?" Ryoga put his hand on the side of his head.
"Gomen Ryoga-dono." A knight said with a bow.
"We should have been watching him closer." The other said.
"Iya, he's always like this." Ryoga tried to convince them it wasn't their fault. There was a rustle in the bushed behind them. Echizen popped out and ran into a knight causing him to stumble forward and Echizen to fall back.
"Heika!"
"Heika! Are you alright?"
"Chibisuke, why'd you come out here?" Ryoga offered his hand.
"Talk later. Run now." Echizen got up and started to run back to everyone else.
"Chibisuke what are you talking about?" Ryoga shouted at him. Just then the bushes rustled and a huge wolf-like creature jumped between Ryoga and the knights and chased after Echizen.
"Ah! What was that?" A knight shouted.
"Why was it after the Prince?" The other shouted.
"We can ask ourselves that later!" Ryoga and the two knights ran after Echizen and the beast chasing him.
"Saa, I think we can make that work." Fuji said with a smile.
"Ano Inui can you say that again?" Taka asked.
"Which part Taka-san?" He flipped through his notebook.
"Nya, all of it! I didn't understand a word you said!" Eiji pouted.
"Okay Eiji, it goes like this-" Oishi proceeded to tell Eiji the plan again while drawing pictures in the dirt to help him understand better.
"Chibisuke!" They were all interrupted by Ryoga yelling for his brother as he ran out of the trees.
"Ryoga-san what happened? Where's Echizen?" Momo asked.
"Ara? You mean- he's not- back?" He said trying to regain his breath.
"We haven't seen him since he went into the trees. Did you see him?" Josiah said.
"Ah, but he ran back in this direction. He was being chased by something."
"Bocchan! Where are you?" Leon was starting to get a little panicky.
"Leon move!" They all heard a voice from the trees. Echizen came flying out with the wolf creature attached to his arm. It was blackened but everyone could tell that its original color was that of fine silver. Its eyes were blood red and had intent to kill. He fell back and the creature fell onto of him, his arm still in its jaws.
"Nani kore?!" Eiji shouted.
"Bocchan!" Leon drew his sword and dashed at the creature biting Echizen's arm.
"Stop! It's not his fault!" Echizen shouted from under the beast.
"Heika what are you talking about?" Tatsuo shouted.
"The collar!" He pointed to a black ring around the wolf's neck.
Leon looked at the ring around its neck. He pulled two feathers and brought out his brass knuckles and in one swift motion punched the ring causing it to shatter. Once done, the darkness of its fur went away and its eyes became a calm mahogany. It looked at Echizen who was trying not to cringe from the pain. He let go of his arm and stepped to the side of him. Echizen sat up and winced as he accidently put pressure on his injured arm. The wolf saw and took a step closer and looked him in the eye. He nudged his arm then started to lick it.
"Sugoi." Josiah said.
"Bocchan are you alright?" Leon rushed to his side.
"A-Ah." He winced.
"Echizen! Let me see your arm!" Oishi had rushed over to examine the wound. The wolf stopped licking it so Echizen could pull away and show Oishi.
"Nya, does it hurt Ochibi?" Eiji asked.
"Iie, not so much anymore."
"Echizen, why did you run off?" Tezuka asked in a stern voice.
Echizen lowered his head while Oishi wrapped his arm and mumbled something. "Echizen, speak up. We can't here you." Momo said.
He lowered his head more and blushed a little. "It was fluffy…" he said again. Everyone looked at him with slightly confused faces.
"Maa, Chibisuke's so cute! He can't resist if he sees something cute and furry!" Ryoga teased kneeling beside him and clapping him on the back. Echizen gave him a glare. Everyone sweat dropped and Kaidou blushed a little.
"Anyway," Tatsuo said clearing his voice. "We should head out. It will be dark in an hour or so. It will be more dangerous to travel."
"Ah. The sooner we get this over with, the better." Echizen took Momo's hand and pulled himself up. They all walked towards the groups of soldiers when Echizen felt a tug on his shirt. He looked back to see the wolf. It nudged his arm and licked it again. Echizen turned to face it, knelt down and pet it.
"I know you didn't mean it." He said with a small smile. "Go on. I'm not mad." He patted it again and got up and went to the others. Just as he was about to join them the wolf barked. He turned back to it and saw something lying on the ground. 'Nani kore?' He thought to himself. "Is this for me?" The wolf barked again and then ran off. He knelt down to see what was on the ground. He picked it up to discover that it was a hemp bracelet with the figure of a wolf with wings on it.
"Chibisuke hurry up or we'll leave you behind!" His brother called to him.
"Hai, hai." Echizen said in a bored voice. He put on the bracelet and caught up with the others.
"What were you doing Echizen?" Taka asked.
"Betsuni." He looked at everyone. "Are we ready?"
"Hai Heika." Josiah responded.
Echizen smirked. "Then let's go."
"Ah!" Everyone cheered.
Everyone flew to the castle and surprisingly no one and nothing stopped them.
"That seemed too easy." Leon said.
"Maybe they all decided we were too much and left." Momo said taking a step forward. Everyone sweat dropped.
"If it were only that simple Momoshiro-kun." Leon said face palming.
"Why can't it be? I mean, can't it be simple fo-"
"Momo-sempai!" Momo was cut off by Echizen tackling him.
"Gah! Echizen! What was that for?"
"You really need to learn to shut up." Echizen pointed to the arrow that had landed behind them. Momo looked horrified.
"Oh dear. It missed." A figure appeared on the balcony.
"Kisama."
"Echizen, Momo, daijobuka?" Everyone asked as they went to help them up.
"I believe that you have gotten sloppy My Prince." The figure stepped out further on the balcony.
"Bastard. Who are you?" Echizen said getting up and taking a step closer to the castle.
"Forgive me My Prince. Perhaps this will help you recognize me." He stepped to the edge of the balcony. He took a deep breath and a pair of pitch black wings appeared on his back.
Everyone gaped. "I-It's you." Josiah said.
"You're the bastard that did all this?" Leon shouted.
"Kisama! I'll kill you!" Momo and Kaidou both started to get ready to attack but Echizen stopped them.
"Echizen?"
"What are you doing?"
Ryoga could see that he was shaking. "Chibisuke?" He went to put his hand on his brother's shoulder when he noticed that he was crying.
"…bastard…" He whispered as he was staring at the ground.
"Chibisuke?"
"YOU BASTARD!" Echizen leapt off the ground and flew towards the figure, sword and all ready to kill.
"Echizen/Chibisuke/Bocchan/Ochibi/Heika!"
"I must advise you that isn't a smart idea." Echizen got right to the point where he was able to slash the fallen angel. Just as he was going to the angel brought out his own sword and knocked Echizen's out of his hand. "My Prince I do not wish to fight."
"You have no right to call me that!" Echizen pulled out a short sword but it quickly got knocked away.
"My Prince, please calm DOWN." The angel rose above Echizen and punched him to the ground. He landed with a bang.
"Echizen/Ochibi/Chibisuke/Bocchan/Heika!" Everyone ran to his side but before they could get to him, a black circle appeared below him and he fell into the darkness.
"If you want the Prince try to find him." The angel on the balcony went back inside.
"You bastard! Get back here!" Momo shouted.
"Give Ochibi back!" Eiji and Momo both started running for the castle entrance but stopped when dozens of demons appeared and surrounded everyone.
"That bastard. He intends to not let us find Echizen." Kaidou said.
"Ryoga-dono take the guardians and go. We'll handle things here." Tatsuo drew his sword.
"We can't just abandon you." Ryoga protested.
"You're not abandoning us Ryoga-dono." Josiah said. "We lost our prince once. We will not lose him again. Go!"
"Demo…"
"We'll be fine. Please go!"
"…You better be safe when we come back."
Tatsuo smirked. "Of course. Go!" Leon cleared a path through the demons and all the regulars ran into the castle. A number of demons tried to follow but were stopped. "You need something to play with?" Tatsuo and Josiah raised their swords. "Come and get it."
Echizen awoke in a dark room with only a small hole in the ceiling for light. Upon trying to move, he discovered himself shackled to the wall. "What the hell?" His head hurt. He tried to get out of the restraints but to no avail.
"Are you awake my Prince?" He heard a voice call out to him. A figure stepped into the small ray of light with black wings on his back. "Forgive me I did not mean to be so forceful with you earlier."
Echizen's blood began to boil. "Don't call me that you bastard."
"Forgive me; I did not have a chance to properly introduce myself at our earlier encounter. I am Yuji Ryuu. You may call me Ryuu if you like."
"I don't give a damn who you are!" He started to struggle. "Let me out of here!"
"Now, now, where would be the fun in that?" He gave a sinister smile. "I bet you're wondering what you're doing here. The answer is simple." Echizen stopped struggling and stared. Ryuu stared back and their eyes met in a deadlock. "I'm going to break you."
"What the hell are you taking about?" Ryuu smirked and stood in front of Echizen. Echizen suddenly felt s sharp pain in his side. He looked down to see a dagger. He winced in pain. "You bastard."
"Heh. Let's see what it takes to make Echizen Ryoma, Prince of Angels, cry for help."
"Ochibiiii! Doko desuka?" Eiji was shouting through the halls of the castle.
"Sempai, we all want to find him but shouting wi-" Kaidou got cut off.
"Oi Echizen! Where are you?!" Momo had begun shouting too.
Kaidou sighed. "Baka."
"Momoshiro-kun, Kikumaru-kun, I know that you're worried but we need to b-" Ryoga was cut off.
"BOCCHAN! DOKO IKUNO, BOCCHAN!?" Leon was shouting at the top of his lungs.
"You're not helping!" Ryoga punched Leon on the top of his head. "I know everyone is concerned about Chibisuke but we need to be quiet!" He turned to Karupin who had been following them. "Can you smell where he is?" Karupin started sniffing around everywhere when looked back at him and gave him a sympathetic meow.
"Ryoga-san is right. We could alert the enemy if we keep shouting." Fuji said.
"Why haven't we been attacked yet?" Taka asked. "I would think that we would have by now."
"Taka-san is right." Inui flipped open his notebook. "By my calculations we should have seen at least one enemy since we've entered. We haven't seen any."
"Inui-kun is right." Leon said rubbing his head. "Why haven't we been attacked?"
"If you wanted to be you should have said so sooner." A voice came out of nowhere. There was a sudden yelp. Everyone turned to see Taka holding his arm and an arrow on the ground.
"Taka-san!"
"Who's there?!" Tezuka shouted.
"Aaaw! And I thought that I improved!" Everyone saw a figure jump down from the second level.
"Are you alright Taka-san?" Oishi asked looking at the small wound on his arm.
"A-Ah. I'll be fine."
"Kisama. Who are you?" Eiji asked.
"Mou so forceful. I'm Tao Ren and Ryuu-sama says that you have interfered with his plans with the Prince need to be disposed of." Ren was a demon that looked a little younger than Echizen. Short brown hair, demon wings like stone, black shirt and shorts.
"Bastard. Where is he?" Kaidou took a step forward.
"How should I know? Ryuu-sama never tells me where he goes anymore." Ren pouted. "He said that I just have to kill you and then I can kill to my heart's content on that place that you live." He said with a smile as he loaded another arrow to his bow.
"Damn it! Tell us were Echizen is!" Momo said.
"I already told you, I don't know!" He fired the arrow at Momo.
Momo pulled out his sword and cut the arrow in two. "Teme! Tell us where he is!"
"I told you!" He loaded another arrow. "I don't kn-" There was an explosion in a nearby hall from a staircase leading beneath the castle. "…know."
"What was that?" Fuji asked as his eyes popped open and stared down Ren.
Ren started backing away. "I don't know!" He shouted. His bow cracked from the pressure of how hard he was squeezing it and then shattered. The pieces all flew through the air and went over everyone.
"What's this?" Oishi asked.
"I don't like any of you! I was going to torment you a little more but you're scary!" He pointed to Fuji. "I'll kill you right now!" The shards of the bow turned into arrow and were pointed at the regulars.
"What is this?" Eiji said.
"Die!" Ren hurled himself at Fuji, sword in hand. Fuji quickly pulled out his sword and blocked but was pushed away from everyone.
"Fuji!" Tezuka was about to run to his side when he was pulled back.
"Tezuka-kun dame!" Ryoga held his shoulder.
"Why are you stopping me?"
"If we move from this spot, the arrows will fire."
"What?" Ryoga took a feather and threw it towards Fuji and Ren. Almost immediately after it left Ryoga's hand an arrow flew from its spot and stuck it to the ground.
"We're powerless in this situation."
"Nya, but Fujiko needs us!" Eiji took a step.
"I know how you feel Kikumaru-kun." Leon put a hand on his shoulder. "But unless you want to get pierced many times we must stay put."
Eiji pouted. "Fuji! You can do it!"
"Ah. Arigatou Eiji." Fuji said in a calm voice as he blocked Ren yet again.
"Mou! How can you be this strong? Ryuu-sama told me that humans are weak!" Ren said as he tried yet again to slash Fuji.
"You shouldn't underestimate your opponents." Fuji said as he sent Ren's sword flying.
Ren gave him a glare. "I guess I should get serious." Another sword came to his hand and he dashed at Fuji.
When they clashed Fuji stumbled but was able to block.
"Nani? Fuji's being pushed back." Taka said.
'His attack was stronger this time.' Fuji thought to himself.
"What's this?" He snapped out of his thoughts when Ren spoke. "What was that about underestimating your opponent?" He knocked Fuji's sword away and kicked him in the stomach. He fell back onto a wall.
"Fuji!" Everyone shouted.
"Like I said," Ren raised his sword. "Humans are weak." He swung his sword to meet Fuji's person but stopped when he felt a burning sensation in his stomach.
"But angels are strong." He turned his head. "And friendship is stronger."
"M-My P-Pri…nce." Ren dissolved into tiny particles and disappeared. The arrows above everyone else disappeared too.
"Echizen!" Fuji shouted.
Echizen was standing in front of Fuji. His face was covered in blood. His arms and legs were full of lacerations and there was a huge blood spot on his side which he was holding with his hand. His sword clattered to the floor. "Fuji-sem…pai." He fell into Fuji's arms.
"Echizen!" Fuji's eyes were wide open as he caught Echizen.
"Echizen/Bocchan/Ochibi/Chibisuke!" Everyone ran to his side.
"What the hell did they do to him?!" Momo asked as he knelt beside his unconscious teammate.
"His pulse is weak and breathing is unsteady. Oishi-kun." Ryoga moved out of the way so Oishi could try to heal his wounds.
Oishi pulled up Echizen's shirt so that everyone could see the deep puncture wound in his side and multiple slashes on his torso. He plucked a few feathers and laid them over the wounds. They swiftly turned into bandages and wrapped themselves around his body. He did the same to his head and closed the lacerations on his arms and legs with a healing spell.
"That should last for a while." Oishi said sitting back. "I would feel more at ease if he were awake though."
"Who did this to Ochibi? I'll kill him!" Eiji was steaming with anger.
Ryoga knelt back down besides his bloodied brother and placed a hand on his forehead. "Minna place a hand on him and I'll show you what happened."
They all complied and placed a hand on Echizen. Ryoga muttered something and started to glow. The regulars all watched then their faces all gave blank stares as the memories from Echizen were flowing into them.
Flashback
"I must say I'm impressed. Not even my elite soldiers would be able to stand up to this kind of pain." Ryuu had a smile on his face as he slowly sliced Echizen's skin.
"You… bastard. I'll kill you." Echizen coughed up a small mouthful of blood.
"How will you be able to kill me when you'll be dead?" He thrust the dagger back into the place he had first stabbed him. Echizen gave a rather loud groan of pain. "Aw. You're not done yet are you?"
"Go to hell."
"Heh. That is no way for a prince to talk." He slowly started to turn the embedded dagger. Echizen let out a loud shriek of pain. "That's what I like to hear. If you would only call for help, I would end it." Echizen looked him in the eye and spat. "I love that look." He began recklessly slashing Echizen.
Echizen held his head up and tried not to scream. 'Kami-sama, help me. I can't do this alone. Please, it hurts. Save me!' The room started to fill with dim gray glow.
"Where the hell is that light coming from?" Ryuu stopped cutting up Echizen and looked around for the source. The glow seemed to be coming from one of the shackles holding Echizen on the wall. "What the hell is this?" He removed the shackle to discover that the bracelet Echizen had on was the source of the glow. The glow grew bigger and brighter until it filled the whole room. "What the hell?!" Ryuu started to back away. There was a crash on Echizen's left side causing the shackles to fall, freeing him. "What was that?"
Standing in front of Echizen was a wolf-like beast with a fine silver coat and mahogany eyes. It snarled at Ryuu and took a position if ready to attack.
"Hn? Interesting." Ryuu rubbed his chin. "I never would have thought." He took a step into the shadows. "It's been fun My Prince. Come to where the end began and the beginning shall take place if you want to finish our conversation." He faded into the shadows.
"Mat-" Echizen could barely speak. He was sitting on the ground in a pool of his own blood. It hurt to breathe and he was coughing up little bits of blood with every breath. The pain was immense. He couldn't stop the tears that started pouring down his face.
The wolf turned to Echizen and licked his face. He looked at it with a smile. Then the wolf carefully tugged on Echizen's shirt for him to get up. When he tried, he fell back from the pain but the wolf nudged him and placed itself under his arm. It took him to a staircase and when Echizen denied being able climb it, the wolf placed itself in between his legs and carried him. When at the top Echizen got off and walked to the doorway. He saw Fuji in danger and his instincts took over.
Flashback End
When everyone was back from peering into Echizen's mind, they saw the wolf sitting beside them. "You're the once that saved Chibisuke? Arigatou." Ryoga gave it a pet and smile. It gave him a small bark.
"Nya, Ochibi's savor!" Eiji latched onto the wolf and started crying into its fur. "Arigatou!"
Everyone gave an amused laugh. Everyone but Tezuka. He was staring at Fuji who in turn was staring at Echizen. He had a small line of tears going down his face. "Fuji."
"He could barely speak yet he came up here and protected me."
"Fuji…"
"It done with Fuji-sempai." They all heard a voice. "Leave the past in the past and focus on the present."
"Echizen/Ochibi/Bocchan/Chibisuke!"
"That's what friends are for Fuji-sempai."
Fuji looked at him for a moment and smiled. "Ah."
"Bocchan are you alright?" Leon asked in a very concerned voice.
"A-Ah." He tried to sit up.
"Echizen don't try to move! You'll open your wound again." Taka said trying to keep him from sitting up.
"I'm fine Kawamara-sempai." He winced and held his side.
"Bocchan don't push yourself." Leon steadied him.
"I'm fine. We need to go."
"Go where?" Oishi asked.
"'The place where the end began and the beginning shall take place." Inui said.
"Nya, where's that?" Eiji had a question mark pop off his head.
"The throne room." Ryoga said. Everyone looked at him. Echizen got to his feet.
"Ah. The end of our life in the angel world and beginning of our new life on earth."
"Now that we know where the bastard is," Echizen stumbled a bit. "We can end this."
"Echizen, you are in no condition." Tezuka said.
"I have to do this." He steadied himself. "I'm the reason all of this happened. I need to end it."
"Bocchan…"
"You mean we have to do this." Momo slung his arm around Echizen.
"Nya, no way is Ochibi going to fight that guy alone!"
"Fsshhh... we'll show that bastard what happens when he messes with us."
"I'm sure we'll be stronger if we're all together."
"Our chance to beat him as a group is higher than a single person."
"Saa, we cannot let this deed go unpunished."
"We're a team. We'll do this together."
"You have our support Echizen."
Echizen looked at his sempais and gave a small smile. "Sempais are persistent."
"Yosh. I think we know what we need to do." Ryoga said.
"Ah." Echizen stood at the front of everyone. "Let's go show that bastard what happens when you mess with the Seigaku Regulars."
After few minutes of walking, stopping every few minutes so Echizen could catch his breath, they all reached the door to the throne room. They all stared at the door wondering what would happen once they entered.
"We're here." Momo pointed out the obvious.
"Fsshhh." Kaidou gave an angry hiss.
"Nya, I won't forgive the guy who hurt Ochibi!" Eiji clenched his fist.
"Ready for this Chibisuke?" Ryoga pulled out his staff as the others all pulled out their weapons.
"Ah." Echizen pulled out his long sword. "I've been ready for this for a long time."He pushed the doors open and everyone advanced. Once inside, they saw a figure sitting on the King's throne.
"Welcome My Prince." They heard Ryuu call to them.
"That bastard." Kaidou hissed. Ryuu got up from the throne and walked towards them.
"What the hell is he doing?" Momo tightened the grip on his sword. Everyone had their weapons ready. Who knows who would be the first to attack. Ryuu stopped a few feet from them and bowed.
"My Prince, I wish that we could finish our conversation from earlier, alone." He looked at Echizen then everyone else. Echizen gave him a glare. The regulars all formed a circle around him. The wolf and Karupin were on either side of him.
"You'll have to get though us first." Taka said.
"No way you're touching Ochibi!" Eiji pointed his sword at him.
"'Get through you first' huh? I think that can be arranged." Ryuu snapped his fingers and the floor under them started to crumble. Soon, everyone had their wings out and was hovering over a black abyss. "First, we take out the healer."
Oishi's eyes widened and then slide into a glare. They all heard a noise below them and looked down. A huge, black, worm-like creature appeared. It slammed what appeared to be its head into Oishi in turn slamming him against the wall. A chain came out of nowhere and shackled him against the wall. The chain went around his arms, legs, neck and wings, rendering him completely helpless.
"Oishi!" Eiji quickly flew towards him.
"Next the agile child." Another worm creature came from the abyss and slammed Eiji against the wall and was bound.
"Eiji-sempai! Oishi-sempai! Teme!" Momo started to fly at Ryuu.
"Then, the muscle." A worm came from in front of him and smacked Momo to the wall. Another went to the remaining regulars and smacked Kaidou and Taka to the wall.
"Momo, Kaidou, Taka-san!"
"Followed by intelligence." Another worm surfaced and slammed Inui into the wall.
"Inui-sempai!"
"And last, the commander and prosecutor." Tezuka and Fuji glared. Just as a worm was about to smack them into the wall with their teammates, they dodged, going on either side of it.
"Ha-ho. As expected. You two are more advanced than the others." Ryuu smirked as more worms came up from below. While trying to render Tezuka and Fuji defenseless the worms were also going after Ryoga, Leon, and Echizen. Ryoga and Leon were able to dodge but because of his injuries, Echizen had some trouble. He was out of the way quick enough to only catch the parcel power of the worms.
"Chibisuke!" Ryoga rushed to his side.
"Bocchan!' Leon did the same.
In that time, Tezuka and Fuji had been smacked to the wall. As Leon and Ryoga were approaching Echizen, a worm came from directly under them and smacked them into the ceiling. As they fell another came from the side and smacked them into the wall.
"Minna!" Echizen cried out to them as they all struggled to break free of their binds.
"Bocchan be careful!" Leon tried to gesture to Ryuu who was slowly getting closer.
"My, I can't believe you last that long." Echizen blinked and he was gone.
"Echizen behind you!" Inui shouted. Echizen turned to see Ryuu standing right behind him.
"With a wound like this, I would have collapsed ages ago." He punched Echizen right where he was stabbed earlier. He let out a yelp of pain as he flew back and held his side.
"You bastard!" Momo, Fuji and Kaidou yelled. Ryuu scowled at them then turned to Echizen.
"Your knights are rather loud. I can't concentrate properly." He snapped his fingers and ten swords appeared in front of everyone.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Echizen cried as he steadied himself.
"Getting rid of distractions." With a swift movement of his finger, the swords plunged themselves into the stomachs of the helpless figures on the wall.
The room filled with howls of pain and agony. Echizen floated for a second, not able to comprehend what had just happened.
"MINNA!" He shouted as he watched in complete horror as their clothes slowly begin to get red.
"E-Echiz-en, we'-ll… be fine." Oishi said trying to hold back his tears.
"Be…at th-e shit o-ut… of tha-t guy Echi-zen." Momo said gasping for breath.
"B-Be –str-ong E-Echi-zen." Taka's head was drooping.
"Go g-et him… O-Chi-bi." Eiji was practically silent.
"Go… Ech-ize…n." Kaidou's head dropped.
"Echi-zen, you… can s-still bea-t…him." Inui's glasses were sliding off his face.
"N-Nev...er gi-ve up…" Fuji's eyes started to close.
"We wi…ll alwa-ys be th-ere as… you-r su-pport." Tezuka went limp.
"B-Boc…chan, nev-er… forget…" Leon started to mumble.
"Chi-bi…suke…" Ryoga gave him one last smile.
Echizen watched in horror as his teammates, friends, and family members all went limp and stopped struggling to get free. Tears started rolling down his face. Karupin and the silver wolf understanding the situation that they were in and the sorrow that filled the room grew angry. They both started to snarl and growl at Ryuu.
"Oh dear, I think they're dead." Ryuu gave an amused smile. The wolf and Karupin both leapt at him but were bashed aside and thrown into a cage. "With no interruptions we should be able to continue where we left off." Ryuu dashed to the front of Echizen but Echizen didn't move. "What's this? Finally given up? So be it." He raised his sword and prepared to slash Echizen.
All of a sudden a huge light erupted from Echizen. It caused Ryuu to be thrown against the wall, all the worms and the abyss disappeared and the chains around all of his friends disappeared and they slowly floated to the ground. The cage that Karupin was in dissolved and they went to the regulars.
"What the hell is this?" Ryuu tried to free himself from the wall.
Echizen was floating in the middle of the room. His wings were out and shining a light that you could go blind from if you looked directly at it. All the blood stains from his clothes were gone and his wounds healed.
"You who have desolated this land, tainted it with evil, dare to raise your sword at me?" Echizen pointed his own sword at his which was glowing just as bright as his wings. "You dare to destroy this sacred land with your un-holiness? You shall be damned for all eternity and centuries to come. You shall die by my hand."
"Let's see who shall die by whose hand." Ryuu lunged at Echizen and Echizen lunged at Ryuu. Their swords met in a clash. They swung them again creating sparks as they crash together.
"You cannot beat me." Ryuu had a ball of black matter in hand and threw it at Echizen causing him to fly back into the wall. "You're weak."
"I'm not weak." The glow around Echizen got even brighter and a second pair of wings appeared.
"What the hell?" Ryuu floated back a little. "What are you?"
He pulled out another sword. "I am Echizen Ryoma. I am a member of the Seigaku Tennis Club and I am the Prince of Angels."
"You're cockier than I thought!" Ryuu dashed towards him. He brought his sword over his head and swung it down to slash Echizen. He didn't move. Echizen grabbed the incoming sword and crushed it into dust. Ryuu watched in dismay. He blinked and Echizen had the two swords in front of him.
"You killed my family, comrades, followers, people of this land and you threatened to kill me and my friends." He placed the swords in the form of an 'X' and raised them over his head. "You don't deserve to live." He swung his swords and let out an 'X' shaped light. It flew to Ryuu and sliced his body.
He didn't realize what had just happened. He just stood there. The 'X' wound started spraying out blood. Ryuu looked at himself and finally realized what had happened.
"Ho-w could… this happ-en…?" He fell to the floor with a thud. Echizen floated down and stood over him. "De-fea-ted by a… mire child…"
Echizen raised his swords. "I am no child." And plunged them into Ryuu's stomach.
Ryuu gave a grunt of pain then smiled at Echizen. "I am… glad to- die by yo…ur han-ds, my… pri…nce…" He fell silent and faded into the darkness.
"Rest in peace, you bastard." Echizen turned away from him and walked over to where the others where all lying. He looked at them with sorrowful eyes. Karupin made a gesture to him. He gave Karupin a smile and took a deep breath. His body began to shine again and both sets of his wings were fully extended. The light went from him to all the unconscious people lying on the ground. He watched as the bloody spots and rips in their clothes all vanished.
"Nngguuh…" They all started to grown and wake up.
"Ugh, what happened?" Taka sat up and held his head.
"Didn't we…" Momo didn't want to finish the sentence and only looked at his stomach and how he was perfectly fine.
"What's that light?" Kaidou pointed.
"Chibisuke!" Ryoga was able to make out Echizen's shape. Echizen looked at all of them and smiled. The glow disappeared and he dropped to the floor. Ryoga ran to his side and held him in his arms. "Chibisuke what did you do?!" Echizen just kept smiling at him.
"Ochibi!" Eiji ran to his side.
"Kikumaru-sempai."
"Echizen are you alright?" Everyone started to crowd around. He looked at everyone and gave a weak smile.
"Echizen, yare." Momo dropped to his knees. Doing so he saw Ryoga holding something and crying. "Ryoga-san…"
"Ryoga, what's wrong?" Leon placed his hand on his shoulder and knelt beside him.
"Leon…" Ryoga opened his hand to show Leon Echizen's pendant. His face was horror struck. He got up and took a few steps back.
"Leon-san what's the matter?" Oishi asked.
Leon looked at the ground and started to cry. "His… pendant…"
The regulars all crowded around Ryoga and Ryoma and looked at the small pendant in Ryoga's hand. It was no longer Echizen's color. The wings that were the color of the sun were now a dark shade of gray and the sword going across them was now black.
"What does that mean?" Inui asked.
"When the color on an angel's pendant disappears…" Leon didn't want to finish his sentence.
"What happens?" Fuji asked.
"That angel dies." Everyone now turned to Ryoga who was fully crying.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Momo's voice had a tone of anger and fear.
"It's as it sounds Momo-sempai." Echizen spoke.
"Chibisuke! You idiot!" Ryoga pulled him into a hug. "Why?"
Echizen hugged him back. "I had to save the people I care about."
"Chibisuke!" Ryoga hugged him tighter and sobbed into his head.
"Echizen what do you mean?" Tezuka's voice was shaking.
"I don't want any more people to die for me." He grunted in pain.
"Echizen!" Everyone gathered closer.
"Ochibi…" Eiji began crying on Taka's shoulder.
"Echizen this is a joke right?" Kaidou dropped to his knees.
Echizen smirked. "If only Kaidou-sempai." He gave another grunt and his breathing slowed.
"Chibisuke…" Ryoga let him out of the hug. "You promised…"
"You of all people know that- I can never keep my promises." He started to cough up little amounts of blood.
"Echizen/Ochibi/Bocchan/Chibisuke!" They all looked at him with tears starting to run down their faces. He looked at all of them and smiled.
"Sempais, Leon… Aniki, no matter… how much it didn't… seem like it, I've always… loved you." He reached up and put his hand on Ryoga's face then it dropped to the floor.
"Chibisuke?" Ryoga looked down at the lifeless figure in his arms. "Chibisuke?" Everyone stared in horror. "CHIBISUKE!" Ryoga pulled the lifeless boy into a hug and started bawling.
"Echizen. This isn't funny. Open your eyes damn it!" Momo wailed as he banged his hands on the floor.
"Echizen…" Tezuka and Fuji had tears streaming down their faces like a river.
Eiji and Oishi were crying on Taka shoulders. He couldn't stop the tears from coming. Inui's tears were running down his face. Kaidou was kneeling facing the floor. As much as he didn't want it, he couldn't stop the tears pouring onto the ground.
"Bocchan…" Leon was slumped on the ground, tears rolling down his face equally as much as everyone else.
"Chibisuke… Chibisuke…" Ryoga kept sobbing into his brother's hair.
Karupin shrunk down and went to his master's motionless figure and started licking his hand. The wolf sat and watched everyone. He could feel that something had gone wrong; all those gloomy and unhappy faces in front of him. He walked over to Echizen and touched the bracelet on his wrist with his nose. It started to glow.
Ryoga looked down at him. "What are you doing?" He asked between sobs. The glow from the bracelet surrounded Echizen then the wolf started to glow. "What's happening?" Everyone looked up with their tear stained faces. The wolf began to glow brighter and soon the light surrounded it completely and started to change.
"What's going on?" Oishi asked.
The wolf changed it shape and was now in the form of a person. Leon stared in awe. "Y-Your majesty."
Everyone looked at him. "What do you mean?" Momo asked. "I thought that the king pasted away."
"H-He did but-"
"No, you are correct." The figure in front of them spoke. "I am in deed dead."
They all stared in reverence. "Your majesty if you are dead how do you appear in front of us now?"
"Leon have you forgotten?" Leon looked at the king. "Like this child," He pointed to Echizen. "I also had a divine."
"Your creature was a starlight wolf!"
"Yes." He smiled. "I have been watching over everyone since you arrived. I would have shown myself sooner but I was helpless with that ring around my neck. Thank you for removing it." He moved to be in front of Echizen. "Heh. He's just like me when I was a boy. Doing reckless things for the people he loves." He placed his hand on Echizen's forehead and it started to glow. He looked up at Ryoga. "Take good care of him." He smiled as his figure slowly started to fade away. Soon, it was gone and the glow faded.
"What… just happened?" Inui asked.
"That was- the spirit of the king." Leon said. "His soul must have been transferred into the wolf." He turned. "Ryoga…"
Ryoga was staring at the spot the king vanished from. He then looked at Leon then closed his eyes and hung his head. "Chibisuke…"
"Ryoga your tears are getting on me." Ryoga opened his eyes and slowly looked down. "And this position is very uncomfortable." He saw a narrow slit of gold staring back at him.
"Chibisuke?" He couldn't believe it. "Chibisuke!" He pulled his brother into another hug and started crying into his hair again.
Echizen smiled. "Your tight hugs hurt, onii-san."
"ECHIZEN/OCHIBI/BOCCHAN!" Everyone crowded in and joined in the hug.
"Do you really have to leave?" Josiah asked.
"Ah. I don't belong here anymore." Echizen said as he and Josiah shook hands.
"You're the prince of these lands Heika; of course you belong here." Tatsuo said.
"Iya. My place lies with them." He pointed to the regulars behind him.
"Bocchan! I don't want you two to leave!" Leon pulled him and Ryoga into a hug. "Let me come with!"
"You-can't. You need to take care of things while I'm gone." He said trying to escape his grasp.
"Someone needs to look after all these people." Ryoga gestured to all the people that had gathered in front of the castle.
"I didn't even know that there were this many people left." Josiah said.
"Echizen! Let's go home! I want to take a bath. I feel filthy." Momo shouted to him.
"Hai!" Echizen tried once again to escape Leon but was unsuccessful unlike his brother. "Leon let go!"
Leon held on tighter and started whining. "Yadda! Don't go!" Echizen sighed. After a few minutes of Oishi trying to get Echizen free, Leon finally let go and Echizen proceeded to the others.
"Come back soon Heika!' Josiah shouted.
"Ah!" Echizen waved to him. The regulars and Ryoga all made a circle around him. There was a bright light that surrounded them then they were gone, back to earth.
Two Weeks Later…
"Oi Mamoshi, what do you think you're doing?"
"Fsshhh…"
"Those two are fighting again."
"Stop it you two! You'll hurt each other!"
"Nya, I don't think that they care about that."
"Ii data…"
"Saa, just like old times. Ne. Tezuka?"
"Kaidou, Momoshiro, 20 laps now."
"Ha? But he started it!"
"30."
"Buchou!"
"Would you like to try for 40?"
Momo pouted and started to run. "This is your fault."
"Fsshhh… say that again."
"Hoi-hoi! Ochibi! Let's have a race! You said we could at your mansion remember? If I got better at flying then we could have a race!"
"Heh. Your friends really never change. I'm jealous of you Chibisuke."
Echizen looked at the sky. "Mada Mada Dane."
NOTE THIS: Oh my god, I can't believe I actually wrote this. Everywhere is corny. I feel embarrassed. Don't forget to read the squeal "The Prince's Return"
Oh my god… it's finally over… *gets watery eyes* so many moments, so much sadness, love and friendship rule! How did everyone like it? I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Hope no one hates me too much for taking forever to finish it.
The one thing he says all the time, and I use it for the last sentence of the story… god, this chapter is way too corny.
Forgive mistakes and corniness!
Tell me what you thought of the story as a whole! Inspire me to write again!
Thank you to everyone who has read and commented and faved and subscribed! I hope that everyone liked it!
Bye everyone!