DISCLAIMER: I do not own Prince of Tennis. I wish I own Royal Pair though, but I don't. Sob...
WARNING: This will be YAOI / BL story. Possible MPREG in the future. If you don't know what that means you should check it beforehand. Cannon characters may be OCC.
Warning #2: This chapter is not beta-ed yet. It will be replaced later on.
THANK YOU FOR R&R: denizen of the night, wuzimiko, EchizenRyomaLover, Pri-Chan 1410, HiKaRi-ChIbI, Rika-chi, ShioLee, ILOVEGAARA, erisreigned, lajascot, TQWEE, MoonJewel, tsub4ki, Eos-hime, Jinju17, Koshimae Ryo, fallenangel9413
A/N:Finally here comes the next chapter. Some of the American players appear, so please come back to their presentation if you don't remember them. I planned on writing much more in this chapter, but it already is over 5k words so I postponed it for the next one. I think I will have to speed up a time line a little since the last couple of chapters covered only two days. Unfortunately the camp is to blame here. Since I brought so many players altogether I have to make some use of them. Still I hope you will enjoy it.
ENJOY !
Chapter 14: Marathon.
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Previously on chapter 13:
"It's almost 30 miles, so the only logical answer is by bus," Inui answered examining the map hanging on the wall. The road was running next to the river almost all the way, so they could marvel the landscape through the bus window.
Kevin stood up from his seat and stretched. He was still sleepy. He knew that the yesterday's night match would recoil on his present form. "Wrong."
All the players were now starring at him waiting for further explanation. The only remaining option was a train, but the closest rail station was almost two miles away.
Ryoma put his hands into his pockets and followed Kevin, "We are going to run it."
-----
"Huh?" Momoshiro blinked his mouth wide open. For a moment the whole cafeteria became silent. One could almost hear the thoughts that were crossing the minds of all the players trying to comprehend what Echizen has just said. In the end most of them came to the same conclusion Run… 30 miles… Impossible.
The silence was abruptly broken up by the fierce laugh. All the eyes turned towards the source of the sound. Kirihara was laughing so hard that he almost fell of the chair he was sitting on.
"Oi Akaya what so funny about it?" Gakuto scolded his kouhai. Poor Bakaya he must have lost his mind completely.
"I'm laughing from the lame joke Echizen has just pulled," he huffed trying to catch at least one breath.
"Do I look like joking?" Ryoma asked coming to the window behind his seat. He took a look outside. The sun was still high, but the time was definitely working against them. They will have to take at least one hour break before start running if they don't want to throw up whole lunch from exhaustion.
"Are you insane? We have to run 30 miles? It's… it's…" Kirihara hurriedly calculated something in his mind, "It's almost the distance of a marathon!" he exclaimed after a while.
"Shut up already Kirihara," Sanada silenced his team member in a blink of a second. He was tired, his head was hurting and he hadn't his painkillers. And what was Akaya doing? First he didn't know who Echizen Nanjiroh was and now this. Dear God. He is probably a natural idiot. If he let this embarrassment keep going everybody would think that Rikkai Dai players have no brains.
"Actually its more than marathon," Renji corrected his kouhai, enlightening him a little.
"The distance of a marathon is 42.195 kilometers, so it means its 26 miles and 385 yards to be exact," Inui added. His words seemed to make all the players aware of what kind of distance they were taking about. It wasn't something they could take lightly anymore. None of them has ever run such a long distance. Even Kaidoh was usually finishing at the 15th mile maximum.
"30 miles huh? Your father sure is a tough trainer. The camp is becoming more and more interesting, isn't it?" Fuji smiled and the only who responded to him was actually Yukimura. None of the players was expecting the camp to be a piece of cake, but wasn't it too much for a beginning? It was they first day after all.
"I withdraw what I've said about your father Ochibi," Kikumaru stated when he has realized that the next good few hours he will have to spend running.
"I agree with the read head," Gakuto united in pain with Kikumaru, "Your father lied to us. He said that we will have a light training today!"
"I back him too," Kamio added. He was about to say something more when they heard the next burst of laugh. This time it was Kevin. He laughed out so much that the tears started to flow down his cheeks.
"Oi Ryoma your senpai-tachi are really great. I would like Jiroh-Oji to hear it. Maybe we shouldn't enlighten them?" The blond asked whipping of his tears, making his jersey's sleeve completely wet.
"You have started already to talk so you can finish as well," Atobe crossed his arms on his chest. He still refused to look at Ryoma, that means, at least in a way he would be caught doing it. Last night he didn't get much sleep and because he was constantly spacing out he didn't do much work either.
"Actually my Oyaji was telling the truth. Today is just a warm-up before tomorrow," Echizen stated not affected by the faces his seniors made when they heard him. Since Nanjiroh was his and Kevin's coach for the past few years they were already used to his harsh methods. After all they were running this distance once every ten days, so it wasn't making an impression on them anymore, but the same couldn't be said on the rest of the tennis players that were occupying the cafeteria. Sure they were young, sure they were athletic, but probably none of them were prepared for this. There was only one word that could describe the expressions on their faces – stunned.
"I guess we shouldn't waste any minute and start to prepare for the run," Shiraishi said standing from his seat breaking the silence, "Chitose shall we run together?"
"I don't wanna run! I wanna play a match with Koshimae!" Kintaro exclaimed, pulling the racket out from the sack he was carrying all the time on his back and sending the ball straight towards Echizen, who dodged it with the slightest movement letting the ball to break the window behind him.
"Kin-chan! What did I said about playing inside? Do you want me to take of the bandages-" Shirashi didn't even have to finish his sentence, because the youngest member of Shitenhoji was already almost begging for forgiveness.
Echizen turned towards his teammates and ordered, "Ok I'm running with Kevin, Rick you take care of the twins, so they won't get lost and the rest may do whatever you want, but make sure you always have at least one person with you." He definitely didn't want to replay the same situation that happened a year ago when his father was in charge of camp for the candidates to the Team USA. Some of them may simple be unable to finish the run.
"I still don't know why it must be me. I didn't volunteer to be a chaperone for two damn brats," the tall brown complained, although he knew that it wouldn'tt change anything.
"Oi Rick!"
"Who are you calling brats," Matt and Alex exclaimed almost simultaneously making Tezuka to shudder a little in his seat. Alike Sanada, he also was suffering from the lack of his pills and the noise that the twins were making, caused him to want to order them as many laps as possible. Unfortunately he wasn't their captain, so he looked at Echizen waiting for him to react, but Echizen being Echizen instead of bringing them to order provoked them even further.
"Sorry Rick, but you was born to be a babysitter," Ryoma smirked and Kevin instantly seized upon, "It's your destiny man."
"Oi Ryoma, we are older that you!" Matt jumped of his chair followed by his brother.
"And we don't need a nanny!"
"Oh really?" Echizen smirked even wider, "Should I remind you then what happened last year?"
The twins wanted to strike back, but couldn't find any good retort. It's not their fault that they got lost, right?
A threat? Nice move boya. Seems that you have learnt something from Fuji too. Yukimura smiled to himself. He was always in favor of a peaceful solving any problems and disagreements and thought that a good "argument" is way better than even the greatest number of laps.
"You can start as soon as you will be ready. We will catch up with you later on," the USA captain nodded at Kevin and left the cafeteria. He didn't get much sleep that night either and it was a perfect time for a siesta. It was probably the best thing that the Spanish came up with. Afternoon nap should become a tradition in all the countries.
Ryoma found a tree not so far from the main gate, sat on the ground, leaned against the trunk, pulled his cap lower and closed his eyes shortly plunging into sleep.
While he was peacefully resting outside the rest of the players were slowly organizing themselves into groups.
"Be ready in twenty minutes," the first one to gather all his regulars was Kite. After graduating from Higa Middle School he continued his adventure with tennis in Higa High and as a captain, together with his teammates, won the championship of Okinawa for the third time in a row and made it to the National's best eight. The climate in Okinawa and the fact that they were training martial arts was significantly raising their chances to survive the camp.
"I think that we should get going too," Oishi stood up and looked around. The groups were already forming. He turned around and wanted to inform Tezuka that they should start preparations, when he felt a desperate squeeze on his forearm. He smiled slightly and looked down onto Eiji who was clinging to him tightly. He loved those moments when his doubles partner needed him so much and he could be there for him. He squeezed his hand back, reassuring him that he won't leave him somewhere in the middle of the way. It's true that Kikumaru was training hard on a runway with a low oxygen level, but still it will be a huge challenge for him to run 30 miles.
Tezuka consulted shortly with Yukimura and other captains and decided that all the players can run with whoever they want, but nobody is allowed to run alone. On this camp all of them were rivals and all of them were even, but all the players were still respecting their captains and none of them even tried to dispute their orders.
xxx
"Hmm, are all the people in Japan this interesting?" David asked Oshitari in Japanese. They just stopped in front of some store for a short break after an hour of run. They barely reached one fifth of the distance, what means that at least for more hours are still ahead of them.
"I have no idea what are you talking about," the Tawamure's tensai replied putting his glasses back on his nose. He just finished whipping them off.
"Is it a new fashion to wear fake glasses?" Rick was continuing the topic. Just a moment ago he saw that Oshitari took them off then read the opening hours of the shop from 15 feet and at the end checked the time on his watch. It definitely wasn't something that a person with a vision impairment could do.
"I see that you are quite perceptive," the black hair teen stated taking the last sip of water from the bottle he bought a moment ago.
"You would be surprised to know how many other things I notice," the American teen extended his hand, "I'm Rick."
"Oshitari Yushi," the tesai shook the other's boy hand.
"So will you tell me Yushi why do you wear those fake glasses?" Rick asked when they started to slowly running back.
In the first moment Oshitari felt a little uneasy upon hearing his first name, but knowing that for a foreigner it must be hard to pronounce his last name and that's calling each other by their given names isn't anything unusual in other countries he decided to let it go. "I will tell you, if you tell me how you did learn Japanese."
"Deal," Rick agreed and the two of them started to recede from the group of tennis players who were still standing in front of the shop, drinking water greedily. Despite it being October the weather was still very good and sunny what combined with the temperature over 70 F degrees made them to sweat a lot.
xxx
"Oi Fuji-senpai, what are you doing?!" Momoshiro exclaimed in the last moment preventing the tensai from crushing the plastic bottle of water he was holding in his hand.
"Ah, sorry Momo," Fuji closed his sky-blue eyes and put a smile back into his face. For a while now he was observing the scene outside the shop through the window. First he felt some weird squeeze in his stomach that soon moved up into his throat, then came shivering, inexplicable frustration and anger that made him to tighten his grip on the bottle.
Standing in a line to the checkout Fuji managed to calm down a little, but no matter how hard he tried he could named the feeling he was experiencing a while ago. It wasn't pleasant and he definitely didn't want to repeat it.
xxx
"Inui-senpai why are you actually running with us?" Kaidoh asked when they left Saitama Sport Center.
"I hope to gather some valuable data about the players. Besides didn't you want to talk to me?" Inui asked looking down at his kouhai. Those moments when they could talk alone were very precious to him, but very painful at the same time.
The bandana wearing teen lowered his eyes. Inui was always the closest team member to him, his mentor and the one who was always there for him. Kaidoh tried to recall when he started relying on him some much. It must have started somewhere at the beginning of High School when Fuji put him and Momoshiro in one room, and later when the latter started to going out with Tachibana An. Kaidoh couldn't take it any more. Somewhere in the middle of their rivalry their mutual aversion turned into specific friendship and later on evolved into something more. That is only on Kaidoh's part. It took him quite a lot of time to realize it and then to admit it, but when they ended up in the same room this feeling became almost unbearable.
"What should I do Inui-senpai? He is with Tachibana-san little sister and never thought about me that way."
"I told you already Kaidoh that you should try to talk to him and get along with him better for the beginning," the ache in Inui's heart gained on intensity. Why did he have to give Kaidoh such an advice? Kaidoh should just forget about Momo already, but when he looked into his kouhai's eyes he couldn't help it. He really wished him all the best. Just not with Momo.
"I can't Inui-senpai. Each time I see him I'm becoming so angry that cannot do anything, but to fight with him. I guess there is no hope for me, since even such a smart person like you senpai, can't help me. I'm sorry for imposing on you. I will be going then," Kaidoh bowed and speeded up, leaving Inui behind. The latter stopped, took of his glasses and sighed trying to calm down. He blinked energetically couple of time trying to prevent the tears that were already gathering under his eyelid from falling down, when he felt someone's hand on his shoulder.
"You should listen to your own advices Doc," Yanagi stated still standing behind Inui, "Aren't you in the similar situation?"
"I can't Professor," Inui replied putting his glasses back, "There is one hundred percent chance that I will be rejected and that our friendship will change forever." No matter how painful it was he didn't want to loose everything.
"You know that I'm the one who taught you the data tennis, but wasn't it Echizen who said that that the data cannot be applied to people with a full certainty? And didn't he prove it a few times already? You have two weeks ahead of you to change his approach towards you. See you later Doc," Yanagi bid farewell and soon he too disappeared from Inui's eyeshot.
The Data Master approached the barrier and looked down on the river feeling the fresh breeze on his face. He was the one that said earlier that they would be able to marvel the landscape, but the view wasn't as nice as he expected. It seems that it works only when you can share it with someone.
xxx
"Oi Ryoma, how long do you plan on sleeping?" Kevin nudged the young tennis star still napping under the three. Everybody has long ago started to run. It's true that they will still probably reach the destination first, but it was almost two o'clock already and the blond couldn't stop thinking about the hot springs that were waiting for them at the finishing line.
"Ok, ok I get up. Just stop poking me already," Echizen mumbled sleepily raising into the sitting position. He stretched his body and yawed letting the air to wake him up. It was such a good nap. Too bad that it's over already.
Ryoma stood up from the ground, brushed off his jersey and extended his hand to Kevin who took two Grip Emphasis Devices from on of his pockets and gave them to Echizen, then pulled out two more from the other pocket and placed them comfortably in his own hands. They started to jog slowly letting their bodies to accustom, both to the long run and to repeating move of squeezing the devices in their hands. His father may seem like a monk that had no idea about training, but the reality was different. He specially arranged those hot springs to let their muscles to relax after the extreme strain and prevent them from being sore the next day.
"Are you going to explain me what was it yesterday? And why were you so angry?" Kevin asked when half an hour later they were outrunning first tennis players.
"No," Ryoma has no intention of talking about it. At least, not now.
"Whatever. Stubbornness is your family feature," the blond stated resigned. They have already covered quarter of a distance so still three as much was waiting for them. "I hope that at least the surprise I told you about when I came to your school yesterday will make you feel better."
"…"
"Oi Ryoma! Aren't you curious what I'm talking about?" Kevin definitely was expecting some reaction. Knowing Ryoma it wouldn't be jumping in the air demanding to know all the details, but he was awaiting at least the slightest sign of interest.
"Did anybody tell you already that you are really antisocial?"
"Huh? Did you say something?" Echizen shook out from his thoughts.
"No, just forget about it," the blond said resigned. He knew this brat long enough to know that he does not care for most of the things around him.
"Aren't those Matt and Alex?" Kevin pointed the twins ahead of them. They were fiercely arguing with the other twins.
"We are more similar than you are," Matt exclaimed into the face of the dark pink hair Josei Shonan High player.
"You wish," the blue hair Kouhei replied. His brother crossed his arms on his chest and added, "If we only dye our hair on the same color we would more indistinguishable that you would ever be!"
"What did you said shorty?" Alex approached Youhei and now they were angrily piercing each other with their eyes.
"Look who is talking!" Kouhei pointed the American twins with his index finger. They were about the same height.
"Rick can you explain me what are you doing?" Echizen asked the brown-hair teen who was leaning on the pole and didn't pay attention to what was going on around him. He was listening to his favorite music and drinking water from the nearby vending machine.
"I have no idea what you are taking about," Rick replied taking off his headphones, "They are just making new friends," he pointed out the twins that almost started a fist fight by now.
"Che, do what you want. Just bring them to the hot springs," Echizen stated and started run again, but turned his head one more time and added, "Today."
xxx
"O..O..Oishi…I think I can't run any… more," Kikumaru gasped catching his breath with difficulty. Right next to him Kamio tried to pull himself together and stand up from the ground. The 22nd mile became a crucial moment for most of the players. Somewhere around tenth mile they started to fell tired, around half of the distance they were becoming exhausted and now their feet were slowly failing them. If they sit too long they won't be able to resume the run.
"Hang in there Eiji. It's only couple of miles more. I'm tired too, but I'm not going to give up and I won't let you either," Oishi stated handing his partner a bottle with an isotonic drink. He knew exactly the limits of Kikumaru's stamina and if he let him rest any longer the red head won't be able to continue.
A dozen or so feet away Tezuka and Sanada were taking their break too, wiping of the sweat. All of them were deadbeat. Only Kintaro was almost as lively as ever trying to persuade Chitose to have a race with him. Shiraishi looked up onto the sky. It was already late afternoon and five hours passed since the left the Saitama Sport Center. With each mile their pace was dropping and still almost one third of the distance was ahead of them. The threat that not all off them would be able to finish the run was more and more probable.
"Isn't it Kochimae?!" the read head from Shitenhoji High asked, pointing to figures coming from the horizon on other side of the street. Kikumaru raised his head, "Ochibi?"
"Where from is he taking this whole energy?" Kirihara asked pouring the water onto his head to cool himself a little.
"Koshimae," Kin-chan screamed once again crossing the street and barely avoiding the car.
"Ryoma aren't those your senpai-tachi?" Kevin asked pointing a group of teens. Some of them were sitting on the ground, some were stretching their muscles and some were trying to help others, but all of them were red and gasping.
"So it means that we are about the 20th mile already. I'm not going to go out of the water till morning when we get to the place." When Kevin averted his eyes from Ryoma he crashed into something hard and almost bumped on the ground. In the last second he managed to regain his balance. When he stopped massaging his head he looked at the obstacle. A red head boy, about their height wearing leopard designed t-shirt was standing in front of them, the smile covering half of his face.
"Can I run with you Koshimae?" he made a puppy like eyes.
"Yadda. What with your senpai-tachi?" Echizen asked handing Kevin the Grip Emphasis Device the latter dropped after the head-on collision with Kintaro.
The red head darkened, crossed his arms and shook his head, "They are no good."
"Let him Ryoma run. We can't stand here any longer or we will loose our pace."
"Che, whatever." And all three of them soon disappeared from the sight of all other players.
"Are they monsters or something?" Ibu started to mumble under his breath, "Are we tennis players or some track and field members? I still don't understand how running so much will improve my play. I would rather have some exercises with a racket and the ball, but now I'm too tired to even think about it. All I can imagine now are the hot springs. It will be nice to immerse into hot water…"
xxx
Atobe pulled out his cell phone out of the pocket in his jersey. He has never parted with it. It wasn't one of his whims. Running a big company he simply had to be at the phone 24/7.
The diva dialed the number to his mansion in Tokyo. He didn't have to wait even two signals before the butler answered,
"Atobes' residence. Takuma speaking. How can I help you?"
"It's Ore-sama."
"Young master it's so unusual for you to call. Shall I prepare a limousine?"
"No, Ore-sama want you to deliver Ore-sama's laptop to the Onsen north of Tokyo. Ore-sama expect it to be done within two hours."
"Of course. Is there anything else I can do for you young master?"
"Bring Ore-sama the also the bottle with pills that is in Ore-sama's desk."
"As you wish."
Takuma put down the phone and sighed. Pills, huh? He knew exactly what their effect was. Keigo got them from their family doctor to use in case of emergency. Already one pill could prevent you from sleeping for a whole night. Keigo started to use them when he got to high school, but lately he definitely was overusing them and unfortunately it was double-edge sword. They let him stay awake for the whole night, or sometimes even for two or three in a row, but his body was gradually weakening. Lack of sleep was causing his head to hurt so he was drowning it out taking some painkillers and the circle was closing. Eventually however his organism was claiming for a rest so he was sleeping for a whole day and night.
xxx
"Ryoma, Kevin, you are finally here. What were you doing on your way? Sightseeing?" Nanjiroh asked when they finally reached their destination.
"Princess took an afternoon nap so we set off pretty late," the blond explained taking of his wet t-shirt and putting his head under the outside tap, letting the water to flow freely down his face and neck.
"Oh, I see that you've brought someone with you," Nanjiroh smiled looking at Kintaro. With his stamina level she should be considered as a candidate for Team Japan.
The three high school freshmen were first to try the salutary effect of the hot water after the long physical effort. Gradually the hot springs were filling in with young tennis players. They were so happy that this murderous marathon was already over that nobody even started a fight. Neither Momo with Kaido, Kikumaru with Gatuto nor the twins. Nobody.
xxx
Late in the evening Nanjiroh gathered all the players in a huge room downstairs in the inn they were staying at. The floor was covered with tatami mats, stack of futons laying in the corner. It wasn't even a curfew for grade school children, yet almost all the players looked like they were about to fall asleep there and then.
"I'm glad that all of you made it to the end. As for this camp's rules…you are still young, so being reckless, irresponsible and stupid are your rights, but if you want to do something you shouldn't do, just don't get caught," Nanjiroh scratched the back of his head and left leaving surprised players alone.
He has no intention of babysitting full grown young men. Ryoma was twelve when for the first time he flew alone to the New York to take part in US Open so they will be fine too. Besides from the short observation Nanjiroh could already tell that this Tezuka kid and his capped friend from the other school will have the situation well in hands.
"Echizen your father sure is liberal," Yukimura stated unfolding his futon next to Sanada.
"Libe… what Yuki-buchou?" Kirihara asked lying down.
"Liberal. Liberal. Did you skip a few grades or what?" Shishido growled at his kouhai.
"Don't be harsh Ryo," Ohtori tried to pacify his boyfriend. Finally after all those years they started going out and were the first gay pair among the high school tennis players. That is at least officially.
"To put it simply it means that Nanjiroh sensei believes in equality and freedom," Renji explained and concluding form lots of quiet 'ochs' and 'achs' not only Kirihara ha\d some gaps in his education.
"Where are you going Atobe?" Oshitari asked when the diva stood up from the tatami and approached the sliding door made of many square rice papers.
"Did you honestly think that Ore-sama would sleep on the floor, ahn? Ore-sama asked to prepare a room for him upstairs," Keigo said and left the room.
"Sheesh, his royal butt won't life through one night in futon," Gakuto commented enhancing the pillow under his head.
"That's our diva," Fuji added. This creepy feeling he experienced in the shop earlier that day faded a little away, but he still could feel some weird sting in his chest.
xxx
Atobe opened the door to his room and looked around. There was almost nothing beside a bed and the desk next to the window. On the little table in the corner was laying his laptop and the bottle with his magic yellow pills. He took one of them, turned on his laptop and sat at the desk. He looked at the screen, tons of e-mails to read and reply, problems to solve and decision to take. There was a long night ahead of him and the long, exhausting day tomorrow. If not those pills he wouldn't be able to function normally. Keigo poured himself a cup of coffee and went about to work.
xxx
Around two am in the morning Nanjiroh finally went out of the water. He decided to take a bath in the evening, but ended up sleeping in a hot water. He was about to go inside when spotted a light in one of the rooms upstairs and a figure sitting in front of a computer. Since the whole inn was reserved exclusively for them it must have been one of the boys. Before going upstairs, Nanjiroh took a look into the big room where the camp participants were sleeping. He gave them a free hand to do whatever they want, but after today little 'warm-up' probably all they wanted was to go to bed.
He closed the door and went upstairs. He had already a pretty good guess about who might be there. There was only one workaholic so alike to his father. Echizen peered through the ajar door. Just like Kazuhiro.
He pitied the boy, but still chuckled at the memory of his and Ryoma's behavior in the hot spring today. Both of them were observing each other from concealment, pretending that they don't care at all. Mada, mada dane.
A/N:Hope you like the chapter. I think that Akaya is just a perfect material to make fun of, so I will continue with it in the near future =) Don't worry I plan on some more interaction between Keigo and Ryoma in the next chapter (in the worst scenario in chapter 16) and in Ch15 the next two characters will appear. One from anime and one OC, but I guarantee you would love it.
Ok please review and give me a piece of your mind =p
~mem~