Author's Note: Sorry for the wait guys. All of you know this is a hugely busy time of year for me and trust me, this year is definitely not the exception. I've been swamped between stories (including the ones y'all don't see), cosplay (someone shoot me, please?), the family (husband, especially, and my nutso in-laws), and my insatiable need to prepare for summer time. I'm updating more than once, so I hope all of you can forgive me? I won't say it's not going to take another month to update, but at least you get more than one? -huggles readers-
Le Me Fan: I love when you said 'Ryo don't be jealous, Syusuke is way better than you'. XD That seriously made my choke on my coffee. I hope you aren't ready to strangle me by now with how long these took, but at least there's a lot of em? -huggles- PLEASE DON'T BE MAD AT ME! XD
Elf10444: XD Dance, darling, dance! Here's a bunch of updates, so I hope- when you get that email- you get up and strut your stuff like always! Awww! -huggles- I have a self-proclaimed number one fan! -huggles tighter- I love you. =D
Aryalon: I hope this makes up for another month without an update. -cries in a corner and hides from her wrath- Ryo is a complicated character. He's sweet, jealous, and an all around great guy (perfect boyfriend material, really), but he's also got his demons too. I love him to death, but he is meant to be the jealous type. He can't be completely perfect, or he'd be unrealistic. XD So, let him brood away, because we both know Kimmy is going to spend time with Syusuke whether he likes it or not! Ha! =3 Anyways, I can't really comment on the Day with Eiji moment, because it would give entirely too much away, but I promise things are coming soon. Big things... Things that make me go 'bwuahahaha' to myself, you know? Anyways, I'm taking away from your reading time! I hope I don't disappoint with this string of updates, my love!
Onepiecelover4ever: I know, I'm terrible about updating. -sulks- I hope you didn't get too anxious, darling! Here's a whole bunch of updates!
Kendieblack628: Thank you for the insightful and kind feedback, dear. I love when readers actually tell me WHY they like the story. I hope you continue to enjoy and I'll try not to disappoint! =D
Chapter Twenty-One:
Ivan versus Syusuke
Ryo Takahashi
Third Person's Point of View
"Syusuke! Woo! You're amazing!" Paige screamed, sitting next to Vance up in the crowd as Syusuke easily glided across the court, his eyes still smiling and not even opened. It was obvious he did not deem this opponent to be a challenge, even if he did not verbally acknowledge that.
"Why isn't she cheering?" Vance pointed towards Kimmy, who was sitting on the bench on the court, invited especially by Syusuke himself. "I mean, that's one of her greatest friends isn't it?"
Ryo waited, wondering about the answer himself and not at all happy with the current situation. Aylin smirked, seeing his look and running a hand through her short hair at his silent frustration.
"Oh, she is, trust me, but she isn't cheering because she doesn't think there's a need too. She knows he's going to win; she's never doubted him and definitely never will. On, or off, the court," she narrowed her gaze on Kimmy's boyfriend, gauging his reaction and becoming even giddier with the sour look on his face. "If he lost now, it would be a disgrace to her, considering her last memorable defeat was this very same boy."
"Wow, I've never seen her this calm during a match." Ty was actually serious, for once in his known life, and staring at the two on the courts with contemplation marring his sharp features.
Kimmy was leaning against the wall, legs crossed simply and her head tilting a little to follow the movement of the ball. She was not screaming or cheering him on, instead watching the fluidity of Syusuke's flawless, timed movements.
"It's happening all over again..." Serenity was quiet in that declaration, making sure none heard her exact words. A day-dreamy, sly smile was on her face at the revelation.
"What was that, my darling?" Ty romanticized, grabbing her hand and giving her a soft kiss to her knuckles.
She shook her head, both in response and to clear her warring thoughts, "Absolutely nothing of importance."
:{On The Line}:
"Winner: Syusuke Fuji!"
Syusuke shook hands with his opponent proudly, the cheering deafening as the two came together across the net. I smiled, bringing him a towel and throwing it over his head while shoving a water bottle in his sweaty hands.
"You won."
"You knew I would." He was not being cocky, but he could tell I knew he would indeed win from the beginning of the match. His subtleties were obvious to me but unseen to most.
"Was it that obvious?" I stuck my tongue out, grinning like a little kid at the handsome boy.
"You didn't even scream. Not once." He wiped the sweat from his face, the water bottle emptied and discarded.
I scratched the back of my head, "There was no need."
He grabbed his things and nodded, "Thank you for staying down here to watch the match. You could have gone up there with your friends, you know."
"I know, but I couldn't look cocky and like I knew everything from up there," I was joking, playfully flicking his arm in the process, "At least not enough for everyone to see."
"True." He saw the chain hanging around my neck, the locket as always, shining against my shirt. "Would you like to actually spend some time with me sometime soon? We never really get to."
"Sure. How about after my match sometime?" I tilted my head, and he nodded. I did not even think about Ryo's reaction to spending time with the boy before me. There was no point in him being jealous, right?
"You did great Fujiku!" Kikumaru literally leapt onto him, hugging his friend like if he let go, he would disappear... or be declared the loser. Both would be genuinely horrific. "I'm so proud of you!"
"Eiji..." He pried him off with a good amount of effort- it was definitely necessary when it came to this man-, patting his friend on the head and handing him some gum to placate him, "Here."
"SQUEE!" Kikumaru squealed, inhaling the entire package and causing his cheeks to puff out comically. "IT'S DELICIOUS! THANK YOU FUJIKU!"
We sweat-dropped, "You're only supposed to eat one at a time."
"Great job Syusuke." Serenity and the group had vacated the stands, "You did great."
"'e 'as 'etter 'an wreat!" Kikumaru was failing at talking around the gum wad in his mouth. "Nya!"
"Where's Ryo?" I questioned upon noticing his absence, looking at the group of friends who had come down to congratulate Syusuke. He was not with them, and neither was Ty for some reason.
Aylin popped up, smiling from ear-to-ear, "He said he'd meet you in the car. That's where Ty is too."
"Alright?" I blinked in confusion. "Well, I'll see you guys later! Great job Syusuke!" I hugged him quickly, then took off running out of the stadium to find my boyfriend and one of my dearest friends.
"Someone's in trouble!" Aylin sang.
"Who?" Masaharu asked, being the only Rikkaidai player to attend.
"Ryo!" Secretly, Syusuke's smile etched deeper across his cheeks. He knew Aylin's game, and it was amusing him to no end. He knew better than to play; Kimmy would kill him if he did and she later found out.
"That was mean," he whispered to her where none could hear.
She snickered, "Does it honestly look like I care?"
:{On The Line}:
Ty Rivers
Third Person's P.O.V.
[About 20 minutes earlier]
Ryo had left for his car as soon as the winner of the match was declared. He did not want to go down to congratulate him, the one boy he- at this point- actually hated. He had never hated someone before, so this feeling was a new experience for him, but he knew what it was the moment it appeared. The bile rising in the back of his throat at the mention of his name was enough to prove it, as he had expressed to his blonde counterpart.
Ty, playing the role of best friend as he always did, had followed- of course. He opened the door and sat next to his obviously seething best friend, playing more Cinder Road as he usually did when he was upset. He closed the door, making sure the dark-tinted windows were completely up before Ty turned down the music for the meaningful conversation sure to come.
"What's wrong, Ryo?"
Ryo sighed, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes, "Nothing."
"Don't even try it," Ty yanked his hand away from his face, staring at the dark-haired man. In never went unnoticed how they were polar opposites in most of their emotional states and looks alike. "Tell me now, Ryo Takahashi."
"Syusuke Fuji..." He narrowed his eyes behind the thin-rimmed glasses.
"Yeah, he does seem to be a nuisance. But why are you getting so worked up over it?" Ty tilted his head, hair brushing his eyes. "You never get this bad off unless you're really thinking hard about something."
"She used to love him. I told you that already. I believe she hasn't fallen out of love with him yet."
Even that one struck Ty, making him stare in utter awe. "She loves you though."
"I know this. But I don't think she's in love with me, like she was him." His voice was quiet now, pained, "I do love her, Ty, more than just love. I've hit the ground hard for her, the first thus far and the last I want. But I don't believe I have her. That bastard does."
"You really don't like him do you?" Ty was amazed. Ryo hardly ever swore; it was not like him, at all. "No... you hate him."
Ryo nodded, disgusted with himself at such a shallow feeling. He was a lover, not a fighter; it had always been that way and always would be. But these feelings that the tennis player gave him was enough to make him sick.
"You've never hated someone before. This is weird." Ty ran a hand anxiously through his thick hair, "Is there a reason you hate him so bad?"
"Easy, we both love the same woman. At least, I know I love her. I don't know about him though. The only thing that gives him the upper hand over me is something I cannot compete with him in." His hands clenched in his lap, his knuckles turning white from the strain. "He is a genius when it comes to tennis. I've seen him play, and the person that showed me obviously prefers him over me, a very influential person in Kimmy's life too. I am not a genius about the sport, I cannot play, and I barely even know anything about it."
"Who is the person that prefers Syusuke to you?" Ty asked quietly. Everyone that he knew of loved Ryo more than anything and thought him and Kimmy were the dream couple. Hell, half the school- if not more- believed it, regardless of the rampaging fans that would love to be in either pair of shoes.
"Aylin Felicia Castille."
"Her sister?!" That was a shocker alright. "Aylin always seemed fond of you though."
"Until he came along. She is trying everything she can to get me jealous. She showed me a video of them kissing after that match Kimmy spoke of the other day. That very match was played across the globe as the World Championships for tennis in Japan. She even pointed things out to me like today, that otherwise I wouldn't have known. Yes, I knew she was acting strange for being at a game-"
"-match."
"-match, but I never would have expected her to be so keen on him." He was upset, angry, and sad all at the same time. Yet, he loved her and did not want to let him have her.
"Things are just going to get harder, man." Ty placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "I'll help no matter what I can. I'll keep him away from her as much as possible, or rather keep her from him. I'm around her a lot now anyways, and I'll do all I can to make sure I continue to do so. Either way, I'm always here for you."
"Thank you, Ty," Ryo smiled finally at the blonde, relieved at the revelation. He certainly did not want Kimmy's freedom jeopardized, seeing as she tried so hard to keep it, but Ty would be able to find a way to make it seem more secretive than not, "I owe you."
"No, you don't," he smiled kindly. "I'm here to help, as is my civic duty and the job of a true best friend."
"Here comes Kimmy," Ryo noticed before his friend, making the other jump in the back quickly to avoid suspicion.
:{On The Line}:
I opened the door to the sleek black vehicle, sliding onto the black leather seat, "Why didn't you two stay to congratulate him?"
I rounded on Ryo, giving him a very scary look. I knew he was not a fan of Syusuke's, but he had been civil to all my other friends thus far, at least congratulating them on their win or even saying 'I'm sorry' if they lost. Apparently, Syusuke Fuji was his exception and I found that to be infuriating. I also knew that Ty had only left because Ryo had, probably to inquire as to why he had run off.
"Well, my Queen, I was in need of using the restroom facilities and Ryo had to go since he is my bathroom buddy, but when we saw the crowd of fan girls and then all the ones congratulating Syusuke, we decided not to try and push our way through the crowd. We knew someone would tell you where we went," Ty was quick to cover for his friend.
"Uh-huh." I was not convinced, but since there was a cover-up being used I would let it slide for now. "Drop me at the courts would you?"
"Why?" The two chorused, staring at me as if I had grown a second head.
"My best friend from Japan is in need of training for his match tomorrow and just like I do every night, I'm going to verse him and train with him. My match is the day after tomorrow, after all." That was not the only reason I wanted out of the car. They had made me angry and I was ready to get out of here and work off some stress in the one way I knew best.
"I thought Lord Syusuke was your best friend from Japan?" Ty grinned cutely. I knew he was not asking to be rude, but rather just to voice his thoughts.
But I saw the game... Inwardly, I smirked a little; if they wanted to try and stress me out a few days before my match then I would gladly be a jerk before then, "You could say that. But my first and my greatest friend is Akaya."
They both shivered, "Kirihara?!"
"But he's so devilish!" Ty gasped.
"That's why he and I get along so greatly," I snickered. "He was vicious when we met. But that is a story for another day." I opened the door once we were at the courts, and saw Kirihara playing with Masaharu while Yukimura, Sanada, Yagyuu, Bunta, and Jackal watched or cheered respectably.
"Oi, its Keina-hime!" Bunta grinned.
"Bye guys," I kissed Ryo just for the sake of sanity and ruffled Ty's hair, closing the door the rest of the way and leaving the stifling vehicle. "Good afternoon guys."
"Hey Kimmy-hime." Yukimura smiled softly. None would expect how great a player this man was just by looking at him.
"Who won? Who won? Who won?" Bunta leapt on me, hugging me with both arms and legs. I could barely support the weight, so I fell onto my bum. "Who won?!"
"Who do you think won, Bunta?" My eye twitched as a profound ache started in my rear and lower back.
"Fuji?"
"Duh."
"Fuji won!" He waved his arm.
"Off now, Candy King." I pushed him off and headed over to sit with the guys. "Akaya, I have faith in you for tomorrow!"
He smiled at me, though his eyes were bloodshot to the point he appeared demonic, "Thank you, Kimmy."
"No problem, Devil Boy."