Author's Note

Hello everyone, and happy new year! I hope that everyone's had a wonderful holidays. Mine were full of stress and a bit too much family... But it's time to get back into the regular schedule. (It's tough- I feel like I should still be asleep, despite it being quite late in the day!)

Here is our next chapter! I apologize, but it was written rather quickly. I've been distracted and busy and haven't had much time to write. I hope that you enjoy it though!

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis does not belong to me. Reads and reviews appreciated. I'll make sure the next chapter is longer!

Chapter 35

It was as though time had frozen for the brothers. Ryoma's lips fell open in a gasp, the only action he would have had time for before Ryoga's whip would fall, lashing downwards at the little prince. In that moment, hazel met gold, and both brothers' eyes widened. It was as if they finally recognized each other, fully and completely, as the kin they thought they had lost. Ryoga could recall the day the younger prince had been born. The entire kingdom had been thrown into revels and celebration, whilst the King hosted a grand banquet to announce his first blood-born son. Just as the little prince had been presented before his future court, trouble had crept within the castle walls. All around him, Ryoga had seen nothing but death and destruction as the court of Seishun fell. He hadn't even known if the king and queen had escaped, for his immediate presumption had been that of abandonment and he had eagerly accepted the offer made to him by the disembodied voice that followed.

Something unusual happened in that brief window of time. The memories that Ryoga held in his mind seemed to rewind, falling back to even before Ryoma had been born. Eyes watched the kingdom jealously, coveting the crown upon Nanjirou's head. Joy coursed through the being's body as the gates to the palace were thrown wide open in celebration of the younger prince's birth. A gaseous being slipped in through the doors as the guards were distracted by their monarch's announcement, smiling fondly as a little bundle of fur was placed in the carriage next to the newborn child. The elder brother watched, aghast, as the terror and destruction of the castle was shown to him from different eyes. Through the clouds and soot, he watched the king run back towards the destroyed dining hall, roaring desperately for his adopted son. Guards came forth to pull their ruler to safety, and Nanjirou valiantly fought against them until he was overpowered and torn away. Eyes then turned to a dust-covered figure, a young boy who stirred as the terror began to settle. The insubstantial being crept forward with an offer, a seductive proposition… One that Ryoga had accepted. The dark being practically vibrated in distorted glee before sliding into the boy's mind through his ear. His eyes widened as he realized what had happened that night, how he had been lied to and manipulated. Again, he focused upon the little figure cowering before him, as though seeing his little brother for the first time.

"Chibi… suke…"

As quickly as the moment had come, it passed them by and the world began to spin once more. In the blink of an eye, Ryoga gave a terrible scream as a spear of ice embedded itself within his back, his body convulsing as another struck him in the head. "Quick, little prince!" Ryoma felt himself lifted into strong arms and stolen from the ground in a flash of lightning. Golden eyes widened as he looked up into the face of the man who carried him. "Sa-Sanada!" He gasped before turning his attention back to his brother, who seemed suspended in a state of shock. Two large shards of ice had pierced his head and his back, lethally sharp blades that glinted in the light of the fire. "Ryo… Aniki!"

Ryoma struggled against Sanada's arms, and the unsuspecting Emperor released him. The prince took off running back towards his brother. "Freeze, brat!" A wall of ice appeared before Ryoma, halting him in his path. Frustrated, he glared at Atobe, whose hands were lifted towards him. "We finally have the bastard where we want him! Let us finish this now!"

Ryoga slowly brought his hand up to his head, tracing the back of it hesitantly before his hands met the sharp ice. His eyes widened with horror, and his body finally crumpled to the ground. "No… No, Ryoga! Aniki!" Ryoma pounded his fists on the ice, expression wild. He stepped back and summoned all the fire within his body, his hands glowing orange as he prepared to unleash his rage. "I'm coming, Aniki, just hang on!"

"Brat, no!" Atobe shouted from where he stood, one hand facing either brother. Sanada approached from behind Ryoma, trying to pull him back, but the prince lashed out at the emperor, sparks flying from his body. "Princeling, you must think this through!"

"He's my brother!" Ryoma choked out. He had already lost his family once; he was not about to do so again, not so soon after finding him. "I need to help him, there has to be some way—"

"Chibisuke." Ryoga's voice called to the younger Seishun prince weakly from where he lay upon the ground. His breaths were shallow and strained, but he twisted his head to face his younger brother. "They're right… While I'm weakened, while he is weakened, you must destroy me."

Fighting back tears, Ryoma turned to the wall of ice once more, setting his hands upon the ice. "It's not your fault, Ryoga!" he shouted as the ice began to melt. He shot a glance towards Fuji, where the seer was still pinned down, before turning to face the ice again, furrowing his brow in concentration. "It's never been you, someone is controlling you… I know!"

The crowd hushed as the truth came forth, Atobe's hands dropping as he looked on, stunned. The wall of ice melted, quickly becoming a pool of water at Ryoma's feet. The prince set his hands down, sweat gleaming upon his skin as he walked towards his brother. "We can defeat him, Ryoga… The Creator. He told me how. But I need Kanna to do it."

Hearing her name, the mighty firebird cried out from the heavens, pausing in her battle to gaze down at her master. No one moved as the phoenix's eyes flickered from one brother to the next, everyone holding their breath to see what would happen next.

"If the boya says it will work… Then I stand by him." A serene voice broke the silence as Yukimura broke from the crowd to stand beside Ryoma. The Child of God smiled weakly at the little guardian before lifting his head, his eyes seeking out Sanada. "He has powers beyond the scope of our imagination, Sanada. You and I have both seen this. Let us trust in him."

Blinking slowly at being singled out, Sanada stood for a moment's consideration before slowly nodding, making his way to join Yukimura. Not ones to be beaten, Atobe and Tezuka also made their way towards the little prince, the King of Hyoutei clapping a hand upon Ryoma's shoulder. "Just tell us what needs to be done, brat."

Ryoma glanced up at his fellow travelers appreciatively before turning his attention back to Ryoga. "We'll do it together, Aniki," he said softly, eyes softening at his brother. "We'll defeat whoever is controlling you together… And then we'll rule Seishun together."

Ryoga grinned weakly at his brother. "How did you grow up so fast, Chibisuke?" he strained before coughing. He grit his teeth at the pain that reverberated through his body, blood seeping through his clothes. "Quickly then… before he regains his strength. Kanna!"

The spirit of fire screeched, diving towards the earth before spreading her wings and hovering above Ryoga. Ryoma stood slowly, his eyes seeking the bird's own. "Help me, Kanna," he commanded, his hand reaching for the bandolier of bells around his chest. The phoenix tilted her head, blinking at Ryoma's words before glancing downwards to Ryoga, cooing. Ryoga's breaths were erratic and he was quickly losing strength. "Please, Kanna!" The spirit's attention snapped back to Ryoma, who had now drawn the bell of fire. His eyes were desperate as he pleaded. Around them, the other spirits gathered, watching to see what their sister would do.

'You are… pure of heart, little guardian.' Ryoma paused as he heard the voice of the fire spirit for the first time. It was soft and smooth, not at all how he had imagined her voice would be. 'When we first met, you were lost. Torn between decisions… But now, your wishes are true. Your passion is renewed.' Everyone watched in awe as Kanna bent her neck, head bowed to the prince. 'It would be an honour to serve you.'

Ryoma lifted the bell, swinging it down with a quick flick. A high chime sounded as a ribbon of light appeared around one of the bird's legs. "Thank you, Kanna." The light faded, revealing a bright yellow ribbon with a small bell, and Ryoma immediately felt a power fill him like none had before.

Strength filled his body from his core and all the way to his fingertips, and a gentle light lit his skin. "Now," he said, straightening up with renewed resolution as he replaced the bell in its holder. "Show yourself, spirit of darkness; I command you, leave my brother!"

He focused his attention upon the broken body of Ryoga, hands held towards him. White light shot from him, surrounding the crumpled boy. An unearthly scream filled the air. "No… NO! NEVER!" Ryoga gave a tormented shriek, his body convulsing and arching over backwards as he was lifted into the air, the spirit within him desperate to escape the light. But Ryoma's attention remained fixed upon his brother, his will to save Ryoga stronger than the darkness' hold upon the man, and streams of darkness fled from the elder brother's body.

"Prince Ryoga!" Ryoga's men below leapt into action, hearing the cries of the dark prince, but as soon as the darkness began to leave the man, they all fell to the ground. Some clung to their heads, chests, or necks, and others screamed as similar tendrils of darkness began to escape from them. "What… what is going on?!" Oishi gasped.

"Look! The darkness!" Fuji, having finally been released, climbed up from the dirt and pointed towards the sky. The tendrils of darkness seemed to be gathering, forming a large mass of dark, pulsing energy. "What is… What's going on?"

"It's… him…" Ryoga murmured weakly as he fell upon the ground. Ryoma quickly ran to him, crouching over in the dirt to lift his brother. Oishi quickly followed on his heels, eager to assist with healing in any way he could.

"Who, Ryoga?" Ryoma asked as the healer worked his element. Ryoga's eyes darkened as a familiar dark laughter filled the skies. It was the same laughter he had heard many years ago, here to wreak the same destruction it had then. "Who is it?" Ryoma asked again.

Ryoga took a shuddering breath as his attention left the darkening skies to face his brother. His voice was dark as he answered. "My father."