A/N: I've finally decided to open up this editing thingy and continue writing this story, lol. Don't worry, I'll finish it, eventually. Maybe. Yeah, probably.

Mostly Syu here, simply because I was getting tired of Ryo and Sei's POVs all the time.

Please enjoy~

|Sysusuke's POV|

Sometimes, I wonder if I drove them away. If it was all my fault. I've changed - that much I acknowledge.

Who is Ryoma?

Why are we so attracted to him?

I glanced out the window, watching as little sakura petals dance across the frame. Obviously, I wasn't paying attention to the teacher.

I can't even remember her name.

I smiled bitterly.

We've grown apart, the Seigaku tennis team.

I bit my lip.

Him.

He was the thread that kept us together.

|Syusuke & Seiichi's POV|

A golden thread, in a sea of darkness.

Yellow, red and blue.

Yellow is claimed.

I have blue...

Now I must have red.

|Syusuke's POV|

I gripped my pencil, eyes narrowing dangerously.

I will win, Seiichi.

I will.

My pencil snapped in half.

I sat by Kunimitsu's side, as always. An eery silence hung in the air, sifting through our tense bodies, laughing at us.

I slid my eyes towards him. He was staring into space...No surprising these days.

I glanced back to the window, staring listlessly at the empty fields that rolled past. Ha. Empty. Exactly how I feel right now.

My eyes snapped shut as Kunimitsu clutched my hand.

"Syusuke..." his voice broke a little, and I could feel his worry and fear rip through me. "Just...Please, just stop."

I openly glared at him this time. I tore my hand away from his.

"You don't understand," I whispered back, except with anger laced into my tone. "Oh Mitsu, wouldn't you risk everything for him?"

At this, Kunimitsu fell silent, his gaze downcast again.

My glared burned him. I already know that.

I faced away, blinking back tears of guilt and pain. 3 years ago, I would apologise right away. 3 years ago, he would challenge me into a silent staring contest every time I challenged his request.

What the hell changed?

I already know the answer.

Me.

As I stepped out of the bus, fear and anticipation came crashing, very nearly paralysing me.

Every person with black hair that passed, my heart stopped.

I closed my eyes, welcoming the sensation.

Ah.

The Kanto Reginal Tournament Semi-Finals.

The place where we had our last happy moments together.

My icy blue eyes opened slowly, a fake smile already in place.

I turned to my team - or, more accurately, Kunimitsu's team.

"We'll win this time!" I shouted, false encouragement in my voice.

As expected, their faces lit up, and a round of 'hai!' were heard.

I was fingering a loose thread coming from my red wristband, when a familiar shadow was cast on my sides.

My head slowly tilted sideways, blue meeting violet.

I broke off our eye contact immediately, darting around, trying to spot the cat-like eyes I love.

"Saa, Syu-chan~" Seiichi greeted me cheerfully, the furious gleam in his eyes contrasting his tone.

"Sei!" I replied with a smile plastered on. His eyes narrowed slightly, something many will miss if they don't know him very well. I ignored his warning, and barged on. "Say, where's the infamous Rookie of Rikkaidai? I do want to meet him. After all, he must be quite good if you chose him as your doubles partner."

Seiichi gave an airy laugh.

"Ah, you mean Ryo?" Seiichi asked rhetorically. I had to fight to keep my smile on my face. "He's still changing."

My forced smile slightly widened.

"Oh? Is that so..." I muttered.

As predicted, when Seiichi and I dawned into a suffocating and rather heated silence, our teams both stood awkwardly beside each other, though no less fearful of what would happen if they uttered a single word.

That includes Sanada and Kunimitsu.

Until, of course, he barged in and gave an adorable pout - at Seiichi.

"That darned Monkey King. If only he didn't have a damn cousin..." Ryoma seethed, promptly turning back to his phone, glowering at it.

Looking at his mess of greenish black hair, my hand automatically reached out, about to touch it when Seiichi intervened.

He smoothly came between my hand and his silky locks, blocking his beautiful golden orbs from seeing me.

"Now, now, Ryo-chan," Seiichi said with false sweetness, "let's warm up! You can kill Kei-kun later."

He smirked.

"Say bye to Seigaku, everyone!"

Ryoma's eyes darted up, wide with longing and excitement. Seiichi simply touched his left cheek, whispered something in his ear, and rather gently pushed him along.

Rage ripped through me, and only Kunimitsu's warning hand prevented me from clawing Seiichi's eyes out.

I took a deep breath.

No.

I have to control myself.

I firmly shut my eyes, only opening them in fury as I heard Seiichi's message for me.

"The Gate gives you an aura of red. Ne, yellow, blue and red completes the Circle...Let's see who will win, Syu. And I have the edge."

I pushed my fury back, and gave him my coldest look.

"Or so you think. That is merely a theory, after all."

Seiichi didn't drop his smile.

"Perhaps. But it's my theory, and I'm always right."

Our eyes challenged each other...

...And that was when I noticed how frighteningly blue his eyes were.

A/N: Thought I was dead, right? Nah. I'm not. I just hopped off for a while, I suppose. And before you ask, yes, this story will have magic in it. I'll probably rename it, too...Someday. I know exactly how this story will end, so...yeah. Good, I guess?

Before I continue, though, I have to thank everyone for the 1K votes. You have no idea how much that means to me. It really motivates me to write, too, lol.

First update of 2017...Tsk, tsk, Skye! And yes, I go by Skye now :P

What do you think, guys? If you hate/love a part, say it! I'll be sure to read it.

Thanks again, and I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint!

Skye, out!