DISCLAIMER: I do not own Prince of Tennis. I wish I owned Royal Pair though, but I don't. So...
WARNING: This is YAOI / BL story.
THANK YOU FOR R&R: Mizuki06
A/N: This is the last chapter. Thank you all for joining me on this journey.
As always I'm looking forward to your reviews.
ENJOY !
Chapter 23: Blue sky
"I think it's time we make a decision, don't you think?" Ryoga approached his father who was observing one of the final matches for the afternoon practice – Kintarou vs Sanada. Despite the ban on this technique Kintarou was currently in the process of spinning rapidly in preparation for his Super Ultra Great Delicious Mountain Storm. He was having so much fun playing a strong opponent that he completely forgot what he was and what he wasn't allowed to do and simply went all-out.
Nanjiroh nodded and moved towards sports center before he got caught in the aftermath of this quite deadly technique. "Although they are still mada made dane." He smiled. Behind him a big impact shook the ground and swept away from their feet a few players who stopped their workouts to peek at the match.
In the faculty room the table standing in the middle was totally buried under the pictures of all of the Japanese players with their basic stats. On top were the photos of the thirteen players chosen initially a few days prior.
"Take your pick father."
Nanjiroh looked at the photos and reached out for a picture of maroon hair boy with a widest smile on his face wearing leopard-printed tank. "Him." He pasted the photo to the wall. "He understands best the fun behind playing tennis and so is not preoccupied with the outcome of the match. He is a wild all-rounder who despite his physique is insanely strong."
Ryoga only nodded. "Reminds of Chibisuke, ne? Ok, so I'm choosing Yukimura." He pasted the second picture to the wall. "Honestly I do not condone his way of playing tennis and never want to play against him. But… he truly is a demon on the court. None of the special techniques executed against him fazed him and he countered almost all of them. But this jersey of his hanging from his shoulders. Grrr." Ryoga gritted his teeth.
"Easy Ryoga, or I would think you really like him," Nanjiroh smiled. "I bet, Tony would be inconsolable."
Ryoga only shoot him "stop joking" look. "Your turn Ojaji."
"This one." He picked a photo of very serious looking teen with a cap covering his forehead. "Sanada Genichiro. He is so strict and no-nonsense guy that it almost hurts to look at him, but the person he is most strict with is himself. I have seen him many times in the gym doing additional workout. His strive for perfection is so high that's it's almost scary. I hope that once he enters the pro-tennis world he will not lose his willpower."
"You know there is a similar guy in Tawamure High?" Ryoga said taking a photo of Tezuka.
"Maa, maa. I know he is good, but there is something wrong with those kids being so damn stoic and composed." Nanjiroh said looking at the wall.
"But we cannot overlook his tennis skills. The range of techniques he possess and the ability to open all three doors behind Muga-no-Kyochi makes him a very formidable player."
"Yeah, yeah." Nanjiroh nodded.
"But if it helps, he pisses me off too." He then clapped his hands, "Ok, let's get back to work. I have a date later on." Ryoga grinned.
"I don't want to hear any details." Nanjiroh raised his hand as if to stop Ryoga.
"No you don't, no you don't."
"Ok, since we are at the users of Muga-no-Kyochi I would choose this one." Echizen senior took another photo. "Chitose Senri. Since the Nationals three years ago he managed to open the remaining doors. I think he was also one of the players who developed most during the past two weeks."
"I agree," Ryoga nodded. "In that case, I choose this one." He took a picture of a teen with a silver-brown, medium length hair. He had white bandages wrapped around his left hand. "Shiraishi Kuranosuke."
"Aaaa, the ecstasy boy." Nanjiroh nodded in approval. "He still wears this insanely heavy golden gauntlet he got from Samu-chan."
"Samu-chan?" Ryoga asked.
"Watanabe Osamu. Their coach from middle school, who moved with the guys to high school. I actually played with him quite a lot when we were in school ourselves. That was pretty fun." Nanjiroh smiled remembering other mischiefs they were a part of.
Ryoga clapped his hands, "Ok, ok. Let's get back to work. I have much better things to do."
"Yes, yes. I know. No need to install those images in my head." Nanjiroh interrupted his son. "So we have one more spot and one spot for substitute. I was thinking one of the geniuses from Tawamure. Fuji or Oshitari."
"Hmmm. I don't know about that. Although I like the sadistic streak of Fuji on the court, he still seems not to care much about tennis itself. Kind of the similar goes for the other one." He looked contemplatively through the window. "You sure Ojaji we cannot appoint that boyfriend of Chibisuke? I hardly want to admit it but he would be a perfect candidate."
"No can do. He needs to rest now and that's final. Ryoma would kill us if Atobe would end up in the hospital again."
"Then, what about this one?" Ryoga pointed to the teen with medium brown colored hair which were spiked in the back with long side bangs in the front. His eyes were purple and he had his left ear pierced. "He is the captain Josei school. Kajimoto Takahisa."
"I'm against. He is so focus on being the masterpiece that his mind is too closed for new experiences. Because of that he plays well below his capabilities."
Ryoga looked at the remaining photos. "Initially we've selected also Tachibana from Fudomine and Oshitari Kenya from Shitenhoji, but I think they are not top level players yet."
Nanjiroh nodded in agreement. "How about those two then?" He pointed to the last two players from the initial selection – Kirihara and Sengoku.
Ryoga nodded in approval. "I like them. Especially the one with the orange hair. I think he still does boxing. It's clearly visible in his footwork. He is overall well balanced and seems to have significant mental strength. On the other hand Kirihara although he is sort off late bloomer in each match, he has been observing some of the best players like Yukimura and Sanada up close for the past five years and picked his fair share of techniques from them. He also no longer plays to injure the opponent when he is under heavy pressure. What do you think Ojaji?"
"I say we take Sengoku as a sevent'h player and Kirihara as a substitute." He placed their pictures on the board.
"Agreed."
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3 days later…
"Tony, did you see Ryoma?" Kevin asked his teammate. They were gathered on the stadium in Tokyo, where the Goodwill game was to take place. I was not a small stadium by any means, filled to the brim with spectators. The whole team was already gathered there preparing for the matches. And instead of preparing himself, Kevin was looking for Echizen for a good half an hour already running throughout the sport facilities.
"Not recently," Tony looked at his wrist watch, "he still has ten more minutes before the matches start."
"You are not very helpful, you know?" Kevin squinted his eyes.
"Actually, I haven't seen him since breakfast." Tony added after a moment of reflection.
"Me neither," David who was just warming up added. "Did you try looking for this grey haired guy calling himself Ore-sama? Maybe they are together."
"Actually David, that's the first good idea I've heard today. Thanks." Kevin shouted and started to run in the direction of Japanese players. They were standing on the opposite side of the court. And although he did not expect to see Atobe there, as he was not selected, there were majority of his friends there.
"Tezuka, did you see Atobe?" Kevin asked when he reached the Japanese team.
"No. I haven't seen him since this morning." Tezuka admitted. "Why?"
"Ahh, no reason." Kevin scratched the back of his head.
"Great. Just great." Kevin said under his breath. "I swear, if they are getting down and dirty somewhere I will kick Ryoma's ass to the next Tuesday."
"Could it be?" Shiraishi asked, "That you've misplaced your captain?" Kevin looked at him like a deer caught in headlights.
Yukimura chuckled. "That boya." He then turned to Tezuka, "It looks Tezuka, that your pillar –"
"Don't finish Yukimura. Please." Tezuka crossed his arms, lowered his head a bit a sighed.
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"We will now be starting the first match. Singles 3." The voice from the speaker announced. "Representing Japan – Shiraishi Kuranosuke versus representing USA – David Callen."
And so the matches began and Kevin still did not located his captain.
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On the other side of the country…
"You know Ryoma," Atobe said, taking a sip of his drink. "I'm really glad that we've came here, but don't you regret ditching the tournament?"
They were laying on the sunbeds in front of the private cabin on one of the beautiful Okinawa's islands. The weather was marvelous. It was almost 30 degrees Celsius and there was not a single cloud in the sky. The water in the sea was inviting them to immerse within it's beautiful azure depths. The only sound they could hear were the waves softly crushing on the shallow waters where the beach met the sea. There was literally not a single soul on this island.
"Naaa," Echizen denied. "There will be other matches to play. Besides," he laid down next to Keigo and kissed him lightly on his neck, "I did not want to see you sad Monkey King." He emphasized each word with a kiss.
"You are a punk, you know that brat?" Atobe asked moving to his right pinning Ryoma to the bed. He pushed Ryoma's hands to the sides of his head and hold them there.
"Maybe," Ryoma's eyes were twinkling with mirthand his lips were twisted into an innocent smile, "But you love me nonetheless."
Atobe smirked. "Yes, I do." He then sealed his lips with Echizen.
Despite not playing the match that day Echizen could definitely categorize this day as very fulfilling. Very.
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Omake:
The next day after the memorable basketball match…
"Yukimura, can we talk?" Tezuka asked when they were leaving canteen after the evening meal. They were standing in the corridor full of players.
"What is it Tezuka?"
Tezuka kneeled on one knee in front of Yukimura. His left arm resting on the bent knee in front. He was gritting his teeth so much that they could almost fall off although none of the players around them seemed to notice this. He strengthened his resolve. He got his act together and looked up at Rikkai Dai captain.
"I've observed you for the past six years," he started, "but in the last two weeks I realized that you are the best tennis captain in Japan-"
"Tezuka," Yukimura brought a fist to his heart, an innocent look on his face. "Please stop and stand up."
"No." Tezuka shook his head. "Let me finish." He had no other choice. "Would you do me an honor and bring me under your tutelage?"
Yukimura was looking at him with big eyes. "Of course Kunimitsu," he said addressing Tawamure's captain by his given name. "Come with me." He then moved towards his room, Tezuka in tow.
"What was that all about?" Matt asked David.
"I think that Tezuka just became Yukimura's sidekick." David explained the situation bluntly. After all beside Echizen and Kevin, he was the only one speaking Japanese on the USA team.
"Eeeee," Matt was a bit surprised. He thought that it was some kind of weird love confession. "And that was Ryoma's captain? I will never understand Japanese people." He shook his head and left towards the room he was sharing with his twin.
In Yukimura's room…
When the door closed Yukimura started to laugh so hard that his stomach started to hurt. Honestly he had never had such a fun in his entire life. If anyone has seen him now they would think he got possessed. When he calmed a little bit he looked at his friend. "Don't be so gloomy Tezuka. That was fun."
"I have different opinion on that matter Yukimura." When he agreed to a bet with the Rikkai Dai captain he thought that in the worst case scenario if he loses he will be asked to play a match with Yukimura. He definitely underestimated him. Especially that part of the deal was that he was not allowed to disclose reasons behind his behavior to anyone. Ever.
A/N: Once again THANK YOU for reading. I hope you've enjoyed the story at least a little. I wish you all ALL THE BEST.