After listening to 'Can See The Light' sung by Ibu Shinji I couldn't help but think about writing a Shinji fic, but unfortunately someone took the title already so I decided to call this fic the translated title of 'Kibou no Michi' also sung by Ibu Shinji (Moriyama Eiji). The translation is 'The Road of Hope'.
DISCLAIMER: DON'T. OWN.
WARNING: OOC-ness (seeing as that I don't know Shinji or Fudomine too well), mild shounen-ai, and plenty of violence for all you blood-lovers in the first chapter.
Chapter 1Today was in particular not the best day of his life. First he woke up late due to staying up way into the night working on several essays, he was forced to skip breakfast, had to run to school at top speed, slipped in puddles twice, got coffee spilled on his head, was late for class, and it was raining cats and dogs (not literally) in the middle of tennis practice and the Ibu Shinji's mood wasn't getting any better.
"It's just my luck, first I oversleep, slip in muddy puddles that aren't even clean, I mean with all the germs that it soaked up, get coffee spilled on my head from a clumsy baka, I'm amazed that the baka didn't drop his mug on my head, which would have given me a concussion and that would hurt so I might as well-"
"Shinji!" His best friend, Kamio Akira, cut him off in an annoyed tone. Tachibana had dismissed them earlier since he knew that they were bound to catch a cold if they continued playing in rain like this. Shinji slipped out of his wet jersey and put on his still soaked uniform. His shoulder-length hair still reeked of the smell of coffee and his shoes were caked with mud.
"Is it ever going to stop raining yet?" wondered Sakurai. The second year was already fully dressed and all packed up. He was leaning out the window elbows propped on the windowsill and his head resting on his palms staring at the gloomy sky.
"I wish it would," said Ishida joining his doubles partner next to the window. As if Kami-sama heard his prayer the rain slowed to a light drizzle and rays of sunshine could be seen between the gloomy gray clouds.
"Hey Shinji," said Kamio tapping his best friend on the shoulder. "Want to go to the street tennis courts with me? I want to play doubles with you again!"
Shinji said nothing and merely went on his way his tennis bag slung over his shoulder. He was in no mood for tennis; what he wanted now was to plop on his bed and take a nap. Today was possibly the worst day of my life and he didn't want it to get any worse.
Kamio watched the retreating form of his best friend. Somehow as the dark form slowly got smaller he got a strange feeling in his heart. It was a peculiar feeling; like this was the last time he'd ever see his best friend like this. He shook the feeling off; it was probably only a bad premonition.
Shinji had taken the long way home deliberately. He was frustrated today and was muttering under his breath about random things that absolutely no one could pick up. Dark orbs stared at the moon above. It was a full moon and its luminous white light was shining on his lean body.
He regretted that he turned down Kamio's offer into going to the street courts. Giving some third-rate tennis players 'Spot' could have cooled himself down after having a horrible day and he still had a History paper to do.
Suddenly he got a strange feeling that he wasn't alone. Normally he would have dismissed it as his senses playing tricks again, but this time for sure he knew he wasn't alone. It was a scary feeling and he wasn't risking anyone following him. Shinji quickened his pace and started walking faster.
It wasn't long before high school thugs cornered him. They look mean and obviously they were punks by how many body piercing they had all over their body. The leader looked even meaner than the others. Shinji had heard of them before; they were the Skull Punks, a band of gang members that picked on random kids that crossed their paths. It was if that the curse of unluckiness had suddenly been placed on him.
"Oi, kid, if you want to live then hand over all your money," grunted one of the thugs. Fear started to plaque his mind, but he wouldn't let it show. He kept his facial expression the same dark expression.
"Why should I? Too many people do that now in days, do they do that because they've lived surrounded by money and want more? Man, that's unfair…"
Shinji continued to mumble until he felt a fist hit his stomach like a missile. He doubled over and his head would have made contact with the wall if he handed stuck out his hand to support himself.
He managed to regenerate his supply of air, but quickly lost it when another fist aimed once again at his stomach. This time for sure he felt that his ribs had cracked. It was painful to stand, but standing was what he was doing because he wasn't going to back down that easily. He was Ibu Shinji, second year at Fudomine and tennis regular on the tennis team, and he wasn't going to back down that easily.
He attempted at punching one of the punks, but a strong hand quickly caught his fist. Within half a second he was on the ground his arm lying in a twisted angle. He was half grateful that it was his left arm and not his right. He had to get out of here before those high school thugs could launch another attack.
Grabbing his tennis bag with his good hand he tried to bring his bruised body off from the pavement. However, before e could do so he felt metal cut both his eyes. His eyes snapped shut upon impulse, but he could already tell that both his eyes were cut open for he could feel that blood was coming from his eyes running down both cheeks like crimson tears.
Shinji could no longer see what was going on or what those high school punks were going to do to him. All he wanted to do was pass out and forget about the pain. His wish was granted as he felt himself lose conscious.
Kamio Akira was working on his Math homework when suddenly the phone started to ring.
"Akira! Can you get the phone!" called his mother from the kitchen. Putting his pencil down he picked up the phone and checked the caller ID. Realizing it was Sakurai he hit the 'talk' button.
"Hai?"
"Kamio, it's… Sakurai, I'm at Sougou General Hospital with Tachibana-san and the others," said Sakurai.
"Why are you guys there?" asked Kamio. "Is anyone hurt?"
"It…it's Shinji."
"Shinji? Is he okay?" asked Kamio his voice frantic now fearing the safety of his best friend.
"We…we don't know yet, he's still…in the emergency room."
"I'm on my way." Kamio quickly hung up the phone and grabbed his jacket calling to his mother that he was going to the hospital.
He couldn't remember when he had run so fast before in his life. He never ran this fast even when he had to run laps. Perhaps it was the desperation to get to the hospital so he could be by Shinji's side. He hoped he was okay.
After tripping repetitively he finally arrived at the hospital. The knot in his stomach slightly unknotted itself seeing the sight of the sign, but the knot was still there because Shinji could still be in the emergency room.
Running into the lobby he was greeted by Tachibana. The captain had a worried look on his face.
"Where's Shinji?" blurted out the redhead.
"He's still in the ER," replied Tachibana trying to act as calm as possible. "Follow me, we need to fill you in on the details." Kamio stared at his captain, but willingly complied. He had to know if Shinji was going to be all right.
All the Fudomine regulars were in the ER waiting room waiting for the results of their teammate's condition. Ishida was pacing in front of the door, Mori was fidgeting in his seat, and even Uchimura looked somewhat discomforted.
It took only one look from the red light above the door that made Kamio lose his sense of balance. Tachibana quickly caught him by the shoulders and helped the redhead settle on a bench. Kamio couldn't hold back anymore and opened the floodgates. Tears silently ran down his cheeks and fell into his lap.
Seeing the tears Kamio was shedding made all the regulars feel a new wave of sorrow hit them. Ishida started to pace even faster, Mori kept fidgeting even more and would have shouted something had Uchimura had not covered his mouth, but even Uchimura looked even more concerned.
Tachibana noticed that Kamio was no longer crying. Had the boy finally calmed down? He leaned closer and heard that Kamio's breathing was slow. The boy had cried himself to sleep; yet tears were still visible near his closed lids. Mori scooted over on his portion on the bench so that Kamio could lie down on the bench.
He must have been sleeping for a while for when Ishida woke him up saying that they could see Shinji four hours had already passed. He couldn't make out what the taller boy was saying at first, but when he heard "We can go see Shinji" he instantly became wide-awake and made a mad dash toward Shinji's room.
The rest of the regulars were already there when Kamio and Ishida arrived. All of them had glum looks on their faces. Kamio's best friend and doubles partner was lying on the bed.
"Shinji, Kamio's here," said Tachibana.
"Shinji…"
"Kamio…is that you?" The redhead gasped when he saw Shinji's eyes. They were blank.
To Be Continued…Well, shall I continue? Review kudasai and tell me what you think! Minus the flames, I break down on those.