AN: New story. Yes I know the others aren't done yet, but I really like to get these out before they get buried in my hard drive of fics.
Disclaimer: I don't own PoT nor am I making any money from doing this.
Driven: Prologue
The twenty-two year old young man tipped his cap back and wiped away the sweat the formed on his forehead. It was a hot summer day today in Japan but he didn't mind it one bit. The island heat differed so much from the heat caused by congestion and car traffic in New York City. The air felt so much lighter in his lungs and not once did he have to worry about inhaling car fog.
He looked at his watch and realized that he would just make it in time to the meeting place. Though his outward features betrayed no clear emotions, inside he was plenty excited about what was going to happen. After all, it had been almost six years since they were all last together.
He slipped his hands back into his shorts pockets and continued down the sidewalk that he was walking on, passing some small stores and shops along the way. As he passed by corner, he didn't notice the two young ladies who seemed to recognize him and started giggling.
Even though his cap shielded his eyes, it wasn't hard for the young ladies to recognize him. The dark-locks of wavy hair were strewn under his cap. His face boasted a chiseled, handsome jaw. His eyes, barely visible to others, were sharp and golden. His gait, though seemingly lazy, exuded confidence. Though five-foot-ten frame appeared slender under his clothing, the ladies who gawked at him knew that he had plenty of strength and agility.
Overall, someone who didn't know him might mistake him for him for a model.
"Excuse me," one of the young ladies finally gathered her courage and approached him.
He stopped. "Yes?"
"Um…," the young lady started as she took something out from her purse. "Could you please give me your autograph?"
His eyebrow rose at the inquiry but chose no rebuttal came from him. Instead, he just grabbed the offered pen and pad, and did as requested. "Your name?"
One of the girls giggled again, her voice suspiciously bordering on squealing. "Please, it's Hinoto Mikita."
He gave her the briefest of smiles before it disappeared again as he signed the pad. He gave it back to her and tipped his cap down lower. "Now, if you would please excuse me…"
The ladies made no bid to hold him any longer as they were more than happy to squeal over the autograph they had just received. One of the girls, however, made no attempt to hide her appreciation by shouting after him, "Thank you very much, Ryoma-sama!"
At that point, more heads turned to his direction, and the whisperings and finger-pointing began. Before the rest of the immediate public had a chance to act upon his presence, Ryoma broke off in a run and quickly disappeared into another street within a new batch of unassuming public. The smile he displayed earlier for fan-service was now gone and replaced by an unmistakable scowl.
:To be continued: