Disclamer: I do not own Prince of Tennis. I do won Kumara Hikari though.

Chapter 4

At Echizen's house

"Welcome home, Kumara-san, Ryoma-kun." Nanako greeted them gently once they stepped into the house.

Hikari smiled at the older girl, "Please don't call me Kumara-san, it made me sound like an old woman." She made a face and grinned, "You can call me Hikari."

Nanako nodded, "okay, Hikari-chan." She complied easily, liking the petite girl's carefree attitude. She had just learned from her uncle that the daughter of his friend would be staying with them. She had been quite nervous, not knowing what to expect. Nanjirou-san had laughed at her worry and waved dismissively. It seem he's right after all.

"Oi, Hikari-chan! Seishounen (young boy)!" Nanjirou greeted as the pair walked into the kitchen, a piece of newspaper in front of him. As usual, Ryoma replied with a noncommittal murmur and sank onto one of the chairs.

Hikari narrowed her eyes at the newspaper, and then smiled mischievously. Suddenly she appeared in front of Nanjirou and snatched the newspaper out of his hand. A magazine with pictures of young girls in their bathing suit fell onto the floor.

Hikari stared at it then looked at Nanjirou with a deadpanned expression. "Nanjirou-san." She stated softly.

Nanako, who just walked into the room, watched in horror at the disreputable magazine. "Ojji-san! (Not sure of exact spelling, but it means uncle)" she exclaimed, putting her hands around her face. Her face flushed bright red. 'Oh no, he did it in front of the guest.'

Hikari noticed the appalled expression on Nanako's face and waved reassuringly. "Oh, don't worry, I knew about this before." Then she looked at the ex-tennis pro in exasperation, "Though, I don't get why you are so into it."

Nanjirou merely snorted, "Sheesh, can't a man have some entertainments of his own." Then he picked up the magazine and proceeds to flip through it again.

"Oyaji." Ryoma frowned then sighed resignedly, 'oh, well.'

……….

The dinner went relatively peaceful. They exchanged news that had happened during their parting; Nanjirou was especially interested in the affairs of Hikari's father. His words were, "Wonder what that moron messed up this time?" They had immediately assumed the old familiarity they had when Echizens were in United States. The dinner passed quickly, but that might be caused by the fact that Ryoma and Hikari ate faster than necessarily. They were quite eager to have a tennis match again.

………

"Come on!" Hikari pulled at Ryoma's sleeve, her face impatient.

"Hai, hai." Ryoma took his racket and both of them went to their respective side of the court.

"Ryoma, you didn't use Drive B in our match at Seigaku, why?" Hikari suddenly spoke.

Ryoma paused for a moment, "Same reason you didn't use Encircling." He replied after a moment of silence.

Hikari nodded. Yeah, they are not ready to show all their skills to Seigaku, yet. Then she slipped on her game face, the match starts.

………

After three hours

"AHH! My muscle itches!" Hikari complained childishly, looking very sorry for herself.

Ryoma sighed lightly and sat beside the twelve-year old girl, "You're the one who wanted a second match." However, his gentle massage over Hikari's arms contrasted greatly with the sting in his words.

Hikari sighed in relief as the pain in her arm lessened. "Come on, I'll do yours too."

This used to be a ritual for them. Whenever they had a severe match with each other, they will sit on the wooden floor facing the outside. One will massage the other's leg muscle while at the same time enjoy the other's massage on his/her own arm. They will switch after few minutes. These exercises allow both of them to relax and their ache will lessen.

Ryoma nodded and putted his legs on Hikari's lap. Soon gentle finger squeezed them with calculated force and he felt his own shoulder drop in contentment.

"Ne, Ryoma, I felt more tired today." Hikari commented suddenly.

Ryoma stared at her in surprise before smiling smugly, understanding the implication of her words. "I told you I improved, didn't I?"

Nodding absently, "Yep, definitely improved." Hikari smiled.

Ryoma felt his own lips curved into a gentle smile at the acknowledgement. Yeah, definitely improved.

………

In the room

Nanako watched the pair, smiling softly. "Ojji-san?" she called out softly.

Nanjirou turned and faced his niece, "Hmm?"

"Are they really rivals?" She asked, her eyes not leaving the two children. This picture is so heart-warming. How could these two, who are so at ease with each other, be rivals?

Nanjirou stared at Hikari and Ryoma, his own lifted into a smirk. "Definitely rivals." The he paused, "But also best friends."

Nanako turned and stared at her uncle, "How can they be both?"

Nanjirou got up and walked toward the door. Putting his hand on the door latch, "Sometimes eternal rival can also be the closest friend because they knew you the best." He the added quietly, "knew your dream, soul and heart." an image of a man with long blue hair that flashed purple in light floated in his mind. 'Best friend!' he thought silently. (I just realized how ambiguous Nanjirou just sound. He only regarded Hikari's father as his best friend, nothing more! Just the closest friend!)

Nanako nodded a her uncle's words then stared at the pair, "But I wonder, for these two, can they be something more?"

…….

At night

"Oi, Hikari-chan!" Nanjirou called out cheerfully as the girl begin to walk upstairs. Ryoma, who was in front of Hikari, also turned around, curious of what his old man want.

"You are going to sleep in Ryoma's room for now, okay?" Nanjirou said casually and was followed by a loud feminine scream.

The three tennis players stared at Nanako who is watching them with shock written clearly over her face.

All the romantic notion she had attained when she watched the pair giving massage to each other flew out of her mind.

"What! They can't sleep in the same room!" Nanako shook her hands around franticly, "It's too early, too soon, too…"

"Calm down, calm down." Nanjirou patted her shoulder reassuringly.

"But they can't sleep in the same room!" Nanako took a deep breath and protested vehemently.

"Don't worry, Nanako-san." Hikari smiled at the older girl, "I sleep in Ryoma's room all the time in United States."

If possible, Nanako looked even more shocked, "all the time?" she repeated feebly and looked toward Ryoma, who seem to be the only sane one remaining.

Unfortunately her hope was dashed when Ryoma nodded casually. He couldn't see the reason of his cousin's hysteric over the sleeping arrangement. In United States, Hikari had always slept in his room whenever her dad and her came to visit. Those visits usually lasted for a week. No one had ever made a big deal out of it.

Hikari noticed Nanako's abnormal behavior, was also quite confused. "Ryoma?" she looked questioningly at the boy and scratched her head.

Giving a confused shrug to the girl, Ryoma looked over to his father, waiting for an explanation.

Nanjirou watched Nanako, in truth; he doesn't know what's wrong either. That is until he heard the scattered words from Nanako's mouth.

"So young, they already…" the words faded out, but it's enough for Nanjirou to guess the source of the problem. He looked over to the two confused freshmen. The kids might not realize it, but he, an adult who had experienced through his teenage year, has figured it out.

He decided to blurt out the whole situation but decided against it for some miraculous reason. Actually the reason is an image of his old pal Kumara Sano screaming in rage of him corrupting his precious daughter. 'Better not risk it.' He decided. Though Kumara Sano was generally a polite man, he can be very scary when he chooses to be.

He took the arm of his niece and went into the room. "Go wash up, I'll talk to her." He said to the two, who still waited at the stairs.

Shrugging to each other, still doesn't understand the reason, Ryoma and Hikari walked upstairs and get ready for bed.

………

Downstairs

Nanjirou just finished explaining the whole situation to his niece. Nanako, though still dubious, had agreed, seeing no harm in letting Hikari stay in Ryoma's room for two days. They are only twelve after all. Besides after two days, the guest room would be cleaned up and Hikari could sleep in her room then.

………

Upstairs

"Karupin, kawaii!" Hikari squealed and scratched the Himalayan cat's ears. Karupin purred in contentment and proceed to push his head higher, allowing more room for Hikari to scratch.

Laughing lightly at Karupin's antics, Hikari obeyed happily. She really missed the little cat since Ryoma had moved. Apparently the white cat had not forgotten her either.

Ryoma watched Hikari played with Karupin and smiled softly. Yeah, Karupin had always liked Hikari since she would always scratch his ears and play with him. Seems if the little cat missed Hikari also.

"Come on, Ryoma!" Ryoma looked up in surprise. Hikari waved at him eagerly. Nodding lightly, Ryoma joined Hikari and Karupin in their games.

……….

After frolicking with Karupin for a while, Hikari and Ryoma got ready for bed.

"Ne, Hikari?" Ryoma suddenly said, remembering an incident during the school.

"Hmm?" came a questioning sleepy sound.

"Why did you stop participate in tournaments?" Ryoma asked quietly. His own eyes opened in surprise. Though he intent to ask, he did not expect the words to actually came out of his lips.

Hikari's eyes snapped open. Why, why did he ask her that?

Ryoma waited, anticipating the answer. He doesn't know why he asks it now; only the question was out of his mouth before he could stop it. Two years ago, Hikari quite playing in tournaments. That one time she and her father came to their house, she had looked hollow and sad. Though he desperately wanted to ask her, he hasn't dared to say anything except the customary, "do you want to play?" that time, Hikari hadn't talked to him at all. She is almost like a stranger. By the time the Kumaras are ready to leave, he had been afraid. Afraid he is never going to see her again.

She did come back, same as she had been before that time. Severally times, he tried to ask her amount that incident but words always died at his lips. he never asked that question because he is afraid to see that hollow look on her face again. He never wants to see her look that way again. Never again.

So why did he ask this question now? Why? He doesn't know but this is a question that had been in his chest for two years. He want to know, he want to know the reason of her hollowed look two years ago.

So Ryoma waited and waited. His heart pounded so loudly in anticipation that he was sure she could surely hear it. Long silence stretched between them, almost tangible. He waited until at last his heart admits what his mind has known long before; she is not going to answer.

"You don't have to answer. I don't care." He tossed out harshly and turned to face the wall. He was angry with himself for expecting her to answer. Of course not, who does he think he is. Why would she trust him enough to tell him a secret like that? But he did think. He did think that perhaps she would trust him enough to tell him the reason. He know he trust her; trust her more than anyone else in the world. He trusts her so vehemently that he hoped for the same from her. Obviously she doesn't think the same. He hurt. Hurt at her silence.

Hikari stared at his back. She had flinched from his harsh tone, knowing from his voice that he did care. He had never used that tone with her. Even when he is angry, annoyed or exasperated, there is always underlying warmth in his tone. Now, there was bitterness. She bit the bottom of her lip. From the tense position of his shoulder blades, she knew she had hurt him. But she is not ready yet, not ready to reveal the secret.

"Ryoma." She suddenly broke the tense silence between them. Her voice held a strange tone, one that he never heard her use. Suddenly he was snapped back to the moment when she walked in his house, looking hollow and sad. He wonders if she had talked then, would she be using this tone. Guilt and worry replaced hurt and anger. He contemplated whether to turn around; however the fear of seeing her like she had been two years ago held him in place. He stilled.

"I can't tell you the reason." She continued after a pause. Ryoma felt a familiar ache in his chest. "Not because I don't trust you. In fact I trust you more than anyone in the world." She said quietly.

This is what he wants to hear, what he had always wanted to hear. He sits up and looks at her. The darkness covered the room, but he can still see her outline. She held her knees between her chest, looking small and sad. Then she turned to him, her emerald yes looking unusually bright.

"I will tell you, one day. But not now. So be patient! Please!" the last word was so quiet that he wouldn't have heard her if she isn't so close. A stray car chose that moment to pass Ryoma's window, illumining the room for one instant. He saw her expression, fearful yet hopeful. Her lips had trembled; seem to be trying to form a smile, yet failing miserably.

He got down and Hikari's eyes looked at him in surprise. He groped around in darkness until he found her hand. He hooks his pinky finger with hers, "Yakusoku? (promise?)" He said quietly.

Hikari smiled, even though she knew he couldn't see her, "Hai, yakusoku." She promised. Yes, one day she would tell him, one day.

Suddenly she felt rough skin against her face. They wondered for a moment before setting on her lips. She recognized the texture; it's his hands. (FD: hah! You thought he had kissed her, didn't you? Well, they are just friends right now! They might become more in the future.)

"I'm glad." Ryoma said quietly.

Hikari looked at his direction in surprise. Though she could only see a faint outline, his golden-hued eyes, was gleaming. They watched her, radiating gentleness.

"I'm glad you are smiling again." Ryoma answered her questioning look. Then he got back to his bed. "Oyasumi (goodnight.) "

"Oyasumi."

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