Chapter 5: Heads Up

THWACK!

Ryoma returned Momoshiro's serve with a vicious twist shot.

Momo yelped, only just getting his racket up in time to shield his face, not even thinking about returning the shot. "Oi, what's eating you?" he yelled, his nerves still recuperating from the near facial disfigurement that seemed to be the aim of half of Ryoma's shots lately. "That's the fifth time you've almost knocked my head off!"

Ryoma hit a high volley. "Sorry. Just a little pent-up with… academics."

Momo jumped and returned the ball with a dunk smash. "That's why you should get yourself a boyfriend already," he advised. "To help you ease all that stress. Tennis could only do so much."

Ryoma smirked and effortlessly returned Momo's signature move. "You and Monkey King are keeping really busy nights huh?"

Momo blushed, and missed Echizen's relatively easy return. He stared as the yellow ball rolled on the ground and came to a stop near his feet. With a low growl, he snatched it from the ground and glared at a smug Ryoma. "You know Echizen, for someone who has stayed single AND virginal all your life, you have an incredibly filthy mind," he shot back, as he strolled over to the service area. "That's not what I meant. And stop calling Keigo Monkey King."

"What did you mean then?" Ryoma asked, ignoring Momo's blatant dig at his non-existent sex life.

Momoshiro made a powerful serve and Ryoma ran to catch up to it. "You know warmth, security, someone to wave a forkful of blueberry cheesecake in front of your face after a long day's work," he answered, taking some quick steps backward and hitting a low cross-court drive. "And a good backrub would be a perk too."

"Monkey King does all that?" Ryoma asked as he hit a drive B. "What the hell did you do to him?"

"Haha. Just keep that attitude Echizen. Someday, you'll understand what I mean when you and Fuji-senpai are finally together."

This time, it was Ryoma's turn to miss an easy shot. He swiftly turned and glared at a grinning Momo, a heavily sardonic remark forming at the tip of his tongue. But before he could deal it out, a new, drawling voice interjected.

"Your skills are getting rusty, Echizen."

Ryoma glanced behind him and saw the one and only Atobe Keigo sauntering towards them in his the-world-turns-at-my-command gait, smirking.

So that's why Momo was grinning.

Ryoma nodded stiffly. "Monkey King."

Atobe bristled ever so slightly at the unflattering nickname Ryoma had christened him with but he kept walking until he reached Momo's side.

Momo held up his hands before Atobe could sling an arm around him. "Heh… Before you do that, I think I should warn you that playing with the brat is no picnic and I'm sweating waterfalls."

Atobe merely tossed his elegant locks and proceeded to draw the younger boy to his chest. "All the more reason to kidnap you so you and Ore-sama can shower together."

A splotch of red streaked across Momo's cheeks. "But you just took one."

"Ore-sama can never be too clean. And you can never have too many chances to experience Ore-sama in all his finery."

Pardon me while I gag, was Ryoma's reflexive mental remark but Momo just beamed and wrapped a sweaty arm around his boyfriend's waist.

Ryoma tapped his racket on his shoulder, wondering if he should just pack up and leave the two love doves alone. Dealing with couples wasn't high on the list of things he could tolerate and now that the Monkey King and his best friend had created that cozy airspace around themselves, he had a feeling that the match would have to be continued at some other time.

Just as he was about to slink out undetected, Atobe spoke.

"So, Echizen," he said, the arrogant smirk gracing his fine features, "I heard from Takeshi that Fuji is your professor now."

Ryoma shot Momo an accusatory look which Momo promptly ignored, before turning to the former Hyotei captain. Yes," he answered begrudgingly. He paused before adding, "Unfortunately."

"Ah." Atobe nodded imperceptibly. "Fuji's fiercely dedicated, I could give him that much."

"Yes." Ryoma eyed Atobe strangely, wondering how much the older boy knew. Echizen didn't share all of his dramatic hooplas with Momo, but he did share a fair deal of them. And Momo, being one of Seigaku's former resident motor mouths couldn't keep such information to himself, and as a general rule, shared everything with either Echizen or Atobe.

Ryoma shrugged. Well, if this day was meant to suck, he might as well let it blow all the way. "If you count taking pleasure in bringing out our ugly history and sharing it with the rest of the class as dedication," he added, knowing fully well that Atobe was willing to waste his precious breath on the matter.

As expected, Atobe raised one oh-so-elegant eyebrow at this. "Bitter much, Echizen?"

"No. Disappointed is more like it."

"Disappointed?

Ryoma didn't bother to hide the ire in his tone. "Disappointed that Fuji-senpai could sink that low."

"You can't blame him for that."

"Yeah?" Ryoma lifted his eyes and met Atobe's gaze in silent challenge. "Enlighten me."

Atobe shrugged. "I think mooning over a cold-hearted bastard such as yourself for so many years deserves some form of release, one way or another."

"Mooning?" Ryoma echoed. "Fuji-senpai has never taken me seriously."

"Has not taken you seriously?" The mild incredulity on Atobe's face spoke louder than his words. "Echizen, does eight bloody years mean anything to you?"

"Time doesn't necessitate sincerity."

"You can't judge him just like that Echizen."

"And I suppose you can?"

"Guys," Momo interrupted loudly, shooting a nervous glance between the two. "Can we not get hostile please?"

Ryoma ignored him and stepped forward, meeting Atobe's condescending gaze with his own cool one. "I'm staying away from what could hurt me."

"And in doing so, you're also staying away from what could help you," Atobe countered. When Ryoma's stubborn expression didn't change, he sighed impatiently. "Why can't you be happy, Echizen?"

Ryoma's eyebrows oscillated to orbit at these words, more surprised with the fact that it was Atobe who'd asked the question than the question itself. "What are you talking about? I'm happy without him." It was a bald-faced lie, but at least it was better than the truth, which was that Ryoma was passionately regretting spilling the beans on his complicated love life (or lack thereof). He settled on giving the Monkey King his most withering glare instead…

…which, all told, wasn't very convincing, because Atobe merely folded his arms and fixed Ryoma with a patronizing look that clearly said he thought Ryoma was a moron. "I see that you are in dire need of Ore-sama's wisdom," he said regally, one side of his mouth lifting into a sardonic half-smile. "Listen to me."

"You are not happy. And you could be happy if you'd just give Fuji what you have…" Atobe put an emphasis on the word 'have' and looked at Ryoma pointedly before continuing. " …in exchange for what you lack."

Ryoma just blinked at him.

Momo hurriedly interjected. "In simple language, pull your head out of your ass and screw it on straight," he supplied helpfully, in an attempt to ease the crackling tension. "Fuji-senpai deserves to at least hear from you."

Oh, he already did, Ryoma mentally answered. But he decided not to say that out loud anymore, seeing as how heated things got the first time around. Dealing with Fuji had deeply destabilized his psyche and having Atobe rub in that fact was just pouring salt on festering wounds.

So he simply shrugged and feigned resignation. "Why are you so keen on getting us together anyway?"

Atobe haughtily glared at him. "Is the concept of pure human goodness too complicated for you to comprehend?"

"… I wasn't aware you even knew about such a concept, Monkey King."

"Hmp. I shall pardon your slur on my generous nature for now. Anyway, you'd better make amends with Fuji. That or find-"

"- someone else other than Momo-senpai to vent my spleen on," Ryoma finished in his trademark bored drawl. "You know Monkey King, if you wanted more quality time with Momo-senpai, all you have to do is ask nicely and I'd gladly give you my blessings."

"Excuse me, but I don't recall needing your ble—"

"—Oh, wow, look at the time!" Momo piped up, checking his watch and simultaneously tugging on Atobe's arm. "The concert's at seven thirty." He shot Echizen a sheepish look as he added: "And we still need to shower."

Judging by the look on Atobe's face, he had forgotten about his unfinished response to Ryoma. "Of course." Momo lifted his hand in goodbye and he and Atobe began walking out of the courts.

Before they stepped out the gate however, Atobe turned around. "Echizen." He waited until Ryoma met his eyes before speaking again.

"You can be afraid and try. Or you can just be afraid." That said, he and Momo exited the courts.

Ryoma watched them go, gripping his racket tightly. A light breeze passed by, ruffling his longish bangs.

He thought of Fuji and what Atobe had said.

And for the first time in so long, Ryoma felt lonely.

-TBC-