Title: Realize
Fandom: POT/Tenipuri
Genre: General/Romance
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Kevin/Ryoma
Type: Multi-part, 5/7
Disclaimer: No, I do not own Prince of Tennis!
Author's notes: I just realized that I have no idea where this fic is heading... but I'm determined to end it at the seventh chapter. I do not want to kill any more brain cells than necessary. Also, Last update!... Future updates, at my fics journal , please check user info
Chapter 5
The next day came and passed by in a flash of light. Ryoma had no idea how he had managed to defeat his opponent. Heck, he didn't even have the slightest idea on how he had lived through the whole day. It was as if he had been running on empty fuel from morning to afternoon.
There was a lack in motivation in him. He didn't respond when his mother asked if he needed any more servings for breakfast. He did not even react when his father teased him mercilessly about him being gay, and on how he didn't show much interest in any of the girls in his fan club.
It was already late evening when he received a message from Kevin, who congratulated him on his winning streak--and it was only then that he finally showed some outward reaction. He smiled in response, and sent a cocky reply to the boy through his cell phone. It was just at that moment that he realized that he had actually been waiting to hear from Kevin all day long. The day just didn¡¯t seem complete without talking to the blonde.
/Since when have I gotten so used to having Kevin around/ Ryoma thought with a frown. /I must have been getting soft.../ Upon thinking of it, he berated himself mentally.
Just then, the thought of his ex- teammates from Seigaku entered his mind and he came to a realization that it had been some time since he had missed their company. They just didn¡¯t seem to take up a large portion of his mind anymore. In fact, he hadn't even been thinking about Tezuka, Fuji and his other rivals for a long time.
/When did I change/ Ryoma questioned himself. He didn't even need to think before the name 'Kevin' flashed in his mind. He knew it was partially due to Kevin's constant company that helped him cope with the loss of his teammates. The sheer thought of Kevin caused Ryoma to smile, despite the fact that he always smirked. He had never really smiled until...
Letting out a sigh, he flopped himself onto his bed and groaned. /When did I become so weak/ It seemed that he couldn't function if without there with him. It was as if the latter had become a source of life for him, like...oxygen, or sunlight. If he had been running like the living dead just because he hadn't heard from Kevin all day, then what would become of him if he were to lose the American boy altogether?
He had no idea, but a part of him knew that he wouldn't be able to live on if that ever happened. /So that's what the feeling of love is like...eh/ he mused. He could still remember how Momoshiro had moped when Tachibana Ann broke up with him. His sempai had been haggard all the while, until the spunky girl agreed to patch things up.
The sheer thought of him behaving the way Momoshiro did before sent shivers down his spine. He didn't dare to think of it further, for he knew that he would have nightmares if he dwelled on the subject any longer than necessary. Pushing all stray thoughts to the very back of his mind, he tried to concentrate on the task of preparing himself for the match the next day. His opponent tomorrow was strong; it wouldn't do him any good to lose his concentration.
He knew that if he lost the match tomorrow, he would have to return to Japan. Part of him was tempted to leave for Japan, so that he would be able to join Seigaku in the Nationals; not to mention the prospect of seeing his fellow team mates had been rather inviting. Yet, another part of him was determined to stay in America, where he knew Kevin would be. It was tough deciding between his teammates and the 'love' of his life, but he would have to make the choice by tonight. Tomorrow's match would determine his fate.
He had a choice: If he won, he would move another step forward towards his goal of becoming a top professional tennis player,. If he lost, he would pack his bags and leave the international stage for the time being, and have to work harder to achieve his plan of being the best player in Japan. To do this, he would have to win the Nationals and start anew. But either way, he was determined to move towards the prospect of being a professional tennis player as a future career.
With that thought in mind, he closed his eyes, and finally, slept peacefully.
To be continued
Date started: 23/08/05
Date completed: 23/08/05