Twenty Five
April had arrived soon; and Fuji and Tezuka found themselves packing things in suitcases and placing them in the trunk of the car. Mizuki and Yuuta met up with them at their house and were going to be attending the National Chiba Tennis Tournament with them.
They all were in the car soon after and now driving to the city next to Tokyo. It didn't take long either it was a about an hour and half drive to get there more or less depending on what traffic they ran into.
"Saa, we're almost there," said Fuji.
Yuuta grinned from the backseat, honestly this felt like one of those family road trips except this was far more better and less annoying.
"After we get past this light turn left onto that street and then keep going straight until you get to the third light down there," said Mizuki as he furiously typed away on his laptop computer. Obviously he had looked up directions.
"Mizuki we know the way there. It's not like we haven't been to Chiba before and I think Tezuka actually been here once before," explained Yuuta.
"I was here when I wasn't Pro. After I left Japan I didn't come back to play there. I mainly played in the European part of the world occasionally going to the US and Hong Kong." Said Tezuka.
Fuji smiled and said, "It must've been fun."
"Not as fun as here, where everything is though," pointed out Tezuka.
Fuji didn't care if Tezuka was driving or not, they were at a red light anyway; he kissed him on the cheek and whispered in his ear, "I'm flattered."
Yuuta and Mizuki looked at eachother both blushing madly. Tezuka and Fuji in their minds were truly the perfect pair.
The drive was then drowned by silence until they made it to the crowded hotel. Next to it was the stadium and everything seemed extremely crowded. They drove into an indoor driveway and parked there.
"Expect us to be surrounded by the press and fans if they make it through when we go outside of the hotel," Tezuka warned them.
Yuuta had never been to such a thing probably his lover nor did his own brother done this before. They grabbed their bags out of the trunk only to hear a voice calling out to Tezuka.
"Buchou."
They looked around to see none other than Ryoma Echizen parked across from them Momoshiro having a couple bags slung around his back. Ryoma looked well, and probably excited that he was going to get to play tennis with the best in Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, and a couple other countries.
"Echizen."
"I'm not going to hold back when we play," said Ryoma.
"Our match is one of the last few rounds; make it through the ones you have to face through first and don't get arrogant," replied Tezuka walking off into the entrance of the hotel from the indoor driveway.
Ryoma looked a little insulted and Momoshiro beside him laughed.
"We'll all go in together," said Fuji and they walked into the entrance way and up the stairs to catch up with Tezuka.
The place was extravagant. There were chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and pictures were framed with golden frames, and the couches were most definitely leather, and the floors? Well the floors were marble.
"We have to meet in atrium of this place after we go to our room and place our stuff in there," said Ryoma.
Tezuka nodded and all of them signed in. The tennis players playing for Japan were all in the same hall obviously because they had instantly spotted Tachibana Kippei his younger sister An clinging onto his arm.
Mizuki and Yuuta placed their belongings down in the living room of their fairly large room and came back. Guest of the tennis players were allowed to have the same hall; it was a good thing Tezuka had reserved some places for Eiji, Oishi, Yuuta and Mizuki. Ryoma had helped out Inui and Kaidoh since they were limited to only so many guests.
"Oi! Chibisuke!" called out a voice.
Ryoma whirled around only to receive to a noogie from his older brother Ryouga. Ryouga Echizen had not changed much. Maybe it was just the more expensive clothes and jewelry hade had set on him…I mean how many bracelets could you actually have on one arm? Probably 3 grand was just on his right arm.
"You're in a different hall," said Ryoma placing on his cap.
"Yeah I know. You all the sudden want to compete for Japan and I'm competing for America."
"I thought this was only for the players from the Asian part of the world," said Momoshiro.
" America is involved too, you do realize Momo that this is a tournament to compete for to go to the Wimbledon tournament in England to complete for the best?" Ryoma pointed out.
"Oh I see…," said Momo grinning stupidly.
"Who's the guy?" asked Ryouga pointing to Momoshiro.
Ryoma smirked and took Momoshiro hand and led him down the stairway calling out, "Boyfriend."
"NANI!" was heard a couple seconds later from the older Echizen brother.
Momoshiro and Ryoma snickered at Ryouga being surprised and made their way down to the atrium.
"Hoi Fujiko!" exclaimed a voice from down the hall. Before Fuji even had time to turn around to see who was calling his nickname he was pounced/glomped onto. It's not that Fuji didn't know who it was; of course he know who it was. It was the always happy and hyper redhead Eiji Kikumaru. There was a chuckle from behind them and Fuji turned around to face Eiji's boyfriend Oishi Shuichiro.
"I see you made it here well," said Fuji smiling like he always did behind lidded eyes.
"Yes we made it in one piece. Thank you Tezuka for inviting us," said Oishi.
Tezuka who was beside Fuji nodded like it was no problem.
"So you're living here after this? That was your plan right?" asked Fuji.
"Yes," replied Oishi.
"Hoi, this will be so cool!" exclaimed Eiji.
Fuji turned around to see his brother and Mizuki exiting their room; Mizuki had changed clothes and was in more of a frilly outfit. Fuji was guessing because this was a fancy hotel; and even Fuji himself felt a little underdressed for such a place.
"We better head to the atrium, Ryoma, his brother, and Momo have already headed down," said Yuuta.
Tezuka nodded and everyone head down one flight of stairs before heading down another hall. Tezuka found the atrium easily ad opened the large doors. It was a very large green room filled with plants and sun roofs, there were large windows and you could see the tennis stadium below them and probably cold witness a game from this place. In the room sat Ryoma, Momo, Ryouga, Inui and Kaidoh who obviously had arrived earlier that day, Atobe and Jiroh who had brought Ohtori, Shishido, Oshitari, and Gakuto along. Then there was Kirahara Akaya beside him was Marui Bunta, Renji, Sanada, and of course Yukimura. Dan Tachi was also there clinging to Jin Akutsu who was actually trying to fling the kid…well now young adult off his arm, and Sengoku was cracking up at the sight of Akutsu trying to get the little childlike tennis player off his arm.
Tezuka, Fuji, and the others made their way over to that side of the room making it seem like there was more of a crowd. The doors soon opened and a man no older than them probably, walked in the room, his black hair was streaked with red and his brown eyes were dark and shone in the sunlight even though they were hidden by some lightly tented sunglasses. He almost looked like a normal person.
"Before we start introducing ourselves to eachother; I'd like to have all participants over on this side of the room and the guests to stay where they are," he said.
Tezuka separated from Fuji and gave him a quick smile before heading across the room where Ryoma, Ryouga, Dan, Kirahara, Atobe, Sengoku, and Renji where at. There was then a sharp knock at the door right after.
"Enter!" called out the man.
More people came into the room.
"The participants from Korea, America, and the rest of Japan have arrived. The players from Hong Kong and Beijing will be after shortly in the afternoon Touya-San." Said one of the maids.
"Alright, thank you. You may leave now." Replied Touya.
There were no guests with the other players except Kippei who had brought Akira, Shinji, and his sister along as they joined the guest group. There were three Korean players there as well; one with dark brown hair and green eyes believe it or not, the other player had spiked bleached blonde hair and his eyes were hidden by some tacky looking sunglasses tented a bright red color and red and orange flames on the sides that connected to the ears, the other player had dark black hair and thickly framed glasses that continuously slipped a little to where they were at the brim of his nose before he had to push them up again and he unlike the other tennis players in the room looked quite nervous. Behind them were Kevin Smith and another player that nobody knew of but obviously they were representing America.
"Now that we have everyone here I think we can start. I'd like to welcome both the participants and guests to the National Chiba tennis team tournament. My name is Touya Jinkou, son of the person who started this tournament and owns both the stadium and hotel here. My father has left me in change of such an event this year and I hope everything will run smoothly. To begin with; we have more Japanese tennis players this year only because this is Japan; the rest of you from different countries, your coaches have narrowed it down to three. Japan obviously hasn't done that yet but actually you guys combined together have just as much as Japan."
"Moving onto how this tournament works. You've all got the first match setups to know who you're playing first; starting not tomorrow but the next day you all will be completing to go to Wimbledon and only the top three will make it. America is competing with us thing year instead of Europe so this shall be interesting. More on how this tournament works. If you loose two rounds you're out of the rest of it so if you loose once you have another chance. The only way you get out before two rounds is if you forfeit or if your game is love to three. I think that's basically all you need to know. That and everyone's out for themselves, there are no teams, there's just you in this so don't be depending on your teammates even if they are from the same country. Anyway, enjoy your stay here and relax! It's a beautiful place and you all deserve it for making it this far!" said Touya cheerfully after his lecture. He quickly bowed and everyone bowed back and he exited the room.
A minute later everyone else decided they'd leave for their own rooms. Mizuki ended up being the crowd of people trying to get out the door. Kaidoh and Momoshiro were acting childish so Mizuki and Yuuta both tried to squeeze their way past but stumbled out bring someone else down with them.
"Ah! I'm sorry!" said Mizuki his head shot up to see the player from Korea with dark green eyes looking down at him. Yuuta helped Mizuki up, Mizuki's gaze never left that player.
"It's okay Hajime-chan," said the player.
Mizuki quickly moved into Yuuta's arms his dark blue orbs looking horrified.
"The snow melts slowly in the spring Hajime-chan," murmured the green eyed male smirking as he walked away.
"Mizuki….are you okay?" asked Yuuta.
"H-Hai," Mizuki replied stuttered.
"That guy…do you two know eachother. He said your name," Yuuta said.
Mizuki swallowed hard; he felt his hard pounding and was ever so slightly trembling. He could not believe it. After forgetting, after moving on and forgetting such a past he had been pushed into the other one like tight ropes were pulling the two together by force.
"Yuuta…" Mizuki whispered feeling shocked that his own voice sounded frightened.
"Mizuki come on what is wrong with you!" exclaimed Yuuta grabbing onto his shoulders as the last of the crowd disappeared. They didn't notice that Tezuka and Fuji were waiting for them, they were too distracted one from seeing the person that he wished he never bumped into, the other wondering what the hell was going on.
"Yuuta it was Izumi. That was him," said Mizuki his head snapped up so his eyes could look directly into Yuuta's very shocked blue ones.
"That sonva bitch!" Yuuta hissed about to move forward.
"Please Yuuta calm down! Please, the best thing you could do for me is not let me out of your sight," protested Mizuki.
Yuuta looked furious.
"Fine, but if he lays another finger on you or tries to mentally hurt you I'll beat the shit outta him until there's nothing left but guts," he snapped.
Fuji blinked.
"Izumi?" he asked.
Both Yuuta and Mizuki whirled around to notice Tezuka and Fuji finally both looking shocked.
"Long story," said Mizuki.
"Mizuki, they need to know because right now we have all day tomorrow is the tournament and they won't," said Yuuta.
Mizuki nodded, "Then let's head up to somewhere more private."
"So Yukito and Izumi were twins and basically it was a really messed up love triangle?" asked Fuji confirming all that was just explained to him about his brother-in-law.
"You could say that," Mizuki answered biting his lips.
"Then where's Yukito? Did something happen?" asked Tezuka his glasses glinting from the sun setting as they all stood on the balcony over seeing the city of Chiba which was slowly starting to light up as night slowly made it's entrance.
Yuuta placed his arms around Mizuki to comfort him and yet tell to continue; that he'd pick up the pieces and catch him if he would let go and accidentally stumbled.
"Izumi tricked me. All he needed were contacts and he could become Yukito; they were exactly alike except for their eye color. So he decided that he was out to get revenge on both of us. Izumi was sick and twisted he loved us both and yet thought it was beautiful when we were broken and hurt. Yukito already had made love to me but Izumi determined to have the same treatment and the way he could get it was by pretending to be Yukito and confusing me. It ended up as far was him touching me and then Yukito walked in the bedroom to see his own twin brother all over me. Obviously he had gotten the wrong idea…..I was too late to save him. ….He died committing suicide and drowned himself along with stabbing his heart to make sure he died," continued Mizuki.
Fuji looked hurt, he couldn't believe it either. This was why Mizuki wore a mask of fake perfection. To hide what had happened. And running into Izumi here must've must have been like seeing hell flame to life again.
"Mizuki, I'm sorry. It was too young for you to be into that and it was probably why you went to school so far away from home," he said.
Mizuki smiled weakly, "Hai."
Tezuka stood up.
"If he doesn't get beaten by anyone else, I will beat him at tennis and he'll loose his title. It's all I can do for now until he confronts you," he said.
"Tezuka…" murmured Fuji shocked.
Mizuki stood up abruptly.
"He'll get revenge on you for beating him! You know how many people he injured when he got beat? Tezuka it's not that simple. He'll mentally break you down until the end! He also has a similar playing style to Kirahara which doesn't help either and he's not as gentle either," he explained sternly.
"I won't allow you or anybody else I care about go through mental torture any longer. Don't worry about me," said Tezuka.
Fuji looked as though he was about to cry.
"You have to play him first match Tezuka! Don't lie to them and say he has to play other people so they'll let their guard down! Kunimitsu Tezuka you're not thinking and you're jumping into things. Mizuki knows this person well enough that he'll cause physical harm to people and could easily get away with it!" he shouted.
" Fuji, nobody has done anything about this and it's time someone does. I told you I can handle it! Remember when Kaidoh almost got raped I took on three guys?" asked Tezuka.
"Yes but you had Inui and Ryoma and later Momoshiro joining you!" snapped Fuji.
"Nobody is changing my mind. Nobody should go through that. Ever," said Tezuka.
"What how do you know? Had something like this happened to you?" asked Fuji harshly.
Tezuka whirled around.
"No never to be but I know because of my mother's friend… Nobody deserves to go through such pain."
"It's okay. But that's why I'm doing this. It's a jealousy thing when it comes to people who rape you and know you. You're usually involved with another person and they don't like it so they try to break you. That's why I can't stand this, nobody deserves to go through that."
"Yuuta stay with Mizuki at all times. At least until we settle things. We'll see you to your room," said Fuji.
Yuuta nodded and they walked across the halls together. Fuji bode them both goodnight and only glanced back once worriedly before closing the door. Yuuta made sure it was locked and clung onto Mizuki hard.
"Yuuta-kun…"
"You're alright aren't you?" asked Yuuta pain aching in his voice as he spoke.
"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry…it's just a shock. I am a little bit afraid for everybody else that might end up getting hurt; but I think that once it all comes down to the final fight it's an outnumbered win," explained Mizuki.
"I'm glad you're being so optimistic, I was afraid you'd break and I'd never be able to reach you again," said Yuuta.
Both looked at eachother for a whole minute…a couple seconds more or a couple seconds less maybe. Yuuta's left hand caressed Mizuki's face and he gently kissed him. Mizuki kissed back moving closer to his lover who was once his kouhai, teammate, and once upon a time ago the only person who really made Mizuki feel like somebody else understood him. Even when he didn't know about Yukito and Izumi, Yuuta would still be supportive and patiently wait for him.
"I love you," murmured Yuuta, still looking hurt and worried.
Mizuki kissed him again in reassurance.
"I love you too," he said just as quietly.
"We'll be alright I'm sure of it," Mizuki added.
Yuuta gave a half smile and in his mind he agreed. Who knew what was going to happen? Yuuta just knew that they had more than themselves look after. Everybody was like a full family now supporting and depending on eachother when things got rough like this. Maybe they would show Izumi his place in line and show him that if you wait to long to hurt somebody that you had vulnerable; you might just get stabbed in the heart just as bad as you stabbed them.
Ryoma served the ball towards the wall and it bounced back as quickly and as fast as it was served. Ryoma hit again and then realized somebody was watching him.
"Echizen, Ryoma. We finally meet at last," said a voice.
On the stands leaning in onto the poles was none other than a green eyed male with dark brown hair. He looked young for his age and his Japanese was insanely fluent from somebody who was from Korea; the languages despite what everybody else thought was completely different.
"Who might you be?" asked Ryoma catching the bouncing ball with his racket cradling it and the bouncing it on the racket.
"A friend of Mizuki Hajime's… Izumi Itsujimata, Korean player. I beat Atobe Keigo when I played him and all I need to do is conquer you and Tezuka Kunimitsu," the male replied with a smirk.
Ryoma placed his hat on and grinned.
"If you're threatening me you'll regret doing so," he said.
Izumi shrugged with the same careless smirk on his face.
"I'm merely warning you, not threatening in anyway at all. I beat your brother and I beat Keigo Atobe so don't take me lightly unless you want to get hurt as much my dear friend has," he answered.
Ryoma let the ball go high the air and then served it letting it fly towards Izumi who whipped out his racket and returned it with a harsh force and before Ryoma had any time to brace himself the tennis ball hit him in the stomach. Ryoma wasn't able to breathe and slowly fell to the ground in pain.
"Have a good night Echizen," called out Izumi as he turned around and threw his hand up.
Fuji's phone rang loudly after he returned from Yuuta and Mizuki's hotel room. Tezuka blinked at the suddenness of it all and Fuji answered.
"Moshi Moshi?"
"Momoshiro?...What? Oh god… We'll be right there!" said Fuji his eyes looking panic struck as he heard what news he had received on the phone. Fuji's head shot up after the phone call was over and hung up.
"Come on Tezuka, we have to head down to the stadium," he said.
"What's happened?" Tezuka asked as they locked the door to their hotel room.
Fuji grabbed Tezuka's hands and they ran down the hotel's halls and stairs and outside to where the stadium where their match was going to be held tomorrow was at. They ended up entering the large place to find Momoshiro holding a knocked out Ryoma Echizen.
Tezuka now knew why they had ran and why Fuji looked so panic stricken.
Fuji ran down the benches and leapt over the railing that separated the seats going down from the stadium where the tennis court was.
"Momoshiro! What happened?" exclaimed Fuji and Tezuka left over the railing as well.
"I went to go get drinks for us and I just found him here hurt… I don't know what happened, Ryoma's not waking up," croaked out Momoshiro looking like he had cried a couple tears before stopping when he realized that Fuji and Tezuka, Seigaku's former star players, arrived to help him.
Momoshiro hugged Ryoma tight his hands going from his chest down and then Ryoma flinched when Momoshiro touched his stomach. Ryoma's hands stopped him unconsciously letting Momoshiro press on that part of his body.
Momoshiro moved his hand away and Fuji pulled up Ryoma's shirt to reveal a rather large red mark on his stomach. A tennis ball was probably the answer to the mark and it probably was served hard enough to knock the wind out of the pro tennis star and leave him on the floor knocked out.
"Who would do such a thing?" hissed Momo. Tezuka already knew. Mizuki mentioned a certain alive twin having a certain playing style that injured players.
"Izumi. He did it to warn us….," Tezuka pointed out darkly.
Fuji whirled around to face his boyfriend with his jaw dropped.
"And we left Mizuki and Yuuta alone in their hotel room," he said in a daze.
"As long as they locked their door it's okay. They'll be okay. But anybody else might not be. We need to call Eiji and Oishi and everybody else we know and warn them that Izumi is dangerous and he's going to scare us into thinking that he's going to hurt the ones we care about to get to me and anybody else whose participating in that tournament," Tezuka suggested. It sounded more like an order than a suggestion though.
Tezuka was pushed. Izumi had made the first move… Tomorrow it was Tezuka's turn to show Izumi who had the upper hand.
"Hey you okay Ryoma? I mean you don't exactly have a match until tomorrow since Tezuka is playing today, you could go back and rest," said Ryouga giving his younger brother a noogie.
"I have to be here today, I get to see the bitch who hit me get his ass whipped today and no bruise is going to stop me from seeing it," replied Ryoma.
Ryouga grinned cheekily and snickered. Tezuka was right beside Ryoma at the time too. They were inside the stadium waiting to be called out for the opening ceremonies.
"Representing America, Ryouga Echizen, Kevin Smith, Zachary Lyndonson and Nick Newman!"
Ryouga waved and went out, the crowd could be heard from inside because of the roaring applause. They had heard double the sound when China/Hong Kong, and Taiwan were announced.
"Representing Korea; Lu Sung Mie, Andy Jumai, Mae Hyouran, and their star player Izu the Ice Mountain known formally as Izumi Itsujimata!"
There was even more of a roar and Ryoma knew that Japan was next. Save the best for last.
"Representing Japan! Tachibana Kippei, Dan Tachi, Kirahara Akaya, Sengoku Kiyosumi, Atobe Keigo, Tezuka Kunimitsu whose rumored that this if lost will be his last game in his career as a pro, and last but not least rival of his own brother and surprisingly representing Japan, Echizen Ryoma! As you see here folks we have not split up this pair here in Japan and this whole game will determined the strongest player here!" exclaimed Touya.
Ryoma and everybody else entered the over crowded stadium. It was loud, there were fangirl screams along with chants for their country or specific players.
"We're about to start our first game! Everybody clear off and will our first players come up to the court!" called out Touya.
Everybody but Tezuka and Izumi cleared off the center stadium and there were more of roar on who was playing.
"He beat Atobe Keigo over in Korea not too long ago."
"I heard he dominated Ryouga Echizen too and is planning to crush Ryoma Echizen."
The front of the audience murmured about who was playing and what a rep each player had. Nobody had any idea on who was going to win. The rest of the players were to make their way into the VIP stand where guests were also allowed. Ryoma instantly spotted Fuji sitting with his younger brother and his boyfriend as well as Oishi and Eiji. Ryoma made his way to the front so he could talk to Fuji while in front of him and everybody else.
Fuji in a distance didn't look worried but up close was the complete opposite. His fists were clenched in his lap and he was biting his lower lip. Mizuki and Yuuta looked just as nervous.
"I hope Tezuka kicks his ass," said Ryoma as he sat down.
"I'm glad to know you're okay. I can only hope the same for Kunimitsu," said Fuji quietly.
"It'll be okay. Tezuka doesn't loose to low down people like that guy," said Ryoma.
"If Yukito were here, he'd tell Tezuka how to beat him. Yukito is the only who knows and sadly he never told me," pointed out Mizuki his eyes on the court.
Yuuta rolled his eyes.
"Figures. Thanks a lot Yukito, you're being a real help telling your best friend how to beat your evil twin brother," he muttered sarcastically.
"Tezuka hopefully will figure out how to beat Izumi," reassured Ryoma.
Hope. That's all they could do as the match began and Tezuka was to serve.
(A/N: This is the end I'm afraid. >> This story began a mystery and ended a mystery. Basically it means that it's up to your imagination to figure out what happened! Thank you guys sooooo much for supporting 'Anything for You' and 'Memory'! It was such a fun little project to write and hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I hope some of you will continue to read my next couple fic coming out! )