Title: Hidden Smiles - Drabble #4: Last Words
Word Count: 724 words
Author: Angel (wwwDOTdaunting-silenceDOTnet)
Disclaimer: Obviously, PoT doesn't belong to me.

This piece of drabble doesn't really make sense even to myself. Hmm…

Drabble #4 : Last Words

The light from the street lamps seemed to follow him. With every few steps he took, his heart felt like it skipped a beat. For over a month now, he'd been going to the tennis court near Haruna University every night, surrounded only by dim light and silence of the night. Tezuka Kunimitsu wondered why he was continuing this when he could have put a stop to it a long time ago. They didn't need extra practice such as this anymore. Both of them were already at the heights of their performance.

They – Tezuka Kunimitsu and Echizen Ryoma both.

Tezuka looked up from the gate at the young boy who was currently warming up on the left court. From afar, Echizen Ryoma looked pale. Tezuka wondered how he looked from up close. And he wondered why the boy looked that pale when there was nothing wrong with him.

Or so he thought, and believed.

As soon as he opened the gate, the other boy looked up from his position and flashed the young captain a grateful smile, as if to thank him for being there. Tezuka nodded silently and went to the opposite side of the court. In no time, one lime green ball was being sent back and forth on the court. Every time Tezuka served, he aimed for the furthest corner of the service box. Ryoma, as usual, tried his best to break the famed Tezuka Zone, leaving Tezuka with no chance to hit his trademark Zero Shiki Drop Shot.

And again that night, Tezuka won 6 – 4, only it took him longer than before to beat the younger boy.

Ryoma looked up expectantly as they shook hands at the net. He looked so hopeful as if Tezuka was going to say something. Instead, the captain turned around so he was not facing Ryoma. He was torn between opening his mouth or not. If he didn't, he knew he'd be playing at the very same court and at the exact same time again for the next day and the days after the next. But if he did, everything would be over.

Chilling breeze blew, and Tezuka finally made his decision.

"Echizen…"

"Yes, Buchou?"

". . . You've improved."

The boy brightened. "You really think so?"

"Aa…"

The wind around them blew harder. Albeit the decision he had made, Tezuka was anxious. Just a few more words and everything would be over. No more tennis games at night – nothing.

"E… Ryoma…"

"Yes, Buchou?"

"That day, when you said you love me…"

"What about it?"

Tezuka closed his eyes and tightened his grip on his racket. It was alright; he could do this.

"I just want to say that… I love you too."

No answer from the boy. The wind that was blowing harder ceased altogether and suddenly, the night wasn't so chilling anymore. The air that circulated around them felt warm and comforting. For a moment, Tezuka felt Ryoma hugging him from behind. It was just for a brief moment but it was a moment that he would remember for the rest of his life.

"Buchou… thank you for everything."

Since the past month, rumour had it that the tennis court near the university had been haunted by a ghost. At night, they would hear the sound of tennis ball hitting the ground followed by small laughter and hopeful cries of 'I want to be stronger!'. If one were to look at the court, they would see no one there. Even the lights would be off.

Tezuka only found out about the rumours after failing to get over Echizen Ryoma's unexpected premature death.

The boy's spirit stayed after his death. Tezuka refused to say the words that would release the boy from his attachment to the living world even though he wanted so much to. If keeping silent meant he could prolong the boy's stay a bit longer, it was enough. But he couldn't stand the thought of Ryoma being not at rest even after his death…

He had finally said the words Ryoma wanted to hear…

When he turned around again, Ryoma was no longer there. Even the lights were off.

Tomorrow, there would be no more rumours.

No more tennis games at night.

Nothing.

And for the first time since Ryoma's death, Tezuka Kunimitsu cried for he had finally let go.