Author's Notes: Ohhh looky I'm back. And it all thanks to all the wonderful reviews I got. School's over and my nasty writer's block has temporarily lifted. If any of the characters are OOC then forgive me. I tried as hard as I could to keep them in character. All writing mistakes are mine. I didn't have my proof reader read this so it's very sloppy. Please for me on that as well. I write a bit rough. I cannot stress enough how much reviews mean to me. They kept this story alive this far. I thought I was doing a crappy job and all but, from the reviews, I'm not doing as horrible as I thought. Thank you.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Nope. Never will be. Just the fic. I just borrowed the characters. So there.
Ryoma's Plan
Chapter 4
Taka sighed as he wheeled Kaidoh onto the plane. Kaidoh hadn't said a word the entire car ride. He sat there staring at nothing. Taka had tried to strike up a conversation but Kaidoh didn't even grunt. He was starting to miss the old Kaidoh and his habit of hissing.
He sat down and buckled himself in. He tensed once he was done. He didn't even know why he was here. Not just the plane but California. He should have been home in Japan serving sushi to customers. He laid his arms on the armrest and leaned back in his seat.
A month ago he started playing tennis again. He would usually play alone or with the rare person he would see. He'd always play at night. He didn't really want his wife finding out. She had enough stress as it was. The sushi shop was really taking off. No, Taka didn't complain one bit about that but life was boring. When he picked up a tennis racket that first time, it felt as if something were right and, yet, wrong. He felt as though this is what he'd been missing for those five long years. He enjoyed his work but it didn't feel right. It didn't feel right, either, with the tennis racket. That's when it hit him… of course, the team. Life didn't feel right without them in it.
So, after his wife found out that he'd been playing at night and after they spent long hours talking about it, he found himself on a plane bound for California and to the only friend he knew that could help. Ryoma.
He opened his eyes and looked at Kaidoh. He felt tears sting his eyes but didn't allow them to rule him. Kaidoh. So strong, so determined and now this all had to happen. Inui didn't tell him what had happened but the damage done was all Taka really needed to know. Things were not right here and they were not right elsewhere. He thought back to the others.
Tezuka-buchou, Eiji, Oishi, Fuji and even Inui were all different. The difference was more notable in some, like Eiji and Oishi, than it was in the others. Taka reached into his pockets and withdrew the letter Echizen gave to him. They were told not to open them until they got to their destination, but Taka didn't think it made much difference. He put his thumb under the flap and gently tore it open. He unfolded the neat, white piece of paper and read.
Dear Taka-san,
I'm looking forward to training you. Sorry you had to go on this mission but I need you right now. By now you've seen Kaidoh so you should know. Only you're kindness will bring him back from the dead. I'm counting on you Taka-san. Don't let me down and don't lose faith. He will come back. They all will. Believe in me.
Ryoma
Taka smiled ruefully. Yes, believe in Echizen. He believed, instinctively, that he knew he was needed and, so, came. Echizen was whistling silently, Taka heard and came running. Just like Echizen to do something like that.
He could imagine Echizen as he wrote this letter, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He was probably writing slowly because Echizen was never in a hurry. He would brush that long hair away from his face every once and a while or put it in a pony tail. All the while, he was thinking of Taka and his plan to heal everyone.
Taka grinned, this time for real. It was his first real smile in a few years. Yes, Echizen sure had the plan. He thought of Atobe's Christmas party and his smile instantly froze on his face. Happy times. Why couldn't things go back to the way they were?
Taka blinked. He just remembered that Echizen hadn't paid Atobe back for those little stunts. Taka grinned evilly within his mind. He was sure Echizen had a plan for that too. All Taka could do right now was sit back and help Echizen put things together again.
He glanced over at Kaidoh and then at the remaining two letters in his hands. They were both addressed to Kaidoh but they had different handwriting. He was sure one of them was Echizens' and he thought the other would be Momoshiro's. Should he wait and give them to Kaidoh in the city or give them to him now?
He tapped the letters against the armrest. He'd wait. Plenty of time in the city. Yes, plenty of time. He settled down in his chair when the pilot came on the intercom and planned out their stay in the city. Kaidoh needed him huh? Only he could bring Kaidoh back huh? Well, we'll see about that. A small smile graced Taka's face as he closed his eyes to go to sleep.
Kaidoh stared at the wall blankly. He and Taka were in New Orleans. Currently they were at one of the hotels listed on the piece of paper that Momo handed them. They had been in New Orleans for several days now and Kaidoh was getting irritated. First they take Inui away from him and place him with Taka. Normally he wouldn't have a problem with that but he viewed Inui as his support, sort of. Taking Inui away made him almost panic. But he stayed cool. He didn't allow any of his panic to show.
The first few days Taka took him around to various tennis courts. They all brought the longing to be out there back into him but depression always won the battle. He would never be able to walk again, let alone play tennis. Why Echizen was making him going through this hell was beyond him. He never thought Echezen was that cruel of a person.
The door opened and Taka walked into the room. He had a smile on his face though it looked strained. Kaidoh didn't really care. All he could think of was his loss of tennis, Inui and the gain of hell.
"We're going down to a local restaurant to eat lunch. Ok Kaidoh?" Taka looked inquiringly at Kaidoh as if waiting for an answer.
Not getting one, Taka walked over and wheeled Kaidoh out the door. Kaidoh didn't pay attention as usual. This world was cruel and didn't deserve attention. All he wanted in life was tennis. All he ever strived for was tennis. He made his dreams come true and they only soared after Echizen became part of the team. Yes, without him there would have been nothing. But then… that happened.
Kaidoh felt tears sting his eyes and mentally scrubbed them away. He wouldn't fall. No, he couldn't fall. Not him. Not ever… then why did it feel like he was already falling? Why did it feel like he had nothing underneath him and it was only a matter of time before he hit the ground? He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice the time it took to get down to the restaurant.
Taka wheeled him up to a table and then took a seat. He told the waiter they would only like water and then he looked at Kaidoh who pretended to ignore him. He didn't care. No one cared but Inui and Inui wasn't here. Yes, the only reason why Inui stayed with him was because he pitied him. He didn't need anyone's pity. Damn Inui. Kaidoh had loved him greatly before… the incident but after all he could think about was his loss. Inui, he was sure, only stayed because he felt sorry for the poor cripple.
"Why?" Taka's soft voice startled Kaidoh out of his thoughts. "What happened for you to be like this?"
Kaidoh pretended to ignore Taka. He didn't want to tell him. He really didn't. It wasn't any of Taka's business. None… then why did he feel like he wanted to talk to Taka? Why did he feel the tears come rushing back to his eyes? Why did feel weak with Taka's soft, soothing voice? He felt something wet slid down his cheek and was startled when his fingers brushed against a tear. He swallowed his pride. He felt like he had to do it. If it were anyone other then Taka then he would have been able to brush the question away like he'd been doing for the past few years. But it was Taka and he almost jumped, startled, when he heard his own voice start to talk.
"It was a car accident." Kaidoh's voice was rough from not being used in a long time. Neither he nor Inui were talkers. "Three years ago. Inui and I were going to a tournament. It was my last tournament that would decide if I would be a pro. Many years I had waited for this tournament. It had rained the night before and the water froze. We never saw the ice. The car flipped several times and landed with half of the front crushed into a wall." The waiter came bringing their glasses of water. Thankful, Kaidoh grabbed the water and began chugging it. It'd been a while since he'd talked so his mouth was very dry.
"Kaidoh…" Taka said but stopped. Kaidoh heard the emotion in it. If it were pity, he would have left but there was no pity. There was just pure sadness. "So Inui was in the car with you?" Taka asked.
Kaidoh laughed bitterly. "Oh yes, he was the driver."
Taka had picked up his glass but dropped it in his surprise. The glass fell shattering it in several pieces. Neither man looked at it, too intense on each other. Taka stared at Kaidoh with his mouth hanging open. Kaidoh could tell that Taka couldn't say a word so he went on.
"Yes, he's the one who killed my legs and destroyed my future. The half of the car that was crushed pushed its way until it crushed my legs. Inui escaped without a scratch. He disappeared after that only to return once my operations were finished. I had several of them, each one life threatening. Every time they put me to sleep I had a larger chance of never waking up, so the doctors kept telling me. But here I am! The great Kaidoh! And for what? This miserable half life?" He snorted. "What a great life this has been. Perhaps it would have been better if I had died during one of those operations. Then I would have got Inui back for ruining my life."
The slap startled Kaidoh out of his rant and many people were watching them with growing interest. Kaidoh was only paying attention to Taka. Taka, the one who wore the angriest face Kaidoh had ever encountered. The one whose hand had just slapped him. The waiter who was picking up Taka's shattered glass stared at the two men in bewilderment, not paying attention to the pieces of glass he was handling.
Kaidoh lift a hand to his cheek in surprise, his gaze wide as he looked at Taka. "What was that for you idiot!"
Taka's hand was shaking but once Kaidoh spoke it stopped. He lowered his hand and smiled. Kaidoh frowned. It was the first real smile he'd seen on Taka since the plane ride. His smiles had been either strained or forced, not relaxed like this.
"Because you spoke irrationally Kaidoh-san." He let out a sigh. "Thank goodness, that sentence sounded more of you then anything I've heard in a long time."
Kaidoh blinked and thought back to what he'd said. Yes, it did sound like the old him. He'd thought that part of him had died in the car accident many years ago. He hissed, frustrated and Taka burst out laughing. It sounded a bit hysterical but Kaidoh kind of understood him. It felt good to hiss again. He'd felt more alive when he did that then ever before. Come to think of it, it had felt really good spilling his guts out to Taka. Not that he'd tell the other man that, of course.
A yelp from their left startled both the men. They turned and looked on the ground where the waiter was picking up the broken glass. Seems like he was paying more attention to the guys then the sharp glass on the floor. Kaidoh's glare made the man pale and finish picking up the shards faster, hurrying off to get his cut looked at.
Taka sighed. "Kaidoh, we've had a rough few days. What do you say about a truce? There's a specific court I want to take you to and, if nothing changes and you're still not happy, then I say we go back to Echizen's."
Kaidoh glared at Taka, trying to see if there were any hidden truths. Finding none, Kaidoh slowly nodded. "Fine."
He almost grinned at Taka's sigh of obvious relief. "Good. Let's get back to the room and change, and then we'll head out. I also have something to give to you."
Kaidoh firmly kept his curiosity in check. He adverted his gaze to look at nothing like he had been doing for three years. Taka sighed and wheeled him out of the building. Like last time, Kaidoh didn't notice the time passing. It seemed like it was only a few minutes ride to the hotel. He was grateful. He hated waiting long periods of times.
For some odd reason, the door opening looked different to him. It was as if a door he'd closed a long time ago was being opened again. Something he'd once thought dead was really alive. Could he just be imagining it? Possibly. Hope died out three years ago along with his legs.
Taka hung the towel on the shower bar and walked into the quiet bedroom. He peeked out the door into the sitting room and winced. Kaidoh was sitting in the corner glowering. He'd given him Momoshiro's letter and knew something like this would probably happen. That's why he'd dreaded giving it to him in the first place.
Coming on this trip taught him about the new Kaidoh. He kept everything hidden inside of him so that no emotion leaked out. Hatred, sadness, hope, love, anger, frustration, they were all bottled up within him. Taka knew about emotional bottles, the longer you put them in there, the worse they get. The one emotion Taka had not wanted out of that bottle was anger. The one person in the entire world who could spark that anger without even trying to was Momoshiro. Thus the reason why he'd kept that letter away from Kaidoh.
When he'd read Echizen's letter, he missed the tiny handwriting on the bottom. Many nights after they arrived, he'd read it and re-read it until it was wrinkled, hoping for some help to deal with the sealed off Kaidoh. Then, one night, he happened to glance at the bottom. How he could have missed it, he didn't know. It said:
P.S.
Everyday at noon, someone comes to play. When you think Kaidoh is sharp enough to pick up a subtle hint, take him to number 23. Sit him facing North on court 4. If he doesn't snap out of it with this then I don't know what to do. Much luck.
No signature. Not like he needed one anyway. Today was the first day he thought Kaidoh might notice something other then his self despair. So, today he was taking Kaidoh there. He hoped and wished like crazy that this would work because, if it didn't, they were headed back to Echizens whether he liked it or not.
Taka sighed and moved into the bedroom to get ready for the long trip.
Kaidoh clutched the letter in his fist and thought again the many ways he wanted to hurt Momoshiro. That brat had got too egotistical since they were parted. When Taka opened the door he had said….
"I'm going to take a shower. Oh, Momoshiro and Echizen wanted me to give these to you."
Then he handed the bewildered Kaidoh the letters and left. Curious beyond all reason, he'd opened Momo's first and regretted it with ever word. It said:
Hey there idiot. How are you? It's been a long time and things have sure changed. I don't know what happened with your legs and I haven't asked Ryoma so don't try to think I'm prying. All I know is that it happened a long time ago and you're still not walking. I asked Inui and he said that it was possible for you to still walk. He told me that you have just chosen to not walk. Bull. I know you Mamushi, you're not like that. What you're being right now is a coward! That's right, you're a coward! You couldn't take it if it took a long time. You'd prefer to have Inui wait on you hand and foot. You'd rather have him change his entire life just for your pride. Pft, I've never met a coward more idiotic then you are being. I thought I knew you but I guess I don't and maybe I'm glad I don't. Right about now the old Mamushi would be saying 'come here and tell that to my face you idiot. I'll kick you butt for saying that crap about me.' If you're anything like the old Mamushi, get well enough so you can kick my butt. Yes, this is a challenge. I bet Mamushi is too wimpy to take on my challenge though. I'm looking forward to the day when I can fight with you if it ever arrives.
Kaidoh ground his teeth for the umpteenth time. A challenge, eh? Momo challenging him. A part of him really wanted to rise up to the challenge. But, the larger part didn't care anymore and was dead. He decided that the letter wasn't enough just yet.
He looked down on his lap and saw Echizen's letter still sealed. He debated whether or not to open that one. Placing it in his pocket, he decided to wait. Perhaps something will be interesting enough on this next court to pique his curiosity.
Taka came out of the room fully dressed and looked hesitantly at Kaidoh. Seeing none of the earlier anger, he said nothing. He put a fake smile on his face and wheeled Kaidoh out to the waiting car.
The car ride was boring and uneventful. Kaidoh watched the lines go by on the road. When they reached their destination, Kaidoh was surprised to find a very nice court. It was situated in a park filled with trees. Next to the court were the basketball courts and further in the park were the baseball diamonds. There were even huge spots of empty land for soccer players. It was a good environment.
Taka wheeled him into the tennis courts and faced him parallel with the chain link fence. He was glad Taka was looking after him. He could decide whether to watch Taka's game or look elsewhere.
After half an hour of watching Taka warm up, Kaidoh began to look elsewhere. It was then that heard the steady 'thump, thump' of a ball. From the sounds of it, it was too big to be a tennis ball and he didn't see anyone else in the courts other then himself and Taka. That left only one other place. The basketball court. He looked over and nearly jumped out of his chair when he saw who was in the court. A boy of about fifteen years of age was bouncing a basketball. The thing that really surprised Kaidoh was the fact that he was in a wheelchair. The boy kept one hand on the wheel and the other dribbling the ball.
Curiosity got the better of him and he slowly wheeled himself out of the tennis courts and into the basketball court. The kid was too into his dribbling to know that someone was watching him. The determination in that kids face made Kaidoh suck in a breath. It reminded him of someone but at the moment it kept eluding him who.
The kid tried turning around and fumbled the ball. The ball bounced right up into Kaidoh's lap. He pretended to not see the embarrassed look on the kids' face.
"Sorry if that hit you mister." The kid said, trying to act tough.
Kaidoh let a small smile form on his lips. "Doesn't matter if it did. Nothing else could kill my legs worse then they already are."
"Che, you're the one to talk. I don't talk to losers and I can hear a loser from a mile away."
"Who are you calling a loser, brat!"
"YOU!" The kid screamed.
Kaidoh hissed. "What makes you think I've given up?"
"I told you," the kid replied easily, "I can hear it in your voice."
"And you haven't?" Kaidoh pushed.
"Of course not. See…" The kid grasped the arms of the wheelchair and awkwardly stood up. Kaidoh could tell that he was putting great strain on his legs and couldn't keep it up for long but he was impressed.
"Why do you even try? Something obviously bad happened. Why try to make it better?"
The kid slumped back into his wheelchair and gave him a long, knowing look. "I'll tell ya a story, mister. Ok?" At Kaidoh's nod, he went on. "A few years back my friends and I were playing right here on this very court. We were jokin around about all of us becoming basketball stars. We were just kids, brats from the lower part of town. We knew it could never happen but we liked to dream. Little did we know that our lives would forever be changed the next day. A hurricane came through here, ripping everything apart and tearing down the damn that keeps the water out. There were floods on these streets clear up to here…" He put his hand far above his head to show the height. "I was in my house with my parents when the damn broke. It washed away our house and everything we owned. My parents and I were swept away with it. At the last second, my mom grabbed a phone pole and put me on it. There was only room for one. She chose to sacrifice herself for me."
Kaidoh was mentally beating himself alive for even bringing up the subject. He felt horrible. This kid was fighting off tears with every word he uttered. This kid was strong. Not stronger than you, a small voice said. Kaidoh ignored it.
"I'm sorry." He said.
"Che, it happened a long time. I didn't get away unscathed. A fallen tree got carried away with the flood and rammed into me, crushing my legs. I nearly drowned but somehow I made it. I made it through that living hell only to be brought into another. I found out later that both of my parents had drowned to death and several of my friends. They didn't make it out of the city. There were almost no doctors for a long time so my legs were nearly not saved. One generous doctor took notice of me and worked long hours on my legs. He told me that with rehabilitation that I would be able to walk. So the reason why I try is for my mom and my dad. I try for my friends whose dreams will never be realized. That's why."
Kaidoh bit his lip. To try after all of that took place would take a strong person. Kaidoh was sure he would have died then to go through all of that.
"So, mister, I told you my sap story, tell me yours."
Kaidoh remembered the reason why he didn't like this brat but bit off several scathing remarks. He did owe the kid. "A car accident. My lover," he looked at the kid to see if he was offended but saw nothing in the kids eyes, "was driving the car. All through my operations, he was absent. When I needed him the most, he wasn't there with me. And now I can't play tennis."
The kid snorted rudely. "Did the doctors say your legs were beyond healing?"
Kaidoh shook his head. "No."
"Let me guess, the doctors told you the exact same thing they told me but you chose to see it as your legs were screwed. Right?"
Kaidoh was about ready to wheel himself over to the punk and punch that smirk off his punny little face. The kid broke out in a laugh which angered Kaidoh more.
"I can judge by your seething that I'm correct. Well, I bet that if you were better, you couldn't beat me at basketball. After all, you're a tennis player." The kid sneered.
"You little brat!" Kaidoh yelled, winning another laugh. "I'll get better and then I'll cream you at basketball just to wipe that superior sneer off your face!"
"You think so mister? Fine. Come back here when you can walk again and I'll challenge you to a one-on-one game. But I don't think you have what it takes. I'm already further in my rehabilitation then you are."
The kid rolled himself over to Kaidoh and grabbed the ball, all the while laughing up a storm. After that he put the ball in his lap and wheeled himself away.
Kaidoh sat in the basketball court alone for a while to think. He clutched the letter in his right pocket fiercely. It was Momo's letter. Momo doesn't think I can do it, Kiadoh thought to himself. A smile played on his lips. Well, he'd show that nerdy idiot who could woop whose butt. That baka brat didn't think he could do it. Well he'd show him too. He moved his waist and blinked when he heard a crinkle sound. He'd forgotten about Echizen's letter! He took it out of his pocket and started to unfold it. It read:
Kaidoh-sempai, I've never seen a coward snake nor do I ever want to. Snakes are strong, snakes are powerful and snakes always come back. You're strong Kaidoh-sempai. It's dead somewhere inside of you but it's still there. Come back to us again. Show us your Boomerang Snake.
Oh, and just so you know, Inui left you during your operations so he could get his doctors certificate and agreement to be your one and only doctor. He nearly killed himself taking so many classes that take normal people eight years to complete. He completed it in three. He weighed only 90 pounds when graduation time arrived and took antidepressants. That doesn't sound like someone who felt guiltless for killing your legs.
After reading the letter, he crumpled it up fighting back the tears. That kid, that annoying, self assured brat had no one who cared whether or not he walked again. But Kaidoh had his friends. They were all alive. They were all cheering him to get better. Echizen, Taka-san, Inui, they were all there.
Firmly making his mind up, Kaidoh wheeled himself over to Taka who was in the middle of a match.
"BURNING! IS THAT ALL YOU'VE GOT!"
"Ahhhh!" The opponent sloppily returned one of Taka's power shots.
"SHOW ME THE POWER! YOU'RE SUCH A WEAKLING! COME AT ME!"
The guy dropped to the ground and hastily picked up his discarded racket and ran out of the court. Kaidoh let out a hiss and calmly wheeled himself over to the still ranting Taka and plucked the racket out of his hands.
"Huh? Oh Kaidoh, you're back. I was wondering where you were."
Kaidoh hissed again and looked away. "I want to go back to the hotel room."
Taka, who until then had been thinking that maybe Kaidoh was changing, frowned. Did something in Echizen's plan not work? Half way out to the car, Kaidoh halted, bringing Taka to a screeching halt. Taka waited patiently for the 'now take me back to Echizen's' line.
"Tomorrow," he hesitated for a moment.
Taka thought, here we go. He's going to want to go home.
"Tomorrow, I want you to take me to a rehabilitation clinic." Kaidoh finally said.
"Sure Kaidoh. I promised you and all…" he blinked. "Wait! Did you just say rehabilitation clinic?"
Kaidoh nodded, a tiny smile on his lips. "Yes, after all, I thought that's what you idiots wanted me to do. Get better."
"No, I mean yes, I mean… Ohhhh!" Taka's eyes held a glitter in them. "I'll take you there tomorrow. Echizen listed some pretty good ones on the map. I already checked them out. We'll go tomorrow. Ok?"
Kaidoh was amused. He nodded. "Yes, sempai. Let's go back to the hotel."
