The fall of the prince
Chapter 7
The weather was cloudy, just as dark as Ryoma's feeling right now. He was lying on the bed in one of the hospital room while Nanjiroh and Nanako, both wearing black suits after Rinko's funeral, tried to talk to him.
He hadn't spoken much since yesterday evening when Tezuka brought him there. The only words he said were a request to attend his mother's funeral, which was refused by Nanjiroh with a consideration that it was better for Ryoma to rest. Ryoma didn't argue afterwards. Only he stopped talking to Nanjiroh as his form of protest.
He still refused to get treatment. Even he didn't allow the nurse to give any infusion. He didn't cooperate well with Dr. Endo, his mother's ex-doctor who handled his illness now, and refused to eat as well. He was still completely untouched.
Nanjiroh had tried to break the silence between them since the time he arrived at Ryoma's private room. He tried to be patient at first, but finally lost his control of emotion after trying for twenty minutes. He barked and shouted angrily, but then gave up eventually.
Nanjiroh sighed deeply. Nanako was close to tears. And Ryoma still refused to talk. The room fell into silence for quite a while before Nanjiroh spoke up. Very faintly.
"Ryoma…" He called. He moved closer to the top of Ryoma's bed and looked at Ryoma's pale face. His heart ached painfully for seeing his beloved son lay hopelessly on hospital bed. "It's okay if you don't want to talk to me," said Nanjiroh hoarsely. "But you really have to get treatment.
"This won't be the end of everything if you don't give up." He gave a faint squeeze on Ryoma's arm. "I've lost your mother, Ryoma. Don't make me loose another important person in my life." And he gave a chaste kiss on Ryoma's forehead before he turned away and left without any single word.
Ryoma didn't move. His face was still blank. He really wanted to call his father back, to say he was sorry and to say how thankful he was for his support. But, there was something he didn't know that prevent him to even move his tongue.
"Ryoma-san," Nanako called. Her voice was choked in order to prevent her tears. "I'll cook your favourite Japanese food for you. I know hospital food isn't good enough." She forced a faint smile as Ryoma looked up at her. "So, please eat." And two drops of tears fell from her clear eyes.
As more tears were forcing its way down, Nanako abruptly turned back and left the room. At least, she didn't want to cry in front of his cousin.
Nanjiroh was nowhere to be seen on the narrow hospital path in front of Ryoma's room when finally Nanako closed the door behind her. In replacement, Tezuka was surprisingly there, looking at Nanako with his brown eyes behind his glasses. His face showed great worry when he saw Nanako's tears.
"Tezuka-san," Nanako greeted while abruptly wiped her tears away. "It's good to see you here."
"What's wrong?" asked Tezuka directly.
Nanako tried her best to prevent another forcing tears to fall but failed. A few drops emerged again as she explained. "He still refuses to get treatment. And things are getting worse with him stopping to eat and talk."
Tezuka gave a frown. He had just left Ryoma here yesterday with a hope to see him treated on the next day. But things didn't seem to develop here. "Can I visit him?"
With a glint of hope, Nanako nodded slowly. "Please, try to talk to him. Maybe he'll listen to you." Then she bowed down and left hurriedly. Her sobs were still heard from a distance.
There was a rare doubt in Tezuka's mind as he reached the knob. If Ryoma refused to talk to his parents, it wouldn't be impossible for him to chase Tezuka away. It's not Tezuka's nature to doubt things. But he was gradually changed since his first meeting with Ryoma. The younger boy was the only one who could make him feel curious and even contented.
As his mind told him to draw back, his hand had already turned the knob. In a second, he thought about closing it back. But then, he finally pushed it open and walked inside silently.
Ryoma's bed came revealed and the boy who lay there turned his head to the doorway as he heard it opened. His golden eyes widened in surprise to see the one entered the room. "Buchou?" He greeted, to Tezuka's surprise.
Tezuka closed the door behind him and walked closer to Ryoma's bed. The sick boy sat up on his bed, looking at Tezuka with uttered disbelieves. His eyes checked the wall-clock a couple of times.
"It's still the practice time, isn't it?" asked Ryoma.
A nod was given by the taller guy with a group of words followed after. "I skip it."
Frown fancied Ryoma's face. "I thought the tournament is near."
"It's still two more days." Tezuka gave a short explanation.
Ryoma stared at him for a moment, registering his captain's face before sighing incoherently. He wanted to say something. After all, Tezuka had come to visit him. But he really didn't fell like speaking at all.
"Your cousin told me you don't want to eat," said Tezuka carefully. He took a seat of a chair available beside Ryoma's bed. Silently he felt grateful that Ryoma didn't stop talking to him and hoped he won't do that in the future.
Ryoma shifted on his seat uncomfortably. He didn't think silence would work on this person as well as on his father. "I don't know," answered Ryoma.
"You don't know?"
Ryoma shrugged. "It's not what I really mean. I just don't feel like doing anything." There was a slight annoyance in Ryoma's tone. But then he continued with a faint one, "the more day the more strange my mind became. I really don't know what's happening with myself. I really don't know who I am now." His eyes fell to the white sheet on the bed. "There are lots of things in my mind. But at the same time, there are nothing."
He sighed deeply, feeling confuse and stressed at the same time. He hoped Tezuka wouldn't shout or bark like his father did. All the things happened around him were enough to put him into a great depression. There's no need for Tezuka to add some more with unnecessary response.
Silence fell between them for a while before Tezuka finally stood up. Ryoma thought he would leave the room without saying anything. But as Ryoma looked up to his captain, he found Tezuka was smiling genuinely at him.
"Let's take a walk outside. You must be bored here." He put off the Seigaku jacket he was wearing and put it around Ryoma's shoulder before helping the younger boy to stand up.
And for Ryoma, the jacket felt so comfortingly warm around his body for the first time.
--
Tezuka every now glanced towards the young boy who now sat on his right side. He was bathed with the pale sun gleam. His eyes closed while enjoying the evening wind and the warmth of the sun. The friction voice of the leaves on the trees of the hospital garden sounded very calming.
Just as Tezuka thought, the sun suited Ryoma so much. The sun symbolizes life and you can almost describe life when you see Ryoma, even when he was so pale and fragile like this. It's so hard for Tezuka to believe how Ryoma suffered the illness.
His mind was battling about a group of words he would like to say to Ryoma. Every single word arranged itself, creating a sentence on its own. And as Tezuka's mind registered the meaning of those, he realized that would be so unlike him to say it. But after a moment of thoughts, Tezuka's mouth spoke up subconsciously.
After all, Ryoma really had changed him.
"If…" started Tezuka, "I come everyday to accompany you, be with you and support you, would you get the treatment?" And suddenly Tezuka felt an urge to burry himself deep inside the ground. Who he was to say such a word?
Ryoma opened his eyes in surprise then turned to Tezuka, distrusting what he heard. He gaped for a moment. His face felt warm in a sudden. "That's… so unlike you…" He responded doubtfully.
"I know." Tezuka said quickly. "Sorry, forget it if"
"No!" Ryoma abruptly cut. "I mean… well…" He distracted his sight away from Tezuka and his fingers seemed to be very fascinating suddenly. "It's… okay… I was thinking to take it actually. My mother... won't want me to give up this easily, I guess. And I do hope I can play tennis once again."
A silence fell between them for a while before finally Ryoma dared himself to look back at Tezuka. The brunette was actually looking at him. And he was smiling so warmly, looking happy and relieved at the same time. It seemed they both were so unlike themselves today.
"I really support you." Tezuka said, emphasizing the unspoken determination on his eyes.
Ryoma felt his lips curled into a smile. His eyes darted back to his fingers but the feeling in his heart was completely different than before. Tezuka's support felt so much different with the ones his family offered. Knowing Tezuka cared him like this made him feel like all the depressing things were eased by this warmth. It encouraged him to move further and gave him a new strength to walk on a new path in life.
Subconsciously, Ryoma let his body fell on his left side and leant on Tezuka's shoulder. For the first time in the past few weeks, he felt being with somebody else was so comfortable. For the first time since he received the news about his illness, he felt everything would be all right.
"Arigatou, Tezuka-san," murmured Ryoma gently. The buchou word was now gone and surprisingly, it felt so nice on their ears.
Silently, Tezuka put his right arm around Ryoma's waist and drew the smaller boy closer to him. "Your welcome, Ryoma." He said, letting himself melted with the affection they shared.
--
The elevator door opened as it reached the ground where the hospital lobby was. A few people walked out silently and Tezuka decided to be the last person who moved. In his mind, the picture of Ryoma closing his eyes as he lay on the hospital bed was still strongly attached. He still remembered how those pale cheeks turned to soft crimson after the sun gleam touched him. And he still has thoughts about how long the path he and Ryoma had to walk on until they reached Ryoma's complete remission.
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as the stepped out of the elevator. Directly, he headed to the front entrance of the lobby. On the outside, an orange filled air was waiting for him. He walked slowly, as if unwilling to leave the hospital. And as he almost reached the entrance, he felt someone was calling his name.
"Tezuka!" called a voice behind him.
Without any further thoughts, Tezuka whirled back. And suddenly, he was facing two different expressions. One was looking with rather furry, and one with thorough confusion.
Tezuka didn't have time to think as the one with furry shouted to him all of a sudden. "I can't believe you've been hiding this from all of us, Tezuka!" It was Oishi. His expression was the kind people wear after being deceived. "I really can't believe it." His voice was rising, drawing attentions from people around them.
"For two weeks. Two bloody full weeks. Me and the others have been trying to call Echizen only to get another 'I'm fine' or 'just tired and need rest' answer from him. Every time we decided to visit him, his cousin had always said that Echizen was resting and no one was allowed to see him. Or sometimes, they didn't even open the door at all." He gritted his teeth and Tezuka realized he had never seen Oishi so angry like this before.
"And you. You knew it all and you just let us wondered and even worried without telling anything." Oishi's face was pale with anger now. "I can't believe you innocently acted like you know nothing when all of us are equally worried!"
"Oishi, calm down." The one who stood beside Oishi talked now. And now, Tezuka was facing Fuji with his clear eyes looking sharply at him. "It is I who suggest to follow you." Fuji's voice was calmer, but deep and threateningly sharp. "It's so strange for a person like you to skip practice when a tournament is near. And after all, you're the person who took Echizen home before he stopped entering the school.
"At first, all of the member intent to come. But finally, remembering that we still need to practice, they all stayed while Oishi and I followed you. And Inui is the one in charge for the practice.
"When we saw you went to the hospital, we thought there's something wrong with your shoulder again. But as we saw Echizen's father walked out followed by his cousin not long after, we started to think about other possibilities."
Tezuka didn't realize he had tensed up. But he realized Fuji's speech was leading to an acknowledgement of Ryoma's illness. And he was preparing for the answer.
"And as we decided to wait, you and Echizen came out to the garden. At the very moment, we knew he was staying here." Fuji continued. The air felt tight along with his speech. "What kind of illness he has, Tezuka?"
There was a moment of silence after Fuji's question. Tezuka was staring at both of his teammates with indescribable expression. He didn't intent to lie. But telling the truth was a bit hard too. "Ryoma's mother has just died of leukemia," said him lowly.
"And it's the same illness Ryoma bears now."
There's a gap of silence as the others digested what Tezuka said. And after a moment, Oishi's eyes widened and Fuji felt his entire body shivered from Tezuka's statement. They knew they expected something was happening with Ryoma. But they never thought about something as serious as this.
"What?" Oishi murmured almost unconsciously.
"Leukemia." Tezuka repeated uncomfortably. "Blood cancer."
"I want to visit him," responded Fuji. He was about to turned to the elevator when he heard Tezuka's firm voice.
"Wait!"
Both Oishi and Fuji turned in surprise to Tezuka. The brunette was now looking at them with threatening look.
"Let's wait until tomorrow. He had just slept. We'll come back here with the others tomorrow after school." Tezuka was always stern. But this time, there was a huge power in his voice that kept both of them stunned on their place.
After a moment of apprehensive silence, Fuji spoke up. "Why don't you tell us, Tezuka?"
Tezuka looked at Fuji for a while before answering. "Ryoma forbid me. He doesn't want any of you know. He doesn't want to make you all worried. That's his nature." And he turned to the entrance, leaving the two speechless guys behind.
--
In the afternoon on the next day, Dr. Endo came into Ryoma's room. Ryoma's face was slightly paler than the days before, but he still forced himself to sit up and leant his back on the pillow on the top of his bed.
Dr. Endo gave a smile as Ryoma responded to his coming. "How are you feeling?" He asked as he walked closer to Ryoma's bed.
"Bored." Ryoma answered.
The smile on his face didn't fade away. "Well, there's something I need to tell you."
Ryoma's eyes widened slightly. "What is it?"
"I've planned an intensive check up for you tomorrow morning around nine or ten." Dr. Endo started, hoping that Ryoma won't refuse it like the last time he talked about it. "What do you think?"
Ryoma shrugged.
Dr. Endo could feel his smile grew wider. Shrugging was better than simply shaking his head and turned his back on him. "Don't worry, we'll find out which type of leukemia you get and soon discover what to do next." He gave a supporting tap on Ryoma's shoulder. "Just don't lose your hope and spirit like before, okay!"
Ryoma made another shrug while looking away from his doctor.
With a relieved sigh, Dr. Endo walked out from the room after glancing towards Ryoma. In his mind, Ryoma was so much like his mother, physically and mentally. No matter what, after all the hard things she'd been passed through, Rinko never gave up, even until death reached her.
Subconsciously, Ryoma felt his lips curled into a smile after the Dr. Endo left. He didn't really know what reason had made him do that. But he indeed knew that his mood was gradually coming back and though vaguely, he could decide which path he would like to take.
Another clicking sound from the door made Ryoma turned his head to the direction. He thought it was Dr. Endo at first, but as he saw who was standing there, he couldn't hide his surprise.
His golden eyes widened. "Eiji-sempai?" said Ryoma.
In front of the half opened door and under the threshold, a sobbed-faced Eiji was staring at Ryoma while sometimes hiccupping. His eyes were both red after crying. "Ochibi…" called him very faintly then walked closer to Ryoma.
Following Eiji, all the regular team members stepped inside one by one. Each wore their own expressions, but lead to one fact that they have found out about Ryoma's illness.
"Everyone?" muttered Ryoma slowly.
"Echizen…" Momo called as he accelerated his steps to Ryoma's bed. His face was still in shock and his eyes were still clearly signing disbelief. After all, he was the one Ryoma spent his time with the most. It's still too hard for Momo to imagine that Ryoma was now facing a deathful illness.
Kawamura walked after together with Fuji. They said nothing, even until they reached the right side of the bed. Their faces were tensed and Fuji's even went pale as wall. Fuji only patted Ryoma's arm gently while Kawamura gave him a forced smile.
"Echizen, daijobu?" Oishi placed himself beside Eiji who took the left side of the bed. This mother of Seigaku's face was all gloomy.
Though still in surprise, Ryoma managed himself to answer "yeah" with a nod. His face was rather confused.
Kaidoh and Inui came after Oishi. Kaidoh's usually bright eyes were now droopy and his constant spirit was now gone. Inui who followed closely didn't show much expression, but you somehow could tell that he was in deep concern as well.
"Why don't you tell us?" Kaidoh asked. His solemn voice sent a shiver to Ryoma.
Ryoma was opening his mouth to say at least something to Kaidoh when finally Tezuka stepped inside. In automatic response, Ryoma called his lover's name. "Tezuka!"
Tezuka approached closer and placed himself right beside Ryoma on the left side of the bed. Gently he said, "I told them."
"Oishi and I followed Tezuka yesterday and found out that you are treated here." Fuji explained in order to prevent a misunderstanding between Ryoma and Tezuka. "Sorry."
"Gomen." Tezuka said lowly.
In his mind, Ryoma thought he would be angry at first. But after he looked at Tezuka's solemn face, a sudden urge to lean on Tezuka's shoulder like yesterday was appearing. In a sudden, he thought that there's no point of being angry.
"Ochibi…" said the sobbing Eiji. "How can you become like this? Is it hurt? How are you feeling?"
Looking at the sad Eiji gave Ryoma a strange amusement. "Sempai, I'm fine." And those words came out by itself. "You even looked more concerned than me."
"How can I'm not?" Eiji protested in such a cute way. Ryoma couldn't help to grin.
"I'm fine. Really." Ryoma said again.
"Why don't you tell us?" It was Inui who repeated Kaidoh's question. "We all worried."
"It's not something good to be headline news, right?" answered Ryoma casually. "It's not good news. And after all, you are all facing a tournament soon."
"BAKA!" Momo snapped. "If you're afraid that we all will be worried, not telling us and not contacting us like this can only make us anxious even more."
Ryoma looked at Momo for a while. What Momo said was true. But telling about his illness won't make them feel better too. "Sorry."
"Don't say sorry." Kaidoh said. "Just don't make us worried like this anymore."
"You worried too?" Ryoma tried to tease.
"Yes, of course." A stern reply was heard from Kaidoh and that gave Ryoma a slight shock. Kaidoh never showed good relationship with Ryoma, but actually, he was equally concerned as the others.
Ryoma fell in silence for a while.
"We all worried, Echizen. Really. You shouldn't lie to us like this." Kawamura said with an uneasy voice.
"Ryoma," called Tezuka.
"Thank you," said Ryoma gently, "to all of you," his lips curled into a smile, "for your companion here and all your support.
"To tell you that I'm completely fine is useless since I know you all know about leukemia. But you all don't need to be worried. I'm still fighting here."
Then Ryoma turned to Tezuka on his left. "Arigatou," mouthed he with a smile, "for bringing them all here."
The expressionless face was now fancied with a relieved smile as Tezuka leant forward and gave Ryoma's small body a quick hug. He said nothing, but his heart was lighter this time, just as every time he saw Ryoma's smile.
"Get well soon." Kawamura said gently. His peaceful smile was on his lips now. "I'll cook you a lot of delicious sushi once you recovered!"
"We'll always pray for you, Echizen," said Fuji.
"I'll go to temple to pray for your health. I'll ask for some health charm for you." Eiji said. His face was lighten up this time.
Ryoma smiled again. He didn't remember ever being so easily smiling like this before. "Arigatou, sempai-tachi."
"Minna!" Oishi's sudden loud voice startled the others. "Let's win tomorrow's tournament for Echizen. We can't afford to lose while Echizen himself is still fighting with his illness."
"Hora! That's the spirit!" Momo shouted. "We won't lose. Zettai!"
"OUGH!" Kaidoh shouted together with Eiji and Kawamura. Oishi's words had pumped the other's spirit.
With a grin on his face, Ryoma dared himself to shout as well. "SEIGAKU"
"FIGHT-O!!" cried the others gleefully, trying to at least forget the sadness for a while.
And suddenly a nurse appeared on the threshold. "Keep your voice DOWN! This is a hospital!"
--
To be continued
--
A/N: HAIYO!!! OOC Ryoma and Tezuka!! (I'll just hide behind the words "people change" then being hit hard on the head) Ryoma didn't seem to think a lot about tennis this time.But that won't go too long.Phew... after going through thoughts about other people's advices and considering to change the plot of the story, this story is eventually made. HWAAHH!!!
Special thanks to Herumi for your great advice! Hope this chapter is better than the last, kay! Sankyu!!
Thanks to the reviewers:
Craze -- Hi-hi... Thanks for your advice and support all this time...
may neuma -- sorry for being so slow with the plot. I myself can't help it... If I try to make it faster, it will just ruin the whole thing I guess... ;;
Krystal -- okay2, Tezuryo is here now. I may not write it directly. But well, hope you get the point, hehehe...
Kawaii chibi yami -- sorry for making this a Tezuryo fic. Hope you don't really mind... gomen2
Squall Morpheus Leonhart -- Phew! Making the part when all the members came to Ryoma's place is the hardest part of this chapter. I don't really know if I did well. I just hope I did... Hehe
RuByMoOn17 -- Douzo with the Tezuryo!! Not much action yet... YET!! xp
jia -- Ryoma is going to die... or live...?? evil grin
shini-kumiko -- the regulars have found out. FINALLY!! It's kinda hard to write it down...
PurpleDragoon -- arigatou gozaimazu! bows
Pikka -- thanks for the opinion.Opinions help me a lot with the progress...
Jenn -- thanks for reading this fic! Glad you like it!!
wadeva -- :D
tezuka eiri -- Ryoma isn't the type who gives up easily. Hehe... but who knows what'll happen in the future, ne?
liveandletlive -- Tezuryo here!!! Arigatou!
catsz -- HIYA!!! I know the plot is so slow and I also feel it's moving in a circle. But really, I can't just drop the scene and forget it since I consider all of them are important. Well, at least in my opinion. But I'm glad you want to read mine. Waiting for your fic too, kay! Hehehe...
Haritori -- thank you very much!!
Your words give me courage and support to continue further. Thanks for reading, for reviewing and supporting! HONTOU NI ARIGATOU!!
Next chapter: The intensive check up, the result, the next treatment plus Atobe and Sanada's visit!