Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

~~ A Day Full Of Rain ~~

~~ 10. March, Morning ~~

Something stirred him awake from the warm and quiet dreamland, a surprisingly gentle voice called him, urged him to wake up. He yawned silently while his hands rubbed the last bit of sleep out of his still tired eyes. The sweet voice called once more, followed by a gentle shake on his left shoulder. Who was waking him up?

So gentle and careful…
It was certainly no one from his family. They would have woken him up with loud noises, threats of no breakfast and certainly not so gentle shakes. Curiosity got the better of him and tempted him to open his eyes entirely. Though the first sight he received was the clothed body of someone else who climbed over him. The mattress wobbled by the movements of the other person and a sudden coldness brushed his back, making him shudder.

Ryoma blinked and yawned while his eyes wandered around. The other beds were already empty and he noticed then the also nearly empty room. Tezuka was the only other person in the bedroom and he was already on his way into the bathroom, looking strangely distressed. Had something happened?

The memory of yesterday's night crashed into his mind and back was the feeling of embarrassment. The good and exhausting match against Sanada, the accident with his voice and the throw up because of the nightmare, the offer to sleep with Tezuka in one bed for the second time.
Everything had seemed better than returning his own cold and deserted bed and having another of those mind wrecking nightmares. The fact that his buchou kissed other boys hadn't mattered. Just the fact that he had slept well the last time they had shared a bed counted!

He had enough of those nightmares for the rest of his whole life! How many more did he have to endure to finally get rid of them?!
It was always the same disturbing dream… always about him or her and about pain and death.

His more than empty stomach was churning by the bare thought of it.
Ryoma shut his eyes forcefully, took a deep breath, calming his whole self. Trying. He still wanted to forget everything and the tennis match had been good, had put him into a trance where only the ball and the goal to win stood in focus. Everything else had faded into insignificance.

He wanted the feeling back. The feeling of... excitement and joy and... carefreeness. If Sanada would play another tennis match against him? He still wanted to think about anything else than the trouble and nightmares surrounding him but something forced itself to the front, unwilling to be shoved in the furthest corner of his mind. Something distressing about last night's throw up.

He hadn't been the only one being awake. The others hadn't been asleep any longer when he had left the bathroom. At least Tezuka, Fuji and Sanada had been there too, watching him carefully. However, it wasn't the fact about the three watching him. Their attention made him uncomfortable but it was the disturbing question as to why they had been awake in the first place which made him sweat in cold fear.

All the sleepiness was forgotten by a very frightening scenario in his head. His body shivered and his stomach hurt.

Had it happened again?
Had he lost control once more?

After this particular accident which probably revealed his secret, he believed it could happen anew. Only this time...
Did Fuji and Monkey King know about his secret, too?!

He wouldn't be able to ditch the questions any longer.
He wouldn't be able to… Fuji would just... and Tsukiko... If she heard about it...

Should he try to do some damage control and ask them to not say anything?
No, Fuji wouldn't play along. The tensai would use it to get what he wanted. Ryoma had witnessed this scheme more than once already.

Ryoma pulled the blanket closer, feeling icy from the inside, weak and jittery. He would throw up another time if he didn't stop freaking out soon.

When would all this end?
Would he ever stop being so frightened over his own shadow?
When would he stop being so weak and pathetic?

All he wanted to do right then was scream all the fear, anger and despair out of himself. He was losing his mind!

Maybe he should really think about Sanada's words and talk with his cousin….

Ryoma felt another shudder, one of the bad kinds.
No. No, he just couldn't do this. He wouldn't be able to endure the consequences from doing this. Pushing his hands over his eyes till the hurt from the pressure.

The footsteps coming from the direction of the bathroom revealed Tezuka's approach. The older teen cleared his throat and spoke quietly before leaving the bedroom and entering the living room. "You should get up as well. Breakfast is ready."

With one smack on his own head to stop his messy mind from going any crazier, he got up and into the bathroom, taking a cold shower after brushing his teeth. It took him less than ten minutes of drying and clothing himself to enter the living room which was already filled with the other teens who ate their breakfast. Though one person seemed to be missing. Yukimura wasn't sitting or standing anywhere.

Ryoma frowned, glanced back into the bedroom at all but one unmade bed. Hadn't the bluenette slept at all?

"Seiichi slept with Marui and Jackal in one house. There was a little discussion yesterday night after you went to bed." Monkey King spoke and continued eating - no, it looked more like some queen nibbling on a cookie, not really eating. All in one, it was a bizarre picture because no one else spoke out aloud. Tezuka and Sanada talked silently by throwing quick glances at each other with stoic expressions. Fuji on the other hand gazed at Monkey King with a bright smile and closed eyes while Monkey King viewed at the whole table with a smugly grin.

The scent and view of a delicious Japanese breakfast let water fill his mouth. His stomach churned loudly when the smell intruded his nose. Ryoma nodded to show he had heard Monkey King and joined the others, sitting beside Tezuka at the end of the table. Tezuka seemed to be the most harmless person right then as the only other unoccupied seat was beside Monkey King.

Ryoma picked up his chopsticks, looked at the other eating teens warily. Nobody spoke, asked questions or showed any indication that they knew about his secret. Not even Tezuka or Sanada casted him curious glances. Nothing. Some of the tension left his shoulders after the first couple of bites. It was strange, especially after Fuji's and Monkey King's bomb of questions the last time he had "spoken" to them. Now, there was nothing other than friendly smiles or nothing at all.

So breakfast went on in caution, always waiting for a change of mood and the questions to start. Nevertheless, the questions never came. Breakfast continued in silence which was more than uncomfortable and lasted until some maids entered their house after knocking on the door, cleaning the table and making their beds. Monkey King dismissed them when one of them asked if she could do anything else for him and stood up as soon as the tableware was gone.

Tezuka and Sanada thanked for the delicious meal, went straight to some game board and started to play a game on it. Fuji followed and sat on Tezuka's side on the sofa. Monkey King sat on Sanada's side of the sofa and began reading a magazine about tennis. Still no attention or questions.

What was going on?
Why the sudden change of behavior?
Weren't they going to practice?
They were starting to drive him nuts!

Should he join them on the sofa or continue to sit at the table as no one seemed to be interested in practice.

"Today's training will be canceled. The rain is still pouring and the training hall is flooded because the roof has a leak and the rain is pouring inside." Tezuka spoke, doing his next move and therefore not looking up.

"Ahh, the great Ore-sama has already called his servants to repair and clean the mess. It shouldn't take too long." Monkey King flipped a page, still not looking up.

"Saa, but in the meantime we have to wait until the rain stops and occupy ourselves with something else. The coaches forbid us to play tennis under such conditions and anyone who breaks the rule will leave the camp immediately." Ryoma shivered. He certainly didn't like the sound of that. The whole morning had been strange so far and the day would continued without tennis to help him forget.

He casted a glance at the sofa. Sanada made his move, grinning slightly. What exactly were they playing?

Ryoma headed to the others carefully, standing behind his buchou and looking from over his shoulder at the game. The longer he watched and observed, the less he understood the at least his mind was occupied with trying. He must have somehow expressed his confusion because Sanada looked at him and spoke. "Do you know how to play Go?"

He shook his head in denial, noting the received attention from Tezuka and Fuji. Not good.

"Do you want to play?" The black-haired teen seemed to mean his offer as he waited for a reply. Ryoma scanned the room from the corner of his eyes. The only thing keeping him sane wasn't possible so far and lying in bed the entire time would probably only cause unwanted attention. So why not try it?
Maybe he would actually manage to act normal around them.

He nodded, walking over and sitting down at the empty side of the sofa beside Sanada with enough space between them. Sanada began immediately to explain the rules and was quite delighted about it, putting the pieces in different formations for better explanation. It was weird to experience a delighted Sanada when all he had done or said so far sounded so mature. He sounded like the teenager he should be. Ryoma nodded at the right times, understanding the rules easily.

It didn't take long for Ryoma's first game to start. A different kind of match against Tezuka.

He was already in a disadvantage after twenty-five minutes, having done too many mistakes. Sanada kept his mouth shut, not helping or prompting. He only explained certain mistakes after the disaster has already happened. Ryoma was thankful for it and was unconsciously enjoying the game. His mind was forced to stay focused all the time, suppressing the things happening around him or in his mind.

For a couple of minutes, he even forgot the disasters from the last few days and if it continued being like this, he would start playing it more often.

The first game was lost far too quickly for his liking. Therefore he wanted a rematch and simply started to separate the black and white stones and made the first move. He looked daringly at his captain who understood and gave him a very little smile with his eyes behind the glasses which somehow sparkled. Tezuka accepted the challenge and the next game was on.

This match went better. Tezuka was actually frowning in concentration after fifteen minutes, having a harder time now. Ryoma nibbled on his lips thinking about his next move, his focus set on winning. Losing had always been out of question for him, not in tennis nor in any other game. He made his move, happy on the inside about his brilliant strategy.

At least he felt so until the creepy feeling of someone staring at him intently caused him to shiver and view around. Fuji was staring at him in… confusion. The brunette was smiling, not so creepy like usual but not so friendly and relaxed either. If he didn't know better, he would think Fuji was scanning him like some robot, searching for weak spots. It was definitely creepy.

The made his move, his concentration nearly gone due to the staring. What was the brunette thinking?
Would he ask questions now?

The feeling grew only worse when Fuji didn't stop staring, instead he only closed his eyes and leaned forward in his direction, closing the distance between them. What was wrong with this guy?
Was now the feared moment where the questions would start?

Forgotten was the relaxing game in front of him and back were the hammering heart, the pressure on his lungs and the sweat pouring out of him. All his instincts told him to stand up and hide from Fuji, to escape the attention from the tensai because he brought only embarrassment, pain and humiliation.

The sudden burst of the front door opening was a moment out of horror movie. Someone yelped, a magazine flew across the room and everybody turned around to see who disturbed their quiet togetherness. Ryoma's body jolted up, forcing him to stand up, ready to dodge whatever was thrown at him. Fuji did the same, seemingly out of reflex. Tezuka and Sanada sat straighter up. Monkey King cleared his throat and flipped his hair back.

"I have always known you were a wimp, Keigo." Ryoma breathed out deeply, relaxing by the sight of the bluenette. Yukimura closed the umbrella, shut the door, glared at the four other teens and walked into the bedroom. Ryoma felt strangely relieved for not receiving such a glare from his beautiful neighbour.

Everyone calmed down. Ryoma sat down and couldn't hide his grin at Monkey King who had been the one person screaming, throwing the magazine across the room. Fuji followed suit but his attention stayed at the bedroom's door, his expression grim. So their fight had worsened. Absolutely not good!

Ryoma viewed at the bedroom's door shortly and went back to the game, making his move and putting his buchou in a double mill. He planed his next move as no movement happened. It took him a moment to realize that Fuji wasn't the only one gazing in the direction of the bedroom. The other three teens were too. Must have been one of those discussions which he had never wanted to experience. Just like the discussion between his parents.

At least Fuji's attention was gone from him and now directed at the bluenette. Ryoma wasn't so sure if it was better this way or not.

Yukimura returned shortly after into the living room, heading for the front head with a bag in his hand. "I'll be sleeping from now on with Akaya, Marui and Jackal. Akaya has already thrown a tantrum, so he too changed his sleeping place. An order from the coaches." The bluenette paused in the middle of the living room, seeing only then Ryoma sitting on the sofa as well.

They stared at each other, neither breaking eye contact. "Ryoma, do you want to come with me? I think you don't want to witness the four cheating idiot's sexual life." The words were spoken in an icy tone, cold and hateful but not directed at him. Yukimura actually smiled in a gentle way at him and... what had the bluenette said?

"I never knew you were so close with Ryoma to call him by his first name." Fuji stood up, interrupting their eye contact by standing between them.

"Why should I not? A doubt you're the only one with the privilege of getting to know him better and calling him by his first name."

"Saa, I'm sure I know him better than you do." A slim but strong hand grabbed his shoulder, pressing him against Fuji's side. Ryoma's body went stiff by the sudden contact, not reacting in any way. The grip around his shoulder was rough and anything else than friendly.

"I doubt it."

"You doubt everyth-"

"Syusuke! It's enough." Sanada stood up as well. "Seiichi, could we please tal-"

"No." Yukimura's attention went straight back on Ryoma, who started to struggle against Fuji's hold on him. "Do you want to stay here or come with me? We can watch some old tennis matches or find something else to occupy ourselves."

"He will stay here." Fuji replied. There would be bruises if the grip tightened any more around his shoulder.

"Just because Ryoma doesn't have a voice, doesn't mean he can't answer for himself." The words struck in like a lightning. Ryoma's body went rigid, everything froze inside him, the color drowned from his skin. No. No. No. No. No.

His eyes shot to Tezuka and Sanada, both standing absolutely straight and still with slightly wide eyes directed at him.
It was confirmation enough for Ryoma. His worst fear was true. They certainly did know his secret! They had heard him!

Shit!

Damn!

He needed to go. Far away. Out of here before the questions would start.
Ryoma wanted to be gone before they said anything.

He struggled free from the grip and stumbled over to the bluenette, surprising probably everyone. The last time he couldn't have been faster to get away from Yukimura and now he went willingly to him. He had neither the time nor the mind to think about such a thing right now. He needed to get away.

They walked out of the door and the bluenette opened his umbrella, waiting for him to stand beside him. "I know we haven't gotten a good start to get to know each other but… It's just, I would like to change that if it's okay for you. We're neighbours after all."

Yukimura smiled at him with his head slightly bowed and sadness shimmering in his eyes.