The Changes In Me Chapter II, a prince of tennis fanfic

Oops! I forgot to mention that Yukimura did not meet Ryo in Nationals! At least not in my story. Sorry! Also, I would like to say sorry about how I spelt Yukimura's name wrong.

Update- I know I said I would warn you about the pairing but the past few days no one has sent any votes. So I'm going off the ones I have now:

Yukimura/Ryoma- 11

Thrill Pair- 9

Pillar Pair- 2

Royal Pair- 1

Momoshiro/Ryoma- 1

Fuji/Ryoma/Yukimura- 3

Fuji/Ryoma/Tezuka- 1

OT5- 8

OT6-19

Now, as of now, poll is closed. I know this will anger some of you and what not but please…be nice. I'm choosing OT6, yet if I find myself incapable of writing that, then it'll be… the next in line. Yukimura/Ryoma. Sorry.

The Changes In Me

JacqueLoveLess

Chapter II

'I got your picture
I'm coming with you
Dear Maria, count me in
There's a story at the bottom of this bottle
And on the bed

When the lights go out
I wanna watch the way you
Take the stage by storm
But the way you wrap those boys around your finger
Go on and play the leader
'Cause you know it's what you're good at
The low road for the fast track
Make every second theirs

'Cause I got your picture
I'm coming with you
Dear Maria, count me in
There's a story at the bottom of this bottle
And on the bed
Make it count when I'm the one
Who's selling you out
'Cause it feels like stealing hearts
Calling your name from the crowd

Then in the field you'll be the show girl of the home team
I'll be the narrator
Telling another tale of the American dream

I see your name in lights
We can make you a star
Girl, we'll take the world by storm
It isn't that hard

Ha ha..

Take a breath, 'cause it sounds so easy
Never out of doubt
Now I'm going crazy watching from the floor
Take a breath and let the rest come easy
Never settle down
Because the cash flow leaves me always wanting more

'Cause I got your picture
I'm coming with you
Dear Maria, count me in
There's a story at the bottom of this bottle'

The song faded and Ryoma's eyes flickered closed. It was only noon and he had nothing to really done. Yukimura had already left, having to make sure his team settled in. So, Ryoma lay on his bed, his headphones on and his eyes closed. Knowing there was nothing better to do, Ryoma let himself slip into sleep. Where the nightmares plagued him.

He stood in the white room that was littered with floral arrangements that made the room smell badly with the mixing aromas of the many different flowers. It wasn't the first time he'd been in this room. In fact he'd spent almost a year and a half standing, sitting, sleeping in this white, white room. The consistent 'beep' of the heart monitor was annoying, but reassuring. He was glued to the spot, his black and white All Star converse stuck to the white tile floor. The 'beep' stopped. The reassurance fled. And a vise gripped tight on his heart. He was jostled by the doctors, the nurses, that rushed in. they swarmed the white bed. Noise… confusion… nothingness.

"Ryoma! Ryoma! Wake Up!" Ryoma was pulled from his nightmare, a grip on his throat stopping his air, a pressure on his chest, the sweat dripping from his temples. His headphones had been pulled off, his iPod set aside, on the desk, next to his laptop. "Ryoma? Are you okay?" Yukimura. That's who had awoken him, that's who pulled him from his over-lived hell.

"Uh…Yeah. Sorry, Seichii. I…dozed off I guess. What time is it?" Ryoma asked, reaching up to rub his tired eyes.

"About 7 'o'clock. You should get ready for the dinner tonight. I already had a shower so the bathroom is all yours." Yukimura said, his smile present on his soft face.

"Okay, thanks." Ryoma replied, shoving his weary body off his soft bed.

'Maybe a hot shower will help.'

"So, Buchou… Who's your roommate?!" Bunta Marui asked excitedly. Yukimura just chuckled. He'd barely sat down before everyone had assumed that he had the 'single player' as a roommate. It may be true, but why was everyone so interested. Hyotei, Seigaku, Fudomine, Rokkaku, St. Rudolph and even some Yamabuki were leaning in to find out who it was.

"Well… I have the single player as a roommate." Yukimura said chuckling happily.

"What's he look like?!!" Kirihara questioned, his voice almost raising and octave.

"Well… He's about 171 cm tall, and about… 125 lbs., mostly muscle. He has a punkish fashion sense, and has several piercing."

"Where?" Marui asked.

"Well, a double piercing on the right side of his bottom lip, he has his ears pierced three times on each. He also has his hipspierced. It's actually kind of weird, but he doesn't wear the hip rings much…"

"His hips?" Renji Yanagi asked, his eyebrow cocking up toward his hairline.

"Yup. Anyway, he has some pretty good muscles from what I saw, and he's got this weird hair… it's jet black with… emerald green in it…and his eyes… amazing. They're like cat-eyes. Golden-olive…his name is…"Yukimura trailed off as he looked up toward the stairs that lead down to the main floor. Catching Yukimura's eye, the rest of the Japanese players turned to look as well.

There stood Ryoma Echizen. He wore a pair of black slacks with his black and white converse and a red studded belt. His silk button-up shirt was black and he wore a red tie that matched the red belt. his lip rings were small hoops with small red beads in the middle of each metal ring. His unique hair was styled to fall shaggily across his right eye. He had crimson red studio headphones covering his ears, his iPod in hand.

"Ryoma Echizen."

"Hé, Ryoma! Ici!" 'Hey, Ryoma! Over here!'Carel yelled, waving his arm, trying to get Ryoma's attention.

"J'ai une attribution de table. Désolé, Carel." 'I have a table assignment. Sorry, Carel.' Ryoma called back as he walked to one of the tables by the Russian team.

"Привет. Как дела?"'Hello. How are you?' one of the Russian boys asked.

"Прекрасный. Вы?"'Fine. You?' Ryoma asked back as he settled down in one of the chairs. The conversation lasted a bit, but then, as per his custom, Ryoma put his head phones on and waiting for the head master to arrive.

'Your fingertips across my skin
The palm trees swaying in the wind
Images
You sang me Spanish lullabies
The sweetest sadness in your eyes
Clever trick

Well, I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

We walked along a crowded street
You took my hand and danced with me
Images
And when you left, you kissed my lips
You told me you would never, ever forget
These images

Well, I'd never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me

I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
So you're gone and I'm haunted
And I bet you are just fine

Did I make it that easy
To walk right in and out of my life?

Dinner dragged. Ryoma spent his time being goggled at by teams, being talked loudly to by the overly excited headmaster, and having to listen the chatter of the multi-languages around him. Now, all he wanted to do was take an aspirin, and go for a nighttime walk through the school gardens. Which is where he was now. He sat back against a crab apple tree, his now bare feet pressed against the grass. He'd rolled his pant legs, and his shirt sleeves. His hand held his iPod as it played from Ryoma's 'A Fine Frenzy' play list.

'come on, come out

come on, come out
the weather is warm
come on, come out
come on come on

a spot in the shade
where oranges fall
a spot in the shade
away from it all

watching the sky, you're watching a painting
coming to life, shifting and shaping
staying inside, it all goes all goes by

a blanket unfolds,
a blanket to lie
the pieces of gold
they light up your eyes
and now we're alone
and now we're alive

watching the sky, you're watching a painting
coming to life, shifting and shaping
staying inside, it all goes
all goes all goes all goes by
stopping the time, the rush and the waiting
leave it behind, shifting and shaping
keep it inside, it all goes all goes all goes all goes by

it all goes passing by
all goes passing by

"Ryoma?" a deep voice startled Ryoma, his body giving a small jolt. He stopped his music and pulled the headphones off.

"Hello, Atobe-san."

"Ryoma…don't call me that." the tall man said softly.

"What should I call you then?" Ryoma asked, as if he had no idea what Atobe wanted to be called by him.

"Kei. That's a name I don't think I would mind hearing you say again." Atobe said, his gray eyes looked at the young man against the tree. Atobe moved forward and sat relatively close to Ryoma.

"I'm not sure if it would be proper, Atobe-san." Ryoma responded, his voice holding a slight bitter humor in it.

"Since when have you cared a proper?" Atobe asked. Ryoma laughed lightly, the laughter tinged with bitterness. Atobe caught it.

"What happened to you?" Atobe asked.

"I grew up, Kei." Ryoma responded, getting up and placing his headphones back on place. He slipped his socks and shoes on and began walking back to the school.

When he was out of hearing range, Atobe stared after him.

"What happened to you, Ryo?" Atobe whispered, letting his soft voice flow on the light summer winds.

' Save some face, you know you've only got one
Change your ways while you're young
Boy, one day you'll be a man
Oh girl, he'll help you understand
Smile like you mean it
Smile like you mean it

Looking back at sunsets on the Eastside
We lost track of the time
Dreams aren't what they used to be
Some things sat by so carelessly

Smile like you mean it
Smile like you mean it

And someone is calling my name
From the back of the restaurant
And someone is playing a game
In the house that I grew up in
And someone will drive her around
Down the same streets that I did
On the same streets that I did

Smile like you mean it
Smile like you mean it
Smile like you mean it
Smile like you mean it

Oh no, oh no no no
Oh no, oh no no no'

The soft music faded, leaving the dull ring of the song in Ryoma's ears. He hit the off button on the music alarm, before it could start another song.

"Morning, Seichii." Ryoma muttered to his awakening roommate.

"Mornin'…" Yukimura yawned sleepily.

'First day of actual school. Yay.' Even in Ryoma's mind the thoughts were dripping with sarcasm.

Sorry it's not very long, but I have an Earth Science Report to write as well... sorry! Anyway, you got a little bit of Ryoma/Atobe. A secret past I guess... lol. Hope you liked it! Read and Review!

Disclaimers: I do not own PoT characters.

Songs used:

Dear Maria, count me in- All Time Low

Almost Lover- A Fine Frenzy

Come On, Come Out- a Fine Frenzy

Smile Like You mean it- the Killers.