Secrets

"Ryoma tell us what Ruby's father did to her," Kawamura slowly said. Ryoma sighed quietly trying to calm down.

"He's not really her father, more like step-father," Ryoma explains. The team stares at him waiting for him to continue. "Ruby's father died when she was little, she cried a lot after that. We met one day when she was crying and I thought she could use a friend. She told me her story. I told her I'd protect her."

Ryoma's eyes softened at the memory. The regulars gave sympathetic looks to their young kohai. Ryoma took in a shaky breath and continues.

"Her mom remarried later. The man was vicious. Since Ruby's mom left home a lot she never really knew what was going on. But then she walked in on him one day and saw him holding Ruby by the hair ready to strike."

Ryoma's aura darkened and his voice became acid.

"Her mom tried to get her and leave. She told him she's leaving him and never wants to see him again. But he slapped her and said if she ever left him, he would kill her and Ruby. She couldn't call the police, afraid he'll hurt Ruby if she did. Since he works a lot as well he leaves town and doesn't come back for a while. The times he does, Ruby's mom makes sure she does too. Not wanting Ruby to be alone with him."

The regulars were now in a state of shock. Mixed emotions taking over as they tried to calm down.

"He doesn't let them leave the house or do anything outside. Ruby is only allowed to go to school and come home. And she especially cant see me. He threatened her saying if she does, he'll make sure I die. Every time he's here Ruby tries to be the same happy girl she always was. But its getting harder and harder for her…" Ryoma trails off.

He doesn't look at his friends in fear that they might see how much it hurt him to see Ruby going through this. But the regulars dint have to see his face to know, since they were feeling almost the same thing.

"I have to go…" Ryoma's voice was low. And there was a hint of sadness in it. The regulars looked at each other and seemed to be in deep thought.

"We have work to do." Tezuka blurts.

"What! Boucho how could you think about tennis after all of that!" Momo yells at his captain. Fuji chuckles a bit and smiles.

"I think he was talking about helping Ruby, Momo," he says. Momo stares at him sempai then rubs the back of his head nervously and apologizes to Tezuka, who looks annoyed.

"So what did you have in mind?" Oishi asks. Everyone looks at him. Oishi wasn't the kind of person who would just go along with something like this. He would say that they should call the cops and let them handle it. But he was just as mad as anyone else, and wanted to do something about this.

"We need a plan," Inui says as he, like everyone else, looks right at Fuji.

"Saa… I may have a couple things in mind," Fuji's opens his eyes and they show an icy blue color. He smirked like he just committed the best murder ever. Everyone shuddered.

"Lets begin." and they began plotting.

When Ruby got home her mother ran right into her and held her tight. Right behind her came the man that ruined their life more then it was.

"There you are you fucking shit, go and make me a sandwich! I'm starving!" he yells and takes a chug of beer. Ruby walks past him and into the kitchen.

"And you bitch! How dare you run away from me. I don't care who walks through that door, you stay where I tell you to stay! You got that!" a slap is heard in the other room. Then crying and whimpering.

"Yes," Ruby hears her mother sob. "I'm sorry."

"Disgusting piece of shit," then the TV is turned on. Ruby sneaks to her mother and brings her into the kitchen where she bandages her up. Then her mother embraces her and starts sobbing quietly. Ruby tries not to.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," she sobs. Ruby strokes her mother's long hair. Ruby got her looks from her mother. The long red hair, the red eyes, and skin. Her mother was a famous singer named Rubellite Fiera. And was very famous.

Her father was a man with great passion for tennis, that's what she got from him. Ruby has the most amazing voice, but her passion is tennis. So her father and her were very close. When he died she couldn't stop the tears. Then she met Ryoma who took her to his dad, and from there Nanjirou Echizen was the one who taught her the rest. When she played, it was like she was with her father, playing right next to him.

But his man that claims to be her father, will never be anything to her. Ever. She held her mother close and didn't let go, and they stayed like that until the man woke up and separated them. Slapped Ruby and took her mother to their room, and all Ruby could do was sit on the ground and listen to her mothers crying, while she cried as well.

The next day was school and everyone went to their classrooms and did what they were supposed to. Ruby didn't talk the whole day. She stared out the window. She would occasionally smile at Ryoma who smiled back, but that was it.

The regulars noticed this and weren't very happy about it.

"Ok Fuji, you sure this is legal? couldn't we get arrested for it?" Oishi asked.

"Does it matter, that man should have been arrested long ago," Fuji snarled. Oishi nodded in understanding.

"Alright mamushi, you ready for this!" Momo exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Fshuu," came the reply. Momo and Kaidoh didn't argue the whole day. They agreed on things and helped each other out, and giving advice. They must really hate this man if they were willing to work together. The kept plotting getting everything together.

"We're ready! Nya!" Eiji jumped 3 feet in the air. They all smiled, some smirked, and they were ready.