It Began on the Streets
Response to reviewers:
annonymous, Hoshiko Megami: Thanks for your reviews! I'm glad you like!
ennov, Emethyst, gravitation gig: I really didn't notice until I watched both shows again. Then I realized that they did look alike. It was amusing. Maybe I should do a crossover...
On with the story! ------------
Ryoma slowly shut the door. Before the person could turn around Ryoma quickly kicked him to his knees, grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back, and placed the blade of the knife against his throat. The person was, unfortunately, taller than he, so he had to do an extra step.
"Who are you and where am I?"
Part 3
Tezuka couldn't sleep that night. He'd been thinking and thinking kept him up. He knew he needed sleep and Oishi might fuss over him tomorrow. He couldn't take his mind off the injured occupant sleeping in his guest room. Maybe if he checked one more time he'd be able to go to sleep.
So he walked upstairs and to the room. He was rather surprised that the bed was empty. He thought maybe he escaped with such a fast recovery rate. But then he saw the window closed. Escapees usually left the window open but maybe this one was smarter. He stepped into the room heading towards the bed.
Tezuka froze as the door closed behind him. He was about to turn around but grunted as he felt a sharp pain on his back legs making fall to his knees. His arm was twisted behind him and he felt cold metal pressed upon his neck. He was about to tell the person he'd pay him, he could earn it back real quick, but before he could say anything that familiar cocky voice spoke.
"Who are you and where am I?"
There was no denying it, that voice he'd remember anywhere.
"You're in my house. I found you beaten and brought you here," Tezuka explained.
He was released. He stood up flexing his arm to see if it can still work, luckily. He turned to face the person he brought in. He stood frozen as he stared right into familiar cat like golden eyes. This had to be Echizen Ryoma.
"Oi, you still haven't answered my question yet," Ryoma spoke taking him out of his thoughts. Tezuka shook out of his daze and regained his composure before speaking. He didn't remember him.
"Tezuka Kunimitsu. And you are?" Tezuka asked as he kept looking into annoyed golden eyes. He wondered why.
"Ryoma, just Ryoma, I don't remember my last name." Ryoma still looked at him annoyed. Tezuka stared back with indifference.
"Is something bothering you?"
"People taller than me annoy me."
Ah, blunt as ever. Tezuka thought. "Oh, why is that? Some people are shorter than you." Echizen, as did he, did grow from his twelve year old height. But was still shorter and the youngest from the other former Seigaku members.
"They just do."
A hungry growl interrupted their indifferent stares. Tezuka wanted to laugh but kept it down.
"You must be hungry. You could've probably been lying there for days. Come, I'll get you something to eat." Tezuka said not bothering to see if he would follow. He knew he would because he heard the very faint footsteps behind him.
Tezuka wondered what happened to Echizen. This was not the Echizen he knew. This one was dangerous ever so. He glanced briefly behind him to see the younger twirling and tossing the knife in his hands as if it were a baton. Maybe he could ask later.
Tezuka led him to the kitchen and started to cook something. Ryoma looked around. The kitchen must've cost a lot but seeing the halls of this maze called a mansion, it seemed to fit. But he was hungry and he needed food right away. He glanced at his caretaker and frowned. He took his sweet time chopping something simple as vegetables. He would butt in but he was tired and injured.
After what felt like an hour, the food was ready. He quickly gobbled it down.
"Don't eat so fast, you'll choke," Tezuka chided him.
For some reason Ryoma listened to that stern voice. He didn't know why, so he slowed his pace. This food wasn't that bad but he had tasted better cooking. But he didn't say it out loud for he might offend his savior. He felt like he hadn't eaten in a day plus he was still a bit sore.
"How are you feeling?" Tezuka asked breaking the silence.
"A bit sore. I'm fine," Ryoma, answered. Tezuka glanced at the knife sitting next to the plates.
"Where did you get that?" he pointed to the knife. Ryoma looked curiously. Didn't he know?
"Isn't it one of yours?"
"No."
"I found it in the jacket."
"It's yours."
"Ara, no wonder it was familiar."
Ryoma picked up the knife and began twirling and tossing it like a baton. It seemed natural as it did in the hallway. He stopped suddenly as a scene flashed in his head but it quickly disappeared as if preventing him. He hated these. But he shrugged it off. It probably wasn't important anyways. He stretched letting out a small yawn and a wince as he forgot that he had injuries especially a bullet wound. He was still tired.
"Goodnight," Ryoma said before letting his head lay on the table, instantly falling asleep.
Tezuka was startled but noticed he still must've been tired. It had only been two hours since he was bandaged up. For this little time of interaction Tezuka noticed Ryoma was slightly different. He wasn't as shy to say anything and was even more blunt than before. But he still held the strong determination look.
Time seemed to change people.
He sighed before picking up his guest and taking him back to the guest room. He took one last glance at the sleeping figure before retiring to his own room.
-X-
Ryoma awoke to the noise of the door being opened. He noticed it was already dawn or maybe an hour after. He stayed still acting like he was asleep while the knife clutched in his hand ready to strike. He listened to the footsteps. The person he could tell was light and probably shorter than he. He had an advantage. The person came close. As he was about to strike, he stopped as he heard the voice.
"Mister. You awake?" it was a little girl. His grip on the knife loosened. She was considered not a threat. He slowly sat up avoiding a big headache. He looked right into blue eyes. Obviously she must be Tezuka's daughter unless he lets maids keep their kids here. "Mister, you okay?" she asked concerned. She must've been talking about his injuries.
"H-hai, I'm fine." Ryoma answered. She climbed on the bed sitting near the end facing him.
"I'm Yuki, what's your name mister?"
"Ryoma."
"Ry-o-ma." She tried sounding out the words. She laughed a little. "Ryoma." She jumped off the bed and tugged on his hand. "Come Ryoma-san, you hungry? Papa isn't up yet an' I don' wanna eat alone."
"I'll come," Ryoma said standing up. He was kind of hungry too. She grasped his hand surprising him. She simply ignored it and continued to walk with him following. They made it to the kitchen. No food was even on the small table. He wondered if Tezuka-san even hired a cook. He saw Yuki shuffling through the fridge. He sighed.
"Why don't you sit down Yuki-chan? I'll make something." Ryoma offered already looking through what was actually in the fridge. He had to 'borrow' one of Tezuka-san's credit cards to fill the fridge up. There was hardly anything in it that could be considered for any other meal. Yuki complied and sat down. But she didn't keep it silent. She kept asking questions and telling things. Ryoma was actually grateful for it. He then laid them out on the counter table. He smiled a little as Yuki's eyes lit up. He cooked a simple American breakfast. He didn't really like it but it was the only thing he could think of at the moment.
-X-
Tezuka woke to the sound of something sizzling. He groaned. He hoped Yuki wasn't trying to cook again. He quickly got up and walked towards the kitchen. What he saw surprised him and almost gave him a heart attack.
Ryoma was, for a better term, juggling knives. In front of his daughter no less! What shocked him even more was that Yuki was clapping and laughing at Ryoma's performance. He couldn't have someone else influencing his daughter. Fuji was bad enough. Tezuka decided to make his presence known. This, regrettably, made Ryoma stop and place the kitchen knives back in place. The bacon was just finished.
-X-
Oishi was curious. It was very rarely that Tezuka even called to meet anyone. It was usually Eiji and Fuji to drag him out of his office or just drag everyone over to Tezuka's place. But Tezuka sounded different yesterday. He shook it off. Tezuka would tell him anyways. He knocked three times on the door. It was a while but someone answered the door. It was not someone he was expecting. The first thought that came to mind was:
Echizen…
"Can I help you?" the question snapped him out of his daze as he stared at the younger man. He could just be imagining things. But then again, maybe this was what Tezuka wanted to show him.
"Ah, I'm Oishi Shuuichiro. I'm one of Tezuka's friends," he said introducing himself. It seemed this person didn't know him.
"Oh, come in then," Ryoma said letting him in and shutting the door. Oishi was nervous. He didn't know what to think. When the young man turned he was still in shock. "Would you like something to eat?"
"Ah, no thank you, I've already eaten." Oishi responded nervously. There was something different about this one, something dangerous.
Ryoma shrugged and walked back into the living space to join Yuki as Tezuka came downstairs.
"Oishi," Tezuka greeted.
"Tezuka."
TBC-----------------
BLK Angel of Destruction: Another chapter done! Thanks for your viewing and your reviews! I really appreciate them!
Like it? Review! No Flames! C+C accepted.