AN: This story will follow the characters through one school year with events like Halloween and Christmas.
Thanks to all reviewers. It's really encouraging to know there are actually people reading, especially when it's the first time posting in a section.
Disclaimer: I do not own the PoT characters.
WARNINGS AU, slash, many, many Ocs (original characters)
Chapter 3Ryoma sat down in his first class, ignoring everything and everyone around him. It was English and, coming from America, Ryoma had been jumped up into one of the higher-level classes with the older students.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ytashi giving him an odd look. When he caught sight of him, the older boy smiled nastily. Unconcerned and unaffected, Ryoma dismissed it, thinking back to the events of that morning….
FLASHBACK
"….Fuji-sempai, I need to go to school."
"Mm."
"….Fuji-sempai."
"Hmm?"
"Get off."
"Saa….You haven't changed."
"I'll be late for school."
The conversation was interrupted by his cousin calling up the stairs for Ryoma to hurry. With a disappointed sigh, Fuji slid off the bed and stretched. Ryoma followed suit, smoothing down his disheveled hair and immediately going for his hat, pulling it low over his eyes.
As the two took seats at the kitchen table, Nanako set a steaming platter down, smiling.
"Good morning. When will you be starting school, Fuji-kun?"
"Tomorrow…."
END FLASHBACK
….Ryoma glanced up as the teacher entered. Something told him that it was going to be a very long day.
------------------------------
Samara Haru vice captain of the Keitou High School tennis team pausing in the kitchen doorway. "I'll be off then, Kassan."
He halted suddenly, blinking as someone emerged from behind the open, refrigerator door. "Who are you?"
The boy who looked to be maybe a year older than himself smiled. "Nice to meet you, Haru-chan."
The boy opened his eyes, blood red orbs locking with startled brown, holding and captivating them.
"I am your older brother who has been living in China," he said, his voice smooth and lulling. "My name is Samara Shikara and I will be joining your school starting today."
Then those piercing, crimson eyes blinked and the atmosphere returned to normal. "I hope you wouldn't mind showing me around."
Dazed, Haru nodded, his brown orbs somewhat glazed. "Sure. No—no problem."
-----------------------------
Ryoma entered the locker rooms that day after school to the loud chatter of the other club members.
"I didn't know you had a brother, Haru," a tall, slim third-year was saying, pushing his glasses up his nose. From his build, one would not have guessed that the speaker, Minou they all called him, was one of the regulars. He was a data player, though nothing on Inui-sempai. Still, Ryoma sincerely hoped the two never met.
"He was living in China with an uncle," Haru replied vaguely.
Ryoma headed for his locker, ignoring the chatter as always, but halted as someone stepped into his path.
"Echizen Ryoma, I presume?"
"Hn."
Ryoma tilted his head to the side and glanced up at the much-taller young man, golden orbs meeting bloody crimson. He raised an eyebrow, taking an almost immediate dislike to the boy. The hooded way the other was gazing down at him raised his hackles, sending tingles of alarm down his spine.
"Samara Shikara," the boy introduced himself, holding out his hand. "Nice to meet you at last. I've heard a lot about you, quite the tennis player I hear."
"Aa." Ryoma shrugged, ignoring the hand and walking past him. "Hi."
…………………
Ytashi was not at the practice and Ryoma made a mental note to make him run laps next time he showed his face around the courts.
Satisfied with the progress his team had made that day, he called practice to a close and sent them off on twenty laps before heading back to the locker rooms. The in-school tournament that would determine this year's regulars would be starting in two days.
He wondered if the tensai would be playing. It had been a while since he had last watched the other on the courts.
Locking the locker room door behind the last club member as they departed for home, he headed on his way as well, his thoughts preoccupied with the coming matches.
A shadow fell over him as he stepped through the front gates of the school, deserted so late in the afternoon. The sun hanging low in the sky painted the horizon with shades of orange and gold that threw long shadows across the cement, still warm from their baking earlier in the day.
Ryoma looked up as a rough hand jerked him up by the collar of his school uniform.
"We've been waiting for you."
-----------------------------
Fuji had spent his morning making plans and 'redecorating'. After breakfast, he took a walk around the city, familiarizing himself with his new surroundings, dropping by the school to check his schedule. After reviewing Ryoma's schedule while he was at it, he had pulled a few strings and managed to get into some of the same classes. After that, it was back for lunch then down to the local greenhouse, returning with the trunk of his borrowed car lined with cactus.
It was late afternoon when the doorbell rang and he went downstairs to get it. Opening the door, he blinked in shock.
"What happened?" Fuji asked, frowning as he went to grab the first aid kit from the medicine cabinet and set it down on the floor.
Ryoma had sunk into one of the over-stuffed couches in the living room, dropping his school stuff on the seat next to him. The green-haired boy was covered in bruises and cuts.
"Okiru Ytashi," Ryoma muttered, wincing as the tensai dabbed at the cuts with a towel that he had dipped in hot water. "He used to be the captain of the school tennis team before I arrived."
He mustered a sour smirk. "He's been sore ever since I beat him. It was my fault really. I was careless and he and his friends caught me after school on my way home."
Sapphire eyes glinted coldly as Fuji made a note of the name.
Someone was going to pay—dearly.
Because, come the morning, Fuji Syusuke was attending Keitou High.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Thanks for reading and please review.