Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.

Ice


Chapter 5

As the glorious rays of the sun shone down on the seemingly peaceful Echizen household, a bird flew about aimlessly before deciding to land on the branch adjacent to the bedroom window of a particular boy. The sky was painted in various shades of blue and overflowing with great, fluffy clouds that even the pickiest of cloud watchers dreamed of. The sudden clash of two voices shook the peaceful mood scaring away the bird that had landed.

"Come on Echizen," the syrupy sweet voice of the tensai coaxed.

"Yadda, I'm not sick," the stubborn voice which came from the sulking face of the freshman retorted.

"I consider anyone who can't hold themselves up sick," Fuji responded while raising an eyebrow.

"Now open your mouth for the thermometer."

"I don't have time for this. I still have so much to do," Echizen snapped back, frantically pushing it away.

All of a sudden, the atmosphere grew suffocating. He still had to wash the dishes, make dinner, clean the house, feed Karupin, go to practice, finish homework, etc, etc. There were just too much to do in so little time. The shaky structure of life that he had barely managed to sustain after the accident was collapsing. There was nothing he could do but watch as he fell along with it.

Sensing Ryoma's distress, Fuji reached out to steady the boy's shoulders. He pressed his cool forehead gently against the boy's burning one. All previous thoughts fled Ryoma as his mind froze in alarm.

"Wha-What are you doing?" Echizen stuttered, averting his eyes at the close distance. He silently cursed the flush that he felt spreading over his face as his heart pounded, rising in tempo.

"Feeling your temperature," answered his senpai, "Since you refuse to use thermometers."

"You're burning up" Fuji's eyebrows were furrowed in concern as he gave Echizen a piercing stare.

Echizen reddened even more under Fuji's intense look. He cursed himself for reacting this way over such a small thing. What has gotten into him?

Changing the subject he asked, "How did you get in my house anyways?"

"Oh that, flipping over fences is my forte," the tensai said laughing lightly pulling away,

"Plus, your front door wasn't locked."

"You know I can arrest you for breaking and entering," said Echizen in an exasperated tone.

"You can but you won't," was the self-assured response.

"Now where's your medicine cabinet."

"It's next to the pantry in the kitchen."


Sitting in bed, Ryoma stared dazedly at the spot where Fuji once was. He shook his head and pinched himself to see if he was merely having a bizarre dream. Too bad the pain was authentic.

Driven by boredom, he searched aimlessly in the drawer of his bedside table. A picture with slightly crumpled edges caught his attention. His family and he were at the seashore wearing foolish grins but eyes sparkling with genuine happiness.

He smiled fondly at the memory. Rinko had bullied Nanjiroh and him into an outing at the beach. When they arrived, Nanako had cooed about how blue the sky and water was but his favorite part was watching his oyaji squeal like a girl after being pinched by a crab. Karupin had chased him round and around while Rinko had tried to get them both to settle down because they were attracting a lot of curious glances.

Ryoma had always hated the cliché sayings of treasuring every moment but for once he considered how true that might be. After what had happened, nothing could ever go back to the way it was.

He hated himself for not paying more attention to his family members, for not spending more time with them. He was oblivious to the problems of his family, caught up in the intensity of tennis while his family studied his actions for any sign difficulty in his life that his detached personality refused to reveal.

"Echizen…" Fuji had returned to his room while the boy was drifted in his thoughts. The atmosphere felt icy. Echizen's dark locks covered his eyes, casting a dark shadow on his face.

"Fuji, what happens when people died?" asked Echizen in a soft, uneven voice,

"Does everything just end?" He seemed to be talking more to himself than anyone else.

"No one really knows." Fuji chose his words carefully.

"Then, it's just over…for eternity," Echizen's usually composed mask shattered.

"No more thoughts, actions. It's like a dreamless sleep except for forever."

Fuji held the trembling boy against him, stroking his hair gently. He murmured soothingly,

"Death's going to come no matter what. How tragic would it be if the short time we have to live is spent thinking about it? We can only live for now."

Fuji lifted the boy's chin with an elegant finger. The boy's sorrowful eyes glazed over as his senpai leaned in to capture his lips with his own.


A/N: I have always been afraid of death. It's so inevitable yet so unknown. So, how was this chapter? Review please.