Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.

Ice

Chapter 8

It has been decided. My fic is now Au and you will be so shocked when you see who the mystery person is.


Taking a few swift strides, the taller figure stood towering over Echizen, sending a shudder through the other even though he had not even touched him. He examined the boy critically, taking in the way he kept glancing left and right with wild eyes as if contemplating the idea of running away. He reminded him of a terrified prey in the presence of a predator right before striking back in despair. He remembered the time when they had first met and the irony that it was the courage of the boy to stand up to him which had drawn him in when all others had cowered in fear.

"Nande? Doushite?" Ryoma whispered achingly, messy bangs falling into his eyes as if shielding him from the rest of the world. The other knew that tone of voice all too well. It was the voice of Ryoma fighting back unshed tears.

"Because you're my Ryo and I'll never let you go," he replied forcefully and with that, he bent down, placing a kiss on the boy. Unlike the kiss shared with Fuji, this one was dark and possessive with an ominous underlining of temptation. It took away his breath leaving him faint and panting against the icy winter air. Even though the feeling of transgression lingered so did the craving for more.

"Akaya, mou yamete," Echizen gasped feeling the other pull him close, running feather-light touches over his bare, upper body. Kirihara smirked, watching the boy's body shiver in pleasure as he nipped the spot under his earlobe. He had always known the freshman was weak to his touch and was not above using it to his advantage.

The sudden vision of the fiery flames belonging to his nightmares flashed across Ryoma mind, sending him back to reality and ridding his body of sensation. Summoning the last bit of his strength, he shoved the taller boy away, falling onto his knees in the procedure. He felt void of feeling except for the cold numbness spreading from the spot where his heart was.

"Just leave me alone. Itai, itaio." Voice trembling uncontrollably, Ryoma hugged his knees to his chest turning away. He was like a little child who had broken into too many pieces to put back together.

"Ryo?" Kirihara's voice for once sounded sincere as he sat down next to the boy. When the other did not move away, he wrapped his arms around the freshman; the other's back hitting his chest. Feeling him tense up in his embrace he whispered into his ears,

"Must be losing your touch if you're crying in front of me."

"I'm not crying," Ryoma rubbed at his eyes angrily. A pink tinge crept across his cheeks while his mouth settled into a little frown. The older boy struggled to suppress the demon which thrashed about within him struggling to devour the boy in his arms. He settled for kissing the salty trail of tears which ran down the boy's cheeks.

"Why do you have to mess everything up?" Ryoma's eyes were lifeless as he lay in his embrace like a rag doll. Kirihara halted his movement at his words.

"Remember what I told you when we first met?" His tone was deadly and held no trace of the mischief as it did from before. Holding Ryoma's face in his hands, he pierced into his desolate eyes and straight into his soul.

"Never forget," a murmur in the night and he was gone. Like the shadow, he too was flitting and Ryoma touched his face where he had held him, unsure if it was only a mirage. Closing his eyes, he felt the reason which had fled him return and along with it the self resentment.


A/N: So uhm, don't kill me. At least let me know what you think of my crazy idea. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Fuji. He'll have a big part next chapter.