Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.
Ice
Chapter 11
Worn tennis shoes carried the boy rapidly across the pavement as if they were animated characters which had a destination of their own to reach. He gazed into the distant skies, studying it intensely yet seeing nothing at all. Running his head through his hear, he closed his eyes trying to minimize the buzzing of his headache.
Memories of their time spent together, all that he'd said whirled about in Ryoma's mind, undistinguishable from one to another. Like a vibrant picture which had been removed of the dust which had covered it, one, particular memory flashed vividly in his head. He had subconsciously tried to bury it in an attempt to lessen the pain.
Soft rays of moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the sleeping form of the freshman. He coiled himself into a near fetal position, hugging Karupin close to his chest. The kitten peered curiously at its master, watching how he wrinkled his nose every time its tail collided with his face. Turning away from its amusement, the kitten glared intensely at the new presence who had invaded the room through the window. A path of fresh bloodstains trailed down his trench coat.
"I see you still don't trust me yet," Kirihara settled down on the bed; Karupin glaring watched his every movement with a suspicious look in his eyes. He reached over to smooth back the black locks which had fallen over the boy's face. He did it with gentleness that disagreed with his usual manner.
"Wake up, sleeping beauty," he whispered into the other's ear. The boy opened his eyelids slowly, muttering incoherent curses under his breath. Finally able to get his eyes to focus, he blinked in surprise at the person in front of him.
"Akaya, what are you doing here? I don't know about you but this is the time when most people sleep."
Even though it barely totaled ten minutes since he had arrived, Ryoma still managed to piss him off with another one of his irritating retorts. The boy never lost his arrogant streak which refused to yield an inch to Kirihara.
"Little Ryo, you know I would never break a promise," He struggled to keep his mind alert, despite the exhaustion.
"Do you like me so much that you can't go one day without seeing-" Arms suddenly grabbed the freshman's wrists in a tight hold above his head. Kirihara leaned over him, his face less than an inch from the other. For once, the boy felt his throat close up in nervousness from the dark, unreadable look in the other's eyes. The tension thickened rapidly, dissipating the carefree atmosphere which had existed before.
"For once just shut up," Kirihara's tone was deadly as he hissed into the other's ear.
"You're loud, you're conceited, and you annoy the hell out of me. Why do I waste my time with you when there are those who would give their life at my one command" The last part was whispered. Kirihara's grip on the boy's wrist had tightened to an almost unbearable degree.
"It hurts, Akaya," spoke the boy through gritted teeth. The grasp on his hands was released as Kirihara straightened his back and turned away from Ryoma.
"Your hold on me has grown too strong already. If breaking these bonds is what it takes, I will not hesitate." He fixed his red eyes, which appeared to glow, on the boy who was peering up at him uncomprehendingly.
"Kirihara!" he exclaimed, finally noticing the atrocious condition the other was in. Kirihara shook the boy's hands off his coat as a cynical smile lit up his face. Before slipping out the window, he whispered three words which left an empty feeling in Echizen's chest.
"Nothing matters anymore."
Nobody saw the lifeless look in his eyes as he limped into the street, disappearing completely into the darkness.
Holding his head in his arms, Ryoma was blinded by the throbbing in his head brought on by the onslaught of memories. Unable to pay attention to his surroundings, he knocked into the figure of Fuji. The tensai put his hands on his shoulders, startled at the condition the other was in. He lifted he boy's chin with his fingers to see erratic emotions running through his eyes.
"Syusuke, hold me…hold me…please," he flung himself into Fuji's protective embrace, holding on tightly as if afraid the other would kick him away.
"Ryoma?" His tone was comforting as he held the other's head close to his shoulder.
"Hold me so tight it hurts; break me, please. I don't want to feel anymore," Fuji could feel a hollow gap growing in his heart at the boy's words. He held him tight to his chest, rubbing his back in gentle circles. Who has hurt you so much Ryoma? I will never forgive them. His sapphire eyes grew hard, letting off a dangerous aura.
As if on cue, the said person stepped out from behind a tree, fixing his own crimson eyes on the other's. The moment their eyes met, they knew without a word that each had been the other they were looking for. The time to settle this long drawn-out dispute was finally coming to an end.
A/N: Cough Cough So uhm, sorry for not updating for like almost a month. At least, the final showdown is finally coming and you'll soon know the answer to everything. Please don't desert me, my reviewers. Thanks to you guys, my first long fic on will finally be done.
