Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis
Ice
Chapter 13
As the ball soared over Fuji's head, he returned the ball directly across to Kirihara. The shot, on appearance, appeared weak and easy for Kirihara. Ryoma continued to watch carefully, knowing that the tensai's tennis style, like the person, was very deceiving.
Just as Kirihara was about to return the shot, the ball dove into the sky, reaching for the baseline. He sprinted to it with inhuman speed, slipping as he stretched out to hit it. He landed face down on the field, as the tennis ball flew right into Fuji's hand. His hair whipped around him, framing his blue, intense eyes.
"Hakugei," The boy whispered in awe.
"Inui-senpai must have told you," Fuji smiled and relaxed at the sight of Ryoma.
"Senpai, it's amazing," However, he soon returned his attention to Fuji's opponent. He felt a flash of jealousy as he watched the other glance worriedly at Kirihara's fallen form, secretly wishing but not daring to help him up.
The dark-haired boy pushed himself off the ground slowly, pausing a moment before glaring at his adversary, scarlet coloring the white of his eyes. An insane smile lit up his face.
"Akaya, don't do it," shouted Echizen.
Ignoring the boy, Kirihara threw the ball into the air and hit it with double the strength and speed he had when he started. The tensai ran all over the tennis court, struggling to return the ball. He was like a marionette and Kirihara was the puppet master. A strategic shot near the net, forced Fuji to run up, barely able to return it.
"Perfect," Kirihara took the opening to return the ball with brutal strength, aiming flawlessly on Fuji's knee. He fell to the ground, holding his leg, but not making a sound.
"Syusuke," Echizen screamed running to the older boy.
"Don't, get out of the court," he said while pushing the other away gently. When the boy walked away reluctantly, he slowly steadied himself and signaled for the other to continue.
"I almost can't bear to tear you two apart. It's so sweet it sickens me," said Kirihara with a disgusted smirk on his face. The tensai ignored his taunt and took up the ready position.
Kirihara started with a few wide shots, forcing the other to strain his knee further. When Fuji had used up his stamina, he ended the vicious play with a shot to his chest, causing him to tumble backwards. In an instant Ryoma was by himself, putting an arm on his shoulder and looking at him with eyes that held no criticism, with eyes that forgave him and thanked him for his efforts.
"Kirihara, stop this whole thing now." His voice was calm and his golden eyes were steady.
"Stop it," He laughed but his voice grew serious as he said, "Only if you come with me."
"I would never go with you."
"You'd have no one to blame but yourself if he," Kirihara pointed at Fuji, "ended up like your mother?"
Something within the freshman snapped at his words. He slowly withdrew a pocketknife from his sweatshirt, flashing the blade in the light. His hair hung about his eyes and cast a dark shadow on his face.
"If you touch a hair on Syusuke's head, I will follow you to hell." Kirihara chuckled lightly but pain was evident in his eyes.
"Your deepest wish is to avenge your mother, isn't that right?" he spoke softly, a hint of regret in his tone. For once, the mask which he wore to delude others, was dropped. Ryoma widened his eyes but did not reply.
"Ryo," He looked at him with affection in his eyes, slowly walking towards him. Echizen held out the knife in front of him and Kirihara looked at it with a wry smile on his face.
In a flash which happened too quickly for onlookers to catch yet seemed like an eternity to the boy who felt every inch of blade cutting through flesh, a figure collapsed onto another, blood soaking into the ground beneath him. The smaller figure froze in shock while the other held on tightly; his face was, for once, content and serene as if he were finally set free from the shackles which had tied him down.
"On that day, you killed my mother and disappeared from my sight. I wanted to bury you in the depths of my heart and become strong so that I can finally kill you." Ryoma's eyes were dull and appeared to be trapped in his own memories.
"However, I could not do it. Even if I were just another toy to you, even if you never remembered me again, I still wished to be with you," his voice broke and a tear rolled down his cheek, "that way, at least when I died, I could be close to you."
"If you saw my knife, why did you still step forward? Why?" he buried his head in Kirihara's shoulder.
"Ryo, you are truly kind," he lifted his hand to caress the boy's cheek.
"I would give anything to just lie in your arms for a few more minutes. Ryo, I hope you how much I─" he murmured into the other's ear. The end of his sentence disappeared into the wind, leaving the boy to wonder the meaning of his words.
His body fell to never rise again.
A/N: Dark and angsty, the way I like it. Hope you didn't think it was cheesy.
