Alright everyone.... I didn't get my 95 reviews and to say I'm a little sad would be an understatement. But seeing as how I'm still up-dating early on, I've decied I'm screwing all caution and just randomly up-dating when I have time.
Pairing: KiriharaXAll
Rating: Dark T
Walking calmly on a fine day, Marui was heading to the bakery shop to pick up once again another cake to fill his empty stomach. On the way however, much to his surprise he passed the bookstore, in it looking at a book was none other than his kouhai.
"Akaya? Looking at a book? No way I've got to see this!" stepping into the store, the redhead made his way to the black haired boy noticing the shelf the boy was standing in front of. International- North America.
"Whys he reading stuff on America?" the third year asked himself when he saw the former close the book and head to the cashier. Watching from afar the redhead saw the boy leave with his newly bought book, and swear the face on the kids face was, torn.
Following the next day at school the Rikkai tennis team were in the locker room getting ready for morning practice
"Hey Akaya, I saw you in a bookstore yesterday"
"Whoa the brat reads?"
"Of course I read senpai! I'm not stupid"
"Niou don't make fun of Akaya now, I hear he's getting better at English"
"Tch the kid good at English? He's sucked at the language since the beginning"
"Niou! language"
"I am too! Yagyuu-senpai knows right senpai!" looking over to the calm faced teen, who in turn nodded
"He is getting a lot better" he was his tutor after all, he would know
"Hmm is it because you were looking at a book for North America?" too busy laughing with Niou, no one saw the boy stiffen just slightly; stopping the process of putting on his tennis shirt.
"Akaya was looking at a book other than manga?" Jackal couldn't keep the disbelief out of his voice
"Yeah I couldn't believe it either! He even bought the thing!"
"Looks like our little Akaya is getting interested in the world!" Yukimura praised his kouhai who remained silent as he finished up his changing.
"…I'll be warming up senpai-tachi" closing the door behind him, the entire team stared in silence
"What's wrong with him?"….if only they knew.
"…."
"What is it Yagyuu? You got a crush on the brat?"
"Don't be foolish Niou-kun" breaking his gaze from the only second year on a team of third years, the purple haired boy turned to talk to his captain, leaving Niou to shrug his shoulders and walk off to bother Jackal or Marui.
"Hello Yagyuu"
"Hello Yukimura-kun"
"What brings you over here?" noticing Sanada and Yanagi were also standing beside their captain at the bench the three were often seen at.
"..may I speak with you privately Yukimura-kun?" seeing the tight face the normally calm teen was making the captain stood up
"Of course"
"Wait-"
"Genichiroh" looking at the ever close eyed teen shake his head as the other two left, the vice-captain sighed; letting them go.
"What's bothering you?"
"It's Kirihara-kun" looking at his captain with a stern and yet confused face, the blue haired boy urged him on
"What about him?"
"Since I was assigned to tutor Kirihara-kun in English since last year, I've noticed his behavior to the topic"
"…"
"In the beginning he would not study or look at the language, nor would he even try to learn it; at first I thought it was just his personality but-" glancing to the courts as the black haired boy ran back and forth against his opponent not letting the other take the point.
"But?"
"This entire year he's been strapping down and learning the language as if possessed"
"Isn't that a good thing? He's raising his grade"
"Yes and no"
"Yagyuu I'm afraid you're not making much sense" looking at the other third year with solid sapphire orbs.
"He's getting so much better at English he can speak at a rate and level higher than my own, not only that but he's become…distant"
"What do you mean?" something about that word disturbed Yukimura. Distant and Akaya were two words that didn't make sense together. The boy was anything but!
"I admit our relationship isn't as close as it is others but when I was tutoring him he would open up and act as he does around Marui-kun and Niou-kun"
"Haha I see" smiling at the boy's behavior Yukimura was reassured that his kouhai couldn't possibly even act distant.
"But as of late he's closed himself off and doesn't listen to my advice, instead he asked questions like 'how is the tennis there' or 'what's the food like' 'are the people nice' as if he's taken an interest in the country"
"Akaya's getting older and he's opening his horizons to new continents Yagyuu"
"I understand that Yukimura-kun but- you don't see what I have, how Kirihara-kun acts…I'm not sure why but I feel as if he's hiding something and it has something to do with his sudden interest in America" looking to his captain with a glint in his glasses, the two third years looked at each other
"…I see if you see any change in him tell me"
"Yes"
"I'll ask Jackal to watch over Akaya more"
"…yes" turning to see the very subject of their conversation shout in his victory over his opponent at 6-0.
Since that day, many of the Rikkai team have seen a change take place in their Junior Ace.
"And I asked him if he wanted to hang out and he said no"
"Something's up with the brat"
"You noticed too?"
"Yeah, he's not acting the same around my pranks. He just smiles or laughs when I prank him when he usually blows up and starts hitting me and calling me bastard"
"Yeah, when I told Akaya to do his homework and not play his games when he got home, he automatically went to it" Jackal said as the team listened in the small locker room.
"He's getting better at school as well"
"Yanagi! You too?" Marui exclaimed at the silent teen
"Yes, you three didn't think you were the only one's who noticed"
"Well no one else was talking"
"That's because you never gave us a chance Marui-kun"
"Hmm Yaaaagyuu too?" giving his doubles partner a look, the bleach haired boy shrugged and returned to his changing.
"He's surpassed me in English so much that he doesn't need me to tutor him anymore"
"Not only that but his grades and attention to school work is rivaling even Seiichi"
"What the hell is up with the kid?"
"Marui language"
"What about you Sanada? Have you seen any-" before he could finish his sentence the door opened and in came their captain and kouhai.
"Sorry we're late" the blue haired boy smiled as he let go of the other's shoulder. Heading to his locker Akaya began to undress
"Hey Akaya-"
"Marui-senpai I already beat you in a game didn't I?"
"Wha- yeah"
"And I already beat Jackal-senpai, Yagyuu-senpai, Niou-senpai and Yanagi-senpai too right?"
"Where are you going with this brat?" not liking to be reminded of his lose, the bleach haired boy looked over to the youngest.
"I want to play the last of the Three Demons to a one on one game"
"What?!" the resound word rang in the empty room,
"Yukimura-buchou already agreed" looking up at his upperclassmen who turned to look at their captain.
"He asked and I agreed to a game"
"Is that why you were taking so long?" Sanada asked, once he was fully done with his clothes
"It was"
"So then Sanada-fukubuchou?"
"Akaya, mind your words" the ever capped teen spoke. Raising his racket he looked at the young boy with his stern face
"I'll play" of that said, the Three Demons stood up and were about to leave
"Hey Akaya if you beat Sanada I'll personally take you to get as much ice-cream as you want" Marui smirked blowing a green bubble of the newly stick of gum he just put into his mouth
"No thanks, the game will probably take a few hours and I need to get my homework done afterwards"
"Did I just hear right? The brat turning down free ice-cream?!" Niou couldn't believe it, neither did anyone else….
"I did, I'm not going, you guys can eat out yourselves, besides isn't graduation coming in a few months? Shouldn't you stop playing around and start looking into your entrance exams"
"Ah is that what's bugging you Akaya?" Jackal asked, realizing that maybe their graduating was the reason Akaya was so school oriented- so he could get into Rikkai High just like the rest of them.
"Nothings bugging me Jackal-senpai"
"Liar, half of the month you've been acting different Akaya, everyone here knows"
"What's making you act so different huh brat?"
"I told you it's nothing, and even if it was something-" stopping to turn and look at his teammates, fully dressed in his yellow and black uniform racket in hand.
"What could any of you do about it" walking to the door, he closed it behind him; leaving a team watching his back in silence.
Although it was for a moment, everyone saw. As he spoke those words Akaya looked as if he were….about to cry.
After that day, Rikkai's tennis team kept a quiet watch on their kouhai. By a miracle of some kind or just pure damn luck and talent, the Junior Ace beat the Emperor at 6-5.
Now the only one person on the team he hadn't beat was the one and only Child of God.
"Isn't your game with Akaya this weekend Seiichi?"
"It is yes, at the park courts at 3"
"Be careful Yukimura, Akaya's grown a lot faster than I thought" Sanada spoke looking over to Yanagi who referred to his book on the boy and re-writing almost every fact he had to match the game he witnessed just last week
"I saw, he no longer brings out that monster, I admit I'm proud of that fact and yet-" holding his chin with his arms cross, the third year looked onto the tennis courts as Akaya was practicing with Yagyuu and Jackal, a never before two on one match.
"Why didn't any of us- why didn't I see it"
"None of us did, that's why the game took me by surprise"
"Not only that but his concentration has multiplied, and he no longer taunts the opponent- he's silent throughout the entire game" the vice-captain said as the three friends watched.
"Something is definitely wrong with him"
"Sanada- don't"
"Seiichi you can't ignore it anymore, we all know you have a soft spot for Akaya as we all do but- something has made him change"
"…."
"Do you have any idea Renji?" looking down at his book, the ever close eyed boy opened his eyes of light brown and sighed
"That's what scares me the most, I haven't the slightest idea"
The coming of the game between captain and youngest member, had finally arrived. As the entire regular team came crowding in- on the courts already were the main attraction.
"You've come a long way Akaya, I'm proud"
"Thank you buchou" looking down at the boy, arms length from across the net
"Before we start is there anything you want to get off your chest?" smiling at the boy who in turn flushed a familiar light pink, and then his head before looking up with cold eyes
"You have always been my idol buchou and- even if we aren't together anymore you will always be the best and most important person I've met in my life"
"Akaya…" taken aback at the words, when the black haired boy reached over and hugged the older teen tight before letting go; Yukimura was rendered silent.
"Kirihara Akaya vs. Yukimura Seiichi a set game, Ready!"
Peridot green set onto sapphire blue
"Set"
Getting into position Yukimura readied his serve, he would give his kouhai a game worth his praise and something to remember, for a long time.
"Go!"
The neon yellow ball bounced on the courts in a flash of soundless noise and unmoved air.
"This is my last gift to you all senpai-tachi..."
Retuning it just as fast- was the start of a chain reaction.
Falling to the ground, in a mass of sweat and tears lay defeated, Kirihara Akaya. 7-4 the match was a massacre and now the rest of the team came over to pick up their underclassman.
"Come on Akaya that was a great game you played"
"Yeah, you've improved amazingly you have nothing to be ashamed of" Jackal and Marui kneed down trying to calm the weeping boy as his body shook
"Practice over the summer and come to Rikkai High and face Yukimura again" Niou said with his hands in his pockets, looking down at the boy with sad blue eyes as the others came over from the other side of the courts
"Akaya, that was a beautiful game really, you've made me so proud-"
"NO! y-you all don't understand!"
"Akaya!" still kneeling he refused to look up as he shook his head into the ground, not caring if he was pealing his skin with it
"Stop doing that Akaya get up!"
"No! you- you don't, this- this game was the last thing I could do as your kouhai! The last thing I could do as a Rikkai member! And I failed!" hitting the ground, cutting the raw skin of his arm and hand, small spots of red appeared on the cement
"Akaya stop you're hurting yourself!" Jackal grabbed the boy's arm as Marui did with the other
"Stop it! Let me go!"
"Brat what the hell is wrong with you! Stop it!"
"Get off!" pushing the others off of him, Akaya jumped up breathing hard and flushed red with blood and tears, he cast his green orbs on his team
"Akaya-"
"I- I wanted to prove to you guys that I could be someone worth the name of Rikkai, I wanted to show you I could beat you all and come out on top! That was all I wanted- all I wanted was for you guys to be proud of me"
"We are Akaya!"
"No! because I couldn't do the one thing I wanted to do! And now….now I have no time to do that!"
"What are you talking about Kirihara-kun"
"..M-my dad's job moved us to Japan some time ago, he was assigned to Kanagawa Japan for a only some years- but when we were moved here his boss said we'd only be here for only a few years when a certain date comes we'll be moved to another country"
"Akaya, you- you don't mean…" Yukimura moved closer, he knew what Akaya's father did and unconsciously everything was beginning to make sense, the boy's next words proved what he didn't want to believe.
"That date is now, my family and I are leaving Japan next week to America, this is goodbye senpai-tachi….thank you for everything!"
"AKAYA!!!!!!" before they knew it, off he disappeared into the wind.
Me- there WILL be a continuation of this story as the second part of this two-shot! BUT the catch is! I need 100 reviews.....otherwise who knows when the next time will be when I up-date