Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.

Lady Monozuki: Finally, an update for everyone. I'm sorry it took so long. I tried to make it a little longer but when I got to the end, I couldn't think of any better stopping point. I hope you all enjoy. Thank you for your continued support, everyone!

Chapter Nine: Admittance

No one had given him satisfactory answers, Oshitari felt. After silence for so long, he had suddenly been thrown into a twisted tale with more questions than answers. The fragments regarding a string of life-altering events shed little light on the whole picture. Emotions and mental mindsets would add color to the image he needed in order to grasp just what the hell he got himself into. The rare glimpse inside Atobe's head already gave him a clue as to what the businessman was thinking. What concerned him the most revolved around Echizen and the baffling behavior he had witnessed.

The once promising prodigy had obviously endured a traumatizing experience, from what Atobe mentioned: rape. However, to have such a strong reaction to an event over a year later told him this event did not just revolve around one incident. Echizen, he concluded, did not seek any help or counseling. Then, a matter of Atobe revealing abuse, how did this play in the mansion and how much occurred after Echizen returned from his experience? He needed more answers to know how he could possibly undo the damage done.

Or if this is merely a lost cause.

Feeling no one would give him answers any time soon, he began with the last thing he could rely on: the internet. Oshitari started with the simplest search, the last major tournament Echizen participated in. Curious, he noted, very few articles pertaining to Echizen's stay in America existed. Normally press junkets, interviews, and photos of the young man splayed across every printed and online source. The son of Samurai Nanjiroh never went unnoticed when participating in a tournament, never kept a low-profile, and never abandoned social obligation regardless of how tiring he found them. Photos only existed of the matches he played in, which showed a rather interesting side to the story.

He wondered if anyone else had noticed.

-Stand-

Ryoma stared at his cell phone, curiosity gnawing as every second passed. Syuusuke was still asleep and he didn't want to concern the other with this matter. Even in his impaired state last night, he still remembered Oshitari's words about Tezuka being in the hospital. Now, he sat slumped on the couch, debating whether or not to call the one person who could give him an answer. Numbly, he picked up the device and searched through his contacts. Not that he needed to go far. There were seven numbers underneath variations of Atobe. The fifth one was the personal cell number to his ex. He pressed down to call the number and listened to it ring.

"Ryoma? Are you all right?" a worried voice inquired.

How unlike Keigo.

He sucked in a deep breath. He wasn't in a good place but the other did not need to know that. "I'm fine," he replied.

"Why are you calling?" Confusion, another emotion foreign to the businessman. "How is Syuusuke."

"Also fine, sleeping at the moment," Ryoma answered. "I heard Tezuka's in the hospital."

"Where did you–?" Atobe cut himself off. "Damn Oshitari. How did you run into him?"

He swallowed. "Not important," he replied shakily. "How is Tezuka?"

"Kunimitsu is fine now that he's made it through the first night. He's still being monitored closely at least until tomorrow night. If he makes it through the next forty-eight hours without an incident, he should recover well."

Ryoma clenched the phone tightly. He didn't know what emotion he should feel upon hearing the news. Should he really bother with checking up on someone who knew what he went through and almost hurt Syuusuke in a similar manner? Overall, he didn't know how he felt about Tezuka anymore. What the man did was inexcusable.

So why did you call Atobe to talk about him?

"Ryoma, you've gone quiet. Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine. Thank you for your concern." He hesitated, not sure how to end the conversation.

"Ryoma," Atobe said seriously. His breath caught in his throat and waited in anticipation for the businessman's next words. "Please don't leave me out of your life. I know you're lying to me about being all right. It hurts when you lie."

He should have hung up. He shouldn't have let the other man speak but he went against the screaming instinct in the back of his mind.

Why does he care whether or not I lie to him? He's the one who threw me away.

"I'm sorry," he said in an even tone, "but you're going to have to get used to the pain." He let his words take their effect before ending the call. Ryoma let out a shaky breath, trying to process the news and piece back together his emotional state. How was he going to tell Syuusuke about the news? How would Fuji react upon hearing Tezuka's state?

You can't keep this from him. Tezuka is his ex too.

Even though he considered telling Syuusuke the honorable thing to do, he did not look forward to the conversation between them.

-Stand-

Atobe sighed after the call ended. He hadn't expected Ryoma to call, for Yuushi to tell, or the stinging remark from his ex at the end of the conversation. He should get used to the pain, huh?

The pain will never get easier without any of you.

He looked at the time, a quarter past eight. Amazing that Ryoma still knew his schedule given the isolation the other had faced. He supposed as a man of habit, he had become too predictable. A fault of his to a degree but needed within the business world. Predictability was equated to reliability. Atobe closed his eyes and remembered waking up at seven, meandering down the stairs, and finding Ryoma waiting to have breakfast with him each morning. A mundane routine he had come to miss, even after all the horrible things he had done. The businessman noted the time, only seven minutes had passed since he last looked. Screw courtesy, he needed to speak with Yuushi about what had happened last night.

"Atobe," came the deep voice at the other end. "Do you know what time it is?"

"Another all-nighter?" he asked.

"Close enough. This had better be important. I'm not above hanging up on you."

He bit back a retort to his friend's hostile words. "I wanted to know what happened between you and Ryoma yesterday." There was no sense in hiding his true intention behind the call.

"How did you find out?" Yuushi asked, suddenly sounding more awake.

"He called this morning to ask about Tezuka, which only you and I knew about," Atobe replied.

"I ran into him," Yuushi stated as if it was the most common happening in the world.

"I know that much," Atobe voiced sarcastically. "I want to know what happened. Ryoma sounded off and I was hoping you would fill in the details for me."

A sigh came at the other end. "All I can say is I have interesting luck. I have no idea what happened before I saw him, but Echizen stepped into moving traffic about a block and a half away from my place. He didn't seem in a right state of mind when it happened, almost like he was having some sort of flashback. I took him back to my place after saving him and told him what I knew about Tezuka. When I asked him what had him out of sorts before I saw him, he passed out. Fuji didn't proffer any clues as to Echizen's behavior either."

An unspoken prodding of information lingered in the air after Yuushi had finished speaking. Atobe was unsure as to why Ryoma would behave that way himself. If he could answer the question, he would.

"Thank you, Yuushi. You have incredible luck. I'll let you get back to sleep."

"Too late for that," Yuushi muttered. "However, do refrain from making early calls in the future."

Atobe chuckled. "Have a good day."

"Heh, as if, but you too."

"As if," he echoed before hanging up.

-Stand-

Gen laid on the bed in Yukimura's home, staring at the ceiling blankly. He had barely slept last night, berating himself for making such a huge error. In his head, he went through his thoughts at the time repeatedly. No matter how he looked at the situation, he should not have behaved the way he did. It was oddly familiar to when he got drunk and wound up at Yukumura's place. This time was different. He had complete control over his mental capacity and had hurt his friend in an unforgiveable way.

You're being too cruel to him. You've always been cruel to him.

"You should have left," he voiced to himself. The conclusion he drew every time he replayed the scenario. Inexplicably, he had stayed. What the hell had he been thinking? He should have left last night–stayed in a hotel–something other than stay in the house with the person whom he toyed with. Tonight, he wouldn't stay again. He would leave. His presence in Yukimura's place only brought hurt and anguish. It suffocated him knowing that he took advantage of his best friend's kindness and love. He couldn't that again. Not if he wanted to win back any of his lovers.

Oh god, what if Ryoma and Syuusuke find out?

With the bitterness of his thoughts, he readied himself for the day, slipping on the stoic mask that had become his trademark look for many years. He would need it to get through the rest of the day. Gen picked up his cell and dialed Syuusuke's number.

"Hello?" a sleepy voice muttered on the other end.

"Sorry for waking you, Syuusuke."

There was a brief shuffle before the voice spoke again. "No, it's fine. Just had a long night," Syuusuke spoke, sounding more awake this time.

"I can call back at a better time."

"Now is all right. You want to know when to be over?" His heart clenched.

"Yes."

"Feel free to come over when you'd like."

"I'll head over soon then."

"See you soon," Gen promised.

After receiving a similar statement, he ended the call. They couldn't find out about what he had done. What would they think of him if they knew? He didn't want to know, didn't want to see the disgusted looks on their faces. There had already been too much hurt and too much pain, he didn't need to drag in his problems to the chaotic mess. Gen exited his room and made way to the dining room. Today was Yukimura's day off work, he had remembered from a discussion earlier in the week. Which meant running into his friend was unavoidable. The sooner he got out of the place, the less his guilt would gnaw at him.

His friend sat in the kitchen absorbing a novel. A hand held the book and the other hand gripped a coffee mug handle. Gen knew that it was best not to disturb the other so he walked toward the door. He'd eat a meal on the way to Syuusuke's place.

"Going to visit Fuji and Echizen?" came Yukimura's gentle voice. The tone was even but emotionless.

"Yes," he replied. "I promised I'd help with Ryoma."

There was an uncomfortable pause as Yukimura seemed to struggle with the thought. "Is he getting any better?"

"I'm afraid not. He seems insistent upon living in his current state."

"I see," Yukimura muttered thoughtfully. "Perhaps a call to Niou is needed. He may be able to help, if Fuji is interested that is."

Gen had forgotten that Niou had chosen to pursue psychology. While it wasn't ideal, at least Syuusuke wouldn't have to gamble with a random therapist.

"Thanks for reminding me." He opened the door. "Thank you for everything, Seiichi."

-Stand-

After receiving the phone call, Syuusuke checked the bed, finding Ryoma not occupying it. He changed his clothes quickly before heading out to the living room. He found his ex sitting on the couch, watching a sports report about Samurai Junior's brief career. Highlights from his last match a year and a half ago lit up the living room. Fuji saw Ryoma's reaction to the report. He acted as quickly as he could by shutting off the television.

"Ryoma," he called out gently, noticing the panic in his ex's eyes. He wasn't going to do anything sudden to scare off his former lover. He couldn't afford to take another step backwards, not after what little progress he had made last night. "Ryoma."

The figure trembled, fighting within to keep control but was rapidly losing. Syuusuke hated being able to do anything to help. He couldn't save Ryoma from the hell he'd endure. It took a few minutes before the heavy breathes evened out, a good sign he considered.

"Syuusuke," Ryoma breathed out.

"I'm right here," he replied. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be here."

"Syuusuke," Ryoma repeated. "I need help."

To be continued…