CR: I know, but I don't really have time to type stories these days…I just got my head out from a pile of homework, so I might be rushing, but just bare with me

Ryoma went home in a slump. He couldn't find the energy to do anything. Shizuka, the person who understood the most and vice-versa, is gone. Just like that. Hadn't they promised to finish the mission and lead normal lives together? They have been best friends, laughing to each other sharing their dreams and their darkest, most concealed secrets, training each other, staying by each other's side. She knew things even Momo didn't about him, supporting him, encouraging him, advising him. She knew exactly how he felt. Perhaps they could even have been lovers, the warmth her sunny personality developed in his presence somehow spreading to him overtime. He liked her very much, as she is clever, strong willed and calm, willing to see the situation as it is instead of just barging into action.

Of course, that could have only happened if Tezuka Kunimitsu didn't exist.

"Do you have someone precious to you?" said Shizuka.

Ryoma frowned. "What are you playing at?"

"You see, when someone has a person they want to protect…then, that's when they become truly strong."

"You will be strong….very strong…"

Those words cut him like a knife. He couldn't even save her, and he felt weak. He doesn't think he can eliminate the leader now. He looked at the calendar. "Oh, I have school tomorrow…." He mumbled, then grabbed his alarm clock and threw it against the wall. "WHO CARES?" he screamed, as the alarm clock shattered into a thousand pieces. "Shizuka…" he started crying again. He had never felt lonelier. In a fit of anger, he threw his bow against the wall, sobbing. His cat, Karupin, meowed in protest at the noise, but he merely said, "Shut up."

He didn't sleep that night, knowing the nightmares of his partner's death would haunt him.

3 days later, after afternoon tennis practice….

"Hey, this is the third day Ochibi's been missing!" said Kikumaru. "Do you know what happened to him?"

"I don't know, Eiji. Horio said he didn't come to school either for the past three days. Is he sick or something?" said Oishi, worried.

"I don't know, Oishi-senpai. Echizen didn't even answer his phone or reply to messages." said Momoshiro.

"I don't know…should we go to his house?" said Fuji.

"I went there this morning, and no one answered the door." said Momoshiro. "Come to think of it, that happened three days ago as well."

Inui pushed up his glasses. "I can't tell what would keep him from tennis for three whole days, missing six practices."

Meanwhile, Tezuka, who was changing back to his uniform nearby, grew worried when he overheard the regulars saying they did not know what had happened to their freshmen. He could only hope he is ok, and nothing happened to him.

Meanwhile, Ryoma was at the training ground where he and Shizuka had their final training battle. He trained to the point of exhaustion and now he is merely wandering around in small circles, as if deranged, and only a measly knife in his pocket to defend himself. He looked up blankly at the sky, which was darkening, indicating it was about to rain. He didn't even flinch when the first raindrops hit his face, rather he was too devastated to care. People have been calling, messaging and going over to his house, but all he did was to shut himself up in his room, staring at some point in the distance. He collapsed after the last remaining strength left his legs. He just leant against the wall, staring at the grey sky, letting the drops of rain hit his face. The raindrops started to hit faster and heavier, but he didn't care.

Meanwhile, Tezuka took out his umbrella. He heated it when it rained like that; it usually ended up getting his uniform wet. He trudged past the training ground, and saw someone silhouetted against the wall. Who would be there in the middle of a heavy rain, without even a poncho to cover himself with? He walked over to the silhouette, frowning and found himself staring at blank golden cat like eyes, and black green hair plastered to his forehead. It was….

"Echizen?" said Tezuka, bending down to Ryoma's level. "Echizen, what are you doing, sleeping out here?" he expected an answer, but instead, it was silence. "Echizen?" he frowned, hooking a finger under his cheek and lifting his face so that Ryoma is looking directly at him, He flinched when he saw those golden eyes staring blankly back at him. It was almost as if he didn't see him. Tezuka decided to scoop the boy up, and continued to walk back to his house. Tezuka felt his heart ache for the boy as he looked at Ryoma's blank face, not looking like he had a care in the world. What had happened to him?

"Tadaima." Tezuka said as he opened the house entrance with difficulty due to the umbrella and Ryoma.

"Welcome home, Kunimitsu." said Ayana. She looked at the figure in his arms. "Who's this?"

"My team freshman." said Tezuka. "Found him drenched in the rain."

Kuniharu looked at the freshman and sighed. "Young people these days, not knowing that playing in the rain is unhealthy." He shook his head. "Well, I guess you'd better dry him up, he looked like a wet kitten." Tezuka nodded, and carried Ryoma back to his room. He laid Ryoma on the bed and took off his shirt, trying not to flinch at the bare skin contact. It was wringing wet and Tezuka wondered how long he had spent in the rain. He took off his pants also, and carried the wet garments to the laundry. Ryoma stayed unmoving when Tezuka returned. Something in Tezuka's mind kept him staring at the smaller boy. He looked pale and sickly under the room lights. He stared until his mother called him for dinner.

"Did he wake up?" said Ayana.

"Not yet. He'll probably sleep until tomorrow morning." said Tezuka. He took his chopsticks and started his dinner.

"Speaking of which, didn't he miss two days of practice? You mentioned it yesterday." said Kuniharu.

"Yes. He missed it the third time today." said Tezuka. 'He missed 6 practices actually.' "I found him lying in the rain after practice on the way home."

After dinner, Tezuka found Ryoma in the exact same position when he first placed him on the bed. He found himself going over and brushing his hair back, tucking it behind his ears. He looked cute and vulnerable right now, and Tezuka could help wondering something is wrong. Maybe he'll ask Ryoma when he wakes up. For now, he'll just find some warm clothes for him. Anything is better than his wet clothing in the washing machine anyway. He searched for his smallest pajamas and started to dress him. Even though it was the smallest it had, the shirt nearly reached his knees and the sleeves fell way below his hands. 'Cute' thought Tezuka, smiling slightly.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Kunimitsu?" said Ayana, opening the door and poking her head in. "I found this in your friend's pocket. Keep it for him, won't you?"

"Alright, Kaa-san. Thanks." said Tezuka, receiving said item from his mother. His mother closed the door again, leaving both of them alone. Tezuka examined the object in his hand and froze.

It was the very same knife that was lodged in his bag that day.

CR: I only had 45 minutes to finish this story, so I had to rush a bit…sorry! I really would like to write longer, but I don't have time, and it's now past midnight….-.-