You Are Not Alone
Author Note: Okay, soooo… this probably is one of my worst pieces yet, sorry to disappoint anyone who reads this I sincerely apologize, sometime my writing just rocks while other times it flops. This would be a flop one. Hopefully I didn't rush anything too much between Ryoma and Atobe, I don't hink I did but, I guess you can decide. Just review and tell me what you think, but be nice! Sorry again!
"talking"
'thinking'
flashback
Prince of Tennis is NOT mine, the characters and any catch phrases they use are NOT mine! Only the plot!
December 2nd
'Hn…time for school…' Ryoma thought as he slowly sat upright, finding the room spinning around and around. 'Ugh, my head.' he thought as he slowly made his way out of his bed and to the bathroom. After taking a shower and dressing in his uniform, Ryoma fed Karupin and went to make himself some toast and have his morning glasses of milk. He took a bite of the toast and instantly wanted to throw it up. "Guess I'm not eating today." he said to himself. He looked at the clock and noticed that for once he wouldn't be late to practice; he'd actually be on time for once. "Time to go I guess." he said bending down to pet Karupin good bye. "I'll see you right after practice, Karupin… I swear… Ja ne…" with that he headed out the door, wishing to all gods that he could get through the day and the rest of his life all in one piece.
'Sigh… well, I suppose today will be interesting. Hopefully the senpai's won't ask too many questions. Guess I'll find out in a minute.' He thought as he entered the changing room. '3…2…1.'
"OCHIBI! Nya, you're back, you're back!" Kikumaru-senpai lunged at Ryoma, successfully capturing him in a bone crushing hug. Ryoma just sighed, there's nothing he could do about it anyway except wait for Oishi-senpai to intervene.
"Eiji! Let go, Echizen's turning blue!" Oishi shouted, rushing to their side, trying to pry Eiji off even though there was no need, for Eiji immediately let go.
"Ah! Gomen, Ochibi! Gomen, Gomen!" Eiji yelled, letting Ryoma go. Ryoma landed on his feet, for once unfazed by the annoyingly tight hug.
"Hn… it's alright Kikumaru-senpai, no big deal." with that Ryoma started to change, ignoring the stares that were burning into his back due to the way he had reacted to Eiji's hug. Ryoma headed towards the door leading to the courts. "Senpai, you might want to hurry and change, or Buchou will make you run laps. Mada Mada Dane." He turned on his heel and headed towards the courts, a fake smirk plastered on his face.
Practice started and ended in the blink of an eye. Ryoma was greeted and welcomed back with open arms; no one knew what had happen, and that's how it was going to stay if Ryoma had his way, which he did. He changed and headed to his classes, dreading that he'd have to see Horio and the rest of the Freshman Trio.
His classes passed by quickly, with him mostly sleeping and tuning out Horio's and what's her name's shrieking voices. Finally the bell rang and it was time for afternoon practice. 'Only a couple more hours till I can see Karupin. I hope she's not too lonely… I know I'd be… Wait! No, don't think like that, I'll be fine, I am fine.' he thought to himself determinately. Maybe he'd soon start to believe it.
He arrived at the changing room again, changing into his tennis outfit, and heading to the courts. Tezuka assigned laps, then the usual drills ensued, finally practice ended and it was time to change and head home. Ryoma was changing slowly, extremely tired and dizzy for some reason. Lunch hadn't agreed with him, so he had decided to skip it, maybe that was a bad idea…
"Nya, what are you going to do for Christmas mina! My grandparents are coming over to spend it with me and my family! Then I get to hang out with Oishi!" Eiji shouted, excited that winter break was closely approaching, bringing with it the holiday spirit and his loving grandparents. He would even get to hang out with his newly dubbed boyfriend, Oishi!
"Fsshuu. Heading to Hokkaido with the family." Kaido whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Ah! Are you stalking me Mamushi? Me and my family are going to Hokkaido!"
"Fsshuu, Peach Head! Why would I want to stalk you? You're annoying enough when I have to be around you during school and tennis!"
"Viper!"
"Enough!" Tezuka buchou said in his 'you better do it now or suffer the consequences' voice.
"Hai, Buchou." they said together, glaring at each other once again.
"Nya… Anyways! What about everyone else?" Eiji continued his questioning.
"Spending it with the family, Yuuta's even coming back… might even spend Christmas Eve with a certain someone…" Fuji said suspiciously, eyeing Tezuka. It was a well known fact the two were dating and were still going strong.
"Ah. Same as Fuji." Tezuka said, keeping up the stoic face in the presence of the other regulars.
"Ah, I'll be helping my dad with the shop, then spending it with my family as well." Kawamura spoke up softly.
"Data… seems most of us are spending the holidays with our families, I'm part of that group as well… Data…"
"Umm…I'll be spending it with my family as well, a few of my cousins are even flying in to celebrate together with us. Then I'll be spending some time with Eiji as he pointed out." he started blushing softly at this and Eiji flung himself onto Oishi, giving him a tight bear hug, but no where near hard enough to harm him surprisingly.
"Eiji!" Oishi whispered frantically, trying to gently pry Eiji off of him. He still wasn't use to the idea of showing public displays of affection. Well that's Oishi for you.
"Mou, Oishi!" Eiji said, tears starting to form in the corner of his eyes.
"Eiji… gomen, it's okay." Oishi said, giving in and hugging Eiji.
"Nya! Yay! Oishi gives the best hugs! Nya, what are you doing for Christmas Ochibi?" Eiji asked turning towards Ryoma, arms still wrapped around Oishi.
'Damn… what do I do now… I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna… crap.' Ryoma could feel the tears burning in his eyes wanting to come out, he'd hold them in until he could let them out privately. He spit something out for the rest of the regulars benefit. "Same as most of you, spending it with the family." Ryoma almost choked on his words, why did hurt so much? "Well, I gotta go, Ja ne." with that Ryoma walked out the door, trying to walk at his normal pace so as not to arouse to much suspicion.
Ryoma got to the gate of Seigaku and started sprinting as fast as he could towards his house, the tears already flowing out of his eyes, making it impossible to see clearly. He stopped and wiped his eyes, the tears still flowing, but at least he could see right now. He looked to his right to see a deserted park, with a swing set only a few feet away, walking over carefully, he slumped onto a swing, placing his head in his hands, letting the tears flow freely now. 'Why? Why did you have to go? I can't tell the senpai's what happened, they'll only pity me. You to are together, but who do I have? Sure I have Karupin and I love her, but I want somebody to love me too…' the tears were coming harder now and he was sobbing as quietly as he could. He was so focused on his thoughts he didn't hear footsteps quietly approaching him until he heard the familiar nickname.
"…Brat? What are you doing here?" Atobe said in an accusing voice filled with disdain. Ryoma tensed, he tried to slow his breathing and stop the tears, but it was no use.
"… None of your business Monkey King." he said quietly…somberly. Atobe was shocked to hear that voice come from the brat that he loved oh so much. Yes, it's true, the Atobe Keigo fell for the Ryoma Echizen, but it's true, if only he could actually express his feelings…
"Oi! What's wrong?" he asked suddenly, he could tell something was wrong, it sounded like the brat had been crying. "Why we-… are you crying?" he said softer this time.
"Doesn't matter Money King, leave me alone." he said with a bit more volume than the last time, voice off due to the fact of his newly stuffed up nose.
"No, Ore-sama demands you tell him what's wrong. Now." Atobe said with what was supposed to be an authorative tone, but came out more as a petulant child's voice wanting to know a secret.
"Just leave me be Atobe…" Ryoma said, getting up to leave. Atobe reached out to grab Ryoma's wrist. Ryoma didn't protest, but he refused to turn around so the Monkey King could see him like this.
"Ryoma… what's wrong. Ore… I really want to know. Why are you upset?" he asked, voice filled with what Ryoma thought was sincerity, but it couldn't have been, the Monkey King didn't care about him…no one did.
'But then, why would Atobe say I instead of Ore-sama?' Ryoma thought, now thoroughly confused. He sniffed his nose once more than slowly began to turn around. He looked up hesitantly, afraid to meet Atobe's eyes.
Atobe gasped, Ryoma had been crying extremely hard, for his eyes were rimmed in red, tear tracks down his face, eyes filled with too many emotions to decipher which was which. He pulled Ryoma into a hug, a nice, warm hug that made Ryoma break down once again.
"Shh…Ryo, it'll be okay. Everything will be okay…" he kept whispering nonsensical things into Ryoma's hair. He had brought the boy into his lap, cradling him as you would a delicate treasure. He was rocking him back and forth, slowly… soothingly. Eventually Ryoma had cried himself to sleep, hands clutching at Atobe's now drenched from his tears, shirt.
'Ryo… what happened to make you break down like this? Well, you'll be okay, Ore-sama will be here to help you from now on.' Atobe noticed it was getting dark, so he decided to take Ryoma to his house since he didn't know where Ryoma lived… yeah that was the reason... he didn't know where he lived. He picked him up bridal style and called his chauffer to come pick him up. He'd find out what was bothering Ryoma and he'd help him anyway he could; starting with getting him into a nice warm bed so he could get some proper rest.
Tomorrow would be interesting…
Author Note: Well, hopefully it wasn't too bad to read, tell me what you think, but be nice about it, please! Talk to you later!