Disclaimer: I wouldn't have this there if I owned something, now would I? -.-

Warning: Grammar/spelling mistakes, missing words/letters. Characters are probably going to be OOC. Possible yaoi in the future.

Pairing: Royal Pair [Atobe/Ryoma]

Side pairings: We'll see, we'll see… *evil grin*

I Cry For The Last Time

Chapter two: So You Are Here?

Everyone knew that the Super Rookie of Seigaku had disappeared suddenly, without a word or explanation. It was a mystery to all of them, especially to those who were fond of the boy.

Questions were asked and rumors spread, but neither the Seigaku regulars nor Ryuzaki-sensei gave any answers or did as much as confirm or deny the rumors. And those who went to Ryoma's house for answers just met a dead end.

Ryoma had left Japan. The old monk didn't know why the Echizen family decided to move so suddenly or for how long would they be gone, but he did mention that the young Echizen looked rather sad and broken.

As if something horrible had happened to him.

And that led the tennis players back to Seigaku regulars. This time the asking wasn't so nice and they didn't try to sound sorry for the team. Something had happened right after the Nationals, if not even at the same day.

"Tezuka," Yukimura asked, "Do you have any idea as to why Echizen-kun would leave so suddenly? He didn't even stay here to celebrate your victory." There was concern in his voice.

Sanada and Atobe were standing behind the Child of God, not saying anything to each other, but throwing warning glances to their teams, keeping them quiet and still.

The captain of Seigaku didn't seem too bothered by any of this. He sighed and pushed up his glasses a bit: "Like I said the last time Yukimura, we don't know anything. He just disappeared right after your game and we haven't heard or seen him from that moment." The coldness and indifference in his voice clear. It was like he had repeated this for so long that it was now a line mesmerized so good, he could even say it in the middle of the night.

"We believe that something might have happened to his family back in the States, but I think that's not the real reason…" Fuji's voice was calm and his usual smile was in place. A bit sharper around the edges though.

Pairs of eyes landed on him. Shishido was the one who asked the one question that was on everyone's mind: "Oh really… That what might me the real reason?"

"And if you are going to say something like 'Oh, I think he just got bored that's all' then you can be sure that I refuse to believe that crap." Gakuto added, his voice changing, sounding a bit like Fuji's, but clearly mocking him.

Rikkai Dai regulars didn't say anything, yet, only waited for Fuji to speak and give them more information. Neither the Rikkai Dai regulars, nor Hyotei regulars nor the two from Seigaku noticed the teen hidden in shadows, listening to them and writing a message on his phone at the same time, a scowl on his face.

"Don't worry Gakuto, I won't say anything like that." The mocking had no effect on the sadist of Seigaku, "I planned to say that Echizen ran away… abandoned us, would be better, because he no longer had any use of us. That little brat stole our moves, beat everyone who he considered strong and.. Well… Left." Not even once the tensai stopped smiling during the whole announcement.

Disbelief was painted on the faces of the young boys from the two different schools. No one in their right mind would believe that. Sure, Echizen was a little bratty and cocky and childish about the simplest things, but not a person who uses other people and then runs away, abandons them.

"Are you sure that's the real reason, Fuji-kun?" Yagyuu asked just to make sure.

Fuji, obviously not too worried about the lack of belief, just shrugged: "Like I said, that's what I think. Whether it's true or not is a different matter all itself."

"But that's the most believable one from all the other options we have gone trough." Tezuka added, already turning to go back to his tennis practice, Ryuzaki-sensei was already throwing daggers with her eyes at the two strongest Seigaku players. "Now excuse me Atobe, Yukimura, Sanada, but we must go. Sensei is calling."

Fuji waved them and followed his captain back to the courts and the students practicing there. Atobe's skeptical eyes followed Tezuka's back. Truthfully, he didn't believe a word that came out of Tezuka's or Fuji's mouths. Echizen was far stronger than that and had more pride in himself and his strength, Atobe was sure about that and nothing will be able to change his mind.

Yukimura seemed deep in thoughts and Sanada was just as skeptical as Atobe about the whole thing. Some of the other regulars had the look of disbelief, some were pondering over the possibility of Echizen being someone who will use other for his own good and then abandon them and some just didn't really care.

"Do you think that what he said was true? Ne, Niou-sempai?" Kirihara whispered.

Niou didn't answer immediately. He threw a glance at his doubles partner and boyfriend, Yagyuu as if asking for help or advice. The bespectacled just shook his head.

"I don't think we will find out from them Bakaya. We would have to talk to Echizen but…" Marui popped a bubble-gum bubble, hands in his pockets and eyes looking up at the clear, blue sky.

Oshitari continued the unfinished sentence: "Seeing as he isn't here that would be a little impossible. Though I wonder why Tezuka and Fuji would say that."

"Poor Echizen-kun. Whatever happened must me pretty bad for him to leave like that…" Ootori said, his hands clutching each other in front of his chest.

"It really is hard to tell what happened. Especially, if we don't know the circumstances." Sanada finally said something before nodding with his head to the rest of Rikkai Dai regulars to follow him. "We should be going now."

After The Rikkai Dai regulars said their goodbyes to the Hyotei regulars silence fell between the eight teens. No one wanted to actually start a new discussion about Echizen and Seigaku.

"Ore-sama doesn't like this." Atobe mumbled, "Let's go, Kabaji."

"Usu."

The rest of the regulars looked at each other and after a short while ran after their captain. Just when they were out of sight the teen, hidden by the shadows also moved, walking away from the Seigaku middle school territory not wanting to spend another minute near Tezuka or his team.

Akutsu walked down the street, glaring at whoever goes in his way, not caring that he probably showed and stepped on people's feet all the time.

The phone in his pocket vibrated and something like a scream came from it, apparently a ringtone Akutsu had chosen for it. Without even as much as looking at the caller ID Akutsu flipped the black phone open and placed it next to his ear.

"I thought you should be sleeping right now." Though, his voice didn't have any ill intentions or anger in it.

"Well… Yeah, I should. But that message kind of woke me up." And true to his words the talker's voice was quiet and Akutsu could hear him yawn.

"The hell… And here I thought you were a heavy sleeper."

"Yeah… Yeah… Go ahead and laugh at me." It sounded to Akutsu like the one on the other end of the line was pouting. "But the thing that you wrote… Is it true? I mean, sempai just said it like that?"

Akutsu sighed and held the phone with his head and shoulder, his hands rummaging through the pockets of his jacked, trying to find his pack of cigarettes and a lighter. "Not exactly like that but the idea was clear. 'We were used, it was Echizen's fault' something along those lines, you know. Though it didn't look like all of them believed what that close-eyed freak said anyway."

There was a sigh: "Well, it's not like everyone will believe him anyway. But that also doesn't mean that there won't be those that trust them." There was a pause, a moment of thought, "Well… Since I ran away I bet that I will be treated as a betrayer and user anyway…." Another pause, this time the boys voice was quieter than before, "But… Now I really don't want to go back." The voice became quieter and slurred with sleep as the boy continues to talk.

"Then stay there you fucking idiot! Didn't I tell you? Staying there for good would be my choice but it's not for me to decide either way." Akutsu grumbled into the speaker and pushed the lighted cigarette in his mouth. "Besides, it's not like you have a reason to come back."

There was silence on the other end and Akutsu had a suspicion that the boy he was talking to had already fallen asleep. He was about to yell into the phone when the younger boys steady breathing reached his ears.

With a sigh Akutsu closed his phone and slid it back into his pocket. "Some shitty situation this has become."

The chatter and laughs of the people around him were driving the young male mad and at the moment his biggest wish was to kill everyone around him. His bangs covered the bright light-brown eyes but not the murderous black aura around him.

"Akutsu? That you?" someone called out for him.

Akutsu turned his had slightly so he was looking at the speaker. A smirk crawled on his face and he straightened his back. Walking closer to the short figure Akutsu ruffled the dark black, with a tint of green, hair and laughed out loud.

"You're still as short as you were the last time I saw you, brat."

Ryoma slapped Akutsu's hand away and it looked like he was pouting. "Shut up you idiot. It's not like I can help it now can I?"

"Che."

They both started to walk out of the airport; Ryoma had his bag slung over his shoulder and another one in his right hand. His green-tinted hair had grown out and now reached his shoulders and a bit past them. A strand of hair was pushed behind his ear, so three ear piercing were reveled to the world, two small ones and one cross-shaped hanging in a thing chain.

He also had two piercings in his lip and since he wore a short sleeved, black t-shirt with the heart shaped symbol for the rock band 'HIM' on it, people could see a part of the dark green dragon tattoo on his left hand. The skinny black jeans showed off his thin legs and desirable ass, as Akutsu had said the last time he visited Ryoma in New York.

"Damn, it's still hot here. New York was cooler." Ryoma sighed as he stepped out in the hot august sun.

Akutsu snorted: "Well what the hell were you expecting you shitty brat? A snowstorm?" he started to walk in the direction of his car, expecting Ryoma to follow.

"No, I didn't." Ryoma dropped his bags on the ground, next to the car, "Did you forger to do your hair or is that a new style you're trying out? It looks good by the way."

Akutsu didn't say anything, only threw the two not so heavy bags in the trunk and got in the car himself. The drive to Akutsu's place was rather quiet and calm, if you don't count the constant swearing from Akutsu whenever someone was a total idiot and got in his way and Ryoma's bratty comments about it.

Once the car stopped in front of an old looking building, with paint coming off from the walls at some places and cracks in the stone, Ryoma and Akutsu got out. Unlike the airport it was nice and cool here since the place was covered in shadows, thanks to the trees growing around the yard and playground for the little kids.

"Nice place you live at Akutsu. Never thought that you were a person who is ok with living in an apartment complex." Ryoma snickered and got his bags from the trunk.

Akutsu glared at the younger and got out a cigarette: "Shut it."

Once again Ryoma followed Akutsu since he knew where to go. It really was a crappy situation he got himself into. First his parents decided to go on a second (or so they say) honeymoon and then he was told to go and stay with Akutsu for the time being. It was like his mom and old man didn't know about what happened here five years ago. Ryoma had a suspicion that they planned everything out.

He sighed, now he will have to deal with everything. Meeting his sempais and rivals again, defending himself in front of them and most of all; trying to stay strong and pretend that he doesn't care. Ryoma knew that he wasn't ready…

"This sucks."

A/N: It is here! :3 Ryoma returned to Japan and Akutsu is his best buddy right now! Yay's?

…

Ryoma with piercings and tattoos is an old desire of mine. Just seeing him like that in my head makes me do the fangril scream and, and, and…..

Ok, I'll shut up now.

Anyway, as you know (or don't) 'Gifted' will be finished soon, so… I have a poll (again) on my profile where you can choose what should I start to write next. Everything about the fics can be found on my profile page, so go and check it out please.

Well, that's all I wanted to say.. er.. write.

Be nice and leave a review, I will appreciate it very much! :3