CHAPTER 30
Momo had lead both of them to the nearest street court that was open. When they had gotten there though it was packed full with other players. Looking around Ryoma saw this girl sitting on one of the benches while Momo had gone to ask someone about the rules there.
The trickster had come back towards Ryoma not long after and told the boy it was a one game match. It was when he told the boy they would have to play doubles in order to participate did it start to sound truly interesting to the child. They where both standing on the same side of the court waiting for their opponents. The two that challenge them where some 20 year olds. Momo and Ryoma both felt pissed when they commented on Ryoma looking like a child and Momo only being in high school student. "Hey, Echizen. Don't go easy on them, and show them your serve."
"Got it." With that the boys won all there matches with serve and return aces. The one's on the side line two other player that gave Momo the rules of this court could only sweat drop at the scene as they both thought the same thing. 'There not very good as a doubles pair. We'll beat them.' They both went to the court as Momo and Ryoma defeated another pair.
The match started and so far they where doing okay. It was until the opponent decided to hit the ball straight down the middle and both of them went to go get it. This only caused them to crash into each other. It happened again after that and the score was 30-0. They where about to do the next serve when Momo's phone went off. Quickly calling time out he grabbed it out of his pocket and answered.
"Hey, Fuji-Senpai... Yeah, he's with me." Momo began pacing and talking. "What! Ok, how long till he has to go? Yeah, I'll walk home with him. See ya." Ending the call he turned towards Ryoma. "Hey, buddy we have to go." Ryoma stood there shocked. He never left in the middle of a match even if he was losing.
"But, we have to finish this. Is it that important?" The trickster gave him a smile and nodded.
"Yeah, Shan and the others are leaving tonight instead of tomorrow morning. We either leave now, so you can say goodbye or you'll miss him entirely." Hearing that, the boy walked over to his tennis bag and packed up.
"What!" One of there opponents shouted towards them. "You can't just leave we're in the middle of a match." Ryoma not liking their comment turned around.
"I have to say goodbye to Shan. He's more important then some stupid match that we where losing anyway. It was obvious that you where going to win." With that the boy got ready to leave when one of them went up and grabbed Ryoma's arm. The cat reacted on instinct and flipped the other over onto his back. "No touching." He glared before running to catch up with Momo.
"Hey, you damn brat." They heard as they went down the steps. "I, Izumi and my partner Fukawa will play you again and we will play a whole match. After all we are Gyokurin's number one pair." Ryoma couldn't care while the trickster realized they where there first opponents in the tournaments on Saturday.
Both of them where running down the street. Well... Momo was Ryoma just stayed by his side not even breaking a sweat. It was then Ryoma got an idea. "Neh, Momo I think we should play doubles in the tournament." Momo let out a laugh.
"You know what Echizen, that's just what I was thinking." With that they turned the last corner into the street. Ryoma and Momo saw Syu, Sei, Mitsu, Gen and Kei where all standing outside with Kazu, Emon and Shan. The three of them where about to get into the Taxi.
"Shan!" Ryoma yelled as he ran to the man and jumped into his arms giving him a hug. "I'm sorry, please don't go, I'll be good boy." Shan smiled at the boy and reached into his pocket.
"Hey, Ryoma I have a present for you." The boy looked up and saw him holding a dark blue phone. He lifted it up and tapped a few buttons before facing them. He then clicked a button and took a picture. He quickly looked at the shot and saved it as the boys background. Grabbed strap he put it over the boys head. "Take care okay. You have my number on there along with Kazu's and Emon's." With a nod the boy buried his head into Shan's shoulder. The man then whispered into the boy's ear. "You should ask the others for there numbers as well. Oh, and I hid your box in the coat cupboard." With that Shan now had to leave without crying himself. He knew if he did, Ryoma would use it to his advantage. Going over to Mitsu he asked him to hold Ryoma and with that he left.
With that, everything was silent and Momo just felt awkward standing there. Tezuka was busy trying to calm the boy in his arms down. Sei had come to the rescue. "Hey, Ryo-Chan my phone's inside. Come on, we'll go to my room and I can give you my number." With a nod, Mitsu let him down and Ryoma followed Sei inside the house. Syu after a bit decided to join them. It was then that Atobe spoke up.
"Well... if that was it, Ore-Sama is going home to finish packing and I'll be moving in tomorrow." With that he left to go round the corner where his limo was waiting. Gen had followed, when Keigo had offered him a lift home since apparently he was going to starting living there the next day as well. It was then that Momo remembered something.
"Ah, Captain." Tezuka looked at Momo and waited for him to carry on. "I was wondering if me and Echizen can do a doubles match on Saturday." Kunimitsu looked at Momo for a second before deciding that there can't be too much harm done.
"Sure." He also knew that if Ryoma concentrated more on an upcoming match he might not be so miserable for the day to come since Shan is no longer there. With that they said there goodbyes and Tezuka went inside to find the other three.
Momo was walking home when he realized something. "Moving in?" He thought out loud. "Does that mean the captain and Fuji-Senpai live there with Echizen?" Shrugging it off he then felt his phone buzzing in his pocket. Opening it he let a grin spread across his face.
It was from Ryoma it said - Syu said you can get numbers by sending messages. He gave me yours. Hope your not angry.
Momo knowing best to send one back instead of keeping the boy on edge. 'Sure, it's fine. The captain said we can do double in the tournament so we need to practice tomorrow.'
Ryoma had just sent the message with Sei's help and now he was waiting for the reply. He was jumping round the room like a rabbit trying to distract himself. He now had his hood down but his tail was still tucked away in his trousers. Syu and Sei where sitting on the bed watching in amusement. Tezuka had just came up the stairs and was leaning on the door frame watching. "Ryoma... What are you doing?" Mitsu finally voiced.
"Waiting for a text from Momo." The captain was trying not to shake his head at the boy. He was also trying to keep a smile from spreading across his face. Just then Ryoma's phone went off and he quickly checked the message before turning his attention back to the others, as Tezuka decided to speak again
"Shouldn't you get ready for bed?" That when Ryoma froze. Looking around he quickly rushed out the room and ran into now what would be Keigo's room. A few bangs and crashes later the three went to go check up on the boy. "What?" They stood wide eyed. The place in less then 5 minutes was a wreak. The boy looked round. All draws where pulled out the bed was flipped.
"He didn't leave any!" The cat ran a hand though his hair.
"Leave what Ryo-Chan?" Syu said as he looked at the damage wondering how long it will take to clean or if they should leave it just to see Keigo's reaction to it.
"Shan left none of his shirts." They all slightly sweat dropped at that. Who knew that, that would be the cats biggest problem.
"Ryo-Chan, why don't I run you a bath and I'm sure Syu or Mitsu have something you can wear?" Sei knowing the importance of Shan's shirts to the boy just hoped he would go with the compromise. With a nod the boy grabbed Sei's hand and dragged him to the bathroom. He remembered Shan's warning about never letting the boy make his own bath. It seems the boy won't turn off the taps even when the bath is full and he didn't want to deal with a flood in the house.