CHAPTER 37

"Lair, Lair, pants on fire!" Ryoma yelled as he stormed passed Kunimitsu and into the kitchen. Gen walked though and saw the shocked looked on the normally calm person's face. Putting a hand on his shoulder he nodded to the kitchen and then spoke.

"He's upset because you didn't read to him." Tezuka only moved his head up and down to show he understood. This was the first time the boy was angry at him. Yeah, sure he had kick him in the balls, but that was more a defensive reaction, not one out of rage. Problem was right now, Mitsu thought the childish way the boy pointed it out that he broke his promise was quiet sweet. He was now struggling to keep a small smile from appearing on his lips.

In the kitchen, Tomo had reheated Ryoma's dinner from last night and made him some more food knowing the boy was normally more hungry in the mornings. The boy was sitting down shoving food in his mouth when Tezuka entered and looked at the boy wondering how to talk about not keeping the promise. "Ryo..." He didn't get to finish as the boy swallowed the food in his mouth and started buzzing.

"Buzz..." Ryoma then looked around. "I hear a fly." Syu and Sei bit there lips to stop themselves from laughing. They had seen Ryoma do this to Keigo on several occasions, but seeing this was directed at Kunimitsu it was that much more amusing.

Tezuka could feel himself slowly getting angry. He could feel the headache and tick mark appearing on his forehead. He was standing behind the boys chair now about to speak again when the boy carried on buzzing after taking a small breath. Finally having enough he slammed his hands down on the table so the boy was trapped between them. The boy's head snapped up and glared at the brown eyes that stared down at him. "What do you want, you Chihuahua?" He said with teeth clenched. Tezuka made sure not to make a comment at being called a small breed of dog.

"I'm sorry." The captain's eyes soften slightly as he said it. The boy could feel tears collecting in his eyes. He didn't know what to say. Instead his face went red and he quickly looked down at the floor with the back of his hand covering his mouth to try and stop the sobs from escaping. He wouldn't tell them, but it just made him happy that the other apologize to him. He liked Kunimitsu since he was a lot like Kazu in someway. So it was hard for Ryoma to stay angry at him.

Sei and Syu where both smiling softly at the boy. Sei knew that since he told the boy their family, they all became important to the kid in some way. Gen had excused himself and went to get changed for practice with his regular's for today. He wouldn't tell them, but he found the scene very touching. He let a smile slip as he walked up the stairs.

Tezuka was still looking down waiting for Ryoma to do or say something. The boy was still hiding his face. He grabbed his hood and pulled it up. Quickly ducking under the table and out the end he made his way into the lounge. "Heh. Now he decides to go shy." Commented Tomo as he finished off cleaning the dishes.

Ryoma had sought refuge in his corner. His head still down and he was rubbing his eyes. He hated it when this happened. He could sometime get upset over the most silliest things. He grabbed his arms and wrapped them round his legs. Whimpering slightly when he forgot he had hurt himself.

"Ryo-Chan what's wrong?" Fuji had just walked in to see if he was alright. He saw the boy protecting his arms. He crouched down and brought one of his hand forward and waited. "Please let me check Ryo. I don't want you getting hurt." The boy lifted his arms up so Syu could take his jumper off. The boy hadn't put anything on underneath. He was after all kind of in a rush to get out the house. Syu saw the single scar running down the middle of his chest and scars on his back that where much harder to see since he couldn't get a good look at it as he was facing his front, but he knew Ryoma's back was littered in them.

Unlike Sei, Syu knew to keep his thoughts quiet and not speak them out loud. It didn't mean he wasn't curious, he was, but right now he was more concerned about the boys arms which seemed to of been bleeding since the bandages had gone red in some places. Slowly he unwrapped them to see the long marks going down his arms. "Did you do this to yourself? You know if Mitsu sees this he won't let you play today."

"Then, keep it a secret." Ryoma said as if out pointing the obvious.

"Keep what a secret?" They turned to see both Tezuka and Yukimura making their way into the room.

"Ummm..." Ryoma made a dive to put his jumper back on, but Fuji pulled it out of the way. "Give it back." His ears flattened on his head. Tezuka the saw the boys arms. Walking over he stood over the boy. He had a glare on his face which was showing how annoyed he was. "Oh, um... I slipped." Ryoma knowing that was the worse lie he could ever come up with looked anywhere, but the captains eyes.

"Ryoma... If you don't tell me, you won't play." Snapping his head up he looked with a worried expression.

"But I want to play doubles with Momo." He looked with his eyes widening and bottom lip trembling.

"Ryoma Echizen. You are all family. Families all share their secrets with each other. You have had practically no sleep and your an emotional wreak because of it." Looking to see Tomo he was about to jump up and run to him when he registered what he said. About to protest he was cut off. "If you don't, I will." He quickly ran out the room and upstairs. It was suddenly unnaturally quiet.

"I have a feeling Ryo-Chan going to do something." Syu commented. 5 Minutes later Ryoma came back down the stairs. With a Cheshire cat smile on his face.

"I will play." He held up the back of a photo to the others. "Otherwise I'll show this to everyone." Tezuka stood there with folded arms and one eyebrow slightly raised to show he was not amused.

"Ryo-Chan, can you show me the picture? I want to know what it is." Syu said approaching the boy. He had a small idea, but needed to see the evidence himself. Getting a nod from the cat, Syu wasted no time in standing next to him.

Eyes wide and jaw dropped. "Wow!" Syu now knew why Keigo was embarrassed about this photo going public. Hell, he could feel his lower half heat up by just a photo alone. Sei getting a suspicious feeling that something wasn't right, checked as well standing on the boys other side. In seconds his face heated up and he went to the sofa to sit down and leaned slightly forward hoping no one would notice. Syu had taken to using Ryoma as a cover and stood behind him with his arms wrapped around the boys neck. He would of done what Sei did, but he couldn't tear his gaze away from the photo. "Ryo-Chan, I now know why you called him a pervert." The frown on Mitsu's face just got more intense. He was being left out and he wanted to know what the boy had to use against him. It was the realization dawned on him at Ryoma's next comment, but it wasn't directed towards him.

"Syusuke, something is poking me in the back. Your the only one behind me and it can't be your hands." Ryoma had a guess what it could of been and was curious. "How long can they grow?" Fuji face was so red he swore he didn't know that so much blood could be in two places at once. Sei and Tomo both where looking at the boy with shock. Tezuka came closer to the boy about to snatch the photo. The cats reflexes kicked in and he ducked under and towards the door. Leaving Fuji to stubble forward into Mitsu.

"Ryoma, I need to burn it." Kunimitsu gave his response and he made sure Syu was steady on his feet before he started walking towards the boy again.

"No, I want to play doubles." Tezuka knew this wouldn't get anywhere anytime soon.

"Fine, you can play a game." He stretched his hand out thinking the boy would give it to him now. The boy nodded, but placed the picture in his trouser pocket.

"You get it after the match. I don't want you to break promises again." With that the boy ran back up the stairs to go get changed into his regulars uniform.

Tezuka gave the two lovers a quick look only to roll his eyes and shanking his head, leaving to go make some coffee. They where both left in the lounge red faced and trying cool down the heat they had gathered in certain areas. Tomo had excused himself with the excuse of going to do the laundry. The two looked at each other.

"You know. I think we should call evens on this." Sei said as he looked at Syu with raised eyebrows and a smirk. Syu sat down besides him and leaned his head on his shoulder. Syu suddenly feeling playful looked at Sei.

"So how long can they grow?" He grinned and Sei return it. They both knew Ryoma could be so innocent. "You know, I think I start to love Ryo-Chan more and more." Sei looked at Syu and all playfulness was gone. He was being completely serious.

"You really love him?" Sei asked. He couldn't help but suddenly feel helpless. It was almost like he was admitting that he would happily leave him for the boy.

"Sei, it's like the feeling's you have for Gen." Sei froze. He thought he had hidden it so well. Sei didn't like it when Syu got too serious so he tried to lighten the mood.

"Don't you think it would be funny if all six of us in the house ended up together in one big relationship." He done a forced laugh and Syu could only give him a small smile. Syu wished life could only be that easy. In his opinion, it was strange though how everyone in the house, had a former relationship with someone else in someway. From childhood friends to lovers. The only one who missed out was Ryoma.