CHAPTER 69

When Ryoma and Keigo had left the rest had been left in the awkward silence. Which was only really broken by Sengoku. "So, anyone know what that was about?" He looked at all of them and Momo was the one who spoke, but not really thinking about what he said.

"Ah! I remember that he lives with Ryoma. Haha for a second there I forgot about that." Fudomine tennis team and the orange-head all looked to Momo. "What? Did I say something wrong?" Thinking for a second only to realize what he did. "Oh, damn it Tezuka and Fuji are going to kill me if they find out I've told them about who Ryoma lives with."

"Why would they care?" Tachibana watch as Momo froze again. He still wondered what his sister saw in this trickster. He would of been much happier if she chose Kamio seeing as he knew the other well and Kamio knew what lines he shouldn't cross with An. Kippei thought for a bit. 'Unless, Fuji and Tezuka both live with the boy as well... Interesting.' "Momoshiro is my sister talking to you yet?" For now he thought it best to change the subject, seeing as the Seigaku player keeps burying himself into a deeper hole every time he opens his mouth.

Kunimitsu was talking with Sumire about the line up for the next match when his phone went off. After he found out Keigo also had his matches here as well, he went off to go collect Ryoma from him. As he got closer to the restrooms instead of going inside he went round and found both Keigo and the cat. He took only one look at the boy to see that he was nervous. He then spoke.

"Kei, if you were at the same park you could've at least woken us up this morning." Keigo turned and smirked at the other.

"Ore-Sama only found out when I saw the brat with my next opponents." The monkey king looked down and saw the boy even more worried. The cat kept his head down and held one hand in the other. "Anyway... Sort out this argument now. Ore-Sama thought families don't fight." He used the own boy's words against him. "Now if you'll excuse me, Ore-Sama has a match to win." He gave Ryoma a pat on the head and sending Mitsu a glare telling him he better sort this out, before leaving the two alone.

Ryoma was jumping on the spot not knowing what to do and Tezuka rubbed his temple letting out a sigh while doing so. "Ryoma..." He spoke in a near gentle voice. He leaned against the wall of the restrooms and looked at him. "I..." He never got to finish as the boy walked up to him and stood just in front.

"I'm sorry." Mitsu could feeling his brain giving up and brought the boy into a hug. Practically kneeling down and putting his arms round the cat's waist. That picture of innocence that the cat had just displayed was too much. As the cat spoke his apology his cheeks had a rosy tint to them his eyes had taken on the pleading look. He could only think that if the boy was showing his added features he would be gripping his tail in both hands along with his ears bent down. He felt Ryoma put his arms over his shoulders as the boy continued to mumble how sorry he was. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I don't want to be a burden." Mitsu paused and brought the boy out of his arms slightly so he could see his face.

"Who said your a burden?" They stared into each others eyes and both though that what happened earlier was going to happen again. Mitsu deciding he didn't want that let out a sigh. "You know what. When you want to talk about it then I'll listen. Okay." He saw the relief in Ryoma's eyes, he could only hope he was making the right choice in leaving this subject alone for now. "But if you have a problem please, please, don't keep it to yourself." He got a nod from the boy.

Watching the boy for a second longer he decided to tell Ryoma something that him and the other four decided yesterday. "Ryoma... Doctor Oishi wanted to know if you would like someone to talk to. Of course the doctor will be the one you do speak with, but we thought that if you didn't want to talk to us about it then he would be the best option."

He could see the boy turn into an uneasy stance. Almost like Ryoma had thought that they were going to get rid of him. "We?"

"Me, Syu, Kei, Gen and Sei. We know there are something's you don't like talking about and he did suggest it. I know you don't like doctors, but just remember they are sworn to secrecy. Anything you tell him he has to keep to himself." To be honest it was Sei that asked Akitaka if he would after he told him that Ryoma seems to be having more trouble with his past experiences. He even told the doctor what happened during one of the practices and that the cat wouldn't tell anyone who did it.

The cat looked at Mitsu like he had grown another head. The captain tried not to smirk. He knew this would be the boys reaction. "But if I don't talk to you about it, what would make me want to tell him?" Mitsu brought him back into a hug and rested his head in the cat's shoulder burying himself in the boy's scent.

"Because it's easier to talk to someone who you don't know that well and knowing he can't tell others either." Ryoma could feel the warm breath on his shoulder and relaxed knowing that Mitsu wouldn't get rid of him anytime soon. The boy copying the other placed his head on the captains shoulder and Ryoma didn't realized what he himself had said until he said it.

"I love you." He spoke slightly louder than a whisper. The cat tensed as the words passed his lips. The captain stilled and pulled back once again holding the boy's shoulders so he couldn't run and looked at the child with slightly wide eyes.

"What did you just say?" He saw the Ryoma's mouth open and close quickly as he tried to come up with something.

"I said colourful!" Mitsu looked at him not at all convinced. "Because Frederick looks so pretty."

"Oh, and where is this person?" Mitsu knew the cat was just making excuses now and to be honest he couldn't care. The boy had confessed whether by accident or not. So he would let the boy get away with pretending he said something else.

"Umm... You can't see him. His invisible and doesn't like strangers." The captain wondered how long it would take the boy to realize that this was the worst lie ever.

"Why call him Frederick?" Mitsu knew they had to get back to the team soon. Their match was going to start in about 10 minutes.

"He doesn't like being called Freddy or Rick." The boy crossed his arms and pouted.

"If you say so." Mitsu bent down and gave the boy a kiss on the forehead. "Come on our matches will start soon and you still need some lunch." The cat hearing the word lunch grabbed Mitsu's hand and started dragging him. Now that Ryoma thought about it, he was very hungry and he would do anything to get away from the situation at hand.

"Hurry, hurry." People watched as the Seigaku captain held hands with the cat. Ryoma was jumping at the fact he finally got more food in his stomach. Syu saw them heading his way and smirked when he noticed Mitsu was actually trying to keep down a smile. As they got close enough the cat saw the food bag on a bench and ran over gabbing and eating anything he could get his hands on. Both Mitsu and Syu watched in amusement.

"You seem happy." The tensai stated. Making sure to keep his eyes on the boy. "Anything happen besides that you're no longer angry with him?" Mitsu looked at Syu and the side of his mouth twitched slightly.

"Hmm, who knows. But I think you might of been right about Ryoma. He told me that he loves me even if it was by accident." He held down a smile when he saw the boy taking a sandwich apart and eating the insides of it before eating the bread.

"So did he say anything else?" Syu getting more curious by the second. Until he saw St. Rudolph's tennis team. Mitsu noticing Syu went strangely quiet and looked in the direction of the tensai to see he was staring at Yuuta on the other side of the court. "You know when me and my family went out a while back, it was nice talking to Yuuta again, but I still don't get to spend as much time with him as I use to."

"You know it's not your fault. Yuuta was the one who decided to move schools." He placed a hand on Syu shoulder and gave it a squeeze.