214So Happy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or what ever else you may celebrate! Hope your holiday was fun and you all stayed safe and happy.
Sorry this chapter isn't longer I kind of hit writers block at the end. Don't worry it will come back I already have ideas throughout it's just the transitioning between events that's difficult.
Also, happy new year! My new years resolution is to write more (only one I could think of at the time)! What's your new years resolutions?
Chapter 16- Truth
"How did you get in?! That door was locked as was the front one?!" Ryoma yelled at Fuji. "And give me that!" Ryoma said as he lunged at Fuji in order to get his hat back.
"Not until you tell me what's going on Ryo-ouji." Fuji said with his eye's still trained directly on Ryoma.
"No! No way in hell am I telling you anything. You broke into my house and into my room!"
"I told you we were either going to do it the hard way or the easy way. And you chose the hard way."
"The hard way usually means you annoying me and tying me up. Not breaking and entering!" Ryoma said once more making a try for his hat.
Fuji swiftly moved out of the way once again and started to twirl the hat on his finger.
"You know this hat is a symbol that even I respect." Fuji said moving his eyes from the hat back to Ryoma. "So why is it that I met the man behind the hat and have no respect for him."
Ryoma glared at him. "What are you talking about senpai?"
"I'm talking about the fact that you didn't return to tennis. That you are hiding."
"Really?! And what do you expect me to do after seeing my parents, my brother, the only people that I loved die?!" Ryoma said getting pissed off.
"I expect you to grieve. I expect you to be angry. But I do not expect you to hide away like a coward."
"Don't call me a coward! I lost everything that night. I can't play tennis without remembering the people behind teaching me. So do not call me a coward!"
"Then what do you expect me to call you? Huh? Prince?
"No!" Ryoma yelled. "No." he said in almost a whisper as the anger left him and he sunk down to sit on his bed. "I expect you to call me Ryo-chan. Just like you did before you knew who I was."
"Who you are." Fuji said as he sat down next him. "The Prince of Tennis is who you are. I know you think that you left that life behind. But I see you on the court. I see you play. You love it. Just like you did when you were the Prince. It's who you are inside, and you can't change that." Fuji said as he stroked Ryoma's hair.
After a while Fuji spoke up again, "You know I always imagined the Prince's hair would be course. But it's surprisingly soft."
This drew a small laugh out of Ryoma who had been leaning against Fuji's shoulder.
"You aren't going to tell anyone, right?" Ryoma asked craning his neck to look up at Fuji.
"Saa, maybe." Fuji said with that obnoxious smile back in place.
"senpai."
"Don't worry Ryo-ouji your secret is safe with me."
"Not if you keep calling me that it's not."
"You'd be amazed how many secrets I can keep."
"Oh really, name one."
"No. See I'm amazing at it."
Ryoma laughed and closed his eyes. "Thank you senpai."
"Fuji."
"Huh?"
"Call me Fuji. It's only fair since I know your secret."
"No thank you senpai."
"It's either Fuji or Shusuke, Ryo-ouji."
"Fine Fuji-senpai." Fuji gave him a look. "Fine Fuji."
"Good. Next we will work of Shusuke." Fuji said smiling that malicious smile.
"You said I could choose." Ryoma said opening his eyes and glaring at Fuji.
"Yes. But then I changed my mind."
"Baka Fuji." Ryoma said giving up for now.
Ryoma was on the verge of falling asleep when Fuji's voice drew him back to consciousness.
"Do you really plan on playing us in the tournament Ryuzaki-sensei mentioned."
"No." Ryoma said his voice clipped.
"Why not. You said you would, and the whole team is looking forward to it."
"Because I never agreed to it. I never told anyone I was still alive and not missing."
"What?"
"Someone is pretending to be me. I don't know why. But I do know I plan on killing them. I may not be playing right now but that does not mean I agree with someone claiming my tittle."
"Right now? Does that mean you are planning to return to the pro league."
"Of course. You said so yourself I love tennis, and where else am I going to find decent opponents. But just for a while I want to be just Ryoma. No press no pro tournaments." Ryoma sighed and leaned back against Fuji's shoulder. "I want time to be a normal kid. All my life when I wasn't escaping paparazzi and or fans I was practicing tennis, or keeping up my grades to continue to be number one, and live up to the expectations of my teachers and family. I want this to be the time when no one knows who I am. There are no expectations of me. No pressure to make sure I'm raked first in both tennis and school." Ryoma sighed, "Plus I am still trying to cope with losing my family."
"Well I can't promise you normal. But I can promise you a life outside of playing tennis." Fuji said looking down at the small boy leaning against him. "Our team is dedicated but we go on trips together and hang out outside of school and practice."
"Thank you sen...Fuji." Ryoma gave a small laugh, "I guess it will be nice that at least one person knows, other than my cousin, who I can talk to and not have to focus on what I'm saying."
"Plus you don't have to hold back while playing me." Fuji said his smile going wide. "Also, you can finally use your left hand around me, don't want it to go out of practice now do we?"
"You just want to play me don't you?" Ryoma said smirking.
"Saa..." Fuji said looking down at him.
"Fine but don't expect me to hold back just because you are my senpai."
"You ready to go again?" Ryoma asked as he bounced from foot to foot on the court across from Fuji.
"You are a demon." Fuji said as he laid on the court panting for breath.
"Come on."
"You barely even flinched at my counters."
"They were amazing really. You managed to win two games against me." Fuji glared up at Ryoma. "Hey that's two more than half the pros can say they've won. Plus, you made me use split step and my drives."
"And you were ruthless in all of them."
"Hey, I warned you I wasn't going to hold back." Ryoma said walking over and laying down next to Fuji on the court.
"I think you still did though." Fuji said. "If you had I don't think I would of even scored a point against you."
Ryoma sighed. "No, I'm just out of shape. I didn't play for months and it still makes me sad at times to play. But it gets better each game. Guess using my left hand kinda brought more out this time though."
"Then play me everyday." Fuji said leaning up on his elbows.
"What?"
"If it gets better with each game. Then play me everyday, using your left hand. Soon you will be back at the top of your game. Plus, I want a real game with the Prince of Tennis." Fuji said smirking.
"Fine. If you feel like humiliating yourself everyday then who am I to deny you that pleasure."
"Humiliate myself? I just got to play against the Prince of Tennis and now get to play against him everyday. It's almost every tennis players' dream."
"Aww, never knew you were such a fan." Fuji laughed and rustled Ryoma's hair. "So are you staying for dinner?"
"I'd love too."
"My cousin is either at work or at college, either way it's probably just going to be you and me for dinner, so any ideas."
"Pasta."
"Sure. Easy wnough. I'll boil the water if you want to go shower and change back into your normal clothes."
"Ah thank you." Fuji said as he made his way back up stairs.
"And don't touch my stuff." Ryoma yelled after him.
"Oh, Ryo-chan. You think your word is going to keep me from touching." Fuji whispered while smirking.
Fuji opened Ryoma's bedroom door and stepped in barely containing a gasp. It still surprised him all of the trophy's up around the room. How could he have been so stupid to have the Prince of Tennis right in front of his face and not be able to figure out just who he was.
"Saa, at least I know now." Fuji said as he stripped down and walked into the bathroom picking up his bag along the way.
Once finished Fuji stepped out, toweled himself off, and stepped back into the bedroom.
"You really are amazing Ryo-chan." Fuji said as he walked up to the wall of trophy's. "Grand slam, U.S. open, Australian open, Wimbledon, French open, etcetera, etcetera..."
"Hey, foods almost ready, you done in the shower."
"Yeah, all free." Fuji said turning to see Ryoma standing in the doorway.
"Thanks." Ryoma said as he walked past Fuji and into the bathroom where Fuji heard the water turn on.
After a few minutes Fuji started to speak, "Why are some of the name plates blank?" Fuji asked through the door.
"Because people didn't know what to call me." Ryoma responded simply as if it was the easiest answer in the world.
"Didn't they make you give a name."
"Nah, dad took care of that. I don't know what he said but after the first tournament and the constant hassling to know my name he had a talk with one of the tennis directors. No one made a big fuss about having to use my name to compete in tournaments after that."
"The rest of the world still wants to know your name though."
"And they might, eventually." Ryoma said as he opened the door and walked over to his drawer to pick out clothing before walking back behind the door to change. "But for now I like the peace the mystery of the Prince gives me."
"Yeah, but it also makes it easy for someone to steal your identity."
Ryoma snorted walking back out, "After we win the tournament and get to play against this imposter no one will believe him of being the true Prince of Tennis."
"But then everyone will discover who you are. Especially if you compete against him in the tournament." Fuji said as he followed Ryoma down the stairs.
"Not necessarily. I'll just wear another disguise and confront him outside of our team competing against him. All I need is to be in the same location as this guy. After that it should be easy destroying him." Ryoma explained while pulling plates out of the cabinet, then returning to stir the sauce. "Can you drain the noodles for me?"
"You really hate this guy huh?" Fuji asked as he picked up the boiling pot of water and spagetti. "Where's your strainer?"
"I hate people who claim to be something they aren't. Top right cabinet."
"Ah thanks." Fuji said as he plucked the strainer from it's place in the cabinet and started to strain the pasta. "Isn't that what you are doing though? Pretending to be someone else, I mean."
"Nope I'm not pretending about anything. Granted I'm not telling people the whole truth about who I am but everything you have seen so far is still a part of me."
"Hm" Was all Fuji said as he placed some pasta on both plates.
The two ate on the couch in front of the television talking about anything that came into their minds from tennis, to school, to the normal gossip you hear around school.
Ryoma was happier than he had been in a long time. It really was nice to have someone who he could talk to about anything. Who he didn't have to make sure he didn't slip up and say something that would get him discovered.
"Thanks for the meal." Fuji said as he picked up his bag and walked to the door.
"Welcome. So I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow."
"Of course you will Ryo-chan." Fuji said with that smile back on his face. "And don't forget that we also will be having another game tomorrow."
"Right. See you tomorrow then."
"Bye Ryo-chan." Fuji said with a wink before walking down the path to Ryoma's house and down the street.
"Oishi! Why can't we find them?!" Eiji whined from his perch on top of Momo's shoulders.
"Careful, Eiji!" Oishi responded.
"He's fine, Oishi. I have great balance." Momoshiro said holding a thumbs up sigh and winking.
"If we don't find them soon..." Eiji said pouting as he jumped off of Momo's shoulders.
"I know, Eiji. We are all worried about Echizen." Oishi replyed bringing his doubles partner in for a hug, seeing as the boy was starting to cry.
"But he's my Ochibi and I don't want my Ochibi to be hurt."
"Or worst." Inui added in oh so helpfully.
"No, Ochibi!"
"We have checked all over town. Where is a spot that we would never think of." Kawamura added.
"We are supposed to be celebrating not looking for a brat."
"What was that mamushi!" Momo yelled back at Kaido. "It's because of that brat that we won."
"He's still a brat. He may be half decent at tennis. But he's still a complete brat."
Momo had no response to this because although he cared for Ryoma and saw him as a little brother it didn't change that fact that the kid truly was a brat. Hey, sibling rivalry right? Doesn't mean he doesn't care for the kid.
"I say we give up." Oishi said. "We've been looking for a few hours and no sign of either of them. Plus Kaido is right. We should be celebrating."
"But Oishi..."
"Don't worry Eiji I bet they are back at the restaurant wondering where we are."
"Hey where did Tezuka go?" Inui asked.
"He left a few minutes ago." Kawamura replyed
"What?! Why?" Momo yelled.
"Shut up. You're too loud."
"Say that again mamushi."
"You're too loud."
"That's it!" Momoshiro said as he lunged for Kaido only for the slippery snake to step out of the way and cause him to fall flat on his face.
"Yay! fight!"
"Don't encourage them Eiji!"
"But it's fun."
"They shouldn't be fighting though."
"Hey, Oishi, let's go find Tezuka."
"Good idea. Hey Momo, Kaido, we are going to find Tezuka want to come?"
"If he can keep his freakin' mouth shut." Momo said his arm locked around Kaido's neck.
Kaido just hissed in reply and flipped Momoshiro off of him, then started to walk away.
"Yay! Let's go!" Eiji yelled.
"Ah, Eiji, Kaido, wait for us." Oishi said following him.
"Oi, Mamushi get back here."
"What are the chances we are going to find Ryoma, Fuji, or Tezuka." Kawamura asked Inui walking at a much more sedate pace than the rest of their hyperactive team mates.
"Point three four eight percent chance that we will find just one of them." Inui said sighing while closing his notebook from where he had been scribbling down notes.
"So why are we still looking?"
"To entertain the children." Inui said then started smirking. "Plus I am getting excellent data from this little excursion."
Ryoma grumbling as he walked up the path to his school. Oh yay another day of being kidnapped and being around too loud people.
"OCHIBI!" Ryoma heard just in time to side step and see a Eiji give a nice hard hug to the ground where he had just been standing. "No fair! You escaped!" Eiji yelled as he jumped back up to his feet.
"Do you have nine lives or something?" Ryoma asked impressed with Eiji's recovery rate.
"Yup!" Eiji replying smiling and throwing up a peace sign.
"Okay senpai." Ryoma sighed as he turned to walk into the school yard and towards the tennis courts for morning practice.
"Oi, Echizen." Momo yelled when he spotted Ryoma walking onto the courts. "Where were you yesterday?"
"Not telling." Ryoma replied as he started to warm up.
"Eh. No fair Echizen tell me. Come on."
"Ask Fuji."
Momoshiro was about to respond when it hit him. "Since when do you call him Fuji and not senpai."
"Since yesterday."
"Why?"
"Because he told me to."
"But you never do as you're told."
"Because I never want to do those things that you ask Momo-senpai."
"See you call me senpai."
"Because you are my are my senpai."
"So is Fuji-senpai."
"Yes he is."
"So call him senapi too."
"Yadda."
"Echizen."
"Yadda."
"Saa...I hope you aren't picking on him Momoshiro."
"Ah, Fuji-senpai. No, of course not."
"Saa." Was all Fuji said but it still scared the hell out of Momo. "Thank you again for the food last night, Ryo-chan, it was very delicious, though I do believe it needed more spice."
"Fuji, you already had added a ton of wasabi onto it. Who even adds wasabi to pasta?" Ryoma asked as he finished stretching and went to get his racket.
"Everyone ten laps around the court then freshman practice backhand, regulars come see me, everyone else pair up and practice doubles." Tezuka said as he walked onto the court.
"Would you like to run with me Ryo-ouji?" Fuji asked smiling at Ryoma.
"Yadda. I'm fine on my own senpai." Ryoma replied.
"I'll just run next to you then."
"Do whatever you want Fuji." Ryoma said as he took of running Fuji keeping pace right beside him.
"Since when have those two been so close?" Momo asked running alongside Eiji, Taka, and Oishi.
"Do you think Fujiko did something to him last night?!" Eiji yelled.
"Calm down Eiji I'm sure it's nothing. Just team bonding." Oishi said trying to pacify his partner.
"But they seem really close now. Why can't I be that close to Ochibi? Why Fujiko?"
"I believe the tensai has figured out Echizen's secret." Inui said appearing behind the group of four and scaring Momo and Eiji into colliding into each other.
"What secret?" Taka asked while Oishi helped the two on the ground. "I didn't know he has one."
"Of course he does, everyone has a secret. We know practically nothing about him other than that he's good at tennis and even that was a secret for a while."
"So how do we figure out his secret?"
"We most likely won't until he tells us. The only person I know who can figure out a persons secret is Fuji and as he already knows and hasn't said anything to any of us. I doubt he will ever tell." Inui said as he watched Ryoma and Fuji and they ran net to each other before stopping back at the entrance to the courts and walking over to Tezuka awaiting instruction.
Once all of the regulars had finished their laps Tezuka started to speak.
"So as you know with the new tournament we are going to have to try even harder to win a spot. Now I know it isn't the tournament we all expected to be playing in but it is still our chance to prove that we are the best team. And in the end we will be able to play against pros including the Prince of Tennis himself." As he said this Fuji leaned slightly against Ryoma who elbowed him none to gently back. "I expect you all to be at the top of your game. So we are adding on weights and a new training regimen starting today. Inui." Tezuka said inviting Inui to start talking.
"Everyone put on these weights." Inui instructed handing out ankle and wrist bands to everyone except Ryoma and Tezuka who were already wearing some instead handing them an extra bar to place into theirs. "Now I want everyone to stand on the baseline." Once everyone was in place and looking confused as Inui walked over to the net in the middle of the court and took it down. "The last one to finish, or doesn't make it before I blow the whistle again gets my new and improved deluxe Inui juice. Markers are at the opponets baseline, the opponets service line, net, your service line. Now," Inui continued at he picked up a whistle. "Fifty suicides! Go." Inui said as he blew the whistle.