Author: Ria Sakazaki

Pairing: Oishi/Ryoma

Genre: Romance

Disclaimer: I don't own POT….as much I want to

A/N: this is my first POT fic...be nice to me ok? Hehehehehe…it's ok. Flames or criti are accepted, good reviews as graciously welcomed. I got the idea from Noor-chan in her SD fic with the same title. This is in the honor of Noor-chan! . I just want to know how it'll look if we try it on a POT setting. It just shows how I love your work very much. Arigatou!

Summary: It started with a goodbye…Oishi thought his life is shattered when Kikumaru left for Hyotei. He never thought crying inside a closet could lead him to a new found love….or would it?

'' for thoughts, short flashbacks and SF

"" for dialogs

Rain poured mercilessly upon the roof of the tennis club room. Stifles of sobs can be here inside, sobs that drifts mute again the gush of the rain. 'Why….oh kami-sama why?' the same words raved inside Syuichiroh Oishi's mind as he continued crying inside the supplies closet. He hugged his knees tight, trying to comfort his aching chest. 'Nandayo Eiji?' he asked silently as the name ripped another piece of his pained heart.

Flashback

"Ne Eiji, you seem sad today. Daijobou?" Oishi worriedly asked his redhead friend. Kikumaru Eiji aimlessly made his pen trace invisible patterns across his desk. "Nya Oishi I'm fine. I'm just spaced out." Kikumaru sighed and raked a head through his red locks. Oishi's heart swelled with admiration while watching those red locks fall into place.

"Ohayou!" A cheery voice echoed inside their classroom. "Fuji! Ohayou!" Oishi waved as there friend came in and sat in front of them. "Ne, where's Tezuka-kun?" he added as their brown-haired friend sat in front of them. "Saa….Tezuka-kun is with the student council meeting. You know that all freshmen reps are needed there." Fuji replied, his smiled getting bigger as he caught glimpse of Kikumaru. "Ne Eiji-kun seems so sad today." Fuji said. "I'm ok." Kikumaru murmured. "That's what I've been worrying earlier, Fuji." Oishi added. "Saa Oishi…you're such a mother hen." Fuji commented.

"Maybe a little tennis might cheer you up." Oishi suddenly uttered. A teacher entered the room and scanned the confused faces of the freshmen inside. "Kikumaru, Eiji! The principal wants to talk to you." The teacher said.

"Nandayo, Eiji?" Oishi grew more worried. "Ja….don't worry about me." Kikumaru said and left the room. Fuji just shrugged and took Kikumaru's pen. "Ne Oishi, still didn't tell him right?" He murmured as he started drawing a small heart on the corner of the desk. "Fuji…" Oishi murmured while blushing a little.

"If you can't tell him face to face, you can write it down. Here…" Fuji gave the pen to Oishi. "Go on." He said with a smile. " yada Fuji…" Oishi protested. "It's now or never Syuichiroh." Fuji opened his eyes, indicating that he is serious. Oishi sighed and started scribbling on Kikumaru's desk.

I love you Eiji…my friend

"Put your initials." Fuji egged. "No. that's enough." Oishi said that heaven must've pitied him for the bell chose the right time to end recess. "Ja Oishi-kun." Fuji said with a triumphant smile before sauntering outside the classroom followed by adoring looks from the girls.

Oishi sighed and smiled while looking at the doodle that he made. "Eiji…"

Later that afternoon

Kikumaru never came back for the rest of the classes and this made Oishi more worried. He tried to look for Kikumaru everywhere but with no luck, he cannot find the redhead. With a sigh of resignation, he went to the clubroom to prepare for practice, hoping his special friend will be there.

He never knew that Kikumaru was just out in the locker rooms, packing his things. He already cleaned his locker in the club room. Kikumaru sighed as he went inside his old classroom for the last time. He stared sadly as the section sign. 'Section 1-3…I'll never forget you.' He sighed and retraced every memory that he can. He's transferring to Hyotei as order from his father. He hadn't said anything to Oishi nor Fuji for he's sure that they will be devastated…especially Oishi.

"Oishi…" Kikumaru murmured as he sat on Oishi's chair. His eyes wandered inside the room for the last time when he caught a glimpse of his desk. He saw some words scribble on it. He leaned in closer and read. "I love you Eiji….my friend…" Eiji sighed. 'Time to say goodbye….my friend' he sighed and left the classroom.

Tennis Club

"I'm getting really worried. Eiji's not here." Oishi said as they picked up the balls. As freshmen, it's there duty to clean up after their senpais however Coach Ryuzaki told them that with their performance, they might get regular positions next year.

"Guys gather up." Their Buchou called them for a meeting. Everyone rushed to see what the important announcement is. "Coach Ryuzaki has something important to tell you." He added.

The first years squinted to get a better view of their coach. To their surprise, Kikumaru stepped forward looking very sad. "Oi, Eiji!" Fuji called and waved at him. Kikumaru saw them and just gave them a wary smile. Oishi doesn't have a good feeling about this; first Kikumaru's attitude for today and his disappearance in class then this important meeting. Tezuka just pushed his glasses up and gave Oishi a quizzical look.

"This is not good news as it appears to me but it is inevitable." Their coach started. That got everybody's attention. "I'm sad to announce that Kikumaru Eiji won't be with us anymore since he will be transferring to Hyotei Junior High." She added.

'Oh god…' Oishi murmured as he heard his heart broke into pieces. A dramatic thunderclap followed the coach's announcement. The sky suddenly dimmed, warning every one of rain. It seems like the heavens are on Oishi's side today, being one with him in grief. Fuji and Tezuka just stared sadly at their dumbfounded friend for both knew Oishi's feelings towards the redhead. Kikumaru averted his gaze from Oishi's direction.

"He's here to say goodbye to you all." Coach Ryuzaki announced and with that, almost all of the club members went to Kikumaru and bade him farewell…all except for Oishi who seemed planted on his feet. The dark-haired boy just slipped silently out of the tennis courts. Kikumaru searched the crowd for Oishi's face but he cannot find his friend.

"Take care Kikumaru-kun." Tezuka said to his friend. Fuji sighed and hugged Eiji. "Sayonara Eiji-kun. I think its best you talk to Oishi-kun in private." The fair-headed boy said. "Nya…" The redhead just sighed and left the court to find his best friend.

Oishi slumped against a sakura tree, trying his best to restrain his tears.

"Syuichiroh…" Someone spoke his name and Oishi knew from the voice that it's Eiji. "Sobetsu ne, Syuichiroh-kun." Kikumaru murmured. "Why leave Eiji? Why? And why didn't you tell me?" Oishi spun around to face his best friend with tears glistening in his eyes. "I don't want to hurt you, Ichiro-kun." Kikumaru sighed, calling Oishi by his special pet name. "And don't you realize that you're hurting me now?" Oishi retorted. He clenched his fist tightly hoping it would nullify the pain he feels. "I have no choice Ichiro-kun." Eiji murmured.

"I like you Kikumaru Eiji…I love you very much." Oishi suddenly spat out, taking Kikumaru aback. A moment of silence filled the air. Eiji turned around and dropped his head. "Gomen ne Oishi." He whispered. "Isn't that enough reason to make you stay?" Oishi added, not hearing what the redhead said. Rain started to drizzled as if heavens started crying for Oishi.

"I'm sorry…" Kikumaru said.

"W-what?" Oishi snapped back into reality.

Kikumaru turned to face Oishi. The dark-haired boy feared the sad look on his friend's face.

"I'm sorry Oishi." And with this, Kikumaru Eiji walked away from him as the rain started pouring heavily upon them. Tears suddenly mixed with rain as Oishi stared at the blurring image of Kikumaru Eiji walking out of their beloved Seigaku….out of his life. Oishi feet started to move on its own, the slow funeral-like walk turned into a sprint towards the deserted clubroom. 'Gomen nasai…'

End of Flashback

Oishi sobbed even harder as the memory continued ripping his already shattered heart. Tears and rain….what a mix.

Meanwhile

"Che! A wrong decision indeed." A young boy wearing a white Fila cap murmured as he took shelter outside the Seigaku tennis clubroom. At the age of nine he was a cocky brat, wanting to be the sole Prince of Tennis. He decided to visit Seigaku today before they fly back to America tomorrow. His baka oyaji told him he will be attending Seigaku for junior high. Much to his dislike, he cannot do anything since his parents already planned ahead without telling him. His mother will put up a law firm here in Japan…meaning…duh….goodbye great amateur and junior competitions.

He hates the idea…but it's one of the downsides of being the only child of Nanjiroh Echizen…oh yes…the famous Samurai happens to be his one and only baka oyaji. His name? Oh he is Ryoma Echizen…the poor "Junior Samurai".

"So much for building my future in tennis." He downed the last of his grape Ponta before tossing it into the trash bin. "Well since I'm here, why don't I check what's inside their clubroom?" He went as silent as possible. He turned the knob slowly, expecting it to be lock but the door slowly opened, freaking Ryoma a little.

"Hello?" Ryoma called out. A thunderclap bellowed after him. "Jeez this is a creepy place." The young boy said. He adjust his bag so that he could run freely if ever a scary hunchback or something similar greets him and scares the living daylights out of him. It started to quiet down as the rain slowly stops. Ryoma can now hear someone sobbing. He blinked his cute greenish-brown eyes a couple of times before taking a deep breath, braving himself to discover the origin of the sobs.

His head turned towards the direction of the supply closet. The sobs seem to diminish but it seems louder as he slowly walked towards the closet. Without second thoughts he took out his trusty red racket and held it with both hands, ready to defend himself it worse comes to worst.

Oishi was startled with the door was yanked open. He was surprised to see a kid with a white cap covering his somewhat black hair, gripping a red racket as if he's ready to him someone. The young boy's eyes widened as he saw Oishi's tear-streaked face. He slowly lowered down his racket and reached something inside his pocket. The surroundings grew quite as the rain completely stopped.

Ryoma took out his hanky, held it towards the boy and said in English, "Here, it's not good to see such pretty eyes shedding tears." Oishi blinked once, trying to comprehend what the young boy said. Seeing that the older boy didn't react, Ryoma leaned in and started to wipe the tear trails off his cheeks. "There." he said when he was done. Oishi is still in shock especially when the kid smiled genuinely. The sunrays chose that moment to penetrate the windows, bathing Ryoma in a golden glow. Oishi thought his heart stopped beating for a moment as he saw in front of him a picture of perfection, an angel. The kid's smile widened as he took Oishi's hand and gave his hanky to the older boy.

"Mada mada dane." Ryoma said then walked pout of the clubroom silently. The rain stopped and seeing the crying boy somehow made his heart grow lighter.

"I think this place is not bad as it seems." He murmured as he walked home, bathed by the golden sun.

In the Clubroom

It took Oishi a few more seconds before he can entirely recover. He clenched the semi-wet hanky in his hand and took a deep breath. He stepped out of the supply closet and took a deep breath….

"Arigatou…."

TERMS:

Nandayo: Why?

Sobetsu: Farewell

Daijobou: Are you ok?

A/N: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Finally! God I've been battling with my inner demons whether I should write this story or not. Well, since that the 1st chapter is done I think I won round one! Please review! I'll fast-forward into the future on the next chapter! Please review!