A/N I find it a bit sad that I've finished it, but life goes on...Okay, I've been sent a few PM's about the reviews so I uploaded the story in two slices for twice the fun!
Mini squishy: You still here? Don't even try to be funny...it isn't a good look.
Squishy: Fine, fine, I'll be quiet. Now enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own The Prince of Tennis...if I did Tezuka and Ryoma would be together already.
Warnings: shonen-ai, angst...kind of and I think the old lady part in the sequel is kind of sad.
Is You
Sequel to 'The Reason' by squishy the jellyfish
What would you think of me now? As I sit here wounded by an angel, an angel which could not possibly belong to heaven, nor could ever walk through the planes of hell…
"I supposed you're tired after your flight, Ryoma?" The boy's manager asked.
Ryoma didn't reply.
The man smiled as he spotted the oblivious reaction on Ryoma's face as he looked back with the rearview mirror.
"Tezuka, where are you going?" Fuji asked as he followed the flustered captain out of the locker rooms. "Practice is about to commence."
Tezuka hadn't bothered to change, he had simply stuffed the letter into his pocket, grabbed his bag and walked out, leaving many of the regulars at a loss.
"Tezuka?" Fuji questioned him as he grabbed hold of his arm.
"Let me go," Tezuka ordered, turning back to face the tensai of Seigaku.
Fuji's eyes opened fully. "Where are you going?"
Tezuka didn't reply, he just glared.
Fuji's forehead creased at his friend's lack of an answer, "Don't go after him."
"This is none of your concern," Tezuka snapped as he wrestled himself out of Fuji's vice like grip.
"Tezuka!" Fuji yelled after the captain powerlessly as he watched him run out of view.
It was perfect, Tezuka mused, the rain, the soundless people in the background and the large window staring straight into the thick of the clouds. Never had he felt such an urge to cry. Namely because of the predicament he had gotten himself into. Tezuka wasn't stupid, but for some reason, the captain had gotten in a taxi and ordered to go straight to the airport, despite all of Fuji's warnings to him that Ryoma was already gone. A void, Tezuka concluded as he buried his face in his hands, it was like a void was slowly sucking him into the darkness, blinding the ever so beautifying light from view…
"Young man, are you okay?" A somewhat soothing voice came into contact with Tezuka's ears.
The captain looked up and found an elderly woman sitting next to him in the waiting area. "H-hai."
She smiled, "I was just in a very happy mood today, and wished that nobody differed."
Tezuka looked puzzled. "Differed?"
"Ah, yes. You see, my son is returning home, he had been helping out in Iraq for a while now, so you can see why I'm happy," The woman said, putting her hand on Tezuka's thigh comfortingly.
"A-ah…"
"You seem to be troubled, young man. May I ask why?" The old woman drew back her hand and rested it neatly with her other on her lap.
Tezuka cast his eyes downward. "…Someone that I cared for deeply left the country…and I fear that he won't be coming back."
"Were you both…close?"
"You could say that," Tezuka was worried, worried for his own mentality. How could he just spill these matters out to someone of no relation to him, and yet not tell his friends? It was downright despicable.
"How so?" The elderly lady was no longer gazing at the captain anymore; she had her sights set firmly straight ahead.
Tezuka hesitated for a time.
"Did you love him?"
The question came so out of the blue that Tezuka's breath hitched.
The smile returned on the woman's lips as she drew her cane out from between her knees. "Then, you should fight for him," she said before standing up as a man came to stand in front of her.
"Ma'am…we're…preparing to take your son off the plane, if you could come with me…" The male said awkwardly before bowing and turning around.
Tezuka's eyes widened and he opened his mouth.
"Hush now, young man," the old woman said affectionately, her smile looking almost as if it had been forced. "I would like to go and greet my son; it has been a long time."
Tezuka's eyes remained fixed in the same position as the woman turned to follow the other man. "Y-you-"
The old woman turned to smile at the captain once more before saying, "I am happy today, because my son has finally returned home."
Tezuka felt a sudden twinge of pain in his chest as he watched the woman walk away, aided by her walking stick.
Oh, Ryoma…
"This is where you'll be staying, you'll have to buy your own meals, but it's a nice place, ja, Echizen," The manager waved before turning on his heels and walking out of the small apartment.
Ryoma's face remained expressionless as he opened the curtains to let the sunlight shine in the dark room. "New York…" he whispered under his breath as he watched the many people outside.
"I came to the American Open for a challenge, so what are you showing me?" Ryoma remarked snidely as he returned another attempt at an 'attack' by his opponent.
"Bastard…" The man murmured, what was with this guy?
One drive B later, Ryoma had won the match, polishing off the game in straight sets.
"Che…" Ryoma frowned as he walked to the net and shook his opponent's hand. He wasn't very popular in the U.S, but Ryoma had shown a type of 'embrace' for his behaviour and awaited hatred with open arms. Like he cared what everyone thought, screw them. The tennis star made his way over to his towel and bag but was stopped midway by a commentator wishing to interview him over his thoughts about the match.
"So, how does it feel to have cleared the preliminary round?" The man asked; an annoying grin plastered on his face.
"Fine…" Ryoma mumbled as he lifted his racquet head to his shoulder.
"You must be excited about your debut, right?" The commentator once again, stuck his blasted microphone under Ryoma's nose.
"…Mada mada dane," Ryoma replied bluntly before walking away.
"Uh, hey wait! Is that really all you wanted to say? What does that even mean anyway? We don't speak Japanese," The man called after the tennis star.
"Che…" Ryoma breathed, why was it that everyone wanted to terrorize him? He just wanted to go home…back to Karupin…back to-
"Ryoma! My Ryoma! Please sign my poster of you for me!" A fangirl screamed from the audience, waving her arms about wildly; a giant poster of yours truly in hand.
Ryoma sighed, couldn't he just have a match and not deal with the 'people-aftermath' -as he named it-afterwards? It was getting ridiculous, he hadn't so much as been in America for a week and there was already fans going after him, what was the big deal? There were plenty of people who had the skill and ability to take him down, namely Tezuka Kunimitsu, so if Tezuka had come to the American Open instead of him…would they be swooning over him too? Ryoma smirked upon that thought as he swung his bag over his shoulder and continued to ignore the commentator's questions.
And then it hit him.
It really was over. Ryoma's smirk dissipated slowly as the sudden realization sunk in; he had turned the captain away…forever. Ryoma frowned, why was this all becoming so much clearer now?
He just couldn't bring himself to do it, Tezuka admitted. The past few days had been long and full of questions, mainly from a certain red-head asking about ochibi. He knew he wasn't acting like he normally did, he truly did…but he couldn't bring himself to change it, he just felt so, so…dull.
"Tezuka, are you sure you're okay?" Oishi asked for what seemed like the millionth time that day, hell, even during classes he had leaned over and whispered the question into his ear.
"Oishi…I'm fine," Tezuka replied, perhaps a little too strained.
Oishi's brows furrowed, "Maybe you should take a break?"
Tezuka shot him a 'buchou-glare', but with less intensity, as he didn't want to push his old friend even further away than where he already was. "Oishi…"
The vice-captain sighed…the only other person that could worry him as much as this was Echizen! "Just remember that I'm here if there's anything, anything at all you need to talk about." Oishi smiled comfortingly.
Tezuka hung his head, implying his affirmation. Though, he did feel slightly…guilty, one for not telling Oishi anything, and two, for to instead, burden it to a complete stranger. What had initiated this? Oh…right. His heart sunk…again, and then something began to burn. All of a sudden, Tezuka felt the need to scream, or do something strenuous or extreme. He looked at his watch…only five-minutes until practice wound up and he could go home. Tezuka clenched his fists.
For a while, the captain just stared. He just, stared at his house, as if looking for some sort of resolution to his problem. In not another minute's thought, Tezuka was making his way to the porch, opening the door, and…
"Echizen!" A young blonde haired boy charged right up to the bewildered tennis star and punched him. "How could you?!" He seethed.
"Kevin!" The manager restrained the blonde haired boy. "Ryoma's only going back temporarily."
Kevin stopped his actions and stared down at his rival, "Temporarily?"
"Yes."
Ryoma straightened himself out and stood up, readjusting his cap. "I'll be back."
"Do you promise?" Kevin asked.
Ryoma smirked, "I will."
"You'd better," Kevin said assertively.
Tezuka's breathing pattern became quite irregular as he approached his family in the living room. There was no going back now. His grandparents were each seated on their own cushions as were his parents, apparently they were having an odd conversation about the price of bananas. "Tadaima," he said softly as he stood at the doorway.
Ayana smiled, "Welcome home Kunimitsu."
His father nodded in acknowledgement as he grandmother smiled and his grandfather merely peered up to meet his eye level.
The ever present burning of adrenaline coursed through his entire body as he continued to stand there.
"What's the matter?" His grandfather asked bluntly.
Tezuka opened his mouth, trying to force the words to come out. "I…I."
His father frowned, "What is it?"
"Kunimitsu?" Ayana questioned worryingly.
Tezuka closed his mouth for a brief second before continuing. "I'm in love," his voice, though sturdy, was trembling the slightest bit.
Ayana smiled, "That's wonderful dear, with whom?"
His grandmother smiled also.
"Good work son," Tezuka's father said cheerfully.
"…Who is it?" The captain's grandfather asked.
Tezuka felt his knees go weak as he swallowed thickly, "I'm in love…with Echizen Ryoma."
Silence…silence was met with his confession, along with the shocked faces of his parents and grandparents. A soft vibration from his pocket caused him to leave the house without another word.
"Hello?" He said as he flipped his mobile open.
"…Buchou, it's me."
"Echizen?" Tezuka barely stopped himself from falling over in amazement. What could Ryoma possibly want?
"Hai, buchou, I need to ask a favor of you…meet me at the Haruno courts for a match tomorrow morning."
And with that, he hung up.
Tezuka followed suit, but remained looking unblinkingly at his phone…had that really happened? It was definitely in character for the freshman to be so blunt…but wasn't he the one who said to forget about him? Tezuka inhaled deeply before heading back into his house, which would probably be a war-zone by now. After closing the door behind him, instant evidence of whispers stopped, as he headed into the living room, Tezuka noticed two things; one, his grandmother was scolding her husband, and two; his mother and father were…looking abnormally calm. The captain knew they would understand eventually, but he didn't realize just how fast they would accept what he was.
"Kunimitsu, don't be ashamed, we love you, whoever you may be, or whatever you are," Ayana smiled.
"I know…but," Tezuka paused as he threw a small glare at his grandfather, "I am not ashamed."
"As so you shouldn't," his grandmother agreed.
"Actually, now that I think of it, where has he been for a while, your friend? I haven't seen him lately," Tezuka's father asked.
Tezuka allowed a small smile play upon his lips, "Returning."
"Wow, Mitsu, I never realized just how much you suck at these types of games…" Ryoma remarked, watching intently as his boyfriend lost another life on an arcade game.
"Brat," Tezuka said before making himself lose on purpose, just to let Ryoma enjoy taunting him even more.
Ryoma burst into fits of laughter. "I'm…sorry…just…too…funny-ah!"
Ryoma was cut off by Tezuka's lips.
As instructed, Tezuka met Ryoma at the Haruno courts the next day with Ryuzaki-sensei as umpire.
"Buchou…" Ryoma greeted him by pulling his cap down.
"Echizen," Tezuka said.
Though, even as their hearts sank, each played the tennis match without holding back, both calling the other's name as they went for the deciding point. Tezuka ended up losing his racquet, thus making Ryoma the victor, who was, in turn, on the ground on his hands and knees, but both panting considerably.
"Game and match, to Echizen!" Ryuzaki-sensei shouted.
Shortly after, cries of applause were heard from outside the fence.
"E-everyone," Ryoma exclaimed inaudibly to the Seigaku regulars and freshmen.
"Ryoma…" Tezuka said softly as he looked into the shorter boy's eyes.
"Were you both…close?"
Tears were now visually streaming down the freshman's face as he looked up to his captain. "Buchou…"
"Did you love him?"
Ryoma got up and locked eyes with Tezuka.
"Then, you should fight for him."
Ryoma's racquet clattered to the ground as Tezuka grabbed him into an embrace, net and all.
"I…I told them," Tezuka rasped against Ryoma's ear.
The shorter male took a while to process the statement, but was happier nonetheless when it finally did.
"And you were right…there was nothing to be embarrassed or scared about."
At that moment, Ryoma choked out a sob. "But what about the letter? I told you to forget about me, I'm no good for you..."
"I am happy today, because my son has finally returned home."
"…But I could never forget about you," Tezuka pleaded.
Because the reason…
And that was all Ryoma needed, he wrapped his arms around Tezuka's neck and pulled him closer, thereby closing all voids in Tezuka heart and lighting up the darkness that had enveloped him. "Okay," he replied, covering Tezuka's lips with his own.
Is you…
"Wow…Tezuka-buchou and-" Taka was cut off by a rather rude Momoshiro.
"See, see? I told you!" Momo mocked.
"Thank you everyone!" Ryoma shouted from his current embrace with the captain.
T h e P r i n c e O f T e n n i s
"Tadaima," Tezuka called to his family as he walked in the door.
"Welcome home Kunimitsu," Ayana shouted from the kitchen.
"Hello son…" his father murmured from the paper he was engrossed in at the table.
His grandmother smiled, "Welcome home dear."
"Your grandfather wishes to speak with you in the garden, Kunimitsu," his mother explained.
The captain gave a little nod and went to the said destination. "Grandfather?" He said as he spotted him standing in the center of the yard.
"…Kunimitsu, come here," His grandfather beckoned him.
Tezuka did as he was told. "Yes?"
"…I apologize, for my behaviour towards you," The eldest Tezuka said solemnly. "I had no right to decide how you should live your life."
Tezuka remained silent.
"But, I can't say it was easy for me to hear that my only grandson was…with another boy…"
"Ah…"
"But I respect your decision," Tezuka's grandfather said.
Tezuka let a small smile grace his lips as he hugged his grandfather. "Thank you…"
The captain's grandfather was shocked to say the least. Never had he been embraced by his grandson like this, ever. But he hugged back nonetheless and smiled.
"So…what now?" Tezuka asked dumbly as he rained kisses all over Ryoma's face.
"I guess I'll have to return to America to finish the Open…"
"Then, I'll wait for you to come back," Tezuka said almost instantly.
Ryoma only smiled knowingly as his boyfriend turned his attention back onto his lips.
"Game, set, match, to Ryoma Echizen!" The judge called.
Ryoma smiled as he shook hands with his opponent-Lleyton Hewitt.
"Good game, Ryoma," Lleyton said.
"You too," the shorter male replied as he went off to talk with the commentator.
"Are you going to keep residing in America, Ryoma?" The man asked as he pushed the microphone up to the boy's lips.
Ryoma shook his head, a genuine smile on his lips, "I have to go back go Japan."
"Why is that?"
Ryoma smirked. "I have my reasons," he answered mysteriously.
Elsewhere, in Tokyo a certain captain was smiling. Yes, smiling.
"Oh, Ryoma..."
How was the sequel? To your liking?
Mini squishy: ...in your dreams.
Squishy: so I'm optimistic, is that bad?
Mini squishy: you're being presumptuous.
Squishy: ...
Please review anyway!
Mini squishy: yes, so I can read all the lovely flames, MWAHAHAHAHAAA!
Squishy: ...save me?