Title: The Brother

Chapter 5

A/N: Man! Real life sure isn't like in anime or manga! I realized something that's bothering me for awhile... concerning a certain anime... I realized that I'm in love with TORIKO! More like the food in Toriko. Is there anyone out there that's like me? When I watched Toriko, I always find myself always hungry. I'd gained two pounds in the past two weeks thanks to Toriko. It wasn't even funny...

Well, that's that. You guys should watch Toriko! I highly recommend it!

P.S: There's only five votes on the polls! three for Yes and two for No... at this rate, this story's rating might go up! So please, everyone, go take a look at the poll and vote them! is in my profile page, on top!

Here Goes! See last chapter for usual warning!

Previously:

"Then why would you need eye contact?" asked Fuji.

"Because I see too much" Ryoma answered in English. Fuji stop smiling and his eyes were opened.

"Nyah, Fujiko. What did ochibi say?" asked Kikumaru.

"Saa... he said that its because he see too much" answered Fuji with a smile. Kikumaru tilted his head to one side in confusing. Fuji just smile and Ryoma smirked before going back to his practice. The freshman trio were confused because they didn't hear what Fuji said and they didn't know English enough to know what Ryoma said. So they all shrugged their shoulders and left it like that.

Those that know what Ryoma said, Arai and a couple senior, they looked at Ryoma confusingly.

For the rest of the practice, Ryoma ignored everyone.

When Ryoma got home that evening, Ryoga was no where to be found, same with Nanjirou. The one that greeted Ryoma when he got home was Nanako. After taking off his shoes and dropping his tennis bag, he went straight to the fridge and grabbed a can of Ponta, he then headed to his room to finished his homework. Not that he needs to study them with his brain. Fifteen minutes later, Ryoma finished everything and went downstair with a thick books.

Of all things to read, Nanako noticed that Ryoma was carrying the book Hamlet by Shakespeare. A book that was for high school and college student. What's worse, Ryoma was reading it. She sweat drops.

"Ryoma-kun, that book isn't for child" Nanako commented, afraid for the poor boy's mind.

Ryoma raised an eyebrow before smirking.

"Too late, Nanako-chan. I'd already finished it. I was going to returned to the library today." replied Ryoma looking bored.

Nanako sweatdrops again at Ryoma's facial expression.

"Do you not like it?" asked Nanako.

"No. Hamlet is a good book but the main character himself's mada mada" replied Ryoma looking more bored.

"What is it about? Some of my friends read that for college's course but I have never read it" Explained Nanako as she bring out a piece of chocolate cake from the fridge, eying Ryoma expectantly. Ryoma eyed the slide of cake with hungry eyes as he seat in front of his cousin with the book on his lap. Nanako set the cake in front of Ryoma and pulled out a spoon from nowhere before giving it to him.

Before answering her, Ryoma set the book on the table and take a bit out of the cake.

"Hamlet, the main character of this book, found out that his father was killed by his own uncle. His father's ghost told him to take revenge but he hesitated due to several reasons. But mostly because he's coward. Is a story of madness and revenges. By the way, the main character was a prince." replied Ryoma as he finished the cake.

Nanako watched as Ryoma stand up and take the plates to the sink before eying her curiously. Nanako founds that she didn't liked it one bit when Ryoma look at her like he was suspecting a criminal. More like analysis her like a book.

"Ryoma-kun?" asked Nanako nervously. The way that Ryoma was watching her were making her nervous. Even if it wasn't with his full vision. Its still scary. Especially when his eyes turn golden.

"Wanna read it before I return it?" asked Ryoma as he turned his head away. Nanako smiled as he concluded why Ryoma was watching her. It wasn't for anything weird.

"No, that's alright. Shakespeare's work its too much for me" replied Nanako as she pictures herself reading the book. Shivers found their way up her spine and she shuddered. Ryoma blinked. Then he smirked in understanding.

"Nanako-chan, there's no such things as ghost" Ryoma watched as Nanako turned pink.

"Ryoma-kun!" shrinked Nanako as she watched Ryoma walk to the front door before opening it and closing. She could already picture her little cousin smirking, she shakes her head with a fond smile before returning to the kitchen to finished her cake.

Ryoma opened the door to the library and head straight to the counter with the book. The lady at the counter smile fondly at him before greeting him.

"Welcome, Echizen-kun. How was the book?" she asked quietly and softly. Ryoma nodded his head in greeting before answering her.

"It was okay, could have been better if the settling were modern" answered Ryoma with a bored expression as he handed her the book. The lady sweatdrops as she skimmed the book into the computer.

Ryoma walked away from the girl and went straight to the mystery section of the library. Skimming the labels from A to Z in orders, Ryoma stop at section he was looking for, only to find that the book that he wanted wasn't there. Ryoma frowned before returning to section As of the library. Good thing that the library were organizing by genres and author, otherwise, he would have to look all over the library.

Grabbing a book from the As sections, Ryoma's eye caught on one particular book that he knew Fuji-senpai would love to read. A smirked were on his lips before he noticed it as he grabbed the book, Ryoma made his way toward the literature department of the library, only to stopped and turned to the sport sections.

Ryoma pick three books from there; Tennis Movement, Martial Art Expertise, and another book that doesn't belong to that sections. Ryoma raised his eyebrow in question before noticed that the book was about cats. He included the book with his pile to take home.

Ryoma went to the counter and present the lady there his school ID. The lady smile softly as she skimmed the books and types out the checkout information to print for Ryoma. Ryoma left with the books only to bump into someone.

Ouch! My nose.

"Gomen-" Ryoma started to apology only to stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

"Echizen" a stoic and strict voice said. Ryoma immediately noticed that the person that he bumped into was Tezuka. I mean, was there anyone on earth who met the captain and won't be able to recognized him? Not Ryoma for sure.

"Buchou..." why did the person that he had to bumped into was always his buchou?

Tezuka nodded in greeting before his eye caught on the books that Ryoma was carrying.

Tezuka was surprised that the ichinen actually likes to read. Tezuka eyed the books in Ryoma's arms and he raised a surprised eyebrow at it. Ryoma noticed the question looks from Tezuka and smirked a little too evil.

A siren sounded in Tezuka's head. From experience with Fuji, he already had his guards up.

Ryoma, seeing the alarmed looks in Tezuka's eyes, raised an eyebrow before putting his bored face on. Its just wasn't worth it if he can't caught Tezuka in surprised. So there was no need to act like a devil in his buchou's presence at the moment.

"What are you doing here, buchou?" Asked Ryoma.

"Returning a book." Tezuka replied as if it was obvious. It was then that Ryoma noticed the books in Tezuka's hand. It was the one that he was looking for in the mystery's section.

"Ah" Ryoma said before he can stop himself.

"What is it?" Asked Tezuka when he noticed that Ryoma was eying the book in his hand.

"I was looking for that book, buchou" said Ryoma.

Tezuka was quiet as he was thinking. The book itself was way too mature for kids Ryoma's age. But by the looks in Ryoma's eyed and the books in the boy's arms. Whether or not Tezuka let him have the book, it won't do anything. It was not going to stop the ichinen from checking out that books. Tezuka sighed and lead the boy to the counter. Checking in the books and then letting Ryoma checking out.

After that they walked together to Ryoma's house. After all, it's already seven in the evening and the nights are dangerous for kids.

"Buchou, you don't have to walk me home" Ryoma argued as they walked. Tezuka resisted the urge to tell him that he's only twelves years old and is still officially a kid. But instead he answered,

"The nights are dangerous Echizen" was simply the answer. Tezuka can't believe that the older Echizen actually let the boy walk to the library by himself. Not that he said it out loud. After all, from what he knew, the elder had a brother complex.

Ryoma mentally pout as he put a bored face on. He expected the answer and he got the answered from the captain but he didn't have any rebuttal to gives back. So he walked quietly as he let's the captain take him home. Another three or so minutes was walking in quietness. Both enjoyed the quiet as each other presences sends warms and safety to one another.

When they got to the corner around Ryoma's house, Ryoma stop suddenly. Tezuka looks at Ryoma in question.

"Did you hear that?" He asked the captain. Tezuma looks at Ryoma in question.

"Hear what?" He asked the ichinen as he restrained his ears to hear what Ryoma was hearing.

"Sounds like someone's playing tennis" answered back Ryoma as he went straight to the point. Ryoma quickly grabbed the stoic captain's hand almost dragged Tezuka to where the sound was coming from. Tezuka raised an eyebrow at the rudeness as he looked to where Ryoma was holding him. His hand. Tezuka found that Ryoma's hand was surprising hot. Too hot.

The warmness sends pleasant chills down his spine. He mentally shuddered. Tezuka didn't even noticed that he tightened his hand on to Ryoma's. Same to Ryoma.

As they got closer and closer to the source of the sounds, and Tezuka can hear the powers within each shots of shot. As the sound pieces through the air, it created a sharp sound that cut through the air like a sword that cut open a watermelon. Effortlessly.

Tezuka frowned.

Ryoma stopped in his tracks as he recognized the source of the sounds. He didn't need to be near the sound to know who created them. Or to see it. Tezuka stopped with Ryoma as he gave him a question looks. Ryoma smirked evilly as he pulled the captain with him away from the sound, before the source of the sound can detect the them.

When they stopped outside of the ichinen's house, Tezuka was looking expectantly at the boy. Tezuka expected more than one explanation from the boy. First, why did he pull him? Second, who was the player that make the boy secretive?

Seeing the looks in his captain's eyes, Ryoma mentally smirked.

Tezuka frowned.

"That's Ryoga-nii practicing with oyaji." was the only explanation from Ryoma as he pulled Tezuka toward the front door of their house.

In front of them was a house that should be able to fit ten people easily. Just looking at the front gate, Tezuka could tell that the house was in great care. What Tezuka didn't noticed was that he was still hand in hand with the ichinen. Not until the ichinen lets go of the hands to get his keys. Tezuka had a looked in his eyes as he look at his hand. Feeling weird and not himself, Tezuka had a feeling that he should be running home now. Like Now Now... but he still himself and put on his mask. Ryoma opened the door and turned to him, looking confused. He just turned away and walked. Tezuka's feeling themselves were enough to confused him. Why did he do that? Why? Why did he found it hard to let go of Ryoma's hand? What is happening to him?

What was going on? What was this feeling that seem to make his stomach clench?

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Sorry... short chapters and too many errors... I check it later when I'm not so busy with life.

Ja~!

~Windying