Losing Grip

"That was a hectic day, wasn't it?" Oishi asked his teammates as they walked out the gates.

The others nodded in response as they felt the day's rush die down.

Momo then looked up and said, "Hey, I heard this Cabana bar nearby – "

"Bar?!" the others chorused (except Tezuka, Fuji and Ryoma)

Momo shok his head, "No not that kind of bar! It's like a family-themed bar! And they serve great food and drinks and also, since it's Friday, there's going to be a performance and tonight, it'll be a special performance by this girl whom they say is really good."

"Nyaaaa~ let's go there!" Eiji excitedly jumped up and down, "It'll be like rewarding ourselves for a great work, nyaa."

The others agreed immediately and so did Tezuka after a bit of convincing (more like blackmailing coughfujicough), Ryoma didn't though.

"I have other plans for tonight. I can't go."

"Ehhhh?" Momo drawled, "Ryoma has a…"

He paused to add a dramatic effect.

"Date?" Eiji finished for his kohai and both had sly grins on their faces.

Ryoma only looked to the side and pouted cutely, "Old man's making me play with him all night."

"Maa… let's just let him go this once, minna." Oishi then came to the rescue, trying to persuade the others to let Ryoma go.

Without second thoughts, Ryoma jogged to their house's direction.

As he did arrive, he ran up to his bedroom and grabbed his hair before pulling it out. As he did, long black hair with emerald green tints cascaded freely and finally reached the mid-back area. She threw off the shirt and let go of the bandages that was around the chest area.

Echizen Ryoma, the Prince of Tennis is a girl.

She stared at herself in the mirror before the first tear ran down her soft cheeks. A soft sob escaped her mouth before she fell down on the floor and covered her face with her small tennis-calloused hands.

'He… he used me all this time… he never loved me…' she felt Karupin paw her leg gently, silently asking his mistress what was wrong.

She looked at Karupin with her tear-stained cheeks and tear-filled eyes.

"He… he… he used me, Karupin. He had someone else all along." She then hugged the Himalayan cat who purred softly in her ears.

Ryoma checked her Tennis bag to make sure nothing was left behind. Just as she did, she realized that her hat was still in the club room. She let out a frustrated groan and trekked back to the club room.

She was about to reach for the door which was slightly opened when she heard moaning.

She peeked inside and saw Tezuka and Fuji kissing each other passionately. Her eyes widened and she inhaled sharply. She ran away, never stopping, she grabbed her bag from underneath a tree and ran towards the gate where the others were. Slightly panting, she straightened up and proceeded to wait for the other two who were not there yet.

She bit her lower lip and looked down the cold pavement.

'How could he? Those past 2 months… were all of those lies?' Ryoma looked from the side of her eyes to the two who were making their way to their group.

Ryoma declined their invitation and ran away.

He ran away from Fuji Shuusuke.

'How could you Shuusuke, how could you do this to me?'

Ryoma wiped away the tears from her eyes and stood up, "I should be strong, ne, Karupin?" she muttered silently.

She went in the bathroom and washed her face. After she did, she opened the closet and began dressing herself. She was now wearing a black tank top over a red shirt. Her checkered black, red and white pleated skirt stopped an inch above her knees and black leather boots to complete her outfit.

She left her hair down and grabbed a black beret before picking up her guitar case and running down the stairs.

"I'll be down at the Cabana!" she yelled out before walking out.

-o0o-

As soon as she entered the place, the employees immediately recognized her. "Ryoma-san, you will be up in 5 minutes." Said one employee, she nodded as she continued to the backstage and peeked through the curtains to see where they sat.

It turned out that they sat on a table right in front of the stage and just beside their table were the Hyotei regulars.

'What a coincidence…' Ryoma thought sarcastically. Atobe's team came here every Friday since ever they opened. Yes, Ryoma's parents owned the place and Atobe was – unfortunately – her cousin.

"And now! Let us welcome the one and only, Hikari!" the emcee announced, using her stage name, as soon as he did applauses were heard.

Ryoma immediately wore the guitar strap around her shoulders. She prided her black electric guitar which had a Chinese dragon painted in silver dancing around the guitar.

Her eyes made contact with Atobe's as she scanned the audience.

"The song's title is Losing Grip." She said before backing a bit and began strumming her guitar.

Are you aware of what you make me feel, baby
Right now I feel invisible to you, like I'm not real
Didn't you feel me lock my arms around you
Why'd you turn away?
Here's what I have to say

Her voice rang throughout the bar and her eyes locked on Fuji, as if telling him to listen well.

I was left to cry there,
waiting outside there grinning with a lost stare
That's when I decided

She broke the eyes contact and made and eye contact to each regular and then back to Fuji.

Why should I care
Cuz you weren't there when I was scared I was so alone
You, you need to listen I'm starting to trip,
I'm losing my grip and I'm in this thing alone

Her eyes then wandered off to the rest of the bar occupants.

Am I just some chick you place beside you to take somebody's place
when you turn around can you recognize my face you used to love me,
you used to hug me
But that wasn't the case
Everything wasn't ok

By this time, some of the girls in the bar sang with her as they raised their glasses, as if in agreement to her.

I was left to cry there
waiting outside there grinning with a lost stare
That's when I decided

Why should I care

Cuz you weren't there when I was scared I was so alone
You, you need to listen I'm starting to trip,
I'm losing my grip and I'm in this thing alone

Atobe seemed to understand what she was trying to say and only shook his head. Ryoma closed her eyes as she continued singing.

Crying out loud I'm crying out loud
Crying out loud I'm crying out loud

Atobe knew of Fuji and her. Atobe knew of Tezuka and Fuji but didn't tell his cousin as not to hurt her. But it seems like she knew it the hard way.

Open your eyes
Open up wide

Those lines were definitely dedicated to Fuji.

Why should I care cuz you weren't there when I was scared I was so alone

Why should I care cuz you weren't there when I was scared I was so alone

Why should I care if you don't care then I don't care were not going anywhere
Why should I care cuz you weren't there when I was scared I was so alone
Why should I care if you don't care then I don't care were not going anywhere.

The song then ended and the bar seemed to bounce along with the people who were bouncing up and down as they applauded the girl who bowed down to the crowd and gave them a flirtatious wink. She grabbed her beret and threw it like a Frisbee to the people who started fighting over the sought after object.

Thankfully, it was Oshitari who managed to get it who gave her a sexy smirk.

She left the stage and let out a sigh.

Now… everything had ended. There will be no more Fuji in her life.

He's long done.

And he will not have the satisfaction of seeing her hurt.

-o0o-

Errhhmm…. This plot struck me while I was listening to Losing Grip by Avril Lavigne… obviously..

Uhm… I think I'll turn it into a multi-chapter if you like, but it will be a songfic and updates won't be fast… so, it'll be your choice.

REVIEW please.

MysticBlood