Snow has now descended the earth, covering the ground in white. I walk down the snowy path, towards the cemetery. My heart still feels the loss, the warmth that I will never feel again.

I walked, walked till I reached the grave of my love; Tezuka Kunimitsu. Memories started to flood my head. I clutched my heart as I sat next to Tezuka’s grave, ‘My Kunimitsu’s grave.’ I closed my eyes as I started having flashbacks.

FLASHBACK

I had just won the French Open. Kevin was unfortunate to have sprained his ankle in the middle of the tournament but Ryoga managed to get second. When I was receiving the trophy, I could see Kunimitsu in the crowds. He was there, cheering for me on and on, in his own way.

I slipped away from the ending ceremony to mine, Kevin’s and Ryoga’s rest room. There, waiting for me, is the one I’ve been longing to see for so long, my love; Tezuka Kunimitsu.

“Hey,” I said, entering the room.

“Hey,” he replied and pulled me close to him.

Kunimitsu gave me a ‘welcome’ kiss, and I opened my mouth, giving him permission into my mouth. I moaned a little as Kunimitsu explored his tongue in my mouth. I was really enjoying this little heaven and it seems like Kunimitsu is enjoying it as well. Unfortunately, we ran out of breath.

“Ryoma,” Tezuka said, looking at me. “Congratulations on winning the French Open.”

“Thanks,” I said, as we took a seat on the couch and I leaned my head on Kunimitsu’s broad chest. “I’m glad you came to see me.”

“Aah,” was Tezuka’s only reply.

“But what did you tell your parents anyway?”

“They thought I’m here for a study course,” Tezuka answered.

“Kunimitsu,” I said, burying my face in his buttoned-up t-shirt. “What if you got in trouble with your family?”

Tezuka wrapped his strong arms around his lover. ‘Although Ryoma is now a pro tennis player, but he still has a small frame and a little short for his age,’ he thought. Tezuka then chuckled at that.

I looked up to face my lover. “What’s so funny?”

“It’s nothing,” Tezuka answered.

Kunimitsu was about to lean down and give me another doze of heaven when the door to the room opened. At the doorway, Kevin, Ryoga and Echizen Nanjiroh; my father and current coach, stood.

“Ryoma, gross,” Kevin said. “Can’t you do that in a locked room at least?”

At the age of 15, Kevin’s father had passed away, thus leaving Kevin an orphan. Since Kevin has no other living relatives, Echizen Nanjiroh had stepped up and adopted Kevin as one of the Echizens’.

“Kev is right, Chibisuke,” Ryoga said, chuckling.

Without warning, I threw two cushions at both of them. “Ouch!” they cried in unison. I glared at the three of them.

“Alright, alright, we’re going,” Kevin said. “Geez,” he muttered under his breath.

“Ah, young love,” their father said. “Don’t stay up too late, seishounen.”

“And don’t do something inappropriate, Chibisuke,” Ryoga added in, chuckling. Nanjiroh laughed as well as the three of them exited the room.

“Baka oyaji, baka aniki,” I growled at them.

“Come on, Ryoma, take your shower,” Tezuka instructed.

“You won’t come with me?” I asked, using my seductive voice.

However, as hard as it was to see Kunimitsu’s expression since he was still stoic as ever, it was also hard to seduce the ex-Seigaku tennis team captain. “No, Ryoma,” Tezuka answered. “We’re going out tonight so there’s no time to play around.”

I pouted but followed as instructed by Kunimitsu. At 6.30 p.m., I finished my shower and everything. “So, where are we going, Kuni-bu?”

“It’s a surprise,” Tezuka said.

Kunimitsu handed me something. It was a bandana. “What’s this for?” I asked, curious. I know what a bandana is for, but why is Kunimitsu giving it to me?

“Let me help you with it,” Tezuka said.

He went behind me and tied the bandana around my eyes. “Kunimitsu, I can’t see anything,” I said.

“Good,” Tezuka whispered in my ear. “Don’t take it off,” he said in a husky voice.

God! His voice was so sexy, I felt like I want to cancel everything that Kunimitsu had planned and return to the hotel immediately. Then, Kunimitsu led me out and to the car that he had rented.

The ride to the destined place was silent. Although it was silent, but Kunimitsu and I understood each other’s need. We feel content just being next to each other. I love the feeling when the breeze brushed my hair back. I could hear the sea, I assumed, crashed with each other. It was like music to my ears.

“Kunimitsu, why is tonight special?” I asked.

“If I tell you anything, Ryoma, then it won’t be a surprise anymore, would it?” Tezuka said.

A small smile crept on my face. ‘True,’ I thought.

About an hour later, I felt the car stopped. Then, Kunimitsu said, “We’re here.”

“Finally,” I said while Tezuka undone the bandana.

“Here we are,” Tezuka said after he removed the bandana. He turned me around so that I was facing the view instead of him.

I gasped in amazement. The deck at the beachside was decorated with colorful lights, and the deck, a table was set for two. Suddenly, Kunimitsu picked me up from the ground.

“Kunimitsu, what are you doing?” I cried, surprised. “Put me down.”

“No,” Tezuka answered and he carried me bridal style to the deck.

‘Whoa,’ I thought. I never would have thought that Kunimitsu could be this romantic. On the table that was prepared on the deck, there were two plates, two wine glass, two forks and spoons, and a candle in the middle. The table was covered with red rose petals.

“Fuji was the one who planned how to decorate the table,” Tezuka told me.

I chuckled silently. ‘So much for Kunimitsu being romantic,’ he thought. “So, what are we eating?”

Kunimitsu took out a picnic basket from under the table. From the basket, he took out various kind of sushi, and knowing my love for Japanese food, he even bought some Japanese cuisines.

“Where did you get all these food?” I asked.

“It’s hard but I manage to find a very good Japanese restaurant nearby,” he answered. I smiled as we ate.

“Ne, Kunimitsu,” I said, starting a conversation.

“Aah.”

“Do you…Do you know what I was thinking during the tournament?” I asked, smiling.

“What is it?” Tezuka asked.

“I was thinking of you, and the time when you said, ‘Be my pillar of hope’,” I quoted. “Thinking about that makes me want to win.”

“Ryoma,” Tezuka said, looking at me with a smile. I could feel a tint of blush forming on my cheeks. I looked back at my food and continued eating.

After we were done with dinner, we lay on the beach, under the stars. Kunimitsu leaned against the tree while I lay my head on Tezuka’s laps. Kunimitsu caressed my hair softly. Secretly, I love it when he stroked my hair. “Kunimitsu,” I moaned softly.

“Ne, Ryoma,” Tezuka said.

“Yes?”

“Don’t you think the stars tonight shines brightly?” Tezuka asked.

From my position, I sat up and put my head at Kunimitsu’s chest. I looked at the sky, the same direction as Kunimitsu. “Yes,” I answered.

“Ryoma, do you know that everyone has their lucky star?” Tezuka asked.

I didn’t say anything. A few moments later, I looked at Kunimitsu, and he was looking back at me. “Ne, Kunimitsu, would you be my lucky star?”

Kunimitsu’s poker-face broke into a smile. “Of course,” he answered. He leaned down and whispered in my ear, “I’ll be your lucky star, just like you are mine.” He gave me a kiss behind my ear, making me moan softly.

Then, Kunimitsu moved down to my neck and bit it softly. I moaned again. He licked the bitten spot, making me moan for the third time. Both of us lay on the beach, kissing each other. I opened my mouth so that he would have entry into it, and he did the same. We explore each other’s mouth. ‘Kunimitsu tastes so sweet,’ I thought, smiling inwardly.

END OF FLASHBACK

“Everything was fine just a few weeks ago,” I said to no one in particular. I didn’t realize that tears are now running down my face. “Why can’t everything stay the same?”

FLASHBACK

Three weeks after the French Open, I returned to Japan from America. I never thought a big surprise awaits me there.

The day after I returned from America, as always, I slept in; today was different however.

“Ryoma,” Kevin’s loud voice was heard as he knocked on my door.

“What?” I asked, half-asleep.

The door opened and there he was; Kevin, stood in the doorway. “Come on, get dressed. It’s noon already.”

“So what?” I said, once again burying my head under my pillow.

“Don’t you have a date today?” Kevin asked.

I immediately sat up, realizing the day and the time. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Kevin smirking. ‘Damn, I knew he did it on purpose.’ Grumpily, I got out of bed, and went to the bathroom. I glared at Kevin, my adopted brother, as he chuckled while saying, “Careful now. We don’t want you to bruise yourself now, do we?” I growled and slammed the door.

After I was done taking my bath, I was surprised to see Kunimitsu is already waiting for me in the living room. However…my vein twitched. “What are you two doing?” I asked when I saw the scene that greeted me. Ryoga and Kevin are currently interrogating Kunimitsu, again.

“Ooops, I guess we’ll take our leave, Tezuka-kun,” Ryoga said. “Ja ne, chibisuke,” he added in as he went outside to the back door.

“See ‘ya,” Kevin said, as he followed behind Ryoga.

“Those two are really…” Twitch.

Tezuka chuckled. “It’s alright, Ryoma.”

I looked at him. “So, where are you going to take me today?”

“To see my parents,” Tezuka answered.

I knew this day will come sooner or later. Well, I thought it will be sooner, since Kunimitsu had already proposed to me the night I win the French Open, after our little ‘make out’ session.

“Are we really going to see them?” I asked. Kunimitsu nodded his head. “Do they know what’s going to hit them?”

Kunimitsu let out a deep breath. “No. I only told them that there’s something important that I need to discuss.”

“Oh boy,” I said.

Kunimitsu took my hand and squeeze it a little with reassurance. “Don’t worry; I’ll always be there to protect you. I’m your lucky star, aren’t I?”

“Uisu,” I answered and Kunimitsu gave me a peck on my cheek.

However, something unexpected happened that very day. Kunimitsu was really true to his words.

“Ryoma, I could have brought you to some place better,” Tezuka said.

I looked at him. “I’ve been eating expensive cuisines for the last few months,” I told him. “I’m glad that I could finally eat cheeseburgers and fries again.”

I heard Kunimitsu sighed. “Ryoma, you and your appetite,” he said. I chuckled.

Kunimitsu and I were the only two to cross to the other side. It was green light for those who wanted to cross, so I started walking. But suddenly, I heard Kunimitsu calling my name. When I turned, I saw a truck, speeding my way. My eyes opened wide, I tried to move, but I can’t. It was like my body won’t listen to me. I saw Kunimitsu running towards me and pushed me aside. Then, I remembered nothing as my vision went black.

“Kunimitsu, Kunimitsu!” I cried as soon as I woke up.

“Chibisuke,” Ryoga said. I looked beside me. It seems like Ryoga was waiting beside me this whole time.

Then, I heard someone yawn. I looked at the couch and saw Kevin. “You’re finally awake,” he said.

“How long have I been unconscious?” I asked.

“Three days,” Kevin answered.

‘Three days?’ Suddenly, a thought dawn me. “How is Kunimitsu? Where is he?”

Kevin and Ryoga looked at the ground, trying to avoid my gaze. I felt like my heart stopped. “Aniki, Kevin, wh-where is Kunimitsu?” Again, Kevin and Ryoga looked away. “Damn it, why won’t you look at me?” I cursed angrily.

“Chibisuke, Tezuka-kun—”

“He died,” Kevin cut in.

I felt like my whole world crumbled. My vision was clouded with tears. “W-When?” I asked.

“Tezuka-kun died immediately at the spot,” Ryoga answered, still not meeting my gaze. At that time, I can’t hold it any longer. So, I cried. I cried my heart out. ‘K-Kunimitsu died because of me.’

Ryoga and Kevin couldn’t do anything, but just watched as their little brother cry.

Because I didn’t have any major injuries, I could return home the next day. After arriving home, I asked Ryoga to take me to Kunimitsu’s grave. Ryoga obliged to my request.

Kunimitsu’s grave was located just under the cherry blossom tree, just the place where he love. On his grave, his name was carved ‘Tezuka Kunimitsu; Beloved Son’ and under it, ‘1986-2008’.

“Kunimitsu, why did this have to happen?” I said to no one in particular. “We were going to be happy; we’re going to spend our future together.” I could feel my tears fall to my cheeks again. “Kunimitsu, I love you,” I said.

“What are you doing here?” a voice said angrily.

I was startled. I turned around. It was none other than Tezuka Kuniharu, Kunimitsu’s father.

“I—”

“Isn’t it enough that you have already ruining my son’s future?!”

“Tezuka-san,” I said. “I—”

“Leave this cemetery at once,” Tezuka Kuniharu said angrily.

“But Tezuka-san, I—”

Tezuka Kuniharu was about to slap me when Ryoga went in front of me and held his hand thus preventing him from striking at me.

“You don’t need to use violence, Tezuka-san,” Ryoga said through gritted teeth. “I am more than willing to take my little brother home.” Ryoga looked at me. “Let’s go, Ryoma.” It’s clear that Ryoga is feeling angry towards Tezuka Kuniharu, and besides that, he’s using my name instead of the nickname he gave me.

END OF FLASHBACK

I chuckled as I wiped off the tears from my face. “Kunimitsu, you were always true to your words; always true till the end,” I said to no one in particular. I traced my finger on Kunimitsu’s grave. “You promised you’ll be my lucky star, and you did. You died because of it, and now, I regretted it. I don’t want you to be my lucky star.” I then lay my head on the cold stone. “I love you and always will love you, Tezuka Kunimitsu.”

OWARI

Title: Falling Snow
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Author: Saida
Pairing: TezuRyo
Notes: I wrote this last year and posted in www.fanfiction.net xD
Disclaimer: I don't own anything...xD
Summary: What will Tezuka and Ryoma do to handle his new life? How will they go through the hardships and and obstacles in their future? 



 

Title: Falling Snow [Chapter 1/?]
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Author: Saida
Pairing: TezuRyo
Notes: Wrote it last year and posted it in www.fanfiction.net
Summary: What will Tezuka and Ryoma do to handle his new life? How will they go through the hardships and and obstacles in their future?

Title: Promise
Fandom: Hey! Say! JUMP
Author: Saida
Disclaimer: I do not own any of them.
Genre: Failed angst
Notes: This is a sequel to Beach, the Takayama drabble ----> HSJ drabble  While waiting for my Chemistry exam to end, I fell asleep...=.=;; and I was...dreaming...lmao~! Of mpreg. hahaha! That is what you get for reading too many mpregs and wishing that there is more Takayama or HSJ mpreg...*pouts* Not that I don;t like the Ryoda or Akame mpreg...hehehe^^

Footsteps could be heard, footsteps of someone running. Takaki panted when he arrived in front of the hospital room, the hospital room vacated by someone important.

“Takaki…”

Takaki looked when he heard his name being called by the leader of Hey! Say! JUMP; Yabu Kota. Hikaru and Daiki were there too, and so were Chinen, Ryutaro, Yuto and Keito.

“What happened? How is Ryosuke?” Takaki asked, walking closer towards the other BEST members.

Yabu just shook his hand, didn’t say a word.

“What happened, Yabu?” Takaki’s voice cracked a little.

“He fell.”

The two words might seem simple, but those two words had crashed Takaki Yuya’s world. His body shook a little, his hands trembled. The members of 7 just watched as the older teen talked. Chinen holding hands Ryutaro, while Keito had his hand around Yuto’s shoulder.

“Apparently, the janitor had forgotten to put the warning sign after cleaning the floor,” Daiki said.

“Yama-chan was in a hurry, and he rushed up the stairs,” Hikaru continued. “He slipped.”

“Gomen, Takaki-kun,” Yuto said. “I didn’t get there in time to catch him.”

Takaki could feel a lump forming in his throat. “How is Ryosuke?” he asked, after regaining his voice.

“You should see for yourself,” Yabu said, motioning towards the door. “He wouldn’t talk to anyone.

Takaki nodded his head. After taking a deep breath, he opened the door.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Takaki’s heart wrenched when he saw Yamada’s condition. Yamada was curled up on the bed, his back towards Takaki. He was also given the IV drip. Takaki slowly walked towards the younger teen. The closer he get, the louder he heard Yamada’s cries; even though he tried to hide it.

Takaki caressed Yamada’s hair. Takaki felt Yamada stiffened a little. “Ryo-chan…” Yamada didn’t answer, he pretended to be asleep. Takaki sat at the edge of Yamada’s bed. “Ryo-chan, I know you’re awake.”

Yamada’s breath hitched.

“Ryo-chan, talk to me,” Takaki said. After that, Yamada broke down completely. It killed Takaki, listening to his lover’s painful cries. Takaki kissed Yamada’s forehead. He whispered, “I’m always here for you, Ryo-chan.”

“This wasn’t supposed to happen, Yuya,” Yamada cried. His voice hitched. “I-I…,” his hand automatically went to his stomach. “I could feel it moved inside me,” he said, “Now it’s gone,” his voice barely above whisper.

Takaki didn’t realize that he had started crying, not until the salty liquid fell onto his hand. “Oh, Ryosuke,” he said, burying his face in Yamada’s hair. “We’ll try again. I promise. And I won’t let anything happen to you next time. I promise.” He closed his eyes as the tears flow onto his cheeks. ‘I promise.’

Title: Secrets
Author: Saida
Fandom: Arashi
Pairing: Ohmiya, Sakuraiba
Disclaimer: I do not own Arashi.
Notes: I was supposed to update this on Sunday but my stupid broadband won't let me....Grrr! Anyway, it seems like this mini-drama has evolves not only around Ohmiya...but Sakuraiba as well...xDD
Summary: Giving a chance.

 

    “I’ve talked to Johnny-san,” Sho said. “He agreed.”

   “No,” Ohno said.

    “But riida…”

    Ohno sighed. “Sho, I don’t think I can do that,” he told his band mate. “I can’t leave Arashi.”

    “Riida, this is for your own good,” Sho reasoned. “Arashi won’t disappear without you.”

    “But…”

    Sho looked at Ohno directly in the eye. “What would happen if you lose the baby?”

    Ohno kept his silence. He knew what Sho said was right. 

FLASHBACK

    The night Ohno was taken to Yuuki’s clinic, Yuuki decided to keep him overnight.

    “It will be easier for me to monitor him that way,” Yuuki told Ohno and Sho.

    Sho and Ohno looked at one another. Then, Ohno nodded his head, agreeing with Yuuki’s suggestion. He was given a room at the top floor, the same floor Yuuki lives in. That way, no one would know about him, including the nurses.

    It was already midnight, but Ohno couldn’t sleep. He shifted from his right, to his left, to his right again. He sighed.

    Suddenly, the light was turned on. Ohno saw Yuuki standing by the doorway, holding two mugs in her hands.

    “Can’t sleep?” she asked.

    Ohno sat up on his bed. “Yeah.”

    “Here’s some hot chocolate,” Yuuki said, handing the mug to Ohno.

    “Thanks,” Ohno said, accepting the mug with gratitude.

    Yuuki took a sit on the chair next to Ohno’s bed. “So, how are you feeling? Any discomforts?”

    “No, everything’s fine,” he answered. After taking a sip of his drink, he looked at Yuuki. “Ne, Yuuki-san, why did you become a doctor?” When Yuuki didn’t answer, Ohno added in, “Sorry, I shouldn’t ask that.”

    “No, it’s alright,” the doctor said. She smiled. “I just never expected it, that’s all.” There was a short pause before she continued, “Well, my family owns a hospital in Sapporo. My dad was a doctor, and so was his dad.”

    “So, you’re a generation of doctors?”

    “I guess so,” Yuuki replied, and both of them laughed. “Ne, Ohno-kun, why did you decided to keep that baby? If the media finds out, wouldn’t it be bad?”

    “Yes, it would,” Ohno, replied. “But when I think of aborting this child inside of me, I feel like a part of me disappeared. It’s like I’m attached to it already.”

    Yuuki smiled. “That’s sweet,” she said.

    Ohno chuckled. “But I’m really giving trouble to Sho. His relationship with Aiba-chan is on a rocky road because of me.”

    “Don’t worry about Sho,” Yuuki said. “He knows what he’s doing.” Ohno gave Yuuki a look. “Okay, probably he doesn’t, but he knows how to handle it.”

    Ohno sighed. “You’re right.”

    “You have to stop that, Ohno-kun,” Yuuki said.

    Ohno gave Yuuki a weird look. “Stop what?”

    “Sighing,” she said. “It’s not good for the baby.”

    “I can’t help it,” Ohno said. “There’re lots to think about. The conflict between Arashi members right now, and what’ll happen if Johnny-san and everyone else finds out.”

    “Ohno-kun, what about taking a vacation?” Yuuki asked. Ohno didn’t answer. “It’s okay if you can’t decide yet. But sometimes, Ohno-kun, you have to think for your own sake.”

    Yuuki stood up and left the room, leaving Ohno by himself, thinking. In her own room, she took out her cell phone. She browsed her contact list and stopped at the name, ‘Sakurai Sho’.

    Sho just finished his shower when his phone rang. “Moshi moshi,” he answered the phone as he lay on his bed. “Yuuki-senpai?”

    “Sorry for disturbing you at this time of the night, Sakurai,” Yuuki said. “But there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

    “What is it? Is this about Ohno?”

    “Well, yes, it is,” she said. “Sakurai, I think it’s better if you take Ohno somewhere far from all this for awhile. At least, until his further along in his pregnancy.”

    “I understand,” Sho said. After ending the call, he sighed. ‘I’m going to have a long day tomorrow.’

Title: Forever With Me
Author: Saida
Fandom: Hey! Say! JUMP
Disclaimer: I do not own  them. 
Pairing: Takayama, Yamabu, Hikanoo
Rating: T
Notes: I'm so sorry if this fic is plain weird. It doesn't come out as I planned. And it doesn't have as much fluff as I wanted it too...:( I hope this fic is not going in circles. This always happenes when I try to wrte angst. I know there's a lot of awkward phrases in this fic too...(_o_) Well, I hope everyone enjoys this fic. *me: shoots myself* Forgot to mention...this fic will be in two parts.


 

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.

ladestiny92: This fic was written while listening to a song called Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel.

Guidelines:

"..."- Normal

'...'- thoughts

"..." - flashback 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: It's Time To Let Me Go

                                                                                       xoxoxoxoxox

Ryoma's POV

I was walking down the hall of the Seijou University. I am Echizen Ryoma, senior student of Psychology Department at Seijou University. The freshmen and juniors greeted me as they passed by.

“Ryoma-senpai,” a girl I recognized as Haruzawa Mika, a second year student from the Psychology Department.

“Hai,” I said as I stopped walking. Mika was in front of me.

“Uh, I was wondering…if you would like to have this,” Mika said, holding out a red box decorated with white and golden ribbons towards me.

“Haruzawa-san,” I said, a little surprised. Then, I remembered. Today was 13th of February, the day before Valentine’s Day. I sighed. ‘I can’t believe it’s been that long already.’ I looked at Mika. “Haruzawa-san, I-”

Mika cut in, “Just accept it, senpai,” she said. “I know that your heart is closed but just accept this chocolate, as a friend.”

I nodded my head and Mika smiled, putting the box in my hand. After saying, “Ja ne,” she walked passed me, leaving me staring at the box of chocolate. A memory returned to him.

Seventeen year-old Ryoma and nineteen year-old Tezuka were walking home after having a tennis match. Although they were walking in silence but both were content. Even in the silent, they seem to know what the other is thinking about. A smiled plastered on both their face.
Suddenly, Tezuka made a turn at the park. Although he was confused, he just followed the former Seigaku tennis team captain, his lover.

“Kunimitsu,” Ryoma said as he followed Tezuka’s action by sitting on the bench.

“Hai, Ryoma?” Tezuka asked.

“Why are we here?” the shorter boy asked.

“Just enjoying the breeze,” the first year student at Seijou Academy Law Department answered.

Ryoma raised his eyebrow. “Seriously, Kunimitsu,” he said.

“I have something serious to ask you,” Tezuka said, looking at Ryoma seriously for quite some time without saying anything.

“Kunimitsu, don’t scare me.”

“Echizen Ryoma, do you like chocolates?” he asked in a monotone voice.

“Huh?” Ryoma said. He twitched. “Tezuka Kunimitsu,” he growled. “I thought it was something serious!”

Tezuka chuckled and gave the Seigaku High School buchou a light kiss on the lips. “Gomen,” he said.

“Kuni-bu, we’ve been going out for two years,” Ryoma said, calling Tezuka by his nickname. “You should know by now.”

“I just wanted everything to be perfect.”

Ryoma raised an eyebrow. “You want WHAT to be perfect?”

“Himitsu,” the older teen said and although how stubborn Ryoma is, he didn’t ask any further because he knew Tezuka was equally stubborn. 

POTPOTPOTPOTPOTPOT
 
Three days later, it was a Saturday. On that day, school was only half-day. He also knew Tezuka had no classes that day. When Ryoma tried calling Tezuka, he didn’t answer his cell phone. Ryoma tried for a couple more times till he decided to just leave a voice mail.
‘I wonder why he didn’t answer his cell phone,’ Ryoma thought. If memories served him correctly, after the day at the park, he had never spent more than one hour with his koibito.

After returning home from school and sleep, he decided to go to the second place he liked best; the Street Tennis Court.

“Ryoma, where are you going?” his mother asked.

“Street Tennis Court,” Ryoma answered.

“Make sure to be home before it’s too late,” Rinko told his son before he exited the house.

On the way to the Street Tennis Court, he bumped into Kikumaru and Oishi. “Ochibi,” the red-haired acrobatic player said and began to jump on Ryoma.

“Syuichiro-senpai,” Ryoma said, looking at his ex fukubuchou.

“Eiji,” Oishi said, prying Kikumaru off Ryoma. “You don’t want to run 300 hundreds laps if Tezuka accidentally saw this, would you?”

Immediately, Kikumaru let go of Ryoma and jumped on Oishi instead. “Ochibi, join Syuichiro and I for sushi, nya,” the redhead said. “We’re going to Taka-san’s place.”

“Yeah,” Oishi said. “It’s been awhile since we could hang out together.”

“But I was going to play tennis,” Ryoma told them.

“Please, ochibi,” Kikumaru pleaded. “Oishi’s going to treat us, nya,” he said and a big sweat drop appeared at the back of Oishi’s head.

Ryoma sighed. “Alright,” he said. Besides, he’s not crazy enough to decline free food.

“So, Ryoma,” Oishi asked, “How’s your relationship with Tezuka?”

“Fine,” Ryoma answered after putting an anago sushi in his mouth.

“That’s great,” Oishi replied.

Ryoma looked at his ex-senpai. “Syuichiro-senpai, you went to same university as Kunimitsu-buchou, ne?” Oishi nodded his head. “Then, why are you asking me this question?”

Oishi just laughed sheepishly but didn’t say anything.

“Hey, ochibi,” Kikumaru said, coming to Oishi’s rescue. “What are you going to give Tezuka for Valentine’s Day?”

Ryoma accidentally choke on his sushi, and Oishi, being the mother hen he is, quickly passed a glass of water to Ryoma and began fussing over him.

“Syuichiro-senpai, I’m fine,” Ryoma said, after drinking the water.

“So, ochibi, you haven’t answer my question,” Kikumaru looked at Ryoma. Ryoma just kept his mouth shut.

“You haven’t even bought anything, have you?” Oishi concluded.

‘Damn right, Syuichiro-senpai,’ Ryoma thought. “So?”

“Well, you better by something quick, ochibi,” Kikumaru said. “Valentine’s Day in three days.”

‘You don’t need to remind me, Eiji-senpai,’ Ryoma thought grimly. ‘No wonder the girls at school were all giddy and cheerful.’ Ryoma stood up. “It’s nice to hang out with you again, Syuichiro-senpai, Eiji-senpai,” he bowed in front of his ex-senpai. “Thanks for the food,” he said and began walking out of the store.

“Come again later, okay, Echizen,” Taka said. Ryoma just nodded his head before closing the door.

‘What should I buy for Kunimitsu?’ Ryoma thought. But, after thinking for awhile, nothing came to Ryoma’s mind.

“Echizen-senpai, Echizen-senpai,” a boy called out my name thus snapping me out of my thought.

“Hai,” I said, turning to see who it was. It was Umiyo Akito, a first year from the Art Department, also an ex-Seigaku Regular.

“You were lost in thought,” Akito pointed out.

“Mada mada dane,” I said my famous remark before continued to where I was heading.

“What did I do?” the poor boy thought, standing alone at the hallway. 

POTPOTPOTPOTPOTPOT

‘Che, it rained so suddenly,’ I thought as I took shelter at the bus stop. 

“Ryoma,” I heard a familiar voice calling my name. I turned and saw… “Syuichiro-senpai,” I said. Even though technically he’s not my senior anymore but I’m used to calling him ‘senpai’.

“What a coincidence,” Oishi said to me.

“What are you doing here, senpai?”

“Sheltering from the rain,” he answered as if that’s obvious.

I gave him a look that said ‘Duh!’ “I know you’re taking shelter, senpai. What I meant is, what are you doing here in Kantou?”

“Why don’t we talk at the coffee shop,” Oishi told me. “It’s more comfortable there, and besides, it’s my treat.”

I sighed. ‘Syuichiro-senpai knew me too well.’

“Well,” I said as I looked at Oishi, waiting for his answer.

“I’m here to visit Eiji,” Oishi replied.

“So, you and Eiji-senpai are still going steady, huh?” I asked.

“Yes,” Oishi answered. “Actually I wanted to propose.”

“Good for you, Syuichiro-senpai,” I told Seigaku’s ex-fukubuchou.

“Ryoma, are you still…”

“Feeling guilty?” I said before Oishi could say anything. “Well, yeah, I’m still feeling guilty.”

“That’s not what I was going to say,” Oishi told me.

“What DO you want to say, Syuichiro-senpai?” I asked.

“Ryoma, it happened five years ago,” Oishi said. “You have to…let go.”

“I can’t,” I said, my voice barely above whisper.

Oishi sighed. “Very well then,” he said. He took something out of his bag and gave it to me. It was a card with my name written on it.

“Eiji gave it to me just now. He told me to give it to you if there’s a chance I bumped into you,” Oishi told me when he saw my confused look. “The Seigaku’s Regulars are going to have a reunion tomorrow.”

“Why didn’t they just mail it to me?” I asked.

“You would just throw it away, right?” Oishi said.

‘Damn right,’ I thought.

“Ryoma, you’ve been running away from everyone since that incident,” Oishi told me. “Everyone misses you so…”

By now, it had stopped raining.

“I don’t know if I’m ready, Syuichiro-senpai,” I said, standing up. “Thanks for the drink,” I told him before bowing and left.

“Ryoma, I hope you could see that nobody is blaming you,” Oishi said to himself.

‘Damn Syuichiro-senpai,’ I thought. ‘Why did I have to bump into him?’ 

POTPOTPOTPOTPOTPOT

It’s funny how people always find times run quickly when their not paying attention. I sighed as I entered my house.
“Seishounen, is that you?” my baka oyaji asked while he looked at his ‘ecchi’ magazine.

“Tadaima,” I muttered, walking up to my room.

“One of your friends stopped by today,” Nanjiroh said when I was walking up the stairs. I stopped for awhile before resuming my way up. “I think it was the Regular during your freshman year at Seigaku, the one with the split personalities. He said something about reunion.”

“Mada mada dane,” I said.

Nanjiroh smiled. “You’ll open up your heart again soon, seishounen.”

The next day, when I woke up, the birds were chirping and the sun was high in the sky. I looked at the clock at my bedside table. It was 11 a.m. already. ‘Why didn’t okaa-san woke me up?’ I thought. Then, I remembered, “Today’s a holiday; Valentine’s Day.”

I took my bath and changed into my t-shirt and pants. When I went to the kitchen, I saw my mother there but my father was nowhere in sight.

“Where’s oyaji?” I asked, slipping on my seat.

“He’s at the temple already,” Rinko told me as she put my breakfast in front of me. “So, Ryoma, going anywhere special today?” she asked, sitting in front of me.

“Nope,” I answered simply, “just street tennis.”

“Oh, but I thought today was your reunion with the Seigaku Regulars during your freshmen year.”

“How did you know about the reunion?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Ryuzaki-san called, telling us about it,” Rinko told me.

After finishing my scrambled eggs and bacon, I stood up and said, “I’m not going to the reunion.” After that, I went out of the house, saying, “Goodbye.”

“Ryoma…” Rinko said.

When I arrived at the Street Tennis Court, I saw some teens playing. But, one person caught my eyes. When that person saw me, she smiled and waved at my direction.

“Ryoma-san,” she called out. It was Tachibana Ann, sister of Tachibana Kippei.

I decided to walk towards her. “It’s been so long since we last met,” Ann said. “Are you here to play tennis?” she asked.

“Hn,” I answered.

“Well, as an old friend, please do me the honor and have a match with me?” she asked. Before I could answer, she pulled me towards the Singles court.

“I thought you would go on a date since today’s Valentine’s Day,” I said.

“Well, I’m celebrating it tonight, so I don’t have any other plans during the day.” Ann said, “If you don’t mind, let me serve.”

“Sure,” I replied.

After Ann served, she asked, “Are you going tonight?”

“Going where?” I asked, after returning her serve.

“To the reunion,” she answered.

“How’d you know about the reunion?” I asked again.

“Because I’m dating Takeshi,” Ann answered. I was surprised to hear that so Ann managed to score a point.

“You should go out more, Ryoma,” she told me after she served for the second time.

“Whatever,” I replied, before returning the serve and took a point from her.

“You’re getting better,” Ann told me and I replied, “Mada mada dane.”

It was only a short while when I managed to beat her six games to two. Panting, she said, “Let’s talk over there, I’ll buy you a Ponta.” I nodded my head and we went towards the bench near the vending machine.

“Ryoma,” Ann said, handing me a can of Ponta.

“Arigatou,” I told her. She nodded her head and sat next to me.

Then, Ann looked at me, asking, “Can I ask you a personal question?”

“Depends,” I told her.

“Well, Ryoma, have you…have you started dating again?”

At first, I didn’t answer.

“Sorry,” Ann said. “It’s just, Takeshi is worried about you.” I didn’t say anything and just continued drinking my Ponta. “He said you seemed to be locking yourself away from everyone.”

“Why is it suddenly my life became everyone’s business?” I asked, feeling a little angry.

Ann was taken aback. “I’m sorry if I anger you,” she said, “but everyone is worried, Ryoma.”

I stood up and threw the empty can inside the garbage bin. “I’m going,” I said, taking my tennis bag.

“I hope you’ll come to the reunion tonight,” Ann yelled out to me. I didn’t stop to reply though, I just kept on walking.

While I was walking, another memory came into my mind.

Seventeen year-old Ryoma walked down the streets of Kantou, while thinking of a perfect gift to buy. Suddenly, he said, “I know what Kunimitsu might like.” Then, when he passed a café, he saw Tezuka and Fuji in it, sitting together while eating ice creams. Ryoma stopped directly in front of where Tezuka and Fuji are sitting. Of course, the two older teens hadn’t notice him.

‘What is Kunimitsu doing with Fuji-senpai?” Ryoma thought. He saw Tezuka and Fuji talking, and suddenly Fuji laughed.

‘Are they on a date?’ Ryoma thought. He shook his head. ‘No, Kunimitsu would never cheat on me.’ So, Ryoma decided to call Tezuka.

“Hello, this is Tezuka Kunimitsu speaking,” Tezuka said as he answered the phone.

“Kunimitsu, this is me, Ryoma,” the younger teen said from the other line.

Tezuka was about to say Ryoma’s name when Fuji’s voice was heard, saying, “Mitsu-chan, who is it?”

Before Tezuka could answer Fuji, Ryoma said, “Uhm, I guess you’re busy.”

Sensing something was off in Ryoma’s voice, Tezuka asked, “Ryoma, what’s wrong?”

“I was in town and I just-” Tezuka looked up and saw Ryoma there, separated only by a thin glass.

“Ryoma it’s not what you think,” Tezuka said.

“I’ll call you later, Kunimitsu,” Ryoma said and hung up. Before he ran, Tezuka swore he saw tears on his lover’s cheeks.

“Was that Ryoma?” Fuji asked. Fuji didn’t need an answer. “Go, go after him.” He smiled. “It’s hard if the neko-chan misunderstood things.”

POTPOTPOTPOTPOTPOT

When he arrived home, both his parents are in the living room. “Oh, welcome home, Ryoma,” Rinko told her son. However, when she saw Ryoma’s tear-stained face, she asked, “Ryoma, what happened?”
“Nothing,” Ryoma said and he quickly ran up to his room.

“I wonder what the matter with that seishounen,” Nanjiroh said.

A few minutes later, the doorbell to the Echizen household rang. Rinko opened the door.

“Konbanwa,” Tezuka said. “Is Ryoma home?” he asked.

“Yup, he’s in, but he don’t really want to talk to anyone right now,” Rinko said.

“Please, could I try and see him?” Tezuka asked.

Rinko saw the worried look on Tezuka’s face. She asked, “Say, Tezuka-san, did you and Ryoma got into a fight?”

“No, but…”

“But…?” Rinko repeated with a raised eyebrow.

“I think he saw something he shouldn’t have,” Tezuka told her.

“And I concluded that that’s the cause of all of this?” Rinko asked.

“Echizen-san,” Tezuka said. “I’m not cheating on Ryoma. I can jump in front of a speeding car to prove it.”

Rinko chuckled. “You don’t need to prove to me anything, Tezuka-san.” She opened the door wider so that Tezuka could enter. “You should remember where his room is, right?”

Tezuka nodded his head. “Thank you, Echizen-san,” he said.

The brunette-haired teen knocked on Ryoma’s door. He knocked three times, and stopped.

Silence, there was no answer.

Again, Tezuka knocked, but still no answer. After a few more tries, Tezuka stopped. He knew how stubborn Ryoma was. He knew even if he kept knocking, Ryoma won’t answer. At last, Tezuka sighed and said, “Ryoma, I know you’re in there and I know you’re listening. So, please, on this Valentine’s Day, meet me at Kawamura’s Sushi shop at eight p.m. There I’ll give you my explanation about Fuji. I hope two days is enough to make you calm. And, I won’t bother you within these two days. If…If you want to talk to me, I’ll be happy to see you, no matter if it’s in the middle of the night.”

Again, there was only silence. Tezuka sighed. After looking at Ryoma’s bedroom door, he left.

“So, did you talk to Ryoma?” Rinko asked when Tezuka arrived downstairs.

Tezuka shook his head. “But please, Rinko-san, remind him to meet me at Kawamura Sushi shop at eight p.m. on Valentine’s Day.”

Rinko smiled. “Sure.” 

POTPOTPOTPOT

‘I was so stupid, weren’t I?’ I thought as I walked towards a grave; a grave belonged to Tezuka Kunimitsu.
Tezuka’s grave was under a cherry blossom tree, the place where he could feel peace. I sat beside Tezuka’s grave, leaning against the sakura tree.

After Ryoma heard Tezuka’s footsteps going away, he removed the pillow on his head. Staring at the ceiling, he thought, ‘Why should I go? I saw them with my own eyes.’

Suddenly, another thought came into his mind. ‘But, what if I’m wrong? What if that was just a friendly meeting? But, then again, Fuji-senpai called Kunimitsu ‘Mitsu-chan’.’

Tezuka did keep to his words. Within those two days, he never once called Ryoma and didn’t come to see him either. Ryoma, on the other hand, was stubborn enough not to call Tezuka.

On Valentine’s Day, Ryoma returned home at six p.m. after tennis practice. When he was about to go to his room, his mother asked, “Are you going tonight, Ryoma?”

“If he really wanted to see me, he should have explain things to me now instead of later,” Ryoma answered before continue walking to his room.

“Ryoma, I hope you’re not making a mistake,” his mother said before heading to the kitchen.

After taking his bath, Ryoma lay on his bed, Karupin next to him. He said to himself, “Am I making the right choice for not going to Taka-san’s sushi shop tonight?” After debating with himself whether he should go to Kawamura’s sushi shop or not tonight, he drifted to sleep.

Ryoma didn’t know what time it is when he woke up from his slumber because his cell phone was ringing. He looked at his clock. It’s just 8.30 p.m.

Ryoma answered it, “Hello,” he said.

“Ryoma, this is Kawamura,” Kawamura Takashi said from the other line.

“Taka-senpai,” Ryoma said as he sat in a more comfortable way.

“Ryoma, there’s been an accident near my shop,” Kawamura said, “It was a hit and run.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Ryoma asked. ‘Don’t tell me…’

“It was Tezuka,” Kawamura answered Ryoma unanswered question. He winced slightly, knowing how Ryoma’s reaction might be.

“Your eyes must be too tried, Taka-senpai,” Ryoma said as he forcefully laughed. “Kunimitsu can’t-”

“On his way to my shop tonight, Tezuka was hit by a speeding truck,” Kawamura told him. “The truck driver was drunk Tezuka died immediately at the scene.”

“No, it can’t be,” Ryoma shrieked. He was in denial. “It can’t-” he accidentally dropped his cell phone.

“Ryoma, Ryoma,” Kawamura called out before the line went dead.

‘How can it be?’ Ryoma thought, staring at nothing, only the emptiness in front of him. ‘It was just a while ago when we played tennis together, laughed together, sleep-” he buried his face in his hands and dropped to the ground.

“I should have gone to the sushi shop tonight,” Ryoma cried. “Then maybe, all of this won’t have happened.”

‘Ryoma, it was just a misunderstanding,’ Tezuka’s voice went through his mind.

“I’m sorry, Mitsu,” Ryoma cried, “sorry for not believing.”

At that moment, the door was opened by his mother. “Ryoma, what’s wrong?” she asked, quickly running to Ryoma’s side when he saw him in that position.

Ryoma don’t care anymore. He sobbed. Looking at his mother with tears running down his cheeks, he said, “Okaa-san, I was an idiot. I should have listened to him, listen to his explanations when I still had the chance.”

“Ryoma,” Rinko said soothingly to her son. “Tell me what happened.”

“T-Tezuka,” he choked out. “He was…Taka-senpai told me…he-”

“Shh, it’s okay,” Rinko said. Rinko didn’t know what had happen to Tezuka but all she knew was making her son calm.

I chuckled to myself. “It’s too late to regret about that now, isn’t it, Kunimitsu?” I looked up. Though my vision is limited to the wide, blue sky, but my thoughts are beyond that.

“I wonder what would happen if I just commit suicide after your funeral,” I told no one in particular. “Maybe we could’ve been together?” Then, I chuckled again. “You know what, Mitsu? I almost did commit suicide, but a voice told me…”

It was the day of Tezuka’s funeral. A lot of people attended it. There were old schoolmates and new, Ryuzaki-sensei, friends and family, the Seigaku Regulars, and even the past opponents; some of the Hyoutei’s, Rikkaidai’s, Rokkaku’s, Fudomine’s and even St. Rudolph’s Regulars.

It was gloomy and depressing at Tezuka’s funeral. Everyone knew that the young man could go much, much further…if only the Angel of Death hadn’t taken him.

After the funeral, Ryoma was about to walk away when Fuji caught up to him, saying, “Stop right there, Ryoma.” When Ryoma didn’t stop, he grabbed hold of Ryoma’s hand.

Ryoma showed no sign of resistance. When the honey-brunette-haired teen turned Ryoma facing him, he was surprised that his eyes opened. When he arrived to the funeral with his sister and brother, he saw Ryoma from far away. But, the younger teen was standing to far away. Now, when he was standing right in front of the teen, how surprised he was to see the boy. He looked like a living corpse, with dark circles under his eyes, his pale face and messy hair. It seems like the fire in him was extinguished.

“Ryoma, what happened to you? Why didn’t you take of yourself?” Fuji asked, starting to bombard Ryoma with his questions.

When Ryoma didn’t answer, Fuji said, “Is this because of what happened at the café?”

Ryoma looked at Fuji, but didn’t say anything.

“Ryoma…”

“I should have trust him, Fuji-senpai,” Ryoma said, tears began to cloud his vision again. “I should have trust him.” Ryoma dropped to the ground as his knees weakened.

“It’s not your fault,” Fuji said, trying to comfort the younger teen as he hold kneeled in front of Ryoma till they’re at the same level. “Everyone would think the worse if they saw a scene like that…that just shows how much you love him.”

“That was not love but just pure stubbornness, Fuji-senpai,” Ryoma replied. “I refused to talk to him or see him, and…and now it’s too late.”

“Ryoma,” Fuji said. He took out a small velvet box with golden ribbon on it. “The reason why Kunimitsu asked me out the other day was because he needed my help to find something for you.” Fuji put the box on Ryoma’s palm. “He wanted everything to be perfect and a surprise so he didn’t say anything to you.”

Ryoma opened it and was startled to see a ring in it.

“He was planning to propose to you on Valentine’s Day…but-”

“I was so stupid,” Ryoma cut in. He immediately stood up. With the box safely in his hands, the younger teen ran off.

“Ryoma!” Fuji called after him.

That night, Ryoma sat on the rooftop of his house. He brought something with him as well; the ring Tezuka bought and a knife.

‘I don’t care anymore, Kunimitsu,’ Ryoma thought. ‘I want to join you, so that we could be…together.’

He took the knife and was about to slit his wrist when he felt a warm breeze and something embracing him. The warmth of it was so much familiar to him. “Kunimitsu,” Ryoma said softly to himself.

Then, Ryoma heard a voice, a voice so familiar in the wind, saying, “Ryoma, it’s time to let me go.”

Hearing those words, Ryoma sat still, the knife slowly slipping from his hand. Then, he started crying, crying all the sadness he had kept inside.

I smiled, looking at the Kunimitsu’s grave. “I understand now,” I said. “And I’m ready…to let you go.” 

オワリ

OWARI