(no subject)
Welcome one and all to the concluding chapter of the fifth chronicle!
This story breaks slightly from the anime it's paralleling due to certain events that set the stage for the next story, and the ending is a warm, fuzzy conclusion that shows even someone like Akutsu can have a soft side. I have noticed in the anime that Dan Taichi tends to stick close to Sengoku, and as he is a Hikari in this series he is some what closer to Dan (a dragon) in this fic.
Sengoku by the way, is around 400 years old and tends to behave as a father figure to the ( in dragon years ) 30 year old Dan.
Disclaimer: We Prince Of Tennis boys do not belong to Tora Macaw, but she does enjoy writing about us! Akutsu is awesome and no one compares to him! My head band keeps falling over my eyes...why is it Seigaku are the royalty around here? Yamabuki is really strong... hey Akutsu Sempai! Wait for me!
TM: I don't own Albed language either. The makers of Final Fantasy have that honour!
So Full Of Hate.
Chapter Four
Story: Tora Macaw.
Narrowing his eyes Ryoma glanced up at the posturing dragon looming threateningly over him, then gave his cap a little tug down over his green-gold orbs as he grinned. With his own draconian blood roaring in his veins, the young demon suddenly found he was unimpressed by the snarling green and turned his back as spoke.
" Mada mada da ne."
Hands hooked over wire and purple eyes watching fearfully, Momo' was unable to control the stressful chattering that escaped him. Shrewdly observing the bristle-haired teenager's violent trembling, Inui moved up beside him and thoughtfully rubbed his chin as his own hidden orbs never left his team mates face.
" An impressive display of buried power. Echizen has given Yamabuki something to think about."
Across the open space of the war zone, a young black dragon tugged nervously at his human clothing as he gazed up imploringly into the blue eyes of the hidden Hikari beside him.
" I cant' believe it! I wont believe it! The demon has his dragon blood?" Staring over the distance separating them, Taichi looked at the regal form of the great dragon king towering as a huge proud ghost over all he surveyed, then muttered as he switched his vision back to Ryoma; " I can't believe his ability has surpass Akutsu's!"
Briefly grinning down at the worried hatchling, Sengoku turned his attention to the human disguised dragon seething on the tennis court. " Control your rage Akutsu. " he said quietly, then spoke louder as Muromachi swung his head in the flame-haired angel's direction. " It's a funny thing. We need to win this match, but my bond dragon has been needing a take down for some time now, and Jinnai bless me...that Seigaku imp may just be the one to do it!"
The corner of the dark-haired teenagers mouth twitched up in response and the faint shadow of a smile flit across his features as a dim red glow flared momentarily behind his eye shields.
On the battle field, Akutsu gave his adversary a look that would stop a wildfire dead in its tracks as his mind still struggled to believe what his eyes had seen. ' I saw dragon wings and I saw the smooth horns. But in all my years of existing, no yolk crawler fresh out of its shell has ever beaten me. Are listening imp?'
' I'm listening and I know I have you worried. ' came the immediate, smug reply
Cheering loudly over the score call of 40-30, Horio jumped up and as his unconfined excitement bubbled over to effect those closest to him. " Did you see that? Did you see his glow? What awesome power Echizen has!"
Noticing the stern glares of the Sempais as several heads turned to look at them, Kachiro urgently warned the exuberant Tanuki to keep his voice down.
" Oops! Yes...ah! but what a match this is turning into!"
" Dragon against dragon." added Katsuo softly in awe. " I hope I never have to fight against one."
" And if you did 'Ratty' you would no doubt run away screaming!" said Tomo with a playful dig to the young werebeast's ribs. Curving her hands over her mouth, the pony-tailed girl bellowed in a voice loud enough to wake the dead. " FIGHT ON! FIGHT ON! GO RYOMA SAMA!"
Standing silently at the young Wyvern's side, Sakuno was oblivious to her friends excitement as her keen dragon vision drank in the fearful sight of the mighty green grinding his teeth and trembling with barely controlled fury. It was only when Shiba laid a soothing hand on her shoulder that she was able to tear her eyes away and silently plead for reassurance.
' Don't be afraid little one.' the smiling Hikari told her. 'There are too many humans and enough Hikari present to keep him in check. Ryoma may be very young, but he has incredible spirit and a brave heart. I believe he'll be fine.'
Elsewhere along the surrounding fence, Nanjiroh's brow furrowed as he cursed under his breath. " That blood! The curse of my line is taking over and Rinko and I are powerless to stop it!"
As if picking up on his long-time-friend's thoughts, Inoue flipped his hidden wings then eyed the Fire Lake demon.
" It's come as no surprise Hekrdc crytuf. While it's true the kings blood as been dormant for centuries, it had to emerge sometime. It's power will make your son strong. Why do you so object?"
" Because O wise one..." snapped the short-haired man irritably "...It's a curse...remember? You fools of the Shadow Rock may have forgotten why my clan has dwindled because of it, but I certainly have not!"
His pale amber eyes fixed on Ryoma's half hidden face, Akutsu spat a thick lump of poison, then grinned maliciously as it seethed and bubbled against the ground.
' When next I spit, it will be in your face half breed!'
Ignoring the smouldering patch of court, the raven-haired youth made for the base line then stood half bent at the hips; his weapon ready for the next bout. Also reaching the line of battle, Akutsu stood and glared as Inui's comments about his team mates performance drifted on the breeze to float against his highly acute ears. Cocking his head slightly, he then heard the ' Blood' youth's voice as he spoke to his ancient enemy.
" What do you think?"
Arms folded across his chest, Tezuka was stern in his reply. " He is holding his own against Akutsu."
Close by, Oishi raised his voice to comment. " He is truly one of your own Tezuka. His powers will soon be complete."
" Nya!" agreed Eiji with a grin. Whispering into his lovers ear, the red head added; " Soon we may have two gold dragons to protect us!"
The drawn out hiss of a serpent rang out and several pairs of eyes turned to rest on Kaido as he stood a little way apart from his team, his hands in his jacket pockets with his back against the smooth trunk of a shady tree. Opening his eyes, the hidden Naga gazed upward to study the drifting clouds, then spoke as if talking to himself.
" The sleeping power inside Echizen's body has awoken. Yes, he will be a great dragon some day."
Shuddering at the Mamushi's words, Momo' chewed his lip as he grimily watched his boyfriend move into position. ' You are changing Ryoma.' he thought sadly as a single tear glistened within his left eye. 'But will he be accepted, or will the dragons call him a freak.?'
Angered by the talk he could hear carried on the wind, Akutsu snarled through bared teeth at his opponent who smiled confidently at him. ' So, you want to humiliate me. But you won't win this war!'
Tossing the ball high, the silver-haired youth watched its decent with a predatory gleam. Then, his racket whistled through the air space just above his head to connect to the ball and hit it with an explosive crack. Rushing to the far right corner where the base line met the trammels, Ryoma easily picked up the shot to return it with equal intensity. Galloping across court, his face a demonic mask, the Yamabuki player yelled his defiance.
" I told you kid! Its no use!"
Sliding to a halt the disguised green prepared to smack the ball back over the net, but his pale eyes widened in shock when it sailed wide of his body to thunder down in the far right corner for a deuce score.
Over the cheers of the crowd Ryoma heard the rousing calls of his classmates, then felt an unmistakable wave of pride from his coach.
Akutsu could also hear the exclaim, but to him it was like the hum of a distant bee swarm as he glared first at his adversary, then at his own coach. Curling his lip as he realized the old dragon was very impressed by the imp's performance, he cast his malevolent gaze towards the blue and white uniforms of his enemy's and locked eyes with those of very young red female whose anxious brown orbs never left his hated antagonists face.
Hissing out a small cloud of toxic gas, the sliver-haired youth returned his attention to the demon as the panting teenager gave him an optimistic look. Shoulders rising and falling as his chest heaved, the savage green was suddenly consumed by his first ever wave of doubt as his thoughts tumbled in flurry of uncertainty. ' He is moving much faster than he was before. Curse his half golden blood! No matter, he will now learn who is master here and know the true meaning of fear!'
Throwing the ball skyward, Akutsu sent it flying horizontally to Ryoma who effortlessly sent it back. Running in to intercept the speeding round missile, the bristle-haired Yamabuki singles champion resumed his silent taunting.
' Don't get dizzy with that single success you mindless winged rat!'
Leaping high in the air to take the ball as the shorter boy lunged to the left, the green dragon spread hidden wings to slow his decent and let the felt covered object drift with perfect precision onto his racket strings. Lips drawn back to expose his teeth, the muscular teenager's eyes blazed wildly in triumph as the missile connected. ' I have you now! Other side imp!'
At precisely the moment of impact, the cap wearing youth from Seigaku pushed powerfully off his left foot to spring swiftly to the right. His weapon gripped tightly in both hands, he roared fiercely and struck with a punishing blow. Arrow straight, the tennis ball winged its way back across the taught, woven rope barrier to steal another point. Landing from his high jump, Akutsu's eyes widened in a look of shear disbelief.
" Perfect!" said Oishi to Eiji as the bouncy red head whistled and cheered lustily. " His foot work is incredible."
Leaning forward, the other half of the golden pair cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled for all the world to hear; " EXCELLENT! GO CHIBI!"
Throwing a sour glare at the noisy young Cat Lord, Muromachi resisted the urge go and breath on him by commenting to his Hikari friend; " His moves are different now."
Grinning wickedly, Sengoku rustled his hidden wings. " I'm afraid the young Demi-Dragon is still evolving." he remarked, his eyes following the dark-haired youth's moves as play resumed. " My fierce friend is certainly getting a flight for his scales!"
Watching his boyfriend race into hit a hard forehand, Momo' felt some of his tension start to melt as he said to his team mates at large; " Echizen is super strong now! His dragon blood..."
" Is fully flowing." cut in Kaido as he leaned his back on his tree and sourly eyed the mongoose spirit. " He is playing very well now."
Turning to look fully at the disguised Naga, the bristle-haired youth gave him a quick nod. " This is the first time I've heard you fully compliment him Mamushi! But what do you think of...his changes?"
Hissing through his teeth, the bandana wearing teenager gave him a curt reply. " Cut the crap pack rat and keep your eyes on the court!"
Chattering worriedly, the taller of the pair watched as Ryoma hit a hard backhand and Akutsu rushed in to play a backhand of his own.
Seeing it about to fall, the black-haired youth charged in by sliding on his heels; then abruptly stood upright to return the ball in a powerful Drive B volley! Eyes snapping with anger at the unexpected move, the disguised dragon could only watch in helpless rage as he missed his lunge and the object sailed far out of his reach.
Fighting down a need to loudly roar his frustration as the linesman called " Echizen's point! Three games to one!", the sliver-haired player directed a hate filled stare of pure loathing in the Seigaku teams direction and locked eyes with the invisible, ghostly form a giant gold dragon. Completely unruffled by the unspoken threat in the eyes of the young beast a scant third his size, Tezuka returned the blazing gaze with equal intensity and a silent warning.
' Do you understand now young Krucdmo aoac? The time of your defeat is close at hand.'
Snorting with contempt, Akutsu's only reply was to savagely swipe at the speeding tennis ball. Ryoma returned it with a swift forehand that flew on a low, straight trajectory that met his enemy's racket and fly back with a fast top spin. Felt covered ball met the harsh kiss of hard string, then rushed back to its first launch point.
Seated on her bench, Ryuzaki smirked proudly, then turned to gaze smugly at her long time best enemy.
' Lsemauv dravuq...I must thank you for bringing the hatchling to this stage.'
' Oh?' came an amused reply as Banji turned to look at her with a cunning smile. ' What do mean my dear fire scale?'
' He awoke the dragon blood sleeping inside Ryoma's body.' answered the red dragon with a touch of annoyance. ' He is a stronger player and will be a mighty heir to the king's throne.'
' The king's THRONE?' snapped the old green angrily. ' Echizen may be strong, but no dragon would ever follow the rule of a stump winged, flameless demon half cast!' My hatchling will win because he will never give up!' His ever present smile returning, the human Yamabuki coach hummed to himself, then spoke again. ' In spite of the contempt he receives from others, Ghostly eyes is proud and even though the Fire Lake imp just won his second game, it is the reason he can't lose.'
Averting her eyes from her old adversary, Ryuzaki gave her singles champion a pleased smile as he approached her for a short break.
" Nice play Echizen."
The youth's answer was a low " Hmmm..." as he mopped the game induced sweat from his face and neck with his towel.
Fixing the boy with a stern stare, the Seigaku coach became brisk. " But you can't be careless! There are some moves I know Banji has taught him that you haven't seen yet! He's a cunning old beast and when I think of how very close he came catching me when I last rose to..." Balling her fists and lashing her invisible shadow tail in a way that made Ryoma wonder, the middle aged woman glared up with a ferocity that made her watcher squirm uncomfortably. "...I get so angry when I remember it! RYOMA! Beat him!"
Casually placing his racket over his right shoulder, the dark-haired youth lightly bounced it against his shirt as his lips curved in a smug grin. " Mada mada, I'm surprised you are so worried. It's clear cut Sensei, I will win...I have to." he added as he gazed across at Momo'.
Standing behind and a little off to the side of the focus of his team mates attention, Inui wrote something in his data file, then closed it with a snap. " Ryoma's full draconian potential has been aroused." he commented to no one in particular. " If he keeps playing like that, he will win."
In the furthest corner of the tennis grounds, Nanjiroh slipped a cigarette between his lips, watched it ignite unaided then spoke bitterly to his friend. " You really don't understand, do you? Everything myself and my wife had fought against is going to start now. My son still glows gold, even though it has faded! Yet... he will fix those arrogant greens." Heaving a regretful sigh, the demon turned and began to walk away.
" Hey!" called Inoue after him. " Aren't you going to watch?"
" And see him turn into something his not? No, I can't bare to see him become...one of them."
His eyes darkening with thought, Inoue could only watch as his oldest friend from Thleer walked away, his tail moving in a sad, rhythmic swing as shadowy wings drooped dispiritedly from his shoulders.
Staring straight ahead, Nanjiroh spoke softly to the unresponsive air; " Go Ryoma...meet your destiny."
Throwing himself onto the bench, Akutsu hissed with angry frustration as his coach strolled up to him.
" It will be bad for Yamabuki if you lost."
Rolling his eyes in the elder's direction, the young green puffed a great cloud of sickly kaki coloured mist then spat savagely with his mind. ' Who in Jigoku do you think you are talking to old fool? That imp is hardly the mighty Aion himself! '
Sniggering, the senior dragon nodded as he replied; ' But you could still lose'
' Mention that word again, and I'll tear your head off!'
Chuckling at the furious threat, Banji sat down then laid a hand on his players shoulder. ' Keep up your fighting spirit my hatchling. Do you remember when I first asked you to play tennis for me?'
Violently slapping the hand aside, the bristled-haired youth let his mind wander back to that significant event.
His Hikari bond partner had taught him to play as an outlet for his rage induced energy. He had been aware of a silver-haired old
man watching as they had traded blows over the net, but had completely ignored him. When the game had ended, their observer had asked Sengoku for a moment alone with his charge; then had asked the snarling youth if he would join his team.
" Shut up! I don't play tennis!" had been the harsh answer, but the man had been undaunted and lifted a hand to rub the teenagers muscular shoulder. " You are in great shape. You could be a champion."
Roughly fisting the man's shirt front, Akutsu roared into his face. " Don't touch me human!"
Then, to the young green's utter astonishment the elder had smiled warmly, gripped his wrist and spoken to his mind.
' Human? Haha..foolish hatchling. Are you so full of hate that it's made you blind?'
Completely startled to find he was dealing with a fellow dragon, he had gasped with shock. But now the older beast was speaking and Akutsu's mind returned to the present.
' Krucdmo aoac...this is only the nonsense of a very old dragon and feel free to ignore my advice as you've always done...'
Glaring up at the adult green looming over him, the younger grumbled a surly ' Yeah...whatever.'
Shifting his gaze to the far side of the net, Banji watched Ryoma with Ryuzaki a moment then continued.
' He has tapped into strength of the likes you cannot imagine. Both demon and dragon abilities flow through him and in this arena, his powers have surpass yours.'
At that point in time, Akutsu had never more felt like tearing another dragon apart as he did now. But the memory of the old green's startling revelation at that first meeting swam out of his mind to engulf him as a bitter wave and once his Hikari guardian had confirmed the truth behind the elders words, he knew he could never harm the larger beast no matter strong his rage.
' Hatchling, there is no harm in using speed strokes and your own natural abilities.'
Firmly blinking himself back out of his brief revisit to the not-so-distant past, the silver-haired youth pushed to his feet, spat an angry "K" and stalked out to engage in further battle.
' Don't tell me how to play this stupid human game'
Banji's only reaction was to sit down and snigger quietly as Ryoma also returned to the field of conflict.
" Look at that cocky little bastard." Thought Akutsu resentfully as he drank in the sight of his opponent standing with his right hand on his hip, his racket resting over his left shoulder and a supremely smug smile on his face. " So you think you are better than Aion himself do you? Well I've seen the ruler of the Under Dark and those ruthless arse holes who follow him. If he were to come after you imp, he would chew you to a pulp and spit out your bones like melon pits."
' Who are you dragon?" said Ryoma's voice suddenly in his mind. ' I wish to know the true name of the one I'm going to beat today.'
Pale amber orbs snapped and sparked dangerously as the singles champion from Yamabuki Senior High school answered the confident query with a deadly calm. ' Who am I? My name means Ghostly eyes! I am a clan less green dragon, yet I am forced to endure this human existence by that accursed sun scale and those stupid bird brains! I am the strongest of all my kind and those who have stood in my way before were beaten up by me!'
Tossing the ball high for the serve, the young man watched it start to fall then cried out in his mind with all of his hatred. ' The past was that way...' he paused in his sending to slam the ball hard. '...and it will be so now!'
Flying low over the net, the little felt covered missile arrowed its way toward Ryoma who swung his left arm forward and sent it flying home. For several long minutes, the furious dance of run, skid to a halt and punish the ball with devastating blows took place before a silent crowd that watched with baited breath.
Leaping to catch a particularly tricky shot to the edge of the trammel lines, the dark-haired youth from Seigaku struck the speeding ball with a resounding crack to send it thundering back to his adversary with the force of high powered cannon ball.
Back peddling hard with his eyes fixed firmly on the green and white object as it charged up from its impact point just inside the base line, Akutsu failed to notice how close to the fence he had run until his body slammed into the chain links with a loud crunch. Spectators jumped back with a few startled oaths as the structure buckled from the impact, but the bristle-haired youth took no notice as his arm swung for the return fire.
Charging in to meet the ball, Ryoma grinned as he struck. ' The best bit is coming up now!'
Racing in to pick up the falling missile, Akutsu paused to lift his weapon and whack it with all his might. ' You wont win imp!'
Quick to meet the little round bullet of felt covered rubber, the shorter boy hit it diagonally; only to have his enemy stop it with his racket and send it back as a short strike. Not to be taken out, Ryoma ran in to take the ball in the service square; then frowned a little as his adversary returned it with a powerful forehand.
' Didn't I tell you imp? I'll beat you in this game, then I'll destroy you!'
Baring his teeth Ryoma shot across the court, swung and missed to the anxious roar of the watching crowd.
Hearing the dreaded call of " Yamabuki leads, four games to three.", Tomo shook her fists at the disguised green and Sakuno frantically warned her to control the thin veil of light grey smoke that was pouring out of her nose.
" IT'S NOT OVER YET!" the pony-tailed girl roared in a manner that made the ears of those closest to her ring painfully. " FIGHT ON! FIGHT ON!"
Deaf to the calls and murmurs of the crowd, Ryoma's breath rasped in and out as he stared hard at the green dragon who glared back with intense loathing.
' Beat that you walking pile of dragon ash!'
Over among the Seigaku group, Fuji watched the battle with open eyes and commented to Tezuka on the incredible speed of the ball. But the disguised dragon king hardly heard the ' Blood's' words as sent to his many times removed great grandson; ' I believe in you.'
Noticing the way the rival captain and his enemy were looking at each other, Akutsu scowled darkly as he failed to intrude on the closed sending, then switched his glare to his coach as the elder spoke.
' Listening to my advice maybe a humiliation to you hatchling, but let me bear witness to your victory over the half breed'
A short distance from the court, a lone demon in human disguise stared moodily at the wheat coloured cat who joined him on his solitary park bench. Stroking the Guardian Familiar as the mythic feline inquired about his beloved friend's game, Nanjiroh found himself taking his own ride on a train of recollections as the past reared up before him. He too had once been a tennis champion and had beaten a very powerful Hikari warrior to become so. But then his life had changed when his soul bond to his new wife had proven true and life had started within her. She had given birth to the son Nanjiroh knew she carried. However, the infant demon had slid from her in pure glow of golden radiance unseen for centuries, and on that day his professional tennis life had ended as he devoted himself to keeping the child's dragon blood in check .
" And now that dragon blood has shown its full strength Karupin. Concentrating so strongly on tennis slowed its progress but now, not even the intense focus of his matches can stop it now."
Gazing up his adult demon charge, the semi long-haired cat spoke seriously. " Nanjiroh, I'm fully aware of your sorrow as I feel the same way, but I have come to you on a grave matter as I have sensed the presence of Dark Hunters."
Instantly the dark-haired man was on full alert. Standing, his eyes flooded with crimson as he carefully surveyed his surrounds. "Where?"
Out on the field of conflict, the savage battle for superiority had begun once more. Carefully studying the warriors every move as the pair raced and volleyed, Sengoku spoke quietly to his team mate.
" Akutsu is furious. I fear not even I can stop him now."
Turning to look at the Hikari beside him, Muromachi Touji shrugged. " Maybe the little imp will restrict him." He remarked after a few minutes of intense watching. " I do believe that gas bag is actually starting to panic."
" Impossible!" Snorted the flame-haired angel at once. " I've seen the green do a lot of things, but one thing he does not do is panic!"
Pushing his hands deep in his pockets, the eye-shielded mythic smirked evilly. " I could make him panic! My poison wont stop him true, but my gaze? That's a different story!" Tapping his chin, he then added; " If the imp is as powerful I think he is, then your pet's reaction is unpredictable as anything can happen in a tennis game!"
Glaring down at his team mate, the Yamabuki vice captain grimly muttered; " Call him a beast or a monster if you must, but never, ever call him MY PET !"
Racing along the base line, Akutsu performed a well executed backhand, then snarled irritably when his opponent spun on his right foot to return the shot with a mighty forehand. Sweating profusely and feeling his heart pound as his rival gained more ground in the point tally, the silver-haired teenager showed his fangs a second time as he rushed to send the ball flying.
" It's just as the old fool says." he thought to himself as Ryoma scooped up a low drop. " Only we are taking turns to create some slower speeds in the centre. But my high speed will show great effect!"
As the bristle-haired youth caught the Seigaku teenagers returning fire, Banji opened his mind and sent a silent message only the imp alone could hear. ' How are you going out there Echizen? Think you can handle Krucdmo aoac right now?'
Legs pumping furiously, the black-haired youth's face cracked into an evil grin as he pushed off with his left foot, lunged for the ball and scored a point as he let a powerful telepathic answer flow unrestricted from his mind.
' Mada mada da ne! This match and the green's wings...ARE MINE!'
Back snapping ramrod straight, Banji's eyes flew open in shock at the demonic look masking the human disguised imp's features.
' Akutsu's wings? What are saying demon spawn!'
Across the net, the subject of the startling conversation was thunderstruck as the smugly delivered statement slammed into his skull.
' Wha...? MY wings? Just who the hell do you think you are?'
Hearing her player's somewhat satanic silent laugh follow in the wake of the threat, Ryuzaki couldn't help but let a sinister chuckle of her own escape her.
Also picking up on the mind speech, young Taichi gasped fearfully as he leaned against Sengoku to seek reassurance and whimpered a terrified; " What he mean 'Akutsu's wings are his?' And why does he look so...afraid! That demon! He is...not giving up on winning!"
Throwing back his head as he ran to meet Ryoma's serve, Akutsu roared with menacing laughter as his face twisted into a frighteningly deranged smile and his eyes flooded with the gleam of madness.
' Yes imp! This the just the way I like it! Your a worthy challenger, but your life ends today!'
Picking up the ball as it bounced in the service square, the short teenager hit it with a strong forehand then grinned wickedly as his adversary caught it between his own service square and the base line.
Shaking his head as he pondered the telepathic threat he had heard, Inui spoke aloud to his gathered team mates.
" It's clear that both sides refuse to give way, but there is more going beneath the surface than the eye can see."
" Yes," agreed Oishi worriedly " but what's going on between them and how will it go? This game is too close!"
" I fear it will continue this way." Remarked an open eyed Fuji as he turned to face his captain. " No one can stop them, not even..."
Breaking off to search the taller youth's face, the honey-haired ' Blood' was mildly shocked at the quiet fury radiating from the normally calm dragon king. " I can't stop them." he finally said after a long silence. " But if he thinks he can harm Echizen..."
Tearing across the battle field, his racket extended before him like a samurai sword, Ryoma stopped the ball with a forehand and sent it back on a flat trajectory that caused it to skip lightly atop the tight hung net. Leaping forward, Akutsu returned it.
Helpless to interfere, Takashi could only watch in trepidation as his little friend jousted for his team's honour against a merciless and evil black knight of the tennis court.
" He has caught up to Akutsu at last." He said to a trembling Momo' " But I know him too well. That creature will never give in and will fight to the very last."
" Echizen wont lose!" snapped Momo' with absolute conviction.
" Saa... he accepts the battle bravely." nodded Fuji in agreement
Toying with his glasses in a way that made the watching ' Blood' youth feel that perhaps the Basilisk was itching to take down the green dragon himself , Inui's voice held a distinct note of respect as he commented on his team mates fierce struggle.
" Echizen knows instinctively that being a weak coward is a taboo on the battle field."
Noting the pleased expression on Ryoma's face as his racket hit its mark, Tezuka nodded in solemn concurrence as he added his own thoughts to the conversation. " Although he has grown in strength and his skill is important, tennis is an unpredictable sport...and his opponent is an unpredictable dragon."
Taking a running shot, the young demon mentally shouted at his enemy as the ball took flight. ' Hey! If you practiced being a human as obediently as you practiced tennis, this match wouldn't leave a stain to say you lost to me!'
Infuriated, Akutsu roared his anger. " SHUT UP!"
Swinging both arms in a double hand hold, the Yamabuki player sent the missile screaming back to his rival. Then to add insult to his injured pride as the ball flew back toward him, he heard the voice of his ruler tickle quietly at the edge of his senses.
' Your power, Echizen's courage; which one is stronger?'
Fighting to quell the blind rage the threatened to consume him, the bristle-haired youth glared savagely at his short adversary and furiously returned fire in an explosive movement. Halting the objects progress, Ryoma sent it on its way with evil chuckle.
' Loser green!'
' Filthy half breed!'
Hearing the antagonizing taunts of the warriors ringing through out her skull, Sakuno hardly noticed the worried comments of the Hikari beside her until the woman knelt down to speak to her directly. " This maybe a tennis match, but now it's become a battle. I fear the issue is not merely who will take the victory, but who will live."
" What?" The shocked heads of Tomo, Horio, Kachiro and Katsuo snapped around, the colour draining from their faces in sudden fear at the angel guardian's words. Her voice and body trembling, the shy red hatchling whispered; " Who will...live?"
" Yes" she nodded, her expression grim. " One is an imprisoned soul, bound to a body he longs to be free from. The other is, as he was born to be. The game has turned into a severe fight that only one may walk from unscathed."
" Souls miss Hikari?" Gazing longingly at the dark-haired boy she adored, the little dragon found herself lost in her inner most thoughts as she mulled over Shiba's words in her mind. " Soul bound. Yes green one, that at least is something I do understand, and can feel sorry for, and the one thing Ryoma will never have to suffer..."
Oblivious to the comments and wild hand gestures of the spectators, Akutsu could only stand motionless and stare in utter disbelief
as his hated enemy scored again to bring the war one more step closer to an abrupt end in his favour.
Green-gold orbs half concealed by a lowered cap brim, Ryoma threw his foe the most arrogant smirk his face could muster. Gazing smugly across the flimsy barrier of net separating him from the infuriated flying reptile, the young demon shoved his right hand deep into his shorts pocket and chuckled sinisterly under his breath.
' You can't win, so why do you persist?'
Pale amber orbs flashed with a look of pure loathing as black pupils narrowed into slits and the bitter fear of failure surged throughout his soul bringing an icy coldness in its wake. For brief moment, he saw himself as a tiny hatchling cowering in the high grass as his mother was killed and he was utterly powerless to help her. Having the gold then come to his rescue had only reinforced his feelings of helplessness, and the day he had fled the protection of the clans had been the start of his vow to be the strongest creature in the world.
Two centuries had past and as his body grew, so too did his might. Other dragons soon learned to avoid him once they saw his madness, (which had become an insatiable thirst for power) and once it had evolved into a false realization that he was unstoppable, that thought had slowly continued to become his biggest weakness. Yet the young creature had never before been shown what he truly was as all continued to flee in terror or contempt before him...until now.
The revelation that he, the human known as Akutsu Jin was in fact not the omnipotent being he so truly believed himself to be, was far more a brutal slap of reality in his face than any words that anyone had ever uttered before, as far stronger beings than he had continued to fall before him. Yet it was the fact that a mere child...a half demon child at that, had all but bought him down with nothing more than a useless human past time that rankled at the very core of his existence and in an impulsive flash of twisted reasoning he thought if he completely crushed the boy like the bug he was, then all would once again be in awe of him.
After a long silence filled by the two warlords trying to stare each other down, Akutsu finally found his mind voice. In a deadly calm of hardly contained rage, he spoke four quiet words; ' I will kill you'
A silence descended to lay as thick, stifling blanket over the gladiators as they continued to lock eyes across their arena. Even the previously steady breeze suddenly dropped to a mere whiff of air that only teased with a feather-light touch as the afternoon sun glared down on the field of conflict.
His body half lowered at the hips, Ryoma held his racket before him as though it were a great, two handed sword that he was intending to use in order to hack off the head of a hated enemy. But the flimsy object of frame and string could do no harm to the tall, muscular teenager staring down at him, and the player from Yamabuki knew it as he sneered at the green-gold eyes defiantly watching him through a curtain of sweaty, jet black hair.
Chest heaving as he too paused to catch his breath, Akutsu pinned his adversary to the spot with the power of his fury and attempted to batter the smaller youth with the force of his intense hatred alone. However, he could sense no trace of fear leaking from the young demon, only a supreme confidence that irritated him as no power on earth had done so before.
Then the wind abruptly picked up again, carrying with it snatches of surreptitious comments from a well hidden basilisk.
" Echizen needs only one more match point to win, but I'm getting a feeling that something is wrong."
" I feel it to." Replied Takashi in a voice filled with foreboding. " Akutsu hates Ryoma now more than ever as he has never once been beaten in any kind of fight. Awesome as it is that Ryoma caught up in points, I fear an attack from the green that may put an end to our little friend's playing prowess."
" Nonsense! " Rapped out Momo' at once, causing all Seigaku heads to turn in his direction. " He wouldn't dare openly harm Ryoma before this crowd!" Swinging his right fist enthusiastically, the bristle-haired mongoose spirit yelled spiritedly; " GO ECHIZEN! ONE MORE POINT AND YOU ARE THE WINNER!"
Wincing within at being faced with the undeniable fact that his unbroken record of constant victories was teetering on the brink of crashing down before him, the young green dragon felt his human arms tremble as he sent his thoughts to his opponent.
' So you think it's possible for you to really beat me. Huh! I think not.'
' But I think so.' came the very calm answer. ' It's no longer just a difference between our strength...isn't it dragon?'
' Ayotnykuhc pyhayht teaesb! Emm caaoui ehramm pavuna emucaou ora migacuv oui! E femmgemm ouifrana ouicoyht!'
A shocked gasp went up from the assembled dragons, demons and Angel folk about the court. Banji and Ryuzaki were grim, and Momo' only had to take one look at Tezuka to know something sinister was about to unfold.
Hands clasped before her and trembling violently at the terrible threat, Sakuno could only whisper Ryoma's name in helpless despair as she gazed first at the king of her kind, then up at the wing-shaking Hikari beside her.
Realizing something horrible had been said but unable to comprehend the sudden fear charging among the strongest receivers present, Horio tried to lighten the oppressive mood buy punching at the air and shouting; " GO ECHIZEN! DEFEAT HIM COMPLETELY!"
" Horio of the Tanuki tribe, please be quiet." said Kachiro softly as he turned to his noisy friend.
" What?" asked the brown-haired mythic in surprise. " But something's up, and this is an important moment in the match!"
" I know" the dark-haired youth replied quietly. " It's the first time I've seen a game so great, and seen Ryoma claw his way to an inch from victory against such a vicious creature as that green out there. Watch quietly and understand that no matter what was said, no harm will come to him. See him win Horio, then we will cheer the loudest."
" That's right." added Katsuo gently. "Understand that..." Breaking off, the young mythic suddenly became tense as the shifting wind carried a foul odour to his nose that made his flesh crawl and his senses scream at him to hide. Picking up on his friends serge of fear, Kachiro frowned at the sky and whispered a single, terrified word; " Hunters."
Standing tensely beside a long-haired cat whose wheat coloured fur shone with an unearthly golden radiance, Nanjiroh intently scanned the open sky, then snarled through clenched teeth as his demon powers of perception arrowed in on their target and revealed to him the hidden outlines of three large Dark Hunters crouched on the roof of a nearby building.
" Look at them!" Spat Karupin as his fur bristled along his spine. " With all those humans and many dragons with Hikari around! Do you think they'll attack? And in broad daylight too!"
" They may do old friend, but I have the oddest feeling they are just...waiting."
Also picking up the presence of some kind of hidden threat, Taichi wedged himself between Sengoku and Muromachi for protection as the flame-haired Hikari tensely sought out the hunter demons location. Noting their concealed position, he sent a quick thought to his bond dragon, then a question to the dragon lord himself.
' I see them Hikari of the Divine Star. But this game must play out as normal, so as not to cause a panic.'
Preparing to serve, Akutsu shot a quick look at his bond partner, then let his gaze flit briefly onto the face of the old green dragon watching nervously from the side lines before resting his intense amber orbs on the serious countenance of his tennis foe.
' We have company imp!' Sent the silver-haired youth as he bounced the ball twice and smirked across the net. ' I believe they may have come here just for your benefit!'
Ignoring him, Ryoma kept his mind firmly on the unfinished task ahead as he rushed in to take the missile with a well executed super rising. Racing in to meet the felt covered object as it skimmed its way over the net and back to his racket, the Yamabuki player sent mockingly; ' Yes! That's it imp! Try your best and give those hunters a show they'll never forget!'
Slamming the ball with a mighty forehand that was met with an equally fierce forehand, Akutsu agreed to the wordless challenge with a devastating blow that zoomed back at Ryoma at a furious pace.
Knowing that danger lurked unseen and helpless to act, Momo' fell forward to brace his hands on the high, chain link fence as his frightened purple orbs never left his boyfriend's face. " Win Echizen!" he growled through his mongoose chattering. " But more importantly, please be safe!"
" He isn't without protection." Stated Inui firmly as he gazed off at a nearby rooftop.
" They wont be foolish enough to strike now." said Tezuka with complete certainty as he watched Ryoma keep his focus with a fierce pride. " Look at Echizen mongoose and remember. Even with these uncertain conditions he keeps his mind firmly on the game as he knows full well that no harm will befall him."
Hitting the ball with a savage forehand that seemed to flare like a comet as it zipped straight at his enemy, Akutsu listened to Ryoma's mighty roar as he met it, then grinned evilly.
'That's it imp! Show those Dark Hunters your dragon blood! They have come for YOU and you know it! But they wont take you alive because I'M going to be the one who kills you!'
' No green, they will kill you first!'
Shocked at his adversary's confident words, Akutsu could only glare as the ball flew at him and the young demi-dragon fully opened his mind for all the receivers to hear. ' I have lost whatever fear I had of you dragon because you are nothing! This victory is my revenge for Kawamura Sempai when you poured that drink on him, and for beating up Arai Sempai! This war isn't over for me as I will bring you down even if those Dark Hunters should spring now! But it's over for you, and you will be the one to, DIE!'
A second round of horrified gasping went up but this time, it wasn't just the powerful receivers who heard but the minds of every Mythic scattered about the grounds. Even the humans seemed to feel a strange and profound buzzing in the air that made them uneasy as Akutsu leapt back to avoid the ball flying straight at his face.
Laughing with a sinister lilt that made his audience shudder, Ryoma's feet left the ground as he met the returning ball.
' I'll let you and those hunters see my full strength! he sent as his weapon hit the ball with a resounding, explosive crack.
With a few concerned cries of " Echizen!" ringing in his ears, Akutsu threw his foe a glare that would stop a herd of demented charging elephants at forty paces, then braced himself to attack the ball as it fell from the great height of his rival's straight lob.
But the expected high bounce never followed as the little green and white object lost its momentum and flattened out on its contact with the uncaring ground to roll lazily away, taking all of Yamabuki's victory hopes with it.
Frozen to his receiving point between Base line and service square, Akutsu Jin; the undefeated singles champion on could only stare in thunderstruck disbelief as he glared wildly at the cunningly played drop ball that had so dramatically and abruptly changed his future forever more.
Hardly hearing the linesman's call confirming the win, nor the exultation of the spectators, the defeated green dragon snarled through clenched teeth as his foe glanced up from under his cap brim with an evil chuckle.
' Your dead meat imp! Dark Hunters be cursed, I will kill you as I promised!'
Stalking up to Ryoma, the taller youth reached across the net with a sudden lunge and roughly grasped the Seigaku players shirt in his fist to haul him up onto his toes. Yet the boy's large glittering eyes met the dragon's raging orbs with no trace of fear whatsoever and the hidden shadow of the savage monster looming over him hesitated.
In the background, Ryoma was aware of a multitude of frightened screams ringing out and for a spilt second he feared the watching hunters had struck. But then he smirked at his attacker as the sounds became clear.
" ITS BAD!"
" HE HAS ECHIZEN!"
" RYOMA KUN!" cried Sakuno against Momo's stricken wail of " HE'LL BE KILLED!" and the following bark from Tezuka of " RESTRAIN HIM!"
Throwing the briefest of glances at Momo' as the Seigaku power house struggled against the many hands holding him, Ryoma sniggered at the Silver-haired teenager and at the snarling shadow of his draconian face as it hovered centimetres from his own, and said simply; " I win."
" Why aren't you afraid?" came the shocked reply
" You gave me a good fight." answered Ryoma calmly.
" I could still kill you, but..."
Reluctantly the bristled-haired youth released his victim with a flick of his wrist, then stood perfectly still as the hidden shadow form of his true dragon self lay down before his conqueror and closed his eyes in weary surrender.
' That's it then. You have won. Go ahead and kill me, as I would have killed you.'
' Oh?' said the cap wearing youth with a hint of amusement. ' But you didn't win Akutsu and I am not you. So get up and remember your promise to obey both Tezuka and Sengoku from this moment on.'
Staring down at the one creature in two centuries to ever get the better of him, the corners of the muscular youth's mouth twitched up, then he broke into mocking laughter. ' Then if I must...see you around imp!'
Turning his back, Akutsu's bold laugh lasted a few more moments, then he had his final say as the crowd erupted with acclaim.
' You are the strongest young Demi-Dragon and I will keep my word.'
Hearing the quite send over Momo's exuberant cry of " He won! And his alright!", Ryoma smiled as he gazed up at the serene blue vault of the heavens. A large jet flew low overhead, but to the youth's dreamy eyes, it morphed into the shape of an enormous gold dragon soaring victoriously in his honour.
Drawing back from the edge of the roof as he watched the imps team mates pour out onto the court, the purple-eyed, white-haired demon turned to gaze into the blazing red orbs of his highest ranking captain.
" My spy has spoken truly, the child's powers are remarkable."
" Then shall we attack?"
Shaking his head, the regal looking demon observed the many powerful creatures surrounding his target then smirked wickedly.
" We will take him soon enough. Captain Shinjyou, prepare six of your finest and this time, do not fail me!"
Smiling up at Momo' as the taller youth kept a loving grip on his shoulders, Ryoma noticed Tezuka's eyes narrow as he seemed to track the movements of some invisible entity. Lifting his gaze he was about to inquire, but a sudden wave of fatigue engulfed him and he yawned mightily.
" Echizen" Said Inui in a matter-of-fact tone while holding out a plastic flask that caused the others to retreat a step; " If you are tired then drink this special energy restoring juice."
" I beg to be excused" he rapped out at once drawing happy laughter from his friends.
Standing behind the dark-haired youth, Shiba noticed Sakuno staring fixedly at the sky, then turn to look at Ryoma as she trembled. The boy she so wished to care for had been in grave danger and she had hoped her king would engage the Dark Hunters she could see leaving the area, but the mighty gold had only watched as they vanished and the female Hikari who protected her family could only offer comfort for her troubled soul.
Not far away, a trio of demons also observed the Dark Hunters surreptitious departure, then gazed over at Ryoma as the group prepared to leave.
" They will be back." remarked Tachibana sternly
" And we'll be ready for them." Answered Inuoe calmly as he looked first at the powerful demon prince beside him, then at his younger sister. " I have a gift for you princess."
Reaching into his bag, he drew out a clear plastic bottle that bubbled with a clear, blue liquid. " Juice of the ice berry from the upper realm. I know it's your favourite and it can boost your strength should an enemy threaten."
" My sister is strong, but thank you." said Ann's brother politely " Hope there will be no need of it's powers."
" As do I hope." Replied Inoue formally as he sketched a little bow, then stepped back. " Excuse me your highness, I must go."
Invoking their second sight, the royal siblings of the Dark Storm clan smiled at the sight of the Shadow Rock demon's great black wings, swinging tail and long shaggy hair, then turned to make their own way home.
Epilogue.
The sun had long ago sunk from sight and the full moon held court over a sea of sparkling subjects as it ruled over the night sky.
Below the glowing celestial orb, a forest lay in peaceful silence broken only by the sighing wind and the odd call of a owl as it hunted among the trees. Hard hooves stepping with a feather light touch unusual for such a large animal, a regal looking red stag trod delicately from the high ferns ringing a small clearing and stopped to bow before the Hikari who stood there.
" Greetings son of heavens realm. How is your friend this evening?"
Lifting his wings in greeting, Sengoku returned the formal gesture then indicated cliff face behind him with a small wave of his left hand. Eyeing the rump and limp tail protruding from a cave at the rocky features base, the stag smiled gently then spoke again in his deep, calm voice. " Still sulking I see. Well perhaps the guests now arriving will help bring him to his senses."
" I doubt it Sky Fire." answered the flame-haired Hikari with an amused snort as he watched two dragons in half human form descending into the confined space. " You know, it's a pity he lost, but that's the way it is."
Nodding sagely, the large deer quietly agreed, then narrowed his golden-brown eyes at the taller of the two new comers.
Emerald sails of dragon wings standing out proudly from his shoulders, Banji pointedly ignored the stag as he stalked up to the pair with an unreadable expression, then strode over to deal the trailing tail of his team member a roughly affectionate slap.
" So you are still regretful my hatchling? It's the first time in your life you've been beaten I know, but I just want you to know your potential. You can still play and play well."
From within the depths of the hole in the tall rock wall, a surly voice rumbled. " Tennis is boring, I'll never play it again."
Banji cocked his head to one side. " Boring? The imp was but one challenge Krucdmo Aoac. There will be many others you can..."
The long tail lashed angrily, then hind quarters moved as the body attached to them shuffled backward. Large, folded wings appeared, then powerful shoulders followed by strong front legs and a long, serpentine neck emerged from the cave, then Akutsu the green dragon glared down at him.
" I'm not interested in that game anymore. That half bred demon off shoot beat me, so back off!"
" Krucdmo," sighed the silver-haired half form dragon as he wearily passed a hand before his eyes. " As your coach, I must urge you to reconsider. As your father, I must..."
The older green dragon never got to finish his sentence as the younger one suddenly whipped out his claws to seize other in a vicelike grip and spat savagely into his face. " You may have been the male who caught my mother when she rose to mate, but you are not my father! "
Roughly tossing the elder aside Akutsu turned his back, then glared with one scaled eyebrow raised as he caught sight of his other visitor; now in his full dragon form, for the first time. " And what in Jigoku do you want yolk crawler?" he growled as he flipped his tail at the form of a departing Banji silhouetted against the moon, and snorted at the tiny black hatchling cowering at his feet.
" Akutsu Sempai, are you quitting tennis?"
" Bah!" growled the older dragon as he turned his back again. " So what?"
Gazing up the grass coloured scaled rump of his idol, Taichi blinked back the tears that threatened to become a flood as he asked; "Why? You are very tall and strong and like Sengoku, you are very powerful! I can never compare to you! Why are you quitting?"
Glancing back over his shoulder, the former unbeaten champion was surprised by the child's outburst. ' So young.' he thought as he studied the youngsters ebony scales gleaming in the semi-darkness of the forest night out the corner of one amber eye.
" Akutsu, please don't give up!"
Now the youth's tears escaped his control and streamed down the sides of his muzzle as glittering lost stars.
Still gazing back over one shoulder at the little one as he sobbed quietly, the once savage green spoke with a gentleness he hadn't felt since he himself had been a very young hatchling.
" Dan... Tyng nyeh, you should never try to be like me. I'm not like other dragons, as I've hunted and killed humans and even ripped apart strong demons. My own kind have feared and shunned me hatchling, so don't ever try to be me as you'll end up being hated and alone. But if you wish to play tennis, then train hard and go take on the kings blood. Beat him, and win the admiration of all...including mine."
" Then, " sniffed the smaller of the pair " I will train hard and do my very best! and like you, I will be strong as I step on the road to pro tennis!"
Slowly swinging his neck around, Akutsu pushed tenderly at the youngsters horns with the pointed tip of his muzzle, briefly flicked his tongue out to caress the thatch of black hair growing between them, then walked slowly back into his cave as he farewelled his small friend with a quiet; " Goodbye."
Moisture flowing freely from his dark brown orbs, the little dragon sobbed as Sengoku knelt to embrace him and the huge red stag nuzzled his left cheek.
" I don't want to be a manager anymore! I want to become a regular! Will you train me Hikari? Someday, I want to fight Echizen on the court!"
" Then little hatchling, I will help you and when you have become strong, that's a battle I'd love to see." whispered Sengoku with a smile.
' I too would enjoy that battle' thought the silent stag beside them as he raised his head to gaze at the heavens. ' Tennis. I miss it, but if HE were to discover me...'
End of fifth chronicle.
Whew! That was a long one! Now please don't fret readers, the identity of Sky Fire will be revealed!
Coming soon: " What Good Am I?" The mythic reason behind Momo' being dropped from the team with much Ryoma-Momo goodness!
Dragon Translations:
Akutsu's threat to Ryoma is: Eat dragons bane and die imp! I'll see you in hell before I lose to the likes of you! I will kill you where you stand!
Hekrdc crytuf: Nights shadow... Nanjiroh's demon name.
Tyng Nyeh...Dark rain...Dan's Dragon name.
Lsemauv dravuq...Smile of the fox...Banji's dragon name.
Sengoku's comment of " Getting a flight for his scales" is much like saying... His getting a run for his money.
Tanuki: Also called a racoon dog, it is in fact a real animal! Japanese folk lore tells of this mythic as a creature that walks upright, is mischievous, noisy and can perform magic.
Wererats: Like all Lycanthropes, the wererats are humans with the ability to assume animal form. However, in the Mythic Brotherhood, they are not controlled by the moon and are able to change any time. Incidentally, their strength does increase significantly during the moons full phrase.
Demons soul bond: Demons and Hikari are immortal and births are quite rare. However twins do occur and on very rare occasions a demon or Hikari will have a sibling born 200 or 300 years apart. Conception only takes place if the couple's love is 100 per cent true, or as they like to say: "Their souls have bonded."
Spot the Mythic: Gorgons. There are two types of Gorgon in mythology. One is the well know Greek myth of the snake woman Medusa, but there is another type from African legend that I've adapted for this series. This creature is highly dangerous as like a Basilisk, they can turn things to stone but they also have the ability to breath poison gas. In his true form, Yamabuki's Gorgon resembles a large black bull with a scaly hide, a thick growth of black hair on his head and fiery red eyes he cannot transform and therefore must stay hidden behind demon made dark glasses. Nishikiori Tsubasa is Yamabuki's demon, and he made Muromachi Touji's eye shields. Just for the record, Yamabuki has a mongoose spirit in its team! Most members of the Mongoose clan have bristle or spiky hair. Found him?
This story breaks slightly from the anime it's paralleling due to certain events that set the stage for the next story, and the ending is a warm, fuzzy conclusion that shows even someone like Akutsu can have a soft side. I have noticed in the anime that Dan Taichi tends to stick close to Sengoku, and as he is a Hikari in this series he is some what closer to Dan (a dragon) in this fic.
Sengoku by the way, is around 400 years old and tends to behave as a father figure to the ( in dragon years ) 30 year old Dan.
Disclaimer: We Prince Of Tennis boys do not belong to Tora Macaw, but she does enjoy writing about us! Akutsu is awesome and no one compares to him! My head band keeps falling over my eyes...why is it Seigaku are the royalty around here? Yamabuki is really strong... hey Akutsu Sempai! Wait for me!
TM: I don't own Albed language either. The makers of Final Fantasy have that honour!
So Full Of Hate.
Chapter Four
Story: Tora Macaw.
Narrowing his eyes Ryoma glanced up at the posturing dragon looming threateningly over him, then gave his cap a little tug down over his green-gold orbs as he grinned. With his own draconian blood roaring in his veins, the young demon suddenly found he was unimpressed by the snarling green and turned his back as spoke.
" Mada mada da ne."
Hands hooked over wire and purple eyes watching fearfully, Momo' was unable to control the stressful chattering that escaped him. Shrewdly observing the bristle-haired teenager's violent trembling, Inui moved up beside him and thoughtfully rubbed his chin as his own hidden orbs never left his team mates face.
" An impressive display of buried power. Echizen has given Yamabuki something to think about."
Across the open space of the war zone, a young black dragon tugged nervously at his human clothing as he gazed up imploringly into the blue eyes of the hidden Hikari beside him.
" I cant' believe it! I wont believe it! The demon has his dragon blood?" Staring over the distance separating them, Taichi looked at the regal form of the great dragon king towering as a huge proud ghost over all he surveyed, then muttered as he switched his vision back to Ryoma; " I can't believe his ability has surpass Akutsu's!"
Briefly grinning down at the worried hatchling, Sengoku turned his attention to the human disguised dragon seething on the tennis court. " Control your rage Akutsu. " he said quietly, then spoke louder as Muromachi swung his head in the flame-haired angel's direction. " It's a funny thing. We need to win this match, but my bond dragon has been needing a take down for some time now, and Jinnai bless me...that Seigaku imp may just be the one to do it!"
The corner of the dark-haired teenagers mouth twitched up in response and the faint shadow of a smile flit across his features as a dim red glow flared momentarily behind his eye shields.
On the battle field, Akutsu gave his adversary a look that would stop a wildfire dead in its tracks as his mind still struggled to believe what his eyes had seen. ' I saw dragon wings and I saw the smooth horns. But in all my years of existing, no yolk crawler fresh out of its shell has ever beaten me. Are listening imp?'
' I'm listening and I know I have you worried. ' came the immediate, smug reply
Cheering loudly over the score call of 40-30, Horio jumped up and as his unconfined excitement bubbled over to effect those closest to him. " Did you see that? Did you see his glow? What awesome power Echizen has!"
Noticing the stern glares of the Sempais as several heads turned to look at them, Kachiro urgently warned the exuberant Tanuki to keep his voice down.
" Oops! Yes...ah! but what a match this is turning into!"
" Dragon against dragon." added Katsuo softly in awe. " I hope I never have to fight against one."
" And if you did 'Ratty' you would no doubt run away screaming!" said Tomo with a playful dig to the young werebeast's ribs. Curving her hands over her mouth, the pony-tailed girl bellowed in a voice loud enough to wake the dead. " FIGHT ON! FIGHT ON! GO RYOMA SAMA!"
Standing silently at the young Wyvern's side, Sakuno was oblivious to her friends excitement as her keen dragon vision drank in the fearful sight of the mighty green grinding his teeth and trembling with barely controlled fury. It was only when Shiba laid a soothing hand on her shoulder that she was able to tear her eyes away and silently plead for reassurance.
' Don't be afraid little one.' the smiling Hikari told her. 'There are too many humans and enough Hikari present to keep him in check. Ryoma may be very young, but he has incredible spirit and a brave heart. I believe he'll be fine.'
Elsewhere along the surrounding fence, Nanjiroh's brow furrowed as he cursed under his breath. " That blood! The curse of my line is taking over and Rinko and I are powerless to stop it!"
As if picking up on his long-time-friend's thoughts, Inoue flipped his hidden wings then eyed the Fire Lake demon.
" It's come as no surprise Hekrdc crytuf. While it's true the kings blood as been dormant for centuries, it had to emerge sometime. It's power will make your son strong. Why do you so object?"
" Because O wise one..." snapped the short-haired man irritably "...It's a curse...remember? You fools of the Shadow Rock may have forgotten why my clan has dwindled because of it, but I certainly have not!"
His pale amber eyes fixed on Ryoma's half hidden face, Akutsu spat a thick lump of poison, then grinned maliciously as it seethed and bubbled against the ground.
' When next I spit, it will be in your face half breed!'
Ignoring the smouldering patch of court, the raven-haired youth made for the base line then stood half bent at the hips; his weapon ready for the next bout. Also reaching the line of battle, Akutsu stood and glared as Inui's comments about his team mates performance drifted on the breeze to float against his highly acute ears. Cocking his head slightly, he then heard the ' Blood' youth's voice as he spoke to his ancient enemy.
" What do you think?"
Arms folded across his chest, Tezuka was stern in his reply. " He is holding his own against Akutsu."
Close by, Oishi raised his voice to comment. " He is truly one of your own Tezuka. His powers will soon be complete."
" Nya!" agreed Eiji with a grin. Whispering into his lovers ear, the red head added; " Soon we may have two gold dragons to protect us!"
The drawn out hiss of a serpent rang out and several pairs of eyes turned to rest on Kaido as he stood a little way apart from his team, his hands in his jacket pockets with his back against the smooth trunk of a shady tree. Opening his eyes, the hidden Naga gazed upward to study the drifting clouds, then spoke as if talking to himself.
" The sleeping power inside Echizen's body has awoken. Yes, he will be a great dragon some day."
Shuddering at the Mamushi's words, Momo' chewed his lip as he grimily watched his boyfriend move into position. ' You are changing Ryoma.' he thought sadly as a single tear glistened within his left eye. 'But will he be accepted, or will the dragons call him a freak.?'
Angered by the talk he could hear carried on the wind, Akutsu snarled through bared teeth at his opponent who smiled confidently at him. ' So, you want to humiliate me. But you won't win this war!'
Tossing the ball high, the silver-haired youth watched its decent with a predatory gleam. Then, his racket whistled through the air space just above his head to connect to the ball and hit it with an explosive crack. Rushing to the far right corner where the base line met the trammels, Ryoma easily picked up the shot to return it with equal intensity. Galloping across court, his face a demonic mask, the Yamabuki player yelled his defiance.
" I told you kid! Its no use!"
Sliding to a halt the disguised green prepared to smack the ball back over the net, but his pale eyes widened in shock when it sailed wide of his body to thunder down in the far right corner for a deuce score.
Over the cheers of the crowd Ryoma heard the rousing calls of his classmates, then felt an unmistakable wave of pride from his coach.
Akutsu could also hear the exclaim, but to him it was like the hum of a distant bee swarm as he glared first at his adversary, then at his own coach. Curling his lip as he realized the old dragon was very impressed by the imp's performance, he cast his malevolent gaze towards the blue and white uniforms of his enemy's and locked eyes with those of very young red female whose anxious brown orbs never left his hated antagonists face.
Hissing out a small cloud of toxic gas, the sliver-haired youth returned his attention to the demon as the panting teenager gave him an optimistic look. Shoulders rising and falling as his chest heaved, the savage green was suddenly consumed by his first ever wave of doubt as his thoughts tumbled in flurry of uncertainty. ' He is moving much faster than he was before. Curse his half golden blood! No matter, he will now learn who is master here and know the true meaning of fear!'
Throwing the ball skyward, Akutsu sent it flying horizontally to Ryoma who effortlessly sent it back. Running in to intercept the speeding round missile, the bristle-haired Yamabuki singles champion resumed his silent taunting.
' Don't get dizzy with that single success you mindless winged rat!'
Leaping high in the air to take the ball as the shorter boy lunged to the left, the green dragon spread hidden wings to slow his decent and let the felt covered object drift with perfect precision onto his racket strings. Lips drawn back to expose his teeth, the muscular teenager's eyes blazed wildly in triumph as the missile connected. ' I have you now! Other side imp!'
At precisely the moment of impact, the cap wearing youth from Seigaku pushed powerfully off his left foot to spring swiftly to the right. His weapon gripped tightly in both hands, he roared fiercely and struck with a punishing blow. Arrow straight, the tennis ball winged its way back across the taught, woven rope barrier to steal another point. Landing from his high jump, Akutsu's eyes widened in a look of shear disbelief.
" Perfect!" said Oishi to Eiji as the bouncy red head whistled and cheered lustily. " His foot work is incredible."
Leaning forward, the other half of the golden pair cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled for all the world to hear; " EXCELLENT! GO CHIBI!"
Throwing a sour glare at the noisy young Cat Lord, Muromachi resisted the urge go and breath on him by commenting to his Hikari friend; " His moves are different now."
Grinning wickedly, Sengoku rustled his hidden wings. " I'm afraid the young Demi-Dragon is still evolving." he remarked, his eyes following the dark-haired youth's moves as play resumed. " My fierce friend is certainly getting a flight for his scales!"
Watching his boyfriend race into hit a hard forehand, Momo' felt some of his tension start to melt as he said to his team mates at large; " Echizen is super strong now! His dragon blood..."
" Is fully flowing." cut in Kaido as he leaned his back on his tree and sourly eyed the mongoose spirit. " He is playing very well now."
Turning to look fully at the disguised Naga, the bristle-haired youth gave him a quick nod. " This is the first time I've heard you fully compliment him Mamushi! But what do you think of...his changes?"
Hissing through his teeth, the bandana wearing teenager gave him a curt reply. " Cut the crap pack rat and keep your eyes on the court!"
Chattering worriedly, the taller of the pair watched as Ryoma hit a hard backhand and Akutsu rushed in to play a backhand of his own.
Seeing it about to fall, the black-haired youth charged in by sliding on his heels; then abruptly stood upright to return the ball in a powerful Drive B volley! Eyes snapping with anger at the unexpected move, the disguised dragon could only watch in helpless rage as he missed his lunge and the object sailed far out of his reach.
Fighting down a need to loudly roar his frustration as the linesman called " Echizen's point! Three games to one!", the sliver-haired player directed a hate filled stare of pure loathing in the Seigaku teams direction and locked eyes with the invisible, ghostly form a giant gold dragon. Completely unruffled by the unspoken threat in the eyes of the young beast a scant third his size, Tezuka returned the blazing gaze with equal intensity and a silent warning.
' Do you understand now young Krucdmo aoac? The time of your defeat is close at hand.'
Snorting with contempt, Akutsu's only reply was to savagely swipe at the speeding tennis ball. Ryoma returned it with a swift forehand that flew on a low, straight trajectory that met his enemy's racket and fly back with a fast top spin. Felt covered ball met the harsh kiss of hard string, then rushed back to its first launch point.
Seated on her bench, Ryuzaki smirked proudly, then turned to gaze smugly at her long time best enemy.
' Lsemauv dravuq...I must thank you for bringing the hatchling to this stage.'
' Oh?' came an amused reply as Banji turned to look at her with a cunning smile. ' What do mean my dear fire scale?'
' He awoke the dragon blood sleeping inside Ryoma's body.' answered the red dragon with a touch of annoyance. ' He is a stronger player and will be a mighty heir to the king's throne.'
' The king's THRONE?' snapped the old green angrily. ' Echizen may be strong, but no dragon would ever follow the rule of a stump winged, flameless demon half cast!' My hatchling will win because he will never give up!' His ever present smile returning, the human Yamabuki coach hummed to himself, then spoke again. ' In spite of the contempt he receives from others, Ghostly eyes is proud and even though the Fire Lake imp just won his second game, it is the reason he can't lose.'
Averting her eyes from her old adversary, Ryuzaki gave her singles champion a pleased smile as he approached her for a short break.
" Nice play Echizen."
The youth's answer was a low " Hmmm..." as he mopped the game induced sweat from his face and neck with his towel.
Fixing the boy with a stern stare, the Seigaku coach became brisk. " But you can't be careless! There are some moves I know Banji has taught him that you haven't seen yet! He's a cunning old beast and when I think of how very close he came catching me when I last rose to..." Balling her fists and lashing her invisible shadow tail in a way that made Ryoma wonder, the middle aged woman glared up with a ferocity that made her watcher squirm uncomfortably. "...I get so angry when I remember it! RYOMA! Beat him!"
Casually placing his racket over his right shoulder, the dark-haired youth lightly bounced it against his shirt as his lips curved in a smug grin. " Mada mada, I'm surprised you are so worried. It's clear cut Sensei, I will win...I have to." he added as he gazed across at Momo'.
Standing behind and a little off to the side of the focus of his team mates attention, Inui wrote something in his data file, then closed it with a snap. " Ryoma's full draconian potential has been aroused." he commented to no one in particular. " If he keeps playing like that, he will win."
In the furthest corner of the tennis grounds, Nanjiroh slipped a cigarette between his lips, watched it ignite unaided then spoke bitterly to his friend. " You really don't understand, do you? Everything myself and my wife had fought against is going to start now. My son still glows gold, even though it has faded! Yet... he will fix those arrogant greens." Heaving a regretful sigh, the demon turned and began to walk away.
" Hey!" called Inoue after him. " Aren't you going to watch?"
" And see him turn into something his not? No, I can't bare to see him become...one of them."
His eyes darkening with thought, Inoue could only watch as his oldest friend from Thleer walked away, his tail moving in a sad, rhythmic swing as shadowy wings drooped dispiritedly from his shoulders.
Staring straight ahead, Nanjiroh spoke softly to the unresponsive air; " Go Ryoma...meet your destiny."
Throwing himself onto the bench, Akutsu hissed with angry frustration as his coach strolled up to him.
" It will be bad for Yamabuki if you lost."
Rolling his eyes in the elder's direction, the young green puffed a great cloud of sickly kaki coloured mist then spat savagely with his mind. ' Who in Jigoku do you think you are talking to old fool? That imp is hardly the mighty Aion himself! '
Sniggering, the senior dragon nodded as he replied; ' But you could still lose'
' Mention that word again, and I'll tear your head off!'
Chuckling at the furious threat, Banji sat down then laid a hand on his players shoulder. ' Keep up your fighting spirit my hatchling. Do you remember when I first asked you to play tennis for me?'
Violently slapping the hand aside, the bristled-haired youth let his mind wander back to that significant event.
His Hikari bond partner had taught him to play as an outlet for his rage induced energy. He had been aware of a silver-haired old
man watching as they had traded blows over the net, but had completely ignored him. When the game had ended, their observer had asked Sengoku for a moment alone with his charge; then had asked the snarling youth if he would join his team.
" Shut up! I don't play tennis!" had been the harsh answer, but the man had been undaunted and lifted a hand to rub the teenagers muscular shoulder. " You are in great shape. You could be a champion."
Roughly fisting the man's shirt front, Akutsu roared into his face. " Don't touch me human!"
Then, to the young green's utter astonishment the elder had smiled warmly, gripped his wrist and spoken to his mind.
' Human? Haha..foolish hatchling. Are you so full of hate that it's made you blind?'
Completely startled to find he was dealing with a fellow dragon, he had gasped with shock. But now the older beast was speaking and Akutsu's mind returned to the present.
' Krucdmo aoac...this is only the nonsense of a very old dragon and feel free to ignore my advice as you've always done...'
Glaring up at the adult green looming over him, the younger grumbled a surly ' Yeah...whatever.'
Shifting his gaze to the far side of the net, Banji watched Ryoma with Ryuzaki a moment then continued.
' He has tapped into strength of the likes you cannot imagine. Both demon and dragon abilities flow through him and in this arena, his powers have surpass yours.'
At that point in time, Akutsu had never more felt like tearing another dragon apart as he did now. But the memory of the old green's startling revelation at that first meeting swam out of his mind to engulf him as a bitter wave and once his Hikari guardian had confirmed the truth behind the elders words, he knew he could never harm the larger beast no matter strong his rage.
' Hatchling, there is no harm in using speed strokes and your own natural abilities.'
Firmly blinking himself back out of his brief revisit to the not-so-distant past, the silver-haired youth pushed to his feet, spat an angry "K" and stalked out to engage in further battle.
' Don't tell me how to play this stupid human game'
Banji's only reaction was to sit down and snigger quietly as Ryoma also returned to the field of conflict.
" Look at that cocky little bastard." Thought Akutsu resentfully as he drank in the sight of his opponent standing with his right hand on his hip, his racket resting over his left shoulder and a supremely smug smile on his face. " So you think you are better than Aion himself do you? Well I've seen the ruler of the Under Dark and those ruthless arse holes who follow him. If he were to come after you imp, he would chew you to a pulp and spit out your bones like melon pits."
' Who are you dragon?" said Ryoma's voice suddenly in his mind. ' I wish to know the true name of the one I'm going to beat today.'
Pale amber orbs snapped and sparked dangerously as the singles champion from Yamabuki Senior High school answered the confident query with a deadly calm. ' Who am I? My name means Ghostly eyes! I am a clan less green dragon, yet I am forced to endure this human existence by that accursed sun scale and those stupid bird brains! I am the strongest of all my kind and those who have stood in my way before were beaten up by me!'
Tossing the ball high for the serve, the young man watched it start to fall then cried out in his mind with all of his hatred. ' The past was that way...' he paused in his sending to slam the ball hard. '...and it will be so now!'
Flying low over the net, the little felt covered missile arrowed its way toward Ryoma who swung his left arm forward and sent it flying home. For several long minutes, the furious dance of run, skid to a halt and punish the ball with devastating blows took place before a silent crowd that watched with baited breath.
Leaping to catch a particularly tricky shot to the edge of the trammel lines, the dark-haired youth from Seigaku struck the speeding ball with a resounding crack to send it thundering back to his adversary with the force of high powered cannon ball.
Back peddling hard with his eyes fixed firmly on the green and white object as it charged up from its impact point just inside the base line, Akutsu failed to notice how close to the fence he had run until his body slammed into the chain links with a loud crunch. Spectators jumped back with a few startled oaths as the structure buckled from the impact, but the bristle-haired youth took no notice as his arm swung for the return fire.
Charging in to meet the ball, Ryoma grinned as he struck. ' The best bit is coming up now!'
Racing in to pick up the falling missile, Akutsu paused to lift his weapon and whack it with all his might. ' You wont win imp!'
Quick to meet the little round bullet of felt covered rubber, the shorter boy hit it diagonally; only to have his enemy stop it with his racket and send it back as a short strike. Not to be taken out, Ryoma ran in to take the ball in the service square; then frowned a little as his adversary returned it with a powerful forehand.
' Didn't I tell you imp? I'll beat you in this game, then I'll destroy you!'
Baring his teeth Ryoma shot across the court, swung and missed to the anxious roar of the watching crowd.
Hearing the dreaded call of " Yamabuki leads, four games to three.", Tomo shook her fists at the disguised green and Sakuno frantically warned her to control the thin veil of light grey smoke that was pouring out of her nose.
" IT'S NOT OVER YET!" the pony-tailed girl roared in a manner that made the ears of those closest to her ring painfully. " FIGHT ON! FIGHT ON!"
Deaf to the calls and murmurs of the crowd, Ryoma's breath rasped in and out as he stared hard at the green dragon who glared back with intense loathing.
' Beat that you walking pile of dragon ash!'
Over among the Seigaku group, Fuji watched the battle with open eyes and commented to Tezuka on the incredible speed of the ball. But the disguised dragon king hardly heard the ' Blood's' words as sent to his many times removed great grandson; ' I believe in you.'
Noticing the way the rival captain and his enemy were looking at each other, Akutsu scowled darkly as he failed to intrude on the closed sending, then switched his glare to his coach as the elder spoke.
' Listening to my advice maybe a humiliation to you hatchling, but let me bear witness to your victory over the half breed'
A short distance from the court, a lone demon in human disguise stared moodily at the wheat coloured cat who joined him on his solitary park bench. Stroking the Guardian Familiar as the mythic feline inquired about his beloved friend's game, Nanjiroh found himself taking his own ride on a train of recollections as the past reared up before him. He too had once been a tennis champion and had beaten a very powerful Hikari warrior to become so. But then his life had changed when his soul bond to his new wife had proven true and life had started within her. She had given birth to the son Nanjiroh knew she carried. However, the infant demon had slid from her in pure glow of golden radiance unseen for centuries, and on that day his professional tennis life had ended as he devoted himself to keeping the child's dragon blood in check .
" And now that dragon blood has shown its full strength Karupin. Concentrating so strongly on tennis slowed its progress but now, not even the intense focus of his matches can stop it now."
Gazing up his adult demon charge, the semi long-haired cat spoke seriously. " Nanjiroh, I'm fully aware of your sorrow as I feel the same way, but I have come to you on a grave matter as I have sensed the presence of Dark Hunters."
Instantly the dark-haired man was on full alert. Standing, his eyes flooded with crimson as he carefully surveyed his surrounds. "Where?"
Out on the field of conflict, the savage battle for superiority had begun once more. Carefully studying the warriors every move as the pair raced and volleyed, Sengoku spoke quietly to his team mate.
" Akutsu is furious. I fear not even I can stop him now."
Turning to look at the Hikari beside him, Muromachi Touji shrugged. " Maybe the little imp will restrict him." He remarked after a few minutes of intense watching. " I do believe that gas bag is actually starting to panic."
" Impossible!" Snorted the flame-haired angel at once. " I've seen the green do a lot of things, but one thing he does not do is panic!"
Pushing his hands deep in his pockets, the eye-shielded mythic smirked evilly. " I could make him panic! My poison wont stop him true, but my gaze? That's a different story!" Tapping his chin, he then added; " If the imp is as powerful I think he is, then your pet's reaction is unpredictable as anything can happen in a tennis game!"
Glaring down at his team mate, the Yamabuki vice captain grimly muttered; " Call him a beast or a monster if you must, but never, ever call him MY PET !"
Racing along the base line, Akutsu performed a well executed backhand, then snarled irritably when his opponent spun on his right foot to return the shot with a mighty forehand. Sweating profusely and feeling his heart pound as his rival gained more ground in the point tally, the silver-haired teenager showed his fangs a second time as he rushed to send the ball flying.
" It's just as the old fool says." he thought to himself as Ryoma scooped up a low drop. " Only we are taking turns to create some slower speeds in the centre. But my high speed will show great effect!"
As the bristle-haired youth caught the Seigaku teenagers returning fire, Banji opened his mind and sent a silent message only the imp alone could hear. ' How are you going out there Echizen? Think you can handle Krucdmo aoac right now?'
Legs pumping furiously, the black-haired youth's face cracked into an evil grin as he pushed off with his left foot, lunged for the ball and scored a point as he let a powerful telepathic answer flow unrestricted from his mind.
' Mada mada da ne! This match and the green's wings...ARE MINE!'
Back snapping ramrod straight, Banji's eyes flew open in shock at the demonic look masking the human disguised imp's features.
' Akutsu's wings? What are saying demon spawn!'
Across the net, the subject of the startling conversation was thunderstruck as the smugly delivered statement slammed into his skull.
' Wha...? MY wings? Just who the hell do you think you are?'
Hearing her player's somewhat satanic silent laugh follow in the wake of the threat, Ryuzaki couldn't help but let a sinister chuckle of her own escape her.
Also picking up on the mind speech, young Taichi gasped fearfully as he leaned against Sengoku to seek reassurance and whimpered a terrified; " What he mean 'Akutsu's wings are his?' And why does he look so...afraid! That demon! He is...not giving up on winning!"
Throwing back his head as he ran to meet Ryoma's serve, Akutsu roared with menacing laughter as his face twisted into a frighteningly deranged smile and his eyes flooded with the gleam of madness.
' Yes imp! This the just the way I like it! Your a worthy challenger, but your life ends today!'
Picking up the ball as it bounced in the service square, the short teenager hit it with a strong forehand then grinned wickedly as his adversary caught it between his own service square and the base line.
Shaking his head as he pondered the telepathic threat he had heard, Inui spoke aloud to his gathered team mates.
" It's clear that both sides refuse to give way, but there is more going beneath the surface than the eye can see."
" Yes," agreed Oishi worriedly " but what's going on between them and how will it go? This game is too close!"
" I fear it will continue this way." Remarked an open eyed Fuji as he turned to face his captain. " No one can stop them, not even..."
Breaking off to search the taller youth's face, the honey-haired ' Blood' was mildly shocked at the quiet fury radiating from the normally calm dragon king. " I can't stop them." he finally said after a long silence. " But if he thinks he can harm Echizen..."
Tearing across the battle field, his racket extended before him like a samurai sword, Ryoma stopped the ball with a forehand and sent it back on a flat trajectory that caused it to skip lightly atop the tight hung net. Leaping forward, Akutsu returned it.
Helpless to interfere, Takashi could only watch in trepidation as his little friend jousted for his team's honour against a merciless and evil black knight of the tennis court.
" He has caught up to Akutsu at last." He said to a trembling Momo' " But I know him too well. That creature will never give in and will fight to the very last."
" Echizen wont lose!" snapped Momo' with absolute conviction.
" Saa... he accepts the battle bravely." nodded Fuji in agreement
Toying with his glasses in a way that made the watching ' Blood' youth feel that perhaps the Basilisk was itching to take down the green dragon himself , Inui's voice held a distinct note of respect as he commented on his team mates fierce struggle.
" Echizen knows instinctively that being a weak coward is a taboo on the battle field."
Noting the pleased expression on Ryoma's face as his racket hit its mark, Tezuka nodded in solemn concurrence as he added his own thoughts to the conversation. " Although he has grown in strength and his skill is important, tennis is an unpredictable sport...and his opponent is an unpredictable dragon."
Taking a running shot, the young demon mentally shouted at his enemy as the ball took flight. ' Hey! If you practiced being a human as obediently as you practiced tennis, this match wouldn't leave a stain to say you lost to me!'
Infuriated, Akutsu roared his anger. " SHUT UP!"
Swinging both arms in a double hand hold, the Yamabuki player sent the missile screaming back to his rival. Then to add insult to his injured pride as the ball flew back toward him, he heard the voice of his ruler tickle quietly at the edge of his senses.
' Your power, Echizen's courage; which one is stronger?'
Fighting to quell the blind rage the threatened to consume him, the bristle-haired youth glared savagely at his short adversary and furiously returned fire in an explosive movement. Halting the objects progress, Ryoma sent it on its way with evil chuckle.
' Loser green!'
' Filthy half breed!'
Hearing the antagonizing taunts of the warriors ringing through out her skull, Sakuno hardly noticed the worried comments of the Hikari beside her until the woman knelt down to speak to her directly. " This maybe a tennis match, but now it's become a battle. I fear the issue is not merely who will take the victory, but who will live."
" What?" The shocked heads of Tomo, Horio, Kachiro and Katsuo snapped around, the colour draining from their faces in sudden fear at the angel guardian's words. Her voice and body trembling, the shy red hatchling whispered; " Who will...live?"
" Yes" she nodded, her expression grim. " One is an imprisoned soul, bound to a body he longs to be free from. The other is, as he was born to be. The game has turned into a severe fight that only one may walk from unscathed."
" Souls miss Hikari?" Gazing longingly at the dark-haired boy she adored, the little dragon found herself lost in her inner most thoughts as she mulled over Shiba's words in her mind. " Soul bound. Yes green one, that at least is something I do understand, and can feel sorry for, and the one thing Ryoma will never have to suffer..."
Oblivious to the comments and wild hand gestures of the spectators, Akutsu could only stand motionless and stare in utter disbelief
as his hated enemy scored again to bring the war one more step closer to an abrupt end in his favour.
Green-gold orbs half concealed by a lowered cap brim, Ryoma threw his foe the most arrogant smirk his face could muster. Gazing smugly across the flimsy barrier of net separating him from the infuriated flying reptile, the young demon shoved his right hand deep into his shorts pocket and chuckled sinisterly under his breath.
' You can't win, so why do you persist?'
Pale amber orbs flashed with a look of pure loathing as black pupils narrowed into slits and the bitter fear of failure surged throughout his soul bringing an icy coldness in its wake. For brief moment, he saw himself as a tiny hatchling cowering in the high grass as his mother was killed and he was utterly powerless to help her. Having the gold then come to his rescue had only reinforced his feelings of helplessness, and the day he had fled the protection of the clans had been the start of his vow to be the strongest creature in the world.
Two centuries had past and as his body grew, so too did his might. Other dragons soon learned to avoid him once they saw his madness, (which had become an insatiable thirst for power) and once it had evolved into a false realization that he was unstoppable, that thought had slowly continued to become his biggest weakness. Yet the young creature had never before been shown what he truly was as all continued to flee in terror or contempt before him...until now.
The revelation that he, the human known as Akutsu Jin was in fact not the omnipotent being he so truly believed himself to be, was far more a brutal slap of reality in his face than any words that anyone had ever uttered before, as far stronger beings than he had continued to fall before him. Yet it was the fact that a mere child...a half demon child at that, had all but bought him down with nothing more than a useless human past time that rankled at the very core of his existence and in an impulsive flash of twisted reasoning he thought if he completely crushed the boy like the bug he was, then all would once again be in awe of him.
After a long silence filled by the two warlords trying to stare each other down, Akutsu finally found his mind voice. In a deadly calm of hardly contained rage, he spoke four quiet words; ' I will kill you'
A silence descended to lay as thick, stifling blanket over the gladiators as they continued to lock eyes across their arena. Even the previously steady breeze suddenly dropped to a mere whiff of air that only teased with a feather-light touch as the afternoon sun glared down on the field of conflict.
His body half lowered at the hips, Ryoma held his racket before him as though it were a great, two handed sword that he was intending to use in order to hack off the head of a hated enemy. But the flimsy object of frame and string could do no harm to the tall, muscular teenager staring down at him, and the player from Yamabuki knew it as he sneered at the green-gold eyes defiantly watching him through a curtain of sweaty, jet black hair.
Chest heaving as he too paused to catch his breath, Akutsu pinned his adversary to the spot with the power of his fury and attempted to batter the smaller youth with the force of his intense hatred alone. However, he could sense no trace of fear leaking from the young demon, only a supreme confidence that irritated him as no power on earth had done so before.
Then the wind abruptly picked up again, carrying with it snatches of surreptitious comments from a well hidden basilisk.
" Echizen needs only one more match point to win, but I'm getting a feeling that something is wrong."
" I feel it to." Replied Takashi in a voice filled with foreboding. " Akutsu hates Ryoma now more than ever as he has never once been beaten in any kind of fight. Awesome as it is that Ryoma caught up in points, I fear an attack from the green that may put an end to our little friend's playing prowess."
" Nonsense! " Rapped out Momo' at once, causing all Seigaku heads to turn in his direction. " He wouldn't dare openly harm Ryoma before this crowd!" Swinging his right fist enthusiastically, the bristle-haired mongoose spirit yelled spiritedly; " GO ECHIZEN! ONE MORE POINT AND YOU ARE THE WINNER!"
Wincing within at being faced with the undeniable fact that his unbroken record of constant victories was teetering on the brink of crashing down before him, the young green dragon felt his human arms tremble as he sent his thoughts to his opponent.
' So you think it's possible for you to really beat me. Huh! I think not.'
' But I think so.' came the very calm answer. ' It's no longer just a difference between our strength...isn't it dragon?'
' Ayotnykuhc pyhayht teaesb! Emm caaoui ehramm pavuna emucaou ora migacuv oui! E femmgemm ouifrana ouicoyht!'
A shocked gasp went up from the assembled dragons, demons and Angel folk about the court. Banji and Ryuzaki were grim, and Momo' only had to take one look at Tezuka to know something sinister was about to unfold.
Hands clasped before her and trembling violently at the terrible threat, Sakuno could only whisper Ryoma's name in helpless despair as she gazed first at the king of her kind, then up at the wing-shaking Hikari beside her.
Realizing something horrible had been said but unable to comprehend the sudden fear charging among the strongest receivers present, Horio tried to lighten the oppressive mood buy punching at the air and shouting; " GO ECHIZEN! DEFEAT HIM COMPLETELY!"
" Horio of the Tanuki tribe, please be quiet." said Kachiro softly as he turned to his noisy friend.
" What?" asked the brown-haired mythic in surprise. " But something's up, and this is an important moment in the match!"
" I know" the dark-haired youth replied quietly. " It's the first time I've seen a game so great, and seen Ryoma claw his way to an inch from victory against such a vicious creature as that green out there. Watch quietly and understand that no matter what was said, no harm will come to him. See him win Horio, then we will cheer the loudest."
" That's right." added Katsuo gently. "Understand that..." Breaking off, the young mythic suddenly became tense as the shifting wind carried a foul odour to his nose that made his flesh crawl and his senses scream at him to hide. Picking up on his friends serge of fear, Kachiro frowned at the sky and whispered a single, terrified word; " Hunters."
Standing tensely beside a long-haired cat whose wheat coloured fur shone with an unearthly golden radiance, Nanjiroh intently scanned the open sky, then snarled through clenched teeth as his demon powers of perception arrowed in on their target and revealed to him the hidden outlines of three large Dark Hunters crouched on the roof of a nearby building.
" Look at them!" Spat Karupin as his fur bristled along his spine. " With all those humans and many dragons with Hikari around! Do you think they'll attack? And in broad daylight too!"
" They may do old friend, but I have the oddest feeling they are just...waiting."
Also picking up the presence of some kind of hidden threat, Taichi wedged himself between Sengoku and Muromachi for protection as the flame-haired Hikari tensely sought out the hunter demons location. Noting their concealed position, he sent a quick thought to his bond dragon, then a question to the dragon lord himself.
' I see them Hikari of the Divine Star. But this game must play out as normal, so as not to cause a panic.'
Preparing to serve, Akutsu shot a quick look at his bond partner, then let his gaze flit briefly onto the face of the old green dragon watching nervously from the side lines before resting his intense amber orbs on the serious countenance of his tennis foe.
' We have company imp!' Sent the silver-haired youth as he bounced the ball twice and smirked across the net. ' I believe they may have come here just for your benefit!'
Ignoring him, Ryoma kept his mind firmly on the unfinished task ahead as he rushed in to take the missile with a well executed super rising. Racing in to meet the felt covered object as it skimmed its way over the net and back to his racket, the Yamabuki player sent mockingly; ' Yes! That's it imp! Try your best and give those hunters a show they'll never forget!'
Slamming the ball with a mighty forehand that was met with an equally fierce forehand, Akutsu agreed to the wordless challenge with a devastating blow that zoomed back at Ryoma at a furious pace.
Knowing that danger lurked unseen and helpless to act, Momo' fell forward to brace his hands on the high, chain link fence as his frightened purple orbs never left his boyfriend's face. " Win Echizen!" he growled through his mongoose chattering. " But more importantly, please be safe!"
" He isn't without protection." Stated Inui firmly as he gazed off at a nearby rooftop.
" They wont be foolish enough to strike now." said Tezuka with complete certainty as he watched Ryoma keep his focus with a fierce pride. " Look at Echizen mongoose and remember. Even with these uncertain conditions he keeps his mind firmly on the game as he knows full well that no harm will befall him."
Hitting the ball with a savage forehand that seemed to flare like a comet as it zipped straight at his enemy, Akutsu listened to Ryoma's mighty roar as he met it, then grinned evilly.
'That's it imp! Show those Dark Hunters your dragon blood! They have come for YOU and you know it! But they wont take you alive because I'M going to be the one who kills you!'
' No green, they will kill you first!'
Shocked at his adversary's confident words, Akutsu could only glare as the ball flew at him and the young demi-dragon fully opened his mind for all the receivers to hear. ' I have lost whatever fear I had of you dragon because you are nothing! This victory is my revenge for Kawamura Sempai when you poured that drink on him, and for beating up Arai Sempai! This war isn't over for me as I will bring you down even if those Dark Hunters should spring now! But it's over for you, and you will be the one to, DIE!'
A second round of horrified gasping went up but this time, it wasn't just the powerful receivers who heard but the minds of every Mythic scattered about the grounds. Even the humans seemed to feel a strange and profound buzzing in the air that made them uneasy as Akutsu leapt back to avoid the ball flying straight at his face.
Laughing with a sinister lilt that made his audience shudder, Ryoma's feet left the ground as he met the returning ball.
' I'll let you and those hunters see my full strength! he sent as his weapon hit the ball with a resounding, explosive crack.
With a few concerned cries of " Echizen!" ringing in his ears, Akutsu threw his foe a glare that would stop a herd of demented charging elephants at forty paces, then braced himself to attack the ball as it fell from the great height of his rival's straight lob.
But the expected high bounce never followed as the little green and white object lost its momentum and flattened out on its contact with the uncaring ground to roll lazily away, taking all of Yamabuki's victory hopes with it.
Frozen to his receiving point between Base line and service square, Akutsu Jin; the undefeated singles champion on could only stare in thunderstruck disbelief as he glared wildly at the cunningly played drop ball that had so dramatically and abruptly changed his future forever more.
Hardly hearing the linesman's call confirming the win, nor the exultation of the spectators, the defeated green dragon snarled through clenched teeth as his foe glanced up from under his cap brim with an evil chuckle.
' Your dead meat imp! Dark Hunters be cursed, I will kill you as I promised!'
Stalking up to Ryoma, the taller youth reached across the net with a sudden lunge and roughly grasped the Seigaku players shirt in his fist to haul him up onto his toes. Yet the boy's large glittering eyes met the dragon's raging orbs with no trace of fear whatsoever and the hidden shadow of the savage monster looming over him hesitated.
In the background, Ryoma was aware of a multitude of frightened screams ringing out and for a spilt second he feared the watching hunters had struck. But then he smirked at his attacker as the sounds became clear.
" ITS BAD!"
" HE HAS ECHIZEN!"
" RYOMA KUN!" cried Sakuno against Momo's stricken wail of " HE'LL BE KILLED!" and the following bark from Tezuka of " RESTRAIN HIM!"
Throwing the briefest of glances at Momo' as the Seigaku power house struggled against the many hands holding him, Ryoma sniggered at the Silver-haired teenager and at the snarling shadow of his draconian face as it hovered centimetres from his own, and said simply; " I win."
" Why aren't you afraid?" came the shocked reply
" You gave me a good fight." answered Ryoma calmly.
" I could still kill you, but..."
Reluctantly the bristled-haired youth released his victim with a flick of his wrist, then stood perfectly still as the hidden shadow form of his true dragon self lay down before his conqueror and closed his eyes in weary surrender.
' That's it then. You have won. Go ahead and kill me, as I would have killed you.'
' Oh?' said the cap wearing youth with a hint of amusement. ' But you didn't win Akutsu and I am not you. So get up and remember your promise to obey both Tezuka and Sengoku from this moment on.'
Staring down at the one creature in two centuries to ever get the better of him, the corners of the muscular youth's mouth twitched up, then he broke into mocking laughter. ' Then if I must...see you around imp!'
Turning his back, Akutsu's bold laugh lasted a few more moments, then he had his final say as the crowd erupted with acclaim.
' You are the strongest young Demi-Dragon and I will keep my word.'
Hearing the quite send over Momo's exuberant cry of " He won! And his alright!", Ryoma smiled as he gazed up at the serene blue vault of the heavens. A large jet flew low overhead, but to the youth's dreamy eyes, it morphed into the shape of an enormous gold dragon soaring victoriously in his honour.
Drawing back from the edge of the roof as he watched the imps team mates pour out onto the court, the purple-eyed, white-haired demon turned to gaze into the blazing red orbs of his highest ranking captain.
" My spy has spoken truly, the child's powers are remarkable."
" Then shall we attack?"
Shaking his head, the regal looking demon observed the many powerful creatures surrounding his target then smirked wickedly.
" We will take him soon enough. Captain Shinjyou, prepare six of your finest and this time, do not fail me!"
Smiling up at Momo' as the taller youth kept a loving grip on his shoulders, Ryoma noticed Tezuka's eyes narrow as he seemed to track the movements of some invisible entity. Lifting his gaze he was about to inquire, but a sudden wave of fatigue engulfed him and he yawned mightily.
" Echizen" Said Inui in a matter-of-fact tone while holding out a plastic flask that caused the others to retreat a step; " If you are tired then drink this special energy restoring juice."
" I beg to be excused" he rapped out at once drawing happy laughter from his friends.
Standing behind the dark-haired youth, Shiba noticed Sakuno staring fixedly at the sky, then turn to look at Ryoma as she trembled. The boy she so wished to care for had been in grave danger and she had hoped her king would engage the Dark Hunters she could see leaving the area, but the mighty gold had only watched as they vanished and the female Hikari who protected her family could only offer comfort for her troubled soul.
Not far away, a trio of demons also observed the Dark Hunters surreptitious departure, then gazed over at Ryoma as the group prepared to leave.
" They will be back." remarked Tachibana sternly
" And we'll be ready for them." Answered Inuoe calmly as he looked first at the powerful demon prince beside him, then at his younger sister. " I have a gift for you princess."
Reaching into his bag, he drew out a clear plastic bottle that bubbled with a clear, blue liquid. " Juice of the ice berry from the upper realm. I know it's your favourite and it can boost your strength should an enemy threaten."
" My sister is strong, but thank you." said Ann's brother politely " Hope there will be no need of it's powers."
" As do I hope." Replied Inoue formally as he sketched a little bow, then stepped back. " Excuse me your highness, I must go."
Invoking their second sight, the royal siblings of the Dark Storm clan smiled at the sight of the Shadow Rock demon's great black wings, swinging tail and long shaggy hair, then turned to make their own way home.
Epilogue.
The sun had long ago sunk from sight and the full moon held court over a sea of sparkling subjects as it ruled over the night sky.
Below the glowing celestial orb, a forest lay in peaceful silence broken only by the sighing wind and the odd call of a owl as it hunted among the trees. Hard hooves stepping with a feather light touch unusual for such a large animal, a regal looking red stag trod delicately from the high ferns ringing a small clearing and stopped to bow before the Hikari who stood there.
" Greetings son of heavens realm. How is your friend this evening?"
Lifting his wings in greeting, Sengoku returned the formal gesture then indicated cliff face behind him with a small wave of his left hand. Eyeing the rump and limp tail protruding from a cave at the rocky features base, the stag smiled gently then spoke again in his deep, calm voice. " Still sulking I see. Well perhaps the guests now arriving will help bring him to his senses."
" I doubt it Sky Fire." answered the flame-haired Hikari with an amused snort as he watched two dragons in half human form descending into the confined space. " You know, it's a pity he lost, but that's the way it is."
Nodding sagely, the large deer quietly agreed, then narrowed his golden-brown eyes at the taller of the two new comers.
Emerald sails of dragon wings standing out proudly from his shoulders, Banji pointedly ignored the stag as he stalked up to the pair with an unreadable expression, then strode over to deal the trailing tail of his team member a roughly affectionate slap.
" So you are still regretful my hatchling? It's the first time in your life you've been beaten I know, but I just want you to know your potential. You can still play and play well."
From within the depths of the hole in the tall rock wall, a surly voice rumbled. " Tennis is boring, I'll never play it again."
Banji cocked his head to one side. " Boring? The imp was but one challenge Krucdmo Aoac. There will be many others you can..."
The long tail lashed angrily, then hind quarters moved as the body attached to them shuffled backward. Large, folded wings appeared, then powerful shoulders followed by strong front legs and a long, serpentine neck emerged from the cave, then Akutsu the green dragon glared down at him.
" I'm not interested in that game anymore. That half bred demon off shoot beat me, so back off!"
" Krucdmo," sighed the silver-haired half form dragon as he wearily passed a hand before his eyes. " As your coach, I must urge you to reconsider. As your father, I must..."
The older green dragon never got to finish his sentence as the younger one suddenly whipped out his claws to seize other in a vicelike grip and spat savagely into his face. " You may have been the male who caught my mother when she rose to mate, but you are not my father! "
Roughly tossing the elder aside Akutsu turned his back, then glared with one scaled eyebrow raised as he caught sight of his other visitor; now in his full dragon form, for the first time. " And what in Jigoku do you want yolk crawler?" he growled as he flipped his tail at the form of a departing Banji silhouetted against the moon, and snorted at the tiny black hatchling cowering at his feet.
" Akutsu Sempai, are you quitting tennis?"
" Bah!" growled the older dragon as he turned his back again. " So what?"
Gazing up the grass coloured scaled rump of his idol, Taichi blinked back the tears that threatened to become a flood as he asked; "Why? You are very tall and strong and like Sengoku, you are very powerful! I can never compare to you! Why are you quitting?"
Glancing back over his shoulder, the former unbeaten champion was surprised by the child's outburst. ' So young.' he thought as he studied the youngsters ebony scales gleaming in the semi-darkness of the forest night out the corner of one amber eye.
" Akutsu, please don't give up!"
Now the youth's tears escaped his control and streamed down the sides of his muzzle as glittering lost stars.
Still gazing back over one shoulder at the little one as he sobbed quietly, the once savage green spoke with a gentleness he hadn't felt since he himself had been a very young hatchling.
" Dan... Tyng nyeh, you should never try to be like me. I'm not like other dragons, as I've hunted and killed humans and even ripped apart strong demons. My own kind have feared and shunned me hatchling, so don't ever try to be me as you'll end up being hated and alone. But if you wish to play tennis, then train hard and go take on the kings blood. Beat him, and win the admiration of all...including mine."
" Then, " sniffed the smaller of the pair " I will train hard and do my very best! and like you, I will be strong as I step on the road to pro tennis!"
Slowly swinging his neck around, Akutsu pushed tenderly at the youngsters horns with the pointed tip of his muzzle, briefly flicked his tongue out to caress the thatch of black hair growing between them, then walked slowly back into his cave as he farewelled his small friend with a quiet; " Goodbye."
Moisture flowing freely from his dark brown orbs, the little dragon sobbed as Sengoku knelt to embrace him and the huge red stag nuzzled his left cheek.
" I don't want to be a manager anymore! I want to become a regular! Will you train me Hikari? Someday, I want to fight Echizen on the court!"
" Then little hatchling, I will help you and when you have become strong, that's a battle I'd love to see." whispered Sengoku with a smile.
' I too would enjoy that battle' thought the silent stag beside them as he raised his head to gaze at the heavens. ' Tennis. I miss it, but if HE were to discover me...'
End of fifth chronicle.
Whew! That was a long one! Now please don't fret readers, the identity of Sky Fire will be revealed!
Coming soon: " What Good Am I?" The mythic reason behind Momo' being dropped from the team with much Ryoma-Momo goodness!
Dragon Translations:
Akutsu's threat to Ryoma is: Eat dragons bane and die imp! I'll see you in hell before I lose to the likes of you! I will kill you where you stand!
Hekrdc crytuf: Nights shadow... Nanjiroh's demon name.
Tyng Nyeh...Dark rain...Dan's Dragon name.
Lsemauv dravuq...Smile of the fox...Banji's dragon name.
Sengoku's comment of " Getting a flight for his scales" is much like saying... His getting a run for his money.
Tanuki: Also called a racoon dog, it is in fact a real animal! Japanese folk lore tells of this mythic as a creature that walks upright, is mischievous, noisy and can perform magic.
Wererats: Like all Lycanthropes, the wererats are humans with the ability to assume animal form. However, in the Mythic Brotherhood, they are not controlled by the moon and are able to change any time. Incidentally, their strength does increase significantly during the moons full phrase.
Demons soul bond: Demons and Hikari are immortal and births are quite rare. However twins do occur and on very rare occasions a demon or Hikari will have a sibling born 200 or 300 years apart. Conception only takes place if the couple's love is 100 per cent true, or as they like to say: "Their souls have bonded."
Spot the Mythic: Gorgons. There are two types of Gorgon in mythology. One is the well know Greek myth of the snake woman Medusa, but there is another type from African legend that I've adapted for this series. This creature is highly dangerous as like a Basilisk, they can turn things to stone but they also have the ability to breath poison gas. In his true form, Yamabuki's Gorgon resembles a large black bull with a scaly hide, a thick growth of black hair on his head and fiery red eyes he cannot transform and therefore must stay hidden behind demon made dark glasses. Nishikiori Tsubasa is Yamabuki's demon, and he made Muromachi Touji's eye shields. Just for the record, Yamabuki has a mongoose spirit in its team! Most members of the Mongoose clan have bristle or spiky hair. Found him?