What Good Am I? Part 2
Hello and welcome to chapter two!
Disclaimer: Oh dear...big sigh...Prince of Tennis STILL does not belong to me!...cry! Mythic's belong to themselves.
Flames belong only in a dragons mouth. Those who attempt to mimic them will be IGNORED!
WARNING!!! YAOI!!!!
Yes readers, this chapter has a hot moment between Ryoma and Momo' ! If it offends... DON'T READ! You have thus been told
" What Good Am I?"
Chapter 2
Story: Tora Macaw.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Rain. It continued to fall in a steady rhythm against clay roof tiles, as the wind kept hurling the driving wetness at the clear barrier of his window. Still sitting with his head bowed, the bristle-haired youth blinked away the rain threatening to form within his large purple orbs while he rubbed fitfully at his nose with the back of his hand. For a moment, he lifted his gaze to stare sadly at the downpour then sighed heavily as he settled back into his former drooping position.
Although his mood perfectly matched the dismal weather, his mind roamed about through a jumbled kaleidoscope of thoughts and random memories that would pause at significant scenes of his tennis playing life. He could see himself learning to play and quickly developing a love for the game that had soon evolved into a driving passion. Despite his sorrow of the moment, his lips twitched up into a half smirk as his brain played out a picture of himself and that infuriatingly bad tempered Naga constantly competing for dominance.
Fighting non stop as snake and mongoose, they had almost driven Oishi to despair; but then Tezuka had stepped in with his air of absolute authority and swiftly bought about an uneasy truce between them. Then had come the day when an undersized snarky little brat with a bad attitude and one hell of a playing style had strolled into his life and changed it forever.
Clenching his fists as the first of many tears dripped onto them, Momo' painfully whispered a name.; " Echizen....Ryoma."
Shoulders shuddering with intense emotion, he hardly noticed when his active mind mercilessly launched a sneak attack and began to play out a new scene.
-.-.-.-.-.-
He had just finished up his match with Arai and his eyes automatically started scanning the grounds for Ryoma. Tezuka was overseeing the practice from his place beside the gate. Stern, commanding, his Hazel-gold eyes missed little or nothing as he let his regal gaze rove over his team mates, then he turned to question Kachiro as the first grader walked past baring a large, square box of tennis balls in his arms. The sound of their voices drifted on the breeze to float into the disguise mongoose's highly sensitive ears.
" Where is Echizen?"
Nodding at the imposing captain, the young Wererat answered quickly. " It's his turn to sweep today, so he will come later. Don't worry, he isn't alone...Horio is with him."
Half turning to acknowledge Arai when he spoke, Momo' huffed silently. 'Huh! That Tanuki is more useless than I am! If those hunters were to strike again...'
Evidently it clear from the look on Tezuka's face that he obviously felt the same way as his eyes glazed over and even Momo' felt the buzz of his sending as he telepathically communicated with his great grandson. The disguised dragon king was so absorbed in his silent speech, that he didn't even notice when Eiji playfully draped an arm across his shoulders and made a cheerful remark on how he had better turn up for practice or be in trouble!
Ending his mental talk with Ryoma, he threw the exuberant young cat lord a clear;' you-have-ten-seconds-to-get-your-paws-OFF-me' look that was reinforced by a smiling Fuji strolling up with a;' get-your-paws-off-MY-dragon' look that startled Eiji into the desired effect as his stepped away with a startled yelp and a;' please-don't-kill-me look'!
Chuckling at his team mates by-play, the bristle-haired youth absent mindedly answered a question flung his way when his nostrils picked up an odd sent. It was demon like, yet also similar to the spicy odour particular to dragons and he perceived it uneasily. A flash of movent near the gate caught his eye and steadying his gaze, he saw the raven-haired form of a stranger peering through the high wire fence as he intently studied Fuji and Takashi's practice.
Noticing Shiba standing close by as she snapped off several photos, Momo relaxed his guard at the Hikari's proximity as he thought;. ' She maybe an odd one that protector of the Ryuzaki clan, but I know she would never allow anything to attack us.'
Turning his attention back to the players seeking his advice, he failed to notice Shiba's rapid departure and the strangers entry to the court until he heard an amused voice asking; " Where is Tezuka?"
Aware of Inui and Oishi's scrutiny, Momo' watched the black-haired youth turn his sea-green eyes to the pair; then startle at the disguised moon dog's calm, but firm inquiry of; " You are not a student here! Can I help you?"
" AH!!! Oh dear," the stranger muttered as he stared at Inui in fascination. "I've been discovered! Well no matter, I have nothing to hide."
Around the courts, activity suspended as the youth's voice rose and all became aware of his presence. Curling his upper lip, the young demon standing at Momo's side rustled his hidden wings in annoyance as the visitor calmly continued. " I'm from Rikkadai collage and am top of my class. Kirihara Akaya...that's me!"
Tapping at his chin with his data file, Inui cocked his head to one side as his hidden eyes seemed to bore straight through the stranger. " Hmmm...so you are the Kirihara from Rikkadai who beat an opponent from Kangawa district, the number one of Kanto."
Unimpressed, Oishi remarked; " Then you have come from a long way. What is your purpose here?"
Lifting his right hand to nervously rub at the back of his head, Kirihara flashed his audience a cheeky, closed eye smile as he cheerfully declared: " I am here to spy!"
Instantly, a collective gasp rose up from many throats and tense muttering broke out.
" A spy?"
" Who the hell does he think he is?"
" What will Tezuka do?"
A scattered wall of accusing eyes flared from all directions to pin the squirming teenager to the spot as he met the confused gaze of a brown-haired youth and his grim faced companion. For a long moment, he met the ' Blood's" wordless stare of challenge then let out a sinister little chuckle that set a few peoples skin crawling.
Balling his fists, Arai took a hostile step toward him. " Is he kidding? What's he up to?"
" Arai!" said Momo' urgently as he stuck out a restraining hand. " Captain will deal with him!"
Sure enough, Tezuka had promptly placed himself before the visitor and fixed him with in icy glare. " What's going on here?"
Stepping apart as the raven-haired teen all but jumped between them, Inui and Oishi showed their teeth as the stranger flung out an arm to excitedly point. " I found you! I found you! You are Tezuka right? Captain of Seigaku and..." dropping his voice, Kirihara leaned in to wink and add; "...the mighty king of the dragons himself! Heh, heh! Forgive me if I don't bow your majesty."
Seeing his captain's quiet look of " so what if I am" and hearing the brazen words of the Rikkadai student, Oishi let out an indignant "OY!" as Kirihara placed his right hand behind his head and radiated innocence as he asked; " My I fight with you? Just one little match..."
Several angry growls rang out, coupled by a menacing hiss from a fang showing, shielded Inui. Snorting a thin jet of steam only the mythics present could see, Tezuka half turned away as he spoke sternly. " How about you submit an application to this school? Become a student here and then we shall see."
" Heh!" barked Kirihara as he lifted his left index finger to his brow. " I said I only want one game! Sheesh! What a tough nut you are! Don't you ever worry you'll stretch and ruin that handsome human face of yours if you even try to smile?"
Glaring back over his shoulder, the proud youth opened his mind and sent a harsh thought lancing throughout his antagonists skull.
' Don't push me you insect!'
' Ooooohhh!' came the immediate, sarcastic reply 'His royal mightiness is angry! I quiver with FEAR!'
Picking up on the powerful mind send, Arai voiced an angry growl as he reached into a nearby ball box and snatched one up in his left hand. Snapping out his right arm, he pin pointed the visitor with his racket. " HEY YOU!" he yelled as he tossed the ball skyward. " How dare you insult our captain! GET OUT OF HERE!"
With those final words delivered at the top of his lungs, Arai slammed into the falling object; his racket at once turning it into a deadly missile that flew with single minded purpose straight at the back of Kirihara's skull.
Hearing the disguised moon dog's cry of " You idiot Arai!", the black-haired Rikkai player glanced over his right shoulder, stared for a second at the green and white object flying at him then almost casually lifted his own racket to catch the ball in mid flight. Twisting his hand up, he snarled a silent ' And who in the name of Aion are YOU?' at a clearly shocked Arai as he sniggered a sinister "Heh" while repeatedly bouncing the ball on the tight strings. 'Don't go making a sneak attack from the side'.
" I don't believe it!" gasped Arai in the stunned silence following the flawless display. " He caught my serve..."
Ball still dancing up and down on the frame work held out before him, Kirihara once again addressed an arm folded, glaring captain.
" Tezuka, I didn't come here to pick a fight with your pack. Just give me one round with you." When stony silence was his only answer, the invader tried to provoke one with his mind. ' I know you mighty "true" dragons don't care for my kind...heh...even other faerie dragons can't stand me! But my demon blood demands I test your strength. Fight me...so I can knock you flat onto your high and mighty tail...or are YOU afraid of me as well?'
' Oh really draca demon?' The powerful thought rang painfully throughout the mix breed's brain almost making him reel from the impact. However, he was quick to recover as he chuckled; "So, I can't help it if you don't like me." Half turning to face a teeth grinding Arai, Kirihara raised his voice to yell scornfully; " HEY! The one who attacked me from behind! Heres your ball back!"
Completely turning his back, he threw a smug smirk at a silently fuming Tezuka and tossed the ball up to serve it over his shoulder. Zipping back to the central court, the missile roared its way straight for Arai but missed him by a hairs breath to cannon forcefully into the right side Momo's face. Thrown backward by the immense power, the bristle-haired youth measured his length on his back as he lay stunned. However, his racket flew out of his lax hand in mid fall to spin wildly through the air and slam brutally into the back of Kachiro's head. Knocked out by the sudden blow, the black-haired youth toppled forward and the box he carried tipped to spill a great cascade of tennis balls streaming out in a flood of rolling, bouncing round objects.
Caught up in the sudden first wave, Eiji was knocked flat and could only lie helpless as his fellow players tripped, stumbled and fell like bowling pins about him.
One player, a youth with short black hair and wearing the blue uniform of a normal member, had the extreme misfortune to topple backward due to the twin balls caught beneath his feet and waver shakily in a beeline straight for Kaido as he stood quietly drinking near the fence. Losing his racket has he wildly wind milled his arms in a vain attempt to balance, the stringed object whirred through the air to strike the bandana wearing youth clean on the top of his head. Sadly, the resulting spray of brown liquid drowned out the crisp, white leaf patterns on the mamushi's clean head gear; instantly drawing out the kind of explosive hiss that would strike terror into even the bravest heart.
Adam's apples bobbed in string of nervous gulps as those closest to him jumped back when the cup was crushed between powerful fingers coupled to an outraged cry of; " Who did that?"
In the midst of a sudden stampede to escape the Naga's wrath, Kirihara heard several horrified yells.
" Kaido is angry!"
" Run for your lives!"
" Head for the hills!"
Startled at the mass of chaos unfolding before him, the draca demon blinked as he said; " Did I do all that? Better go!"
Inching away from his place between a grim faced Inui and a dismayed Oishi, the Rikkadai youth froze for a moment; his knees bent out at an angle, shoulders slumped and racket hanging limply from his dangling right hand as students galloped past him at close range. Knees sagging even more as he drank in the sight of ten people trying to restrain Kaido as he roared for blood, Kirihara lifted his racket to his shoulder and grimaced in fear. " It's not good! If that snake gets loose..."
Sidling away in a long crab step as the Seigaku mamushi snapped a few savage " Get off me!" and " Shut UP's" , he managed to gain the safety of the gateway unnoticed. Pausing only long enough to take in the sight of the disguised dragon king steaming so hard his glasses had become coated in a thick layer of fog, Kirihara then turned and bolted for his life.
-.- -.- -.-
Else where in the school grounds, Ryoma's mind kept focusing upon a certain bristle-haired mongoose who he hadn't seen for two days. " Between my father trying to keep me as a demon and Tezuka trying to turn me into dragon, I haven't even so much as had the time to ring him." Thought the short youth as he aggressively attacked the concrete steps with his broom. Sighing, he found his memories turning over as the events of the close past began to plague him.
The Dark Hunters attack had been shockingly brutal, and his friends had fought to defend him to the last. He could well recall his intense pain and being taken captive as he remembered the bite of the rope and way it had sucked the energy out of him. Shuddering, he thought of Eiji and of how what had happened to him had almost happened to himself. Yet, apart from a tendency to jump at the slightest sudden noise, the young cat lord seemed had recovered from this latest skirmish relatively unscathed and the raven-haired youth now constantly wondered about the state of Momo's leg.
He had been shocked to learn the extent of the teenagers injuries and had wanted to race to his side at once, but Tezuka had been ruthlessly firm. " Those hunters will come after you again Echizen." He had told the boy seriously. " From now on after tennis you will report straight to me and I will teach you how to harness the power within you." Ryoma had protested that wished to spend his free time with his boyfriend, but his argument had been in vain when the dragon king suddenly teleported him away to some god forsaken forgotten part of world and started his training then and there.
Returning home had bought no relief from the demands on his time either when his parents had insisted he start honing his demonic skills, and by the time his father was through with him, all he craved was sleep. So two whole days had past and only now as he took a break from tennis and study to wrestle with dirt and grime, his mind again turned to a longing for Momo's smile...and Momo's touch.
Starting to fall into a pleasant daydream, it was rudely interrupted by three goons from the basketball club picking on Horio and knowing the Tanuki was hopeless in the face of danger, the singles star had gone to his aid; only to be challenged by the team captain in a hoop shooting contest. Never one to back down, Ryoma had accepted and now, as he stood waiting for his second hit, he sensed some kind of disturbance at the tennis court and almost bolted over there when he felt Momo's pain wash over him.
" OY! Shorty! It's your turn!"
Sneering at the bald headed teenager looming over him, the black-haired young demon fought down the urge by tossing his tennis ball high, striking it with the broom and sending it winging its way through the distant basket ball hoop. A few more throws and hits and Ryoma suddenly became aware of the huge crowd gathered to watch. Suddenly sensing his beloved among them, his heart soared and with his boyfriends eyes upon him and Momo's gift of his racket in his hand, he felt he could conquer the world as his final shot sailed through its goal. Turning away, Ryoma strode straight for the overhead walkway where he knew his lover awaited him.
-.-.-.-.-.-
"This way...come on!"
Keeping a tight grip on his boyfriends hand, Momo' lead the wondering youth through the thick growth of hedges lining the rear of the school grounds. Brushing irritably at the leaves and spiky branches tugging at his clothes, Ryoma grumbled; " Where are we going Momo' sempai?"
Laughing gently, the bristle-haired youth stopped to give the smaller boy a loving look. " Please, can't you drop the sempai? Now follow me! This is a secret place I found while hunting in these bushes a few weeks ago."
" Hunting?" Green-gold eyes appeared from under a white cap brim. " Hunting for what?" Seeing the pleased smirk on the taller teenagers face, Ryoma dropped his gaze and mumbled; " I don't want to know."
" No Echizen, you don't...hmm...here we are!"
Placing his palm against what appeared to be a solid wall of impenetrable foliage, Momo' pushed hard against it to reveal a loose tangle of hedge that caved in, then gave way enough for him to wiggle through the resulting gap. Ryoma crawled in behind, then knelt to voice an exclamation of wonder as the branches snapped back into place behind them to completely conceal them from the outside world. " So what do think eh?" Asked the older of the pair as he sat with crossed legs on the bare soil, peeled off his jacket and grinned at his boyfriend's face.
It was like a little cave made out the surrounding bushes. The late afternoon sun light streamed in to create dappled patterns of gold that danced and wavered as the hedge swayed in the light wind. Not a blade of grass nor fallen leaf marred the clean, dry soil and for the first time in two days Ryoma found himself to be perfectly at peace.
Leaning against the warm fabric of Momo's shirt, the younger boy deeply inhaled his boyfriends scent then gazed dreamily up at him. " Mada mada, it's so quiet here."
" Yes." replied the other while removing Ryoma's cap, then shifting his right hand through the youth's soft black hair. " We'll be safe here."
Sliding his hand under his partners jaw, Momo' gently rubbed the firm flesh with the side of his index finger, then lost himself in the golden highlights of his boyfriends beautiful eyes. " I love you, and I'll always protect you."
" Hmmmm..." Lowering his head, the taller youth silenced the beginnings of an answer with a kiss. Tenderly, their mouths slid tighter together as Momo' opened his lips and moved his tongue against Ryoma's own. When he parted them, Momo' exerted a gentle pressure to open them more. For a moment, he then backed of to lightly caress his partners shoulders and smiled at the smaller youth's rapid breathing and the look of yearning in his softly glowing orbs.
Reaching up, Momo' tilted his lovers jaw back to caress his throat and neck as his lips nibbled carefully at the sensitive outer shell of Ryoma's left ear. The smaller youth groaned softly as shivers of exquisite fire followed his loving touch and set a raging thirst within his soul that knew only one cure.
Touching his tall lovers cheek with the back of his hand as dark eyes again met his own, Ryoma outlined Momo's firm jaw then ran his fingertips over his lips. He could never get enough of looking at his skilful lover, of touching him. His large purple orbs were so compelling with his love and desire that Ryoma wanted to melt into them and forget about the Dark Hunters, his special training and his warring blood to just drown in the pure sensation of Momo's and his own inflamed emotions.
Now, large hands snaked their way beneath Ryoma's shirt to skate against warm, smooth flesh that quivered in response to the light caress as his smaller, delicate hands also worked their way under his partners clothing to press hard against firm back muscles.
Eager to give pleasure, Momo' let his left hand trail down to apply a tender pressure to the hard bulge forming in his boyfriends groin as he found the youth's mouth once more and sank down with him as he gently laid him on his back. Time stopped and the universe compacted into a small, hidden place within a hedges heart where only two youth's existed to pledge each others love. Carefully sliding his hand under his moaning partners waist band, the bristle-haired teenager suddenly jerked up and flinched as if shot. A voice; stern, commanding and completely unforgiving was barking out a single word from just beyond the confines of their refuge. " ECHIZEN!"
" Tezuka!" breathed Momo' in disbelief " How the hell did he find us?"
Clutching at his lovers neck, Ryoma buried his face against him and whimpered that his great grandfather had come to take him for his training. " Momo' sempai, I don't want to go!"
Enfolding the smaller boy in his arms, Momo' held him close as he murmured into his hair. " Stay very still, don't make a sound and we may avoid him."
Several long minutes dragged by on weighted, iron chains as two heart beats thundered into twin sets of tense ears. When no sound followed they began to relax, but then the bush swayed wildly and parted as the red sea had once done for Moses. Clasped against each other, they could only watch...frozen to the spot like a rabbit in a strong spotlight as the glowing form of Tezuka exerting the full strength of his telekinetic powers spilt their hidden world apart.
He said not a word, but his hard eyes bored deep within the pairs souls to punish them with the force of his imperious gaze alone. Stiffly rising to his feet, Ryoma bowed his head in total submission then spoke in a dull, flat voice. " I have to go...Momo' sempai."
" NO!" Scrambling to his feet, the bristle-haired youth charged forward to leap before his lover, tightly grip his shoulders and gaze fearfully into his eyes. " You don't have to! Ryoma! Listen to me! You are NOT A DRAGON! He cannot make you become one!! If the hunters attack again, you have all us to defend you!"
But Ryoma never lifted his head, even when Momo' shook him out of desperation, and whispered; " Please let me go."
Whipping around, the mongoose spirit stalked toward Tezuka; his hands outstretched appealingly. " He shouldn't have to do this!"
Hazel-gold eyes narrowed then flashed dangerously as they drilled through Momo' in a wordless challenge. Balling his fists, Momo' then raised his voice to speak angrily. " Why can't our chibi just be himself? We can all protect him!!... I can protect him!"
A great golden light, brighter than any Momo' had ever seen before flared to life around Tezuka as his hair rose about to toss as though standing in a strong updraft. Great wings of golden sail erupted from his shoulders as long, slender horns reared up from the sides of his head and a slender, scaled tail whipped at the air. Lips parted to reveal needle like teeth as a thin jet of fire lanced forth from his mouth to sear the hedge and force Momo' to leap back with a frightened squeal.
Standing motionless, the half human form dragon never took his blazing golden eyes off the tall youth as he extended one wing and Ryoma paced sadly within its confines.
Barring his teeth, the bristle-haired youth rushed forward in a frenzy of despair; but was driven back when confronted with a second blast of fire, and towing shadow form of his captain's true draconian self.
' Do not interfere in matters you do not understand mongoose!'
Snarling at the stern words pounding at his skull, Momo' found he was powerless to intervene as Tezuka folded his wing around his grandson and prepared to leave. The last thing Ryoma heard as he was winked from existence was his lovers plaintive wail..." Ryoma!...Ryoma!...RY-O-MAAAAAAAAA!"
-.-.-.-.-.-
" You must concentrate Echizen." Settling his vast body, the regal dragon lay comfortably on his chest as his huge forelegs crossed over each other and he steadily regarded the tiny demon standing before him. " Breath deep. Hands apart. Now, think of your power."
Eyes squeezed tight shut, Ryoma curved his hands and felt the energy ball crackle to life between his palms. For several minutes he let it shimmer and spark, then he flung his hands out to blast at the cold mountain air. Nodding, Tezuka closed his eyes as the end of his tail twitched up and down. " That's good Echizen, but I know you can do better."
Heaving a heavy, long suffering sigh, the young demon past a trembling hand before his eyes and tipped his head back to gaze up soulfully at the towering form of his great grandfather. When he had first seen Tezuka in his full dragon form, the youth had been overwhelmed to the point of speechless and even now after seeing him many times he was still in awe of the incredible gold dragon. But this day, he felt a new serge of emotion...resentment as he opened his mouth to speak.
" Mada mada...I want to go home."
" Impossible Echizen, we have much more for you to accomplish."
Running his left hand over his head and feeling his jagged demon horns, Ryoma sat down on one of Tezuka's massive, curving talons then peered up at him through a curtain of black bangs.
" Momo' sempai...he almost gave his life to protect me. Why can't I spend more time with him?"
Gracefully curving his long, sinuous neck the mighty dragon looked down on the one creature on earth he knew he truly cared about.
" Because of the Dark Hunters. Echizen, you are so very young and don't know your enemy, but..." breaking off, the dragon stared at the distant clouds. "...I do. They are ruthless, tireless. They have capture methods they haven't yet shown us." Gazing down again, Tezuka spoke with quiet worry. " They can avoid the effects of Oishi's banishing howl..." Shaking his head, the dragon king locked eyes with Ryoma. " I fear they are toying with us, trying to draw us out. Ryoma, If you cannot fight them they wont only just take you, but everyone else...including your mongoose."
Ryoma stared down at his clawed hands, then balled them into fists. " I...I love him grandfather. I will do whatever it takes to protect him. But I miss him so much."
Lowering his head so the squared off end of his huge muzzle gently nuzzled the boy, Tezuka briefly thought of Fuji and felt a stab of fear at the thought of the hunters going after him. ' Do I love the Blood? I wish I knew...but I do care for him and Ryoma.' he thought silently as Ryoma irritably pushed him away and stalked off to practice some more.
Moving lightly for a creature of his size, Tezuka stood then slowly crossed the open mountain meadow to sit beside a huge bronze dragon squatting on the thick grass. " Danger looms Kabaji. We must be ready! I cannot bare further loss."
' Nor can I, enough have died.'
Watching Ryoma summon a new energy ball, Tezuka let his sad gaze rove over the ten Hikari in attendance and fell on Atobe standing among them. " I have my own protectors." he said gently " and you have yours, but apart from Seigaku my great grandson has only himself."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Ryoma sent the flying tennis ball winging its way back to Oishi, who returned it with grim determination. Striking it with a savage backhand, the dark-haired youth risked a quick glance off to his left and caught sight of Momo's back as the tall, bristle-haired teenager made his way to the club rooms. The ball zoomed back at him and the first year student slammed his racket against with furious venom as his mind wavered off focus of the game to concentrate on his apparently disgruntled boyfriend.
He had tried to phone the mongoose spirit the moment he had arrived home, only to be regretfully told that Momo' had gone out and his mother had no idea when he would be back. Upset, Ryoma had then fled his father to search for his lover; only to be caught by Tezuka, bought back and subjected to a lengthy lecture he had positively cringed at as the recriminations rained down on his head.
Arriving at school the next morning he was met by Oishi who insisted on following him everywhere until class started, and if that hadn't been bad enough, Ryoma found himself under the close watch of one Tanuki and two wererats. Then he was forced to endure Tezuka talking to him twice and was raked over by his teacher for his inattention to his lessons. Feeling suffocated and frustrated in a way he'd never before known, he had almost whooped for joy when the time for tennis practice had rolled around and eagerly rushed to the courts...only to feel his spirit sink when he discovered Momo's notable absence.
Now, as he tore about the courts confines, he dealt the ball a mighty blow as he poured out his anger on the inanimate object and wondered bitterly if his boyfriend was ignoring him.
Nothing could have been further than the truth, as the Seigaku powerhouse stalked into the club house to change from his school uniform into his tennis clothes; his mind locked relentlessly onto a single image...that of his boyfriends despairing face when Tezuka had taken him. Bunching up his black jacket and savagely hurling it into his locker, he knew within his heart that Ryoma's training was vital; but his mind and body seared with a resentment at the loss of personal time with his lover that was rapidly turning into a black poison that seethed and bubbled throughout his anguished soul.
Tugging his Seigaku jacket into place, he made a firm resolve to speak to Tezuka and make him listen. Then, he would make certain he had some quality time with his beloved Ryoma. Racket gripped firmly in hand, Momo' strode from the clubrooms then caught sight of his captain walking toward the drinking fountain and stop to trade words with Inui. Arms held rigid at his sides, the mongoose spirit couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about as his lovers name floated on the teasing breeze.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
" I'm concerned about Echizen."
Face hidden behind his hands as he vigorously scrubbed his skin with his palms, Inui's muffled voice drifted up in acknowledgement to Tezuka's flatly delivered statement. The captain hummed and shoved his hands into his pockets, quietly waiting until the spiky-haired youth was through, then addressed him as he straightened to dry himself with a towel.
" His mind wasn't on his training last night...but then, I did catch him with Momo'..."
" Oh?" One shapely black eyebrow arched and golden eyes with thin vertical slits glittered as the data collecting basilisk calmly polished his glasses and silently thanked to universe that the dragon king was powerful enough to look him in the eye and live to tell about it. " Then if you interrupted something and strongly feel a ninety nine percent chance you did..."
" Of course I did!" snapped Tezuka quietly as his arms tightly folded " But he knows full well how important his training is to miss it by indulging in mindless pleasure."
Satisfied his glasses were clean, Inui replaced them on his nose and chuckled softly. " Mindless pleasure? Is that how you see it? Tezuka, I've known you a long time and maybe you should take a mate or two from time to time...its healthy."
Tezuka's reply was an indignant snort. " I only ever made that mistake once and I never intend to make it again."
" Why?" asked Inui firmly. " Just because you fought with silver wings over that white scaled female you bred with?"
" I'll thank you to never speak of that incident again!" growled the regal youth as he gave his glasses an irritated push with his middle finger. But his old friend wasn't done.
" Ten thousand years of abstinence is a long time, and we all need mates of some kind. I have Kaido, Oishi has Eiji and I sense Fuji would..."
" Enough!" Almost quivering as he fought to control his rising anger, Tezuka forced himself to speak calmly. " At least you and the Naga are snake bloods. But the Cat Lord and the Moon Dog? It's unnatural! As for the Blood..."
" Define natural in this modern world." interrupted Inui as he gathered his belongings. " A thousand years ago, the world was natural but now....the humans of today will never know it as you and I once did. Nothing is natural anymore...and THAT includes relationships. Just give them some time Tezuka."
" So you think I'm being hard on him." grumbled the disguised dragon king. " Well that maybe true, but I refuse to relent. Echizen must learn who he truly is."
" And who is he then?" asked Inui as he gazed up at the sun and grinned. " Take my advice. Take the Blood for your own and I calculate an seventy percent chance of you being less grumpy. Hmmm, it's a really fine day. I will play the first match."
With that, the tall juice fiend strolled away, leaving Tezuka with a lot to think about.
-.-.-.-.-.-
The following day heralded the start of the selections for the Kanto tournament. With the entire team of regulars and non regulars alike lined up and standing stiffly at attention, Ryuzaki firmly informed them to take the situation into consideration and they would be using the elimination system to chose the best players to represent them. With the speeches over, the team broke up into separate groups and the ranking game began.
First up was Arai who beat his opponent easily. Takashi served with a mighty yell of BURNING and terrified his opposite into dropping his racket. With a smug " Good-O " he turned is attention to Oishi as the vice captain quickly dispatched his challenger.
Off to the side, Inui wrote up his data as Tezuka flattened his opponent six-zero. Else where, Momo' banished his sorrows by squashing his opposition with a high dunk smash.
Pausing to wipe his sweaty brow, he curled his lip as the words " Tezuka's incredible! The other player can't even score a single point!" wafted across the grounds to taunt his ears. He had tried to speak to the ancient dragon ruler, but the youth had refused to listen to reason and Ryoma had been sound asleep when he had finally managed to go to the teenagers house. With the selection match, he had been hoping to get a chance to at least be in his lovers presence, but fate...or perhaps his captain had conspired against him and they had ended up in separate groups.
An excited shout of " Boomerang snake!" rang out, catching his attention and he grinned only slightly as Kaido defeated a non regular youth with reddish-brown hair. From the crowd of spectators, someone said " He isn't human!" and Momo' found he couldn't help but smile as he thought of how right they were!
On the courts far side, Ryoma was all but killing his greatly suffering opponent with twist serves and savage blows that made his audience shudder at his very obvious bad mood and wonder what was wrong.
-.-.-.-.-.
It was two PM by the big clock on Seishun high school's wall when Inui at last took up his racket to casually win his match. Having finished playing for a while, Ryoma had entertained the notion of going over to watch Momo's game. But he had been snared by Eiji and Fuji who had insisted he watch Inui's match with them. Hissing in a fair imitation of an angry snake, the black-haired youth reluctantly surrendered and listened with half an ear to the Red heads comments.
" Inui is so vigorous, I'm glad he's in another group and I don't have to play against him!"
"Saa..." Agreed Fuji quietly. " Group A is the strongest." Turning, he peeled his eyes open to direct a tender stare Tezuka's way.
" Huh!" grumbled Ryoma as he followed the line of the Tensai's gaze. " I don't know why you bother. A dragon hasn't got a single loving bone in its body."
" Oh?" said Fuji as his head titled to one side and his angelic smile washed over his face. " Trust me, If he has one, I will find it."
-.-.-.-.-.-.
With the commencement of the third round, Eiji totally defeated Arai with a six-zero win. Entering the court for his turn with slumped shoulders and dragging his feet like a condemned man, Takashi past the flame-haired acrobatic player muttering a quiet ; " Gee Eiji, you have become a formal player so early! and me...." Trailing off his picked up his racket and suddenly became a different person.
Spinning about to face his startled opponent, the brown-haired youth fixed him with crazed eyes as he wildly wind milled his arm and roared for all the world to hear. " BURNING!!!!!!!!!!! DON'T WORRY BOY! I'M A SUPER PLAYER!! COME ON! COME ON!!"
Failing to notice how his black-haired opposite was cowering behind his racket in abject terror, the disguised red dragon called out; " COME ON!! COME ON!! SERVE!!"
An all mighty cry of " GO!" rang out, followed by a frightened scream and a lot of demented laughter that suspended all action and caused a wave of nervous giggles. Shaking his head in amusement, Oishi served to Ryoma who slammed it back with a resounding crack. The shot flew low and the vice captain charged in to pick it up as a moon volley. Seeing the ball fly high, Ryoma leapt after it.
Watching the singles champion silhouetted against the late afternoon sky, the mythic canine sneaked a peek at the demon with his second sight and gasped in wonder at his glowing, golden wings. All to soon, the match ended with the smaller boy emerging victorious at six-three.
Striding to the net, Oishi extended his right hand and spoke as Ryoma clasped it. " You win. You are indeed powerful Echizen and your dragon blood is added to your strength."
" Hmmmm. My dragon blood." growled the younger teenager as he spun on his heel and stalked away from the startled moon dog.
" I hate it." he thought bitterly as he strode determinedly for the court where he knew his boyfriend was about to play off against Inui.
" I didn't ask to be born this way...Momo' I'm coming now...wait for me."
Screaming tension hung over the battle ground as the raven-haired youth approached and a sudden feeling of dread washed over him as an icy deluge of despair. Something had gone terribly wrong and he quickened his pace as he fell in behind Horio and his friends also making their way to the court. Even at his distance, Ryoma could see the fearful expression on Eiji's face and the grim look on Oishi’s as the dark-haired teenager joined his lover.
" Come on everyone!" called Horio as they passed through the gates. " Momo's game is about to start!"
" Shut up!" snapped an irate Kaido, bringing about instant silence as the first years drew to a halt. Taking in the sight of Momo's ridged form and his emotionless face reflecting in Inui's glasses, Ryoma knew at once that the match had already been played and his lover had lost. Staring intensely as the Mongoose and the basilisk shook hands, the young demon tried to gently touch Momo's mind; but his thoughts were tightly closed, his mind sealed away.
For a single heart beat, the bristle-haired youth half turned in his boyfriends direction and Ryoma gasped at the sight of the tears shimmering in his great purple orbs...then Momo' was leaving. Head bowed, his shoulders stiff he sadly limped away...his right leg dragging painfully behind him. Watching him with open concern, Ryoma wanted nothing more than to rush to his lover and throw his arms around him. But then, an unskilled and faltering mind send whispered in his mind; ' It's alright...I just want...to be alone...for a while.'
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Lightening crackled and thunder boomed in response. The driving rain attacked with even greater force, drumming relentlessly against the roof and trying to batter its way past the window. The shockingly loud noise of the elements screaming at him jerked Momo' out of his painful memories and bought him surging to his feet his an agonised scream of his own. He had lost his place on the team, lost the full use of his right leg and now it seemed he would lose Ryoma as well. Throwing a bared tooth glare at his basket, the youth knew even sleeping in his true form now gave him no comfort and crying in anguish as the thunder spoke again, he charged from his room to tear blindly through his house and fling his front door wide.
For a spilt second the flashing lightening revealed a tall, naked youth standing as he sobbed despairing tears in the frame work, then the dazzling claw of light again whipped across the sky to high light a large mongoose standing in his place. Throwing back his head, the creature screamed out a misery to painful to be borne, then it was gone...running wildly into the storm.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Disclaimer: Oh dear...big sigh...Prince of Tennis STILL does not belong to me!...cry! Mythic's belong to themselves.
Flames belong only in a dragons mouth. Those who attempt to mimic them will be IGNORED!
WARNING!!! YAOI!!!!
Yes readers, this chapter has a hot moment between Ryoma and Momo' ! If it offends... DON'T READ! You have thus been told
" What Good Am I?"
Chapter 2
Story: Tora Macaw.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Rain. It continued to fall in a steady rhythm against clay roof tiles, as the wind kept hurling the driving wetness at the clear barrier of his window. Still sitting with his head bowed, the bristle-haired youth blinked away the rain threatening to form within his large purple orbs while he rubbed fitfully at his nose with the back of his hand. For a moment, he lifted his gaze to stare sadly at the downpour then sighed heavily as he settled back into his former drooping position.
Although his mood perfectly matched the dismal weather, his mind roamed about through a jumbled kaleidoscope of thoughts and random memories that would pause at significant scenes of his tennis playing life. He could see himself learning to play and quickly developing a love for the game that had soon evolved into a driving passion. Despite his sorrow of the moment, his lips twitched up into a half smirk as his brain played out a picture of himself and that infuriatingly bad tempered Naga constantly competing for dominance.
Fighting non stop as snake and mongoose, they had almost driven Oishi to despair; but then Tezuka had stepped in with his air of absolute authority and swiftly bought about an uneasy truce between them. Then had come the day when an undersized snarky little brat with a bad attitude and one hell of a playing style had strolled into his life and changed it forever.
Clenching his fists as the first of many tears dripped onto them, Momo' painfully whispered a name.; " Echizen....Ryoma."
Shoulders shuddering with intense emotion, he hardly noticed when his active mind mercilessly launched a sneak attack and began to play out a new scene.
-.-.-.-.-.-
He had just finished up his match with Arai and his eyes automatically started scanning the grounds for Ryoma. Tezuka was overseeing the practice from his place beside the gate. Stern, commanding, his Hazel-gold eyes missed little or nothing as he let his regal gaze rove over his team mates, then he turned to question Kachiro as the first grader walked past baring a large, square box of tennis balls in his arms. The sound of their voices drifted on the breeze to float into the disguise mongoose's highly sensitive ears.
" Where is Echizen?"
Nodding at the imposing captain, the young Wererat answered quickly. " It's his turn to sweep today, so he will come later. Don't worry, he isn't alone...Horio is with him."
Half turning to acknowledge Arai when he spoke, Momo' huffed silently. 'Huh! That Tanuki is more useless than I am! If those hunters were to strike again...'
Evidently it clear from the look on Tezuka's face that he obviously felt the same way as his eyes glazed over and even Momo' felt the buzz of his sending as he telepathically communicated with his great grandson. The disguised dragon king was so absorbed in his silent speech, that he didn't even notice when Eiji playfully draped an arm across his shoulders and made a cheerful remark on how he had better turn up for practice or be in trouble!
Ending his mental talk with Ryoma, he threw the exuberant young cat lord a clear;' you-have-ten-seconds-to-get-your-paws-OFF-me' look that was reinforced by a smiling Fuji strolling up with a;' get-your-paws-off-MY-dragon' look that startled Eiji into the desired effect as his stepped away with a startled yelp and a;' please-don't-kill-me look'!
Chuckling at his team mates by-play, the bristle-haired youth absent mindedly answered a question flung his way when his nostrils picked up an odd sent. It was demon like, yet also similar to the spicy odour particular to dragons and he perceived it uneasily. A flash of movent near the gate caught his eye and steadying his gaze, he saw the raven-haired form of a stranger peering through the high wire fence as he intently studied Fuji and Takashi's practice.
Noticing Shiba standing close by as she snapped off several photos, Momo relaxed his guard at the Hikari's proximity as he thought;. ' She maybe an odd one that protector of the Ryuzaki clan, but I know she would never allow anything to attack us.'
Turning his attention back to the players seeking his advice, he failed to notice Shiba's rapid departure and the strangers entry to the court until he heard an amused voice asking; " Where is Tezuka?"
Aware of Inui and Oishi's scrutiny, Momo' watched the black-haired youth turn his sea-green eyes to the pair; then startle at the disguised moon dog's calm, but firm inquiry of; " You are not a student here! Can I help you?"
" AH!!! Oh dear," the stranger muttered as he stared at Inui in fascination. "I've been discovered! Well no matter, I have nothing to hide."
Around the courts, activity suspended as the youth's voice rose and all became aware of his presence. Curling his upper lip, the young demon standing at Momo's side rustled his hidden wings in annoyance as the visitor calmly continued. " I'm from Rikkadai collage and am top of my class. Kirihara Akaya...that's me!"
Tapping at his chin with his data file, Inui cocked his head to one side as his hidden eyes seemed to bore straight through the stranger. " Hmmm...so you are the Kirihara from Rikkadai who beat an opponent from Kangawa district, the number one of Kanto."
Unimpressed, Oishi remarked; " Then you have come from a long way. What is your purpose here?"
Lifting his right hand to nervously rub at the back of his head, Kirihara flashed his audience a cheeky, closed eye smile as he cheerfully declared: " I am here to spy!"
Instantly, a collective gasp rose up from many throats and tense muttering broke out.
" A spy?"
" Who the hell does he think he is?"
" What will Tezuka do?"
A scattered wall of accusing eyes flared from all directions to pin the squirming teenager to the spot as he met the confused gaze of a brown-haired youth and his grim faced companion. For a long moment, he met the ' Blood's" wordless stare of challenge then let out a sinister little chuckle that set a few peoples skin crawling.
Balling his fists, Arai took a hostile step toward him. " Is he kidding? What's he up to?"
" Arai!" said Momo' urgently as he stuck out a restraining hand. " Captain will deal with him!"
Sure enough, Tezuka had promptly placed himself before the visitor and fixed him with in icy glare. " What's going on here?"
Stepping apart as the raven-haired teen all but jumped between them, Inui and Oishi showed their teeth as the stranger flung out an arm to excitedly point. " I found you! I found you! You are Tezuka right? Captain of Seigaku and..." dropping his voice, Kirihara leaned in to wink and add; "...the mighty king of the dragons himself! Heh, heh! Forgive me if I don't bow your majesty."
Seeing his captain's quiet look of " so what if I am" and hearing the brazen words of the Rikkadai student, Oishi let out an indignant "OY!" as Kirihara placed his right hand behind his head and radiated innocence as he asked; " My I fight with you? Just one little match..."
Several angry growls rang out, coupled by a menacing hiss from a fang showing, shielded Inui. Snorting a thin jet of steam only the mythics present could see, Tezuka half turned away as he spoke sternly. " How about you submit an application to this school? Become a student here and then we shall see."
" Heh!" barked Kirihara as he lifted his left index finger to his brow. " I said I only want one game! Sheesh! What a tough nut you are! Don't you ever worry you'll stretch and ruin that handsome human face of yours if you even try to smile?"
Glaring back over his shoulder, the proud youth opened his mind and sent a harsh thought lancing throughout his antagonists skull.
' Don't push me you insect!'
' Ooooohhh!' came the immediate, sarcastic reply 'His royal mightiness is angry! I quiver with FEAR!'
Picking up on the powerful mind send, Arai voiced an angry growl as he reached into a nearby ball box and snatched one up in his left hand. Snapping out his right arm, he pin pointed the visitor with his racket. " HEY YOU!" he yelled as he tossed the ball skyward. " How dare you insult our captain! GET OUT OF HERE!"
With those final words delivered at the top of his lungs, Arai slammed into the falling object; his racket at once turning it into a deadly missile that flew with single minded purpose straight at the back of Kirihara's skull.
Hearing the disguised moon dog's cry of " You idiot Arai!", the black-haired Rikkai player glanced over his right shoulder, stared for a second at the green and white object flying at him then almost casually lifted his own racket to catch the ball in mid flight. Twisting his hand up, he snarled a silent ' And who in the name of Aion are YOU?' at a clearly shocked Arai as he sniggered a sinister "Heh" while repeatedly bouncing the ball on the tight strings. 'Don't go making a sneak attack from the side'.
" I don't believe it!" gasped Arai in the stunned silence following the flawless display. " He caught my serve..."
Ball still dancing up and down on the frame work held out before him, Kirihara once again addressed an arm folded, glaring captain.
" Tezuka, I didn't come here to pick a fight with your pack. Just give me one round with you." When stony silence was his only answer, the invader tried to provoke one with his mind. ' I know you mighty "true" dragons don't care for my kind...heh...even other faerie dragons can't stand me! But my demon blood demands I test your strength. Fight me...so I can knock you flat onto your high and mighty tail...or are YOU afraid of me as well?'
' Oh really draca demon?' The powerful thought rang painfully throughout the mix breed's brain almost making him reel from the impact. However, he was quick to recover as he chuckled; "So, I can't help it if you don't like me." Half turning to face a teeth grinding Arai, Kirihara raised his voice to yell scornfully; " HEY! The one who attacked me from behind! Heres your ball back!"
Completely turning his back, he threw a smug smirk at a silently fuming Tezuka and tossed the ball up to serve it over his shoulder. Zipping back to the central court, the missile roared its way straight for Arai but missed him by a hairs breath to cannon forcefully into the right side Momo's face. Thrown backward by the immense power, the bristle-haired youth measured his length on his back as he lay stunned. However, his racket flew out of his lax hand in mid fall to spin wildly through the air and slam brutally into the back of Kachiro's head. Knocked out by the sudden blow, the black-haired youth toppled forward and the box he carried tipped to spill a great cascade of tennis balls streaming out in a flood of rolling, bouncing round objects.
Caught up in the sudden first wave, Eiji was knocked flat and could only lie helpless as his fellow players tripped, stumbled and fell like bowling pins about him.
One player, a youth with short black hair and wearing the blue uniform of a normal member, had the extreme misfortune to topple backward due to the twin balls caught beneath his feet and waver shakily in a beeline straight for Kaido as he stood quietly drinking near the fence. Losing his racket has he wildly wind milled his arms in a vain attempt to balance, the stringed object whirred through the air to strike the bandana wearing youth clean on the top of his head. Sadly, the resulting spray of brown liquid drowned out the crisp, white leaf patterns on the mamushi's clean head gear; instantly drawing out the kind of explosive hiss that would strike terror into even the bravest heart.
Adam's apples bobbed in string of nervous gulps as those closest to him jumped back when the cup was crushed between powerful fingers coupled to an outraged cry of; " Who did that?"
In the midst of a sudden stampede to escape the Naga's wrath, Kirihara heard several horrified yells.
" Kaido is angry!"
" Run for your lives!"
" Head for the hills!"
Startled at the mass of chaos unfolding before him, the draca demon blinked as he said; " Did I do all that? Better go!"
Inching away from his place between a grim faced Inui and a dismayed Oishi, the Rikkadai youth froze for a moment; his knees bent out at an angle, shoulders slumped and racket hanging limply from his dangling right hand as students galloped past him at close range. Knees sagging even more as he drank in the sight of ten people trying to restrain Kaido as he roared for blood, Kirihara lifted his racket to his shoulder and grimaced in fear. " It's not good! If that snake gets loose..."
Sidling away in a long crab step as the Seigaku mamushi snapped a few savage " Get off me!" and " Shut UP's" , he managed to gain the safety of the gateway unnoticed. Pausing only long enough to take in the sight of the disguised dragon king steaming so hard his glasses had become coated in a thick layer of fog, Kirihara then turned and bolted for his life.
-.- -.- -.-
Else where in the school grounds, Ryoma's mind kept focusing upon a certain bristle-haired mongoose who he hadn't seen for two days. " Between my father trying to keep me as a demon and Tezuka trying to turn me into dragon, I haven't even so much as had the time to ring him." Thought the short youth as he aggressively attacked the concrete steps with his broom. Sighing, he found his memories turning over as the events of the close past began to plague him.
The Dark Hunters attack had been shockingly brutal, and his friends had fought to defend him to the last. He could well recall his intense pain and being taken captive as he remembered the bite of the rope and way it had sucked the energy out of him. Shuddering, he thought of Eiji and of how what had happened to him had almost happened to himself. Yet, apart from a tendency to jump at the slightest sudden noise, the young cat lord seemed had recovered from this latest skirmish relatively unscathed and the raven-haired youth now constantly wondered about the state of Momo's leg.
He had been shocked to learn the extent of the teenagers injuries and had wanted to race to his side at once, but Tezuka had been ruthlessly firm. " Those hunters will come after you again Echizen." He had told the boy seriously. " From now on after tennis you will report straight to me and I will teach you how to harness the power within you." Ryoma had protested that wished to spend his free time with his boyfriend, but his argument had been in vain when the dragon king suddenly teleported him away to some god forsaken forgotten part of world and started his training then and there.
Returning home had bought no relief from the demands on his time either when his parents had insisted he start honing his demonic skills, and by the time his father was through with him, all he craved was sleep. So two whole days had past and only now as he took a break from tennis and study to wrestle with dirt and grime, his mind again turned to a longing for Momo's smile...and Momo's touch.
Starting to fall into a pleasant daydream, it was rudely interrupted by three goons from the basketball club picking on Horio and knowing the Tanuki was hopeless in the face of danger, the singles star had gone to his aid; only to be challenged by the team captain in a hoop shooting contest. Never one to back down, Ryoma had accepted and now, as he stood waiting for his second hit, he sensed some kind of disturbance at the tennis court and almost bolted over there when he felt Momo's pain wash over him.
" OY! Shorty! It's your turn!"
Sneering at the bald headed teenager looming over him, the black-haired young demon fought down the urge by tossing his tennis ball high, striking it with the broom and sending it winging its way through the distant basket ball hoop. A few more throws and hits and Ryoma suddenly became aware of the huge crowd gathered to watch. Suddenly sensing his beloved among them, his heart soared and with his boyfriends eyes upon him and Momo's gift of his racket in his hand, he felt he could conquer the world as his final shot sailed through its goal. Turning away, Ryoma strode straight for the overhead walkway where he knew his lover awaited him.
-.-.-.-.-.-
"This way...come on!"
Keeping a tight grip on his boyfriends hand, Momo' lead the wondering youth through the thick growth of hedges lining the rear of the school grounds. Brushing irritably at the leaves and spiky branches tugging at his clothes, Ryoma grumbled; " Where are we going Momo' sempai?"
Laughing gently, the bristle-haired youth stopped to give the smaller boy a loving look. " Please, can't you drop the sempai? Now follow me! This is a secret place I found while hunting in these bushes a few weeks ago."
" Hunting?" Green-gold eyes appeared from under a white cap brim. " Hunting for what?" Seeing the pleased smirk on the taller teenagers face, Ryoma dropped his gaze and mumbled; " I don't want to know."
" No Echizen, you don't...hmm...here we are!"
Placing his palm against what appeared to be a solid wall of impenetrable foliage, Momo' pushed hard against it to reveal a loose tangle of hedge that caved in, then gave way enough for him to wiggle through the resulting gap. Ryoma crawled in behind, then knelt to voice an exclamation of wonder as the branches snapped back into place behind them to completely conceal them from the outside world. " So what do think eh?" Asked the older of the pair as he sat with crossed legs on the bare soil, peeled off his jacket and grinned at his boyfriend's face.
It was like a little cave made out the surrounding bushes. The late afternoon sun light streamed in to create dappled patterns of gold that danced and wavered as the hedge swayed in the light wind. Not a blade of grass nor fallen leaf marred the clean, dry soil and for the first time in two days Ryoma found himself to be perfectly at peace.
Leaning against the warm fabric of Momo's shirt, the younger boy deeply inhaled his boyfriends scent then gazed dreamily up at him. " Mada mada, it's so quiet here."
" Yes." replied the other while removing Ryoma's cap, then shifting his right hand through the youth's soft black hair. " We'll be safe here."
Sliding his hand under his partners jaw, Momo' gently rubbed the firm flesh with the side of his index finger, then lost himself in the golden highlights of his boyfriends beautiful eyes. " I love you, and I'll always protect you."
" Hmmmm..." Lowering his head, the taller youth silenced the beginnings of an answer with a kiss. Tenderly, their mouths slid tighter together as Momo' opened his lips and moved his tongue against Ryoma's own. When he parted them, Momo' exerted a gentle pressure to open them more. For a moment, he then backed of to lightly caress his partners shoulders and smiled at the smaller youth's rapid breathing and the look of yearning in his softly glowing orbs.
Reaching up, Momo' tilted his lovers jaw back to caress his throat and neck as his lips nibbled carefully at the sensitive outer shell of Ryoma's left ear. The smaller youth groaned softly as shivers of exquisite fire followed his loving touch and set a raging thirst within his soul that knew only one cure.
Touching his tall lovers cheek with the back of his hand as dark eyes again met his own, Ryoma outlined Momo's firm jaw then ran his fingertips over his lips. He could never get enough of looking at his skilful lover, of touching him. His large purple orbs were so compelling with his love and desire that Ryoma wanted to melt into them and forget about the Dark Hunters, his special training and his warring blood to just drown in the pure sensation of Momo's and his own inflamed emotions.
Now, large hands snaked their way beneath Ryoma's shirt to skate against warm, smooth flesh that quivered in response to the light caress as his smaller, delicate hands also worked their way under his partners clothing to press hard against firm back muscles.
Eager to give pleasure, Momo' let his left hand trail down to apply a tender pressure to the hard bulge forming in his boyfriends groin as he found the youth's mouth once more and sank down with him as he gently laid him on his back. Time stopped and the universe compacted into a small, hidden place within a hedges heart where only two youth's existed to pledge each others love. Carefully sliding his hand under his moaning partners waist band, the bristle-haired teenager suddenly jerked up and flinched as if shot. A voice; stern, commanding and completely unforgiving was barking out a single word from just beyond the confines of their refuge. " ECHIZEN!"
" Tezuka!" breathed Momo' in disbelief " How the hell did he find us?"
Clutching at his lovers neck, Ryoma buried his face against him and whimpered that his great grandfather had come to take him for his training. " Momo' sempai, I don't want to go!"
Enfolding the smaller boy in his arms, Momo' held him close as he murmured into his hair. " Stay very still, don't make a sound and we may avoid him."
Several long minutes dragged by on weighted, iron chains as two heart beats thundered into twin sets of tense ears. When no sound followed they began to relax, but then the bush swayed wildly and parted as the red sea had once done for Moses. Clasped against each other, they could only watch...frozen to the spot like a rabbit in a strong spotlight as the glowing form of Tezuka exerting the full strength of his telekinetic powers spilt their hidden world apart.
He said not a word, but his hard eyes bored deep within the pairs souls to punish them with the force of his imperious gaze alone. Stiffly rising to his feet, Ryoma bowed his head in total submission then spoke in a dull, flat voice. " I have to go...Momo' sempai."
" NO!" Scrambling to his feet, the bristle-haired youth charged forward to leap before his lover, tightly grip his shoulders and gaze fearfully into his eyes. " You don't have to! Ryoma! Listen to me! You are NOT A DRAGON! He cannot make you become one!! If the hunters attack again, you have all us to defend you!"
But Ryoma never lifted his head, even when Momo' shook him out of desperation, and whispered; " Please let me go."
Whipping around, the mongoose spirit stalked toward Tezuka; his hands outstretched appealingly. " He shouldn't have to do this!"
Hazel-gold eyes narrowed then flashed dangerously as they drilled through Momo' in a wordless challenge. Balling his fists, Momo' then raised his voice to speak angrily. " Why can't our chibi just be himself? We can all protect him!!... I can protect him!"
A great golden light, brighter than any Momo' had ever seen before flared to life around Tezuka as his hair rose about to toss as though standing in a strong updraft. Great wings of golden sail erupted from his shoulders as long, slender horns reared up from the sides of his head and a slender, scaled tail whipped at the air. Lips parted to reveal needle like teeth as a thin jet of fire lanced forth from his mouth to sear the hedge and force Momo' to leap back with a frightened squeal.
Standing motionless, the half human form dragon never took his blazing golden eyes off the tall youth as he extended one wing and Ryoma paced sadly within its confines.
Barring his teeth, the bristle-haired youth rushed forward in a frenzy of despair; but was driven back when confronted with a second blast of fire, and towing shadow form of his captain's true draconian self.
' Do not interfere in matters you do not understand mongoose!'
Snarling at the stern words pounding at his skull, Momo' found he was powerless to intervene as Tezuka folded his wing around his grandson and prepared to leave. The last thing Ryoma heard as he was winked from existence was his lovers plaintive wail..." Ryoma!...Ryoma!...RY-O-MAAAAAAAAA!"
-.-.-.-.-.-
" You must concentrate Echizen." Settling his vast body, the regal dragon lay comfortably on his chest as his huge forelegs crossed over each other and he steadily regarded the tiny demon standing before him. " Breath deep. Hands apart. Now, think of your power."
Eyes squeezed tight shut, Ryoma curved his hands and felt the energy ball crackle to life between his palms. For several minutes he let it shimmer and spark, then he flung his hands out to blast at the cold mountain air. Nodding, Tezuka closed his eyes as the end of his tail twitched up and down. " That's good Echizen, but I know you can do better."
Heaving a heavy, long suffering sigh, the young demon past a trembling hand before his eyes and tipped his head back to gaze up soulfully at the towering form of his great grandfather. When he had first seen Tezuka in his full dragon form, the youth had been overwhelmed to the point of speechless and even now after seeing him many times he was still in awe of the incredible gold dragon. But this day, he felt a new serge of emotion...resentment as he opened his mouth to speak.
" Mada mada...I want to go home."
" Impossible Echizen, we have much more for you to accomplish."
Running his left hand over his head and feeling his jagged demon horns, Ryoma sat down on one of Tezuka's massive, curving talons then peered up at him through a curtain of black bangs.
" Momo' sempai...he almost gave his life to protect me. Why can't I spend more time with him?"
Gracefully curving his long, sinuous neck the mighty dragon looked down on the one creature on earth he knew he truly cared about.
" Because of the Dark Hunters. Echizen, you are so very young and don't know your enemy, but..." breaking off, the dragon stared at the distant clouds. "...I do. They are ruthless, tireless. They have capture methods they haven't yet shown us." Gazing down again, Tezuka spoke with quiet worry. " They can avoid the effects of Oishi's banishing howl..." Shaking his head, the dragon king locked eyes with Ryoma. " I fear they are toying with us, trying to draw us out. Ryoma, If you cannot fight them they wont only just take you, but everyone else...including your mongoose."
Ryoma stared down at his clawed hands, then balled them into fists. " I...I love him grandfather. I will do whatever it takes to protect him. But I miss him so much."
Lowering his head so the squared off end of his huge muzzle gently nuzzled the boy, Tezuka briefly thought of Fuji and felt a stab of fear at the thought of the hunters going after him. ' Do I love the Blood? I wish I knew...but I do care for him and Ryoma.' he thought silently as Ryoma irritably pushed him away and stalked off to practice some more.
Moving lightly for a creature of his size, Tezuka stood then slowly crossed the open mountain meadow to sit beside a huge bronze dragon squatting on the thick grass. " Danger looms Kabaji. We must be ready! I cannot bare further loss."
' Nor can I, enough have died.'
Watching Ryoma summon a new energy ball, Tezuka let his sad gaze rove over the ten Hikari in attendance and fell on Atobe standing among them. " I have my own protectors." he said gently " and you have yours, but apart from Seigaku my great grandson has only himself."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Ryoma sent the flying tennis ball winging its way back to Oishi, who returned it with grim determination. Striking it with a savage backhand, the dark-haired youth risked a quick glance off to his left and caught sight of Momo's back as the tall, bristle-haired teenager made his way to the club rooms. The ball zoomed back at him and the first year student slammed his racket against with furious venom as his mind wavered off focus of the game to concentrate on his apparently disgruntled boyfriend.
He had tried to phone the mongoose spirit the moment he had arrived home, only to be regretfully told that Momo' had gone out and his mother had no idea when he would be back. Upset, Ryoma had then fled his father to search for his lover; only to be caught by Tezuka, bought back and subjected to a lengthy lecture he had positively cringed at as the recriminations rained down on his head.
Arriving at school the next morning he was met by Oishi who insisted on following him everywhere until class started, and if that hadn't been bad enough, Ryoma found himself under the close watch of one Tanuki and two wererats. Then he was forced to endure Tezuka talking to him twice and was raked over by his teacher for his inattention to his lessons. Feeling suffocated and frustrated in a way he'd never before known, he had almost whooped for joy when the time for tennis practice had rolled around and eagerly rushed to the courts...only to feel his spirit sink when he discovered Momo's notable absence.
Now, as he tore about the courts confines, he dealt the ball a mighty blow as he poured out his anger on the inanimate object and wondered bitterly if his boyfriend was ignoring him.
Nothing could have been further than the truth, as the Seigaku powerhouse stalked into the club house to change from his school uniform into his tennis clothes; his mind locked relentlessly onto a single image...that of his boyfriends despairing face when Tezuka had taken him. Bunching up his black jacket and savagely hurling it into his locker, he knew within his heart that Ryoma's training was vital; but his mind and body seared with a resentment at the loss of personal time with his lover that was rapidly turning into a black poison that seethed and bubbled throughout his anguished soul.
Tugging his Seigaku jacket into place, he made a firm resolve to speak to Tezuka and make him listen. Then, he would make certain he had some quality time with his beloved Ryoma. Racket gripped firmly in hand, Momo' strode from the clubrooms then caught sight of his captain walking toward the drinking fountain and stop to trade words with Inui. Arms held rigid at his sides, the mongoose spirit couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about as his lovers name floated on the teasing breeze.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
" I'm concerned about Echizen."
Face hidden behind his hands as he vigorously scrubbed his skin with his palms, Inui's muffled voice drifted up in acknowledgement to Tezuka's flatly delivered statement. The captain hummed and shoved his hands into his pockets, quietly waiting until the spiky-haired youth was through, then addressed him as he straightened to dry himself with a towel.
" His mind wasn't on his training last night...but then, I did catch him with Momo'..."
" Oh?" One shapely black eyebrow arched and golden eyes with thin vertical slits glittered as the data collecting basilisk calmly polished his glasses and silently thanked to universe that the dragon king was powerful enough to look him in the eye and live to tell about it. " Then if you interrupted something and strongly feel a ninety nine percent chance you did..."
" Of course I did!" snapped Tezuka quietly as his arms tightly folded " But he knows full well how important his training is to miss it by indulging in mindless pleasure."
Satisfied his glasses were clean, Inui replaced them on his nose and chuckled softly. " Mindless pleasure? Is that how you see it? Tezuka, I've known you a long time and maybe you should take a mate or two from time to time...its healthy."
Tezuka's reply was an indignant snort. " I only ever made that mistake once and I never intend to make it again."
" Why?" asked Inui firmly. " Just because you fought with silver wings over that white scaled female you bred with?"
" I'll thank you to never speak of that incident again!" growled the regal youth as he gave his glasses an irritated push with his middle finger. But his old friend wasn't done.
" Ten thousand years of abstinence is a long time, and we all need mates of some kind. I have Kaido, Oishi has Eiji and I sense Fuji would..."
" Enough!" Almost quivering as he fought to control his rising anger, Tezuka forced himself to speak calmly. " At least you and the Naga are snake bloods. But the Cat Lord and the Moon Dog? It's unnatural! As for the Blood..."
" Define natural in this modern world." interrupted Inui as he gathered his belongings. " A thousand years ago, the world was natural but now....the humans of today will never know it as you and I once did. Nothing is natural anymore...and THAT includes relationships. Just give them some time Tezuka."
" So you think I'm being hard on him." grumbled the disguised dragon king. " Well that maybe true, but I refuse to relent. Echizen must learn who he truly is."
" And who is he then?" asked Inui as he gazed up at the sun and grinned. " Take my advice. Take the Blood for your own and I calculate an seventy percent chance of you being less grumpy. Hmmm, it's a really fine day. I will play the first match."
With that, the tall juice fiend strolled away, leaving Tezuka with a lot to think about.
-.-.-.-.-.-
The following day heralded the start of the selections for the Kanto tournament. With the entire team of regulars and non regulars alike lined up and standing stiffly at attention, Ryuzaki firmly informed them to take the situation into consideration and they would be using the elimination system to chose the best players to represent them. With the speeches over, the team broke up into separate groups and the ranking game began.
First up was Arai who beat his opponent easily. Takashi served with a mighty yell of BURNING and terrified his opposite into dropping his racket. With a smug " Good-O " he turned is attention to Oishi as the vice captain quickly dispatched his challenger.
Off to the side, Inui wrote up his data as Tezuka flattened his opponent six-zero. Else where, Momo' banished his sorrows by squashing his opposition with a high dunk smash.
Pausing to wipe his sweaty brow, he curled his lip as the words " Tezuka's incredible! The other player can't even score a single point!" wafted across the grounds to taunt his ears. He had tried to speak to the ancient dragon ruler, but the youth had refused to listen to reason and Ryoma had been sound asleep when he had finally managed to go to the teenagers house. With the selection match, he had been hoping to get a chance to at least be in his lovers presence, but fate...or perhaps his captain had conspired against him and they had ended up in separate groups.
An excited shout of " Boomerang snake!" rang out, catching his attention and he grinned only slightly as Kaido defeated a non regular youth with reddish-brown hair. From the crowd of spectators, someone said " He isn't human!" and Momo' found he couldn't help but smile as he thought of how right they were!
On the courts far side, Ryoma was all but killing his greatly suffering opponent with twist serves and savage blows that made his audience shudder at his very obvious bad mood and wonder what was wrong.
-.-.-.-.-.
It was two PM by the big clock on Seishun high school's wall when Inui at last took up his racket to casually win his match. Having finished playing for a while, Ryoma had entertained the notion of going over to watch Momo's game. But he had been snared by Eiji and Fuji who had insisted he watch Inui's match with them. Hissing in a fair imitation of an angry snake, the black-haired youth reluctantly surrendered and listened with half an ear to the Red heads comments.
" Inui is so vigorous, I'm glad he's in another group and I don't have to play against him!"
"Saa..." Agreed Fuji quietly. " Group A is the strongest." Turning, he peeled his eyes open to direct a tender stare Tezuka's way.
" Huh!" grumbled Ryoma as he followed the line of the Tensai's gaze. " I don't know why you bother. A dragon hasn't got a single loving bone in its body."
" Oh?" said Fuji as his head titled to one side and his angelic smile washed over his face. " Trust me, If he has one, I will find it."
-.-.-.-.-.-.
With the commencement of the third round, Eiji totally defeated Arai with a six-zero win. Entering the court for his turn with slumped shoulders and dragging his feet like a condemned man, Takashi past the flame-haired acrobatic player muttering a quiet ; " Gee Eiji, you have become a formal player so early! and me...." Trailing off his picked up his racket and suddenly became a different person.
Spinning about to face his startled opponent, the brown-haired youth fixed him with crazed eyes as he wildly wind milled his arm and roared for all the world to hear. " BURNING!!!!!!!!!!! DON'T WORRY BOY! I'M A SUPER PLAYER!! COME ON! COME ON!!"
Failing to notice how his black-haired opposite was cowering behind his racket in abject terror, the disguised red dragon called out; " COME ON!! COME ON!! SERVE!!"
An all mighty cry of " GO!" rang out, followed by a frightened scream and a lot of demented laughter that suspended all action and caused a wave of nervous giggles. Shaking his head in amusement, Oishi served to Ryoma who slammed it back with a resounding crack. The shot flew low and the vice captain charged in to pick it up as a moon volley. Seeing the ball fly high, Ryoma leapt after it.
Watching the singles champion silhouetted against the late afternoon sky, the mythic canine sneaked a peek at the demon with his second sight and gasped in wonder at his glowing, golden wings. All to soon, the match ended with the smaller boy emerging victorious at six-three.
Striding to the net, Oishi extended his right hand and spoke as Ryoma clasped it. " You win. You are indeed powerful Echizen and your dragon blood is added to your strength."
" Hmmmm. My dragon blood." growled the younger teenager as he spun on his heel and stalked away from the startled moon dog.
" I hate it." he thought bitterly as he strode determinedly for the court where he knew his boyfriend was about to play off against Inui.
" I didn't ask to be born this way...Momo' I'm coming now...wait for me."
Screaming tension hung over the battle ground as the raven-haired youth approached and a sudden feeling of dread washed over him as an icy deluge of despair. Something had gone terribly wrong and he quickened his pace as he fell in behind Horio and his friends also making their way to the court. Even at his distance, Ryoma could see the fearful expression on Eiji's face and the grim look on Oishi’s as the dark-haired teenager joined his lover.
" Come on everyone!" called Horio as they passed through the gates. " Momo's game is about to start!"
" Shut up!" snapped an irate Kaido, bringing about instant silence as the first years drew to a halt. Taking in the sight of Momo's ridged form and his emotionless face reflecting in Inui's glasses, Ryoma knew at once that the match had already been played and his lover had lost. Staring intensely as the Mongoose and the basilisk shook hands, the young demon tried to gently touch Momo's mind; but his thoughts were tightly closed, his mind sealed away.
For a single heart beat, the bristle-haired youth half turned in his boyfriends direction and Ryoma gasped at the sight of the tears shimmering in his great purple orbs...then Momo' was leaving. Head bowed, his shoulders stiff he sadly limped away...his right leg dragging painfully behind him. Watching him with open concern, Ryoma wanted nothing more than to rush to his lover and throw his arms around him. But then, an unskilled and faltering mind send whispered in his mind; ' It's alright...I just want...to be alone...for a while.'
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Lightening crackled and thunder boomed in response. The driving rain attacked with even greater force, drumming relentlessly against the roof and trying to batter its way past the window. The shockingly loud noise of the elements screaming at him jerked Momo' out of his painful memories and bought him surging to his feet his an agonised scream of his own. He had lost his place on the team, lost the full use of his right leg and now it seemed he would lose Ryoma as well. Throwing a bared tooth glare at his basket, the youth knew even sleeping in his true form now gave him no comfort and crying in anguish as the thunder spoke again, he charged from his room to tear blindly through his house and fling his front door wide.
For a spilt second the flashing lightening revealed a tall, naked youth standing as he sobbed despairing tears in the frame work, then the dazzling claw of light again whipped across the sky to high light a large mongoose standing in his place. Throwing back his head, the creature screamed out a misery to painful to be borne, then it was gone...running wildly into the storm.
TO BE CONTINUED...