The dying of a small god within you
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Disclaimer: Konomi's.
Pairing/Characters: The Hyōtei regulars
Summary: Later, Shishido realises that this feeling isn't that of defeat.
Writen for the 1st August prompt "the dying of a small god within you" @
31_days and I guess I made it in time for Amnesty day.
oh, these flamboyant strides
At the beginning of first semester, on a random weekend, Atobe invites all the regulars over to his masion-esque villa.
"It's nowhere near tournament season yet, captain," Jirou complains, and Shishido wonders why he even bothers. Three years under Atobe; not once have they had a light season.
They arrive at the villa with a flourish; manservant handing out mocktails and platters with bread topped with caviar and other expensive looking food items. Shishido hasn’t eaten enough to know all their elaborate names. At the door before entering, they are each handed a necklace made of orchids.
“Nice touch, Atobe,” Oshitari comments, and Ohtori smiles. Shishido and Hiyoshi finger their necklaces dispassionately.
“Naturally,” and with a sweep of his hands he beckons the team before him.
“Now come; we should settle in properly before beginning our training.”
these things come naturally, you say
Atobe looks surprised at the question.
“Are you joking? Of course I know how to play all these.”
Gakuto starts. It is the first time they have seen the music room.
Clarinets, trumpets, saxophones and guitars hang from the walls. Flutes shine in their glass cages, polished to perfection. A violin is displayed proudly in one corner, settled atop red velvet and rose petals. A cello case stands to the side, as does a larger case. A double-bass, Shishido guesses, and he notes that of the string quartet, the viola is missing. In the centre of the room, proud, majestic and magnificent, is a Steinway & Sons grand piano, perfectly placed to catch the light from the south-west window.
Shishido folds his arms, "Why do you know how to play all these anyway? I thought tennis was your passion beside your hair and outer appearance.”
Atobe doesn't take offense in his comment in the slightest.
"As the heir to the Atobe Empire, it's only to be expected." He delivers this line with the tone of an adult speaking to a particularly stupid child.
Jirou sniggers and Shishido has to hold in the urge to snap oh, so you’re awake then.
.
Atobe delights in arrogance and ego and being hailed as an incomparable object of desire. He willingly entertains the rest on the piano and the violin.
"Amazing, isn't he," Oshitari breathes next to him, and Shishido unfolds his arms uncomfortably in reply.
Somehow, Atobe's words repeat endlessly in his mind.
these mountains we climb over
He's heard the phrase “pride comes before a downfall” before. Of course he has; what moron hasn’t? But it isn't wounded pride he leaves with as he walks off the court defeated by Tachibana. It's a strange mixture of loss and emptiness, and when Atobe arrives with Kabaji, he doesn't look at him at all.
He knows Hyōtei’s policy well. Hell, he was there when the new hierarchical law was first implemented. Only the best move forward and those who lose are not the best. So he cuts his hair haphazardly while running with scissors in his hand and doesn't even feel the pain from losing something he'd once been so proud of.
Pride, he decides, while meaningless in the face of defeat, is something he may still yet possess.
Then Atobe comes and practically begs for him, and he leaves another part of himself behind.
.
He picks an on-court fight with Atobe the first chance he gets. He hasn't spoken to him properly outside of snippy remarks and sarcastic statements for the past three days, and it is a foolish move on his part. Atobe steps over the net onto his side before refusing in a quiet voice.
"Today is training just for regulars you moron."
He snarls and throws his fist, Kabaji catches it in mid-air, and he asks Oshitari to help him after practice.
it’s strange, isn’t it
It gets easier and easier to play with Ohtori, and before he knows it he’s a part of Hyōtei’s prized doubles pair.
Who would’ve thought; Shishido Ryou, doubles player?
i’ll build a bridge and you’ll burn it
Statistically speaking, it looks like an easy draw on paper.
Seishun Gakuen hasn’t had a strong team since the Nationals winning one two years ago, and the only person to even warrant fear is the injured Tezuka.
Jirou smiles before yawning.
"We'll win this."
Atobe glances at Jirou carefully, his expression serious.
“Best not to count chickens, Jirou,” he says.
Then he flicks his hair and snaps his fingers, "Of course, nothing less is to be expected of Hyōtei."
The team smiles at Seigaku’s line-up across the net with victory on their minds.
(And Shishido doesn't even register the phrase that he's heard so many times before.)
.
Life is funny sometimes.
Just when you think you can’t go any lower, it picks you right up and throws you down again.
love, are you lost?
It’s so surreal Shishido almost laughs.
They look onto Atobe standing alone in the sunset, completely still in defeat. Amidst the sound of heartache, he thinks he knows this feeling of loss and emptiness, of defeat when you absolutely have to win.
He looks at Atobe, then at the rest of Hyōtei’s mangled team; at Oshitari’s empty glasses and Gakuto’s heaved breaths and Jirou’s tears and Taki kneeling on the ground and Hiyoshi looking anywhere but at his captain and Kabaji standing awkwardly, not knowing what to do, and Ohtori crossing his arms which he never ever does and - - he realizes that he doesn't know it at all, he never has in his life, and as Atobe recovers, smirks and grabs the razor from Echizens hands, it feels like -
- the dying of a small god within you.
FIN.
Random note: You know that guy on the other side of the net that knows he's going to lose but has to continue playing anyway? I kinda feel bad for him. Also, let me know if LJ's RTE screwed up something again. I had to delete this and repost it ._.
Disclaimer: Konomi's.
Pairing/Characters: The Hyōtei regulars
Summary: Later, Shishido realises that this feeling isn't that of defeat.
Writen for the 1st August prompt "the dying of a small god within you" @
31_days and I guess I made it in time for Amnesty day.
oh, these flamboyant strides
At the beginning of first semester, on a random weekend, Atobe invites all the regulars over to his masion-esque villa.
"It's nowhere near tournament season yet, captain," Jirou complains, and Shishido wonders why he even bothers. Three years under Atobe; not once have they had a light season.
They arrive at the villa with a flourish; manservant handing out mocktails and platters with bread topped with caviar and other expensive looking food items. Shishido hasn’t eaten enough to know all their elaborate names. At the door before entering, they are each handed a necklace made of orchids.
“Nice touch, Atobe,” Oshitari comments, and Ohtori smiles. Shishido and Hiyoshi finger their necklaces dispassionately.
“Naturally,” and with a sweep of his hands he beckons the team before him.
“Now come; we should settle in properly before beginning our training.”
these things come naturally, you say
Atobe looks surprised at the question.
“Are you joking? Of course I know how to play all these.”
Gakuto starts. It is the first time they have seen the music room.
Clarinets, trumpets, saxophones and guitars hang from the walls. Flutes shine in their glass cages, polished to perfection. A violin is displayed proudly in one corner, settled atop red velvet and rose petals. A cello case stands to the side, as does a larger case. A double-bass, Shishido guesses, and he notes that of the string quartet, the viola is missing. In the centre of the room, proud, majestic and magnificent, is a Steinway & Sons grand piano, perfectly placed to catch the light from the south-west window.
Shishido folds his arms, "Why do you know how to play all these anyway? I thought tennis was your passion beside your hair and outer appearance.”
Atobe doesn't take offense in his comment in the slightest.
"As the heir to the Atobe Empire, it's only to be expected." He delivers this line with the tone of an adult speaking to a particularly stupid child.
Jirou sniggers and Shishido has to hold in the urge to snap oh, so you’re awake then.
.
Atobe delights in arrogance and ego and being hailed as an incomparable object of desire. He willingly entertains the rest on the piano and the violin.
"Amazing, isn't he," Oshitari breathes next to him, and Shishido unfolds his arms uncomfortably in reply.
Somehow, Atobe's words repeat endlessly in his mind.
these mountains we climb over
He's heard the phrase “pride comes before a downfall” before. Of course he has; what moron hasn’t? But it isn't wounded pride he leaves with as he walks off the court defeated by Tachibana. It's a strange mixture of loss and emptiness, and when Atobe arrives with Kabaji, he doesn't look at him at all.
He knows Hyōtei’s policy well. Hell, he was there when the new hierarchical law was first implemented. Only the best move forward and those who lose are not the best. So he cuts his hair haphazardly while running with scissors in his hand and doesn't even feel the pain from losing something he'd once been so proud of.
Pride, he decides, while meaningless in the face of defeat, is something he may still yet possess.
Then Atobe comes and practically begs for him, and he leaves another part of himself behind.
.
He picks an on-court fight with Atobe the first chance he gets. He hasn't spoken to him properly outside of snippy remarks and sarcastic statements for the past three days, and it is a foolish move on his part. Atobe steps over the net onto his side before refusing in a quiet voice.
"Today is training just for regulars you moron."
He snarls and throws his fist, Kabaji catches it in mid-air, and he asks Oshitari to help him after practice.
it’s strange, isn’t it
It gets easier and easier to play with Ohtori, and before he knows it he’s a part of Hyōtei’s prized doubles pair.
Who would’ve thought; Shishido Ryou, doubles player?
i’ll build a bridge and you’ll burn it
Statistically speaking, it looks like an easy draw on paper.
Seishun Gakuen hasn’t had a strong team since the Nationals winning one two years ago, and the only person to even warrant fear is the injured Tezuka.
Jirou smiles before yawning.
"We'll win this."
Atobe glances at Jirou carefully, his expression serious.
“Best not to count chickens, Jirou,” he says.
Then he flicks his hair and snaps his fingers, "Of course, nothing less is to be expected of Hyōtei."
The team smiles at Seigaku’s line-up across the net with victory on their minds.
(And Shishido doesn't even register the phrase that he's heard so many times before.)
.
Life is funny sometimes.
Just when you think you can’t go any lower, it picks you right up and throws you down again.
love, are you lost?
It’s so surreal Shishido almost laughs.
They look onto Atobe standing alone in the sunset, completely still in defeat. Amidst the sound of heartache, he thinks he knows this feeling of loss and emptiness, of defeat when you absolutely have to win.
He looks at Atobe, then at the rest of Hyōtei’s mangled team; at Oshitari’s empty glasses and Gakuto’s heaved breaths and Jirou’s tears and Taki kneeling on the ground and Hiyoshi looking anywhere but at his captain and Kabaji standing awkwardly, not knowing what to do, and Ohtori crossing his arms which he never ever does and - - he realizes that he doesn't know it at all, he never has in his life, and as Atobe recovers, smirks and grabs the razor from Echizens hands, it feels like -
- the dying of a small god within you.
FIN.
Random note: You know that guy on the other side of the net that knows he's going to lose but has to continue playing anyway? I kinda feel bad for him. Also, let me know if LJ's RTE screwed up something again. I had to delete this and repost it ._.
