By: Dyaoka
Disclaimer: I don’t own
the Prince of Tennis.
Notes/Warnings: I just wanted to try my hand at this pairing. They’re actually pretty cute. ^^;;; I’m aware the Jennifer D has also written something like this. And since I don’t know what drabble means, I can’t really say this is. But it’s a one-shot! If anyone would like to tell me what a drabble is, PLEASE DO!!! >.<
It was a rather calm, though warm, spring night. The wind blew lightly, chasing the sakura petals off of their positions on the trees. The moon, though only half full, peeked out behind some passing clouds. Down the familiar streets to a tennis park, one lonely figure walked. On such a peaceful night, what was that person doing there?
Ah…Echizen Ryoma could not sleep. He left the house, thinking to go for a walk. However, his mind ended up taking him elsewhere and the golden-eyed youth found himself walking towards the tennis park. Not that he minded, it just seemed that everything in his life seemed to go back to tennis. Besides English, it seemed that tennis was what he was good at. The other school subjects, he found that he was only average at. Except math. Math in the USA compared to Japan was substantially lower, whereas in Japan, their math standards were exceptionally high.
Walking slowly up the many steps that led to the tennis courts, Ryoma looked up into the vast, dark sky. Twinkling merrily, the stars seemed to smile down upon him. The moon came into full view as the cloud obscuring it passed. It was then that Ryoma realized how bright it could be, the moon. Even when it was half full it still lit up the whole park into a completely magical glow. Ryoma had never seen such a sight before. He smiled softly to himself, wishing that there would be someone he could share the view here with. Whatever god was listening to him seemed to have granted his wish because suddenly, there were footfalls behind him.
“Echizen-kun” someone stated his name. Turning around, Ryoma came face to face with a certain, dark haired Fudoumine Junior. His usual shoulder length hair was tied up into a pony-tail and he let several strands loose to frame his delicate face. He was dressed in a white tank top and dark colored pants. Ibu Shinji looked like a new person like that. He didn’t seem like the brooding, dark person he usually was. “What are you doing out so late? It’s unhealthy, you know.”
“Same goes to you” Ryoma answered nonchalantly.
Shinji said nothing in return, but stared up at the sky. “It’s a nice night, but it’s rather warm. Back at home, it was too warm, so I came out to get some air. I don’t know why I came here, but I just did. But the view is nice, so I don’t mind. It’s cooler out here too. Have you seen anything like this before, Echizen-kun? Because I have not. It is a nice night with a good view.”
Ryoma blinked before answering the question. “No, I’ve not.”
The pair fell into silence as they continued to look up at the sky. “The moon is happy” Shinji said randomly. “That’s why it shines down on us like that…it must be why. I feel like the stars are laughing and having a merry time of their own. Don’t you think so, Echizen-kun? Or do you only see the stars and a moon? But of course you see them. Otherwise you would be blind.” Shinji took a step forward, away from the tennis courts and into the surrounding trees. He didn’t even have to look back to know that Ryoma was following him. Gentle footfalls told him what didn’t need to be asked.
“Have you ever gone here before, Echizen-kun?” Shinji asked as he made his way through the trees. He knew exactly where he was going, Ryoma could tell that much. The golden-eyed youth didn’t know why he was following the other youth, but he was.
“No” Ryoma answered. “Where are we going?”
“Impatient, aren’t you? You’ll see. You should be glad I’m even showing you this place” Shinji muttered. “You’ll get a even better view, you know. It’s really nice of me to even show you the place, but it is rather far from the courts. Don’t get lost because if you do, there isn’t any guarantee that I’ll go looking for you. But then as the older of us two, I guess you are my responsibility…” Shinji continued to speak for several more moments until he fell silent. The sky was barely visible through the roof of the trees, since they were pressed so tightly together that their branches intertwined. It was darker and cooler too, under the shade of the trees.
Ryoma relished the feeling and continued to follow the other youth to whatever destination he was going to. It was too late to go back now, since he could no longer see where the tennis courts were and all around him was just trees. He seriously hoped that he wouldn’t end up lost and hoped wholeheartedly that Shinji knew where he was going.
Silence reigned between the two tennis players for what seemed like an infinite amount of time. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, however, it was more like a companionable silence where both knew that there was everything and nothing to say at all. It was quite strange and silly, but it was how they felt.
“Ah…we’re here” Shinji spoke. He turned to the golden-eyed youth beside him, his own dark obsidian eyes searching for something within the other’s golden orbs.
Whatever it was that Shinji was searching for within his eyes, he must have found, Ryoma mused. Shinji turned his back on him, leading him forward pass a fenced off area. From there, they walked a bit more and then came to an end of trees. They were at an outcropping of land, where it formed a steep cliff off and onto a dark highway that no one was using. From there, they saw the sky with such clarity, that it struck Ryoma as astounding. So astounding that Ryoma was at a loss for words.
“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Shinji whispered, not far behind Ryoma. “I came here for the first time a long time ago, when I got lost. It was a miracle that I found this place again several years back. I come here often at night, for thinking or just to be here. It’s a great view for the sky…” Shinji looked over at Ryoma. “Not even Kamio knows this place exist. I never told him before. I wonder why I told you.”
“Well, thanks” Ryoma said as he sat down onto the grass. “But considering this place is fenced off, I can see why he doesn’t know this place exist.”
“But it’s a good place” Shinji said. “The stars shine brighter here than back at the courts, don’t you think so?”
Ryoma managed a small smirk, though it was more of a smile. “They do.”
Shinji couldn’t help but smile back, though it was a bit more hesitant. The smile was a bit strange on the other’s features, but it looked nice, nonetheless. In fact, under the moon like he stood, he looked almost ethereal. And Ryoma certainly wasn’t blind. Lowering his head, Ryoma was determined to fight off another oncoming smile. He was glad that Shinji had decided to show him this spot. Apparently, this was Shinji’s favorite place.
“Do you always come here at night?” Ryoma questioned.
“It’s the only right time” Shinji answered. He glanced took another glance at the sky and then looked back at Ryoma. The golden-eyed youth was staring back at him, with a strange look in his eyes and an amused smile upon his face. It made Shinji want to ruffle the other youth’s hair and smile. “Come, we should head back now. It gets later as every moment passes” Shinji said, offering a hand to help Ryoma up. Ryoma took it.
However, Ryoma did not let go…nor did Shinji, for that matter. Their hands seemed to hold on to each other. Shinji said nothing about it and led the way back silently. Ryoma said nothing, but relished the warmth from Shinji’s hand. Shinji’s hand was larger than Ryoma’s own smaller ones, but nonetheless, it was rough like his own. It was from playing tennis and the grip was strong too, Ryoma mused. Pass the fence they went, and back into the trees. They walked in silence for a bit longer and then, the tennis courts came into view again, all too soon.
“Ne, Ibu-san” Ryoma called.
Shinji cocked an eyebrow at the younger boy.
“Walk me home.”
Shinji said nothing, giving no indication he had heard or what. But together, they walked away from the tennis courts. This time, Ryoma led them down the silent and dark streets towards his home. Shinji seemed mildly impressed when they arrived. “So this is how your house looks like” Shinji mused aloud.
Ryoma smirked.
Slowly, their hands unclasped and Ryoma thought he still felt lingering warmth in his palm. “Good night, Echizen-kun” Shinji murmured. And suddenly, Ryoma felt Shinji press his lips against his forehead. “Sleep well.”
Wide golden-eyes blinked in surprise at the Fudoumine junior. Shinji only waved absently before heading off in the opposite direction that they came. Ryoma absently touched the spot on his forehead that Shinji kissed.
Oh yes. He will sleep well tonight.
~Finir~