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Of bratty demons and mushroom heads	By : TrishaMCH Category: Prince of Tennis/Tennis no Ohjisama > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1574 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own "Prince of Tennis" or any of its characters. It belongs to Konomi-sensi. I’m merely using the characters because I like to have fun with them. No profit is being made.

Chapter List
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CHAPTER 54

Over the last few days since Akaya had left, Hiyoshi had just been going through the motions: eat, sleep, homework, train… on repeat like a programmed robot to keep himself going. It was surreal, as if the last year had been nothing but an elaborate wonderful dream, then reality came knocking.

After much deliberation, he was now on his way to Sanada’s where he was sure Akaya was staying to bring him some of his things. He honestly didn’t think he could handle seeing the other boy just yet, if he ever would be. Nonetheless, he arrived in front of Sanada’s door and stanchly knocked.

Sanada opened the door and looked down at Hiyoshi in surprise. He hadn’t expected to see the younger man whom he’d come to see as another kouhai, not after Akaya had come to him the way he had. “...What are you doing here?” He used his foot to keep Wilson from bolting out the door.

“Is--is Akaya staying with you?” When he saw Wilson trying to get to him, Hiyoshi so badly wanted to pick him up, but tried not to show weakness or be intimidated.

“Ah... I heard about you two.” There was no helping it. The large man stepped aside and commanded firmly. “Come on in.”

Hiyoshi didn’t budge. “I just came to give you some things he'll want.” He held out a bag of clothes and a few other things for him to take.

Reaching over, Sanada practically dragged the smaller martial artist inside then closed the door, finally letting Wilson leap all over Hiyoshi.

Hiyoshi tried to protest but was immediately distracted by puppy love. He instantly picked him up and held the little fur ball close, letting him slobber all over him to his little heart’s content, for the first time not minding at all.

Sanada set a hand on Hiyoshi’s head. It was his way of being encouraging, though it wasn’t his strong point. “Set the stuff on the futon then tell me what's going on.”

At least the older man didn't immediately try to kill him, was Hiyoshi’s first thought, putting the bag on the extra futon. Though Sanada being so nice made him feel kind of uncomfortable and he almost wished for the opposite. Seeing an Akaya sized lump on the extra futon made him abruptly look away. “I told him it was over.”

“I'm aware of that. How come?”

He really didn’t want to have to go through this again. “My father found out. I didn't have a choice.” He continued to pet Wilson who seemed happily snuggled to him, still licking him and wagging his tail. There was a small feeling of comfort, no matter how short it may last.

“Hn. I see. I'm sorry to hear that. How have you been?” The older man knew how Akaya had been. The ear splitting headache he’d been sporting from his clingy kohai’s crying was testament to that, but he was curious to know how the other half was doing, and if there was any way to rectify this, if only to save his own sanity.

Hiyoshi looked at him with a heated glare, the first real emotion he'd shown since Akaya left. “How do you think I've been? I had to tell the person I love that we couldn't be together.” Wilson barked in his arms reacting to his anger.

“...You're taking it well I see...” Sanada replied flatly. “Look, if you feel so strongly about him, then maybe you should tell your father the truth and that you can't leave him.”

Afraid he’d accidentally crush Wilson, Hiyoshi put him down and replied icily, “Yes, and be disinherited by my family and the world of Kobujutsu martial arts? Become completely useless? What kind of future would I have? Would we have? Assuming he would even want to stay with me once I become useless.”

Sanada stared. “You realize Akaya still has a hard time pronouncing the martial arts you do and just calls you a ninja, right? Do you really think he would leave you because you stop doing it officially?” Why were his kouhai idiots?

Hiyoshi smiled bitterly. “You don't get it, do you? What else could I do? Kobujutsu is my life. What I’ve always known I wanted to do with my life. My father is the fucking head of our school! I wouldn't be able to practice officially OR unofficially. It could possibly even affect Akaya’s future in tennis. Could I ask Akaya to give up his goal of being a pro tennis player? Of course not! ...And even if I did give it up... after a while, I would be miserable. And Akaya... do you really think he wouldn't care to see me like that?”

Sanada replied rather simply. “My father and grandfather are two of the most well known names in kendo. They have blacklisted me from dojo all over the country. I still practice Kendo and I still test to move up in rank, despite everything. Are you weak enough to let your father’s decisions and words destroy you? Hn, apparently I thought you had more pride and strength than that.”

Hiyoshi stood straighter, anger in both his eyes and stance. “And you will never have your own dojo, and if you do, your students will be blacklisted as well and never be able to compete in larger tournaments. I AM NOT WEAK. I am protecting my future and Akaya’s by doing this. I am well aware that I may never be truly happy...” his voice cracked but his determined look held “...but at least I know he can.”

“You really think he can be happy without you? You're right. I may never have my own dojo. I can't compete in the larger tournaments yet, at least not until my father and grandfather die,” which he hoped was soon, “but I can be with the person I love. Even if his situation is complicated and frustrating, I can still be with him and that makes me happy.” He gestured to the futon. “Akaya hasn't stopped crying since you left him. He just lies there all day. I finally made him get out and take a shower.”

A half crazy chuckle escaped at the idea of waiting for his father to die to be rid of his restrictions and Hiyoshi had to gulp down the well of emotion he felt at hearing about Akaya crying more because of him. “He's strong,” he choked out, “he'll find someone who can make him happier than I can. Didn't you yourself tell me that I hurt him too much?” Yes, there was still a fair amount of bitterness there.

“Ah, but you know he loves you, more than anything. If you asked him to give up tennis, he would do it in a heartbeat. I've never seen him that dedicated to anything before and I'm sure I never will.”

Hiyoshi’s face went white and he felt like he'd been punched hard in the gut. “You… you don't know that... No. And I would never ask him.” He didn’t want to hear any more. “I’m leaving.” Without another word, he left out the door, hearing Wilson's barks behind him.

---

Sanada’s words rang through Hiyoshi’s skull and pounded like a drum. “He loves you, more than anything. If you asked him to give up tennis he would do it in a heartbeat. I've never seen him that dedicated to anything before and I'm sure I never will.” It hurt, and scared him to think what Sanada said was true, but he couldn’t let those words sway him. He’d made his decision and had to see it through.

He’d made it most of the way back to his own dorm before he realized he’d been followed. When he finally recognized the familiar bark, he stopped and felt little paws trying to climb up his leg. Bending down, he scooped Wilson up and carried him the rest of the way to his dorm. He would have to return him to Sanada’s, but it would have to wait until he at least got his bearings again.

Even though he hadn’t done much that day, he entered his room already feeling exhausted. Wilson looked very happy to be back in the room, scampering around and barking happily. On the other hand, if Hiyoshi had the resolve to move out, he would. The room was full of memories of him and Akaya. Akaya had framed and hung photos of them on the walls, from Christmas, Disneyland, and others. More than once he’d caught himself staring at them and had to steel his determination not to break down.

It wouldn’t be until the next day he would feel ready to go back to Sanada’s, and in that time neither Sanada nor Akaya had called to ask about Wilson so he assumed they knew he was with him.

“Come on, idiot. I have to take you back now.” He didn’t have Wilson’s leash, so instead just opened the door and waited for Wilson to come to him as usual… but the puppy didn’t budge.

“Wilson, let’s go,” he called again. Wilson just barked at him. Sighing, he went over to pick him up, but fur ball ran away before he could catch him. “Stupid… pain in the ass… puppy.” Wilson generally always gave Akaya trouble, not him.

He finally got a hold of him after basically having to pounce on the bed, but not before Wilson took something with him. Clenched in his mouth of very sharp teeth was Waka-kumo. “Put him down!” he commanded sternly, trying to pull the disgruntled looking teddy bear gift he’d received from Akaya away without tearing it, but Wilson was stubborn like his parents.

“FINE. Keep it.” He took both Wilson and Waka-kumo with him out the door. He would take it back before he dropped him off.

Arriving at Sanada’s door again, he wasn’t sure how to proceed. If Akaya was there, he didn’t know what he would do. Hell, he didn’t know what he would say to Sanada either after their last encounter. He gathered his will power and knocked softly on the door, but received no answer. Honestly relieved, he remembered Akaya saying once that Sanada never locked his door since everyone he knew, knew how to lock pick anyway.

Against his upbringing, he tried the door handle and found it was indeed unlocked. Good. He would just leave Wilson there and… The unexpected sight of Akaya stopped him in his tracks. His adorable bratty demon was curled up in a ball on the futon looking to be fast asleep. The blanket for once had not been completely thrown off him and was instead tangled around his legs while his strong muscular arms wrapped around the bulk of it. The little light that shined on his face from the open door illuminated him, showing the tear stains that marred his features.

Even with the marks, he couldn’t take his eyes off him. He couldn’t help himself. As if in a trance, he walked forward till he was kneeling beside him. The tears he’d been holding back since Akaya had left came back to the forefront and his breathing became labored in his attempt to bite them back and not make a sound. He wanted to hold him, wanted to lie down beside him and gather him close and tell him… and himself, that it was all a bad dream and they could go home now.

Without his permission, a hand reached forward and lightly touched his love’s hair which he’d always run his hands through at any opportunity. When had he put Wilson down? It didn’t matter. He continued to just barely graze his fingers over those soft curls, makings sure never to pull too hard or touch his skin less he wake him up and destroy this moment he craved.

“I miss you…” The quiet, hopeless words which normally would not have been loud enough to be heard cut through the silence of the room like a knife and he thought he saw Akaya stir in the dark. Gathering his wits, he broke away from the invisible force holding him there and looked over at Wilson who was now wrestling in a corner with Waka-kumo.

It was time to leave. He took another deep breath; the trick was to focus on inhaling and then exhaling. He had to control himself. He had to resist. His heart clenched in his chest painfully. The feeling was starting to become natural. As quickly as possible, he stood and left, closing the door silently.

---

Akaya had missed having his puppy around, but Sanada had explained that Hiyoshi was taking him for a while, so he wasn't worried. He was jealous, but at least he knew Wilson would be nice and safe with his ex-boyfriend. Like he had for the past few days, he waited until Sanada was gone to visit his secret boyfriend (who wasn't really a secret, but whatever) then cried himself to sleep, wishing Wakashi was in his arms.

He was awakened though by the sound of someone entering the room who wasn't Sanada. He panicked internally for a moment but then heard the familiar steps of Hiyoshi and decided to pretend to be sleep. He wanted to see what the other would do, and besides, it was too painful to even think about facing him.

When that hand touched his hair it was all he could do to not start crying again. He kept his breathing even and slow, but when those words filled the quiet room, "I miss you," he couldn't stop the tears anymore. He was careful not to let the other notice he'd woken up, but he couldn't help a quiet little sound as he curled into more of a ball on the futon.

The door opened and closed again and all he heard was the rustling of Wilson as he played with something in the room. "I miss you, too..." he murmured and started crying all over again, wishing they could just go back to how it used to be. This was a cruel, cruel torture.
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Of bratty demons and mushroom heads