I Wish I Could Hear Your Voice (oneshot)
Title: I Wish I Could Hear Your Voice
Summary: In a midst of defeat, Jackal dials the familiar number to try and hear what he's forgotten.
Category: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Jackal-centric
Rated: K+
Genre: Angst
A/N: None.
I've been away for so long, it's like I've forgotten.
Kuwahara Jackal lies on his bed, the bed dipping under his weight. He stares at the ceiling with his hands behind his head. The sun is hidden behind clouds outside and thunder rumbles in the distance.
He is tired, exhausted, and defeated. The tennis season is over. They had worked day-in and day-out for months to win their third consecutive title, only to fall short to Seigaku. Even with Yukimura back, they had lost.
Jackal doesn't want to think about it.
He glances at the two photographs on his dresser and sits up. The one on the left is of the team after they had won their second consecutive title. Everyone is smiling and hugging each other, the National trophy shining brightly in the sunlight.
The one on the right is of his old coach from Brazil, the one who had taught him everything he really knows about tennis. That man showed him what tennis was and how much fun it could be.
I miss him, he thinks, smiling fondly. He picks up the photograph and brushes the dust off of it.
He misses Brazil - his coach, his friends, the old tennis courts he spent hours training on. He remembers one day in particular, when his coach told him the news.
.
"Jackal! Come here a second," a bald-headed man calls. A short, dark-skinned boy comes running over to him, racket in hand.
"Yes coach?" he says, smiling.
"Your parents want you to come back to Japan," the man begins, "I think it's a good idea."
"What about you?" The little boy asks, frowning.
"There is a brilliant school near your house with an amazing tennis team. You'll fit right in."
"But I want to stay here!"
The man kneels down, his head shining as the sun breaks through the clouds. He puts a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"I've taught you all I can. It's time for you to become great," he smiles. He squeezes the boy's shoulder. "You are going to have the best endurance anyone has ever seen, don't fail me, okay?"
The little boy stands tall, "Yes, sir!"
.
Even though he has the strongest endurance, he feels like he let his coach down. He isn't a part of the best doubles pair in the country, he's just Jackal now. Rikkaidai has fallen, and the Kings have been overthrown.
Where are you when I need you? Jackal wonders. I… I can't even remember your voice; I haven't talked to you in so long.
He slowly sets the photograph down, fear and dread seeping into his mind. He can't even remember his old coach's voice, the one who would yell at him every day for hours. He has simply forgotten.
Quickly, he pulls out his cellphone and dials a familiar number.
Ring… Ring… Ring…
He paces around the room, his hopes rising. It's been years. What will he say? How can he tell him he had failed?
Ring… Ring… Ring…
He prays that he picks up, because his coach wouldn't do that to him, would he?
Ri- I'm sorry the number you are trying to reach is unavailable. Stay on the line for the operator.
Jackal slowly closes his phone and lets it fall to the floor. He sits on his bed and buries his head in his hands as reality hits him.
He's let down everyone.
Summary: In a midst of defeat, Jackal dials the familiar number to try and hear what he's forgotten.
Category: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Jackal-centric
Rated: K+
Genre: Angst
A/N: None.
I've been away for so long, it's like I've forgotten.
Kuwahara Jackal lies on his bed, the bed dipping under his weight. He stares at the ceiling with his hands behind his head. The sun is hidden behind clouds outside and thunder rumbles in the distance.
He is tired, exhausted, and defeated. The tennis season is over. They had worked day-in and day-out for months to win their third consecutive title, only to fall short to Seigaku. Even with Yukimura back, they had lost.
Jackal doesn't want to think about it.
He glances at the two photographs on his dresser and sits up. The one on the left is of the team after they had won their second consecutive title. Everyone is smiling and hugging each other, the National trophy shining brightly in the sunlight.
The one on the right is of his old coach from Brazil, the one who had taught him everything he really knows about tennis. That man showed him what tennis was and how much fun it could be.
I miss him, he thinks, smiling fondly. He picks up the photograph and brushes the dust off of it.
He misses Brazil - his coach, his friends, the old tennis courts he spent hours training on. He remembers one day in particular, when his coach told him the news.
.
"Jackal! Come here a second," a bald-headed man calls. A short, dark-skinned boy comes running over to him, racket in hand.
"Yes coach?" he says, smiling.
"Your parents want you to come back to Japan," the man begins, "I think it's a good idea."
"What about you?" The little boy asks, frowning.
"There is a brilliant school near your house with an amazing tennis team. You'll fit right in."
"But I want to stay here!"
The man kneels down, his head shining as the sun breaks through the clouds. He puts a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"I've taught you all I can. It's time for you to become great," he smiles. He squeezes the boy's shoulder. "You are going to have the best endurance anyone has ever seen, don't fail me, okay?"
The little boy stands tall, "Yes, sir!"
.
Even though he has the strongest endurance, he feels like he let his coach down. He isn't a part of the best doubles pair in the country, he's just Jackal now. Rikkaidai has fallen, and the Kings have been overthrown.
Where are you when I need you? Jackal wonders. I… I can't even remember your voice; I haven't talked to you in so long.
He slowly sets the photograph down, fear and dread seeping into his mind. He can't even remember his old coach's voice, the one who would yell at him every day for hours. He has simply forgotten.
Quickly, he pulls out his cellphone and dials a familiar number.
Ring… Ring… Ring…
He paces around the room, his hopes rising. It's been years. What will he say? How can he tell him he had failed?
Ring… Ring… Ring…
He prays that he picks up, because his coach wouldn't do that to him, would he?
Ri- I'm sorry the number you are trying to reach is unavailable. Stay on the line for the operator.
Jackal slowly closes his phone and lets it fall to the floor. He sits on his bed and buries his head in his hands as reality hits him.
He's let down everyone.