Prince of Tennis - Yanagi Renji - 075. Shade.
Title: Under the Elm Tree
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Characters: Yanagi Renji, Yanagi Mizu, Yanagi 'Tarou
Prompt:075. Shade
Word Count: 1,264
Rating: PG
Summary: Rikkai Junior High's confession tree is dying and about to be removed. Renji brings his wife there so he can claim that he had at least one that didn't end in heartbreak.
Author's Notes: Takes place in my future!verse where Renji is teaching at his alma-mater. And yes, I do have a fascination with trees.
My LDT found here
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"That's horrible news."
"Yeah, I mean, how many people have had good luck because of it? It's kind of sad that they're removing it. Then again, I'm not sure I really care. I mean, it's dead."
"Ami's probably the most upset about it. But things are going good for her."
"What's going on?" Yanagi Renji asked his son and his son's friend.
"They're removing the confession tree." 'Tarou answered his father.
Renji looked up. "Why do you know this and I don't?" He asked. It was especially confusing since he was part of the staff and things like that were usually told to the staff first.
"It's been going around for a while." 'Tarou said. "And apparently just today they actually decided they were going to do it."
Renji sighed a little. "Hey, Dad, did you and Mom ever confess under it?" 'Tarou asked, curious.
Renji chuckled. "Actually, when we were in school we didn't really believe in the tradition. Besides, we were in high school when we met, so we were rather removed from it and the traditions surrounding it." Renji smiled. "And we had our own tree."
"Wow. I'm surprised." 'Tarou said, wondering about it, then grinned. "Perhaps you should do it before it's too late."
Renji just shook his head. "I think it's well established that I love your mother. We don't need anything like 'luck.'" Renji finally realized that the kids were not doing what they were supposed to be. "Aren't you two supposed to be practicing?" Renji asked pointedly.
"Yes, Coach." The two boys said in unison.
Renji thought for a moment, before heading out to the tennis courts where the more serious teens were practicing. Renji was slightly distracted for the rest of the day.
"Oh, this was hilarious." 'Tarou said while the family was sitting around the dinner table. "I think at least three of the freshmen hit Dad in the back, then there was 'Nosuke's epic missing the court completely and smacking into Dad's foot."
Renji frowned. "Thank you for your run down of my injuries today, Rentarou." He said, knowing that would annoy his oldest child to no end. And he was right, as his son twitched.
Mizu just giggled a little. "Considering he's still sitting here, I'm sure your father is fine." She said, sympathizing a little with her husband.
Renji was finishing up eating. "Your turn for dishes, kids." He said, smiling.
The kids groaned, but went to start on their chore while Renji sat back for a moment. "Mizu?"
"Hmm?" She answered, wondering what was on her husband's mind.
"The kids have their own plans this weekend, right?" Renji asked, and received a nod in answer. "Shall we go out ourselves?" He asked.
Mizu was a bit surprised. "You have something planned, don't you?"
Renji smiled. "In a way." He replied.
"Then how can I say no?"
Renji almost felt like he did back in high school, but there was less drama going on now. Things were calm and peaceful with his family, there were no huge fights, at least none that resulted in any violence, which he was very grateful for. His arm was wrapped around his wife's waist.
"This is a rather familiar direction." Mizu said, smiling a little.
"Not as familiar as you think." Renji said, leading her onto Rikkai's junior high campus, leading her to the old, now dying elm tree. Renji smiled as he stopped beside it. "It's known as the confession tree. It's supposed to bring relationships confessed to under it luck." He explained. "There were a few girls that brought me here, but I just knew that they weren't right."
Mizu smiled a little at that. "So why are we here?"
Renji ignored the question. "'Tarou's been here a few times himself. He's turned down every one though. I'm not sure if he's just not interested, or if he's doing like I did and waiting for the right girl to come along." Renji paused. Even Ami has. It's at least worked in her case - at least so far."
Mizu smiled a little. Their children were growing up so fast. "I repeat, why are we here?"
"They're removing it due to the fact that the tree is dying." Renji said, looking up at the few leaves that were clinging on to what little life there was left in the old tree. He turned his head to look over at his wife, smiling a little. "Mizu-chan?"
Mizu looked up at her husband.
Renji grinned. "I like you." Mizu laughed, wrapping her arms around him.
"I like you too, Yanagi-sempai." She said, amused, and tiptoeing up to kiss him. "We don't need luck though."
Renji just had a bit of a sparkle in his eye. "I know. I just wanted to have at least one here that didn't end in dejection for either person." Mizu buried her head in Renji's chest, shaking her head a little.
"I still like our tree better." Mizu said, referring to one of the willows behind the high school building. They had spent many of their lunch breaks there. Renji always thought it was silly, but he couldn't blame her. It was usually comfortable, especially on hot days during the spring before they were allowed to wear the summer uniform.
"I sometimes still expect to see you there during lunch." Renji said, holding tightly to her. "It's been over 20 years since we had our last meal there, and I still expect to see you." He laughed. "Then again, you did promise that I'd always find my water there." He said, kissing here.
Mizu smiled. "I meant it too." She said after they broke the kiss.
Renji smiled. "I know you did." The sky was starting to darken, the sky turning a brilliant shade of orange, red, and purple. "I suppose we should get home before the kids, right?"
Mizu nodded. "Hey, Renji?" She started as they walked along to their home.
"Hmm?" He asked.
"You still smell like oranges." Mizu said, running ahead of him, knowing he hated being reminded of that.
"Only because you love it." Renji said, not chasing her as seriously as he could have. He caught up easily as she stopped to catch her breath. "You know," He started. "I think I'd miss our tree more than I will the confession tree."
Mizu smiled. "I know you would." The smile turned into a grin. "Would you cry for it?" She teased.
"You're trying to hard." Renji said. "You know I always know what you're thinking."
Mizu pouted a little. "But it's so easy."
"You're the one that took my name." Renji said, laughing a little. "I still can't believe you make jokes about it."
Mizu smiled again. "Like I said, it's too easy."
"You never give up, do you?"
"It's one of my charms." She said. "You know something?" Mizu said, continuing on before Renji could make a comeback to that one. "It's been 20 some years, and I'm glad we can still joke around like this." She admitted.
Renji smiled and just pulled her against his side as they finally made it home. "Sometimes I think your sense of humor is what keeps me grounded." Renji said, leaning in to kiss her before they went inside.
Mizu pulled back, grinning. "I don't kiss on the first date, Yanagi-sempai." She teased, winking at him and escaping into the house. Renji laughed a little as he followed her in.
'Tarou stared as his parents made their way in. "They're being weird again." He said, going back to his sketchpad.
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Characters: Yanagi Renji, Yanagi Mizu, Yanagi 'Tarou
Prompt:075. Shade
Word Count: 1,264
Rating: PG
Summary: Rikkai Junior High's confession tree is dying and about to be removed. Renji brings his wife there so he can claim that he had at least one that didn't end in heartbreak.
Author's Notes: Takes place in my future!verse where Renji is teaching at his alma-mater. And yes, I do have a fascination with trees.
My LDT found here
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"That's horrible news."
"Yeah, I mean, how many people have had good luck because of it? It's kind of sad that they're removing it. Then again, I'm not sure I really care. I mean, it's dead."
"Ami's probably the most upset about it. But things are going good for her."
"What's going on?" Yanagi Renji asked his son and his son's friend.
"They're removing the confession tree." 'Tarou answered his father.
Renji looked up. "Why do you know this and I don't?" He asked. It was especially confusing since he was part of the staff and things like that were usually told to the staff first.
"It's been going around for a while." 'Tarou said. "And apparently just today they actually decided they were going to do it."
Renji sighed a little. "Hey, Dad, did you and Mom ever confess under it?" 'Tarou asked, curious.
Renji chuckled. "Actually, when we were in school we didn't really believe in the tradition. Besides, we were in high school when we met, so we were rather removed from it and the traditions surrounding it." Renji smiled. "And we had our own tree."
"Wow. I'm surprised." 'Tarou said, wondering about it, then grinned. "Perhaps you should do it before it's too late."
Renji just shook his head. "I think it's well established that I love your mother. We don't need anything like 'luck.'" Renji finally realized that the kids were not doing what they were supposed to be. "Aren't you two supposed to be practicing?" Renji asked pointedly.
"Yes, Coach." The two boys said in unison.
Renji thought for a moment, before heading out to the tennis courts where the more serious teens were practicing. Renji was slightly distracted for the rest of the day.
"Oh, this was hilarious." 'Tarou said while the family was sitting around the dinner table. "I think at least three of the freshmen hit Dad in the back, then there was 'Nosuke's epic missing the court completely and smacking into Dad's foot."
Renji frowned. "Thank you for your run down of my injuries today, Rentarou." He said, knowing that would annoy his oldest child to no end. And he was right, as his son twitched.
Mizu just giggled a little. "Considering he's still sitting here, I'm sure your father is fine." She said, sympathizing a little with her husband.
Renji was finishing up eating. "Your turn for dishes, kids." He said, smiling.
The kids groaned, but went to start on their chore while Renji sat back for a moment. "Mizu?"
"Hmm?" She answered, wondering what was on her husband's mind.
"The kids have their own plans this weekend, right?" Renji asked, and received a nod in answer. "Shall we go out ourselves?" He asked.
Mizu was a bit surprised. "You have something planned, don't you?"
Renji smiled. "In a way." He replied.
"Then how can I say no?"
Renji almost felt like he did back in high school, but there was less drama going on now. Things were calm and peaceful with his family, there were no huge fights, at least none that resulted in any violence, which he was very grateful for. His arm was wrapped around his wife's waist.
"This is a rather familiar direction." Mizu said, smiling a little.
"Not as familiar as you think." Renji said, leading her onto Rikkai's junior high campus, leading her to the old, now dying elm tree. Renji smiled as he stopped beside it. "It's known as the confession tree. It's supposed to bring relationships confessed to under it luck." He explained. "There were a few girls that brought me here, but I just knew that they weren't right."
Mizu smiled a little at that. "So why are we here?"
Renji ignored the question. "'Tarou's been here a few times himself. He's turned down every one though. I'm not sure if he's just not interested, or if he's doing like I did and waiting for the right girl to come along." Renji paused. Even Ami has. It's at least worked in her case - at least so far."
Mizu smiled a little. Their children were growing up so fast. "I repeat, why are we here?"
"They're removing it due to the fact that the tree is dying." Renji said, looking up at the few leaves that were clinging on to what little life there was left in the old tree. He turned his head to look over at his wife, smiling a little. "Mizu-chan?"
Mizu looked up at her husband.
Renji grinned. "I like you." Mizu laughed, wrapping her arms around him.
"I like you too, Yanagi-sempai." She said, amused, and tiptoeing up to kiss him. "We don't need luck though."
Renji just had a bit of a sparkle in his eye. "I know. I just wanted to have at least one here that didn't end in dejection for either person." Mizu buried her head in Renji's chest, shaking her head a little.
"I still like our tree better." Mizu said, referring to one of the willows behind the high school building. They had spent many of their lunch breaks there. Renji always thought it was silly, but he couldn't blame her. It was usually comfortable, especially on hot days during the spring before they were allowed to wear the summer uniform.
"I sometimes still expect to see you there during lunch." Renji said, holding tightly to her. "It's been over 20 years since we had our last meal there, and I still expect to see you." He laughed. "Then again, you did promise that I'd always find my water there." He said, kissing here.
Mizu smiled. "I meant it too." She said after they broke the kiss.
Renji smiled. "I know you did." The sky was starting to darken, the sky turning a brilliant shade of orange, red, and purple. "I suppose we should get home before the kids, right?"
Mizu nodded. "Hey, Renji?" She started as they walked along to their home.
"Hmm?" He asked.
"You still smell like oranges." Mizu said, running ahead of him, knowing he hated being reminded of that.
"Only because you love it." Renji said, not chasing her as seriously as he could have. He caught up easily as she stopped to catch her breath. "You know," He started. "I think I'd miss our tree more than I will the confession tree."
Mizu smiled. "I know you would." The smile turned into a grin. "Would you cry for it?" She teased.
"You're trying to hard." Renji said. "You know I always know what you're thinking."
Mizu pouted a little. "But it's so easy."
"You're the one that took my name." Renji said, laughing a little. "I still can't believe you make jokes about it."
Mizu smiled again. "Like I said, it's too easy."
"You never give up, do you?"
"It's one of my charms." She said. "You know something?" Mizu said, continuing on before Renji could make a comeback to that one. "It's been 20 some years, and I'm glad we can still joke around like this." She admitted.
Renji smiled and just pulled her against his side as they finally made it home. "Sometimes I think your sense of humor is what keeps me grounded." Renji said, leaning in to kiss her before they went inside.
Mizu pulled back, grinning. "I don't kiss on the first date, Yanagi-sempai." She teased, winking at him and escaping into the house. Renji laughed a little as he followed her in.
'Tarou stared as his parents made their way in. "They're being weird again." He said, going back to his sketchpad.