[Fic] Black Dream
Title: Black Dream
Author: Winter's Light/Eternal Snow
Characters Used: Nanjirou and Rinko Echizen, OCs.
Rating: PG
Summary: [[Ryo-centric]] AU-ish. Rating may change. He was sucked into the world of his dreams. How far will he be buried until someone pulls him out?
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.
Chapters: 2/?
Previous: 1
Black Dream
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis as much as I would have liked.
Side Story I: Echizen
Echizen Nanjirou stared blankly at the wall in front of him, a few feet away. His hands clasped together, resting on his knee while his head rested on his hands.
Not this again…
No, it can’t happen again…
His knuckles went white and he glanced at the clock. It was nearly an hour since his son had fallen into a coma and… He squeezed his eyes shut. Why couldn’t he do anything? He was at loss, he should have noticed!
Instead, he was too busy reading his magazines to notice a single thing.
No, he did notice. He frowned, there had been a slight tinge of pink on his son’s cheeks. He had thought that the boy was blushing but… He never blushed.
He sighed. It was happening all over again…
“Ryoma…don’t die…” he muttered, eyes shadowed, “Not like aniki…”
--
It was the spring of Nanjirou’s last year of high school. The cherry blossoms were in bloom - it seemed perfect…
“Oi Chibi!”
The younger version of Nanjirou turned around with a grin. He knew that voice. Tightening his grasp on his tennis bag, he braced himself for the expected lunge.
It came. With a noogie as a bonus.
“Itai! Let go aniki!” Nanjirou shouted, now trying to wriggle out of his brother’s hold on him. He looked up when he was finally released.
The taller boy grinned. The boy was two years older than Nanjirou and a lot taller.. Unruly locks of raven-blue hair cut short just a bit below his ears, giving a more feminine look. “Now, now Chibi! Show some respect to your elders!”
“Who says you’re my elder?” he shot back with the same smirk.
The said elder only gritted his teeth and resisted the urge to pound his little brother in. “Oi…” he started, “you know what?” he asked. He elbowed the younger Echizen on the head.
“What are you two doing?” a female voice asked. Both Echizen’s looked up with the same sinking feeling.
“O-Okaa-san!”
The said mother sighed and ran a hand through her brown locks. “Honestly! Hurry and get in the car,” she admonished her children.
“Ryoma. Next time you come after practice, take a shower,” she scolded the older brother, noticing his dirty state.
Nanjirou looked at his brother, taking the time to finally notice his brother’s state. He smirked, “Mada mada dane!” he muttered.
Ryoma rolled his eyes. “Yes Okaa-san,” he waved it off, and adjusted the soccer ball underneath his arm.
“C’mon, car. Now,” their mother told them, herding the two boys into the car.
--
Nanjirou was in America the day he got the wedding invitation. Just yesterday, he had given his phone number to some Japanese-American female - he had taken a liking in her - and defeated that Smith guy…
He glanced at the wedding once more. So back to Japan huh? He asked himself, Just when things were getting interesting… His mind flashed back to the girl whom he referred to as having “small ones”.
Chasing his dream, that’s what he was doing… And what about his brother? He had lost contact with him for a while since Ryoma moved to Hokkaido…
But the wedding would be held back in Tokyo.
Well, it was time to go back anyways, he thought, reaching for the phone.
--
It was the day of the wedding.
One of the many joys of mankind. It marked a day in which two people got married, in which two people who were bound by an invisible bond, would be able to finally be together.
…forever.
Nanjirou would not cry. No way, never in a million years.
And yet, he was crying in his seat. Watching his brother wait at the end of the aisle, waiting for the princess of his dreams…Suna.
He’d have to let go of his aniki.
“Oh Nanjirou…” he heard his mother whisper, pulling him closer. He sneezed and blew his nose in a tissue.
“Aniki!” Nanjirou greeted, smiling at his brother once the ceremony was over.
The older male turned around, the same smile mirrored Nanjirou’s. “Chibi! It’s been a while!” he greeted. “Still after tennis?” he asked, knowing fully well that his brother was a tennis fanatic.
Nanjirou grinned. “Of course. I’m chasing my dream, aren’t I? What about you? Soccer?” he asked.
Ryoma laughed and nodded, squeezing his now-wife’s hand. “Yep, never giving up!”
“That’s great, Ryo!” their mother suddenly appeared behind Nanjirou, hearing the last of their conversation. She gave her eldest son a hug. “How are you doing in Hokkaido - ah, was it Kushiro?” she asked, memory growing dimmer.
Ryoma grinned. “Yup,” he answered, “It’s fine. I love the weather there - perfect for soccer!” (1)
Nanjirou watched his brother chat with their mother. He frowned, was it just him or was there…?
He shook his head. No way…
“Ah! It’s almost time for the reception!” Ryoma yelped, noticing the time. His wife smiled and bowed in apology.
“Sorry Okaa-san! We should get going!”
They followed.
The rift started.
--
It’s three years after and Ryoma and his wife’s son is turning two.
Nanjirou flew to Hokkaido during a vacation break from his tennis career. He had only just begun his tennis career a few months ago but by far it had been the most fun he ever had in a while.
His hair was now longer, let down loose on his shoulder. He smirked, what would be his brother’s reaction? He rang the doorbell.
Footsteps were heard on the other side and a feminine “Ryo! Let go!”. Nanjirou grinned, now what was his brother doing to his wife?
The door opened and Suna appeared in the doorway. “Ah! Nanjirou-san!” she greeted, surprised at the appearance.
He put on his best seducing smile. “Yo beautiful,” he winked at her.
“Baka.”
-thwack-
Nanjirou found himself on the floor with a splitting headache and his brother towering over him. “Mada mada dane, Chibi.”
“M-Mada… M-mada! Mada mada! Mada mada Chibi!!” a childish voice from behind Suna exclaimed gleefully, jumping and bouncing around.
Nanjirou raised an eyebrow at the two-year-old child with the same curved chin, eyes that narrowed at the end and that smirk - the Echizen smirk.
“Shush Ryo!” Suna chided her child, bending down to his eye level. When he didn’t stop, she only sighed. “Well, he learned two new words.”
Ryoma grinned. “That’s my Ryoga,” he stated proudly. He picked the smaller boy up. “Let’s go inside now, shall we?”
He stopped in front of the door suddenly. Suna had already gone inside but Nanjirou was behind Ryoma.
“What is it aniki?” he asked, peering at his brother.
“Don’t touch my wife,” he told his younger brother, “I know you’re still the pervert.”
“Aww! Not even a little?”
“No.”
--
That night had to have been the worse.
Suna had just finished putting Ryoga to sleep when she noticed that the two brothers were in the backyard, arguing over which sport to play.
Tennis or soccer?
It was just another argument, they happened all the time…
This one grew to a heated war.
“Soccer this! Soccer that! All you think about is soccer! It’s like you don’t trust yourself, baka aniki!” Nanjirou shouted, a flush now covering his cheeks.
“Me? What about you? It’s like you don’t trust anyone else! Soccer is a team sport! Tennis is an individual!” Ryoma shot back.
“Who cares? Tennis is team too!” Nanjirou yelled, defending his favorite sport. He tightened his fists. Don’t hit!
“Look, I think I know why you chose tennis… You don’t trust even your own brother do you?” Ryoma looked hurt now.
“That’s not true!” Nanjirou protested.
Ryoma paused for a second. “That’s what you say…”
“Ryoma--! Aniki!”
“Get out.”
Nanjirou froze. “What?”
“Get out of my house.” Ryoma glared at him with indifferent cold eyes.
He had never felt so scared of his brother at the time… It was awful, terrible, horrible to have your brother look at you like that…
He left.
They never spoke to each other again.
Then the accident came.
--
“Someone get the ambulance! The firefighters! The police! Anyone!” Nanjirou shouted, glancing wildly around.
He was unlucky to have witnessed it: going to visit his brother for the first time in years or so only to find that their car turned around the corner and rammed into a truck.
A truck carrying oil.
How could…
“Hurry!” someone else shouted.
…someone as strong…
Nanjirou stared at the flames dancing, mocking his being in front of the wrecked car and truck.
…as aniki get in an accident?
The firefighters immediately ran towards the flames, ignoring the heated licks it gave and sprayed water everywhere.
Was it his fault?
The fire died out but the car and the truck gave a dull brown color - a burnt color.
“We have two survivors!” one of the men shouted, noticing movement from two people.
Nanjirou’s heart leaped. Surely his brother was alive!
“It’s a small boy and a female - must be the mother!” he continued.
Nanjirou paled. No, no, no! It couldn’t happen. Not his aniki. He rushed towards the car, ignoring the shouts and the warnings shouted at him.
“Aniki!” he pulled at the melted door, but pulled his hand away from the heat. His left hand…
His racket hand…
“Sir, please step away,” one of the police told him, hand on his shoulder. He stared at the motionless body of his brother.
How could…
He slowly walked away.
…he still smile?
The smirk was still in place, Ryoma had triumphed. He succeeded in protecting his family - so far.
--
“-poor boy! Lost his father in a car accident!”
“Did he? I thought it was both parents!”
“-No no, it was only his father. His mother died shortly afterwards.”
“-How?”
“--car accident. Mother must have been in critical condition-“
“Who’s going to take care of him now?”
“-heard that his brother will be-“
“-brother? The tennis freak?”
Nanjirou tightened his fists once more. No! He was already a husband and a soon-to-be-father, how would look if he cried now?
He clasped his hands together. Aniki, Suna-chan…
Ryoga…
Ryoga was now in the hospital in a coma. He bit his lip. Would the three-year-old survive?
He got up off the chair and left.
--
On Christmas Eve, Echizen Rinko gave birth to Echizen Ryoma.
On Christmas Day, Echizen Ryoga woke and became the older brother of Echizen Ryoma.
To this day, Ryoga has no idea that his father was, in reality, Nanjirou’s brother.
--
Nanjirou sighed and tightened his fists. He wondered if he should have told Ryoga…
He wondered if there could have been anything he could do…
…either way, there was no turning back time…
“Nanjirou?” Rinko asked, sitting down next to her husband. “What’s wrong?”
Her red-rimmed eyes showed Nanjirou that he wasn’t the only one concerned for their son.
Their biological son.
He shrugged. “Ryoma, Ryoga and aniki…” She seemed to understand, she reached over and gave his hand a comforting squeeze.
Too many bad memories…
Nanjirou vaguely wondered if his good memories could overpower his bad ones. Remembering where he put his magazines, he thought, yes.
“No magazines.”
“Aww! Why?”
-end-
Author’s Note: I’d like to thank koneko-chan (on ff.net) for mentioning the fact that I hadn’t included any of the parents in the first chapter. Well, I did realize that and decided to just put it in a side story. (I have already planned out a few other side stories anyways.) And it seemed to fit, too. So that was good. But I suppose the reason why I forgot was that I wanted to focus on the team, their bond and stuff.
Anyways, I really didn’t think this was confusing. But if you did find anything confusing or have questions, feel free to ask!
1 - I decided that Nanjirou's brother should be a soccer-geek 'cause I said so. :D
So questions, thoughts, advice or reviews?
Author: Winter's Light/Eternal Snow
Characters Used: Nanjirou and Rinko Echizen, OCs.
Rating: PG
Summary: [[Ryo-centric]] AU-ish. Rating may change. He was sucked into the world of his dreams. How far will he be buried until someone pulls him out?
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.
Chapters: 2/?
Previous: 1
Black Dream
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis as much as I would have liked.
Side Story I: Echizen
Echizen Nanjirou stared blankly at the wall in front of him, a few feet away. His hands clasped together, resting on his knee while his head rested on his hands.
Not this again…
No, it can’t happen again…
His knuckles went white and he glanced at the clock. It was nearly an hour since his son had fallen into a coma and… He squeezed his eyes shut. Why couldn’t he do anything? He was at loss, he should have noticed!
Instead, he was too busy reading his magazines to notice a single thing.
No, he did notice. He frowned, there had been a slight tinge of pink on his son’s cheeks. He had thought that the boy was blushing but… He never blushed.
He sighed. It was happening all over again…
“Ryoma…don’t die…” he muttered, eyes shadowed, “Not like aniki…”
--
It was the spring of Nanjirou’s last year of high school. The cherry blossoms were in bloom - it seemed perfect…
“Oi Chibi!”
The younger version of Nanjirou turned around with a grin. He knew that voice. Tightening his grasp on his tennis bag, he braced himself for the expected lunge.
It came. With a noogie as a bonus.
“Itai! Let go aniki!” Nanjirou shouted, now trying to wriggle out of his brother’s hold on him. He looked up when he was finally released.
The taller boy grinned. The boy was two years older than Nanjirou and a lot taller.. Unruly locks of raven-blue hair cut short just a bit below his ears, giving a more feminine look. “Now, now Chibi! Show some respect to your elders!”
“Who says you’re my elder?” he shot back with the same smirk.
The said elder only gritted his teeth and resisted the urge to pound his little brother in. “Oi…” he started, “you know what?” he asked. He elbowed the younger Echizen on the head.
“What are you two doing?” a female voice asked. Both Echizen’s looked up with the same sinking feeling.
“O-Okaa-san!”
The said mother sighed and ran a hand through her brown locks. “Honestly! Hurry and get in the car,” she admonished her children.
“Ryoma. Next time you come after practice, take a shower,” she scolded the older brother, noticing his dirty state.
Nanjirou looked at his brother, taking the time to finally notice his brother’s state. He smirked, “Mada mada dane!” he muttered.
Ryoma rolled his eyes. “Yes Okaa-san,” he waved it off, and adjusted the soccer ball underneath his arm.
“C’mon, car. Now,” their mother told them, herding the two boys into the car.
--
Nanjirou was in America the day he got the wedding invitation. Just yesterday, he had given his phone number to some Japanese-American female - he had taken a liking in her - and defeated that Smith guy…
He glanced at the wedding once more. So back to Japan huh? He asked himself, Just when things were getting interesting… His mind flashed back to the girl whom he referred to as having “small ones”.
Chasing his dream, that’s what he was doing… And what about his brother? He had lost contact with him for a while since Ryoma moved to Hokkaido…
But the wedding would be held back in Tokyo.
Well, it was time to go back anyways, he thought, reaching for the phone.
--
It was the day of the wedding.
One of the many joys of mankind. It marked a day in which two people got married, in which two people who were bound by an invisible bond, would be able to finally be together.
…forever.
Nanjirou would not cry. No way, never in a million years.
And yet, he was crying in his seat. Watching his brother wait at the end of the aisle, waiting for the princess of his dreams…Suna.
He’d have to let go of his aniki.
“Oh Nanjirou…” he heard his mother whisper, pulling him closer. He sneezed and blew his nose in a tissue.
“Aniki!” Nanjirou greeted, smiling at his brother once the ceremony was over.
The older male turned around, the same smile mirrored Nanjirou’s. “Chibi! It’s been a while!” he greeted. “Still after tennis?” he asked, knowing fully well that his brother was a tennis fanatic.
Nanjirou grinned. “Of course. I’m chasing my dream, aren’t I? What about you? Soccer?” he asked.
Ryoma laughed and nodded, squeezing his now-wife’s hand. “Yep, never giving up!”
“That’s great, Ryo!” their mother suddenly appeared behind Nanjirou, hearing the last of their conversation. She gave her eldest son a hug. “How are you doing in Hokkaido - ah, was it Kushiro?” she asked, memory growing dimmer.
Ryoma grinned. “Yup,” he answered, “It’s fine. I love the weather there - perfect for soccer!” (1)
Nanjirou watched his brother chat with their mother. He frowned, was it just him or was there…?
He shook his head. No way…
“Ah! It’s almost time for the reception!” Ryoma yelped, noticing the time. His wife smiled and bowed in apology.
“Sorry Okaa-san! We should get going!”
They followed.
The rift started.
--
It’s three years after and Ryoma and his wife’s son is turning two.
Nanjirou flew to Hokkaido during a vacation break from his tennis career. He had only just begun his tennis career a few months ago but by far it had been the most fun he ever had in a while.
His hair was now longer, let down loose on his shoulder. He smirked, what would be his brother’s reaction? He rang the doorbell.
Footsteps were heard on the other side and a feminine “Ryo! Let go!”. Nanjirou grinned, now what was his brother doing to his wife?
The door opened and Suna appeared in the doorway. “Ah! Nanjirou-san!” she greeted, surprised at the appearance.
He put on his best seducing smile. “Yo beautiful,” he winked at her.
“Baka.”
-thwack-
Nanjirou found himself on the floor with a splitting headache and his brother towering over him. “Mada mada dane, Chibi.”
“M-Mada… M-mada! Mada mada! Mada mada Chibi!!” a childish voice from behind Suna exclaimed gleefully, jumping and bouncing around.
Nanjirou raised an eyebrow at the two-year-old child with the same curved chin, eyes that narrowed at the end and that smirk - the Echizen smirk.
“Shush Ryo!” Suna chided her child, bending down to his eye level. When he didn’t stop, she only sighed. “Well, he learned two new words.”
Ryoma grinned. “That’s my Ryoga,” he stated proudly. He picked the smaller boy up. “Let’s go inside now, shall we?”
He stopped in front of the door suddenly. Suna had already gone inside but Nanjirou was behind Ryoma.
“What is it aniki?” he asked, peering at his brother.
“Don’t touch my wife,” he told his younger brother, “I know you’re still the pervert.”
“Aww! Not even a little?”
“No.”
--
That night had to have been the worse.
Suna had just finished putting Ryoga to sleep when she noticed that the two brothers were in the backyard, arguing over which sport to play.
Tennis or soccer?
It was just another argument, they happened all the time…
This one grew to a heated war.
“Soccer this! Soccer that! All you think about is soccer! It’s like you don’t trust yourself, baka aniki!” Nanjirou shouted, a flush now covering his cheeks.
“Me? What about you? It’s like you don’t trust anyone else! Soccer is a team sport! Tennis is an individual!” Ryoma shot back.
“Who cares? Tennis is team too!” Nanjirou yelled, defending his favorite sport. He tightened his fists. Don’t hit!
“Look, I think I know why you chose tennis… You don’t trust even your own brother do you?” Ryoma looked hurt now.
“That’s not true!” Nanjirou protested.
Ryoma paused for a second. “That’s what you say…”
“Ryoma--! Aniki!”
“Get out.”
Nanjirou froze. “What?”
“Get out of my house.” Ryoma glared at him with indifferent cold eyes.
He had never felt so scared of his brother at the time… It was awful, terrible, horrible to have your brother look at you like that…
He left.
They never spoke to each other again.
Then the accident came.
--
“Someone get the ambulance! The firefighters! The police! Anyone!” Nanjirou shouted, glancing wildly around.
He was unlucky to have witnessed it: going to visit his brother for the first time in years or so only to find that their car turned around the corner and rammed into a truck.
A truck carrying oil.
How could…
“Hurry!” someone else shouted.
…someone as strong…
Nanjirou stared at the flames dancing, mocking his being in front of the wrecked car and truck.
…as aniki get in an accident?
The firefighters immediately ran towards the flames, ignoring the heated licks it gave and sprayed water everywhere.
Was it his fault?
The fire died out but the car and the truck gave a dull brown color - a burnt color.
“We have two survivors!” one of the men shouted, noticing movement from two people.
Nanjirou’s heart leaped. Surely his brother was alive!
“It’s a small boy and a female - must be the mother!” he continued.
Nanjirou paled. No, no, no! It couldn’t happen. Not his aniki. He rushed towards the car, ignoring the shouts and the warnings shouted at him.
“Aniki!” he pulled at the melted door, but pulled his hand away from the heat. His left hand…
His racket hand…
“Sir, please step away,” one of the police told him, hand on his shoulder. He stared at the motionless body of his brother.
How could…
He slowly walked away.
…he still smile?
The smirk was still in place, Ryoma had triumphed. He succeeded in protecting his family - so far.
--
“-poor boy! Lost his father in a car accident!”
“Did he? I thought it was both parents!”
“-No no, it was only his father. His mother died shortly afterwards.”
“-How?”
“--car accident. Mother must have been in critical condition-“
“Who’s going to take care of him now?”
“-heard that his brother will be-“
“-brother? The tennis freak?”
Nanjirou tightened his fists once more. No! He was already a husband and a soon-to-be-father, how would look if he cried now?
He clasped his hands together. Aniki, Suna-chan…
Ryoga…
Ryoga was now in the hospital in a coma. He bit his lip. Would the three-year-old survive?
He got up off the chair and left.
--
On Christmas Eve, Echizen Rinko gave birth to Echizen Ryoma.
On Christmas Day, Echizen Ryoga woke and became the older brother of Echizen Ryoma.
To this day, Ryoga has no idea that his father was, in reality, Nanjirou’s brother.
--
Nanjirou sighed and tightened his fists. He wondered if he should have told Ryoga…
He wondered if there could have been anything he could do…
…either way, there was no turning back time…
“Nanjirou?” Rinko asked, sitting down next to her husband. “What’s wrong?”
Her red-rimmed eyes showed Nanjirou that he wasn’t the only one concerned for their son.
Their biological son.
He shrugged. “Ryoma, Ryoga and aniki…” She seemed to understand, she reached over and gave his hand a comforting squeeze.
Too many bad memories…
Nanjirou vaguely wondered if his good memories could overpower his bad ones. Remembering where he put his magazines, he thought, yes.
“No magazines.”
“Aww! Why?”
-end-
Author’s Note: I’d like to thank koneko-chan (on ff.net) for mentioning the fact that I hadn’t included any of the parents in the first chapter. Well, I did realize that and decided to just put it in a side story. (I have already planned out a few other side stories anyways.) And it seemed to fit, too. So that was good. But I suppose the reason why I forgot was that I wanted to focus on the team, their bond and stuff.
Anyways, I really didn’t think this was confusing. But if you did find anything confusing or have questions, feel free to ask!
1 - I decided that Nanjirou's brother should be a soccer-geek 'cause I said so. :D
So questions, thoughts, advice or reviews?