Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction ❯ Bad Day ❯ Bad Day ( Chapter 3 )

Rinko closed the door behind her, leaving Fuji with Ryoma. She walked down the hall to the waiting room to find Nanjiroh. When she got there, she took a seat to Nanjiroh's left. Rinko looped her arms around Nanjiroh's arm and laid her head on his stiff shoulder. They sat in silence fore some time until Nanjiroh spoke.

"Why? Ryoma's not that weak. Something must have happened to make him take extreme measures like that, but what is it that I've missed?"

"I agree, but what are we going to do? If it's that serious he's not just going to tell us what it is that pushed him that far."

"Yes. We'll just have to talk to him, and if he doesn't, as a last resort we'll put him in therapy."

"That sounds like a good idea, but when should we approach him about it?"

"As soon as possible."

"Not until after he's better."

"All right."

~~

Ryoma spent another night and half a day in the hospital for observation before he was released. When he got home, he went to his room to look for Karupin. Sure enough, Karupin was lounging on Ryoma's pillow. Ryoma walked across his room to his bed and picked Karupin up. When Ryoma looked around, he saw that his bed had new blankets on it and a pile of books and papers on his desk. No doubt Fuji was the one to bring his schoolwork home for him. Ryoma didn't feel like doing his homework just yet, so he sat down on his bed petting Karupin, who was still sitting in Echizen's lap contently with having his master back.

Nanjiroh and Rinko were in the kitchen discussing how and when they were going to talk to Ryoma when he came in. Nanjiroh and Rinko stopped talking and watched as Echizen got a glass of water then returned to his room to do who knows what.

"You see! How are we supposed to deal with that boy!?" Nanjiroh whined. "He shows no emotions when he undoubtedly heard us talking about him, but he couldn't careless!"

"Stop jumping to conclusions. We don't know that he was unaffected. We'll just have to sit him down and take charge of the situation. If we just ask him and let him know that we're here for him, maybe he'll open up to us. All right?"

"All right," Nanjiroh said a bit reluctantly.

~~

Echizen was sitting on the couch with his mother on his right and his father pacing in front of them. Rinko took a hold of his right hand, and Ryoma felt increasingly uncomfortable about the situation, not showing a bit of it, of course.

"Ryoma, your father and I love you. You know that. We're here for you no matter what. Please, Ryoma, tell us what's wrong." Rinko said in a warm, loving, but pleading voice.

". . ." Ryoma fidgeted a bit not wanting to answer, but he felt like he'd hurt his mother somehow if he didn't answer.

Nanjiroh gave Rinko a look saying this wasn't working but she looked right back saying just give him a second. After what seemed like forever to Nanjiroh, Echizen lifted his head to his mother, eyes brimming with tears, suddenly looking younger and more innocent than ever. The look Ryoma was giving her made her want to cry and hold her son in her embrace and protect him forever, but she restrained herself for Ryoma's sake.

"Ryoma . . .?"

"Mom . . .I . . ."

"What is it baby? You know you can tell us anything."

"I . . .was raped."

Ryoma had put his head down until his chin was touching his chest; his eyes squeezed tightly shut not wanting to see the disappointment in their eyes. Nanjiroh stopped pacing and looked at Rinko, who looked up at Nanjiroh Both shocked beyond response. Rinko immediately took Ryoma into her arms and held him tight, as Nanjiroh took a seat next to Echizen and put his arms around the two. Both Rinko and Ryoma were crying now. Nanjiroh was on the verge with his eyes swimming with unshed tears for his son's bravery and pain.

"Ryoma, honey, please tell us what happened to you. I know you don't want to, but if we are to understand so we can help you, you're going to have to tell us what happened. You can take all the time you need."

Ryoma shook his head in the affirmative. "All right . . .you remember last month when I didn't come home, and I told you I was at Momo's house all night but forgot to call?"

Nanjiroh and Rinko nodded their heads yes. Ryoma took a deep breath steadying himself, as the memories he tried so hard to suppress started to come back to him.

"I was walking back from the burger place when I was grabbed. You see . . ."

~~Flash Back~~

"Oi! Ryoma! I have to go now! I forgot my cousin is in town and I was supposed to go straight home today! My parents are going to kill me!" Momo practically yelled, grabbing his tennis bag, running out of the fast food restaurant, and rushing down the sidewalk leaving a slightly stunned Ryoma behind him.

Echizen shrugged and continued eating. As he was sitting there finishing his meal, Kikumaru happened to walk by and saw him. Eiji, being who he was, had to go in and say hi to his Ochibi-chan.

"Hoi, hoi, Ochibi-can!!"

Eiji took a seat next to Echizen, hugging the smaller boy in a death grip. Echizen, after a bit of struggle, got Eiji off and gave him a death glare before turning back to his meal.

"Oi Ochibi, where's Momo?"

"He left."

Eiji glared at Ryoma. "I know that but to where?!"

"Home."

"Aww, he's no fun! Why are you still here, Ochibi?"

"I'm eating."

"Ochibi, you're so mean!"

"Tell me something I don't know," Echizen said smirking impishly at his senpai.

"C'mon, let's go do something!"

"No," Echizen said as he grabbed his bag, threw the garbage away, and headed to the door only to be stopped.

Kikumaru was blocking his way and wasn't going to move anytime soon from the looks of it. Seeing as how Echizen was smaller than Eiji, he couldn't very well overpower his senpai or out-maneuver the acrobatic tennis player. He had to do what Eiji wanted if he wanted to get out of there any time soon. So it went, Eiji dragged Ryoma (literally) down the sidewalk to the movie theater. It was an action movie that Echizen wasn't really interested in, but when did anything other than tennis catch his attention? As they got out of the movie, it was considerably darker.

"Kikumaru-senpai, why didn't you bring Oishi-senpai with you?"

"Oh . . .Oishi had other things to do today." Eiji didn't sound like his usual spunky self.

". . ."

"Well this is where I turn, so I'll see you on Monday, Ochibi!"

(It's Saturday night by the way.)

Echizen and Eiji parted ways. It was just after twilight, and the only light on the sidewalks was the white glow of the street lamps and the occasional light from a window in the buildings lining the street. Echizen was, of course, walking leisurely down the sidewalk in no particular hurry as always.

When Ryoma was about a third of the way home, he heard a strange noise. It sounded like a can being dropped or kicked, but Ryoma paid no attention to it. Shortly after he could have sworn he heard footsteps behind him, he chalked it up to a stranger walking home. It's not like people weren't allowed to walk on the sidewalk at night. Echizen had passed several alleyways, but the one he was coming upon was different. As Ryoma passed it, he heard a few steps being taken and then felt a prick on his neck before slowly, everything went black.

When Ryoma woke up, he lifted his hand to his face or would have if it weren't tied above his head. Other things also started to come into focus. Even though Ryoma opened his eyes, he still saw darkness, simply meaning he was blindfolded. Echizen also began to register that he was sore where he shouldn't be, and he was very hot. Ryoma was getting really scared at this point. It then registered that all he was wearing was his birthday suit. That was when the true terror of the situation really set in. He knew then and there. It was concrete that he had been raped.

Then the bed dipped a bit, and Echizen knew it wasn't help. He felt the body positioned itself over his. There was a pressure as a pair of lips touched his, and Echizen wrenched his head to the side trying to get away. He then felt a hand move to his ass, and he let out a scream hoping against hope that someone would hear him. This situation was resolved quickly as Echizen was gagged with what felt like a strip of towel or a dishtowel. Then the rape was commenced again. Echizen squirmed and struggled as best he could, but it was a waste of energy as the silent violator quickly took him again. Echizen let the growing darkness at the edges of his mind take over once again as he slipped into unconsciousness. When Echizen woke up the next day, he was in the alleyway he had passed when he was abducted.

~~End Flash Back~~

"You know the rest. I came home and told you I had spent the night at Momo- senpai's and forgot to call you."

Echizen was silently crying. His voice was hoarse, and his mother held him tightly crying as well. Nanjiroh looked like he was ready to kill who ever it was that touched his son like that.

"Ryoma, sweetheart, why didn't you tell us before?"

"I . . .was afraid you'd be disappointed in me . . .and . . .think that I'm weak."

"Ryoma," Nanjiroh said in a very stern voice, "you're anything but weak!"

Ryoma looked at his father and really started to cry, but not out of pain and fear this time, out of relief and gratitude.

~~

Ryoma was now thankful he had a wristband because it covered his wrist where he had slit it. Ryoma went back to school the next day with yet another weight lifted from his chest. Echizen went up to the roof as usual during lunch and found that Fuji was already up there. Ryoma stopped momentarily and looked at Fuji before shrugging and taking a seat where he usually did to take a nap.

"Have you talked to your parents yet?" Fuji asked not really sounding the least bit curious.

"Yes," Ryoma said as he lay down and closed his eyes.

"How did they take it?"

"Better than I anticipated."

"I take it you relayed the whole story to them?"

"Yes."

"Are they putting you in some form of counseling?"

"No, not that I know of. Why?"

"I don't think you would have said a word if you were sent to a psychiatrist . . .am I right?"

"Yes."

"Do you still want to find the person who did this to you?"

Echizen went rigid at this question. ". . ."

"Still not quite ready for anything like that yet? I understand that, but do you want to work on the smell at least?"

"Sure."

"What can you tell me?"

"I don't know . . .it . . .it was like grease . . .oil . . .like a garage, I suppose."

Ryoma had his eyes open now and was staring off into the light blue sky. Fuji was now in deep consideration, there were many auto repair shops around the area, This was going to be difficult.