Where It Starts, Where It Ends

Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't sue.

Warning: Shounen ai. Some OOCness.

Pairing: Momoshiro X Ryoma

Author: StrawberyJubilee

Beta: NiennaAngel (LJ: SkyAngel2009)

Ryoma was still avoiding him at every occasion. Somehow, the dark-haired boy always managed to disappear after practice hours. Even though Momoshiro always changed as fast as he could to catch up with his kouhai, somehow Ryoma just vanished very quickly. That leaves a disappointed Momoshiro slowly riding his bike alone. Little does Momoshiro know; Ryoma always hides somewhere and waits until Momoshiro leaves before coming out from his hide out. After that he will walk home in a different route than usual. Ryoma wasn't ready to face his senpai just yet; as a matter of fact, he doesn't know when he will be ready.

Momoshiro's determination was very strong after that conversation with Echizen Nanjiroh; he was determined that today he will definitely talk to Ryoma. He was very anxious thinking of how he could find a way to talk to Ryoma, hence his concentration on tennis was very bad that day. When one of his racket strings broke, he felt that it was a bad omen. He didn't know why, but he felt that something was wrong, that something bad was about to happen.

Ryuzaki-sensei was attending a tennis seminar out of town so she left all club matters to Tezuka as captain of the club. Momoshiro was thinking of what excuse he could give so that Tezuka would let him go home early. He needed the time so he could find out where Ryoma runs off to after every practice. He was thinking so hard; Tezuka wouldn't believe a lame excuse. Moreover, Tezuka has Fuji on his side; it's said that the tensai has the ability to read people's mind. Momoshiro was too preoccupied with his own thoughts that he didn't realize Fuji talking to Tezuka in a very low voice while glancing once in a while at him. He didn't realize that his buchou and senpai were standing next to him until he felt a pat on his shoulder.

"Momo-chan," the tensai's cheery voice called out.

"Fu-fuji-senpai! Buchou!"

"You may go home now," Tezuka said in a flat tone, his facial expression as stoic as ever.

"Nani?" Momoshiro's eyes bulged not believing his ears.

"Go home," Tezuka said once again without any change in his stony expression.

"Get ready to go and talk to him, Momo-chan," Fuji repeated when he saw that Momoshiro was gapping from his shock, "hurry up, before he runs off again," Fuji smiled knowingly at him. Of course it was our dear tensai who persuaded Tezuka to let Momoshiro go home early and by what means only the captain and the tensai know. As expected, Fuji could almost literally read what was on Momoshiro's mind, since he was easy to read.

Ryoma overheard the conversation between Tezuka, Fuji and Momoshiro. He wondered why they all wanted to interfere in his business. It was his right if he didn't want to have anything to do with Momoshiro. After all, Momoshiro betrayed him. He thought that Momoshiro was his best friend, his senpai's recent behavior even made him think that they were more than just friends, but he was wrong.

Practice wasn't over yet, but be saw Momoshiro rushing to the showers. He had to think how he could get away from his senpai this time. He couldn't hide like usual because Tezuka and Fuji were watching him intensely. He had to pretend that he didn't know that Tezuka gave Momoshiro permission to leave beforehand. Then, he had an idea. He said something to Horio, which made the other boy very excited.

Momoshiro felt very gleeful yet anxious. He was happy that he would finally talk to his beloved kouhai, but he was nervous of how Ryoma would react. After taking a fast shower, he changed his clothes and snatched his bag. He waited outside school behind the shades of a tree on his bike. When practice was over, he saw that the tennis club members start to flow out of the school gates. He didn't have to wait long until he spotted a short, raven-haired boy with a nonchalant expression on his face walking out of the gates. When he thought that the distance between them was safe enough, slowly he started to follow the other boy. Too bad, it wasn't his lucky day, suddenly, he felt someone clinging on his hand.

"Takeshi-senpai, I'm so glad that you finally asked me out on a date," she smiled cheerfully.

"Na-nani?" Little did he know that a smirk formed on Ryoma's face; Ryoma would do anything as long as he doesn't have to face his senpai.

"Horio told me that you wanted to ask me out on a date," she frowned.

"I-I didn't! I'm sorry I really have to go now," Momoshiro struggled to release her hand. By the time he was free from Sakuno, Ryoma was out of sight.

Momoshiro sighed deeply. He wondered, why all this was happening to him. Wasn't he the 'lucky boy' of Seigaku? What happened to all his luck?

Suddenly, a small figure fell down. The miniature tennis ball key holder that Ryoma gave him was broken. He felt a clutch in his stomach. The feeling of the omen became stronger. He picked it up and put it inside of his pocket.

"What is this bad feeling about?" Was it about him? Or maybe it was about Ryoma? He started to worry. He had to find his kouhai as soon as possible. He searched all the places where they usually hung out: the burger shop, the street tennis court, the park near school, and other places, but he couldn't find a glimpse of the certain kouhai of his.

"Ryoma… where are you?" He felt very anxious he had to find Ryoma soon. He paused for a while to call Ryoma's cell phone but there was no answer. He called Ryoma's house just to find that the kid wasn't home yet. He continued his search for his kouhai.

As the sky was getting dark, Momoshiro began to feel hopeless. In his desperation, he started to head home. His mind wandered to the times when he and Ryoma were still good friends. He wished that those times could come back. He was awoken from his trance when he heard a familiar voice.

"Mada mada dane."

In a deserted alley a few blocks from his house, there was the kouhai he was searching for all day long. Momoshiro realized that Ryoma wasn't alone. There were two other figures with him.

TBC

Sorry for the long wait, here is chapter 10. Feedbacks are loved! Much love for my dear beta!