Author's notes: Sorry for the very long update! I'm back!

The chapters are getting more and more difficult to churn out. Woo... My exams and semester finally ended about a week ago, and that was how long I took to come up with this chapter. Finally, there is some progress in the story! Bwahaha! I'll try to update asap but keep your fingers crossed dear readers. I have lots to do from next week onwards, a part time job, then an exchange programme to Japan!

I am still undecided on who to pair Sakuno up with at the end of the story. Therefore, I am holding some sort of a vote at my blog. However in this case, it is not the votes that count, but the reasons. You have to buy me over with your reasons why you would prefer to have the couple at the end of the story. I repeat, it is not the votes that matter!

Please make your voices heard everybody!

I'm not really sure how long this story will drag on but depending on the results of the final couple, it may last a few more chapters or so? The couple I decide on will be essential to the continuation of the story so please vote!

Anyway, enjoy this update and please review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis or any of its characters.

Chapter 23: Invisible Scars

It has already been three months since Akaya moved to Seigaku. He came, filled with dreams and aspirations of being of top of the Seigaku tennis team and most importantly, to be with his dream girl, Ryuuzaki Sakuno. The beautiful story he spun however, was now slowly but surely, detaching itself away from reality and crumbling into pieces.

“Why? Why are things like that?” Akaya often asked himself. Things were definitely not going as he had planned. Sure, he was excellent at tennis, but somehow could not get along with the members. The only people who treated him better were Oishi, Tezuka and Inui. Oishi was a nice person; he could tell, and treated him much nicer than he should, obviously putting in effort to make up for the less than lukewarm behaviour displayed towards him by the other members. Tezuka treated everyone equally and fairly and Inui probably was more familiar with him due to his resemblance to Yanagi in their behaviour.

The rest of the Seigaku team were either too afraid of him or did not have a good impression of him, and sought not to change it. Kaidoh was much colder to him than anyone else, most probably because he was in a very favourable position to steal not only a place in the regulars, but also a place in the singles. Fuji apparently has not gotten over what happened three years ago and he thought it was best not to approach him, especially when the smile the brown-haired genius always had on his lips was not as friendly as it seems… Kikumaru and Momoshiro probably were the clearest in expressing their dislike for him, labelling him as the ‘red-eyed devil who wants to steal Ochibi’s girlfriend’, in strong support of the tennis prince.

Sakuno.

No, Akaya did not care. Those people were as miserable as the weaklings he had destroyed with his violent style of tennis. As long as he had Sakuno, nothing else matters. However, she was now officially ‘Echizen Ryoma’s girlfriend’. No matter how he tried to approach her, he would also be pushed away by Ryoma or his senpai-tachi. Sakuno too, seemed to have some apprehension with regards to him trying to be close to her all the time. She would always greet him with that sweet smile of hers, but after that she seemed to remember something and hastily made up lame excuses to leave. Akaya was not very bright, but even he could tell her reasons were not genuine. He couldn’t look at himself at that point of time, but he was sure his face held disappointment and pain. He was hurt, hurt because of her pushing him away, hurt because she could not speak the truth to him.

Akaya fell down on his back on his bed, the hind of his palm resting heavily on his weary eyes. He had given up so many things, Rikkai Dai, being a Rikkai Dai regular, his family, and even letting down his seniors who had such expectations of him. He was used to getting what he wants, but now, he could not have the very thing he desired. The very thing he could give up everything for. He experienced so many ‘first times’ in a matter of months: the first time he fell in love; the first time he left his hometown, the first time he switched schools… Some of them were memorable, but most of them, he hoped they had never happened before. This was also the first time he was experiencing these emotions:

Heartbreak and depression.

Sakuno gazed at the sky from the window of her classroom. A little frown grew on her cherry lips as her brow furrowed slightly.

“It seems it is going to rain soon…” Sakuno thought, her hazel eyes studying the heavy, grey skies intently. “I have to hurry if I want to get the groceries before there is a downpour.” She was so engrossed in her with thoughts of the rain and her groceries she did not notice a boy approaching her from behind.

“Oi.” Ryoma lightly hit Sakuno’s head with a book, his usual smirk plastered on his handsome features. A hint of amusement showed in his slightly upturned lips. He had been watching her for some time now, seeing the concentration on her oblivious face over something as trivial as the sky. He wanted to laugh out loud, but all he did was to hide a chuckle and approach her as silently as he could.

“Ah!” Sakuno gave a startled yelp, her hand clutching her left chest in fright. She turned back so that she was face-to-face with Ryoma. Her chocolate brown eyes had shock written all over them.

“Ryo…Ryoma-kun!” she let out, her cheeks flushed and her stuttering habit returned. “Don’t…don’t scare me like that!”

“What were you thinking about?” Ryoma asked, the smirk not leaving his face. Ryuuzaki Sakuno, now officially known to everyone in Seigaku as the significant other of the tennis prince, still possessed the cuteness and innocence she had as an early teen. Hordes of male students were after her, but Ryoma’s presence was akin to an ‘out-of-bounds’ sign stuck prominently on her. Furthermore, they were of no match to the tennis prince, and they knew it very well too.

“Eh? Ah!” Sakuno’s eyes lit up, as if something had just occurred to her. “Ryoma-kun, I don’t think I am able to walk home with you today!” She noticed the uplift of his brow and knew he wanted to know the reason why. She turned to face the window again, but this time, her arm was raised and a slim finger pointed towards the greying heavens.

“It looks as if there is going to be a heavy storm soon.” Sakuno reasoned. “But I really have to get the groceries for today, therefore I have to hurry!”

“I see…” Ryoma replied, his gaze never leaving the girl, not even when she was explaining herself. He was definitely possessive of her, which was deemed normal judging by the fact of the amount of hormones she sent raging with a simple smile or a blush, which she tend to do often. Especially with Kirihara Akaya around, he could not let his guard down. He had successfully fended off his attacks on Sakuno with some help from Momoshiro and Kikumaru, but he didn’t know if he could keep it up. Akaya, he had to admit, was a pretty formidable opponent when it came to both tennis and love but there was no way he could lose. Absolutely no way. Loss was not an option for Echizen Ryoma.

Ryoma grimaced when he was reminded of the fact that the red-eyed devil was in his thoughts. Kirihara Akaya was someone he would rather not think about, let alone see or hear.

“Sakuno.” Ryoma said as his expression turned serious. “Just make sure Kirihara does not come into a metre radius of you. Do you understand?” It was not a question; it was more like a general giving out orders to a recruit.

“But…but Ryoma-kun…” Sakuno’s eyes were downcast. “You have been telling me that but…Akaya-san is my friend…and I feel bad doing this to him…”

“Just keep away from him.” Ryoma raised his voice slightly.

Sakuno looked up at Ryoma, hoping to see some form of leeway. However, she could not even sense a tinge of leniency from him. Although sorely disappointed, she decided to follow what he has said.

“H…hai…” Sakuno replied in a tone much softer and weaker than before.

Ryoma studied the petite girl with her head bowed down. He knew she was upset, and he didn’t like it, but there was no other way. He was not going to let Akaya take the one he loved away. He knew he was especially touchy with regards to the subject of Kirihara Akaya, but he was not taking any chances, particularly when the stakes were high. This was one match he would not lose, and could not afford to lose.

Sakuno let a sigh escape from her lips as another piece of misshaped carrot lay beside her knife. She put her knife down and gave another sigh. She was still troubled by Ryoma’s apparent dislike of Akaya and him telling her to stay away from the boy. She liked Akaya a lot; he was a really good friend to her. She felt very sorry for Akaya with her ignoring him like that. She truly wished for the three of them to get along, but Ryoma’s attitude is telling her otherwise. It will probably take some time, but she will have to find a way for him to treat Akaya better.

“Boom!” A sudden roar of thunder startled Sakuno so much that she jumped from where she was standing in the kitchen. She opened a window and was greeted with a few rain drops reflecting off the sill. As expected, it was raining cats and dogs outside. She was glad she had left as soon as classes ended to get her groceries. If she had been a moment later, she would have been drenched from head to toe!

“I wonder if Ryoma-kun got caught in the rain…” She said to herself.

He probably was mad. He probably was sick. He probably was possessed, he didn’t know. By the time Akaya realised, he was walking on the streets lifelessly, the cruel rain hitting down mercilessly on him. It penetrated the defences of his Seigaku uniform and assaulted his icy skin like a sharp blade. There was no part of his body that was dry. His curly hair hung limply at the side of his face and his wet eyelashes hid the pair of dull eyes behind them. It was as if all the life in him had been washed away by the rain, and it left him with nothing but a shell, an empty shell.

Akaya’s feet seemed to have a life of its own, dragging their owner step by step along the flooded pathway. They brought him further and further away, allowing him to be soaked thoroughly by the rain, beating on him relentlessly, and stopped until they finally brought him to the destination.

Akaya looked up to where his feet brought him, and his eyes widened.

He was standing right outside the Ryuuzaki’s residence.

All of a sudden, he seemed to lose control of his reflexes again. His feet moved involuntarily to the doorstep and his arm rose to press the door bell.

“Hai!” Sakuno answered upon the ring of the door bell. “Who can it be, in the middle of this downpour? Can it be Obaa-chan? No it can’t be. There is a teachers’ meeting today. Then who can it be? ” she thought as she ran to open the door.

“Hai!” Sakuno greeted as she opened the door. The momentary curiosity changed from bewilderment, then to shock.

“A…Akaya-san!” Sakuno gasped at the sight of the drenched teen. “What…what are you doing here? And why are you getting all wet in the rain? Come on in quickly!” she ushered him into the house then ran off.

“Towels, towels!” Sakuno repeated to herself as she ran to where they were kept. As soon as she found them, she rushed back to the corridor where Akaya still stood motionless, creating a little puddle on the floor as droplets fell from his soaked hair, clothes and shoes.

“Akaya-san! Use this towel!” Sakuno offered the towel to Akaya. Observing no response from him, she thought of the worst possible scenario.

“Are you feeling feverish?” Sakuno asked worriedly. “Oh no…” she let out and tried to dry Akaya as much as she could. She stood on tiptoes and draped the towel over his head, trying her best to dry his hair.

“Do you…like me, Sakuno-chan?” Akaya mumbled, but in a clear enough voice for Sakuno to listen.

Sakuno, taken aback by the suddenness of the question, was silent for a while. “What…what are you saying Akaya-san! You must be feeling sick! You have to dry yourself properly!”

“Why are you with Echizen Ryoma?” Akaya continued. “Why are you avoiding me? Why don’t you look at me and me alone!” He had grabbed Sakuno’s shoulders and was jolting her rather violently. Sakuno let out a little gasp of shock and protest as the partially wet towel fell to the floor.

“A…Akaya-san!” Sakuno managed to let out in her startled state. “You…you are hurting me!”

“Why? Why!” Akaya’s grip tightened on Sakuno’s shoulders as she looked up at him with frightened eyes. He finally opened his eyes wide to gaze straight into hers, and she wished she had not seen it at all. Those eyes of his, were strangely serious, but had a dull light in them which scared her. The person standing in front of her was not the cheerful Akaya she knew; it was as if he had changed souls with another person.

“Why can’t you just love me!” With that, Akaya pushed Sakuno to the wall and crashed his lips onto hers. Sakuno’s eyes widened and she struggled in vain against his vice-like grip. She tried to push him away from her but to no avail. Akaya was just too strong for her. He conquered, plundered, and invaded her lips as he kissed her fiercely. Sakuno could feel the chill of his icy lips on hers. She wondered why Akaya was doing this to her. Then she realised something, he had stolen her first kiss! All her maiden’s dream of a romantic first kiss was shattered at that very instant. She had always dreamt of sharing a sweet first kiss with her crush who was now her boyfriend, Ryoma. But now…

Devastation and despair summoned up every single remaining ounce of energy left in Sakuno and with a push, managed to separate her from Akaya.

“Iya!” Sakuno screamed, as she pushed Akaya away, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Akaya fell to the floor with a bump. Sakuno, upon hearing the loud sound, quickly turned in the direction.

“Daijoubu? Go…” Sakuno began but paused halfway, remembering what Akaya had just done to her. She stopped in her tracks, and retreated slightly. The trauma was instilled in her and she was afraid he could repeat his earlier actions.

The silence in the house was only accentuated by the formidable strength exerted on the ground by the rain from the skies. The two teens did not move a single inch.

Akaya gave a chuckle. Then he laughed. Then he laughed louder until it resonated within the living room. His laugh was bitter, but Sakuno couldn’t tell in the aftermath of the incident. It only intensified her fright. Akaya got up and walked towards Sakuno. She moved back a few steps, her hands that were clasped together near her heart shivered. He approached her step by step and she followed by taking a step back each time he advanced, till there was no space left for her to retreat. Her breathing became more rapid as he got closer and closer. She closed her eyes in terror, fearing what he would do next. However, what she felt was only the brush of a cold fabric against her. She opened her eyes in surprise, only to see Akaya headed towards the door. The power of the rain still had not subsided as he opened the door to prove that.

“Wai…” Sakuno tried to call out, but her inner battle prevented her from doing so. Akaya, not even giving a look back, walked out of the house and into the bitter rain. She could only stare at his slowly fading back, and when it was completely gone, she fell to the floor, devoid of all strength. What was left was the wet corridor, a forgotten wet towel and invisible scars.

Akaya walked aimlessly down the street. He was in the mercy of the judgement of the heavens, as the little drops fused together to form an even stronger blade to pierce through his old wounds. He laughed again, his insignificant voice drowned by the roaring patters. As he laughed, drops of water fell from the contours of his face. For once, he couldn’t tell where the source was.

Author's notes: Please read and review! And do not forget to vote!