Disclaimer: I don’t own Prince of Tennis.

--

The One.

Chapter 3: Grief

--

Ryoma sat impatiently on a waiting stool just beside the hostess’ tall table as he waited for the brunette to come back and lead him somewhere unknown. With his chin leaning on the back of his hand as he slouched unattractively amidst the mislead guests, Ryoma thought of ways he would torture his insolent father, not at all minding the glances of the judging customers that entered the restaurant as his scowl dug deeper into his face. The chill of the air-conditioned room wasn’t enough to cool down the boiling blood of this violated teen. Not even the coziness and the sweet aroma of the five star restaurant calmed him down. But, what would calm him down though, were his firm hands all over his father’s long neck, strangling him as the deranged old man screamed of torture and forgiveness.

Ryoma’s hands twitched at the thought. So with that satisfying thought in mind, Ryoma seemed to have calmed down, as he leaned back on the stool, quite comfortably. Now, he just had to deal with this whole affair in a swift pace.

“Echizen-kun, this way please.” The brunette approached him from behind, the same warm smile still plastered on her lovely face. Ryoma looked up and away from his morbid musings for it to only vanish in thin air at the sight of Sakuno Ryuzaki, age nineteen and apparently a very skilled waitress of this quaint five star restaurant. Ryoma nodded and soon stood up from the maroon-colored stool. He was then led by Sakuno towards quite a distance away from the entrance. The people around this large area seemed to have decreased by every other step they both took. Ryoma looked around, taking in the sudden easiness of his mood.

His eyes widened when he saw his best friend, Momoshiro Takeshi, holding the hands of who apparently looked like to be his current girlfriend from across the surface of their white, candle-lit table. And ever so unconsciously, his lips tugged upwards, his features softening slightly as he told himself this, ‘I wonder who the best man would be.’

“Here we are.” Sakuno’s sweet voice suddenly tuned in, taking Ryoma back from his lightly joyful trance of wedding bells and sweet luscious white cakes. Turning his head to face her, he found Sakuno opening a russet-colored door with the push of a golden hinge. Pushing the russet door out of sight, a large room with candle lit lights and coffee colored floor boards visualized from inside the aromatic room. Suddenly, it drew into him. With a scowl on his face, he spun around with only one destination kept locked inside his aroused mind, and that was home… where his annoying father was probably reading his porn again.

Gritting his teeth, he left Sakuno to chase after him, probably telling him to stop on his tracks and face her. But he gave it no heed and continued moving forward. Brushing off the waiters, guests, and tables, Ryoma heaved a soft sigh when he caught sight of the uniquely carved entrance door. Finally, tonight, he was confronting his extravagant inhumane father and he should’ve had done it a long time ago.

But, unbeknownst to him and his insensitiveness, Sakuno was still on his trail and determined more than ever to stop him, as this was his father’s strict orders. So the very brave and strong-willed Sakuno Ryuzaki reached out her pale hand and out of impulse, took Ryoma by the sleeve and firmly held on it. Immediately, Ryoma was forcefully taken back when he felt someone grip on his white long-sleeved polo shirt. With a scowl that seemed to be permanently placed on his handsome features, Ryoma turned his head to face the red-faced waitress.

“Echizen-san…” Sakuno muttered under her breath. Immediately, she released her grip on his shirt, apparently frightened by the look on the worked-up tennis star. Ryoma, taking this as an opportunity to slip away, moved swiftly along tables, finally nearing the door. With deafening sounds of glorious victory from having escaped a hell-like prison of unpleasant drinking and sluts, Ryoma pushed past the transparent glass doors. And without a moment to spare, the cool night breeze welcomed him out and into the open.

But at the same and exact moment, he was swept away by the unwanted sight of his father.

“Old man…” Ryoma was able to mutter about ever so softly as the man before him stood in shock as well. Nanjiroh Echizen stood in front of his son, never anticipating that this little reunion would occur this quickly. Meanwhile, Sakuno had just stepped out of the restaurant, out of breath as she watched both father and son stand still amidst the strong breeze of the cold night air.

“Ryoma.” Nanjiroh simply said, finally getting a grip of himself. “Wow, isn’t this awkward.”

Ryoma stood still in front of his father. The wind blowing past them, and in an instant, Ryoma’s subconscious mind revived within him. Slowly clenching his fists, he bit out to his father,

“What the hell is happening here?” The next moments happened in a flash. With Nanjiroh left with nothing more to do to divert the rage of his infuriated son, and with Sakuno left with nothing at all to do, Nanjiroh was forced to punch his own son. The blow was so stalwart, that Ryoma fell back, everything seen by his excellent vision was now on threes and fours, and he felt nothing but light-headedness.

“Echizen-kun!” Sakuno shrieked in terror as she ran towards him. Nanjiroh then examined his knuckles, finding them hurting as well. This was all he could do to stop his egomaniac of a son to pounce on him and tear him limb from limb for not giving the facts straight to him. He sighed as he watched his son lie on the cold floor.

Meanwhile, raising his head up, Sakuno slapped Ryoma weakly in hopes of reviving the unconscious teen. But when she received no reply, she looked up at Nanjiroh with great alarm.

Nanjiroh just grinned back at her.

Sadly for Nanjiroh though, the guards followed Sakuno with her actions of care and grief for having a well-known and loved superstar fall dead on the ground… since they were all part of the huge bunch of on lookers.

Nanjiroh’s eyes widened with what he saw. A huge swarm of security guards, waiters and waitresses, and some guests was running towards him with glares that could kill.

“Ei! Old man! What did you do to my best man?!” Momoshiro yelled from behind the crowd as he forcefully pushed his way towards the scene of the crime, leaving his confused girlfriend behind.

“Oh shoot.” Nanjiroh gasped, when out of nowhere, a security guard tackled him to the ground. And out of his amazing reflexes, he punched the guy straight on the face, smirking to himself as he did so. After all, if there was a great moment to be proud, it was now.

But then again, sooner or later, Nanjiroh would have to fall. Pinning him down against the cold cemented sidewalk, the guards couldn’t wait but interrogate him. In a determined will to escape from the authorities, Nanjiroh squirmed about. But after a few seconds, he was left with no other choice but to be dragged into a police car while shouting the words,

“He’s my son!”

“It was just a simple blow on the stomach! No harm done!”

”Let go of me!”

”Don’t you know that I’m the father of Echizen Ryoma!” And with that heard out from him, a security guard laughed horridly at him.

“Yeah right, tell that to the judge.” And with that, Nanjiroh was taken in custody with newly polished handcuffs locked on his bruised wrists. With nothing left to do but to stare outside the window with utter misery, he could only think of one thing,

‘Where have I gone wrong…’ Slowly, tears of frustration finally fell from his eye. “Now everything is ruined.”

Meanwhile, inside the restaurant, Sakuno was left to stare at Ryoma as he leaned his head on the table, still dazed by the encounter.

“Where am I?”

--

TBC...

I hope you guys find it funny... I think.

Don't worry, I guess romance will come sooner or later.

Then forgive me if you don't like my writing.

Umm... what else, I hope you liked it:D RxR

Thanks for reading!