DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE PRINCE OF TENNIS FRANCHISE NOR THE SONGS THAT WILL BE INCORPORATED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STORY. THANK YOU

This is inspired by the story Forfeit (I'm sorry I don't remember who the author was but it was a heartbreaking yet nice ending story) and the song If I Die Young by the Band Perry.

I warn you all now, this story will not have a happy ending. I have been knows to kill Ryoma in other stories as well. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Prologue:

It was a raining Thursday afternoon at the flat that was being shared by six men. Echizen Ryoma, now age twenty, was sipping a cup of coffee in the kitchen when he heard the door close and footsteps echoing. The only ones who had keys were his lovers. Yes, Ryoma was not only gay but was in a relationship with five other men: Atobe Keigo of Atobe Corp., Kunimitsu Tezuka professional lawyer, Fuji Syuusuke professional photographer, Sanada Genichiro English professor of Tokyo University, and Yukimura Seiichi a banker.

It shocked everyone when Ryoma came out and admitted to close friends that he was gay but everyone else took it calmly. The next shock was when Tezuka and Fuji expressed their desire for the golden eyed boy and it got weirder when Atobe had joined in their mix when the rich snob had heard that his boy wonder had agreed to be with both Tezuka and Fuji. A year after, Yukimura and Sanada were added to their group relationship and they had been through a whole lot for more than five years.

When they all reached the kitchen, Ryoma instantly knew something was off. He placed down his cup of coffee and the book his was reading.

"Is something wrong?" he asked them and the tension seemed to have grown thicker the next second.

It was Tezuka who broke the silence by clearing his throat.

"Ryoma, can we all talk in the living room? There is something we need to discuss as a group." He said seriously and Ryoma knew better than to joke.

He simply nodded and stood up, walking pass everyone and went to their spacious living room. Though it was a flat, it was bigger than most. It did house six men with different professions and yet it had everything they needed. Atobe had spent most of it really but the rest had worked and began to pay for the flat and other things that had been added since they moved in.

Ryoma sat down on his armchair and watched as the others take seats on the couch and the two other armchairs.

"So, what had gotten you all so serious? The weather is dreadful already, you're not making the afternoon any more pleasing." Ryoma said as he crossed his arms and his legs.

The others looked at each other before taking a deep breath which made Ryoma raise a brow.

"Ryoma, for the past year, you've turned down three offers to play international tennis matches. You told us that you didn't want to because it would take you away from here and us. We understand that but lately, things and demands have been brought up and the press hasn't helped out at all." Sanada began and turned to the others for help.

"What Gen is trying to say is that a few days ago, we have been giving opportunities and it's the type of opportunities that—" Fuji was cut off by Ryoma.

"You mean that Gen is being offered to be Department Head at his University, Sei was offered the Managerial spot in his bank, Tezuka probably got a big case that demands his time, you Fuji are offered some project that takes you away, and of course, Atobe is being pressured by his father to take over their company." Ryoma said with a cold tone.

The others were shocked.

"I'm not as stupid as you think I am. I've been hearing your secret talks when you think I'm sleeping or busy with something else. And the press hasn't been that subtle either. They all have been asking you what we are to each other and as far as I know, you have all denied any forms of romantic relationship between all of us. I haven't spoken to the press since you all wanted to keep what we have a secret. Though I was against it, I abided by your wishes because I cared and I deeply love you all and would put you ahead of myself everything." He continued while the others looked guilty.

"I knew for the past week that this was coming but I didn't think that it would really come to past." He stood up and went straight to his bedroom.

The others head a few noises and when Ryoma came out, he was pulling his travelling trolley with him and his tennis bag. He deposited it by the door and went back to the living room.

"If I knew you were all cowards I would have left the moment I felt that you were all going to go after your wishes and leave me. But I understand. As I said, I would put you all ahead of me no matter what and I meant it. If it makes everything easier, I'll leave. You can all go and do what you want and be happy with it. Though I won't, I will have to get over it one way or another and just accept the fact that people move on and leave other people behind."

"Ryo-chan it's not like that!" Yukimura tried to explain as he stood up and hold Ryoma.

Ryoma slowly pulled away and stepped a few inches away from the blue-haired banker and a sad smile was on his face. It instantly broke the others.

"Is it really not like that? I know… I have always known that at some point, people will leave me. I just thought that with you five, I wouldn't have to fear that. But I guess I was wrong. But its fine. I'll be fine. I've called Kevin last night and entered the Wimbledon Open and he and I will be playing doubles this time. Who knows, it might take my mind off you five." He said as went to the jacket closet to take out his jacket and get ready to leave. His car keys were in the pocket, the last place he had placed it.

"Ryoma… Please don't leave like this." Fuji had ran to him and begged.

Like what he did to Yukimura, he slowly pulled away.

"No, it's better this way. I don't want to hear the words 'Let's all move on and see how far we go on in life' or something along those lines. I can't and I probably won't bear it if any of you say it. So, I'll leave and I have convinced myself that this is for everyone's best interest." He said and turned to leave.

Ryoma went to take his bags and open the door to leave. He stopped and turned to look at the one last time, not knowing that tears were already running down his face yet he was still smiling.

"I wish you five the best luck this world can offer you. I love each and every one of you." He said and left.

Lightning struck and thunder rolled yet none of the five were able to move. Fuji cried as he fell on the floor by the door, Yukimura was holding himself as he tried to imagine Ryoma being in his arms still, crying on his own. Sanada had gone to the French windows and watched as Ryoma entered his car, start the car and drove off. He was crying as well. Atobe was frozen the whole while, not able to say anything to explain what they wanted to say or even to try and stop their youngest lover from leaving. Tezuka just sat there, staring at the seat that Ryoma had sat before he had walked out the door and left with tear filled eyes and a broken heart.

No, Tezuka's heart had broken to pieces when they began to plan when to tell Ryoma about the demands they were pressured to take. Atobe had stood up and went to Ryoma's room, got on the man's bed and held the pillow close to him, crying the whole time as the fact that they had pushed Ryoma away to leave sunk into his mind. They had made their youngest, most caring, and beloved lover leave because they were all so selfish to not admit the truth of who they really were and the fear of backlash.

Three years had passed… since the night Echizen Ryoma had left. Each other the five had done what they had set out to do, carve a name for themselves. Yet all of them followed their golden eyed lover's success. Ryoma had climbed to the top of the tennis ladder and had even been more sought after than his father, Samurai Nanjirou.

"Tell us, Ryoma… To whom do you dedicate your success to? You've defeated your own brother at the American Open and have carved a deeper name that your own father." Asked an American reporter as Ryoma walked out the lobby with his brother and best friend, Kevin Smith.

"I dedicate everything I have achieved now to five special people who I'm not sure are watching. I hope you're proud of me." Ryoma said as he smiled for the camera and left the stadium.

There were a few more questions that the reporters wanted to ask but the champion had tight security.

Ryoma had met up with Oishi and Eiji in Hawaii when he was doing his Tennis World Tour. They even had a doubles match with them as Ryoma paired up with his brother. The news had raked in hundreds of reporters from all over the world for the friendly match. Then after the first year, nothing came about Echizen Ryoma. Kevin and Ryoga had told reporters that they didn't know where Ryoma was either and that he just disappeared after the friendly match with his old school seniors in Hawaii.

But in truth, Ryoma wasn't missing. He was in Russia, under heavy security in a medical facility that specialized in rare diseases and sever life injuries. Kevin Ryoga, Oishi and Eiji had flown to Russia to check Ryoma and his condition.

"I am sorry… There is nothing we can do for him. There is no known cure for his condition. However, we can only suggest that he does not do anything that will tire him out like tennis. His life can be extended to a decade or so. But if he keeps doing tennis, then he'll be depleting his life energy faster and will have about three to five years left."

The doctors, all seven had told them that. Ryoga had called his dad and his mom and they flew directly to Russia, telling reporters that they too did not know where their son was. It was better that way. Only a few people knew the truth and those people were in Russia already.

Oishi and Eiji were told by Kevin what had happened when Ryoma returned to America and both went into a fit of rage. Both wanted to fly back to Japan to kill the five that they had expected to care and love the man. Ryoga had stopped them with an extensive explanation that was seconded by Ryoma when he had woken up from his sleep.

"Hey guys… Why the looks? I know getting fried by lighting wasn't a nice way to start the—"

"Ryoma! Please! Don't…. don't try to pass this off as a joke. Not this one." Kevin begged as he rushed to his best friend's side and cried.

"Kevin…" Ryoma was saddened that there was no other way.

"The doctors promised to keep looking and see if there is another way… We won't give up, Chibisuke." Ryoga said as he ran his hand through his brother's hair, trying to hold back his tears and cry.

Ryoma smiled weakly as his older brother and closed his eyes to rest.

How do they deal with the fact that the lightning accident had fried Echizen Ryoma's cells and cooking nearly all of his organs to crisp? No one had been known to survive multiple organ transplants. And even Ryoma wasn't going to pretend that he was going to be the first one to break rules once again.

A/N: So, how was that for a starter? Did I do good? Is it worth continuing? I'm back on my P.o.T bandwagon once again. Read and Review my good people. ^_^