Substitute

By Lerafea and Aindreas

Summary: Trying to forget his recent heartbreak, Ryoma finds himself distracted during training. His sempais notice and before you know it -- "Ne, Echizen, did you get dumped?" Ryoma is NOT happy. Warning: YAOI! TezuRyo and a dash of ShinRyo.

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"—I'm sorry but it isn't entirely my fault that this has to come to an end, we never made it clear what kind of relationship this is. I suppose I could take the blame for kissing you first and initiating our first date, but we never mentioned anything permanent and I thought that it was a given that we have the freedom to date whomever we like. Besides, you never show any affection or say anything when we are together it could simply have been a normal friendship although we did kiss a few times and shared several drinks together and went out on a couple of dates and maybe it is part of your fault that you never said that we were serious. I thought you liked that smiling tensai from your school tennis team because you're always around him and you play tennis together every week like we do and –"

"Shinji," a cold voice snapped. "Urusei."

"You don't have to be rude, it isn't my fault…"

Echizen Ryoma turned on his heel and walked off, ignoring the rambling tennis player as he tugged his white Fila cap low over his brow. His face remained passive, largely due to the fact that his mind was a large, white blank. His body in auto-pilot, the young tennis prodigy simply kept walking forward with his hands shoved into the pocket of his Seigaku jersey.

Ibu Shinji. Fudomine tennis player. Talks too much. Jerk.

Ryoma scowled and would've tugged his cap lower if it wasn't for the fact that he couldn't seem to move his hand.

The freshman frowned, memories assaulting his mind by the waves.

It had been two months since he had literally ran into Shinji at a burger joint. Momentarily stunned, both of them could only stare at each other for a few moments before they both walked up to the counter to order.

Flashback

"I was here first."

"Mada mada da ne."

"You know, you really should learn how to talk properly, Echizen. I am older than you although we are in different schools. Out of respect for an elder you should give way and allow me to place my order –-"

Ryoma scowled, impatient and stepped back and moved behind the 'rambling idiot who had lost to him twice'.

The dark-haired junior stared at him in surprise before turning to the lady at the counter who was observing them with an amused expression.

"Lunch set A."

"Hai."

The tension was so thick between the two tennis players that you could probably reach out and cut it with a knife. The silence, however, was broken when the raven-haired boy turned to face the shorter boy.

"Echizen-kun"

"Nani?"

"Do you want to eat the same thing?"

A short pause.

"Betsuni."

Shinji's lips twitched.

End of Flashback

They had met several times after that every week for the next four weeks. Same day, same time, same place. It was as though there was a mutual agreement between them. During those lunches, Ryoma would simply sit there and eat and half-listen to his opponent's constant talking. Surprisingly, he didn't seem very bothered by it although he usually would have walked off before a minute was up. Then, finally, during one of these lunches, the teenager had asked the younger boy out on an 'outing'.

Ryoma said yes.

There was something special about Ibu Shinji.

Or so he thought.

Six dates and a couple dozen make-out sessions later, he had found the Fudomine player engaged in a very enthusiastic lip lock with Kamio. At the burger joint, at that time and on that day. If they weren't in public, Ryoma was perfectly sure that he would've created a scene, but as it was, the customers seated nearby were already red with embarrassment. He would spare them the agony. He could, of course, simply order Shinji up and out of the burger joint for a little 'chat' and he did.

Ryoma cursed and kicked a stone on the pavement.

Never, he vowed, would he ever raise his hopes of another person again.

It had, after all, nothing to do with tennis and was therefore a waste of time.

His footsteps halted automatically in front of a familiar gate and he eyed the door warily for a minute or two. If his baka Oyaji annoyed him today, it wouldn't be his fault if he became violent. Sighing, he entered the house and went up to his room without a sound. He really wasn't in the mood to deal with anything.

One night.

For one night only, he was going to immerse himself in self-pity and depression. Then, he was going to forget about Shinji and throw away his hopes.

If only it were that easy.

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The next day, at 5 minutes past 8 o'clock, a bleary-eyed Ryoma Echizen left his house at a fast-paced run. He was late again, Damnit. And it was all Shinji's fault.

He shook his head fiercely, determined to forget the black-haired baka.

"Yo, Echizen, late again?"

"The pot and the kettle, Momo-sempai," Ryoma retorted as he jumped on, grabbing the junior's shoulders.

Such was his daily routine.

Now if only he could make it through the day in one piece.

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TBC

29Nov2004

Disclaimer:We do not own Tennis no Ohjisama.

Several Japanese meanings: (If I've gotten them wrong please tell me!)

Urusei: Shut up.

Betsuni: Whatever/Anything

Baka: Moron/Idiot/etc

Oyaji: Father

Please R&R! Onegai!! We really want to know what you think. Constructive criticism is very much welcome. :)

We're looking for a suitable beta reader. My usual betas are from the states and have not watched PoT. Should you be willing to offer ur services, please drop a review or email either on of us at the emails on the bio page thingamajit. Domo! -Krys-