watched in horror and shock at the sight ahead of her. She didn't know if she was the only one feeling like this, but it terrorized her, watching the game that was so antagonizing that she didn't have the energy to look away. Crossing her arms, she looked to her right where Jackal sat there holding a stop watch in his hand. It was obvious from the sweat forming on his forehead that he was worried, but it wasn't the captain of the team, who was having an operation today, that worried him. It was the Seigaku regular that was playing against the demon that was making everyone cringe in their seats.
A demon by the name of Kirihara Akaya.
looked at Sanada in surprise, why isn't Sanada making him stop? She thought shockingly knowing of the standards that Sanada has for everyone on the team. She absently clutched on Nioh's arm in fright as he turned to look at what the sudden pain that attacked his arm was. "You're worrying too much about this, ." Nioh remarked as he directed his eyes back to the game, but he didn't move her hand away. "You know what Akaya is like."
She clutched even tighter to his arm and she could've sworn she heard a small yelp coming from him, but she didn't let go. "I know what Akaya is like!" she said angrily, "Why I am angry is because Sanada is not doing anything about it." She hissed in his ears, but loud enough for some people around her to hear, including Sanada. She ignored the disapproving looks she was getting from the regulars and looked at Renji, finally letting go of Noh's already bruised arm. "It is not in my hands, ." Renji said as he crossed his arms, his eyes on the game. He watched as Kirihara brutally hurt Fuji Syuusuke to no end, and he knew there was nothing he could do about it.
~~~
It was that day, that game and that event, which made me think about Kirihara Akaya. I was a third year at Rikkai Dai, a senior as some would say. Ironically, I had nothing to do with the tennis team, but most of the regulars were in my class and I befriended them. They were easier to be friends with than the girls in my class back then, for all they did was compete for their attention. I had met Kirihara at several occasions and he portrayed to me as a boy who was lost or one that simply did not belong. He was always alone, in deep thoughts, as if thinking of world domination.
When I witnessed his game against Fuji from Seigaku, I realized that there must be something to have released that demon within him. His sadistic side and blood curling eyes roused from it's depths and it was another Kirihara, one that no one really knew. It also made me wonder whether he had multiple personality disorder or not. I don't know what made me determined, but I wanted to break that seal. I wanted to be the one to release that demon. Call me an angel if you want, but I knew there was suffering within that shell and I wanted to break it.
I turned as I heard the sound of footsteps approaching, I immediately knew it was him as soon as I saw some girls scatter about to avoid walking in his path. Idiots, I thought annoyed at their stupidity; don't they know that by doing that, that person will be hurt and vulnerable?! The question crossed my mind as I saw Kirihara's grim face at the spectacle the girls were making of themselves because he was there. I tapped my finger slightly on the table that I was sitting at when I noticed him searching for somewhere to sit. "Akaya!" I waved, motioning for him to join me. I'm sure my gesture shocked a lot of the students around me, but I didn't care and I could've sworn I saw a look of relief on his face as he walked towards me. " senpai." he acknowledge me as he set his tray down on the table and took a seat across of me. I studied his messy attire and realized that he did look human, maybe even a cute human than that demon I saw during that game.
"Che..." I muttered as I leaned into the chair I was sitting on, "I am not as old as Sanada and Renji, you can call me -chan." I remarked as I moved some strands of hair off my eyes. I watched him nod, but then he said something that surprised me, "I can't disrespect my senpais." he added as he bit into his sandwich.
What is this? What is this feeling that I have? I thought as I watched him. A demon, being polite? It is unheard of? Is he polite because I am a girl or is it a general trait he already possesses? My curiosity got the better of me as I leaned closer to the table and looked into the depth of the demons' green eyes, "I am surprised to hear you say something like that." I admitted while I shifted and rested my elbows on the table. I saw something flicker in those piercing eyes of his as he looked at me, but he didn't loose his composure. "I can be nice if I want to." He finally answered haughtily as he continued to eat his food.
I let out an 'hmm' instead of commenting. We didn't really speak much as he ate silently. I wondered what went through that mind of his. What was he thinking? What made him like that the other day? I've never been at any of their practices before, but I had heard once a girl complaining to another that her boyfriend never wanted to pick up a tennis racquet again after he was chosen to play against Kirihara.
~~~
As days passed, I found Kirihara to be my lunch partner. And as the days progressed, the silent façade that surrounded him was breaking bit by bit. He became more talkative and friendlier, and I for one, was enjoying his company. True, he was a year younger than me, but I didn't care. I was learning more and more about him everyday and it intrigued me. The boy everyone was afraid of was actually one of the kindest souls I've ever met. I had a smile on my face at the story he was telling me, his eyes sparkled and there was a glow to his face that didn't go away. I was starting to really like this boy.
It was at the Junior Camp when my mind began to wonder again about the demon that lay within him. Since I knew all the regulars, I was asked by Renji if I could help out at the camp with some other volunteers. I couldn't say no to that, especially when he had been helping me a lot with my Math. It was late at night when that incident happened, my heart had ached when I was called out of my room to attend to an injured person and it was to my surprise when I saw Kirihara in front of me all bruised up. It was also that day when I was beginning to see the demon come out slowly.
"Damnit, it hurts!" He winced as he slapped my hand away while I was patching his bruise. A lot of the boys in his group were around us watching quietly.
Pushing his hand away, I reassumed back to applying some cream on his cheek. "If you don't let me treat you then it will really hurt in the morning." I replied nonchalantly as I continued doing my job. Even though I noticed him wince, I didn't move my hand away. What I wanted to know was how he got that bruise, '"So what..."
"Nothing! I fell!" He interrupted, or rather shouted very rudely.
That did it! "Do... you mind not shouting..." I hissed as I glared at him. "I am not deaf, you know." I remarked viciously as I stood up. I was aware of everyone's eyes at me, but I knew they were more curious on how he would react at being scold at. However, I did not want to put him on the spot, so I asked another question. "Where did you fall?"
He blinked in surprise and to my surprise, he bent his head down.
"We found him at the bottom of the stairs, senpai." Horio Satoshi answered instead of Kirihara.
I twitched. No, twitching is not the word I want to use. I clutched my fists and as if some of the regulars knew my nature by now, I could distinctively feel a few of them backing away.
"Yo...You...." I tried getting out, but I was so overwhelmed with anger that I couldn't speak. "YOU FOOL!" I finally managed to shout smacking him on the head and making Horio, Katou, and Mizuno crouch on the floor. "YOU FELL DOWN THE STAIRS AND ACT AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED."
"Che..." Kirihara muttered, moving his curly hair out of his face, "I said..."
I grabbed the top of his shirt and pulled him towards me. "DON'T YOU DARE TALK BACK AT ME, AKAYA!" I shouted as I then pushed him back onto the chair. I grabbed his wrist and pulled him back up. "Come!" I ordered pulling him away from the crowd and leading him somewhere else to tend to his bruises.
Sengoku, Shishido, Ootori, Kajimoto, Oishi, Echizen, Momo, Kamio, and Kikimaru's sweat dropped. "Scary..." Momo whispered as he rubbed his forehead. Kajimoto let out a sigh, "I imagine Kirihara is more bruised up now by they way she pulled him away." He remarked, and he noticed that no one disagreed with him.
~~~
That incident aided me in understanding Kirihara a bit better. Apparently he had been pushed off the stairs by accident and I admired that fact that he had been trying to protect Tachibana An when that happened, but at the same time I felt bad for Kamio, for he was blamed for it at that time. The incident did also make me feel more overprotective of him, for it made me wonder, is he really hated that much?
After that, he had calmed down and Kamio's name was cleared, I noticed a change in him. It was not an unpleasant change, but a different and rather peculiar one. He was trying to mingle with everyone. Kirihara, who used to always play and have lunch on his own was sitting with the others and trying. Not that he spoke, but I could see him trying and I was happy that I wasn't the only one who saw that because I noticed that Sanada and Renji saw it too.
He was changing bit by bit. I think the loneliness within him wanted to be released now. I made sure I spent more time with him and he never said that he was bothered by my company. In fact, he was encouraging it. Even still, I had not realized how bad it was till that day....
~~~
I remember that day clearly as if it was yesterday. I was looking for him during my break and could not find him. I had searched all around the camp ground, but to no avail. I even remember approaching the group Sanada was in. "Sanada?" I called softly getting his attention. He turned around from the courts and looked at me. "Yes?"
"I'm looking for Kirihara, have you seen him?" I asked him. Sanada looked at me and shook his head. As he was about to say something, Renji approached us from the other group and joined our conversation. "He usually practices by himself in the side courts." Renji answered, after hearing my question. "Are you worried about him?"
I hesitated. I didn't know why I thought the question was rather awkward. "I..." I began slowly, and then crossed my arms. "I was just wondering why he isn't with the rest of his group. He's been practicing with them for the last couple of days." I answered honestly with a shrug.
They did not comment or question me further on the matter. I left them and went to the courts that Renji suggested and to my surprise I found him there, but... "AKAYA!" I shouted, running towards him. I found him crouched on the floor hugging himself. "Akaya." I whispered, leaning next to him. "It's all my fault." I heard him whisper, holding onto his head. "It's all my fault..." he repeated over and over. "Akaya...." I repeated, for I didn't know what else to say. I put my hand on his shoulder and suddenly gasped as he grabbed it and flipped me over onto my back. "Ak...."
"I....I don't want you to see me like this."
I looked at him in astonishment, here he was on the verge of breaking down and all he could think about was what I thought? I moved away and sat up quietly. Moving my hand slightly, I brushed it through his hair. He was sitting crossed-legged in front of me with his head down. "Kirihara Akaya, can you tell me what's wrong?"
He shook his head, but with much persuasion from me, he finally consented and told me....
I listened in shock and with a heartache at what he was telling me. The demon was taunting him. It was reminding him of what had been said to him before.
<It's your fault that my brother's in the hospital>
<Kirihara, try saying that one more time>
<Tennis must not be used as a tool to breed hatred>
<Have you seen your limit>
<I'll tell you this plainly... I don't have any sympathy for you at all>
It had been mentally torturing him. Taunting him. Pushing him, to regret his actions. In a weird way, I felt this was a path to redemption. He was reminded of his matches against Tachibana Kippei and Fuji Syuusuke. He was feeling guilty about his confrontation with Tachibana An, and the past event of what had happened with Kamio Akira. He had been running in circles for the last hour as the demon ran after him, shouting Akaya's previous actions.
As I listened, I felt tears in my eyes. I was such a foolish person. All this time I had thought that I understood him and was helping him, but in fact I knew nothing of what he was feeling. I felt everything that I had done was to no avail. "I'm so sorry..." I managed to whisper as I moved closer and hugged him. I'm sure that my move made him freeze, but I wanted to hold him. "I'm so sorry."
~~~
After that incident, our bond grew stronger and so did where we stood with each other. He had changed for the better and managed to overcome the demon and throw him out of his shell. I stood in the nurse's office at the official stadium where our boys were playing against the American team. I was there because Akaya was there, he had hurt his shoulder in his game against Kevin and he was not happy. It had taken Sanada, the coaches, and myself to stop him from getting up and continuing the game. Now, I stood there alone by his side. We were the only ones there and I needed to tell him something. "Akaya?"
"What?" He asked softly, avoiding looking at me. I could tell from his voice that he was annoyed and disappointed. I held his hand and smiled at him as he looked at me. He gave me a weak smile, but then went back to his solemn face. I'm sure that any girl who saw their loved one in such a state would be heartbroken as well. "I am proud of you." I answered quietly.
"Che..."
I smacked him on the head, "Don't 'che' me." I threatened, but I was relieved as well. I sat next to him and put my head lightly on his shoulder, in order not to hurt him. I felt his arm around my waist and I smiled. It's true that we had been going out since the camp incident, but I felt that I still had a long way to go to understand him better. "I don't care what you say, I'm always proud of you."
~~~
Kirihara held as she rested against his shoulder. He could tell that she was sleeping. Smiling to himself, although disappointed, he would never live to disappoint her. He had promised himself since the camp incident that he...
will never make her worry
Will never make his girlfriend sad
will never make her cry
for she was the one that tried to
understand me
befriend me
love me
she was the one who helped me in releasing the demon within
~~~
DeVeliCious
Edited by Kashii