Tennis no Ojou-sama: A Prince of Tennis Fan Fiction

CHAPTER 85: Strange but Beautiful

Ichidou looked anxious in the middle of the trip to Okinawa and he kept on staring off into space outside the window, watching the clouds roll by.

Ryouko had said that her astraphobia is gone; that was why the Elders didn't make Licht send her back to England when she ran away from her bodyguards amidst their trip to Australia. Licht also vouched for her words, but now, Ichidou figured that she might've just begged Licht to do that. The confusion and worry in the red-headed butler's eyes after he informed Licht of the situation was enough evidence of that.

Yes, Ryouko had ran away using her private plane right after her match in Australia just a few months ago, and she did that under Ichidou's nose.

It was never approved that she could live and study in Japan; but their grandfather pacified the Elders that she must be feeling rebellious because of the over-protectiveness that everyone kept on showering on her. She grew up until the age of eight with complete freedom, encouraged by her Grandpa Suzuki and her carefree father. If they keep on tying her up, the harder she'll struggle.

Ichidou gave a small exasperated smile. 'If we tie her up, the harder she'll struggle.' How very true. Fujioka Ryouko is like a stallion that can never be tamed. It had always given them a headache, but it is what makes her who she is. "And that's what makes her more loveable." Ichidou added in his head.

He clenched his fist as he bit his lower lip. Everyone of his brothers and cousins were busy on their own studies. They can choose whatever they want to be in the future and even had the freedom of choice regarding the country they want to study in. Ryouko shouldn't have been an exception from that.

She wouldn't have to be tied like that if it weren't for her phobias. Ichidou knew that he robbed her of something precious – those four long years of solitude and isolation. Well, that solitude was not something physical. It was beyond that. The Fujiokas never stayed in one place for long. All of them were too flighty, too thirsty for new adventures and experiences. She had been surrounded by people, but they were not always there, and so she's alone during those years when she was home-schooled and had to be cooped up inside the manor. That was the reason why he never left her alone. It was his way of taking responsibility.

Ryouko's astraphobia... He was partly at fault why it existed. No. He is the reason why she had it in the first place. Ichidou knew that he had always placed the blame on Ryoma, but that was just a front, an excuse, for him not to take the burden by himself.

Four years ago, Los Angeles, California, Summer

Ichidou kept his hands steady, deeply focused in setting down two playing cards on one of the layers of the castle. Ryouko was sitting not too far from him, twirling the Joker card on her little fingers, smirking with her fist under her chin. Ichidou gulped under her mocking stare, placing the edges of the card onto each other. The moment he let go, the card castle toppled over.

"Ah!" Ichidou complained with his childish voice.

Ryouko laughed out loud. "I win. Again." She said, tapping the Joker card on Ichidou's nose. The latter grimaced at her.

"You cursed me didn't you? You thought 'Fail, fail, fail' inside that nasty little head of yours while I'm placing the cards on top." Ichidou told her with a suspicious glare.

Ryouko snorted. "What good will that do? You failed because you're no good at making card castles. It's got nothing to do with curses." She said matter-of-factly, sounding superior.

"Liar. You definitely made me fail." Ichidou said, insisting on his logic.

Ryouko rolled her eyes. "Sure. Think whatever you like. You're still paying for my new grip tape." She started to gather the cards and place them inside the deck. "Let's clean up. I got a visitor." She told her cousin.