It's His World: And, Destiny Begins to Move
"Ryoma..." An ill, pale hand reached and placed its self gingerly on the silver unkempt hair. It weakly moved side to side, giving the hair a strained ruffle.
"Yes, Gi-san?" A silky, smooth yet adolescent voice answered in reply. His small, calloused hands reached over and gently removed the hands from his hair, instead taking them into his own. He held them tightly but not enough to cause pain, only enough to give comfort.
Wavering eyes adorning an old and wrinkled face gazed into the young boy's unnatural silver eyes.
"Don't forget..."
Silver eyes snapped open briefly when a whistle sounded off near him. The source of the sound being a tennis game that was about to begin. The tennis court lied majestically across from the tree he was napping at. The pristine green of the court taunted him, pushing his nerves to the point of wanting to give in. Give in to the need to play.
The silver eyed boy sighed softly to himself, bringing his grey and black leather beanie down to cover part of his eyes.
"Don't forget..."
He pulled the beanie slight upward and leaned forward into a sitting position. His unnatural eyes gazed longingly at the court once more.
"As if I could..." He whispered softly to himself.
o-o-o-o
"Haa... Haa..."
An older lady, with a youthful aura practically bursting from her, ran and breathed audibly as she tried to reach the appointed area on time.
"Ahh, I can't believe I'm running half an hour late..." Her tuscan red hair tied tightly in a ponytail swayed back and forth elegantly behind her as she sped quickly through the station. Her destination was the north gateway, where the 'xxxx Tennis Courts' resided.
There was almost a visible pep in each step she took when she gradually came closer to the courts. The melodic sound of tennis balls bouncing back and forth filled her hearing sense.
Her coffee brown eyes glance each and every way, trying to take in as much as they could.
"It seems that I made it on time, most of the games are still in play." She proclaimed to herself. A proud smile began to grow on her lips.
"They may be novices, but there is potential in every one of these players."
She began to trek forward, enjoying the sights she saw.
"Now, let's see if we can scout some people in." Her eyes lit up with hope and determination.
o-o-o-o
Meanwhile on the other side of the courts, the silver eyed boy observed each game with mild interest. His hands were itching to grab his favorite, red racket and challenge somebody. However, he knew he couldn't. As least not yet.
He moved his gaze from the amateur game in front of him and shuffled towards a Ponta machine.
With his each step, he passed by fellow onlookers. Most of them were lined up along the cage fences, their eyes on the games as they made quiet conversations. Without needing nor meaning to eavesdrop, he tuned in and out, periodically slowing his steps with the more interesting exchange of words.
Stopping in front of a ponta machine, he pulled out the necessary change with his left hand, and his right habitually moved to linger above the grape soda option. He waited patiently for the satisfying clack of the can hitting the base at the bottom of the machine before reaching in to grab his drink.
"I heard there were some seriously high up scouts coming to watch today."
"Man, if I knew about this, I would have entered also."
"Like you'd catch anybody's eye."
He turned around to return to his previous spot when something said caught his attention.
"I heard someone from Seigaku was coming."
His eyes widened and his grip tightened on the can.
"Eh? No way. What luck."
"Right? It's every tennis player's dream to go there."
"It's the Samurai Nanjiro's alumni after all... man, and here I am stuck at some..."
He zoned out of the conversation and quickened his steps.
He wasn't expecting this.
He had to leave.
Quickly before- he stopped in his movement and closed his eyes. It was a practiced method. It was the only fast way to calm his mind. He took a deep breath.
There's no way they would find out.
No possible way.
After all, he opened his eyes and resumed his slow trudging to his bag. With ease, he pulled it up and over his shoulder and continued on towards the nearest exit gate.
After all, he was dead.
o-o-o-o
She wasn't sure what it was, but something about him had caught her eye.
It happened right when she had just brought her clipboard out and was about to list down names of the potentials she saw. It wasn't a big time tournament; nonetheless, the amount of talent everywhere she looked was enough to make her eyes sparkle and her lips sporadically twitch up with excitement.
She could already feel it- how amazing this year would be. The last year had been a huge blow to the tennis world with all that had happened, but she could see on the faces of all the new rookies- each hitting the ball with a passion comparable to someone in love.
Tennis was still alive.
She could could feel her smile twitch down and the glow in her eyes dimmed. Despite it all...
Shaking herself out of it, she returned her eyes to a game, just in time to see a brilliantly done smash and hear the call of fifteen all. She raised her pen to the clipboard.
That's when it happened.
A slight movement in her peripherals- something that shouldn't have distracted her as it did. But, like someone was forcing her head in that direction, she turned towards the source, and her eyes settled upon the form of child of around twelve years in age.
He was like a walking contradiction.
His appearance was young, dull, and even a bit bland in all its grays and blacks. But, his motions were practiced, experienced. From the precise way he walked to the deliberate placement of his equipment. It all mixed in with his natural air of nonchalant ease.
It was his eyes however that stood out the most. They were a dull, grayish silver, but it was as if they were fire itself. They glowed with an ethereal gleam and seemed to spark with determination, resolve, and just plain vitality.
Like someone she used to know...
She needed to know who he was.
And, so she decided.
As a temporary scout, this kid was her top priority, and therefore, with persistent steps forward, she cut his path, and with an adult like smile, she asked his name.
"Sato... Sato Ryoma."
And, that was the name that was written at the top of her list.
____
A/N: So, yeah. I'm back. How are you all?
I wrote the first half in 2013, the second half starting from Meanwhile I wrote today.
I'm currently in the process of writing the next chapter now.
I hope you enjoy this. It's been awhile since I have actually written anything.
(If you see any spelling mistakes or awkward wordings, feel free to point it out. I plan on coming back later on after refreshing my mind to reread this and fix any mistakes anyway.)