Tied Up 〔An Eyeshield 21's Fanfiction〕

Prologue

'Ne, Takeru.'
'What is it?'
'I'm afraid.'
'Eh? What are you afraid of?'
'That when I go back to Japan, I won't meet you again.'

Silence approached both of them.

'No. We'll meet again, someday. I don't know exactly when, but we'll meet eventually in the future.'
'But, still....'
'We'll meet again, trust me, Rie.'

She slightly nodded and lifted her head from her knees.

'Well. Is it the time?'
'Yes.'

He leaned to her, placing a kiss on her lips. It barely touch, though.

'Why did you do that?'
'It's my 'see you later' gift. Off you go now.'

Her eyes widened. Soon, a grin came up to her face. She hugged him briefly in reply.

'Anata ga suki desu.'

Before he could reply it, she already ran to her mother. Their flight has came. For the last time, she turned and waved to him with a wide grin plastered on her face.

'Ne. When we meet again, I will tell you that I like you too.'

ー◆ー

They have grown up. Both of them chose the same path, to be an American Football player.

"Long time no see, Takeru." Was her first words when they crossed each other. It happened when they were in Middle School. Her mother held a fashion show in America. She didn't like to be alone, so she decided to follow her.

"Rie?"

She giggled so cheerfully upon she heard her name spoken by him. He stunned. She has grown up into a beautiful maiden.

"Mm!"
"My, my. You've grown up well, Maruko Rie."
"Teehee. Oh! You play American Football, too?" She pointed at the oval-shaped orange ball on his hand.
"What do you mean by 'too'? You play as well?"
"Sorta. But our team is lack of members."
"Girls shouldn't--"
"Do dangerous things. Yeah, yeah, I know."

He laughed. She's indeed Rie. She completed his sentences perfectly.

"Rie! What are you doing? Come quick, we're late already!"

Her mother's voice interupted their conversation.

"Coming, mom!" She shouted, "Well, I'll visit you tomorrow at your school, before I leave."

Rie waved at him, before she got in a car.

"I even couldn't say that I miss her."

ー◆ー

She observed him, from the sideline of the field.

'He's great. No, the best.'

When he's done, she walked approach him but she stopped as she saw him with his teammates.

"Don't think that you're the ace. You're just a pure Japanese who doesn't have anything except your height!"

She heard it clearly. His teammates passed by her a second later. Before she could run and yell at them, Takeru has already grabbed her wrist.

"Don't do anything."
"But, they--"
"I said don't do anything, Rie!"

That was the first time Takeru shouted at her. But, she knew that he didn't mean it. She's not a child anymore. She knew how to judge a situation well now.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

She was right.

"I know," she said. She placed her hand in his cheek, caressing it softly.
"Hey. Listen. You're the best American Football player that I've ever seen. They said that you're not the ace? Then, who the hell is that Eyeshield 21? Is he a ghost? No, right? It's you, Yamato Takeru. No matter what they say, you're the best. Trust me, hm?"
"Thankyou, for encouraging me." He hugged her and she did the same.
"Yamato Takeru, it's time to take your 40 yards record!" His coach called him.
"It's my cue to go." He chuckled heartily.
"Hm. I have to go too. Remember what I said, 'kay? Bye Takeru!"
"W-wait, Rie!"

'I must confess to her.'

But, he's too late. She already ran towards his school gate, to catch her flight in time.

"I lost my opportunity once again."

Little did he know, he lost his last opportunity on that day, because when she's back to Japan, there was a demon boy waited her on the airport. Her mom has left first, to take care of something related to her work, of course.

"What took you so long?!"
"Hey, it's not my fault. You can blame the pilot instead. Now, come."

That demon boy's eyes widened. There isn't anyone who dare to order him, except Rie.

"Do you want to die?!" He lifted her on his shoulder, carried her with one hand.
"Waaa! Let me go, Youichi!!"
"Never! You gonna pay me back, fuckin' girl!"
"It's better if you lift me like a princess, you know?"
"You know that I won't do such a thing."

She sighed. Things never turn out romantic like she expected when it comes to a man called Hiruma Youichi.

Wait. What? Romantic? Does she expect that from him?