DISCLAIMER: I don't own prince of tennis...so don't come rampaging with rage into this house i'm living in because i made a FAN FICTION about an anime i really, really like...for one thing, the house isn't mine,, haha...Ü
Conversations:
Japanese
English
French
ENJOY! (i hope...) Ü
Chapter One
DAY ONE
.: Le Port Vissiena, 06:27:03 :.
"The Étoile De Mer? Turn right at the end of this road and you'll see her at the end of the line of Itaro-shi's private ships."
"Thank you," Tezuka replied. He then went back to his team and led the way to the cruise ship.
Oishi walked beside him and said, "Are you sure about this Tezuka? You know what happened the last time we agreed to this kind of invitation."
"I've thought about this well Oishi," Tezuka said, not really answering Oishi's question.
Oishi shrugged and said, "Anyway if anything happens, at least Hyotei will be with us this time."
"WOW…" Eiji dropped his things in awe at the sight before him.
There it was; the cruise ship that will take them to the International Tennis Invitational. It was by far, the biggest ship they have passed by since turning down that road. Everyone stared at the luxury liner before their eyes. They have worked so hard to battle it out against the best of Japan's high school varsity teams to be able to garner the top rank for their school. Little did they know that the week after the finals, the top two schools: Seigaku and Hyotei will be invited for a competition against other schools world wide.
"Just think about how much food there must be in there! I can't wait to go inside!" Momo jumped for joy at the thought.
"Make sure you don't humiliate us with your large appetite you baka," Kaidoh spat.
"What did you say snake boy?!" Momo shouted.
"Keep it down you two," said Oishi.
"They never learn, do they?" Echizen whispered then yawned in boredom and lack of sleep. They were to meet up with the girl's tennis team at 6:30 so he had to wake up early in the morning. For once, he was only late for a minute or two.
Tezuka was now speaking with the buchou of the girl's tennis team, Aika Saeki; Inui was checking the things they were supposed to bring for the hundredth time; and Fuji was amused by the sight of so many ships that he decided to take pictures. Kawamura, well, he simply enjoyed the morning ocean breeze.
"Good morning gentlemen. I am Charles, the head butler. I was asked to tell you that your belongings shall be placed in your rooms now. Don't worry; the men will be taking them for you. They will be coming out in a while. They just had to place these ladies' things," he said gesturing to the Seigaku's women's team, "inside their rooms as well."
"Will we not be entering yet?" Tezuka asked.
"Tezuka, I don't think he speaks Japanese," Fuji said.
"That's right young man, I don't. But I do understand the language so it is quite alright."
"So you can understand Japanese? What other languages can you understand?" Eiji asked, interested.
"Eiji…" said Tezuka.
The man chuckled and said, "Well I am an Englishman so I am very fluent with English. I can understand and speak French, German and Spanish. Languages I understand but cannot quite speak are Japanese and Chinese."
"Wow! So—"
Tezuka cut him off by asking again, "Will we not be entering yet?"
"No, I'm afraid not just yet. Madmoiselle Ardez wishes to meet all the teams first before you all enter the ship."
"I see." Tezuka replied, looking up at the deck of the ship.
"Please feel free to sit down on the couches over there," he said, pointing towards a place near the entrance of the ship where there were sofas and coffee tables.
Three limousines arrived near the ship at about 15 minutes before 7 o'clock. From each car, came out two people. Butlers proceeded to get their things for them, which were rather plentiful.
"Check that out," said Momo.
"And here I was, thinking it was Atobe who just arrived," said Kawamura.
"I guess we will always have to watch our manners while we are on board. These people are downright rich, sophisticated and presumably well-mannered," said Oishi.
After that, a girl wearing striped blue, yellow and white shorts, an off-shoulder white top, white slippers and a white paperboy's hat with her hair in a bun ran out of the ship. "Ohayou gozaimasu Lycka-sama!" the girl said in greeting. "I see you've brought your friends along. That's great…" The rest of the conversation was then unheard because the group has moved away to talk by themselves. After about 5 minutes of chatting, the group entered the ship except for the girl. She was about to go aboard when she saw a tall brown-haired boy with glasses that she has not seen in 2 years.
"Oi Kunimitsu-sama!" The girl jogged up to Tezuka as he turned around to see who called him by his first name.
"Ardez-san, what are you doing here?"
"Ardez-san? Since when have you been treating me so formally TEZUKA-SAN?" Kira laughed at this before continuing on, "Anyway…I am a close relative of Itaro-san. Nearly all his nieces and nephews are also on board." She paused for a while before continuing. "So we meet again huh? I haven't seen you in two years. What have you been doing?"
"Tennis."
"Yeah. You haven't been in competitions lately too. What's been keeping you Kuni-kun?" She then turned to look at the rest of the team and said in tease, "Your team perhaps?"
"Kira…" Tezuka said in warning. He knows Kira well enough to be able to tell that she's messing with him again.
"You're buchou aren't you?" Kira was now staring at him teasingly.
Unmoved by her persistence, Tezuka stared at her and then turned away after a while. "Hn."
"Ha! I knew it! You sir, are probably the greatest person I've ever known. I mean seriously. YOU are in the honor roll. YOU'VE won in several tennis competitions. YOU…"
"Kira…" Tezuka said again, trying to make her stop. But she simply continued on and on.
"…Oh! And you also got in the Seigaku team during you freshmen year! Honestly Kunimitsu, is there anything at all that you can't do?"
"To be flexible," Inui said knowingly and grinned as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
Tezuka turned to look at him, irritation written all over his face. The rest of the team then became silent as they forced to hold in their laughter.
Kira on the other hand just looked at Inui. After that, Kira shifted her gaze towards Tezuka. He looked at him for a while and then burst out laughing. She was laughing so hard she had to sit on one of the couches. Momo was the first to laugh out loud. After which, everyone else was laughing except Tezuka.
"What's so funny?" Tezuka demanded.
"Oh come on Kunimitsu-sama…It's hilarious." Kira replied in between fits of laughter.
"What's so funny?"
The team then became quiet and Kira finally stopped laughing.
"Aww Kunimitsu. You're no fun." Kira stood up from her seat and said, "But you have to admit, you're no good at dancing."
"And if I'm not?"
"I dunno. I'm just pointing out a fact here you know. And will you stop taking everything so seriously? You're spoiling our fun," she said as she stuck her tongue out at him.
"You still haven't told me what it was that's so funny." Tezuka said, trying to irritate Kira. It's the only way to get her back to her serious self and away from her teasing and playful side.
"Oh shut up. Some things are just not fit to be thought of too much you know."
There was a long silence before Kira decided to speak up. "So BUCHOU, will you not introduce me to your team?"
"Oishi."
Oishi looked up at Tezuka and said, "I think I'd do better with that Ardez-san."
"Please. Call me Kira."
"Right." He started by introducing himself, the fukubuchou of Seigaku's men's tennis team. Then he moved on to introducing the other regulars along with their brief backgrounds. After which, Kira introduced herself: Kira Ardez, half Japanese and half French, 15 yrs old, second year in Clawksford International School.
"Really? So that means you're the same age as Tezuka-buchou." Fuji said.
"That's right. Or you could just say that I'm the same age as you Fuji-san." Kira pointed out.
"Of course." Fuji smiled and opened his eyes to reveal captivating circles of blue. "How long have you known Tezuka, Kira-san?"
Tezuka looked at Fuji but he just smiled at him.
"Kira-san?" said Eiji.
Kira was so overwhelmed by Fuji's blue eyes that she didn't even hear what Fuji just said. It was thanks to Eiji that she was snapped back to reality.
"Wh—What?" She said, unaware of what just happened. "I'm sorry. I must have…uhm…"
Just then, a convoy of limousines arrived at the port. Out came a group of young people wearing Hyotei's tennis jackets. A boy with dark hair that flew away from his face got out of one of the limousines. He ran his fingers through his hair and smiled. It was then followed by the squealing of a couple of girls.
"Fan girls. I hate them. Don't you?" Kira asked as he looked at Tezuka. Receiving no answer from her friend, she continued on. "Who's that brat anyway?"
"Atobe Keigo." Tezuka replied placidly.
"Looks like Atobe planned his grand entrance." Kawamura observed.
"Fussshuu…" Kaidoh grunted.
"He never misses to show off doesn't he?" said Echizen.
Kira sighed and said, "Honestly, why do I have to deal with this? Had that stupid Alfonso been awake, he would have been the one to welcome Hyotei."
"But if he was awake, you would not have had the chance to laugh your heart out at Tezuka-buchou's obvious lack of flexibility," said Fuji.
"Fuji! 10—"
But before he could continue, Kira put her finger on Tezuka's lips to stop him from speaking and said, "No laps Kunimitsu. Not as long as I'm here."
The regulars jumped for joy and cheered for Kira.
"Except during your trainings of course," Kira said, trying to make her conditions clear.
"Awww…"
Kira walked up to the Hyotei regulars and said, "Hyotei! You are finally here. Bienvenue à Le Port Vissiena. This is the Japanese dock for Jhondrie's Cruise Lines. My name is Kira Ardez and I am here in behalf of Itaro-sama, Jhondrie Cruise Lines' president in Japan. He is currently in Jhondrie's privé l'île, southwest of France and in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. He will be waiting for us there in four days time, when the International Tennis Invitational shall commence."
Atobe stepped forward and bowed in respect. He gestured to himself as he said, "My name is Keigo Atobe, captain of the men's team. In behalf of Hyotei, I would like to thank you and Itaro-shi for this rare opportunity that you have given us."
"Itaro-san only wants the best to represent his country Atobe-sama."
"Of course." Atobe said as he ran his fingers through his hair once again.
"Atobe Keigo. Are you not the heir to the Atobe-Group?"
Atobe smiled with pride at the statement.
'Idiot,' Kira thought. "Well, I guess I'd have to say that it's an honor to have met you Atobe-sama," Kira said as she stretched out her arm to shake hands with Atobe. 'Not.' --
Atobe took her hand and instead of shaking it with his own, he bowed a little and kissed the back of her palm. He then looked up at Kira and said, "The honor is all mine mademoiselle." He stood back up and reached his left hand into his right jacket pocket. He held the rose and gave it to Kira. "A red rose for a beautiful lady."
"Merci." Kira said, accepting the rose yet emotionally indifferent to Atobe's actions. She then turned around and walked up to Charles. "Charles."
"Oui manque?"
"Donnez-leur une excursion du bateau puis faites-nous joindre les pour le déjeuner."
"Oui, naturellement. Il sera fait."
"Charles will show you around and lead you to your rooms. I shall be expecting you lot to be in the upper deck in half hour." Kira paused and addressed Tezuka, "So I guess I'll get going now Kunimitsu-san." Kira walked up to Tezuka and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Immediately after such a rare action to be done to their buchou, the Seigaku men's team rose in teasing cheers. As if hearing nothing, Kira then turned to look at Atobe. "It was nice meeting you Atobe-sama." She bowed and proceeded to walk inside the ship.
"Please follow me." Charles walked towards the side of the ship where an escalator was waiting for them. As they were nearing the lower deck, Charles officially started the tour. "Mesdames et messieurs, bienvenue à Étoile De Mer."
author's note(s):
...the French conversations need not be translated...what Kira told Charles were just instructions on what is to be done...which she explained in English to the tennis people right after...it was about the whole upper deck thing...Ü