Author's Note: Okay, this is my second fanfiction that I have posted now. I'm still getting used to it so when reading, ignore any stupidity you find. Anyways, this is a short fic about the adorable doubles team, Shishido and Ootori. I'm not sure where this is going since I only have a tentative plot. Anyways, there is no shounen-ai or anything. Although at this point I'm pretty sure there is a really loose translation to that so take it as you will. I write this solely because this doubles team needs more love. Also because Ootori is so cute and adorable. Well, read and review how you like and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. They belong to Takeshi Konami and whoever else holds copyrights over them.

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Count on Me

Reliable…Dependable…Trustworthy…Unfailing…

Choutarou Ootori quickly jotted down the few words in his notebook as the teacher ended class.

"Remember, class, your assignment is to take your phrase, come up with related words and then write about a person who fits the description. That's all."

Choutarou sighed at his assignment. He had no idea who he would write about. Writing about his family or pet or anything like that seemed so dull and overused even if it was true.

"At least it's not due for a little while."

The second year student gathered his notebooks and pencils, placing them neatly in his backpack. He hurried out of the room with the rest of the students and walked down the hallways towards the tennis courts. Choutarou smiled.

"I wonder if Shishido-san has any ideas?"

Playing tennis on the team was the best way for him to relax. Tennis pretty much solved everything. Along with tennis, Choutarou enjoyed the company of his double's partner, Ryou Shishido.

After changing and getting out onto the tennis courts, Choutarou noticed that his doubles partner was nowhere to be found. He walked up to the current captain of Hyoutei, Keigo Atobe.

"Atobe-san? Anou…Where is Shishido-san?"

The captain looked at Choutarou. With a quick flip of his hair, he answered,

"Don't know…Unless he's dying or dead, he better show up or he'll learn the meaning of pain from Ore-sama."

"Okay. Thank you, Atobe-san."

"Of course. Oh, and if you see him before I do, tell him he better have a good reason for skipping out on practice. Ore-sama does not like to be kept waiting."

"Yes, I'll tell him." Choutarou smiled at the captain. It never ceased to amuse him that the tennis captain can be such a queen of the court. However, Choutarou enjoyed Keigo's presence and his somewhat odd, narcissistic behavior.

Looking at a couple courts across from him, he spotted the other doubles pair at work…or play as far as he could tell.

Gakuto Mukahi and Oshitari Yuushi were one of the best doubles players out there. Choutarou smiled when he got closer.

"Hey, Yuushi, wouldn't that be so cool?" Gakuto was practically jumping up and down and all around his doubles partner.

"Yes, until gravity takes over and then you succumb to the laws of physics which only results in you getting shorter."

Choutarou watched as the smaller of the two latched onto the other's arm and began to shake him. The taller one sighed and shifted the glasses that were falling down his face due to the sudden movements.

"I'm just telling you the truth…Now…Please let go Gakuto!"

"Huh? Hey, Ootori, what do you think? Wouldn't it be neat if I did the Moon Salute but then I switch directions like that annoying guy, Eiji, then-"

"I'm sure it would be a great move…If anybody can do it, it would have to be you."

Choutarou chose his words carefully. Gakuto had a tendency to take things the wrong way and then get upset over them. The only way to placate him was to somehow work in a compliment.

"Hm, see, Yuushi? Ootori says that it would be a cool trick."

Yuushi sighed once again at his partner. He ran his hand through his hair in a frustrated manner.

"I never said it wouldn't be cool, I'm just saying that from a scientific point of view, what you're saying is not physically possible…so long as the laws of physics don't change anytime soon…"

The duo had all forgotten that Choutarou was still present. He did not mind though since he had no idea what was going on anyways.

"Hmm, those two must be good friends." Choutarou chuckled as he listened to the two argue some more. "They say the more you fight, the better friends you are." He continued to look around as he waited for his partner to arrive. "They're reliable…Well, to each other though…no… so that won't work."

He looked around some more. All around there were a multitude of students gathering on the tennis courts. It was still overwhelming to be part of a 200-member team. The tennis coach, Tarou Sakaki, soon arrived to start the practice.

"Atobe, lead the regulars in the normal routine, then have them practice against each other. The rest of the members go to the backcourts for drills. You may go!"

Everybody did as they were told, especially the non-regulars. Their tennis coach was one of the most imposing figures. When he said to do something, there was no questioning him. He ran a tight schedule and expected 110 out of everybody. Sakaki also trusted Keigo implicitly. The captain was often put in charge of the regulars while their coach instilled discipline and fear into the hearts of the others.

"Stretch out and then run 15 laps. And nobody better lag behind."

After Keigo issued his orders, all the team members began stretching. Choutarou smiled as he listened to the groans in response to the running. He listened in as one of the most skilled, but also lazy members ask Keigo.

"Wha…Bleh, I hate running…Can't we just skip to the tennis part?"

"No. Besides, the tennis will get you to wake up for tennis." Keigo responded.

"But it won't! It'll just make me more tired and then I won't be able to play."

"You never have a problem when it comes to playing tennis."

"Not true, I won't be able to do my best if I'm tired!"

Choutarou continued to stretch, then lined up at the court entrance to start his laps. As he was waiting for the signal to go, he glanced around again.

"Still not here…Shishido-san is going to be in trouble with Atobe-san if he doesn't show up soon."

"Jiroh, whether you run or not will not make a difference when you practice. You're practicing against me today, remember?"

"What? Really? Alright, let's go!" The now energetic Jiroh was already off and running before Keigo even told them to start.

"Okay…Everybody, GO!"

Soon everybody was sprinting off the line chasing after the volley specialist. As he was running, Choutarou kept looking around for the missing Shishido.

After finishing their laps, the members took a moment to cool down and get a drink.

"Okay! Let's play now!" Jiroh was pestering Keigo off to the side. The captain just sighed and attempted to ignore him as best he could.

"Alright."

"Yay!"

"…Today we'll do practice matches against each other. Obviously, I play Jiroh. Kabaji and Hiyoshi will play while the respective double teams will play each other."

"Hey, Yuushi, I'm going to show you how wrong you are!" Gakuto energetically grabbed his racquet and ran to one of the courts.

"Are you still on that?" He ended up talking to air as his partner was already on the court.

"Why isn't he here yet? Did something happen?"

Choutarou walked over to Keigo to ask what he should do since his doubles partner was missing. Keigo had to pry Jiroh off his arm so he could stop and talk.

"Atobe-san, what should I do?"

"Hmm, still not here…Alright, you start and practice your serve. If he still isn't here by the time you've finished your serve, just keep playing."

"Oh, okay, Atobe-san." Choutarou was excited to practice his serving some more, but was still disappointed that Shishido was not present.

"Hey, Ootori, where's Shishido?" Gakuto finally realized that the other member was not present.

"I don't really know. But Atobe-san said I serve first." He smiled sweetly as both Gakuto and Yuushi grimaced at the thought of returning his serve.

The three tennis players got in their respective positions and began playing.

"Ikyuu…Nyuu…Kon!" Choutarou whispered his mantra and then put his full effort into the serve.

Yuushi attempted to return the serve but only managed to graze the ball. He sighed at his efforts. Even though he tried, there was a part of him that did not want to actually make contact with the ball.

"15-0!" Choutarou called out the score as he prepared another serve.

Gakuto was in the unfortunate position of returning. Due to his quick reflexes, he was able to reach the ball; however, the sheer power of it caused his racquet to fly out of his hand.

"This is why I don't like it when he serves." He complained to Yuushi as he went over to pick up his racquet. Yuushi only sighed at his friend's blatantly obvious statement and set himself on the right end of the service area.

"30-0!" Choutarou noticed that his opponent was standing off to the right leaving an opening.

"So they're going to try and use that too? No matter, I know how to deal with it now."

"Ikyuu…Nyuu…Kon!" In a single fluid movement, the ball was immediately over the net and against the court fencing.

"Anou, Yuushi, you knew that it doesn't work anymore."

Yuushi absently blew a few loose strands of hair.

"I know, but it was worth a try. It's not like we're taking his service game."

"Right…Sure why not?" Gakuto positioned himself towards the right side of the service area as well.

"40-0!" Just as easily as the first, his serve ended up in the service box and at the back of the court in a short matter of time. Once again, Gakuto managed to get near the ball, but managed to barely skim the ball.

"Yeah, well, that was pointless. His serve just gets better." Gakuto continued to complain to Yuushi as they switched courts.

"I don't have to worry about my serve anymore. I can do it perfectly pretty much every time…I wish Shishido-san was here. It's because of him that I can do it now…"

"0-1, 0-0!" Choutarou concentrated back on the game as Yuushi was preparing to serve. He knew that after he returned the serve, Gakuto would be right there to volley it back. He had to make sure he returned to the far right end of the court.

Yuushi served the ball and Choutarou swung his racquet. He managed to hit the ball back and to the right as well, however, Gakuto was already one step ahead and waiting at the right side of the court. Choutarou ran to the other end of the court. He was barely able to tap the side of the ball before falling down.

"Hey, you okay, Ootori?" Gakuto asked.

"Yes, I'm fine." He stood up and brushed the dirt off his shirt and moved to the returning position. Waiting for the serve, Choutarou began to regret having to play two-on-one.

"This is so much harder…Impossible…My only chance of getting anywhere is with my service game…It's so much easier to do everything when Shishido-san is here…"

Just as he said, the match was truly predictable and unexciting. Choutarou took all his service games while Yuushi and Gakuto kept theirs. He began to wonder if Keigo would stop them before they went any further.

When the score was 5 games all, Keigo came over to see how things turned out.

"5 all, huh? Good. You all can go now. Oh, and Ootori, keep practicing. It's nearly perfect, but not quite." Keigo smirked at the last part of his comment.

"Yes, thank you Atobe-san." Choutarou smiled at the compliment his captain gave him. To most others, that would not be considered a compliment. However, when dealing with Keigo Atobe, captain of the tennis team, this was a great honor. It was especially so with Choutarou. Keigo and he did not talk often nor did he give that much attention to him. So, when he took the time to actually comment on his tennis skills, it was uplifting for him.

"It is kind of foolish for me to be happy over that comment, but Atobe-san rarely talks to me let alone compliments me…even if it is in an odd way…but that's how he is…Shishido-san would make fun of me right now…if he were here…"

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Author's Note: Yes, Ootori thinks to himsef a lot, but don't we all? Anywho, there's the first chapter for you. This story just kind of popped up in my head while I was walking to my classes, so it might not be thatgreat. Please tell me what you think about it. Thanks