Warnings: Possible OOCness, bad writing (this was the first fanfiction I ever wrote)
Pairings: Nothing official, since it is all about misinterpretation...
A/N: Characters and general plot were heavily influenced by Sleepless-In-NewYork.
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis or any other trademarked, copyrighted, or otherwise mentioned entity within this story.
Chapter 1
During one Friday practice, the sun shone overhead as two boys swung their rackets in succession. As the ball approached, it curved around the first racket only to be hit by the second.
"Six games to love," Momoshiro called out a moment later.
"That was easy," said Shusuke smiling.
"Hardly worth the effort," Saeki added. Their opponents, Ryoma and Kaidoh, glared at each other causing Shusuke's smile to widen and Saeki to laugh.
It had been a year since Saeki transferred to Seigaku, and the team was doing well. At first, the team was excited to meet Saeki; then they learned Saeki was Shusuke's childhood friend. Shusuke and Saeki could usually be found together. Sometimes they whispered plots amongst themselves and other times they stood back to watch the mayhem.
The regulars would never forget the time Shusuke and Saeki cornered and threatened every teammate one by one, until the entire team wore floppy ears and a sheep costume. Then Shusuke 'convinced' Tezuka to wear a blue dress with a white cane, while Saeki sang Mary had a Little Lamb. By now, the regulars had learned to avoid the two of them together at all cost.
"Saeki-kun," Shusuke said as he put his racket up.
"Hmm?" Saeki replied taking a drink.
"Want to spend the night?"
"Yeah."
"Don't forget the joint practice on Monday," Eiji called out as the two retreated from the courts.
After his team practice ended, Yuuta decided to go home for the weekend and visit his family. He was feeling a little homesick, but mainly he wanted to escape Mizuki. For the last few days, Mizuki decided it would be a good idea to wake Yuuta up at 3 A.M. for an extra early morning practice. This 'practice' meant that he was exhausted in class and got yelled at for sleeping during lectures. Now he had detention on Saturday.
As he walked home, he suddenly remembered he was going to play against Kippei tomorrow. 'I should have called him before I left,' he thought sullenly. Shusuke had a nasty habit of tapping the phone lines for his own convenience.
Once he arrived, he pulled out a key and opened the door before letting himself inside. He dropped his bag on the nearest chair and entered the living room before slowly backing away. Two of his least favorite people were lounging on the sofas watching a movie.
"Yuuta-kun," Shusuke called out once he spotted his favorite and only little brother. Shusuke leapt up and hugged his brother. "It's been far too long since I saw you last,"
"Aniki," said Yuuta, flustered by his brother's antics. "It's only been three days."
"Three long days," he replied before forcing Yuuta onto the sofa between him and Saeki. "Now tell me how you've been doing."
"Well…" Yuuta replied nervously. "I took a math quiz today."
"And?" Shusuke prompted.
"I ate spaghetti and green beans for lunch," he said praying the questioning would stop.
"Did you drink milk with your lunch?" Shusuke asked.
"…"
"You need to drink milk if you want to grow tall," Shusuke commented.
"You're one to talk," he muttered.
"What did you say?" Shusuke asked with a threatening smile.
"Nothing," Yuuta replied as he wished he were anywhere but here. He decided to distract himself by turning to the movie. He watched a few scenes in awkward silence. As the minutes stretched by, he slowly turned pink. They were watching a romance.
Saeki noticed Yuuta's discomfort and smiled before asking, "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing," Yuuta replied nervously.
"Are you in love?" Saeki asked bluntly.
"No," he said too quickly. "What makes you think that?" Yuuta's cheeks turned a vibrant shade of red.
"Who is it?" Shusuke asked. Now his interest was piqued.
"N-nobody," he replied. This was one conversation he did not want to have with his brother while watching Casablanca.
"How long have you been together?" Saeki asked.
"I haven't…" Yuuta said. "I'm going to my room," he announced giving up. It was easier to flee than to face the onslaught of questions. He ran upstairs and locked his door. He doubted the lock would keep his brother out but at least it was something. 'At least I can call Kippei and change our plans,' he thought with a sigh. This was going to be a long weekend.
Shusuke and Saeki exchanged a quick glance as Yuuta stormed away. With a nod, they both rose and crept upstairs. They stepped lightly on the landing and put an ear to Yuuta's door to listen to his muffled voice
"About our plans tomorrow, I'm going to have to change them," Yuuta said. "Something came up."
There was a pause.
"Around 11," Yuuta replied.
Another pause.
"See you then," he said before hanging up.
At this, Saeki and Shusuke stared at each other. This was noteworthy news. After waiting a few minutes to make sure Yuuta was done doing anything of interest, Saeki and Shusuke retired into Shusuke's room next door.
"This is serious," Saeki said.
"Yes," Shusuke agreed. "Yuuta-kun is in love," he announced. It was an irrevocable fact. Yuuta Fuji was in love. There was no alternative or alternate explanation.
"We need to know who it is," Saeki stated with an evil gleam in his eye.
"Yes," Shusuke replied creepily.
Later that evening Yumiko Fuji returned home. She immediately noticed Yuuta's bag slung across a chair as well as Saeki's things. She shook her head at the mess before preparing dinner. Half an hour later, she called everyone down for rice and curry.
As Yuuta, Shusuke and Saeki sat down to eat, Yumiko couldn't help but notice something was off. Shusuke and Saeki kept exchanging glances and Yuuta avoided all eye contact.
"How was your day?" she asked to break up the silence.
"Okay," Saeki replied. "Tezuka-san gave us fifty laps to run today."
"Hmm," she replied "Fewer than usual."
Yuuta slapped his forehead. Only his family would respond this way.
"And you?" Yumiko asked Yuuta.
"I didn't drink any milk," he replied, stifling a yawn. This was followed by an awkward moment of silence.
"Today we watched Casablanca," Shusuke said pleasantly. He then turned to carefully watch his younger brother's reactions.
Yumiko, Saeki and Shusuke proceeded to discuss Casablanca and other classic romances in depth as Yuuta wished he were dead.
After dinner, the family went to the living room so Saeki and Yumiko could discuss the finer points of Pride and Prejudice, as Yuuta tuned them out. Yuuta pulled out his English textbook and began translating the passage:
It is spring. The girls watch dogs. The boys talk to them. I pet the cat. It is warm. I like pizza. They dislike green beans. I eat corn.
Yuuta sighed. English homework was both boring and pointless. How often would he need to translate the phrase I eat corn in daily life. As he struggled through the list of pointless sentences, he noticed an annoying presence. At first Shusuke was only staring at him. Then Shusuke moved closer. Now he sat beside Yuuta.
"It's I give the gift not I want the gift." Shusuke commented, as he looked Yuuta's homework over.
"Thank you, Aniki" Yuuta replied unsure. A few moments later, he stood up and announced, "I'm going to bed".
As soon as Yuuta left the room, Shusuke followed. Shusuke's eyes gleamed with anticipation. Yuuta had to be up to something. There was no way any normal middle-schooler went to bed at 6:30. After half an hour, Saeki joined him.
"Anything?" Saeki whispered.
"No," Shusuke replied with a frown. Something was wrong. Yuuta had to be up to something. Something blackmail worthy.
After waiting a few more minutes, Shusuke picked the lock on the door and peaked through the crack.
"He's sleeping," Saeki finally said.
"Why…" Shusuke began. Then it hit them. Yuuta was tired because a certain someone was keeping Yuuta up at night. That someone had to be his lover. And based off Yuuta's exhaustion whatever they did lasted well into the morning.
A/N: I finally decided to begin posting this multichapter fic. This story is almost complete so updates should be soon (or whenever I get internet access).