Title:Surpassing the Data
Pairing: Inui/Kaidoh
Rating:G
Disclaimer: Tenipuri doesn't belong to me, alas.
Summary: Even with his body in this kind of state, Inui couldn't help but notice Kaidoh.
Notes: Spoilers for Genius 358
Seeing his kouhai on the courts, playing possibly their last doubles match together, as a pair, he couldn't help but realised, that Kaidoh had already surpassed all his expectations, and had proven himself beyond what he had deemed possible, all during the course of this year's nationals.
Inui was no longer focusing on the match, that was a secondary issue; he was less aware of his surroundings, but his attention was given to something else. His eyes followed every movement, strong and fluid, that Kaidoh made across the court. It was unbelievable, and the 2 figures across the net clearly knew so.
His found his focus shifting as a shadow fell over him. He did not feel the pain immediately; it was simply a dull throbbing feeling, that moved slowly across his jaw. His sleeve… Inui brushed a hand across his mouth, and a streak of blood was left upon it.
The next connection he had with the ball took even longer to register in his mind. He had to keep his focus, the data was more important, but the time it took for his body to force itself up was taking longer with each hit…
Focus.
"Damn you, Kirihara! I'm the one whose challenging you!" Kaidoh was furious. Yet, what was it that Inui could hear? … Despair? Pleading?
"You want to achieve stamina that is unbeatable?"
"Kaidoh, will you team up with me in doubles?"
"Have you collected the data?" "Ah yes, all of it. Thank you."
"I will never give up!"
Inui felt the ball slam into his body again, and at that moment, his eyes snapped open, as he saw his blood in the air, and …
"STOP IT!"
Kaidoh's fists were clenched. He was shivering… Inui wasn't sure. His body felt numb, every sound was just a buzz, and he was wrecked by the pain of having been attacked so brutally, yet, somewhere behind all of this, it finally dawned on him.
He grabbed Kaidoh's hand gently, feeling the anger and fear radiating from Kaidoh's body, and his trembling. But this is Kaidoh, and even though Renji couldn't always control Kirihara, Kaidoh… Kaidoh is different.
Kaidoh understood.
"Stop, Kaidoh…" His hand tightened, his voice pleading. I don't want to lose you too.
As Kaidoh locked gazes with him, as the anger slowly seeped out of his, as Kaidoh's eyes softened and smiled, Inui knew. Even though they may eventually lose this match- Renji had trained Kirihara well, it would no longer matter anymore.
Inui smiled gently at Kaidoh, as he climbed slowly to his feet, still grasping onto Kaidoh's hand.
"I have the data."
-FIN-
A/N: Thanks for reading! I wrote this quite long ago, and posted it on my writing journal. :D A terribly crappy job done, in my opinion. TT Mostly from the match, yup.
