Rokkaku

Mishima Fay's heart was pounding. She was sitting in class trying to pay attention to the teacher as she took her notes, but her hands were trembling. She could feel the dangerous gaze from all her classmates. She could hear their whispers. She could feel the aura of curiosity soaring from them.

Luckily for her, the bell rang just as she thought she was going to break down. My savior, she thought as she quickly threw her books into her bag and dashed out before anyone could pounce on her for questions. She ran across the hall almost killing the freshmen in the process, and ran all the way up the stairs towards the roof.

She slammed the door shut and leaned against it. This was her sanctuary for now. She tightened her fist thinking of how disastrous her past two days had been. Word had got out about her and Yanagi's rendezvous. Although she knew it wasn't like that, but people were already talking and spreading rumors. The fact that a Rokkaku student was seeing someone from Rikkai Dai was not in most of the student populations' good books. But I'm not seeing anyone! She wanted to scream out loud as she slid against the door and sat on the floor with a sigh.

Rikkai Dai

Yanagi looked up at his teammates. "What?" he asked them indifferently. Although he had heard the query loud and clear, his senses still felt like they were deceiving him.

Nioh gave him one of his impish smiles. "You said that you and Mishima were just friends." He repeated. "Come on now, Renji. Why did you feel you had to cover something like that from us?"

Yanagi stood up. "That is 100% not true." He spoke as he picked up his bag. "I suggest that you focus more on your performance than interfere in other people's private affairs."

"Did I hit a nerve?" Nioh asked laughing as he stood there with his arms crossed. He had heard the rumors, but he wasn't sure about it. Knowing Renji, he knew he won't get anything out of him.

"Masaharu?"

"Yes, Yagyuu?" Nioh answered his eyes still on Renji as he walked out of the courts and went on his way.

Yagyuu frowned. Nioh was way too curious about this and he knew he won't let his guard down until he knows more about it. He felt it was his responsibility that he should tell Nioh not to meddle. "You need not to interfere."

"Yeah, yeah…" Nioh mumbled not even listening to his double's partner.

Seigaku

"You said there was nothing going on." Momo exclaimed, accusing Inui of lying to him. The second year student looked at the senior with a smile as Inui's glasses gleamed dangerously at him. "I did not know that you were that good friend with Yanagi Renji and his girlfriend."

Inui did not look at him. His eyes were focused on his data book as he took notes, observing Arai playing against a freshman. "They are not a couple." He confirmed confidently. It was fortunate for Mishima Fay that word did not get out about what had happened between him and her. That would've fatally ruined her. "Kissing someone does not essentially mean that you're a couple." He added more to his earlier statement.

Momo looked baffled, but before he could shed light on his puzzlement he found a horrible stench sneak past his nose and he saw that Inui was holding a rather large glass of green bubbling liquid. "I recommend you finish your laps for the day…"

Momo hurried back to the court without giving Inui a second glance.

Fay dragged her feet back home. Throughout the whole day she had been avoiding everyone. Even when school ended she didn't even go to the tennis club. She just picked up her things and ran home.

She finally made it to her front door. For a few seconds she fumbled with her keys, but finally she unlocked the door and walked in. Switching on the lights she went to the kitchen and found a note stuck on the fridge. Late again? She thought with a sigh as she read the note from her father that said he was going to be with his editor. Fay walked up the stairs to her bedroom. The comfy confinements of her room welcomed its master and hugged her with its warmth as she fell onto the bed. She slept horizontally across it and moved her arm to rest on her forehead.

She closed her eyes thinking that it would be best to forget about everything. Just as sleep was about to engulf itself on her, her cell phone rang. She opened her eyes with a frown and reached for her cell. She looked at the caller id and her heart skipped a beat. She didn't know whether she should answer it or not, but her curiosity got the best of her in the end. "Hello?"

"How are you feeling? I imagine you're in a worse position than me."

Fay fell back onto the bed and positioned her head on her pillow. "Renji…" she said tenderly. "What have we done?" she muttered. "I don't know what to do! People think…." She stopped. She couldn't even finish her sentence. As much as everyone always wanted her to end up with one of them, she did not want to hurt the other latter.

"Do you want me to come over?"

As much as she wanted his company right now, she also knew that it would be suicidal if she took that offer. "No." Fay said gently. "It won't be a good idea." She replied truthfully. "Not with everything going on and father's not home. It will be even worse if they find out that you came to visit me while no one was at home." She explained.

"Then why don't you come over here ?" Yanagi recommended. "Everyone is home right now." He explained. "Mishima, it's not good for you to be on your own right now."

Fay thought about his suggestion for a minute. "Okay." She agreed quietly. Even though she was tired and not in the mood to get up and leave the house again, but he was right. She needed the company. "I'll change and come over."

Just as she hung up to change, her cell rang again. "Did you change your mind, Renji?" Fay asked picking up the call.

There was silence for a few seconds until she heard the voice loud and clear. "Mishima…"

She felt her heart plummet to her stomach. "Sadaharu…" she said softly. "Sorry, I didn't look at the caller ID." She explained as she went to her closet to change her clothes.

"It's alright." He answered. "How are you? I have heard interesting things."

"Yes." Fay replied sarcastically. "I am planning on the destruction of Mizuki Hajime at the moment." She declared as she pulled some tops out and examined them in front of her.

Fay could sense in the tone of his voice that he was not happy about her comment. "Thank you." She replied quietly. "You worry too much about me."

"I have to worry about you." He answered. "You're always getting yourself into trouble. 100%"

"Sadaharu…" she muttered. "You just kissed me two nights ago. Don't go sounding like my father." She said sarcastically.

"Well I am glad that you're able to joke about it."

She let out a sigh. Better to joke about it than wonder what really happened, she thought to herself. "It…It was crazy of me. I'm surprised you're still talking to me." She admitted.

"I call it 50% of your sanity was gone, but it's okay." He answered. "Do you want some company?"

Fay's heart started beating really fast. Why did she feel like something was churning inside of her? "I…" she began, but stopped. It's not like I'm doing something wrong! She thought angrily to herself. "I'm going over to Renji's." she said in a low firm voice. "Do you want to come with me?" she asked casually.

She felt him hesitate, but it was a spur of a second thing. "I won't join you, Mishima." He answered. "Take the time and resolve things with him."

"Resolve?" Resolve what, damnit?~

"Yes." He answered.

Fay looked at her cell phone in frustration. She was tempted to toss it, but she calmly put it back next to her ears. "Sadaharu…." She said softly trying to control the temper in her voice. "Please clarify the word RESOLVE for me."

"Get dressed." Inui said instead. "You're running late. I don't want you walking in the streets alone." He said in a concerned voice. "And take an umbrella with you, 90% it's going to rain."

Fay looked dumbfounded as he hung up after bidding her goodbye. She gritted her teeth in frustration while she roughly changed her clothes and walked out into the streets. She made sure she took an umbrella with her before she left and headed to Yanagi's home.

Yanagi was in his room standing in front of his bookshelf. He had one arm crossed against his chest and the other hand on his jaw as he lightly perceived the books on his book shelf. He was trying to decide which one he wanted to read. He scanned the many literature books that stood there calling out to him and just as he was about to reach for one.…

"Renji, Fay's here." His mother announced standing by his door.

His hand stopped reaching for the book and he turned to see that Fay was already escorted in by his older sister. "Hi." Fay smiled with a wave of her hand. His mother and sister left the two and Fay plopped herself on to his sofa. She loved his room, it was so Renji! That's how she put it. Apart from a bed in the middle, his room was nice and neat. He had a desk and a chair for his studies, a huge book shelf on the right and a sofa with a table on the side. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"I was just deciding what to read, but it's okay now." He answered. "Was it raining outside? You look cold."

"Yes it was, but I'm fine." Fay answered hugging herself lightly. She cursed herself for wearing a short sleeved top. She was freezing, but she didn't want to make him worried about her. She looked down for a minute when she saw something being held in front of her. "Here." She heard him say as she saw a large navy sweater in front of her.

"Renji…" she said annoyed. "You and your stupid data." She muttered taking it from him.

"I don't need data to see your skin prickling from the cold." He explained sitting next to her as she put the sweater on. "How was your day?"

Fay hugged herself in the oversized sweater she was in and let out a sigh. "I'm not here for sympathy talk. I just wanted some company. The house was so empty."

Yanagi looked at her with a frown. She was more depressed than he had accounted for. He had discreetly spoken to Kurobane asking how she was doing in Rokkaku, but he had plainly told him that Fay was miserable and she would only hang out with them at the tennis club and no where else. Before he could say anything, she cut him off. "Renji…" she said quietly clenching her hands together. "Tomorrow…." She hesitated. "Tomorrow will be five years since my mother…" she said softly. "That's another reason why I've been feeling down and didn't want to be alone."

Of course he thought. How could he have let that slip off his mind? His brow furrowed and he watched Fay sit there hugging herself. His heart tightened at the sight in front of him. He was not one to let anything else but data to subdue him, but she was breaking his entire threshold. "Fay…"

It was one word, but Fay felt a jolt running through her entire body. He called her by her given name. Even though they were very close, he still felt sometimes like only her family name should suffice. She glanced at him and caught him looking at her. He had his eyes open again and he held out his hand lightly and brought her close to him, holding her so gently. He felt her stiffen as he put his arms around her. "Don't worry." He assured. "I'm just lending you some strength." He explained. "Remember we said it won't happen again?"

Fay relaxed when she heard that and let him hold her. The warmth he was emitting was exactly what she needed right now. She put her arms around him and placed her head on his shoulder. "Renji." She said softly. "Thank you." She said closing her eyes.

He held her like that for a while. It was sometime that later he felt her breathing soften and her body felt warmer. He moved her sleeping body gently and lifted her up without waking her up. He walked to his bed and placed her there and covered her with a blanket.

He watched her for a second then moved away. He went downstairs and asked his mother to call Fay's dad and let him know that she'll spend the night. It was not unusual for her to spend the night. She would always be at their place when she was younger and hung out with him and his sister. He didn't want to send her back to an empty home thinking of her mother. Also, he needed to speak to his sister and switch rooms with her since Fay was sleeping in his.

Fay felt a presence next to her when she opened her eyes. At first fleeting look she wanted to scream in panic thinking it was Renji, when she saw brown hair by her pillow side. She closed her eyes, calculating quietly to herself and when she finally opened her eyes she concluded that it was without a doubt Yanagi Rei, for Renji's hair would've never grown that long during the night.

Her thoughts went to how she got there. She remembered falling asleep in Renji's arms. As much as she hated to acknowledge it, but that was the first time she had been so content and secure in a long time.

Fay heaved herself upwards and moved her legs to the side of the bed making her feet contact the floor. Stretching her arms above her head, she yawned lightly and stood up. She scratched her hair sluggishly trying to find a watch anyplace in the room. She let out another yawn and sat down at the desk. She instantly remembered her bag and picked it up from the floor and pulled out her cell phone.

She found three miscalls from Kurobane and a message from her father. Her father had written that Renji's mother had called him and he got the message. She deleted all the messages and looked at the clock on her cell phone. It was 4 am in the morning and she was hungry.

She pondered about her next move, but shrugged it off and walked towards the door. As she opened the door to the hallway she almost screamed if she hadn't covered her mouth to silence any form of screaming that was going to come out of her.

Renji stood there holding a plate with a sandwich on it and a glass of something in his hand. For some reason he looked eerie to her as he stood there like that in the dark hallway. "Renji?" Fay whispered.

"My data told me that you would be awake around this time hungry." He explained to her as he noted how nervous she looked.

Fay took the plate from him grateful, but she hesitated about the glass.

"It's only orange juice." He clarified. "Fay, I will never let you drink the things Inui and I construct."

That remark made her smile. She took the glass from him and looked around not knowing where to put it since they were still in the hallway.

"We can go into the living room downstairs."

Fay looked at him as they walked along the hallway. He was in shorts and a t-shirt. She knew Inui was taller than him, but she still felt like he was much taller when she stood next to him. Maybe it's because he's thinner than Inui, Fay thought to herself. "Renji, you don't have to sit down with me. I can deal with eating a sandwich on my own."

"Eat."

She rolled her eyes at the brisk order and munched lightly on her sandwich. He was silent as she ate and drank her juice. Finally, when she was done, she stood up and put the plate in the kitchen sink. She washed it out of courtesy and dried it, placing it in the cabinet.

"You didn't have to do that."

Fay turned around and covered her mouth as she yawned. She smiled lazily at him, "It's the least I can do." She explained softly stretching her arms above her head.

He put a hand on her back and led her back to the stairs. "Go back to sleep."

Fay looked at him and kissed his cheek. "Thanks and good night, Renji."

"Good night."

Fay was walking back home the next day. She was feeling much better after spending the day before with Renji and his sister. Technically, the night included as well. Renji had insisted on dropping her back, but she had declined and told him that she needed to do some stuff on her way back.

While she walked she remembered that Kurobane had called her several times yesterday. Pulling out her cell phone from her bag she speed dialed his number. On the fifth ring he finally picked it up. "Hello?"

"You're sleeping, aren't you?" Fay teased on the phone.

"No." he answered. "We're at the gym."

"How sweet, my boys are working out." Fay smiled.

He laughed at the comment. "Well I'm glad that you're more cheerful now." He remarked. "I also called to remind you about tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Fay asked. "What's happening tomorrow?" she questioned as she tried calculating things in her mind to remember what's happening. She was surprised that she could not recall anything.

"We're having a friendly beach volleyball game with Seigaku and we're camping for the night."

Fay stopped walking, "Eh?" she asked surprised. "Since when?"

She heard Kurobane sigh, "Our coaches planned it yesterday." He explained, and then she heard him smack something. "Ah yes, you weren't there." He mumbled to himself.

Fay thought of the idea and then brightened up when she remember Inui is in Seigaku. "That's a nice change." She remarked. "What do you guys need from me?"

"Food."

Fay rolled her eyes, "Seriously, is that all you guys think about?" she asked exasperated. "I'm not the team cook, you know." She said in a wounding tone. She was talking and realized that he wasn't even listening. "Kurobane?"

"Damnit, Amane!" Kurobane shouted on the phone. "No stupid dumbbell puns at the gym!"

Fay let out a sigh as she heard a loud clunker, thud, oof's and swearing. "Fay?" She heard a new voice at her ear. "Yes, Saeki?" Fay mumbled uncaringly.

Saeki let out a sigh as well. "He will call you back."

"Tell him not to bother." She muttered. "Where are we meeting tomorrow?"

He gave her the time and place and she thanked him before hanging up. Well I guess I need to go to the store and get ingredients for my cooking, she thought as she changed her destination.

Next Day

Beach

[Note: as you read along the volleyball game, I have taken parts from the scanlation of 237. Also, I've altered some of the events of the game to suit my story].

"We'd like to thank you for inviting us to join Rokkaku's Training camp." Ryuuzaki sensei genuinely told the coach.

"Wow…" Fay whispered at the view. They were the only ones on the beach and it looked so peaceful. She turned around and frowned a bit as well. Normally she wouldn't let these things worry her, but she realized that other than Seigaku's coach she was the only girl there.

Fay looked at the fifteen players and her cheeks turned red a little. They were all in shorts only and she was thankful that she had a one piece swimming suit on. She watched as everyone stood around waiting to see what to do while she placed the huge basket she was hauling onto a blanket.

"You should not lug heavy things."

Fay looked up from where she was bending and smiled at Inui. She looked at him and was about to answer when she covered her nose at a stench that almost made her lose her breath. "Good god, Sadaharu! What's what?" she asked appalled as she covered her mouth and nose with a hand and used her other hand to point at a clear glass of liquid in his hand.

"This will eliminate the uneven numbers between us so we can play a fair game of volleyball." He answered as his glasses gleamed evilly. "However it is not supposed to smell…" he mumbled as he took out a small bottle and poured it into the glass of clear liquid.

The liquid went through a chemical reaction and Fay thought it was going to explode as she moved a few feet away, but to her surprise it settled. She was astonished that it was still clear and "Odorless?"

He studied it carefully and nodded. "Yes, it is a concoction Renji and I created when we were younger." He explained as he moved the glass towards her. "Want to try?" he asked.

Fay, I will never let you drink the things Inui and I construct.

Fay frowned when she remembered what Renji had told her the other night. Why did I think of that? She thought as she shook her head at Inui's offer. She returned her gaze to Inui and crinkled her nose, "Inui what is this made of?"

"It is pure fish juice." He answered as he headed towards one of the Rokkau members named Shudou.

Fay almost gagged, but restrained herself from doing so. She let out a sigh and pulled out a paper walking towards the group. "I've put you guys into groups after Inui provided me with your names." She explained. "So pair up and let's start this."

"We're uneven." Saeki said with a frown as he crossed his arms.

Momo tapped him lightly on the shoulders and pointed at Shoudou who was lying by the beach passed out. Inui had not been joking when he said he was going to eliminate the uneven numbers.

"As soon as the teams are announced the losing team will have to drink this." Inui announced holding a jar up high.

Everyone paled at the remark and all turned to Fay waiting for her to announce their pairings.

"The pairings are as follows:

- Echizen and Aoi

- Kukumaru and Itsuki

- Momo and Kurobane

- Inui and Kisarazu

- Fuji and Saeki

- Kawamura and Amane

- Oishi and Kaidou

- Our coaches are together."

"Eh? The old man and the old lady are playing?" Momo asked surprised.

"Letting the elderly participate is a good thing, right, old man?" Ryuuzaki answered with a mischievous smile. "We'll use the same rules that apply to a tie-break. First team to score seven points wins."

Fay stepped out, "As you can see the results of the drink has already been demonstrated to us by Shudou-kin. The losing team will have to drink "Inui's special Iwashi water." She announced as she read the name of the drink off a paper. "I can't believe you name your drinks." Fay muttered looking at Inui.

Inui's glasses gleamed.

"Alright! Let's begin our old man's cup beach volleyball tournament!" someone shouted.

Fay took that opportunity to slip away and tend to Shudou who was lying by the sea as the water splashed against his body.

As the hours flew by with the boys playing volleyball, one by one within each hour, a player was victimized to Inui's drink. Eiji was the first to go down, followed by Kuroban and Momo, Kawamura and Amane had lost to Fuji and Saeki, and even Oishi and Kaidoh were part of the people lying half dead on the beach..

Fay wiped her sweat off her forehead with a handkerchief. "What were you guys thinking losing like that…" she mumbled as she helped Kurobane up. "Bane, I need you to stand up." She gritted as she tried to pull him to his full length, "You're heavy."

"Mother…." Itsuki cried softly his mouth full of sand.

Fay rolled her eyes as she dumped Kurobane back onto the sands. She pulled out a water cooler from her bag and wiped Itsuki's face. "Calm down, Itsuki." She said softly. "It's just a nightmare."

"The taste….still…" he coughed and gagged at the same time.

She patted his head, "There…there…." I didn't know I was brought here to baby sit, she thought annoyed. What the hell was Sadaharu thinking making that drink!? She left him and walked back just to see Fuji pass out from the drink and Saeki standing there numb. "Saeki?!" she shouted running towards him as he fell against her. "The horror…" Saeki shook as she held him, "It was awful….." he whispered in pain. "Please don't make me drink it again~"

Fay raised an eyebrow and put him gently onto the sands. She handed him the water cooler. "Drink this." She ordered putting it in his hand. "It will sooth that awful taste out of your mouth."

She sat there till he was better and let out a sigh. He was fortunate that he didn't drink that much of it than the others. Fay looked at him as he put his head on her shoulder. "You know you can't do that."

"Shut up…" he muttered. "My head hurts." He admitted as he watched the game. Only three teams were left. Aoi and Echizen were playing against Kisarazu and Inui now. "Looks like your boy's going to lose." He remarked as he noticed that Kisarazu and Inui's game was not going well.

Fay elbowed him lightly, but he didn't even have the energy to react to it. "He is not mine, Saeki." She hissed looking back at the game. "You're right though; there is an 89.36% that Kisarazu and Sadaharu will lose this game."

"Your boy might not like the silver seat. He has too much pride."

"Sadaharu is not like that."

"Then why does he want to knock himself out?" he asked as Fay turned to look at the game. Saeki was right; Inui was jumping and aiming his face at the ball, like he….

"You're just trying to escape "The Silver Seat!" Kisarazu yelled. "So cheap blocking it with your face so you'll lose consciousness." He shouted reaching for Inui's shorts.

Fay wasn't looking as she turned to Saeki because he was mumbling something. She turned around when she heard shouting and she suddenly found darkness. "Eh?" she whispered. "What are you doing?" she demanded when she realized that her eyes were covered by Saeki's hands.

"I don't think Inui will forgive himself if you saw."

"Saw what?" she asked. "Saeki, let go of me."

The demand only made Saeki's hands tighten on her eyes as he saw Inui on the floor with his shorts dragged down due to Kisarazu's pulling. It would have not been pretty if Fay had seen.

Finally it was over. The coaches had won and all the players had been humiliated one way or another. Even Inui had to drink that sickening matter and he almost fainted on the spot, but managed to only let out a belch.

"Next time don't make something you can't drink yourself." Fay scolded Inui as she handed him a napkin. She was sitting next to him as they all ate dinner quietly. "Sometimes you don't think!" she went on. "Be more rational and logical! Poisoning your teammate is alright, but not when I have to tend to the babies on my team…"

"Who are you calling a baby?" Kurobane muttered.

Fay stood up and glared at him. "Don't even start eith me, Bane! I have pictures to prove you all at your worst." She warned.

"May I have those pictures, Mishima-chan? I'll buy them from you." Fuji said sweetly looking at the girl.

"FUJI!" they all shouted.

After dinner, they all went to the room they were all assigned to sleep in. Fay picked up her stuff and walked to the room she was assigned to alone, since she was the only girl with them. She padded quietly to the assigned room and stopped when she felt a presence behind her in the hallway. "Sadaharu?" she asked as she turned to face the person that had followed her. She smiled when she realized it was him. "Have you recovered from your drink?"

He let out a sigh and nodded. "I shouldn't have done that."

"Yes, I am glad you're admitting that making the drink was a mistake." She nodded approvingly.

"No."

She moved her head to the side. "No?"

"I shouldn't have drunk it, not yet."

Fay smacked her forehead lightly. "You'll never learn, will you?" she muttered, then put her hands on her hips. "At least you learned something." She said amused as she looked at him.

"There's another thing." He added seriously. "You worry too much about me. Always scolding me…"

"Oh?" she asked confused. "What is…" she began, but stood there shocked when he leaned down and kissed her lips evenly and then moved away from her and turned around giving her his back.

"This is to show you that this is a 100% of my own free will and you don't have to ask me to kiss you." He explained his action as he walked down the hallway.