Title: Curious
Author: Megrim
Word Count: 826
Disclaimer: The Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi Takeshi
Warnings: Tachibana goes partially insane and abuse of parenthesis.
Ann doesn't know she's infatuated until her brother—her brother—tells her so. She splutters and denies it (and god, is that a blush she's fighting down? Because Tachibana Ann doesn't blush) but that doesn't stop him from giving her one of his knowing looks.
He never really tells her to get over it though because Kippei only suspects that it's a passing crush like the ones she's had on Chitose before (he still shudders thinking of the mess that had been) and lets life continue without any warnings from him. Of course the day that she declares loudly that she's not going to Seigaku high school and following in his footsteps is the day that he thinks to himself, 'Oh god, what did I not do?'
Just like she had guessed her parents were fully supportive of the idea and she smiles on her last day in Tokyo at the house she's spent two years in, but still isn't home compared to Kyushu. Her brother and mother come with her to Kanagawa (her dad is working that day, and she's a bit glad because he doesn't need to see the glares she's getting from Kippei) and even against their best efforts their eyes go wide at the vast amount of land that Rikkai possesses. Ann isn't surprised, only happy that she's finally here (the funny thing is, she's almost forgotten about that embarrassing day when she's accused of liking him of all people).
The principal himself comes out to meet them (apparently her grades had been far above the average back in Fudomine, but then in a school like that, what else had they expected?) and inquires to both her and her brother if they'll consider joining the tennis team. Kippei laughs it off but still asks where the courts are and drags her off there, leaving their mother to deal with the paperwork undoubtedly linked with the principal's visit.
It turns out that they don't need the directions since the sounds of tennis balls leads them straight to the courts anyway, and Ann is in awe of the skill that hasn't diminished, only gotten better, over the past year. She sees the regulars from her second year in junior high and resists the urge to shrink behind her brother—and only manages it because he's already speaking with Yukimura and Sanada about their first high school national tournament. They see her immediately and only a stern look from Sanada keeps Yanagi from mumbling about the chances of this happening and Marui from throwing question after question at the girl who supposedly hated Rikkai so much.
Kirihara is missing from the group, Ann notices with some relief, but then her eyes instinctively go from each regular to another and then she's staring into the sharp golden eyes belonging to the person who'd intrigued her so much only a year ago.
She won't ever admit to her brother how grateful he is when they leave a few seconds later ("They don't have to help their sister unpack," he grumbles and she laughs) and he won't ever admit to her how glad he is that he did because Niou's curious eyes on his sister (who honestly is a bit too pretty for her own good) isn't something he needs to see. Ever, he adds.
Kippei has the strangest luck on earth though, because he's always right whenever he doesn't want to be, and it's proven two years to the day Ann first goes to Rikkai.
"…I'm…going out," he barely manages to say to the pair (god oh god, he'd known he was going to regret letting Ann go) and twitches all the way to the street tennis courts. The fact that his mother actually approved of Niou with his obviously bleached long hair (at least it isn't longer than Ann's anymore, though being at the same length wasn't helping the argument much) and devilish personality only served to make him feel sicker.
When Ann leaves a few hours later with her 'boyfriend'—he inwardly gags at the very thought—his mother says to him, "I think they look good together, right Kippei?"
He just stares at the woman who looks so innocent with a dishtowel in hand and wonders if it was possible for a son not to notice if his mother was insane or not. "No," he says flatly, "no, no, no."
"Oh, that's too bad." She smiles at him benignly and continues with the dishes. "Your father thinks highly of Niou-kun's family, even if the boy himself is a bit questionable."
'And since when did the world go insane and care more about the family than the guy?' he wants to scream but he refrains and simply shakes his head. 'This world is insane. Completely and utterly insane. And at the heart of this insane world is my sister.'
Kippei wonders if this is his actual atonement for playing so recklessly all those years ago.
AN: Barely any Niou to be honest, but hopefully plenty of Ann and Kippei. For future reference, almost all of these oneshots are in roughly the same timeline unless otherwise stated, so yeah, this happens before 'Brittle'. If there are mistakes please point them out since I'm on about three different meds right now (stupid swine flu is making everyone freak out and be overly cautious). As always, hope you enjoyed and thanks to everyone who reviewed and favorited/alerted. (and what crack was I on to write Kubo Tite wrote PoT?)