Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis or anything associated with it.

It was, to put it simply, highly amusing. He just couldn't stop. For the past week, Kirihara's daily visits to the library had been nothing but beseechingly good and exceptionally entertaining. His so called study sessions after school could preferably been seen as 'stalking sessions' as a normal person would label his after school excursion. With the newfound information about his 'enemy', Kirihara Akaya could barely go a day without seeing her. He would never in his dreams admit it, but it was developing into an unusually bad habit. While he was gloating with smugness, An on the other hand found it difficult to even breathe in his presence.

On another so called study day, just before the library was at its closing hours, Kirihara sauntered over to the front desk as usual. He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off.

"The library's closing, sir," she hissed. Her eyes didn't leave her screen, as her hands moved aimlessly across the keys.

Kirihara knew where this was going- so did she.

"As if I didn't know," he said, rolling his eyes and leaning over the front desk. The conversation would start at the front desk, and slowly but surely, would somehow come to stand amongst the rows of books, hidden from sight.

"Well then, you'd probably like to pick up your bags and get out," she replied back, as he raised a brow.

"Is that how your supposed to speak to a regular library visitor, or am I just a special case?" Kirihara asked, his eyes holding mockery in them.

She snapped her hands down hard on the keys, "I thought it'd be best to inform you that the janitors usually throw out anything that's left around here. Including your stuff- and you."

Kirihara chuckled openly, "oh yeah, and what about you? Don't they throw you out too when you rudely talk with a visitor such as me?"

Ann stopped typing and stared up at him. He noticed that she looked more tired and weary than usually; he could almost make out dark circles under her eyes.

"What do you want?" She heaved.

He licked his lips dryly, "I need some help- again."

She slowly got up from the chaired, and walked out to face him. "So what'll it be this time?"

As usual, Kirihara had no clue what book he wanted. He was merely craving a little bit of her time and attention. Unfortunately once he had it, he wasn't sure what to do with it, except fool around.

"Nothing specific, just something related to the- the biodiversity of a temperate rainforests," he mumbled quickly, as she nodded.

Again, he followed her down the rows of books, watching her move swiftly and quickly. She stopped at an isle that was located deep in library, "I think this is what you're looking for," she said, pointed up at the top most shelf.

He smirked, "can you get them for me?"

An crossed her arms, her eyes looking unbelievably tired yet angry at the same time. As he had noticed earlier, she seemed a bit off- more off than usually, and he knew at once by the look on her face, that he should've just gotten the book himself.

"Look Kirihara, I don't know why your asking me to get it, when clearly you can reach it yourself!"

"Well I-"

"Clearly you're too dense to notice that I've hardly been sleeping. Plus I'm really not in the mood to put up with your needs right now, and you being here is only worsening my headache," she exasperated.

Kirihara stared at her.

An took his silence as an opportunity to continue, "I don't even know why you bother- I thought you hated me to begin with and now, coming here like this- almost everyday for no reason. Just shove off, and next time you need to find a book, use this!"

Kirihara stumbled as she shoved a fat book in his hands and stormed out of the isle, leaving him quite speechless. He knew he shouldn't have pushed her buttons, but he couldn't help but blame her too for his own convenience. He cursed angrily and looked at the book in his hand.

A beginners guide for book hunting- hunt your books without hunting for help!

"Great, now she thinks I'm animalistic too…I only asked for a book on biodiversity," he muttered to himself as he walked over to get his stuff.

It was time to go home.

"Jackal, how are Kirihara's study sessions going?" Yukimura asked the next day, as the group was finishing up their last laps.

Jackal looked up from his position on the bench, "don't ask me- I don't even go with him to the library," he shrugged, and drank from his water bottle.

"How do we even know he is studying?" Niou stated, walking up from the side with Yagyuu, Yanagi and Marui.

"Yeah, for all we know, the kid could be blowing gum in a shoe store while flirting with some girls" Marui added, casually as there other sighed at his off-handed comment.

"99% chance that he is not," Yanagi corrected apprehensively.

Yagyuu tipped his glasses, "well say he's not studying. That could create a whole knew problem…" he trailed off, as Yukimura nodded.

"Then I guess we'll have to send someone with him for a simply monitoring session…any volunteers?" Yukimura chimed, smiling.

"I have student council to attend to."

"Unfortunately, Inui and I our currently experimenting on our new chemical concoction."

"And I have to go for a hospital check-up then attend to the tennis team." Yukimura said at last.

The three looked at the remaining- Niou whistled and looked away towards the sky, while Jackal vigorously tied his shoe laces and Marui found a leaf on the ground very interesting all of sudden.

Yukimura clasped his hands together, "Well, I guess it's decided then- Marui, Niou and Jackal. You three can join Kirihara at the-"

"No way!" Marui blurted out as the other two nodded. "I'm busy…I have to chew gum-"

"Which you can do in the library," Yagyuu cut in swiftly, as Yanagi nodded.

"Why can't Sanada go? He'd probably do a better job of looking after him," Jackal added logically, but Yukimura shook his head.

"I agree that Sanada could cover more than the three of you put together, but he's busy to, so I'll leave it to you three then," he concluded.

"Where is the brat anyway?" Marui asked, popping his bubblegum.

"He's got extra laps everyday cause he misses the ones after school, so fuku-bouchou makes him run twice as many in the morning," Yagyuu replied back nonchalantly.

"So after school we follow him to the library?" Jackal asked.

Niou snorted in response, "sounds more like stalking to me."

"No, you merely accompany him there and just keep an eye on him." Yanagi retaliated.

The three looked convinced enough and nodded.

"Got it."

After school, Kirihara got his books and headed straight for the library. He wasn't in his usual hurry today, as their previous encounter had been anything but good. He calmly towards the library, slowing down as he got closer.

"Hmmm, that book bag looks heavy, brat…I was sure you'd have passed out by now," Marui said, staring down at his book bag.

Kirihara stopped walking, a snapped around. His eyes widened at the sight of his sempai, "you...!"

"Me, yes me…I mean us," Marui grinned, as Jackal and Niou strolled up from behind him, as if they had no partake in this. Kirihara worriedly eyed the three of them before speaking.

"What're you doing here?"

Niou chuckled, "why following you, of course," he replied with mocking courtesy.

"Well…I'm going to the book store, so uhm-"

"Since when do you read?" Marui asked with interest, as he flamboyantly popped his gum.

"Shut up," Kirihara replied lamely.

"Never mind that, let's go to book store then," Jackal said, tapping his foot impatiently at the group. Kirihara looked around for away out- clearly there was none.

"Actually, I'm going to the shoe store…and maybe the local grocery store and also-"

"Tch. Don't even think about mentioning the washroom, Kirihara, cause we have orders to follow you in there too."

Marui nodded, "yeah, so go straight to where your supposed to be going, and don't mind us…we're just going to be following you all the way there," he added, as Kirihara grunted in response.

He turned around and began walking in the direction of the library, three people tailing behind him.

"Kirihara, shouldn't you start your studying now?" Jackal asked, as they seated themselves in the library. Kirihara had chosen a very concealed place in the midst of plants and many seats, along with tall bookcases that almost seemed to be hovering over them.

"Yeah, I'll- I'll get started," he muttered. His eyes roamed the area, looking for a clearing. The group had decided to sit on the upper level, which meant he couldn't see her. He needed a quick diversion.

"I need to get some books from the lower level- I'll be back," he said. He quickly got up from his seat and strolled over to the stairs, disappearing out of site.

Niou and Marui had come back. They had gone to get magazines and books, seeing as they had nothing to do. They dropped in their seats and turned towards Jackal.

"Where'd he run off to?" Niou asked, staring at Kirihara's empty chair.

Jackal hooked a thumb in the direction of the stairs, not looking up from his magazine, "he said he was getting a book that he needed from downstairs."

"Hmm, that's actually kind of odd, don't you think?" Marui asked casually, as the other two looked up.

Jackal stared at his doubles partner with interest, "what do you mean? What's so odd?"

Marui rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "well, firstly since when does Kirihara read exactly? I don't mean that kind of read. I mean the one where he willingly goes to pick up a book himself."

Niou stared long and hard at Kirihara's book bag, before snatching it of the chair side a scrambling through it.

"H-hey, are you sure we should be doing that?" Jackal questioned, raising a brow.

Niou grinned, "don't worry, it's for his own good," he said, emptying the contents of his bag on the desk.

He picked up one of the books and flipped through them. "Marui open that notebook your holding," Niou demanded, and Marui complied, flipping through the pages of the book.

They were empty.

"It's like he hasn't even opened the text books more than once," Jackal said, breaking the silence.

Marui scoffed, and stared down at the blank notebook, "he probably hasn't opened anything in that bag more than once."

"Hey, look at this- A beginners guide for book hunting- hunt your books without hunting for help!" Jackal held up the fat book, as Marui grinned like a Cheshire cat.

"Wow, this is so-so-so-"

"Animalistic," Niou cut in shortly, also finding the book extremely amusing.

"What's it doing in his bag- I mean, he doesn't even need it if he's not going to do his work, right?" Jackal pointed out.

Niou furrowed his eye brows at the items on the desk, "so his text books have hardly been touched, and his notebook has nothing written on it, and he has a no use book in his bag, yet he still goes down stairs to get what- a book?" He stated, pondering, as the others stared at him in awe.

"Looks like we've cracked the code of Kirihara," Marui joked, as Jackal sighed.

"So what is he doing downstairs then?" Jackal asked, turning in the direction of the staircase.

Marui shrugged in response, " I don't know, painting his toe nails, maybe?"

The other two looked glanced at him, as he grinned sheepishly, "what, you never know, he might be," he replied in defense.

"Let's go downstairs and find out."

"Hey guys, could we stop in the food section on the way?"

"This is a library, Marui - it doesn't have one."

Kirihara sneaked his way around the isles, stealing quick glances towards the front help desk.

Yep.

She was there, sitting tall and typing away furiously on the computer. He continued to stare at her; his vivid green eyes roamed around her face, from her hazel eyes, to her petit nose, a perfect plump lips-

A figure suddenly cut in his view, disturbing his thoughts. He noted that the figure was no older than him and had red short hair, which looked awfully familiar. He moved over to the next isle in order to get a better view. He watched as Ann stood up, smiling lusciously at the person in front of her.

She walked out of her little box, and guided him towards the enclosed case of book isles where Kirihara was standing. Kirihara quickly moved through the isle and into the next, close enough to hear their conversation, but stay out of sight. He watched her guide the person into the isle beside him. Kirihara pretended to be just another average person, rummaging through the bookshelf.

"Don't be silly, Kamio, I can't leave right now…maybe tomorrow," Ann replied, as Kamio nodded in understanding.

"Sure, I'll wait for you at our usual spot then?" Kamio asked, turning a little red in response, as Ann giggled.

Kirihara watched, ruthful.

He was having difficulty understanding how this was the same person he talked to yesterday- she seemed so different. Maybe she just wanted to avoid him.

"Okay, well bye then, work hard," Kamio said and bent down to give her a light peck on the cheek. She blushed hard in response, and waved as he walked out of the library. Ann stood there for a while, still contemplating on turn of events.

Kirihara's viridian eyes watched her through the gaps between the books; he had never seen her that content around him. He had hardly seen her crack a smile around him. Suddenly Ann turned around, and her hazel eyes met his widened green ones through the book cracks.

"Kirihara," she breathed out, shock evident in her eyes. Kirihara, also too stunned to talk since he had been caught red handed, shuffled around, ready to leave.

Her shock turned into anger, as she turned around and walked into the isle where he was standing. Her eyebrows were turned downward, and her eyes seemed as if they were burning furiously.

"You," she seethed, whispering, "you were eavesdropping on me?" An questioned.

Kirihara backed away a little, looking for a quick route out, "well what about you?" He replied, as confidently as he could.

She stepped closer to him, "what about me, Kirihara? What about me?" She repeated dangerously.

He didn't get a chance to reply, as she spoke, "I'm not the one who goes around bothering people and invading the personal privacy, as I please, do I? I'm not the nosey, idiotic one here," She said bluntly, as Kirihara glared at her.

Maybe she had taken it a bit to far as well because it gave Kirihara the perfect opportunity to snap back at her. "At least I don't go kissing people in public places like that, do I? I bet if I told your manager here that you spent half your time kissing that guy-"

"Don't bring him into this," Ann whispered harshly, but he continued.

"Maybe he'd fire you? Then what would you do? I bet you like kissing that Kamio guy, probably all you think about when you're here, right? Do you always get all twirly and happy, or do you just do that cause your excited to see him?" Kirihara pressed, ignoring her glare.

"You know what? I bet you payed him to take you out- no one would ever date someone so fucking ugl-SMACK.

The noise sounded like a loud crash amongst the library halls.

Kirihara stood there, dumbfounded as he felt his cheek swell at the impact.

He didn't care whether or not the sound echoed through the library, or that people might have been staring curiously. He was still processing the fact the she had just slapped him.

Hard.

Ann had mustered all the strength she could and striked him hard across the face; it was swelling, turning a deep red color. Kirihara stared at her, too shocked to speak.

She gave him one hard, long look before disappearing out of the isle. Kirihara could have sworn he saw water glistening at the side of her hazel eyes.

Then he wondered to himself why he had said all that.

"Well it's about time you came back- what the hell happened to your cheek?" Niou asked, rushing towards him, as the other two dropped their books and magazines and followed Niou.

"Looks like some fake Sanada slapped you 10 times," Marui exclaimed, poking the cheek from different angles. Kirihara didn't say anything.

Jackal examined it a bit more carefully, "hmm, nothing serious, although we should get an ice pack and maybe some bandages for later…" he trailed off, and Kirihara simply nodded.

Niou eyed him suspiciously, "what were you doing down there? And why haven't you been working?" He questioned seriously.

Kirihara looked at the table, " yeah, I was...distracted-"

"By what?" Marui asked, intensely eyeing him. The other two seemed curious as well.

"Nothing big," he replied quickly and collected his books. "We should get going, the library closes in 15 minutes.

"Well, as long as your working here, I guess it's fine," Niou grinned, and strolled towards the door, as the other three followed.

Kirihara didn't look back as he exited the library. The four of them walked down the road, and caught the last bus.

Author Note: And there's the second chapter, I hope you enjoyed it. Review are greatly appreciated!