A/N: I finished chapter 3 faster then I thought I woul, so I decided to post the second chapter. And, as fast as I'm writing chapter four, I may have chapter three out by the end of this week. Woo! Also, I have some things to tell all of you. The dream characters may be OOC because, well, they're in a different time and all. And, so far, there is some gender bending and yaoi (and I know a lot of people like yaoi). This stoy's shaping up to be one of my better works so far. Oh, and thank you to the people that reviewed! I'm so glad people are enjoying this! Now, here's the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Prince of Tennis. I am merely playing in Takeshi Konomi's sandbox.
Niou Masaharu was never one to sleep in class. He might trick his teachers into thinking he was sleeping, but he never slept. But when his math teacher called on him to wake up, the trickster did not stir from his sleeping position with a smirk and a wise comment on how he wasn't sleeping. Just this once, Niou Masaharu had slept during class.
"I can't believe you actually fell asleep," Marui's voice was the first one to reach Niou's ears when classes ended for the day.
"I just had a bad nights sleep. I'll be fine in the morning," Niou tried to assure the red head but he wasn't buying it.
"Niou, even when you don't have a good nights sleep you're still in tip top shape," Marui insisted.
"It's probably because of that weird box he made me lug to his room," Kirihara joined the two third year's conversation.
"Box? Wait until fukubuchou gets wind of this. Niou was sleeping in class because of a box!"
After announcing to the regulars of Niou's new contraption, and telling his own story behind it, the whole Rikkaidai team found themselves in Niou's room staring at the gypsy behind the glass.
"There's a seventy-nine percent chance that Niou's done something utterly stupid with this," Yanagi deduced after his own inspection of the object. Behind Yanagi's back, Kirihara had pushed the button and two cards had slipped out of the slot.
"Jackpot! I got two cards! Score one for Kirihara Akaya!" Kirihara cheered but Yanagi snatched them from the second year's hands. After reading them he showed them to the other regulars. The first read:
Akaya Groton
Kitchen Boy for the Braxton family
Newport, Rhode Island 1847
And the second:
Ryou Smith
Kitchen Boy for the Braxton family
Newport, Rhode Island 1847
"It seems as though Niou was telling the truth when it came to the cards," Yanagi announced. "And it seems as though if you hold the same position as someone else you also get their card."
"But then Niou would have received Ohtori's and Atobe's cards when he received his own," Jackal pointed out.
"I did not realize that point, Jackal, until Akaya received his own card. When I was inspecting Niou's card I found that the other two cards were merely stuck to the back of his own. Niou didn't notice them because these first three cards were thinner then a normal sheet of paper but the other two are there." Yanagi paused." After going over countless options I have picked out who is the next possible person to get more then one card. That person is Sanada."
Although Sanada wanted to protested, he halfheartedly agreed and pushed the wondrous button on the strange box. And, out of the slot, came two cards.
The first:
Genichirou Michaels
Butler to Keigo Braxton
Newport, Rhode Island 1847
And the second:
Kabaji Woods
Butler to Keigo Braxton
Newport, Rhode Island 1847
"It's just like that narcissistic bastard to have to butlers," Niou rolled his eyes at the cards. "But since fukubuchou's one of them I could live with that. More jokes for me."
Sanada glowered at the trickster and resisted the intense urge to backhand him across the face.
"This is quite the device to give out information of the past," Yagyuu made his way to the machine and, for a moment's time, touched the glass. From there a card popped out of the slot.
Hiroshi Johns
Waiter to the Braxton family
Newport, Rhode Island 1847
"Interesting, it seems as though if you are to receive a card, you merely have to touch this object to get one." with this, Yanagi put his own hand to the box and nothing popped out. "I wonder why nothing happened."
"Maybe it's because Niou-senpai passed out."
And, sure enough, there was Niou, passed out on the floor of his room; possibly entering another dream from the past.
As the remaining members of the regulars attempted to wake his sleeping self, Niou was transported back into the Braxton mansion. This time, the trickster found himself in a deserted staff hallway with Masaharu in it. The wealthy second son was leaning on the right wall with his arms crossed over his chest, sighing deeply. The other silver haired boy took a glance down where Niou had seated himself and had looked directly into his eyes but quickly looked away, almost like he had seen the present day boy.
Finally the door nearest to Masaharu had opened and out stepped what appeared to be Niou's best friend and double's partner, Yagyuu Hiroshi.
"Hi-ro-shi, what took you so long?" Masaharu drew out the purple haired boy's name out just as Niou did with Yagyuu.
"I'm sorry, Master Masaharu. You know how much work there is to be done in kitchen," Niou shivered as Hiroshi talked. His calm tone matched his double's partners so well it was terrifying. "And you should know that Lady Braxton runs her house like a business. Though I'd rather not admit it, she is a difficult woman to get along with. Wouldn't you agree, Master Masaharu?"
"I told you," Masaharu pushed off from his place on the wall," call me Haru when it's just the two of us." Lips met lips as two lovers kissed. Hiroshi intertwined his fingers into the teen's long silver hair and deepened the kiss they held. Masaharu slowly backed up the purple haired boy until his back met the solid wall, far from where either door lay. Clothes began to be discarded as the simple kiss became more intense.
Not wanting to watch the scene before him continue to unfold, Niou took a try at passing through walls which worked out in his favor. He worked his way through several rooms, some full of clothes others full of small treasures, until he found himself in the kitchens with four boys he recognized as the Kirihara, Shishido, Kabaji, and Sanada of his time.
"I swear to God Lady Braxton hates me! She's always glaring in my direction when she comes in here, like she wants me to drop dead on the spot. I swear, if I wasn't doing this to help my family, I'd push her in the Atlantic Ocean with an anchor tied around her ankle!" Akaya growled.
"At least she doesn't pay you a ton of attention. I get enough attention from Master Keigo. I personally think he watches me like a lion staring at a hunk of meat," Genichirou complained.
"Is the ever so serious Genichirou Michaels complaining? I believe he is. Quick! Someone record it for future reference!" Ryou tried to hold back his laughter but it didn't end up being as effective as he would have liked it to be.
"You try spending twenty-four hours a day being watch by him like a piece of meat and then what's worth complaining about." Sanada looked over at the largest boy." Don't you agree with me, Kabaji?"
The largest boy nodded his head and uttered a 'yes'.
"The only reason Ryou's so happy is because he get's to see Master Choutarou now," the emphasis on the third son's name turned the other shorter boy's face bright red.
"Shut up! I'm happy because the Braxton family's all together-"
"Which Master Choutarou's apart of."
"And I don't have to listen to just Lady Braxton-"
"Because you listen to Master Choutarou more then her."
"And I get to spend time in their summer cottage-"
"Which means more time in Master Choutarou's bed having-"
"Akaya, stop! I get it!" blushing furiously, Shishido left the group. "I have to go somewhere."
"Where?" Akaya asked.
"Anywhere but here," he called over his shoulder.
"Preferably somewhere with Master Choutarou probably," Akaya muttered into Genichirou's ear. The curly haired boy soon found himself dodging pots and pans coming from the direction Ryou had taken his leave in.
And with that, Niou found himself waking up in his time.