Sakia: (looks around house, and pokes at tinsel) Early merry Christmas to all! Hope that all your wishes come true! Here's the next chapter...hope that you'll enjoy! Since it's Christmas time, Candy canes to those who had reviewed my last chapter! (Hands out candies )
Disclaimer: Nope. Owning PoT is one of my unresolved wishes. Wishing wells don't work that well yet.
Chapter three: The Date.
"Ne. Kuni-chan. would you like to go on a date with me tomorrow?" Arjuna asked after tennis practice. Although she had not officially joined the club, she understood that Ryuuzaki-sensei would not let her slide away that easily. Now she was the unofficial helper for the recruitment of the other players to the team. Not that she minded of course. It allowed her more chance to stay near the tennis courts.
"Juna. Don't be silly."
"So I'll take that as a yes?"
"..."
"Kay. Yes it is! Then see you tomorrow at ten, location's at the carnival in town right now. Oh and it is a Saturday so don't be late! Ja. I'll go home first!"
Tezuka sighed. How the heavens must hate him now. The whispering murmurs of the club members that had overheard the conversation were getting louder too.
Just then, Tezuka prayed (something that he had been doing daily now) that this would be over soon. Or that god would just give him another bottle of aspirin.
"Uwaa Tezuka-buchou is going on a date. A date na Oiishi!"
"Eiji. Stop teasing Tezuka." But Oishi was curious. It wasn't like his other best friend to go on a date with such an outspoken person. Ah, but, he thought, around Tezuka almost everyone is outspoken. He just talks too little.
Watching Tezuka pack up to leave, he added. "Ah Tezuka? Ryuuzaki-sensei said that the all the ten of the chosen members would be taking part in the ranking matches. She wishes that you be informed of that."
"Ah. Thank you for informing me. I'll be leaving now. See you next practice. Oishi."
After Tezuka had left, Eiji being the very curious neko as usual suggested that they followed Tezuka on that proposed date. Of course everyone agreed. Well, Fuji, Inui and Momoshiro did. The rest just had to follow their boyfriends and keep them out of trouble yes?
-------------------------------------------------------
Little did they know, all the way opposite of Tokyo, another tennis team was plotting the exact same thing.
"Ne Yuushi. Atobe is going on a date. And a girl too. Isn't that weird? I mean, there is no one that looks and behaves more positively gay that he does." Gakuto commented.
"And you don't, Mukahi?" Shishido retorted.
"Hey at least I'm open about my sexual orientation. Unlike some." Gakuto glared back.
"Well, that's because you have no choice, if you want to pounce on Oshitari everytime and you guys have to learn to go get a room. Not everyone wants to see you and him make out."
"Shishido-sempai!"
Oshitari Yuushi smirked at the scene that was unfolding in front of his eyes. Surely he could use this to his advantage. Although, he already had suspicions on what the date really is about, he wasn't a tensai for nothing, Yuushi still had a minor doubt. Who was Atobe really going out with? He did have a mental list of candidates though.
"If you are so curious, why not follow Atobe? I'm sure that won't be too hard."
"Yuushi! That's a great idea. Ne, is everyone in?"
"Ah...Gakuto-sempai, I don't think following Atobe-buchou is a good idea." Choutarou voiced his thoughts. Ah well, since he was the only logical person there, it was obvious that his kind suggestion would be turned down right?
"Yosh! Let's put operation Follow-the-buchou in action!"
Yuushi just had to congratulate himself on his brilliance.
-------------------------------------------------------
"Ne, Yuko-chan. Saturday's plan might be a bit difficult to pull through na. I know for one that Fuji Syuusuke from Seigaku knows something already. Oh and Yuushi-san would definitely know." Arjuna pouted, leaning against her lover.
"Oshitari-kun?" The doctor asked amused. Yuko had seen the blue-haired tensai when she visited the tennis club on her Juna-koi's request.
Playing with the strands of her lover's light blond tresses, she murmured. "He knows."
"Knows?" Yuko questioned, patting her lover's head, it was a good thing that Juna was shorter than her. "Who? Keigo-chan and Tezuka-kun?"
"Iie, us. He, for bloody god knows what reason, was tapping my phone."
"Language, dear."
"Hai. hai."
"Well then we would have to exceed his schemes won't we?"
Arjuna smiled widely. Ahhh, her lover wasn't a genius young doctor for nothing.
-------------------------------------------------------
(That Saturday)
Tezuka didn't know why in seven hells did he even bother to turn up. Ah, yes, he remembered. Arjuna had promised to turn this into a real date after all...and he really wanted to spent time with Atobe, seemingly that they were from different schools and all.
Oh and let's not forget that Keigo had also promised him a good time.
"But," he mentally thought. "Who is going to get rid of those nosey people, of my team." then he spotted the distant image of Shishido. "and his?" Tezuka would have counted that one of the Regulars, namely either Fuji or Kikumaru to follow. This would result in their boyfriends to follow too. Inui on the other hand is a definite. One word. Data. Of course Kaidou would then tag along. Since everyone was already included, why not add Momoshiro and Ryoma? He pitied his young protégé. Surely it must be harmful to hang out with a bunch of crazy people everyday.
Well, at least he was smart enough to know that they would follow, not that they did a very good job of hiding anyway.
"Kuni-chan!" Glomp. "At least she has better stalking skills than my team." Tezuka thought mildly.
"Juna. Get off me."
"Nope."
"Get off." Arjuna giggled. Ah she was having so much fun. "Well," she climbed off his back. "Let's get going?"
"Juna you do know that they are here right?" Tezuka asked in a whisper, still looking as stoic as ever.
"Um hm. But don't worry, Yuko-chan would cover it all!" Juna answered. "There they are! YUKO! Kei-chan!"
Tezuka face faulted. This is how they are going to cover it? What did they think their teams were stupid or something?
Mildly making out an exclamation in the distance, Tezuka confirmed a thought. Yes. His team was not the brightest bulbs of the bunch.
-------------------------------------------------------
"UWAA! A DOUBLE DATE? AND WITH ATOBE TOO? AND WHO IS THAT pretty Onee-san?"
"Shush Eiji! They'll hear us. This is interesting."
"Che. Monkey king? Buchou should have more taste than that."
"Well it makes sense. Arjuna-san is Atobe's cousin. And from my data that other woman besides Atobe is Yuko J. Kaiba. She was Tezuka's therapist when he was injured."
"You know her?" "Every data on Tezuka is essential."
"Okay...so this kinda means that you know everything that is to know about her background but you don't know her personally?" Momoshiro commented.
"It's important to know what may influence my competition."
"Are! Isn't those the Seigaku brats?"
"Mou Gakuto-sempai. Be nice." The Seigaku regulars turned to see the faces of the Hyoutei regular team. At least most of them. Jirou seemed to have fallen asleep somewhere already.
"Arh, Oshitari-kun na? Have you seen that?" Yuushi nodded at the resident tensai of the Seigaku team. Arh well, he thought. It looks like only him and the other had really understood the meaning of the double date. "Or maybe not only us." Oshitari thought, registering the Seigaku's first year's smirk. "Ah. That is one guy you also had to look out for."
"Saa Who would have known. Are you very sure that this is the truth?" Fuji asked, taking advantage of the now quarreling two team's noise to cover his conversation with the other tensai.
"Quite. Since Tezuka was on my list of people Atobe would chase. Anyway it is most likely true since I'm sure that Juna-chan and Yuko-sensei are together."
Fuji raised his eyebrow at this interesting tidbit. "Saa A real double date ka?"
"Hmm. Question is how long have they been hiding from us?" Oshitari stated. Looking at the other, he asked. "Aren't you jealous or something? Since I noticed that you always stare at Atobe when we have matches. I mean don't you disapprove or something?"
"Well, I don't really mind either way but Tezuka is important to me. And too all the other regulars too." Fuji opened his eyes. "So if he hurts him in anyway, there will be revenge to pay."
"Eh? I thought that you would wish to have a relationship with Tezuka you know."
"I did. But he turned me down. I don't know whether it was due to Atobe, or simply because he is not interested though. Anyway, I think I found someone more special." Fuji concluded, observing Kawamura from the corner of his eye. Takashi was trying to stop the two bickering acrobats of the team from fighting, of course with the help of Oishi and Otori.
"Ah." Oshitari answered. Before going to help in keeping his lover away from causing himself more bodily harm, he added. "Well, yours better not hurt our buchou too."
"Ah."
-------------------------------------------------------
"Yuko? Are they still following?"
Yuko glanced slightly in the direction she thought that the others were. "Nope. Looks like it worked."
"What worked?" Tezuka and Atobe asked simultiously.
"Pitting your team against each other. They were quarreling quite well before we left. Although, I'm not sure if I succeeded with Oshitari-kun though. I guess some blackmail later may have to be done."
"Yay! Yuko-chan is the bestest!"
"Yuko-sensei. You sure that it is alright?" Tezuka asked.
"How many times must I say about the sensei part? It should be okay Tezuka-kun. I mean the only real problem is Keigo's father isn't it? Your 'family' is okay with it."
"Hai. I guess it's so." Tezuka answered understanding Yuko's double entrée of the word.
"Okay since that's all settled, Shoo! I want to spent quality time with Yuko-chan."
"It'll be my pleasure, Juna." Keigo answered pulling Kunimistu away from the other two.
Watching the two leave, Juna sighed. "Ah...I hope that they would be okay..."
"Daijoubu na. Juna-koi."
"They are both strong people after all."
-------------------------------------------------------
"Na Tezuka. It bothers you doesn't it?" Atobe asked suddenly as they both watched the sunset in the distance from the hill that he had pulled him too. Mentally, Tezuka noted that it was the same hill that they had went to see the sunrise many times too. Oishi was not the first one to know of this beautiful place.
"What does?" Tezuka questioned, stroking Keigo's hair as the said person laid his head on Tezuka's lap.
"That we can't be out of the closet. I mean I know that my team may be shocked and irritating if I tell them, but they'll get over it. Yours actually obey you so much that I don't think it matters. But my family...no, my father he would never approve." Keigo sighed. "I'm sorry."
Tezuka frowned slightly. True the major obstacle to their relationship was Atobe Senior. Keigo, no matter how great he was at getting his way had one barrier that he was forbidden to cross, and that was to get disapproval from his father. After all he was to be the successor of the great Atobe fortune. And if Keigo could get his way with so many things, they both knew that Senior could get away with more. Breaking them up, weather by force or not, was not an impossible task.
And he knew how much that bothered Keigo. Ruffling his koi's silvery-purple hair, he gave a slight smile in his direction. "Don't be."
"Mitsu-chan? Do you ever regret?"
"Being with you? Not really." Tezuka answered truthfully.
"Thanks, but I really mean, do you ever regret anything before?"
"Keigo. People are not prefect. They make mistakes. I do too."
"You?" Atobe smirked. "Naw, you are too perfect. Of course I'll say I'm perfect too but that's common knowledge right?"
"I do."
"You know, I nearly went out with Sanada when you were at Germany. I guess the fact that I went overboard and fear that you would hate me when you came back stuck me hard." Keigo said placidly. "Not that I didn't regret afterwards, that guy may like tango like I do but I think his buchou is more important to him. Besides, he is more of a wood block then you are."
"Well, I'm glad that relationship didn't turn out right. And you do know that I don't blame you for my injury. And it is not that I had not had other crushes before too. Fuji is a good example." Tezuka answered. Thinking for a moment he added. "Although I don't know if I should take that last sentence you said as a complement."
Both of them turned silent for a moment, savouring the quiet rightness of each other's presence.
"We can't be perfect humans Keigo."
"Arh, but we can try to be." Keigo jibbed. "After all, I do want you to be awed at my prowess right?"
Tezuka shook his head in slight exasperation. Atobe smiled. Standing up and extending his lover a hand, he hoisted him up.
"Ah we shouldn't waste this chance right? Yuko offered me her rented apartment for the night. She is staying with Juna today. Of course you'll have to call back home right?"
"Maybe I should let them fret once in a while."
"Ah. At least they worry." Keigo smiled wistfully.
"Well. I'll worry for you."
"You sure?"
Tezuka smiled. "Well I may have to increase my intake of aspirin, but I think I'll manage."
"Tha...Hey. What does that mean?" Keigo muttered. Tezuka just chuckled and carried on walking down the hill.
"Hey! Don't ignore Ore-sama like that!" Atobe shouted as he gracefully chased after Tezuka.
And under the starless night sky, all the couples in the world said the same prayer of love.
The sweet hymn of joy.
Author notes: Ahhh...I turned it to sappy Atotezu at the end. Should I continue? I still have more chapters but this sounds like some kind of ending too...Review pls? (Treat it as a Christmas present for little old moi? Wibbles...) C & C appricated!
