Chapter Three Seigaku's Mascot

"What? How is he your brother?" Tezuka asked in surprise, but trying to keep a straight face.

"I know it's weird, but I am a human. I was forced into my demon form, which is this cat, for more then four thousand years. Fuji is my full brother. Our father separated us, trapped me in my demon form and took Fuji and one of my other brothers into the human world, where he trapped them in their humans forms. They don't know or have any memories of what they have caged inside them. I know it's confusing but once I get my strength back, I'll be able to explain more and help you understand." Kento replied calmly and relieved that she found one of her missing brothers.

"If you've been stuck in that form for more than four thousand years, then how is it possible for you to be alive and Fuji?" Tezuka asked still surprised and failing to keep a straight face.

"You see, I am demon. We have a certain amount of lives. I for example had 104 lives. I currently have 54. I've lost 50 lives with in four thousand years. Fuji is the same except he has 104 lives." Kento replied calmly, she continued, "I am sorry Tezuka, I am too weak to explain more. When we get home maybe I can explain more."

"Hey Tezuka, is there something wrong?" Asked a voice from behind him. Tezuka turned around to face his speaker. It was Inui.

"No, nothings wrong Inui. I just remembered something I have to do. That's all." Tezuka replied calmly, trying to hide his surprise.

"If you say so." Inui replied with aw shrug.

"That's Inui, he's the brain of Seigaku. He uses a different type of tennis called data tennis. Pretty much he uses data he collects from his opponents against them." Tezuka told Kento in his mind.

"He has an interesting way of playing. I would like to see him during a match." Kento replied softly.

"Rest. You need it." Tezuka ordered her."

"I will." Kento replied still in a soft voice.

"8th and 9th grade practice, 7th grade pick up balls!" Tezuka yelled to everyone on the court.

"Yes sir!" Everyone shouted.

"Even the regulars?" Oishi asked unsure.

"Yes, except Fuji. I need to talk to him alone." Tezuka replied in his usual tone.

"Tezuka, you can't ask him or tell him about me. He has no memory of me. Only when we are in human form will he remember. And I am stuck in my demon form." Kento meowed to him in his head seriously.

"Don't worry I am not going to ask him or tell him anything about you. I am just going to ask him to come over to my house later." Tezuka replied calmly.

"Even at your house he can't know about me!" Kento replied in protest.

"Why is it so important for you to stay hidden from everyone, but me?" Tezuka asked seriously and trying to make a point.

"Because…I…"Kento was cut off.

"You do want to meet your brother again even if he doesn't know it don't you?" Tezuka asked amused, but in a nice voice.

"You have a point. I do miss him, but I have to keep looking for my other brother." Kento replied in a defeated voice.

"Hey Tezuka, you wanted to talk to me?" Fuji asked a little worried, but calm.

"Yes. I need you to come over to my place after tennis practice. There's someone I want you to meet." Tezuka replied in his usual tone.

"Ok. You scared me for a minute. I thought something was wrong." Fuji replied as he sighed with relief, he continued, "So anyways who is it you want me to meet?"

"I can't tell you much now. At my place I can tell you more." Tezuka replied as he watched Oishi and Eiji return the ball to each other.

"Is it some type of secret?" Fuji asked trying to be nosey.

"Yes. Now go practice with Echizen." Tezuka ordered.

"Fine." Fuji replied as he walked over to Echizen.

"Hey Echizen, Tezuka wants us to practice together." Fuji told him.

"Wow! Ryoma, you get to practice with Shusuke Fuji. That's so cool. Man you're so lucky." Horio commented.

"Yeah, it seems I am." Ryoma replied like he didn't care.

"Is that Ryoma Echizen?" Kento asked Tezuka in his mind.

"Yes. How do you know him?" Tezuka asked surprised again.

"Well, I've been to his house before and nearly got my fur ripped off by his cat, but I deserved it. I was on his territory after all. But anyways, I've seen him play against his father. He got skill, but he just can't seem to beat him father. You know who his father is right?" Kento asked unsure.

"Yes. He was a tennis legend. But now he's retired. Why do you ask?" Tezuka asked calmly but still surprised.

"If you watch Ryoma closely, you can see that he follows in his father's footsteps. His father has passed his skills as a tennis legend down to his son. And that's why Ryoma plays tennis, to learn anything he can that will help him beat his father. Plus he loves it. If he could play tennis in his sleep, I bet he would." Kento replied wisely. Tezuka didn't replie, he just watched Ryoma and Fuji practicing.

"You're right Kento. I can see what you're talking about now. He would be good for the team." Tezuka replied calmly.

"Yes, he would be real good for your team. He will take Seigaku far." Kento replied wisely. Then Kento's ears twitched as they picked up the sound of hissing.

"What's that hissing sound?" Kento asked unsure and alert.

"That's just Kaidoh. He normally hisses like that when he's not happy. We call him the viper because he sounds like a snake and he's known for using a shot called the snakeshot when he plays tennis. It's not a bad move. It's his signature." Tezuka replied calmly.

"Can you describe him to me? He sounds a lot like my other brother. His name was Kaidoh and he hissed a lot and acted mean and tough when really he was just lonely and soft at heart." Kento meowed as hope began to rise in hers chest and she became restless.

"Sure. He wears bandanas all the time, he's tall and thin. He has a cool guy kind of attitude and he's a handful when he's mad. Momoshiro and him don't get along very much. They're always fighting each other and trying to out do the other." Tezuka replied as he watched Kaidoh leaning against the fence.

"That's my brother for you. Ever since that day, our father hurt him, he's had a hard time getting along with people. I was the only one he trusted after that day. I feel so bad for him." Kento replied in a regretful and sad voice.

"He's a demon too?" Tezuka asked feeling bad for both of them.

"Yes but he's only half. We share the same father." Kento replied sadly as memories ran through her mind.

"Do you want me to ask him to come over too?" Tezuka asked feeling pity for her.

"No maybe another day. I am just glad I found both of my brothers. And know that they're ok and happy." Kento replied still having flash backs.

"Ok. Get some rest. Tennis practice is almost over." Tezuka replied calmly and with pity in his voice.

"I will, but I have a question for you." Kento replied calmly and a sound of peace in her voice.

"And what would that be?" Tezuka asked watching the team practice.

"Why is everyone else practicing but you?" Kento asked calmly and soft.

"I hurt my left elbow in my first year here. So I can't play much. Plus I have to watch my teammates to see how well they're doing." Tezuka replied with regret and sadness in his voice, he continued, "Rest now."

"Ok." Kento replied calmly and softly.

Once tennis practice was over, Tezuka and his teammates changed into their uniforms for school and carried out the rest of the day in school. It was 2:30p.m when school let out. Tezuka and his teammates returned to the courts for their after school practice.

"Hey Tezuka, what should we do for today?" Oishi asked calmly.

"All of you run 20 laps. "Tezuka replied in usual tone.

"Right!" Everyone shouted before they started running laps.

"Tezuka that seems like a lot of training you've asked of them." Kento meowed surprised.

"It might sound like a lot to you but its actually less than what they normally do." Tezuka replied calmly.

"How long is practice?" Kento asked

"Today is an hour or an hour and a half. Why?" Tezuka replied calmly and watching the team run laps.

"No reason." Kento replied.

"If you say so." Tezuka replied calmly. Kento remained silent the rest of practice. Once practice was over, Tezuka, Fuji and Oishi walked home together.

They stopped at the bench to say good-bye to Oishi then they continued to Tezuka's house. Once at his house, Tezuka and Fuji took off their shoes and put them away. Then they went upstairs to Tezuka's room. When they were in his room, Tezuka shut the door and sat his tennis bag down in the corner. Fuji placed his tennis bag next to Tezuka's then he pulled out the chair that goes to his desk and sat on it backwards. Tezuka sat down on his bed.

"So who's this person you wanted me to meet?" Fuji asked calmly and curiously.

"Before I introduce her you have to swear that you wont tell anyone at school. This is strictly between the two of us." Tezuka replied seriously.

"I swear I wont tell anyone anything that you tell me or show me. It was not leave this room and remain between the two of us." Fuji replied seriously. Tezuka hesitated looking into Fuji's endless blue eyes, he knew he could trust Fuji.

"Ok, then I'll introduce her." Tezuka replied as he unzipped his jacket and stuck his hand in to grab Kento. Fuji watched as Tezuka pulled the cream colored cat out of his jacket. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"You had that in your jacket all day?" Fuji asked in an unbelievable tone.

"Yes. I found her last night in the park. She's badly injured, but I've been treating her wounds. I gave her shots for any diseases she might have. And I gave her a bath. So she doesn't have fleas. She's very nice for a stray. I think she was a regular house cat. I think her owners didn't want her any more so they ditched her or she ran away. But my parents don't know about her and they might not let me keep her. So I would appreciate it if you'd help me take care of her by taking her for awhile when things are rough here." Tezuka replied hopefully.

"I don't know Tezuka. That's a major thing you're asking me." Fuji replied as he petted the cat in between her ears and listening to her purr, he continued, "Does she have a name?"

"I've been calling her Kento. And she's responded to it perfectly." Tezuka replied calmly and smiled to himself as he heard Kento purring. Fuji didn't replie, he just stared at the cat and petted it.

"I'll take her when things get to much for you." Fuji replied after a few moments of silence.

""Thanks Fuji. I appreciate it." Tezuka replied gratefully.

"I just thought of something." Fuji replied as he looked up at Tezuka.

"What?" Tezuka asked curiously.

"All the other tennis teams have a mascot but we don't." Fuji replied excitedly.

"So what's your point?" Tezuka replied more curious.

"What if we made her our mascot?" Fuji replied as he pointed at Kento.

"What do you think Kento?" Tezuka asked out loud.

"It's perfect. I have no where else to go so why not." Kento meowed in his head as her cat form meowed its approval.

"She likes it." Fuji replied happily.

"Then its settled. From this day on, Kento is Seigaku's mascot." Tezuka replied calmly. Fuji nodded his agreement and Kento meowed. Then Fuji looked at the time.

"Oh, man. I've got to go. My mom will kill me if I am late. See you tomorrow. Call me later tonight if you want. And I wont say a word about this." Fuji replied as he grabbed his tennis bag.

"I can't call you tonight but before I leave for school in the morning I can." Tezuka replied. Fuji just nodded then he left and closed the door behind him. Tezuka grabbed a can of cat food and put it on the floor for Kento. So she could eat her dinner. Then he grabbed his book, laid on his bed and began to read. Once Kento had finished her dinner and threw out the can, she jumped up onto the bed and curled up on his chest. Not long after that they were both asleep.

To be continued…..

Keep watch for chapter for Bear in the shed.