A/N: Aha! So I did manage to churn out another chapter. Hopefully, this one is better than the last. During third period today I scribbled the outline for 'The Doppleganger' madly into my notebook. Hopefully, it'll turn out as fabulous as it is on the outline. Haha. I know I should've been studying but I dislike the end of the year; teachers always find a way to squeeze in a last minute test or project. Besides, being a senior and all, you'd think they could care less but alas... Anyways, about this: I thought I was getting a little carried away but I think it turned out alright. And to answer some questions:
First and foremost, thank you so much for those who've reviewed.
Lahdolphin: Thank you! Marui and Niou like to bicker like an old married couple. Teehee. Unfortunately, I think happy-happy-joy-joy Marui/Niou will be saved for another time. (: I actually figured out why I wanted to use ' instead of " today. There is a method to my madness.
Mimi: Thank you! Marui is not sick...in the medical sense. You know, I'm not really sure myself. Haha. But don't worry, there'll be plenty of drama rama. Their relationship is open for interpretation, really.
lokica: Thank you! Marui always needs some lovin'.
The rant was a bit long but I do hope you enjoy.
Day Two
'Where's Yagyuu?' Someone asked.
Marui shrugged in response.
The gentleman failed to show up to class, again. But, it was nothing out of the ordinary. Many students, especially during this time of the year, fell sick easily. Marui wasn't surprised to find the gentleman still absent; he figured Yagyuu needed some time off from his hectic schedule.
'I could really use some time off…' The red-head sighed under his breath.
He began emptying the contents of his bag. If he was going to have to stay here for more than six hours then might as well get comfortable. Marui felt an arm drape over his shoulder and he groaned when he heard that oh-so familiar voice.
'Hey, Marui-chan…' The trickster purred.
'You sound revoltingly horrendous today.' The bubblegum-lover felt proud of today's remark. He had to put up with this annoyance so might as well get a damn kick out of it.
Marui was about to come up with another witty remark when he saw the familiar glint in Niou's eyes.
'Well, sunshine…' The trickster started, 'At least I don't have to stay after for make-up classes.'
Marui felt the anger boiling within him; suddenly, the duo's conversation was interrupted by a familiar voice.
'Niou…' It was Jackal, Marui's doubles partner, 'I don't think you should tease Bunta that much.'
The red-head felt grateful for the intervention.
'Hmm…' Niou said in a sing-song voice, 'I'm just teasing our Marui-chan. He doesn't take any offense to it...right, Marui-chan?'
The bubble-gum-chewing genius scowled in annoyance and refused to answer the trickster. Instead, he turned to his doubles partner.
'Jackal, what are you doing here?' The red-head asked.
'Oh.', Jackal paused momentarily, 'I was on my way here to congratulate Niou.'
He turned away from his partner and faced the trickster, 'Congratulations on being number ten on the mock exam, Niou.'
He extended his hands and shook with Niou.
Marui was too shell-shocked for words.
'Goddamn it.' The red-head swore under his breath.
A familiar smirk found its way onto Niou's countenance, 'If you ask nicely, Marui-chan, I'll gladly help you.'
The trickster draped his arm over the red-head's shoulder, once again. This time Marui shook it off; the feelings of envy made Marui angry and bitter. He didn't have to deal with this; there were too many things to worry about. It wasn't worth it to bicker endlessly with the trickster.
'By the way,' Marui heard Niou ask, 'what was Marui's ranking?'
Jackal paused.
'I…uh…,' He began nervously, 'have to get back to class. So, see you guys later!'
With that last statement, he ran off. Marui groaned in frustration.
'Marui-chan…' Niou began.
'Just…just shut up.' The red-head cut off the trickster; Marui felt too tired to put up with Niou's remarks and sat down, his arms crossed and his eyes staring at the surface of his desk.
Niou shrugged his shoulders and waltzed over to his own desk, a sly smile on his face.
Today's lessons were also exceptionally boring; Marui felt himself nod off once or twice. During the third time he almost fell asleep, Marui was called up to answer the question. The red-head had chosen a bad time to get caught; he walked up to the board and realized that he could not answer the question that was posed. He sighed in exasperation and furrowed his brows. Today was just not his day.
Marui was about to explain that he had no answer to the question when the bell rang.
'Well, Marui-san...let's try to pay attention next time, shall we?' The biting tone of his Sensei's statement was only shadowed by the rush of students running out the door.
Marui let out a tired sigh. He rubbed his temples in an attempt to get his brain jogging. His day wasn't over yet. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the trickster leave the room, a sly smile on his face.
'I'll be at practice, sunshine!' He heard the trickster yell out, 'Have fun at your remedial class!'
Marui watched as Niou's back escaped into the darkness of the corridor.
'Ah, that's right,' his Sensei said, as if remembering something important, 'Your remedial class has been switched to room 1-D. You'll be under Matsuda-sensei's care.'
The red-head disliked the whole premise of remedial classes. Sure, he wasn't a top-notch student but he wasn't dumb. Marui was just bad at retaining information. Nevertheless, the red-head packed his bag and made his way to room 1-D.
The bubble-gum lover trekked slowly down the corridor; his head hung down as he walked with heavy steps. He arrived at room 1-D and slowly slid the door open. As he walked in, he looked about the room. Some students had already arrived but Matsuda-sensei was nowhere to be found. Marui made his way into the room, glancing at each student as he walked to a seat in the back. A girl sat in the front of the room; her face was heavily powdered with makeup and she sat sideways in her seat. In one hand she held a mirror. In the other, she held a small stick of red lip gloss. She puckered her lips while applying the gooey substance. The afternoon sun cast an orange glow on the hooded figure that sat in the corner near the front. His head was leaning against the window and Marui noticed the protruding headphones that covered his ears. In the middle of the room, a student was sleeping on his desk. Drool found its way out of his mouth and he snorted as he slept. A pair of students sat in the back corner: One was also sleeping and his free arm dangled off the side of his desk; the other sat stoically, flipping through the pages of the book he held in his hands. Marui sat down in a seat close to the student sleeping in the middle and awaited the arrival of Matsuda-sensei.
Matsuda-sensei arrived five minutes later with her hair a mess and a mountainous pile of books in her hands. She dropped the pile of books onto her desk and let out a sigh of relief. She gave a glance about the room.
'Well,' she said, 'Let's get started.'
She started to arrange the materials, writing on the blackboard important information the students needed for their classes.
'Could someone please wake Yoshida-san up?' She asked while writing.
Marui realized that Matsuda-sensei was talking about the duo that sat to the left. He saw the stoic student slightly nudge the sleeping one. He awoke, albeit groggily.
'Then, let's begin.' Matsuda-sensei placed her book upon the podium and began the lecture.
Marui was alert for the most part of the remedial class but the rhythmic tapping of Matsuda-sensei's chalk upon the blackboard was tortuous to his ears. The fading sun in the distance was no help; The red-head felt his head bobbing up and down. He glanced to the left and dropped his pen in shock.
'Yagyuu…' He whispered.
There sat Yagyuu staring directly at the bubble-gum lover, a sly smile on his face that was highly uncharacteristic of the gentleman.
'Marui-san,' Matsuda-sensei's voice broke the red-head out of his shock, 'is something the matter?'
He found himself staring at the pair of students- the stoic one raising his eyebrows in confusion.
'Ah, I'm sorry,' Marui bent down to pick up his pen, 'it's nothing.'
'Very well.' Matsuda-sensei turned her back and faced the chalkboard, returning to write with the same rhythmic motion.
At the end of Matsuda-sensei's lecture, Marui leaned back in his chair and let out a big yawn. He still had a few more days left of remedial classes and he wasn't sure if he could last much longer.
'Marui-san…' He looked up to see Matsuda-sensei motioning for him to go towards her desk. Marui realized that the other students had already left. He hurriedly packed his bag and made his way towards Matsuda-sensei's desk.
'Yes, Sensei?' He asked.
'Marui-san, is everything alright?' Her face was full of concern, 'Ichinose-sensei tells me that your grades have been slipping lately. That seems highly uncharacteristic of a student like you.'
Marui grinned embarrassedly, 'Ah…I've just been having trouble concentrating.'
'Is it because of practice?' She asked, 'Ichinose-sensei tells me you've been falling asleep during class too. I hope you're not practicing too hard during tennis. Maybe I can ask them to…'
Her voice trailed off.
'Oh, no.' Marui started, 'it doesn't have to do with practice. I've just been having trouble falling asleep but it's nothing.'
'Alright…if you say so.' The look upon Matsuda-sensei's face told Marui she wasn't convinced.
He gave her a sheepish grin and made his way out the room. He rushed down the dark corridor - his steps being quick and light. As he ran, the strange image of Yagyuu lingered in his mind.