CHAPTER THREE: Haunting Past I Have To Kiss Who?!

Hey Bob,

It has been a while since I wrote in you. Well I have been in Japan for about two weeks now. Things are finally heating up for our tennis team. We defeated Fudomine a few days ago. I found out something funny: Ryoma can't play doubles if his life depended on it. HAHAHA! Anyways, when Ryoma had his match against Ibu I got so scared when his racket broke and a piece hit his eye! But being Ryoma he didn't give up and ended up winning. He got the stubbornness from Dad, and I happened to get it too. Sadly…

I have been opening up more lately. That is why the guys tease me saying I am worse then Kawamura, I keep switching from crimson to navy blue…

I made an important decision Bob, and I hope it is the right one.

Once more, just once more I am going to let others come into my heart, just one more time.

If they break it too I promise to myself, to never make new friends again. I am just too scared to feel more pain since past scars haven't healed themselves just yet. You know it is funny, I always tell other people:

"Once you have already fallen, there is nothing left to do but get up."

Yet when Ryoma asked me why I haven't moved on I couldn't answer.

I fell down really hard, and now that I think about it, even though the only thing I can do now is get up and move on, I can't, not with two peopled holding me down. No…not with two people holding me down, I will never be able to get up. Their presence is too strong.

Anyways I better go back to work, there are a bunch of scouts around watching my boys for possible scholarships and stuff, and also I have spotted a few spies. I better take care of them.

P.S. Yeah they are MY boys. -wink- ;P

MUCHO LOVE,

Rinoa S. Echizen

I snickered at my last line. Random thought: Why did I name my journal Bob anyways? I shrugged it off and began to wonder around the tennis courts trying to find the two spies I spotted earlier hiding in the bushes.

I stuffed my head in a few bushes and found nothing.

"Saa, Rinoa I scared them off already." A voice said from behind me.

I raised my head out of the bushes and turned to see Fuji with his eyes open. I smiled. I loved Fuji's eyes, they where so intriguing. From the two weeks I have spent in Japan I got the closest to Fuji. I guess I would consider him my, somewhat, best friend, other then Ann. I met Ann a few days ago. She is the younger sister of Tachibana-bachou of Fudomine. We have been hanging out a lot actually; almost every weekend.

"Good job then Fuji, but next time let me take care of them okay." I grinned.

"Hmmm, don't be too mean Rinoa." Fuji replied putting back his normal smile.

"Don't lie Fuji." I simply said.

"You caught me, seeing other people suffer is fun." He replied while waving his hands in the air in defeat.

I just smiled at Fuji before heading to the courts to check on the other boys and how they where doing. After school, since it is Saturday, we are having a sleep over at Kawamura Sushi. Since I didn't want to be the only girl, I asked Kawamura if it was okay, and I am bringing Ann along.

I stood beside Tezuka and looked over at the boys; I jotted down a few notes on my 'manager clipboard' and then just enjoyed the silence between Tezuka and I. I've been doing that a lot lately. I just find myself around Tezuka and the silence is soothing.

Oh well.

I still have a great dislike for him. You know why?

Just when I started to think he was okay he gave me 100 laps, that thanks to Ryuzaki-- knowing about me and running-- I did not have too do. I just 'owe' him; all I did was beat up Arai. Hey, it wasn't my fault the stupid second year bitch couldn't keep his hands to himself. And he wouldn't even listen to what I had to say! He just walked off.

Damn jackass!

"Your face will stay that way if you scowl like that."

I turned to look at Tezuka who made the comment. It wasn't my fault that I always drift off into my own thoughts and, don't know I make weird faces that match what I am thinking about.

"Why are you looking at me anyways?!" I retorted.

My anger came out of nowhere. My bad temper and I really get along too well.

Oh well it's only Tezuka!

He looked a little taken back by my sudden outburst, and then just walked away. Ugh.

I hated it most when he ignored me.

I scoffed at him. He never answered my question! Maybe I will be able to get it out of him later.

I was brought back to reality when Tezuka's voice roared telling everybody morning practice was cancelled and that he would see us after school.

I quickly gathered my things and headed to class. Since I didn't have to do much physical activities I was still in my school uniform, so I didn't have to change.

"Okay class, since this is an English class I decided that the best thing to do was celebrate wonderful literature by holding a play for the up and coming Sakura Festival that our school holds every year."

Whispers of excitement began to erupt in the class. I smiled, I loved acting and performing!

"Now I decided to base this play on a story written by one of our students. After I read it I was amazed by how wonderful she wrote, there was so much emotion put into it. I am not at all embarrassed to admit: I cried." The teacher said.

The class looked around trying to figure out which student he might be talking about. I fell into my seat, a felt a little sad thinking about the emotion I put into writing that story.

"So class congratulates our very own Echizen Rinoa on a job well done!" he said.

I sunk into my seat a little. The class looked at me, some faces smiling others puzzled and the rest curious. I looked at Tezuka surprised to see that he was, well surprised. I smiled softly and waved. After a few seconds they all clapped and a few words of congratulations were heard. I guess the only reason it was so awkward was since I always acted so cold.

"Settle down please! We must now choose who gets what parts; I for one nominate Rinoa as the main character in the story Suzu." The teacher suggests.

I was surprised to see the class all agree. The teacher then pulled down a chart and wrote my name beside 'Suzu Himaya'.

"Sensei, what is the story about?" asked one of my classmates.

"Oh, I forgot. The story is a very beautiful tragic love story that surrounds the main character Suzu Himaya. Rinoa why don't you tell us a brief summary of what the story is about?"

I was a little reluctant but decided to speak.

"She loved him, he loved her, but she didn't love him back, or so he thought."

Strings were pulling at my heart. It was hard to hold on to the tears, I almost couldn't take it.

I sunk into my seat and turned to the window and whipped away a few rogue tears.

I hoped nobody saw that.

To my displeasure the observant Tezuka noticed and raised an eyebrow at me once I was able to control myself and turn around. I just shrugged my shoulders at him and he didn't push any further. 'Thank you!' I thought relieved.

As my thoughts went wild, I didn't notice the teacher finishing assigning everybody a position. Class passed by quickly and I was pulled from my thoughts when the bell rang and students began to pack their stuff.

"Oh and there is a kissing scene by the way!" he screamed before the students could get out of the doors.

As he said that everybody started to talk excitedly about it. I just sat there for a while looking out the window. I have a feeling I will be regretting this. I then noticed that I was going to be late for my next class, math, and so I hurried off and ran to class.

I ran into class right before the bell rang and a bunch of eyes where on me. I grinned and I faced the teacher who had an annoyed look. She didn't like me very much. Hey it wasn't my fault I sucked at math and she couldn't teach well enough to get it through my head.

"Nice of you to join us Ms. Echizen, please take your seat and TRY to pay attention to the lesson today." She glared at me.

I glared right back before taking my seat. This teacher was a mean one; she wouldn't get intimidated by my stares like most. She seemed awfully scared of Tezuka though, which I found funny because he always found mistakes in her work. It must have sucked to have a student who was smarter then you.

I took out my notebook and other supplies out to at least make it look like I gave a damn. I looked out the window again, I got lucky and it just so happens in all my classes I got a window seat, but it came with a price, Tezuka was always a desk beside me, weather it be front, back, or side.

I drifted off for most of the class until I noticed kids starting to leave for lunch or taking out their bento from their bags. I sighed.

"Ms. Echizen, Tezuka-sama, please come here for a second."

I turned to see the teacher glaring at me and then she smiled nervously at Tezuka.

'What a big banana …' I thought as I got up and headed to her desk.

"Tezuka-sama, you have the highest grades in my class. You, Echizen have the lowest. So I would like a favour of you Tezuka-sama, please tutor Echizen here." She said.

My mouth must have hung open because it sure felt like it. Is the woman mad! Just because I learnt nothing from her it does not mean I deserve the torture of actually spending EXTRA time on math with the world's biggest jackass.

"Sure, no problem." Answered Tezuka.

WHAT?! I thought he would refuse, I guess he has no life.

"HEY I DO NOT AGREE TO THIS! I, unlike some people, have a life!" I protested.

"Well you do not have a choice Echizen, you do wish to pass high school right? And besides you only have math for first semester so suck it up." She said before walking out of the class.

I turned around very angry to see that most of the students who stayed for lunch heard our conversation. Fire was building all around me and students cowered as I grabbed my bag and quickly left class. I went up to the roof where I knew most of the guys would be. This was our new lunch hang out.

"Sister, why are you so angry?"

"My new tutor in math is none other then Mr. Stick-Up-His-Ass." I said through gritted teeth.

"Saa, you mean bachou." Stated Fuji.

I just nodded and pulled out my bento. Eiji and Momo began to eye it; they have this certain obsession with my cooking.

"Speaking of the devil." Fuji whispered.

I turned and glared at Tezuka who took a seat between me and Eiji, at least Eiji could no longer drool on my food.

"Look Echizen, don't be so mad, you need it anyways." He said.

I pouted a little knowing he was right. But I no longer wanted to think about it and quickly wanted to change the subject. Kawamura spoke as if he read my mind.

"So Rinoa, what do you think about the kissing scene in the play?" he asked.

Oh yeah I forgot he was in our class. And I also forgot, since I was the main character, I had to do the kissing scene.

"I forgot all about that, as long as the guy isn't a pervert I guess I don't mind much." I said.

Kawamura snickered and so did everybody else except Tezuka. I guess he must have told the others about it.

"Looks like you where not paying attention in class, didn't you hear who was playing the part of Ryusuke?" Eiji asked with an evil grin.

They know about it. And I have a bad feeling.

Ryusuke was the character, who loved Suzu, but Suzu didn't love him back in the same way, or so we think…hence tragic love story. I really didn't pay attention as to who got what part.

"Nope…why?" I asked getting irritated that these guys knew something I didn't.

"Sister, isn't this a sad way to give out your first kiss?" Ryoma asked.

I blushed madly, hey we love each other but siblings are still siblings because they embarrass each other. Their grins got even wider and Tezuka finally seemed to pay attention and looked at me. I felt the heat go to my cheeks. I was blushing like mad.

"Shut up! And I don't care…it's just a kiss anyways!" I retorted.

They began to laugh at me and my bad attempts to hide my blushing face. Tezuka just continued to stare.

"Well I am glad you feel that way Rinoa, since your going to have to kiss…" Eiji started but broke into more laughter.

I glared I should have paid attention in class so I could have made sure I could kiss somebody I didn't really mind kissing.

"I am officially going to admit I am a little scared…TELL ME WHO I HAVE TO KISS!" I screamed very frustrated.

The boys stopped laughing but held their grins. I got nervous. Fuji finally spoke.

"The person playing Ryusuke is none other then our wonderful Kunimitsu Tezuka."

I stopped breathing right then and there. It took me a few moments to register what he just said.

I have to kiss Tezuka!

My eyes grew wide and I finally started breathing again. Everybody stared at me waiting for my reaction. But I was still too shocked to get one.

I picked up my bento and began to eat. I ate about half of it before putting it away and just getting up. The whole time everybody was waiting for my reaction. As soon as I stuffed my bento into my bag and as I headed to the door I stopped.

It was able to sink in fully.

"OH GOD! I HAVE TO KISS TEZUKA AND NOW HIS FAN GIRLS ARE GOING TO MURDER ME!" I screamed while pulling at my hair.

The boys just laughed, and even though nobody noticed but Fuji and Inui there was a ghostly invisible smirk plastered on Tezuka's face.

Throughout the rest of the day I didn't utter a single word. I was still in a state of shock. Some bad memories also caused me to get a little depressed. I think the boys noticed…well who wouldn't since Eiji is currently poking my cheek and I just nodded yes to buying Momo 100 burgers with my own money.

"Hey guys, stop taking advantage of her when her brain is not functioning." Said Ryoma.

Hopefully I will feel better tonight after some all you can eat sushi and some girl talks with Ann.

With that I drifted off to sleep on the bench.