I'm back~! Well here's the latest chapter! You will now find out what has gotten Niou so agitated in the last chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis. I only own Mia/Tony and the plot and everything else that you don't see in PoT.

"Bold"=Italian language (speaking)

Chapter 4: Painting

The next morning, I woke up to the nice chirping of birds in the trees in the early afternoon of the day. I had gotten up pretty late, choosing to stay up late that night, helping my father move in all the furniture. We had set up everything in our house, from the living room to our bedrooms. Everything was set up: except my bedroom. That part of the house had to stay bare until later on tonight when we finished painting the room.

And not only that, but after my father and I set up all the furniture, my mother had me help put all our food away and set up our kitchen full of plates, pots, and pans from the old house in America. Now, the only thing missing from this whole new house was Aneko, my best friend even though she was a maid. That was the only thing that was gone, and it hurt to have that good part of my life gone.

I stood, rubbing my eyes to get rid of the tears that lay within them, threating to fall. 'Enough of these sad thoughts,' I scolded myself; walking to my closet and pulling out a pair of my brothers mesh shorts and a t-shirt from my drawer before walking out of the room, walking into the bathroom. I turned on the water that was recently turned on by my parents. Pulling off my skirt and tank-top, along with my undergarments, I stepped into the water, relishing in the nice feel it had on my taut muscles from sleeping on my bedroom floor in on a thin blanket.

Soon, my relishing was over as the water suddenly turned ice cold. I yelped, jumping out, water dripping from my hair, pooling around my feet.

"Mom!" I yelled, grabbing a towel and quickly wrapping it around my torso, running downstairs.

"What!" She yelled at me, her hands holding a pot over the sink, filling it up.

"I was in the shower!" I retorted, still yelling.

My mother glared playfully, "Well sorry I decided to make you and your father some breakfast. Excuse me if I can't cook anything for you people." She shut the water off with a quick flick of her wrist, setting the now half-full pot on the counter beside her. "Now go! We have to go to the store and get paint for your room. Hurry and shower up so we can go. Breakfast will be done in a half-hour." My mother flicked a towel at me playfully as I ran back up the stair, clutching the towel tightly.

Once back inside the bathroom, I dropped the towel from my body and hopped back into the shower, the water falling on me again. I washed quickly with a little shampoo and conditioner. Once I was done, I hopped back out of the shower and dried myself quickly, pulling on a pair of boxers from what my mom bought me before we left America. After that I pulled on my brothers mesh shorts over that before grabbing the gauze my mother got me and wrapping them tightly around my exposed breasts. After that was firmly in place, making my chest flat, I slipped on my brothers t-shirt and ran out of the bathroom, running down the stairs at a fast pace.

Once I got down there, my mother was already plating food and carrying it to the dining table. I jumped in a chair; waiting for my mother's cooking I always looked forward to when I was a young girl before the whole becoming-a-singer thing.

She laughed at my antics, placing down my plate right before me. "I swear you're just like your brother. Always wanting food."

I looked down at my plate with a smile on my face. It wasn't a complete lie that one of my parents was Italian. My mother was definitely Italian, not my father. That was why my eyes were naturally blue instead of dark brown like most Asian people. Also why I can pass as an Italian…partly. I still had the traditional almond shaped eyes.

Anyways, back to the wonderful breakfast that my mother made me. She had made fette biscottate; basically, a hard bread with jam that she had bought last night. And you're all probably wondering what that pot of water was for. That pot was for the tea that she was making without a tea kettle. And boy was it all good. I gulped it down hungrily just in time to hear my father come into the room, chuckling at my puffed out cheeks from the food in my mouth.

"Muff mup," I mumbled, swallowing the food and washing it down with the green tea that sat before me. It was slightly less warm than I thought it would be. But I drank it either way, washing away bits of the fette biscottate out of my mouth.

"Thank you mommy~!" I sang, standing up and jogging into the living room, grabbing my book that lay on the side-table by the couch. "I'll be in the tree out front reading!" I called, grabbing my jacket and slipping it on before pulling on my black DC shoes.

"Alright!" My parents called back, most likely turning back to their breakfast and chatting about today's plans.

I slid the door open, walking out of my new home and out into the yard, walking over to the tree and climbing up it, sitting down on the same branch from yesterday, my legs swinging over the sides as I opened up my book, reading it from the place I had left off yesterday. This time I actually read the book instead of going to my thoughts.

These were the times I enjoyed. It was so silent when I was up in the tree and very peaceful, making me enjoy the life of the working class more than the life of a rock-star. But, of course, peace can only last for a short time right? Well, at least when you neighbors to Niou I guess.

"NIOU!" Was shouted in a very loud voice, followed by a few loud laughs and some crashing around. There goes the peace.

I jumped down from my branch, landing softly on my feet and walked back into my house, shutting the door as more yelling followed. I slipped my shoes off and shrugged my jacket off, hanging it on a peg as I walked into the hallway, choosing the living room as my new place to read.

Curling up on the couch, I opened up to the page I left off at, beginning to read again when my parents walked in the room, fully dressed.

"Ready to go dear?" My mother asked, clipping her purse shut.

I sighed, shutting my book and placing on the side of the couch, turning to them. "Do I have to go?"

"No. But it would be nice if you did." My father replied to me.

"I really don't feel like going now dad. Can I stay home and you get the paint for me?"

"I guess," My mother sighed out. "What color?"

"Hm…how about dark blue?" I questioned them, looking slightly hopeful.

"Okay. We'll be home in an hour or so. Want us to pick up something to eat on the way home?" My mother asked, placing a kiss on my forehead.

"No thank you," I replied. My mother nodded, leaving the room with my father.

I picked my book back up, opening it again to the page. Soon after that, I heard the familiar closing of the front door as my parents left, hopefully getting the right colored paint I wanted. Knowing my mom, she would get me yellow or something like that to make it seem like I wasn't a guy and yet I wasn't a girl. Some neutral color…kinda like Switzerland.

Oh well. Fret about that later on when she comes home. Now, just try to read the book that's in front of you and try to ignore the loud banging from Niou-san's house. Well, try was defiantly the key term in that phrase because every time I heard a loud bang, I cringed further into the couch. Another bang-cringe. Another-cringe.

After about the fifth bang, I got fed up. Slamming the book down on the couch's armrest, I stood up hastily, walking over to the little ditch-like place that held my shoes. Slipping my DC's onto my sock-clad feet, I walked out the door, slamming it shut behind me and stomping my way over to Niou-san's house.

Standing before the door, I knocked rather loudly, waiting for someone to answer the door. And the one who answered the door was Arata, his silver hair slicked back with jell and his blue eyes looking bored.

"What do you want?" He asked rudely. I glared at the boy, voicing my reason for coming over here.

"Is your brother here?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Can you get him?" I seethed out, watching as the boy walked slightly into the house before shouting:

"Nii-san! The neighbor person wants to see you!" He turned, smirking at me before running off just as Niou Masaharu walked to the front door from another place in the home. Probably from where there were a few heads popping out from the corner.

Niou leaned against the door, a smirk on his face. "Yeah?"

I redirected my gaze, glaring at him. "You do realize that you are very loud don't you."

"No. Maybe you're just too quiet at home and you just happen to hear everything."

"I highly doubt that." I mumbled, crossing my arms over my chest.

Niou leaned forward slightly. "Are you sure about that?"

"Positive." I mumbled, leaning back slightly, hoping that he didn't notice any girly features on me.

"I wouldn't be so sure. Puri~" He smirked, leaning forward more, his face right in front of mine.

I leaned back more, feeling really uncomfortable right now.

"Why do you keep moving away huh?" His smirk widened at me, leaning forward more.

I danced away from him, choosing to stay at least a good 3 feet away from him. "Just shut the hell up Niou-san and everyone will be happy!" I yelled at him, turning on my heel and running away from his house, going back home.

Niou's POV

I smirked to myself, leaning towards my new neighbor, trying to get him to be uncomfortable. It was working, I could tell because he danced away from me like a girl, twirling around himself until he was a good distance away from me.

"Just shut the hell up Niou-san and everyone will be happy!" He yelled at me in his girly voice that slightly reminded me of Yukimura at times. And then he was gone, turning around gracefully and sprinting off towards his own house.

I smirked to myself, shutting the door behind me and walking about into the living room where I had left the team. And what I saw shocked me. They were all sitting by the door frame, ears near the opening, most likely listening into Tony and my conversation we just had.

"What are you guys doing?" I asked, making them all jump.

"N-Niou-sempai don't sneak up on us!" Kirihara, the baby of the team shouted, arms spread out, holding his body up.

"Oh?" I questioned with a satisfied smirk on my face from the shocked looks on Marui and Kirihara's faces.

"So, Niou-kun, what was that all about?" Yukimura asked, a sadistic smile on his face.

"Just the new neighbor Tony telling me to be quiet."

"Are you going to?"

"Do you really need to ask sugar freak?" I asked the bubblegum haired boy.

"I guess not." Marui replied, popping his apple green gum.

I smirked at him, looking around the room just as Yanagi spoke up.

"Do you have our money Masaharu?"

I cringed at that, my smirk falling right from my face. "What money?"

"You know." Marui piped in. "The one from that bet that we made. Ya know. The bet about how if your new neighbor happened to be a girl we would give you two-hundred yen but if they to be a guy, then you give us two-hundred yen. Remember?"

I cringed again, my face turning into one of annoyance. "But what if Tony has a sister? Am I off the hock then?"

"Yeah. IF he has a sister. Or a picture of her if she isn't living with them."

"Good. Let's go over there and find out then."

We all stood up, walking to the front door, slipping on our tennis shoes and walking out the front door, going to Tony's house. I knocked on the door, waiting a few minutes before a woman came to the door, dressed in a t-shirt with paint splattered on it and wavy blonde hair tied into a ponytail.

"Hello. What can I help you boys with?" She asked politely.

"Uh…is Tony here?" I asked, unsure if I should be here right now.

"Yes. Hold on a second." The woman turned around, walking over to stairs that lay right in front of her. "Tony! Get down here! The neighbor is here to see you!" She smiled over at us, noticing out confused faces. "Sorry. My Japanese is not best." She replied with a smile.

"Why?" Tony must have yelled down.

"I don't know. Just get down here now! Your father and I will finish up painting your room!"

"Fine!"

Next thing you know, Tony came bounding down the stairs in shorts and a t-shirt with paint splattered here and there on it. "Jeez. He couldn't have waited until after we were done painting could he…" Tony mumbled in Italian.

His mother reached over, hitting him on the head. "Be nice Tony. If you're mean then you don't get spezzatino. I know that's your favorite."

"Ahhhhh! I'll behave! I swear!" With that Tony's mother walked up the stairs with a sweet smile and left Tony downstairs with a weird expression on his face.

"Sorry about that. My mom is kind of bad with Japanese," He replied.

Mia/Tony's POV

I looked at Niou and his friends after my argument with my mom in Italian. I guess I should apologize to them huh…

"Sorry about that. My mom is kind of bad with Japanese," I lied through my teeth. My mom always could speak Japanese and Italian along with English. She was basically a natural at that. But I guess my mom decided to be nice and keep up our act.

"That's okay. So, uh, I was wondering if you had a sister by any chance. Just asking." He seemed slightly uncomfortable with the question.

I smirked at his discomfort. "A sister? Hm…yeah. I do. But she's back in Italy." That was also a lie. The girl back in Italy was my brother's girlfriend who was with him as he traveled the world, playing tennis.

"Oh…well that's okay. Do you have a picture of her?" Niou-san asked, seemingly becoming much more relaxed and nicer from yesterday.

"Yeah. Why?" I asked with confusion written in my features.

Niou sighed, leaning forward, his hot breath fanning on my skin, making me blush deeply. But I tried to hide it from the group of guys behind Niou as he whispered in my ear.

"You see, my friends and I made a bet that if you either had a sister or you were a girl that I would get two-hundred yen. But if you were a guy and you didn't have a sister then I would lose two-hundred yen. So my problem is, I don't have two-hundred yen. So can you please show us the picture of your sister or else I will be out two-hundred yen."

"Fine. But you have to help me finish painting my room. Got it?" I smirked at him, whispering.

"Fine." Niou pulled away, a smirk on his face.

I pulled out my iPhone, unlocking it and skimming through my pictures until I found the picture of my brother's girlfriend. It was the picture of her in front of a fountain placed in the middle of Rome. She had her brown hair tied up in a low ponytail and her blue eyes were daring.

I stuck my phone out, showing them my 'sister'. "Her names Bella. She should be coming back in about a year." They all nodded, each taking turns to look at Bella. "Actually, her full name is Bella-Luna. But Bella is what everyone calls her." I told them, pulling my phone back and locking it, putting it in my brothers shorts.

"Ahh. Well bye Tony. I'll see ya around." Niou waved shortly, trying to get out of the deal we made.

"Niou-san~! I think you forgot about our deal~!" I saw Niou flinch, his muscles becoming tight in his back.

I heard him sigh as he turned around, scratching the back of his head. "I guess you won't let me forget huh?"

"Not on your life." I told him with a smirk, nodding my head to the inside of my house.

Niou sighed again, turning back around to his friends. "I'll see you tomorrow at tennis practice tomorrow guys." They all nodded, walking through my gate, leaving me and Niou in the doorway. He turned back to me and I smirked, leading him into my house, telling him to slip his shoes off and leading him upstairs to where my mother and father were, painting my room. There were a few spots left. Most likely the far back wall was left bare.

"Mom, Masaharu here agreed to help me paint the room. You can leave it to us." My mom nodded, putting down the paint brush and grabbing onto my father's arm on her way out.

"I'll start on the spezzatino then. Is he staying for dinner?"

"I don't think so."

"Ask!"

I sighed, turning to a very confused looking Niou. "Are you staying for dinner?"

"What are you having?"

"Spezzatino." He gave me a confused look. "Stew." I replied, making him less confused.

"Sure. I'll stay for dinner." He replied.

I turned to my mom, "He'll stay." She nodded before walking downstairs, most likely making the food that I loved so much.

I turned to Niou. "Ready to paint?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." I smirked at him, throwing him a clean paint brush before picking up my own. I dipped the paint brush into the paint and applying it to the pink wall, making it turn dark blue as I stroked the brush back and forth.

I looked over to Niou to see him doing the same on the other side of the wall. I smiled. He was really hot with his muscles contracting as he painted.

'WHAT?' I thought, shaking my head as I turned back to painting, letting silence fall peacefully.

Not too soon after, I leaned down, applying more paint to the brush when some paint was flicked onto my face. I looked up immediately to see Niou laughing, clutching his sides.

"You think this is funny do you?" I asked, mock glaring at him.

"Yeah. I do." He laughed out. I mock glared even harder, picking up my paint brush and flicking some paint at him, getting him in the face. He stopped laughing at that moment and I started laughing as we switched roles. He mock glared at me while I laughed.

"Oh. Now it's on!" He declared, picking up his brush and flicking more paint at me, laughing the whole time. I did that same exact thing, laughing all the while as well.

Not too long after we started, both us and our clothes were splattered with paint, along with the already finish walls.

I laughed, putting my paint brush on the newspapers and laid down on the Niou following soon after. We both tried to control our laughing, but failing. I looked over at him, my breath coming out ragged from laughing so hard.

"We…should…change. Dinners…almost done." I managed to say, pushing myself up and standing up. I walked over to my closet, pulling out two t-shirts and two pairs of jeans. I threw one of each to Niou and pointed him to the bathroom before changing myself, slipping out of my shorts and other t-shirt before throwing the fresh cloths on, walking out of my room to see Niou leaning against the wall near the bathroom.

"Come on." I lead him downstairs, walking into the dining room where my mom had a pot of stew on the table and four bowls around it, spoons resting on the side.

"Take a seat boys." My mother told us in Italian and I translated it to Niou, sitting down in my usual spot, Niou taking a seat beside me. My mother came over, sitting down on the other side of the table and soon after my father walked in, fresh cloths on and his hair wet from a shower. He sat down beside my mom, tucking in as we each filled out bowls with steaming hot stew.

We all ate in silence and soon Niou and I were back up in my room, cleaning up all the paint and throwing away all the newspapers.

Soon after, we were done and Niou and I were just sitting in the kitchen, eating some pie that my mom had made with a glass of milk.

"What time is it?" Niou suddenly asked, looking at the clock hanging on the wall.

"Uh…about 10. Why?"

Niou looked thoughtful for a few seconds before replying. "Hm…my mom probably already locked the doors. Can I stay here tonight?"

"Sure. Let me tell my mom." I told him, leading him towards my room again as I pulled out shorts and a t-shirt for myself and shorts for Niou.

"Mom! Masaharu's staying tonight!" I called out, hearing a satisfying 'okay' from my mom. I lead him to the bathroom again and ran into my room, pulling on my pj's, deciding that I would take a shower tomorrow.

When I was finished, I walked back out of my room and down the stairs and into the living room where I saw Niou sitting on the couch, blankets on the ground.

"Your mom put them down for us."

I nodded, sitting on the ground, pulling the covers over myself. Niou came down onto the floor a while after, lying down as well. Soon we both feel fast asleep.

Review~! This is probably going to be the longest chapter ever so be grateful and leave many reviews~!

Next chapter: Parks