Chapter 007:

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis/Tennis no Oujisama does not belong to me. Sadly.

Bold is English. Regular is Japanese. Translations, if any, are at the bottom.

A/N: Thank you's are at the bottom as well! :D

2/11/2010: Alright. I noticed there were grammar errors in this one. /: So I went to go edit them & the other thing, the reason why the whole 'Syusuke' scene seemed really awkward, was because I wrote that part BEFORE I wrote this chapter. I thought I would enter it at a time that they knew each other more. I really don't think I captured his personality, but I TRIED.

Review? Please?


"School's out!" Giselle chanted beside me. I half-smiled. It's been almost a whole day ever since I found my haven. Which was the book store, FYI.

I was allowed to read in there until I wanted to stop. I wasn't even kicked out for staying in there for three hours! (This had happen to me before, and I plan never to let it happen again.)

"Does your back hurt?" Miyuu stared at me with concern then looked at my backpack with an amused look. "I think it's pregnant. Either that, or it's overweight."

"Shut up!" I rubbed my eyes, trying to get the sleep out. "I was staying up all night reading. I found so many books there! I had to buy some!"

"Some?! There's like twenty books in your bag right now!" Kuni screeched.

"No! There's only ten. That's half of twenty! Duh!"

"You honestly can't read ten books at the same time," Giselle shook her head. Before I was about to deny that, she said, "Even for you."

I pouted. "You guys go ahead. I think I'm going to stay in the library to read there. To have peace and quiet."

"Fine." Miyuu and Giselle left but Kuni stayed behind.

"Yes, Kuni?"

"Well, I was wondering… Do you talk about Ryoma about me?" She blurted out the rest in one breath, her curiosity not being able to be contained.

I sighed again.

"Why? Do you want me to?"

"No! Of course not!" She shook her head fervently. "It's just… I don't know. Never mind. Forget I said anything."

"Okay then," I was honestly getting ticked off by her. Last night was never-ending questions about Ryoma. The only reason I put up with her is because she's one of my best friends. She's too insecure.

"Wait. Calli," She whined. "Aren't you supposed to ask me what's wrong?!"

I let out a sigh of exasperation. She was acting like a pregnant woman. Trust me, when my mom was having my little sister, Lilli, I don't want to undergo that experience ever again. "Okay, Kuni," I said mock-heartedly. "What's wrong?"

"Never mind, I don't want to bother you." She sulked away.

I had to restrain myself from wringing her neck.

I tried to let my steam run while I was stomping towards the library. Once I was inside, I let my bag fall from my shoulder all the way to the floor, creating a loud thump. I looked in bewilderment at it. I guess I did have too much books.

I took my Prophecy of the Sisters book out, not really wanting to finish it. I found out that it's a book in the series, and it just came out. I hate it when I have to wait several years for the next to arrive! Kids nowadays have it easy, they don't have to wait for the next Harry Potter book.

"Saa…" I turned around at the soft voice. It reminded me of this show that I used to watch when I was a kid. I believed it was 'Card Captor Sakura.' The voice I heard sounded almost like Yukito's. Soft, confident, light…

"Oh! Fuji-san," I flustered again.

"You're Echizen's cousin, no?"

I hated when I was referred to that. I got tired of being compared to Ryoga and Ryoma when I was growing up, so that's one of the main reasons why I wanted to move to Texas. "I have a name, you know!" I snapped back, not thinking twice.

He didn't seem taken aback, I guess he could read my emotions fast, and just braced for the impact to come. "Ah, and what would that name be?"

I blushed again. How stupid! I forgot that I never even introduced myself. "Darcel Callina," I bowed low, now despising the short skirt around my waist. People, who make these uniforms and those who approve of them, are all perverts!

"Callina? I've heard of Callista," He smiled down at me. "Not Callina, though."

"Uhm," I stuttered. "Kaa-san just w-wanted me to have an original name. She c-couldn't choose b-between Callista and Karina. So, Tou-san(1) put them together." I was getting better at this stuttering thing… Yeah, right.

"Doesn't Callista mean 'beautiful,' and Karina means 'pure?'"

I nodded slowly, blushing deeper more. My parents weren't so wise at naming me, I mean, I'm neither of those! Wait, I mean I'm pure, just… Agh. Forget it.

"It fits perfectly," My head shot up in surprise to see no traces of teasing upon his angelic face.

He took a seat next to me, and my blush automatically became deeper.

"Random question, but when is your birthday?"

Of course, I was surprised, but I still answered it. "March 14th. White day." I barked out a laugh. "It's nice to know that I can get gifts on that day from the boys that I gave presents to."

"Really? I was born on a special day that only comes every four years."

I know that he was making small talk, but that didn't stop my heart from pouding and making my chest hurt so very much.

"You were born on February 29th?" I questioned the Tennis Tenshi(2)/Tensai(3).

He smiled. "Yes. I'm a leap-year baby," He chuckled. "My Kaa-san told me I was born backwards as well."

Backwards? Did he mean that his mother wasn't the one that got pregna-?

"I was born feet first."

Oh.

"That's… different," I stated, seeing that his facial expression didn't change at all. He was all smiles. I couldn't help but think that his smiles weren't all true. He had a… barrier, if you will, around him. I couldn't wait to find a way to get him caught off guard.

"Well, it was nice chatting with you, Darcel-san," He smiled. "I have to go ahead to tennis practice."

"Ah! Is Ryoma going to be there?" I smiled. "I would like to accompany you if possible."

"Of course," Syusuke led me forward, closing the library door behind us. "Your cousin is very talented in tennis."

I snorted. "Of course he is. He grew up with tennis. Ever since he was three. I was five when I moved to the states. When I lived in America with him, he was always the main point in my photos and videos. That was until I moved to Houston when I was twelve. Then he moved here, and I guess I followed. He moved a little bit earlier than I did."

"I see," He still had that fake smile plastered along his face.

How could he see if his eyes are always closed?

I began pondering over this. The most logical answer was, he was squinting. Next possibility, he knows his surroundings so well that doesn't have to see them, and he has good senses. Next possibility, he uses black magic.

"Ah, here we are!" Syusuke interrupted my thoughts and announced our arrival.

"Ne, ne! Fujiko!" I saw someone who had crimson-colored hair bounce his way over to us. He reminded me of someone… "Who's this?"

The stranger put his face close to mine, and I instinctively backed away quickly. I fell.

"Ow," I muttered under my breath.

"This is Darcel Callina-san," Syusuke formally introduced me, helping me to my feet. I gave him a soft and short "Thanks."

"Callina? Lina-chan! Such a cute name!" The red-head bounced around, glad to find a new nickname for me. He began to circle around me, making me feel very uncomfortable.

"Ah," I sweat dropped. "And what is yours?"

"Kikumaru Eiji!"

At this, if I had a glass of water and I was drinking it, I would've surely done a spit-take. "Kikumaru?"

And another thing, Eiji? That's who Giselle likes! But, maybe, there's another Eiji? Hah. Doubt it. Giselle was right. This guy was the exact opposite of her.

"Hai!" He grinned at me, giving me a peace sign.

"Do you know a Kikumaru Miyuuki?"

Before Eiji could answer, Miyuu came running out of the school, and I could see Kuni chasing after her with a book. Oh my— What the heck did they do now?!

"Miyuu! Kuni!" They both turned to my voice. "Front and center!"

They walked over here like puppies going to receive a punishment. "What did you guys do?"

"Miyuu—!"

"It's not like—!"

These girls were best friends, but they bickered too much. It was always over stupid stuff.

"Miyuu, what did you do?"

"Why do you always blame me? It could've been Kuni—"

"What did you do?!"

She flinched away at my tone. She sighed, "I tried to scare Kuni in the library, and it worked. Then she stumbled against the shelves, and a lot of books fell. A lot fell on her and other people in the library. One of the books pulled on her neck and her necklace ripped off and it fell into my hands." She held out Kuni's favorite necklace. "That's when she started to chase me. She thought I stole it. Which I did not!"

I would've killed Miyuu if I had the chance if she took my favorite necklace. "…Don't let it happen again," was all I could really say to her. I grabbed the necklace out of Miyuu's hands and poured the thin silver chain with a charm into Kuni's.

I turned to the tennis boys. We must seem like aliens to them!

"Hi, Miyuu!" Eiji waved at Miyuu.

"Aye! Eiji!" I knew that she didn't have to use honorifics when it had to do with relatives. She glomped him, I then felt a disturbing presence. I turned to the right to see a bunch of girls steaming with rage. I quickly pulled Miyuu off.

Before she could question me, I cut her off, "I don't want you to be killed by fangirls."

She gulped.

After excusing myself for a little bit, I walked over to a school wall to lean all of my weight and burdens on it. When did Miyuu ever say she was related to Eiji? Why does Giselle even like him? She was always for the serious and mature type. (Not so much as Tezuka, but more of someone who could still be taken seriously.)

And why does Syusuke make me feel this way? I just met him! There's no such thing as love at first sight! (It wasn't even sight! It was by hearing his name! Wait, no! I'm not in love!)

My heart rate gradually decreased, I noticed.

Love shared between people on a romantic level is such a sick thing! You've built all of these defenses to make sure that no one will ever tear you down. You become secluded to this type of thing to help you keep away from rejection. Then suddenly! Another stupid person, no different than any other stupid person in the world, walks into your stupid life, and has the ability to break you and mess you up!

Sick, I tell you.

Love on a romantic level is just… Fairy-tales.

Yeah, my parents. Yeah, Luke and Celia. That doesn't mean they don't fight a lot. That doesn't mean that they have no faults. Love perhaps found them, but most certainly, it would never find me.

See what Syusuke is doing to me?! He's making me seclude myself just to try to figure out what exactly he's doing. He's a sadist. That's it! That's all I can say. But the questions seem never ending, and I never seem to have an answer.

Now, let's be open-minded. If I am, which I am not, in love

It's one-sided.

He just met me and I'm pretty sure he sees through me as easily as he sees through a newly washed window. (And with those good glass cleaners. Not those cheap ones.)

"Whoa, Calli, that you?" Giselle came running towards me with her archery gear. "What happened?"

"What do you mean, 'What happened?'" The first thing I did was check my hair to feel if it was in place. It was definitely in tact and not falling out soon.

"Your face shows all your emotions, dude." Giselle laughed.

I was an open book to her as she was to me.

I rolled my eyes. "Really? That's perfect!"

"So, seriously, what's strange that's going on with you?"

"I'm having a heated discussion with myself."

"That's not strange. That's normal."

"No, it is not."

"For you, it is."

I opened my mouth to argue, but quickly closed it. She was right. I sighed for what seemed like the millionth time today. "I'm just not feeling well, then."

Giselle looked straight into my eyes, green burning into red. "I would say something, but it would make me look stupid. So… Yeah…" Her voice automatically become slower, trying to avoid awkwardness, but of course, there has to be a touch of irony. She was taking a step with each word. "I'm… just… going… to go… back… to… archery now."

"No need to talk slower, you already seem retarded." I smiled at her.

She glared. "Have a good day."

"Yeah, sure. While I feel like shit." I muttered under my breath angrily. I didn't want to go ahead to the house since there would be no one there.

See, this is one of the rare times when I have nothing to do on a Friday. I contemplated the thought of taking pictures then realized that I have enough pictures of the school grounds. I let out a long breath and pulled out my iPod. I guess I'm stuck playing never-ending games.


Miyuu's POV

"I can't believe I got in trouble thanks to you!" I half-whispered angrily towards Kuni. She stuck out her tongue and quickly went back to being 'angry.' (She really wasn't. It's not possible for her to actually be, and truly, angry.)

"Well, you know, you shouldn't have taken it!"

"I didn't!" I roared. (Haha. Roared.)

"Well, you should've given it back to me before you started that whole chase!" My eye twiched at what she said, she was the one who started it!

"You tackled me!"

"It was a defense mechanism!"

"Seems more like, crazy psycho from my point of view!"

She huffed and turned her body away from me at the same time I did.

"Jerk," We muttered under our breath in unison. "What did you say?!" We turned to each other at the same time and began to argue with each other.

"Ne, ne! Best friends shouldn't fight, nyah!" Eiji came over and covered his ears. "It's not good!"

I breathed in and out through my nose, which flared. "Fine."

"Yeah. Sorry." Kuni mumbled pathetically. "I didn't mean to tackle you or chase you around the whole school."

I shrugged. "It's fine. You chased me around. You tackled me. You nearly broke my ribs. You made me get in trouble. But you did it all for love! So it's fine."

Kuni blinked. "Really?"

"No, not really," I cackled and ran away as fast as I could.

"MIYUU! YOU JERK!"


Calli's POV:

"Oh my gosh, this is taking forever!" I whined.

"What are you talking about? You weren't whining ten minutes ago!"

"That was ten minutes ago! This is now!" My voice was even sounding annoying to me, but I couldn't help it. I was so bored. "Giselle! I wanna go home!"

"Then go!" She yelled out of exasperation. We were lucky that the archery club was really small. I met all of the members in… five minutes tops.

"But no one's home!"

"Calli, seriously, you're acting like a child!"

"You're acting like a child!" I pouted. I didn't realize how immature that sounded until I said it aloud.

"Shut up!" She went ahead and made her bow poke me in the stomach, and I nearly tackled her. By nearly, I mean leaping but missing. "What was that for?!"

"You started it! You're the one who hit my tummy," I began to rub said object.

"Go read." This wasn't a suggestion, it was a command.

I realized that my real reason for staying behind in the first place was so that I could catch up on reading. Wow, I feel like an idiot. I trotted over to sit in a corner and blocked out all the sounds of the world.

My phone rang before I could turn to my bookmarked page. I huffed.

I will not bow/I will not break/I will shut the world away/I will not fall/I will not fade//I will take your breath away.

(A/N: This is my real ringtone in real life. I love Breaking Benjamin.)

"What?" I snapped before I read the Caller ID.

"Yes, someone order fried rice?" This was said in the most fakest, Asian-est accent I have ever heard.

"Miyuu, what do you want?"

"Sheesh, I was just asking if you ordered fried rice. No need to be so touchy."

"Shush. You solved everything with Kuni?"

"Uh… Define 'solve.'"

"Solve, transitive verb. Deal with problem successfully. Synonyms consist, of resolve, answer, explain, unravel, work out, disentangle, and elucidate."

"Yeah…" She hesitated on the phone. "I did no such thing. She got me in trouble!"

"You guys are best friends!"

"Sheesh, why does everyone always use that excuse against us?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe, because, possibly, it's true!"

"No need to yell! Fine! I will… eh-luh-cee-daht the problem. Or whatever the heck it is."

"Elucidate."

"Who cares? Same difference!" The line cut off.

…Our stay in Japan was certainly going to be a long one.


1 = Tou-san: Means 'Father'. (Toh-sahn.)

2 = Tenshi: Angel. (Tehn-shee.)

3 = Tensai: Prodigy. (Tehn-sigh. [Yeah. Got no other way to put it.])


Special "Thank You's" to:

--DivineBitterness ! (Because you've been helping me. Haha. Thanks 'Miyuu'! Real life and anime friend. ;] [And seriously, our English teacher needs to chill.] READ HER HARRY POTTER STORY, PLEASE. CRAZY GEWD.)

--Anonymous ! (First reviewer I ever had! And reviewer up to the present!)

--Tsukino(.)Flyheight ! (You got my message, but thanks again! :D )--smilingbookworm95 ! (Thank you for reviewing! I will read your story when I have the time, most definitely.)

--Sadistic Kunoichi-13 ! (Haha. Funny thing is, is that when I was writing this at like 3 in the morning, Aira wasn't supposed to enter as a character. I was talking to my friend, Aira… And I guess that's how it worked out. We'll see how the story goes. ;] & Thanks for adding me to favorites and alerts!)

--…! (I had a feeling. I knew something was wrong with that. I was at school when writing this, and they have all the translators blocked. -__- Thanks! I'll change it as soon as possible.)

--amy0213! (For adding my story to your favorites! :])

--shiraishireiya! (If I totally spelt that wrong, I'm terribly sorry. Thanks for adding me to your favorites!)

--Kris 77! (For adding me to your favorites & being second to adding me as a alert!)

--XKawaii-Neko-Chan-X! (For adding me to your favorites!)

--magic126! (Thanks for adding me to your favoriteeees & alerts~)

--Stuffed Piggy! (For adding me to yohh fav-oh-ree-tos. :])

--keropii! (You were the one who gave me enough confidence to continue this story! And so, I take my figuratively speaking hat off to you! Thank you so very much! For adding me to your favorites!)

Notice: I will not be doing this for every chapter. (Gonna take too long. :/)

But I wanted to thank everyone who started me off! :D

ARIGATOU GOZAMASU. –bows–