in wyoming if any cares to know/offer sympathy. no offense so anyone to lives here, but it's probably the boringest state i've ever been in.
i love my reviewers soooooo much. thfourteenth, get out of your corner! also, fuji and ryoma playing doubles...so many possibilties. but before that, there has to be a big angsty arc where ryoma goes back to amerca...i could make a sequel about them in high school, maybe?
read::::::!
***
"Monkey King!" Ryoma called out again. This time Atobe turned around, eyes widening slightly in surprise before he recovered.
"I don't answer to that despicable nickname," he said haughtily, turning back to Kabaji. "As I was saying - "
He was interrupted by the crack of a tennis racket, the ball grazing his cheek as it shot by. Atobe turned to see Ryoma glaring at him, another ball balanced on his racket. His team moved to stop him, but Atobe shook his head.
"You could kill someone with that serve," he said nonchalantly, studying Ryoma closely. He looked...irritated. But not as tired or sick as he had the week before, which was -
"Stop messing around," Ryoma said shortly, yanking Atobe towards the fence. Atobe looked ever so slightly surprised at his insistence, but straightened his uniform and tried to look dignified. Behind him, he could hear his team whispering like a bunch of middle school girls. Honestly.
"Is something the matter, brat?" he said, tilting his head curiously. "You know, if you had actually answered my calls, we could talk without getting both of our teams worked up."
Ryoma flicked his eyes towards the Hyotei and Seigaku sides of the court, noticing everyone was staring at them intensely. "Fine," he said, turning away. "I'll call you tonight."
"No," Atobe said quickly, grabbing Ryoma's sleeve. "You're upset about something, and I want to know why."
"You know why," Ryoma said icily, yanking his arm out of Atobe's grip. Atobe was struck by the intensity of his glare, but covered up his unease.
"Kindly enlighten me," he said, then remembered something. "Is this about the ticket I sent you the other day?"
"It wasn't a ticket," Ryoma snapped. "It was permission to use the Atobe Corporation's private jet. What were youthinking?"
***
"I wonder what they're talking about," Eiji said worriedly. He could see as well as anyone that Ryoma and Atobe looked ready to kill each other.
"50% the tension has a sexual basis," Inui cut in smoothly.
"I-Inui!" Eiji said, shocked. "Ochibi and Atobe?!"
"Not so chibi anymore, Eiji-senpai," Momoshiro said, smirking. "Though I thought him and that Sakuno girl would get together."
"Highly unlikely. Data suggests Echizen has never paid attention to her for longer than forty-two seconds."
Momo now looked slightly creeped out. "Since when do you keep track of personal data like that?" he demanded.
"Since Fuji Syuusuke got involved," Inui said intently. "The two most unpredictable players I've ever encountered, suddenly taking an interest in each other?"
The group looked to the opposite court, where Taka and Fuji were practicing their backhands. Fuji's expression was unreadable, but he was matching Taka's power.
"Taking an interest in each other?" Momo said, repeating Inui's observation. "You think Fuji-senpai and Echizen are...dating?"
Inui flipped back a page in his notebook. "Data suggests that is not true. However, Fuji addressed Echizen by his first name, with zero protests from Echizen. There is also the new living situation to take into account."
"I think they would be good together," Eiji said, serious for once.
Momo shrugged. "Don't you think Fuji is the type to...well, the type to play around?"
Eiji shook his head vehemently. "Not with Ochibi!" He frowned suddenly, glancing at Ryoma and Atobe across the courts. "But I wonder..."
***
"As I recall, I was thinking how much you hated airports," Atobe said mildly. "Does it really bother you that much?"
"I'm not a charity case!"
"I don't think that!"
"Then what do you want from me? Money? Fixed matches? Tezuka-buchou reinjured?!"
"No!" Atobe yelled, then realized they had caught the attention of the entire court. He lowered his voice before continuing. "I want you to accept my help."
"That's it?" Ryoma said, somewhat skeptical.
Atobe thought for a moment. "And play a match with me this summer."
"Usu."
"Don't hold back on me."
Ryoma glared, but this time it was more annoyed than angry. "Of course."
"And," Atobe said, serious once more. "I want you to transfer to Hyotei."
"Yadda!" Ryoma said, sounding disgusting by the very thought.
Atobe sighed dramatically. "Tezuka wouldn't allow it either." He twirled his racket contemplatively. "I respect you, Echizen. There's no ulterior motive."
Ryoma stared at him for a long moment before dropping his gaze to the court. "Thank you, Atobe-senpai."
"You're welcome, brat."
***
The rest of practice Ryoma alternated between discussing strategy with Tezuka and being interrogated by Eiji about what Atobe wanted. He didn't miss the way Fuji avoided him. When practice ended they got on the bike without talking, and Ryoma tried not to feel like he had done something wrong.
"Why don't you like Atobe-senpai?" he finally blurted out, not able to stand any more of the silence. He felt Fuji's shoulders tense, and wished he could take it back.
"I just don't," Fuji said flatly.
"That's not a good reason," Ryoma said. "If you would just - "
"I don't want to hear it, Ryoma."
Ryoma frowned. "I don't understand you, Fuji-senpai."
"Then don't try!" The tone was harsh and unexpected coming out of Fuji's mouth, and Ryoma flinched. Fuji must have felt it, but he said nothing.
They reached the house. Fuji wordlessly put the bike away, went upstairs to his room and shut the door. Ryoma stared open-mouthed after him, feeling like there was something between them he didn't quite understand.
"What happened?" Yuuta wanted to know, appearing on the landing. "Syuusuke's in a terrible mood."
"I-I don't know," Ryoma said. He really didn't, and it hurt.
***
Fuji didn't know either. He lay on his bed and stared listlessly at the ceiling until his phone rang for the third time. Figuring it might be important, he sighed, rolled over and answered it.
"Fujiko!"
"Eiji," he said, tiredly. "I'm really not in the mood - "
"Did you have a fight with Ochibi?"
Fuji sat up, startled. "How did you know that?"
"I guessed," Eiji said proudly. "You don't like Atobe very much, do you?"
"No," Fuji said slowly, still wondering how Eiji had known.
"You must have been jealous," Eiji continued matter-of-factly. "Inui says you're in love."
"In...love?" Fuji echoed. He laughed hollowly. "I don't think so."
"Data never lies!" Eiji said, a passable imitation of Inui. "Do you know when Ochibi's birthday is?"
"December 24," Fuji said. "Why?"
"What about his favorite food?"
Fuji sighed, hearing Eiji hum as he turned the page. "Eiji, what are you reading?"
"A gossip magazine," Eiji said nonchalantly. "You get three points for knowing his birthday, Fujiko."
"I know Tezuka's brithday, too," Fuji pointed out. "And yours, and Taka's, and - "
"You're no fun," Eiji said, pouting. "You have to take the whole quiz before you can tell for sure. Oh, I better tell you my real news before I forget."
"Real news?"
"We're all supposed to go to practice tomorrow morning. I mean, the official one. Kuroda has something to tell us."
"About the captainship?" Fuji said, feeling slightly better. At least he had done something right this week.
"I hope so," Eiji said. "I mean, he can't talk about tournaments or anything, considering he cancelled the rest of them. But you know, I've stopped being angry about that, because now we can go see Ochibi at the semifinals!" He sounded truly excited at the thought, and Fuji couldn't help but smile back.
"'Kay, I gotta tell Momo that too. See you tomorrow, Fujiko!"
Fuji said goodbye and hung up, suddenly left with a lot more to think about.
***
In the morning Ryoma woke up miserable and dragged himself down to breakfast. He paused on the stairs, ready to apologize to Fuji for whatever he had done, but it was only Natsumi this time.
"Syuusuke's already left," Nastumi said apologetically. "He said the tennis club is having an emergency meeting."
"Okay," Ryoma said, dropping into a chair. But it wasn't okay, not really.
***
"Something's wrong," Fuji said, watching Kuroda with narrowed eyes. He'd been on edge all morning, and he still hadn't apologized to Ryoma for his behavior. Kuroda's smug looking was not improving his mood.
"Don't jinx it," Eiji said anxiously. "Everyone is so tense."
Kuroda cleared his throat and began with some bullshit about what successful year it was, and how much they had grown. Then he paused, sweeping his eyes over the team before resting on Tezuka. He smirked, and Fuji knew right then it wasn't going to end well.
"And, of course, Yamada-buchou is sorry he couldn't make it today. Though he does want me to pass on his choice for captain….his cousin Takashima Adachi, currently a third year at Hyotei Middle School."
It didn't make sense. The whole court reacted to that - not just the ex-regulars. Kuroda seemed slightly uncomfortable with the level of animosity. Tezuka bowed his head in acceptance, but Fuji could tell he was upset.
"Calm down, everyone," Kuroda said over the rising level of noise.
"Are you proud of yourself?" Fuji cut in. The attention immediately shifted to the tensai, but Fuji gave no sign of what he was thinking. "How does it feel, to have Yamada walk all over you?"
Kuroda looked highly irritated at the interruption. "Now, Fuji, - "
"Don't talk," Fuji said coldly. "You could have stopped him, you know."
There were tentative murmurs of agreement from the court, and then a few shouts. Kuroda turned angrily to the source of the disturbance.
"Go to hell, Fuji," he snapped. "I know what I'm doing."
"I don't think you do," Eiji cut in. The icy tone was surprising coming from the usually-cheerful player, and several people shifted uncomfortably.
Inui cleared his throat, but it did nothing to lessen the tension. "No first year, no matter how talented, is even eligible for the position of captain."
"How did he manage that?" someone else called out.
"You better rethink it!"
"Make Tezuka captain!"
For the first time that year, it felt like they were a team. They fought for what they wanted, together, and Kuroda scrabbled for words, upset, angry….relieved?
Fuji whirled around to see Yamada entering the courts, a bitter smile on his face. The boy put down his tennis bag and shrugged off his jacket, and by the time he was done it was dead silent.
"Buchou!" Kuroda blurted out pathetically. "You're back!"
***
There was something gratifying about those mindless idiots bowing down to him. They were recognizing who had control, thanking him for getting them this far. Except…
"The little tensai and all his friends," he said, satisfied with the way a few of them shrank back.
"Yamada," Fuji said. The absence of the proper suffix hung in the air, but Yamada chose not to comment. Fuji was…difficult. Tezuka had kept in line for most of the year, but he could tell Kuroda's announcement had triggered something under the surface. Kuroda was a tactless idiot, but he at least had the sense to back down.
"You've been causing trouble."
"In the interests of the team," Fuji said evenly. They could have been discussing the weather, for all the emotion in their voices.
Yamada turned to the rest of the team and laughed humorlessly. "Who are you, to question my decisions? Go warm up."
The dismissal was abrupt but welcome, and they scattered quickly. Only Fuji and a few others lingered, and Yamada met Fuji's gaze squarely.
"You'll regret it," Yamada said quietly.
Fuji turned and ran, but Yamada could tell he wasn't afraid.
***
In the middle of a chemistry lab, Horio became so excited he nearly set his sleeve on fire. Ryoma slapped his hand away from the flame and went back to recording temperatures.
"Echizen!" Horio screamed out. "You'll never guess what just happened!"
Ryoma flicked his eyes to his lab partner, who was clutching his cell phone triumphantly. "Horio, put that away before sensei sees it."
"They announced the captaincy today!" Horio said.
"What?" Ryoma said, sitting bolt upright. "Did they...?"
Noticing the commotion, their teacher came over to investigate. "Horio, please refrain from using - "
"No! Yes!" Horio said, ignoring her. "Kuroda appointed some middle schooler - Yamada's cousin, apparently."
"Horio!" their teacher said angrily. "Give me - "
"Be quiet, sensei," Ryoma said, holding up a hand. "What do you mean, his cousin? What about Tezuka?!"
"Echizen!" his teacher screamed. "Such disrespect - "
Horio looked down at his phone, frantically scrolling through his texts. "There was another rebellion and I'm not clear how it ends - sensei, let go!"
"A rebellion?" Ryoma repeated. He was quick enough to snatch the phone back from his teacher. "Let me see." The text ended there...nothing else.
What?
Ryoma was brought back to the present by a sharp tug back of his collar. He looked up at his enraged science teacher, and quickly offered her the phone as some sort of truce. "Gomen, sensei, we just - "
"Echizen! Horio! Office! Now!"
***
Ryuzaki was in the teachers lounge when she heard the gossip. Echizen Ryoma, straight A student, captain of the tennis team...sent to the office for diciplinary action?
"It was his friend Horio," said one of the English teachers. "He was texting in class and Echizen someone got involved."
"It's not some sort of mistake?" someone else asked doubtfully. "I had Echizen for history last year. Very polite."
Ryuzaki snorted at this and left, deciding to go straight to the source. As she entered the office the secretary looked at her athletic outfit and smirked.
"Don't give me that face, missy," she snapped. "I make more money than you. Now where is Echizen Ryoma?"
The secretary sullenly pointed to the adjoining conference room, and Ryuzaki burst in without knocking. Both Ryoma and that pinched faced science teacher...Maeka, was it? looked up when she entered.
"You can talk to her!" Ryoma burst out, clearly relieved. Then he stood up and greeted his coach formally. "Konnichiwa, Ryuzaki-sensei."
"What is going on here?" Ryuzaki wanted to know.
"Maeda-sensei wants to talk to my parents," Ryoma said. "She doesn't believe they're iin America."
Masaki laughed, a thin, annoying sort of sound. "You know, Ryuzaki," she said conspiratorially, "Children will make up any excuse to avoid getting in trouble."
Ryuzaki fixed her with a level stare. "If Ryoma says they're in America, they're in America. He wouldn't lie to you."
"His rudeness this morning suggests otherwise," Maeda said, bristling. "I have never, in my ten years of teaching, been so thoroughly disrespected!"
"Echizen?"
"Horio said they appointed the high school captain," Ryoma said sullenly. "I wanted to know what happened."
Ryuzaki stared at the middle schooler, then burst out laughing. "Of course you did," she finally managed to get out. "Though you should have gotten the news from a more discreet source."
"If you aren't going to treat this seriously, I suggest you leave!" Maeda said, highly annoyed.
"Listen here, Maeda," Ryuzaki said.. "You can give him detention, but I see no point. This was a one-time occurrence. Right, Echizen?"
Ryoma nodded. "I'm sorry for any trouble, Maeda-sensei."
"It's nothing to worry about," Ryuzaki said dismissively. "Though if you truly have a problem, you can talk to Fuji Syuusuke's parents."
"Fuji...Syuusuke?"
"Yes, that's who Echizen is staying with for the time being." She tried not to smirk as she noticed Maeda's expression. "I take it you've had him before?"
"Yes, two years ago," Maeda said weakly. "I suppose...I suppose a lunchtime detention will suffice."
***
A few hours later, Ryuzaki was teaching a class of first-years how to kick a soccer ball when their focus abruptly vanished. She looked up to see what had caught their attention, and saw the famous Golden Pair approaching.
"Well, it's good to see you," Ryuzaki greeted. "I would ask you to pass on my congratulations but I hear things didn't exactly work out."
Eiji made a face. "No they didn't, and that's because Yamada is a f - "
"Eiji!" Oishi cut in, before the other boy could say anything. "At least wait until the first years can't hear us."
"Fine, fine," Eiji said, pouting. "We gotta talk to Ochibi. Have you seen him?"
"He's in detention," Ryuzaki said, frowning.
"Detention?" Oishi echoed, shocked. "What happened?"
Ryuzaki chuckled. "Horio got ahold of the captainship news during their science class. Maeda says they caused a bit of a disruption."
"Maeda-sensei?" Oishi echoed. "Poor Echizen..."
"Come on, Oishi!" Eiji said suddenly. "Let's go get Fuji! He's really good at talking to her."
"I'm sure he is," Ryuzaki said dryly, but she didn't try to discourage them. She didn't like Maeda one bit, and Ryoma deserved to know what happened.
***
Detention was terrible. Maeda had directed Horio and him to an unused classroom on the third floor and locked them in, telling them to clean the floors and desks. It was an hour later when Maeda returned, and Ryoma had to explain to his Japanese history teacher why he was so late.
"You had detention?" she echoed incredulously. "What were you doing, sleeping?" She even called Maeda to check, while the rest of the third years tried their best to get the story out of him.
Ryoma ignored them, not wanting to think about it. He was dying to talk to Tezuka and figure out what had happened, but he had the rest of his classes and practice to get through. The minutes passed painfully slowly, but by 5:30 practice had drawn to a close and his teammates wandered off.
He had just locked up the clubhouse when he felt someone approaching. Ryoma turned, half-expecting to see Fuji, but instead someone grabbed his wrist and shoved him against the wall. He instinctively tried to squirm away, but he was exhausted and the newcomer was so angry...he stopped struggling, feeling the grip on his wrist tighten.
"Echizen Ryoma," the voice said. It sounded slightly familiar but Ryoma was too scared to place it.
"So you're the middle schooler I've been hearing so much about."
Ryoma twisted suddenly to catch a glimpse of dark hair. "Yamada-senpai," he said, realizing who it was.
The other boy sneered and twisted Ryoma's arm, and Ryoma instinctively followed, trying not to shudder as he ended up staring into into Yamada's face.
"I hear you're left-handed." He said this calmly, as though they were discussing the weather, then tightened his grip even more.
"What do you want?" Ryoma said, refusing to let Yamada hear him cry out.
"Hm. Lots of things," Yamada answered. "I want Tezuka to stop causing so much trouble...and I want that foolish friend of his to stop interfering.
He suddenly twisted his grip, and Ryoma gasped as pain split through the numbness. "From what I hear you'll cause just as much trouble," Yamada continued. "I don't want to see you on the courts next year."
"Let go!" Ryoma cried out, not caring how pathetic he sounded.
"Promise," Yamada shot back. "Promise me you won't play."
Somethig shifted in his wrist, and he wanted to throw up. "I promise," he choked out, and it was over.
***
i love this chapter. fuji coming to terms with his feelings, some atobe/ryoma confrontation, the captain thingy announced (apparently captainship isn't a word, but i've used it at least tiwce), ryoma/yamada confrontation (ow!)...am i moving too fast? i guess i was bored (i'm in wyoming, you guys) and wanted to write drama.
also, when i first made yamada he kind of snivelly and whiny...not evil. i might go back and rewrite those parts. but for now, let's just accept the fact that people do scary stuff when they're angry.
***ETA: yamada has been split into 2 characters. see beginning of chapter 11 for more details.
next up: angry!fuji, angry!atobe, secretive!ryoma. or something like that
