lovexsorrows says:

Here's the new chapter. I never thought I could update this fast. Lol. This chapter is a bit more Rikkai-centric for they're still at the onsen. Don't worry, Atobe still has a cameo. Forgive me if it's crappy. Please enjoy reading!

Whatever I may do to the characters are purely fictional. I do not own Prince of Tennis, Konami-san does.


"Kiseki-chaan!!"

Kiseki slowly opened her eyes as she heard Niou's voice. Trailing behind him was the rest of Rikkai's male tennis team. The girls were all already in the baths. Masataka and Fujioka had even begun scrubbing each other's back. Kiseki and Hitomi had to shield their eyes as Niou and Kirihara jumped in with a splash, earning glares from the other occupants.

"Seriously, what's with the world? The boys are even slower than girls," remarked Hitomi.

"Saa…" answered Kiseki as the guys stepped in one after another.

"Mmm… Weak alkalinity, colorlessness, transparence, light smell. Not bad," mumbled Renji.

"Yanagi-senpai! Stop taking data for Kami-sake! We're in the onsen!" complained Kirihara.

"That's right. Renji, could you please stop just this once?" said Yukimura and gave Renji one of his smiles.

"… I understand."

"Hey, you guys do realize we're in a mixed bath right?" said the petenshi all of a sudden.

The girls and guys of Rikkai began staring at each other. The girls got tired after a few seconds and began chatting amongst themselves, totally ignoring the guys.

They maybe athletes, but they sure have a ladies' body.

Ne… Their rosy pink skin reminds me of the strawberries on my cake. Yum!

Whoa… All the steam from the water just made them 10 times sexier.

It wasn't until a while later when Fujioka tilted her head and noticed that some of the guys were nose bleeding.

"Eh? Everyone, is it just me or are they actually nose bleeding?"

The rest of the girls turned to see Kirihara, Marui and Niou bleeding profusely. It would probably freak them out if Jackal and Yagyuu hadn't slap their heads into the water, washing away the blood.

"I sincerely apologize for our tainted thoughts," said Yagyuu after wiping his nose. Jackal nodded in agreement with a slight blush on his face. Yukimura would have killed somebody if the girls hadn't begun laughing. This raised both Renji and Sanada's eyebrow.

"Ha! Chieko, pay up! I told you they would bleed."

"Hai hai. Honestly, I'd be surprised if they didn't. They are growing teenage boys."

Kiseki was having a hard time stifling her laughter while Hitomi shook her head in disbelief with tears in her eyes. The guys were dumbfounded, seeing the girls' reactions.

"Kiseki-chan, is everyone okay with this?" asked Yukimura while half-choking Niou.

"Maa… It is a mixed bath after all," came the answer.

The rest of the girls nodded in agreement and gave the guys their most assuring, innocent smiles ever.

"See? Our girls from Rikkai are an easygoing bunch," said Niou as he broke out from Yukimura's grasp towards the girls; or rather, his favourite of them all, Kiseki-chan.

Before Niou could even rub shoulders with any of the girls, Yukimura had already swatted him with his wet, heavy towel, knocking him unconscious. As the girls had resumed gossiping and rubbing each other's backs, they didn't noticed.

"Hmm… Rikkai's female tennis regulars are fine with mixed baths and nudity. Whereas the guys, especially Kirihara, Marui and Niou bleed profusely at the sight of them in the baths. Oh, Yagyuu and Jackal too," noted Renji.

Sanada, who was right next to Renji could only sigh and shake his head in defeat looking at Rikkai's mass of blood and chaos.

xxxxx

The Rikkai regulars were now all dry and clean. They were all lounging in one of the rooms. Suddenly, Masataka and Fujioka came bursting in with a sake bottle.

"Look what we found!"

"Erm, an empty sake bottle?" answered Marui.

"Duh. Do you know what can we do with this?"

Amused, the rest of the regulars looked up from their respective activities.

"Spin the Bottle!!" Masataka and Fujioka practically screamed.

That supposedly innocent suggestion shook the hearts of the Rikkai regulars. Why? Because it involved kissing another on the lips. Most of them pretended to have never heard it. But, dear Niou just had to burst their bubble.

"I second your motion. Let's do it !"

"This is an interesting suggestion. I too agree," said Renji as he stood up.

Perfect time to get some personal data.

Renji's agreement diminished any hope of the regulars to wriggle out of Masataka and Fujioka's suggested game. They all decided that kissing one or two persons to please Renji are way better than to pay back by undergoing his maniacal training when they return to the courts. Hence, they all reluctantly gathered in a circle around the bottle. Only Sanada refused, even after Renji's persuading.

"I'm sure everyone knows the fundamentals of this game. Spin the bottle, kiss whoever the bottle stops at. But, we would like to change the 'whoever' part," said Masataka.

"The 'whoever' part?" the rest wondered out loud.

"Let's say I spin the bottle and it lands on a girl. I'll have to spin it again until I get a guy."

"Why are you changing only that part?"asked Renji.

"I know that a guy kissing a guy or a girl kissing a girl is like super interesting. But, wouldn't a normal situation where a guy kisses a girl or vice versa raise even more conflict?" reasoned Masataka.

"Hmm… I see… Anyone disagrees?"

The Rikkai regulars shook their heads in respond. Deep down, most of them were relieved that the 'whoever' part was changed. Kissing the opposite sex is much more comfortable than kissing the same sex.

"Who wants to go first?"asked Fujioka.

Naturally, Niou would've volunteered. Unfortunately, he was intercepted by Renji.

"Why don't you go first, Seiichi?"

"Sure," Yukimura smiled and proceeded to spin the bottle, anti-clockwise.

The bottle spun for approximately three rounds before stopping in front of… Kiseki.

"Ah," Yukimura and Renji said in unison.

"Ooh… It's Mura-buchou and Kiseki-chan. Buchou and buchou!" cried Fujioka happily.

Kiseki looked at the bottle and back at Yukimura with a rather questioning look.

"Ne, Seiichi-kun, let's just do it," she smiled.

Why did that bottle had to stop at Kiseki-chan of all people?

Oh joy. Is that bottle rigged or something?

As Kiseki and Yukimura faced each other, the rest of the regulars held their breath as if in the climax of a horror movie. Renji stopped taking mind notes and Sanada folded his arms in amusement. Then, Yukimura grabbed Kiseki's shoulders and delivered a swift, soft kiss. A moment of silence ensued.

"That was fast," said Niou.

"There was no rule saying that the kiss should be rough and passionate," countered Yukimura.

Kissing Kiseki-chan was already unexpected.

"Hai hai. Kiseki-chan, your turn."

Kiseki nodded and spun the bottle while avoiding direct eye-contact with Yukimura. The bottle went round and round. It finally stopped in front of Rikkai's kouhai, Kirihara Akaya.

"Aww man… Why can't it miss by a few degrees?" complained Niou who was sitting next to Kirihara.

Meanwhile, the seaweed-haired kouhai was gaping at the direction pointer by the bottle. Because of that, he did not notice the approaching Kiseki.

"You'll remember this for the rest of your life."

That being said, Kiseki pulled the edges of Kirihara's yukata, pulling him millimeters close and planted a passionate kiss on his lips. This shocked the rest of the Rikkai regulars and sent chills down Kirihara's spine. When she finally pulled away, Kirihara passed out immediately. As they all began fussing over the unconscious kouhai, Yukimura left the room followed by Sanada.

xxxxx

Yukimura stood in front of the windowpane looking at the floor, not noticing his clenched fists and the partly opened door.

"You like Kiseki-chan, don't you?"

Yukimura turned and saw Sanada standing before the closed door.

"No… Maybe… I don't know…"

"She is the epitome of priceless, even in my books. If you do like her, you better take action for she will move on," lectured Sanada as he approached him.

Yukimura lifted his head to see that Sanada was merely centimeters away. He then rested his head on Sanada's shoulders, fearing that his leg might give way. Then came a knock.

"Seiichi-kun? Sanada-kun?"

As Kiseki opened the door, she saw Yukimura leaning against Sanada. It surprised both parties.

"I am sooo sorry for interrupting!" Kiseki bowed and left the room immediately.

Yukimura felt like chasing after her to explain, but somehow his legs were rooted to the ground.

"You're not going after her?" asked Sanada.

"My legs won't," came the answer.

xxxxx

Kiseki ran instinctively and only stopped when she reached the main lobby lounge. She leaned onto a wall and slumped down.

Oh Kami-sama! I can't believe I just barged in like that! Are? It doesn't hurt as much as I thought it will be, but… it still stings.


Kiseki turned the page of her Shonen Jump as Kirihara stirred in his sleep. The poor kouhai couldn't get any sleep last night from Niou's constant pestering. He finally decided to attach himself to Kiseki-senpai as she could effectively keep Niou at bay and fell asleep as soon as they got onto the bus.

"Hey."

"Ah, Seiichi-kun. What is it?" answered Kiseki in a half-whisper.

"About yesterday…" Yukimura left the question hanging.

"Erm… Saa… What about yesterday?" she smiled.

Sensing Kiseki's hidden intentions, Yukimura did not probe further.

"Thanks."

"What are friends for?" Kiseki answered and returned to her Shonen Jump, making Yukimura wonder had he done the right thing.

xxxxx

As the bus turned into Rikkai's gates, Marui spotted Atobe sitting on the steps of the main building.

"I must've ate too much cakes. I'm seeing Atobe on the steps of our school."

"Marui-kun, you're not hallucinating. It is Atobe and he's here for me," said Kiseki.

"EH??" the rest cried in unison.

"I've got urgent matters. Call me if there is anything. Ja ne! "

Kiseki exited the bus and began towards Atobe's direction. She left the rest of the Rikkai regulars gaping and perplexed.

"Ne, Hitomi-san, are they really not seeing each other?" asked Marui.

"I respect her privacy so I didn't ask. But if I'm not mistaken, they were in the same elementary school," answered Hitomi.

"They're close then," said Yukimura as they watch Kiseki leave with Atobe.

xxxxx

"What's with this last minute dinner-plans with jiji?" interrogated Kiseki.

"Okairinasai. Shouldn't you at least say tadaima?" Atobe answered in a faked sad tone.

"We're not home yet."

"Jiji is flying to Switzerland for a ski trip tomorrow. Apparently he wants to see us for the 'last time' in case he should meet with the Grim Reaper there."

"What the- The Alps? He sure is one hell of an old man."

"Satisfied?"

"Yep. Let's go! "

To be continued…

A/N: Ooh... What's going to happen next? Not really sure yet. LOL. Jiji- grandfather, okairinasai- welcome back, tadaima- I'm back. Thanks for reading again!