Disclaimer: YES. I OWN THEM...pfft. I wish TTnTT BUT I DO FINALLY HAVE BOOK FIFTEEN. SEXY FUJI ON THE COVER!!!! -giggles- BTW: BOOK 16 COMES OUT NOVEMBER 7TH -HEARTHEARTHEART-

AN: XD LOOK WHO FINALLY GOT OFF HER LAZY ASS TO UPDATE! -dances- ...Right, so XD Hi everyone! I'm estatic. Seriously XD This has to be the first fanfic (discluding an original fic, which is why we say 'fanfic'!) that has ever made it into double digit chapters! CELEBRATE! We'll talk more in the post AN. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! HAPPY 10TH CHAPTER.

Tezuka watched in silent horror as the tensai drove the broken racquet deep into his right arm without so much as a whimper. He noticed the twitch of temporary pain, but couldn't seem to register what had just happened, until he realized Kikumaru was now crying louder than before and struggling harder. Oishi looked ready to lose his grip, and was giving Tezuka the most pitiful look the captain had ever seen come from him. Slowly, he walked over and grabbed the acrobat firmly by the shoulders, looking him directly in the eyes, softly compared to his usual glare. Even his voice was calmer than usual, as he tried to calm the acrobat, and himself, "Kikumaru...listen to me. Fuji...needs time to recover from a bit of trouble he's been having. I...he...needs you to be as calm as you can...and the best friend you can, understand? He's going to need all of us."

"W-why? What happened?" The red head had at least stopped struggling, but was still crying, starting to hiccough while trying to talk.

"I'm not entirely sure...yet." He turned his gaze towards Oishi to make it obvious he was talking to both, "Gather everyone up...get them in the club room. Tell them that what happened...does not leave that room, understand?"

"Hai, buchou." Was the synchronized answer, to which Tezuka added, "It won't be me they worry about if it does get out..." He cast a small glance to the tensai, who was idly pulling splinters of the racquet from his arm. The Golden Pair nodded and, once Oishi had finally set down the sullen Kikumaru, went to get the other members away from the court. The captain took a steady breath, carefully walking over to his tensai, praying he was at least somewhat in touch with reality.

Azure orbs looked up in confusion after a moment, "Buchou?"

"Fuji...are you ok?" He wasn't sure it was the right thing to say, but he did want to know. The tensai was worrying him, much more than usual. If it had been a simple prank, he wouldn't have cared...and if this was Fuji's idea of a prank, he wasn't sure what he could do. A distant look passed over the other's face for a moment, as if he were trying to remember something as he seemed to finally realize his arm was bleeding. He heard a cry from behind him, just as Fuji started screaming about someone in his head, and turned sharply, in time to see Kikumaru trying to dash back onto the court, and Oishi just barely managing to catch him again.

"Get off the courts, now!" Tezuka wasn't sure he'd ever been able to summon a tone that strict, but it worked, especially when Coach Ryuzaki's echoing command barked from behind the mass, and they all quickly fled. After a moment, he chanced turning around, finding the tensai was on his knees, looking somewhat dazed. It was hard to tell whether he was shocked or staring after the retreating doubles pair. He also looked sad...Tezuka concluded it to be the latter and carefully helped him to his feet, muttering, "You need to go to the nurse." Fuji's reaction was one that caused the captain to worry more. At first, he looked confused, as if he didn't understand what he was being told and was registering it slowly. Then came the look of understanding, followed by that child-like fear.

"Don't...don't tell them...please, don't tell them." The tensai was shaking, gripping Tezuka's arms weakly. All he could do was question him. Who could he possibly be worried about? Inui? No...The data player knew how to keep his mouth shut when the situation demanded it. The first year with the big mouth? No...He wasn't that stupid...who could he possibly be afraid of?

A click registered in the back of the captain's mind as he remembered the night before and asked, almost dully as it set in, "Ah...the other schools...I'm afraid I can't do much in that area..." He wasn't sure why he was apologizing, when he knew it was beyond his control, but it felt like his fault. It is my fault, he reminded himself, sighing inwardly. If only I hadn't blanked out on Monday...

The first person that came to Tezuka's mind was Yuuta and Yumiko. The Fuji siblings-though Yuuta would deny it- were connected in an almost terrifying manner. Especially the brothers, despite how dense the younger acted on the situation. He could deny it all he wanted, but he knew when something bothered his older brother. And their sister...the thought almost caused Tezuka to shudder. He then remembered what team Yuuta was on. St. Rudolph. If Fuji Yuuta equaled St. Rudolph, St. Rudolph most definitely was guaranteed to equal Mizuki Hajime. God only knew how long he could keep his mouth shut. He was brought back to reality by Fuji's sudden collapse, barely keeping him from falling completely to his knees. The tensai's begging caused his insides to knot, barely managing to mutter consolation, and carefully lowered him to where he was on his knees before standing and offering him a hand up. Fuji merely gave him a blank look, followed by a hollow smile as he accepted the offer.

"Is this how you felt when you played me last time?"

Tezuka could only stare. Last time they had played? That had been two years ago, along with their promise. But he couldn't remember feeling anything negative about it. He'd wanted to play the tensai. He had been interesting. How on Earth had this reminded the boy of then? He was once again rudely brought back to the raining courts when he realized Fuji was heading towards the club house.

"...Where do you think you're going?"

"To get dressed...?" Fuji looked as though he was stating the obvious and Tezuka could only return the blank look when he again ordered the tensai to go to the nurse. He received a look of utter disbelief and fear and partially rolled his eyes. There was no way he was going to let his tensai go to class bloodied as he was. He walked over, grabbed Fuji's arm before he could dart away, pulled him closer and hauled him over his shoulder. One arm wrapped firmly around the back of the tensai's legs to keep him from kicking the captain's lower body, while the other wrapped over the small of his back to keep him from falling. The protests, combined with the kicking and screaming, didn't bother him. What bothered him, was that Fuji kept squirming and Tezuka had found himself having to reposition his hand from the tensai's squirming rear more than once.

Once they had entered the building, Fuji had calmed down somewhat, so as not to draw attention to himself, and Tezuka had a much easier time getting him to the nurse's office, though he was none too pleased about being kicked out of the office. He sighed and slowly slid down the wall beside the door. He didn't want to leave. Who knew what chaos Fuji could cause when he wanted a secret to be kept? Shoes squeaking down the hall temporarily caused him to cease his thoughts. He assumed them to be a passing student, but they stopped next to him and he found himself looking up to find a very angry looking Fuji Yuuta. He was in his own tennis uniform, giving off that he'd just come from his own morning practice, and was thoroughly soaked from the rain. At that moment, he was giving Tezuka a deathly glare. Seigaku's usually emotionless captain stood slowly, watching the younger warily in case his anger took over and tried to keep a level voice, "You shouldn't be here, Yuuta-san." Honestly, he wasn't sure what to expect from the younger Fuji, and that almost scared him. About as much as it did when he didn't know what his tensai was up to.

"Like Hell I shouldn't." He spoke through clenched teeth, his fists clenched just as tightly at his sides, shaking, "What the Hell did you do to aniki?"

"I assure you I have no clue--"

"He just fucking stabbed himself in the arm, Tezuka! You can't tell me something didn't happen!" The outburst caused the captain to fall quiet. He realized, then, that Yuuta had tears on the brim of his eyes and assumed that's why he had his face so set. He was trying not to cause a commotion, and trying harder not to break into sobs. Tezuka sighed, cautiously putting a hand on the younger's shoulders and hoping he hadn't been too loud.

"Listen to me. I honestly don't know what happened to your brother." He kept his voice down, casting wary glances at the door into the nurse's office every few seconds, "But I do intend to find out. Give me the week. I'll keep an eye on him while my parents are away. He's not going to tell us anything in the condition he's in--Let me finish." His tone became sharper, warning the second year not to interupt him. He sighed when he continued, "He more than likely won't say anything until he's had time to register whatever happened himself. Just...give me this week. If I can't find out, he'll be back home, and you can try."

Yuuta continued glaring at him, hissing coldly in a way that could have rivaled Kaido, "What makes you think I should trust you? It's your fault he ran off in the first place, damn it!" Tezuka gave him a shocked, somewhat blank look, as though lost and he continued, "Nee-chan told me what happened Monday night. He went to your place and never came home and then all of this happens! Why the Hell should I leave him at your house?"

"I'm sure I deserve every bit of your doubt, as well as your sister's...but he's not going to go home, even if I tell him to," Tezuka muttered, earning a threatening growl from Yuuta and quickly tried to explain himself, "It's not that I don't want him to be around his family...but he wants to keep this from everyone else. Especially you and Mizuki-san. He has it set in his mind that something horrible's going to happen if we find out." A sigh slipped by his lips and he closed his eyes a moment, "Before you ask what makes me so sure of this...the first thing he told me, when I told him to go to the nurse, was not to tell. I thought he meant our school...then mentioned your name, Mizuki-san's and Saeki-san's specifically. I think that's justification enough."

Tezuka chanced to look at the other. The St. Rudolph player looked contemplative, as though weighing his options. He also looked hurt by the fact his brother didn't want his help. Had the situation not been so serious, Tezuka probably would have smiled. The Fuji brothers reacted similarly to similar situations. When Yuuta didn't want help, Syuusuke always came to him with a hurt look that said 'he hates me.' and complained. Likewise, now that Syuusuke didn't want help, Yuuta had a look that said 'he doesn't trust me.' and looked ready to go into the office and get answers from his brother himself. Finally, he sighed and looked up, eyes narrowed venomously, "If anything else happens to aniki..."

"It won't." Tezuka was almost offended that Yuuta didn't trust him, but somewhat understood his reluctance, since it was his fault in an odd sense. He nodded slowly before beginning to take a few steps back and retreat towards the entrance of the school. Tezuka sighed in relief and leaned against the wall. That was one Fuji taken care of. Now to get his...

As if on cue, the door to the nurse's office opened, the nurse looking completely terrified. She explained what had happened; Fuji refusing to tell her what happened, growling whenever she tried to take the phone away from him, whenever she suggested calling one of his parents, and finally telling her flat out he wanted to see his captain. A familiar throb passed through Tezuka's mind and he sighed, walking past the nurse without a word and looked over to the bed Fuji had situated himself on. The tensai was leaning against a few pillows, phone held securely in his lap, as he stared out the window. He really was too much trouble sometimes.

"Fuji?"

Despite his tensai's protests, Tezuka was able to dry the smaller boy off somewhat. At least dryer than he, himself, was. He kept Fuji held to his chest while he worked on drying the boy, and swore he heard him purring. It made him smile softly, deciding it was best not to mention that Yuuta had come by a few minutes earlier. There was no need to upset the fragile..semi-normality they had finally gained. Before he had the chance to reassure his tensai that he would be back in bed soon, the nurse interupted them, fidgeting nervously and saying she needed to call his family. She looked terrified of them both and almost squeaked when she heard a partial growl come from the curled up form. Tezuka had to fight not to smile and to keep a stoic expression and voice when he assured her that Fuji was staying with him. She persisted though, and as a final resort, the captain ushered his tensai from the room to the club house, before turning back to the nurse.

"I apologize, for any trouble he has caused, as well as trouble I have caused, but it would be in everyone's best interests not to call his home just yet."

"He has a hole in his arm! How can you expect me not to call his family? What if he still has splinters in his arm? They could be moving about in his arm, for all I know! He needs to see a doctor--"

"Which he will." Tezuka cut in, trying to assure her, as well as his own conscious, that it would be alright, "As soon as he gets some rest. He's had a rough week, and both of our families are...very busy at the moment. He's staying with me to give them space to work, and my parents are out on their anniversary cruise. It's perfectly fine."

He hoped his explaination would sedate her persistant curiosity, and almost sighed in relief when he finally got a defeated nod of approval. She made him swear to have Fuji's arm examined by a real doctor later, and threatened to call his family should it happen again. He was happy to make the promise, though he inwardly cringed at the threat. The chance of Fuji doing something rash again was very likely. No one could stop that, but he would just have to do his best.

He finally escaped her persistance just as the first hour bell rang, and he cringed as people flooded out of classrooms. He tried to get back outside before running into anyone, but it seemed as though they had planned it, as all of the third year starters caught him at the end of the hall, grabbed him and pushed him into an empty classroom. Kikumaru was the first one to react once they had gained privacy, by jumping on his captain and demanding to know where his friend was, ready to burst into tears once more. Oishi tried to calm him down, only successfully prying him off of their captain. Inui said nothing, but it was obvious he had reached many theoretical conclusions and wanted them answered. Kawamura was the only one that attempted to act normal, when he asked quietly, "Fujiko's going to be ok, isn't he?"

Everyone quieted down, while Tezuka, almost sighing in relief for the silence, answered as calmly as he could, "He'll be fine. He's already calmed down exceptionally." He turned to Oishi then, shifting his gaze between his vice-captain and the acrobat who had long donned a scared kitten look, "I'm going to keep him home tomorrow and keep an eye on him. Oishi, you're in charge, as usual. I expect the rest of you to help him keep this under control, understood?" He got an affirmative nod from all of them, then nodded himself, "Good...go ahead and get to class. Kikumaru, you aren't to say a word about this to anyone. Just tell them he's got a really bad cold if anyone asks, understand?" When he got affirmatives that time, he ushered them out of the empty class and towards their classes.

As he walked towards the club house, he thought about the conversations he'd had since they'd gotten to school. Fuji was lucky...why couldn't he realize that? He had a brother that loved him, team mates that would put themselves in his line of fire to help him, and a captain... Tezuka halted a moment, thinking deeply. Just what was his connection to his tensai? There was admiration, for sure. A person would be stupid not to admire his talent. Even Mizuki and Oshitari had to admit to that. But Tezuka...what all did he see in Fuji? A friend? Something more, maybe? He shook his head. Now wasn't the time to think about that. Now was the time to focus on getting the fore-mentioned better.

He looked up when he began nearing the club house. The door was wide open, causing a frown to sketch his face. He broke into a light sprint, almost skidding to a halt by the door. The site caused a familiarizing anger and worry pass through him. Fuji sitting against the wall; azure eyes wide in fear, seeming to stare at nothing. There was no telling how long he'd been there. Tezuka took a few cautious steps towards him, intent on returning him to reality first. Something else caught his peripheral vision first, though. It was just a glimpse, but it caused him to turn his head. The corner Fuji kept his tennis bag...there was an object lying there. Not entirely out of place, but surely something that shouldn't have been there...Fuji hadn't had it the day before. Tezuka's curiosity took over as he went to investigate, looking back at his friend to make sure he was still somewhat stable every few seconds. He picked the object on the bench up to have his suspicions confirmed. A Seigaku Regular's shirt. Torn, bloodied and beyond repair.

Finding it better not to try understanding, Tezuka resumed his mission of comforting Fuji. He shook the boy lightly by the shoulders. At first, lightly, anyways. When it didn't work, he shook him a bit harder, muttering his name softly. Eventually, the dazed fear faded, replaced by confusion. The captain could only sigh, "Fuji...what happened?" The tensai seemed to ignore the question all together, his gaze drifting almost immediately to the shirt in Tezuka's hand and widened once more in fear when he grabbed it.

"Where did you find this?"

Tezuka looked over to the bench to indicate his answer, worry beginning to take over as he followed the tensai back to the bag. Fuji was shaking again, almost worse than the night before, as he undid the zipper of the bag. He broke into a fresh set of sobs, almost collapsing. Tezuka caught him before he did, chancing to look at the bag. A pair of roses...a letter...and the starter shorts that had been missing as well. He clenched his teeth tight, trying to calm the shaken boy in his arms. Whoever had done this was going to pay.

TBC...

AH-HAH! FINISHED. -dances happily- So. We happily welcome a new signed reviewer to our lovely family! Hiya nightmare rose! So. Anyways. To answer reviews I go!

nightmare rose: welcome welcome and here's the next chapter -heart-

-.­-: Thank ya kindly -more hearts-

Sango Hikari: Yeah. It's been a loooooooooooong while. But lookie! I updated XD -dances-

dotdotdot: THERE YOU ARE! God I freaked out when I didn't get a review from you in the first week XD -hugs tightly- I'm sorry I took so long to update ;.; YOU STILL LOVE ME RIGHT?! XD I still love your reviews. Best things ever, man.

yamatoforever: Yuuta knows...er. Somewhat XD You'll heart the next chapter a lot, promise!

merissala: Thank ya -claps- I'm glad you like the way I write n.n!

Blader Fairy Everlasting: I'M SORRY IT WASN'T SOON ;.;!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -grovel-
yaelifivefour: Everone loves reading Tezuka's view XD I'm so glad, 'cause it's so hard for me to write in his PoV. -huggles- I lav you 3

yoshikochan: That he does belong to Tezuka. -nods- ...Should totally draw Fuji with a little 'property of Tezuka Kunimitsu' tag on him XD -cackles-

KiriharaAkaya: Yeah. One day nn then we can all have tea together! And by all means. Spork the school to death -joins in school sporking-

Fightingdreamer5: I'm glad I can write both at once XD I'm always so worried I'll go over board with one or the other. Tankoooooooooooo!

OnlyMeg: - That makes teh Kiri (moi) very happy to hear -wags tails happily-

Preview of the next chapter:

BONUS CHAPTER!!!!!!!!!!!!

We all know how Tezuka and Fuji have been handling their week...what about poor Yuuta-kun though? Between maintaining sanity during his classes and not killing his brother's team mates, he's just as stressed as they are! Just what does he know anyways?

edit: fixed some typos and that damned left arm thing again. God I can't believe I did that;;;