Raising The Bar

By: Smash41KMF

Disclaimer: I do not own The Prince of Tennis, but I do own this story and Kathryn!

Chapter Ten: My Baby Brother Is Everything To Me

Hiya guys and peeps, I'm back and I'm feeling great about this story, I love Fuji and I love the thought of how he's so sweet, oh it'd be so great if he were really real, I'd sooooo call dibs!

By the way, thank you to EVERYONE who reviewed, favorited, or alerted my story! I love you guys, and thank you sooooo much!

I sighed, shaking my head at his antics, before turning around and going inside to find my little brother sitting at the kitchen table, watching as I put the food Keigo had bought for us in the pantry and the refrigerator. Once I was finished, I turned to look at my little brother, and sighed. Kneeling onto the floor, I looked up at him and reached out to take his hand, but he pulled it away, and I hung my head, resting my hand in my lap, not expecting the full weight of the ten-year-old to crash into me seconds later. I almost fell backwards from the force of the child, but I quickly steadied myself and hugged him back, just as tightly. I held him there, not wanting to let him go as I stroked his soft hair.

My little brother was everything to me, and I didn't know what I would do if I lost him, probably go into depression, but that's aside from the point. I loved my brother more than anything, ever since the day he was born, the day is lost his first tooth, the day our mother died, and to this day and beyond. I remembered when he used to call me 'Angel' because I was always watching over him and I never left him alone, even when I was mad at him, it never lasted longer than a day.

I remembered the promise I had made my mother the mere seconds before she died. I had promised to never leave him, that I would always protect, when he had been doing the same the whole time.

I suddenly hugged the boy tighter as I felt tears creep into the corners of my eyes, and it was then that I realized that he was doing the same. I pulled away slightly, and caught his hand as he made to wipe his tears, he hated looking weak, but I still reached up and brushed his tears away and kissed his forehead, just like our mother used to.

"Sam... I'm so sorry, but I just didn't know how I could tell you after everything that's happened, can you manage to forgive me?" I asked, looking my little brother in the eyes, pleading for forgiveness.

He paused, and I bit my lip as he answered, "Yes." I let out a relieved breath and hugged him.

"I promise, from here on out, to tell you everything, just ask, okay?" I said, and the boy nodded, before going over the the counter and jumping onto one of the stools, while I stood up, brushed off my skirt, and leaned on the counter across from him.

"So, what'll it be, Handsome?" I asked, acting like a waitress in a game we used to play when we were younger. Sam grinned, catching on quickly, and rubbing his imaginary beard in thought.

"One grilled cheese and a glass of milk, please!" he chirped in the best 'deep' voice he could muster, and I laughed.

"Coming right up, sir." I laughed, going to the refrigerator and taking out the cheese, butter and milk, then going to cupboard and getting out a glass and a plate. I then got out the bread and a frying pan. "So, how was your day at school?" I asked as I buttered the backs of four pieces of toast, making myself a sandwich as well.

"Mmmm, it was okay, but I have trouble understanding everyone, their English isn't the best, but then again, neither is my Japanese, so I suppose it's fair." he replied, pouring himself a glass of milk and then one for me.

"Don't worry, I know the feeling, I'm still having some trouble; did you make any new friends?" I asked as I put the cheese in between the beard and put both sandwichs on heated the frying pan.

"A few, but I miss my friends at home." he replied, looking up from his glass of milk and my heart went out to him, the innocence in his blue eyes as they stared at me, it broke my heart to see him so let-down. I sighed, flipping the sandwichs a few times, before putting them on our plate and setting them on the counter and turning off the stove.

"I know, I know, but we have to do this, Sam. I'm sorry, but we can't go back. There's nothing left for us back home." I mumbled, nibbling on my sandwich while my brother simply stared at his, before getting jumping off his stool and running upstairs, slamming the door to his room. I sighed, setting the remaining half of my sandwich down and wrapped both Sam's sandwich and my half of one in sylofaine and sticking it in the refrigerator.

Afterwards, I sat at the counter, contemplating on what to do, when my phone began to ring beside me, and I perked up slightly. The number was unknown, but I answered it anyways, surprised by who was on the other end.

"Oh, good, you answered! I was beginning to wonder if you'd answer or not." I sighed, running an exhausted hand through my too-long bangs, before answering reluctantly.

"Yes, I answered, but please, do you think this could wait? Something is really bugging Sam, and I need find out what." I replied, and there was silence over the other end, before a long, exasperated sigh answered me.

"Fine, go help your brother, but I'm calling back in half an hour, and you'd better answer, or I'm going to show up at you house and you won't be able to get me to leave, got it?" he asked, and I smirked.

"Sure, bye."

"Bye."

I sigh, flipping shut my phone, before pushing myself off my stool and climbing the stairs to stand in front of my little brother's room. I leaned against the door, readying myself to knock when I heard soft cries from the other side of the door, and I froze. Sam...my strong, baby brother, always protecting me, being the strong one, was crying, but why?

I reached up to knock on the door, when I heard him yell from the other side of the door.

"I just want to be alone, Hikaru! Please, just for once! I want to be alone!" I shouted, and I dropped my hand and leaned against the door, before feeling my legs collapse from under me and I hit the ground with a thud. "Please, Hikaru, just go away, I really do want to be alone, please?" I heard him ask, and I slowly nodded my head, and pulled myself to my feet.

"Sam, I love you, and get to bed sometime soon, you need to sleep.' I mumbled, patting his door, before turning away and walking to my bedroom down the hall, and flopping onto the bed. I rolled over and grumbled into my pillow, just as my phone began to ring, and I reluctantly answered it. Despite myself, I knew it needed to be done.

Sighing, I flipped open my phone and braced myself, here goes nothing.

Okay! Now I feel sad again, but hey! it has to be like this. You'll have to wait like two or three more chapters for more AtobexHikaru fluff, but when It comes it'll be ADOREABLE! Anyways, review, I want five to go on to the next chapter Love you guys!