Disclaimer: In the first chapter, go find it

A/N: Hmm...not much to say really. I expected more reviews, but oh well. I'd write without them. To all of you who did review, I love you guys. You make my life happy. ^_^ I love seeing what you guys think about this weird story that popped out of my head one day! This chapter is dedicated to you!

Oh, and even though the last chapter followed the set order of fights from the canon, I'm not doing that anymore. Actually, I have no idea who's fighting who until I write it out. XD. This tournament is going to be weird, full of holes, and end with a twist. Yeppers.

Eh-hem, big reveal time as well...

Chapter 10: Worrying and Secrets

Tezuka was certain something was wrong with the sorcerer. It wasn't even about what he had witnessed before Fuji's match either. Over the last week or so he had noticed changes in the way the younger man acted. He seemed sadder, and he didn't seem to take pleasure in things that used to make him quite happy. Ever since the dance when Tezuka noticed the way Fuji looked at him, he had a feeling that whatever was wrong with the man was directly linked to himself.

Of course thinking that it must have to do with his nightly distress, Tezuka went to the healer's to plan for a special one to see Fuji after his match. If anyone was charming or bewitching the man, they'd find out. Tezuka just hoped it wasn't too late to save Fuji from his match. He'd never admit it to anyone, but after he had held the tensai that night, when they had danced so perfectly together, he couldn't get the man out of his head. He didn't want anything to happen to him before he figured his emotions out first.

The crowd watched in anticipation as the next fighters took the field. This was one of those matches that was worth watching, one that everyone would be talking about the next day. Fuji swallowed seeing their faces. His stomach still hurt, but he cast a small pain reliever spell over himself to block it. He couldn't afford to lose to such trivial pain. He eyed his opponent and sighed. This might not be tough, but he couldn't really tell.

The man across from him was Sengoku Kiyosumi, a big time magician from the country of Yamabuki. Every called him 'Lucky Sengoku' for the way he always seemed to get out of tough situations accidentally, but Fuji could see right through that facade. He cast minor spells across the field as the beginning of his fights, and when he needed them he triggered their effects for a spectacular ending. Fuji could see him weaving a couple even now. He would have to watch where he stepped from now on.

"Fight!"

Fuji quickly wove a counter spell over himself and took a step back to avoid a blue magical ball that buzzed by him. Easy enough really. He triggered a ball of his own to fly at the man and wasn't surprised when Sengoku 'tripped' at just the right second to avoid being hit. Fuji found it annoying as the crowd cheered. He made an invisible one and sent it flying through the air for later. He could play tricks as well.

"Ooo, missed me! Lucky!"

"Not quite yet," Fuji replied and waved his hand through the air creating a fast moving breeze that struck his opponent and knocked him flat on his back. In quick succession he created a stronger breeze which pulled him back up and knocked him farther across the field. Sengoku coughed as he steadied himself. Fuji examined the field and located a few of Sengoku's traps. He sent the invisible ball to set them off and focused back on Sengoku, only to find him gone.

The sorcerer looked up to see him casting a dangerous blunt attack. Fuji swung his secret weapon up at him and knocked him down seconds too late, and he expertly dodged the missile of magic before it could hit him. He glanced up at the stands and smiled a bit seeing the Prince watching anxiously. Perhaps he should toy with the man a bit more just to see Tezuka that worried a bit longer. It was a pleasant thought and he swung the invisible ball back down to spin around Sengoku.

Sengoku seemed to get quite dizzy and he made the mistake of trying to cast a spell inside the wind tunnel. It whipped back at him twice as strong, effectively knocking him out. Fuji sighed as he quit the spell. He had hoped it would have lasted a little longer, but the other man's stupid mistake had just cost him the fight. The crowd cheered out his name and he glanced up, disappointed to find the Prince elsewhere. He headed towards the changing room and sighed again.

"That was a good fight, well done,"

Fuji was startled and turned to find the Tezuka standing behind him. He quickly threw a smile onto his face. "Saa, it was too easy, I was hoping for a more aggressive opponent."

"I want you to go to the healers,"

"If its about earlier today, I'm fine. The heat just got to me is all." He turned back around his mood crushed. He'd been hoping that Tezuka would praise him some more. He shouldn't have been so surprised though, this was the Prince, to the point at all times. Fuji slipped into the changing room and found his clothes, well aware the Prince had followed him.

"I still want to have you checked out."

Fuji frowned and looked up at him, his eyes opening to slits. "I'm fine, drop the subject. If I thought I was ill I wouldn't have put myself in danger like that. I'm smarter than that, you know it." He slipped the light weight shirt off and reached for his clean one, well aware of the brown eyes watching him. He tried not to feel self concious and he pulled the other on, glad that he hadn't decided to wear the ring that day.

Tezuka walked up behind him and gripped his wrist. Fuji whipped his head up startled. "If you don't go by yourself I will take you there by force." He released his grip and Fuji yanked his hand to his chest.

"Fine, I'll go. Would you mind leaving so I can finish dressing?" He replied a bit bitterly.

The Prince nodded and left without another word. Fuji knew without a doubt though he'd be waiting at the healer''s to make sure he came. He swore to himself and finished dressing, before going there himself. Before he stepped into the room, he cast the usual spell over himself to brighten his complexion, and another to hide something else. With a deep breath he entered all smiles.

A healer sat him down on a bed and checked his vital first, as always. Fuji nodded at the Prince, who was standing a distance away watching. The sorcerer had no doubt that he'd pass this exam with perfect health. Sure enough, after a through examination, the healer said he was healthy, but a little over heated and needed some rest.

"These tournaments may take your body to its limit, which is why I hate them so much," She had said, causing Fuji to chuckle and apologise.

She then proceeded to leave the room, and Fuji stood to leave as well. He was most surprised when another healer entered, one not like the first that caused Fuji to scowl at Tezuka.

"Is this quite neccesary heika?"

"Of course,"

Fuji pressed a hand to his side and turned away. Trying to act innocent he cast another concealing charm over himself. He was confident his powers were greater than this healer's, but just to make sure he wasn't taking any chances. Especially with the Prince right there. It would do no good to be outed at this stage of the game, whatever it may be. Fuji hadn't qute decided yet. Sure enough, again, the healer said he was fine. Tezuka left the room with a sigh that left Fuji puzzled. What could have the Prince this worried about him? Could it be he was suspicious, or something else? Love?

The next day at breakfast, Fuji became quite concerned when he noticed his brother absent from the St. Rudolph Racquet table. He excused him self and went to look for him. He wasn't training early, and he wasn't in his room. Getting worried, Fuji went back to the dining hall to question Mizuki about it.

"Oh, he's fine," The lord smirked. "Go check in the healer's room if you must know now."

Fuji thanked him and went there. He couldn't help the smile slipping onto his face as his thoughts realized what could be going on. When he stepped into the room, his brother was eagerly waving at him, his face practically glowing. There was no more doubt in Fuji's mind on what had happened.

"Syuusuke!"

Fuji hugged him on sight. "Congratulations little brother." He whispered into his ear. "I am happy for you."

Yuuta blushed and pushed him away. "You don't have to go that far. Thank-you though, you helped us out a lot." He smiled softly up at him. "Although this does mean I'm dropping out of the tournament. I didn't even get to fight yet either..."

"There is always next time," Fuji chuckled warmly. "Do you want a boy or a girl?"

"A boy, but I wouldn't mind a little girl. Hajime said he wants a girl, probably so he can treat her like a little princess or something." He rolled his eyes in amusement. "I will never understand him.'

"You have years to try though. Anyway, I must leave you know to go prepare for the day." He hugged him once more happily and went up to his own quarters. As soon as the door was shut he let out a long, sad sigh and went to pull the ring out of its hiding place under his mattress. He rubbed it lovingly with his thumb before tossing it across the room.

"Damn it...!"

"So you're saying something is wrong with Fuji-dono, but you say this mostly on intuition without any real evidence?"

Tezuka nodded slowly at the skeptical were standing out on the balcony in Tezuka's private trainers supposedly discussing tournament plans, but really Tezuka wanted to confide in somebody about his suspicions on the sorcerer. "I have a little evidence though. He was sick earlier, remember?"

"He said it was from the heat."

"I do not believe him."

Inui pushed his glasses up his nose and flipped through his notebook. "There is a good chance he was telling the truth though. Fuji is not one to make bad choices, and he went through with his fight after the episode. If there was something seriously wrong the data would conclude that he'd forfeit the match before it began. I do not see any reason to worry."

"I guess you wouldn't. Not everything in life can be determined with data alone." He turned and walked away into the small conference room inside. On the wall in front of him were portraits of the eight Racquets besides himself. They were all visualized in great detail, and he trailed his eyes over them until they landed on the cheerful smile of the sorcerer. The painting made him look away. He hadn't seen a true smile on the man's face in a long time. Inui's data was wrong, something not quite right was going on with Fuji, and he was going to find out what it was.

He heard Inui leave and sat in a chair to muse over the situation. He didn't get very far though because a knock echoed off the door and around the room. He stood, straightened out this clothes, and went to answer it. He froze seeing who it was.

"What are you doing here?"

Fuji sprinkled a healthy dose of water on his plants and glanced up through the bright sunlight. The tournament would continue the next day, and he was glad for the peace. He hadn't had a chance to work in the garden in a long time, and he found that he had missed it. A tiny yosei landed on his finger and he smiled at it. The cute little face blinked up at him before it buzzed away and hid in a budding lily. Fuji chuckled and went to sit on the fountain and watch the creatures play.

Suddenly a bouncy bakeneko jumped into the seat beside him. "Fujiko! Fujiko! I have to tell you something!"

"Calm down Eiji, you're scaring the faeries away," He said lightly with a smile. "What is it?"

Eiji quit bouncing and beamed. "Look what Oishi gave me!" He held out his arm to show off a sparkling golden cuff ingraved with a spiraling pattern that met up at the top and curled around a single round sapphire. "Isn't it pretty?"

Fuji's eyes widened as he took hold of his friend's wrist and brought the bracelet up higher to get a better view of it. "This is..."

"Yep! Oishi and I are official partners now!" He said with glee. "I'm soooo happy! Are you happy too Fuji?"

Fuji released his hand and nodded slowly with a smile. "Of course I am Eiji. I'm surprised he did this so soon. With the tournament and everything I thought he'd wait. Are you sure this is what you want? I thought bakenekos mated for life?"

"We do, but I know he's the one! I don't want anyone else but Oishi. Oh, I've got to go! We're meeting up for lunch! Bye!" He ran off giggling barely managing to avoid a small group of faerie children playing in the middle of the path.

The sorcer watched him go before dashing off to a hidden place in the garden and retched violently. He groaned and moved to a tree to brace himself on. He took a deep breath and bit his lip. Its not fair, he thought. Why does everyone but me find happiness so soon? His brother was married, his best friend had found a mate, and even the dense pair of Momo and Ryoma were hitting it off nicely even if neither of them would admit it. Why couldn't he find the same peace?

His stomach curled and he moved a hand up over his mouth to keep from being sick again. Shutting his eyes he rested his head on the back of the tree, letting go of the charm on himself in the process because it was making his stomach hurt worse. That was the worst mistake he could have made though, because at that exact moment someone else joined him in the hidden grove.

"Syuusuke?!"

Fuji's eyes flew open in horror as he stared at his brother. This was not happening...no, it could not happen like this! He quickly placed the charm back on himself, but he knew it was too late. His brother had already seen too much. No...not like this...

"You're...you're pregnant?!"

A/N: …Uh...well...I'm not quite sure I wanted to reveal that yet, but...wow. That turned out...yeah...Please don't flame me for this...if I had mentioned it in the summary I would have ruined all of the suspense in the story! I hope I don't lose to many of my fans for this...I did have it planned the entire time. There are still a few more things to figure out though! Don't think its over yet everyone! Not even close, but we are getting closer to the big finale...

Next Chapter: Yuuta confronts his brother and Tezuka's mysterious visitor is revealed causing quite a few more problems for the Prince and the sorcerer. Nothing seems to be going right for our favorite sorcerer at all. Thank-you, please come again.