Chapter 11

Disclaimer: I do not own PoT
Note: I CAN'T WRITE LEMONS! . Trust me, I know Sakuno to be innocent anyway. Also, if anyone has any vulgar things to say about MY sakuno, please, don't. Sakuno will always be Sakuno. And that means, its the writer! Don't dare say she is a -bad word-, really made me shocked and hesitated about this whole story. It is a Sakuno centric! Again I stress that means it will have a harem. I double stress - MY AIM has no lemons, and she wouldn't throw her innocence down the drain. If she does, its your job to tell me and I will change it. For now I am sure I never done it. I understand people being worried, trust me. I will keep to her innocence here, because I am keeping to their story line, so Sakuno has to be Sakuno. (I ramble, but I still appreciate reviews) But regardless I thank all reviewers, I love the enthusiasm, it fuels the writer.

- Kabaji Munehiro -

Kabaji had always been in Atobe Keigo's shadow, that was a fact no one could deny. However, the only way for him to finally walk out of Atobe's shadow was to play tennis but that alone wasn't even a decision he made for himself, but a decision to follow Atobe Keigo. Kabaji really adored Atobe Keigo and was completely loyal to him. All his years following Atobe, Kabaji had never really stood in the limelight or stood as a focus to other people, but... all that changed the moment he met the one girl...

"...Ah, Oresama's presents are endless today, ne Kabaji?"

"Usu."

They were looking at a small mountain of presents that managed to completely engulf Atobe's desk, and that there seemed to be no space for Atobe to actually sit down. Atobe, flicked his fringe and sighed.

"Oresama is blessed to have so many fans give Oresama presents for Oresama's birthday. But, with this mountain of gifts, Oresama will certainly not get any study done ne Kabaji?"

"usu."

"Well, Kabaji... Oresama has called for a small truck to come and help take Oresama's precious gifts into the truck and take them back home where Oresama could actually open them. But it seems they don't do manual labour. You can do it ne Kabaji?"

"Usu."

"Good, they are outside by the school gate. Take as many trips as you'd like, don't worry about Oresama. Oresama will go to the chairman room and devise brilliant plans to defeat Seigaku while you do so."

Without another word, Atobe moved out of the classroom and away from the mountain of gifts laid piled up on his desk. Kabaji looked at the mountain of presents, he was undaunted by the number and was not surprised he'd be doing this. Kabaji didn't think it was too hard to do, and he was used to the fact that there would be nobody who would offer to help him.

Carefully balancing the gifts in his arms, he tried his best to keep the gifts where they were and slowly made his way out of the classroom and into the busy hallway. These will definately take a few trips as he made his way towards the school gates.

During his third trip from the classroom, he almost didn't hear the voice. It was a soft and meek voice which took Kabaji a few moments to determine where it came from. It was from behind him, as he turned his head, careful not to topple the gifts and looked at a very pretty girl with her braids pinned to the back of her head and wearing a very meek but concerned face.

"Ano...Ano... Sumimasen... but... do you need help? I...I saw you... You...seem like... nevermind... G..go...gomen."

The girl seemed a bit too frightened of what he thought of her, but in all honesty? He was very shocked, no matter how impassive his face looked. It was his 3rd trip and no one ever asks him if he needs help, but the strangest thing about this was that, it was a very shy girl who was so scared of talking to him, that she was about to run. It took Kabaji a great decision to form his words, because he never thought he would ever need to say a word.

"...You...can help."

That was all Kabaji could say, the girl's eyes turned towards him and brightened a little as she quickly attempted to take the presents off him. Or some of the load and together they made their way towards the truck outside in silence. Kabaji never minded silence, it was comfortable, and he wouldn't have to reply or think too much on what to say. It gave him time to watch her, she was very short and very cute girl. He could imagine her pigtails swinging and bobbing down the halls, but she seemed to be kind and helpful girl. Yet for her to reach out to help him was strangely odd, it did odd things. It made him feel the same thing he felt for Atobe. Devotion.

Atobe looked out for him and although Atobe never showed it, and perhaps rarely show it, Atobe really cared about Kabaji as a friend and that gesture alone Kabaji was very touched, but that wasn't the only reason why, he also admired Atobe's perfect human skills and his confidence in life, for some reason, Atobe grew on Kabaji or perhaps vice versa.

What was it about this girl that made Kabaji feel this way? Perhaps it was her kindness, for she cared about him when there weren't many who did that, again her kind gesture seems to be the main factor which stood out to him. Perhaps it was because she was the first girl who didn't look at him as a tool to approach Atobe and truly cared about him, and that she wasn't the girl who looked at him in disgust.

"...These are really a large amount of presents."

The girl commented as she helped him pick out the presents from the table. The mountain was removed by half, she was wobbling with her batch of the presents, Kabaji made sure he watched his steps and hers, in case she tripped. Too late.

"I..Itai..."

The girl squeaked as she begun to rub her arms and knees. Her eyes widened in shock to see the presents she was holding all over the place and she turned red in embarassment. To her surprise, Kabaji had placed his pile neatly at one side and kneeled beside her, not sure if he should touch her or not as he asked

"You Ok?"

The girl nodded her head, her eyes filled with the sincere thanks for caring. It was so strange to receive such honest expressions from a girl. She had an immense appreciation for others and she was very kind hearted to top it off... he didn't know many girls, but standing behind Atobe taught him the brutality and the scary behaviour of the girls from rich world and some from the poor or middle class girls were kind and perhaps much like her except, they still had a fear for Kabaji, and he didn't care. Yet, she walked up to him, braving herself to talk to him just because she thinks he was struggling with this chore. If there was a multiple choice in how to rate this girl, his answer would be E : none of the above.

"... I didn't... I am so careless..."

She was picking up the presents and rambling away, Kabaji watched with a faint amusement in his eyes, although his face remained the same. Kabaji was planning on broadening his category of girls and place this girl in a special case. He helped her as she thanked him profusedly, eventhough it was she who offered to help him. After gathering the gifts, they both made their way towards the truck again.

"I am so careless... Maybe I shouldn't be he...helping."

Kabaji didn't reply as he walked back towards the classroom, keeping in tempo, he knew if he did, she would follow and indeed she did. She helped regardless of how she was careless and because he never commented, as if she knew he didn't mind and that she understood his silent encouragement. As they did the 6th and final shift, he was sure he could tell when she was about trip. You could see it in her movements and since he was good in picking up specific movements in the body to indicate a certain movement, he could predict when she was going to fall. Just then he saw it and he decided the best way to go about it would be.

"Your name?"

It would disrupt the pattern and stop her from falling down, but she squeaked in surprise because he kept his silence for so long it surprised her. To his demise, she dropped a few gifts because of her sudden shock. Kabaji made note to try not to do so, and perhaps predict the signs of tripping even earlier to prevent startling her.

"...R...R...risa watanabe."

Risa replied as she attempted to pick up the fallen gifts and Kabaji placed her image and name into his mind and promised to remember her next time she appears. But that is if, she would consider him as a friend and approach him once more. He knew there would be a chance this was once in a lifetime where she would come up to him and help him. She may forget him in future, but he will never forget her kind deed. Perhaps next time, even if she didn't know him... he would attempt to stop her. It was his sudden passion to help her get over tripping and falling down.

"Kabaji Munehiro."

Risa smiled as she said with the presents muffling her voice as they walked together towards the school gate and towards the truck.

"Nice to meet you... you... Munehiro...sempai..."

"Me too..."

Kabaji responded, it was funny. In the short duration of her helping him, he had come to understand her little. She was clumsy, kind hearted and very shy person. She doesn't say much and is very honest in her feelings. Very sincere. He was truly glad to have met her, they parted ways on their way back and Kabaji went back to the chairman room where Atobe was deep into his plans.

"Ah! You finished! Oresama is surprised, you usually don't finish so early Kabaji."

"Usu."

"No time now, look! Oresama's grand plan! You should hear it."

Kabaji knew he was back in his old behaviour, only answer when spoken to, best of all... Atobe always knew what he meant. With the same knowledge at mind he settled down into a different armchair and replied with the same reply that has never changed since they were kids.

"Usu."

The next few days, Kabaji had no luck in finding Risa Watanabe, it was very hard to because he was trying his best to pay attention to Atobe and his plans for defeating Seigaku. He was determined this plan will not fail. Kabaji was inclined to agree.

"Ah...Munehiro sempai."

The same familar sound hits Kabaji's ears and he turned towards her direction and the happiness in seeing her again was in his eyes and she for some odd reason picked it up. She smiled back at him, but the best thing about this was that she had greeted Kabaji and not Atobe who was beside him. Atobe whirled around and his eyes widened to a large degree when he saw a cute girl having a clear conversation with Kabaji. Other than Atobe, no one really attempted to talk to Kabaji for they could not understand and Kabaji made no attempts to make it easier for them to understand them.

"I haven't seen you in...in awhile. I... I hope you liked all your presents."

At this comment, Atobe's eyebrows raised to their highest as they looked from the girl and then towards Kabaji who was for the first time attempting a conversation with a girl and he wasn't aversive about it like the times where girls approached him so Atobe would notice them. The worse blow to Atobe was the fact that she did not even look at him at all. Kabaji noted that just as well as Atobe and it further proved his point that she was not approaching Kabaji with an intention but purely because of who he is. He replied to her,

"Not mine..."

"Ah? Then...then...who?"

Atobe easily slide into the conversation like he always did and flashed her a charming smile but to his surprise her eyes seemed to flash with some form of recognition as she said in a quick flash

"Ah...Sum..Sumimasen. I have to leave Munehiro sempai. Bye."

Atobe was struck wordless as Kabaji watched with amusement and he watched her actions and realized she was going to trip right about...

"I..Itai.."

Now...

"Kabaji, was she the one who broke Oresama's presents?"

"usu."

"You still keen on telling Oresama you dropped it?"

"Usu."

"...Your defending a girl... and she is the first girl who ran from Oresama and didn't acknowledge Oresama ne Kabaji ?"

"usu."

"Well, Oresama will draw up plans for her to recognize oresama then."

Kabaji knew this would start, but during the whole time Atobe pursued Risa, he realize how endearing the girl can be. Although, he didn't love her... the urge to tell her what he truly thinks about her was hard to put to rest. He noticed Atobe and how Atobe was truly falling for her and well... that was Atobe's story to tell, but he really does support them all the way because they were the two people he was willing to devote the rest of his life to.

- Back to the present -

Everyone in the room was silent, Momoshiro glanced at Jackal as Jackal glanced at Ryoma, and Ryoma glanced at Tezuka who in turn looked at Shishido Ryou.

"...I can't believed it..."

"I felt like I heard fragments of the story... is it just me being slow or..."

"No, I am sure I felt exactly the same way."

During the whole time, Kabaji only mentioned bits and pieces. All they managed to get out of the whole thing was that Sakuno helped him carry presents... She was kind... that was it. There rest was a blur because he covered that with no words. All they got was fractions of the story...

"Sorry, could you restart and fill us in?"

Momoshiro asked hopefully, but Tezuka pulled the keen Momoshiro and said in a very calm way.

"...Who is next?"

"...I think it was..."

"Ootori Choutarou."

Ootori who seemed to be snapped out of the awkward silence in the whole room as his eyes glowed with the same kind of warmth every guy expressed when they began their story, but he had the soft glow, no surprise coming from such a mild mannered man.

"...I admire her very much..."

- To be Cont -

Ok, I hope no one was disappointed... Well Ootori's is next. After writing Kabaji I felt like Sanada would be fun... But he is AGES away.