A/N: Well, here it is. Another fast update. I'll be having a few days off, so I figured I'd leave you guys with little something before doing so.

To all reviewers, a BIG, FAT, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!

Espeon14: You're the first to review that last chapter, so you get first mention here! HURRAY!

YreSu: Long reviews are very much appreciated deary. Nod. Nod.

RockPrincess410 : Let us all fangirl together and squeal at the utter cuteness of a jealous possessive Tezuka, and all die together in jealousy of Chisaki.

XxBloodandButterfliesxX : Don't worry, they're all monitored (about Sanada) :D

adgenelia : My internet connection screwed me over when I sent you a PM, so you'd probably be seeing two PM's instead of one (sigh). But anyway, thank you! :)

AnImEbLuEpRiNcEsS13 : Faster again Princess! XD Hope you like this one as well!

Whew. Aaaannnnnndddd...That's it! You can read the new chappie now guys! (that sounded like something Kuchiki Rukia will say, but OH Well!)

Disclaimer: I will take a vacation and hopefully come up with ways on how I'll be able to someday own PoT. But for now, No, I still do not own any of it.

Chapter 14: The Challenge

He wasn't supposed to be here.

His department is three-minutes away from here, but since that first day they shared their lunch with the girls, Tezuka found it not so questionable finding himself at this very building.

But maybe waiting around the corner for Chisaki Kanai to finish her morning classes is a little too conspicuous.

Though that wasn't really his initial plan.

Sometimes, Risa Shiraishi can be overly manipulative and annoying when she puts her mind to it.

It all started after that night when he pulled Kanai to the kitchen for a cup of tea. The two of them stayed there for almost two hours, talking about something Tezuka has forgotten about. The tinkling sound of Kanai's laughter and the glimmer of her eyes are enough distraction for one Tezuka Kunimitsu. Not that he minded very much.

The next morning, the nosy-auburn head starting asking him stupid questions, bothering him with little snide comments even when they are in their classroom, poking him and passing notes filled with words like 'Chisaki', 'like, 'crush', 'rival' and other nonsensical things.

And today, the scheming girl pulled him and Sanada towards the International Studies' department building when their instructor said something about 'delivering some very important documents to a certain Sugihara-sensei'.

They couldn't even make a sound of protest as the instructor beamed at them gratefully. Reaching the building though, Shiraishi grinned at him and said 'Room 002-B, near the stairs', before dragging the stoic Sanada away, all the while snickering. Tezuka has to wonder what the hell does she mean by that, and just how the said girl could be that strong. Does she do weight-training or something without them noticing?

So, left alone with nothing to do but wonder, Tezuka contemplated on Risa Shiraishi's parting words (...not that she's dying or something, though some people may be hoping so (coughSanadaandTezukacough)). He came to realize that he's currently in Kanai's department building when the students from the nearby room filed out, talking about United Nations and the crisis in Greece and other countries (they were a very serious bunch too).

It took him all but two seconds to decide that maybe Risa Shiraishi isn't too bad at all, and another fifty-five seconds to locate the said room.

So now, he's standing here, staring at the door marked '002-B', waiting with a little bit of impatience, glancing at his wristwatch every five seconds, willing the minute hand to go faster.

He suddenly realize that he sounded and looked like a smitten middle-schooler, and he almost hit himself upside down because of it.

Good thing he controlled himself just in time, because the door in front of him suddenly banged open, and the students filed out, some are muttering under their breath, while some are looking glum and silent. He suddenly felt his eyebrow raising. Maybe this is a bad time...

But the thought was suddenly forgotten when his eyes caught the sight of her. She is talking to a girl who is frowning and pouting while holding a paper in front of her, Kanai, on the other hand is smiling.

"Mou...you always get better grades than I do Chisaki-chan!"

And then she laughed, just as she steps outside the door.

The other students stared at Tezuka, but his eyes are on her, as he waited for her to notice him.

He felt warm all over when she finally did.

"Tezuka-san..!"

The girl beside her turns her face to look at him as Kanai walked a little bit faster towards him. He took two steps until he's right in front of her in the middle of the hallway.

It sounded like a scene from a cliche movie, but as he gazes in her eyes that were laughing up at him, he swear the whole world (or the hallway) just disappeared. It's just him and her. Damn. He's becoming a retarded, head-over-heels pathetic being right now.

"Kanai." Even his voice sounded so foreign to his ears.

"What are you doing here?" she asks in a curious tone, a smile on her lips, "Did you need something?"

"Hn." Clearing his throat, he shook his head. "No. Our instructor asked me a little favor." He isn't lying per se.

She hummed as she nodded her head. And then she tilted her head back to her waiting classmate, who is looking at them with wide eyes and parted lips. Chisaki chuckled as she tugs on Tezuka's hands and pulled him towards the gaping girl.

"Yue-chan, close your mouth." She chided teasingly, "or you might catch flies with it."

The girl- Yue, closed her mouth before pouting and hitting Chisaki in her arm.

"Mou...! You didn't tell me you have a boyfriend Chisaki-chan..!" she wailed loudly, catching the attention of the people around them, who are still standing and watching the whole scene. Tezuka suddenly felt like the hallway is closing up on him. And the heated glares from some of the males isn't helping him either.

"Kanai has a boyfriend?!"

"No!"

"He's hot!"

"Hey! He's already taken so quit flirting!"

The murmurs around them are a little too loud on Tezuka's opinion.

Chisaki, on the other hand, flushed prettily as she swatted her friend's hands. "Yue-chan...! Tezuka-san is not my boyfriend!"

"..yet." Yue murmured loudly.

Tezuka almost nodded his head.

"Yue-chan!" turning embarrassed eyes to him, Chisaki smiled, "Gomen, Tezuka-san..." she murmured, shooting her friend daggers.

Yue didn't even notice her, instead, she blinked her large-gray eyes rapidly, making her look like an owl. "Tezuka-san?" she mumbled, and then her eyes went larger as she gasps. "You mean Tezuka Kunimitsu of Seigaku?!" her voice is growing louder, "The Tezuka Kunimitsu?!"

"Ah..yeah?" Chisaki murmured in a tentative voice. Tezuka is feeling too uncomfortable right now. He doesn't like this kind of attention.

And then the girl lets out a squeal that has Tezuka and Chisaki covering their ears.

"OhmygodohmygodOHMYGOD!"

Chisaki can see some of the other girls murmuring excitedly around them. She almost forgot just how popular her housemate is. It doesn't help that most of her classmates were from around Tokyo, meaning they've all heard about Tezuka Kunimitsu during their high school years.

And Yue Tanaka is one of his biggest fans.

"Oh my god!" Yue breathed deeply, fumbling around her bag, "I am like your biggest fan ever! Can you just please, please sign this one for me?!"

Tezuka's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets when the girl produced a photo...of him in his Seigaku jersey, a racket in his hand as he stands in the middle of a court. Just where the hell did the girl obtained that?!

"Please?!"

He sighed. This is not how he envisioned things to be when he decided to wait for Kanai.

He just wanted to have a quiet time with her, maybe have lunch together or something...just..not this.

He was contemplating on whether he would do just what the girl is asking him to when he felt a tug on his sleeve. Tilting his face down, he saw Chisaki smiling at him. "I'm hungry, Tezuka-san."

He blinked his eyes at the randomness of her words, as the other girl spluttered indignantly beside them. He can hear the others chuckling as well.

"Chisaki-chan..!"

The girl just laughed at her friend, but he can see her eyes does not contain the usual humor they always seem to have. "Some other time, Yue-chan. My monsters are complaining already."

"Mou..."

"Gomen."

And then she proceeded on pulling him out of the building, all the while keeping that smile on her face. Tezuka wondered just what is going through her mind.

Kansai can sometimes be either too transparent, or too hard to read. But he is just as fascinated with both of them.

When they were a few meters outside, she lets go of his hand, and then turned towards him. "You're welcome."

He can hear the laughter in her voice. "Hn. Thank you."

She laughed. "No problem, Tezuka-san. I just thought you don't like situations like those."

"Ah."

"Gomen if my classmate made you feel uncomfortable."

"It's not your fault."

She hummed.

They kept their silence as they walk along the pathway.

The trees provided them shade from the harsh sun, and Tezuka can feel a slight, cool breeze on his skin. He watches as the wind plays with the strands coming out of Kanai's bun. She is wearing a thin jacket over a white t-shirt, but he can see the curve of her nape, and the creamy expanse of skin that is her neck.

Tezuka's eyes followed her slim fingers as they tugged a piece of her hair behind her ear, noticing how thin and long they are, and how small and dainty her ears were. She has on a pair of tiny, diamond earrings, glittering underneath her black, shiny hair.

He really should stop staring at her too much.

"I really am hungry, though, Tezuka-san." he hears her say, "Can we go get some lunch?"

He smiled, although she cannot see it as her face is focused in front of them. "Ah."

And then she looks back at him, and the smile that lights up her face is worth all the trouble her classmate has caused him.

"Tezuka is going to kill you later."

Risa rolled her eyes as their footsteps echoed through the hallway.

"Please. He will be thanking me, not killing me." She scoffed. "If anything, you will be the one who will kill me."

"I'm glad you know that." Sanada answered immediately.

"Geez. Can you get any more honest than that?"

Sanada grunted in reply.

The two of them are walking down the hallway of the department building, looking for Sugihara-sensei, whom they suppose to deliver some papers. They have been walking for the last five minutes, and they have yet to discover where they can find the said teacher.

"How about we split up?" Risa suggested, a frown in her face. "It will be faster, you know."

"And have you running away and leaving me alone here?" Sanada asked in a cold tone.

Risa just raised an eyebrow. "Awww...is my big, poor Sanada scared of being alone?" she cooed in an irritatingly sweet voice, eyes blinking up at him.

Sanada knew he shouldn't have said that.

She nodded her head solemnly in mock understanding kind of way. "Don't worry. I will not leave you alone!"

Sanada had the sudden urge to throw the girl at the window. How long does he has to stay in prison if he did so?!

Deciding that the girl isn't worth any prison time, he divided the pile of papers that is in his hands and dumped the other half on hers. "Hold these and take the left wing." He instructed, "I'll take the right."

Eyebrow raised, Risa stared at the papers in her hand. "And then? How the hell am I going to know that you already found Sugihara-sensei?" she asks, "Or vice-versa?"

Sanada frowned. Indeed. Sometimes, she does make sense. Sighing, he pulled out his phone from his pocket and handed it to hers. The girl just blinked at the device. Sanada almost groaned. "Just put your number in there, Shiraishi."

And then there is that smirk once again. He is really starting to hate the way the corner of her lips tug upwards, hinting on a dimple close to the side of her mouth. "Nice move, Sanada. Is this how you get a girl's cell phone number? Impressive." she nodded in mock approval as she eyes the cell phone in her hand.

"Just put your number there." The words were almost spit out with more than an ounce of venom with them.

Risa chuckled. Damn! It's so much fun aggravating Sanada. He makes it sooo easy! "You could've just asked me for my number, you know, if you wanted to so much."

"In your dreams, Shiraishi."

"Hmmm. In my dreams, you're more..gentle, and nice." Risa answered with a nod and a smirk, quite happy with the thought of her companion burning with embarrassment and annoyance.

But her smirk was suddenly erased when Sanada smirks at her. Holy crap! He looks-!

"So, you dream of me, eh Shiraishi?"

Risa could've sworn she feel goosebumps down her toes! Damn Sanada Genichiro for being one handsome devil.

But she will not lose against him, no matter how handsome he is!

Scoffing, Risa turned up her nose in the air, a childish defensive act in Sanada's opinion. "Huh! You wish, Sanada. I don't dream of evil jerks." And then she stuffed the cellphone back to him, turned on her heel and stomped her way towards the right wing. Sanada's smirk widens.

"I said you take the left wing, Shiraishi." He called out, crossing his arms as he watches the girl in amusement, "You're taking the opposite direction."

Hissing and smoke practically coming out of her ears and nose, Risa did an about face and glared at him. "I know that!"

Sanada almost chuckled. For all her bravado and tough acts, Risa Shiraishi is one childish girl. She's good though, he'd give her that.

She's the first female to has ever caught him off guard, making him almost lose his cool composure.

But if she thinks she can always get away with it, she has another thing coming.

Staring at the block of number in his cellphone's screen, a devious smirk formed in Sanada Genichiro's lips.

At the right-side corridor of the department building, exactly twenty-five meters away from where Sanada is, Risa stared with wide eyes as she reads the message that the blasted Sanada had sent her.

'Sanada: 1, Shiraishi: 1. We're quite even, Shiraishi Risa.'

He did not just send that!

Grr..that is a declaration of war in Risa's opinion.

Oh...it is so on, Sanada Genichiro! Risa thought as she constructed a message in her own cellphone, hitting the buttons with a menace that mirrors just how badly she wanted to crush the image of Sanada's smirking face.

And I even thought that he's handsome?! Grrr...!

But if he thinks that a block of wood parading as a human being will throw Risa Shiraishi off guard, he has another thing coming. Handsome or not, famous tennis player or not, tagged as the Emperor or not, Sanada Genichiro will not win.

Not against Risa Shiraishi in a battle of wits.

She'll bet her grandmother's orchid collection on that!

Kaede stared at the words in front of her, and then drew a long and tired sigh.

Almost two weeks of slaving away researching and writing this term's paper, all her efforts and hard works have finally paid off.

There, written neatly at the top of the paper, across her name, is a big, giant A++, in glaring red ink.

She couldn't help the pleased and proud smirk that graces her lips. Especially when some of her classmates groan at theirs.

Not bothering on wiping the said smirk, she hoisted her bag to her shoulder and made to walk out of the room. She is hungry, and it's almost lunchtime already. Her friends told her they can have their lunch breaks together today. And she is looking forward to that.

Her classmates didn't even spare her a glance as she walks out of the room, not that was anything new. They mostly leave her alone, and that was just fine and dandy for her.

The hallway is mostly packed along the sides, leaving a narrow vacant strip of line for her to walk on in the middle. There were some who greeted her, nodded at her, and one or two even send her a tentative smile. She just ignored them politely, like she always does. Sometimes she wonders just how these people can stand being nice to her, even though she's been anything but.

But maybe that is just one of the mysteries of the world that she wouldn't be able to know or understand.

The cafeteria is just a minute-walk away from the end of the hallway she's currently walking at, and she can already hear the usual lunchtime chatter in the next building. Their cafeteria has been livelier these past few days, something that grated on her nerves greatly.

Ever since her male housemates have taken a liking to spending their lunch breaks (which, coincidentally, at the same time as hers and her friends as well), more and more students have been spending their lunchtime there as well. Mostly females, but the usual male students were there.

Kaede knew the reason why, that is why she couldn't help but grimace at the stupidity of it all.

Her eyes went to their usual table just as she steps through the door, and she was glad to see both Misaki and Hikari sitting there, Yukimura and Oshitari and Yagyuu with them. She almost shook her head when she saw the other vacant seats around the long, rectangular table. Before, they always sat in a round six-seater table. How things have changed.

Misaki waved her hands at her, a smile on her cherry lips. Kaede can almost hear the sighs of admiration from all around her. Pathetic fools.

Sliding down beside the grinning Hikari, Kaede nodded at the males. "Where are the others?"

"Asuna said she'll have lunch outside," Misaki answered, pushing the tray of food towards Kaede with a smile, "She said they have an off-school activity. And she may not come home today."

Kaede frowned. "Who is she with?"

"Her classmates, of course. Akutagawa-san is in her team."

"I see."

Yagyuu smiled at her from his seat. "You worry about her too much, Furokawa-chan." He observed.

Shrugging, Kaede picked on her salad. "Hmm. Asuna-chan does not worry about herself that much, so I am taking the worrying in her place."

"Kaede-chan worries about all of us you know!" Hikari piped in cheerfully, nibbling at a cupcake.

"Ah..She does, doesn't she?" Yukimura murmured gently, but Kaede can feel the intensity behind his gaze. "It must be tiresome, worrying about five other people than yourself, Furokawa-chan." His smile is friendly.

As friendly as a shark leering at its prey.

She remembered that the lilac-haired male is taking up Psychology. No wonder he looks at people like that.

Deciding to ignore his jibe, she proceeded on eating her preferred lunch. Misaki chose her favorite.

"Saa...I'm a little bit late eh?"

The soft, gentle voice had the hair at the back of her stand up, but Kaede refused the urge to turn around and look at him.

Oshitari chuckled. "Not by much Fuji-kun. The others still are not here."

"Saa...that's a relief then."

And then she felt him take the seat beside her. Holy mother of-

"How's that salad Furokawa-chan?"

Tilting her face, she regarded him coolly. "Quite alright, Fuji-san."

He smiled. "Saa...I would like to try it as well. Though," he opens his eyes as a thoughtful frown graces his face, "do you think they have wasabi?"

Violet eyes blink. "Wasabi?"

He nodded happily. "I think the salad would taste better with it!"

Hikari mimed gagging, while Misaki blinked her eyes and opens her lips. "Eh?!"

The males just laugh softly at the three bewildered females as Fuji raises himself up and started walking to the food counter.

"Is he serious?!" Kaede asked in a harsh whisper.

Yagyuu nodded in all seriousness. "I think he is, Furokawa-chan."

"He has one weird set of taste buds then!"

"We already know that actually, Furokawa-chan." Yukimura chuckled.

Hikari shook her head. "Fuji-san is the weirdest man I know!" she said, eyes following the brunette, "Wasabi on salad? Really?! That's like, ice cream and spaghetti, or pizza and mac and cheese together! Ewww!"

Kaede rolled her eyes. "Says the girl who eats her popcorn dipped in ice cream."

Hikari pouted. "But that's because it's my comfort food! It's different!"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say Hikari-chan."

Said girl just huffed and puffed her cheeks in an angry manner. Misaki laughed at her friend.

They continued on with their lunch, and not too long Fuji joined them, a little sullen just because the cafeteria didn't have wasabi.

The others heave a sigh of relief in silence. They do not really want to see any person eating that, even if it's someone they know. Especially if it is someone they know.

Looking around him, Fuji noticed the absence of some of their housemates. "Saa..where are the others? And Kanai-chan? Is she joining us?"

The others (maybe except Hikari) couldn't help but notice his emphasizing on the other girl.

"I think they are." Oshitari said with an amused smile, as his eyes caught sight of the pair that has just entered the cafeteria. "Kanai-chan and Tezuka-kun looks good together, ne?"

His seat gave him a really good view, Oshitari mused. Because aside from being able to sit beside Hoshino-chan, he also get to see clearly how Fuji's eyes snap open, as his face and neck turn around to look at the two people he has just mentioned.

Yukimura smiled as well, eyes on the two people walking towards them. He can feel a chill around their table, as at least two people currently sitting on their table stiffens at the sight of Tezuka and Kanai walking side by side towards them.

Hmmm...I knew Fuji-kun would be affected, but...Furokawa-chan as well? The revelation is quite...surprising, Yukimura thought to himself.

But, looking at Tezuka and Kanai, he couldn't help but agree to Oshitari's earlier words. They do look good together, too good it seems, that the other students are also staring at the pair until they reached their table.

Tezuka Kunimitsu has always been authoritative, if not too outstanding in the way he carries himself. He is tall, with lean physique that is the product of years of playing a rigorous sport like tennis. Light-tanned skin with his tousled caramel-brown hair and sharp, lemon-brown eyes.

Chisaki Kanai on the other hand, is probably one of the most elegant and refined young women that Yukimura has ever known. Her long, thick and shiny black hair is a stunner, along with her pale-pink cream skin. Large coal black eyes fringed with long eyelashes, elegantly thin nose, high cheekbones and plump but thin bow lips. She doesn't need make-up to enhance her feature, because they don't need enhancing. She is taller than the usual Japanese woman her age, and has a slender and lean body.

The two complemented each other in ways that Yukimura can only describe as 'perfection'.

But it seems some people don't like what they are seeing.

He can already feel the cackling electricity that an incoming storm is going to unleash.

As he caught sight of Oshitari's eyes, he knew that he isn't the only one to think so.

"Saa...it's such a surprise to see you arrive together, Kanai-chan, Tezuka." Fuji asked with a smile, but Tezuka can see the hard glints behind those glorious sapphire eyes.

"Yeah!" Chisaki agreed, unaware of the tension between the two former team mates as she took the chair which Tezuka pulled for her. She smiles as Tezuka sat himself down beside her. "Tezuka-san was in our department for an errand, and it just so happened that it was during my last class so we decided to just come here together!" she explained happily.

Fuji felt his gut tighten a little bit at her too happy recollection. And...just so happen to be there? Tezuka? The notion is too funny for Fuji to laugh at. "Saa...what a coincidence, eh Tezuka?"

The smile is just like what Fuji showed his opponents all those years ago, Tezuka mused. Cold and void.

Fuji has thrown the gauntlet.

Tezuka met his friend's eyes in a hard stare. "Hn." 'It is not.'

He knew that Fuji understood him when those orbs widen a bit, and then narrowed, before his lids closed upon them.

The next time Fuji opens his eyes, they were as hard and cold as the precious stone they are often compared to.

"Saa...is that so?"

"Ah."

"I see."

"Hn."

And that was that.

Tezuka knew it is a bit childish to be doing this...accepting the Tensai's, who is his friend for the last six or so years, challenge. But...

He has already decided that Chisaki Kanai is worth it.

Aannnnddd...that's a wrap!

KIDDING! XD

So. Fuji has drawn the challenge and Tezuka has accepted. So what's next?

Blood of course! Hehehe. Just kidding guys, this is a Romance/Humor fic. I will not stray away from that.

Anyways. Read and Review folks!

See you when I get back from my mini-vacation.

I expect to read some love from you all!

XD YUNA