CHAPTER 13
Wednesday, August 27
4:00 PM
Tokyo, Fudomine Junior High Tennis Court
In all the time that the bespectacled captain of Seigaku has known Ryoma, he would not believe that the short cat eye boy would be showing affections to the opposite gender in public. But here he and the rest of the Seigaku and Fudomine tennis club are, watching the same boy hugging the newest subject of Tezuka's thoughts nowadays. Everyone around the tennis court and within in has their jaws drop like gaping fishes. Fuji Syusuke, the team's beige hair, smooth skin, feminine looking but athletic tensai, had his bright blue orbs open in astonishment while the rest of the team have their eyes bulging and their mouths open wide. Fudomine tennis players are no different. They would have never thought an arrogant and proud brat like Echizen to be so affectionate to anyone, and to a girl at that.
Unlike the others, both Echizen and Phoebe are in their own world. The pair is childhood friends and were neighbors back in the States. Unknown to anyone outside his family, Echizen adores something other than his Himalayan cat Karupin and tennis: the bright and passionate green eye girl with raven black hair. The cat eye boy sees the blind girl not only as a sister but also as a rival. The two used to play against each other when they have a chance even after Phoebe became blind. Their scores are tied at the moment, but that was close to a years ago. Phoebe had disappeared along with the Barnes family and never said anything to Echizen. It only recently that he found out Phoebe's mom had passed away from cancer. With the news, Ryoma knew exactly why she had disappeared and only bow in respect. He may be forgetful but he will never forget someone as important as his trainer.
The capped boy can feel his little sister figure snuggles into his embrace and he only gives a gentle smile while hugging her back.
"I'm sorry," Phoebe mumbles into his grip in English, "I didn't mean to disappear off the grid like that. It's just….I couldn't-"
Ryoma cuts in, "I know Ki-ko. You don't have to apologize."
"I miss you Ryo-nii."
"Miss you too little Ki-ko."
"Excuse me!" purple eyes, black spiky hair, peachy skin second year exclaims, "What the hell is going on here?! Why is Echizen smiling?! Who is she and what she did she do to him?!"
People around the court erupts into a conversation of their own about the unexpected events while Echizen and Barnes just shrug them off. Echizen takes Phoebe's hand and leads her off the court to where his tennis bag lay. From afar, Phoebe can here girls screeching; one in specific wails about who Phoebe was and why was she holding her Ryoma-sama's hand.
Phoebe giggles then smirk, "Look who has their own fan club now."
Ruffling the shorter girl's hair, Ryoma scoffs, "Shut up. You shouldn't be talking. If I remember correctly it was your fanboys that me, Leo, Lance, and Lucas along with your father and mine have to chase off. They were persistent."
Phoebe retorts, "Yeah right, less than half of those boys weren't even my fans. Besides, girls are scarier to have as fans than boys. For boys, they don't have the balls to do anything more than cheer for you. For girls, they will go as far as they need to get your attention, and don't get me started with them when they are jealous."
Echizen only shivers at the thought and agree with a nod of the head.
When the two arrive at the bench, the Seigaku regulars hound on the youngest regular, throwing questions at him left and right while Phoebe stands on the sidelines with the quiet Tezuka.
The said bespectacled boy focuses his attention on the female next to him and mumbles out, "I have already contacted Sanada. He and your team will arrive shortly."
"Thank you Tezuka-san."
"Neh Ki-Ko?" Ryoma address the girl in Japanese for the first time, "How do you know Tezuka-buchou?"
Phoebe chirps, "Tezuka-san's grandfather and mine are old friends from school and the police force. I met Tezuka-san through them."
Ryoma nods and packs his tennis bag, ignoring his senpais' questions. Suddenly, Fuji approaches Phoebe and Tezuka, his attention all on the female.
"Say, miss," Fuji begins, "Did Tezuka give you a tour of Tokyo already? If not, I will gladly give you one?"
"Fuji," the captain growls.
Phoebe refuses gently, "That's alright. He already did a month ago."
Fuji smirks, So she is the mystery girl from that time.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Tezuka orders, "Fuji, 10 laps at practice tomorrow."
.
.
.
.
With Fudomine leaving home (Phoebe thanking Tachibana once more for his help), the Seigaku team waits for Phoebe's team to come and pick her up. While waiting, the female foreigner chats animatedly with the cat eye prince. Phoebe also was introduced to Echizen and Tezuka's teammates: the red hair cat boy Kikumaru Eiji, the mother hen black hair vice-captain Oishi Shuichiro, the bipolar yet friendly third year Kawamura Takashi, the feminine looking closed eye genius Fuji Syusuke (Phoebe got a weird Yukimura vibe from Fuji), the bandana-wearing Mamushi second year Kaidoh Kaoru, and the Megane data master Inui Sadaharu (who Phoebe discovers is Yanagi's childhood friend). After learning about Ryoma's teammates, the youngest of the group fall into a small conversation - once in a while switching between English and Japanese.
When Phoebe's team finally arrive, the sun was setting and the practice match was most likely over. When the sea of yellow and black comes into view, the redhead third year alerts the team.
"Ara, it's the Rikkaidai team nya~"
"Ah! Seigaku?!" the seaweed head second year exclaims, "What are you doing here?!"
Hearing the voices of her teammates, Phoebe turns towards them and pouts. Suddenly the blind girl was attacked by the older girl, hugging her to death.
"Phe-chan are you okay?" Atsuko cries, checking the girl for any injuries, "No one did anything to you right?"
Phoebe waves the older girl off, "Don't worry, Atsuko-senpai. I'm fine. I was lucky enough to meet Tezuka-san. And Yukimura-buchou, next time just tell me the school and not be the sadistic ass that you are."
"Saa, I don't know what you are talking about," Yukimura states with his normal sadistic smile on his face.
The Seigaku team was shocked at the way Phoebe talked to the Child of God; only a rare few can stand and talk on equal grounds with the captain of Rikkaidai tennis team.
Scoffing, the blind foreigner spins back to Ryoma - now with a pen in hand - and demands, "Give me your hand."
Not bothering to ask why Ryoma just places his hands in Phoebe's waiting one. The said girl wrote down her phone number on his callous palm. "Call me tonight. My phone should be charged by then."
"Ah."
Phoebe waves goodbye to the red, white, and blue team before joining her bumble bee team on their way home. From their spot watching the Kanagawa team leave, the regulars can hear the more active players of the group firing questions at the girl in question.
.
.
.
.
Thursday, August 28
8:00 AM
Kanagawa, Rikkaidai Junior Department
The following day was normal enough for the yellow and black jersey tennis team. Atsuko managing the club chores, Yukimura and Sanada assigning punishment laps for the late Kirihara, and Phoebe training with Yagyuu, Yanagi, and Niou before school begins. However, during school hours was a different story. It seems like the fans of the tennis club didn't take the hint that they should stop or something bad will happen to them. Though this time, the pale skin player has her older sister figure by her side to help. The first hit was to Atsuko when she found her slippers and shoe locker vandalized and later her bag dumped into the school's pool. The fans they have thought they had gotten the third year, but it only backfired on them. After fishing her stuff out of the water and reporting to her homeroom teacher, Atsuko marches her way into the broadcast room and announce her own morning message.
:: Good morning to everyone at school that is a fan - or would be fans - of the boy's tennis team. This is third-year class 3 - A Uchida Atsuko speaking. I guess you fuckers haven't gotten the hint so I will say this once and only once. If you have some problems with me or Barnes Phoebe being the managers of the said tennis club then confront me about it. Using cheap tricks like vandalizing locker, throwing people's bag in the school's pool, and locking people in the storage room is low. This will be your last warning because if something like this happens one more time to me or Phoebe, sleep with your eyes open because I will fucking hunt you, bitches, down. Thank you and have a good morning.::
.
.
.
.
The second hit was when Phoebe was helping her class rep take some papers to the teacher lounge. As they were walking up the stairs, some third years purposely knock their shoulders against the two first years, sending the girls tumbling back down the stairs. Luckily for the first years, Yagyuu and Niou were at the bottom of the stairs and caught them easily. When the purple hair boy had his teammate secure in his grasp, he glances down the hallway to see a group of girls running out of sight.
Phoebe thanks, "Thank you Yagyuu-senpai."
"Of course Phoebe-san," Yagyuu replies curtly, "It is what a gentleman does."
After a short silence, Phoebe awkwardly asks, "So….can you let me down now?"
.
.
.
.
Multiple hits were taken on Phoebe's friend and classmates. By the 10th hit, Phoebe had enough. Atsuko rushed out of class at the end of the day to Phoebe's class so they can walk to the courts together. However, Phoebe was not present in class. In fact, the broadcasting at that moment came on.
:: Greetings everyone. This is first-year class 1 - A Barnes Phoebe speaking. To anyone who wants to take my place as the tennis club manager, please meet me on the tennis court. Thank you.::
Hearing the announcement, Atsuko rushes to the court; Phoebe-chan, what are you thinking?!
.
.
.
.
Standing on the court is Phoebe, dress in her regular uniform for the first time and her racket in hand. Surround the court are mostly fans. Within the court on the sidelines are the regulars, some nervous while others are curious and expressionless. The said first-year also dons a blank expression. By the time Atsuko reaches the regulars, Phoebe was already speaking.
"To everyone here," The girl states boldly and confidently, "If you want my position as manager, you need to defeat me in a two-game match."
"You allow her?!" Atsuko exasperatedly shouts at Yukimura.
Yukimura simply retorts, "She said that she needs to stand her ground and show them that she is not easily pushed around."
Girls around the court whisper amongst themselves. Some are wary as they know Phoebe defeated both Niou and Kirihara. Others are scoffing at the first year manager's statement, but still not brave enough to face her.
"I'll give it a go," a dry voice speaks up from the crowd.
The females part way like the Red Sea and the speaker reveals to be Aoi. The said girl only smirks, "You better keep your word, brat. If I win then I take your position as manager."
"Of course," Phoebe shrugs as she places her earbuds in her ears, "A Barnes never go back on our words. Your service game."
The crowd of girls pays close attention as the game starts. Aoi serves, smashing her ball onto the other court, but is received by Phoebe. The rally went on for a while when Phoebe yawns.
"Senpai, this is getting boring. How about we add a twist?"
"A twist?" questions the panting and the sweating third year.
Phoebe calls out, "Yanagi-senpai, how long have this rally been going for?"
Rikkaidai's data master replies, stopwatch in his hand, "5 minutes."
"Alright," smirks the blind girl, "For every rally that past the 5-minute mark, I am going to add another tennis ball into the game."
"What!" Aoi gasps, returning the lob that Phoebe hit. "That's against the rule!"
Phoebe narrows her eyes at the girl, "Really now. I think it is justifiable. If you are going to be the manager of the famous Rikkaidai tennis club then you need to be able to receive anything that is thrown at you, even if it's something as crazy as playing with two balls.."
Taking another ball from her pocket, Phoebe simultaneously returns the ball already in play that got lobbed into the air and serves the new neon ball. As both tennis balls fly towards, Aoi, the girl covers her face with her arms.
"15 - love."
.
.
.
.
Phoebe had won the match 2 - 0 and the girl haven't even broken a sweat. On the other hand, her opponent is on her knees and gasping for air. Moving her faces around the court, she asks loudly, as if daring anyone to come down to the court. "Anyone else?"
The crowd was silent as the dead. Most now hold a fearful look on their face. The girl standing on the court had completely changed. Phoebe isn't the same quiet girl that all the students have seen. Even the regulars and Atsuko are surprised at her hard glare that is directed at Aoi.
"You know," Phoebe states loudly once more, "I heard that in the Japanese culture, people are very respectful and kind. They don't speak ill of you. I guess they are half right. They don't speak ill to you directly in the face, they talk behind your back. That's the worst. But I'm glad I'm not like that. I speak my mind; as I will now."
By then, the blind beauty was fuming in "blind" rage. (Get it, get it, get it *SLAP* ok I'll stop) "Most of you are girls so this makes it easier. YO BITCHES! If you have a fuckin' problem with me, you bring it to me! If you pussies don't have the fuckin' courage to say it to my face then don't say it at all! This little game has gone on long enough! The tennis court gates are always open. Come find me and we will settle this on the court. And this!" Phoebe points her racket at the still kneeling Aoi. "Is just a speck of what I can do. So be warned! So for all you hoes who have the guts, come at me right now! I can do this all day!"
The Emperor was going to scold Phoebe for her foul language when Atsuko clasps her hands over his mouth and chirps to Phoebe, "You are doing great sweetie!"
Marui and Jackal sputter out, "Y-You condone her language Uchida-chan?!"
"Of course," Atsuko grins mischievously, "Did you not hear me on the broadcasting system this morning? I am pretty sure the whole school, if not the whole prefecture heard me."
The regulars only sigh, giving up on their female managers' antics.
.
.
.
.
Practice ends without a disturbance and Phoebe walks off the court, happier and lighter than she came on. Even though Yukimura and Sanada had to assign Phoebe 50 laps for cussing and for using the courts for her personal use without telling them beforehand. Nonetheless, the captains were proud that their youngest could stand up for herself and they have learned something about her as well: don't piss Phoebe off or she is going to cuss up a storm that will even make the sailor blush.
After cleaning and storing the equipment away, Phoebe changes out of her tennis uniform and into her school uniform and left for the gates before the others. What she didn't expect was Aoi standing at the gate, blocking her way.
"You little bitch!" Aoi seeth. "How dare you embarrass me in front of the regulars like that?!"
Phoebe growls back, "You asked for it. Didn't you hear what I said that time when you locked me in the storage? I said I will get you back when I get out. So I just kept my word. You should know that when it comes to retaliation, I return it tenfold."
As if Phoebe's words were a trigger, Aoi snaps and lunges at the blind girl, rage clouding her mind. Aoi reaches for Phoebe's hair, but the said girl only duck away and hop to the side, falling into a fighting stance in the process. As the third year female leap towards Phoebe again, a loud bark cuts Aoi in mid-lunge. Both girls turn towards the sound and Aoi was quickly put off her feet. Phoebe jumps away as she hears a canine's growl and Aoi's wail from the ground.
"Get this thing off of me!" screeches Aoi.
At that moment, the tennis regulars and Atsuko made their appearance. Jackal and Sanada quickly rush to help the mysterious canine that was biting Aoi's arm off of the girl while the rest joins Phoebe's sides.
"What happen?" Yukimura questions.
Phoebe shakes her head, "I don't know. One moment, Aoi went banshee and try to claw my eyes out and then the next, she is on the ground with what I believe a dog biting her?"
Atsuko snickers silently, "Oh it's a dog alright. A big one a that. German Shepherd is the breed I believe."
Suddenly, another loud bark can be heard, but not from the dog in front of the group. Coming from the gate, a golden Labrador Retriever comes running in and tackling the German Shepherd off the crying third year. The two dogs growl and bark at each other before the German Shepherd calms down.
"And now we have a Labrador I believe," Yanagi mumbles.
Phoebe widen her eyes; A German Shepherd, and a Labrador? It can't be.
Niou comments, "Well this isn't something you see every day. Dogs communicating with each other."
The trickster confirms Phoebe's suspicion and the raven head lunges towards the barking canines.
"Phoebe wait!" Yagyuu shouts, but the Megane boy, along with the rest of the people presents, were surprised to see the dogs stop barking and stare at Phoebe before breaking into a run towards her.
"Hi, babies!" Phoebe cries joyfully in English, "I miss you so much!"
The three figures crash into each other; the canines' large bodies pushing Phoebe onto her back. The two dogs happily hop around the smaller girl, licking her face with their large tongues while their tails wag excitedly. The Labrador Retriever whines a little while it continues to nuzzle into Phoebe's touch while the German Shepherd whimpers and trots around the girl.
Kirihara incredulously says, "What the heck?"
Laughing, Phoebe places a fat kiss on the Labrador's nose and the German Shepherd's head. "How have my babies been? Loki, you better not have been causing a mess around the house; and Bucky, I hope you have been keeping an eye on Loki. Oh, I miss you two so much!"
Aoi roars in pain and anger, "Those mutts are hers?!"
Phoebe snaps back, "Ex - fuckin - cuse me?! They are not mutts! They are train canines! If anything, you are more of a mutt than they are!"
Aoi was going to argue back when Sanada grab hold of the girl's arm and roars, "You have caused enough trouble for today Onijiro-san! Tarundoru! I suggest you leave or we will report your bullying straight to the principal."
The third-year scowl as she collects her bag and left. As she passes Phoebe, the girl growls, but only held her tongue when she saw the German Shepherd snarling at her. Phoebe only sticks her tongue out childishly as Aoi fled the scene.
"Phoebe," Sanada strict tone made the girl cringe while petting her dog. "Watch your mouth. Tarundoru."
"Hai Sanada-fukubuchou," Phoebe pouts.
With the excitement over, the regulars slowly approach Phoebe, still wary about the two canines sitting obediently next to her.
"Nice doggies," Marui and Kirihara laugh nervously.
Atsuko then chuckles, "I guess they are your dogs then."
"Yup," Phoebe chirps, popping the 'p', "The Labrador Retriever on my right is my guide dog Loki, while the German Shepherd on my left is my guard dog Bucky."
The boys are now more lenient on the canines, knowing that they are trained to protect Phoebe. As the boys get more acquainted with Phoebe's friend from across the ocean, Phoebe ponders on how her dogs got here.
"I gotta wonder," Phoebe said, directing it towards her helpers, "Who brought my two favorite being on earth to me?"
"Oh, so they are your favorite. I'm hurt Ki-ko," a foreign voice speaks up.
Looking up, Phoebe turns to the gates an the regulars following her. Leaning against the gate was a tall shadowy masculine figure.
"Leo?" Phoebe utters out in disbelief
Suddenly, another voice chimes in, "Oh don't forget us Ki-ko."
By then tears had already run down the emerald eye youth's cheek. "Lance? Lucas?"
.
.
.
.
"Who?"
Hello! I am sorry for not updating consistently. Been running around a lot, getting ready for college. Trying to enjoy my last taste of freedom before I sell my soul to the devil called "college". Anyway, in this chapter, we learn Echizen is Phoebe's childhood friend. I know Echizen is a little out of character but just think of the way he adores Karupin his cat. It is exactly the same way he adores Phoebe. Though he considers Phoebe a rival as well. Then we got to see Phoebe's explosive personalities. It's kind of the same for me in a way, I can cuss a pretty bad storm when I'm pissed. Phoebe is the same except she can't really control her mouth. Also at the end, we get to see her lovely bodyguards, Bucky and Loki. I know, I know, can you blame me. I absolutely adore Buky and Loki from the Marvel Studios. I actually base her father's look off of Sebastian Stan who plays Bucky Barnes...and the last name too, hehehehehehe...ok.
Once again, I do not own the Prince of Tennis, I only own my plotlines and my Oc's.