Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis!

This chappie features the song Fuji and Atsushi's conversation…

Chapter 14 – Waiting

It's been the fifth time that Fuji called someone that day, and his ears are starting to yelp in pain. But he can't do anything. He wanted to know why Takako doesn't want to go to the dance. He'd be there, and so will be Eiji. They won't let her feel lonely or sad or anything depressing, they'd be her date or dates, whichever of the two. Sure, they'll tease her once in a while about her not having a date, but that's just to lift up the tension, they wouldn't really mean to make her cry.

"Moshi moshi." Finally! Somebody answered the line! For the last couple of minutes, Fuji was beginning to think that directories were unreliable, but he was wrong.

"Can I speak with Kisarazu-kun?"

"Kisarazu Ryou speaking, who is it?"

"Aa…Ryou-kun, may I speak with your brother, Atsushi-kun? This is Fuji Syuusuke speaking."

"Wait, I'll call him."

"Arigato."

Fuji waited on the other end of the line. He needed to talk to Atsushi to understand Takako better.

"Atsushi-desu."

"Atsushi-kun…Fuji Syuusuke speaking here."

"Yeah, I know. Ryou told me. What is it?"

"Well, I want to ask something from you."

"What is it?"

"Can you please enlighten me? I can't seem to understand her. And I figured that you might be able to help, being her past boyfriend. You see, we have a school dance this evening, and well, Takako suddenly didn't want to go. I figured that she might be depressed because her dream date didn't ask her, but I'm not sure, because that reason seemed too shallow, I guess."

"Oh, too shallow huh?" Atsushi remembered his conversation with Mizuki. "Well, I won't say anything else, but, well, Takako, she had been hurt before, and I'm sure you're aware of that. She's disheartened because she thought you rejected her, since it looks like you didn't ask her to be your date for the dance. I'm sure you're conscious of the fact that she likes, no, more of she loves you, right?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"…You're kidding…right?"

"Huh?"

Atsushi couldn't believe the guy. He, Fuji Syuusuke – the tensai – didn't realize how Takako was restraining herself from doing somersaults whenever he smiles at her. Atsushi couldn't believe how…how…Fuji Syuusuke can be so…dense!

"You don't really know?! Are you sure? Takako's heart practically flips a hundred times in air whenever you talk to her, and you didn't even notice?!"

"Oh, really? Uh, I don't know what to say."

"Kami-sama! Honestly, I think you should talk to her. If you really want to understand her, talk to her, and well, tell her how you feel about, uh, her."

"Oh, yeah. Sure."

"Uh, okay. So that's it. Bye. And, gambatte."

"Hai. Arigato. Bye."

Fuji hung up the phone. Takako felt the same way toward her, and he didn't even realize it! He felt stupid, and dense. He needed to talk to her.

"Hai."

"Oi, somebody's waiting for you here."

Takako was puzzzled at what her brother was teling her. He called her that afternoon, saying that someone was waiting for her back home.

"Huh?"

"Just come back here. Someone's waiting for you."

"Uh, okay. Bye."

"Bye."

Who could be waiting for me? It's the middle of the afternoon. Who…could it be? Takako hurried home. She wanted to make sure if her assumption was correct.

When she reached home, she quickly opened the door and removed her shoes. A quick "Tadaima", then she went to the living room. She was surprised and happy when she saw Fuji, dressed in his suit, waiting for her. But she didn't want Fuji to notice that, so, she changed her smile into a quizzical look.

"Oh, it's you. What brings you here?" Takako didn't mean that in an offensive way, but she didn't want Fuji to think that she absolutely, totally wanted him there.

Fuji smiled at her. Then said, "Why aren't you dressed yet? I wouldn't want my date looking like that, do I?"

"Huh? Your date?"

"What? Is there anything wrong with dating your best friend?"

"Uh, no. But I didn't know that…you…me…dates."

"Aa…gomen…I forgot…uh…here goes…" Fuji walked toward Takako, and then kneeled in front of her. Takako was shocked. "F-Fuji-kun…wha-what are you doing?"

"Taka-chan…" Fuji held out a long, thin package and gave it to Takako. "I'm sorry for being this late, but…" Takako opened the package. Inside it was a silver bracelet with diamond charms. Takako's eyes widened! Surely, that bracelet must've cost a fortune!

"Momoshiro Takako, will you please be my date for the Christmas Ball?" Takako couldn't believe her eyes. Was she dreaming? Hours ago, she was crying her heart out because she thought that the guy she loved didn't take notice of her. But now, she wasn't even sure how to react. Once again, she was speechless.

Fuji looked at her with his aqua blue eyes. She touched his face, smiled at him and said, "Let me get dressed first, then we can go to the dance." Fuji's face brightened. It was a dream come true for him! He stood up and held Takako's hand. She looked at him, and he saw that there were no more sadness in her amethyst eyes. He couldn't take it any more, he pulled Takako into a hug and whispered into her ears, "You don't know how happy I am." Takako smiled and let herself be consumed by Fuji's warm embrace. You don't know how happy I am too, Fuji-kun, she whispered to herself.

A/N: aww…that was so sweet… well, it's almost over…with the epilogue as the last chappie…hope you like it…

Please review… arigato..!!