Kyandi: Okay so I'm back! I ended up sleeping through yesterday.
Eiji: Hika-chan says its because you drank too much soda and were so hyper you couldn't sleep for four days.
Kyandi: Well Hika-chan needs to keep her mouth shut. Speaking of Hikari she's still not up for introducing the chapters so its still me and Eiji here!
Eiji: Hoi hoi!
Kyandi: So here's the next chapter.
Eiji: Please enjoy and review!
Kyandi: I do not own Prince of Tennis!
Chapter 21 Goodbyes
The next few day seemed to drag by. Hikari was off in her own world and hardly talked to anyone. Ohtori stuck to his cousin the whole time keeping an eye on her when her brothers couldn't. And when Ohtori could, her teammates did.
Hikari insisted on going back to school, saying that skipping school wouldn't bring her father back and that he wouldn't have been happy if she let her grades slipped. Many of the Seigaku boys, though, thought it was because she wanted something to distract her from everything.
The third and second years took turns dropping by her class during lunch to check on her, but everyday it was the same. They would find her sitting at her desk barely touching her lunch. But at least she was eating.
At practice she took over reviewing tapes of past matches and of matches of their future opponents. Gathering data and taking notes on what the current regulars could work on and prefect. Basically hiding away in the locker room.
Tezuka figured it was her way of not only keeping busy so she wouldn't think, but keeping herself from others who would probably ask her questions. Questions she didn't want to hear or answer and just wanted to avoid.
He allowed it, simply because he had seen her when she broke down. He knew she wouldn't want the rest of the team to see that. That and she was the best at reviewing the tapes.
Then the day of her father funeral, the whole Seigaku team showed up for the funeral to support Hikari. Hikari managed to keep herself together through the whole thing, but it was afterward, when she stood before his tomb stone after everyone had wished her well, that her teammates finally say the tears fall down her cheeks.
Though Tezuka doubted that she even noticed she was crying for her expression was still carefully blank. "Here, Hika-chan." Hikari looked up as Fuji handed her a tissue to wipe her eyes. "Oh! Um….thank you Fuji-sempai." she said taking the small white tissue from him before turning back to just stare at the stone before her.
As others slowly filtered out Hikari never budged from her spot. She just stood there, her hands knotting in the black sundress she wore. "Chotarou, can you make sure she gets home?" Sosuke asked. Ohtori nodded.
"We have to get all of father's affairs settled and it looks like it'll take all of us to do so." Hisoka explained to all of the boys. "Why will it take all of you to do it?" Eiji asked him making Hisoka look at him.
"Our father ran two large major companies. Now that he's passed, as according to his will, the companies are being split among my siblings and myself." Hisoka told him.
"He left Hikari the Japan branches of both companies, but at the moment I think its best that I handle it. At least until she's feeling better." Sosuke said as he looked over at his sister. "Which means Sosuke will be in Japan a whole lot more and can keep an eye on her." Hisoka added before Sosuke turned.
"Tezuka-kun." Sosuke said. Tezuka looked up at Sosuke as he held something out for him. In his hand was a brown envelope. Tezuka took it, opened it and looked over the papers inside it. The papers before him said that a spot in Kyuushyuu at a special treatment hospital had been reserved for him.
Tezuka looked up at Sosuke with a questioning look. "All I know is she was persistent that I get this done soon as possible. I believe when I talked to her that she said she "wanted it done yesterday"." Sosuke told him looking over at Hikari's back.
Tezuka turned to peer at the girl. "She said something about telling you not to push yourself." Sosuke added. Tezuka looked back at Sosuke who bowed his head respectfully before turning to leave with his brothers.
Was that what was on the paper Hikari had handed her brother that day? Tezuka slipped the papers back into the envelope and put the whole thing into his pocket. Even in the mist of her grief she was thinking of someone else.
"Ohtori." Ohtori looked at Tezuka. "We'll see to it that she gets home." Tezuka told him. Ohtori looked back at his cousin before nodding. "Alright. She probably needs friends more then family at the moment anyhow." he said before walking over to bid his cousin a good day, stopping long enough to give her a small hug.
It was when it was just Hikari, her teammates, and Ryuzaki that Hikari finally turned away from the tomb, dry eyed. She turned to look at her team. "Could you please not take me home? I'd rather not go home yet." she told them. Ryuzaki smiled at her. "Then I have an idea. Though you will have to change." Ryuzaki told her. Hikari nodded.
-0-0-0-0-
Hikari blinked as she stared at the loud noisy bowling alleyways before her. "This wasn't exactly what I had in mind…but as long as its not completely quiet." she said as she looked around at those who were already there.
"We were able to defeat Hyotei and advance to the quarterfinals of the Kantou Tournament. I was going to bring you all here the day after to pay you guys back for your hard work." Ryuzaki told the team. "What?! We could have just gone to Taka-san's sushi restaurant!" Eiji said.
"Eiji! Think of how much trouble we cause them every time we go there!" Oishi told his Doubles partner. "It's good to try something different once in a while…" Tezuka put in. "Ohh yeah! Let's bowl!" Momo cheered. Hikari could help but smile as she watched her teammates.
"Alright it's decided! Hurry up and go check out some bowling shoes!" Ryuzaki told the boys. "Higarashi." Hikari turned to Tezuka who was gesturing to a seat between him and Taka. Hikari took a seat as the others got their shoes and then took part in a drawing to see who their teammate was. "How is your ankle?" Tezuka asked her.
Hikari glanced down at the bandaged ankle. "My uncle says that its better. He said about another week of rest and I should be able to play again." she told him. "Good. If we beat our next two opponents we'll probably need you in the finals against Rikkai Dai." Tezuka told her. Hikari nodded.
Hikari turned her attention back to the others as Ryuzaki announced the teams that had come from the drawing. "We have Fuji with Eiji, Momo with Echizen, Inui with Kaido, and me with Oishi." Ryuzaki called out.
"Tezuka, Kawamura, and Higarashi will be spectators because of their injuries." Ryuzaki added. Of course though no game was complete without Inui's special juices. Or without Momo and Kaido having a screaming match.
Hikari wasn't too surprised when it was Inui's own partner, Kaido, who was the first one to drink the nasty smelling juice. Hikari could smell even from her seat. Of course, Fuji, who always seemed to do it on purpose, was next.
When Fuji hit the floor, passing out from the juice, Hikari leaned over the table to look down at him. "Wow, it even managed to knock out Fuji-sempai." she remarked before looking up at Inui. "I want to try it." she said in earnest.
"NO!" several of her teammates coursed as Tezuka gently tugged her back down in her seat. Hikari blinked in surprise for a moment before she started to laugh. All of her teammates stopped to stare as she laughed.
It was the first true sign of any kind of happiness or merriment she had shown in the last few days. "Sorry! I-Its just….I needed that laugh." Hikari said as she finally got her laughter under control wiping away tears of laughter from her eyes. All of the boys, well those conscious, smiled. It was good to see the girl with a smile on her face again.
-0-0-0-0-
"Ah, today was a lot of fun!" Oishi said. Hikari smiled faintly. It had been a nice distraction from everything, just to hang out with her team and watch them act their normal silly ways. It made her realize that not all was bad.
Her father would have been angry to see her moping around like she was. She needed to cheer up and put her head back on right. She had more important things then her self pity to worry about. And the main thing was her team and their goal to make it to Nationals.
For now, she would leave all of her grieving and everything until she was home alone. She couldn't keep making her team worry like they had been the last few days.
"Next week will be the second round of the Kantou tournament. Our opponents will also be top ranked veterans. First up is Saitama's Midoriyama Jr. High." Ryuzaki told them. "And then Chiba's Kogou Rokkaku Jr. High." Hikari added.
Ryuzaki nodded in agreement. "If we can't beat these two teams, we won't be able to face Rikkai Dai Jr. High in the finals!" Ryuzaki added. "But if you guys play with the same energy and determination that you have been playing with lately plus, if you have a strong desire to win, then…you will definitely be able to fill up the hole caused by our captain's absence…"
Hikari peered at Tezuka out of the side of her eyes. "What do you mean Ryuzaki-sensei?" Momo asked. "Staring from tomorrow, Tezuka will be going to Kyuushyuu." Ryuzaki told them. All eyes turned to Tezuka but Tezuka had his eyes set on Hikari. Silver met brown as she lifted her gaze to look back at him, a knowing look in those silver depths. "Then we'll all be there to see you off. Right?" Hikari said looking at her teammates. All of them smiled before nodding. "Right!" they cheered.
-0-0-0-0-
Hikari leaned against the hand rail as she looked down at the school grounds, watching Tezuka and Oishi. She was suppose to meet up with them but it was funnier to watch the two pull first Ryoma and then Momo along.
Hikari smiled as she watched them. The captain and vice-captain certainly knew how to tug the two along with their little trick. It was amusing and a side of them she had yet to see. She knew they were probably planning to do the same thing with Kaido.
She followed the two via the upstairs pathways coming down the stairs a bit ahead of them to wait for them to reach her. "I never really noticed," she started when they reached her. "Just how good the two of you are at tugging your younger teammates along with a trick as simple as this one." she said looking up at them.
Oishi rubbed the back of his neck. "You saw all of that?" he asked. Hikari nodded. "Remember Oishi-fukubuchou, not much happens at this school that doesn't get back to me one way or another." she told him before she thought about it.
"You're not going to try to do the same thing with me are you? Because to be frank, I don't respond to ego bashing." she told him. "No, we wanted to talk to you about something else." Oishi told her. "Hmm? I'm listening." she replied as she leaned back against the tree behind her.
"While I'm gone I want you to help Oishi manage the team. You know everyone's style, even better then Inui. If you work with Inui and the training regiments he gave to everyone, you can work out ones that have the team focusing more on their weaknesses." Tezuka told her.
Hikari blinked as she looked at him her eyes searching for any signs of a possible trick, but she found nothing in her captain's steady gaze that would lead her to believe it was a trick. "Is this another way of trying to keep me busy?" she asked.
Oishi gave her a sheepish smile. "Partly." Oishi admitted. Hikari heaved a sigh. "Well I probably could use it." she replied. "You'll do it?" Oishi asked. Hikari looked at him. "Of course I will. It is for the team." she replied.
"But just remember Oishi-fukubuchou, that that puts me in control of your training regiment as well." she told him. Oishi gave a nervous sort of laugh. He had seen the training regiment the girl had made for herself. It was not walk in the park. It wasn't even a dead run in a park. The girl did a lot to keep herself in top shape and at a steady weight.
"We best go." Tezuka said. Hikari nodded. "Right." Oishi agreed the two seniors leading the way, with Hikari following. The whole trip to the airport, Hikari didn't say a word as if she was waiting for a certain time to say anything.
"In the end, it seems like I've caused everyone a lot of trouble. I'm sorry." Tezuka told the team. "What are you talking about Tezuka? No one is blaming you at all." Ryuzaki told him. "Yup…we'll definitely win the Kantou Tournament and bring back the tickets to the National Tournament." Fuji told Tezuka.
"Ah…speaking of which, where is the little guy?" Eiji asked. "Momo and Kaido too! Where are those guys!?" Eiji added.
Hikari smiled to herself from where she stood as Tezuka and Oishi exchanged looks. "At this moment, those guys must have probably fallen for Tezuka's trick." Oishi said with a smile. Hikari let out a small curt laugh.
"Fallen? More like hook, line, and sinker." she replied. Oishi smiled. "One more thing." Tezuka told them. "Higarashi will be helping Oishi to manage the team. She, along with Inui, will be assigning new training regiments." Tezuka told the team.
All of the third years turned to look at Hikari who was leaning against the backs of some of the chairs near them. "Hmm…looks like I might have a really good reason to smile here soon." she said looking at them. "I don't like the sound of that!" Eiji whined.
Tezuka watched his team as they headed outside right before he was to board. Hikari though, hadn't moved from her spot. Tezuka turned to look at her. "Higarashi?" he asked. Hikari hesitated for a moment before she spoke.
"Thank you Tezuka-buchou." she told him looking up at him. Tezuka stared at her slightly surprised. "You didn't have to do any of the things you've done for me lately." she said shifting slightly before continuing.
Hikari fell silently for a moment before she spoke again. "Your grandfather called last night. The police found Rem. He was so scared he flat out admitted everything he did hoping to get off easier." Hikari told him.
"They had me come down to the station to I.D. him as the one that's been attacking me. I…I didn't think I could ever feel this relieved." she added. "And I don't think I could ever thank you enough either." Tezuka stared at her.
He didn't really expect her to thank him, especially since he had to basically blackmail her to get her to tell him any of it in the first place. Not to mention that Hikari was usually the type of person to let her actions speak for her.
"Is that why you helped with the treatment?" he asked her. Hikari shook her head before she looked at him. "I know what its like, not being able to play the sport you love because of an injury, Tezuka-buchou." she told him as she rubbed her left arm.
"I didn't want to see you go through that too. Not when you have the talent and skill to make it as a pro. And the devotion to make it to the top." she added. "So do us all a favor Tezuka-buchou. Go and do your best and hurry back to us. We'll hold down the fort here, all of us. And now you don't have anything with me to worry about." she said with a smile on her face.
"Our teammates are too supporting for me to get depressed. And I don't have time to be depressed. After all…I have nine good reason not to be." she added with a smile. "So don't take too long…I want my ninth reason back." Tezuka stared at her in surprise as she gave him a smile. Finally he nodded. "Remember stay…"
"Out of sight of scouts." Hikari finished for him. "I know. I have too much work as the manager right now to do to even try practicing with the team. I doubt Oishi-fukubuchou would let me anyway." she replied. Tezuka nodded.
"Make sure you and Oishi keep me posted." he told her. Hikari nodded. "We'll be waiting, Buchou." she told him before she turned to leave, leaving him to board his plane. Outside Hikari watched the plane take off with her teammates.
-0-0-0-0-
"I'm not so worried about Momo and the other regular members, but the other members of the team…It seems like they have received quite a shock from Tezuka's absence." Oishi said as they reentered the school courts.
"Oh I don't know about that." Hikari said making the others look at her as they walked. "I think they'll be just fine. In fact I believe they'll be even more fired up then usual. A renewed will to fight, so to speak." she added.
"You sure about that?" Taka asked. "Hmm…you tell me." she said as they came to the courts her eyes scanning the courts before them. "They seem pretty fired up to me." she said as yells of Seigaku Fight rang out over the courts as everyone worked hard.
"Looks like I was worried over nothing…" Oishi said in amazement. "That's because you're a natural born worrier Oishi!" Eiji told him, playfully teasing his doubles partner as the others smiled at the slightly embarrassed vice-captain.
"Exactly!" Everyone turned as Ryoma, Kaido, and Momo walked up to them. "We're counting on you from now on, Vice-captain." Ryoma said. "Well as it stands Oishi-fukubuchou isn't the only one you'll have to worry about." Hikari said making all attention turn to her.
"What do you mean?" Momo asked looking at her a little concerned by the tone of her voice and the look on her face as she looked back at him. Hikari smiled. "Tezuka put her in charge of new training regiments saying she's to help Oishi manage the team." Eiji told them.
Hikari smiled a smile that was more along the lines of a sadistic grin then a smile itself. "I think I'll go get started on that." she added before turning and taking off her teammates staring after her some of them worried.
END
Kyandi: Alright I'm in a better mood now.
Eiji: Hopefully Hika-chan will be back to help with introductions next chapter!
Kyandi: Yeah she should be feeling better by the next chapter.
Eiji: So Kyandi-sama is going to go work on that now.
Kyandi: Right so enjoy and review!
Eiji: Bye, nya~!