Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.

Lady Monozuki: Hello, everyone! I am happy to announce that this chapter does not have such a serious overtone as the past few have. I had a blast writing this and imagining a bunch of random things. (You'll understand more when you read the chapter.) Thank you to everyone who has reviewed! I am very behind in my review replies, so I apologize. Please enjoy the chapter all the same!

Chapter Thirty-Six: Camping

Ryoma cursed under his breath as he picked up another large branch off the ground. Whoever had the brilliant idea to go camping was going to pay. Actually, whoever had the brilliant idea to go camping with Syuusuke was going to pay. Well, whoever had the brilliant idea to send the Seigaku Regulars on a camping trip with Syuusuke was going to pay. Because if they had thought about the idea for one moment, they would have realized that nothing good would come from the situation.

He paused.

Really, the whole plan was doomed to fail. After all, who sends part of a tennis team to go camping? And not the sort of camping where you are in a cabin with tennis courts at your disposal. Full-on, everyone sleeps on the ground in the middle of nowhere and build fires in order to eat type of camping. And to hell with the logic that this will "bring the team closer together." They were far closer than he felt was necessary. That's why he knew that Momo liked to take baths with his rubber duck, that Kaidoh was terrified of moths, and that while Inui was hopeless at making beverages, he was actually a decent cook.

There were other secrets that the members of Seigaku tried to keep secret from each other. His personal favorites included Oishi's secret disco obsession (supposedly, the meek vice-captain had a giant afro that he wore when dancing), Kikumaru doing nail art, and Kawamura's ballet classes.

However, none of them compared to Tezuka's secret: Him sleeping with a teddy bear.

And anyone who knew that about Tezuka, knew the team really, really well. And since they all knew, there was really no way that they could be "closer," as Ryuuzaki-sensei had put it. Which brought him back to cursing and wishing someone dead.

He headed back to their camp, which was pathetic as the tents that they were supposed to be sleeping in weren't even set-up yet. And night was beginning to set in.

"Echizen! You made it back with the firewood!" Oishi exclaimed happily, before he added darkly, "At least someone can do their job."

The wood was handed to Tezuka, who busied himself with making a fire.

"You know, sempai, I know how to put up tents. I went camping all the time with my parents in America," he said, trying once more to offer his help to the hopeless crew that had somehow managed to connect the two tents and hung them upside down—which, while impressive, was concerning.

Oishi waved a hand. "Just help Syuusuke with dinner. We have it under control."

Ryoma walked over to his boyfriend, who was busy—probably poisoning all the food with wasabi—preparing dinner.

"Ryoma!" Syuusuke greeted him happily, the type of happily that meant that his boyfriend had just accomplished something evil. He shuddered.

"Oishi sent me to help you. Said they had the tents under control."

He glanced back at the tents, where one was now hanging from a tree and the other lying flat on the ground, like how it had started.

"Well, I don't need any help. Just waiting for the fire to be warm enough before I start cooking," his boyfriend said. "I suppose that until then, we can do whatever we'd like."

"You could help me come up with ways to murder whoever suggested this stupid idea."

Syuusuke chuckled. "I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Why not? Usually you're the first to suggest it."

"But you see, I'm the one who suggested it."

He glared at his boyfriend, who smiled at him. "Where did you get the idea from? You've never been camping in your life!"

"I got it from you. I wanted you to have new memories of things you liked doing as a child with me!"

He tossed a glance at the rest of the team before looking back at his boyfriend. "And them?"

"Witnesses," Syuusuke replied. His boyfriend leaned in and whispered in his ear. "To every wonderful thing I'm going to do to you on this trip."

Ryoma shivered. Syuusuke sealed his promise with a long, lingering, and hot kiss.

Too hot.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to coat your mouth with wasabi before kissing me?" Ryoma shouted.

"Saa…"

~END~