A/N: My mind was a-blank… gomen (T_T).

Silver_Starlight_Serpent sent me a msg and that kinda means I'm taking too long to update, damnit. Lo siento.

#You'll find that life is still worthwhile, if you just smile~# Not a bad song choice *Thumbs up (^_^)=b

Disclaimer: I called Takeshi Konomi on his mobile and asked him what his next big idea was. He said Prince of Tennis under water. (randomness)


Chapter Fifty Five

"Fuji-chan, why didn't you tell me?" Kikumaru complained as she followed her to the registration desk.

It was now the second day of the girl's tournament, but the first match for Seishun academy. If the boys' were anything to go by, they would be in for an awesome challenge. First, they had to win against St Rudolph, then they could play against anyone from Fujimi Jr's or Wakamatsu. Leaving only the school with a deeper understanding of their energies to conquer.

Fuji placed the papers on the desk and looked across to Kikumaru. "Tell you what, Kikumaru-chan?" There was little interest in her voice.

"Like you don't know! You… do know, don't you?"

Fuji waited a while before answering. "Know what?"

"That… that he's leaving?"

Kikumaru missed the twitch that caused Fuji to roll her fingers into her palm. "And who told you?"

"You do know! Why didn't you tell me last night? At least I now know why you're not yourself."

Fuji couldn't be bothered to answer. She could barely be bothered to give Kikumaru an annoyed glance. After hearing it from Tezuka yesterday, she still didn't want to believe it was true. She didn't want him to leave… she shouldn't have told him or let him touch her shoulder. But all those things were now not the problem. The added cause now rested on this anonymous person who ruptured her peace.

"I'm fine with it."

Kikumaru paused. "No you're not. I can tell you're upset. And you have every right to be."

Fuji didn't take her eyes off Kikumaru for the moment. She was being persistent. Kikumaru knew Fuji was upset but she didn't know why. In truth, there were so many factors. Fuji didn't know where to start. Once the woman handed Fuji the sheet of paper back, Fuji took a hold of Kikumaru's hand and pulled her towards the entrance but not out of the park. Crowds of people and schools were still walking in but Fuji knew no one would bother them as they stood face to face.

"What's wrong?" Kikumaru said once more.

Fuji bent to her side and took out the envelope from her ball holder and handed it to Kikumaru. Kikumaru hesitated at first, thinking it was another card of sorts. But the look on Fuji's face told her otherwise. She took a deep intake of breath and took it from Fuji. She asked if she could take a look. Fuji didn't say anything. She opened it anyway. When she saw who was in the picture, she gasped. Like those who had seen it before her, Kikumaru had to look twice and couldn't quite believe it. She wiped her cheek and glanced up to an incensed Fuji.

"… Oh Fuji-chan… Where did you get this?"

After Fuji had a chance to think about it last night, she too wondered why Tezuka had it. It explained so much to her, especially regarding his behaviour. She couldn't believe someone would be so callous as to interfere. She could very well image what was going through his mind at the time. And when Fuji told Kikumaru that Tezuka gave it to her, it frustrated her.

Kikumaru was stunned. She didn't know what to say and stood for a second with her mouth open, wanting to say something but not knowing where to start. "Tezuka-san gave this to you? So… he knew all this time?" She looked down to it. "Oh, Fuji. Poor Tezuka-san. It's no wonder he was so mad."

Fuji snatched it back. She only kept it this long to show Kikumaru. It was about time this piece of rubbish was put in its rightful place. Fuji ripped it into small pieces and dropped it in a nearby bin. Kikumaru was a little shocked by Fuji's actions and her swiftness to shred the image. She was puzzled; she could see Fuji was too mad for words but she had to ask. And as she was about to, Fuji walked on.

"Fuji-chan?"

"We got a game to focus on." Fuji replied.

"Fuji-chan, wait." Kikumaru grabbed her arm.

Fuji turned around to face her and showed Kikumaru a pleasant smile that completely threw her off what she was going to ask. That smile, the strength and the peace behind it confused Kikumaru. "I'm fine… really. Come on, you're up first."

Fuji softly pulled her arm out of Kikumaru's hold and took her hand instead. Kikumaru pressed her lips closed and didn't feel as if she should say anything more. Fuji led them back to the courts and back to their team.

Once they returned, they were surprised by how packed it got. Some of the schools that were knocked out were filling the stands. There were even members from other schools who were still in the tournament, wanting to get their fill of the second match to the Kantou Tournament.

Fuji and Kikumaru made their way down the steps to a cheering team. Fuji looked across to St Rudolph school, wondering if she would see Yumi. As it was a quick glance, she couldn't quite see her among the many faces. If Yumi was around, she certainly wasn't with her team.

"Come on you two. Ryuzaki-sensei wants a quick word. K-Kikumaru-chan, what's wrong?" Suzu noticed something.

"Me?" Kikumaru said, surprised that they could see that something was wrong with her before they could see it on Fuji's face, but, Fuji smiled as if nothing ill was going on in her heart. Kikumaru could only sign and say it was nothing.

Ryuzaki-sensei clapped her hands to get the girls' attention. "Okay ladies, we've had enough time to improve from the last games. Don't think about it too much as this is a new day and a new match. Up first, I've put my two quick footed players." She pointed at Kikumaru and Nariko. "You too have played together long enough to have worked out a formula to make the first match your own. I'm hoping for a quick match to throw off their flow. Next is Jinhana-san and Arai-san. You two are opposites on the field. And I'm hoping that the mis-match will throw off their pace, but I also want you two to work together. You've known each other long enough to know each others' game. Don't be a bother to one another either. Arai-san's strength with Jinhana-san's soft but many moves should disrupt their forward thinking. Umeko-san?" Umeko saluted promptly. "It's your first time back on the courts. You may have won easily against your team but don't be cocky, you missed the build-up to this match so be mindful. Shikawara-san?" She glanced over from the bench. "Same with you, be mindful of your opponent, you seem to be weak against the opponents style, so work out what they are capable of and disable them. Fuji-san?" Fuji was too busy searching for her sister in the stands that Ryuzaki-sensei had to pat her hand down on her shoulder. "You and I both know you're strong, so just play seriously for me as you're more then likely to go up against their captain. And Yokoishi-san, you might be reserved but the boys had to rely on their reserve player too, so don't think this is a time for you to be a mere spectator. Are we all clear on this?"

"Hai, sensei!"

Ryuzaki-sensei nodded the girls onto the courts to line up. Fuji took the lead and her team followed her out. They stood on their half of the courts waiting for St Rudolph to join them.

It took the team a while to join Seigaku on the courts, as they were waiting for their reserved player to join them. Once they lined up Fuji greeted their captain. She couldn't help glance down the line. So… Yumi was in reserved after all. Fuji was happy to see her, happy that she was on the team and pleased that Yumi wasn't the one standing in front of her.

"The match between Seishun Academy and St Rudolph will began. Can the members of Doubles two please remain on the courts. The remaining team take to your seats."

As the girls walked off they patted Nariko and Kikumaru on the shoulders, and in return they gave a thumbs up. The two girls walked along to meet and shake hands with Chizuko Nemoto and Hizuko Hagio.

"Just because we're from the same area doesn't mean well go easy on you." Nemoto said. She was in her last year of middle school.

"This will be our victory." Kikumaru said, holding up a playful 'victory' sigh with her hands.

As they turned to take their places, Kikumaru throw her arm over Nariko's shoulder. "I own you one. We'll win this, okay."

Nariko agreed. They took to their positions. Nariko was to serve.

Hagio stood in the service court and Nemoto stood ready on the baseline. Nariko looked between the two players and realised she didn't know too much about them. Truth be told, she didn't know any of the St. Rudolph team. She would have to rely on Kikumaru's knowledge if they were to gain the underhand.

Nariko clenched the ball in her left hand. A thought came to her: she was to be the one to start such an important match for her team. It was for this reason that Yokoishi took them away to the parks and open gardens to work on their energy. Yokoishi's understanding of such things left her spellbound and eager to put what she had learnt into practise now. Nariko took a quick look into the stands. She caught her senpai's wink and knew that this was her chance to show everyone the result of her hard work. Nemoto was in her sight. She leant back and chucked the ball up and smashed it into play.

The ball flew fast over the net, catching Nemoto unawares. Natural reaction made Nemoto draw her arm in towards her body to hit the ball but she popped it up and out into the crowd. One of the spectators stood up to catch it and cheered once it was in their grasp before tossing it back out.

"Yes." Nariko smirked, pleased that they got the first point quickly.

"Wow! That was kinda fast." Umeko noticed. "I wonder what it would read at?"

"It's not that fast." Shikawara replied. Having trained with Nariko over the weeks, her eyes had gotten used to the speed.

Kikumaru gave a thumbs-up and got back into play. Nariko flicked her fingers out. That sensation was starting to run through her. If not for her senpai training alongside her outside of practise, she would have freaked out when that pulse ran throughout her body. Though, Nariko didn't want to go all out yet. The pulse was impatient and wanted to be released. Not yet. She had to hold back, for her partner's sake.

She'd hit a normal serve. Jinhana taught her to spot the opponents style first. She hoped for a rally. Once Nemoto returned the ball the four of them took it easy, testing how far the opponent could reach and how well they worked as a team.

Kikumaru understood what Nariko was aiming for and played to her pace, not going into her acrobatic style until Nariko was ready. Though Seishun were playing it safe that didn't mean that St Rudolph's girls were going to play like this. When Hagio returned the shot, both the Seishun girls noticed that it got heavy… was it heavy or wet? Either way the ball didn't carry as well after it bounced.

"Ooh, check it out. I didn't know the Saint girls had one of those players."

Fuji glanced up, having heard a familiar voice. It was none other then Uki Ito with her team of eight standing strong behind her. They won their match against Tsuru Juniors it would seem. Fuji turned back to the game. Her mind kept wondering in and out of the match, so when pair of small hands cuddled around her arm she jumped. "Morning, onee-chan." Chise said as she sat beside Fuji. Fuji seriously forgot about this little girl, only now remembering what happened the last time they saw each other. She patted Chise's soft magenta hair and watched the match quietly.

Kikumaru could see that Nemoto had a lot of spin on her shots. In fact, a great amount of spin. For the moment both Hagio and Nemoto were setting up for something.

There weren't any slip-up that's Nariko was hoping for but they managed to take the first game. As the teams swapped sides, Nemoto and Hagio nodded at each other. They had build up enough energy. Time to get serious. With Hagio serving, Kikumaru hopped back for the return after giving Nariko a high five. Kikumaru jeered her hand back.

"Ow. You gave me an electric shock." She laughed it off.

That pulse was starting to get uncomfortable, but Nariko would bare it. Maybe she should change her moves. Do something she's familiar with.

"Does anyone remember these two players." Umeko peered across to Jinhana and Arai.

Yokoishi jumped in. "I do, which is why I know they'll win this one."

"You said that about your match as well." Arai reminded her, only to get flicked in the side of her head.

"Don't talk to your aneki like that. Besides, I said 'I couldn't win my match.' Maybe you should listen to me a bit more, hm, senpai."

Arai tried to ignore her.

Nemoto readied her serve. As she tossed the ball in the air she spun it, when the racket swung down she twisted her wrist, carrying the ball further over the face of the racket, and shot it down towards Kikumaru. Kikumaru saw where the ball would land and shuffled to her right to return it. But the added spin made the ball completely change its course and shot off in a backward 'L' shape and out of reach.

"15-love" The umpire called, meaning such as shoot was allowed.

Nariko and Kikumaru glanced at each other. Nariko's stare seems to say "didn't you know that was coming?" Kikumaru's waving hand said in return "Just making sure." They readied themselves.

"Come on Nemoto-chan! Show no mercy!" Her school cheered them on.

Fuji glanced over again. Her sister was sat at the end looking extremely bored. Cheer up.

Nemoto, feeling smug, served with the same amount of spin, sending the ball in a direction the girls didn't expect, leaving them half in motion with only their eyes following the course of the ball.

"30-love."

"I'm going for it." Kikumaru said as she approached Nariko.

Nariko wished she was the one receiving the ball. She knew she would be able to catch it. She gave a thumbs-up to Kikumaru who got ready for the next ball. The same serve was aimed at her. This time Kikumaru could see that the ball had a left rotation. Once the ball landing Kikumaru jumped to her right and put the ball in play.

A hiss of yes's came from the Seishun team, which annoyed the other school. Kikumaru's returning shoot went back towards Nemoto, who wasn't prepared for Seishun to be familiar with her move so quickly. She managed to lob the ball in Nariko's direction, who was itching to hit the ball. So much so that she jumped up to lash it down.

"Whoa!" Seishun gasped.

The shot was quick. They nearly didn't see Nariko connect with it. If they didn't hear the sound of the ball hitting the opponent's court, those watching could have swore Nemoto and Hagio got the point.

"Come on Humming Bird! Show them what Seigaku is made of." Yokoishi cheered out.

Fuji smiled a little. When did her teammate learn to do that? It couldn't have been while she wasn't looking, could it? She decided to pay a little more attention to see exactly what her school learnt over the few weeks. She glanced down to Chise and she was quiet. With that said she couldn't quite get him out of her head. She wondered what he would be doing today. She wondered if he was at school or at home. And if he was at home, what would he be packing to take with him to Germany. She still didn't understand why he would want to go that far away. Come to think of it, she still didn't have his number. Fuji rolled her fingers around the bench and turned to Arai, who was sat beside her, eyes attentive on the match. She wanted to ask her something.

"Arai-chan?"

"Hmm?" She took her eyes off the game for a moment.

Fuji paused. She felt something familiar. It faded before she could understand it and it made her lose her train of thought. "…Nothing."

Arai lifted her hand and tapped Fuji's shoulder. "We're in the middle of a tournament. Focus, will ya."

Fuji would have agreed had she not felt something on her shoulder. She rubbed it off, again, not really sure why she didn't like it.

"45-30" The score was called, with Seishun leading. 2-0

Kikumaru avoided giving Nariko another high-five. Each time she did it she got an electric shock and it got stronger with each stroke. From her distance, she gave a thumbs-up. With Kikumaru able to catch Nemoto's serve whichever way it went, the game was in their favour. Nemoto flicked her fringed from her left eye trying to figure out a way to mix it up. She knew of Kikumaru's acrobatic style but it annoyed her that she could reach her shots with ease. Hagio glanced back.

"Oi, don't drop your guard. We're a team remember, if they return it, I'll get it."

This grounded Nemoto a little. She didn't bother thinking of a way to change it up and hit the next serve with the same amount of spin. Kikumaru leapt for it and shot it low over the net giving Hagio and good shot of the ball. Hagio didn't waste anytime. She put her energy over the court. She volleyed the ball. Kikumaru caught it again and was able to hit a deep shot that landed near Nemoto's feet before bouncing. Kikumaru landed on her hand and slipped. She had to steady herself with both hands in case she fell over. It was the first time she'd ever scrapped her racket on the floor. When she got up her left hand was wet. Lucky her shot was too low for Nemoto to return, less she hit and scrapped her racket along the floor too. Nemoto had to let it hover by.

Nariko couldn't help it. She placed her racket under her arm and flicked her fingers out.

"You saw that, right Nariko-chan. That was a cool shot, huh?" Kikumaru praised herself.

"Erm, senpai?"

Kikumaru stepped a bit closer while drying her hand in her thigh. "What's wrong?"

"Is it okay if you let me hit all the next shots?"

"Huh?" Kikumaru wiped her forehead and held her hands on her hips. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you see… I need a release and… the only way I know how is to hit the ball. It's starting to hurt so I really just need to-"

Kikumaru walked over and patted Nariko on her head. "Fine. But if you look as if you're in trouble I'm stepping in." She ruffled Nariko's hair and got another electric shock. "Wow, you're really static today. What have you been touching Nariko-chan?"

She didn't know how to explain it. Yokoishi said not everyone on the team had a firm grasp of the different types. Nariko didn't even know she had two types! She fixed her hair in place and took to the baseline.

She readied the ball and noticed that the hairs on the felt were standing up. She somehow made too much of it. So much so that it began to jump off the ball, followed by a quick cackle. Nariko put the ball in play, allowing Hagio to display a little more of her shoots.

"Hurry it up girls, I want to play soon!" Umeko belted out causing Ryuzaki-sensei to tell her to shut up.

Hagio glanced over quickly to see who yelled out. She stepped forward to hit the ball down the middle of the court. When she stepped her foot forward she affected the floor around Nariko so that when Nariko moved into place she lost her footing, nearly falling into the splits. However useful Hagio's effort was to trip Nariko up, it was no good if she couldn't return the shot if an electric shock distracted her. It was a large jolt. As the game went on the shock grew stronger and stronger that she avoid the balls on purpose.

"What are you doing Hagio-chan?"

Hagio had to go over to her partner, she caught her arm and turned her around. "That girl is giving me painful shocks."

Nemoto peered over at the young girl with black hair. "From all the way over there?"

"I'm not joking. It's starting to hurt. It's starting to get under my skin. I'm telling you now, if the ball comes my way I'm not hitting it."

Nemoto had to pause for thought. For Hagio to refuse to hit the ball, something serious was affecting her game. "What do you think she's doing?"

"… She's nullified me, that's what she's done. The annoying thing is, she's not even that good at it."

Hagio was right, as the game went on, she could see how inexperience Nariko was with her element energy. Clearly she couldn't keep the static pulses under control, even shocking herself several times and dropped the racket, giving St. Rudolph two games for their four. After Nariko lost two games, Kikumaru decided to step in. Hagio refused to hit Nariko's shots and Seishun could see this and obviously took advantage of Hagio's stubbornness. Once Hagio stopped putting the ball into play, the wet and slippery floor disappeared giving Kikumaru greater control to reach Nemoto shots.

Hagio watched the ball come to her and stepped out of its way. She ignored Nemoto's peeved glare when she couldn't snatch the ball from Hagio's path. Hagio understood why Nariko's shots didn't bother her partner. Sure, Nemoto had her level of energy too, but between herself and Nariko, it was specific. Simply put, Nariko was 'scissors' and Hagio was 'paper'. The 4-2 score quickly became 6-2 because Nemoto didn't have the support from her teammate.

"Even the runners up had something like that up their sleeves, huh."

The only three to really know what Miura's captain, Hattori was talking about were Fuji, Umeko and Yokoishi. They didn't turn back as they greeted and patted all but Nariko on the shoulder (they saw the game.) Yokoishi thus decided to take Nariko on a little jog around the courts to release all of the unneeded energy.

"Fuji-chan, how you feeling?" Kikumaru was about to plonked herself down when she saw Chise. She too forgot about this little pain. She wiped her towel off her head.

Fuji glanced up, as did Chise. It was a lot better seeing Kikumaru smiling after a match other than crying.

"What do you mean, how do I feel?" Fuji replied, not hearing the vexation in her voice. Kikumaru rolled her eyes away and went to sit with Umeko.

Chise now turned up to Fuji and saw the annoyance she tried to hide. "Did you fix things with your boyfriend?" She asked quietly.

"Pardon?"

"The one who surprised you at your last match. If not, I'll tell him off for you."

"Don't worry, I'll give him a piece of my mind soon."

"Don't fall in love with him. He's wasn't very nice to you. You should like people who are kind to you."

If it were anyone else Fuji would have glare at them. Chise was lucky she was young, otherwise she would have receive that razor like stare. Fuji avoided her eyes and patted her head again.

"Yes, you're right Chise-chan."

She placed her index finger to her lips and asked Chise to watch Jinhana and Arai double's match against Yasuyo Chitose and Hibiki Shiozu.


tbc…

A/N2: I forgot how time consuming it is to make up characters and moves. (x_X)

Chapter 56: Focus on Shikawara's match, singles 2.