©2004 Gold Original Storyline
Disclaimer: PoT not mine. This story is fiction.
Comments: If you follow tennis, you'd recognise how I've tweaked some of these names.
Beyond: A Tribute
Part 1: Snatches of Us
Unnamed Search Engine Online News, Monday, 26th July 2010
14 minutes ago
Tennis World No. 5 Kunimitsu Tezuka Faces Drugs Probe
The tennis world has been rocked by revelations that world No. 5 Kunimitsu Tezuka is under investigation for the use of banned substances. The Association of Men's Tennis Professionals (AMTP) has just released a surprise statement to the press, confirming that Kunimitsu Tezuka had tested positive for the banned blood-boosting substance jetoxil (JTX), and is part of an ongoing probe. The world No. 5 has been suspended pending the investigation, which has not been completed. The Japanese has dominated tennis since his debut on the men's international tennis circuit three years ago, setting a new world record by reaching the world No. 5 position just last Friday, leaping over one hundred places in the rankings in just three years.
The suspension is for two weeks, by the end of which investigations are expected to be complete. Tezuka will be unable to continue competing in the ongoing Cincinnati Global Tennis Masters tournament, where he has reached the quarter-finals. The world no. 5 was unavailable for comment and calls to his management were not returned.
AMTP spokesman Leon d'Amatier, when asked for further details of the investigation, refused to reveal more information, but made it clear that this was part of the AMTP's anti-doping campaign. "The AMTP takes an extremely serious view of such matters. We will strictly follow the new anti-doping measures that were passed in January this year. What we can assure the players, fans and the rest of the public is that every possible care will be taken to ensure justice in the process."
Yomiuri Shimbun, Monday, 26th July 2010, Quick Shorts Section
University Student Still Missing
Momoshiro Takeshi, 20, a student from Tokyo's Seishun Gakuen University, was reported missing several days ago in Biei, Hokkaido. He was part of a group of students from the Seigaku University Tennis Club, which was participating in a tennis clinic for primary schoolchildren on the island. He was last seen leaving the home of the host family he was staying with three days ago. Seigaku University teachers with travelling with the tennis club made a police report when they remained unable to locate the student's whereabouts after twenty-four hours had passed.
Local police and residents of Biei and the surrounding towns are continuing a search for the missing boy, which began only yesterday. Earlier speculation that the student had run away was dismissed by both the Seigaku teachers as well as local police. Although the search continues, and the police and residents have declared their intention to continue the search until the boy is found, there are growing fears that the missing student may have met with foul play. Chief Matsumoto Akira of the Biei police stressed that they had very few clues to go on, but held out hope that the student may yet be found.
The Seigaku tennis club returned to Tokyo yesterday, but it is understood that a teacher has remained behind in Biei to assist local authorities.
Location: Tokyo, Tuesday morning, 27 July 2010, 03:00 hours; Telephone call log: New York-Tokyo long distance
"I take it that this is about Tezuka?"
Silence. Fifteen-love.
"You seem very concerned about him."
Beat.
"Yes."
Thirty-love.
"Hmph. He was always one of the only people who could make you lower yourself like this."
Silence.
Forty-love. It looked as if he was going to take this game completely.
"Well, it's going to cost you."
"Name your price."
"Prepared, are we? – One favour, to be called in anytime, anywhere—and to be done without question."
"Done."
Forty-fifteen. Damn.
"Well, that was fast—"
"Do I have your word?"
"Don't interrupt me—"
"I haven't the time. Do I have your word?"
"This is important to you, eh?"
"I don't beg twice."
"Of course."
Pause.
"You have my word on it."
Forty-thirty. Double damnation.
"Thank you."
"If it happened to be anyone else but Tezuka—"
Beep, beep, beep...
Forty-all. Deuce.
"Cutting me off? How juvenile." Eyes narrow. "You really shouldn't annoy the people whose favours you ask, Fuji Syusuuke. This game isn't over yet."
Unnamed Search Engine Online News, Tuesday, 27th July 2010
1 minute ago
Ryoma Echizen in Shock Straight-Set Loss at Tennis Masters
Japan's Ryoma Echizen crashed out of the Cincinnati Global Tennis Masters in a stunning fourth-round defeat to world no. 20 Jan Emmelmann of Holland. The teenage world no. 14 had his serve broken by Emmelmann in the first set, and went on to lose 4-6, 5-7 in his worst outing since the Australian Open semi-finals in January, where he lost to then world No. 6 Tezuka Kunimitsu 1-6, 1-6. Echizen was clearly not in his best form, making several strings of unforced errors and double-faulting twelve times in the second set. Emmelmann took full advantage of that to race to a 4-0 lead. Echizen then clawed his way back to take the next five games despite losing his serve, but subsequently lost the set 5-7.
Speculation was rife that the young world no. 14 has been devastated by the news that his close friend and mentor, world no. 6 Kunimitsu Tezuka, has been suspended for two weeks following his positive test for a banned substance. However, Echizen did not attend the post-match conference and his manager and mother, Rinko Echizen, offered only the explanation that her son had been feeling unwell just before the match, which might account for his poor form.
Emmelmann now faces eighth seed Jean-Bertrand Latois of France in the semi-finals. Latois was given a bye after world no. 6 Tezuka, who beat him in their fourth-round encounter on Saturday, was suspended.
Chubu Weekly, Tuesday, 27th July 2010, Quick Shorts Section
Tezuka's Supporters Rally
The Seishun Gakuen Tennis (International) Fanclub and Tezuka Kunimitsu Supporters Club launched an online campaign early yesterday evening in support of the beleaguered world No. 6, just hours after the news about his suspension following investigations into possible substance abuse broke. A joint online petition was set up and can be found at www.wesupportezukakunimitsuforever.web/petition. According to Hoshimura Miyuki, the President of the Tezuka Kunimitsu Supporters Club (TKSC), a public campaign will begin over the next few days to drum up support for Tezuka, and to urge the AMTP to fully investigate what the TKSC believes to be flawed procedures in drug-testing tests carried out by the AMTP. The Kaidoh Kaoru Supporters Club and the Echizen Ryoma Fanclub have already pledged the support of their organisations. Fanclubs of the other international Japanese players such as Ibu Shinji, Yukimura Seiichi, Sanada Genichirou and Kirihara Akaya, are also expected to lend their support.
Asahi Shimbun, Tuesday, 27th July 2010, Quick Eye on Sports Section - Tennis
Yukimura and Sanada to Meet in Tennis Masters Quarter-Finals
World no. 8 Yukimura Seiichi made it through to the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Global Tennis Masters, beating twelfth-seeded Carlos Miguel Martinez of Mexico in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0 in less than forty minutes in their match on Monday afternoon, just as compatriot and world no. 14 Echizen Ryoma was suffering a shock defeat less than three courts away. Yukimura faces fellow countryman and world No. 10 Sanada Genichirou in an all-Japan quarter-final clash, which will take place tonight, Tokyo time. Sanada defeated ninth-seeded Chilean Ricardo Vergara, 6-3, 7-6, 6-4 in their fourth-round match on Sunday. It will be the fourth meeting between Yukimura and Sanada in three years. Yukimura holds a 3-0 advantage in their meetings.
Yomiuri Shimbun, Wednesday, 28 July 2010, Front Page Headlines
Show of Solidarity from Japanese Players at Tezuka Kunimitsu Press Conference
Tennis world No. 6 Tezuka Kunimitsu held a press conference on Tuesday morning in Cincinnati, USA, in response to the recent confirmation by the Association of World Men's Tennis Professionals (AMTP) that he is the subject of a drugs probe. The charismatic world No. 6 looked calm and confident as he declared his innocence in front of over a hundred and fifty reporters and camera crew from around the world.
"I did not, nor have I ever taken banned substances of any kind, to the best of my knowledge," he said in fluent English. "I do not believe the AMTP will find me guilty. I have every confidence in my trainers and my management team. We will co-operate fully with the AMTP."
In answer to questions posed by reporters, he stated that his management had already hired a legal team to look into his situation, but stressed that it was to protect his rights rather than an indication of his probable guilt, or any attempt to stall the AMTP investigation. "The AMTP is merely doing its job," Tezuka said. "Any attempt to prevent it from carrying out its duties would be wrong."
Although the world no. 2 made a clear show of refusing to appear on the opposite side of the AMTP, his repeated denials made it obvious that he would fight any decision that would result in a ban on him.
"I did not take any banned substances. I believe in sportsmanship, and a true sportsman does not cheat, lie or falsely gain advantage over competitors by using performance-enhancing stimulants."
The world no. 6 publicly thanked his fans for their support and asked them to remain calm. Asked if his fellow countrymen on the circuit had given their support, he would only say that it was a private matter, and referred the questions back to the players' respective managements. It was clear, however, that he had the support of all the Japanese players on he international circuit. In an astonishing display of solidarity and confidence in the world No. 6, all the Japanese players on the tour flanked Tezuka at the press conference.
Tezuka stands to lose much if the AMTP panel finds him guilty. Apart from a long ban, his contract of endorsement with sports apparel manufacturing giant Yonex, may be in jeopardy. Apart from that, as a role model and idol to millions of tennis fans across the globe, Tezuka will also have to answer to them.
Somewhere in Cincinnati, on Tuesday evening, 28 July 2010, Cincinnati time 19:00
Tezuka Kunimitsu had long learned that one had to go through life equipped with either an agile ducking ability, or else you learned to field, bat, catch and run fast enough to deal with those curve balls. You needed a dash of luck, of course. But you didn't go looking for it, and you didn't go expecting it to pop up when you were struck by a crazy curve ball. You worked hard at batting and fielding and the lot, because you could count on one hand all the times lady luck had decided to drop in on you. But sometimes... sometimes, perhaps because you've built up that much good karma in your last life, or maybe you really do have a guardian angel, or maybe some heavenly spirit was paying attention to you— lady luck does look in on you, bestow a couple of sparkles, and—
"Tezuka, Tezuka. I see you've been busy in my absence."
Tezuka Kunimitsu paused in the doorway, eyeing the apparition lounging gracefully on the sofa in the room, ensconced comfortably among several plump, velvet-covered, heavily embroidered cushions. He also noted many other new additions to the room: three maidservants in neat black uniforms and frilly white caps and aprons standing to one side, six dark-suited men in dark glasses standing at various points around the room, one tall, elderly-looking manservant in the garb of an English butler—and an ubiquitous tall, hulking form of one Kabaji Munehiro.
Tezuka's gaze shifted back to the man on the sofa.
"Atobe."
Atobe Keigo always possessed a room the moment he stepped into it—or he did his best to, in any case. It made no difference whose room it happened to be, and Tezuka Kunimitsu's temporary abode was just the latest in a long list.
"Tezuka." Atobe made no move to get up from the sofa.
"How did you get in?" Privacy was one of the clauses in the very brief sub-lease of the apartment Tezuka and the others had rented for the duration of the Cincinnati tournament. A breach led to forfeiture of the entire amount of rent without concession of the legal right to damages, which was quite considerable package to lose in all.
Atobe's smile did not change. It was cool, a little contemplative, definitely smug, and completely at ease. "All doors open for the Atobe name."
"This door was specifically barred to anyone regardless of name."
Atobe's smile widened. "As I'm here, it would appear that you're wrong. Ne, Kabaji?"
"Usu."
The silence that fell then was not particularly uncomfortable. Atobe and Tezuka simply looked at each other, neither moving a muscle. It was Atobe who unbent first, and this he managed to do without appearing to have backed down from the staring competition. He folded his hands, the smile slowly vanishing off his handsome, arrogant face, and suddenly, Tezuka was no longer facing the imperious new ruler of the Atobe business empire, but a stern-faced young man— the real Atobe Keigo that lurked behind the overweening ego, flamboyant gestures and fancy purple ruffled shirts.
"Tezuka."
Tezuka could have sworn that Atobe was looking at him with concern.
"I've come to take you home."