© Gold

Title: Beyond: A Tribute

Author: Gold

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis is created by Konomi Takeshi. This work is a piece of fanfiction and no part of it is attributed to Konomi-san or any other entity holding any legal right associated with and arising out of Prince of Tennis . It was written purely out of fanservice and it is not to be used for profit or any false association with Konomi-san or aforesaid entities.

Author's Ramblings: If you're still keeping up with this story, my very grateful thanks to you, for continuing to read this. My thanks also to those of you who left reviews. =)

I wasn't able to reply via the Private Message System to tenipuri4ever who sent in the one-hundredth review… so… thank you very much, tenipuri4ever, for noticing and marking it!

Part Nine: The Inconvenient Truth Part 3

In Cincinnati, Kabaji Munehiro solemnly handed out thick, well-bound volumes to Tezuka, Yukimura and Sanada.

In Atobe Keigo's 'summer cottage' in Karuizawa, Oshitari Yuushi laconically indicated the sideboard nearby, where a stack of identical thick, well-bound volumes sat waiting. "Help yourselves."

To the accompaniment of rustling pages and furrowed brows, Atobe began his speech.

"Some time ago, as part of business expansion plans, I decided to set up a management company with the purpose of managing sports professionals. Naturally, certain enquiries regarding our likely competitors were necessary so that I could assess the situation and refine my business plans accordingly. In the course of my market research, it came to my attention that there were some unusual circumstances involving the employees of a particular management agency." Atobe paused dramatically.

Inui Sadaharu murmured, "And of course the management agency we're all talking just so happens to be the one managing Tezuka and the others."

Atobe ignored Inui. "As you can see, I have arranged for these… incidents… to be documented in detail in a preliminary report. I had originally intended to return to Tokyo, but the conclusions in this report convinced me otherwise. Too much time would be wasted travelling."

"Ah." Inui looked enlightened. "I remember now. When Oshitari-san rang me early this morning, he did mention that you were planning to return to Tokyo, together with Tezuka. It had slipped my mind."

"Hrm," muttered Tachibana Kippei, poring over his copy of the preliminary report. His brows met in a deep, displeased 'V' over his nose. "Hrrrrrm."

Yanagi Renji thumbed rapidly through his copy of the preliminary report. "Inflation of expenses, the attributing of items of expenditure to services that had never been acquired in the first place, salaries paid to phantom employees, forged invoices, unauthorised withdrawal of funds—"

"Fraud," said Fuji Syuusuke, without smiling.

"Although everything points that way, I would prefer to leave the business of defining that to the lawyers, and you would be wise to do so as well," Atobe said, sounding nettled. "Now, if you will all allow me to finish…?"

"Go on, Atobe," Oshitari said soothingly. "We won't say another word."

Atobe, still looking faintly put out, continued. "In order to understand how this happened, I will first explain to you the current system that is in place.

"Every year, the management agency presents an annual estimated budget to each of the players. The budget estimates expenses for each player for the fiscal year, which runs parallel to the tennis events calendar. Items within the budget include the agreed management fee for that particular year, and the salaries and fees for the managers, the coaches, nutritionists, publicists, legal counsel, translators, psychologists, the medical team, and administrative staff. The budget also includes estimated expenses for items such as administrative arrangements, transportation, accommodation, sports supplies, possible emergencies and other items.

"The management has the responsibility of drawing up the budget and taking each player through the details of his budget. Each player finances his respective budget and pays the required sum to the management, which puts the money into a trust account and manages it for the player. The management draws out the money every time expenses are incurred. Players are presented with invoices, other types of billings, receipts and bank statements as proof of the expenses.

"If at any time during the fiscal year, it so happens that there is insufficient money in the trust account to meet the expenses, the management agency then draws up a fresh proposal for the extra expenditure and approaches the players to fund the increment."

Yanagi tapped his copy of the preliminary report disapprovingly. "Seiichi, Genichirou, why didn't you tell me about this earlier? If this is the system that you have had in place all along, then I can think of several dozen different ways to fleece money from you. It's not terribly difficult."

"Don't worry, Renji," Yukimura said, very pleasantly. "When I've switched careers to embezzling, I'll definitely make you my partner."

Tachibana was still frowning. "Atobe, how did you get all this…?"

"My investigators located an invaluable informant, who provided us with a great deal of useful information. From there, it was simply a matter of detailed investigation." Atobe snapped his fingers. "Kabaji."

"Usu."

Kabaji adjusted the position of one of the laptops so that it faced Tezuka, Yukimura and Sanada. Several photographs immediately came into view on the laptop; simultaneously, in Karuizawa, the same photographs appeared on the giant LCD screen.

"These faces ought to be very familiar to three of you." Atobe indicated the first photograph with a flick of his fingers. "This is Sasabe Toshio, who is part of the medical team from the NTAJ."

Yukimura's mouth thinned into a straight line.

The expression in Tezuka's eyes grew sharp.

Sanada's face turned black.

"This is Nishimura Yuji, the managing director of the management agency; Abe Daiki, who manages Tezuka and Kirihara Akaya; Yamagata Kouhei, who manages Sanada and Ibu Shinji; Hashimoto Toru, who manages Kaidoh Kaoru; Terai Hideki, who manages Yukimura and Echizen Ryoma; Kobayashi Masame and Gorou Saori, respectively the head and vice-head of the administrative team that makes the arrangements for all the players; Shibata Nadeshiko, head of human capital; and Noguchi Takaaki, the head of the finance department. I won't bother to name the rest; I'm certain that you recognise some other very familiar names and faces amongst these photographs."

There was a dead silence, followed by Yukimura's voice cutting through it, a veritable blade of cold fury.

"Finish your story, Atobe."

"The earliest incident that the investigators have managed to uncover appears to date back to nearly one and a half years ago," Atobe informed them. "It appears that Nishimura Yuji submitted a false declaration that inflated his expenses for travelling and accommodation by twenty-five percent. The additional expense was because he had brought his mistress with him to the Australian Open tournament—and apparently this mistress has very expensive tastes. Naturally, this was never part of the budget, so he had to find a way of including it—and you can see he did it quite adroitly."

"It would never have been approved in any budget," Tachibana growled in disgust.

"How does this Sasabe Toshio come into this…?" asked Inui curiously. "He's a part of the medical team, whereas the rest of these people are from the management agency itself."

Atobe's upper lip curled contemptuously. "He was appointed by the management agency as one of their authorised signatories for the trust accounts. His older brother, Sasabe Tenzo, is the other director of the management agency and its sole shareholder. Nearly all the withdrawals from the trust accounts were signed off by Sasabe Toshio and countersigned by Nishimura. Furthermore, only Nishimura was required to approve the requests for the withdrawals before the actual sums were drawn from the trust accounts and paid to the purported vendors of the services, or reimbursed to the management company, for the alleged expenses."

Yukimura, in a rare display of anger, slammed shut his copy of the preliminary report. "I've seen and heard enough, Atobe."

Yanagi cast a glance at Yukimura. "I'm sure this will be over soon, Seiichi. Just a few minutes more. – Atobe, who is this informant of yours?"

The photograph of a woman in her early thirties flashed into view.

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," Oshitari sighed. "Even the meek-looking ones."

"Your assessment is quite accurate, Yuushi." Atobe didn't bother to hide a smirk. "Her name is Suzuki Ryoko. She was, until a few months ago, Nishimura's mistress. I will spare you the sordid details. Suffice to say that she proved to have some pieces of very interesting documentary evidence, which yielded plenty of leads."

Fuji looked thoughtful. "You are certain that she is reliable?"

Atobe smiled in a superior manner. "If it comes to the crunch, I do not need her as a witness. She was merely a springboard to greater things, allowing us to unearth what we were looking for. She did not hold the key, but she knew where the keys were kept."

Yanagi nodded with approval. "Good. Women are emotional creatures—she may very well turn around and decide that her former lover is more important than any injured feelings she may have."

Atobe waved a hand dismissively. "There are many other instances that can be pinned on the perpetrators involved, without our having to rely on this woman's word alone. And even if she were to inform Nishimura about this, there is no fear of our being unable to press forward, or to uncover the truth." He looked at Tezuka, Sanada and Yukimura. "If all of you turn over copies of your bank statements, the past budgets and all other documents given to you by the management, I believe a team of lawyers and auditors would be able to put together a very interesting little folder for us." Atobe gestured towards their copies of the preliminary report. "I would also like your personal evidence to corroborate what is in there."

Inui looked up from his copy of the report, his glasses glinting. "Sasabe Toshio. Sasabe Tenzo. I was wondering why these two names sounded so familiar. Now, if I recall correctly, Sasabe Tenzo is the treasurer of the National Tennis Association of Japan. I wonder…?"

Yanagi said musingly, "Indeed…"

Sanada Genichirou clenched his fists. "Sasabe Toshio's work is highly dissatisfactory. He is extremely lazy and impudent. We insisted that he be removed."

Atobe arched an eyebrow. "You are aware, are you not, that he is still named as part of the medical team—and that not only do you continue to pay for his dissatisfactory services, but that he is also an authorised signatory of the management company."

Sanada's voice was flinty. "We were told by the management – and a lawyer – that his contract could only be terminated after two years. We had no choice. We also have no control over who the management company appoints as its authorised signatory. We had no idea about this."

Tezuka cleared his throat. "The mandatory two-year period in Sasabe Toshio-san's contract will be over at the end of this year. As he was strongly recommended by the NTAJ, we have prepared a joint letter to the NTAJ to explain why we do not wish to renew his contract."

"That reminds me," said Yukimura abruptly. "There is an NTAJ representative whom we see quite often on the tour. I don't remember his name, but he seems to work harder than the last two we had." He glanced at Sanada and Tezuka. "He asked me a great deal of questions about our typical routine and the work scope of the coaches, nutritionists, the medical team and the management. He seemed particularly interested in Sasabe Toshio and Nishimura Yuji."

"His name is Ito Matsuki," Tezuka said almost immediately. "I have spoken to him once or twice. He asked me the same questions."

Yukimura looked at Sanada. "Genichirou?"

Sanada nodded his head very simply.

"Interesting," murmured Oshitari. "Was the NTAJ representative conducting what amounts to a quality check…?"

Tachibana shifted in his seat. "Be that as it may, I believe that it is best for us to take a step back and look at the big picture. We have a great number of issues here.

"First, I think that we should concentrate, as our top priority, on Tezuka's matter. It's the most immediate issue here and we really need to do something about it. That's why we're all here in the first place.

"Second, we have to hold a press conference shortly. The press is out there; they're waiting for a response. Even if you did put out those holding statements, Atobe, the fact is that there has been no further information going out from our side. I'm only afraid that this delay would harm Tezuka further."

"Third, I believe it is clear that there may be a pattern of JTX use within our team. I would support doing testing for the other players, so that we can find out for certain and decide on our next step.

"Lastly, about this matter of fraud—as players, you all rely on your management team to watch your back, not to cheat you. I agree with Atobe that we should obtain all the documents that the management has provided over the last few years and then work things out with the lawyers and auditors. We have to start right away, because I think these things take a long time to sort out. This preliminary report was not achieved in a single day, or even a single week. I think it must have taken months.

"If there are any other issues, I think we should put them aside for the moment. I feel that we should try and do something about these four issues first. I think that our problem is that we have to tackle them all at the same time. We can't afford to look at them one by one. We haven't got enough time for that."

There were a number of approving nods by the time Tachibana had finished speaking.

"Our team," echoed Fuji, doodling nonsense figures with his index finger on the polished surface of the table.

Tachibana nodded. "Our team now. We're all in on this—isn't that why we signed up in the first place?"

"Hear, hear," Fuji said cheerfully.

"Kizuna," murmured Inui wisely, but nobody seemed to have heard him.

"Speaking of press conferences," remarked Yukimura, "I don't recall consenting to my name being put down at the end of that press statement. Wasn't I unconscious?"

Yanagi gave him an amused look. "Seiichi, you're not going to back out like that, are you?"

Yukimura's eyes flashed. "No." His tone implied that he would throttle anyone who did the same.

"We are all agreed, then. Excellent." Atobe looked deeply satisfied. "There's no time like the present."

"For…?" queried Fuji, looking interested.

"The next steps," Atobe replied coolly. "We are going to deal with all these issues simultaneously." His gaze blazed as it swept around the hospital suite and landed on Tezuka, Yukimura and Sanada. "Get the players together. I want all the contracts you have with the management agency and every one of the coaches, nutritionists, medical team and all personnel. I want every proof of expenditure produced by the management agency, every letter, every email, every bank account statement, every proof of your payment into the trust account or the management agency, every budget proposal – everything. Originals, if you please. I don't care how long it takes you eventually, but I want to see some results within the next four hours, by seven a.m. I have a team of lawyers and auditors arriving by then; they will look through the documents. We will prove fraud and breach of contract — that's how I'm going to get you out of your management contracts."

Yanagi murmured, "So that's how it was going to go."

"Indeed." Atobe didn't miss a beat. "Tezuka, I've scheduled a meeting for you at eight tomorrow morning with lawyers. I've already briefed them. Be prepared to discuss the legal options," Atobe told him. "The ATMP is likely to announce some sort of hearing panel very soon, probably tomorrow morning. Yukimura and Sanada, you two are to sit in on the lawyers' meeting as well.

"I shall schedule the press conference for a quarter to eight, Cincinnati time, tomorrow evening. That brings us within the twenty-four hour deadline I set. It also coincides with the morning news hour in Tokyo. In the meantime, there will be a media blitz here, in the United States and Europe, with a parallel campaign in Japan. You need not worry about that; it's already on-going as I speak. I have also arranged for meetings with the lawyers and media consultants to hear their advice on how we should handle the press conference, and I expect every one of you to attend these meetings. You will be informed of the schedule of meetings very shortly." Atobe paused for a moment. "Yuushi, how many people have you…?"

"Enough to start a small riot," Oshitari replied pleasantly. "About thirty, perhaps…?"

Atobe had a speculative expression on his face. "Hn." He narrowed his eyes, looking hard at the five people sitting in the room in Karuizawa. "Brief them—I'll run through with you how much we should tell them. I'll let you know what I want from them later—and I leave it to you how you'll arrange it. Tachibana—I want you to work with Yuushi. Both of you will take charge and co-ordinate matters between yourselves in Japan and ourselves here in the U.S. Tachibana, Yuushi will explain things to you."

Tachibana gave a short, sharp nod of his head. Oshitari looked distinctly pleased; he preferred not to be the only one responsible for herding people around like sheep.

"What about the people behind JTX…?" Fuji asked.

Atobe's mouth curved into a grim smile. "Leave that to ore-sama."

Yukimura sank back wearily against his pillows. "It seems," he observed, "that a lot depends on what happens next."

The room fell silent. There was just so much, they knew, resting on how fast they could move, and whether events unfolding in the next several hours would be to their advantage—or not.

Atobe it was who broke the silence with his characteristic drawl: "Follow ore-sama and you won't go wrong."

Tachibana took a deep breath. "Well, let's do our best," he said firmly.

"Let us not be careless," Tezuka reminded them all.

Yukimura's voice was soft, but steely. "We will not let them destroy our dreams."

Sanada, tight-lipped and grim-faced, did not say anything. Instead, he stepped forward and raised an arm, with a clenched fist.

The response that this simple gesture garnered was instantaneous.

Yukimura sat up immediately, his eyes very bright. Tezuka and Atobe rose, almost as one, to their feet. Kabaji moved forward, just a little. Chairs were pushed back eagerly as Oshitari, Inui, Yanagi, Tachibana and Fuji stood up with more speed and haste than care; indeed, a couple of chairs even toppled over.

One by one, they raised their arms, their fists clenched so tightly that the whites of their knuckles showed.

Yukimura Seiichi.

Yanagi Renji.

Tezuka Kunimitsu.

Tachibana Kippei.

Atobe Keigo.

Kabaji Munehiro.

Oshitari Yuushi.

Fuji Syuusuke.

Inui Sadaharu.

It was as if someone had opened a skylight, and let in sunshine and the spirit of summer. A fresh, cool wind seemed to sweep through, and the air felt sweeter and clearer. They held their heads up a little higher, stood a little straighter, breathed a little easier and squared their shoulders just that bit more.

So what, if time was running against them?

So what, if everything depended on the next several hours?

So what, if nearly everything was not within their control?

They were ready, as never before, to fight the good fight.

This is our team.

Notes:

1. In Part 3, An Epoch In Yanagi Renji's Life, Inui states in his excerpted diary entry that he heard from Oshitari that Atobe and Tezuka were going to fly back to Tokyo that day (or night, depending on the timezone you're thinking of).

2. In Part 8, The Wheels Begin To Turn, Nishimura Yuji is mentioned by Ito Matsuki as "Nishimura", who hangs out a lot with Sasabe Tenzo's brother.

3. This is July 2010. One and a half years back is January 2009 -- the time of the Australian Open.