.~A Picture is Worth

A

Thousand Words~

Summary: Kagome had looked everywhere for that one place, a peaceful spot...somewhere that she'd be able to just let go of everything she was forced to be. Free to be herself, and not the person everyone wanted her to be. This beautiful, flawless girl...this was the picture Fuji, Shuusuke, had accidentally taken. The girl in which he'd accidentally fallen in love with... now, if only he could find her again.

Anime/Manga: InuYasha/Prince of Tennis

Pairing: Kagome/Shuusuke

Genre: Romance/Humor

Rated: M for Mature Content

-x-x-x-

Shuusuke had been dodging questions concerning his jacket since it's disappearance, with much success. Though recently, their coach had been pressuring him to buy a replacement, he didn't. Simply put, he didn't want another jacket. He had one already; it was just...not with him at the moment.

A flutter to his left caught his eyes, and he pulled his camera from his bag, smiling, he turned the camera at an angle, and the sound of the shutter danced on the breeze. He looked down at the screen and pressed a button, looking at the photo he'd just taken, he zoomed in on the bird that had found refuge in a nearby branch. Pressing back once, twice, three times... he stopped on a photo from a couple of weeks ago.

In an interlaced canopy of branches, a forest fairy lay asleep under the watchful gaze of the moon. A shy breeze was barely whispering at her long black hair; she was beautiful. He had taken this picture on accident. Not even sure when he'd lifted the camera, or when he'd pressed the capture button. The shutter had barely stolen his attention.

That he shrugged off his jacket and covered her, he'd been so close to her. Brushing the black tendrils from her cheek, grazing his thumb along her chin. He had to force his hand away, and then somehow managed to remind himself how to walk. Yeah, walking back down the path he'd been on while out taking pictures, he couldn't think of anything but the girl he'd left behind in the clearing.

He'd gone back to that same place a few days later, but no one was there. This happened two more times before he figured that he'd scared her away. So, when Horio gave him a water bottle from 'the girl wearing his jacket,' he'd been ecstatic. Then going to watch Hyotei's match had been an excuse, not that anyone needed to know this. He just wanted to see her again. See her, he did. She was wearing his jacket, as oversized on her much smaller form as it was, she looked amazing still. Where was this schoolboy crush coming from!? Oh, and then Atobe walked over and started messing with her hair. So... there was that.

'I wasn't aware that Atobe-San was in a relationship. It seems like something he'd have painted on the side of a blimp or announced over a radio station. Maybe they aren't dating; they could be good friends.'

"Fuji-San,"

"Hmn?" His eyes traveled away from the bird, taking in the familiar King, he smiled, "Saa~."

-x-x-x-

"Oh, look, my Houdini of a daughter is actually at home."

Smiling, Kagome lifted her chin, "I thought I'd surprise you."

"How gracious," Rai sighed, taking a seat on the couch next to her daughter. She let her head fall against her shoulder and smiled, "stay home for a bit. I know you feel anxious, but..."

"..."

Glancing out the corner of her eyes, Kagome took in her mothers' form. She was thinner. More than before. It wasn't like Souta being hospitalized hadn't affected her. She'd broken down for weeks. It had been Atobe-San who'd been able to pull her out of that darkness. The wedding had already been planned well before the incident. Even though her stepfather had offered to postpone the wedding, her mother had wanted, no... needed the wedding. It was a distraction. Though she'd cried a lot the day before, it had indeed been a happy day for her mother. Even if it only lasted as long as the ceremony. After discussing it with her mom, any plans for a honeymoon would be held off until Souta woke up and was healthy and happy.

It would take time, but that was fine. So long as he woke up...he could take his time.

"Oh, you know, I think your brother went out to practice at the street courts, think you could go get him?"

'Street courts? There are a couple of those...' grabbing her phone from the table, she texted her brother, asking where he was. Pulling her shoes on while waiting, it was taking a while for a reply. "I wonder if one of them know..." scrolling through her phone's contacts, she pressed on one of the names, listening as it rang, she gave a soft sigh when it went to voicemail.

Not even a few seconds later, her phone rang, and she answered, "Moshi mosh~?"

"Atobe-Chan, you called?"

"Mn, I was trying to find nii-san. I was told he was at a street court, but there are a few."

"Oh, I'll send you the address."

"Thank you,"

-x-x-x-

(One Hour Later)

Kagome stopped in front of several street courts. Her eyes scanning the tennis players, she looked for her brother but found a different face out among the crowds. "Oshitari-San!" The prodigy turned and raised a hand to her as she made her way over. "Is Keigo-nii somewhere around here?"

"Actually," he pointed past her, "he's playing with Fuji-San."

"F-Fuji-San?" Her eyes zeroed in on the match just a bit further from where she stood. A flush found her cheeks, and she desperately shook her head. "No way." Her hands tightened at the cuffs of the sleeves that hung over her fingertips.

"Are you worried he'll embarrass you?"

"Saying it like he hasn't already..." scoffing, she crossed her arms and turned away, hiding her face from the boy with blue hair. "I should just give Fuji-San back his jacket."

"This match has nothing to do with Fuji-san's jacket or the fact that you continue wearing it despite having chances to give it back to him. He ran into him on the way here, and they just migrated to a court naturally."

'There's nothing natural about that.' Watching her brother return a service ball, Kagome sat down and relaxed back against bench she'd settled on. Fiddling with the jacket, she felt herself ease into the match. The sun was beginning to set, and it looked as though they were only halfway through the game.

"That's enough."

'Enough?'

Keigo chuckled, pointing his racket across the way, "I will never accept you if you can't beat me."

Kagome kicked a stone lightly in front of her, "hey." The two boys turned to meet her eyes; both seemed surprised to find her there. "You're saying something arrogant again."

Bringing his hand to his face, he grinned, "Ore-sama has to protect his Imouta, no matter what."

"Imouta..." Fuji smiled, "saa~ I guess I had nothing to worry about after all."

In the dusk of the evening, a fire burned behind her brother and Fuji. When their eyes met, and Fuji raised his racket so that it pointed straight at Keigo's, it was like a declaration of war. When Fuji opened his eyes for the first time, everything seemed to stand still.

"It doesn't matter if it's on the court or not, I won't lose to you, Atobe-San. If defeating you is all that I need to do, then I'll do whatever is necessary."

'What are they going on about?!' She wanted to ask, but they were so into the other, she doubted that she could grab their attention.

Fuji turned his racket and pointed it straight at her, "until then, I wouldn't mind getting to know the fair Atobe-Chan."

"...wait..." she blinked, 'they were talking about me!?'

-x-x-x-

Me: Here is chapter six. Let me know what you all think~