Title: Variable Geometry (4/?)

Author name: Leo Dormiens

Author email: leodormiens2000@yahoo.com

Category: Drama

Warning: Non-explicit Shonen Ai

Rating: PG-13

Summary: A love triangle... No wait! It's a love square.

DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Takeshi Konomi. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author notes: Abinikai, Jennifer M and Flore, many thanks for your kind and valuable advice. And I very much appreciate all the wonderful reviews.

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Ryoma saw himself as uncomplicated and straightforward. When he had something to say, he said it bluntly. When he had nothing to say, he just kept his mouth shut. The world would be so much simpler if other people were like that. But no, heaven only knew why, they liked to play dirty little games.

He had to talk to Kaidoh, because he hated loose ends. True, usually he didn't give a damn what people thought of him, but in this particular case, his growing suspicions were troubling his sleep. Not much, but still. When he'd come across the trivial-though appallingly accurate-information his senpai kept on him, Ryoma had dismissed it as a pathetic attempt to dig out his weak points. If it was anything else, he had the right to know.

Have a word with Kaidoh. Easier said than done. For a social misfit, the second-year was surprisingly difficult to corner alone. During club practice, Inui attached himself to Kaidoh like a leech, only leaving his protégé's side long enough to torture Ryoma. At the end of the day, having given up all hope of making the encounter look like an accident, Ryoma loitered at the school gates. When he spotted Kaidoh, he walked over to him with the new and improved version of his innocent smile.

"Kaidoh-senpai, do you have a minute? I wan."

"No." Kaidoh pushed past him and hurried away without a backward glance.

Ryoma stared after him, flabbergasted. He could not believe he'd just been literally brushed aside. "You prick," he muttered, "if you think you can get away from it."

"What the hell do you want with Kaidoh-senpai?" complained Horio, who had witnessed the failed conversation. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Ryoma ignored him and headed home.

The next morning he tried again, determined to make himself heard.

As he saw Kaidoh striding past him in a corridor, he planted himself in front of him. "Kaidoh-senpai, I told you yesterday, we need to talk."

"No, we don't. Get out of my way," hissed Kaidoh, with a glare that made the surrounding students take flight.

This time Ryoma was prepared. He remained unruffled. "If you don't have time right now, please tell me when. Any time today would be nice."

Kaidoh clenched his fingers in Ryoma's shirt and shoved the boy back against the wall. "Leave me alone," he spat over his shoulder.

"Are you alright, Ryoma-kun?" asked one of his classmates, her voice full of concern.

"Yeah," he said absently, already plotting ahead.

The third attempt almost succeeded. It was the same day, during tennis practice. Ryuzaki-sensei ordered them to pair up for the next exercise, and Ryoma took advantage of one of Inui's rare momentary lapse of attention to approach Kaidoh. The elusive prick was busy tying up his bandana - purple this time. Ryoma noticed because the color clashed horribly with Kaidoh's face when it went all red with anger.

"Just what part of 'leave me alone' don't you understand, you snotty little brat?"

"All I want is a word with you; don't get in such a state over it."

"Buzz off," Kaidoh enunciated carefully before turning away. He froze in mid-step as he heard the captain call his name.

"Kaidoh," repeated Tezuka, "when a junior requires your help, you shouldn't turn your back on him."

Ryoma had to bite his lower lip to keep from laughing. This was just priceless. Yet Tezuka's comment seemed full of hidden meaning, and for a second Ryoma wondered just how many dirty little secrets were kept behind his back.

"Will you please pair up with me, Kaidoh-senpai?" he asked, eyeing Tezuka and Kaidoh successively, trying to catch their game.

"You don't need a partner, Echizen," intervened Momoshiro, "you have me." To prove his point, he put a possessive arm around Ryoma.

Kaidoh released a long, hissing breath and got away, while Tezuka and Momoshiro stared at each other. Ryoma would give his best racket to know what was going on.

"Ne, Captain!" called Fuji, breaking the spell. "I need you here."

"So, let's practice," said a cheerful Momoshiro as Tezuka retreated.

Ryoma shrugged Momoshiro's arm away and flashed him an intense glare. "Momo- senpai, do me favor. Go swallow a tennis ball and choke yourself on it." He regretted those words as soon as he saw the hurt they caused, but he was too angry to take them back.

"Losing your cool, Echizen?" taunted Inui. "How unusual."

Ryoma observed the third-year conjure his data notebook out of thin air and scribble in it. He was sure Inui noticed the weird thing between Momo, Tezuka and Kaidoh. A shame he wasn't currently in good terms with Seigaku's best detective; he badly needed help in this muddle.

But first things first. Ryoma had to corner Kaidoh as soon as possible and sort things out with him.

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On Thursday, Seishun Gakuen hosted a volleyball tournament. The gymnasium was requisitioned all afternoon, resulting in the cancellation of the tennis club practice. Ryoma itched to play, and he thought about hitting the street tennis courts to get some action. All he had to do was convince Momoshiro to go, but the second-year had not spoken to him in two days. He went to look for his senpai at the end of his last class, and said the closest he would come to an apology.

"Eh, Momo-senpai, let's grab some burgers. My treat this time. Afterwards we can go find Ann Tachibana and persuade her to choose you over Kamio."

Momoshiro ignored the jibe. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice full of resentment. "You don't want me dead anymore?"

Ryoma stomped hard on his sudden urge to insist and shrugged, feigning indifference. "Never thought you could turn down free food," he remarked as nonchalantly as he could.

"Who said I'm not coming?"

"That's more like it. Ouch!" Ryoma's huge grin transformed into a grimace when Momoshiro caught him in a death grip and savagely ruffled his hair. "That hurts, stop it!"

"You don't deserve my company, but since I'm starving."

"Let's go right now," Ryoma said, pulling out of his grasp, "or we won't have much time to play afterwards."

He was heading for the school exit when he spotted Kaidoh slipping inside the library and stopped abruptly, causing Momoshiro to bump into him.

"What's wrong, Echizen? Don't tell me you changed your mind."

"No senpai, it's just." He had to find something convincing. "I forgot my wallet in the library. Since I'm supposed to pay for once, I'd better get it back."

"Fine, I'll go with you."

"Hum, the McDonalds near the station must be crowded by this time. Go ahead and get in the line; I'll join you before you reach the counter. See you there." He bolted towards the library building.

"If it's a trick, I'll have your head!" Momoshiro shouted behind him.

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Ryoma found Kaidoh sitting alone at a large table in the language section. He briefly inspected the other tables and stifled a snicker. All of them were overcrowded. A few students even had to sit on the ground. Quite obviously, Kaidoh had put on his snake-like scary act, insuring no one dared to come near him.

Careful not to make any noise, Ryoma drew the chair opposite to the second- year and settled himself in it. Kaidoh, in school uniform and sans bandana, looked a lot less rebellious. He was taking notes from an English manual. Ryoma briefly wondered if he should offer his help. Nah, Kaidoh was too proud to accept any assistance from a junior. Anyway, he seemed to be doing well on his own.

"Go sit somewhere else," hissed Kaidoh, not taking his eyes from his work.

"Sorry to disturb you, Senpai, all the other tables are full."

They fell silent again, Kaidoh studying, Ryoma doing his best to get on his senpai's nerves. He knew from experience that it was rather troublesome to feel someone staring at you when you tried to concentrate. He consulted his watch to time Kaidoh's reaction to his teasing. One minute. Two minutes. Three. Four.

"You're not even reading or anything!" yelled Kaidoh, slamming his fist on the table. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Ryoma checked his watch - four minutes and twenty three seconds - and waited for the library clerks to flunk them out for disturbing the rest of the students. Nothing happened, though, not even a call to order, and it just proved that even the school staff was terrified of Kaidoh.

"I just want to talk," he sighed.

"We have nothing to say to each other."

Ryoma yawned. This was taking longer than expected, and Momoshiro would be mad at him again if he didn't join his friend soon. Kaidoh resumed his work, but Ryoma could see his resistance was wearing thin. After a few more minutes, his senpai stood up abruptly and stormed out, knocking down his chair in his haste. His books and papers were still scattered on the table, which meant a temporary retreat, probably to the restroom. It seemed the perfect time to attack.

Ryoma walked through the corridor, pushed the restroom door aside and went in. Inside, he first made sure they were alone. Four cubicles, only one occupied. Fine. He went to lean on the door, ensuring that no one could get in and that Kaidoh would have to deal with him to get out. Then it suddenly struck him; he had not plotted further than that. To his absolute horror, Ryoma found he had no idea what to say.

A flushing noise, then the only locked cubicle opened. Ryoma was faced with a murderous Kaidoh, and he wavered in his resolution. The situation had blown completely out of proportion. What he wanted to discuss wasn't such a big deal, after all, but Kaidoh looked ready to kill, and for the first time Ryoma felt threatened. He folded his arms on his chest, conscious that the gesture gave away his nervousness.

"Inui-senpai is after you," he drawled.

Kaidoh sent him a hard look that screamed 'so what' and turned on the tap to wash his hands. On the tennis court, his senpai always failed to hide his emotions, so Ryoma concluded that the lack of surprise was genuine. "You've known for a long time, haven't you?"

Kaidoh took his time answering. "Once he even went to collect my little brother at school to worm information out of him."

"Oh." said Ryoma, his mouth going dry. He had ventured into one hell of mess, and he suddenly wanted, more than anything, to be kept in blissful ignorance. However, the foolhardy, suicidal part of himself could not settle for that. "Is he in love with you?" Ryoma challenged.

Kaidoh was drying his hands with the towel, facing the wall, but Ryoma saw his neck turn red.

"How should I know? I'm not psychic. Just ask Inui-senpai."

Ryoma recognized the words he had himself used with Inui at the Meguro club. It was so like Kaidoh, to throw your own tricks back at you. Anger cleared his mind, and banished the last traces of panic. Now, down to business.

"Okay, then. Let's talk about what you know. Are you in love with me?"

Kaidoh gave out a strangled sound, and pivoted slowly, his face a mask of seething fury. "What do you take me for?" he roared.

Ryoma steeled himself, determined not to give any ground. "A 'yes or no' answer, please."

Kaidoh put his hands on either side of Ryoma's head. "Don't get such ideas into your fucking head!"

Ryoma was never easy to intimidate. Nevertheless, he huddled up a bit, unconsciously trying to regain some personal space. "The way you avoid giving a straight reply, I can't help it."

He saw the exact moment Kaidoh lost it, as something in his eyes seemed to snap.

"What's your problem, Echizen? You're itching for affection? You want people to take interest in you? Here, let me help you get all the attention you deserve."

Ryoma tried to get away, but he found himself held in a steely grip. Breathe, breathe, he urged himself, but somehow he had forgotten how to. He had come to deal with a snake, aware all along that it could strike him. Still, he was unable to react when it happened.

Kaidoh finally released him, pushing him away. Ryoma caught himself on the sink to keep his balance and raised his free hand to his throat, where he had been savagely bitten. "What. the fuck is that?" he stammered, rubbing the red mark.

"Gossip material," Kaidoh said before slamming the door shut behind him.

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It certainly worked, Ryoma had to concede at least that. The next morning, just before his first class began, Momoshiro rudely shook him out of his half-asleep state.

"Don't you dare mess with me, Echizen! Where were you yesterday? I waited for two hours!"

The meeting at McDonald's. After what had happened, it had gone right out of his mind. "Momo-senpai, don't be mad, I had a.something unexpected came up. See, we can go today if you want, to make up for it. Eh, why are you looking at me like that?"

Momoshiro was staring fixedly at his throat, his eyes like saucers. Ryoma couldn't help rubbing the blotch for the thousandth time, his jaw tightening. "Don't mind that," he said, "I fully intend to get even."

Momoshiro laughed at him. "To hear you talk, one would think you're referring to a battle scar!"

In a sense, that was exactly what it was.

"Frankly," continued Momoshiro, "you could just have told me you were.hum.in good company. I'll give you a few tips. Not that you need any, by the look of you."

"What do you mean by that?"

Ryoma's math teacher entered the classroom, and Momoshiro looked at his watch. "Your lesson's about to begin, which means that mine is too. I'd better go. Catch you later, Casanova!"

Casanova. Of all the ridiculous nicknames he had to endure. Sitting next to him, Horio snickered.

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By mid morning, all his classmates had noticed. It became difficult to ignore the sidelong glances and the giggles.

During the break, Horio held a conference on the corridor. "Of course I know who she is," he told the school grapevines, "it's Sakuno Ryuzaki! She's a first-year from another class. Echizen sometimes gives her private tennis lessons; that must be how it started between them."

At lunchtime, as he hurtled down the stairs to buy something to eat, a third-year patted him in the back. "Well done, man," he said in passing. Ryoma seriously considered skipping lunch to go get a band-aid to hide the mark, but he dismissed the idea. It wouldn't stop the rumors, quite the opposite. People would think he was ashamed and tongues would wag even more.

In the afternoon, they realized Sakuno wasn't involved because she was reported as terribly demoralized by the situation. It was now publicly rumored that he was dating Tomoka Osakada.

Then, during Ryoma's gym lesson, the ping-pong champion Ryoma had humiliated at his own game a few months ago came to provoke him with spiteful comments. "That's all you could find to make people talk about you?" he asked. "How utterly pathetic."

"You're just jealous, cause you don't get any!" retorted one of Ryoma's classmates, sticking out her tongue.

Ryoma wanted to strangle them both but saved his strength for the score he had to settle at tennis practice.

The only reason he didn't call in sick was Kaidoh. But the bastard was missing, so Ryoma endured the jeers of his teammates for nothing.

But the worst was still to come. At the end of practice, Tomoka sprung up out of nowhere and gave him a violent slap in the face, sending him rolling on the ground.

"This," she spat, "is for making my best friend cry. And this," she kicked him in the shin, "is for spreading stupid rumors about me. Honestly, Ryoma, if you want a date with me, just ask. Don't go behind my back, telling people that we're together." She tossed her hair and walked away like a princess.

Horio and Katsuo doubled up with laughter.

"She called you Ryoma, not Ryoma-sama," said Kachiro, nonplussed. "Just face it, you've fallen from grace."

The comment made his friends shed helpless tears of mirth.

Ryoma's hand tightened on the strap of his sport bag. Alright, Kaidoh, you won this game. Now watch me come back.

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That day, Inui did not concoct any special drink. He felt far too preoccupied to embark on hazardous activities. What a perfect fool he'd made of himself. He spent his entire life collecting data and interpreting them. He knew his teammates better than anyone else, including their own families. Doubts, hopes, sorrows. No detail, relevant or not, ever escaped his sharp attention. But hell, what was the point if he couldn't work out what took place right under his nose when it truly mattered.

Kaidoh had been absent since morning. Inui had tried several times to reach him on his mobile phone, without success. During lunch break, he brought himself to call the boy's parents. Kaidoh's mother, in a slightly hesitant voice, invoked a so-called family imperative. You could easily make out that she was lying. "Inui-kun, would you mind informing Ryuzaki-sensei that Kaoru won't attend tennis practice today?" she had requested. No problem, he could do that.

After talking to her on the phone, he became mad with worry. What was keeping Kaidoh away? Even with a raging fever, he never missed practice. Inui was just about to skip the rest of his classes to investigate the matter when the commotion about Echizen's prominent love bite reached his ears, and it suddenly clicked.

Illness could not keep Kaidoh away. But that.

Thousands of nightmare scenarios played in his mind. He had to dispel them to regain his composure. He didn't care how it happened. Likewise, it was better not to dwell on why he had not seen it coming; there would be plenty of time later for self-analysis. The top priority was damage control.

Anyway, in most cases - 72 percent exactly - working under pressure made Inui sharper. True enough, a particularly devious counter-attack slowly dawned in his head.

No time to waste. He made a beeline for the school cafeteria to purchase a box of tissues, and then went straight to a dusty closet on the third floor, from which emanated muffled sobs. He pushed the door open, and as his eyes accustomed to the dark, he could make out Sakuno, huddled up in a corner, crying her heart out.

"Inui-senpai, don't look at me," she whined, burying her blotchy face in her hands.

"Here," he said, handing her the tissues. He watched her wipe her face, and slid down on the floor next to her. "Stop crying, little one, I'm here to help you. We'll make your problems disappear."

"But you don't even know." she stammered.

"Oh, believe me, I do," he said softly, taking her tiny hand in his. "Do you trust me?"

She gave a timid nod.

"Good. Then come with me. First, let's talk to your grandmother, to warn her that you'll be coming home late tonight. After that, you and me are going to have a very long conversation," he explained, leading the sniffling girl out of the small closet.

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End of Chapter Four

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Okay, what do you think? I know you're all thinking something (hopefully it's not just how much you hate me for leaving it there) and I'm sincerely interested in your opinion.

Have you noticed by now that the title is a silly pun (hinting at the episode called "It's a date")?

Now, let me give you 3 good reasons to review:

1- I've already written chap 5 and 6, and planned out chap 7 and 8, so I guess even if no one cares I will post them. However, reviews may persuade me to update sooner.

2- I have decided who will end up dating who in the 8th chapter, but constructive comments may influence the outcome.

3- Reviews make me happy. Think of it as your good deed for the day. .

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