Title: Variable Geometry (7/8)

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: I will kneel again and keep adoring my betas: Abinikai, Jennifer M, you're priceless.

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Spring at last. The days were getting longer, the spirits higher. On the last Saturday of the school year all the Seigaku regulars were back in top form and it showed during the special morning practice held to prepare for their friendly match against Fudoumine that afternoon. The whole tennis club had been bubbling with excitement since Ryuzaki-sensei announced it. Fudoumine represented a tough challenge, all the more since their team kept getting stronger. And maybe this time, if the drawing lots proved favorable, the Tezuka/Tachibana confrontation everyone wanted to see would take place on that sunny day...

For Kaidoh, a second opportunity to play against Fudoumine held yet another interest. During his match against Akira Kamio, his resources had been stretched to their limit and his now famous Boomerang Snake had made its first spontaneous appearance, undermining the opponent's self confidence and boosting Kaidoh's own. This afternoon on the courts sparks would fly again, he thought, and one never knew what might come out of it.

The special morning practice had begun very early at the Nishidai Private Tennis Club - where the friendly match was scheduled - and had ended around 12:30. Ryuzaki-sensei had freed them for the duration of the lunch break. They could occupy their time anyway they saw fit, under the express condition that they'd report to her at 2PM without fail, since the first games would begin half an hour later. The Seigaku regulars, along with the rest of the club members who'd come to cheer them up, decided to have lunch together in the small meeting room adjoining their locker room, as it was furnished with large tables and enough chairs for all present. They put the first-years in charge of buying sandwiches and drinks.

As usual, Kaidoh chose not to join in and slipped away to continue his training. His mother had prepared him a delicious bento but he felt a bit nervous and decided to keep it for after his match, when he would fully appreciate it. Beside, skipping lunch would allow him to spend the break jogging in the Nishidai Club's vicinity.

To avoid obsessing over Echizen, he silently went over the new nutritional tips he'd received from Inui: no more Coke or Pepsi, because they tended to make you feel drained when the caffeine effect wore off. Eat a lot of fruits, especially bananas that contained potassium to help reduce cramps. Inui had also suggested that he took vitamin supplements to accelerate his body's adjustment to the change of season, but Kaidoh didn't like resorting to pills. That was a point they'd have to discuss next...

He caught a glimpse of Momoshiro tagging along behind him, imitating his pace. "You're running all the time, I just don't get it. Are you paid to do it or something?"

Kaidoh hissed heavily. "Let me guess. You finished guzzling and you're thinking about provoking me into a digestive fight?"

"I'd be only too glad to tear you down, Mamushi, but I meant it when I promised Ryuzaki-sensei I won't do it again."

"You never managed to tear me down," said Kaidoh with contempt, "and even if you still had the right to try you'll never be strong enough."

They saw each other every day, at school and at tennis practice. They occasionally bumped into each other in the street or in a shop on weekends. But they never spoke. Momoshiro shouldn't try to breach the wall of silence standing between them, it made things easier.

"So, why are you following me if it's not to start a fight?"

"In fact, I wanted to have a real conversation, but seeing how you're dead set against it, it's probably impossible. Can't you just stop running for a minute, dammit!"

"Try to be polite for once, and see if it makes me listen." Kaidoh gradually slowed down, then stopped and turned around. "Go ahead. What do you have to say?"

Momoshiro took a deep breath. "It's time we talk about you, me and the future of the club. Or should I say, the lack of future of the club if things go on like this."

"Explain."

"I'm sure anyone can see it, why we never got along. We're just... not compatible. But we're also on the same side, and it should show somehow." Momoshiro ran a nervous hand through his hair. His words seemed to be costing him. "At least before, when we could bicker and fight and all, it wasn't so bad. But look at us now, ignoring each other like enemies. Only one of us will become captain, but the other will also be in the team next year, and then what will happen? How can we expect to build a strong and united team around us if we can't even communicate?"

It made sense, but Kaidoh couldn't bring himself to admit it overtly. It amounted to conceding that Momoshiro possessed a brain, after all. "What do you suggest?" he calmly asked.

Momoshiro shrugged. He'd obviously expected more resistance. "I'm not saying we should hang out together or anything. We'll never be friends, but it doesn't mean we have to be on bad terms. Remember the match against Rikkai? You and I made a pretty good team."

"We lost."

"Sure, but we had fun." Momoshiro winked at him.

Taken aback, Kaidoh turned his head away. A very bad idea, because his gaze fell upon a young couple making out rather messily on a public bench near them. Blushing, he looked away quickly. The hissing sound escaping his lips caught the girl's attention. "What's your problem, kiddo, never seen two people kissing?"

Kaidoh pretended not to hear her, but her boyfriend continued the joke. "Look at him! With that scary face he'll never get himself a girl who'd want to show him..."

"That's rich coming from you," Momoshiro interjected, surprising everyone. "I'd rather kiss him than the dog you're making out with!"

The man leaped up to his feet. "You little punk! Are you saying my girlfriend's ugly?"

Horrifying Kaidoh further, Momoshiro gave the fake blonde a very bold once- over before replying "Ugly? No. But she's terribly vulgar, and I can't think of anything more disgusting in a girl."

"Momoshiro..." warned Kaidoh in a slightly strangled voice, to make him stop.

His teammate smiled, unfazed. "Don't you agree?"

"Of course I do, but it's rude to say it out loud. By insulting a girl, you lower yourself to these people's level."

"You... you stupid...!" the girl croaked before bursting into tears.

"That's it," the man shouted, charging into them, "I'm gonna kill you!"

Both boys jumped out of the way and Momoshiro sent him on the ground with a casual shove. "What a wimp," he commented, watching the man writhe on the pavement.

"Over here, guys!" the girl yelled angrily. "Two bastards are attacking Kyusuke!"

Before Momoshiro and Kaidoh had time to process her words, a horde of angry- looking men came out from every corner. A big man with dirty hair took the fallen man by the collar and put him back on his feet. "Two against one, uh? I don't think so." He grinned from ear to ear. "Let's make it a bit more ...fun. What about two against nine?"

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Sakuno wished the ground would open and swallow her. Once again she'd listened to Tomoka, and instead of wearing her Seigaku uniform at the Nishidai Club, she'd changed into the ridiculous new cheerleading uniform her best friend had made for her. The red skirt was much too short, and its very bright color was rather eye-catching.

"Er... Tomo-chan, if you don't mind, I'll go change back into my clothes."

"Oh no, it took me forever to make these. And dressed like that, we look like twins, don't you think? Don't let me down, please!"

"But... since this morning, everyone's staring at us..."

"That's the idea. We're here to give them a show."

Maybe you are, thought Sakuno, but not me.

Tomoka moved nearer, as if to tell a secret. "Ryoma-sama can't stop glancing at us."

Sakuno felt her cheeks go red. She'd thought she was imagining things... "Let's hurry," she said to change the subject. "That guy is giving me the creeps."

"What guy?"

"Behind the tree, over there."

Trying to look natural but not exactly pulling it off, Tomoka peered around. "That old pervert dressed like a monk? He looks familiar, don't you think?"

Now that Tomoka said it...

Someone approached them from behind and they both jumped. "Hello girls! Long time no see."

"Ann Tachibana," exclaimed Tomoka. "You here to see your brother play?"

"I came to cheer for the whole team. And you...seeing how you're dressed, there's no need to ask."

Sakuno huddled down, trying to become invisible. Ann always wore elegant sport clothes. She no doubt thought dressing up like cheerleaders was the height of stupidity.

Together, the three of them headed for the tennis courts. While walking, Sakuno checked over her shoulder, but the creepy man was nowhere to be seen.

Once there, it took them about three seconds to notice something was amiss. The Fudoumine players were warming up on one of the two courts rented for the friendly match, but the Seigaku members were gathered in a tight circle around their coach.

Ann frowned. "What's going on with your team?"

"No idea," said Tomoka.

They drew near the group, trying to catch what the discussion was about. Katsuo saw them and, greeting Ann with a little hand gesture, stepped back to give them access to the center.

"They already pulled that dirty trick on us when we played Rikkai," pouted Kikumaru. "They want to see if they can do it twice and get away with it."

"The situation's not the same, Eiji," protested a fidgeting Oishi. "Last time, they were coming from home and they met problems along the way. Today it's different; they were here this morning and couldn't have gone that far during the break. I'm sure something very bad happened to them!"

Ryoma snickered. "Momo-senpai AND Kaidoh-senpai, disappearing at the same time. Fishy, if you ask me..."

"Do you think they slipped away to argue somewhere?" said Kachiro.

"Oh please, no," complained Kawamura. "We really don't need that right now."

"That was bound to happen," remarked Horio in his trademark know-it-all tone. Registering the bemused looks, he added, "They have to let off steam at some point. The way they've been acting all grown-up recently just doesn't agree with them."

Sakuno could hear a disturbing rumbling noise that kept getting louder and louder. With horror she realized it was coming from her grandmother whose temper, when crossed, could prove devastating.

"Did Kaidoh tell you anything?" asked Tezuka, addressing Inui.

"Just that he wanted to stretch his legs a bit."

"Did you try his mobile phone?"

"He left it in the locker room."

"What about Momoshiro?" This time Tezuka turned to Ryoma.

"He wolfed down a few sandwiches then left without a word."

"A planned event, then," giggled Ann, making her presence known. "Will those two ever learn..."

Fuji greeted her with a small amused nod. "Hello, Tachibana's little sister. Have you come to spy on the enemy?"

"You could say that...There's always something funny to learn about Seigaku, it seems."

Kawamura let out a heavy sigh. "This time, don't count on me to go look for them."

Sakuno's grandmother checked her watch. "We're starting in fifteen minutes. You'd better start warming up."

"If they don't show up in time," mused Horio, "Who'll be asked to replace them?"

Sakuno raised her eyes to look at Inui and caught Kachiro furtively glancing at Arai.

"No replacement," snapped the Coach. "We'll just withdraw for the two matches."

The collective yell made Sakuno start.

"Two losses by default, out of seven games?" exclaimed Kikumaru. "We can't afford it against Fudoumine!"

If the team lost because of Kaidoh and Momoshiro, their teammates would be seriously mad...

"I think that's what she wants," said Ann. "Your grandmother, I mean. There's no better way to punish them."

Fuji gave Ann a knowing smile and Sakuno gaped at her in admiration. Ann wasn't just pretty, bold and good at tennis. She also had wits. It just wasn't fair.

The group dispersed. The regulars started warming up, except for Tezuka who went to exchange a few words with the Fudoumine captain. Non regulars went to sit on the terraces, leaving the first years with Fuji and Ann.

"We haven't seen you much recently, Ann-chan," remarked Fuji. "Don't you want to invite Momo on a second date?"

If a senpai teased me like that I'd be dying of embarrassment, Sakuno couldn't help thinking.

"There's no reason to," Ann simply replied. "Besides, he wouldn't exactly be thrilled by the idea."

"Just try," said Ryoma with a smirk, "you'll be amazed..."

"Don't be silly. With so many pretty girls attending Seigaku..." Ann pointedly looked at Sakuno and Tomoka.

Sakuno couldn't believe what she'd just heard. Ann considered her to be competition?

"Most of them are already claimed," said Fuji.

Ryoma visibly flinched. Sakuno realized they were all waiting for her to say something, she just didn't know what.

"I don't have a boyfriend," said Tomoka playfully to ease the sudden tension.

"Ah, but we all know Horio-kun is your soul mate."

"Fuji-senpai!" cried Horio and Tomoka in perfect synchronicity.

"See," Fuji said to Ann. "Already on the same wavelength."

Ann lost her battle against laughter. So did Sakuno, her discomfort forgotten.

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"Hey sonny, when will you stop wasting your pocket money on soft drinks! Don't you have anything better to do with it?"

Caught of guard, Ryoma dropped the coin he'd been about to put in the vending machine. "Dad? What are you doing here?"

"Nothing in particular. I was just passing down the street..."

Ryoma let out a skeptical snort.

"Alright, alright," admitted his father. "I'm here to watch you play. Honestly, you could have told me you had a match today. Why are you so secretive?"

"It's only a friendly match, nothing important."

As long as he'd been playing tennis his father had never bothered to attend any of his games, and he certainly wouldn't start now. The annoying old man had come for something else, he bet. Ryoma pocketed the coin and strolled to an empty bench to take a nap, bracing himself for the worst when he heard footsteps behind him.

While following, his father lit up a cigarette. "Shouldn't you go back to the courts? Your friends must be waiting for you."

"There are two games before mine."

"Want to play a bit against me, to put you in the mood?"

"No thanks." Please leave. Please leave...

"Don't take all the space." His father rudely pushed Ryoma's legs off the bench and sat beside him.

Ryoma reluctantly opened his eyes and glared. "What do you want?" He wished he wouldn't get an answer.

"I've heard about you and that girl."

"Don't know what you're talking about."

"A Ryuzaki, uh?" mused Nanjiroh, a dreamy smile on his face. "Like father like son, I guess."

Ryoma abruptly sat up straight, horrified. "What are you talking about?"

"Ah, nothing."

Ryoma's imagination was spinning out of control. He shook his head to empty it of disgusting thoughts. There were things about his father he'd never want to know.

"How are things between you? Are you past the kissing stage yet? Don't be shy, tell everything to your dad."

"There's nothing to tell you. Now let me rest." Ryoma tried to lie down again, but a grip on his shoulder forced him to keep a sitting position.

"Is it already over? You weren't good enough?"

"Leave me alone," Ryoma snapped, trying in vain to extricate himself.

"Oh I get it, she dumped you for another guy."

At last Ryoma escaped his father's clutch and stood up. "Listen dad, if anyone sees you here and recognizes you, I'll never forgive you. Just. Go."

Nanjiroh threw his cigarette on the ground and crushed it with his foot. "You're not ready for a man-to-man talk. That's because you're not a man yet, or else you wouldn't let another guy steal your girlfriend."

Ryoma rolled his eyes. He picked up his racket and strode away, exasperated beyond bearing.

But Nanjiroh, with the inhuman speed he sometimes used when playing tennis, appeared once again in front of him. "You'd better win your match, sonny. Don't make me any more ashamed than I already am."

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Kaidoh glanced at the scoreboard.

Court A:

Oishi - Ibu 5-7

Tezuka - Kamio 6-2

Echizen - Uchimura 6-4

Court B:

Kaidoh - Sakurai XX

Kikumaru - Tachibana 3-6

Momoshiro - Ishida XX

Fuji - Mori 6-4

"Seigaku lost," he informed Momoshiro, who couldn't look for himself as both of his eyes were black and puffy. Not that Kaidoh was in a better state. A still bleeding split lip, scratches and bruises all over his arms and legs, his Seigaku tennis outfit torn and soiled beyond repair. They'd limped back to the Nishidai Club, leaning against each other for support, only to see the games were over.

Their arrival had cast a chill over the place, Kaidoh noticed. They were surrounded by unpleasant stares, but the worst was the deadly silence. Through it he could hear Shinji Ibu mumbling about his match and how unfair it was that no one congratulated him for winning his match cause they all thought Oishi only lost because he was beside himself with worry for his two missing teammates while in truth Shinji had just played better and blahblahblah...

Ryuzaki-sensei looked down on them with a 'Well?' expression that made Kaidoh want to squirm.

"I'll go get the first-aid kit," said Oishi, shaking his head sadly.

"To say I'm deeply disappointed with you two would be the understatement of the year," said Ryuzaki-sensei in her coldest voice. "Care to explain how you got yourselves in such a state?"

"We were attacked," said Momoshiro.

Kaidoh nodded to confirm. "By a street gang," he added.

Even Shinji grew silent. The surrounding hostility became suffocating.

"Eh, it's the truth," claimed Momoshiro. "Why would we make up something like that?"

"But where were you, and what exactly were you doing together in the first place?" demanded Kikumaru, with no trace of his usual good mood. Losing badly to Kippei Tachibana could do that to you...

Kaidoh opened his mouth to answer, but Momoshiro squeezed his harm to ask him not to.

"I see," said Ryuzaki-sensei, conveying all of her simmering anger in those two syllables. "Go make yourselves presentable. You're a pitiful sight."

She turned to go and Tezuka called after her. "Sensei..."

She spun to look at him, murder in her eyes. "If you dare say anything resembling even remotely to 'I told you so', you'll never live long enough to attend senior high school!"

One corner of Tezuka's mouth twitched, almost imperceptibly. Easy to miss, if you didn't know him well. "I just wanted to discuss disciplinary measures."

Ryuzaki-sensei shrugged. "Don't bother thinking about that. I've taken care of it, with Inui's help."

Kaidoh shuddered. Inui had not taken his eyes off him since he'd returned with Momoshiro. That wasn't a good sign.

The Fudoumine players stared wide-eyed, probably shaken to witness Seigaku's public washing of dirty linen. Tachibana cleared his throat. "Well, we're going back to our locker room. Is it okay with you if we leave in twenty minutes?"

"No problem," answered Tezuka. "Sorry about that."

"Please don't be. The only thing I regret is not getting the chance to play against you, Tezuka."

"I can't believe those guys," complained Momoshiro. "We're bleeding all over the place and they engage in small talk."

"You two..." warned Tezuka. "I clearly remember the coach asking you to go make yourselves presentable. We won't delay our hosts to wait for you."

"Sorry captain," answered Kaidoh between barely moving lips.

"Hosts?" wondered Momoshiro.

"If you've deigned to come back earlier," said Inui, "You'd know Fudoumine had kindly invited us to a karaoke party in celebration of their victory."

"Oh great, I love karaoke!" Momoshiro tried to smile but his face hurt too much.

"Momo," said Inui in the creepy purr that never failed to unsettle his opponents, "when I'm through with you, you'll be in no shape to enjoy the party."

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End of chapter 7

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Notes:

[ "A Ryuzaki, uh?" mused Nanjiroh, a dreamy smile on his face. "Like father like son, I guess." ] If the idea of Nanjiroh having a thing for Sumire when he was a teenager makes you too uncomfortable, you're free to think I'm referring to Reika Ryuzaki, the beautiful and talented tennis player in Ace o Nerae. As a tennis freak, I'm sure Nanjiroh watched it in his youth (most Japanese people did), even if it's a shojo anime.

*Sigh*...Seven chapters down, one to go! The next chapter will be the last, and well...probably the longest. It may be a while before I update. Please try to understand, I'm a very slow writer, maybe because it's my first fic (but I seriously doubt it). And frankly, my English is not as good as I thought it was (I should consider deleting the word 'bilingual' from my resume...). In my little brain, things happen in an awful mix of French, Japanese and English, then I have to try and make sense with the help of my betas.

But if you kill me, you'll never get chapter 8, so please be kind. Oh, and by the way, feedback makes me write a lot faster!

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