Chapter Summary: Tachibana and his tentative boyfriend comfort a now sullen An over her Atobe problems. After Momoshiro and Kamio show up they all head to play a friendly game of tennis, triggering a memory of Atobe along the way.

Pairings this Chapter: TachibanaFuji

Notes: I tried to make this chapter longer then the others, and I did by a little, but I'm afraid I just don't have the time to make really long chapters. Gomen. And kudos to every one who saw that this was so similar to Hana Yori Dango! It's actually heavily inspired by it, and will have other plot similarities, and I kept forgetting to mention it in my notes.

Chapter Two

Tachibana never could explain his newfound relationship with his... was it boyfriend? He didn't even know. To be honest, he couldn't explain it because he was as confused by it as any one else. Some how, somewhere, he and Fuji Syusuke had taken to spending an inordinate amount of time together. Not that they were actually "together". Not officially, at least.

He did remember meeting Fuji, at the Tokyo District Preliminaries. He had both been looking forward to and fearing the moment Fuji would take the court in his expected Singles-2 position. Looking forward to it because he was anxious to see the prodigy play. But fearing it because he didn't know if Shinji, as capable as he was, could defeat him. Fortunately, for whatever reason, Seigaku had chosen to put their prodigy in the doubles slot. That had been the only match Fudoumine had won that day, and even then only because Fuji's partner had gotten injured.

After that tournament, the relationship between the Seigaku and Fudoumine teams was clear. They were rivals, but it was slightly more convoluted than that. Because, beneath the rivalry, was a definite sense of respect. Still, the individual relationships were not so clear cut, given the fact that the boys barely knew each, except maybe in the case of Kamio and Momoshiro, who were so obviously not fond of one another.

So when Tachibana saw Fuji at the flower shop a week later, he felt somewhat awkward. He was picking up some flowers that his mother wanted to plant; Fuji was buying a new cactus. It wasn't until later that Tachibana learned Fuji collected the tiny things. They had stood there, in silence, Fuji smiling that little smile that Tachibana secretly found very unnerving.

"Hello, Tachibana," Fuji had remarked pleasantly, holding a little green oval with a red prickly flower on top.

"Hello, Fuji." And then there had been a period of silence in the minutes before the cashier had come back.

"Here are those flowers your mother ordered, Tachibana," the man and said, smiling, and Tachibana had taken the flowers and given the man his money.

"Goodbye, Fuji."

"Goodbye, Tachibana."

The second time they had met it had been a little less awkward, and it had been at a book store. Both boys were buying texts for their classes.

"Ah," Fuji had said, his smile in place and looking down at Tachibana's book. Tachibana found himself looking at that smile... it wasn't quite unnerving any more. It might actually be considered cute. "That's a wonderful book. I enjoyed it immensely when I read it myself."

"Hmm. I'm sure I'll enjoy it as well, then."

The third time they had met Tachibana had bumped in to Fuji at the tennis store, to occupied searching for wristbands to notice where he was going. He had flushed a little as Fuji turned around, smiling that entirely endearing smile that only he had.

"Ah... Fuji..."

"Tachibana, imagine running into you for the third time in three weeks." Fuji's smile had widened a little then. But only a little. "It seems fate keeps throwing us together. Maybe we should date."

"Date?" Tachibana had uncharacteristically sputtered. He turned to look at Shinji, who was there, but might as well not have been. All he had been doing for the last few minutes was blend into the background.

"Why is he looking at me like that?" Shinji had mumbled to himself. "Does he think I'll have a problem with him dating some one else? Just because we were going out for awhile last year doesn't mean I'll be uncomfortable... after all, I was the one who broke up with him..."

Tachibana turned back to Fuji, who had been nodding.

"Yes," Fuji had said, "date. Don't you think I'm cute enough?"

And so a few days later, Tachibana took Fuji Syusuke to the movies.

And now, Tachibana and his... well, boyfriend, because that was what he was really, even if it wasn't official, were sitting at a table, his little sister sitting across from them and nursing a very large ice cream sundae. An uncharacteristic frown marked her face as she explained to them what had happened.

"And then she accused us of stacking, called it a deplorable technique, and said you were the worse captain in Tokyo. And then Atobe had the nerve to rub the whole incident in my face later that day!"

Fuji smiled, guessing that An was exaggerating a little. He poked at Tachibana's side. "Ne, Tachibana, how come your team didn't use stacking against us? Did you not think us a threat?"

Tachibana replied in all seriousness. "What about you, Fuji? Playing doubles instead of singles?'

"Ah. Touché."

Having dealt with Fuji, Tachibana turned his focus back to his little sister. "An, if the students there are harassing you, you can always come back to Fudoumine. The benefits Hyoutei offers aren't worth it if you get hurt."

An shrugged. She was stronger than that. "I'm not going to be bothered by such immature pranks. I'll stay at Hyoutei."

If only to show them what I'm made of, she added in her head.

"An..." Tachibana tried again, concern evident in his voice.

"Look, if I said I'm staying, then I'm staying."

Tachibana had to smile at that. His sister was as strong-minded as he was.

"An," Fuji interrupted, "how would you like an ice cream float to follow your sundae?"

And looked down to find that her sundae was gone and chuckled, a little embarrassed that she had finished it so quickly. "Sure."

She liked that her brother was going out with Fuji. A lot of the time it felt like she had two older brothers, instead of one. Fuji was really a caring guy... once you got past the creepy smile, she reasoned. She briefly wondered if Shinji was uncomfortable with her brother's new relationship.

"An! How was your first day at Hyoutei? Do you want to transfer back to Fudoumine yet?"

An watched as Kamio came running up to the table, his face flushed, and she smiled and waved. Kamio grinned as he got there, but his face completely changed as his eyes caught sight of something behind An. Whatever it was, it had changed Kamio's smile into a grimace, and had made his eyes narrow in distaste. An looked over to see what had changed Kamio's mood so suddenly, and was overjoyed when she saw another familiar face.

"Momoshiro!" She waved at the boy. "Come join us!"

Momo smiled and toddled over, much to the chagrin of Kamio, who seemed to be muttering "damn idiot bike thief" underneath his breath.

"Hey Fuji, Tachibana, Tachibana's sister," he said when he arrived at the table.

"How many times do I have to tell you I have a name? It's An-chan. Call me An-chan."

Momo only laughed and took a seat, leaving Kamio to stew on the other side of the table. Now that the two newcomers were seated, An proceeded to fill them in on the details of her first day at Hyoutei, making sure that she was painting Atobe in the worse light she could.

"That bastard!" Kamio exclaimed at the end. "Why can't Atobe and the rest of Hyoutei just leave you alone?"

An nodded in agreement, acting the part of the innocent victim. Momo wasn't as distressed as Kamio, but he wasn't a fan of Atobe and the rest of Hyotei either. Those kids really knew how to be annoying. He decided that he could at least act chivalrous. If anything, it would at least piss Kamio off.

"Tachibana's sister," he started, flashing a debonair smile, "if you want, I'll take care of Atobe for you."

"As if you could!" shouted Kamio in indignation. "If any one is taking out Atobe for An-chan, then it's going to be me."

Tachibana looked back and forth between Momoshiro and Kamio, wondering if he should step in and play the part of the protective older brother, but decided not to.

"I know what will cheer you up," Momo said with another smile, "a date."

To Momo's infinite amusement, Kamio was now sputtering at the end of the table.

"Date?" An asked, curious.

Momo nodded. "To play a game of tennis."

An perked up at the comment and looked around at every one at the table, hey eyes settling on Tachibana and Fuji. "Can we go play tennis?"

"Gomen, An," Tachibana replied, "I have some errands to run."

Fuji smiled. "I wouldn't mind a game."

Of course, Kamio couldn't leave An alone with Momo, even if Fuji was there, so he came along too. The four made their way to the tennis courts, waving good bye to Tachibana as he left in the opposite direction. It wasn't long after they got to their usual courts. It was at this  public place where An had met Atobe Kiego for the first time.

A few months ago, An had been sitting on a park bench on this very same court, observing the casual tennis players. She didn't play that often, but she was happy just to watch the tennis matches. But the doubles match that was going on was, much to her disappointment, very boring. She supposed that was what happened when mediocre players played. She wasn't that focused on the game, so she noticed pretty quickly when she felt some one sitting down next to her.

She looked up, mildly disturbed to see that her new companion was already smiling down at her.

"Atobe Kiego," he had said, his teeth an almost blinding shade of white, "because I'm sure you were wondering what my name was."

An wrinkled her nose in distaste and turned back to watch the match.

"And you are?"

An didn't turn around as she answered in an agitated voice. "Tachibana An."

"What a lovely name."

An snorted. A new match had started, and An recognized the players... these four were actually pretty good. It would probably end up being a fun match. Atobe, however, saw fit to interrupt her entertainment again.

"I'm sure you're bored watching these awful matches. I'll do you a favor and take you out."

An didn't even have time to digest the strange words before her hand was grabbed and she was pulled to her feet. "Now wait just a minute! Who said I wanted you to take me out?"

Atobe's face scrunched up into a confused expression for just a second before it adjusted back. "Why wouldn't you want to go out with me? You should feel lucky that I'm offering. Isn't that right Kabaji?"

An heard an "usu" from the side, and turned to see a very large, rather stupid looking fellow. "Well, I don't!"

By then, An's shouts and the fact that a boy was holding onto her hand rather forcibly had attracted the attention of the other players on the court. A few of the boys she knew came running up.

"Hey, An, is this guy bothering you?"

"Why don't you let the lady go, punk?"

Atobe looked at the newcomers in disdain. "Excuse me, the lady and I have a date to attend to."

"I never agreed to that!"

By then all the players had come to form a circle around An and Atobe, watching as An tried to tug her hand away from Atobe's.

"What's a bastard like you doing at these tennis courts any way? It's just shady to come to these places to try to pick up girls."

Atobe scoffed at that comment. "Actually, I had come to play some tennis, but since there are obviously no skilled opponents around my attention turned to other matters."

The boy who had spoken sputtered, his face turning red at the insult. "Why you... play us in a game, now, if you think your skills are so great. And if you lose you have to leave An alone!"

Atobe looked over at An, who was too confused at the strange turn of events to say anything. "What's in it for me? If I win, do I get a date with An?"

Every one turned to look at the young girl, who had finally regained possession of her hand from Atobe and was currently cradling it to her chest. She looked at the players that were gathered around, and added what she thought would be an impossible feat. "Only if you defeat all the players here."

Atobe shrugged, apparently nonplussed by the condition. "All right. Shall we began?"

It wasn't until Atobe and his friend had defeated ten opponent teams, with two more to go, that An realized that she knew the name Atobe Kiego. She had read it constantly in the pages of Professional Tennis Monthly. He was the captain of the Hyoutei tennis club.

It was too late to do anything about the bet now, though, and it wasn't long before Atobe had defeated every one and turned to claim his "prize". Luckily, Kamio and Momo, who had ended up together that day despite their mutual hatred of one another, had come along then, and had saved her from the date.

In the present time though, An had matters other than the her first encounter with Atobe on her mind. Now, she was content to be in the company of her friends and Fuji. She set it upon herself to decided the matches for the current game. "Kamio, you play with Momoshiro, I'll play with Fuji."

"What?" Kamio and Momo shouted at the same time. "Why do I have to play with him?"

"It's just that I never get a chance to play with Fujiko-chan." An smiled sweetly, and Fuji ruffled her hair for effect. The truth was she thought Kamio and Momo could play great doubles tennis together... if only they could get past their rivalry. She had asked Momo out on their last date, after all, as a ploy to get him to play doubles tennis with Kamio.

The game ended up being fairly interesting. An wasn't as good as the others, but Fuji's skills more than made up for that. When Momo and Kamio weren't bickering, which they did quite often, they played very well. Still, at the end An and Fuji won, with a score of six to four.

"You idiot!" Kamio pointed an accusing finger at Momo. "You missed all those easy shots."

"Don't blame this on me, you're the one who can't serve for the life of him."

Fuji smiled down at An, ignoring the argument coming from the other side of the court.

"Well," he said, "should I walk you home now?"

An nodded happily, having effectively forgotten about Hyoutei and their pigheaded tennis captain. The two walked away and towards the Tachibana household, leaving their oblivious opponents screaming on the court.