Disclaimer : once again, i do not own Prince of Tennis or any of the characters... and thank you all who reviewed the last chapter! very sorry about the spacing problem.. ((blush)) me is new here..so very bad with the controls..heh


Chapter 2

The phone was ringing in the hallway at the end of their corridor that held a row of dorm rooms like all the other corridors in other blocks. Yuuta stopped paying attention as someone picked it up to stop it's insistent ringing. That same someone called out, "Fuji no otouto! It's a call for you!" Yuuta's head jerked up from his work in irritation. How many times had he snapped at them not to call him that? He almost knew for certain who was at the other end of the line for no one else would trigger anyone here to address him with that irritating linkage that put him immediately behind his tensai brother's shadow. Striding purposefully down the corridor, eyes narrowed, he even forgot to thank the first year who had answered the phone when he took the receiver from him. The first year scurried off and Yuuta had all the privacy he needed. Impatient, he spoke, "Hello?" and sure enough, his brother's soft voice repeated the greeting. "Hello, Yuuta. How are you?" This was another reason why he didn't like taking calls from his brother. They always began with, 'how are you?' as if Yuuta would run into trouble the minute he was away from home or maybe it was the tone that did it. Sighing, he answered like always, "I'm fine, aniki. How's everybody?"

Syusuke chuckled, "They're okay. We miss you, when will you come home again?" Yet another reason. This always came up. "I'm not sure, aniki. I've been busy with school and practicing lately." Before his brother had a chance to respond, he added, "Why are you calling? Surely it can't be to ask me to come home again?" There was a short silence before Syusuke spoke again. "No. Yuuta, have you ever thought about why you play tennis?" This time Yuuta really snorted. What a question! "Firstly, I know I'm good at it and there are people who will confirm that. However, I know I'm not good enough. Which leads to my second reason, to beat you of course, aniki." Then as an afterthought, "Why do you ask?" His brother seemed to ignore his question as he posed another of his own, "Do you remember how we used to play before, when we were children?" Now he found this really weird. "Yes...it's a bit embarrassing but I remember it. What's with you today?"

"Nothing. I just wonder sometimes if you remember all those times we spent at the courts. We practically lived there. I enjoyed those matches we played, Yuuta."

It was still rather impossible to decide whether or not his brother was serious. "You want another match, aniki? Too bad you'll have to wait a while now. Because you ran away from what would've been our match, I played against that first year from your school and I wouldn't mind playing him again!" Apparently, Yuuta hadn't quite forgotten or 'forgiven' his brother for forfeiting a match with him when their schools had met in the Ranking Tournaments. It frustrated him that he'd been denied a chance to test his progress against his brother's. "Ma...I did not run away from that match, Yuuta. It was prearranged before meeting your school, we didn't change anything." Not even allowing just the thought that Mizuki-san could've pulled that trick on him, he changed the subject. "Hmm...alright then, tell me at least, what that first year's been up to. His style is interesting but maybe not up to your level yet, aniki."

"Echizen? Yes, his style is interesting. I, too, would like a match against him. He trains with the rest of us following Inui's schedule. It's very motivating." Yuuta could almost feel goose bumps rising, partly in irritation that he hadn't gotten exactly the information he wanted and partly because he sensed something hidden beneath his brother's seemingly innocent tone but he just replied, "If you don't want to tell me, that's fine. I'll find out for myself." Down the corridor, one of his dorm mates was calling, "Yuuta, lights out soon. You'd better hurry!" Right, he'd forgotten again. Lights out. Now he'd have to finish his work by that tiny lamp at the desk they shared while the others slept. Slightly irritated, he put a hand over the mouthpiece and yelled, "Okay, thanks!" Resuming his conversation, "Sorry, I have to go soon." Syusuke didn't show any signs of outward regret but he said, "Of course. Lights out. I'm sorry. I forgot. Don't sleep too late, ne?" Tension eased, somewhat glad his brother had called after all, Yuuta nodded out of habit, "I know. I might be back for the weekend. Maybe we can have a match then."

"That'd be nice. 'Till then, goodnight, Yuuta." The feeling of satisfaction didn't leave Syusuke even after his brother echoed 'good night' and he dropped the receiver back into its cradle. More than just a duty done as an elder brother, it felt good to keep up with his childhood comrade. Just then, leaning against the wall by the phone, the smile on his face faded as it was replaced by a serious almost regretful expression...

Once again, two outlines could be seen climbing up the stairs to reach the court above. But this time, tension hung in the air and this time, Yuuta had been the one to ask for this match. Looking at Syusuke's expression, you wouldn't have thought that there was anything wrong. His usual calm façade done up with that seemingly permanent smile was in place. In contrast, all that was wrong could be read in Yuuta's expression. This time, there would be no strangers to form an alliance against and help bring back the closeness that once existed between the two brothers. Now, a wall of one-sided resentment hung between them and the court was silent. Slowly, they shrugged off their tennis bags, each on separate benches, and pulled out their racquets. Yuuta tested the strings on his racquet and retied his shoelaces. Syusuke rose to his feet and walked to his position on the court, ignoring his brother's watchful gaze upon him. A minute later, Yuuta too entered the court and walked up to the net. "Which?" he asked. Syusuke looked slightly surprised. "Why this formality? You usually begin." A look of irritation definitely flickered across Yuuta's face this time. "I want to play by the rules this time, aniki. No exceptions. If I win, I'll have won fairly." His elder brother bowed his head. "I see." And joined him at the net. "Rough." The racquets spinning motion felt almost comforting to Yuuta. Something to concentrate upon other than his feelings, which were spinning like that racquet. When it slowed and finally came to a stop, falling over on one side, his heart seemed to stop too.

It clattered noisily upon the cement floor and Syusuke stooped to pick it up. "Smooth." He said, handing the racquet up to Yuuta. "You begin."

'Thud. Thud. Thud.' The hollow, muffled sound the tennis ball made as he bounced it up and down gave him a feeling of familiarity. Yes, although they had played strictly by the rules this time, right up to deciding who would start, it still came to him as it always had due to his brother's 'graciousness' with him before. While he would not accept any pity from his brother just because of their tie as siblings, it was not an unfair advantage if it came to him fairly. "I'm starting now!" his words sounded almost like a shout due to the tension in him. Shifting his left foot back and leaning backwards, making a small arc, he focused all that tension into his serve. As expected, his brother returned it but at the same time, noticed the tension behind it. "Your serve today is a bit heavier that usual."

Gritting his teeth, Yuuta swung and followed through before answering, "Maybe I'm getting stronger!"

Syusuke didn't seem convinced and sent back, "That's possible but I think there's something on your mind." Sarcasm bit Yuuta's tone as he shot back, "No, nothing's on my mind at all. Why would there be?"

"Are you angry with me?"

That did it. "Everything is about you, aniki!" this was a chance for Yuuta to vent his pent up resentment and he took it. "I'm sorry about that. Shall I get them to stop?" Syusuke's calm tone was mistaken by Yuuta for nonchalance. "What could you do?" he hit the ball back with vicious ferocity. Syusuke kept silent. It was true. What could he do? People said what they liked and he had no control over what they called his brother. Yuuta vaulted a smash at that moment and, without thinking, Syusuke used 'Higuma Otoshi' instinctively.

The ball rose, seemed to stop dramatically in the air in mid-arc, glowing with a sinking sun's glow then fell ten paces behind Yuuta. Yuuta snorted and turned his head away. "It's obvious you're not playing seriously today. Perhaps I am not worthy..." he packed up his tennis racquet then shouldered it. "I'm leaving for St. Rudolph tomorrow, aniki. Mizuki- san will take care of me." As he walked away, his parting words were, "I'll come back and defeat you. Just be ready."

Syusuke watched his brother leave without a word. His eyes were open, had been open after he'd 'accidentally' shot Higuma Otoshi and his expression serious, sober throughout his brother's speech. He lowered his gaze to the ground and slowly, his features melted back into his usual smiling expression. He knew that by giving his brother a head start, it would not matter that they lived in the same house. Yuuta would've eaten dinner, or not eaten at all, by the time he got back and one thing was for sure – now they had separate rooms, Yuuta's door would be closed to him. He walked across the court to retrieve the ball they'd used then, packed up and, slinging his tennis bag over his shoulder, stood to his full height and took in the court before him. Eyes opened once more to his serious regard of the moment, he intoned as a promise to their relationship as siblings, as a reason to himself, "For you, otouto, I will play to see how far your limits will reach..."

Owari.