PART 4

Spreading his arms; Eiji called out to the restless pack, his hands raised and fingers open. Beaming happily, he cried out "o.k. gang!! what shall we play?" Like a dam burst, a great and noisy flood of enthusiastic suggestions instantly assaulted the redhead's ears.

"CATS AND MICE!!"

"We ALWAYS play that stupid game!! How about British Bulldog?"

"Shadows!! I wanna play SHADOWS!!"

"Mr Tezuka!! I wanna play Cats and Mice!!"

"That's so-o-o-o BORING!! Ladders is the best!"

"Can we play Ball Relay please?"

"MR TEZU-KA!!!"

"They play Cats and Mice" stated the captain in a flat tone that dared ANYONE to even mildly dispute him.

Amidst an assortment of cheers and groans, the kids sat down in a solid block on the outer trammel line.

Eiji handed a few tennis balls to Fuji and Momo', then pressed two into Ryoma's surprised hands.

"When I give the word, throw them!"

Giving his team mate a sour glare, Ryoma growled "mada mada dane. Then what happens?"

Eiji tilted his head, one eye closing in a saucy wink, his index finger raised.

"Then, we watch them run!!"

Letting his gaze rove over the kids, Eiji suddenly roared, "NOW!!"

Nineteen tennis balls left the regulars hands, to fly out over the court like a flock of panicked birds. Instantly, the kids leapt to their feet in wild pursuit. Pushing and shoving in a manner pro' footballers would be proud of; the kids fought ferociously to catch a single ball, then run back to drop it at a throwers hand. While most of the balls didn't fly TOO far; the pair heaved from Ryoma's hands had flown wide, and three boys were in engaged in an aggressive, all-out war to gain possession. The swiftest of the trio outran the others, seized a ball, then charged over to a watching Takashi with an almighty scream of "BURNING!!!" Meanwhile, the remaining pair pushed hard at each other's shoulders, as they swooped down on the rolling ball. A few loud, ripe oaths drifted across the court; making Tezuka's frown deepen, Fuji's eyes open, Kaido hiss and the others look stunned. Dealing his opponent a punishing blow, the larger of the two finally shoved him aside, then grabbed the ball. With a savage cry of triumph, he held it aloft, then galloped back to Ryoma, to sit at his feet, like a well-trained dog.

"AGAIN!! Throw it again!!"

Shrugging, the youth threw hard. The eager boy raced off after it and, unfortunately, so did everyone else.

"SHIT!!" cried Eiji frantically as visions of blood shed danced before his eyes, "THROW THOSE BALLS!! NOW!!!"

Eighteen tennis balls soared out over the charging pack, while the first boy caught out glared bitterly from the sidelines. Smirking at the sight of the warring kids, Inui wrote out his data; and suggested to his captain, that the losers of the contest drink his juice. Glaring at "little Miss rant," Tezuka nodded grimily. With the second scrum over, and two kids out, Inui took them aside; then handed them cups. One turned green; the other, bright red. By the time the game had come down to the last two kids fighting over the final, single ball; eighteen kids (including "Miss rant," who was babbling more than ever) lay or sat about in various stages of semi-consciousness and questionable health. Ryoma's "dog" crouched ready; while Takashi's "Burner" eyed him, with grim determination. Holding the last ball; Eiji lifted his arm, to send it flying. Springing like racehorses from their gates; the pair shot with the speed of hares across the court, neither one willing to yield to the other. Pushing and shoving, cries of "mada mada dane" and "BURNING!!!!!!" rang out from the pint-sized warriors. Bodies leaning downward, hands reached; while bared teeth gleamed and voices snarled. "Dog" accidentally kicked the ball, to send it spinning away. Cursing, "Burner" leapt after it; only to fall when his rival caught him with a flying tackle. Scrambling to his feet; the fallen boy roared "GREAT-O!! BURNING!!", then returned the compliment. Rolling on the ground, the pair began to pound each other. Sensing imminent murder about to occur before his eyes; Eiji enlisted Oishi's aid, and the golden pair rushed in to pull the snarling kids apart. Keeping a firm grip on the struggling "Burner" who yelled at the top of his lungs, Eiji dragged him aside; while Oishi sat an outraged "dog" down, for a stern talking to.

Once peace was finally restored, the kids started begging for a new game. This time, Momo' silenced the clamor by declaring the group play Ladders. Splitting the kids into two teams, they all lay on their backs in a neat row; then Momo' yelled at them to go. Two kids jumped up; then, lifting their feet high, they swiftly stepped over their teammates to run to the end of the "ladder." Once on their backs, the next pair ran. At the end of the fourth run one team was clearly leading; with Takashi, Eiji and Momo', cheering them on. Fuji stood, arms folded, beside his captain as he looked on. "Maybe we should play that." Stony silence was his only answer, and the youth smiled serenely. But then, his eyes snapped open at the sound of someone's high-pitched squeal.

One of the smallest girls had fallen over, and thin ribbon of blood streamed down her knee. Rushing straight over to Seigaku's "mamushi," she flung herself straight into his arms with a heartrending cry of "DADDY KAIDO!!" Red faced and doing his best to ignore Momo's shout of laughter, the bandana-wearing youth crouched down to gently gather the wailing child into his arms. Murmuring soothing words; he picked her up, then carried her over to Oishi and his first aid box. Sitting, he then held the child on his lap while Oishi applied a bandage. Momo' "ooh-ed" and "ah-ed" insufferably, his eyes all aglitter, his hands curved up beneath his chin. "Oh look at that!! Daddy Kaido in action. Isn't that the sweetest sight you've ever seen?" Turning to Ryoma, he said "next time you fall over, will you sit in my lap?" Two golden-green eyes briefly appeared from beneath the white brim of his hat, to glare sourly. Laughing, Momo' turned away to heckle Kaido some more, and failed to notice the youths mouth briefly curl up in a smile. Tugging his cap down, he then growled "Idiot."

Out on the court, the Ladder' game ended. One team shouted and danced about in triumph; while the others clung to each other in horror, as Inui stalked up to them - juice bottle held out like a dagger.

Looking at Fuji, Tezuka told him "there is time enough for one more game. Choose it." Mildly startled, the blue-eyed youth walked over to the group; then calmly announced, they would play Ball Relay. Reorganizing the kids so the teams were different, and copping a certain amount of verbal flak in the process, Fuji set the kids running. Pounding down the tramlines; the kids plucked a ball from the ground, then raced back to hand it to their teammates. The next runner took it back, left it, then galloped back to the team for the next person to fetch it. With "Kaido's little one" out of action due to her knee, Takashi had volunteered to run, and balance out the numbers. Tearing down the line, his crazed eyes aflame, he picked up the ball, charged back with his obligatory yell of "Burning," then tried to pass it. His teammate however, was staring dreamily into space, her mind definitely in other realm. "HEY!! TAKE THE BALL!!! RUN!! BURNING!!!"

"Huh?" Coming out of her trance, she stared up at the excited youth as though wondering why she was there. "Who are you? Oh yeah!! The game!!" Belatedly, she ran off, but it was too late. The other team had clearly won. Pouting, she angrily threw the ball away; while Takashi laughed with nervous disappointment, his hand on the back of his head.

Seeing a crowd of parents now milling about beyond the fence; Tezuka called the group to order, had them bow, then gratefully dismissed them. Rushing up to their parents; the kids chattered wildly, their hands waving in the air with excited gestures. To Tezuka's utter horror, "little Miss rant" dragged her oldest sister out onto the court to say hello; and had he been the type of person to scream, he would have done so then. Instead; he stoically endured the eighteen-year-old's fawning and flirting, then turned smartly on his heel to trade words with a glaring Fuji.

"Hey Captain!" Momo's voice speaking right in his ear made him half turn his head "what?" Waving an arm, Momo' indicated the approach of Ryuzaki sensei. Calling the boys together, she beamed at them in approval.

"Great job everyone!! I've never seen those kids so fired up before!!" Waving a hand at the fence line, she said "the parents are very pleased!! And I must congratulate you Kaido on the way you settled little Aki when she hurt herself." Blushing, Kaido looked away. Thoughtfully rubbing her chin, Ryuzaki closed her eyes, hummed a bit, then fixed her team with a benevolent smile.

"You boys did a very good job today. In fact; you were all so good, how would you all like to take on this job ... permanently?"

For several long minutes; the wind blew, birds flew overhead and the teenagers stared blankly. Finally, Tezuka's voice broke the spell.

"Shit. Run everyone."

In a single row, the team bolted. Eiji was laughing fit to burst, while Oishi cried buckets. Fuji smiled, a grim faced Tezuka at his side. The rest of the looked horror stricken.

Reaching the gate; they streamed out in a single column behind their captain, then scattered wildly in every direction.

Left alone, Ryuzaki placed her hands on her hips, threw back her head, and laughed herself silly.

ENDLESS...................

Well, it's finally done!!! I've had a great time writing this, and I'm definitely going to write another "chibi" story sometime soon.

Phew! - ed.

Yes, thank you "devoted other half."