Here it is!! Chapter 4 of " Planes, Trains and Kids from HELL!!!!"
The juice is loose! But the boys flee the scene to discover the township.
Special guests this time are fellow net author Wildfilly, and three of her friends that I met at Wai-con...the Perth Anime convention.
The " Dancing" incident she is screaming about really happened! Much to my sadistic amusement. Thank you for letting me include you in this story wildfilly and hope you don't mind too much what I wrote you doing!!
The random girl holding the plushie is also a friend of mine from the net. Rubymoon 17.
Disclaimer: Sigh...here we go...AGAIN! Prince of Tennis is not mine and... I bemoan this fact constantly! I don't known The Wizard Express either! ( stops typing to sniff and hug Tezuka and Fuji plushies......)
A quick word! If You have not seen the Prince of Tennis special " Band of princes"....do so and you get to see Tezuka and Takashi play drums!!
Hope you enjoy!
STORY: Tora Macaw.
Seeing the kids in multiple stages of leaping about, bouncing off the walls, throwing up, developing strange hair or just simply gagging and passing out, Oishi decided it would wise to just slip out the door as unobtrusively as possible and maybe immediately leave the country before anyone could pin the blame on his juice-brewing friend.
Enlisting Takashi and Fuji's help in peeling Momo' and Ejij off the floor, the Seigaku vice-captain rescued Kaido from amidst a howling pack of young wizards hell bent on removing his " snake skin" for potions, then trotted past a totally disinterested Ryoma to gain the precarious safety of high ground in the court yard.
Spying his captain glaring at them from the shadows of the old butcher's hut nearby, Oishi guided the fleeing group toward him; then followed when Tezuka strode rapidly away without so much as a single word.
Leaving the noisy courtyard behind them, the Nine Japanese youths followed the mottled brick path leading out from behind Edenvale's buildings to walk swiftly into town.
Passing a few small shops and a bank, Tezuka abruptly turned into the doorway of a restaurant with the words " Steam Train Cafe" Emblazoned across the large double doors in gold lettering and sternly pushed his way through them. Stalking to the closest booth, he then sat down and immersed himself in a detailed study of the large, laminated menu while his team mates gazed about with interest.
The first thing the boys noticed was the big room's peaceful quiet. Two large fridges hummed quietly and Eiji turned to study the large range of drinks resting on the shelves within though the clear glass doors. Oishi joined him while Fuji and Ryoma joined their captain at his booth and the rest hunted for snacks among the colorful displays filling up the wall behind the long service counter where a smiling young woman welcomed them and asked if they wished to order. As a reply to their affirmative remarks, the woman indicated the empty booths, instructed the teenagers to sit and then informed them she would shortly attend their needs.
Pausing briefly to admire the large steam train painting almost filling up a side wall, Momo' slipped into the seat beside Ryoma while the rest of the team slid into the booth beside Tezuka's.
A small amount of quiet conversation followed with Momo' and Eiji giggling over events on the Wizard Express, while Fuiji calmly assisted Tezuka in removing the last of the sticky hundreds and thousands from his back and shoulders. Smiling happily at the task, Fuij lovingly reached up to gently brush some from the stotic teens hair; only to have Tezuka disdainfully lean back and stare sternly at the calf-eyed tensai.
Keeping their actions concealed beneath the tables, the others prodded each other and exchanged knowing looks.
The arrival of their waitress momentarily suspended a multitude of smirks and surreptitious comments, then, with the ordering over Tezuka firmly reminded the boys as to why they had flown halfway around the world in the first place.
" The match against Hideaki Botan won't be an easy one. No gorging on snacks." he added while glaring firmly at a grinning Momo'.
" Food that is bad for the body is bad for tennis."
" I agree." said Inui as he toyed with his glasses and opened up his data file with his free hand. " Data indicates a thirty percent increase in lowered performance due to the excessive consumption of unnecessary edibles. Of couse, I do have the necessary juice made to counteract such over indulgence...."
His purple eyes sparking with fear, Momo' swallowed nervously then whistled nonchalantly as he hid his many snack packages away into various pockets and folds of his robes. Chuckling over the bristle-haired youth's behaviour, Ryoma opened his can of juice while Tezuka fell back into his habitable silence and the rest of the team studied a town map from the tourist center.
" Nya, Oishi! look at this!" cried Eiji excitedly pointing at the large spread out square of paper. " A game center!"
Bouncing enthusiastically on his seat, the hyperactive redhead gave his doubles partner the full blast of his pleading ' kitten' eyes and loudly begged the green-eyed youth to accompany him to play some games.
Laying a calming hand on Eiji's shoulder, the raven haired vice-captain gently agreed and smiled warmly at the lively youth's happy cries of ; " 'Sankyou nya!!"
Lunch soon appeared on the scene and was swiftly consumed.
With the meal over, the teenagers finished off their drinks then followed Eiji as he dragged his laughing friend out the door to merry shouts of " Games time nya!! Come on Oishi!!"
Passing beneath the large " Time Zone" sign soaring overhead, the group strolled through the wide door way and into a huge, single room filled with many types of big, electronic games that all beeped, flashed and spoke in dull, flat sounding voices. A pack of teenagers lounged beside a shooting game as they urged a pair of their friends on, reminding Tezuka of a group gangsters from an old movie. Beyond them some kids from the train cheerfully indulged in driving games while their parents kept watch in a desultory fashion. Against the far wall, a Dance Dance Revolution machine belted out fast dance tunes and the boys recognized the face painter and the muttering girl high stepping upon it while their friends watched quietly.
" Oishi," cried Eiji as he trotted towards the blaring object and its prancing occupants. " Lets play that!"
" You'll have to wait Eiji." he softly replied, then joined the springy youth as he stood beside the blonde who had earlier surprised him with her " Mada mada da ne."
Off to the left, Momo' inticed Ryoma into a ' friendly ' game of air hockey and Tezuka startled the others by taking up the sticks of the " Druma maina " game and belting out a very good beat indeed!
Not to be outdone, Fuji took up the ' electric' guitar of the other ' band' game and selected a nice counter tune to go along side Tezuka's percussion.
Inui challenged Kaido to a down hill skiing game while Takashi amused himself on the motor bike simulator.
Around ten minutes later, Eiji and Oishi stepped onto the D.D.R floor, set it to heavy, then began to dance to a lively beat. Over on the air hockey table, things were getting decidedly dangerous as the match between Ryoma and Momo' grew incredibly fierce.
Arms whipped out to send to little plastic puck whizzing around the table like a flat bullet with resounding cracks, and Momo' had taken to taunting his friend.
" Come Echizen! surely you can do better then that!"
Sparing his tall friend an arrogant glance, Ryoma launched a furious counter attack with a quick, sharp flick of his left wrist.
" Mada mada da ne, weren't you going to show me a dunk slam sempai?"
Momo' grinned wickedly and sent the puck zooming back across the table, only to bounce off Ryoma's little round "bat"
" Your grip is weak, you've a way to go" smirked the younger boy as the puck slipped past Momo's defence to vanish down the 'goal' slot.
Retrieving the runaway object, the bristle-haired upperclassman branished his weapon and growled; " I'll show you who has a weak grip around here!"
Their skiing game over, Inui and Kaidoh wandered over to watch the savage spectacle unfold.
" Change the angle of your wrist by two degrees " murmured the juice fiend to Momo' a few moments later as he wrote up fresh data.
Grinning insanely, the bristle-haired power house altered his hand movements, then let out a triumphant cry of " Don!" as the puck skimmed its way past Ryoma's defences and vanished out of sight.
" Mada mada da ne. One battle doesn't win a war sempai."
With a smug smirk crossing his face, the dark haired youth retrieved the offending puck from it's pocket and the game resumed.
His own game over, Tezuka gave up the Drumamaina to Takashi, then strolled over to take up position behind the younger boy and critically evaluate his performance.
" Echizen. Less weight on your front foot. Concentrate on keeping the puck more central."
" Hai"
Leaning back, Ryoma dealt the flat orange object a devastating blow that bounced from Momo's bat, then rebounded from his own. It sailed down the table on a dead center projectory, then roared back toward him. With a casual flick of the wrist, Ryoma sent the puck screaming at a sharp angle to the center, only to have it slam off the side and thunder down into the depths of Momo's goal with a loud snick.
The central score board flashed up the resulting 7-6 outcome and Ryoma smirked his victory as his team mates cheered.
Jumping down from the D.D.R machine, Eiji threw an arm around his friend crying; " That was great O Chibi chan nya!"
Shrugging off the lingering arm, Ryoma strode away; only to stop short at the sight of a glittering pair of cerulean eyes.
" Saa... Echizen, how about a match against me?"
The dark-haired youth was about to reply, when Momo' all but pounced on the boy to place a firm hand on his left shoulder.
" Sorry Fuji, but Echizen and I are going to....dance ! "
" What?" gasped Ryoma as his back jerked in surprise and he failed to escape the taller youth clutches. " Dance? but Momo' sempai...."
Chucking happily, the bristle-haired youth ignored his friends protests to guide the younger boy over to the D.D.R, then laughingly purswayed him to step upon it. Glaring sourly at the flashing screen, Ryoma sulkily declared he didn't know how to play.
" Why its so easy Echizen! You see those arrows? When they light up, you step on the pad indicated."
Dropping two sliver tokens into the slot, Momo' set Ryoma's side to beginners mode, and his own to standard. Loud music blared out and the contest began.
' We are what we're supposed to be, Illusions from your fantasy.....'.
Eyes glued to the screen, Ryoma soon got into the rhythm then glanced sideways at Momo' who pranced light-footed and never missed a single step in spite the many arrows rabidly flooding his screen.
" That's pretty good Momo' sempai" muttered Ryoma as " Cartoon heroes" ended and " Captain Jack" began.
Head tossing, arms swinging and feet floating over the pads with an easy grace, Momo' danced as though born to it as he twirled on the spilt jumps and turned to face the screen again. Beside him, Ryoma kept to an easier pace but danced with no less grace as his confidence grew. By the time the third song began, Ryoma was perfectly relaxed and his old smirking arrogance was beginning to assert itself.
" I'm doing well at this game Sempai. Perhaps I will beat you."
" Not while your on beginners mode" Laughed Momo' as his feet flew in perfect time to the arrows flashing up before him.
" Then next round I'll play at your level."
" You'er on!"
Final round soon ended and the youths started again, only Ryoma found to his dismay that standard was hard and floundered badly on the first song.
" Ah never mind Echizen" sniggered Momo' as he fished about for new music. " Here." Pressing a button, he grinned cheekily at his little team mate as Queens " We will rock you" thudded to life from the speakers.
Watching Ryoma concentrate and rapidly start to improve as he danced to the slower song, Eiji grinned to Oishi then lifted a hand to his face as he remarked;" Shouldn't someone tell O Chibi Chan that Momo' owns his own D.D.R mat and is an expert at this game?"
Overhearing the conversation, Fuji turned to the redhead and slyly replied; " But this is more fun!"
" Nya!" Throwing one arm up, Eiji started to loudly cheer; " O Chibi Chan! come on! you can win this!"
" Momo' has fleetness of foot, but turns heavily on his left ankle" observed Inui as he wrote. " This new data indicates possibilities for new training routines involving fast speed bursts in small areas....."
Firmly folding his arms as he listened to Inui's grand plans, Tezuka's only thought ran along the lines of possibly biting the juice fiend if so much as tried to get him to make a public spectacle of himself on some dance machine! Huffing sternly, the proud youth turned away as the final song ended. Striding for the door, he heard his followers hastily trot in his wake.
Stepping out into the brisk afternoon breeze, he spied a suspension bridge across the road and swiftly made his way toward it.
Passing between the double rows of twelve trees baring spiky leaves of a red so deep they were almost black, Tezuka made as if to step out onto the bridge, but a loud; and somewhat indignant shriek right in front of him caused him to look up sharply and to nimbly step aside.
Running from the swaying structure; a tall slender girl with short, dark hair and wearing a sleeveless white coat that billowed out dramatically behind her, laughed as she dodged the blows of a padded golden axe on the end of a short staff that was being wildly wealded by an irate girl in a long purple robe.
"Get back here!" she yelled as the pair shot past the smirking Seigaku regulars and she swiped at her friends back. "I still haven't finished bludgeoning you and Ishizu for making me dance with Alucard!"
Ducking out from her hiding place behind the mosaic covered rectangles of concrete bridge supports, a third girl ( whom Eiji and Momo' remembered seeing in the party car ) wearing a white Egyptian style dress and matching veil joined her fellow 'victim' as they raced away down the street with a spiky haired fourth person bringing up the rear.
Staring after them, Fuji muttered; "well that was interesting."
"Hmmm ..." agreed Momo', rubbing his chin. "It was random. Come on Ryoma let's go out on the bridge!"
Glaring sourly at his sempai as the bristle-haired youth all but pushed him out onto the long expanse of wood and steel spanning the quiet water, Ryoma then looked down and smirked at how the bridge rocked beneath his feet. Behind the pair, Eiji started to bounce up and down so the entire thing dipped and lurched alarmingly.
"Nya, nya. Nya-nya nya. Nya-nya nya-nya nya-nya nya. Nya, nya. Nya-nya nya. Hoi hoi hoi!
Getsuyoubi kara asansebou kayoubi yake ni harahetta..........." He sang in time to his skipping as he past Ryoma and Momo' to prance across to the opposite shore and proceed to cartwheel about on the soft green lawn.
Laughing at his doubles-partner's childish antics, Oishi followed him, then drew him off to one side to admire the many colourful native flowers blooming in the garden beds.
Inui, Kaido and Takashi briefly joined them, then sat down above the steep bank to watch the river.
Ryoma leaned his elbows on the rail as he gazed downward and Momo' stood leaning over friend's his back, his long arms either side of the singles-star's body as he spoke into the short youth's ear and pointed out the various bird life on the water.
Smiling angelically, Fuji turned his eyes away from the little scene and stood facing the waterway with one hand resting lightly on the railing as he admired the serene beauty of the winter afternoon. Golden sunlight played across the rippling blue water creating a million glittering stars upon the breeze-tossed wavelets. Many trees growing close to the slowly flowing river reached their branches across it to make contrasting patterns of sunlight and shade, with some even leaning down so their leafy boughs touched their close neighbour with a gentle caress.
Feeling a sudden cold wind blow, Fuji hugged himself and rubbed his arms as he watched several ducks glide across the now slightly choppy water. He started to shiver, but startled when he felt something warm and soft being carefully wrapped around his neck and turned to face Tezuka.
As always his captain's face was serious and solemn, but Fuji caught a quick glimpse of tenderness shining within those proud, cold eyes and the shorter youth smiled as his exploring hands lifted the beautiful white-gold scarf from the gift shop to meet his admiring gaze.
Looking up once more, cerulean eyes met stern orbs of hazel-gold and for a fleeting moment, something passed between the two; a feeling of common destiny and a subtle twining of souls. Cocking his head to one side, the honey-haired tensai rubbed his cheek against the glittering wool and murmured an almost shy " Thankyou."
Tezuka stared down at him a moment, opened his mouth as if to speak, then turned away to lean his back against the railing and tip his head back to watch the sky. Chuckling under his breath, Fuji found he was content to just stand at his beloved captain's side and stare down at the river as the wind dropped a second time. Studying way the darters shot effortlessly beneath the surface then popped up again a good distance way with a struggling fish held firmly within the grip of slender long beaks, the smiling youth failed to notice how Tezuka turned his head to briefly watch him and smile gently.
A long, sad, drawn out whistle sounded from the train yards and Tezuka glanced at his watch. The time had come to re-board the train for the return journey to Fremantle, so with his reassembled team trotting at his heels, the young man strode stiffly away to face the ordeal of the kids once more.
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Passing a few people ( and twitching slightly at the way a dark-haired young-teen aged girl wearing glasses coo'ed and squee'ed over a soft toy doll that bore an uncanny resemblance to Takashi ), Tezuka returned to his seat and found to his vast relief that his carriage was now at the tail of the train and he wouldn't have to endure the bone jarring sound of the engine as it cried.
However, a more dire form of torture manifested itself in the terrifying sight of party whistles strategically placed on each seat during the passengers absence. Without stopping to think, he barked out; " Clean those up or run 50 laps!"
"But captain..." began Oishi worriedly as he eyed the rapidly returning families. "...those must have been put there for a reason, and if the people don't have them..."
Tightly folding his arms as his eyes flashed dangerously, Tezuka went straight into" immovable boulder mode" and didn't even seem to notice when Fuji placed a quick, teasing kiss on the end of his nose.
Laying a concerned arm on his captain's shoulder, Oishi Quietly told him: " Please endure captain..it's only for a short while."
To be concluded......I hope!!
So will Tezuka survive the ride back to Fremantle? Stay tuned to find out!!
STORY NOTES.
Eiji's song on the bridge is one of my personal favourites, and is called " Tonde! Mawatte! Mata Raishuu; Jump! Spin! See you next week. ( and if anyone out there has the full translation of that song please tell me! Pretty please!!!)
The suspension bridge first opened in 1998 and is a very popular tourist spot. and BELIEVE ME!! It really does buck and sway underfoot when you jump or skip on it! Great for scaring the hell out of nervous persons....smirk!
Sadly, Pinjarra is a small town that does not have a time zone entertainment center.( For the purpose of the fic, the huge hardware store opposite the bridge became the game center. )
Also, while the " Steam Train Cafe" is a real place, I have made it somewhat bigger than it truly is. The train painting on the wall is real, and very well done.
The birds Fuji watches from the bridge are " Snake Necked Darters". These birds are related to cormorants and can very swiftly swim and hunt underwater. The ducks on the river are Australian Black ducks, Wood ducks and Teals.
Sadly for us long suffering train staff, the party whistles are a new feature and quite popular among the kids!!
Until next time!!
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