TITLE: Painful Interjections

PART: Side Story 3 to Who Says College is Easy?

PAIRING: Akutsu Jin x Shishido Ryou

GENRE: Shounen-ai (Humour/ Continuation/ Angst / Romance)

DISCLAIMERS: The series I'm referring to does not belong to me… only this weird story does.

NOTES: Blah or Blah is for emphasis. /Blah/ is for conversations over the phone or flashbacks (if any). /Blah/ is for the conscience or whatever inner voice there is talking. Blah is for thoughts or random Japanese words. Some of these words are footnoted at the end of every page (I'm beginning to understand the need for footnotes in fiction. Thank you dear friend, you know who you are. XD).


Side Story 3 (Part Five B): SHISHIDO RYO - BANZAI!


The last day of the school year was approaching.

He was neck-deep in paperwork, but strangely, he was content. The fact that Ohtori called a couple of weeks ago to confirm his enrollment had something to do with it, that was fact, however, there was something in him, some inner voice nudging him to think that it was not the only reason why. Lately he was thinking that although his walking nightmare topped with blonde hair continued pestering him every chance he got, he was getting used to it, so much so that his day was not complete if he did not get wind of his sarcasm. It was disturbing, and yet he was content.

Whatever was wrong with him?

Taking a deep breath, he proceeded to the indoor tennis courts. Racket in hand; it was not a moment too soon when he spied Mizuki in a debate with Inui over something important. Seeing that there was no one else he knew well but them, he decided to bite the bullet and mingle. After all, if he couldn't beat 'em, he just had to join 'em and he'd be fine – as long as they don't kill each other, that is.

"Yo guys!" He called out, slinging one of his endless supplies of towels across his shoulders. "What's up?"

Both turned to him, making him hesitate for a split-second on whether it was a good idea to burst in on their undoubtedly strategic war. Mizuki's eyes were spitting out fire, and Inui's glasses gleamed evilly at him, winking under the light of the afternoon sun. Yes, together, they were frightening enough to make it to the Knott's Scary Farm on Halloween night. And they were now focused on him. He was afraid, alright... very afraid indeed.

"They were talking about Fuji's place in the final game table for the next tournament." Sengoku butted in good-naturedly, sauntering forward to where all three stood. Even with smiling eyes, Shishido couldn't discount the steely undercurrent in the former Yamabuki player's tone. There was something seriously wrong with him... as if the smile he was showing now was insincere.

"Oh?" He managed to ask, raising a questioning brow.

Sengoku nodded, eyes watchful, staring hard at him as if scrutinising his very soul. It was disconcerting to say the least, and if not for his control, he would have fidgeted. "They were –"

"Hey, we're here, you know!" Mizuki huffed, tossing his long hair off his shoulder. "Syusuke should be in singles one!"

Inui, obviously annoyed, adjusted his glasses. "No. As far as the statistics are concerned, Atobe has the advantage because the first team we will face uses the same technique he does, and Atobe is better at power plays thank Syusuke." He countered vehemently. "Relationships shouldn't be involved in precise judgements, Hajime."

Shishido winced. Ouch. Score one for Sadaharu-san. He couldn't help but agree with him on that one. Mizuki was being too biased about things sometimes. He sighed inwardly. What do you know... he loves him more than he loves anyone else after all...

At that, Mizuki reddened, first in embarrassment, then in anger. He knew him too much now to know how each emotion looked like as they crossed his face. Well, not "horny" though, he had yet to see that, and something told him he shouldn't be hoping to see it anytime soon. His friend always was too stubborn for his own good. Someday, it would be the death of him. Briefly, a thought entered his mind.How does he look like humbled? Then, he brushed it away, cringing, wondering why in seven hells did he think that way. He was such a horrible friend. He shook his head and sighed once again, eyes shifting away as the feud started its unpleasant pace. Maybe he should start looking for transparent earplugs now. He knew Mizuki would lose this battle for sure, and he did not want to hear him rant all night about it. He more important work to do rather than sit around and listen to him spurt out his endless litanies about Truth, Justice and the Tennis Way.

It was the moment when he was about to turn around and walk away that Sengoku grabbed his wrist. It was such sudden motion that he was literally pulled back, nearly stumbling, to face him. His temper flared as his eyes met his present adversary's sharp orbs. There was something disturbing lodged in them that made him shut up. His ill feeling, however, did not dissipate, instead, it welled up even more, now that he knew something was wrong and he had no clue as to what it was. One thing he hated most was being kept in the dark about things that should concern him; most of all when it was himself that was involved. And from the way Sengoku was staring at him now, he was sure everything was about him. What was it?

There they stood, face to face, both silent as each regarded the other critically. Finally, Sengoku blinked and a smile suffused his once grim features. "You look really pretty with that hair." He commented lightly, hands sliding easily in the pocket of his practice shorts. "Since when have you been growing it?"

Shishido was taken aback. What was the guy thinking pulling him into his circle of resistance back and then asking him such senseless question? "Eh?" He couldn't help staring at him in confusion. "What did you say?"

The other's smile turned up a notch. "I just complemented you... and I asked since when you have been growing it." He said pleasantly. "So...?"

"Uh, umm, Thanks. And uh, I've been growing it since senior high... but I don't see what that has anything to do with..." He stammered almost incoherently, eyes blinking multiple times, betraying his lack of grasp of the situation.

Sengoku fingered his own locks and looked up thoughtfully. "Hmm, well, I've been thinking of growing mine as well, though I don't think it would work the same as it did yours... what do you think?"

Briefly, Shishido envisioned his look with long orange hair, and he tried his best not to shudder in complete revulsion. That would be the worst! He frowned. "There's nothing wrong with your hair, why don't you just keep it short?"

"Because the most important person to me likes long hair, and I thought I should try have..." He reasoned, eyes lighting up so suddenly that Shishido had to know whom it was that made him so pleased. "Jin!"

Jin? No, it can't be... Slowly, he turned around, pupils dilating in shock. It can, apparently. He thought in annoyance. "What's he doing here?" He muttered darkly, glaring at the newcomer staring at him just as intently. There was a brief flush that rose up his neck the moment their eyes connected, but it quickly subsided when he spied the smirk self-satisfied smirk on the slightly chapped lips.

"Jin! You came! I was beginning to think that you wouldn't." Sengoku grinned happily. There was something territorial about the way he spoke that made him think something was up. He just didn't know what it was, and he wished he knew, because instinct told him it had something to do with him. He shook his head and started to turn away when the evil idiot spoke.

"I met your friend near the gate, talking to your former captain."

"My friend?" Shishido asked suspiciously, facing him, a brow raised in question.

"The tall one, with white hair." It was delivered in such a cynical voice that he decided something was bothering the guy. What was it? And how did he know about... Ohtori? Was he stalking him? Wait, that couldn't be, he hated him so much, right? So why would he bother then? There was something really off with the situation, no matter how much he pondered over it... and he did not have any time to do so anyway, better leave it to late sleepless nights when the sheep were too tired to jump over the proverbial fence. He kicked himself inwardly. Nice going Ryo. He chided himself.

"Ohtori?" He asked stiffening. "How did you know he was my friend?"

"Oh, a little bird told me." Akutsu Jin smirked, an evil one that seemed to signify the knowledge of something about him that he himself did not know of. No, it would not do well for him to get blackmailed this early in his college life. So what was it?

He was about to make a cutting remark when he noticed Sengoku's eyes watching their scathing exchange. Then he spoke. "Why don't you just meet up with him?"

Shishido blinked. Was that hostility he detected in the redhead's voice? Suspicion reared its ugly face in his head, threatening to overwhelm his logic.

It seemed as if Sengoku Kiyosumi was jealous.

Why?

He had some ideas, but he dared not delve into them too much.

They disturbed him.


TSUZUKU


A/N: Schedules are evil. >.