Disclaimer: Takeshi Konomi created Prince of Tennis. Anything you recognize – I don't own. Anything you don't – I do own.

AN: Thank you to everyone who reviewed, I appreciated it all, and yes, even the constructive comments from Cinpii, LoL =]. I now know the problems within my chapters, and yes, I know my horrible grammar. Which is why I need a beta-reader. If anyone is interested, my email is in my bio page. Anyways, this chapter is mostly more focused on Fuji's POV, although there are some other people's POV. After a few days of arguing with myself whose POV this chapter is going to be in, Eiji or Fuji I went with Fuji. I want them to keep a bit of their old personalities with them, Fuji still has his sadist nature and Eiji is hyperactive most of the time. But overall, they matured through life. Went to Troy on May 15th, I'm a BIG fan of Orlando Bloom. It was AMAZING!!!! I love that movie!!!! I recommend t!!!! Okay, okay, I know I am going off topic. Here it is, my third chapter. I edited it this time, so even though I tried my best, there might be some grammatical problems. Anyways, hope you enjoy it =].

Pieces of My Heart

Chapter 2 – Manipulation


"Heh, Fuji?"

"Hai?" the smile on his face never wavered.

"Will this work?"

"Why wouldn't it?'" the smile widened by a bit.

"I think they are in a pretty serious study session." His red haired companion replied. "Ryuzaki-chan seemed to be actually listening to him."

"Saa...," he answered back, picking an English novel off the shelf. "Then we'll see what happens. Won't we?" The "innocent" smile on his face somehow changed itself to a smirk.

"Nya..." Eiji trailed off, "I don't know about this. How is walking over to them going to help?"

"We'll see." That was all he said to his best friend's question.

"Hoi?" Eiji questioned. "But Fuji, don't we need to plan things before hand? I mean..."

"Don't worry, Eiji, everything will work out," Fuji reassured smoothly. "Let's go." With that, the brunette and the redhead quietly walked their way over to Sakuno and Kazami.

When they were less than two meters away from the objects of their attention, Eiji started to be unsure. Ya, he was the one who wanted to come in the first place, but now...he was not so sure. His normal spying didn't really involve "accidentally" finding people in certain places and manipulate the situation until one of them was pissed off. He started to shoot uncertain glances towards the blue-eyed prodigy, who seemed to be as calm as always, not a bead of sweat on his face. The normal smile that he pasted on his face was there and if you look closely, an
almost invisible trace of a smirk was hanging onto his lips. Well, it was good that at
least one of them was confident as always, because he didn't know what was he suppose to do. Now they were about no more than a meter away.

"Fuji??? What do we do now???? We should've just stayed over there to see what they were doing, not talk to them."He whispered rather loudly, but not enough for Sakuno and Kazami to notice.

"Saa...just relax." Fuji's smile widened even more, if that was possible.

Half a meter.

"Hoi??? Relax??? How am I supposed to do that??? I don't even know what to do!!!!"

"Be yourself and just let ME handle the rest." Fuji said, as he gently pushed the energetic and slightly panicked boy slightly ahead of him.

"Nya?" Eiji said, just as he almost tumbled across the feet of the male tutor of the studying pair. Of course, being the one that had the fastest reflex on their high school tennis team, Eiji was going to dodge the feet and regain his grounds. He would've done that if the smiling boy behind him gave an unseen not-so-soft push. As he gave in to the urge of a
surprised yelp, Eiji couldn't help but step on the left foot of Kazami Haiyato. Hard.'

Fuji Syusuke almost winced and felt sorry for the vice-captain. Almost. But that was the way life is. Shrugging, Fuji smirked inwardly to himself, life was unfair, and you had to live with it. He learned it the harsher way and he survived. This was nothing compared to what he went through and it was just too bad for Kazami to pick Sakuno of all girls to like.

"Ouch!!!" Kazami's sharp yelp rang throughout the library, earning them a pointed glare from the twenty-something female librarian. Luckily, one cheeky grin from Eiji and an easy smile from Fuji were all it took for her to blush and look away.

Eiji swallowed. "Just be yourself..." Fuji's words echoed in his mind. "Just be yourself, be yourself, be yourself..." Concentrating on those words, his eyes became playful, the sweating stopped, he calmed down and his normal enthusiastic grin was across his lips. He was ready.

Fuji took a quick look at his partner in crime, Eiji seemed to recovered form his earlier nervousness and was perfectly normal. Slits of cerulean blue eyes peeked under the eyelids and the wicked smile appeared to be replaced by a concerned one. To Kazami, Fuji looked genuinely worried and he probably couldn't image what the tensai and the acrobat player had planned for him ahead.

"Life is a game." A wise person Fuji knew told him. "A game that nobody can win in." That didn't stop him to manipulate life, did it? Any second now, Eiji will start the first step. "Nya!!! Mengo, mengo!!!" Eiji apologized to Kazami bouncily, who was rubbing his feet. "I didn't see your feet there at all!!!" As he bowed a little, Eiji caught his eyes and nodded slightly.

Although, life might be a game and none of them might not win at the end. But for now, Kazami was going to play this game by his rules. Why? It was simply because he was Fuji Syusuke. To him, life didn't control him, he controlled it. No questions asked.

Fuji's concerned smile wavered dangerously to a smirk, but he caught himself.

Let the games begin.

AN: Read and Review!!! OMG...GOING TO ANIME NORTH THIS WEEKEND!!!! SO EXCITED!!!! This is probably one of my shortest chapter ever!!!! I don't really know if this is good or not. This is just the beginning of the manipulation. Fuji and Eiji are not completely the way I portrayed them in this chapter. They have a darker and more mature side to them, especially Fuji, I want him to be harded by an aspect of life that I will later on write about. Anyways, I know that I'm focusing on Fuji and Eiji in this chapter and the half of all of the next chapter also. I also am aware that this is a RYOMA x SAKUNO fic. FUJI AND EIJI WILL BE DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH THOSE TWO'S problems. As much as I love those two, Sakuno and Ryoma is the main point in this story. I love writing about our favourite couple!!! Getting back on the topic again , constructive comments welcomed, everything welcomed. I want opinions, some can be good, some can be bad. Although what I love the most is constructive comments or just a nice review with good suggestions hint hint LoLzZZ. Next week is my grad trip!!!! Won't be back until next Friday. So...don't expect the next chapter for a while...hehehe..have to go now. TTYL =]