Author's Note: I decided to write the next chapter because I had time! Go me! So anyways, thanks to all the people supporting this story. It really inspires me to keep writing. Okay, onto the next chapter!
Disclaimer: Still don't own PoT/TnO...sucks, doens't it?
Chapter NineSaturday finally came. The Hyotei regulars stood at the courts, anxiously waiting the arrival of the other school, knowing that this practice match could possibly foretell what could happen at Zenkoku. Every now and then, one of the Hyotei player's eyes would stray to their Fukubuchou, the same thought raced through their heads. 'Would Oishi still be with Hyotei when Zenkoku rolled around?' No one knew the answer to that.
The said Fukubuchou was a little but apart from the other players, a look of nervousness upon his face. No one could blame Oishi for being nervous and every Hyotei player knew that.
"Nervous?" Atobe asked.
Oishi turned his head to the Hyotei captain and nodded. "A little," he admitted. In truth, Oishi was close to fainting due to his anxiety. He wondered how Atobe couldn't notice how his legs were shaking.
"You'll be fine," Atobe said.
Oishi looked skeptical but kept his mouth shut. The sound of a bus close by, turned all the Hyotei players' heads.
"They're here!" Gakuto announced.
Oshitari's glasses flashed in the sun, "So it begins," he said cryptically.
"What do you mean Yuushi?" Gakuto asked, tilting his head to the side in puzzlement.
Oshitari only smiled. Atobe watched as the familiar blue, white and red of Seigaku's uniformed regulars stepped off the bus and started to make their way to the courts. An idea just struck him, as the other players neared. Atobe put his plan in motion.
"Kabaji!" he called
"Usu!"
"Wake Jiroh!" he commanded.
"Usu!"
""Shishido, Ohtori," he called.
The two Hyotei players came to where Atobe was standing. "What?" Shishido demanded.
"Hai, Atobe-buchou?" Ohtori asked.
"Ore-sama wants to surprise Seigaku," Atobe said. "Take Oishi and do not come out until you hear my call."
Oishi turned to Atobe. "What's going on?" he asked. "Why do I need to hide?"
Atobe just smiled. "Do as Ore-sama says," he said.
Oishi was about to protest when Ohtori and Shishido started dragging him behind the bleachers.
"Quiet!" Shishido said.
"Why is Atobe doing this?" Oishi asked.
"Atobe-buchou has his reasons," Ohtori said.
Ohtori glanced at Shishido who glanced back. They both knew why Atobe would want to keep Oishi from Seigaku. To reveal that their former Fukubuchou was now a different school's Fukubuchou could throw off Seigaku completely.
"Ah, Tezuka," they heard Atobe greet the other captain.
"Tezuka-san?" Oishi said.
Shishido quickly clamped a hand over Oishi's mouth. "Shh," he hissed.
"Atobe," Tezuka greeted back.
"Your team looks…different," Atobe said smugly.
His eyes swept over the whole Seigaku team, noticing a certain droop of the shoulders that every player had. Even the tensai had a sad aura about him, not to mention that their acrobatic player was on the verge of tears.
"We are…missing a key player," Tezuka said.
"Ah, your Fukubuchou," Atobe said.
A noticeable flinch went through the whole team, including Tezuka. "Iie," Tezuka said.
Atobe allowed himself to raise an eyebrow. "Elaborate," he said.
Fuji stepped up, relieving Tezuka from answering the question. "I am Fukubuchou," Fuji said.
"Hn," Atobe said. "So you have a new Fukubuchou?" Atobe asked, obviously knowing the answer. He just wanted to see Seigaku squirm a little more.
"Aa," Tezuka answered. His glance swept the Hyotei team. "You are missing players as well."
Atobe waved his hand in a careless gesture. "Ore-sama sent them on an errand," Atobe said. "They will be here shortly."
Suddenly a blur of orange went between the two captains and almost tackled Fuji to the ground. "Fuji!"
The tensai steadied himself. "Jiroh," he calmly greeted.
"It's so nice to see you! I can't wait to beat you!" Jiroh cried out, his enthusiasm taking over.
Fuji just smiled. Tezuka and Atobe watched on as their teams greeted each other.
"It's that damn Eiji," Gakuto said, walking with Oshitari up to the Seigaku redhead.
"Nya, Gakuto," Eiji said, not bothering to hid the bitterness in his voice.
"Where's your partner?" Gakuto taunted.
A hush fell over the entire Seigaku team. "Fujiko-chan!" Eiji cried, running over to the tensai and burying his head into Fuji's shirt.
Gakuto looked at Oshitari. "Something I said?" he asked.
"Fuji, try to calm Kikumaru down," Tezuka said. He turned to Atobe. "We should start the match."
Atobe nodded. Tezuka pulled out his list and was about to began announcing the Seigaku lineup when Atobe stopped him.
"A change of plans," Atobe said.
Tezuka raised an eyebrow. He didn't particularly appreciate it when plans were changed without his knowledge.
"Instead of a full match, we will play singles one only," Atobe announced.
Both teams stared at Atobe. Hyotei knew Atobe was planning to reveal Oishi but they didn't think that he would cancel all the match ups and only have singles one. They didn't even know that Oishi was put into the singles 1 slot.
"Atobe, is this wise?" Oshitari asked.
"Do not question me," Atobe snapped. "Well, Tezuka?"
"Hn," Tezuka said.
"Tezuka, you're not really going along with him are you?" Fuji asked, still holding Eiji.
"Let's begin, Atobe," Tezuka said, making his way to the nearest court.
Atobe didn't move, a smile adorned on his face. "Ore-sama never said who you opponent was," he said.
"You did not put yourself as singles 1?" Tezuka asked.
Atobe shook his head. "Ore-sama had a better idea," he said. "Although every idea Ore-sama has is good."
Almost all of the Seigaku players rolled their eyes.
"Monkey King," Seigaku's youngest regular called out. Atobe's eye almost twitched but he chose to remain composed as was befit one of his stature. He looked to the freshman. "Who's the mysterious player? Is he strong?"
"I'm sure you met him before," Atobe said.
"What do you mean?" Momoshiro asked.
"Shishido, Ohtori, bring out our newest regular," he called.
Shishido and Ohtori each grabbed one of Oishi's arms and pulled him into view. Oishi looked at the other team, his heart thumping wildly for no apparent reason.
"O-O-Oishi-s-senpai?" Momoshiro stammered.
Kaidoh just stared, eyes wide. Every Seigaku regular's eyes were wide and fixated upon the emerald-eyed boy. Eiji shakily made his way to Oishi and put his hand on Oishi's face.
"O-Oishi, n-nya," Eiji stammered.
Oishi pulled away from Eiji. "Uh, I'm sorry, do I know you?" he asked.
Eiji snatched his hand back as if he had been burned. "Y-you d-don't remember me, nya?" Eiji asked, his voice no louder than a whisper.
Oishi shook his head. "Gomen," he said.
Fuji's azure eyes opened at this comment before turning to Tezuka. 'It seems you were hiding something else.' He thought sadly.
Tezuka remained frozen to the spot as he looked at Oishi. 'He's here at Hyotei.' Tezuka thought. His mind seemed to whirl as the information processed through. His breath seemed to get caught in his throat. Somehow he managed to keep his composure long enough to call out. "Oishi."
Oishi turned to Tezuka, a smile on his face. "Tezuka-san," Oishi called. "I didn't know you were part of Seigaku's tennis team." He moved closer to Tezuka.
'He's here.' Tezuka's mind seemed bent on this one fact and he could not think of anything else.
"Tezuka-san, are you alright?" Oishi asked, concern filling his voice.
'No.' Tezuka thought. 'I am not well. I need you back, Oishi. Come back to Seigaku.' "Aa," Tezuka managed to say. He could feel his legs about to give way and willed himself to hold on. His heart was thudding so hard it was a wonder that no one else heard it.
Oishi stood very near to Tezuka, his eyes boring into Tezuka's. "You do not look well, Tezuka-san," Oishi said. "You should sit down."
Oishi laid a hand on Tezuka's arm and guided him to the bench. It took all of Tezuka's willpower not to hug Oishi. Not to grab hold and never let go.
"I'll get some water," Oishi said. He turned to go.
"Iie," Tezuka said, reaching out to grab hold of Oishi's wrist.
Atobe narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you well enough to play, Tezuka?" he asked.
Tezuka glared at Atobe. "You planned this, Atobe," Tezuka said, his voice dangerously quiet.
"He is Hyotei's Fukubuchou and deserves to play singles 1," Atobe said.
"You…!" Momoshiro exclaimed.
"Y-you turned Oishi on us?" Kawamura asked.
"Ii data," Inui murmured.
"Ore-sama would not stoop that low," Atobe said. "Oishi transferred here."
"Souka, so this is where Oishi has been," Fuji said.
"Hoi," Eiji said sadly.
Tezuka glared at Atobe. "I will not play," he declared.
Atobe shook his head. "If you do not play, you will forfeit," he said, knowing that Tezuka would never forfeit the game unless he had no control over the situation.
Tezuka looked Oishi, whose wrist he was still holding. 'If only I had not been selfish.' He thought. He sighed. "I withdraw my former statement," he announced, letting go of Oishi's wrist.
"Tezuka," Fuji called.
"It is my decision," Tezuka said.
Fuji shook his head. 'Make you decisions with your heart, not your pride.' He silently chastised the captain.
Atobe's smile grew wider. "Court A," he said.
Oishi hurried to Atobe's side. "He still does not look well," Oishi commented. "Maybe we should postpone this match."
"No," Atobe said. "It will go on as scheduled."
"If he is not well, he should not play," Oishi protested.
"The match will commence," Atobe said through clenched teeth. Oishi opened his mouth to say something but decided against it. It simply wasn't worth it to argue with Atobe this time.
"Who will be judge?" Oishi asked instead.
Atobe opened his mouth to appoint someone but he noticed a figure sitting in the referee's chair already. It was the freshman brat.
"Oi, Echizen, you sure you want to judge?" Momoshiro called out.
"Mada mada dane, Momo-senpai," the freshman called out.
"That gaki is going to be judge!" Gakuto exclaimed.
To dispel further protests, Echizen quickly called out. "Seigaku's Tezuka to serve!"
All the voices quieted down as Tezuka calmly bounced the ball. Calm as he was outside, his insides twisted up as he stared at the face of his opponent. 'Oishi,' he thought. 'You are now the opponent. If only you were still a teammate.' Oishi bent his knees, preparing to return the ball, his face concentrated on the bouncing neon ball. 'I can't.' Tezuka thought. 'I can't play Oishi. It hurts too much.'
Oishi waited patiently for Tezuka to start the match. 'Even though Tezuka-san is a friend, I will have to beat him.' He thought. 'But why does it feel so bad when I think of beating him?'
Tezuka finally threw the ball into the air. He bent his knees and waited for the ball to drop to the right height before smacking it to the other side. 'Oishi!' his mind screamed as the ball landed on the other side, beginning the match that Tezuka knew would crush him, win or lose.
Author's Note: I think I should put a little more angst in there right? Tell me what you think and if I need to change, I will repost this chapter, promise.
Read and Review! Arigatou!
