A/N notes: Heh, I've never written a crack pairing before…But I'm still not sure how this fic will end! I can assure you though, that there will be no character death I hate those; they make me cry and they mess up my mind/sanity! (Yes, I get too touched by fics most of the times…they affect me more than they really should XD )

And about the Ootori x Shishido pairing, I have inserted some hintings in this fic, but they don't show up just yet. I have furthermore no idea of the final pairing of this fic…suggest me one, if you like ;D

Chapter 2: An easy prey

Ootori was excited. His first day of practice this year! The Hyotei tennis club was so huge, with big courts and hundreds of players. They would definitely make it far this year in the tournaments, when they had had such a good start already.

The mumbling around him fell quiet and everyone quickly gathered up, as the captain walked onto the court. Ootori knew that Atobe was a strong player, he had seen him in many matches and the boy had never lost. Atobe was definitely worthy the position of a captain.

Atobe came to inform everyone on their practice for the rest of the year, as well as the up-coming tournaments.

Ootori was so proud to be a regular in Hyotei, it had been like a dream come true and he had practiced so hard to achieve it. Now he was there and he would give it his all to see that Hyotei got far this year.

Ootori was definitely excited.

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Atobe eyed the challenge from the corner of his eyes as he spoke. His tennis looked good, naturally for a Hyotei regular, but so did the rest of the boy.

It was only in his favor and Oshitari's loss that Ootori was a regular now, and so Atobe could spend more time with the boy than if Oshitari had picked him a random non-regular.

Well, he had collected all the information on the boy's tennis and, while he was at it, body language during the friendly practice game Ootori had played with a non-regular before Atobe had come onto the court. Oshitari was right, definitely a virgin. Plus the cross around his neck. Christian.

Atobe was starting to understand why Oshitari had given him so much time to score with Ootori, when Atobe usually only need like a week at the most to pull it off with guys.

Ootori seemed like a real challenge and after a long Christmas break filled with plenty of easy guys, Atobe was in the mood for something he had to work to get. There were actually those few things in his life that Atobe wanted to achieve himself, one being tennis and the other being guys. In those aspects Atobe didn't mind getting his hands dirty.

"Non-regulars start practicing matches against each other. Freshmen pick up balls. Regulars stay behind a while longer for further instruction!" Atobe called and his players obeyed. Oshitari sent Atobe a teasing smirk as Ootori hurried up to stand by his side, where the regulars were moving in closer to their captain.

Atobe ignored the tensai and let his eyes rest mostly upon the junior, who didn't even notice he was being watched.

"We've got said tournaments coming up and so our training schedule will be tougher and longer than before. I expect you all to give it your best and not get sloppy. We'll start working even harder tomorrow. That's it. Begin your practice for today with self-training and practice matches."

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"It was refreshing with some practice after a long break." Oshitari smiled, as the last regular had packed up and exited the door, leaving Atobe and Oshitari alone in the locker room.

"It was indeed." Atobe replied, keeping up a normal conversation for as long as they could hear the departing footsteps. When all was silent Oshitari continued.

"So are you convinced now?" the tensai asked and buttoned his shirt up. "About Ootori."

Atobe placed his rackets into his bag. "Ah. He's a virgin, as you said."

"Mmm, maybe you got a too easy Christmas vacation and your insight is first now waking up again…or maybe it fell asleep during the time you were cornering Jiroh." Oshitari teased.

"The boy does have a way to get you addicted to the bed…" Atobe shot back and rose to his feet. "But you've given me over a month time to fulfill this bet…Are we going to have any terms?"

Oshitari shrugged. "However you like it."

Atobe closed the space between them. "You should know how I like it." the captain's tone sounded huskier than before and Oshitari playfully elbowed him off and continued to pack his regular's clothes away.

"If I win, then you will owe me a date." Oshitari said and Atobe shot him a quizful look. "A lovemovie date. A straight one though, since there's a shortage of gay lovemovies."

"Thank God, then there'd be more of them." Atobe sighed. "Fine, if I win then…" Atobe shot a sneaky look Oshitari's way. "Then you put a strain on your relationship with Mukahi."

"Do you mean…-" Oshitari asked as Atobe cut in.

"Yes, no sex for a week." Atobe smirked. "And you're not to tell him the reason to your sudden behavior either."

"That is just too cruel." Oshitari said, replacing his glasses on his nose. "Gakuto will believe I don't find him inspiring anymore…"

"Either that or that you've gone insane saying no to sex." Atobe replied snarkily. "He could also believe you are up to your old tricks again, so I'm actually doing you a favor. You get to test if your love is meant to last, and how much you really trust each other."

"When you put it like that, it starts to sound reasonable." Oshitari smirked, sure he wanted to test their devotion, but a whole week without any? How was he going to keep a distance, that wouldn't awake too much suspicion from the redhead?

"With the risk of having to go on a sappy date with lovemovies, I believe it sounds more than reasonable, especially since I sense there will be no chance of me getting laid after said date, now is there?" Atobe shot the tensai a teaseful glance.

"Also a way of testing my faithfulness towards Gakuto, by refusing you." Oshitari joked, although it was all very true.

"But what if we were really to go on a date? What would he say when he heard about that?" Atobe said amused.

"Are you saying you think you'll lose to me?" Oshitari countered and placed his bag over his shoulder. "Well then, I guess our terms are set. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to go home to my boyfriend."

Oshitari knew his statement would make his best friend want to roll his eyes from the mere thought of him turning from Atobe's best friend and player into a loving and faithful husband, but that's pretty much the reason he shared that piece of information with the captain. To annoy him.

Atobe again may have strong opinions, but the boy was also well-mannered as much as a player could be, and thus didn't say anything about it.

"Later then." Atobe answered instead, and Oshitari gave him a wave over his shoulder before exiting the locker room.

The captain did wonder though, if Oshitari never got tired of sleeping with the same boy. Mukahi had to be more than very bendable in that case…Come to think of it Mukahi and Ootori were now the only regulars Atobe hadn't slept with. Kabaji aside, who was strictly his personal man servant and body guard against clingy guys who came back and wanted more from Atobe than just an one-night stand.

But enough of that. Atobe needed to concentrate on his part of bet now, unless he wanted to sit through a two hours long movie from hell.

Atobe packed the rest of his stuff into his tennis bag and locked up the locker room door, meanwhile thinking what tactics could fit on Ootori best. Should he be pushie? Or play nice and understanding? Have different points of views that could interest the Christian boy and get a discussion going between them?

Maybe all of the above.

Atobe would just have to test a conversation on the boy tomorrow and get an idea over his personality first, then after profiling him Atobe should be able to handle the rest.

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The next day came and Atobe eyed his newest prey on the court. The boy was doing some self-training, which meant Ootori was alone at the moment and there was no one to disturb them.

Atobe walked over to the boy, who was sitting on the ground and stretching his legs. As soon as Ootori noticed the presence of his captain, the junior practically flew up on his feet and bowed low.

"Atobe-buchou!" Ootori said, his voice both serious and full of respect.

"Don't let me interrupt your training." Atobe replied and Ootori's head sank even lower in the bow, before the boy sat back down on the ground again and continued on his stretching, as told.

"I just came over to see how you were doing, you've just joined us as a regular." Atobe said, his voice sounding less authoric and almost nice.

"H-hai. I'll do my best!" Ootori shot a quick look at him. Atobe smirked for himself, the boy avoided eye-contact with him. That could have to do with either shyness or respect, in Ootori's case it seemed like both. But they would get nowhere if both of them were being just nice and polite, so Atobe decided to change his methods a bit.

"I know you will." Atobe's statement caught Ootori a little off guard. "You seem like a reliable player. Ootori Choutarou, wasn't it?"

Ootori gave him a nod and Atobe let his eyes fall on the cross around the boy's neck in such a way, that Ootori couldn't have missed it. "You have one impressive serve."

"Hai, thank you. The scud serve." Ootori answered and hadn't noticed himself how he had stopped training. Atobe noticed it, though. He saw every single detail, that Ootori wasn't even aware he was sending out.

"Hmm, I'd like to try you out sometime, with your fast serve." Atobe said. "It will be interesting to see if I can top you."

Ootori let out a small blush, but Atobe could tell it was from honor and not caused by his hint. "I am sure you can, Atobe-buchou." the younger boy said with a shy smile.

Atobe stopped a smirk from entering his face. The boy was just too cute. "But it doesn't seem to me like you've got full control over the ball after you've served it."

Ootori jerked back a little, visual to Atobe's eyes.

"Um, no. Shishido-san tells me I twist my wrist when I serve." Ootori confessed and this time it was Atobe's time to be taken aback.

'Shishido-san ?' Atobe knew that the third year and Ootori had teamed up in doubles together recently, just before Ootori had made regular, but Atobe didn't know Shishido had taken such an interest in the second year. Too bad for Shishido that Ootori was his bet.

"Then would you mind it if I took a look personally at your form someday after practice?" Atobe said and Ootori shone up. His captain really did everything he could for his team, Ootori never knew Atobe was so kind and caring!

"W-would you? I mean, I don't want to be to any trouble." Ootori stammered.

"It's only in my best interest." Atobe reassured and Ootori flew back up on his feet again and gave a deep bow.

"Sorry for the trouble!" Ootori said.

"Well, I better leave you to your practice then." Atobe commented and Ootori realized he hadn't been training for over half of the time Atobe had been there. A pink blush rose onto his cheeks.

"H-hai."

Atobe only smiled as he turned around, about to walk away. "Can you stay late today?" he asked, making it sound more like a request than a question, and Ootori looked at him confused.

'Today?' the junior thought and hurried to give his waiting captain an answer. "Hai!"

"Then I'll see you after practice." Atobe added over his shoulder and walked off, feeling the looks of a stunned Ootori on his back.

Profile of Ootori's personality: Christian, straight, but no homophobe. Shows no interest in Atobe, other than as a teammate and as the junior's captain. Listens and considers other people's points of views, doesn't seem like a faker or a bad-mouther at all.

Atobe also believed Ootori had never really considered whether he was gay or straight, but always asumed straight for being the normal thing. Religiously the right choice. Ootori didn't seem as the person to condemn anyone, though. And the younger boy did absolutely not pick up on his gay-ish hints, like most other guys did.

His tactics should therefore involve both playing nice and understanding, as well as pushie. Ootori seemed like the type to want to fall in love first before doing anything and Atobe didn't have time to sit and hold Ootori's hand for a half year before getting down to business. At that point he would have to insert the tactic with the other points of views.

It might feel a little weird for the younger boy to find his captain being so overly caring, but Atobe still believed that Ootori usually thought good about all people, until having a real reason not to. But then again the junior would probably not give up on them after that either way.

Atobe checked his watch. He had half an hour time to consider his next steps with the little extra practice with Ootori, and while he was at it why not play a couple of practice games as well?