Chapter Four: Kuni-Chan!

"Game and match, Ibu-Kamio pair, 6-0," Ann announced as Momoshiro let out a sigh of defeat. Ryoma tried to get away quickly, but Momoshiro would have none of it.

"Echizen! You know it's your fault we lost, right!" Momoshiro demanded as Ryoma winced as his angry state.

"Um…"

"ECHIZEN!" Shinji decided it's time for another of his two cent's.

"You two lost because you two were arguing. If you argue too much, people will become scared of you because you're always yelling. You'll loose your voice because you argue too much, and then you'd loose your dignity because you can't stand up for yourself, but it doesn't really matter to you two because you too had no dignity to begin with. Yes. That's why you lost, because-"

"Shinji," Kamio sighed. Then, turning to An he said, "An! You're still keeping that promise you made to us, right? An?"

"Uh, sure, as soon as I finish this match with Suzume-chan," An replied as Kamio looked completely crushed. Nonetheless, everyone except Fuji and An got off the courts to watch.

"So, who is she? Fuji's relative or something?" Momoshiro asked Eiji. Eiji shook his head no as Ann served.

"Uh, no! She's… Fujiko! Fujiko Suzume!" Eiji offered laughing nervously.

"She's new, so we're showing her around town," Inui added to clear up any further confusion.

"Eh?" Ryoma scoffed, unconvinced. "Her name sounds a lot like Fuji-sempai's."

"Oh, let it go, Echizen!" Momoshiro sighed, still a bit disappointed with the lost.

"Whatever," Ryoma huffed.

The match ended relatively quickly, An getting in a couple of points here and there and even a game due do Fuji's 'stupid' shoes and among other things as she would say. The gang bid each other farewell: An, Kamio and Shinji going one way, Ryoma and Momoshiro going another, and Eiji and Inui trying to figure out what to do with the newly found girl.

"I still think we should tell Tezuka first," Eiji stated.

"He's got a point, Fuji," Inui said, not calling her by her girl name simply because it seemed more normal this way. "Tezuka really ought to know about this."

"And why is that?" Fuji pouted. She was beginning to sound awfully impatient.

"Because your absence at school for the whole week will definitely not go unnoticed by the other regulars. We can pretend you're sick, but that excuse probably wouldn't last for more than a day or two. Not only that, your parents may start to worry. If we could get Tezuka to make up some wild excuse like the regulars are on a trip or something…" Inui trailed off, giving Fuji a moment to consider this option.

"There's more, isn't there?" Fuji said grimly, a twisted smile playing on her lips.

"…Not only that, Tezuka could possibly… lend you a place to stay for the week."

"What!" Fuji growled, eyes flickering open. Both Eiji and Inui decided it was safer to walk further away from Fuji at that moment.

"Inui's right! I mean, Tezuka's parents would trust him and all with a girl…" Eiji offered, though he was absolutely sure that Fuji wouldn't even listen.

"What!" Fuji repeated, icy blue eyes still wide opened.

"Fuji, it's logical. We'll just pretend you're your cousin or something," Inui said as Fuji scowled.

"I still don't think his parents would let me, and I certainly don't want to stay at Tezuka's for a week," Fuji replied coldly, gagging at the thought. Her mind would be overunned with boredom and stoic-ness and... boredom...

"It's too bad you think that way, Fuji," Eiji smiled sadly. "I'd really like to see Tezuka's room. I mean, you can probably find out what's behind that frown or something." Fuji immediately perked up. The thought of that gave Fuji thoughts of getting endless amounts of blackmail on Tezuka and the correct way to push more of the captain's buttons was a very enticing offer. All she needed now was a good excuse.

"Hmm… I'll consider it," Fuji said, a mischievous smile dancing on his lips. "In fact, this can be a very good opportunity to get to know Tezuka better. Hehehe… What's the plan?"

Inui and Eiji were shocked at how quick Fuji changed her mind, not to mention her way of thinking. They didn't even want to know what she meant by 'get to know Tezuka better', though they imagined it essentially revolved around Fuji's joy of watching others get crushed by humiliation and rage, A.K.A. blackmail.

"Okay… that' perfect!" Fuji announced, snapping Eiji and Inui out of their thoughts. It seemed the prodigy had already devised a plan on her own. The two, even though half afraid, were looking forward to see how this would turn out. They had a right to be terrified all right.

Bang! Bang!

Tezuka snapped his head out of a book her was reading and scanned the room looking for the source of the sound. Deciding it was just the wind, he continued reading. Soon after, more bangs came, but they too were ignored. More bangs followed, and Tezuka was starting to get fed up. Getting up, he strode over to the window, opened it and looked outside. Nothing. Then, he looked down.

"Wonderful night, isn't it Tezuka?" Inui said casually, a tiny pebble in hand. "I just happened to walk by."

"Inui," Tezuka said shortly. "What is this all about?"

"What do you mean Tezuka?" Inui asked, trying to stay oblivious. "I was just innocently taking a nighttime walk, and I just so happened to end up in front of your bedroom window!"

"Inui, something's up, do tell," Tezuka said dryly as Inui sighed.

"Ah! I'm defeated!" Inui announced in complete deadpan. Oh well, this was what Fuji had told him to say. "I cannot hide anything from you, Tezuka."

"…"

"Well, you see…"

"Ne, Fuji, are you sure this'll work?" Eiji asked nervously as he rang the doorbell. Fuji just smiled, but giving no answer. Eiji was about to ask again when the door opened.

"Um… hi!" Eiji said, not sure exactly how to reply to the woman standing in front of him. "Uh, this is where Tezuka Kunimitsu lives, right?"

The woman cocked her head to one side, blinked a few times, and just when Eiji thought she was going to slam the door on them, she unexpectedly smiled. "Eh! My Kuni-chan has friends visiting him? Oh! I can't believe he didn't tell me about this! Come in, come in! I'm so happy to have both of you!"

"Uh, yeah," Eiji replied with a weak laugh as the two stepped in. Fuji's eyes immediately darted around for anything that she considered embarrassing for Tezuka.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I wasn't expecting this! I'll go make tea and something to eat immediately! Please excuse me! Kuni-chan's up in his room by the way!" the woman who seemed like Tezuka's mother said as she rushed off to the kitchen.

"Ooo... I think I should call Tezuka 'Kuni-chan' from now on," Fuji giggled evilly. It was quite a frightening experience for Eiji seeing a girl Fuji giggle with so much… evilness.

"Ehehehehe…" Eiji replied sheepishly. Then something on the table caught his eye, and he reached for it. "A photo album?" Fuji immediately abandoned her giggling and snatched it away from Eiji, a wicked smirk on his face. Eiji decided it was safer to scoot an inch or six away from her.

"Eh? 'Kuni-chan's Toddler Days'," Fuji read off the cover. This caught Eiji's attention and he decided to scoot back.

"Hey, Fuji, should we really open it?" the redhead asked. "I mean, it is Tezuka's personal-" However, Fuji wasn't even listening as she was already snickering over a picture of a three-year-old Tezuka unhappily sitting in front of a birthday cake with three candles and a ridiculous party hat on his head. Now that was truly scary.

"Now if only I had a camera…"

"So that is why I am here at your window so humbly begging you to allow Fujiko Suzume to spend the night at your house," Inui finished explaining to Tezuka the whole story. It wasn't easy, mind you, even with the specially prepared script Fuji had written for him. Inui constantly had to edit out parts, and he had a strong feeling Tezuka was not going to buy or like any of it. He didn't.

"Inui, go home and get some rest," Tezuka said simply as he began to close his window. Inui still had one ace up his sleeve, however.

"Refuse this and I'm afraid I'll have to use this one you," Inui said, retrieving a small vile from his pocket. "It's the last remaining sample of my Magical Inui Juice Remix Deluxe 3.8, Limited Edition Golden Version after Fuji smashed the pitcher. I'm not sure of the effects, but according to my calculations, there's sixty-eight percent chance that you'll not be able to attain your form as it is right now."

Tezuka sighed. He didn't know how, and he didn't want to know how, but Inui would somehow find a way to poison him with that vile. Of course, Tezuka still didn't believe an ounce of what he said until…

"Kuni-chan!" Tezuka sighed as he turned around to answer his mother. Inui looked on with interest.

"Yes, Mother?"

"Where are your manners young man? How come you did not inform me that this adorable transfer student from America would be spending the night here? Oh, come, come, Suzume-chan! Kuni-chan's room's right up here!"

Tezuka could only gape in stunned silence as his mother allowed herself into his room with a snickering Eiji and a girl that looked like Fuji. A lot like Fuji. Way too much like Fuji.

"Nice to meet you, Kuni-chan," the girl said evilly.

"Inui!" Tezuka hissed so that only Inui could hear. There was something definitely wrong with this scene according to Tezuka. "Explain!"

"You know, Fujiko-chan there said the same thing once she drank this," Inui told Tezuka as he gave the glass vile a little shake.

"I'll leave you children alone now!" Tezuka's mother called. "But really! Next time you have transferred students touring your school and you're suppose to provide them a place for the night, just tell me, Kuni-chan! It's nothing to be embarrassed about!" And with that, she left the room, happy that her little Kuni-chan had such wonderful friends.

Silence…

"Out! All of you!" Tezuka hissed as he pointed towards the door in calm frustration, if that was even humanely possible, but that's not the point.

"I'll leave it to you then, Eiji, Fuji," Inui sighed. "I should be going home to do my homework now. Bye. Don't do anything stupid." The last comment was specifically directed towards Fuji, who just smiled sweetly, 'sweet' meaning compared to poison honey.

"Now, now Inui! We'll have lots of fun, won't we, Kuni-chan?" Fuji laughed sadistically, placing a hand on Tezuka's shoulder, which he coolly removed.

"Fuji, stop," Tezuka said in total deadpan, even though you could see a spark of anger and discomfort in his eyes. Tezuka hoped that this was all just a joke. After all, Fuji couldn't really have turned into a girl, could he have? Could he have?

"I'm not Fuji anymore, Tezuka. I'm Fujiko-chan for the week," Fuji informed him. "Want me to prove it to you?"

"No, Fuji, I don't," Tezuka immediately replied. After a second of thought he added. "Go home, both of you."

"Might I remind you I don't have a home I can go back to?"

"Fuji…"

"Please, Tezuka?"

"No."

"Please, Kuni-chan?"

"No."

"Please, captain?"

"NO."

"Eiji, help me."

Eiji said nothing, so Fuji tried again.

"Eiji?"

More silence, then quickly followed the closest thing Tezuka would ever come to screaming.

"Eiji!" Tezuka said dangerously. "Twenty laps around my house, now! And after you're finished, go home." Eiji looked genuinely shocked, and was about to retort, but he knew it would only go up to thirty and then forty and so on, so he decided to keep his mouth shut and just go outside to run them as quick as he could and go home to brush his teeth. He hoped Fuji and Tezuka would be able to work everything out.

"Oh! What's this? 'Kuni-chan's Firsts?'" Fuji read with an evil cackle. Think clapping thunder and flashing lightning sort of evil cackle. "My, my, my... I never knew you kept these things so close to heart."

"Fuji…" Tezuka warned.

"It's 'Fujiko-chan' this week, remember? I'm a girl," Fuji told him again. It was still a bit strange to be in a girl's body, but if it meant being able to see Tezuka pulling out his first tooth and almost drowning at his first swim, then it was almost worth it.

"Fuji, you're not a girl," Tezuka said simply. "You will never be a girl."

"Want me to prove you wrong?" Fuji said again in a bone-chilling tone.

"No, Fuji, keep it to yourself," Tezuka answered, slightly annoyed. Fuji just sighed and continued flipping through the pages, occasionally laughing or exclaiming how 'adorable' or 'cute' Tezuka was when he was little, not at all like the 'serious' and 'boring' person now. Tezuka's calm, cool, collected and intelligent-ness was starting to show signs of cracking.

"Oh! Who's this in the picture?" Fuji asked, blowing everything off. The person was in a pink dress with lace all over it, wore pink shoes with lacey socks, wore several pink ribbons, (lace included) was holding a pink balloon, and scowling.

"Fuji!" Tezuka said as he snatched the photo album and set it on top of his bookshelf where Fuji couldn't reach it. Fuji knew by now that she was really pushing Tezuka to his limits, and even she knew when to stop. That doesn't mean she wasn't disappointed.

"Fine, fine," she said glumly. "I'll explain."

One day down, six more to go…