Chapter Eight: Fiancé n' Fiancée
"Wait! Tezuka! Tezuka? Hello? Tezuka?"

For the first time since Fuji had acquired her… new form, the brunette frowned as she stared at her cell phone with discontent. She did not hear what Tezuka had just told her, has she? Hyoutei, of all the places! Didn't she specify… no, wait; she never did specify what school she wanted to go to, did she?

Fuji sighed as a bitter smile formed on her lips. Though it would have been fun to tor- mingle with her friends at Seigaku, there was always the chance that her cover would be blown. So in a way, it was probably best this way, wasn't it? Besides, she could dig up a lot more black- information from them, couldn't she?

The bitter smile turned into a sadistic smirk as the endless possibilities filled her mind. Oh yes, someone was going to feel very sorry about having agreed to let her into Hyoutei. Very, very sorry indeed. Can't you just taste the disaster about to come?

Atobe sniffed as he recalled the 'favor' Tezuka had asked him to do over a cup of tea after he had made a phone call to his cousin. It was rather an odd one, but more than that, Tezuka was the one asking him… him. No need to say that it was surprising, but even more so… since when did Tezuka really have a cousin? (He thought it was just rumors after all. I mean, there was no way Tezuka could've been a dad, could he have?) One that plays tennis no less. Why didn't Tezuka just apply the person for Seigaku? Why did he want his cousin to come to Hyoutei? And why did he tell his so-called cousin of the situation before he had even confirmed it with him? So many questions… And his intuition said that he did not want to find out the answers.
So on Monday morning…

"Who's that?"

"I think she's new."

"Really? A person coming in at this time of the year?"

Fuji sighed at the ridiculous gossip about her as she happily walked towards the principal's office, awaiting the long and monotonous speech about achieving your best, do not bully others, etc. It seems that some students were already roaming around in the school even in the early mornings. Not that it bothered Fuji, because sooner or later everyone would know she existed, but it was just the stares of disapproval and glares that clearly says 'you're not welcome here' that were a bit unnerving. Oh well, Fuji never did expect everyone here to be that nice and courteous.

"Ah! Fujiko-san, how nice of you to come five minutes late," the principal greeted her with a haughty voice.

Saa… even the guy in charge is so temperamental.

"Be more punctual next time, sit down." He motioned towards a single wooden chair in the center of his office directly in front of his desk. It felt as if Fuji was in some sort of court, the object of attention.

"So…" The words that were strung next went into one ear and went out the next. Fuji didn't really have much a mind to pay attention to useless babbles, especially so early in the morning. Her eyes, which she had previously forced to stay glued to the man to prove she was somewhat paying attention had eventually given up and was scanning the room with mild amusement.

"…And here's your school uniform, books, etcetera," the principal grumbled as he suddenly dumped a bunch of things into the surprised Fuji's hands. "Class starts in fifteen minutes, so hurry up and don't be late."

So after being oh so rudely shoved out of the principal's office and hastily changing into her uniform, Fuji somehow managed to find her way to class with nine minutes to spare. The class immediately silenced as they saw an unfamiliar face peep through the door. As Fuji predicted, they showed no signs of welcome, only staring (and some glaring) at the girl as she placed herself in the only empty desk. Inwardly, she smirked. They had no idea what they were dealing with, really.

"Class, as you can see, we have a new student. Please stand up and introduce yourself," the teacher instructed curtly as Fuji obliged. The class once more gazed at the seemingly shy and frigid girl as she stood.

"Fujiko Suzume," she said simply, not having much heart to say anything else after that immensely boring speech by the principal.

For the rest of math class, Fuji plotted because obviously, Fuji already knew everything being taught. She plotted on how she could squeeze out information from the Hyoutei regulars (just because everyone else is not really as important of a subject), she plotted how to make them tumble down the road of being crushed by humiliation and rage (because she was Fuji and all), she plotted how she would logically expand her illogical family tree (just because it was so much fun), and last but not least, she plotted on how she would eventually get revenge on her snotty classmates who kept throwing crumpled pieces of paper at her head whenever the teacher wasn't looking (well, it speaks for itself).

Thrak! There's another paper ball.

Thrak! And another one.

Thrak! Yup, must be some sort of initiation to those who are new.

Thrak! Okay, this was getting really old and annoying.

Thrak!

Almost all of those who had been snickering at seeing crumpled paper balls bounce off of Fuji's head immediately silenced as Fuji's gracefully and swiftly dodged the coming paper ball without so much as batting an eye, and watched it go Thrak! on the unfortunate person in front of her: the one and only Atobe Keigo.

The boy swung around with a death glare made to kill. I mean, how DARE anyone ruin his perfect hair? But the glare quickly resided once he caught sight of Fuji with her eyes flickered open, giving him a leisure wave and a sadistic smile. Realization had taken hold.

And so the game begins…

It wasn't until lunch that Atobe had mentioned anything about… you know… But unfortunately, even if he didn't bring up the subject, his teammates wasted no time doing so.

"Hey, Atobe, isn't that girl new to your class?" Shishido pointed out as the Hyoutei regulars sat down to have lunch under the shade of a large tree.

"Why would you care?" Atobe sneered. "Right, Kabaji?"

"Usu."

"I'm just asking. What's been biting you?" Shishido returned as he began shoving things into his mouth.

"Eh, Shishido-san, you shouldn't eat so fast. You might choke," The ever so polite and nice Ohtori advised. Shishido just rolled his eyes and started eating slower like he was told.

"Hey, doesn't she look familiar somehow?" Gakuto mused with a frown as he observed the girl in the distance. "I could've sworn I saw her before…"

"Maybe she was a victim to your temper," Oshitari suggested with a smirk. "You do have a tendency to torment those who tick you off."

"Shut up," Gakuto huffed.

"But you do have a point, Gakuto," Oshitari said. "She does seem familiar in a way."

"Why are we discussing a girl?" Hiyoshi asked with a sigh. Of course, no one heard him, so therefore the boy just rolled his eyes and went back to his lunch.

"Oh, I'm sure Atobe will explain everything, right?" Shishido shrugged.

"Figure it out for yourselves," Atobe snapped.

And Jirou slept on…

"Tezuka!" Atobe hissed. He was hidden away in a corner right before tennis practice began, making a phone call he has been dying to make ever since that… girl showed up in class. "Explain!"

"You know, I said the exact same thing," Tezuka replied bitterly.

"Why is your teammate a… a…"

"A girl?" Tezuka supplied.

"Don't cut me off!" Atobe snapped back haughtily.

"My other teammate developed something in his lab, and Fuji just happened to be the unfortunate test subject," Tezuka replied calmly. "She should be back to normal in four days or so, so until then, thank you for taking care of her."

"…Tezuka!"

"Good-bye."

Atobe just glared at his cell phone as Tezuka hung up.

Tennis practice, luckily, had gone by with no interruptions. No one mentioned anything about Fuji. Unluckily, however, the girl was waiting for the regulars in front of the school gates after practice.

"Ah! Kei-chan!"

Atobe twitched at how leisurely the name was called. His teammates, who were exiting with him, started snickering. To them, it must have been an overly obsessive fan girl who had forgotten rule number sixteen in to 'The Official Atobe-sama Fan Club': Do not harass Atobe-sama when his glory is exiting school grounds from tennis practice.

"What do you want?" Atobe snapped as the girl hopped over with a devilish grin.

"I just wanted to say hello and mingle," Fuji said happily as the other regulars started looking at her in a queer way. They knew that some of the girls in the fan club were brave and straightforward, but it was never so much like this. "Is that okay, Kei-chan?"

"…Do whatever you want," Atobe finally said after considering his options and consequences.

"Atobe, you seem extra fond of her. Care to tell why you don't just blow her off with a smirk like you always do?" Shishido taunted as Atobe flashed him a glare.

"Oh really?" Fuji replied pleasantly with a sick smile.

"Who are you anyways?" Gakuto asked suspiciously. "You seem familiar somehow…"

"Do I?" Fuji replied, secretly hinting at sarcasm. "I'm Tezuka Kunimitsu's cousin, but people tell us we don't look that much alike."

Silence…

"So the rumors are true!"

"Are you really Tezuka's cousin!"

"Why are you here at Hyoutei then!"

"Is Tezuka really married!"

"Does he have a daughter!"

"Who's his wife!"

For a while, the questions kept pouring in as Fuji secretly smiled in triumph. People are just so gullible these days, honestly! She never really though anyone would be fooled by her looks and such things, let alone the Hyoutei regulars, whom she thought would at least have some common sense at least.

"Well, seeing that Kei-chan and I are engaged to be married next spring, our parents thought it'd be better if we'd could be near each other, right darling?" Fuji said without missing a beat. Atobe, meanwhile, could've skipped four.

More silence…

…And then all hell broke loose.

Fuji was still rolling in laughter once she flopped down on one of Atobe's super expensive couches. She knew she could lie and spin far-fetched quite well, but she had never imagined she could do it this well. The scene the two had left was total hysteria, filled with mass confusion, looks of disbelief, and of course, utter chaos. Fuji was so glad she had brought her digital camera.

"Will you stop it?" Atobe snapped impatiently as he ordered one of his maids to bring tea. "And why are you here at my place!"

"Because I'm staying over," Fuji beamed as she flipped the pictures she had taken so far on her camera. "And if you say no, I'll be tacking these all around the school tomorrow." With a smirk, Fuji reached into her bag and withdrew a photograph, and then another and another. Atobe grew paler with each.

"…How did you get pictures of me sleeping!" Atobe shrieked as he lunged at them. Fuji just laughed as stuffed them back into her bag.

"I have pictures of everyone sleeping," Fuji told him calmly. "And all their baby pictures and much, much more."

Atobe's eyes widened as Fuji went back to rummaging her bag, occasionally pulling out something and humming a happy tune. He had always known that Fuji Syusuke was fearful on the court, but he had no idea how absolutely terrifying she could be in everyday life. Suddenly, privacy didn't seem to exist. Not with her around anyhow. Atobe just shivered to think what other pictures Fuji had in that collection of hers.

He had a feeling that he was most definitely not going to enjoy her company, and even more so the new rumors that will surely spread like wild fire.

Four days down, three days to go…
-X-

The stuff below is useless, pointless, plotless, and completely out of character omakes because I felt that this chapter was stupid and not nearly long enough.

Omake: And Tezuka Reacts
"Buchou! Buchou!" Momoshiro cried as he spied the stoic walking down the street. Dragging the reluctant Ryoma to where he was, Momoshiro exclaimed. "Buchou! You never told us that Atobe was your wife!"

"…Excuse me?"

"No! Atobe's engaged to Tezuka-buchou's cousin!" Ryoma insisted. "And does that monkey king look like a girl to you?"

"He acts like one."

"…A hundred laps, both of you."

Omake: The Origin of The Magical Chemical 3.8
"Ne, Yanagi-sempai, what is that?" Kirihara inquired as he poked at a glass test tube.

"Don't touch that!" Yanagi informed as Kirihara quickly withdrew his hand. "It's a chemical that will make you turn into a girl if you drink it! It's very dangerous!"

"…Then why are you making them?" Kirihara asked.

"Because I want the power to be able to rule the twenty-third pair of human chromosomes."

"…Okay…"

Omake: Click… Click… FLASH!
Sometimes when he was sleeping, Jirou would suddenly be pulled from his dreamland filled with cotton candy clouds and fountains filled with grape Ponta into a world where little cameras would pop out from cookie bushes shouting, "Click… Click… FLASH!"

And then all of a suddenly, the dream would disappear and Jirou would find himself waking up.

"Hmm… what a weird dream…" he would remark, and then he'd fall asleep again. The funny little cameras would then return.

"Click… Click… FLASH!"

Of course, Jirou, and many other people who have had similar dreams, never would have guessed that Fuji Syusuke was perched on a tree outside of their houses taking pictures to sell to the fan girls online over eBay (do not own). How scary…