Words: 1,810

Pairings:

Disclaimer: -pouts- Do I really have to say this again? Mo! Be that way. I don't own Prince of Tennis… yada yada yada. So there. -grins evilly- I just like playing with them. (In the background the Seigaku team sweat drops)

Atobe's Little Plan

Chapter 3

The big Seigaku bus rumbled to a stop, the breaks letting out a shrill squeal as it did so. The Seigaku team gaped in astonishment at the looming house before them.

Not a house but a mansion, Oishi reflected as he glanced out the window.

"NYA! Oishi, looky looky. This mansion is HUGE, NYA!" Eiji yelled in excitement from Oishi's left.

He blushed when Eiji brushed his arm against his. He knew a long time ago that he shouldn't have these feelings for his cat-like doubles partner, but he had shrugged off the thought a while ago. What was wrong with him for having such thoughts? They were only thoughts, right? It didn't matter that any girl who came across Oishi's vision couldn't match the vision he kept seeing every day.

He had once talked to Fuji about his problem. He knew that the weird sadistic guy would have a good laugh about it, but that he would also give very good advice. Fuji had only said one thing, but that one thing made a huge amount of sense. He had said: 'Let things play out and perhaps he will grow to love you in turn.' So Oishi was patiently waiting, looking for the signs that Eiji loved him more then a friend was supposed to.

"Yeah," he replied to his bouncing doubles partner. "It is huge. I hope we won't get lost. Maybe I should make a map for the rest of the team. I wonder if Atobe has blueprints for his house that I could borrow."

Eiji grinned. There went the mother hen of the 'family', always worrying about the rest of the team. Eiji went back to looking at the mansion. Maybe Oishi was right. Perhaps they would need a map. Eiji did get lost a lot when he didn't have Oishi around to guide him. Oishi was the best of friends, as far as Eiji was concerned. He didn't know what he would ever do without Oishi. Happily, he bounced around the bus and started to annoy the heck out of the rest of the team members. He'd been sitting for hours in this bus being good, and he had a LOT of energy to get rid of.

Fuji's smile widened. Eiji had yet to learn that he was in love with his friend. Well, with a little push in the right direction, maybe the ball would start rolling.

After ten minutes of Eiji's antics, however, Fuji started to get annoyed. One glance at Kaidoh and he knew that the big teen was about to go over and pummel the hyper child-like guy.

"Hm, it sure seems like a big house. Wonder if there are any ghosts in there." He remarked offhandedly. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Kaidoh blanch. Oh, this was going to be a lot more fun then it originally was.

"Really! Do you think so?" Eiji bounced on the seat next to Fuji. The rest of the team members visibly relaxed when Eiji's attention turned to Fuji. That is to say, all but Oishi, whose glare could have cut diamonds. Fuji just gave him a very wide smile.

"Well, a big house like this, that's been in the hands of generations of Atobe's family, has to have a somewhat bloody history. At least, as I recall." Eiji didn't disappoint him.

"NYA! Oishi, let's go ghost hunting one night." He bounced over to Oishi, who was in the middle of trying to glare at Fuji without seeming to. Of course, though, Oishi could never deny Eiji anything and said as much. Eiji gave a happy grin and ran over to Kaidoh, who was in the middle of trying to disappear, and glomped him. "Nya, Kaidoh, you have to come too. Let's make it an adventure to explore Atobe's mansion after dark, nya."

Tezuka shrugged. "As long as everyone's in bed by midnight, I don't care."

Fuji gave Tezuka an even stare. "No, Tezuka, you have to come too."

Tezuka met Fuji's stare and invisible sparks flew. The team, who was watching, glanced back and forth between Fuji and Tezuka as if this were some sort of tennis match. Tezuka was the first to look away as he muttered, "Fine."

Fuji gave an inward leap of joy, but didn't let his outward appearance fall. He had to remain calm and cool.

Taka gave a soft smile for all of his teammates, but said, "Sure, I'm game."

Inui didn't have to say anything; his evil smirk was enough. So, it was decided that one night during this week in heaven, they would explore Atobe's supposedly haunted mansion.

"So, Fuji, where are those clothes you fitted us for? We didn't get any before we left." Oishi's question brought everyone's attention to the smiling guy. That is, everyone but Momoshiro, Fuji noticed. Momo was gazing out the window to the east for some reason, instead of paying attention to everyone else's doings.

"Don't worry," he replied smoothly. "The clothes have already been brought here and put in all of your closets." The others' worry didn't dissipate. Fuji continued talking.

"I must say though, you all HAVE to wear what we made you, or Inui is going to have a very nice guinea pig to work on with his juices." That didn't help the worried air go away; if anything, it raised it a few notches. No one was going to drink that drink, though. If they knew Inui, they knew he'd make it ten times worse then it had to be, just for ignoring orders. Suddenly, no one was really eager to get to the mansion anymore. Most of them had to remind themselves why they agreed to this in the first place again.

The bus tilted a little bit, announcing the arrival of someone new. Ryuzaki-sensei appeared and glanced at all of the students. "Alright, everyone, we're here."

The bus tilted again. "Grandma, is it okay for me to go look around?"

Ryuzaki's granddaughter Sakuno appeared and gave a shy smile for the boys.

"SAKUNO! Let's go!" came a whine from outside. Probably Sakuno's best friend Tomo-chan.

"Sakuno, mo, everyone's waiting out here." Everyone looked out the window to see Tomo-chan and the three first years, who were soon going to be second years, waiting for Sakuno.

Ryuzaki-sensei gave her a smile and said, "Sure. Go have fun with your friends. Don't forget about the ball tonight."

"Ball!" Seven pairs of gaping mouths met Ryuzaki's eyes. Even Momo was shaken out of his dream world to comment on that. Fuji just kept smiling, but if he smiled any wider his face was surely going to split.

Ryuzaki-sensei was hesitant. She knew that Fuji and Atobe had some sort of plan hatched between them, but what it could be was the question. "Yes, ball. Atobe is planning to have a ball to welcome all the clubs for their week-long stay at his mansion, and also so all you can go around and socialize."

Tezuka, like a good buchou, took up talking for the rest of the team, since he was the only one (other than Fuji) who had regained his composure. "You mean we're not the only club to have been invited?"

Ryuzaki-sensei blinked in surprise. "It was on the flyer. All the clubs we beat want to congratulate us on our National win. Even the girls' tennis teams will be there."

"Girls?" The range of tone was from disgusted to surprise. Ryuzaki noted that none of them seemed happy that there would be girls involved. Fuji just kept smiling as if he already knew all of this.

"Yes, girls. You know… the other half of the human race? Now, everyone off the bus. Get your belongings and get inside. Atobe told me that there would be guides to tell you where your rooms would be located, so get a move on it."

"Hai!" they all said in unison and began tramping off the bus.

"Hissss, I didn't see that anywhere on the flier." Kiadoh remarked to Inui.

"Hm, yes well it's right here." Inui was looking at the flier with a magnifying glass. Kiadoh glanced over Inui's shoulder and saw that indeed it was on the flier. Just in really, really small print. The two looked at Fuji who frustratingly still had on that danged smiling mask.

"Hissss, I think this was rigged." Inui just nodded.

The bus driver opened the side luggage compartment and began throwing out their luggage, much to the disapproval of most of the tennis players.

"Hey, hey, hey, my CD's are in there, thank you very much," Eiji complained, as he jumped over and caught his bag before it could land on the ground.

"Don't break our tennis rackets," Tezuka deadpanned, giving the driver a glare. Unfortunately, that didn't faze the driver. Thankfully, none of their stuff was broken and they safely made it into the entry hall.

Taka looked at Momo and noticed that his bag was bulging at the seams. He saw a magazine poking out from one of the compartments. Momo noticed and hugged the bag closer to him, shoving the magazine into the depths of his bag.

Eiji ran over and hugged Momo. "Too bad Ochibi couldn't come to this party. He sure would have loved it here." Beneath his arms, Momo stiffened at the sound of Eiji's pet name of their baby superstar. He just hit a nerve Taka was trying to avoid.

Somehow, somewhere, Momo and Echizen had become the best of friends. No one could understand it, and Momo and Echizen couldn't really care less how it came to be, but they were. They had grown closer then anyone would have expected, until Momo had come to realize that he loved the little brat. Scared, he had nearly run away, but he had also come to the realization that he couldn't live without seeing his wonderful friend. And so came the sly glances taken when Echizen wasn't looking, or the pictures he could trick the young prodigy into posing for. Then, Echizen had been accepted into the US Open and flew away to America to become that huge super star. Now, Momo could only keep him nearby with magazines and by watching television. That would have to do, or Momo would break down.

Seeing his discomfort, Taka saved him. "Well, he couldn't know in America. Anyway, he probably doesn't have time for us. I sure miss him though."

"Yeah…" Eiji sounded depressed, but soon picked himself up and went off to terrorize another person, more then likely Oishi.

Taka gave Momo a sympathizing look before looking away. Momo was grateful. Taka sure was nice.

Momo was quickly shown to his room and the first thing he did was dump his stuff onto the bed. He walked over to the wardrobe and opened it to find some very nice tuxes inside, along with some name brand jeans and shirts. If he wasn't lovesick, he would have been enjoying the luxury Atobe was giving them, but that wasn't possible. He sat down on the window seat and turned to the east.

Soon. He nearly had enough money for a plane ticket to America. Then he could be with his beloved again. Soon. Wait for me Ryoma, he said his name so sweetly in his mind. He'd never dare say it out loud, but in his mind was another matter. Wait for me, my love. I can't live without you and your constant company.

He was shaken out of his thoughts when a couple of screams were let loose. But they died down, so Momo went back to gazing out to the east once more.

Anifantwist: Hmmm, now what in the world could those screams have been?

Tezuka: Gee, I wonder. Could it have been you torturing us? Never.

(Anifantwist gives Tezuka an innocent look.)

Anifantwist: Now why in the world would I want to torture any of you?

(Tezuka places tennis racket into Taka's hand)

Taka: BURNING! OF COURSE YOU WOULD TORTURE US! IT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DOOOOOOO!

(Taka runs around chasing Anifantwist, swinging the racket dangerously close to said person)

Fuji: Tezuka? Did you just willingly give Taka that racket?

Tezuka: Yes. That female was being annoying.

Momo: Um, what were those screams guys?

(Fuji shows up with a smile on his face)

Fuji: Oh you'll see…

(Momo and Tezuka sweat drop)