The Fantastic… uh… Tennis Regulars?

By Old Fiat

Disclaimer: I do not own T.N.O./P.O.T.

Note: 60s super hero science.

Chapter 2: Rubber, Ice and Fire

Tezuka opened his eyes to a world of fuzz and blur. He reached out for his glasses and felt nothing but thin air.

"Here Mister Captain dude," said Eiji's voice. Eiji gave Kunimitsu his glasses.

"Thanks," Tezuka put them on.

"You should've seen Ryoma wake up a moment ago," Eiji laughed. "It was hysterical! He was all worried about everyone! And we were all like, Dude, we're fine. He just went nut-so." He giggled. "How are you?"

"Fine, how's everyone else?"

"Great, the doctors let me and Shuichiro walk around outside. They won't let us leave until they know we're okay," he scowled. "But whatever. The doctors said once you woke up you could walk around. What to go eat lunch in Taka's room. He woke up two hours ago, and Momo's dad brought cookies and cake!"

Kunimitsu nodded. Eiji left while he got dressed and then they went to Taka's ward.

Taka smiled as the entered. "Hey guys!" Everyone was in there, including Sakuno and Tomo; they were all eating delicious cookies and delicious cake.

They were all at the courts the next day. Coach Ryuzaki insisted they all play practice matches. Tezuka vs. Kikumaru, Fuji vs. Momo, Kawamura vs. Echizen and Kaoru vs. Shuichiro.

After forty-five minutes the score was at 2 all. Tezuka and Eiji were both really exhausted. Kikumaru to serve. Tezuka was on for right towards the back. Accidentally on purpose, Eiji hit towards the far left.

Tezuka ran. He knew he couldn't make it. It was too humid. He was too tired. He reached. He felt the ball hit the sweet spot and sent it back.

Eiji just stood there a surprised/disgusted expression on his face. The whole tennis team was quiet. Kunimitsu saw one of those ultra annoying 7th graders whisper something to Echizen. Fuji looked like he was about to throw up. Shuichiro walked towards the coach and asked something. She nodded.

He walked over to the captain and grabbed his arm. "Come on Tezuka."

Tezuka felt his glasses fall as the bolt of electricity sent him flying. His head hit one of the large rubber tires from Ryuzaki's SUV. He smiled. Thank God for rubber tires.

Tezuka was mad. "What did I do wrong!" He shouted. "All I did was receive a ball!"

"Kunimitsu calm down," Oishi said quite smoothly. "I'll show you." He went up to Sadaharu, who had been filming the match to replay and tell them what they needed to improve. "Replay the last bit of his match for Kuni-kun."

"Don't call me 'Kuni-kun."

Sadaharu rewound the digit cam corder. Tezuka watched himself running towards the ball and reaching for it. He watched with a disgusted expression as his arm stretched, far past it's normal length to hit the tennis ball.

"Gross isn't it?" asked Sadaharu conversationally.

"Shut up," said Kunimitsu. "What happened to me?"

"When the ambulance came they told me that your head was on a rubber tire. What if your body reacted to the combination of the rubber and the electricity changed your DNA."

"What if something happened to each of us," Shuichiro looked excited and scared.

"We'll do experiments after practice," Inui wrote something in his notebook.

Tezuka turned to Oishi. "What'd you ask the coach?"

"Nothing."

They returned to the courts and watched the matches. Nothing odd happened with the rest of the starters.

Is it just me?

Kaoru looked slightly distressed during his match with Oishi and just plain sick the first time he hit the Snake.

Inui walked up to Coach Ryuzaki after practice. "Ryuzaki-sensei, I was wondering if I could talk to the rest of the team for a bit. Just some advice, you know."

"Sure, just no Veg crap or something tea."

"Got it."

After the coach left he stood in front of the rest of the regulars.

"Listen. You know that weird thing that happened to Captain Tezuka?" They nodded. Not likely to forget that soon. "Well, I believe stuff like that might have happened to all of us who were in the car crash." Eiji raised his hand. "Yeah Kikumaru?"

"Yumiko, Sakuno and the Ryoma-crazy chick were in the car too."

"Oh yeah," Inui pushed his glasses up his nose. "Fuji," Shusuke, who had been looking at his nails, jumped.

"Y-yeah?"

"Can you get Yumiko over here?"

Shusuke nodded and took out a cell phone. He went over to the over side of the court.

"What about pony tails and really long hair?"

"Eiji don't give people stupid nick names that have to do with hair."

"Fine," Eiji said reluctantly.

"Tomo and Sakuno are bound to turn up. They usually do after practice."

The tests began.

"Most of this kind of stuff is controlled by emotion, Oishi, you first."

Oishi looked confused. "Why me first?"

"Because I want you to."

"What kind of emotions?" asked Taka.

"Really strong ones," said Sadaharu. "Anger, hatred, happiness, love, sadness, etc."

"I'll go for Happiness," Oishi smiled. He remembered the first time he won a match. It hadn't been a big match. Just him vs. his cousin, but it had felt so wonderful just the same.

"Now try to release that happiness," Inui's glasses flashed.

"I'm cold," Momo rubbed his arms.

It was cold. It felt as though the whole area had been turned into a freezer.

With his fingers splayed, Oishi held his hand out at the lamppost.

Ice covered it in seconds; the bulb shattered and the fragment fell to the ground like some freakish snow.

Oishi's hand was trapped in the cooler. He tried to remove it but the electricity made him weak. He was in pain.

"Kikumaru."

Eiji did an expression like Kaoru's. "Feh. I don't wanna. I hate everyone."

Kaoru glared at him.

"I'll go for Happiness!" He glanced at Shuichiro, who looked extremely tired.

He smiled and tried to recall all the times he'd won a match. Singles and Doubles. Against opposing school or against a teammate.

Eiji grinned. He felt warmth spread though out his body. It was red hot and glorious.

He threw a fake punch at Tezuka. "Nothing's happening! I'm not a freak!" he sang.

He did a little jump and felt the heat inside him explode. His whole body was on fire. He felt nothing though. It was like sitting by a radiator on a very cold day.

"Eiji!" Shuichiro jumped up.

"It's fine Shuichiro!" Eiji pretended to throw a tennis ball and from his hand came a small flame ball.

"Stop Eiji." Shusuke came back from the corner and promptly poured his water bottle over Eiji.

"Ew…" said Ryoma.

Eiji was standing, naked, in the steam, laughing his head off.

Tezuka handed Eiji his uniform jacket and pants.

"Thanks Kuni-kun," he slipped on the pants.

"Don't call me Kuni-kun."

Eiji felt the tears pouring down his face steam before even reaching his cheekbones. He too was trapped only by his own seatbelt. He was unconscious though he still cried. He was trapped in the flames from the explosion of the car, but had no burns.

Hello! It's Old Fiat on the line! Did you like this chap? Much longer than the last.

Review!

-Old Fiat, Drive Fiat