Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for Yukimura Miyu.
Chapter Forty-One: At the Beach (Part Eleven)
Atobe stood up and with Kabaji behind him, strolled casually but elegantly out onto the courts.
It was the last round of the preliminaries and he was prepared to play. He stood confidently at the front of his court and Kabaji stood silently at the back as usual.
On other courts, other teams were also getting ready.
He knew that Ibu and Kamio were out there somewhere, as well as Marui and Jackal. However, he did not pay any of them any attention now that he was out on the courts.
He looked at his opponents with a confident smirk. It seemed to one that Atobe had no concept of what nervousness meant.
He thought that he wanted to get the prelims out of the way quickly so he could play against more worthy opponents, even if it was not tennis.
Opponents like Sanada and Kirihara or Yukimura and Yanagi. Tachibana and Sengoku were another worthy team.
There was also another team that he noticed during the other rounds. He remembered that it was the team that he allowed to enter even though they did not sign up in time.
He remembered it was that girl, Ryuzaki Sakuno, who asked him to help them about it.
It was an interesting team. They did not seem to be sportsmen and yet they had a fluidity in their movements that was almost wild in its viciousness.
It was something he had not seen before and it intrigued him. There was also an economy in their movements.
Nothing was wasted and each jump, each flexing of the muscle counted. It was beautiful in its strangeness.
He wondered where they came from because they looked like foreigners with their pale hair and skin.
He decided that it was worth going up to that Ryuzaki Sakuno to ask about them.
Besides that, he thought that it would be worthwhile to talk a bit more to this girl.
She seemed to be very important to the Rikkai regulars and that was strange.
Though he was not close to them personally, he had known them for a long time.
The Rikkai regulars, especially Sanada, were famous for their strict discipline and all-male atmosphere.
Unlike the Hyotei tennis club, the Rikkai regulars did not encourage female fans to cheer for them. It was run by discipline and tradition and skill.
However, he noticed that they were different towards that Ryuzaki Sakuno. From what he could see, she was rather weak and clumsy but they treasured her.
Jiroh even became serious on her behalf which was something to be noted by itself.
He himself thought that she was somewhat different but he did not let it bother too much. She was only a girl after all and he had many other things to occupy his mind.
Nonetheless, it would serve more than just his curiosity if he could talk to her so he would do that, later.
He said to Kabaji without turning his head, "Kabaji, make this a quick game, en?"
Kabaji answered, "Usu."
So Atobe had ordered and so it would be done.
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Jackal stretched as he got ready at the back of the court.
He said to Bunta who was jumping up and down near him, "It should be just like our other games, right?"
Bunta stopped jumping to blow a bubble at Jackal which he burst to say, "Right, except this is beach volley and not tennis.
I'll leave the defense to you, Jackal! Oh, and the serves as well and remember to set me some high ones, ne!"
Jackal said, "Huh? Not again!"
Bunta looked at him with a crestfallen expression on his face which Jackal knew to be false but he sighed anyway, "Whatever…"
Bunta grinned and said, "Thanks, Jackal, the great Iron Defense of Rikkai Dai!"
Jackal muttered, "Yeah, right." Bunta said, "Huh? Did you say something?"
Jackal said, "No, just get ready."
Bunta resumed getting used to jumping on the sand. He could see Sakuno looking their way and he waved at her cheerfully.
She had played a better game than he had expected so he knew that he could not be any worse. If he was, then there would be hell to pay.
Sanada would definitely be after him with extra training and Yanagi would not help matters by citing facts and stating statistics.
Yukimura would just smile that deceptive gentle-killer smile of his and hand him over to Sanada with his blessings.
Most of all, he did not want to lose face in front of Sakuno who was so sweet and who looked up to him, her senpai.
There was also Miyu who would make a big issue out of it if he played badly. Oh, and he must not forget Niou, Akaya and Yagyuu.
They were just as bad in different ways. Akaya would be really snide and Yagyuu would be coldly critical.
Niou might actually be the most easy-going of the lot but that was because they were not playing for the team.
When it came to the team, he had some strange loyalty and principles that baffled Bunta.
He did not think about that though and concentrated on the game that was about to start.
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Kamio was also getting used to the sand.
He was doing quick dashes on their side of the court.
Because of the friction, he was not up to his usual speed but it was still fast enough that his opponents were staring at him in awe.
It suited him just fine and he kept a fast rhythm in his head as he dashed this way and that.
In the front, Ibu was loosening his wrist and concentrating on checking out the opponents.
He was being silent for a change because he was thinking of skills he might try out with beach volley and if those skills might work with tennis and what about the difference between just using his hands and using a tennis racket and so on.
He was not aware of it but he quite frightened his opponents because during the time he was thinking he was also looking straight at them without blinking.
While his friends were used to him, these people were not and frankly found him to very unnerving.
It was just as well he was not speaking to himself at this moment because if he did, his opponents would probably think that he was casting a spell on them or doing something equally evil.
Ibu was not evil of course but his rather sullen appearance, pale skin and dark hair and eyes gave him a sinister feeling which had nothing to do with his being evil or not.
What with Kamio running like a hare and Ibu staring like he did not have any eyelids, their opponents were seriously freaked out and they whispered frantically to one another.
They seemed to be arguing about something and finally they came to an agreement. They went over to the referee who was at the side of the court and said something.
Ibu ignored them and Kamio did not notice.
By the time they came out of their little worlds, they had an unwelcome surprise waiting for them.
Their opponents had decided that they were not up to the game and Ibu-Kamio had won by default.
They were speechless and the referee waved them away, saying that he had to report this to Atobe's butler who was in charge of the whole tournament under Atobe's orders.
Ibu and Kamio walked back to the pavilion looking a bit lost.
Well, Kamio looked a bit lost and Ibu… was just Ibu.
He was muttering to himself again about how if they were not well, they should not have entered the tournament in the first place and how he really wanted to try his hand at beach volley and how he lost his chance and how it was probably all Akira's fault and how he should not have been running around in that odd way of his with that annoying hairstyle of his and so on…
Kamio did not hear any of that which was better for everyone because it was certain to start an argument.
He was too busy telling Tachibana, Sengoku and An about their 'win' by default.
He was really disappointed because he had wanted to show off in front of An, not that he said it but they all guessed.
While he was still going on about how unfair it was, the other games had already started.
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Sakuno stood at the edge of the pavilion with Miyu and the other Rikkai members, all paying attention to Bunta and Jackal out there.
Yukimura, Sanada and Yanagi were also watching Atobe and Kabaji, partly out of habit and partly in amusement.
Atobe had played doubles before even though he was one of worst doubles player ever.
That Sanada could readily attest to, although many thought that he could have been talking about himself.
When he partnered with Kabaji for a doubles game, he let Kabaji do all the work.
The one time he partnered with Sanada, he wanted to do all the work as did Sanada.
His Hyotei team-mates watched as their buchou stood there on the court like a king and Kabaji served, caught and spiked.
Shishido said with a scowl, "Honestly why do we put up with him?"
Oshitari answered with a wry smile, "Because he's the best."
Shishido snorted but he did not say anything.
Ohtori said in his peaceful way, "Oshitari-senpai does have a point there, Shishido-senpai."
Suddenly something fell against Gakuto's legs. He looked down, annoyed and found it was Jiroh who had fallen asleep again.
He had been watching Atobe's game and had gotten bored with Kabaji doing all the work.
On the other court, Bunta and Jackal were winning their game pretty quickly.
Jackal did not let any ball touch their court and Bunta's spikes might not have the strength like Sanada's but they always landed on the opponents' court.
It was like magic, one twist of his wrist and the ball would go where he willed it.
He had put a lot of hard work into this skill of his and was very proud of it. It was also what made Jiroh admire him so much.
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Very soon, both games were finished.
Apart from Ibu-Kamio's default win, Atobe-Kabaji and Bunta-Jackal were the earliest teams to win this round.
It was to be expected and Atobe was very pleased with the results.
He strolled back into the pavilion and saw his team-mates standing with Yukimura, Sanada and Yanagi.
He also saw that Ryuzaki little girl there. A-ha! He thought to himself. Just the person he was looking for!
He sauntered over to them with Kabaji after him. Oshitari saw them and waved.
The others all turned and watched as he came their way.
He nodded to them and with something like could be described as an elegant smirk on his face, he walked into their midst and without hesitation, walked straight to someone.
They did not know what he wanted to do but it was definitely a shock to everyone when he walked up to Sakuno and actually looked at her with something like interest in his eyes.
He had not forgotten what he had wanted to do after that game. He said, "You're called Ryuzaki, right? I want to ask you something, en?"
Sakuno looked around. She was not quite sure how to respond.
She did not know why the prouder than most buchou of Hyotei Gakuen would want to speak to her, not to mention ask her questions.
Atobe looked amused at her childish reaction.
He said again, "Yes, it's you I'm speaking to, there's only Ryuzaki here that I know of. You can stop looking around."
There were gasps all around now. Sanada and Yukimura did not care for his tone of voice towards Sakuno.
Although the Hyotei regulars were used to Atobe's relatively self-centered ways which on another person would be rude ways, but they still wanted to shake their heads when he ignored everybody else and just did what he wanted.
However, he had such a royal presence that people usually obeyed first and then wonder about it later.
If Mizuki was like a prince, then Atobe would definitely be the king, no, an emperor. Oshitari thought, as a side thought, Sanada would probably be a general.
He nodded to himself. That's it, they could all act in a movie and he would be a director and little Sakuno would make a lovely little princess. It would be a good romance.
While he had been woolgathering, Sakuno had finally looked up to Atobe and said, somewhat timidly, "Ah, what did you want to ask me, Atobe-san?"
Atobe said, his voice laced with amusement, "I just wanted to ask you about that team you told me about earlier. That team with the two foreign-looking people."
Sakuno looked blank as she tried to think who it was that he meant. Then she comprehended and said, "Ah! Auel-kun and Sting-kun?"
Atobe said, "Is that what they're called?"
Sakuno nodded, "Hai, ah… did they do anything?"
Atobe raised an eyebrow, "No, I just wanted to know more about them. Where are they from?"
Sakuno looked a bit embarrassed when she heard what he was asking. She did not know how to answer Atobe because she did not know where they were from exactly.
Auel had never mentioned it and she had not thought to ask.
She had helped him on the streets that day and when they talked, he had said that he was in Japan on holiday with his family and friends. He had not offered to let her know more and she had not asked.
He had talked a lot about his family and friends though. They seemed to be interesting people but somehow, she doubted that Atobe would want to know about that.
She flushed with embarrassment as she stammered, "Ah… ano… Atobe-san, I-I don't know…"
Atobe raised both eyebrows this time, "Huh? What did you say, en?"
Sakuno blurted out, "I-I don't know where they're from!"
Sanada and Yukimura could tell their precious little friend was embarrassed now and they turned rather unfriendly. They both stepped forward.
Yukimura put his arm around Sakuno protectively while Sanada stood in front of Atobe.
He said, "Atobe, if you want to know about another team, why don't you ask them yourself? Stop bothering Sakuno here!"
Atobe was really amused now. He did not expect them to react like that and it was… entertaining.
He put his hands up, as a mock sign of surrender and said, "I apologize if I distressed Ryuzaki. I am most interested in that team because they have a very interesting way of moving. I think that I am not the only one to notice that, en?"
Oshitari said, "Oh? What do you mean, Atobe? Gakuto and I were playing at the time and we didn't see."
Yanagi stepped forward this time because he was also a little curious about Sakuno's friends.
He said, "Atobe's right. Their movements were quick and economic. More so than anyone I've ever seen. I do not think they were sportsmen though."
Yukimura was not pleased now.
He said in a quiet voice, "If you are all that interested, then go and ask them yourselves. Sakuno is under no obligation to tell you anything."
Sakuno looked up at Yukimura. She thought he sounded angry but when she saw his face, it looked too calm. She could feel he was not pleased though and she did not know if it was her fault.
She put her hand on Yukimura's arm timidly. Yukimura looked down at her at once.
She said softly, "Yukimura-senpai?"
Yukimura looked at her and he was hard pressed not to pull her behind him where she would be shielded from the others.
Somehow, Sakuno blushed under his intense gaze and she swallowed before speaking, "I-I can go and ask if Auel-kun and Sting-kun if they would speak with Atobe-san later?"
Sanada also turned back to look at Sakuno. He did not mind what she did as long as she was no longer distressed.
Yukimura understood that her willingness to help people was part of her charm so he nodded and said, "Maybe that would be the best idea."
Sakuno smiled with a relief. She did not like any kind of negative tension and this felt too much like a confrontation that was building up.
She tried to look at Atobe but Sanada was in the way. He turned aside to let her pass and Sakuno walked forward to stop beside Sanada.
She was a little in awe of Atobe because his confidence was something she could not understand and that put her off a little.
She looked at him without an ounce of confidence but with Sanada beside her, she said, "A-Atobe-san, maybe I can ask Auel-kun if he would speak with you later? Is that alright?"
Atobe seemed to think and nodded regally, "Will you introduce him, Ryuzaki, en?"
Sakuno brightened and nodded, "Hai, Atobe-san."
Atobe gave a small smile, "That would be fine, Ryuzaki. I will see you later, then. Now, I will have to go and announce for the second round of the tournament to begin, en?"
Everyone thought that he was about to turn away when he took one step forward and gave a gallant half-bow.
He smiled his most charming smile, looked straight into Sakuno's wide, guileless eyes and said, "Also, I must apologize for distressing you earlier, Sakuno-san. Will you grant me forgiveness?"
Sakuno blushed for the umpteenth time that day and stammered, "H-Hai…"
Atobe did not look away from her but he could feel some very sharp glares coming his way.
He took it one step further and said, "I am honored."
Then he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek lightly and while everyone was still shocked and standing there, he escaped elegantly with Kabaji after him and Sakuno red as a strawberry.