Disclaimer: I do not own any characters except for Yukimura Miyu.
Author's Words: Thank you, everyone for waiting so patiently. I have been slowing down a bit simply because I have been really tired lately. I hope that these two chapters, 42 and 43, are worth the wait.
Chapter Forty-Two: At the Beach (Part Twelve)
Niou and Yagyuu stared stonily at Atobe's elegant retreating back.
Yagyuu was unwillingly impressed with the flair and grace that he could see in Atobe's kiss and escape.
He was not overly pleased, of course, with Atobe's words and actions but he could not deny that Atobe had surprised them all.
He was calm enough to guess what it was that Atobe had wanted to achieve just then.
Yagyuu looked at his team-mates and thought that he had succeeded admirably. He looked around and saw Oshitari with an expression of wry amusement.
It appeared that someone other than himself had caught on Atobe's little game.
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Oshitari also glanced around and saw a number of the furiously fuming or fumingly furious Rikkai Dai regulars.
He had to give it to Atobe to attempt something so dangerous as to inflame some of the best sportsmen in the country just for the sake of a good match.
It was not even a tennis match but a bloody beach volley game!
Oshitari sometimes really wanted to kick his friend on the butt but since he rather valued their friendship, he refrained.
Atobe would never forgive him if he did do such an undignified thing.
Well, at least he was going to get what he set out to achieve. Oshitari shook his head and walked off in search of his the-world-revolves-around-me friend.
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Akaya was hopping mad and you could almost see the steam coming out of his ears.
If he was still in junior high, he would have marched up after Atobe and planted his fist into his face immediately after he had kissed his bunny-girl.
However, he was older now and had learned that there are some things he could not do if he wanted to go on playing tennis. Reacting to situations with immediate violence was one of them.
He forced himself to take in deep breaths but it was so difficult not to explode like he had wanted to.
How dare he touch his Saku-no-bunny like that! Just wait until the next match!
He tightened his fists and decided that he would beat Atobe right down to the ground if he could.
With the volley ball of course, or Sakuno might not like it.
He wanted to march right over to Sakuno and rub away at the place where stupid Atobe placed his dirty mouth on her cheek.
He decided that it was not a kiss because Sakuno did not like the guy anyway, not like she liked him and the other Rikkai regulars.
She did not like that guy… right… she was only being her usual gentle self… that's why she did not slap him when he pecked her on the cheek… no…
she was being her usual clumsy self when she did not punch his face out when he pecked her on the cheek… no…
Akaya, calm down… deep breaths… or he would really go over and rub Sakuno's face raw…
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Unbeknownst to Akaya, he was not the only person to want to beat Atobe right down to the ground, and through it right down to Australia or somewhere around if they could.
Niou lost his easy smirk as he retreated inwards to think about the possibilities of coming up against Atobe as soon as possible.
He would have liked to beat him in the finals of course but he knew quite well that his teammates were all fired up by his actions as well.
He knew that all of them had the ability to go up against Atobe and Kabaji and win.
While he was always happy when his teammates won, this time, he wanted to do the honors of trashing Atobe himself.
He narrowed his eyes and thought maybe he could get rid of some of them so they would not be able to compete in the next round.
Maybe some of that dodgy stuff he got off an acquaintance who did not wish to be named. Or perhaps a trick to lure them into the toilet, lock them in and put the 'cleaning in process' sign at the door.
He would have no qualms about doing things like that, since this was not a tennis tournament with their reputation at stake.
However he was well aware that they would smell a rat for they knew him too well indeed.
He could lie and trick almost anyone but his teammates were too close to him, not to mention they were some of the smartest people in the school.
Especially Yagyuu, Yanagi, Yukimura and Sanada; just the four of them were enough to put him on guard if he wanted to try anything.
Besides, Niou looked at Sakuno. He knew that she was important to them all and they would all like want to get their hands on Atobe for that cheeky kiss he stole.
He knew because he felt the same and he also knew it would take rather desperate measures if he wanted to get any of his teammates off the tournament at this point.
He guessed he would have to give up that particular idea and sighed.
Still, he was confident if he did not face Atobe opposite the net, he would get his own back one way or another.
At that train of thought, the Trickster grinned evilly and somewhere off, Atobe suddenly felt a chill and ordered his people to change the temperature of the air-conditioning from cold to cool.
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Sakuno unconsciously put her hand to where Atobe had kissed her on the cheek.
She might be used to Yukimura's brotherly kisses but it did not mean she was used to being kissed just like that.
She knew that it was probably just Atobe's strange habits but she could not help feeling self-conscious about it.
She thought that she should try and forget it because it was not anything meaningful.
Besides she had to go and tell Auel about Atobe wanting to talk to him.
She turned to Yukimura and was surprised to see him looking so serious and not a little too pleased. She said, "Yukimura-senpai?"
Yukimura heard her call him and his face changed as if the serious look had never been there. He said, "Do you need something, Sakuno?"
Sakuno rationalised to herself that he was probably just focusing on the upcoming games and she said, "I'm going to find Auel-kun and tell him about Atobe-san wanting to speak to him."
She did not notice but when Yukimura heard Atobe's name from her lips, he gave a very slight twitch and he almost lost his smile right there.
He did not though and nodded with his smile intact. Sakuno waved at him as she ran off to find Auel before the next round of games started.
After she ran off, Yukimura lost his smile right there and then.
Yanagi had noticed all of it and he went up to stand next to Yukimura. He said, "Seiichi, I haven't seen you this displeased in quite a while."
Yukimura turned to look at his friend and Yanagi said, "Fine, I won't talk about it if you don't want me to. Still, don't worry about it because he won't get away so easily, whether it is now or later."
At that, Yukimura smiled but it was a cold smile indeed.
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Sanada unclenched his fists when he noticed that he was clenching them so tightly, his nails were biting into his palm.
He had not liked Atobe's easy attitude with Sakuno. He knew that it was just Atobe's usual way with everyone but he was angry just the same.
He was having some trouble trying to control his temper which was rare. He was used to having tight control over himself, including his emotions.
He did not remember having been so close to losing his temper in a long time.
Even when he disciplined the boys in the tennis club, he had a tight rein on himself. Each slap he delivered had been deliberate and while he might be angry, it was very different from being in a temper.
He had seen little Sakuno run off to find her friends and was grateful for it because he did not want her to see him like this.
He valued their close friendship and he did not want to frighten her.
She was so frail in his eyes, so different from most of the people he knew who saw him as a stern and hard taskmaster.
She was open and friendly to him. She treated him with respect and yet it was not at a distance, unlike so many other people.
She was not afraid to talk to him and she trusted him, not because he was the Emperor but because she considered him to be her friend.
He knew that she trusted him to watch over her and that in her own way, she watched over him as well.
He did not really think of her in terms of girlfriend material but it was true that she was a special person to him.
Whether more would come of their friendship, he did not know and did not care. He would let things happen as they would.
If in the meantime, she fell in love with another person, he would still protect her and would hope that she would never lose that gentle smile of hers.
Therefore he would not allow her to suffer being used like that. He knew that Atobe was just being himself but that was no excuse.
He would make sure that Atobe knew that the next time they meet, be it across a net or not.
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Sakuno looked around the crowds and though she could not see over the heads of most people there, she still managed to spot Auel's pale fluff of a head.
She squeezed between people and finally got to Auel's side.
He was all alone, standing by himself and drinking from a water bottle.
When he saw her, he put down the bottle on a nearby table, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and said 'hi' to her.
He was in a very good mood as Sakuno could see from the sparkle in his eyes and the happy grin on his face.
She asked him where everyone was and he shrugged, indicating he was not sure. He did say that Sting was dragged off by Mayu.
He asked, "Yo, what are you doing here?"
Sakuno answered him, "Ah! Auel-kun, do you remember Atobe-san? He was the person who held this tournament. He said that he wanted to meet you and Sting-kun."
Auel looked at her with some surprise and not a little suspicion, though it was not her that he was suspicious of.
He just did not trust people who were that forward. For that matter, he did not think he would trust anyone who was too introverted as well.
They tended to be unpredictable and sometimes even dangerous.
He was well aware of that from experience.
After all, Stellar could be one of the quietest girls but she was capable of suddenly lashing out and attacking everyone around, mostly with a knife or two.
Sakuno continued, "He said that he watched you and Sting-kun play and he was very much impressed, Auel-kun! Even Yanagi-senpai said that it was an interesting game!
You must be really good because they are some of the best sportsmen I know! I wish that I could have watched your game! I wonder if I would get to watch your next one, ne?"
Sakuno was very impressed now as she thought back on what the tennis players had said.
Auel, of course, basked in all her admiration and mellowed somewhat but that did not mean he would just promise to meet this Atobe fellow.
He grinned confidently, not at all bashful at being praised so much and said, "Well, I don't know but it would be nice if you can watch one of our games. We are certainly the best!"
Sakuno giggled gently at his boyish boasting. Auel was grinning back when someone knocked him on the head and said, "What are you up to now?"
It was Shinn and Auel was almost shocked to see him without Stellar.
He said, "Where's Stellar? You didn't leave her by herself in here, did you? She could kill someone, you idiot!"
Shinn knocked him on the head again, "Don't be daft, I wouldn't be that stupid! She's with Mayu, Neo and Murrue-san.
Neo's trying to explain the rules of the game to her. I'm here because Sting was looking for you. He wanted to talk about the next game or something."
Auel smirked, "So Sting managed to get away? Well, I bet Stellar dumped you to stay with Neo and Kaasan, right? Ha!"
He was rewarded with another knock on the head and was about to do some 'knocking' of his own when their attention was caught by the sound of laughter.
The two boys looked at the source of the tinkling sound and saw Sakuno trying without success to stop her laughter.
She found their bickering very heartwarming, though she thought Auel would not like that description. It was times like these that made her long for siblings.
She said, "Gomen, I didn't mean to laugh but you two are almost like brothers!"
The two boys looked at her for second and then at each other.
They turned back to her and said as one, "Heck, no!"
Sakuno was slightly surprised at their loud tone of voice but then she giggled again because they were now glaring at one another with all the annoyance they could muster.
She stopped giggling and reminded Auel that Sting was looking for him.
Auel reluctantly broke off his glaring-contest with Shinn and nodded at Sakuno before turning to find Sting.
Sakuno called after him, "Auel-kun, what about Atobe-san?"
Auel turned back to answer, "I'll have to speak to Sting first!"
He waved and disappeared into the crowd.
Sakuno was left with Shinn. She felt slightly embarrassed and a bit uncomfortable because she did not know Shinn and she did not quite know what to say.
Shinn was also not at ease because he very rarely speak to girls he did not know.
They looked around them for a few seconds, both trying to come up with something to say.
In the end, Shinn decided to speak first, not being the most patient person in the world.
He said, "Eh… so… do you want to come and say hi to Stellar again? I think there's still some time before the next games start and she seems to like you."
Sakuno was happy to hear that and she nodded, "Okay, I like her too. S-she's very pretty." She added shyly at the end.
Shinn grinned and they made their way back to Stellar, Neo and Murrue.