I guess I'll juz update another chapter and see how hehe... I kinda like this story actually, dunno why…and it would be sad to abandon or delete it -cry-
Craze: wahahaha you found out! I want to do a little cross-over with Fruits Basket, but not much because I'm afraid some readers might not know about FB…
Sylindara: Sorry for the confusion! Basically what she meant at the end was to join as a manager, not joining their team for competition etc… And, about her in Rikkaidai, she is definitely not in their club. It's just that she had promised Yukimura to help train them (since some time ago and they had tied a close bond due to this), she meets up with them at a club (you know, those outside tennis club for exclusive members) and assist them. Sorry for not explaining these!.
SuzieOT: Basically Azuki doesn't play for some reason (will be revealed in later part of the story). Her greatest skill is actually to spot weaknesses and strengths very accurately and within very short time, which is a rare talent in the field.
Baka Tori Atam: Haha, thanks! Keep updated!
Ai Ling: Ooops, thanks for correcting me! Yes, I guess there's still lots of uncertainty and confusion… so please feel free to ask me questions if I miss any explanation in the story…
Eien no Kaze: Arigato! Hope you'll like this too!
Chapter 2—Betrayed
"Alright, everyone gather around!" Ryuzaki-sensei called out to all members in the tennis court.
"I would like to introduce a manager that I'd just recruit. Don't get the wrong idea that she'll be doing your cleaning jobs. She is here to help improve the standard of our tennis club." Ryuzaki sensei smiled.
There were whispers passed between the members. But the regulars remained silent.
"Sohma Azuki from 2-B. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu." and she bowed politely.
"Sa everyone else continue your practice! Regulars come over here." Ryuzaki sensei ordered. The regulars came closer.
"Let me introduce to you—this is our vice captain Oishi. This is Fuji, Kikumaru, Inui and Kawamura. They are all in third year. These two are Kaidoh and Momoshiro, same as you in second year. And this is our first-year regular, Echizen Ryoma."
"Nice to meet you." Oishi extend his hand for a handshake. Azuki shook it and replied, "Nice to meet you too."
"Maa Azuki you need not restrain yourself. Relax." Ryuzaki-sensei said, seeing her being so polite and all.
"Hai." Azuki said.
"Well then I'll leave them to you. I need to get back to office for now… Be strict on them if you need to!" Ryuzaki-sensei said and left the tennis court.
There was an awkward silence as none of them spoke.
"Uh… then shall we continue our practice now?" Oishi asked the others.
"Ah… please continue. I would like to watch." Azuki said.
"Ah… hai." Oishi said. Somehow this is getting really weird.
As they adjourned their practice, all Azuki did was sit aside and watch. She had a notebook with her and starts jotting down something on it as she watch the practice.
"Nanka… it feels like Inui." Kikumaru said while passing his shot to Oishi.
"Eiji it's not nice to say that." Oishi replied.
"Yeah. I heard that." Inui said from the next court.
"Hahaha gomen Inui." Kikumaru laughed.
Soon the practice ended. Azuki approached them.
"Kikumaru-senpai, since you do acrobatics, I have a new move that might be suitable for you (A/N: no, Azuki is not going to demonstrate)… and acrobatics need a lot of energy. You need a lot of stamina to confront your opponents. We'll get to that after this." Azuki smiled and pass him the water.
"Ah, Arigato! A new move-nya? That will be interesting!"
"Fuji-senpai, do you want to practice on how to control your weakness concerning the triple counter attack?" Azuki asked.
"EH? How… how do you know about it?" Since Fuji did not demonstrate his triple-counter during practice, how did she know about it?
"It's so famous, how could I not know?" Azuki replied. She had watched him and the others play in other matches against other schools.
"Hm… if you could help me, then I'll be really grateful." Fuji said.
"That is my responsibility. Leave it to me." Azuki said with a small smile.
"Then? What about me?" Momo asked. "Where do I need to improve?"
And so this goes on and on… she explains every detail to all of them. And so after that all of them changed back to their school uniform.
"Eiji-senpai, Oishi-senpai are you going back?" Momo asked.
"Nya? No. why?"
"Hehe what about some burgers to fill our empty stomach?" Momo asked. "Echizen is coming as well."
"Yea! Oishi, let's go!" Kikumaru said.
"Alright. Since I have nothing to do anyway." Oishi said.
"Ah Azuki! Over here! Want to go for burger together?" Kikumaru waved at her.
Azuki stood and consider that idea for a while. Would it be alright?
"Azuki! What are you thinking about? Let's go together-nya!" Kikumaru is the type that easily gets close to people.
"Hai!" And she hurriedly ran behind them.
After paying for their meals, they settled down to eat.
"Sohma-san, you joined our school since first year?" Oishi asked.
"Please call me Azuki. Yes… I joined in the first year."
"But I don't see you mix along with your classmates." Momo said between bite.
"Hm… I don't know. Maybe they don't like me." Azuki said solemnly.
Isn't that obvious? The guys in her class although like her a lot, felt that she's hard to get near. The girls on the other hand do not like her (in another word, jealous).
But Azuki is not THAT hard to get near… they just didn't try. She's a nice person although she has her own problems and secrets.
"Why not? I think that you are a nice person." Momo said with a mouthful of fries.
"Momo-senpai! You are spilling them out!" Ryoma said with irritation.
"Hm…haha hahahaha" Azuki laughed softly. Seeing Ryoma and Momo reminds her of the past…
"Eh…?" The others stared at her. For one, they had never seen her laugh before. Usually she will only smile.
"Ah… what is it?" She asked (finished laughing).
"Ne Azuki, I heard that your family is quite well off. Is it true?" Momo asked.
"Momo, how can you ask—Sorry Azuki." Oishi apologized on behalf of Momo.
"Iya, don't worry about it. Those are neither my property nor money." Azuki said.
"What do you mean?" Ryoma asked.
"Um, well those are my father's hard-earned money not mine." Azuki explained.
"Waaaah Azuki you are really thoughtful." Kikumaru said.
"Ah, iie, it's not… it's not like that…" Azuki said softly. The others were puzzled.
"Is there any problem?" Oishi asked.
"Ahaha no, no problem." Azuki said, faking a laugh.
The others did not ask further. Asking too much might cause inconvenience to her.
"Hey Niou, order one set for me too!" a familiar voice struck Azuki. Without any reason she started to look down.
"Azuki, what's wrong?" Oishi asked.
By the mention of her name, the few Rikkaidai who passed by them turned to look.
There were five of them—Niou, Marui, Jackal, Yagyuu and Kirihara.
They stared at her in disbelief.
The other Seigaku members at that time still have no idea who these guys are (they didn't know that they are from Rikkaidai…?) but they felt a surge of irritation seeing those boys in yellow stare at their manager.
"Do you have a problem with our manager?" Momo stood up and ask them.
"Manager?" Their eyes wide in disbelief.
"Yes. MA-NA-GER." Momo replied.
The group of boys had a surprised look. However that look turned into anger soon.
"Come on, let's go." Marui said. They left the fast food restaurant without a word.
Azuki felt a piercing pain in her chest. She wanted to cry. But she promised herself that she'll be stronger. She won't let others see the weak side of her.
However that still does not change the fact that she had hurt them. She knew they felt betrayed. Furious. Pain. She regretted it too… regret for not informing them in the first place. Regret for going out with them today although it's nobody's fault.
"Azuki are you alright? You don't look well." Oishi said.
"Yea, I'm fine." She forced a smile.
---------------------------------
"Dad…?" No answer.
Azuki sighed a little and closed the door after taking off her shoes.
She knew it. How could it be possible? Her father will not be home this early. To be exact, he's not even home sometimes.
Azuki slumped her tired body on the couch. If only… if only… … she sighed again. Life had been difficult on her. She's an orphan who has no idea who gave birth to her. She had been living in misery till the kind Mr and Mrs Sohma brings her home as their child. Things were perfect until two years ago…
RING RING
Azuki's house phone rang.
"Azuki. Can we talk?"
It was Niou.
"Yea. Where?"
"Outside your house."
Azuki stood up and peered outside. All four of them are standing near the gate.
She quickly opens the door and asked them in.
"I think there's no need for that… we just came here to clarify something." Niou said, rejecting her.
"I am sorry…" Azuki muttered.
"What are you talking about? Why are you apologizing!" Akaya asked angrily.
"I should have told all of you earlier. I have agreed to be Seigaku's manager."
"Why all of a sudden?" Jackal asked. "Is there any reason behind it?"
"Yea. Why did you join them? Why now?" Marui said with a hurt expression.
"I don't know… I guess I want to do something. I want to help them." But deep down she knew that was a lie. She wanted more than that. She wants to join them. She longed to be part of their family. Part of something she had been watching from afar since one year ago…
"Azuki, transfer to our school. Don't go with them." Akaya said.
"I… I can't…"
One year ago when her father said that he'll register her in Seishun Gakuen, she did not reject. She just let it be… let go of the hurtful past and look forward.
"Why not? Or are you already on their side? You hate us? You don't want to mix with us anymore?" Akaya asked, making her more guilty and confused than ever.
"NO! It's not that! I… still care… for you guys. But…" But I want to do something that I'd always wanted to do. She had not thought about transferring although both sides have been urging her to do so. Shishido and the others have been asking her to leave that school but somehow, the thought never occur to her.
"I understand. We won't bother you anymore." Niou said. "Let's go." And the team left with him.
Azuki can only watch their back from afar…
--------owari--------
A/N: Azuki actually have a sad past which not many know. It will be revealed gradually throughout the chapters. Sorry for the long wait!