Author's Notes (1): Here's another sense- taste. Sorry, but it's a bit long. And maybe a little bit OC on Ryoma's part.

Author's Notes (2): Hint of RyoSaku. And in my defense of Tezuka OC-ness, I can only say that he strikes me as teh captain that knows his teammates, so he knows (perhaps from experience?) what Ryoma islikely to dowhen he sees his special girl upset.

Title: What Atobe Tasted

It was a sunny day as a group of young men came out from Seigaku and headed towards the tennis courts where the refreshments were waiting.

"Well, that was interesting," Oshitari remarked as he looked back to look at Atobe.

"Ore-sama has had better meetings," Atobe yawned as he gave an arched look at his friend then his eyes zeroed in on Tezuka and Sanada as they were talking quietly with each other. He ignored the amused look on Oshitari's face as he casually maneuvered himself towards their side. "Don't you think so, Tezuka?"

"Think what, Atobe?" Tezuka asked as he looked at Atobe.

"That there have been better meetings," Atobe said with an air of boredom. "Ah, Sanada?"

"I suppose that there have been," Sanada said politely as he looked at the Hyotei diva. "But then, there has never been refreshments offered at the end of these meetings either."

"Ah, quite true," Atobe concurred as he looked at Tezuka. "It surprises ore-sama that Seigaku would be so generous to offer this, Tezuka. Ore-sama did not expect this of you."

"It was not my idea," Tezuka admitted. "It came as a suggestion from Oishi and Ryuzaki-sensei's granddaughter. They both found it scandalous that a hosting school would only hold a meeting and then send its participants away without some nourishment. It was then seconded by our Regulars."

"Then we must thank them for their hospitality," Sanada commented as they had just reached the tennis courts. His eyes lifted as he saw several groups of girls surrounding the tennis courts, some of them in different uniforms. "I see that you have the same circumstances that we have at Rikkai Dai."

Tezuka looked over at the groups of girls who were surrounding the tennis courts. "I suppose we do, however those are not our students."

Oshitari squinted as he looked at a few of the girls. "I think I see some of our more fanatical fan girls over there."

"Ah?" Atobe said with some interest. He looked over and gave the girls in the Hyotei uniform a casual wave. When they screamed his name, Atobe nodded. "Ore-sama sees that you're right, Oshitari. And ore-sama seems to see some girls with the Rikkai Dai uniform as well as the Rokkaku uniform as well as others."

"Yes, most of the girls are from the surrounding schools," Inui said as he popped up from behind the four tennis leaders with Yanagi right next to him. Inui adjusted his glasses and looked at his data book. "And from the data that has been collected by Yanagi and me-"

"They happen to be the most persistent of fans," Yanagi finished. He nodded towards some of the female servers. "Several have also attempted to bribe the Seigaku female students into changing clothes with them, but so far have had no luck."

"That's because there is a ninety percent chance that Ryuzaki-sensei would ban them from all games and practice matches if they would give in," Inui said as he looked at Yanagi. "Those that would sneak in would have to be quite persistent indeed."

"Well, ore-sama sees nothing wrong with having some fan girls mixing with ore-sama's company," Atobe said with a shrug.

Oshitari lifted an eyebrow as he looked at Atobe. "I think that the girl that broke into your tennis locker is here."

"As long as she keeps the requisite fifty meter distance from ore-sama's presence, ore-sama has no problems with her," Atobe said with nonchalance.

"A girl broke into your tennis locker?" Sanada repeated as he looked at Atobe with some interest. "What did she get?"

Atobe shrugged. "According to her, she merely wished to put in a homemade bento into ore-sama's tennis locker."

"But she was so tempted by Atobe's clothes just hanging there, she couldn't help but to try them on," Oshitari said dryly. "Luckily, she's just one out ten that does that. The rest just try and feed him with homemade bentos or give him love letters."

"Ore-sama cannot help if those of the fairer sex are enthralled with his charms," Atobe said as he looked at his nails then looked at everyone. He smirked at Tezuka. "In fact, ore-sama is quite sure that just his presence can enthrall the females at Seigaku as well."

"I'm sure that a few of our female students can resist," Tezuka said dryly.

"Is that a challenge?" Atobe smirked as he looked at Tezuka. He espied a young female Seigaku server with long braided hair carefully holding a plate of cake and fruit. "Allow me to show you ore-sama's abilities, Tezuka."

As Atobe strode towards the girl, Tezuka's eyes widened slightly as he realized Atobe's intended target. "Atobe, I don't think-"

Inui adjusted his glasses. "Ii data."

Tezuka looked at Inui and snapped, "Inui! Get Oishi while I go stop him!"

As the two Seigaku members immediately left, Oshitari and Sanada looked at each other, puzzled. Yanagi merely whipped out his own data book and tried to move closer to the situation. "This seems interesting."

Prince

Of

Tennis

Atobe gave his most charming smile to the young girl. She was looking at him with huge eyes, no doubt because she was in awe with his presence. "So you are a server here?"

"Ha-hai," the girl stammered as she looked at him with big eyes.

"Ore-sama thanks you for your hard work," Atobe said smoothly as he gave his best charming smile to the girl.

"You're welcome, ah, Atobe-san," the girl said softly as she tried to smile back. Her face grew red as she lifted up the plate she was holding. "Ano- please excuse me- I must give this-"

Atobe smiled graciously as he took the plate from her hands. "And ore-sama accepts your offering to him. Thank you very much."

The girl's eyes grew bigger as she looked at her empty hands. "Ano!"

"This looks quite delicious," Atobe said as he admired the artfully decorated plate.

"Ah-ah- Atobe-san! You- you took my plate!" the girl stammered. "Can-can you please-"

Atobe glanced at her as her eyes seemed to take over half her face. "Of course ore-sama will eat it since you so nicely offered."

"Ano-Ano- I offered it? To you?" the girl gasped as she stared at him. She started to shake her head violently. "But-but-no-"

"And ore-sama thanks you for it!" He looked back at the plate and started to eat the cake. "And quite good!"

"Atobe! Don't!" Tezuka called out as he approached the two. He winced as Atobe ate the food on the plate.

"The cake! You- you ate the cake!" the girl cried out as she stared at him. Tears were starting to form in her large eyes. "You ate the cake!"

Lifting an eyebrow, Atobe swallowed before he answered, "It is quite good, little one." He looked over to see Tezuka with a resigned look on his face. "Really Tezuka, you should try some of this cake."

"Atobe," Tezuka sighed as he looked at him. "You shouldn't have done that."

Puzzled, Atobe lifted an eyebrow as he looked at the Seigaku captain. He looked at Sanada, Oshitari and Yanagi who merely shrugged. "Done what, Tezuka?"

"My- my cake! You- you ate my cake," the girl cried out as she stared at Atobe with tears running down her face.

"Oh, ore-sama knows that you are grateful for ore-sama to eat your food but you shouldn't cry tears of gratitude over it," Atobe said as he nodded regally.

"I don't think that's why she's crying, Atobe," Oshitari commented as he was more adept in reading people's facial expressions. "It looks like you just broke her heart."

Taking another bite of cake, Atobe merely shrugged. "Ore-sama has that way with those of the fairer sex."

"Tezuka! I'm here! Inui said that there was going to be trouble!" Oishi gasped as he came by Tezuka's side along with Inui. He looked at Tezuka. "What's wrong?"

"Atobe-san! You're eating my cake!" the girl repeated again, her voice hitching.

Alarmed, Oishi looked at the young girl then at Atobe then back at the young girl and his face paled. He immediately went over to her and tried to comfort her. "Oh no, it's all right. Don't cry about it, it's all right. We can get some more cake!"

"Sempai- that was the last piece!" she practically cried out.

Inui looked at Tezuka. "What do we do? There's an eighty percent chance that Atobe will not be unscathed if he stays."

"Do what you can to get Atobe out of here," Tezuka ordered as he grabbed Atobe's arm and started to pull him towards the tennis court exit. "Oishi- I'm depending on you. Oshitari, help me get him out of here."

Alarmed, Oshitari stared at Tezuka as he came by a confused Atobe's side. "Tezuka, what's going on?"

"Later, we have to get Atobe out of here," Tezuka said curtly as he grabbed the plate of food away from Atobe's hands. He looked at Sanada and Yanagi. "If you wish to save a decent rival, you two must run interference."

"If you need help," Sanada said as he started to pull Atobe's arm.

Annoyed, Atobe dug in his heels and grabbed his plate of food back. "This is quite enough! Ore-sama refuses to move until you tell ore-sama what is going on, Tezuka."

Inui winced. "Tezuka, it's too late."

"What's going on here?"

Everyone except the crying girl turned to look at the youngest Regular of the Seigaku tennis club, Ryoma Echizen. His golden brown eyes looked at his buchou and he was about to question him when his sharp ears heard an unfamiliar cry. Immediately, his eyes fell on the crying girl.

Casually, Echizen walked over to her and Oishi-sempai. He gave a look at the Seigaku assistant captain and the senior backed off. "Oi- stop crying. What's wrong?"

The girl immediately lifted her head and looked at Echizen, tears were still coming down her eyes, but she was making more of an effort to control them. Her voice hitched as she tried to explain, "Ryoma-kun- Atobe-san- ate- the cake- I saved!"

When her voice nearly wailed at the last word, Echizen nodded. "I get it. Stop crying."

As the girl nodded as she tried to stem her tears, a huge black aura gathered around Echizen as he looked at Atobe with a freezing death glare. "Oi, Monkey King- let's have a game."

"Now, now, this is supposed to be a friendly time," Oishi said as he tried to placate Echizen.

"And I just want a friendly game with him, Oishi-sempai," Echizen countered coolly.

"It won't work Oishi," Inui said as he looked at Oishi then at Tezuka. "Perhaps we can get him out of here before Atobe can get into more trouble-"

"Ore-sama refuses to go," Atobe called out. Lifting an eyebrow, he looked at the Seigaku ace. "So you wish to have a game with me, brat? Why? For eating your cake?"

"It has nothing to do with the cake," Echizen said curtly as he glared at Atobe. "You don't have to play me if you're chicken."

Amused, Atobe lifted an eyebrow. "Ore-sama run from a brat like you? You amuse ore-sama, Echizen, intending to punish ore-sama for a piece of cake."

"It's not about the cake, Monkey King," Echizen said as he coolly looked at Atobe. "But then, since you're the Monkey King, maybe food is all that you can think of. No wonder Hyotei lost in the practice matches with us."

"Echizen! That was rude!" Oishi scolded as he looked at his kohai.

"Echizen," Tezuka barked. The young Regular faced off with his buchou with a mulish look in his eye. "You're being unreasonable."

"All I want is a friendly game, buchou," Ryoma said. "Is there anything wrong with that?"

Inui scribbled in his notebook. "There was a ninety-one percent chance that he would say something to provoke Atobe. And a ninety-five percent chance that he would defy Tezuka in this case."

"But the question remains why he is trying to provoke Atobe," Sanada said as he looked at Inui.

"From observation, it seems that it is because the young girl has a relationship with Echizen," Yanagi said.

"My, this is better than one of my movies," Oshitari commented as he watched the scene with some amusement. "A young hero is trying to placate the tears of his chosen lady."

Crossing his arms as he heard the commentary around him, Atobe smirked at Echizen. "Is that it, brat? Such young love! You intend to pacify her by punishing me with a game, brat?"

"Mada mada dane- I have no idea of what you're babbling, Monkey King," Ryoma said as he looked at the Hyotei captain. "But then I don't speak chimpanzee. All I want is a game- unless you're afraid to lose with all theses other team captains around, Monkey King."

Feeling slightly irritated, Atobe lifted an eyebrow. "Ore-sama has neither anything to fear nor anything to prove amongst his peers. Ore-sama is peerless among the masses."

Inui looked at Tezuka. "If we just stay here, there is a very high probability that we will be seen soon, Tezuka."

"Atobe, just go play a game," Tezuka said as he looked at the Hyotei diva.

Atobe looked at Tezuka. "And why should ore-sama grace this brat with his presence?"

"Because it's better than the alternative," Tezuka said curtly. "You're being careless, Atobe."

"Too late, Tezuka," Inui said as he spotted someone coming. "Ah, sensei!"

"It's a party! Why aren't you mingling? Why is everyone gathered around here?" asked the coach of Seigaku, Ryuzaki Sumire. She smiled as she looked at everyone gathered by the exit then promptly lost it when her eyes rested on the sniffling girl.

A huge black aura that was even greater than Echizen's, enveloped the group. "And just what happened? Ryoma!"

"It wasn't me this time. Atobe ate the cake she was saving for me," he promptly answered.

"I see," said Coach Ryuzaki as she glanced at Ryoma. "I'll deal with you later."

Paling slightly, Echizen nodded curtly. "Ah- hai, sensei."

"Sakuno!" Coach Ryuzaki called out. Sakuno lifted her head and wiped her face. The coach's voice gentled. "Go with Oishi and wash your face. Atobe will apologize later."

"Ha-hai," Sakuno nodded and bowed before she left with Oishi.

Coach Ryuzaki turned to look at Atobe. "So you're the one that made her cry. Ryoma, don't you move from that spot. I'm not done with you yet."

"Usu," Echizen said as he pulled his cap down. "Stupid Monkey King."

Feigning nonchalance at the oppressive black aura emitting from the Seigaku coach, Atobe shrugged, "Ore-sama did and ore-sama apologizes for making her cry but ore-sama does not see the significance of that little one's tears."

If anything, the black aura grew even more oppressive. Coach Ryuzaki worked her jaw. "So you don't know the significance of that little one's tears?"

"Atobe, you're too relaxed," Sanada muttered as he gave a wary glance at the Seigaku coach. "You should have just left it at the apology."

Inui cleared his throat. "It must be noted that for all his self-promoted perfection, Atobe has the perfect survival instincts of a lemming."

Atobe was about to snap something at Inui when Tezuka stepped in. "Atobe, I think I should introduce you to the little one you made cry before you are dismembered."

Atobe lifted his eyebrow at Tezuka. "Is she important?"

If anything, the black aura grew darker and even more dangerous as Coach Ryuzaki's eyebrow twitched. "Is-she-important?"

"Quite," Tezuka said dryly. "Atobe, you just stole cake from Echizen's girlfriend, Ryuzaki Sakuno, the coach's granddaughter."