Author's Notes (1): Still takes place before Hyotei arch.

Author's Notes (2): No real hard Japanese words used.

Title: What Atobe Smelled

It was absolutely official.

He hated it.

And he firmly believed that he was going out of his perfect mind.

There was absolutely no doubt in his mind about that.

Clearing his throat, the king of the two hundred man tennis team of Hyotei Junior High School and self-proclaimed epitome of male perfection, Atobe Keigo looked at the doctor again. "Could you please repeat what you said to ore-sama, Takeda-sensei?"

"Are you that angry with me, Keigo?" Takeda-sensei looked at the young teenager in concealed amusement. "You heard me. You have to stay here, in the hospital, for the next two days for observation."

Atobe frowned. "Why?"

"Because I'm also your doctor and I said so," answered Takeda-sensei.

"I could always fire you."

"You can't fire family, we always come back for reunions," Takeda yawned as he marked something on his chart. Then he smiled as he pulled something out from his pocket. "And if you do try, then there wouldn't be anyone to sneak you your strawberry pocky in a bribe to make you behave. So am I fired?"

Atobe glared at his mother's uncle's son then crossed his arms and refused to even look at the strawberry pocky. "There isn't enough pocky to induce me to stay in this hospital for one hour, let alone two nights, Takeda-sensei."

"This is enough pocky to ensure that you do," Takeda countered. As the boy stubbornly refused to look at him, he sighed. "Keigo, it won't be so bad, trust me. It's just for two nights of observation and then you can go home-"

"I want to go home now! And I don't understand why I can't go home and be observed there!" Atobe argued as he glared at Takeda. At his cousin's patient look, he felt his horror rise as his lower lip start to protrude with a will of its own. "I don't want to stay here, Hatori-nii, it smells like the Hyotei club room after it's been insect-bombed and disinfected!"

"It should smell like disinfectant," Takeda said mildly. "It's there to prevent germs from spreading around."

"The stench is an all out assault to my nose! And the air in here makes my eyes water."

"No one will ever accuse you of crying, Keigo. If they do, then all you have to do is look down on them with your pinched, but regal nose."

"The clothing here offends my sense of fashion."

"Don't worry! Didn't you know that the bare-assed look as been 'THE' look for hospitals for at least thirty years? You're in fashion here."

Atobe refused to be amused at his cousin's rejoinders. "And there are people here, people who will insist to assault my senses and patience."

"And I'm sure that with one sneering glare you can make them run out of your room in no time flat," Takeda said as he clicked his pen and put the chart back to where it hung.

"And what do I do if they forcibly try to take me from my hospital room again?"

Hatori Takeda sighed as Keigo finally came close to the matter that was bothering him. He looked at his young cousin and remembered the failed kidnapping attempt of the boy when he was almost four. The boy had come down with appendicitis and was just hours out of the operation room when the attempt happened. It was just pure luck that Keigo had awoken from his drug-induced sleep because he couldn't stand the smell of cigarettes. When the groggy-eyed Keigo saw the unfamiliar faces over his bed, the boy had simply started screaming his lungs out. The resulting noise caused his parents, grandparents, the hospital staff and security to rush into the room and stop the would-be kidnappers.

From what the family rumor mill said, the kidnappers were quite lucky to have made the attempt in the hospital. By the time hospital security had pulled off Keigo's father and grandfather off the kidnappers, it was the kidnappers who needed emergency operations.

"Keigo, nothing will happen to you here," Takeda said gently as he put a hand on the younger boy's shoulder. "You're only here for some observation- nothing more. And you know that you wouldn't even be here if you weren't violently ill in front of your grandmother like that."

"Oh, pardon me for throwing up like that," Atobe sneered sarcastically. "Should I have just tried to keep it in?"

"Don't take that tone with me, Keigo," Takeda said mildly. "I can still take you over my knee and give you a good spanking if I have to. You're staying."

"The servants-"

"Do not have the necessary medical training if anything happens to you," Takeda finished as he crossed his arms. "And we can't get an emergency home nurse for you at this time. The next rotation will not happen until the next shift which happens in five more hours. It's the same reason why we can't just put you in a private room just yet. Are there any other arguments?"

Atobe glared at his cousin then looked away. Takeda sighed as he looked at his young, stubborn and pouting cousin. "Keigo…"

"I don't want to talk to you anymore," Atobe said haughtily. He felt a sharp rap on his head. "Ittai! Is that any way to treat a sick patient?"

"It's my way of treating a bratty cousin," Takeda said mildly as Keigo glared then looked away again. He shook his head. "I was about to say that I'll rush these tests and see what it was that made you so violently ill- if it's just a stomach virus like you think it is, you can possibly go home tomorrow afternoon-" He held his hand up to stop Keigo from interrupting. "But only if you're supervised- is that clear?"

"Quite," Atobe said after a moment. "But I really don't think that the terms apply because I don't feel sick any more so what about-"

"Don't make me rethink those terms, you little stinker," Takeda warned. "That or two days."

Atobe pouted slightly as he crossed his arms. "Fine, I'll take it."

Takeda shook his head. "And what do you say to me?"

"Thank you, Hatori-nii," Atobe said brightly. "And I'm sorry for thinking that you're really the gene-spliced child of a three-eyed goat and a retarded gibbon."

"Brat," Takeda said affectionately as he flicked the forehead of Keigo. "Well, I have to go and finish my rounds- can I trust you to behave until I finish my rounds?"

"Maybe if I get the pocky," Atobe smirked as he held out his hand.

Takeda shook his head as he handed it over. "Don't eat it now or else it may extend your stay. You need something soft to not irritate your stomach."

Keigo looked at it then smirked, "Then I'll chew it really well before swallowing. When will you be coming back?"

"Brat," Takeda said as he shook his head. "I'll be back to keep you company as soon as I finish- Come in-"

A young girl with long braids entered as she looked at the young doctor with some trepidation. "Ano- Dr. Takeda? I'm sorry to bother you but Uncle Masahiko sent me to tell you that he wants you to come down for the staff meeting right now."

"I'll be right there, Sakuno-chan," Takeda said as he smiled at her. He turned to look at his young cousin. "Keigo, I have to go-"

"Fine, fine, just leave me here to go to one of your stupid meetings," Atobe sighed dramatically as he looked at his cousin. "Where I'll probably die of sheer boredom."

"Atobe Keigo, you really are a brat," Takeda scolded mildly as he flicked Atobe on the forehead again. "Stop it."

"Atobe-san!"

Puzzled at who was calling his name, Atobe looked over his cousin's shoulder and at the girl who was standing at the doorway, looking shocked. His eyes widened and the color of his cheeks faded. "Ryu-Ryuzaki-san! What a surprise to see you here!"

Takeda glanced at Keigo's pale face as the boy stared at the little girl warily, as if she were a bomb about to go off. A wicked thought appeared to him as he turned his attention on Sakuno. "Sakuno-chan, do you know my cousin, Keigo?"

Sakuno blushed fiercely as she shook her head. "Not really, Dr. Takeda. I only know him by his tennis reputation and- and that he made me cry because he took the cake that I was saving for Ryoma!"

"He made you cry?" Takeda lifted an eyebrow and looked at his cousin in shock. "You took her cake without asking?"

Atobe desperately tried to control his reddening face. "Ore-sama was unaware that she was saving it for someone. It was, ah-"

Sakuno was alarmed as she saw Dr.Takeda scold Atobe and was starting to panic at the rising voices. "Ano-Ano- it's all right now!"

"Is your sweet tooth so uncontrollable that you have to start taking cake away from little girls like a monkey?" Takeda demanded. "And did you have to take Sakuno's cake away? And you made her cry? That's just crazy! What are you, a lemming?"

"Ore-sama refuses to lower his dignity to answer any thing that questions about what species ore-sama is because ore-sama is in a class by himself! And this means that ore-sama is not a member of any part of the animal kingdom!" Atobe's brow lowered as he snapped, "Plus ore-sama can control his sweet tooth and can resist the urge to steal a little girl's cake-"

"Well, you obviously couldn't resist the urge this time, Keigo!" Takeda scowled fiercely. "I hope that as soon as her grandmother showed up you rolled over and pretended to play dead until she went away."

Atobe aimed a black look at his cousin. "Ore-sama is not a dog! What is this fascination and comparison of ore-sama and animals?"

"It's all the preening like a peacock that you do," Takeda shot back. "And I was thinking more like you playing dead like a possum. Anyway, didn't you know that the cake wasn't yours?"

"Hardly. Ore-sama did not know that she was not offering her cake to ore-sama," Atobe said imperiously as he glared his cousin, not at all pleased with his tone. "It was a reasonable mistake for ore-sama to make, as she was a server for refreshment time and she was holding cake."

"Oh, heavens," Takeda commented as he buried his face in his hand. "So you just took it."

At the same time, Sakuno was shocked out of her distress at their argument. She gave Atobe a frown as she heard his explanation for taking her cake. "Atobe-san, even though I was a server, did I ask you if you wanted it?"

"The conversation had indicated that you were offering it to ore-sama," Atobe sniffed at the girl regally and simply ignored the exasperated groan of his cousin.

Takeda was amused by the look of huge indignation on the little girl's face as she took a step closer to the bed and cried out, "It did not!"

"It most certainly did," Atobe sniffed then paused as he smelled something pleasing in the normally offensive atmosphere.

Sakuno frowned fiercely at him. "Then it only sounded like that because you were interrupting me- and I couldn't get a word in edgewise!"

Getting bored with his conversation and more interested in the foreign scent, Atobe lifted an eyebrow in an attempt to keep her quiet. "Ore-sama supposes that it is possible that you were struck by ore-sama's magnificence, ah?"

"I was not struck by your magnificence," Sakuno shot back hotly as her face started to flush with anger. "I was struck by your lack of manners!"

Atobe sat straighter in his bed at the accusation. "How dare you say that to ore-sama! Ore-sama has manners-"

"Yes, I must agree with that, Sakuno-chan. Keigo has manners," Takeda interrupted. "He just refuses to use them."

"Yes, that is correct. Ore-sama simple refuses to use them," Atobe said triumphantly then scowled at his cousin as soon as he realized what he just repeated. "Hatori-nii! How could you say that to ore-sama!"

"You forget that I know you, Keigo," Takeda smiled angelically at Keigo then frowned. "And what the hell is this 'ore-sama' crap? Since when did you start speaking like that? And why are you referring to yourself in third person?"

"Ore-sama has always spoken this way," Atobe said stiffly as he looked at his cousin as if he were an insect. As his cousin continued to look at him in disbelief, he reluctantly amended. "When ore-sama is in the presence of those that are not family, ore-sama speaks this way because it pleases ore-sama."

"Keigo, they must have dropped the mold on purpose when they made you," Takeda muttered as he shook his head. He looked at Sakuno and smiled. "I apologize for his rude behavior and his general silliness, Sakuno-chan."

"Hatori-nii," Atobe started to growl. "Ore-sama is not silly!"

Sakuno stared at Dr.Takeda as he called Atobe-san something that one would never call the proud, narcissistic and regal Atobe. Back and forth the doctor and Atobe sniped at the other; she was starting to feel like a spectator at one of Ryoma's matches.

"It's a fact that anyone that refers to themselves in the third person is silly. Almost as silly as a loon."

"Again with the animal references! And Ore-sama sees no basis of the fact referral of one's self in third person is silly!"

"That's because you're trying to defend your silliness!" Dr. Takeda said with a frown. When Atobe paused to think a rejoinder for that, he turned to look at Sakuno who was all wide eyed and shocked. "Sakuno, again I must apologize for Keigo's generally rude behavior and for arguing in front of you-"

Sakuno shook her head violently as she started waving her hands. "Ah- Oh, no! You shouldn't apologize for him Dr. Takeda- I should apologize to you for my rude manners! I did not mean for my argument to cause you two to argue and- I mean- ano- oh dear!"

"It's all right, Sakuno-chan- I know first-hand how a rude, annoying, cake-thieving person Keigo can be," Takeda said gently to the horribly embarrassed girl. He ignored Keigo as he gave a snort in displeasure. "So I'll apologize for the brat."

Sakuno's eyes widened and her jaw dropped for a second time as she stared at Dr. Takeda's calling the proud and arrogant captain of the Hyotei Tennis Club a 'brat'. Then she shook her head violently as she exclaimed, "Oh no, Dr. Takeda! You don't have to do that! Atobe-san already apologized for taking the cake!"

Shocked, Takeda stared at the girl then at his cousin who was not even looking at him, but he could see the fierce blushing on Keigo's cheeks. He looked back at Sakuno. "Keigo- apologized to you? Keigo? This Keigo, the one right over here?"

Atobe scowled at his cousin. "Ore-sama is quite capable of apologizing when ore-sama feels it is necessary. Is that so surprising?"

"Only if it means that Hell froze over and chain mail comes back in fashion," Takeda retorted. He looked at Sakuno. "So he really apologized?"

"Ah- Hai, Atobe-san apologized for taking the cake, Takeda-sensei," Sakuno nodded then she bit her lip and blushed deeply as she looked at Atobe. "And I want to apologize as well- I'm sorry that I made such a fuss over the cake. If I didn't, then you wouldn't have had trouble with Obaachan… and Dr.Takeda."

Atobe stared at the girl. Her grandmother, Coach Ryuzaki, had taken great pains to inform everyone who was not Seigaku and involved in the matter that if her granddaughter should find out about what happened, there wouldn't be a rock big enough for that person to hide from. "Ah? You know what Coach Ryuzaki did?"

"Hai, Obaachan told me that she scolded you," Sakuno smiled brightly as she didn't notice any of Atobe's dismay. "Obaachan said didn't have time to take out her baton from the car. So you were quite lucky that she only scolded you, Atobe-san."

'Scold me? Coach Ryuzaki didn't just scold me! She nearly damn well killed me! And the woman didn't even need a baton- she just needed her tennis equipment and a few targets' Atobe thought as he remembered the short but effective torture that the Seigaku coach put him through. He had a brief thought of telling her what really happened- then quickly squashed it, reminding himself that he was a perfection of man with keenly honed instincts… and he did not have the survival instincts of a lemming as Inui and his cousin implied.

Atobe plastered a smile for Ryuzaki, extremely wary of making her cry. It was sure suicide if he did. "You think that ore-sama was lucky, ah?"

Sakuno was about to answer that when the door swung open and a large, scowling man, taller than Kabaji, thicker than Kabaji and twice as scary came in. "Takeda! We have a meeting and did you see Sakuno? She might be lost again- Sakuno!"

Sakuno pouted slightly as she gave a small wave towards the big man. "I'm not lost! I made it here just fine, Uncle Masahiko!"

Atobe stared as the large man's scowling face disappeared and a huge sunny smile appeared on the man's face. It suddenly transformed his face completely, making him look like the world's cuddliest bear, especially as he scooped up Ryuzaki into his arms and hugged her tightly. "Ah?"

Atobe winced as Ryuzaki's arms started waving. In a muffled voice, she cried out, "Uncle Masahiko! You're crushing me!"

"Masa, I think you're crushing your niece," Takeda said lightly as his slapped his friend's back.

Immediately, the bear-of-a-man pulled away and gave Ryuzaki a sheepish grin. "Sorry, little one. I was just so worried that you might have gotten lost again."

Sakuno looked at him in askance. "Mou- I'm not that bad, Uncle Masahiko."

"The last time I sent you on an errand, you ended up in the basement and then got lost in the morgue," Masahiko said gently. "Obaasan would've skinned me alive and your other obaasans would've helped."

"No, she wouldn't." Sakuno giggled as she shook her head.

"Oh, yes she would," Masahiko said empathically. "They just wouldn't do that in front of you."

He gave Sakuno another quick squeeze before looking at his friend. "All done here? I've been promised that it'll be a quick meeting."

"Yeah, I'm done," Takeda nodded then he pointed at the backpack the man had on. "Going on a trip, Masa?"

"We were supposed to meet the rest of the family tonight before I got called in," Masahiko said as he scratched his head. He took off the backpack and handed it over to Sakuno. "Anyway, I brought the dinner you made so that you can eat it in the cafeteria while I have my quick meeting with the staff."

Sakuno's face fell. "By myself?"

Masahiko winced at her upset look. "I really can't take you into the meeting with me, sweetie."

"I can wait for you in your office," Sakuno offered hopefully.

"Our short meetings might run at least an hour or so, Sakuno," Masahiko said gently. "And you know that you're hungry right now- so why don't I take you down to the cafeteria?"

"Okay," Sakuno said dejectedly as her head hung low.

"Ah, how about she eat it in here with my young cousin Keigo and keep him company," Takeda asked as he gave a hard glare at Keigo when the boy was about to make a protest. "He's in need of company himself because he's waiting for me."

"Now that sounds like an idea," Masahiko said as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. "What do you say, Sa-chan?"

Sakuno looked from her uncle to Dr.Takeda with a horrified expression in her eyes. "Oh- no! It's quite all right! I can eat by myself at the cafeteria!"

"But you really hate eating alone in the hospital cafeteria, Sa-chan," Masahiko said doubtfully.

Dr.Takeda looked shocked at Sakuno's vehement protest. He gave Keigo an annoyed look. "You really were that mean to her?"

"Ore-sama was rude not mean and ore-sama had apologized for that already," Atobe said as he crossed his arms. "And does not see the purpose of doing it again."

"Then don't be either," Takeda ordered. "Or do you really want to tangle with him if you make her cry again?"

Atobe gave his cousin a cool look. "Ore-sama will pass upon that pleasure."

"Good," Takeda nodded. He then looked at Sakuno-chan who was still whispering at her uncle. "It's all been decided. You get to stay here, Sakuno-chan."

"But are you sure that Atobe-san won't mind?" Sakuno blurted out as she looked at Atobe. He had such a sour look on his face.

Takeda waved that away. "He needs the company. You'll prevent him from being too irritated."

"Thanks, Hattori," Masahiko said with a smile. He looked at Sakuno. "No getting lost and you keep this boy company. Okay?"

"Ha-hai," Sakuno stammered as she twisted the backpack's straps. She was startled when it was taken from her. "Ano?"

"I'll just set you up at this table here," Masahiko said as he pulled a server near Atobe. He set Sakuno on the bed, near Atobe's side. "And you can sit here. Even though he's not Ryoma, make nice conversation and share, Sakuno."

Blushing, Sakuno nodded her head. "Ha-hai."

As Masahiko patted her head, Takeda smiled as he opened the pack. "So what have you here?"

"Ano- There's, um, lot's of rice, meats, vegetables, sandwiches, some gyoza and somen because Uncle Masahiko is so big. Those small bentos there are mine and the larger ones are for Uncle Masahiko," Sakuno stammered. She looked at Atobe fearfully. "And, ano, there's strawberry cake for dessert."

Affronted by the look, Atobe lifted an eyebrow at her, "Need ore-sama remind you that ore-sama is not the rabid dog that you are picturing ore-sama to be. Ore-sama can control his sweet tooth."

"He'd better," Masahiko said jovially as he gave a hard, smiling look at the boy. "Because if I find a piece of my strawberry cake missing, I'll get upset."

Takeda looked at Atobe. "He has a bigger sweet tooth than you. Well- we're off and we'll be back soon." He then popped his head in again. "Sakuno- if you want to share with Keigo- nothing spicy. We can't irritate his stomach. Ja!"

As soon as they were off, Sakuno looked at Atobe. "I really don't have to eat here if you don't want me to, Atobe-san."

"No, you may eat with ore-sama," Atobe sighed heavily. He took a deep breath and cocked his head again. There was that wonderful scent again but this time it was stronger. And he could identify it- it was the scent of lilacs. He looked at the girl. Could it be from her? "You may start eating if you wish."

Atobe fingered his hidden pocky as he watched the girl open her bentos. The aroma of the food started to make his mouth water. He turned his head so that he would not be tempted and be accused of being a monkey again.

"Ano, does Atobe-san want some?" Sakuno asked tentatively as she offered her bento of rice and meats. "It won't irritate your stomach? Or would you like to try some gyoza? Or would you like some of the strawberry cake?"

Atobe looked at the girl, irritated that his cousin set her to watch him and make sure that he wouldn't escape. "And why would you offer ore-sama your food? Are you obeying your uncle and being nice? If you are, then you are mistaken to think that ore-sama needs your pity-"

"There is no reason for me to pity you, Atobe-san," Sakuno said quietly. "And I certainly don't have to be nice simply because Uncle Masahiko says to be."

"Then why are you sharing your food?"

"Because Obaachan says that food always tastes better when it's shared," Sakuno said simply as she offered his a pair of chopsticks. "And I believe that too."

Atobe stared at her then graced her with a small smile. He gently took the chopsticks from her and placed his own pocky on the table. "Ore-sama supposes that it does."

Prince

Of

Tennis

Keigo looked over at the opening door. "It's about time that you came back, Hattori-nii."

"Sorry, I was caught up with a conversation," Takeda said as he came by Keigo's bed. "Did Sakuno leave?"

"Fifteen minutes ago," Atobe said as he shrugged. He looked at his cousin. "I did not need the company that you provided, Hattori-nii. I would not have escaped from here. Nor would I have done anything mischievous."

"It wasn't because of that that I wanted her to eat with you," Takeda chuckled. "It was because she really hates eating in the cafeteria by herself. Did she offer you some food?"

Atobe looked at his cousin and answered grudgingly. "She did and I feel fine after eating."

"That means you're probably getting better," Takeda said with a smile. "And now the private suite is all ready for you." He sniffed the air. "It still smells like food in here."

"Really?" Atobe shrugged. "All I can smell are lilacs."