Author's Notes (1): Takes place at some tournament- I was thinking something like the Nationals, just at the welcoming ceremonies.
Author's Notes (2): No real hard Japanese words used.
Author's Note (3): I had a hard time with this one. I don't know if I pulled off the sense of feeling, but I think that I did with his emotions. I'm not really sure. So please read and let me know.
Title: What Atobe Felt
"Pah, this is boring," Shishido snorted as he leaned against the trunk of a tree and watched the various tennis players mill about in the food court. "Where the hell is Atobe?"
"I'm sure that he'll be here soon," Otori said with a pleasant smile. "Maybe he's looking at the other teams to check out them out?"
Hiyoshi snorted. "Buchou is more likely taunting them." He stretched his arms. "This welcoming ceremony is so boring."
"But necessary for those from the farthest points of Japan," Oshitari drawled. "After all, how often do these people travel all the way into Tokyo? They can't all be rich like Atobe."
"Who is probably strolling along just to be fashionably late. Remember, his majesty must always make an entrance, it gives the hicks a better chance to be awed by his beautiful prowess," Gakuto yawned as he looked around the food court. Then he blinked as he caught sight of Kabaji on the other side of the food courts, nearly hidden by a copse of trees. "Hey, Yuushi, wasn't Kabaji with Atobe?"
Oshitari Yuushi, Hyotei's prodigy, looked over to where his doubles partner was staring. He looked over with lazy interest as he saw the sophomore look up at the trees. "He was- so why is he standing underneath that tree by himself? Ohtori, can you see if Atobe's there with him?"
Pausing in his conversation with Hiyoshi, Ohtori looked over towards Kabaji and his eyes widened considerably as his cheeks grew red. "Ano- Buchou's not- not with Kabaji!"
Shishido looked at Ohtori in puzzlement. "Why are you stuttering?"
At the same time, Gakuto's eyes narrowed as he looked at Ohtori. "And why are you blushing? What's going on with Kabaji?"
"Nothing, sempai! I am just hot right now! There's nothing going on!" Ohtori said with a wide smile as he scratched his head, trying to look innocent. "Nothing at all!"
Oshitari lifted his eyebrow then started to look towards where Kabaji was standing. "You said 'nothing' three times- that means that something is going on with Kabaji there."
"There's nothing going on there," Hiyoshi snorted derisively. "He's just standing there with a girl next to him."
At that announcement, all of the present Regulars of the Hyotei tennis club stared at Hiyoshi then at Ohtori. The Scud server smiled weakly as all his sempai-tachi's eyes were on him. "Heh, see? Nothing going on with Kabaji!"
"Kabaji has a girlfriend!" Gakuto yelped as he stared at the two juniors then tried to look over the heads of the people passing by. "Can you see her face? Is she cute?"
Ohtori frowned as he tried to protect his fellow classmate's privacy. "I can't really see her-"
"Yuushi! We have to go see her!" Gakuto said excitedly as he grabbed his doubles partner's jacket sleeve. "What kind of sempai would we be if we didn't inspect this girl?"
"There isn't any real need for us to go spying on Kabaji, sempai," Hiyoshi said as he looked at the Hyotei tennis acrobatic specialist. "He's a big boy; he can take care of himself."
"Hey! He might be bigger than you and me, but he's still a kohai," Gakuto said as he crossed his arms. "And we should check this out!"
"Are you that bored that you want to stalk Kabaji?" Shishido demanded with a frown. "Just leave him and his girl alone- you know how shy he can be."
"I just want to know if Atobe has already inspected the girl," Gakuto defended a he glared at Shishido. "Or what if the girl's just using Kabaji to get to Atobe- you know how tender hearted Kabaji is!"
"Kabaji's not you- he has more sense than to let some girl use him to get to Atobe," Shishido snorted in derision, but glanced a look towards Kabaji's way.
"And Kabaji's not one to let anyone just use him like that, sempai," Ohtori said in defense of his teammate but still looked worriedly over at where he was still standing with the girl. "Right, Hiyoshi?"
"The guy is a total marshmallow with girls sometimes, but he has a brain. He'll know if some one's using him," Hiyoshi agreed as he glanced towards' Kabaji's way. "But still-"
"Kabaji does have more sense, but he's still tender hearted," Oshitari said smoothly.
"Then it's settled! Let's go and see if she's worthy of Kabaji!" Gakuto said quickly as he practically ran ahead, pulling Ohtori and Hiyoshi with him. "Since you two are the same grade as he is, you two should look out for him."
"Can't you stop him?" Shishido demanded as he glared at Oshitari.
Shrugging at the comment, Oshitari gave Shishido a lazy look. "Not if I want to keep my sanity around him. All that I can do is to stop him from making a total fool of himself."
"You haven't been doing a very good job," Shishido snorted as he started following Oshitari.
"That's because it's more fun to see him try and squirm out of the trouble he gets himself in," Oshitari smirked.
"I really don't think that we should bother them, sempai," Hiyoshi complained, as they got closer towards Kabaji and the girl.
"We're not going to bother them- we're just going to see how she treats him!" Gakuto corrected as he pulled the two youngest members of the Hyotei tennis club behind a nearby tree. He narrowed his eyes. "She's short- can't be more than five feet. Hm- I didn't know Kabaji liked them short… and messy! She looks like she was rolling in the dirt!"
"Look at her hair! It's half her body length!" Ohtori observed as he studies the small girl standing next to Kabaji. His eyes narrowed as they caught sight a long, braided pigtail. "Why is only half her hair in braids?"
Oshitari lifted an eyebrow. "Braids?"
"And why is she favoring her right foot?" Hiyoshi demanded as he studied her lithe form as she leaned against Kabaji. His faced flushed into a bright red and his eyes widened as Kabaji's arm went to the small of the girl's back. "What- what were they doing?"
"Now that's an interesting question," Oshitari mused as he looked over Hiyoshi's shoulder. His eyes softened at how carefully he held her. "Ah? Our gentle giant looks quite protective of his lady."
"Was there any doubt that he would be?" Shishido snorted. "If it was Atobe, he'd probably expect her to protect his brilliant ass."
"As she shines it!" Gakuto added in laughingly.
"Do you have to be so crude, sempai?" Hiyoshi muttered as he looked sourly at the red-headed acrobatic specialist.
Otori frowned at his doubles partner as well. "Yes, that sounds badly especially since we're talking about a girl we don't even know."
"It's not as if it might not be true with Atobe," Shishido grumbled as he adjusted his cap to cover the red-tinge of his cheeks.
"And it wasn't that crude," Gakuto muttered as he glared at the two disapproving kohai.
"But it also wasn't very nice to talk about the girl," Oshitari said mildly. "If you dare, Atobe you can make fun of, but not his girlfriend." He sighed as he interpreted the look his tennis partner gave him. "Not unless you want Atobe to come after you, you know how he is."
"He'll say that since his ore-sama ass is perfect, so is she," Gakuto rolled his eyes at his tennis partner. "Fine- Atobe's girlfriend is off limits." He looked at Ohtori and Hiyoshi speculatively. "You guys get that? Talking smack about Atobe's girlfriend is off limits- in fact, let's make that all girlfriends are off-limits. Sempai's orders- make sure you guys spread that around."
"That's good to know," Ohtori smiled with approval.
"I'd like to see them dare talk smack about my girl," Hiyoshi snorted derisively.
Oshitari and Gakuto blinked as they looked at each other then at Hiyoshi. "Oi- does this mean that you have a girlfriend, Hiyoshi?"
"Of-of course not, Muhaki-sempai!" Hiyoshi stuttered as his face grew a few shades of red in less than a minute.
Stroking his chin, Gakuto narrowed his eyes as he looked at Hiyoshi's red face. "Hmm, some how, Hiyoshi… that sentence just feels… wrong. You wouldn't be hiding something like that from your sempai, would you?"
Hiyoshi sounded strangled as Gakuto thrust his face into his. "Of course not!"
"Ah! What's going on there?" Ohtori called out as he pointed towards Kabaji and the girl. "That bag just fell out of that tree!"
Oshitari adjusted his glasses to get a better look. "Ah? What the- was that Atobe who just came out from that tree?"
"Atobe was up in the tree?" Gakuto yelped, forgetting all about his needling Hiyoshi and his supposed girlfriend. "What was he doing up a tree?"
Shishido stared as Atobe did something so unusual, his jaw dropped. "Forget that- what's he doing giving Kabaji's girl a piggy back ride?"
Prince
of
Tennis
Sakuno felt her face grow red as they passed by a bunch of people. She brought her face closer to his ear. "Ano, Atobe-san, I think that I can walk."
"Ore-sama supposes you can, but it would not be advisable," Atobe answered as he continued walking. "If your ankle is hurt even more because Ore-sama wouldn't give you a ride then Ore-sama would not forgive himself. Ah, Kabaji?"
"Usu," Kabaji answered as he calmly walked along side Atobe and the girl while carrying the girl's backpack. Though he didn't show it, he wondered why Atobe only ordered him to carry the backpack and not the girl.
"But you really shouldn't be responsible if you don't give me a ride on your back, Atobe-san," Sakuno said as her face blushed. "I mean, you've done enough saving me from those bullies."
"Just think it as ore-sama finishing out his knightly duties in saving the damsel in distress," Atobe commented as he continued walking. He glanced at the way her hair was loosely swaying. "Or rather, the little princess in distress. Ah, Kabaji?"
"Usu," Kabaji answered with a nod, though he privately thought that Atobe was being unlike his usual cynical self with this girl.
Sakuno bit her lip as she looked at the back of Atobe's head then sighed. She got that part about being a damsel in distress, but why was it Atobe who was giving her a ride and not Kabaji? It was all very confusing. "Okay then. Thank you or the ride, Atobe-san."
"You're welcome, Sakuno-chan," Atobe said as he continued walking. So why the hell was he carrying her on his back and not letting Kabaji carry her? Not that she was heavy or that the scent of freesia that was caressing his nostrils was bothering him, it was just that he never acted this way before. So what was up with this change? He wasn't sure that he liked being a pack mule, but somehow, having her so close to him, felt right and the thought of Kabaji carrying just felt wrong.
Silence reigned as the three walked on the path that lead to where the Seigaku team was. Normally, Atobe would have an on going monologue with Kabaji, but with Sakuno there… it felt weird. Not an uncomfortable weird, but a different weird.
After a few more steps, Atobe's sense of social etiquette, which was strictly enforced by the most important women in his life, namely his mother and grandmother, he cleared his throat. "So, what happened to you? Why were those boys from bothering you?"
"Ano- I'm not sure," Sakuno said slowly as she shook her head. "I was just walking by and then they just started. I don't know what I-"
"Sakuno! What happened to you?" called out a voice. They all looked up to see Ryuzaki-sensei looking alarmed as soon as she caught sight of her granddaughter.
"And why are you on Atobe's back?" Momo demanded as he looked at Atobe furiously. "Did he hurt you?"
Atobe looked at Momoshiro derisively. "If ore-sama hurt her, then why would ore-sama be giving her a ride on his back?"
"Who know why you do things the way you do, you stupid monkey king," Ryoma commented as he came out. "Just put her down."
"Ryoma-kun! That was rude!" Sakuno cried out as she frowned at her boyfriend.
"And what if ore-sama refuses?" Atobe challenged with a smirk. "Think you can do anything about it, brat?"
Ryoma smacked his racket in his hand. "Think that I can't, monkey king? Put her down now."
"Stop this nonsense, the two of you!" Ryuzaki-sensei ordered as she stood between the two and grabbed an ear from them both. "I will not have this posturing while my granddaughter is hurt, is that clear?"
"Ha-Hai, sensei," Atobe winced as he tried to ease the pull by getting closer to the woman's hand. "Ore-sama will put her down gently if you'll just let go of ore-sama's ear."
"Ittai," Ryoma hissed as he stood on his toes trying to ease the pull she had on his ear.
"Fine," Ryuzaki-sensei said as she let go of the ears. "Oishi, medical kit!"
Wincing at the sting of pain going through his ear, Atobe looked at Kabaji. "Ore-sama should've made you carry her."
Kabaji looked at Atobe and clearly spoke two syllables. "Uh-uh."
Atobe blinked. "Did you just say 'uh-uh' to ore-sama?"
"Usu."
Atobe scowled at Kabaji. "Fine, but ore-sama will remember this. Ah, Kabaji?"
"Usu."
"Atobe- put my granddaughter down now," Ryuzaki-sensei commanded as she pointed to a seat at a picnic table.
"Ah, coming, sensei," Atobe said as he walked over to the table and allowed the girl to slide off his back.
Ryoma fought the urge to rub his ear as he gave the monkey king a very black look. Instead he looked at his girlfriend and frowned when he got a good look at the state she was in. Her dress was dirty, her arms had some bruises and there were some scratches on her face and knees. It looked like she was in some fight. He sat next to her as Oishi and her grandmother started to treat her. "What happened?"
Sakuno scratched her head as she smiled at Ryoma. "I really don't know. Ittai!"
"Sorry about that," Oishi said as he continued to wipe at her wounds.
"Atobe, what happened?" Tezuka asked as he looked at the Hyotei captain. 'How did she get hurt this way?"
"But more importantly," Fuji interrupted as he came toward Tezuka and Atobe. He nodded his head. "Why is your team hiding in the bushes like that?"
Atobe stiffened and slowly turned around to find his team attempting to blend in with the trees and bushes. Annoyance started to fill him as his eyebrow twitched. "If you insist upon spying on ore-sama, you should at least try to do your best of it. Even Madame Stalker has more subtlety than all of you. And ore-sama is willing to wager that she would be willing to teach you if you ask her nicely."
Shishido frowned. "Why would we want to stalk you? You just happened to show up."
"Ah? Ore-sama knows he isn't seeing things since you all are obviously here," Atobe sniffed as he looked at Shishido. "Stalking ore-sama."
"We weren't following you, you self-important narcissist," Gakuto glared as he crossed his arms. "We were following Kabaji."
"You do know that 'self-important' and 'narcissist' are synonyms, don't you Gakuto?" Atobe said mildly. "And why were you following Kabaji?"
"Because Gakuto-sempai thought that Kabaji was with his girlfriend," Hiyoshi said with a smirk. "And he wanted to check her out."
Atobe looked down his nose at Gakuto as he glared at Hiyoshi. "Are you that bored that you want to stalk Kabaji?"
Shishido stared at Atobe while Ohtori chuckled. "That was what Shishido-san said as soon as Gakuto-sempai said that."
"Wonderful, ore-sama is now channeling his bald, prune-faced teammate," Atobe said scathingly.
Shishido scowled at the diva. "I'm not bald-"
"Just prune-faced then," Atobe shot back.
"Hiyoshi is prune-faced, I just scowl a lot."
"Hey! I'm not prune-faced!" Hiyoshi scowled. "I'm just a serious person."
"That just means that you're just stone-faced," Atobe said with a flick of his wrist.
"It could be worse, Atobe," Oshitari drawled lazily. "You could have been channeling Gakuto."
"Yuushi!" Gakuto shouted as he glared at his doubles partner.
"Excuse me, I really hate to stop all of this love going on," Fuji interrupted. "But we have to know something."
"What happened to her, Atobe?" Tezuka demanded as he looked at the other boy.
Atobe shrugged. "Ore-sama has no clue on what happened. Ore-sama was with Kabaji and minding his own business when ore-sama happened to catch sight of three boys surrounding Sakuno-chan and bullying her."
"Is that what happened, Sakuno?" Ryuzaki-sensei asked as she looked at her granddaughter.
Ryoma scowled. "Since when do you call her Sakuno-chan?"
"Since we shared a hospital bed together," Atobe taunted.
Ryoma looked at Atobe dangerously. "Want to go back in it?"
"Atobe-san! What are you talking about?" Sakuno demanded as she stared at him, confused. "We never shared a hospital bed! It was just supper in your room until Uncle Masahiro was done with his meeting!"
"But it was on top of my rolling table and therefore on top of my hospital bed," Atobe said as he flicked his wrist. "So therefore, we shared a hospital bed. Ah, Kabaji?"
"Usu."
Sakuno looked at him curiously. "Is it fun to rewrite you own history or do you just have a knack for it?"
Atobe stared at the girl as his teammates snickered. "Ah, it's a gift from the gods. Ah, Kabaji?"
Ryoma snorted before Kabaji could answer. "Yeah, namely Son Goku."
"Which is more than what the gods didn't give you, brat," Atobe continued smoothly.
"Enough of this sniping, you two." Ryuzaki-sensei's eyebrow twitched. "Or do you want me to pinch your ears again?"
The two combatants glared at each other before they said, "No, ma'am."
Gakuto tugged the sleeve of his friend. "Yuushi, is it just me or is Atobe trying to pick a fight with the brat?"
"Ah, just watch the nice little play, Gakuto," Oshitari advised as he continued to watch Atobe while listening to the girl. The Hyotei captain did not look pleased at all. And the source of his displeasure seemed to be focused on the Seigaku freshmen in front of him, more specifically, the Seigaku freshman ace.
"Ano, Ryoma-kun," Sakuno said softly as she took his hand. "Atobe-san came to my rescue." She looked at her grandmother. "I was walking by, lost again, when I passed by those guys. They stopped me because they said that they were from Nagoya and that they were lost, too."
"And then what happened?" Fuji frowned.
"I said welcome to Tokyo, and that I wish I could help them, but that I was lost too." Sakuno shrugged helplessly. "Then one of them said that he was hungry and he tried to take my bag. He said that since I was a resident of Tokyo, I had a responsibility to make him feel welcome so I had to feed him. I was so surprised I asked, 'Since when?' And that's when the guy was trying to take my bag from me."
"Those freaking bastards," Ryoma growled lowly as he gripped her hand. "Is that when they started hurting you?"
"You're hurting my hand, Ryoma-kun," Sakuno winced. When he let go immediately, she gave him a weak smile. "Well, it was more of the landing that hurt me more than they did."
Ryoma stared at her. "More of the landing?"
Ignoring the freshman, Tezuka lifted his eyebrow. "You didn't let go of the bag, did you?"
"Ano, actually, the bag didn't go of me," Sakuno laughed embarrassingly as she scratched her head. "So when he flung it around, I kind of went with it."
Ryoma stared at his girlfriend. "You went with the bag?" His eyebrow started to twitch. "You went with the bag?" He could just imagine it. "Where exactly did the bag go?"
Sakuno looked down at her hands as she made her two index fingers start to meet. "The bag sort of went up into the tree."
Fuji stared at Sakuno. "The bag went up into the tree?" Sakuno nodded. "Did you go up into the tree as well?"
"Of course not," Sakuno said cheerfully as she could. "I just sort of went into the tree." At her sempai-tachi, grandmother's and Ryoma's blank stares, she blushed. "Ano, let's just say that I think that I now fully understand what it's like to be a Frisbee."
Her grandmother paled then exploded. "You didn't have to find out like that!"
"It's not like I wanted to find out that way," Sakuno protested. "It-it just sort of happened that way. Anyway, it wasn't so bad. The tree caught me before I got too far. And anyway, that's when Atobe-san came with Kabaji-san and scared the guys away."
Sumire Ryuzaki could feel a headache coming on. "The tree caught you before you got too far. Oishi?"
Oishi looked up from wrapping Sakuno's ankle. "Ah, Hai, sensei?"
"Pass over the pain killers," Ryuzaki-sensei said as she put out her hand. She glared at her granddaughter as she took out four tablets. "Kawamura, water please."
"Ah, Hai sensei," Kawamura said as he took out a cup of water and gave it to her.
Sakuno frowned. "Four tablets, Obaachan? Isn't that a bit much?"
"Four isn't enough," her grandmother countered. "There's a reason for each one: one because of you; one because of the tree catching you; one because of my nerves, and one because I know something else will happen because the day hasn't ended yet."
"Oh," Sakuno said meekly.
Oishi stood up from Sakuno's feet and wiped his forehead. "There! You're all patched up now, Ryuzaki-chan." He waggled a finger at her. "Now try not to get something else to happen today, okay? I don't think sensei or Echizen can stand it if you do."
Sakuno pouted. "It's not like I ask these tings to happen to me."
Atobe cleared his throat. "Ore-sama is quite sure that nothing else will happen to Sakuno-chan, sensei."
"You really don't know my granddaughter," Ryuzaki-sensei said as she looked at Atobe. "But thank you from stopping those bullies from hurt her too much." She looked at her granddaughter. "When the Nationals are over, you're grounded for two days."
"Hai, Obaachan," Sakuno sighed as she looked at her hands.
"As for you boys," Ryuzaki-sensei started as she looked at her team. "Don't go picking fights with the guys from Nagoya, is that clear?" She looked at Echizen. "Clear?"
"I don't pick fights, sensei," Ryoma frowned as he lowered his cap. "I just happen to come across them." He looked at Atobe. "Especially when the baka do things I don't like."
"Oh, are you talking about ore-sama, brat?" Atobe asked as he pointed to himself and his eyes were wide with mock surprise. "Now, what could ore-sama have possibly done to you that you wouldn't like, brat?"
"You exist," Ryoma said as his eyes narrowed.
Well aware that Echizen had yet to forgive Atobe for making Sakuno cry from before, Tezuka glared at his freshman. "Echizen-"
"Ore-sama's existence is a boon to the world, brat," Atobe said haughtily as he looked down his nose at Echizen.
"You're more like an annoying baboon for the world," Ryoma shot back.
"Tch, the brat's pretty good," Shishido smirked as he watched Atobe and Echizen exchange verbal volleys.
"But why is Atobe even trying to pick on him?" Ohtori wondered as he looked at his captain and the freshman.
"Probably because the brat's got an ego as big as Buchou's," Hiyoshi shrugged. "Or maybe because Atobe's been eying Echizen's girl the whole time." His face turned red as the team stared at him. "I'm just saying. Forget it."
"Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno said loudly as she frowned at him. "Be nice to Atobe-san, please? He did stop those bullies from Nagoya."
"Yes, you should be nice to ore-sama, brat," Atobe taunted. "Ore-sama saved your girlfriend when you were no where to be found. Right, Kabaji?"
"Usu."
As the little brat gave him a black look, Atobe's smirk grew larger. "Since ore-sama played the knight errant to your little princess in distress, perhaps ore-sama should be rewarded, ah, Kabaji?"
"Usu," Kabaji answered with a nod. Though he agreed, he stayed a couple of feet behind Atobe. The look from Echizen's eyes was hot enough to melt glass.
"Come closer so that I can award you, monkey king," Ryoma invited with a smirk.
Atobe flicked his hair. "Ore-sama doesn't want an award from you, brat. Ore-sama wants an award from the little princess."
"Oh, okay," Sakuno said nervously as she looked from Atobe and Ryoma. She lifted a hand towards Kabaji. "Can I have my backpack please?"
Being no fool, Kabaji gave the two a wide berth as he handed the backpack over. Curious, Ryoma and Atobe looked at the girl as she rummaged through the bag. "Aha! Here it is!"
Sakuno smiled brightly as she pulled out a box of strawberry pocky. "Here's your reward, Atobe-san! Some strawberry pocky!" She hesitated as Atobe gave her a strange look. "Ano, would you prefer another flavor? I think that I have chocolate and green tea pocky here somewhere."
"No, no, strawberry is fine," Atobe said. He could hear the muffled laughter from his team and Seigaku behind him. His traditional smirk was firmly in place when he shot it to the brat and then changed it to a genuine one when he looked at Sakuno-chan as he took the pocky from her. "Ore-sama will accept this reward from you and cherish it, little princess."
"Oh no, you don't have to cherish it," Sakuno said as she waved her hands in protest. "You just have to eat it, Atobe-san." She gave him a quick smile then turned to her boyfriend and smiled brightly at him as she gave him her bag. "I made some lunch for you, Ryoma-kun. And it seems quite safe even though the bag was thrown around. I made you some grilled mackerel, some salad, flavored onigiri, sliced daikon, assorted tempura, some somen with different flavorings and chawanmushi."
"That sounds good," Ryoma said as he shot a smirk at Atobe. He gave the bag back to Sakuno then lifted her up in his arms with a squeak coming from her. "Ryoma-kun!" Echizen looked at his girlfriend's grandmother. "We're going to eat by that tree over there, sensei. It's too crowded here." As he started walking, he sniffed her hair. "Oi, did you use that flower shampoo set I gave you?"
Sakuno blushed as she bowed her head. "I used the freesia shampoo today."
"Go Ochibi!" Kikumaru shouted with his fist in the air.
"Fine, just keep in sight," Ryuzaki-sensei said as she waved her hand. "And make sure that she doesn't get into any trouble while you have lunch."
"Young love, love young," Momo called out to Echizen's back. He grinned as the young Ryuzaki buried her face into his neck.
"Aren't they a bit too young for this?" Oishi worried as he looked at the retreating Echizen and Ryuzaki. "He won't drop her, will he?"
"They'll be fine," Ryuzaki-sensei said with a wave of her hand. "I'm going to the administration desk for a second- make sure that lunch is set up, Oishi."
Inui adjusted his glasses. "It seems that Echizen is only going 10.8 meters away, Oishi. His habits say that he dislikes sharing his food and is uncomfortable with direct sunlight while he eats lunch."
"Lunch sounds like a good idea," Fuji said as he looked at Tezuka. "Shall we start to eat now?"
"Aa," Tezuka nodded. He looked at Atobe. "You and your team are welcome to join us if you wish or you may go, Atobe."
"And that's the end of the show," Oshitari muttered as he looked at Atobe's annoyed face. Perhaps there was something to what Hiyoshi had noticed. His friend really did not like being ignored by the little girl and dismissed by Tezuka. "Shall we have our own lunch Atobe?"
Atobe looked at Tezuka. "Ore-sama supposes-"
"HOW DARE YOU RIDE ATOBE-SAMA'S BACK!" screeched a voice. "Just who do you think you are?"
Prince
of
Tennis
At the sound of the screaming, Atobe turned to see three girls surrounding Sakuno-chan as she sat alone under the tree. Sakuno looked up at the girls with wide eyes and confusion.
"You have no right to demand a ride from the great Atobe-sama!" screeched a girl with pink hair.
Sakuno looked at her with wide eyes. "Ano but I didn't-"
"Atobe-sama's club rules dictate that you can't be within four feet of Atobe-sama's personal space!" scolded a girl with a page boy cut.
Sakuno looked at her with wide eyes. "Ano but I wasn't-"
"You gave him some plebian treat as if he were your personal servant!" said another girl with long black hair. "That is not to be allowed."
Sakuno looked at her with wide eyes, tears starting to form. "Ano but I wasn't- I didn't-"
Atobe's eye started twitching as he started to march over to where Sakuno was. A second later, Kabaji followed him, along with the rest of the team and Seigaku.
"And another show is just beginning," Oshitari drawled as he lifted an amused eyebrow at the enraged Atobe.
"What do you think you four are doing?" Atobe demanded in a furious tone as he glared at the girls. "Who are you people? Get away from her now!"
"Oh, Atobe-sama!" gushed three of the girls as soon as they saw him. "You're here!"
"And there they go melting in his presence again," Gakuto snickered.
"How come you never do that to your fan club, Tezuka?" Fuji asked as he looked at his friend. Tezuka merely ignored him.
"Are you going to obey ore-sama or not? Get away from her!" Atobe demanded. When they moved, he looked at the Atobe-fan club pins they wore. "Name and rank, now!"
Kikumaru covered his mouth. "They have a name and rank?" He looked at Tezuka. "Why isn't your fan club named and ranked, Tezuka?"
"I am Mariko Yamaguchi, second-year, number 96, white lily division."
"I am Sayko Nobutsu, first-year, number 17, pink peony division."
"I am Rin Hamada, third-year, number 8, black rose division."
"Since when is there a black rose division?" Ohtori asked Shishido. "I thought there were only the white, gold and red?"
"Who knows?" Shishido shrugged. "Just enjoy the show, Chou."
"I think they made the black after Madam Stalker appeared. The division was made for enforcing the club rules," yawned a voice. Everyone turned to see the sleeping genius Akutagawa Jirou next to them.
Gakuto frowned. "When the hell did you get here?"
"I was sleeping by that tree over there since I couldn't find you guys," Jirou yawned. "I woke up when I heard those girls screaming and I knew that Atobe had to be around here somewhere. Anyway, the black was made when the grades all got together and decided that there must be a black to keep everyone in line."
"Ah, ii data," Inui said as he scribbled it down. "This is akin to what has been going on in Tezuka's fan club."
Gakuto did a double take at the Seigaku data player. "When the hell did you get here?"
"Hush, Gakuto," Oshitari scolded. "The star is on stage."
"Why are you bothering Sakuno-chan?" Atobe demanded as he glared at the girls.
"She doesn't know what the rules are, Atobe-sama!" cried out Yamaguchi as she waved the Atobe Fan Club Manual.
"Atobe-sama, how could you call that-that girl by her first name?" demanded Nobutsu.
"We saw how she forced herself on your back, Atobe-sama!" said Harada as she glared at the small girl with pigtails. "She invaded your personal space!"
Atobe closed his eyes. This was utterly ridiculous. Why on earth did his fan club have to be so fanatical? "She did not invade ore-sama's personal space."
"Indeed she did not," said the girl with the long black hair as she crossed her arms and glared at Atobe. "Atobe-sama invaded hers and that is not to be allowed! I will not permit these actions from you, husband!"
"Husband? When did Atobe get married?" yelped Oishi. "Isn't he a bit too young to be married?"
Shishido snorted. "Chill. She's not his wife- she's just another girl that likes to think she is."
"How come you don't have people declaring that they're your wife, Tezuka?" Fuji asked innocently. "Seems that your fan club is falling behind Atobe's."
"She looks familiar," Oshitari mused as he looked at her. "Did we see her recently?"
Gakuto narrowed his eyes. "She's the one that made me pay for a week's worth of pocky for Jirou. Her name's-her name's-"
"Ah? Who are you to call yourself ore-sama's wife?" Atobe demanded as he looked down his nose at her.
The girl fumed. "How dare you not remember me!"
"Ore-sama dares many things," Atobe said with a flick of his wrist. "And ore-sama forgets insignificant details."
"I am not an insignificant detail," the girl fumed as she glared at him. "I am Kyoko Watase and I am going to be your wife!"
"Oh, yeah, that's who she is!" Gakuto crowed with a nod. "Kyoko Watase! Her dad's some big shot of some conglomerate."
"She is so lame," Hiyoshi snorted. "He really doesn't remember her."
"Oh, is that who you are?" Atobe said as he lifted his eyebrow. "As ore-sama said, ore-sama forgets insignificant details."
Kyoko stomped her foot. "I am not an insignificant detail! I will be your wife and I demand that you give back that- that plebian food to that hussy!"
"Ah, what plebian food?" Jirou asked confused.
"She's talking about the pocky that Ryuzaki-chan gave to Atobe," Ohtori said.
Jirou blinked his eyes. "What flavor?"
"Strawberry," Inui said as he was writing down the exchange between Atobe and the girl claiming to be his wife.
Jirou looked at the data tennis player. "Strawberry?" The guy nodded. "Oi! Atobe! If you don't want that pocky, can I have it?"
Atobe twitched his eyebrow. "Ore-sama is not going to give up ore-sama's pocky. It was a reward for rescuing the little princess!"
"How dare you call that hussy a princess!" Kyoko screeched.
Atobe's eyes narrowed at the girl. "You would do well to not use that word if you do not wish to anger ore-sama."
Kyoko placed her hands on her hips. "I can call that a girl a hussy because she is one!" She pointed at the girl Atobe-sama had on his back. "And I will not have you be treated like a servant by that shameless floozy!"
"Ryuzaki-chan is neither a floozy nor a hussy," Tezuka said in a loud voice as he glared at the idiot girl who was declaring herself to be Atobe's wife. "She had more admirable qualities than you who happen to be screaming like a fish monger's wife!"
"Whoa, Tezuka-san is scary when he's furious," Ohtori whispered.
"Nah, he's not furious, he's just mad," Kikumaru corrected. He pointed at Fuji who had his eyes wide open and a grin plastered on his face. "Fuji's the one that's furious. Atobe's wife had better stop calling Ryuzaki-chan names before she really gets hurt when Ochibi-"
"Who the hell are you to call her a hussy?" demanded a loud voice. Everyone turned to see Echizen carrying two cans of Ponta in his hands and steaming coming from his ears.
"Whoops, too late," Kikumaru groaned. "At least he doesn't have his tennis racket."
"And who are you little boy?" Kyoko demanded.
"I'm Echizen Ryoma and I'm her boyfriend," Ryoma glared as a deadly aura enveloped him. "Who the hell are you?"
"I am Kyoko Watase and I'm his future wife," Kyoko declared haughtily.
"You are not ore-sama's wife," Atobe said mildly as he sniffed at her.
"I am so going to be your wife!"
"I don't care if you're going to be the queen of Japan in a pink elephant costume!" Ryoma said as he glared at the two. "Just get away from us and take the monkey king with you, you shrew! We want to have our lunch in peace!"
"Who are you calling 'shrew', you brat?" Kyoko glared.
"I'd call you something else that rhymes with 'itch', but there is a real lady and sempai-tachi present," Ryoma snapped back. "And let me tell you, that lady isn't in front of me!"
"Whoa, the brat's good," Shishido said in admiration. "Ah, Kabaji?"
"Usu."
Ohtori's eyes were round at the implication while Oishi sputtered, "Echizen! You shouldn't use such language!"
"I didn't use any language, Oishi-sempai," Echizen called out as he glowered at the girl. "I just made a word rhyme!"
"You little brat," Kyoko sputtered.
"If that's all you can call me, you really need to work on your vocabulary," Ryoma sneered.
"Ryoma-kun," Sakuno said as she looked up at him. She reached her hands up. "Sit down, please. You shouldn't get worked up before you eat." When he stayed up, she tugged on his hand. "She just thought I was being mean to Atobe-san when I got the piggy back ride from him."
"You can never be mean, even to the monkey king," Ryoma said then he glared at the people around his girl. Then he locked eyes with Atobe. "Go away with your barrel, monkey king; you're making too much trouble."
"Ore-sama resents that accusation," Atobe said as he crossed his arms.
"Then who's flunkies is it that's here and picking on Sakuno?" Ryoma shot back.
"Mark one up another one for the brat," Gakuto snickered. He looked at the Seigaku brat with some reluctant admiration. "The brat's good."
"Fine, ore-sama will leave," Atobe said after a second. He looked at Sakuno and gave her a slight bow. "Your knight errant sincerely apologizes for the unseemly display, little princess. It will not happen again."
Sakuno smiled timidly at him. "Ano- thank you-"
"Just leave, monkey king," Ryoma said as he stepped in front of Sakuno and blocked Atobe's view of her. "Now."
With a last annoyed look at the brat, Atobe looked at Kyoko. "You wish to be ore-sama's wife? Then ore-sama will put you in the lists." He looked at Hamada. "Register this woman as candidate number 63 of the red carnation division and keep her under black surveillance code 21 until further notice." He glanced at Sakuno-chan then looked at Hamada again. "List Ryuzaki, Sakuno under black surveillance code one, priority one. If anyone comes any closer to her, there will be retribution. Is that clear, Hamada?"
"Yes, Atobe-sama," Hamada said as she wrote it down. She took a picture of Sakuno-chan on her cell phone and then looked at Yamaguchi and Nobustu. "Take her away and keep her 30 meters away from Atobe-sama."
Ohtori blinked as he looked at Atobe. Shishido frowned. "What the hell were all those codes Atobe was sprouting?"
"Oh, he was calling out the codes to their manual." Jirou yawned as he wiped his eyes. "There are three divisions of bridal totem pole for Atobe: orange blossom, blue orchid and red carnation. Red carnation division is the lowest of the totem pole. It's for the girls who are demanding that he take them for his wife. That girl was also placed under code 21, black surveillance. It means that there will be a minimum of 21 people watching her stay 30 meters away from Atobe."
"So what does black surveillance code one, priority one mean for Ryuzaki-san?" Ohtori asked.
"Why are you interested in this?" Hioyshi asked as he looked at Ohtori. "It's all stupid."
"Oh, Atobe gave her family status. No one is to go near her and bother her, anyone that does, that means immediate expulsion from the club and a possible harassment suit," Jirou yawned again. He opened his eyes. "I'm kind of hungry, are going to eat yet?"
"How do you know all about these things about Atobe's club?" Gakuto demanded suspiciously. "You aren't a member are you?"
"Hell no, but I know that Hiroki from our math class is. In fact, at least ten of the guys in our math class are members of Atobe's club," Jirou blinked.
Shishido blinked then grimaced. "I so did not need to know that."
"The club sends an update of their member lists, codes and manuals to Atobe as well as the minutes of their meetings and he leaves them lying around once in a while. You should read their minutes. It's really wild what they want to do for him sometimes," Jirou said. He reached into his bag and took out a booklet. "I have a copy of it right here if you want to-"
"Thank you so much, Akutagawa-san," said Inui as he snatched the booklet. "This would be very good for data about Atobe's-Fuji!"
"Yes it certainly would," Fuji said as he held the book in his hand. "And I assure you that I will enjoy reading about- Tezuka!"
"Nothing," Tezuka said as he looked at his teammates sternly. "Now go eat lunch. We still have that insignificant game called the Nationals to participate in." As his team dispersed, he looked at Atobe who stood right next to him. "Next time, please keep your fan club dramas away from my team. I have enough problems with my own."
"Ore-sama can't help it if people feel that should have ore-sama's attention," Atobe shrugged as he turned away. From the corner of his eye, he could see Sakuno happily feeding Echizen and grimaced. Now, why did he feel the powerful urge to go over there and snatch the food from the brat's mouth? Shaking off the feeling, he looked at his giant friend. "Let us go, Kabaji. We need nourishment if Hyotei is to win."
"Usu," said Kabaji as he followed Atobe.
Author's Note: So how was it?