IMPORTANT:

AN: Thanks for all the reviews! I'm trying to wrap up this story within a week so I can move on to "greater things," but I'd like everyone's opinion on which way I should go. This can easily turn into shonen ai (which I'd love), but if there's anyone out there reading this who absolutely HATES that, I can write just humor. So I'm setting up a system- in your review, please include which one you'd prefer. The majority will be what I write. BUT, if I get at least six votes for each, then I'll write two versions. So please, hit that little button and tell me what you want!

EDIT: For some reason, half of Chapter Three didn't come through when I uploaded it- I've reuploaded it here.

--

Tezuka prided himself in his stoic demeanor. He felt that it was important to always stay calm and not reveal everything he felt in his face. Some people joked that he was made out of stone and seemed to think that his lack of expression was a negative thing, but to Tezuka, it was a virtue.

But after three days living with Atobe, Tezuka wanted to scream.

"Atobe. I need to use the shower." He rapped on the bathroom door. What had Atobe been doing for the past two hours?

"That's nice. I'm sure there's a neighbor who will let a poor boy like you use his shower." The bored voice filtered out of the bathroom.

"Get out!"

"I'm still making myself beautiful, so you'll have to wait, Kuni-chan."

"Don't call me that! And you've been in there for two hours. If you're not beautiful yet, it's hopeless!" Tezuka cocked his head, shocked by his own words. Atobe seemed to bring out the worst in him.

The door opened a crack, and Atobe's head poked out. "Kuni-chan…I didn't know you had it in you. Such a snappy remark… you are capable of having a sense of humor." He laughed gleefully and shut the door. "Anyway, it's Saturday. What are you going to do today, play tennis and then shower again? It's not like you're in any rush."

Tezuka folded his arms together. "Tell you what. If you get out of there within the next five minutes, I'll play one game with you."

The door opened, and Atobe stood in the doorway, a towel wrapped around his lower half and curlers in his hair. "What about your arm?"

"Fully healed. I can defeat you now." Tezuka knew that if this temptation didn't work, nothing would.

Atobe smirked. "Could not." He picked up his accessories (more than even a girl should have) and slid out of the bathroom. "See on the courts in half an hour."

"Fine," Tezuka sighed. Truthfully, this wasn't a match he wanted to play. Not with Atobe, especially.

--

Luckily, he didn't have to. Ten minutes later, a voice sounded from downstairs. "Kunimitsu, you have a visitor!"

Who would be coming over without notice? Probably Fuji.

Actually, it was Oishi. Tezuka sighed and hoped that Atobe would NOT emerge from his room.

"I've been having some trouble with math recently, and I know you're acing the class, so…" Oishi began helplessly.

"I'll help you," Tezuka agreed patiently. "Why don't we go out to library and study there? Or maybe we can have brunch and do it there?"

Oishi shrugged. "I don't mind," he said, puzzled, "but I never thought that YOU would want to leave home and study in a public area…"

Tezuka shook his head. "Home's not very good right now," he said simply, praying that Oishi wouldn't ask why.

But Oishi wasn't his best friend for no reason. "Okay, we'll go out. Where do you want to-"

"Oh, are you two going out?" Ayane asked from the next room. "Why don't you take our guest with you- I want him to relax and have some fun!"

Guest? Oishi mouthed at Tezuka.

Tezuka ignored him. "We're going out to study, Kaa-san," he explained. "It won't be too fun for him."

"I know math," a voice spoke up from behind him. Tezuka sighed. Oishi's eyes widened. "And I would LOVE to join you two. Thanks for inviting me, Kuni-chan!"

"A-Atobe?" Oishi stuttered, staring in horror at the Hyoutei buchou. "What are you do- I mean, how-"

"Oh, I live here," Atobe said sweetly. "Didn't Kuni-chan tell you?"

"Kuni-chan," Oishi repeated, looking faint. "No, he didn't."

"I'll explain on the way, but you are not coming!" Tezuka hissed, just low enough that his mother wouldn't hear.

"Well, if you don't want me to come with you, you should've just said so at the beginning!" Atobe said loudly, his eyes glinting with merriment.

"Kunimitsu…" Ayane's voice sounded dangerously.

Tezuka ground his teeth together.

--

Atobe smirked to himself as the three of them settled into his limo. "Take us to Kawamura Sushi." Surprising Oishi had been so much fun, he couldn't wait until he did the same to another Seigaku regular.

Tezuka glared at him with a full energy glare, but Atobe wasn't cowed. There was something about living with the other buchou that seemed to take away any respect the two had had for each other. Okay, maybe he still respected him, but Tezuka's worst glare no longer had any impact on Atobe.

"So, Kuni-chan never told you about his new brother, hm?"

"You're NOT my brother!"

"But Kaa-san said that we were like brothers yesterday!"

"I didn't say it!"

Oishi's eyes darted from Tezuka to Atobe, then back to Tezuka. "So, what happened?"

"His parents died and mine offered him a place to stay for the time being."

"Your parents died? I'm so sorry!" Oishi did look genuinely contrite.

Atobe smirked inwardly. This was going to be fun. "Please… don't mention them… I don't like to talk about it…" His lower lip trembled. Perfect.

Oishi's eyes widened. "I- I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-"

"Don't worry about it," Tezuka said, coming as close to rolling his eyes as he ever had. "He's not grieving half as much as he'd like you to believe."

Wrong comment, Tezuka. You're toasted. Wish I could gloat now, but I'm putting on a performance now…

Oishi turned to Tezuka, horrified. "How can you say such a thing? Atobe's lost his parents, and you're treating him like this?"

"But-" Tezuka began helplessly, but Oishi cut him off.

"I can't believe you!" He turned back to Atobe. "I'm sorry for your loss, but isn't it hard, living with Tezuka?"

Atobe put on a brooding look. "It was the only place I had to go, and even though he hasn't been very supportive, his p-par-" He cut off his own sentence, letting his eyes drop to the ground. Oishi put an arm around him. Suuucker…

--

The trip was pure torture for Tezuka. Oishi kept sending him horrified looks, to the point that even Tezuka himself was starting to feel guilty. About Atobe. Who was the best actor Tezuka had ever seen.

"So, how about that math?" Atobe asked innocently as the limo drove away.

"We're not going to do math!" Oishi decided. "At a time like this… no! We're going to have some fun!"

"Like what?" Atobe's eyes were wide. Tezuka mentally groaned.

"Why don't we play street tennis?" Oishi suggested. "I've never really done it, but it seems like fun!"

"Without Kabaji?" Atobe asked dubiously.

"You only need yourself to play tennis," Oishi pointed out. "You can play Singles!"

"Okay!" Atobe agreed. "Come on!" The two headed across the street to the street courts. Tezuka followed reluctantly.

--

The courts were fairly empty, but there were enough people on them that there were no spare courts.

"I can make them leave," Atobe offered, but Oishi shook his head.

"Why don't we just challenge winners?"

"Fine! First person to beat everyone is the champion- Hyotei versus Seigaku!" Atobe smiled. "Come on, Kuni-chan- play, too!"

Tezuka groaned inwardly.

--

Later that night, when they returned to Tezuka's house, Oishi and Atobe vanished into Atobe's room, where Atobe presumably tutored Oishi in math.

Tezuka wondered about that. What was Atobe's purpose in befriending Oishi, of all people? It was probably just another way to bother Tezuka, but tutoring him in math? Was he just trying to keep Oishi away from Tezuka? Was he pumping him for Seigaku secrets?

"Bye, Oishi! Maybe we could do something tomorrow, too!" he could hear Atobe offering from the hallway.

"That would be great! Just tell Tezuka that I'll call him, okay?"

"Got it."

The front door slammed, and Tezuka finally emerged. "What was that about?"

Atobe smirked. "Oh, so now you want to talk, Kuni-chan?"

"Why are you pretending to be friends with Oishi?" Tezuka demanded.

"Who says I'm pretending?" Atobe asked, turning on his regal airs for the first time that day. With his nose turned up and his face smooth and calm, he truly looked like an ATOBE. Tezuka hated that, hated the feelings of inferiority that came from it.

"That ridiculous act in the limo did!" Tezuka continued stubbornly.

Atobe shrugged. "Well, I had to do that, or he'd just automatically side with you."

"He's my best friend! Of course he'd side with me!"

Atobe shook his head smugly. "No, he's one of those good people you encounter every now and then, and he'd side with the person who seems to need more support. And I must say, you seemed to be acting pretty obnoxious in the limo. I'd be surprised if Oishi ever looks at you the same way."

"So you had to spend the day with him to make him dislike me?" Tezuka asked incredulously.

Atobe shook his head. "You really don't get it, do you? I spent the day with Oishi because I actually enjoyed his company. We had fun together. I'm a fun person, in case you didn't notice- but I guess you wouldn't, because it takes one to know one!" he snapped, storming into his room and slamming the door.

Tezuka stared after him. "Was that an act?" he finally tried, a bit perplexed.

The door opened again, and Atobe glared out at him. "No, Tezuka, it wasn't an act! I'm not all superficial… imagine that! No, wait, you can't, because you HAVE NO IMAGINATION!" He slammed the door.

Tezuka stared after him, open-mouthed. Was that… ATOBE?