Hi, finally got the next chapter done while dodging various essays and mocks. Took longer than expected but I found out that my ideas come better when I'm in school and supposed to be doing other work.Anyway, thank you to all who reviewed, even more to those who helped give me an idea of what to put into this chapter. Enough from me now.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tennis no Oujisama or any of the characters.


Fuji's Offensive

Ryoma was convinced he was dreaming. Whether it was a nightmare or a good dream, he hadn't decided. No, Fuji-senpai did not announce to everyone that they were going on a date. Fuji-senpai did not turn up at his house at some ungodly hour and announce to his baka oyaji that they were dating. OK, maybe the bit with the arrogant man standing there absolutely dumbfounded as he tried to splutter something strangely like "gay son" and "where did we go wrong" was real since Ryoma liked to make his oyaji speechless. But senpai did not force him to hold hands as he was dragged to an ice-cream parlour, although the ice-cream was rather nice and Ryoma made a note to remember this place. Sure it was too pricey for him normally, but that's what Momo-senpai and Kikumaru-senpai were for.


"Come on Eiji-senpai, we'll lose them if we don't hurry!" Momo called to the hyper red head who was dragging along his reluctant doubles partner.

"Hai, hai! Mou, come on Oishi! Don't you want to know if Fuji really is dating Ochibi?"

"Eiji, surely that's between Fuji and Echizen. We shouldn't spy on our team mates!" Oishi protested.

"Oh look, Fuji's treating Ochibi to ice-cream! That's so sweet!"

"Ii data."

"Inui! Don't tell me you're spying on them as well!" Oishi was getting ready to give up.

"Fuji is an enigma. By observing his interactions with Echizen, it will make my predictions about him 15 more accurate."

"Please don't tell me the rest of the regulars are coming as well." Oishi hoped his sanity would hang on until Fuji and Echizen's date ended.

"Taka-san is helping out at his father's sushi restaurant; Kaidoh said he'd rather train and Tezuka…"

Flashback

Ring ring

"Tezuka here."

"Tezuka, Fuji and Echizen…"

Click. Beep.

End flashback

Oishi's heart sank. No Tezuka meant no damage control. It's not that he wanted his team mates punished with laps but it would be the most effective way to distract them from the situation at hand. He had to admit he was a little worried about their little freshman left with Fuji but Tezuka had plans for Echizen, Fuji knew that. Fuji also knew when to stop before Tezuka took preventative measures. At least, Oishi hoped Fuji knew when to stop. Or it could be that Fuji was trying to get some kind of a reaction from Tezuka before the end of their senior year.


In fact, Tezuka was thinking along similar lines. What did Fuji want with Echizen? Tezuka may be tennis orientated but being Student Council President ultimately meant that all disasters and major events worthy of gossip were made known to him. Especially the ones about a certain smiling tensai and unwitting people who tangle with someone close to Fuji and end up changing schools and needing therapy sessions half way through the year. Fuji wasn't cruel, Tezuka knew that, but Fuji was possessive and protective. As much as Echizen was a team mate, the freshman had beaten Fuji Yuuta before, so…

Tezuka stared unseeingly out of his bedroom window. He didn't need Inui's call to remind him that today was the day. Actually, he had been trying not to remember. That's why his history homework was only half done and he finished his Japanese literature essay in English.

Why Echizen? Why did Fuji have to choose the freshman? Questions that Tezuka had no answers to swam unrelentingly in his head, forcing him to explore the unknown regions of emotions not needed in tennis that he tended to leave well alone. Could it be that Fuji actually liked Echizen? It wouldn't be so unbelievable, after all, Fuji enjoyed challenges, and Echizen was nothing if not challenging.

But what about Echizen? How did he feel about all this? He could hear Rikkai's Yukimura speaking to him. "No one ever bothers to look past the arrogant tennis ace to know the boy underneath, they only care about his tennis. It must get lonely." Was Echizen lonely? Would he accept Fuji's attention just because he needed to feel that someone cared?

Normally, Tezuka tried hard not to get caught up in the lives of his team mates outside of tennis but, as usual, Echizen was an anomaly and an exception.

They weren't alike, not really, not in Tezuka's opinion. Sure both had great skill and potential in tennis as well as a mutual unwillingness to talk but that was where Tezuka met with a blank wall. He, himself, was inclined to silence because he wasn't a person of many words; Echizen on the other hand, showed fairly well that he had plenty to say when it suited him, such as when provoking an opponent on the court. Then there was the younger boy's smirking and habit of sleeping in class. Echizen, Tezuka had to conclude had an impulsive nature and a much freer attitude, being brought up in the USA. In terms of temperament, Fuji was closer to Tezuka, both wearing one expression almost continually; Fuji only looked a lot nicer and friendlier because he had a smile on his face permanently and Tezuka couldn't be bothered. Back to the tennis; this was where Tezuka exhibited his passion and emotions, where Echizen tried to match him, fire for fire.

Tezuka should take some responsibility for it, after all, he was the one who ignited the passion in Echizen's game and forced him to strive for the best. After piling the responsibility of being Seigaku's pillar onto the younger player, maybe he should spend some time getting to know the boy who would become his successor.

Tezuka ignored the history paper and pulled out his maths book. Enough musing, nothing like good cold logic to calm him back down.


Fuji, meanwhile, was having the time of his life. So far, Echizen had given him a few strange looks but otherwise had gone along with him, much to his relief. His seat was positioned so that he had a perfect view of the shrubs and bushes behind them on the other side of the glass walls through the reflection on the large polished metal plaque. He also had a perfect view of a frightening purple flowery shirt that lurked into view every now and then. And he was sure he heard a very familiar "nya" and "ii data" from somewhere behind Echizen. Well, he'll have to make sure he gave them a performance to remember.

Echizen looked like he was enjoying his chocolate sundae. Honestly, the younger boy was better company than Fuji had expected; les barbed provocations and definitely less ego.

As Fuji saw the head of messy dark hair in the reflection, he allowed himself to lean towards Echizen casually. Boy wonder looked up from his ice-cream questioningly as the shadow fell over him and …

"Ahhhh!"

Ryoma blinked but found he couldn't move backwards due to his senpai's arm on his neck. OK, what just happened here? He could have sworn he heard someone scream, come to think of it, it sounded like Momo-sempai and Kikumaru-sempai, but what would they be doing here if they didn't have enough money to treat him to a burger? Wait, did Fuji-sempai just …

Fuji watched, amused, as Echizen processed the last few moments in his head and the younger boy's forehead wrinkled in a slight frown and trained those golden eyes on him.

"I wanted to try some of your ice-cream, it looked good." Fuji said as way of explanation. "Do you want to try mine?" He pushed the glass bowl of bright green dessert forward,

Ryoma looked at the offered "treat" suspiciously. "Fuji-senpai …"

"Ryoma-kun, I'd like to think we are friendly enough for you to call me Syuusuke."

"Err … Senpai, this isn't wasabi flavour, is it?"

"This place is nice but they only have traditional flavours. Wasabi is a bit too adventurous for them. This is green tea. Did you want to try wasabi ice-cream though? Because I do know …"

"No, that's fine!" Ryoma hastily scooped some of the taste bud friendly ice-cream into his mouth. It wasn't bad either.


"Ii data." Inui was scribbling frantically into his notebook while Oishi tried to release Momo from Kikumaru's death grip as the red head tried to hold back his squeals of shock.

"Who knew Fuji and Ochibi were so sneaky? Dating without telling us!" The hyper red head told his doubles partner.

"Yes Eiji, now let go of Momo before he turns blue."

"But Oishi! Did you see what Fuji did?"

Oishi's worried expression returned. "Echizen's a little young to be involved in those kinds of relationships. I better talk to … no, I'll ask Tezuka what he thinks. If Tezuka thinks something isn't right, he'll speak to Fuji."


Yuuta sat amongst the bushes, knees pulled up to his chest, head hunched over his legs. Why, oh why did he let Mizuki-san pull him along to follow aniki and Echizen? And why did aniki have to …? Ugh! This was going to give him nightmares! Maybe he should change camps. Anything if he could just not see aniki acting like that. Besides Yuuta thought, it would be fun to see Seigaku's stony faced buchou in love.

Oblivious to his unenthusiastic plotter, Mizuki danced between the bushes, twirling in his purple shirt at his evident success. He could already see himself holding that National trophy, giving a speech in his new purple suit.


Initially, the walk home was awkward, with Fuji insisting on taking him home, but as always, Fuji managed to find a conversation starter.

"Yuuta's tennis team manager wants to kidnap you for the Nationals."

The statement was so random and unexpected; Ryoma snapped his head round to face Fuji as he considered the implications. "There's no one worth playing at St Rudolph. I have to beat you and buchou here, no other school has such a challenge."

"What about Rikkai Dai?" Fuji countered.

Ryoma blinked. "I've beaten Sanada."

"There are three kings at Rikkai." Fuji smiled knowingly.

Ryoma frowned faintly. "Sanada's emperor, Inui-sempai's friend is … Master, isn't it? I don't like data tennis anyway. So …"

"Buchou." At Ryoma's blank look, Fuji carried on. "Emperor, Master and Buchou. Don't underestimate Yukimura Seiichi. He's on even grounds with Tezuka, if not higher. Rikkai will be near invincible with him leading them. The Nationals will be very interesting this year."

They settled back into silence for a while, Ryoma with a thoughtful look on his young face.

"Is there any particular reason why you won't call me by my given name, Ryoma-kun?" Fuji was quite decided that the freshman looked extremely cute when flustered.

They were nearing his house now and Ryoma desperately wanted the sanctuary of his room and Karupin.

"Err … no, it's just … wouldn't it be disrespectful to call senpai by your first name?" Ryoma thanked his stars that his mother's Japanese etiquette lessons had paid off.

Fuji stopped them just before they got to the gate. "There's no need for formalities between friends."

Ryoma looked decidedly uncomfortable and wished they were standing on a tennis court instead. "Erm, OK then." Fuji continued staring at him, opening his eyes slightly. "Fine! Syuusuke!"

With that, Ryoma turned to stalk into the house but Fuji pulled him back. Spinning around to snap at the older boy, Ryoma found himself silenced with a technique he'd already met once today.

"You missed a bit of chocolate on your lip."


"OK then. Thank you Sadaharu … Oh? … We are very proud of Akaya … Hmm, as far as my data goes, that hasn't happened yet. I will let you know when it does. Bye."

"How did it go?" the blue haired boy asked as he stared dreamily out of the window.

"Fuji arrived at Echizen's residence at 10:02 am and knocked two times …"

"Just the general idea will do." Came Sanada's gruff voice from behind the desk.

"Well, Fuji took Echizen to an ice-cream parlour where he treated Echizen." Yanagi reported.

Yukimura frowned. "That's it? It doesn't quite fit with what I've heard about Seigaku's tensai."

Yanagi cleared his throat. "Fuji kissed Echizen. Twice."

Buchou's eyebrow went up as Sanada raised his head to stare at Yanagi, making him feel that he should elaborate for his two best friends. "Sadaharu said "licked" is a better phrase but it amounts to the same thing."

Sanada turned his gaze to Yukimura. "Tezuka needs to get moving."

"Patience, Genichirou. Tezuka's not the kind of person to rush into things without thinking them though. He will act when he is ready. Personally, I think that the further Fuji goes with Echizen, the more it's going to force Tezuka into taking some kind of action. Renji, did Inui-san say whether anyone else knows about today's events?"

Yanagi flicked through the notebook he had been jotting notes onto while on the phone. "St Rudolph's Mizuki and Fuji Yuuta, Seigaku's Momoshiro and Golden Pair."

Yukimura nodded thoughtfully, a slight smile gracing his delicate features. "Isn't one of the Golden Pair Seigaku's fuku-buchou?"

Sanada nodded. Yanagi dutifully recited what he remembered off the top of his head. "Oishi Syuuichirou, a very caring person. Sometimes known as the mother of Seigaku. Much like you are ours, Seiichi." He couldn't help teasing.

Yukimura's smile grew wider as he was reminded of an age old joke. "Well, he's likely to tell his buchou about today. That saves us the time and effort. By the way Renji, what did Inui-san ask you at the end?"

Yanagi blinked innocently. "Oh that? In exchange for further updates on Fuji and Echizen, he wanted the data on Sanada's first date."

Yanagi shared a cryptic smile with Yukimura while a choking sound was muffled behind them.

"Soon." Yukimura promised.


So... how was it? I'll admit I haven't really read any Thrill pair so I'm not sure how they should be portrayed together. Tips? Anyway, hopefully I can get some TezukaRyoma action into the next one.

Please review and tell me how that was.