Author's Note: Last chapter was disappointingly short, so hopefully this chapter will make up for it. READ AND REVIEW!

Disclaimer: We do not own Prince of Tennis . . . sadly.

FALLING

Chapter 6: Ice Cream

Kaidoh didn't understand why he hadn't slept that well last night. He thought he had resolved the whole situation on his thoughts continually of Tezuka. It was only admiration he felt.

At practice, Kaidoh was once again not playing like his usual self. He'd go to hit a snake but realized he didn't even hit the tennis ball. Kaidoh glanced over to the Captain who was thankfully not watching him.

When practice finally ended, Kaidoh hurried into the locker rooms to get dressed. He was hoping he wouldn't have to walk home with Inui. Kaidoh really wasn't prepared to hear if Inui had any more 'revelations'.

Kaidoh was beginning to walk away from the locker rooms when he heard a familiar voice, "Kaidoh."

Kaidoh halted and turned to see the Captain. His heart paced in anticipation.

"Are you free right now?" Tezuka asked, impassively.

"U-Uh . . ." Kaidoh wondered why Tezuka wanted to know. "Yes."

"Wait for me," was all Tezuka said before leaving for the locker rooms.

A now familiar feeling stirred in Kaidoh as he stood there astounded. Many thoughts swirled in his head on the multiple possibilities of why Tezuka wanted him to wait.

Inui came out of the locker rooms towards Kaidoh. "Thanks for waiting for me. I assumed for a second there that you were trying to avoid me."

Kaidoh turned his attention to his sempai, the words finally clicking. "Oh! Um . . . actually, Buchou wanted me to wait for him," Kaidoh said, a peculiar quandary causing his cheeks to become roseate.

Inui pushed up his glasses and said in an almost relished tone, "I see." He walked past Kaidoh who heard him mumble, "So it's time for that . . ."

Upon hearing this, Kaidoh furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. What was Inui talking about? Time for what?

A few minutes passed of the other club members leaving. How long was the Captain going to take?

As soon as he thought this, the door opened and out stepped Tezuka with Oishi.

"And I told Eiji that he shouldn't have done it! But did he listen to me? Of course not," Oishi exclaimed as Tezuka bolted the locker doors. "What am I going to do with him?" Oishi sighed, shaking his head in worry.

The two began to walk towards Kaidoh, who suddenly felt uncomfortable. He had unusually hoped no one else would be there while he did whatever with Tezuka.

Kaidoh's hopes were answered as Oishi suddenly waved goodbye to Tezuka and walked forward. As he brushed past Kaidoh, Oishi smiled and whispered, "Have fun."

Have fun? What was he supposed to have fun about? Were Tezuka and him going to some amusement park? Kaidoh became extremely confused as he stood there trying to figure out what Oishi had meant.

"Kaidoh," Tezuka said, breaking Kaidoh from his reverie. "Let's go."

Go? Go where? Kaidoh wanted to ask Tezuka this but his throat was too tight from uneasiness.

So Kaidoh just ended up walking a few steps behind Tezuka as they went 'somewhere'. Kaidoh tried to center his attention on the sidewalk beneath him, but his eyes would magnetically drift up to Tezuka's form. The usual feeling had aroused in Kaidoh.

Unexpectedly, Tezuka had stopped in front of a building and opened the door. Kaidoh followed, reading the words on the glass door.

'Dai's Ice Cream Parlor.'

Ice cream? Tezuka took Kaidoh to an ice cream parlor?

Kaidoh didn't see Tezuka as an ice cream eater. He was right as Tezuka ordered an iced green tea. Kaidoh was unsure of what to get. It felt like ages since he had last eaten ice cream. Kaidoh's eyes eventually landed on the 'Strawberry Blast'. He liked strawberries.

"Can I have the Strawberry Blast?" Kaidoh asked, looking at the lady at the counter. Her eyebrows were raised in alarm.

"Y-Yes!" she blurted, quickly punching in his order.

Kaidoh was used to this. Most people gave him that 'look'. The one that said 'Scary!' He really didn't understand why people gave him it. Was he that horrifying?

Kaidoh followed Tezuka over to a table by the window. His insides were still churning in curiosity of why he was exactly here with the Captain – the Captain who he had much tried not to think of.

A man came and set their orders down in front of them. When the man left, Kaidoh hesitantly picked up the metal spoon. In front of him were two scoops of vanilla ice cream with strawberries. Fudge delectably topped it.

Kaidoh took a bite of the cold treat. It was good. He took another bite.

Kaidoh abruptly looked up at Tezuka who was staring at him, but the Captain swiftly shifted his gaze away.

Why was he staring? Did he have ice cream on his face?

Kaidoh cautiously took another bite, hoping he wouldn't get any ice cream on his face.

Halfway through Kaidoh carefully eating his ice cream and Tezuka sipping his iced green tea, Kaidoh asked the question that had been bothering him this whole time.

"Why did you take me for ice cream?"

Tezuka didn't answer for a couple of seconds as if thinking how to answer. "I wanted to know what was wrong with you. You have been playing poorly for the past few days. I can't have you on the regulars if you continue like this."

Kaidoh knew he hadn't been playing his best, but to hear that Tezuka might kick him off the regulars petrified him. "I'm sorry, Buchou. I'll play my best again."

Tezuka steadily studied Kaidoh, which distraught the younger boy. Kaidoh nervously ate another spoonful of the ice cream.

Suddenly Tezuka spoke up, "Kaidoh . . ." Kaidoh looked up. "You have ice cream on your face."

Kaidoh's eyes widened in embarrassment. He felt his face slightly heat up in a blush as he used his tongue to try to lick it off. No such luck. He was about to use his napkin when he felt a gentle finger come across his cheek.

Tezuka had wiped off the ice cream with his finger!

Kaidoh immediately felt his whole face burning up and his heart pounded in his chest. Momoshiro's words came rushing into his head. Did he get all warm and fuzzy when he saw or heard the Captain? Well, this strange feeling swarmed in him. A feeling that made his heart beat with excitement. Did he worry about embarrassing himself in front of the Captain? Well, he was constantly hoping he didn't get any ice cream on his face and he could recall hoping the Captain wouldn't see his mistakes in practice. But . . . did he want to please the Captain? . . . Wasn't that one of the reasons he wanted to learn the Boomerang Snake?

Kaidoh was in complete and utter shock. Without even saying a 'thank you', Kaidoh got out of his seat and dashed out of the parlor. His mind was still on each piece of evidence, but his loyal feet carried him all the way to his house.

When he entered his house, he quickly called to his mother that he was home and speeded up the stairs. He didn't want anyone to see his crimson face.

Finally in the sanctuary of his room, Kaidoh flopped onto the bed. He tried to take deep breaths to calm his tumultuous heart.

Kaidoh slowly reached up to touch his cheek.

Tezuka . . . He was in love with Tezuka . . .

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Back at the ice cream parlor, Tezuka sat in his chair, staring at the empty seat across from him.

"Are you done with these?"

Tezuka slowly looked up and saw the man was pointing to his glass in front of him and the half-empty bowl. He nodded his head and the waiter took the two items away.

Away . . . Tezuka hadn't meant to scare Kaidoh away . . . he looked once more at the deserted seat. In fact, he wanted the opposite reaction.

TO BE CONTINUED!

Mwahahahahahahahaha! Finally, huh . . . sheesh. But now what will Kaidoh do? Confess? REVIEW so we know you like it. No reviews and we begin to get discouraged . . .