Never Crossed My Mind

Summary: She didn't pay much attention to the Boy's Tennis Team, since most, if not all, Hyotei's Academy's Tennis players, the guys in general, were all self-absorbed pricks! She didn't pay much attention, that is, until some annoying, bouncing, backflipping redhead insults her.

Anime/Manga: InuYasha/Prince of Tennis

Pairing: Kagome/Mukahi

Genre: Romance/Humor

Rated: M for Mature Content

-x-x-x-

"Isn't that one of them?"

"Shh, dude, don't even talk about that crap!"

"Ah! Heh, my bad..."

In the last few days, there had been something like a foggy buzz in the back of her mind. Kagome glanced over her shoulder at the two boys in the hallway. Watching cautiously, one of them quickly averted his eyes, but the other... 'Smirking like that...how scary.'

"Higurashi-San, are you finished with classes?"

Turning to face the Tennis Captain, she smiled, "hai! Are you walking with me today?"

There was an unspoken promise among the tennis team. She'd caught onto it quickly enough, but it still left her feeling a bit winded. While only being close to three of them, they had decided as a team to take care of her. They were walking her to school (Gakuto), from class to lunch and back to class (Oshitari), from class to the tennis courts (usually Oshitari, but occasionally another Regular would step in if he weren't available). Then from school, she was walked home (Gakuto). She was untouchable like this. Indeed, so long as she was with a Regular, she was safe.

"Higurashi-San, could I have a moment of your time?"

Pausing beside Atobe, she turned to see her Literature professor standing there, "ah, yes sir!" Smiling up at Atobe, "I'll be fine on my own today."

"I don't mind waiting,"

"No, it's fine. Really,"

He hesitated before sighing, "alright, we'll see you on the court then."

Watching him go, she turned and followed her professor to the faculty room.

"Alright, I'll get down to it."

'The photo's...' wringing her fingers nervously in her lap, she waited for the accusations.

"You aren't in any after school or extra-curricular activities, and this school requires you to join at least one."

"...uh... an after-school activity?"

Sighing, her professor lifted her file, "good grades, you are one of my top students, but you don't seem to have a drive for anything specifically. Speaking honestly as your homeroom teacher, where do you see yourself in five years? How about in ten years? Let's see," he opened her file, "when you were in your first year, you joined the archery. In your second year, you were involved in Volleyball." Eyeing her over the top of the folder, "you're interested in sports?"

"Interested in them? No, not really. I did it for the experience, but in the end, I didn't feel like continuing with them."

"Maybe you should do something with your friends,"

'My friends?' She looked at the teacher a bit further from them. The music teacher. "Are you talking about Gakuto-San, Oshitari-San, and Atobe-San?"

"In fact," he smiled, "all sports clubs have Manager positions, but they aren't always filled. If the number of students involved in the club is so many that someone can fill it. However, there is a Manager Position available."

'...would that be okay? It would be different than playing the sport.' Standing, she bowed, "please give me till tomorrow afternoon. I want to discuss this with...my friends."

Leaving the faculty room, she walked with soft steps down the hall. Pausing, she changed direction and made a beeline for the library. The librarian was in the middle of cleaning up when Kagome stepped up to her. "Do you have any technical books on Tennis?"

"Technical books... oh, um... I think they'd be," she walked around the desk and headed towards the back, "we have our technical study guides back here, and they cover a wide array of things. For sports, let's see." The librarian smiled, "you're in luck! The most recent Tennis rule book. These are the official rules of the WTA."

"What is WTA?"

"Women's Tennis Association."

"No, no, it's not for me...specifically. I- I'm thinking of becoming the Tennis Clubs manager, and so―"

"Oh! JTA and ITF. Japanese Tennis Association," she pulled on a book, "and the International Tennis Federation. These are what you're looking for. And this one is like a playbook. It walks you through play styles, grips, stroke techniques, and steps."

Kagome looked at the three books; they weren't small by any means. "Thank you!"

"Yeah, no problem, I'll check you out."

-x-x-x-

Atobe continued to look towards the bleachers, often checking for Kagome, he couldn't help but feel relieved when she came walking towards the courts with a small stack of books held in hand. 'Now, to focus on Shishido!'

-x-x-x-

'It has all of the rules in here, doesn't look to be too difficult. On a finer note, there aren't as many as there are in Volleyball. Though,' she looked at a few of the diagrams, "looking at it, there's a different learning curve in Tennis. In Volleyball, I played as a Libero...so while I had to be quick on my feet, and quick to the ball, all I needed to do was keep the ball in play. I think I had it easiest. In Tennis, you are responsible for everything that happens on the court, unless it happens that you're playing doubles. In Volleyball, you have your teammates to work with. These differences make up a whole field of challenges, and I want to learn about them all."

"Then why not stay behind for a game or two?"

Not bothered by the voice, she knew who it was since he almost always seemed to be sleeping on the bleachers beside her anyways. Akutagawa, Jirou, the resident sleeping beauty of Hyotei Academy, though, she wasn't surprised by him, she did tear her eyes away from the book in her hands long enough to meet his sleepy gaze. "...I don't know how to play."

"But you're interested in it, aren't you? How does the saying go? For those who can't do, play?"

Kagome tilted her head, "...um, I'm pretty sure it's "for those who can't do, teach," on that note, I'm just studying."

"It's all the same, waaaaahaaa~!" He stretched into his yawn before standing and holding out a hand to her, "I'll teach you some of the basics, and from there, you can start learning more about Tennis."

"...are you sure that's not interrupting your practice?" Kagome stared at his hand and frowned, "no, actually, you should be practicing with the other regulars! Don't worry about me, Akutagawa-San. I'll learn about Tennis in my own time; you go warm up!"

"Huh? Oh, hai!" He blushed and took off down the steps of the bleachers. Running laps around the courts while the regulars practicing paused to watch him in awe.

'If I'm going to be the Manager, something like distracting the players from their practice, that's unacceptable!' She wasn't sure where it was coming from, but the fire that burned in the pit of her stomach was burning more fiercely than ever before! Without the fear of the Tennis Fanclub, she could finally have fun...right!? Right. Without the fear of the Tennis Fanclub... it had been a few days since they'd done anything to her, so she should be fine...right?

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Me: Here is chapter 12 of Never Crossed My Mind! Review~