Disclaimer: I do NOT own PoT

Pairing: Atobe Keigo X Echizen Ryoma

Note: You know how, sometimes, when you write a particular scene, the words and sentences just keep flowing out and even though you want to stop (because it's making the story go on a totally different path from what you originally intended) you can't because it was going so good and all the things are (accidentally) falling into just the right places? Well, that's what happened to this Chapter. Even so, it should be interesting and quite refreshing since the ever-mischievous guys are finally making their appearance. So. Enjoy.

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Chapter 4:

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"We're going to hang out at Yuushi's place. You coming, Atobe?" Mukahi Gakuto asked their captain while they were putting away their racquets and getting ready to leave. They just finished club activities and everyone was tired and sore. He, especially was looking forward to having a nice, long rest (which mostly includes sitting on his favorite recliner at Oishitari's house, eating junk foods and drinking soda while playing non-stop video games).

"Can't." Atobe answered. "Ore-sama have some place to go to."

"Really? Where is that?" Oishitari Yuushi asked, wiping his glasses with the edge of his towel. He had just came out from the shower, dressed in his school uniform minus the tie and jacket.

There was a pause as Atobe raised his bag to his shoulder. "Somewhere," he answered, being purposely cryptic. He wasn't sure if he was comfortable to say that he was going to Echizen's place to help him pack some clothes so that the brat can go live with him in his house. Never mind that it's only for three days and only because Echizen's parents have to go somewhere. And he, being the kind and generous soul that he is, had offered to let said brat stay in the safety of his mansion. Knowing his teammates (he was thankful that Shishido and the others already left), Atobe surmised that they're probably going to arrive at some weird, disconcerting conclusions if he was to tell them that.

"You should invite Kabaji," he suggested instead. "He's probably bored being cooped up inside his house with nothing better to do." Then he strode outside the clubroom, leaving a small wave as his goodbye.

Gakuto and Oishitari exchanged a look. The kingly Atobe going somewhere unknown without the loyal Kabaji waiting on him just don't . . . happen. Which could only mean . . . Wheels inside their heads immediately started turning to try and understand their captain's odd behavior.

After considering a lot of possibilities, Oishitari eventually thought that Atobe acting weird could only mean one thing. He's going on a date. Gakuto thought the very same thing. But while the blue-haired tensai concluded that their captain is probably going out with some fancy girl that was higher on social status, Gakuto, after some strange, out of this world thought process, arrived on a completely different conclusion.

He thought that Atobe is probably going on a secret date with Kunimitsu Tezuka.

"Let's go follow him." Gakuto proposed at once, the beginning of a positively manic smile forming on his lips.

Oishitari rolled his eyes at his partner's predictable conduct. Pointedly ignoring the infantile suggestion, he strode to his assigned locker and started to gather the things he needed to take home.

Gakuto, not at all put off, decided to take the silence as a quiet agreement. He copied Oishitari and started gathering his own things, a definite bounce on his feet as he conveniently forgot about his earlier fatigue.

"Yosh," the redhead declared when he was ready to set out and have fun. "Ikuze, Yuushi. We're gonna go spy on Atobe and watch him go all sappy with his boyfriend."

Oishitari, who was in the process of tightening his necktie, promptly paused in his task and whip his head to his doubles partner. "Boyfriend?" he asked, not sure if he heard correctly.

Gakuto gave him a look. "That's right. Boyfriend. We are so gonna catch that condescending bastard in the act while he gets all disgustingly mushy with that emotionally constipated Seigaku captain." He rubbed his hands together in glee, missing the stupefied look on the other's face.

"This," and he put a lot of emphasis on this word, "is going to be epic."

….

"Come again?" Momo asked, not quite sure if he heard correctly.

Afternoon practice had just ended and he was standing side by side with Kikumaru. The older but shorter boy have his right arm around his shoulder which made him hunch his back just a little. It was an uncomfortable posture. This little fact, however, was ignored as he focused on the younger boy in front of them.

"Ochibi~?" Kikumaru, after blinking a couple of times, was also asking.

"What's with the look, senpai-tachi?" Ryoma asked, both his stance and voice showing his signature blasé nature.

Kikumaru and Momo looked at each other.

"Ano . . . Echizen," Momo started, confusion evident in his tone. "Are you saying you're not going to come and eat burgers with us?"

"Un," Ryoma confirmed with a nod.

The two older boys shared another look, this one of disbelief instead of the earlier confusion because, well, Ryoma Echizen do not say no to burgers. Especially if it's free.

Seeing the expression on his senpai-tachi's faces, Ryoma rolled his eyes. Like it was a big deal, he thought before saying loudly and apathetically, "I have to go meet with someone."

Ryoma clearly thought that this will suffice as an explanation so he didn't pay much attention when he didn't hear any verbal response. He gave his phone a quick look to check the time before swearing lightly. "Shimatta. I've to go, senpai-tachi. I'll see you tomorrow."

And with that, Ryoma left, muttering incoherent things about being late, clothes, monkeys, kings and more monkeys.

Behind him, two boys are sharing a not so rare moment of mutual roguishness, sniggering as they saw the mischievous glint in each other's eyes.

….

There was a comfortable feeling that hangs in the air between the two boys. They were inside Atobe's fancy car and was slowly making their way to his mansion. Sitting on the small space between them was a medium-sized knapsack which contains Ryoma's clothes and personal items.

"I'm hungry," Ryoma announced out of the blue. He was watching the buildings outside passed by in a slight blur when he suddenly felt a rather unpleasant rumble in his stomach. He frowned, remembering that if it was any other normal day, he'd be in a burger joint right now with Momo-senpai and/or Kikumaru-senpai, happily stuffing his face with, well, burgers. And fries. And soft drinks.

"I'm hungry," he repeated, louder this time when yet again, another rumble disturbed his stomach.

Atobe, who was resting his head against the backrest of his seat, suppressed a sigh. He had been half dozing, half of his awareness focused on the younger boy beside him while the other half was preoccupied with tennis and training menus for his team. Upon hearing Ryoma's voice which, Atobe was sure of this, held a very obvious whiny quality, his consciousness immediately snapped back to full attention. He opened his eyes and turned his head, rewarding the boy with a lazy glance. Before he could say anything, however, a shrill sound split through the air.

He watched as Ryoma felt through his book bag, looking slightly irritated by the sound. After a few seconds, the brat took out a phone and quickly checked the caller ID.

A sudden beatific smile lit up Ryoma's delicate facial features. Atobe's heart skip a beat. He felt mesmerized. His eyes took in the soft smile on the brat's soft-looking lips, the obvious joy that brighten up his big, golden eyes, the small excited bounce on his little movements. At the back of his mind, Atobe was very much aware that he was staring. And yet he couldn't stop the action.

He was mesmerized.

And that little fact didn't sit well with him.

Luckily, Ryoma was aware of his facial expression. He quickly schooled his face into his usual bored look (much to Atobe's disappointment – the same Atobe frowned at this). He averted his face then pressed the receive call button.

"Kaa-san," he said by way of greeting, his voice low but undoubtedly happy.

'Ryoma?' his mother said on the other line. 'How are you? I'm so happy to hear your voice. I was so worried. I'm so sorry I wasn't able to call you yesterday. We had a little problem at the airport, your father misplaced our plane tickets . . . '

Ryoma gave a small snort at this.

' . . . and then on the way here to your uncle's house, we had to stop at a deserted road because the car's tire went flat. Can you believe that? But everything's alright now. How are you, sweetheart?'

Ryoma wanted to make a face, partly because of his mother's rant and partly because of the endearment. Although Rinko usually called him that whenever they talk, it still made him blush. He's not a kid anymore, was his reason.

"I'm fine, Kaa-san," he said, answering the last question but ignoring everything else. He gave Atobe a furtive glance, saw that the older boy was sleeping again, then whispered into the mouthpiece, "I, uhm, staying at a senpai's house."

There was a pause on the other line before Rinko asked, 'Momoshiro-kun?'

"Iie," Ryoma answered. "It's Atobe . . . san. From Hyoutei." He gave another glance at the sleeping boy beside him and saw that the other's lips are slightly tilted upwards at the corners. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

'Atobe? I think I heard you say that name before but I'm not quite sure . . .'

"It's Atobe Keigo, Kaa-san," Ryoma explained. Then he started to snigger. "Remember that Monkey King I was talking about?"

Just as he predicted, the supposedly sleeping Atobe quickly opened his eyes and gave him a glare. Ryoma stuck out his tongue and laughed when the blue-tinted dark eyes narrowed on him.

Atobe, feeling a twitch on his temple at Ryoma's audacity to laugh at him, reached over and pulled on the brat's earlobe. When Ryoma turned back to him, he mouthed the word 'brat' and was rewarded with a cheeky grin.

'Ah, yes. The Monkey King.' Rinko chuckled from the other line. 'I thought the two of you don't get along?'

Ryoma frowned at this. Did he say that when he was talking about the Monkey King? "Not really," he answered. "But he offered, surprisingly (Atobe's eyes narrowed at this, too), to let me stay in his house. So . . ."

'It's fine by me, Ryoma.' Rinko said. 'In fact, I'm relieved that you wouldn't have to stay home alone.' A pause. There was a muffled voice in the background that Ryoma recognized as his cousin's, Nanako. Then Rinko continued, 'Just make sure that he's taking care of you and that you're happy with the arrangements.'

Now, Ryoma was quite certain that his mother was talking about the accommodations here. But the way she articulated the thoughts, like she was giving her blessings or something, made Ryoma blushed to the ends of his ears.

He quickly ducked his head to avoid the Monkey King's curious look.

"Right. Arigatou, Kaa-san." And what was up with his answer? Saying thank you of all things.

Ryoma cleared his throat, still refusing to look at the older boy beside him.

'Ahh.' His mother whined on the other line. There was another voice there. Ryoma recognized his father's lazy drawl talking to another male, probably his uncle. 'I have to go, Ryoma. I'll call you again tonight. I promise.' Rinko's voice sounded a little distant when she said something while obviously holding the phone away from her. Something about his baka-oyaji messing around with the kids (his uncle's children) and about burning his blasted magazines. Then her voice sounded normal again, or as normal as it can get through the phone. 'Bye, sweetheart. Tell Atobe-kun hello for me. I'll call again later. Take care of yourself, now. Daisuki~"

Before Ryoma could say his own goodbye, he already heard the dial tone on the other line.

"Un. Bye." He said nonetheless before putting the phone down and giving it the smallest smile.

"So," Atobe suddenly said beside him. Ryoma turned and saw the interested look in his eyes. "You talk about Ore-sama with your mother?"

There was a pause as Ryoma thought of his answer. "Sure. I do." He admitted after a while.

"Ho?" Atobe was surprised that the brat actually confirmed it. "Then, Ore-sama hopes that you placed special emphasis on Ore-sama's amazing tennis prowess."

Ryoma bit back a snort when he saw the older boy flicked his hair dramatically. "Un, I did." He said with a smirk. "Then I described in complete details how Buchou defeated you."

Ryoma watched as the smug smile on the other's face froze, the beginning of a twitch appearing on the Monkey King's temple. After a couple of seconds, when the older boy hissed the words 'cheeky brat' under his breath, Ryoma finally let go of the smile that kept wanting to intrude on his face.

He'll never get tire of this. Teasing the Monkey King and getting a rise out of him like this is just like having a cold ponta after his every match. It came as a second nature to him. A custom. A habit that, Ryoma decided, he's not going to break any time soon.

Or maybe he will, after hearing what the Monkey King has to say.

"Brat." Atobe said between clenched teeth. "I want a match. Right now."

...

At about the same time, but in a different location . . .

Oishitari released his twenty-eighth long-suffering sigh of the day. He collapsed against the side of the 5th cake shop that Gakuto have dragged him to while the red-haired do moonsaults trying to peek inside said shop, jumping higher and higher and doing it like it was the most normal thing in the world.

They have been on the hunt ever since leaving Hyoutei Gakuen, going to different dating spots all over the city and even to some places that are quite questionable and disturbing in their, err, reputation. That's right. Leave it to Mukahi Gakuto to drag him to Love Hotels like they were just going for a stroll in the park.

There goes his twenty-ninth sigh.

The blue-haired tensai suppressed (he considered it quite a feat) his thirtieth sigh when a blob of red hair suddenly intruded his personal breathing space.

"Yuushi." Gakuto whined, totally ignoring the slumped and exhausted appearance of his doubles partner. "They're not in there." He said this as if it was Oishitari's fault that the object(?) of their hunt was nowhere in sight.

"That's why I told you, Gakuto. Let's just go home." Oishitari refused to recognize the pleading quality in his voice.

"Dame da." There's no way that Gakuto was missing this rare chance of catching Atobe in a surely awkward situation. Not to mention embarrassing.

But where could they have gone to? Sure, Atobe was in his car when he left school so it was basically impossible to trail him. But for him to vanish completely? Not likely.

Gakuto thought for a moment. What kind of place would Atobe choose to take his date to? Apparently, not cake shops. They've already visited every big, fancy, and elegant shop in town and ignoring those that are small, ordinary ones (there's no way the arrogant Atobe will even stepped foot in those). They've been to high-class restaurants, for-the-rich-only parks, and even to some expensive Love Hotels where they asked the receptionist:

'Did a silver-haired, autocratic boy, about fifteen years old, came here? He was supposed to be with some bespectacled, stoic brown-haired boy the same age as he is? No? Are you sure? I'll pay.'

But alas, Atobe wasn't in any of those places. So where could he be?

Gakuto didn't stop to consider even for a moment that maybe Atobe already went home or that he may not be in a date after all, with Tezuka or anyone else for that matter. It was because Gakuto have this particular gut feeling that was telling him that his suspicion was correct. So, he thought. And finally, after catching a flash of something green bouncing somewhere in the corner of his eyes, he realized the exact, perfect place of where his captain may be.

"Let's go, Yuushi." He said with a big grin before grabbing and pulling the other boy on the hand. "I know just the place where that stupid Atobe is."

….

"Mou, Momo!" Kikumaru wailed while pulling on the other's sleeve. "How long are you going to eat? We have to go. Now."

"Chotto matte, senpai." Momo said, his right hand reaching for the fries while his left closed in on his 5th burger. "It's not like we can find Echizen and his date. We already tried, remember?"

"But Momo. We only looked for them in one place and it was this restaurant, too. What if they're eating in a different restaurant, nya? Say that one across the street."

The dunk-smasher looked up to see what kind of restaurant Kikumaru was pointing to. It was small but elegant, the glass windows shiny and clear, a fancy logo was painted on the door just below the restaurant's, or shop actually, name.

"That can't be, Kikumaru-senpai. It's totally impossible for Echizen to be in there."

"Why is that, nya~?"

Momo snorted. "The place looks too stuffy. There's no way Echizen will want to set foot in that place."

"Demo." Kikumaru looked to the direction of the shop once again and saw a flash of red. "Ah! Isn't that Mukahi Gakuto from Hyoutei? And is that Oishitari-san with him?"

"Hmm. You're right, Kikumaru-senpai. I wonder what they're doin – Uwaah! What are you doing Kikumaru-senpai. My burgers! I'm still eating!"

The acrobatic player ignored his kouhai as he continued to pull him through the door. Just now, the two tennis players from Hyoutei are acting suspicious (holding hands and all). And since Kikumaru wasn't able to stalk Ochibi, then why not this 'couple' instead?

How do you like the story so far? I hope you're happy with it and that it's making you smile, at least

Anyway, the next chapter should be fun and interesting. Will they (Oishitary, Gakuto, Kikumaru, Momo) find Atobe and Echizen? How will they react if/when they did? You should look forward to that. I know I will.

So, yeah. Review, review, review. Thanks in advance and I'll see you on the next Chapter. Ja!