A/N: As promised, chapter 5 is here. Yeah, Arai-kun has a sister, who'd have thought it! Yep and now she's Fuji's rival... oh, the things I have in storage for these two (!)

Edited: 'cause nothing is ever perfect the 1st time round. 11/5/2009

Disclaimer: blah blah blah. Original bits are not mine.


Chapter Five

"Oh, great! Just the people I wanted to play too!" A year eight player called Yukiko Nakashima pointed to the board as they gathered around to see the final block orders. Fuji stood towards the back watching the girls reactions. Arai caught her eye. Arai shook her head slowly and pushed past the first years. She still wasn't satisfied with the orders despite opposite views from others. It didn't help that she had been put in block C. She protested that she wanted to go up against Fuji, yet Fuji had other plans. She wanted Arai's skill's of power from the baseline to test Akaoka and Nishi. However much Fuji explained this, there was something unfair about it for Arai. Fuji wondered why Arai couldn't see that she had planned the orders over the summer vacation. Worked with it, toyed with it, rolled all combinations around in her head to end with these results. Why couldn't she see that?

"Look. She's even put Nariko-san, Umeko-chan and Yokoishi-san in block D, so what's going to happen if we lose Yokoishi-san?" Arai tossed her arms in the air and let her irritation out in a loud sigh. Those around just gave her a wondering glance. Tamika Yokoishi, a cheerful year nine player, didn't play her vice-captain any mind, she didn't even bother looking at her. Arai walked in Fuji's direction as she made her way to the courts. They made no eye contact but Fuji did stop her with a gentle hand on the shoulder.

"You need to look with your eyes, Arai-chan."

She turned to Fuji. Her shoulder dipped so to remove the unwanted hand. "I think you need to open yours, Captain!"

And with that she walked off. Fuji dared to glare at her but confrontation was not what she wanted right now. If she ever did attack Arai, Fuji didn't know what she would do, and she could never attack her over something so small.

"How did she ever become Vice Captain?" Tori Nariko thought aloud.

"Gather round!" Arai ordered.

Fuji walked onto the courts and waited for the players to line up.

"Unfortunately we don't have anytime in the morning practise to start the rankings but for the after school slot, we can start the playoffs for those who can make it as a regulars. This will take place over two to three days. If you don't have a game on that day you are allowed to watch either our matches or the boys matches. Can I suggest to the first years that watching is a very important part of learning to play tennis so get as much viewing time as you can. Other than that, I look forward to seeing your game this term. Hope you all had a practical day today. Thank you."

Arai and Fuji walked into the changing rooms. They said nothing. They had nothing to say to each other. If Fuji said anything she knew she would only get back a bitter response, if Arai spoke it would be backchat. Yet they were both Captain and Vice Captain of the girls tennis team, they couldn't go on the whole year like this.

"Ne, Arai-chan?"

"Yes Captain?"

"I was thinking, would you like to sort out the rankings for the next month?"

She hesitated. "Why?"

"I was thinking it would be good to see how you would do things."

Arai drew her dress over her head and folded it up to place in her locker.

"Do I have that kind of privilege?"

"Of course you do."

"I can't say that I trust you, Captain."

This shot Fuji back a few questions. "I'm a trust-worthy person. You think I would deceive you?" Arai didn't reply. "I promise, hand on heart, with cherries and cream, I'll let you pick the groups."

"Shake on it."

Fuji reached out her hand and still Arai hesitated. She threw on her school shirt without a word.

"No, I decline. If you don't like my choice you'll only change it. It'll be a waste."

Fuji lowered her extend arm. "I'm sorry you don't trust me. You just missed out on a genuine offer."

They didn't exchange another word until the others came in and even then they spoke with close friends. Kikumaru squeezed in beside Fuji joyous as always. That brought back that smile to Fuji's lips.

"Those first years are really sweet. They're all part of my supervision now. I'll train them when I haven't got a match."

"You decided that on your own?"

Kikumaru gave a cheeky laugh. "Yep. I'm in block B so I'm likely to play after school and not in the morning. I'll run with them and swing with them and teach them some moves. It'll be fun!" She quickly looked around the room and whispered in Fuji's ear. "Ryuzaki-chan is really hopeless."

They both giggled lightly and got changed.

"I hope you have the stamina to help them Kikumaru-chan."

She nodded. With that smile on her face, Fuji could only think about Arai reaction when she told her she didn't have the guts to tell Tezuka anything. Hmm, she hummed as she buttoned up her school shirt, maybe telling Arai she had little chance with Tezuka wasn't the best way to provoke her. But it was the truth. She really didn't! What would Tezuka like about a pushing, loud and rude girl? Although, Fuji admitted that she had moments where she was a lot worse then Arai. She hoped an incident were she got angry didn't occur in front of him. The likelihood of that occurring was slim. Fuji rarely let a lot of things get on her nerves.

In front of her she could see the first years cleaning the courts. Like Kikumaru said, they were cute. Though they had a long way to go.

"Fuji-chan?"

She turned around to find Yumi Jinhana standing behind her, her year nine doubles player. She fixed her hair back from a bun to two ponytails at either side of her head and a hint of purple eye shadow to go with it.

"What's the matter Jinhana-chan?"

"Do you have Home EC. class next? Can I walk with you?"

"Sure. First I want to go over to the boys' court?"

"Ooh, not to see Tezuka-san?" Kikumaru jumped in.

"No," Fuji smiled. "I want to see the new kid."

"New kid? The year sevens?" Jinhana and Kikumaru thought together.

Fuji nodded. "Tezuka had written his name down on the rankings. I want to see him play just for a bit."

Fuji looked up and saw most had heard what she said of the new kid on the boys' team and they began to talk among themselves. It was only a matter of time before they would wander over to have a look themselves.


...tbc...

A/N2: Five Down, many more to go. Another new character next week.

Chapter 6: He's Eiji's replacement for having nicked him and made him a girl! Look out for Hisoki Sai.

Thanks for reading.

PS: Home EC is the old term for Food Technology.