A/N: Hi one and all. Sorry for taking my sweet time with uploading. I thought I could 'style it out', but with a six month gap... I can understand Charmane comment. SORRY! And thanks for the reviews, I particularly like Loki Lee's rant! Who doesn't like a good rant? (But that person was on a funny one, just dissin' every story with an OC.)

Well, with chapter 15 up, lets read the short interlude before the big games! YAY!

PS: It would be too easy to have Tezuka and Fuji alone together so I'm gonna have to cause some trouble. (^_^) Do enjoy.

Edit: Thanks for the heads up Charmane. 19.11.08

Edited: Because I can smell the mistakes! 13.8.09

Disclaimer: PoT belongs to respectable creator; Takeshi Konomi.


Chapter Fifteen

Tori Nariko

I didn't know who was worse. Arai-senpai's aggression or Jinhana-senpai's desire to win.

The after school games finished half an hour ago. I didn't go home straight away. I stayed back for a while and tested some of the moves and techniques Jinhana-senpai showed me. I remembered the match vividly. Kikumaru-senpai and Arai-senpai's game was flawless. All their moves were tight. At first they kept their game basic, but that basic game was perfect. I'm not sure how, but even without words they knew what each other was doing and going to do. I didn't understand it at all. I'd never thought doubles was that precise… I thought the whole thing was random and all played by chance. I did my best with my normal extra-after school practise but once I realised I was standing motionless and visualising our match, I decided it best I go home. I found Fuji-senpai and told her I had finished. I didn't have the heart to ask her about what was on my mind.

And what was on my mind? After I got to the school gates I felt safe enough to question it myself. Why did she put me in doubles? I don't understand the thinking. She did tell me earlier that it was to better my play and add more skills to my game. At the rate things are moving I cannot see how. Sure Jinhana-senpai has a lot of moves (more then I could count in the space of our forty-five minutes practise) but how is she going to help me develop anything? Am I thinking too much about this? I think I am. Fuji-senpai would never have put me in doubles if she didn't think it was a good choice. I'm sure she thinks thing through thoroughly. And Ryuzaki-sensei was happy with things. And beside Jinhana-senpai is having fun with the whole idea, enough to call me her humming bird. I shouldn't let her down.

I am so busy in thought that I didn't realise I had walked down the hill and am now walking along the riverbank. I slow down and stare at the setting sun. For the moment, my mind is blank. It feels nice not having worrying about anything. Not having to worry about the excitement of the tournaments, or how well we will do or if I'll impress my senpais. I sigh pleasantly and meander on.

Kikumaru-senpai and Arai-senpai are so different. Even without mentioning it, it is easy to see, but when they are on the court, wow, do they come together. I admire that about them. I wipe my face. Think positively Tori. I stop again and decide to sit down on the grass and watch the setting sun. The water flows easy in the high tide and the grassy bank is surprising clean. A group of boys walk by. They glimpse my tennis gear and murmur between themselves. I wonder if they were in the boys' tournament.

Hmm… thinking about to today's game, Jinhana-senpai and Arai-senpai seemed to have a rivalry going on between them. At times it was only the two of them playing that even Kikumaru-senpai had to step back and wonder what the two were doing. It annoys me that there is not a lot of harmony in the team. There's a clear divide… but Arai-senpai did mention something about bettering the team. I trust she'll do something amazing.

The thought brought a smile to my face. I jump to my feet and am about to leave when I hear someone grunting just beyond the bridge. Is someone getting beat-up? I grab my bag to go have a look, and behind the concrete stairs is someone wearing a Seishun academy tennis jersey. Beside them and a black tennis bag. I walked out a little further. The person grunted suddenly and glared up at me. I froze. Those piercing eyes grabbed me. Even though I see this person everyday their eyes, though not scary, always made me stop in my tracks. I can't turn away, at least not before he does. I shudder that caging feeling away and walk down the grassy bank to say hi to Kaido-kun. His jersey is folded neatly on his tennis bag. It's no wonder he gave me that look, I disturbed him from his practise. With each swing it got faster and stronger. When his sweat fell from his forehead the racket sliced it in half.

I chose not to greet him and crouch down on the slope. Such increasing power. His arms are so flexible. I would never have imagined that such a muscular arm would be about able to move with such ease. He isn't in any discomfort or pain, though his face is very serious and focused. I give my forearms a squeeze and in no way did they look for feel like how Kaido's looked. Maybe I should work on that. There is a little muscle but not bulging out like his. He swung his arm again and his black shirt kicks up revealing his six pack and toned back. Wow! A hot flush scaled my body. I looked away quickly to the easy flowing river.

"What do you want Nariko-san?"

I jump. I didn't know he knew my name. "I just wanted to watch… is that okay, Kaido-kun?"

He glares at me then turns back round. He continues with his swings as if nothing had happened. I soon sit back and watch.

His movements were a little hypnotic – maybe it was the rhythm he kept. He never dropped his hand or stopped to rest when the sweat dripped heavily down his face. Is this the extend of Tezuka-senpai's training?

"Kaido-kun?"

"What?"

"Have you ever played doubles before?"

He lowered his racket and faced me. "I don't play doubles."

His voice is so heavy that I wonder if I should leave.

"Why do you ask?" He soon says.

"Erm, well," I stand up. Fuji-senpai has put me in doubles two for the district preliminaries and I'm not sure… well… I just wondered if you had any advice. You know…" I trailed off not really sure what I expected from him.

"Doubles?" He thought. He wiped his arms down. "Fssshhh…"

I blink. He hissed… he just hissed… or was that a sigh. "I-it's okay Kaido-kun I'm sorry if I disturbed you. I'll see you at school next week."

What was I thinking asking him for help? He's not a bad person but he, like me, has not played doubles before. I'm just being a bother. I grab my bag and struggle to climb back up to the pavement*.

"Oi, Nariko-san." I glance over my shoulder and am taken aback when I see Kaido-kun following me. "All I know from watching Oishi-senpai and Sai-senpai is that you need to know your partner better then your opponent. Good Luck" He propped up his bag and walked on ahead.

I am still surprised by his words that I merely watch him working away while my mind runs over what he says. He's right. I've been thinking about myself too much. When I get on the court it's not just me but Jinhana-senpai. I need to trust her as much as she trusts me. That means I need to know all… maybe not all, but some of her moves even start practising with her after school too. I glance up quickly and could still see Kaido's shirt.

"Thanks you, Kaido-kun!"

He didn't turn around to acknowledge the thanks or lift his hand as a 'it's all right' gesture. I smile and continue my journey home. I can't say that I'm 100% confident about the games ahead but at least now I can look at it from a different angel. I breathe in deeply and let it out quickly. First I'll go home and feed Sora and then head over to Jinhana-senpai's house so we can practise together.

Hmm... I wonder what kind of new move I should create.


...tbc...

*pavement = sidewalk. (I'm British!)

A/N2: Well that was short and sweet.

Chapter 16: Woo! We're at the games, now it's time to scoop out the other schools. Thanks for reading.