A/N: I don't have anything to say right now, so enjoy the read.
Disclaimer: PoT belongs to Takeshi Konomi.
Edited: I'm giving them the once over. 13.8.09
Chapter Nineteen
Ryuzaki-sensei wasn't joking when she said she was going to train them hard. The year sevens had no chance of finishing the gruelling, hour-long session. The year eights' barely made it and it even wore out some of the weaker year nines and regulars. Ryuzaki-sensei upped their stamina by getting them to run around the school as well as the courts. She honed in on their accuracy by letting them hit balls at small targets and specify areas on the court. And if they didn't make the target they had to run to the roof of the school and down again. She's finally lost it, they all thought sooner then later. The only two who seemed to be having fun were Arai and Shikawara. They were allowed to unleash their aggressive game against their doubtful teammates.
With the practise games at such a high level, Fuji was glad that she could sneak away from morning practise and her lessons. They only other person who knew of her excursions was Kikumaru and she was appalled by Fuji's behaviours, but not for the reasons one might think.
With the girls' tournament commencing in two weeks time, Fuji wanted and was going to watch Tezuka and the others in their tournament. Her only obstacle was keeping out of the mindful eye of Ryuzaki-sensei. The thought of being scolded would not only annoy Fuji but it would equally embarrass her. It was worth the risk in her view. She hasn't seen Tezuka play in such a long time. Even in practise matches at school he wouldn't make the effort.
She got a lift to Shikinomori Sports Park from her carefree, older brother. He dropped her outside the park at about 11am. Fuji walked in on her own. She checked the board to see what court Seishun were using. They were on Court D. In the distance she could hear all kinds of loud roars of encouragement from each court. Their noise hung in the air and gave the park a different feel to when the girls played. She made her way to court three. She didn't get too close but was close enough to see Sai and Oishi on the court playing at their own pace. She was happy to have caught Oishi playing. Now she had something to tell Kikumaru.
There came a small up-roar in the courts beside courts C. Sunanobori Daini were playing Fudomine. If the girls game were anything to go by, Sunanobori weren't going to go very far.
She watched and waited. She waited and watched. She watched for so long that her mind began to wander. With so much well-developed flesh before her eyes, she couldn't help but think back to a few days ago when the pompous Atobe gave her an invitation of romance or destruction. She smirked when the thought crossed her mind. She could only smirk pleasingly to herself. If he could take her affection away from Tezuka, good luck to him. Not even all the money in the world could distract her from Tezuka.
"F… Fuji-san?"
She arched her shoulders on hearing that voice calling her name. She hadn't planned on being caught so quickly, especially not by Tezuka.
"Why are you here when you should be at school?"
Oh dear. What was she going to say to him that wouldn't leave a bad impression of her?
"Ne, Tezuka-kun, don't you think it's unfair that we can't support each other?" She glanced at him slowly, but he wasn't having any of it.
"Are you telling me you skipped school just so you could cheer?"
Whatever she said now wouldn't put him at ease at all. She was already being scolded.
"If you wanted to cheer and support the team you should have got permission first instead of recklessly going at your own pace."
Fuji turned on her heels to face Tezuka. "Hmpf. You're no fun Tezuka-kun."
She was taken aback when she saw disappointment flash across his face and reflect off his glasses. So taken aback that she nearly apologised for hurting his feelings.
He sighed the discomfort away and ruffled his hair. "Come on, you might as well walk with me."
She didn't complain and comfortably stood on Tezuka's right side. As she walked with him she noticed they walked away from Seishun's court and towards some of the other schools.
"You're not playing?" She asked.
"Not in this first game."
"Why is that?"
He glanced down to her. "Don't worry."
Don't worry? If you tell me that Tezka-kun, I'd be all the more curious. She wouldn't pry just yet. If she further irritated him he'd start to push her away.
They stopped outside a fence on court A. Suzuneyama and Kakinoki were just finishing their match by lining up. Kakinoki won 4-1.
"Are they any good, Tezuka-kun?"
"As far as I know they have been practising with Rikkai-dai so who's to say." Tezuka answered.
"They sound formidable."
"They're up against Fudomine next. They might win."
Tezuka and Fuji stood around quietly for a while just watching the schools pack away and move on to the next court.
"You know, I like watching the guys play as much as I like watching Arai and Shikawara when they are on the court. The raw power and aggression is beautiful, don't you think? Even when you think the game is over they still have some power stored within them." She turned up to Tezuka. "Of course, I like your game the best."
He didn't look at her. "It's nothing special."
Fuji giggled. He was too modest. Maybe he didn't think much of his game but it certainly was a sight to behold. He was extremely refined and focused. He would never miss a shot, but more amazing then all that was once on the court, he commanded the direction of the ball. Those type of games where very rare. Just thinking about the power that would swirl-up around the court when Tezuka played made her melt inside.
"Well, well, well. I thought I saw Kunimistu Tezuka from the courts and I was right. But I didn't think he'd be standing alone with Sumiko Fuji."
An irritating voice made the both of them glance to their left. Walking towards them was the captain of Kakinoki; Kiichi Kuki. He invited himself over with a mischievous smirk on his flushed face.
"Quite questionable that you two should be together." Kuki taunted.
Fuji turned to Tezuka to see he had his eyes closed. He wasn't in the mood to explain himself.
Kuki continued. "I wondered if she knows about you little weakness, the reason you didn't play against Gyokurin."
Tezuka turned away first. "Let's go Sumiko."
She faced him instantly, completely erasing Kuki's existence. He just called her by her first name. This was a first in, like, forever! He made her name sound so very silky smooth and sexy. It carried so naturally in the air as it came for his lips and vibrated in her ears. Without a moments thought she walked away with him. How? How on earth could he do something so simple as say her name and have her fall in love with him all over again? She was very happy she skipped school today.
"Wait!" Kuki yelled as he jogged after the two, mainly for Tezuka. "Let's see your arm!"
Kuki snatched for Tezuka's left arm. Fuji leant back to see what he was doing. Kuki held tightly onto Tezuka's elbow. When Tezuka didn't flinch, Kuki became bemused. What's he doing? Fuji thought. Tezuka yanked his arm back and the two of them left Kuki in his stunned state.
"H-hey! I'll see you in the final's Tezuka-kun!" Kuki yelled, not caring that he was drawing attention to himself.
He continued to yell but the two blocked his ranting out of their minds.
"Tezuka-kun? Why did he grab you like that?"
They walked through the park with ease despite the mass of people around them. Tezuka held his head high. He didn't reply immediately.
"You don't have to worry about it, Sumiko."
Ahh, he did it again. She didn't want to but she couldn't help it. His voice and her name were all too much to cast aside. Sure, she understood that Tezuka called her first name on purpose to distract her. It worked. She didn't know Tezuka was so crafty but she wasn't going to tell him off for teasing her.
Though, she did glance at his right arm. He was wearing his jersey so she couldn't quite see it's strength. She… she wanted to touch him. She wanted to hold his right arm in both of hers and lean her cheek into his biceps. She lifted her hands to cradle him… and stopped. Could she really just hold him like that in public? She's tested his patients many times before and it would fluster him a lot. Then again, he did hold her hand that one time. But right now she really wanted to touch him. She wanted to be closer to him, closer then just standing by his side. His voice had penetrated her soul. Merely standing beside him felt like she was miles away.
Damn… Fuji really didn't believe his voice would effect her this much. Is this how you feel when I touch you Tezuka? Sorry, let me do it this one time too.
"Tezuka?"
"Hm?"
"Is it okay if I hold your arm?"
She couldn't meet his eyes. His voice still ruptured the strength inside her and disturbed her composure. If she were in her right mind, would she have asked him to do something she would have done anyway? No.
"…Yeah." He said softly.
She opened her eyes wider. Her heart was racing like mad. She stepped closer to him, closing that gap between them. His warmth embraced her as she rested the side of her head on his arm. She smothered her cheek into his jersey. She closed her eyes. She trusted Tezuka enough for him to lead her anywhere. She gently rapped her arms around his relaxed biceps and walked with him. Tezuka didn't seem to mind her weight on him. Because her eyes were closed she couldn't see the look on his face. Was he just accepting it to keep her quiet? She hoped not.
"Buuuu-choooooo!" Someone boomed.
There was no mistaking that voice and it completely killed the mood, dropping Fuji back into the reality of her day.
Takeshi Momoshiro ran over until he got a good look at who accompanied his captain. Once he got a good look at the two of them and how close they were, Momoshiro staggered back and grew bright red. While he muttered to himself the baby in the boys' team walked over without a care. Fuji heard Tezuka sigh. In all her enjoyment she forgot why she came here, but having been discovered by Tezuka so early on she didn't really care who else saw her… unless Ryuzaki-sensei was prowling around.
Ryoma Echizen stood right in front of Fuji and Tezuka. He peered up from his cap and looked a little disgusted.
"Who's this Tezuka-kun? Your cute, little cousin?" She deliberately teased.
The two of them out right denied any relation, which amused Fuji. She figured if the schools were on the move then she two had better mingle into the crowd.
Before she left Tezuka , Fuji leant down and tilted Echizen's cap from his eyes. The glare he gave her could have warned her to back off, maybe if he was a few feet taller. Such a glare was too cute to take seriously. More like a pout than a glare. Just to annoy him, she lifted his cap off his head and patted his dark green hair.
"Can you do me one little favour, handsome?"
"Give it back." He said rudely.
Tezuka told Echizen to be more respectful. Fuji whacked his cap down on his head so that it covered his face.
"Don't tell anyone I was here, okay. Bye-bye."
Before she left, she said her farewells to Momoshiro and Tezuka. She walked off and was completely unaware that Tezuka watched her slipping into the crowd with his own set of wandering thoughts. He rubbed his right arm where Fuji rested her head and sighed deeply.
…tbc…
A/N2: I ended with Tezuka's thoughts. That was nice. But next!!!
Chapter 20: Oh no! Leiko Arai is laying the foundations to her plan as she has a little chat with Tezuka!!!
Thanks for reading!
A/N3: Holy biscuit! Having read this chapter back, I just realised Ryuzaki-sensei is in two places at once. Madness! Let's just say, after she trained with the girls team, she jumped in a car and went to the sports park. Can we all agree on that? Awesome! Onwards to chapter 20!
