A/N: This is the last of your treats. Enjoy the read. Leiko get's another chapter to herself!
Disclaimer: Pot belongs to the mangaka Takeshi Konomi
Edit: Oh my dayz! I can't believe how many mistakes were in this. I really need to stop typing at 1am in the morning. 24.2.09.
Chapter Twenty
Leiko Arai
I stretch my arms in the air, making sure I pull all the tension out of my wrists and shoulders. I breathe easy once I let my arms flop down beside me. Well, well, well, it looks as if I have something to work towards now. Before, when I first wanted to trip Fuji up, I had no ideas how… but now things are different. Who would have thought that the pompous ass from Hyotei would set his eyes on Fuji? For some strange reason I wasn't jealous or angry. I was shocked and then happy. I laughed myself all the way home that day after I calmed down. Even my idiot brother had to ask why I was so chirpy that day. And my mood seemed to get better once we got back to school. Ryuzaki Sensei allowed Shikawara and me to torment the other plays by going all out. Aah, it feels great to let ones wrath out once in a while. Yep, I feel good. I don't think I've played that madly since last years' tournaments. I hope there are more games like that.
Though, there was one day I was looking forward too but our captain decided she didn't want to show up. I was in charge for that day but that was the day sensei had Fuji and me matched up for a little friendly match. Fuji had to go and ruin that day for me. She didn't show up, so I missed out on it. Rumour has it that she was at the Tennis Park, but … Fuji wasn't that stupid, what with Ryuzaki sensei being there and all. She was probably at home feigning an illness.
Our city games start next week and I'm forced to come to the library to finish up on some maths homework. If only I could play tennis all day. Now that would make school worth coming to instead of having to fill the day with all that in between stuff. I hear the library doors opening. A gush of cool air runs along the floor and over my ankles. I peer over to see who had entered but can't see anything from the back areas of the library. I take out all the stuff I need and begin. A bag has an equal amount of five coloured counters inside it. What is the probability of picking two of the same colour twice? There are 125 counters. What is the probability of picking four draws with one counter being the same colour and the second counter being different each time?
Give me a break!
"Arai-san." I lift my head to see who calls me and gasp. "Mind if I sit here?"
"Erm… sure, of course." It's not like I can say no!
So the person who came into the room is Tezuka. He pulls up a chair opposite me and sit down. This has to be a dream. I discreetly draw my hand under the table to pinch my thigh. Ouch! He really is sitting in front of me. I draw a breath in deeply and peer over to see what he's doing. He isn't scribbling down figures for maths or lines for Japanese history. Neither is it diagrams for tennis. I ease back into my seat and try to continue with my work, but now I'm all flustered. I can't think straight. I'm over the moon that he's sitting so close to me but-
Wait a minute. Wait a minute here. This really does seem too good to be true. As far as I'm aware Tezuka doesn't know about what happened at our preliminary games… Should I tell him?
Should I tell him that Fuji didn't dismiss that slime ball's hand or kiss or thought-provoking words? I think he should know these things… no… First I need to clarify a few things. It would be meaningless if he really didn't have any strong feelings for Fuji. Knowing him, he'd dismiss her actions. I glance around the library. It isn't busy at this hour. I slide a patience look to Tezuka. He busies himself with his textbook. It's English he's tackling.
Argh! He looks too busy to disturb but I really want to know, and I really want him too know the truth. Okay, calm down, I have to do this in the proper manor.
"Tezuka-san," He gazes up. "can I ask you something, somewhat personal?"
He turns back to his book. "Depends on what it is?"
Okay, he's willing to play along. "It's nothing bad… I'm… just… I wanna know what you think about my Captain?"
"Fuji-kun?"
I nod. He doesn't set his book down as he thinks about an answer. "I respect her as a tennis player."
I feel my eyelids become heavy. That answer's too basic and one I've heard too often. His answer didn't really say much at all. Did he like her or dislike her? I'm guessing he likes her to some degree. Either that or he can simple tolerate her behaviour.
"Of course, you know I mean not as a tennis player but something more on a—ah…" I can't say intimate. He'd refuse that because nothing is set in stone. Argh! What an idiot couple! If not intimate then acquaintances? No! That's too distance. "…a like-like level?" Is that all I could think to say?
Tezuka now places his textbook on the table. He's annoyed, I can tell. Although I hate the fact he thought about Fuji a little too much, I know the thought of her bothers him. You don't sigh after the one you love, and if you do it should be a happy sigh that you toss to the clouds and not a low one that you want to bury in the ground, which is what Tezuka did often.
"Why are you asking me this?" His questions firmly.
I hold my hands up in defence. "I'm just saying… I mean, if you don't have a solid answer others will start to go after her. After all, she is pretty."
He's very still and silence. I leat my elbow on the table. Are you telling me that the thought has never crossed his mind? Wait… has he just been assuming that Fuji is his via an unspoken bond? Or does he really not consider her a love interest. Argh! I'm so confused.
"Why are you telling me this Arai-san?"
I rested my head in my palm feeling deflated. I don't have the desire to probe him any more. Could he really be so oblivious to such things? Oh, Tezuka, my level of respect for you is falling.
"Well…" I mumble.
I make eye contact with him and see something I haven't seen in a looong time. Why such an expression is on his face is intriguing. I never thought I would see such innocence in him, but in case I'm wrong I keep that to myself. Now I wish I had never brought this up. Well, let's think about this. Everyone has just assumed that Fuji and Tezuka had feelings for each other, me included. Now that I'm talking to him about the matter, I… I think I can see that he has feelings for her but he hasn't thought beyond just liking her. Are you telling me he's letting Fuji do all the work of seducing him? Oh, shut-up! You've got to be kidding me. Tezuka, I'm disappointed in you. Where's your sense as a man to claim what's your… wait-what am I saying! This is perfect!
"At our games at the preliminaries, she just seemed too familiar with Atobe-san. You know, the pompous one who thinks he's better than budda himself. I'm sure if you lay things down, she won't be looking elsewhere for affection." I want to stir things up but it sounds as if the truth came from my lips, which might explain why I didn't feel bad about saying it to him.
Tezuka is still motionless. I, on the other hand, am not bothered any more. I'm not bothered because of the indecisiveness on his part. My head is still resting tiredly in my palm. Just now, he diverts his eyes back to his textbook. What? Not even a reaction? I sigh quietly. So boring. I've definitely lost respect for him. He's smart and athletic but when it comes to love, he's just a boy… not cute at all.
"Fuji's entitled to talk to who she wants." He says.
Maybe I'm missing something in all this. Have I been lost in the strength of his voice, which has, for the last year, made me forget his age? I think so. What a weak answer. I would have broken my pencil if I hadn't already dropped it between the pages of my maths book. I'm bored with his answer because he doesn't flinch or tap his pen on the desk. He merely carries on as if the whole conversation didn't just take place. I'm so confused. Screw his pride! I lean across the table and ask again.
"Tezuka-san, tell me honesty. I won't tell any one. I'm trying to help you. This conversation will not got beyond you or me. Trust me with this piece of knowledge. Do you like Fuji? Because if you don't, tell her. You're giving her a false hope. I think even you know what much."
He stares at me bitterly. Did I hit a nerve? Good. Frankly, I'm sick of people holding you with such esteem when you can't even look beyond tennis. Get a clue Tezuka!
I have to tell myself to calm down, I can feel every nerve in my body screaming out to go nuts but I'll achieve nothing if I let my short temper get the better of me.
"Tezuka-san," We glance across the room to see Oishi walking towards the table. "When you're ready Ryuzaki-sensei wants a word with us. Oh, hi Arai-san."
I screw up my lips but force a smile for Oishi. (Kikumaru would never forgive me if I ill-treated her crush. (There's another idiot couple for you!)) He must have seen the tension in our faces because he decides to wait by the door. I catch Tezuka making a hasty retreat as he packs his belongings into his back.
"Hey, hey, wait a second. Don't go and not give me an answer. Tell me what you really feel." I reach over the table and grab his wrist. And when I grab his wrist I suddenly realise I'm taking this too far, further then I wanted. I instantly release him, not daring to look into his eyes. I rub my face and fell back into my chair. I throw my gaze up to the ceiling and apologise. As I did all that he stares at me.
"Oh, I'm sorry Tezuka-san I didn't mean to… you know. I'm just angry that she's not supporting her school by showing the strength and bond we have as players for each other. You know what I mean?" I say into a lie.
He slides his gaze away. He's thinking about something. From the corners of my eyes I watch him and wait for him to say something. He's going to say something. I can sense it. He zips up his bag and faces me. I sit upright and face him.
"If you must know… I don't know how I feel about her."
YES! YES! I'm so elated by his answer that I have to use all my strength to hide the need to jump out of my seat and punch the air. I quickly rest my head in my hands. Before he walks away I ask for one last question.
"What's stopping you from loving her?"
Again he thinks about the answers in his mind. He closes his eyes and turns away. "Her confidence." And those were his last words before he went off to find Oishi.
"Thank you Tezuka-san." I say with a wide grin on my face.
Oh Leiko, girl, I'm so proud of you… who would have thought that big lion would be such a kitten. Weird, even though I broke his image I'm happy. I'm happier then when we finished out matches. So happy that I could have hit my head against the table and burst into laughter. Oh, things are certainly going my way. This little revelation has changed things drastically but so perfectly.
From behind me comes the faint sound of someone clapping. I turn to see Sai emerging from behind the shelves. What is he doing here? He doesn't think twice about pulling up a chair to sit with me.
"I had no desire of witnessing such a moment but I'm glad I did. I have never seen captain so out of his skin."
I can't help but indulge in this moment. "I'm good aren't I? He's like a sheep dressed in wolf's clothing. Once skinned, he's just a helpless little, naïve sheep who knows nothing about love."
"Such things I thought were meant to be kept between you and captain and yet you are so quick to break your promise. Me thinks you're not a woman of your word." Sai mutters.
Oh boy, now this one this starting on me. "You, wanna know how you fit into all this."
"Enlighten me, dark one."
I lean over and whisper my discoveries and plots into his ear. He listens, he likes and he chuckles.
"Well, I will congratulate you if you manage to accomplice your goals. In fact I will pay you something as a gift of achievement."
I raise my hand for a high five and Sai willing pats my hand, which seals the deal for things to slowly fall into place.
…tbc…
A/N2: Oh yeah, that's why I love Leiko Arai. She knows no fear! Chapter 21: Shikawara keeps her promise to Izumi Asahi and we learn a little of her background!
Thanks for reading!!!
