A/N: Purpose of this chapter – contrast to Fuji.

Reader praise: Hi new readers and those who read when I update. Thanks to you guys I've made 10,000 hits and it feels great. (Love it or hate it, it'll still be 10,000 hits) Thanks for your interest and patience. (^3^)/

Disclaimer: Ooh, I've read some other fan_writers disclaimers and I'm gunna copy their style. *Ahem

"If Prince of Tennis belonged to me (and not Takeshi Konomi ) then no way in hell would Echizen have beaten Tezuka in the final episode. Tezuka would have beaten him for the second time and told o-chibi to try harder!!!"

Ooh, that was fun. I'll have to do that again! \(o^_^o)/

Edits: Easy does it 13.11.09


Chapter Twenty-Three

Eiko Kikumaru

I tuck the flap down in the middle of the envelope and turn it over to write Oishi's name on the front.

I sigh out deeply as a warm feeling from within radiates through every vein in my body. I close my eyes and enjoy the feeling. I only wrote Oishi's name and I'm going all giddy inside my stomach. And that's why I had to write this confession. I… I can't wait any longer for an answer or for him to approach me first. I'm going to make the offer to him first. Fuji had enough patience to wait for Tezuka. She could endure the teasing and the day dreaming… I guess she has good reason to... they look so sweet together. She complements him and he complements her so well. They could be the perfect middle school couple if they get a move on and speak to each other properly. I, on the other hand, need an answer from Oishi now otherwise I don't feel as if I can move on. Well… my brothers and sisters told me it's always good to know what the other person is thinking to save confusion… It'll be okay… Wow, I'm shaking just thinking about what he'll say or how he'll react.

I hold the letter to my chest and curl up on my bed. I hope he'll say yes. He has to say yes. He has no reason to say no. I can't let the day end without knowing how he feels. I jump up and grab my bag. It's now or never. I put the envelope in a private compartment in my school bag and head out the door for morning practise.

Before I reached the hill to get to school I kept my head down. I thought about what I would say to Oishi once he was in front of me… and then I kinda got side tracked… Oh well. Once I reach the hill I'm very alert. I force the initial thoughts out of my head and widen my eyes so that I don't miss his face among the merge of uniforms in front of me. It's early in the morning and there are many other students going to their sports club. I hope they are having as much success as the tennis teams.

It's a while before I spot Oishi walking along with Sai. My stomach twists in a thousand tiny knots. I duck back behind a wall. I want that cringing feeling to fade but it doesn't. I squeeze my stomach and it only goes up into my chest. I tap it away because that sensation stops me from breathing and who knows what gibberish will come out of my mouth and talked to him in this state. Stupid feelings! Why are they so strong and scary at the same time? It's not like I've not spoken to Oishi before. I take a deep breath… okay… I'm ready. The more I hang about the further away he gets from me. I grip the handle of the bag and drew in my breath to call him.

"Kikumaru-chan!" Someone shouts.

Huh? The air I built up to call Oishi escapes in a rush passed my lips as I twirl suddenly to see Yokoishi. She jumps on me and catches my hands.

"Morning Senpai! It's our city games in two days! Aren't you excited?"

Excited? Yeah, I'm excited but for a completely different reason. I glance up the road. Oishi and Sai have gone out of my sight. I could have shed a tear.

"Eh, senpai are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm okay just… just a little nervous that's all." I couldn't tell her the real reason. Not yet anyway. Yokoishi is a great person but her only flaw is she finds it hard to keep quiet.

She shakes my arm. "You're a fantastic player. What do you have to be nervous about? Well let's get to morning practise so we can beat that fear out of you!"

I nod and walk with her to the courts. No doubt Oishi is setting up the tennis courts for his team, meaning I won't be able to see him for now. How annoying. We both enter the changing rooms. Arai and Fuji are pinning up the new city tournament play-offs chart. One with all 128 schools and another with just group C.

"Morning senpais!" Yokoishi greets first.

"Morning" I say, the nervousness still in my voice.

"Oh, morning Yokoishi-chan, Kikumaru-chan." Fuji greets as cheerful as ever.

"Will you stop calling us your senpais. You're older than us Yokoishi-san." Arai says.

Yokoishi laughs as she places her tennis bag on the bench. "I know. Don't be so serious senpai."

Arai frowns while Fuji is fine with the whole matter. Soon enough she peers over at me and doesn't move her eyes from me. I can feel her intriguing gaze. I quickly busy myself with my stuff and change out of my uniform and into my sports gear. While I'm tying my laces Fuji sits beside me, smiling away.

"Fuji-chan, why are you so happy?" I ask first.

"Hmm." Is all she says… it's not much of a 'said', more of a 'hum'. "What are you so uneasy about Kikumaru-chan?"

"How can you tell I'm uneasy?"

"You have that focused look you have when you play tennis. Tell me."

I gulp. "I-I…" I lean closer to her and whisper. "I'm going to ask Oishi-kun."

"Ask him what?"

How can she not know! She's doing it on purpose! I sit up straight and face the lockers. "I'm going to ask… no, I'm going to give him something."

"That's nice." Fuji says all airy-fairy.

"No. Not just anything! Look at this."

I take the white envelope out of my bag and show it to her. She seems a little placid about it. Where I thought she would have pried into the significance of the note she merely stares at it and waits for me to say something.

"Sumiko Fuji, I want to give it to Oishi-kun."

"Oh, that's nice. Is it his birthday? Go give it to him now."

I nearly screamed with embarrassment and quickly tuck the confession away. "No! I'll wait for a better time. He's busy now so I don't want to bother him. I don't want to make a big thing of it in case he gets embarrassed too or worse." I can't hold my nervousness in. I scream a shy and quiet scream. It wakes Fuji up.

"What was you saying Kikumaru-chan?"

"Were you daydreaming Fuji?"

Her answer is nothing more then a pleasant hum. She easily slips back into that giddy state. Something good must have happened to her. Even when I'm sitting next to her, I can tell that I'm not in the room anymore. And there I was thinking I could get some useful advice from her or a little encouragement. Looks like I'm going to have to do this alone… like I had planned. A little friendly help would have been great! I leave Fuji in the room and head outside to hit some balls with the year sevens.

* * *

Morning practise went fine. Despite me being absentminded throughout most of the session, I was able to get in the game so no one really questioned me on anything. Not even Arai found fault with me, which was a big relief. Right now I'm finishing up some English work. Some of the words I don't understand, let alone be able to pronounce them. I'm glad this lesson is over. I still have unfinished business to attend to. And because I missed out on doing it in the morning, I'll give it to Oishi now.

The thought did cross my mind to give the envelope to Sai so he could give it to Oishi on my behalf... but no.

I push my chair in and leave the room with everyone else. I glance around the busy corridor just in case I see him somewhere. I see a familiar face but it's not the one I wanted. Sai is leant against the windowsill. He takes out his sunglasses and puts it on. Without thinking to deeply about my use for Sai I approach him. I don't tap him on the shoulder but lean against the sill with him.

"Hi Sai-san!"

"Hmm? Oh, Aka-chan, nice to see you."

"Pardon?" I didn't expect him to call me that and really didn't like the sound of it. We aren't that chummy.

"Sorry Aka-chan, I don't know where mummy is."

A nerve pricks inside me. "Sai-san, don't be so rude. Call Oishi-kun by his name."

He tips his sunglasses down and gives me a soul-piercing gaze. (By no means is it more intrusive than Fuji's stare.)

"When I look at you I see an open book. Most people would assume I was talking about their mothers. Seems as if you have someone else on your mind. I guess you have something you want to give me on your behalf, right?"

I hide a gasp in my throat and ease away from him. I fumble around for some words. "No… that's not true. I know you guys think of him as the mother in the team that's the only reason why I know, so don't read too much into that. And anyway, where is he?"

"You mean you don't want my help, Aka-chan?"

"Stop calling me that!" I shout, forgetting that we're in the corridor.

I glance around at all the faces that turn to me and divert my eyes quickly. This guy, how does Oishi put up with him?

"I only want to know where he is, that's all, Sai-san."

"What makes you think I would know where Oishi is?"

"You're his partner, you should know his timetable at least."

"Yeah, but, you have a crush on him, you should know that and more, right?"

I could have screamed. How did he know? I grip the handle of my bag and stare at him with mixed feelings. My anger for his frankness over powered the need to run away with embarrassment. My shoulders rise and I have to breathe slowly and deeply to calm myself down. I glance out the window for a moment and then back at his smirking face.

"I just wanna know where he might be, Sai-san."

"Well… it is lunch, you might see him in the cafeteria. Then again, I could be wrong. Why? Did you make a bento for him? What a lucky guy."

"Hmph!" I turn away and leave him.

To annoy me further he calls me Aka-chan. I arch my shoulders and walk quickly towards the cafeteria. I hardly ever come in here. I always make my own lunch and usually sit on the roof with Fuji or Jinhana. I had to ditch them today to quickly find Oishi, but this is turning out to be harder then I first thought. Can you believe it? When I have no intention of talking to him I see him all the time. Now I'm making the effort to find him, he's nowhere to be seen. Is the universe playing games with me? No fair… and he's not here. Great…

"Hey, Kikumaru-chan?" a voice calls. But it's not just any voice. It belongs to someone from the tennis club. Not again. Any other day I would have smiled along with them.

Umeko Kikoishi called me. She's sitting with some others from the tennis club and our homeroom. I can't refuse them without explain why I'm in a rush.

"We hardly ever see you in here. You looking for somewhere to sit? Sit with us!" She says.

A crooked smile presses across my lips and I force myself to sit with them. Sai's words drift around my mind: 'I'm easy to read'. So not to give them anything to 'read' I eat my bento with them… guess I'll have to wait until after school practise…

* * *

It's now the end of the day… I'm at practise with the girls. From across the fields I can hear the guys playing their practise matches, knowing for sure that Oishi is there. This is my last chance, if I don't give it to him now, I'm going to tear up the note and try again later in the year. It has to be after this! I'll explode if I have to wait any longer.

"Kikumaru, what the hell are you doing!" Arai shouts at me from behind. On the other side of the court is Shikawara and Nariko, the year eight regulars. "If we lose to those punks I won't forgive you."

"Yeah, I hear ya!" I shout back a little testy.

Arai serves the ball and the games carries on from there. It drags on for a good half an hour and I'm so glad when Ryuzaki-sensei calls us over. She reminds us of the city games in two days and to be in our best form. She says some other stuff but I'm really not listening. I shift my sight to the grass and listen out for the boys yelling and shouting. I can't hear anything. No running or cheering. Ryuzaki-sensei must have dismissed them first. Why are the forces going against me today? Why won't this clear day allow me to greet Oishi for just a second? I tap my foot on the floor repeatedly and cross my arms waiting for Ryuzaki-sensei to finish. The last things she tells us is about the tournament groups for the girls' team that were hung up in the changing rooms this morning.

We are finally dismissed. I sigh to myself and drop my arms down by my side. Could it really be over? A hand taps me on the shoulder and I peer up to see Fuji.

"Are you okay, Kikumaru-chan?"

"No. I feel defeated."

"Hmm, by the way what were you talking about this morning?"

"I knew you weren't listening. Right!" I march off the courts and into the changing rooms. I find the envelope in my bag and head out the room. I'm not going to let this day end without giving this to Oishi.

"Kikumaru-chan? Are you sure you're all right" Fuji calls.

"I'll be right back!"

I stomp over towards the boys changing rooms. Sai is standing outside, leaning against the wall and staring absentmindedly into the cool afternoon skies. Why am I seeing him more often than the one I really want to see? I step pass without so much as a hello but he calls out to me.

"Oh, Neko-chan, it's nice to see you again. Still after my help?"

"Stop giving me weird nicknames!" I tell him but he laughs to his own amusements and I demand an answer. "Where's Oishi-kun?"

"You mean you didn't see mummy at lunch time, huh? If you're brave enough to walk pass the threshold, he's in there getting changed with the whole team. You can wait with me if you like? We can think of a nice nickname for you, Neko-chan."

I turn my nose up at him and grab the handle of the changing rooms. He turns to stop me but I've already opened the door and stepped in. A thick cloud of deodorant chokes me and makes my eyes water. The sudden burst of coughs brings unwanted attention to myself and many shocked voices question why I'm in here, mostly from the year sevens' and some angry year eights'.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing, Kikumaru-san? Wait outside!" Someone yells.

I glare at them and they flinch back.

"Sorry guys," Sai pops his head around the door. "Could you really expect me to stop a maiden on her quest? Be noble gentlemen and show big sister the right path."

"Is Oishi-kun in here?" I ask them.

Several of them point towards the end of the room where I see Oishi for the second time all day. Tezuka is sitting beside him. He sees me first and rises an eyebrow. He doesn't say anything. Now I'm a little unnerved. I've come this far, don't back out now. Oishi is scooped down on the bench dusting some dirt off his school shoes. He hasn't noticed me yet. I make my way over to him and stop in front of Tezuka. I bow to him.

"Sorry for intruding but I'll be borrowing Oishi-kun for a few minutes."

He's still bemused and now Oishi glances up. I don't look into Oishi's green eyes. They'll reduce me to a quivering mess.

"Ki-Kikumaru-chan?" Oishi says, surprised.

The only thing I can think to do is grab his wrist and pull him away with me. He resists and forces me to step that bit closer to him on the recoil, making me weaker when I catch his gaze.

"What's this about Kikumaru-chan?"

"It's not something I can tell you here. Come with me outside for a few seconds, please."

I tug his wrist once more and he doesn't resist. I really want to hurry up and get out of here. Not from her heavy smells but from all the staring eyes.

"Don't take too long you two. People's minds will start wondering..." Sai adds as we leave the room.

Knowing that Sai's outside means I'm going to have to take Oishi closer to the school than I wanted to. I want to glance over my shoulder to see Oishi face. He's awfully quiet. I hope he's not too confused. Once we've gotten far enough I let go of his wrist and face him. Before he says anything I thrust the envelope in his face and tell him to take it. He hesitates at first. He lifts his right hand to take the wrinkled envelope. Well, that's what I thought. He does take it in his fingertips but he lowers his hand so that we can make eye contact. I immediately look away.

"Kikumaru-chan, is this why you're mad?"

"I'm not mad." I blurt out.

He lowers his head and chuckles to himself. "You didn't have to force yourself to give me this if it's from somebody else."

"But that's not it at all."

"Are you upset that one of your friends ask you to give this to me?"

"It's not from someone else… I… well… it's… because I've been wanting to give this to you all day."

He looks down at the envelope and stares at his name on the front. "Is it from you? Is that what you're saying Kikumaru-chan?"

I can feel my cheeks redden as the heat and my blood rushes to my head. Does he really want an answer? I can't say it.

"It's good enough if you just read it and you can give your answer tomorrow or whenever you're ready." I tell him.

I turn to leave but he catches my hand and pulls me back. It was a little tug but it had so much strength in it that I nearly fall into him. I wasn't expecting him to reach out and take my hand. My brave attitude has left me and now I feel those regular nervous traits inside of me. My stomach hurts. And he's even holding my hand. Tightly, very tightly. He's not letting go. I lower my head and wait for him to say something. I'm all out of steam. I can't face him and turn my head away.

"So… what you're telling me, or not telling, me is that you wrote this?"

I nod and now close my eyes as tears of embarrassment want to surfaces.

"Oh, okay. I guess I should read it, right?"

"No!" I spin around and clasp my hand around his that holds the envelope. "You don't have to read it… it's so embarrassing. Just act like I didn't write it."

I'm not sure why but he smiles patiently. "All right then… you've put a lot of effort into getting this to me. I want to give you an answer."

"No! No, you don't have to! I didn't mean to bother you like this. You probably have a lot of important stuff to discuss with Tezuka-san, and Fuji is waiting for me…" I ramble on but he stares at me softly and patiently.

"Kikumaru-chan, can I tell you that I like the way you play tennis?"

I stop in my flow and listen to his words. "…Really?"

"Yeah," He says and chuckles again. "I like your style a lot. It's very unique… and the fact that you can work so well with Arai-chan. It's admirable."

I cut in quickly. "I like your Moon volley too and-and the fact that you can put up with Sai-san!"

He laughs. "Don't put it that way, he means well."

"…It's true…" I say quietly. I glance down and realise that we're holding each other's hand. "then... if you like the way I play... and my teamwork, does that mean that you… like me… too?"

He doesn't reply and I'm not to sure why. When I glance up I'm caught off guard by his waiting gaze. And it's only when I make eye contact does he answer me.

"I like you Kikumaru-chan. I really like you a lot."

"Really? You're not just saying that because it's what I want to hear?"

He shakes his head. "I would never do something like that. I'm saying it because it's how I feel."

I'm overwhelmed by his words that tears well up in my eyes and I pounce on him and give him a hug. I don't know what to say so I thank him for being so honest and accepting my feelings. Though it feels more like I've accepted his feelings. As long as it's neutral I'm fine with that. I feel his arms wrap around my waist and it feels weird but really nice at the same time. It's a warm feeling that relaxes me and I enjoy the hug that I'm giving Oishi. So warm that it easily unties the knots in my stomach.

"I like you too Oishi-kun." I've wanted to tell him that for such a long time. It still sounds embarrassing but I'll have to get used to it because I'll be saying a lot. I can't wait to tell Fuji about what I've done- "Ohmigosh! Fuji is still waiting for me!" I lean off of him and step back. "You don't mind do you?"

"No, it's okay. Besides I need to lock up the changing rooms today."

"Oh, you're so understanding Oishi… is it okay if I call you Oishi?"

He smiles awkwardly and agrees.

"Okay, Oishi, tomorrow we can walk home together! Oh and promise me one thing?"

"What's that Kikumaru?"

He removed the honorific too. I feel a little weak in the knees and my waving hand wants to retreat down to my waist. I smile brightly and tell him.

"Promise me you'll get your team to watch one of our city tournament matches this week. Make sure Tezuka-san comes too!"

He smiles back and says yes.


…tbc…

A/N2: Well that was longer than I wanted (I suck at endings!)… but sweet… Chapter 24: They prepare for the city tournaments. All focus is on Jinhana and Nariko's first match Against Narishima's doubles pair. Also, Fuji's a little downcast…

On another note... OMG!!! TAKESHI KONOMI HAS STARTED A NEW VOLUME OF POT *SCREAMS IN ABSOLUTE BLISS. THE DREAM IS STILL ALIVE, AND RYOMA LOOKS SO HANDSOME!!! (^0^)/