A/N: Ah, I love this chapter. And because you guys couldn't wait to read it… I give you confrontation, confusion and compassion, aka, Chappie 31!

I am slowly editing the old chapters to fill in gaps, change mistakes and to remind myself what the heck I've written!

Disclaimer: If Echizen's the Prince of Tennis, then who's the King? And if it's Tezuka, should Takeshi Konomi have made Echizen kill Tezuka to become the King of Tennis… or should that be his dad? Somebody's gotta die! Long live the King! (Randomness.) ('-.-)

Edit: because life ain't always what it appears to be. (17.10.10)


Chapter Thirty One

For many, the day couldn't have come quickly enough. For others it took too long to arrive. The quarterfinals had started. Seishun stood opposite Hyotei and St. Rudolph stood before Miura. They were sure of a place in the Kantou tournaments but that didn't mean they wanted to lose here.

Doubles team had both played, but they weren't a match for a trained team. Fuji and Yokoishi lost graceful with 5-6. Close but not close enough. Next were Shikawara and Suzu. Although they lead, they couldn't work out a complete combination of their moves. In fact, Shikawara negated Suzu's rally and so they lost 4-6. They weren't annoyed. Their lose couldn't be helped. Ryuazki-sensei didn't mind too much either. She cared enough to give them Inui's drink but she understood.

Fuji, after her match, sat outside the courts with her moping friend Kikumaru, who was benched in this game. Every now and again Fuji took out her camera and took pictures of Suzu and Shikawara. Arai had brought her camera along as well but it still wasn't working. The flash kept going off every now and then, taking pictures on its own will. She hoped she got some descend pictures, if not, she'd have to go to the gift shop sooner then later. Since Arai stood up by the fence, Fuji let her use her camera. Jinhana and Yokoishi stood with Arai. The rest of the tennis team was close behind, cheering wilfully.

"That was painful to watch." Jinhana murmured as Shikawara and Suzu walked off the courts.

"Jinhana-senpai they only had a day to practise." Nariko defeated them. "I think they did all right."

"Before you start defeating them, start thinking of a way to win the next match. If you lose were out… not out but fourth."

Yokoishi who stood next to Arai, leant back to express her thoughts. "Gomen nasai Nariko-senpai! We'll leave the win up to you."

"No fair." Kikumaru moaned from the park bench. "I wanted to play. Am I only good for doubles?"

"Pretty much." Everyone answered.

Kikumaru slumped down in her seat and leant her head on Fuji's arm.

"You have to win Nariko-chan." Fuji told her.

Nariko nodded. She understood the importance of this match. She'd prove herself to her team and would finally get to play in singles. She'd definitely win. She entered the courts and started her match.

"You're next Jinhana-senpai." Shikawara said as a matter to encourage.

"I know. I won't lose."

"You better not." Arai had the last say.

Yokoishi busied herself with watching the match but her side glanced did move on to Arai and Fuji when she had the chance. Kikumaru was too disappointed to cheer.

"What do you think Jinhana-chan?" Fuji asked.

"She'll win. That's how I've trained her."

Fuji sat back on the bench with Kikumaru when a small pair of hands covered over her eyes.

"Guess who, Onee-san."

Fuji glanced up. "Oh Chise-chan."

Chise popped her head over Fuji's shoulder. Kikumaru rose up to see who it was only to get Chise hand pushing her aside so she could sit between them. Yokoishi shuddered suddenly and turned to the girl.

"Hay! You little brat! Don't be so rude!" Kikumaru yelled.

Chise ignored her and held onto Fuji's arm quietly.

The rest of their teammates glanced over to see why Kikumaru made so much noise.

"Ah, Kikumaru-senpai, is that your little sister." Sakuno asked.

"I don't have a little sister. This brat just keeps showing up! She's so rude!" She ranted.

"Who the heck are you?" Arai questioned.

"I like Arai nee-san." Chise said which made Arai turn fully. Yokoishi held her back by turning Arai's attention back to the game.

"What! You like her over me?" Kikumaru protested.

"Oi, shut it and watch the match!" Ryuzaki-sensei finally warned them.

"I'm sorry you lost onee-san but you're really good at doubles."

"Thank you Chise-chan."

They remained silent throughout Nariko's match. Everyone was engrossed. She had to win. They cheered when she scored a point and debated if she had it in her to go all the way. Every now and then Nariko herself would turn around and tell her team to shut up so she could concentrate. They smiled quietly at this. She was in good form. Arai took some pictures and tried to use her camera but it was still playing up. She wouldn't give up using it.

"Come on Nariko-chan! Keep it up." Her team shouted.

They cheered as she won the set making the score 2-1.

"Onee-san, do you have a boyfriend?" Chise asked out of the blue.

"She's taken!" Kikumaru answered. The too girls cut a challenging look to each other.

"Well I guess I'd have to say no for the time being." Fuji soon said.

"Do you have someone you like?" She asked. Kikumaru looked at her friend.

"… Yeah."

"Who?"

"… You don't know him."

"Why do you care?" Kikumaru wondered, provoking the little girl.

"I'm not talking to you!"

Kikumaru rapped her arms around Chise waist and picked her up. "Excuse us." She was about to walk off when she nearly walked into someone. "Sorry." Kikumaru apologised while struggling to hold Chise still even though she yelled to be put down.

"Watch where you're going, *moron." The person said with hostility.

He walked on past her. Kikumaru turned back to snap at the person when she saw who it was. Chise still struggled in Kikumaru's arms but even she stopped wriggling when she caught sight of the person. They both thought silently. It was the only thing they agreed on. Yokoishi shook her head. She didn't have to turn around. Purposely, she cheered loudly so Arai didn't suspect anything.

Fuji glanced over to see who Kikumaru bopped into and was shocked to see Atobe had wondered over.

She didn't bother standing up. She had reason to greet him. They didn't say anything. She waited for Atobe to say something and he waited for Fuji to talk. Why is he here? She had to take a deep breath to keep that desire under control. They cried to be released through her words and her provocative body language in order to lure him closer and nearer… She wouldn't let it out. Not now and especially not in front of her team. Not after her talk with Kikumaru.

Seeing as he wasn't going to talk, Fuji looked upon the Hyotei girls and they all had their eyes on her. Not again. He was making things more annoying then they needed to be. No wonder her doubles game with Suzu felt a little underhanded and deliberately violent. She wanted to say something to him but she wasn't sure how it would come out. She didn't want to sound flirtatious like she has done in the past.

"Atobe-kun-"

"Well?" He interrupted her.

"Pardon?" She couldn't help but reply.

"Still want me to break you?"

He changed his words and the tone of it was of one who was definitely ready to cause some trouble. She looked to the courts and watched Nariko score a point.

"I asked you a question, Fuji-chan, be bold enough to answer it."

Fuji paid him no mind. She wasn't going to give him an answer. Truth was she gave him his answer two days ago. She didn't see why she had to tell him again. For unknown reasons he wanted to hear it from her mouth, her words, her agreement. Kikumaru and Chise listened in on the two. Kikumaru felt annoyed and bitter on the inside, while Chise felt confused and irritated. Yokoishi turned to her left, over the heads of her teammates. She felt something good and decided not to worry about the few behind her.

"Seigaku! Go Nariko-senpai!" She cheered and the rest followed.

Fuji didn't look at him. She thought about the whole thing. What ever she answered he would still show up in her day. If she changed her mind, she would have to give him her heart… that wasn't going to happen but it's what he was after… but, she didn't trust that smirk on his face. Somehow it felt like a win-win for him… to stick with her answer it would mean he would somehow break her foundations… she closed her eyes and relaxed in her seat. For the first time she actually stopped and asked herself 'what is my foundation?' Kikumaru put Chise down and walked towards the two. Fuji heard her footsteps and faced her but she noticed that Atobe didn't look down at her. His gaze was fixed on what was in front of him. Kikumaru suddenly smiled brightly and Chise backed away and left.

Someone walked up behind Fuji and dropped something heavy over her shoulders. She looked at the heavy black thing that swung around her torso. A school coat? She rubbed her fingers into the collar and glanced up.

"Tezuka-kun?" She said, surprised by his appearance.

She would have smiled if not for the look on his face. Of all his expression, she had never seen that one before. Echizen had that look often… challenging. He fended Atobe off with a fierce glare. Why would he feel the need to do that? Did Kikumaru tell him something already? Atobe sniggered half-heartily and held his head high. He laughed louder and turned to leave.

"I can see the cracks." Atobe warned her and walked off.

"Oishi you came!" Kikumaru beamed and bounced over to give Oishi a warm hug. Soon enough the others turned to find the boys' team behind them having just come from school.

Fuji breathed a sigh of relief. She was always glad when he was around but now she was really thankful. It took her a moment to see he was without his coat, contrasting against the black coats of those behind him with his white shirt. And a moment longer to realise his coat was around her shoulders.

"Look Fuji! They came!" Kikumaru shouted to her but she was far to caught-up with Tezuka's coat.

She stood up to thank him but noticed that he didn't look at her. His gaze followed Atobe until he was out of sight. Once gone, Tezuka breathed the tension out and now looked to her with patient eyes. What was that about Tezuka-kun?

She turned to face him when her nose hit the collar of his coat. His smell was locked in the fabric and it relaxed her for a moment, reminding her why she was drawn to him. It smelt like the hot sun but his sweat and cologne were locked in the black material. If only she could lose herself in the smells but she had people around her and her team to support. He sat down and she followed.

*Tezuka didn't say anything, he wanted to but he didn't. He hadn't forgotten what Leiko Arai told him a few weeks ago, and now that he glimpsed it with his eyes… he wished he wasn't so dismissive of the matter.

"Tezuka-kun, I'm very glad you came today."

"…It was Oishi's idea." He said not really knowing where to look.

"Doesn't matter. I'm still happy you're here."

She thought maybe now would be a good time to make her confession to him… but she couldn't, not while her emotions where still all over the place. If Atobe hadn't shown up or if Tezuka had arrived sooner, she might have…

…not yet.

Instead she moved closer to him. If not for the coat they would have had direct contact. His thin school shirt and her bare arms. She closed her eyes and hugged the coat around her. There came a cheer from Hyotei when their school won back a set. Seishun cheered on. Kikumaru had pulled Oishi closer to the courts. The others followed. Echizen found a tree to sit under. He didn't really care. No one paid the two captains any mind.

"Fuji-san?" Tezuka said, now finding the words he wanted to use.

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"What did Atobe-kun want with you?"

Discomfort made her want to shift in her seat but having Tezuka read it wrongly or read too much into it made her keep very still, only moving to breath.

"He just wanted to asked me a question."

He waited and then asked awkwardly. "He hasn't made any passes at you, has he?"

Fuji faced him; was her movements out of reassurance? "Of course not." She answered in her normal way.

Tezuka glanced down from the corner of his eyes. "You can say that honestly?"

The question made Fuji nerves prick over her skin. She didn't want to lie to him and it would hurt her more if she did. But she also didn't want to worry him. Those eyes that scorned Atobe made his face change into something that she no longer recognised. To have those eyes on her… no, she didn't even want to think about it. Fuji lowered her head a little. She moved her left hand from the coat and asked Tezuka to give her his right hand. After a moments thought he placed his hand in hers and they hid it under the sleeve of his coat. She held firmly onto his hands and he did the same.

"Honest, Tezuka-kun." She lied and leant her forehead on his arm. She couldn't bring herself to face him. She didn't want to see the mistrust on his face, or if he believed her, she didn't want to see that level of trust on his face.

Odd, how odd it is that she and he are this close? Leaning against each other and holding hands, but neither could find the words to tell each other how much they like and loved? Did they really enjoy this clouded pace that could break so easily to allow rays of light thought them? Those rays of light being other people?

Maybe now would be a good a time as any to express her feelings. She glimpsed up and could see the frame of his glasses…straight into his eyes – they stopped her.

"Yes Nariko! Keep going!" The team cheered. The pace of the game gripped the boys.

"Tezuka-kun, don't you want to watch the match?"

"I will… in a moment."

His eyes were distance. He really was thinking deeply about something. But what? This was too much for Fuji to bear. She tried to keep a calm face, one that didn't show her confusion but she needed to talk to Atobe and tell him to stop his non-sense. Her flirting wasn't worth seeing Tezuka in such a maddened state, especially that she had to lie to him. That's definitely not how she wanted her bonds with Tezuka to manifest.

She would enjoy his closeness now, the warmth of his arm, the essence in his coat and the love in his palm before righting her wrongs.


tbc…

A/N2: Be strong Fuji!

*Forgot what Arai said to Tezuka? Jump to chapter… erm… 20!

*Moron: No, I'm not gunna explain what the word means, but as much as I think a really awesome swear word would fit nicely in it's place, I want to make this story PG friendly. So if you see any lame insults, it's cos of that. I'm doing it for the children!

Chapter 32: Hyotei girls try to pick a fight.