A/N: Oh, I lied again, but it's for the good of the future plot. Darn those devices!
I'm plotting the next ten chapters and they are going to be amazing! I can't wait to write them! May the drama unfold!
Disclaimer: I was reading Prince of Tennis by Takeshi Konomi, with Takeshi Konomi, while he was reading Prince of Tennis fan fiction. (Groovy/ Randomness)
Chapter Forty Seven
Eiko Kikumaru
I ordered a strawberry and raspberry sundae and a banana sundae for Oishi. I wanted to wait for him after school but he said I should go on without him. I found it odd but he had a fair few things to take care of. I hooked up with Suzu and we made our way to the ice cream parlour. She stayed with me for forty-five minutes and only left because she thought it was about time Oishi would show up. I didn't want her to leave but she didn't want to impose.
I glance around the parlour. There are so many couples and groups of friends that I kinda feel awkward sitting by myself. I've played with my phone more then enough times, so when the waitress walks by I asks if she can hold my order until she sees my boyfriend sitting down with me.
I lean back and pick up some straws and play with them in their container. Naturally, my un-busy mind can't help but think about what happened over the pass few days. I lightly tap my cheek and it no longer hurts. Lucky it didn't bruise, thanks to Arai's quick thinking. After Oishi and I spoke and cleared things up, the atmosphere between us was nice again. I told him I was angry about the whole hitting me incident, but I understood why he was provoked into doing it. Damn that Sai! To even go so far as to give me a boy's name. He must really hate me… why do people hate me, especially that brat, Chise?
"Eiko-san?"
I glance up, not recognising the accent or why this person called me by my first name. His face didn't ring a bell; a head of shoulder length, musk-blue hair with a right parting, round glasses that enlarged his small blue eyes, and slightly tanned skin don't belong to anyone I know. Though, I can argue that the uniform is all too familiar because I've sense Atobe in it more than I wanted. I check the person from head to toe and look away.
"Are all boys from Hyotei rude?" I say, now unwrapping a straw to chew on.
"Depends, are all girls from Seishun flirtatious?"
I catch his gaze and know why he's standing over me. It must have something to do with Atobe. Lately a lot of things do. I flop down on the table and rest the side of my head in my arms, not bothering to look up at him.
"I guess you know, then?" He says, inviting himself to sit with me.
I take a deep breath. "Know what?"
"First, my name is Yuushi Oshitari, and yes, I attend Hyotei. And I've got a problem."
I don't like the fact he has taken up Oishi's seat. People might get the wrong idea and I certainly don't want events to turn out like Fuji's. It is this very reason why this Oshitari is in front of me. Hurry up Oishi and keep me company. "Whatever it is you are thinking about, I can't help you with it."
He hums a laugh, amused by something. "I would like your help since I have been looking for you."
Huh! I sit up quickly. This definitely sounds like it is turning in something I don't want it to. "I have a boyfriend, you know. Don't try anything funny, he'll be here soon." Sure enough I panicked, but it is better to get it out in the open before anything starts.
"Good, then that means you can give me a minute of your time before he comes. Don't worry my intentions aren't in that area. More so to do with your friend."
I'm relived to hear that! I allow him room to continue.
"I've been told by some friend in my school that you are Fuji-san's best friend" Knowing that Oishi would be here soon, he wasn't going to waste anytime. "What I want from you is to tell Fuji-san to stop messing with Atobe."
What did he just say? Did he say Fuji was messing with Atobe? I scorn his words and shake my head in complete disapproval. "Hey, wait a minute here! You think that Fuji-chan is bothering him? He's bothering her!"
His eyes are so disinterested that he doesn't bother looking at me when he replies. "…I doubt it. He doesn't chase people, people always chase him." He calls to one of the waiters and orders a glass of tap water.
I look across the room hoping to see Oishi but catch the bewildered gaze of one of the waiters who watches me, wondering why I'm shouting. I breathe the anger out of my words and cross my arms. "I'm not going to have you sit here and say mean things about my friend. If you knew the truth I doubt you would even be here."
We both look up when we see that very same waiter walk up to us. She had my order in her hands. Huh?
"Oh, no, no – this isn't - this isn't my boyfriend. Could you wait a little longer for him to come, please." I tell her.
She's happy to do so and turns to replaces the food back in the freezer but not before giving Oshitari his glass of water. He smirks charmingly at the waiter, and closes his eyes once she is gone. She thought I didn't see the questioning look she gave Oshitari, but I did and I lean on the table to whisper harshly at him.
"Look, do you know where we are? You're giving people the wrong idea."
"I won't keep you, but… tell me because I really don't have any idea what's going on." He sounds as if he is telling the true but his words are too collected and too pleasing to my own ear. Could this be why Fuji was enticed by Atobe? What am I thinking! I shake the tone of Oshitari's words out of my head fast.
"No! No. I'm not telling you anything. If Atobe-san didn't want you to know then it's none of your business!"
"Fine… For the time being can you keep Fuji-san occupied so that he's not around her."
"First off, she's not the problem, he's the one coming to our matches and bothering her, so doesn't that mean that you should keep a checklist on your people? Hmm?"
He leans his elbow on the table, now staring at me with irritation. "Don't you think I've tried. I wouldn't have come down here if not for a last resort."
I ease off him a bit. If he has tried then he is in the same boat as I am: Trying to talk to two stubborn people who think they are always right. I continued to tell Oshitari what's on my mind. "I have spoken to her, but it doesn't help her twisted sense of entertainment when he keeps going on about breaking her foundations. So much as to say, she wants to know what her foundation is, but to go so far as to-" I bite my tongue. There isn't a need to tell him about the love bite. But I wonder what he'd think of it? Doing such a thing only has one connotation: He possesses her. Atobe wants Fuji. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"As to what?"
I distract myself by questioning why Oishi's taking so long. I should have waited for him, but this place is always so popular after school, it was better to secure a two-seater. If I knew he was going to take so long I would've let Suzu wait longer with me.
"I've already tried telling her to keep away from him. You have to keep trying too… though, I can't really see how it affects you in anyway."
He went quiet for some time before pushing his glasses up. "When I spoke with him, he seemed adamant that he knew what he was doing. But I think he might be taking things a little too far."
Seeing as he is sharing information with me, I should trust him. "…Do you have any idea why he would want to break her foundations?"
He thought about it. "Not really, but it's the girls who told me that Fuji-san is always looking at him. So I'm getting worried that he might really be falling for her."
I gasped, nearly jumping out of my chair to pull him closer. "What! That-that can't be true. He's a rich boy! Why would he… but… not that Fuji-chan's ugly, she's confident and everything but why? I don't understand?"
"Trust me, you're not the only one who's confused. I thought for a while that he might be tired of rich girls… but I think it might be something else, something more related to tennis. A reason why he might be targeting her." He leans on the table, with every intention to share his views. "He hasn't been around to support the team so we were nearly knocked out of the city tournaments even before we had a chance. I don't know what Atobe's planning but this is our last year in middle school. The team wants to at least have a shot in the Nationals. Some of us are training hard, very hard. He's hindering those prospects because of his foolishness."
"He's the captain, isn't he?" I ask, and Oshitari nods.
He takes a sip on his water and glances around. "In the Kantou Tournament we're up against your school."
"Really?" I couldn't help but smile. "No wonder you need to focus."
Oshitari glances up. He looks into my eyes and then above me and away. He reaches his hands out to me and touches the ends of my hair. "Hey, I'm suppose to be rude, not you."
I swat his hand away and he laughs.
"Kikumaru?"
I turn suddenly to see Oishi standing beside me. I jump up routinely and wrap my arms around his neck. "What took you so long?" I half pout in anger.
"Ah, sorry, sorry, I was helping my maths teacher and then I got talking to Tezuka. But… why is Oshitari-kun sitting with you?"
"Hmm?" I glance down to him and he's watching us patiently. "Hey?" I bang my hand down on the table. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
He grins, pleased with himself and stands up to leave. "Please remember what we spoke about. If you do your best, I'll do mine. Oishi-kun? Don't have too much fun with her."
Argh! How could he say such a thing! Thank goodness he's going, but I wonder if he'd really keep up his end of the bargain?
Oishi raises his hands to lift me out of the hug and holds my hands. I wipe some sweat from his forehead and play with his only two fringes. I say play but really I straighten them. Normally he doesn't mind but now he catches my hand again and pulls it down.
"Kikumaru? I trust you and all but, what did he want?"
"Oh, he was just talking about Atobe-san. Nothing interesting."
"You are cute, you know!"
He tells me I'm cute and I turn into a sheepish kitten. What can I say after that? I lower my head to hide my face… does that mean he got the wrong idea too? If Oishi does get the wrong idea it's that Oshitari's fault!
"It wasn't anything bad, he really was just-"
Oishi places his index finger on my lips to silence me. "I trust you, Kikumaru." He says it with confidence, which made me feel very comfortable.
We sit down, opposite each other and he sighs loudly, tilting his head on the cushioned lounge seater. I want to ask want's wrong but find myself staring at him. I see something in his eyes that makes me aware of how beautifully male he is. Sure, it doesn't help when Sai and others think of him as 'their mother type'. He takes off his coat to relax some more, and, even though I can see his amazing arms any time, right now they look very huggable. If this table wasn't between us I would seriously leap into his arms again. Once is never enough. He wouldn't drop me, that's how strong he is. He'd hold onto me until I'm satisfied and then some.
He wipes the developing sweat from his forehead himself and sighs again. I am very used to that side of him, the 'motherly side' as they say, that worries and takes in everything around him. He had a tendency to fix or comfort, encourage or disciple those around him.
"Oishi, tell me what's wrong?"
He seems surprised that I would ask this. He lowers his hand and leans on the table. "Seeing Oshitari-kun here has reminded me of our Kantou games coming up. I feel positive but I'm worried that some of the others won't be able to cope. What am I saying! We train so hard I'm sure it will be okay." He laughs it off, but the tension doesn't really leave him and I continue to focus on his eyes.
"Of course you'll be okay. Oh, and we'll be coming down to watch you lot so I'll get to see you play seriously. I wanna see you when you're focused. I like your eyes when you're focused. Before, I would sneak away to watch your eyes… so make sure you show me those at the Kantou tournament."
He blushes and smiles politely. I'm surprised at my own development. Before just thinking about him would send me crazy… I guess now we're an 'item' I can see just how everyday is 'normal' and the craziness of the fantasy was just that: crazy! Holding his hand or hugging him excites me but he also makes me feel very tranquil and secure.
"Truth is, I'm not so worried about the team as I am about Tezuka."
"Why, want's wrong with him?"
He hesitates for a moment, lowering his head and then peering up to look me dead in the eyes. "Don't tell anyone Kikumaru, but… I'm worried about him."
My mind starts to wander. Knowing what I know, could he be flirting with someone other than Fuji? Heavens no! That doesn't sound like Tezuka at all. Is someone other then Fuji tempting him? And if so, when and how? Who would interfere in such a way! I'm disgusted if that's the case.
"Why?" I lean in, my voice now sounding more suspicious than concerned.
"When we were first years, because Tezuka was such an outstanding player, it upset a lot of the senpai's, so much so that one of them attacked him with a tennis racket, seriously damaging his left elbow."
"You're joking! Someone would do that to Tezuka-san?"
He nods and I can't quite believe it. Two shocking pieces of information in one evening. The first question that pops into my mind, I ask it of Oishi. "Does Fuji-chan know?"
His lips twist in puzzlement. "Unless he's told her, but I doubt he would have as he doesn't want any one to know."
I grip my hands together. "No one knows?"
"No one but me and sensei. He doesn't talk about it but he's really stressed. I thought he would be okay because my uncle, who's a doctor, gave him the 'all clear', but something seems to be bothering him. I have no idea what could be on his mind. He doesn't want to talk about it but I can tell something is bothering him, causing him to grimace at times. Something is causing him to lose his composure."
I can't speak. It can't be… it just can't be. Are you telling me that Tezuka is worried about Fuji…? I mean, that's what Oishi is telling me. Oishi said that something else is on Tezuka's mind, something other then tennis. The only other thing I can recall so readily is Fuji's recent actions… can Tezuka sense it? Ah, that's right… she did say something about not being able to tell him that day… I can't remember what day it was but Fuji said I should tell Tezuka everything because she couldn't. Argh! She never did tell me what she said to him or what he said to her. By the sounds of it he suspects something. I knew this would happen. Stupid Fuji!
"Oishi… can I tell you something?"
"Yeah, anything."
I lean across. "But you are totally not allowed to tell anyone. No one. You can't."
He perks up. "What's happened?"
"I think I know what might be bothering him but you can't tell Tezuka-" I stop myself.
What am I saying! I'm doing the exact same thing as Fuji. I don't want Tezuka to know! Why? Why are we so… are we scared? Afraid? Worried for Tezuka to know? If not that then what? Is this how you feel Fuji and have felt? This blockage, this feeling of it being on the tip of your tongue but your tongue licks the thoughts back into your mouth? The desire for it not to slip is so strong that I can only shake the hesitance from my body and reach across and grab Oishi's arm tightly. How can I say it to Oishi, who is not Tezuka? What words should I use to get it across clearly? I understand a little more Fuji. I'm sorry for forcing you to tell him. If I were in her shoes – heaven forbid – how could I so readily tell Oishi I was falling in love with someone else because he's taking so long to confess while still being totally in love with him? I'm sorry Fuji, I understand a little. Image looking at Tezuka, into his eyes; he has a soul, he might not show it in his expression but he has feelings – and telling him that?
That realisation makes me gulp. I had to take some of Oshitari's water to clear the shock away. "I'm telling you in confidence okay. Fuji-chan is just as rattle as Tezuka-san but for very different reasons."
The waiter comes over and places our sundaes on the table but we're to engrossed in our conversation to notice.
…tbc…
A/N2: So much fun.
Original idea: Well Oshitari was always going to show up in this chapter with Kikumaru but not for the same reason. As I had planned, way back in 2005, Seishun's rivals were going to be Hyotei and Kikumaru's rival in particular was going to be a female Gakuto Mukahi but I decided against it because at the time readers were like:
"Ohmigod, Fuji's a girl! I can't get my head over that! This story sucks, I want my computer back?! Why are Fuji and Kikumaru girls! Why did you change it! It's weird reading them talking about the boys like that? I'm confused! Who is who and why?!1" (just read for yourself!)
So sod it. Gakuto and Oshitari would totally have been dating and he would have fancied Kikumaru a bit and there would have been a groovy chapter about the two doubles team. Alas. And anyway it makes a lot more sense now for Oshitari to be worried about Atobe's absence.
Chapter 48: I should really keep my promises but… I was going to add this part at the end of this chapter but I feel as if it should have it's own chapter.
The next chapter is going to be very short but important. Quick update too… I think…?!
Thanks for reading! x
