A/N: Hey whaddya know, a quick update! Thanks for the reminder about the brother calling his darling sister by her first name.
I hate rewriting what I've already written but here it is!
Oh and that not so mysterious-person who pulled Arai out the way was…
Disclaimer: Takeshi Konomi agrees; blood, sweat and tears are the making of Prince of Tennis. (not so random randomness)
Edited: Because the sun is shining (22.3.2012)
Chapter Sixty Three
The problem with Fuji's dark energy was it was selfish and cowardice, but most of all, it detested pain. When any part of her body felt discomfort, even to the smallest degree; a paper cut or a fall, it would draw back. So when Fuji hit the lockers, bruising her left hand to a stiffness, it hid behind her soul so that she could suffer the dis-ease and discomfort by herself.
And when it would hide behind her soul, emotion would take its place. She felt horrible. Tired. Regretful.
Oishi pulled Arai out the way. Fuji didn't know where he came from. She wasn't happy with his actions either. While she was momentarily stuck in the sharp metal, he tended to Arai, but Arai insisted she be left alone. He stood up, saw the blood running from Fuji's hand, carefully bent the metal from her flesh and took her out of the changing room straight to the infirmary. Fuji didn't seem to notice the bloody wound to her hand or even when she left the changing rooms. Once they got there the nurse wasn't present, but the room door was unlocked. Oishi pulled her in without a second thought and sat her down on the bed while he cleared his thoughts.
Now behind a curtain on one of the beds, Oishi stood in front of Fuji as she clamped the wrist of her left hand. It took her some time to lie down, now that she was, she wouldn't move. Her blood dripped on to the floor, causing a small puddle to form. Oishi wiped it up and placed a tissue on the floor. Fuji stared tiredly at the wall without a sound.
"Fuji-chan, let me clean up your hand."
"…Don't touch me." She whispered. Any louder and he would have heard her voice tremble.
His heart raced inside of him and he breathed loudly. He didn't know what was going on, and Kikumaru could barely find the words to explain, so he asked her to wait outside the room so not to influence Fuji further. He went into the nurse's draws and took out disposable gloves, cotton wool and a roller bandage. He walked back in front of Fuji and waited before touching her hand.
"What made you hit her like that Fuji-chan?"
She said nothing.
"You could have broken more than her nose Fuji-chan. With that force, you could have… knocked teeth out and… even an eye. Fuji-chan, what were you thinking?"
She rolled over and looked at the ceiling. "… wasn't thinking anything."
"You're kiddin'! You're… you're not like that. Not at all Fuji-chan."
"…yes I am."
"When have you ever been like this?"
"…A long time ago."
He really wanted to convince her otherwise but she wouldn't listen to reason. He moved in slowly to catch her hand. She was still very edgey, and released her right hand to grab him. He was quick enough to avoid that strong grip of hers. He shook it off and had to think of something else.
If she wouldn't listen to him, then maybe she would listen to someone else. He took off one of the gloves and took out his phone from his trousers pocket. It was a gamble but he really wanted to dress that wound. Contacts. He searched for the name, dialled the number and hoped he'd pick up the phone.
"Hello?"
Oishi could hear that he was on a train. "Hey, do me a favour and talk to her for me."
Before he could question it, Oishi placed his phone on Fuji's ear so she could hear his voice.
"Oishi, who do you want me to speak to?" Tezuka said into Fuji's ear.
"Don't hang up, just keep talking!" Oishi shouted. (Tezuka had a bad habit of hanging up!)
Oishi saw a slight sparkle in Fuji's eyes when he spoke. She blinked several times. Where was he? She felt the cold phone on her ear. She finally released her hand from her wrist and sat up. She took the phone in her hand and listened to his voice. He didn't say much but he called her name. He got her attention. For Oishi's sake, he distracted her a little so he could make a start on her hand.
"…Tezuka-kun?"
"Ah, Fuji-san, it is you. What's the matter? Did Oishi want something?"
Somewhere in her thoughts, she wanted Tezuka's voice to make her feel better. It didn't. She let the phone slip from her hand and sat in a daze. Oishi picked up his phone quickly and spoke before Tezuka hung up. He slipped off the gloves and turned his back on Fuji so to talk to him.
Fuji only now looked at her hand, at the blood had formed a soft shell over the raw flesh. She tried to move her fingers and a burning sensation ran right up her arm. She shut her eyes to try and ignore it, and heard Oishi talking.
"Tezuka, she's the worse I've seen her. Did you at least talk to her that day? Okay… Well, it doesn't show, I mean…" He was quiet for some time. Tezuka explained something to him. "You what? Tezuka? And you think that's a good idea? I don't think that's fair of you, that's not right Tezuka. She's- bring her? You sure? Well?" He looked over to see what she was doing, and jumped a little to find she was listening. "I'll see if I can, but… that might be hard. I'll explain a bit more later. See you are the airport."
He ended the call and turned back to Fuji. He didn't quite know what to say. The conversation with Tezuka went in an odd direction… one that he didn't agree with but really couldn't do anything about. He now understood why she was in this state and felt sorry for her. It wasn't Fuji's fault that she lost control. Oishi realised why.
Leiko Arai was a handful. Kikumaru had told him stories but Fuji seemed to handle her well and got on with her peacefully. He remembered when he accidentally struck Kikumaru, they both came to talk to him. Though Fuji was surprised by Oishi's actions, she was still able to lead Arai. Even he was pulled into her flow (much to Kikumaru's disapproval!)
Could what Tezuka have said be true… but why?
"Oishi-kun?"
He turned sharply when Fuji called him. "Y-yes, Fuji-chan? What is it?"
"…I don't want to talk to him right now."
"Erm, sorry. I just thought he'd calm you down a little. I just really want to stop the bleeding."
"…It really hurts, Oishi-kun." She held her blooded hand out to him but she wasn't talking about the physical pain. She didn't want to remember the sound of the two kissing. He might not have returned it but it still happened and it kept stinging her in the heart.
Oishi quickly wet some cotton wool and wiped around the raw flesh. Once all the dripping blood was gone, he used a disinfected and dabbed it on. He flicked his gaze up quickly to see if she flinched at all. Nothing. He carried on. Now clean, he put a medium-sized dressing over the knuckles of her index and middle finger and wrapped it around before finishing it off with the roller bandage, which looped around her wrist, palm and just above the middle joint of her fingers. He secured a safety-pin so it wouldn't unravel and smiled pleasantly at her.
"All done. But you should see a doctor at some point" He got up to clean away the used cotton and disposed of the gloves. "Does this mean you're not going to the airport with us?" He added.
She parted her lips to answer when there was a knock at the door. Oishi pulled the curtains back to see Sakuno. She was short of breath and held onto the door for support. Kikumaru popped her head around the corner. Sakuno bowed. Her face was flushed red and she was tense about something. She was in the changing rooms with the team and saw bits of what happened but that wasn't what made her run to the infirmary.
"Sakuno-chan, what's up?"
"Mo-morning, senpai. My, I mean. Ryuzaki-sensei wants to speak to Fuji-senpai in her office right now."
All three of them felt a ping run down their nerves. How on earth did she know about it already? Kikumaru and Oishi exchanged knowing glances. Fuji just looked at her hand. How on earth was she going to explain herself?
She careful climbed off the bed and walked passed all of them. She didn't stop when they called her name. They hoped Fuji would think about what she would say before facing Ryuzaki-sensei.
The trailed behind her, not really knowing what to say to her, but once at the door Oishi stopped her.
"Yes?" She turned to him.
"Fuji-chan…" He wanted to say something, but he promised Tezuka he wouldn't, not until 'he' got back. Oishi lowered his head. "I'm sorry."
She didn't get it and opened the door. She didn't bother knocking. It was too late to be polite. If Ryuzaki knew about the incident-
Wait.
It was only when Fuji saw the grief on Ryuzaki-sensei's face did she realise just what Ryuzaki-sensei knew. Oishi, Kikumaru and Sakuno walked into the small office and closed the door behind Fuji so she couldn't double back out of the room. She shouldn't have come to school today. Why didn't she listen to her brother?
When Ryuzaki-sensei appeared ready to say something, she lowered her head into her hands. Oishi wanted to talk on Fuji's behalf, as did Kikumaru but they didn't know where to start or whether Ryuzaki-sensei would believe them. For about a minute, there wasn't a sound between the five of them.
Ryuzaki-sensei covered her mouth, glanced up to Fuji and breathed out angrily. "Talk to me, Fuji-san. Explain to me why I had to go to the head masters office this morning?"
Fuji turned her gaze to the floor. "… I don't know."
Kikumaru and Oishi looked at Fuji. How did the head master know?
"Fuji-san?"
She didn't reply.
"Talk to me!"
"Sensei, I was protecting myself."
"There's a big difference between protecting yourself and putting someone in hospital." She paused to think. "Didn't you say the same thing when your sister revealed that scar? Are you telling me you were protecting yourself then too?"
Kikumaru and Oishi didn't follow.
"Are you saying I shouldn't have-" Fuji started.
Ryuzaki-sensei hit the table with her fist. "You nearly cost him his eye! The doctors are saying you broke two of his ribs and punctured his left lung. Explain to me why you'd do such a thing?"
Her heart was racing. She knew she hurt him badly but not so much that it would travel to Sai's lungs… but, but he was going to assault her, on school grounds! What other choice did she have? Her shoulder and now her hand began to burn.
Oishi was about to question what Ryuzaki-sensei was talking about, but Kikumaru pulled on his sleeve.
"…I-"
"Why didn't you tell anyone? Why did you leave him there? There's no way I would expect such careless behaviour from you Fuji-"
Fuji rolled her eyes. She was sick and tired of hearing that word. Careless this, careless that! No matter who it was, they would always think she was careless.
"Don't you dare roll your eyes. This is serious Fuji-san. I obviously don't have any choice but to suspend you for four days."
That much was to be expected. It wouldn't look good on her records but it was to be expected.
"And when you come back... don't put on your regulars uniform."
She looked up slowly. "…Pardon?"
"What do you mean, pardon? You should be thankful! The head master wanted to expel you. This is our compromise." She tapped her fingers on her desk. "I warned you that I would severally punish you, Fuji-san if you stepped out of line. Boy, did you leap over it! Explain to me why you should remain captain of the team when you hospitalised a fellow player? Talk to me?"
However much she wanted to talk she kept her mouth shut. She couldn't afford to get emotional again.
"Do you think it's acceptable?" She asked the three in the room and they didn't dare speak.
It was clear that Fuji was in the wrong but they understood why and didn't want such a punishment on her shoulders.
"I don't think it's acceptable behaviour by any means. I've got Tezuka-san going to Germany, I've got him with a bruised wrist and now I have Sai-kun critically injured in hospital. How can I construct a team with three people out of play."
"Are you saying it's my fault?"
"Isn't it?"
That hit Fuji right in the chest. Her sensei spoke of personal matters, and it sounded as if she blamed her for Tezuka's injury. Wasn't it her fault after all? It was that stupid picture that set him off. Fuji began to fidget, wanting to curl her hair behind her ear with her left hand but that burning sensation stopped her.
"You… you said you would excuse my behaviour." Fuji said.
Again Ryuzaki-sensei hit the table. "I'm a sensei Fuji-san. How can I turn a blind eye to my students attacking each other?" She changed the subject. "What happened to your hand?" Fuji refused to answer and so she asked Oishi.
"Erm… well, Ryuzaki-sensei, the girls had an altercation this morning."
"What, Fuji-san again? With who?"
"…Erm… I don't know the whole story sensei and I really do think Fuji-chan was pushed to her limit-"
"With who?" She pressed him for an answer.
He didn't have a choice. Kikumaru understood and wouldn't hold it against him. "I-I don't know why, but Leiko Arai and Fuji-chan were fighting, sensei."
Sensei rose an eyebrow. She thought she was hearing things. She thought Fuji attacked Masashi Arai. "You mean to tell me, yesterday you hospitalised Sai-san and this morning you attacked your vice captain? The captain of the girls team attacked her vice-captain? Did Arai-san do that to your hand, Fuji-san?"
Yep, Fuji played right into Arai's plan! She was the bad guy in all of this and all because she couldn't control herself. Fuji shook her head bitterly.
"Then, what more can I do?"
"Sensei please no, we need Fuji-chan, sensei. Please don't." Kikumaru pleaded.
Fuji peered across to her friend. Kikumaru was near tears. Fuji looked away quickly otherwise she would get a lump in her throat too.
"I'm sorry, as a teacher I have too. I don't want to but, Fuji-san you broke the school rules by a mile. You cannot hit people and not expect to be punished, however much of an outstanding person you are, you can't go around hurting others regardless of what they do to you." She sighed. "To stop you from being expelled, I cannot further allow you to be the captain of the girls team. Leiko Arai will take your place. When you come back please wear the schools PE kit. You'll no longer partake in regular practise and you will no longer be playing in the remainder of the tournaments - Fuji-san!"
By the time sensei finished speaking Fuji had stormed out the office and was already walking down the stairs. Kikumaru ran out to catch her but she only heard the doors to the corridors close ahead of her. Ryuzaki-sensei leant back in the chair and covered her eyes. What a major disaster… Sai, Tezuka, Oishi… and now she lost Fuji.
Oishi walked out to comfort Kikumaru, but he couldn't hang about for long as they still had to go to the airport.
Fuji didn't walk pass the sports ground. She walked around the west building to get to the main south exit. She only walked a few yards from the school when someone called to her.
"Sumiko nee-chan?"
She halted. Somewhere among the maddening thoughts she heard a welcoming voice. Slowly, almost in a falling motion, she turned. His smile was so forgiving and his closed eyes easy to bear. Yukio gave her the courage to not burst into tears. Thank the heavens that he understood her enough to be outside her school to pick her up. It was a shame he knew what was going to happen. She should have listened to him and crawled under her covers and ignored the world.
To hurt and be hurt. She was certainly hurting. Yukio walked up to her and brushed away the few tears that escaped from her open eyes. He didn't say a word and threw a heavy arm over her shoulder giving her the privilege of hiding her face.
He led her towards the car to take her home.
…tbc…
A/N2: Aw, poor Fuji san. Gomen nasai! How will I ever make it up to you? (T_T)
Chapter 64: A quick detour to the airport and a nice surprise at home.
Thanks for reading!
