A/N: What have I been doing? Well, in the month of November I was doing the NaNoWriMo, and only clocked 18,000 words T_T. So now I'm having to catch up on myself. I figured I should have at least written and posted… five, maybe six chapters… but I'm no super woman so you can have this one for now.
(o^-^o)
PS: Thanks for leaving a review on my short story, PuppyLove7 (^_^)
Disclaimer: Takeshi Konomi was not happy with my random affair. (Random forgiveness?)
Chapter Sixty Eight
"I'm going out!" Yumi shouted into the house just after closing the door so that if Fuji had anything to say about the matter, she would have been half way up the street and out of sight.
Yumi couldn't quite understand what she was doing or why, but she felt to do something about her sister's behaviours. All of Fuji's pestering and moping and frowning bothered her in a different way then it has before. Yumi no longer wanted to know what her sister did to get suspended. Now she wanted to change Fuji back to how she was so she could enjoy a bit of her suspension by texting Mizuki and not having her sister hanging off her waist sulking over something trivial. Yumi shook her head and breathed out harshly.
"Why am I always looking after you?" She mumbled to herself before taking out the directions to Seishun Academy. "What a ridiculous journey."
Yumi wasn't used to the long walks to school. The most she had to endure was stepping out of the dorms where a thirty second walk brought her onto the school grounds. This twenty minute journey was insane! Despite all the grumbling, she made her way to the base of the hill and started climbing the steep path.
Yumi thought back to the time she attended this school. They weren't very fond memories. It was only for a few months so she didn't really remember all that much, that including the route. As she walked up she saw students walking down. She didn't ask for directions but followed their general direction to find the main entrance.
It was quiet. School was just coming to an end. Yumi leant against the wall deciding to wait for one of Fuji's friends to come out. She placed her hands in her pockets and lingered over what she heard yesterday. Sad to say, this Fuji without the smiles and the opened eyes wasn't her sister either. Sure, Fuji was always stupidly strong and violent, but she never got depressed like this or clingy. This Fuji she was to share a house with wasn't the Fuji she wanted to share a room with or talk to. She had to fix it.
That's why she was outside her sister's school, waiting for the one who said she was cute. Yumi remembered that redhead from when she was in the school… her sister's best friend, right?
"Who's that girl?" Someone whispers about Yumi within earshot.
Yumi glanced up to see a group of three students coming out.
"She looks like Sadako."
"Yeah, she might curse the school." They giggled.
Had someone from Yumi's school said that to her, she wouldn't have held herself back. But this wasn't her school and she didn't want to have to cause more trouble for Fuji. Though the scorn on her face said otherwise. She crossed her arms and kept her mouth shut. She made an effort to remember their faces and their voices.
As more and more students came out Yumi sank down to the floor. Why was she taking so long? Yumi gasped. Not tennis practise! How long does she expect me to wait? She jumped up onto her feet and walked through the school gates. Many of the students looked at her curiously – only because of her causal clothes. They didn't like the maddened look in her eyes and left her to her own devices.
Yumi circled the whole school, by chance finding the tennis courts, only to see no one was there. Not even a stray ball was seen on the courts. How odd. She scratched her head in frustration and walked back to the entrance. She couldn't have missed that redhead. She waited for about an hour before giving up. (The hour was worth it as long as Fuji wasn't at her side). What a bummer, Yumi thought. "You'll have to get it yourself, aneki." She murmured to herself and zipped her jacket up.
"Oh, Yumi-chan! What are you doing here?"
Yumi knew that voice and blushed, not expecting the person to end up walking from a different direction to what she had planned. Kikumaru was already on the side road having come from another exit. Yumi shook her head and faced Kikumaru not expecting another taller boy to be standing with her.
"Nee-san." She stepped towards the two, trying to loose the attitude. "I… I was looking to talk to you."
"Don't tell me you waited all this time! Are you cold?" Kikumaru pressed the back of her hand over Yumi's cheek. She wasn't the least bit cold.
"Well, this was the only way I could get to talk to you."
Fuji introduced the two."Oishi, this is Fuji's little sister."
Before Oishi could greet her properly, Yumi yelled at them. "I have a name!" (Odd wounds resurfaced.) She rolled her fingers into her sleeves and diverted her eyes to some of the students that walked by. They were certainly different to the students in her school. There wasn't an ounce of fight in them.
"Sorry! This is Yumi-chan. She attends St Rudolph." Kikumaru corrected herself.
"It's nice to meet you Yumi-chan." Oishi greeted her sweetly, despite her out burst.
Yumi couldn't help but stare at him for a second. Not only were the students calmer, but their boys were gentlemanly. She wondered if he was Kikumaru's guy. They must be. They were too close to be mere friends. With the thought she wondered what this Tezuka person was like. For Fuji's sake, Yumi hoped he was a 'looker' to get her crying like she is. If ever he turned out to be a total nerd, Yumi would hit Fuji for being so pathetic.
"Yumi-chan, is there something you wanted?"
"Yeah… I was wondering if I could get your number so I could… don't tell aneki, but at times it's hard to talk to her. If I talk to a close friend maybe she'd listen to you if you told her." Yumi hoped Kikumaru would buy it.
"I think Fuji-chan would prefer it if you spoke to her directly."
"No." Yumi shook her head. "She's clearly not been so honest with you guys. It's not her who has the problem, it's me. She's a bully. It's hard for me to talk to her."
"That doesn't sound like-" Oishi was about to say that described sounded nothing like Fuji, when Yumi cut him off.
"Didn't she put someone in hospital recently?"
Oishi fumbled over his words wanting to speak of Fuji in a good light, but the recent incident confused him and conflicted with his opinion of her. Fuji wasn't a nice person that she made herself out to be and Yumi wished she could tell them more. Fuji was mean and she was hard to talk to.
Kikumaru understood a little. "Erm, sure. Okay. If you need someone to talk to you can have my number."
Yumi smiled on the inside. She succeeded in getting Kikumaru's number and turned to Oishi. Oddly enough, she felt her eyes shine a little sweeter when she caught his gaze. "What do you do?" She asked him just to hear his voice some more.
"I play doubles in tennis."
"You all play tennis?"
Oishi nodded while Kikumaru searched for her phone.
"Does Tezuka-san play tennis as well?" Yumi asked Oishi.
"You've heard of him?"
"Not much. What position does he play?"
"He's the captain so he general plays singles one."
That took her by surprise, meaning he was pretty strong and strategic. "Is he here? Can I talk to him?"
"Ah, no," Kikumaru finally found her phone. "he's hurt himself and has had to go to Germany for treatment. Oishi is looking after the team until he gets back."
Germany? Where the heck was that? Europe if she remembered correctly… now it made more sense why her sister was so beside herself.
"Man, I don't know my own number off by heart and my phone just died."
Yumi lowered her eyelids a little. Something about his school rubbed her up the wrong way. God these people are mind-numbing. Yumi merely watched Kikumaru in her embarrassment. She rocked on Oishi's arm and asked him to get her number out of his phone. By this time, Yumi's mind was starting to work quickly:
Her sister was shedding buckets for some guy called Tezuka. He's strong, athletic and the captain of the boys team in this school. She'd heard Mizuki talked about him from time to time but it wasn't in good light, having not seen him yet, she wouldn't so readily judge him. Yumi glanced Oishi… he was stand-in captain until Tezuka came back…The two must be communicating with each other, wanting to know how the team is doing and wanting to know how he was taking to treatment…
… So… Tezuka's number would be in Oishi's phone…
Yumi flicked a look to Oishi's face. He wasn't paying much attention to anything, maybe the girl on his arm and the phone held loosely in his left hand. Yumi glanced him again and stepped closer. Kikumaru was a sweet girl and Oishi was a really sweet guy but they were really unguarded.
"Sorry! I just need to borrow this!" Yumi snatched Oishi's phone and dashed away from the school as fast as she could. Too easy, she thought until she heard their voices behind her. Oh yeah, tennis players! They had some stamina to them.
Yumi unlocked the phone and went into the contacts. It was too awkward to run, dodge other students and find a number on a small phone while being chased. She searched for Kikumaru's number first and memorised it, then quickly searching for Tezuka's number.
Just as Kikumaru was about to grab for Yumi's shoulder, Yumi told her to 'catch', and threw the phone in the air and kept running. When she heard their footsteps stop, she knew she got away with it. Yumi carried on down the main roads and cut a corner to throw herself against a wall to catch her breath.
"I don't understand why she couldn't just do that" Yumi spoke of her sister. Whoever this guy was, he was certainly keeping his distance. To not even give her his number. What a fluke. Yumi fixed her hair in place and jogged on home. The thought that they were still following her brought an itch to the back of her neck. Though nothing would be more scary than getting home after Yukio.
8 8 8
Fuji's phone vibrated. She watched it shake towards the edge of the tabletop and stop before it fell off. Somebody or random company texted her, and she didn't move to read it. Day four so soon and she really didn't have the strength to do anything. Her thought's were getting worse. Was she really allowing herself to get this bad? Yes, she was. Really? What was the point of looking her best or making an effort anymore?
"Oh, this isn't healthy." She knew that, but she couldn't be bothered.
There was a knock at the door. The person let themselves in. It was Yumi, panting away for some reason or another. Yumi went over to Fuji's desk and slammed something down on the desktop. Fuji followed her with her eyes, still wondering why Yumi used this room as she pleased.
"Aneki, I got something for you. Make sure you read it and understand it. And don't throw it away. I'll kill you if you bin it." She ordered and wiped some sweat from her forehead. She fanned her clothes out and left to get changed. Yumi had done all that she wanted and now left the rest up to Fuji.
Fuji didn't move once the door closed. She spent all morning and all afternoon in her room. She hadn't eaten either and was starting to feel the hunger pains in her throat and stomach. Is this how it feels to be depressed, she windered. Her heart was heavy and her soul downcast. No thoughts of hope circled her and she didn't want to face anyone.
"This is stupid." She rose up onto her arms and pushed herself onto her thighs. "Get a hold of yourself."
She took her phone to see who called. Kikumaru's left a massage. Fuji dropped it on her bed and went over to see what Yumi left for her.
Another card! Fuji pushed it away. She was sick of seeing cards. It was the size of a post-it note. No matter the size, it all started with a card. Might as well continue! Fuji flipped it over and saw a mobile number on it. 09XXX-XXXXXX. She leant down in the desk, staring at the numbers as a whole. She didn't recognise it. She picked up the small card. What was Yumi up to?
She went to get her phone, but thought otherwise and left her room to find the house phone. Yumi stepped out of herbed room with a fresh pair of clothes on. They nearly bopped into each other. Yumi was the first to step aside so Fuji could go down first. The house was so quiet that Fuji could hear Yumi's music through her headphones.
Fuji stayed in the hall while Yumi went to sit in the corner of the sofa. Fuji was going to question her on the number, but could see she wasn't going to say anything. There was a level of doubt in her whether to call it. Yumi did go out for a while, maybe someone knew they were sisters and gave her the number with intentions of Fuji calling it. Forget it. Not this time! Fuji no longer wanted to be drawn in by those silly things… but as the card danced between her fingers she wondered why Yumi would have this? Fuji stared at the numbers again and looked over each digit. Something inside said to call it. It was a faint and quiet voice, very calm yet confident. It may have been calm but she was still unsure. Fuji placed the card down on the side-table and reached for the phone.
Yumi reached her hand up and turned the music down to zero. She waited and listened to hear what her sister would say. She wanted to hear just how infatuated Fuji was with this person, to see if he was worth her time.
"It better no be Atobe-kun." Fuji mumbled.
Yumi had to hold back a gasp. She knew that name but what was her sister doing even mentioning it! Yumi shook her head (with a beat)– her sister really was stupid. Just hurry up and dial the number!
Fuji began pressing the numbers in peering back to try and figure out what Yumi was up to. There was a long pause before the phone began to ring. They wanted.
It rang and rang until it went to voice mail. There was no automated message. The owner of the phone took the time out to use their own voice. After hearing the very first word, the phone slipped from her hand. All she heard was 'sorry'. It was Tezuka's voice. How? The phone scattered to the floor and that sound pulled her away from any day dreaming. She snatched the phone back up and pressed it to her ear. Yumi peered over quickly and smirked.
Fuji missed hearing his voice and wanted to dial again but the beep went off for her to leave a message.
Suddenly her mind went blanket. What message should she leave? She had so much on her mind there was no way she could say everything – she was caught off guard – she shot a look back into the living room. Yumi had slipped away. Had Yumi anticipated this! The phone disconnected itself. Even by the time she still didn't have anything she wanted to say to him. His voice made her shiver all over – so far away and still affecting her. She slammed the phone down and wiped her eyes. She didn't know what to think. If anything, she was even more confused.
Fuji didn't understand how or why or when, but Yumi had Tezuka's number. She should have been happy but that jealously and anger was getting the better of her. Truth be told, she was embarrassed to be caught so off guard. Amazingly off guard. How did Yumi get Tezuka's number? She leant on the side table and closed her eyes. She began to feel weaker, just the thought of him made her weak. Only now it was for the wrong reasons. He'd want to know why she was no longer captain. Not this again. Now she really didn't want him to know. Not again.
Fuji stayed like that until Yukio can home. He glimpse her and greeted her with a smirk but she refused to say the simplest of words to him. She was still annoyed about being dragged to the airport. Fuji carried herself upstairs to confront Yumi. Yukio started on dinner.
On her way up to her room she heard Yumi singing happily. Fuji marched over to her bedroom door and walked in to find Yumi rocking along to her music. The two caught each other's gaze. Yumi's more shocked.
Yumi pulled off her headphones. "Why are you up here already! Didn't you talk to him?"
Fuji combed her hand through her hair and climbed onto her bed. Yumi felt paralysed under that familiar gaze. Even with one of Fuji's hands injured. She wasn't quick enough to escape. Yumi pushed herself back against the wall, thinking her sister would hit her.
Instead, she felt a strong set of arms rap around her waist and Fuji fell beside her. When Yumi was about to push her off, Fuji squeezed her deliberately so that she was winded.
"Did you think that would make me happy?" Fuji stared, but Yumi was quicker.
"BAKA-NEE!" She yelled in disbelief. "Which part of talking to your boyfriend would make you unhappy!" Yumi didn't get it. "You're unbelievable! It was meant to keep you from clinging to me! Go back and talk to him and leave me alone!"
Fuji squeezed her again. "It went to voice mail. I didn't know what to say to him."
"Oh my god…. You're pathetic! Say whatever you want to him! Yell at him! Tell him he stinks! Tell him you're a mess without him. I don't care what you tell him, just tell him something!" She breathed loudly. "I'll call him and tell him."
Fuji squeezed her again, and this time Yumi lost her momentum. She flopped back on the wall sicken that she'd have to go on extra two weeks of this. Yumi began to wonder if she got the right Tezuka. She didn't bank on there being two Tezuka's in Oishi's phone, and she doubted if Oishi would trust her enough to take his phone out in front of her again.
"You asked me yesterday if I had someone to calm me… It this Tezuka-san the one that calms you?"
Fuji nodded and hide her face in her blanket.
"Yep, I'm gunna call him. I'll hand you over to him. I'm not having you around the house like this when I'm home."
"It's not that easy."
"Which part isn't easy? What are you ashamed of?"
Fuji didn't want to explain herself and stayed as she was on Yumi. The fact that she heard his voice was more then she hoped for. She wasn't prepared to speak to him so soon. She didn't know what to say.
"Get off me, aneki."
Fuji refused to move. That was before they heard the home phone ringing downstairs. They both stopped moving.
"You think that's him?" Yumi asked.
Fuji slowly moved her arms from around her sister. The ringing stopped.
"Four rings? Is mum home?"
Fuji widened her eyes. If he did call back then, Yukio would have answered the phone. She climbed off the bed and went back down to hear what was being said. Yumi followed. To both their dismay Yukio had the phone. Once he saw his sisters, he couldn't help a wide smirk stretch across his lips. He picked up the white card and placed it in his pocket. Yumi shook Fuji shoulders and whispered.
"Thanks a lot. You know he's on his guard and you left the number there!"
Fuji walked down a few steps to listen.
"Oh? You had a miss call on your phone. That's very interesting. Seconds ago? I wonder. By the way, who are you? Oh, Tezuka-san! This is the Fuji household. I'm very glad you called, I've been meaning to talk to you. My name is Yukio… you got a minute? Don't hang up. Hang up and I'll jump on a plane to Germany and find you. Better we talk on the phone then face to face. Good."
Fuji stepped down into the hall to stop him but Yukio was in that mood again. With just his eyes he ordered the two back upstairs. Yumi wasn't going to mess with him, lest he pester her about Mizuki, and carried herself back upstairs. Fuji didn't want to move. She might not have wanted to speak to Tezuka but she wanted to hear his voice. What would Yukio say to him? Please don't hate him, Aniki.
Yukio saw the downcast glare in Fuji's eyes and brushed a hand over her head. She stood rigid. He covered the month piece of the phone. "Don't worry Sumiko, I want to have a man-to-man talk with this boy of yours. I won't make you cry again."
She didn't knock his hand away. She didn't want to, but this time she would trust him. Before he left the room he handed her the card and he went into the kitchen and closed the door. Fuji breathed out and brought the card up, enclosed in her hands. Knowing there was nothing more she could do, she moped back up to her room; Yumi was still in there. She put the card down beside her cacti, picked up the blue card, ripped it up and put it in the bin. She sat on the chair and stared at the white one, not caring that Yumi watched her.
She wouldn't call him. He didn't have to know. Hopefully, her hand would be healed, Sai would have returned and she would get her captaincy back, somehow.
…tbc…
A/N2: Thanks Yumi for trying to help Fuji but you both forgot about Yukio. Fuji's old habits are cripping up again!
Chapter 69: Back to school, what will everyone's reaction be?
Thanks for reading (^3^)
