A/N: I've got twins: Basically since September I've been helping out and being a live-in-nanny to twins. Since I lost my job in September and go this one, that's why updates have been a little pathetic. They are high maintenance babies. And I guess they'll continue to be until they are a lot older. Gomen (T_T)

Edited: (2.7.2016)

Disclaimer: Takeshi Konomi was not happy with the overdue release of this fan_fiction. Prince of Tennis belongs to him. (Is that Random!)


Chapter Eighty Three

"Yay! It's been ages since we've had fun together!" Yokoishi stretched her arms in the air while the others organised themselves in the coach. "Race you to the sea!" She was off before anyone could chase her.

Umeko, who was just as playful in spirit, took the challenge of catching up to Yokoishi into the frigid waters. Shikawara and Nariko stepped off the coach next. Shikawara swapped her glass for her sunglasses and turned to Nariko to take her hand. "Let's enjoy ourselves with the others."

Nariko nodded and the two followed their senpais down onto the sands. Arai was the next to exit the coach. She stood for a moment to enjoy the cool breeze when Jinhana shoved passed her.

"I hate the beach." Jinhana complained while fixing her large sun hat over her forehead and slapping on some strong sun lotion.

"Come on, let's join the others, Fuji." Kikumaru said but her words barely penetrated Fuji's disappointment.

Fuji glanced out the tinted windows. She was glad the girls were starting to enjoy themselves, but she couldn't get the discomfort of their group talk out of her head.

She thought by the end of it they would have exposed Arai's plans, which they did, but Fuji didn't think she would discover something more.

It was the week the boys went off to Germany that Shikawara decided to get the girls together in an empty classroom to discuss the problems in the group. Before gathering them together, she got advice from Suzu and Yokoishi to see if they approved. They did and made sure all the regulars attended the unofficial meeting. Thought at the times, they forgot that Shikawara wasn't one to sugar coat her words.

Once all eight and Fuji were in the room, Shikawara locked the door and pulled the blinds down on the windows, surprising a few by her approach. It meant they waited patiently for Shikawara to start. And she started by questioning Arai as to why she provoked Fuji.

"I did not provoke her?" Arai said in disgust.

The other girls flinched at the tone of voice but Shikawara only stepped towards her, not intimidated at all.

"Arai-senpai, you have the same eyes as those who think they could do a better job than the person in charge. Even I can see that with the way that things have gone that you planned for the disruption in the team. You made choice that would aggravate Fuji-senapi."

Arai hesitated. There wasn't any part of what Shikawara said that she could refute.

She contineud. "I'm guessing you had a plan, but when things started happening you felt the need to change tactics." From out of Shikawara shirt pocket she took that infamous photo of Fuji and Atobe. Both Fuji and Arai wondered with alarm how she got a hold of it, but had to remain tight-lipped when she began to study it.

"You happened to stumble across this. Why did you go to Tezuka-senpai?"

"Because he's-"

"No. I mean, why didn't you just discard it as nothing?"

"Because it wasn't just nothing. It was something."

Shikawara glanced back at the photo. To the horror of the two girls, Shikawara then handed it around the room. Kikumaru didn't look. Most were too embarrassed to study it, with only Jinhana and Umeko giving it a decent glance over. When Fuji slid the photo over, everyone watched her. Of course she wouldn't look but they hoped to see her expression if she did, though, they figured it wouldn't be too far off from the one she was displaying now.

Once all had had a look, Shikawara continued. "My father has shown me hundreds of fake pictures. Ones that have been photo-shopped and staged. This wasn't staged. I believed you when you said on the day that your camera was playing up, but even I can see the shock in Fuji-senpai's body language. She's cringing in the picture, ready to push him away." Now she cased her eyes on Arai. "Were you hoping that Tezuka-senpai would over react to it? But with that said, I don't think this is the only reason why Fuji-senpai was so upset, was it Arai-senpai?"

Arai turned away. Though a befitting reaction, even Fuji had to look elsewhere. Shikawara went on to tell the others that it happened on the same day she claimed to have been bitten by a bug. When they went to Shikawara's house, she explained that Fuji was scared about something and not love-stricken.

"True enough, the accidental picture doesn't explain why the two of you were together, Fuji-senpai. It also doesn't explain why he's shown up at most of our matches with you in mind."

"It's love, obviously." Jinhana throw in her opinions.

"That's not true." Fuji said.

"How can it not be true?"

"Because… he was trying to provoke me. He was trying to see another side to me. And I gave him that much."

"What did you give him?" Arai asked, still not facing anyone.

"The same thing I gave you!"

Arai didn't understand.

Jinhana shifted in her seat. "You're naïve and a little stupid, Fuji-chan. You're not reading the signs. A rose? A love bite? And showing up to all our games? What does he have to do? Push you down before you understand!"

Fuji jumped when Kikumaru touched her shoulder to help her off the coach. She looked to her friend's hand and thought how silly of herself to confuse the two. She jumped because it scared her, the thought of being pushed down again. Honestly, she never thought it would upset her. Fuji always thought she would be stronger then the fear, but she remembered how her hands shook when she eventually fought back against Sai. She suddenly felt a deep sicken notion in her stomach… would Atobe really do that?

"Let's lay in the sun, come on!" Kikumaru reached for her right hand and headed off the coach and into the warmth of the outside. Kikumaru had her bag with her and took Fuji's down to the beach so they could watch over the others.

Kikumaru laid the beach towel over the sand and the both of them sat down. While Kikumaru could breathe a sigh of ease, Fuji couldn't stop going over what was relieved to her.

After Jinhana said she was naïve, Shikawara quietened the room causing all eyes to be on Fuji. Shikawara didn't want to start thinking that Atobe liked her. Wouldn't he have come out and said it if that were the case? The confusion was beginning to set in. Did he just want to see a darker side to Fuji or was it more to what Jinhana said?

"Fuji-senpai, why did you tell us it was a bug bite? Why didn't you just tell us the truth?"

"Because she liked it." Umeko grinned, trying to lighten the mood, but when Kikumaru jumped in the girls started to think otherwise.

"It was never like that. She… just a little but her heart was always for Tezuka-kun."

"Kikumaru-chan, I was joking." Umeko said. "But you're saying she fell for him? Is that what Tezuka-kun found out? She was teasing him only to be loving after someone else? Wow."

Even in the cool of the open sea breeze, Fuji's heart raced when they figured that much out. That she fell for Atobe's charm and persistence and was shocked when she found out he wanted to see her darker energy.

"Okay." Shikawara continued. "The situation was made worse for the fact that you were falling for him, but word has it, Arai-senpai, that you were talking to Tezuka-senpai. What were you saying to him?"

Arai wasn't expecting the shift back to her so quickly. "What do you mean?"

"Were you stirring things up? I've not known Tezuka-senpai to be moved so easily. What were you telling him?"

"Fine. Okay." Arai thought back. "When that swine showed up at our first game, I admit to telling Tezuka-san that he was hovering around Fuji-chan. So, I asked Tezuka-san if he cared that he was there – and I swear to God – Tezuka-san said he didn't. He didn't care who she spoke to. Then, when I asked him if he cared about you," She looked to Fuji. "He said he doesn't know how he feels about you. And when I asked him what's stopping him from loving you he said your confidence. Not a word of a lie. If you don't believe me, ask him!"

The room fell quite. The girls were thinking over Arai's words and what they meant. Each came to their own conclusion but none more devastated than Fuji. They could hear that Arai told the truth but it was a new truth that left Fuji speechless. He… he didn't like her confidence… Of course… he likes her weak. He's said that once or twice before. Fuji didn't have to verify it to know it would be something that Tezuka would say.

"I had to tell him to start playing attention to her because I was sure that Atobe-san would take his place. When I said that, he seemed to wake up." Arai added. "That wasn't what I planned, trust me, but that's what happened."

So even at the very beginning, all the times she teased him it didn't amount to anything? He still didn't get it? Or to be more correct he didn't like it. But what really rattled Fuji inside was the thought that Arai gave him the go ahead to pursue her. Every time he touched her, it was Arai's influence. When he put his coat over her shoulders, it wasn't because he wanted to… When he lunged at her to kiss her in his room… really? Was that really someone else's influence and not his own desire to want to do it? Fuji began to lose all understanding in him and herself.

That afternoon in the classroom Fuji nearly gave into the release of her energy. Had Jinhana and Umeko not looked up sharply, had Yokoishi not called her name harshly she would never have known to hold it back a little bit longer. She squeezed her left hand, allowing a little pain to push it back.

"I'm going to ignore what you just said because I don't know what to do with it right now. If you don't tell me why you kissed him, I really will continue where I left off the other day." Fuji said into a murmur.

Arai faced her fully. "Because I was ticked off with him. How would you feel being called a liar by him! Not just once but three or four times. And he said I was ugly. I hate that. And I wasn't going to take it from him."

"Really?" Yokoishi said.

"Yes he did. Every time I spoke with him, he'd say something rude and out of character. Am I supposed to keep my cool every time I'm belittled by him? I said he shouldn't hurry back because he got on my nerves with his overbearing character."

"I wanna know why you kissed him." Umeko said intriguingly.

"She really likes him" Yokoishi mocked, referring to what Arai blurted out to him a while back.

"So. I'm not the only one who likes him in school. I'm just the only one who you know who has kissed him. I just so happen to be someone you know who you can confront. Had it been someone else, would you have been so willing?"

"That's why. She trusted you like a sister Arai-chan. I think Fuji-chan was the only one to really believed in you." Kikumaru said, hitting a nerve in Arai.

"That seems petty." Jinhana said. "To hit someone just because they kissed a guy who's not even your boyfriend, while messing with someone else. Who do you think you are Fuji-chan? Sounds like you wanted the best of both worlds."

"Okay Jinhana-chan, don't take it there." Suzu jumped in. "Though I'm shocked that Fuji-chan would do such a thing, I guess the only thing I want to know out of all this is, why Sai-kun was… or how it involved him. Why did you lash out at him, Fuji-chan?"

She had to muster enough will to speak, and even when Fuji did she didn't want to say it, leaving the girls to wait. When they thought she was going to say something she just lowered her gaze.

"She doesn't have to tell us if she doesn't want to." Yokoishi said, concerned.

Fuji shook her head slowly, the images started to reply in her head. The motion told them that she didn't want to tell them but their silences only demanded an answer.

"...Sai-kun dragged me to the ground with other intentions." She whispered harshly.

The girls didn't register it as quickly as Shikawara. "Arai-senpai, you told Sai-senpai to rape Fuji-senpai?"

Now they all gasped with shock. Arai shot out of her chair. "No!" She shrieked. The girls tried to hear any deceit in Arai's words and actions, and still they couldn't find any. "No! I would never!" She faced Fuji. "He... I never asked him to lay a finger on you. You cannot blame me for that."

"Why didn't you tell anyone? Fuji!" Kikumaru was near tears. "It's not fair that that should happen to you and you get suspended and demoted. That's not fair."

Not fair... A lot of things were unfair about it but with her stubbornness there wasn't a lot that could have been done about it. Maybe she hit him because she thought Ryuzaki-sensei would excuse her behaviours like she promised.

"How low do you guys think I am! Never! All I asked him to do was to be a shoulder for her to cry on. You know I despise guys who use their strength against girls. I was ready to knock the crap out of Oishi-kun for hitting Kikumaru. I would never ask a guy to take advantage of a girl. Never." She had to sit down. The revelation that he would do such a thing left her shaking.

Fuji wiped her eyes as the heat of the sun became too much for her. She wished she had a pair of sunglasses to hide her eyes. Yes, it was too bright but she also wanted to hide any redness. She glanced up at Kikumaru, who was able to return and send text message with Oishi. The girls had gathered by the sea, waiting for the waves to brush over their feet. Jinhana decided to walk along the edge kicking at the seaweed.

"Oishi says that they tried some German food. All of them put together couldn't finish the meal. Ah! Sensei made them try some beer!"

Fuji didn't know if she was interested or just didn't care. She understood Ryuzaki-sensei reasoning for not letting her go to Germany but even just for a little, she wanted to see him. Even if it was just at the airport, that would have been enough for her. Heck, she didn't even have to leave the plane! Because Fuji was denied going to Germany and because of the talk the girls had the other day, she was ready to give in to her darker energy and the temptations of others.

"Hey! You two! Come over here!" Yokoishi waved from the waters.

"If you don't come over, I'll soak you!"Umeko displayed two buckets filled with icy sea water.

"Leave us alone!" Kikumaru shouted back.

"I'll do it, I really will!" Umeko answered.

It was just as Kikumaru got another text from Oishi. She knew Umeko really would and she didn't want her phone getting damaged only after remembering her number.

"Are you going over?"

Fuji took a deep breath. "No."

Kikumaru handed Fuji her phone. "I'll be back."

When Kikumaru placed it in Fuji's hand she noticed it was warm. Kikumaru had been holding onto it for some time. Fuji flipped it over in her hand and thought about reading one of Kikumaru's texts, than a new thought came to her. She wanted to text Tezuka... Whenever she thought about him she thought about her missed opportunities. She had to put the phone down and watch the girls having fun together. She was taken by how much they gathered around Arai... did she care anymore? Just thinking about the whole thing made her fed-up. She closed her eyes and rested her head in her arms. There was no desire to see anything, look at anything or hear anybody. She stayed like that for a while.

Kikumaru came back and decided to sit in front of her. Fuji didn't say anything and after a few seconds Fuji forgot she was there.

"How long are you going to sit there before looking up?"

That wasn't Kikumaru's voice, in fact she could hear her in the distance screaming with joy. Despite that she still recognised the voice, slightly, only by the way they spoke. She didn't look up at first because she wasn't expected that person to be anywhere near her or in the area for that matter.

"Erm, I have got the right person, haven't I, Fuji-chan?"

So she did know the voice after all and couldn't help but check to see if it really was him.

"Ah, you finally looked up. Surprise!"

Surprised indeed! What on earth was he doing here? She unfolded her arms and lent towards him.

"What are you doing here?" She opened her eyes and that puzzled him. Was something wrong?

Before he could ask, Fuji reached forward and hugged him. He returned it. Fuji didn't think she would see him after the move from Chiba, but here he was, Kojirou Seaki, sitting in front of her. A friend, an amazing childhood friend from the past.

She wrapped her arms around him a lot longer than he expected, but he understood. When they pulled back he took a hold of her hands and saw the injured one.

"What happened?" He asked. "Did you get angry?"

She nodded.

"Because of Yu-chan?"

"Why do you remember that?"It embarrassed her that he would bring it up. "Why are you even here?"

"Ouch. Well, you know me. I've always liked the beach so I couldn't resist, plus I'm not alone."

He gestures his thumb over his shoulder to the rest of his team, who seemed to be harassing the girls somewhat. "We came up here to play a tennis match... we lost against Seigaku. So we're training and having fun on the beach."

"Hmm," She hummed thoughtfully. "a lot of schools get beaten by them. Even the girls team too."

"And how would you know that?"

He had to ask, she thought. "When I moved from Chiba, I enrolled in Seigaku."

"Geez, talk about rubbing the salt into the wound. So why are you guys here?"

Fuji gave him a basic explanation, that she was on the girls' tennis team and the girls were on a quick relaxing time out. When he asked about her hand again, she told him most of the story.

He shook his head. "Not Yu-chan again?" He asked because he was in their lives when 'that' incident took place.

"No." She sulked and pointed at Arai.

"Isn't that your teammate?" When she nodded he was quick to realise the unsaid parts of the story. "Ah. Well, I'm a little glad." He reached over and patted her on the head. It took them a moment to understand what just took place. It was a thing of the past. He did it to comfort her once when she lashed out on Yumi and after bursting out into tears she felt okay after it. Now, it didn't have the same effort, other than something nostalgic. Fuji took a hold of his hand when she saw the unsure glint in his eyes and eased it down to her lap.

"Aren't I a little too old for that?"

"Sorry. I just... when I see you like that it's almost like instinct."

She smiled at him. "Thank you."

They laughed softly and he sat round to the side of her and watched both their teams on the beach. For the while they spoke about small things and how her brother was and the family. Fuji, feeling really comfortable with Seaki told him that she found someone that could calm her completely.

"He's a lot stronger then my brother."

This surprised him and he was more willing to hear. "Who are they and how did you find out?"

"Well I've only known him for two years but the first time we meet I knew."

"So why isn't it affecting you now?"

"Because he left me." She moped.

"Oh. Did he know about it? I mean, have you spoken to him yet?"

She sighed. "I don't know if he knows, but... I really wish he were here."

"I'm confused. Sounds like you're dating this guy."

She folded her arms around her legs, hesitating to reply. "It's a long story."

"Do I know him?"

She nods. "He's in the team that just beat you."

It didn't please him. "Okay which one of those lot has enough strength to calm that side of you down?" He asked the question but it didn't sound like he wanted an answer.

"Have a guess." She teased.

"Fine. It can't be any of the young ones... I wouldn't forgive you for that. So let's see... That leaves Iwara-kun, Oishi-kun, Inui-kun... what's his name... their captain and that other guy... Sai-kun." He screwed up his lips. "The only ones who seem like they can understand that stuff is Iwara-kun. He messed with my head once on the court, and their captain. So which one?"

She couldn't help but smile through it all. He was starting to sound like her brother or an over protective father.

"You haven't guessed."

"Well... if I think about it I would have to say their captain... That guy seems like he's strong enough. But if he doesn't know about it he'd be eaten alive."

She patted him on the back before leaning her head on his shoulder. "That's right. It's him."

He breathed out, defeated by the news, but he didn't dwell on it. Knowing that that was the case, that she had someone to calm her down, he was glad. Being a witness to Fuji's rage, he'd be happy for her.

"Isn't he in Germany?"

"Don't remind me." She said.

She was thankful for the reunion after so long that they were able to spend most of the day together. As long as someone calmed her down until he got back, she didn't mind who but was glad that it was Seaki.


...tbc...

A/N2: I'm still writing this!

I wasn't too happy with the last page of this only because I didn't know what to do with Seaki. Him being there is totally important but after that it's like, meh, he can clear off now!

Chapter 84: More madness on the girls team.

Be a little understanding and thanks for stickin' with it!