A/N: Gomen nasai! I don't know why this took so long but life is most definitely getting in the way.
Hey thanks for reading one and all, and a cookie for Eru no Tsubasa for guessing who Chise was ^_^. This story definitely has an end, I just need to get there!
Edited: (2.8.2016)
Disclaimer: I was ploughing the fields when Takeshi Konomi told me Prince of Tennis was on! (random)
Chapter Eighty Four
"You're finally back!"
Oishi was waiting by the school gates for them. When Kikumaru saw him she ran ahead of Fuji and gave him a welcoming hug, nearly pushing him over. Fuji didn't stand too close to them when she caught up to Kikumaru. She didn't want to get in the way of their reuniting. No immediate emotion grabbed her. She just watched and waited for Oishi to say something. Their five day trip came to an end last week, but with all the boys being jet-lagged, nobody had the will to come to school until today.
Kikumaru didn't say anything to Oishi, just wanting to enjoy his warm and strong hug. He did the same by resting his head on her shoulders and giving her a nice, tight squeeze. After a few seconds Oishi peeked around Kikumaru's curls and saw Fuji waiting. She acknowledged the glance by tipping her head a little, and this encouraged him to pull away from Kikumaru.
"Did you guys enjoy yourselves?" Kikumaru asked.
"Yeah! It's a beautiful country. Where he's staying is really amazing."
"Is it better than here?" Kikumaru hooked onto his arm.
"For what it is, yeah."
Fuji looked away, distracting herself from asking the only thing she wanted to know.
"Aw, I bet Tezuka-san is going to come back a thousand times stronger because of it." Kikumaru added, hugging his arm enthusiastically.
Just the mere mention of his name send mixed emotions through Fuji. She could picture him in her mind's eye and half of her said she wanted him back, the other half of her didn't want him to hurry back. She still wanted that small chance to fix things and so asked Oishi how he was.
The couple heard a level of desperation in Fuji's words and they grew serious. Kikumaru eased off Oishi to let him talk. He asked Kikumaru if he could talk privately with Fuji and she understood and left the two without a second thought. She gave Fuji an encouraging smile and waved as she left to go to the tennis courts.
As there were a few people walking into school, Oishi wanted the two to walk into the play ground and find a secluded area to talk. All the while Fuji kept her sight to the ground. Really, she wanted to see him. His voice, like his coat, wasn't enough. She was starting to understand Tezuka's words a little more. She needed and wanted the real thing. She didn't want to see him, she wanted to touch him and have him touch her.
They decided to sit on a bench near the football fields. As soon as she sat down Oishi began.
"Why didn't you tell me he was such an idiot?"
Did she hear right? She turned to him sharply and was taken aback with the calm look on his face. "What do you mean?"
Oishi shook his head. "How long has he been telling you not to be careless?"
That word, even coming from Oishi made her shudder within and she couldn't speak. She dreaded what he would say next. She couldn't bear to have Oishi deliver her the same message again. "From the start of the year."
Oishi sighed. "I told him off for being apathetic."
"Apathetic? Really..." She didn't like the wording, only because she never pictured him like that. Was his apathy hidden by his high and mighty character?
"Fuji-chan, telling you not to be careless is not the same as saying, 'I love you.'"
She lowered her head quickly because it clearly wasn't the same and she felt silly for putting up with it for so long. She guessed hearing his voice and not so much the words was enough. "I know... Sometimes he says really stupid things, and yes it does upset me, but other times... Oishi-kun, when he tells me what's on his heart it really messes me up inside." She covered her eyes with her hands when she remembered the times Tezuka forgot his reasoning and acted out on his emotions, like when he lied for her for sneaking away to see him play at their tournament. "Then... then it infuriates me because I discovered that it wasn't on his own initiative. Gosh... it really made me just want to... forget everything he'd done when I found out Arai-chan opened his eyes. I wish I never found out that much."
"Found out what?"
"That Arai-chan spoke to him right from the start. That's why I'm confused. Was she telling him what to do step-by-step or was it really all him? And it's not only that, there's other stuff too."
She sat back on the bench, staring ahead of her, displaying a cold glare in her eyes. Fuji knew the way Tezuka had been treating her was his own actions but it annoyed her that, again, Arai's name was coming up in all of this. Now it was one more thing for her to talk to him about when he returned. And the thought of having to get everything in the open again with him made her stomach turn. Would he be patience this time round?
She brought her hand up to comb her hair back, feeling her anger get the better of her.
"It's not always such a bad thing being influenced by others. Sometimes it's the encouragement we need. If Arai-chan spoke to him, would it had made a different if it were someone else?"
She crossed her arms and sighed. "It would have. Sure, in my mind, I gave her the challenge, and she was up for it. I'll give her that much but it angers me that she's done more. She tried to push us away from each other..."
Oishi couldn't comfort her from that if it was the truth so he asked her something else.
"Why are you beating yourself up over this, Fuji-chan?"
It was the first time anyone had asked her that question and for the moment she didn't have an answer.
"Why are you trying to sort things out by yourself?"
Fuji figured, before Tezuka left, she would have the strength to sort it all out when he gave her that picture. Fuji told herself that it could be sorted out by her own hands. Then he left, and according to her brother, something was taken from her. Since then she hasn't been the same. She no longer felt her usual confidence circling around or within her. Because of his departure her darker-self was seeping out easily. Even now it wanted to come out but she swallowed it down.
"I'm used to cleaning up my own business."
"But Fuji-chan, is it really that bad?"
"Hasn't Kikumaru told you anything? Don't you care what I did to Sai-kun?"
"Fuji-chan, come on. You're not helping yourself by being this angry."
"...I know that, Oishi-kun." She shouted at him and quickly lowered her voice. "But I can't do anything without him here." He didn't understand and she didn't expect him to. "He really does calm me down Oishi-kun. If only he was around then I... no, with Sai-kun I would have done the same, but maybe not with Arai-chan. Maybe I would have sort after him."
She didn't want to cover her eyes again but she couldn't hold off from doing it. She realised just how much she needed him. It wasn't the same reason that attracted her to him but it was a pulling factor. Though she didn't like that Tezuka enjoyed her in a vulnerable state. Even up 'til know, Fuji didn't understand why, she couldn't understand that thing about him that liked her weak.
Until the bell rang, Oishi kept her company.
8 8 8
In the girls' changing rooms Suzu asked for Yokoishi's help with talking to Jinhana once more. They waited for everyone else to leave the room before asking her to reconsider her selfish thoughts to not play with Nariko. She wouldn't let up on her stubbornness. Last night Suzu realised that with both doubles broken, in their next tournament, they were setting themselves up for failure. She at least wanted to get one of the original doubles teams together. If all fails with Jinhana she would go and talk to Kikumaru. After all they were up against Miura again. Suzu didn't want to lose twice to that school.
Jinhana sighed. "I tried. I really tried with Nariko-chan but she's getting under my skin."
"Even though it was your fault you lost?" Yokoishi reminded her.
Jinhana laughed it off.
"Jinhana-chan, you're being silly," Suzu said. "That won't happen again. You and Nariko-"
"I'm not saying I can't play doubles, I'm saying I'm not playing with Nariko-chan."
"But I thought you were doing so well with each other."
"No, I was tolerating her. Seriously, I don't know why Fuji-chan put her in doubles. She's never been as good as Ayaka-senpai."
"It would help if you didn't compare her to senpai. Nariko-chan has her own strength, which I think if the two of you continue, you could come up with a combination..."
"I've been with her for the past few months and have seen what you guys haven't seen. She has this annoying thing that she does that gets on my nerves half the time. Let me put it this way so that I don't sound like the total monster that I want to be. Until she changes her habits, I'm not playing with her."
Yokoishi tapped Suzu on the shoulder, leaving Jinhana to sort her stuff out. She brought it to Suzu's attention that Kikumaru said the same thing of Arai, that she didn't want to play tennis as Arai's partner. Though Arai didn't mind who she played with, Nariko did have a problem of confidence.
Out of exhaustion Suzu sighed loudly. "Man, I wish Fuji-chan was still Captain."
The two girls looked at her.
"Not this again." Jinhana doubled back. "With the way she is now, she wouldn't be doing the team any favours so stop thinking like that. All she'd be doing in moping around the courts. And don't tell me she wouldn't be because that's how she's been up until now. If you bother me with this subject again, I'll get mad."
Jinhana headed out and Yokoishi asked what Suzu would do next. She wanted to talk to Ryuzaki-sensei before the morning session. They decided that Arai could handle the team without them and made their way to her office. They looked through the door before they knocked and saw that sensei was in the room with a man with dark hair. To his left was the Headmaster, with sensei at her desk, both listening to what the man had to say. They peered for a few seconds before deciding to wait for them to finish however long it took.
Half an hour later the door opened causing the two girls who leaned against it on the floor to nearly topple over. They glanced up and saw the man was in a hurry. He stepped around the girls and bowed before going. Next to step out was the Headmaster, to which the girls got up out of his way. He said nothing to them, seeing their tennis gear, he left them to Ryuzaki-sensei.
"What's up with you two?" She asked, they could hear the stress in her voice.
"Ryuzaki-sensei, can you speak to the team. It's kinda, not working how it should be. Doubles are not willing to play with their partners. Can you help us out sensei?"
They didn't get the encouraging response they were hoping for. It was more of a defeated sigh that forced her hands up to wipe her temples. The two glanced at each other wondering what that man spoke about.
"Let's go." She said and the two had to chase behind her as she marched to the fields.
On the courts Arai was sorting the girls out. She did wonder where Suzu and Yokoishi were but lost her patience as time went on. She gave her usual pep-talk earlier which acknowledged that Nariko and Kikumaru were not going to play doubles and wanted the girls to know that changes were to take place. At the moment they were all training for doubles. Knowing the situation the girls got on with it. Fuji, who sat on the bench could only think over the things Oishi said to her, paying no mind to the team.
Midway through the morning session Ryuzaki-sensei and the girls had finally arrived. Sensei coughed a few times before stopping beside Fuji. A piercing glare hit Fuji in the back of her neck that forced her to look up.
"I'd like a word with you. Now!" She walked back out the courts expecting Fuji to follow. Fuji dragged herself off the seat and headed to the fountain area with sensei. Once there, Fuji leant again the fountain with sensei over and above her. "I just had the Headmaster and Sai-san in my office." Fuji didn't understand at first. "Hioski-kun's father."
Fuji didn't expect this conversation to come so late after the incident. So he finally wanted an apology for nearly killing his son. She was waiting to say sorry to the parents anyway.
"He came in to apology to you." She peered down to Fuji to see that she hide her view with her hair
"Hasn't... doesn't he know the state of his son. Why does he have to ap-"
Ruyzaki-sensei interrupted her. "He spoke of his son's history." Her voice was tense. "He told us not to blame the girl he attacked. Did Sai-kun attack you Fuji-san?"
Fuji didn't expect to be confront by this so openly. Her mind went blank for the moment. Unconsciously, she wrapped one arm around her waist where he touched her and covered her hand over the ear he kissed. "He didn't do anything."
"You can lie all you want but I can see it in your movements. So what the father said was true." She wanted to ask further questions but now wasn't the time or the place to do it. She glared down at Fuji but really couldn't say what she wanted. It both hurt and angered Ryuzaki-sensai that she punished the victim.
"The boys have got an international competition coming up which will see them away from school for three days. You are coming with us. Even if I have to pick you up outside your house, you're coming." It was the only way she could think to fix it.
Fuji heard the tone and knew she didn't have a choice, but really, she was tired of fighting. After her talk with Oishi, she was beginning to believe that she couldn't fix things on her own in this state. And besides, people seemed to want to get in on her business. She felt exhausted to the point of wanting to let a few tears fall. She didn't have to be strong anymore. She couldn't be strong anymore.
"When you're there I want you to write an account of what happened."
Yes ma'am, Fuji thought. There was no sarcasm in her eyes, though, just her thoughts.
"Come on." She ordered Fuji back to the fields.
It had been a while since Fuji rolled her eyes but she did it, peering up to the skies for a moment and lowering her gaze and her head. To her it felt like a gesture of surrender. As she walked back over the fields, Fuji wondered why it took Sai's dad so long after the incident to come to the school. Did he know or did Chise say anything to him?
Ryuzaki-sensei held the gate open for Fuji and ordered her to sit back down, to which she did with slight indifference, and watched what was to unfolded with the team. That bright jumpsuit was hard to look away from, more so than the girls that looked to her for guidance. Ryuzaki-sensei watched for a moment, liking the fact they trained for doubles but expected more from them. One loud voice for the regulars to gather and all eight stood in front of her. It had been a while since Fuji had seen them like that. They stood up rigidly, but Fuji figured that sensei didn't expect a scornful glint in each of their eyes. God help her when she tells them she's going away again.
She thought to start off by telling them how her time in Germany. The glare got sharper and brighter. Then sensei told them how she expected them to play in their next match. But the girls didn't like the way she formed her sentences.
"You sound like you're not going to be with us, sensei." Arai said, saying what each girl thought.
"And I'm not, the boys have an invitation to an international tournament and I've be requested to coach there. I'll be away on training for five days."
An annoyed murmur rang amongst the girls. Even the non-regulars who overheard couldn't believe she was going away again.
"Why bother telling us, sensei?" Yokoishi was surprised by the among of emotion that came out in her words. The girls looked to her, making her unfold her arms. "I mean, we didn't ask you down here for you to tell the team this."
"What! You mean it's something else for the boys?" Shikawara was starting to see the pattern.
"Hold on they had a trip to the countryside, they just got back from Germany, and now they get to go for more special training." Umeko shouted once she understood.
"So when are we going to get some special training, sensei?" Jinhana posed the question and the girls waited for an answer.
"Don't start taking this the wrong way, this is the first of its kind this year and nothing was mentioned to me about a girls' tournament."
"You're missing the point sensei," Yokoishi spoke up. "It feels as if you've got your favourites."
"Don't say stupid things! What has gotten into you lot? Did you forget that I have other responsibilities! For you lot to be so demanding of my time says much about your selfishness and your self-importance."
It was a reprimand too much for some of the girls.
"Whatever." Umeko turned away, not wanting to hear anymore.
Yokoishi moved too, which made the others fall away back to practise. Ryuzaki-sensei waited for all of them to get back to work before heading off the courts. As she walked she caught Fuji staring at her with unimpressed eyes. As Ryuzaki-sensei was about to address the thought behind the stare, she saw the expression in Fuji's eyes change. Fuji jumped to her feet. Following that, from behind came the sound of someone being slapped twice.
Sensei spun around quickly to see a commotion occur between Nariko and Jinhana. At first she thought they hit each other. She understood what happened once Shikawara stood in front of Nariko. As soon as Shikawara did that, Jinhana struck her too, snatching her nails across her face, sending her glasses flying to the floor. Jinhana's nails caught her skin and caused a clean cut from cheek, eye and forehead. Suzu reached forward for Jinhana's hand as she was ready to hit her again.
"Stop telling me to team up with her. I've already told you lot I refuse. If Arai-chan has any sense then she'd keep us apart. Don't think you have any weight in this, Shikawara."
Suzu, with the help of Yokoishi, dragged her off before she could say or do more.
"Put her in my office." Ryuzaki-sensai as they passed her.
Fuji wasn't surprised by Jinhana's outburst, not after the way she was shouted at the other day by her. Fuji glanced up at Shikawara to see she placed her hand across her injuryed face and blood stretched across her palm. Umeko ran over to tell the both of them to go to the nurses room but when Uemko grabbed her arm Shikawara flung her off. Fuji walked up to the group. As she approached them she bent to take the pair of glasses in her hand only to see that Jinhana had sliced them in half. Two broken pieces in her hand. She didn't expect Shikawara to snatch them out of her hands. On glancing up she saw the blood ooze slowly from the wound and Nariko sobbing.
"My patience is really, really running thin with this group. You year 9's need to sort yourselves out. To attack a fellow player is where I draw the line. For it to happen three times is too much. Arai-senpai, sort this out before I do." She turned to Fuji. "You're the most pathetic one at the moment Fuji-senpai. My respect for you is not where it used to be." Shikawara grabs Nariko's hand and they both made there way to the nurses office leaving the rest of them wondering what more they could do.
Fuji couldn't argue with Shikawara, she was being pathetic, but it was because she wasn't herself that she decided she wasn't going to be affected by her words. With so many people interfering in her business, she now didn't have the strength to keep fighting it. Without saying a word to the rest on the court Fuji made her way back to her bench knowing she wanted to get away from these interfering people.
...tbc...
A/N2: gosh why did that take so long? Anyway... Sorry for how vague it turned out, I don't know how that happened!
Girls won't be having their own international-thingy as that is way-too much brain power for me to use and too many character to create on top of the main ones that I have... (x_x)
Chapter 85: Shikawara has her own interference!
Many, many, many thanks for reading x
