A/N: Back once again ^_^ wasn't that quick!
Disclaimer: I was playing my guitar when Takeshi Konomi asked me to write the end theme for Prince of Tennis. (Random)
Chapter Eighty Seven
It was the start of the second day and it was the first time since being here that Hanamaru-sensei's team were able to play on the courts. Even Fuji was excited by this. She always found it enjoyable to watch the boys play as their style was very different to the girls'. Though, that didn't mean that they had finished in the gym. They were to go back in there after lunch break.
Before anyone started, sensei made sure to tell the four that she had set up for a doubles match the results of their game would have no bearings on whether they would be picked for the final team. Again it was only for sensei to gather a greater understanding of their ability, but she didn't tell them the latter part.
For the first game she called Hikaru Amane to team up with Yuushi Oshitari, against Reiji Shinjou and Shinji Ibu. Fuji didn't really know what to expect from this random combination but she was looking forward to it. When the light hit off Oshitari's glass it caught Fuji's attention to the point where he caught her glance and gave a quick smile. If only it was as simple as a quick smile. There was more behind it and Fuji was well aware of that.
She sighed it away and leant forward when from the corner of her eye she saw An and Sakuno walking over to help out with a camcorder in hand. They made their way to the bench with Fuji while Hanamaru-sensei finished explaining to Shinji and Reiji what she expects of them.
"Morning." Fuji greeted them when they sat down with her.
"Morning, senpai."
"Are you feeling better this morning, An-chan?"
"Oh yes, thank you Fuji-senpai. There's nothing for you to worry about." She grinned and taped the camcorder. "Sensei asked that we make video evidence for her, that's why we're here."
Hanamaru-sensei sat down with them and the game began.
"Mind if we watch?" A familiar voice came from over head. The four ladies looked up to she Momoshiro and Echizen.
"Do as you like." Hanamaru said turning back to her game.
"Make sure you don't get yourselves in trouble." Fuji warned them and they gave her a reassuring smile.
"Who do you think'll win Echizen?" Momoshiro asked.
"Who knows, but Amane-san's racket will be a key factor here."
The game kicked off and it seemed to be going in Oshitari and Amane favour with Oshitari making good judgements with the flow of the game. Fuji got a chance to hear and learn about their moves, something called a mirage that doesn't allow the opponent to predict the type of ball that's aiming towards them, yet Oshitari was able to break it. On hearing that it was a move that caused Echizen a great deal of trouble, Fuji was beginning to take note of Oshitari, even when Amane irritated him throughout the match, he was still able to concentrate.
And even when all of that happening he was able to makes noticeable glance to Fuji. She only noticed because she never took her eyes off him. She wanted to know what that smirk was about earlier. His last shot looked like an accident but Fuji knew he was lining up his smash to aim it towards her. So when it flew past her head, passing the sides of her hair and off the fence, she knew she had done something to bother him. On the recoil, Fuji caught the ball and held onto it. Sakuno and An had ducked out of its way.
"Are you okay, Fuji-senpai?" The girls asked. Hanamaru-senpai curious that Fuji didn't flinch .
"I'm fine." The feel of the ball in her hand reminded her of the game and she suddenly wanted to play. She knew Oshitari did it deliberately because he didn't apologise. But Fuji didn't let it get to her, if she was afraid of every ball that flew towards her she wouldn't make much of a tennis player. Even this made her chuckle as she walked over to him to return the ball.
"I missed judge my angle." He said as some kind of reasoning.
"No harm done."
"Erm, Fuji-san, can I ask you-"
"Oi, Oshitari, leave her."
Atobe had walked onto the courts for his match. He hadn't even taken his racket out yet he had time to boss people around. Oshitari wanted to explain himself.
"Leave her."
The weight of his voice got through to Oshitari and he left it alone for now. Whatever was on his mind, Fuji placed the ball in his hand and made her way back to the bench. Oshitari walked off the courts and waited with the rest of the team.
By the time they had all finished their matches it was lunchtime. Hanamaru-sensei would give them the lunch break as time to freshen up and catch their breath, then she wanted them back in the gym. Without complaining the boys went off to change and eat. Fuji tagged along with sensei for a while getting more insight from her.
"You should get your lunch now Fuji-chan. I need you in top shape as well. How's your hand?"
Fuji lightly touched the bandage. "It's healing."
"Get the first aid box. I'll have a look."
Fuji did as she was told and sat down with Hanamaur-sensei. She took off the old bandages and tested the flexibility of the hand. Fuji slowly put her hand in a fist and stretched it out. There was still a bit of pain but she could bare it if it meant she could serve a ball again.
"Now, I'm very curious... why did Oshitari-san lob that ball at you?"
"That's what I want to know." Fuji said and handed sensei a fresh roll of cotton.
"I think he's a man of great concentration. Able to figure out someone's style minutes into the game. And yet he was still able to precisely aim a ball at you. What I find more fascinating is that you were the only one who didn't duck for cover. Even I was a little surprised that the ball travelled so far... like you knew it wasn't going to hit you."
She didn't wrap as much cotton around the hand and fingers, wanting to give Fuji a lot more movement.
"Since you are among us, I want to see you play too, Fuji-chan. I don't think it's fair that you're here with us and not allowed to pick up a racket. I can see the calluses on your hand and I see how much it means to you."
"Sensei, do you perhaps want to 'develop' me too?"
"Kya! Am I that easy to read? Though, it's a win-win for the both of us. Just grab a racket when you want. I won't stop you. Now, get something to eat, that hand isn't going to heal on an empty stomach."
Fuji tidied the first aid box and put it back in place. She made her way down to the canteen. On entering the room she saw it wasn't full but she didn't want to eat with them, less she bring more attention to herself and so took her tray round the back into the kitchen were some of the year sevens were tidying up. They asked how Fuji was finding the whole experience, to which she said was interesting not showing anything on her face. The feelings were the same on their part as they moaned about how much work they had to do. Had they realised so much needed to be done they would never have volunteered. Fuji told them to get a chance to watch some of the games as it will have help understand what they needed to do once on the court. Also, if they had any free time to try and get some practise in. Even though Fuji didn't have much to do, acting as if certain stares weren't bothering her was a lot of work, as well as keeping her thoughts in check.
Talking with them made the hour go by quickly and she was back in the gym helping and observing. After half an hour Sensei shooed Fuji off to go and hit a few balls. Fuji was a bit reluctant at first but when she took the racket and ball in her hand she found herself drifting outside to the wall to have a few rounds by herself. She gripped the ball slowly in her left hand so not to stress her hand. The medication took most of the pain away but she couldn't help feeling someone else's energy around the whole area. For now she would ignore it until she found out who it belonged to. Fuji dropped the ball and started a light rally on the spot.
How long had it been since she was on the court? Her body almost forgot this feeling of running against the breeze and fighting to be a step ahead of the ball. It wasn't long before she began to hit the ball with more strength against the wall. She was now breathless with exhilaration and sweat beads form from the challenge. She hit the ball into the floor and caught it on the top side of her racket.
She needed that. She wiped the light sweat off her forehead and thought about attempting a prepare serve but her concern stopped her.
"You're not half bad, are you?"
Saeki had wondered over from somewhere and stood behind the fencing. For a moment she thought it was Tezuka. In her mind she laughed at herself because she made the same mistake with Echizen... but it was one of those moments she couldn't forget.
"I can play tennis, Saeki. Where's the rest of your team?"
"Sakaki-sensei has done with the theory, now he wants us to warm up and get on the courts. He'll be down in a minute to watch. What are you doing anyway?"
Fuji turned back to the wall she twisted the ball and hit a cut serve. "Trying to get back on form."
"How did you do that? It disappeared!"
"Secret. Wanna start a rally with me? Loser buys the other a drink?"
He was taken by how good she was, curiosity made him join her. The challenge was both in their eyes and they wouldn't go easy on each other. Fuji caught the reappearing ball and tossed it Saeki's way. He smiled in all his surprise and took the serve. There was no chance of it being a light rally. The two took it to the next level soon questioning if they should take it too the courts. It made sense but they were too far in the rally to think about stopping it for any logical reason. It was only when Saeki couldn't read her movements, the surprise of it caused him to miss the ball.
"What happened?" She asked, feeling miles better.
"... just... nothing really. You're amazing, you know that."
"...I know."
"No, I really mean it." He watched her as she fetched the ball and smiled back at him, telling him that she wanted watermelon juice, not the sugar free one. When he saw that carefree smile on her face, the one he remembered from years back, something just didn't seem right to him. "Can I ask you a personal question?"
"Depends, go on?"
"Why did someone like you end up with a guy like Tezuka-san?"
She stopped in her tracks. "Oh. What do you mean?"
"Well... since we meet on the beach, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Having grown up with you, I just don't understand why you're dating him. You're nothing alike."
She laughed a little. "Erm... what can I say? Hmm, I guess it's fair to say that he chose me out of many, I think."
"Really? But you liked him too?"
"... Saeki, can we get back to playing..." She began to fidget with her racket.
"Well, I can tell you like him, you're blushing. I just wanted to know why him. I mean, with all the guys that are here... why him?"
It was a fair question, one she has asked herself a few times and she would always come to the same conclusion. "I didn't expect you to ask me that. Well... there are many girls who like him in our school... at first I just teased him to get his attention... and he let me... then all of a sudden he began to show interest in a big way and I was pulled in. Even if I wanted to pull away I couldn't... he totally got me."
"I just don't get it, but I can see you're being sincere."
"...He's too good to me. He's patient and understanding... and I don't have the same patience when it comes to his transgression."
"What do you mean? Transgressions? Like he violated something?"
"I guess," Fuji walked up to him when she saw a few others walking by. "I'm in no position to judge as I did something worse and he forgave me, yet I can't forgive him."
"What happened? Did it have something to do with what you told me earlier? Your hand and your team?"
"I'm too ashamed to tell you. I'm mad at Tezuka-kun for something that wasn't even his fault. I don't know when he's coming back from Germany to talk about it. I tried talking over the phone but I was too scared to bring it up... He said he missed me and I couldn't bring it up... When he said he missed me I went blank and couldn't think of what to say."
She looked up at Saeki and found him smiling softly at her. "You really love him, don't you?"
So many people had said that of her, said that she loved him and that he felt the same about her. Too much had happened that Fuji felt up and down about their relationship. When she remembered the good times she loved him, yet when she remembered her stupidity and his stupidity, she didn't know how she felt.
"I do... I do... I've just got stuff in the way of me saying it to him."
"You gotta tell him?"
She covered her mouth at the thought of telling him. Her bad habit was creeping up again. "There's never a right moment. When I thought we had patched things up that girl showed up and threw everything upside down."
"That would be the transgression?"
"Yeah. Despite it all, I wish he'd hurry up and come back."
Saeki stretched his hands in the air. "Guess I have nothing to worry about. Life is not without its up's and down's... As long as I know you want it to work then I can leave him to you."
Someone grabbed the fence directly in front of them cutting any further conversations short. "Fuji-san, you are wanted back in the gym." It was Oshitari.
What bad time, she thought. She brushed her hair behind her ear and shrugged to Saeki that she had to go, but she would find him later if she had the chance. Saeki walked out with her and went to his courts while she walked a few steps behind Oshitari.
"I didn't know you could play tennis." He said with his back to her. "begs the question why you are here?"
"For how long were you standing there?" She asked.
"Long enough."
That means he heard what they were talking about, but that didn't seem to interest him. Fuji didn't know what his problem was but once she got to the gym Hanamaru-sensei took the opportunity to take her data. She became a lab rat for an hour, much to the interest of the guys who were wondering why sensei would bother with Fuji. They figured they were exchanging methods and carried on with themselves.
By the end of it all sensei told Fuji to start jogging in the morning and stretching. For the days that she hadn't played, her body was forgetting its needed flexibility. Fuji explained that her doctor told her to rest but Hanamaru-sensei reminded Fuji that she was under her care for the three days, and if she didn't see any improvement by the end of it she'd find her at Seigaku and take up two hours of her after school time.
Fuji didn't say anything more. She went back to her room to get changed and started off with a light jog around the fields. She saw Sakaki-sensei's class on the courts and Ryuzaki-sensei class too. She gave a short wave to those in her school and Saeki and soon stopped by the main building.
She breathed out and placed her hands on her hips. She wondered why she ever listened to that nurse or gave sensei that stupid note to begin with. She felt her energy levels going back up and had a sudden will to get better.
While the boys went to have their dinner Fuji decide to sit out in the evening glow. She felt different... maybe because she was around people who were able to calm her down. But that wasn't the only thing in the air that she could feel. There was someone here who had a dark energy too. It was faint and only in a few places but she could feel it. If she found the person she'd have a word with them as it was bothering her and her own energy. But for the most part she was feeling better, not how she was when she was suspended for those four days... looking back at that Fuji couldn't believe how badly she took it. There was a lot to learn from it. It was true what she said to Saeki, a lot of girls like Tezuka, possibly people from other schools. Even girls in Germany! She couldn't act like a jealous girlfriend with all of them. That kind of behaviour would drive Tezuka away no matter how understand he is.
"Hurry up and come back." She said to the wind that blew west.
"Praying for his return won't make him come back quicker."
Fuji froze when she heard Atobe's voice. She looked for the setting sun to see what time it was and wondered why he was out here.
"You really don't have any reason to be out here." She said with her back to him.
"You might be right, but I can find one. I was just taking a walk and happened to see you here and thought I would ask you something."
She didn't say anything, giving him room to talk.
"What did you do to aggravate Oshitari?"
"You should ask him that."
"You must have done something. He's been absentminded all day."
"Excuse me," She stood up to leave.
"Why are you even here?" He changed the subject quickly.
"That has nothing to do with you."
"Are you sure? Remember, I can read you like a book."
She stopped and turned to face him. She deliberately kept her back to him so she didn't know that he had changed into a simple tee-shirt, jogging bottoms and sandals. She could barely see the detail in the twilight.
"You'd be the first to do that." She spoke before she moved off.
"Taking a breather from the trouble at school? I can see it."
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Can I share something with you, Atobe-kun?"
"Go ahead."
"At first I was fascinated by your appearance. I'd be foolish to dismiss your handsome features. Knowing you were only after the release of my dark energy, and I foolishly allowed it to spill, I'm wondering why you're still bothering me. The only conclusion I can come up with is that you're falling for me. And however absurd I think that is, you... keep showing up."
He smirked, certainly her timid side had gone for some reason and that level of confidence was back, but he wondered for how long. He laughed it off.
"With Tezuka-kun out of the picture, do you think you have a chance with me? Should I test your resolve? You've broken my foundations, should I return the favour?"
She walked on a head of him but he began to wonder when her confidence returned to her. This was certainly getting interesting. What was she willing to do to break him? He sniggered at her stupidity and carried on with his walk.
Fuji shuddered his presence away from under her skin. Even she couldn't believe were that moment of confidence came from. She didn't want to have anything to do with him, so why did she challenge him? Again! She carried herself up to her room to get ready for bed when she saw Echizen waiting by her door.
He got off the floor. "Evening, Fuji-senpai."
"Lovely to see you. Did you want something?"
"Yeah." He took something out of his pocket. "I wanted to ask if this was yours." He showed her a hair pin.
"No. Why?"
"Kirihara-san was pushed down the stairs by the person who wears this."
She rose an eyebrow "And you thought it was me?"
"Not really, maybe someone you know."
"Oh boy." Fuji realised it was An. Nobody else wore then except for An. She didn't know why or how, but one thing was for sure she didn't want anything to do with it. "Erm, I'll check to see if she's in the room so you can talk to her other than that I don't know."
Her own drama was enough, getting involved in this wasn't worth the headache. Fuji opened her room door and looked in using the light from the hall. An wasn't there, thankfully. She let Echizen know and closed the door behind her. She fell face down on her bed and stayed there until she could be bothered to get ready for bed.
Seems as if she had to be on her guard in such a tranquil place.
...tbc...
A/N2: Yes Fuji, be on your guard, you never know who'll pop up!
Chapter 88: Fuji's confidence is returning but is it getting her into more trouble? Maybe!
Thanks for stickin' with it (^3^)*chu
