A/N: Tra la la! And the strangeness continues!

Chapter Three - Making Plans

"So," Eiji started, hugging his pillow. "What are we going to do about Tezuka?" He looked around at the group of six. Ryoma was sitting in the corner of his room wondering just why everyone was having a sleepover at his house.

"We watch him closely," Momo conspired. "Then, we catch him in the act! And we turn him away from his dark path!"

Ryoma sighed. He wasn't even going to say anything. Maybe he could just have fun watching the idiots. And warn Buchou of what was coming. On second thought, he smirked to himself; it would be hilarious to see Tezuka's reaction.

"Fssshh, that is the stupidest idea you have ever come up with, idiot," Kaidoh hissed, riling Momo up. "Including that plan last year to get into the Regulars."

"Oh yeah," Momo replied, standing up. "Let's see you come up with a better idea, Mamushi. And you didn't think that idea was bad then." Kaidoh stood up, ready to fight.

"Please, don't fight," Taka said, trying to calm the two down. Ryoma brightened up. This would make things entertaining! He ran down to the kitchen to grab some popcorn so he could have food while he watched the show.

While Ryoma was gone, Inui managed to calm things down. Momo and Kaidoh were sent to opposite corners for time-out. Eiji just laughed at the two.

Things settled down and Ryoma returned laden with food and Ponta, finally becoming a good host. He was jumped by Eiji as soon as he walked in the door.

"Ok, if you guys are going to stay here," Ryoma explained, "Then I would suggest not leaving this room unless you want to run into the strange old man downstairs." Nobody was listening, too absorbed in snacking. Well, except for Inui who was making…something out of dip and Ponta. Oh well, their problem.

Seeing as this was a sleepover and people normally don't sleep at sleepovers, (and no matter how old our characters may seem, they're still just becoming teenagers,) the group started a game of Truth or Dare. We would like to blame it on Momo and Eiji and their strange ability to make everyone go insane. Now, I could go into all the stupidity that occurred during this game, but I really don't feel like it. Instead, I'll show you the end result and let you come up with your own ideas.

Karupin, who had sneaked in half-way though the game, was cowering under the bed all puffed up like a scaredy-cat. Inui had passed out after being force-fed his own concoction. Eiji was wrapped around and hugging Ryoma who, even unconscious, tried to escape. Momo was asleep in the closet. Unfortunately for him, the doors were locked. Taka was lucky enough to fall asleep on the bed. And Kaidoh…Kaidoh was mysteriously missing. Let's go find him, shall we?

Kaidoh had made the mistake of leaving the room to use the bathroom. He was captured by Nanjiroh and interrogated, which is where we find him now.

"Would you like some cookies, Kaidoh-san?" Nanako asked. Being captured came with a few good things, namely Nanako's cooking. Kaidoh took a few cookies from the plate and mumbled thanks.

"What are you boys doing up there? Why are you here? Why does my son never invite any cute girls over?" Nanjiroh questioned. Nanako looked interested as well, in the first two questions anyway. Due to the fact that Kaidoh was thirteen and thus going through adolescence, he just couldn't say no to Nanako and all her feminine-ness. Plus, he didn't really have much experience with the opposite gender and was thusly nervous. He spilled telling them everything, including Tezuka and his book-eating habits. Nanjiroh laughed in glee and ran off to call Ryuzaki. Kaidoh made his escape and ran home.

When Momo awoke, he ended up banging his head against a shelf, tripping over himself when trying to stand up, and realizing he was locked inside a closet. His day was not looking good. He began pounding on the closet doors, waking everybody up. Taka, seeing that nobody was going to let Momo out, was kind enough to open the door. Momo came tumbling out, falling to the floor in praise of Taka.

"Hey, where'd Mamushi go?" Momo asked after looking around. The rest of the group blinked. Kaidoh had disappeared.

Inui straightened his glasses, making them glint evilly in the process, and stated, "There is an 87 percent chance that he ran into Echizen-san, was interrogated, and ran home." Another group blink. Everyone shrugged and went about grabbing their stuff and heading home. Apparently everyone had forgotten their original reason for coming.

"Well, it's a good thing practice was cancelled today," Ryoma said. Then he realized he was only talking to Karupin. He picked the Himalayan cat up. "At least I have one friend." Then Ryoma saw the mess that had been made of his room. His eye twitched. Somebody was going to get it.


Tennis practice the next day was a strange affair. There was much giggling and whispering between all the members and not one would meet Tezuka's eyes. Something was up. Tezuka ordered all the players to line up. The other Regulars (minus Oishi and Fuji who were missing today) looked very suspicious.

"Fifty laps to all of you if someone doesn't tell me what's going on," Tezuka threatened. The Regulars glanced at each other, trying to decide who would be sacrificed. "And I'll throw in one of Inui's drinks if I don't get an answer now."

By unanimous decision, Momo was pushed out front. After all, it was his fault this whole mess started. "Well, um…You see, Buchou…Uh, Echizen here has something to tell you!" He grabbed Ryoma and pulled him into the line of fire instead.

Meanwhile, in all the Regulars' head, a funeral was being held for Ryoma. His tombstone was inscribed with, "Forced to run laps, Until he collapsed."

Back in the normal world, Tezuka was staring Ryoma down. "Well, Echizen?"

Ryoma sighed and decided what the heck, might as well tell it all. Wasn't like everybody didn't already know. "Momo-senpai saw you borrowing a book from Fuji-senpai. Being the idiot that he is," there was an indignant shout from Momo and a snort of agreement from Kaidoh, "He came to the conclusion that you ate books. Then he got everybody else involved. Oh, and before you explode, I didn't want to have anything to do with this." That being said, Ryoma did the smart thing and ran off to hide.

Everyone else gulped. Tezuka wasn't moving; he just kept staring straight ahead. They took this chance and joined in the game of Hide and Seek.


A/N: It was pointed out to me that I was being terribly prejudiced against the book-eating community. For that, I apologize. The only reason I discriminate against them is because I don't understand them. And I guess my parents never really cared about me much…All I ever wanted was to be loved! AND I NEVER GOT A PUPPY!

Please review. Mistakes/confusion/general insanity/encouragement. New to writing multi-chaptered fics; please tell me if something doesn't make sense.