A/N: Fun trying to save this chapter as it hates the word "run."

Chapter Four - Running Away

Now we join our heroes on another adventure. In the last episode, our intrepid heroes (aka the Seigaku Regulars) were escaping the clutches of their once ally, the evil Dr. Tezuka. Well, not escaping per se, more like fleeing while he was frozen. But that matters not.

Tezuka prayed that he hadn't heard what he did. That it was all a figment of his (mostly non-existent) imagination. Echizen did not just say that he ate books. Momoshiro was not responsible for all the whispers he had been hearing. And the chibi Fuji in his head was most certainly not smirking at him for saying the exact same thing during the incident that had apparently caused this whole mess.

Why couldn't that troubling feeling just have warned him this was going to happen? Snapping out of his stupor with a sigh, Tezuka noticed that the rest of the team had vanished. Looked like practice was over. Now what to do? He sighed again before going off to talk to Coach Ryuzaki. Maybe she could help.

Since Eiji is ever so lovable, we've decided to follow him as he runs away. You see, Eiji noticed that Fuji, his bestest friend ever, and Oishi, his second-bestest friend ever and doubles partner, were both missing-in-action. So, taking the chance offered, Eiji set off for Oishi's house. (It was closer to the school than Fuji's.)

Once there, Eiji rang the doorbell. He fidgeted as he waited, hoping someone was home. The door opened to show Oishi's mother. "Megumi-san!" he exclaimed before jumping in to hug her. Even after all the time he spent at Oishi's house, he never saw his mother very much.

"Hello, Eiji," she replied, returning the hug. Eiji was always fun, even if he did make her son worry a little too much. "Come in, come in. Poor Syuichiroh's sick, that's why he couldn't make it to practice today; he should be up in his room. Go on, sweetie, and you're welcome to stay for dinner."

"Thanks!" Eiji shouted back as he ran for the kitchen. He grabbed some food (Oishi always had the best food) before heading upstairs. He pushed open his bedroom door to find him asleep. He frowned. If there was one person who could keep Tezuka from making them run hundreds of laps, it was Oishi. But with Oishi out of commission…

Well, the mystery of Oishi was solved, now off to find Fuji. More food stealing later, Eiji found himself in front of Fuji's house. Another doorbell ring. "What?" Yuuta asked grumpily as he pulled the door open. He blinked when he saw who was at the door, another one of Syusuke's strange friends. "Aniki's not here. Go away." The door was shut in Eiji's face.

"Well that wasn't very nice!" Eiji pouted. Meanie Yuuta! Eiji flounced away. But wait, if Fuji wasn't home and he wasn't at practice, then where was he?

Tezuka massaged his head. The source of his current annoyance was in front of him giggling. What did he ever do to deserve this head-ache? The irritating voice in his head told him it was because he was the captain of an insane tennis team. Or at least half-insane, a few of the members weren't too bad.

Fuji continued to snigger at the situation. He had missed what could've possibly been the most amusing thing ever by staying after to help clean up the classroom. Of course, he could not deny that it was hilarious to see the after-math. He could swear that Tezuka was about to rip his hair out screaming. But that would've been unbecoming of their captain, so it probably wasn't going to be happening anytime soon. Unless…

Fuji leaned forward. "So, tell me again Tezuka, what exactly happened?" Tezuka glared. "Come on, it wasn't that bad." A grunt. Well, at least he was getting a sound out of him. "Really, it was just a coincidence. And I'm telling the truth this time."

"This time he says," Tezuka mumbled to himself even though Fuji could hear him perfectly well. "This time. So what about all those other times? And why today of all days? 'I eat books,' really."

Fuji tilted his head. Today? What was so special about today? He flipped through his mental calendar (only $7.99 if you order now!) Today there was nothing, but tomorrow…A sly smile worked its way onto his face. Tomorrow was a certain someone's birthday.

In, and out. In, and out. Deep breath in, dodge to the bush across the way, deep breath out. Momo looked around, nobody. He jumped to another bush.

Momo had planned on leaving right away with everyone else, but he had left his wallet in the clubhouse. Sure, he could've gotten it the next day, but what would he do for money the rest of today then? That meant no food, no randomly buying things at the shops on the way home, and, most importantly, NO FOOD! So, he was taking the chance by trying to sneak back into the clubhouse without being spotted by Tezuka and forced to run laps for the rest of his life.

Almost there, Momo jumped out of the bushes and raced for the door. Kaidoh jumped out of the bushes on the other side of the clubhouse and dashed for the door at the same time. The two stopped a few feet away from each other, engaging in a glaring contest. (It's like a staring contest, except you glare instead of stare.) They looked away at the same time, agreeing through their sudden mental link that it was really weird that they had a sudden mental link and there were more important things such as getting into the clubhouse.

Kaidoh reached forward to open the door. He jiggled the knob. A hint of confusion showed on his face. It was…locked. But, his things were in there! And the dog food for the stray puppy in the park! The poor puppy was going to starve!

"Move out o' the way," Momo said, pushing Kaidoh aside. He tried to force the doorknob open. No good. Momo sighed; it wasn't like he could get into any more trouble, right? He backed up a bit.

"What're you—" Kaidoh was cut off by Momo kicking the door down, splintering most of it. Kaidoh gaped at him. If they weren't dead before, they most certainly were now.

"If you want your stuff," Momo called from inside where he was snatching his things, "I suggest you grab it now and run." Following his own advice, Momo escaped out the door and darted for freedom, not insulting Kaidoh once during the exchange.

"Idiot," Kaidoh hissed under his breath. Sure, kicking the door down was effective at opening the clubhouse, but now it was open to everyone. And that meant the fangirls. Kaidoh shivered, horrible thoughts. Plus, they could steal their tennis equipment and you can't play tennis without rackets. And as everyone knows, "Tennis Equals Life!" Shrugging it off as their problem, Kaidoh grabbed his stuff. He then made like a banana and spilt. Or tried to anyway.

"Oh dear," Fuji said, Tezuka standing behind him in the doorway. "It seems like someone broke down the door. Kaidoh, did you happen to see who did it?"

Kaidoh gulped. He did not like the looks on their faces. Fuji-senpai had that unnerving smile on his face and Tezuka-buchou looked like somebody was about to run a thousand laps. Why me?

A/N: We finally figure out what happened to Oishi and Fuji. Oishi's given name is too hard to spell. And his mother with the made up name shows up. Love Yuuta, first non-Seigaku player in my story. It's like two lines, but who cares! And I love Kaidoh and his love of small, fuzzy things. And torturing him, first Nanjiroh, now Fuji and Tezuka.