Hyotei and the Happy Panda

Chapter 9: In which the Silver Pair finally deliver some fan service.

A/N: Tada! Short final chapter, I know, but I'll have an epilogue up in a bit. Thanks everyone for all your reviews. They give me self-esteem. And thanks especially to microgirl for beta-ing and reeling in the ellipses as best she can.

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"Ohtori!" Shishido shouted, though not entirely sure why he was shouting. Nor did he know why he was following Ohtori at all, but his legs wouldn't stop moving. He wasn't running; that would be undignified. Besides, at a run Shishido could overtake Ohtori, but power walking as they were, Ohtori's longer legs kept him ahead. The second year pushed through a gate marked "Employees Only." Growling to himself, Shishido followed. He shouted Ohtori's name again, and when that failed, he tried, "Choutarou!"

That stopped him. Ohtori turned about six feet away from Shishido, eyes wide.

Under the force of that stare, Shishido found whatever he wanted to say deserted him. Shishido averted his own eyes, stammered for a few seconds, tried to look at Ohtori again, failed, sputtered another few syllables before finally managing, "Look, you're not going to like it."

Ohtori tilted his head, confused.

Shishido tightened his ponytail, just to have something to do with his hands. "For me to get back on the team... it's not going to be easy. You know I'll have to beat one of them, right?"
Ohtori took a few eager steps towards him. "You could beat Taki-senpai, easily, Shishido-san. He's better at doubles than you right now, but we could train--"

"But it might not be Taki," Shishido sighed. "Atobe could say I have to beat anyone, even him. Even you. And even if he doesn't, I have to train like that's what I'm trying to do. And if you want to help, you have to listen to me, even when you don't want to. And there's going to be a lot of times when you don't want to."

Ohtori nodded, his eyes now wary, as if he was still trying to process Shishido's words.

"And even then it still might not work." Shishido paused, but he had to know the answer to this now. "What happens if it doesn't work?" He tried to cover the anxiety in his voice. Until today, he never would have believed Ohtori was the type to date for status, but today kept throwing nasty surprises at him. And he didn't want to get involved in something like that. He'd seen Taki pull crap like that too many times.

But Ohtori smiled, his eyes softening enough that Shishido couldn't look at them directly. "Shishido-san, if you decide you want to get back on, then you will. There isn't any doubt. That's why ..." Ohtori's face reddened as he looked away, "That's why I like you, Shishido-san. Not because you were a regular or because you will be again, but because you're probably the only person who can become a regular again."

Damn. Good answer. Shishido fidgeted with the hem of his t-shirt. "I'm really bad at this stuff, Ohtori. I'm not saying that to get you to leave me alone, but you should know. I forget birthdays and I hate telephones and I'm just ... I'm really bad at this."

Ohtori closed the distance between them. "Why don't you let me decide that, senpai?" And Ohtori kissed him. Shishido could have stopped it. He knew on some level he probably should stop it. But he also knew he didn't want to stop this taste that was part thrill, part hormones, and part the cherry cola he'd bought Choutarou earlier.

And all too quickly, it was over. Shishido blinked a few times, sure for a second that Ohtori was wearing that odd smirk from earlier. Then it was gone, replaced by the usual mix of innocence and good intentions.

"We'll start tomorrow, Shishido-san," he grinned, fighting down a blush and starting to move away.

"Hey," Shishido stuttered as he grabbed Ohtori's wrist before the taller boy could get too far. "You don't have to go right now, you know. I mean, we could hang out if..."

Choutarou smiled. "We made a deal, Shishido-san. After you make the regulars."

Shishido blinked. The second year was much craftier than the rest of the team gave him credit for. "Tell me one thing," he began. "After the SkyDrop, why did you run back here?"

Now, Choutarou positively beamed, "So you'd follow me, Shishido-san."

Shishido put one hand to his forehead. "I thought so."

With a soft chuckle, Ohtori disappeared out through the gate.

Part of Shishido wanted to smack himself for getting into something that was obviously going to be as messy and fraught with peril as this relationship. However, the rest of him was too busy trying to wipe the stupid grin off of his face before someone saw to notice.

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The EllipsesBandit...'s continuing inside jokes and commentary

--Actually this chapter is pretty self-explanatory. I do occasionally get the almost uncontrollable urge to yell "CHOUTAROOOOOOOOOOOU!!" at the top of my lungs, but who doesn't? Right?

--cricket noises--

...right?