Chapter 10

"Atobe," Tezuka's cold and stern voice stopped the diva in his tracks. "Meet me after practice. I want to speak to you."

The diva gave him a cursory glance over the back of his shoulder. "Ahh."

The captain frowned as if in disapproval at his answer. Atobe shrugged, then offered Tezuka a smirk which said that he knew he had won, despite being made to run a hundred laps after his match was over. Kikumaru had made an unusual amount of noise, obviously distressed over Ryoma losing. Momoshiro looked grim but he dared not offer any comments, wanting to help Ryoma but not knowing how. Oishi was worried sick and fussed over the younger boy to the point where the other told him to get lost. Inui was quiet, and even the scribbling of his pen had stopped at the moment the match ended, unable to complete the record. Ryuuzaki offered some comfort to the youngest regular on their team, but not before she had given everyone a scathing look that hid the despair very few saw.

Fuji knew. That was why he went after Ryoma from the moment the younger boy stalked off after practice that day, and spoke to him in lowered voices before coming back to Atobe's side.

"What did you tell him?"

"To wisen up," Fuji's easy reply made Atobe narrow his eyes, but he shrugged, satisfied with the game he had earlier on.

"Tezuka wants to speak to me." The diva could barely keep the contempt out of his voice. "I'm sure he's going to start whining about how I shouldn't do this to a first year student and how I broke rules and how I'm always a troublemaker. Hn."

Fuji didn't doubt it. Tezuka's script was as predictable as the sunrise, and Atobe's responses were, while a touch more creative, just as rote. "What are you going to do?"

"What can he do to me? Kick me off the team? Hardly. I'm the student body president. I can make his life just as hellish as he can make mine."

Fuji tried not to laugh too hard at that idea. Atobe never brought that power to bear, tending to shuffle those responsibilities off on his classmates, but when it came down to the line, he was the single most powerful student in the entire school. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why the balance of power had lasted after Tezuka became captain.

"Saa." It was Fuji's all-purpose reply.

After changing in the locker room, Atobe wandered over to Tezuka, who was still half-dressed. Tezuka was smoothly fastening the white shirt that they wore under their winter uniforms, ignoring how the room hushed as people saw Atobe actually dare to approach his nemesis.

"What do you want, Tezuka?" he asked, leaning against the locker next to him, which happened to belong to Kikumaru. Kikumaru, half-dressed himself, opened his mouth to protest that he needed to get at his stuff, but Oishi clamped a hand over the red head's mouth, shaking his head in warning.

"We need to talk," Tezuka said calmly, his fingers managing to button the top of his collar with little effort. Atobe thought it made Tezuka look like a nerd, to be so meticulously tidy. He, of course, tended to leave the top button undone to display a tantalizing glimpse of his smooth, perfect skin.

"So talk," Atobe shot back.

"Not here."

Atobe rolled his eyes in exasperation. "This isn't about that game, is it? I'm perfectly within my rights as a regular to challenge another regular to a match. Echizen agreed."

"Not here," Tezuka said, and his voice was so low it was practically a growl. He grabbed his bag, stuffing the rest of his clothes in it, and Atobe blinked in surprise as he nodded to the door. "Come."

"Syuusuke, I think I might be a bit late tonight. Don't wait up for me," Atobe called over his shoulder as he followed the Seigaku captain.

Everyone blinked in surprise and turned to stare at Fuji, who was still smiling as he packed his bag as well as Atobe's. "Tezuka's really mad this time, isn't he?" he asked idly.

Oishi could tell Fuji was right. He had never heard Tezuka so on the verge of snapping... with the possible exception of that doubles match. "This isn't good," he said.

Kikumaru, forgotten, squirmed, trying to get free of his partner's hands. Oishi had gone rigid as Tezuka and Atobe had their minor spat, and he hadn't been able to break free. Now that the two top singles players were gone, there was no reason for Oishi to keep a hold of him, really! He pulled a bit, but Oishi seemed to have turned into a statue. Finally he did the only thing he could think of, and his tongue darted out, licking Oishi's palm.

"Eiji!"

"What do you want?"

Atobe's haughty voice would have made anyone who didn't know him well fly into a rage. Instead, all Tezuka did was stare at him with narrowed eyes.

"Are you aware of the consequences of your actions?" The captain crossed his arms and leaned against the side of the building with a distinctively displeased look.

They had left the locker room a while back with Tezuka leading the way to somewhere behind the school buildings, which were all abandoned at this time of the day. The setting sun cast a false, warm atmosphere on the both of them, making Tezuka's hair glow like honey while Atobe's dark grey hair shone with gold highlights.

"I know what I'm doing."

"It appears," Tezuka began, frowning slightly, "that you still do not understand the consequences of what you did. And neither are you showing any signs of clear thinking before acting on your own will."

At this, Atobe's eyes widened and he glared at the other, offended. "How can you say that when it's perfectly clear that I have done nothing wrong? It is within my rights to challenge Echizen to a match. Furthermore, he accepted! I didn't force him to do anything he didn't want to! If you're so distrustful of me, you can check with him!"

"Stop being so self-conceited."

"What!"

"Listen," the captain narrowed his eyes at Atobe, "and think carefully about what you've done."

"I didn't do anything wrong!"

"What did I just say about listening?"

Atobe stared at Tezuka in disbelief. "Stop being such a stuck-up prick! You're not always right and you should know that! Just because I happen to be-"

"Atobe," the other boy's frown deepened, "we're not talking about-"

"Yes, we are! You're always saying 'I think you should do this', 'I think you should do that', ordering people around and making people do laps just because you're the team captain! You know what? I think you are the one who have ego issues and you are the one who needs to do some careful thinking about your own actions before lecturing other people!" The older boy paused for a moment, as if attempting to regain part of his lost composure. "I know how good it feels to hold power in your hand but using it to control others is not the way to earn yourself popularity, Tezuka. The key to people's hearts is not just simple determination and steadfastness or a stringent attitude. You have to charm your way into people's hearts-"

"I'm not you."

"Unfortunately! Precisely because you're not me, and that's why you're not winning any popularity contests! I think you have a lesson or two to learn about human communication-"

"I'd rather not take lessons from you." Tezuka countered, staring at Atobe with an indescribable look.

The other looked outraged. "I'm not offering! Who'd want to teach you? Oh, please! I have far more interesting and constructive things to do with my time than attempt to teach an antisocial personality how to have a normal conversation without resorting to ellipses and single word replies! You know what's called creativity? Personality? Charm? You have none of that-"

"I don't need them."

"Oh, stop being rude while interrupting me in between every five sentences I say!"

Tezuka actually raised his eyebrows, slightly, before giving Atobe a pointed look which indicated that he wasn't any more polite by shouting non-stop.

The diva glared, his voice turning frosty and bitter. "I really don't like you, Tezuka."

There was nothing but silence for several long moments.

"Well," Tezuka adjusted his glasses almost absentmindedly. "I don't like you much either."

The moment froze, and the two stood on a precipice, each daring the other to jump. Their breathing was the only sound as they waited for the other to reply, but then Atobe smiled. "That's good to know. That means we can drop the formalities. I don't like you, Tezuka, but at least I treat you with respect - except when you're being a hypocrite."

Tezuka's breath hissed between his teeth as he tried to keep tight leash on his temper. "I am not a hypocrite."

"Really? I'd say you are. You won't acknowledge that I'm as good as you are, won't acknowledge that I could be right. You're so damn set in your ways that you're a frigging iron rod. Iron becomes brittle, and it'll break if hit the wrong way."

"I know how good you are," Tezuka said back.

"Really?" Atobe countered. "If you did, things wouldn't be the way they are." Atobe didn't run from the truth. He hated those who did, and perhaps that was why Tezuka's blindness so infuriated him. He knew, perhaps somewhere inside, how things could have been different, if they would have been able to cooperate.

But Atobe also didn't regret what couldn't be.

"You're good, Atobe, but your pride gets in your way," Tezuka said, finally voicing his chief complaint with his rival. How many times had Atobe's arrogance gotten on his nerves, and he had remained quiet, because he had been expected to?

"And that's why you are blind. My pride is why I'm so good. And your pride blinds you. If you weren't so fucking pigheaded, we'd have won that match."

"That was not my fault-" Tezuka's voice dropped another three degrees.

"It certainly wasn't mine." Atobe took a deep breath, trying to remind himself that yes, murder was illegal, and that he had reputation to maintain. It was one thing to be a diva - it was another entirely to be a brute. "You wanted to talk. I'd rather not have to work with you at all, but you made it my business. I know what the hell I'm doing."

"You're destroying the career of one of the most promising young tennis talents before it begins," Tezuka said sharply.

Atobe laughed. The idea was ridiculous. "Really? I didn't see it that way. If I can destroy him by humiliating him that easily, then he's not that promising, is he?"

"A good senpai guides his kohai. It's true Echizen may have needed to have his ego knocked down to size, but that was not the way to go about it -"

"Wasn't it? Did you see the look in his eyes as he got up? Right now, the only thing he wants to do is hide. He needs to be strong enough to climb up, and remember his pride."

"Like you?"

"I'm all about pride. If he can face me again, he'll be getting somewhere."

"You honestly expect him to beat you?"

"Hell no. But he needs to remember what tennis is about - it's not about being better - it's about being better and enjoying it. I don't know why the hell he's playing, but it's not because he likes the game. The technical skills are all there, but it's rote."

Tezuka didn't doubt Atobe's assessment. Atobe's observational skills were beyond question. "You were cruel."

"Cruel to be kind, Tezuka. Cruel to be kind. And if I have fun doing it, so much the better."

"This isn't about you, Atobe. It's about Echizen. And what you have just done might damage him for good."

Atobe sighed. "And that's precisely what I'm talking about. If Echizen doesn't have the guts to stand up and face me again, then he's probably not as promising as you think, hm?"

"You're not getting-"

"No. You are the one who isn't getting what I'm saying, Tezuka." The diva almost rolled his eyes. "Who was the one who said something about listening just now?"

Tezuka frowned slightly. "I'm listening." To suggest that he had zero abilities on listening while lecturing other people to do the same was the least flattering things the captain wanted to hear. Furthermore, it wasn't true. He did listen. He could see where Atobe was going with his justification, but there were still some things he wanted to clear up with the other.

"No, you're not." Atobe snorted. "Here, let me make it simple for you. Echizen has an ego that's comparable to either of ours, right?"

The bespectacled boy only gave him a look.

Atobe sighed, exasperated. "Okay. Now, you're worried that I've smacked him too hard and he's not going to get up again after I put him down now, right?"

"Yes-"

"Well, look at it this way," the diva offered Tezuka one of his rarer smiles. "He's supposed to have the talent and ability to become the leader of the new generation following us. He's good, but not good enough yet. And meeting me now is good for him, because if he was to reach the top in Seigaku after we leave and suddenly face someone like me smacking him down, he might not stand up again. I'm his senpai, I'll always be around. I'm above him and that's why I'm better. An opponent on the courts simply isn't the same, Tezuka."

"You should limit what you did-"

"I gave him my best. Or part of my best, anyway." Atobe smiled. "And that's the best kind of respect I can give him, don't you think so?"

Tezuka only stared at him, finally seeing how Atobe's mind worked for the first time. Even if it was only a small portion of him, and it concerned only tennis, he could see what had structured this strong and individualistic person who climbed above the rest easily.

It wasn't just his Insight. Atobe simplified things around him to the point where it concerned only him. With that, he had a clear view of the world. It also meant that he was the best kind of friend and worst kind of enemy a person could have. Single-minded would be a wrong way to describe him, but what he was run very close to that.

"You should have been gentler on him."

Atobe laughed, honest and clear. "I think, on the courts, you should know me better than anyone else, Tezuka."

The captain was quiet.

"Since when have I ever been gentle on you? I respect you, Tezuka, and that's why I always give you the best. Do not deprive Echizen of that."

In the end, it came down style, Tezuka thought. Atobe's style, so flashing and bold, tended to overwhelm those who weren't prepared. Tezuka preferred to think things through more carefully, while Atobe used his gifts to analyze and make split-second decisions.

And Atobe had been right - Tezuka didn't give him the respect he deserved. Atobe was better than he gave him credit for. Atobe was so black and white, Tezuka knew. People either loved him or hated him, with no middle ground. There was a simplicity to Atobe, despite the way he made things complicated. Tezuka had fallen in the trap of staring at the glitz and listening to Atobe's sarcasm, and ignoring his abilities. He had always believed that he would eventually beat the other boy, since he had won the one game they had ever finished... but what if that was a wrong assumption?

He needed to think on it.

"Perhaps," he said with noncommittal. "But it wasn't your decision to make alone."

Atobe was surprised at Tezuka's compromise. Twilight was nearly upon them, and he glanced at his watch. They had actually spoken for nearly an hour, and while they both had actually lost their tempers, they hadn't killed each other yet.

"Maybe. Echizen is our replacement. He'll never be as good as we are, but Seigaku will need a new pillar next year," he said.

"Atobe - I don't want him falling in with your crowd. The last thing he needs is to become a follower."

"There's nothing wrong with my crowd!"

"A pillar can't be a follower. He needs to be a leader."

"I don't want him to be one of your loyal lackeys, either," Atobe shot back, offended, before a smile curved his lips. "Follow the rules, never break them. I don't see that happening, but isn't that what you'd like?"

Tezuka sighed, feeling like he was holding everything together by the tail. Right now he and the diva actually seemed to be negotiating a tenuous truce, and saying the wrong thing would completely shatter it. "He's going to be obsessed with you... which is exactly what you intended. But I don't want him to become one of those who listens to everything you say. He needs to think on his own."

"Like Fuji doesn't?" Atobe snickered.

Tezuka almost twitched. "Echizen is not Fuji. Fuji is a special case."

"Thank god," Atobe muttered, trying to imagine having another Fuji on his hands and shuddering. Fuji was a wonderful friend, but there was such a thing as too much of a good thing. "Echizen is special as well. I've already got his attention - why don't you do the same?"

Tezuka stared at him, considering. He had been thinking of playing Echizen at some time, and learning about his heritage had intensified the idea, but doing anything Atobe suggested was against his nature. "I'm the captain. I already have it."

Atobe's smile was confidant. "He's already played the best in Seigaku... perhaps having a target a bit more within his reach..."

The time Tezuka did twitch. "You are not better than I am!"

Atobe's rolled eyes gave his opinion of that. "Keep believing that if it makes you happy. But even if I do agree to keep from trying to actively persuade him that I am the one who is right, as far as he's concerned now, I'm the best. And he's the kind who only goes after the biggest target."

The captain appeared to think about Atobe's words for a moment before replying. "I'll speak to Ryuuzaki-sensei about this."

Which, in other words, also meant that he wasn't going to do things the way Atobe did. The diva shrugged, nonplused with Tezuka's reply. It was fine with him. Whatever way the other boy wanted to deal with the youngest regular on their team...

It wasn't his problem.

"The ball's in your court." Atobe replied simply, then turned to glance at the rapidly darkening horizon. "It's late."

"I know."

Atobe smiled, satisfied. "I'm leaving then. See you in school tomorrow."

That actually made Tezuka pause. Atobe noticed the somewhat odd expression on the other boy's face and frowned.

"Stop giving me that look."

"Wha-"

"Unlike what you would like to think, I'm a civilized and cultured person, Tezuka." Atobe sighed, clearly exasperated. "I may not like you much, but I'm not rude and neither do I dislike you enough to be a total asshole over something as small as saying goodbye."

Tezuka stared at the other in surprise for the briefest of moments before shaking his head faintly. "No... It's just- I wasn't expecting it."

"What? Wasn't expecting me to be civilized?"

"Not that. Just... give me some time."

This time, Atobe was the one who gave him a weird look.

"Whatever you want, then."

The way the rapidly fading sunlight hit Atobe's eyes at an angle which made them glow. The diva turned and started walking off, leaving behind Tezuka, who was still standing by the school building staring after the former with a slight frown between his eyes.

Was it just him or had Atobe appeared different for the briefest of moments? Was it just him or... no, he didn't want to think about that. He had barely gotten over the shock of being able to cooperate with Atobe for the very first time. If he was to start thinking that Atobe was actually likeable as a person, there must be something wrong. It must be the lateness of the hour, and he was tired after a day of practice, too.

He still didn't like Atobe Keigo.

And frankly speaking, that should be enough. For the moment, at least.

End: Chapter 10