Yay! Ppl reviewed! Thank you so much. So, to the disappointment or joy of some ppl, I've chosen fuji. Sorry for those expecting ryoma. But I'll make sure that tennis is at least kind of important to fuji! Enjoy!

Blah - thinking

It was the second dish Fuji had dropped this week; it would be the third dish of the month.

The pieces of the flower patterned dish lay spread around the kitchen floor, the biggest piece being near his feet. Fuji carefully picked it up.

"Syuusuke! Are you alright? Did you cut yourself?"

Fuji looked up from the broken dish and smiled. "Hai. I'm alright. Gomen nasai, kaa-san."

His mother's worried face smoothed over a little. "Be careful Syuusuke. I'll get a broom to clean it up. Make sure you don't step on any!" His mother's closed eyes, just like his, threatened to open with the concern. Fuji only smiled more.

"It's okay. I'll clean it up. I've finished breakfast early today anyways. You need to start packing for your trip to Europe too." With that said, the tennis prodigy proceeded to look for a broom to sweep up the glass.

This is a bad habit I've picked up… A habit of dropping things had been steadily growing lately. It had been going on for about a month or so. It could be because he was tired. After all, the exams had been coming up. Just because he was a genius at tennis, it didn't mean he didn't have to study for his subjects. But of course, the exams had ended two days ago. So a little more sleep and rest will make up for the all the nights studying.

Fuji leaned down to pick up the dust pan and dumped the glass into the garbage can. As if on cue, his sister peeked into the kitchen.

"Syuusuke, do you want a ride?" She was dressed stylishly as always.

The younger brother smiled. "Sure. Thank you nee-san."

-------

The classroom was empty. He had forgotten there was no morning practice today, so there was nothing to do. Sighing, Fuji placed his bag on his desk by the window and sat. There weren't any students coming in. It was early after all. Opening his eyes, Fuji scanned again for any interesting sights. Last time he had caught Echizen's Himalayan spotted cat climbing the tree outside. That had been rather amusing. He secretly wished Echizen's cat ran away from home more. It would be interesting to see again.

Remembering he had taken a picture of it recently, Fuji reached to open his bag for the photo, only to grab air.

He paused. I must need more sleep. He tried again. This time, he successfully grabbed the clasp of the bag. Sighing almost in relief at the accomplishment, Fuji looked up as the door to the classroom slid open. It was just some classmates of his. They greeted him and he smiled. He didn't really know them all that well. Maybe he shouldn't have scared them with his twisted story about teddy bears and decapitation.

Forgetting about the photo, the tennis prodigy went back to his window. He was slightly surprised to feel warm hands blocking his view.

"Guess who nya?"

Fuji chuckled. "You're early today Eiji." The hands disappeared to be replaced by a smiling red-haired teenager. He was more energetic today. Summer vacation would start soon.

"Nya, you're too good Fuji. It's hard to play the guess who game." The very idea made Fuji laugh. Not good… just good at picking out the obvious.

"Saa… maybe if you made it more difficult for me."

Eiji's face immediately turned into an adorable pout. "Muu! That was mean Fuji! Of course I make it difficult nya!"

Eiji sighed. "Well anyways, I need your help nya!"

Fuji blinked. "Help? With what?" Could it be yet again this year, Eiji's last minute projects that he always hands in on the last day of school needed his help again? His best friend only grinned in answer to his unsaid question.

"Nya, I just need you to give me an outline for the conclusion. Then it'll be ALL my work!"

Fuji stared at the report put in front of him by Eiji. It read 'Report on Molecular Chemistry by Kikumaru Eiji'. The tennis prodigy felt a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Typical Eiji, handing in a final project now when it was due two weeks ago. Nevertheless, it was always fun reading his friend's attempt at an essay.

Picking up a pencil, Fuji smiled.

"How should I help?"

----------

"Fuji? You're late. And where's Eiji?"

Fuji smiled grew wider. "Saa… he's in detention for handing his work in late." Fuji had taken the joy of seeing Eiji locked up inside the classroom before coming to practice. Watching his friend shrink back in fear from their teacher's glare had been too funny. Of course when Fuji told Oishi, the vice-captain hadn't found it nearly as humorous as the prodigy had.

"That Eiji… I told him he should hand in his work on time. He never listens. Well, we're just doing some practice matches anyways. I don't think he will miss much." Oishi said while shaking his head.

"That's true. We've just finished the Kantou tournament, so Ryuuzaki-sensei shouldn't have anything important planned." Fuji turned to the courts. The tennis team was currently about to run around again with their lives on the line; the loser had to drink Inui's newly improved Health Juice Deluxe. He would have joined them but the doctor had said to take it easy even if his knee injury wasn't serious.

"Saa… I'll just warm up a little then." Turning to go, Fuji was caught short by the coach's announcement.

"Everyone! Gather at the courts! We'll start the practice matches!" Ryuuzaki-sensei yelled. Fuji smiled. Or not.

The Seigaku tennis club members lined up in the courts.

"Okay! I've decided the line-up for the matches. You are to try to win one match from your opponent. Check the board to see who you are playing against." The coach indicated to the white board behind her. The club members immediately surrounded it like moths to a flame.

"Nya, I'm playing Oishi again!"

"Eh… I'm playing Kawamura-senpai…"

"Let's go Inui-senpai."

"YOSH! BURNINGGGG!"

Fuji smiled at Kaidoh. "It seems we're playing together Kaidoh." The second year only replied with his standard 'fshuu'.

"Ah, by the way everyone, the loser will have to drink my new Inui Special Version 5." Inui's glasses glinted as he held up a pitcher of strangely multi-colored liquid bubbling rapidly. Everyone backed away except for Fuji. Instead, he went closer to observe the new juice. After scrutinizing for a long time, Fuji stepped away with a smile.

"It looks delicious."

--------

Everyone is playing harder than before.

The tennis prodigy continued to smile his usual light smile. This would make it even more interesting.

Fuji ran to get Kaidoh's snake shot. Though he returned it successfully, it was heavier than before. He must really not want to drink that. And just to tease, Fuji decided to make him lose. The expression that would be on Kaidoh's face was already making Fuji laugh.

Gradually, Fuji lowered and furthered his returns. He watched as Kaidoh fell into his trap; the second year was getting ready for another low and far return. With an absolutely sadistic grin, Fuji hit a drop volley. The genius felt a thrill as he watched Kaidoh run to get the ball. As calculated it was hit, but as a lob.

Saa… I wanted to try Inui's new drink too…I suppose I have to end this soon… A smash to the right.

Fuji was getting ready to jump when… he didn't leave the ground.

No, it was more like his body wasn't moving. It wasn't jumping like he told it to. It remained firmly rooted on the court. I…it's not…

Fuji watched as the ball sailed to land just in front of him.

"Advantage to Kaidoh!"

Realizing he could move again, the prodigy straightened up. He could hear the murmurs around him, all saying 'I wonder why he didn't take it?' or 'is something wrong?' He looked down at his feet. He could move it now. But why not then? Or… was that his imagination?

"Senpai."

Fuji looked up. Kaidoh was staring at him strangely. "Are you all right?" For a moment, he didn't know how to respond. Am I alright? Just now I couldn't move…

"Yes. I'm alright. Let's continue."

--------

So, the match ended with the 3rd year tennis prodigy winning in the end. It was just delightful to watch the other losers run from the court to the nearest source of water after drinking Inui's juice. It was even more entertaining when Inui himself did it too. While Inui was away washing his mouth of the appetizing drink, Fuji sneaked a sip of the juice. It was quite good. He should ask Inui for the recipe.

"Ah! It's over already?!"

The rest of regulars turned to the direction of the running acrobatic player not in his tennis jersey. Fuji smiled and approached his friend.

"It is over. You just missed Inui's juice. Here, I took some. Do you want to try?"

The red head immediately jumped back. "Nya! Are you trying to kill me Fujiko?!" The prodigy chuckled in response. He really didn't understand why they didn't like it. All of Inui's drinks were quite good, with the exception of Aozu. Fuji drained the last of the juice and followed his best friend out of the tennis courts.

"Nya, so what did you do today? Let's go fast before Ryuuzaki-sensei catches me!"

"Too late Kikumaru!"

The acrobatic player flinched. He was caught. Both friends turned to the coach, one with dread the other with curiosity. She didn't look too happy. Maybe even a little worried, noted Fuji.

"Kikumaru, tomorrow morning you will come extra early and run 100 laps around the school!"

"EH?! 100?! Around the school?!"

"And Fuji, I need to talk to you."

Talk to me? Fuji looked at the coach. Her face didn't betray anything. "Hai."

Eiji bid goodbye to Fuji and left with his doubles partner instead. Fuji turned to his coach as she waited for the doubles pair to be out of hearing range.

"What is it Ryuuzaki-sensei?"

The coach dropped her angry look and gave the 3rd year another one full of concern. "Are you feeling okay Fuji? It wasn't like you to miss a smash like that."

Oh…it's about that.

"Well…" Should he tell her? Or… no even he didn't know anything. It might be as insignificant as exhaustion; Kaidoh had made him run for quite a while. "It's nothing. I must be tired from studying the past few days." He gave her his best smile, which wasn't any different from the smile he wore everyday.

She waited for a sign of anything not being fine as she watched him. Neither said anything. All was silent. Finally, she sighed.

"Kids these days, overdoing it. Well make sure you get plenty of rest tonight. Tomorrow we'll have longer training after the school is out for good." She still looked at him, not quite convinced that he was alright. She had noticed he looked thinner than he already was.

"Hai."

With that, he left quickly to get changed.

There isn't anything wrong with me. I'm just tired.

Meanwhile, Seigaku's coach watched. She hoped that the feeling of worry she felt inside would fade away soon. It might be just as he said, he could just be tired. But would fatigue prevent you from jumping? She hadn't missed Fuji's bewildered expression as he stood on the court. It had taken him by surprise, the fact that he suddenly didn't, no, couldn't move. But it could be nothing… he could have lost his concentration on the game…

She walked away from the empty courts, feeling a bit empty herself.

What are you thinking? There is nothing wrong. Worrying will get you nowhere.

The coach smiled as she took out a letter from her clipboard.

After all, it would be bad luck for someone to be sick when another tournament is coming up!

So that's the end of the first chapter! I'm sorry to some that I chose fuji, but I'm not writing this to make them suffer. I just think that an illness really brings out the best in people :) it doesn't mean I like it tho! It sux being sick. So anyways, I hope you enjoyed. Nothing much is happening now. And just in case you are confused, this is set before the junior selection camp arc. Now review review review!

Ps. Just you know that I'm not ripping off of 1 Liter of Tears because it's fun or anything. My grandmother had the same disease. I still feel guilty that I was too scared to approach her when she called for me. So call this almost a tribute to grandmother. It's my way of saying sorry. Also 1 Liter of Tears let me experience at least a little what she was going through. So it is natural that it inspired me.