OMG TEZUKA IS BACK! Our beloved buchou is here!! YAY! Cheer everyone! So, yes another chapter with Tezuka! Hurray! He's back! (well he's been back for a while in the manga and anime but let's ignore that for now) I altered it slightly to get more Fuji in :) It's a long chapter I think lol. Here we go!

Saa… I'm afraid I don't have enough money to buy Prince of Tennis.

He regretted making the decision.

They had been called down, all of them, to greet the new coach: Tezuka. Fuji had felt his heart surge when he heard his greatest rival was back. The moment he had been waiting for. Of course he was a little disappointed that he would be back as a coach, not a player. Nevertheless one can't have it their way all the time. And so, he had whole heartedly clapped to welcome him back to Japan, successfully ignoring Mizuki's attempt at conversation.

He wanted to talk to him too. Unfortunately, Tezuka was immediately overtaken by his doubting team. Fuji calmly regarded them. He could understand their questioning. But somewhere inside him, he felt disgust for being them; how could they dare to be skeptical of Tezuka's skills in anything? As Tezuka's team left, the others dispersed as well to go to their own respective coaches, still murmuring about the return of one of the greatest junior high tennis players.

Still, they were drawn to him. All of them. Somehow they drifted from their own courts to stand by the place where Tezuka played. Fuji felt a genuine smile creeping up on him. Even if he was not fully healed, he could still play to this extent. The thrill that would be there should he play him. The tennis prodigy felt his blood rush all the more faster.

And soon, they were alone. His own group had already left him, but he didn't mind. He wanted to talk to Tezuka more. Pushing open the fenced door, Fuji entered the empty court.

"Tezuka."

The newest coach looked up to see Fuji, smiling happily at him. "Ohayou. And welcome back."

For a moment, Tezuka didn't react. It wasn't shock; of course he knew Fuji would be here. However, he could see something was off today with the prodigy. The smile seemed too fake today. Maybe it was jet lag playing tricks on him. Brushing himself off, Tezuka greeted his teammate.

"Ah. Thank you."

The wind blew for the first time in several days. It cooled down the players who had absorbed all of summer's vengeful heat. Fuji closed his eyes momentarily before opening them again half way.

"Ne… so how was Germany?"

Automatically, they began walking as if Fuji's question had been a command. They let the courts disappear behind them as they strolled down the concrete pathway towards nothing.

"It was nice. The weather wasn't so hot."

Fuji let a chuckle escape. "Well Japan is known for hot summers."

"That's true."

Tezuka said nothing after that. Fuji didn't either. They simply walked, side by side. Neither looked at one another but knew each other's presence. It was a strange bond; not quite friends but more than acquaintances.

"I have to go to my room now."

Fuji stopped, surprised. He regarded Tezuka with astonishment, as if he was someone he had never met. Then, slowly, the blue eyes disappeared. He looked down to see the fork in the road.

"Mm. Of course. I have to get going anyways. See you later Tezuka."

"Yes. Bye."

Fuji waved as Tezuka walked to the right. He looked so… comfortable. So relaxed, as if wearing a baggy sweat suit and having a tennis bag slung over his shoulder was what he was meant to do all his life. Fuji sighed. Tezuka Kunimitsu was someone who lived and breathed tennis. Without tennis…. Well Fuji couldn't think of anything else that would get the stone-faced captain so passionate. Passionate enough to destroy his own arm. Fuji was sure this was what they dubbed as a 'calling'. Tezuka's calling was tennis. No doubt about it.

The tennis prodigy walked off to the left, regarding the grass with new interest. He had to get to the rehabilitation center again.

What calling do I have?

----------

He would have to admit, he was slightly surprised when he came back. He had barely stepped inside the dorms when he was whisked off by Eiji; similar to how he was dragged into the exercise room by Yuki. Then, his ears were carelessly abused as Eiji rambled on and on without even taking a breath about a special party for Tezuka.

"Sobecausetezukafinallycamebackfromgermanyeventhoughhe'snotgoingtoplaywe'regoingtohaveapartytowelcomehimandallthecoachesagreedtoitsoeveryonefromseigakuisgoingtodosomethingbutbutochibidoesn'twanttodoanythingnyawhatshouldwedoithinkthatweshoulddosomethingaboutitnefujikoweshoulddosomethingsinceitssuchaspecialdaynya" was what Fuji heard. Luckily, being around the hyperactive tennis player for two years had its benefits; he could easily decipher it into understandable language.

"Sou ka… saa…then I should do something too right?"

"Hoi! Of course! Me and Oishi are going to do nininboari because Oishi said it's a traditional event in camps so I agreed to be the body nya!"

The red head slid open the door to one of the many rooms in the dorm to reveal all the third years of Seigaku.

"Nya! Fujiko is here everyone! Unyah! Where's Momo? Where's Ochibi? Where's Kaidoh?"

"Since they said that they had nothing to do for the party, we let them go." Inui replied. His glasses glinted, suggesting that otherwise. Eiji shivered before pouting and starting saying how it wasn't fair that their kouhais didn't do anything while the senpais were doing everything. It was only momentary as Oishi calmed him down.

"Okay then, I'll do an old trick I learned a while ago." Fuji said smiling. Everyone complied with the prodigy; he always seemed to make things just a little better at least.

"By the way Fuji, where did you go? I asked Sakaki-sensei but he just said you went to take care of something. Is something going on?"

One by one, the third years turned to look at the prodigy. First Oishi, who had hypersensitive ear for problems. Then Eiji and Taka turned together, curious about where their friend had been disappearing to lately. Inui's glasses glinted again in the artificial lighting. Fuji made sure a smile was pasted on his face. They had all wondered where he went off to. Taka and Inui noticed it the most, being in the same group, but Eiji and Oishi had seen Fuji passing by their courts to the gates twice during training. It wasn't like the prodigy to just leave like that during practice. After all, he wanted to get in to the tournament too didn't he?

"Ah… I had to go somewhere with nee-san a lot."

"Where'd you go nya?"

They didn't say it but they were all watching for any subtle changes in expression. Unfortunately for them, Fuji was a master of disguise. They saw nothing out of the ordinary except for his usual smile.

"Nowhere important."

---------

"Be awed ore-sama's beautiful voice."

Fuji nearly choked on his juice. First it was 'be awed by ore-sama's prowess' and now they were to be awed by 'ore-sama's' voice. Oh how amusing narcissistic people are.

The tennis prodigy sat back in his chair, regarding the seven fellow tennis players with hilarity. He brightened even more when he found out that they weren't half bad. Actually, they sounded good. He felt his cheeks starting to ache from smiling so much. Nevertheless, this was an opportunity he could not afford to pass up. It was picture time.

The expression changes that the singers went through almost made Fuji double up in laughter. Atobe merely sang louder and flipped his hair for good measure. Sengoku winked while Kirihara smiled. Sanada looked horrified for a moment, than regained his brick-like composure. The Rikkaidai player closed his eyes as if that would make the camera go away. As if. Oshitari, Ibu, and Kamio all did their best to look at least acceptable in a picture.

Fuji sighed with satisfaction. They were pretty good pictures, if he did say so himself. He never really tried for an artistic look; he just clicked when he thought the moment was right. He was secretly proud of that, being able to take good pictures even though he didn't try to. He listed the pictures he had taken inside his head. Pictures of the newly formed band of seven tennis players… Eiji and Oishi… Eiji and Oishi tripping over each other… Inui's magic trick… The regulars' horrified expressions… hm…

"Eh… now we will have Fuji-senpai perform something for us."

Leaving his camera with Yuuta, Fuji walked up to the small coffee table set up for him. He put a silky white table cloth over the top neatly. All eyes were on him as he put a slender vase with a rose in one corner, platters and cutlery near him, and a glass of juice (which was really Inui juice in disguise). There was a hushed silence in the cafeteria. He pinched the edge of the table cloth.

Surprisingly, his hands began to shake. Everyone was watching him, seeing what he would do. All eyes on him. He was the center of the attention now. It was just a matter of surviving.

1…2…3…

The table cloth came off with a satisfying snap as the glassware clinked gently on the table; none of them had fallen.

It began all at once. It was impossible to tell who started clapping first, but nevertheless they did clap. Fuji looked up from the table cloth to the row of tennis players around him. Every one of them clapping. Suddenly, he felt dissatisfied at just smiling at this scene. He wanted to take a picture of this, of this moment in time when everyone seemed so happy and naïve. He smiled forlornly at the camera sitting idly beside Yuuta.

Maybe it's more precious to keep it within my heart.

"Aniki!"

Fuji blinked. What had happened? In the blink of an eye… the scene was gone. No more clapping, no more smiles. He was surrounded by frowns, mutters, whispers, and unhappiness.

He looked around. The small table lay on its side, the wine glass broken upon impact. The vase holding the rose was miraculously unharmed. Feeling liquid on his hand, he raised it up to his face. Blood and Inui Juice.

"Oi, he's bleeding!"

"Nya what happened? I couldn't see!"

"Fuji-senpai, are you okay?"

"Fuji-senpai?"

"Fuji-san? Did you see what happened? I didn't."

"I don't know. He just fell."

"That was sudden. Are you okay Fuji-san?"

"He's bleeding! Where's the first aid kit?"

(Yuuta's POV)

I don't know what to say.

This has never happened before. I haven't seen Aniki hurt before. Only at the Rikkaidai match, and the time I accidentally spilt oil on him. But those times… they were different. He didn't have this expression. This eerie face that said he didn't know anything… and the way he looked so… fascinated that he was bleeding. As if it really isn't his hand that he's looking at. Oh God, he's bleeding! What the hell am I doing? Help, I need to help him.

"Aniki, come on, let's go to the nurse's office."

He looked up at me. His eyes were opened fully for once. Normally it sent shivers down my spine, but now, it was just awkward.

"Hurry nya! What if you bleed to death?!"

Kikumaru-san broke it. Aniki's smile was back up, though it seemed a little lopsided as if he had rushed sticking it on.

"Maa… don't worry Eiji. It's only a minor cut."

He pushed himself up, being careful not to press against any stray glass. For the first time, I noticed he was shorter than me. Had I grown? Or… when? Why hadn't I noticed before? I had beaten him in something. Finally. Somehow, I had managed to come out on top. But the win was so subtle…

"Yuuta? Is something wrong? Maa... don't tell me there's something on my face too…"

He was always like that. He could always suppress emotions that others let out immediately. Another one of Aniki's many talents.

"No, nothing. Come on, let's go."

----------

(General POV)

Fuji had missed the party.

The nurse had taken a while finding the correct bandage. He had sat on the cool steel bench for about half an hour or so while holding gauze to his rather miniscule cut. He was about to suggest that they put something else on it temporarily when she came back with the roll of bandage in her hand. A bit ironic.

So now there was only one thing left to do. Be the thing he had been so often.

He took a deep breath. He had mentally prepared himself for this the whole evening. But still he couldn't completely rid himself of his nervousness; the restrained shaking and coldness of his hands or the feeling that he was being carefully watched.

The halls were empty. Everyone had long since gone to their rooms for some sleep. He himself had snuck out of his dorm when Yuuta dozed off. It was a shame since Yuuta looked so cute.

But for now, he had to finish this. Then, he would leave.

Fuji let his bandaged palm touch the doorknob first. Then one by one, he let his fingers touch the cold metal. He heard a stretching noise as he turned the knob. It would surely attract the attention of the coaches inside. He couldn't run now.

There was only Sakaki-sensei and Hanamura-sensei. No Tezuka. Fuji felt some of the burden lift from his shoulders. It was almost like he was saved. He couldn't possibly say the words that he would say soon. Not in front of someone like Tezuka who lived for tennis. He would probably faint from shock if Fuji used 'only' and 'tennis' in the same sentence in that order.

"What is it Fuji-kun? Is something wrong?"

Fuji smiled, wondering how strange he looked standing at the door silently.

"Sorry to disturb you. I have something you should know, Sakaki-sensei and Hanamura-sensei."

The two coaches looked up from their mounds of paper with interest. Hanamura put down her cup of coffee. It landed with a solid thud.

"What is it? Oh, and before I forget, it seems like you have been missing some practices. It will lower the chances of you going to the tournament you know."

"Hai. I know. Actually it's about that."

It was as if he had turned on a switch. The atmosphere immediately heightened until it was on the borderline of uncomfortable. Fuji breathed. Say the words that you need to. It's no use running now. You can't help it.

"I'm quitting this camp. Please drop me from your list, if you had any considerations about putting me on the team. I will leave tomorrow."

There was no sound. No sound at all. He couldn't even hear the breathing. It was funny, how silence was more deafening than noise. It grew until he wanted shout, stomp, or do something to make this intensifying uneasiness go away.

"Demo… Fuji-kun, the camp is almost over."

"Is there some reason why you wish to be dropped?"

The Hyotei coach was direct and to the point. No dancing around the fact. Fuji smiled. It was almost like Atobe himself, minus the ego.

"I believe I am not fit for this anymore. Also, I'm sure there are much better candidates than me. So please, allow me to drop from the camp."

"I see. That is all. You will be dropped as requested. Dismissed."

Fuji straightened up from his bow in surprise. Just like that. He was a quitter now. Well, this was what he had been hoping for hadn't he? He wanted to be dropped. But so sudden… it seemed wrong, as if they were condemning him. Yet… hadn't he chosen this path?

"Sakaki! Please don't make such rash decisions! All the coaches should discuss this first. Please stay a while Fuji-kun. We'll wait for Tezuka."

"No. Please. I wish to be dropped from this program."

Hanamura looked at him with curiosity. She would probably say it wasn't a good enough reason and that perhaps he should just train harder. She wasn't one to give something up so easily.

"You are dropped."

"But I don't believe that is a reason. What he said is a doubt."

"If he says that is his reason, than I trust him. If he does not feel up to it, than he should not play at all. It is enough. We do not want half-spirited players in the courts."

Hanamura pursed her lips in displeasure. The coach drank deeply from her cup. She probably had no argument for that. After all, he was not all that talented of a player.

"… I don't wish this. But since you are leaving already…"

Fuji waited. Had he heard footsteps from somewhere? He was imagining it. Surely. There was no one around this late at night.

"We will let you leave. It was a pleasure training you Fuji-kun."

He didn't feel accomplished at all. He felt, if possible, sadness. He was leaving… this hobby of his. It was gone.

"Hai. Arigatou gozaimasu."

He bowed before closing the door. Only after he closed it did he realize someone was there. He tried to stop himself from gasping. It couldn't be. He turned as fast as he could. Purple and navy blue sweat suit. Glasses. Brown hair. A stoic face.

"Tezuka."

The person he had been avoiding… he had ended up being face to face with.

Tezuka, as usual, did not have any expression. This time though, it seemed like it was caused by genuine disappointment or disapproval of Fuji. Like a child being scolded, Fuji gulped.

"How long… have you been there Tezuka? I didn't think you would be the one for eavesdropping."

The rock face did not move. Rather, it seemed to grow even more immobile.

"Why are you quitting Fuji?"

Instead of answering, Fuji turned away and started walking. Tezuka was about to call him back when he stopped of his own accord.

Fuji stared at the shining brown table a few feet away. Why on earth was that there? Oh… the chairs. It was a sitting area inconveniently positioned. How inconvenient, for everyone. Very inconvenient. He should move it.

"… Tezuka, do you remember that day? The day when I played Echizen in the rain?"

There was no answer. But Fuji didn't expect one anyways.

"Remember? Remember when I asked you to drop me from the team, if you thought I would cause trouble?"

Tezuka frowned. Had he seen the prodigy shudder? It had been brief, like a fleeting moment in time when the impossible came true. Tezuka had never wanted more than this moment than to deny time.

"I think maybe you should do that now."

It was shock that slowed his movement. If Fuji hadn't said it, than maybe he could have caught him. But he couldn't.

He fell. At first, he swayed. He leaned forward then backwards, as if doing an outlandish ritual dance. Forward, backward, forward, then falling. Like a tennis racket trying to balance when the owner lets go of it. Stiffly, like a stick. It was as if the prodigy's arms were glued to his side. Only when he was nearly down did Tezuka notice Fuji wasn't going to catch himself. Tezuka rushed forward.

He heard two loud thuds before catching him. He recognized one of them as the sound the table made when he hit his shoulder against it. The other…

"Fuji?"

There was no answer. Tezuka had to stop himself from waiting; waiting for him to get up and start laughing. He turned Fuji over carefully. His eyes were truly closed and his head rolled into an awkward angle. The other sound. It had been the table hitting Fuji's head.

What's wrong with you?

OMG I'M SO EVIL! Nya, I can't believe I'm doing this to my favorite character EVER. God, I'm so evil. I feel bad nya! Saa… okay, well sorry for not updating for a while my faithful readers. My seasonal job training started, exams were coming, AND it's nearly xmas people! SHOPPING! (haha, I'm a shopping freak). Thank you very much for waiting so patiently though!

My thanks to ALL of you who reviewed and are going to review now :) hehe, cookees to everyone who does (bribery nya!)

Back to the story! Omg, is that a cliffy?!? I don't know actually hahahaha! I couldn't recognize a donut from ramen anyways lol. Nya, well hopefully I'll update soon! But with winter break coming, SO DO THE TESTS! Nya, who do the hell invented tests?! I think it's BAKA! We should all REBEL! YES! FOLLOW MY FAITHFUL MINIONS! MUHAHAHAHA (yes, I'm high on cookees)

So before I go crazy, I'll end this chapter by saying: read and review! Thank you!