YAY! New chapter! Okay, so I was finally able to squeeze in Saeki somehow. And for those of you who forgot who he was, he used to be friends with Fuji in Chiba until Fuji moved to Tokyo. I actually looked for a map of Japan and found Chiba to be not so bad in distance. But if I've made a mistake, I'm sorry XP

Disclaimers are in other chapters somewhere.

The gentle swaying of the train and the low conversations was what Fuji loved best about trains. You could get lost in the soothing rocking that was so similar to a mother holding her baby and if you listened closely, you could pick up interesting bits of information from the people around you.

But what was truly the best of all was that one could fall asleep for a while and forget all of their troubles. The hectic life that had just managed to fit this trip in, the mundane existence in which the trip was just a routine, or a small part of life that hadn't gone all that well. The swaying and the murmurs became a lullaby while the plight would melt into something so indistinguishable that you would wonder why it worried you in the first place.

And so today was no exception. He never told anyone, not even his family, that he sometimes spent an entire afternoon just riding trains. He wasn't concerned about getting lost; he always knew his way back and even if he didn't he would make it somehow. Therefore, it was common for Fuji to fall asleep during a ride. It was the whole purpose of going on afternoon train trips.

With his already partly closed eyes starting to droop, he fell into a deep slumber hoping that his subconscious would not choose to manifest the past into a dream.

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Getting home was more trouble than I was planning. The most obvious setback being that I didn't expect to hurt my knee. I had taken care of it as much I could have given the situation at the court; I soaked my towel with water before tying it hastily around my knee. I remember thinking 'Okaa-san has a first-aid kit in the kitchen'.

This change in plan could have easily been overlooked had I taken Tezuka's offer to give me a ride or at least help me home. But I couldn't accept it, not after what I did. It was like kicking a rival whilst he was down. Unforgivable. So I said no as politely as possible, assuring Tezuka that I would be fine. He looked thoroughly unconvinced yet left me alone with a surly nod that indicated the conversation was over. And… had he been angry? Maybe. I can't be sure. Pause. I don't think I was looking.

We parted ways at the court, without much drama. He didn't smile and I did, it was meaningless though. He said some departure impossible to differentiate like 'see you tomorrow'; I stood waving at his vanishing back. Fast-forward. Play.

I remember too, being shocked that it was so dark. I hadn't realized at all how long the match could go. The night lights flashed brightly, making a haze in the starlit sky. I hurried to the nearest bus stop as fast as my temporarily paralyzed muscles could go. I received some stares, sometimes glares. I realized than that this is how people might look at me once I become fully handicapped.

Fast-forward. Rewind. Stop. The bus ride is over.

Maybe it's a good thing I don't remember too much; it gives more room to more important memories. Like when I got off the bus stop.

I didn't say anything at first. I was too shocked to see him sitting at the bus stop. He seemed tired, like he had been running too long. The door closed behind me as he looked up.

"Aniki!"

He got up quickly but stepped back when he realized how close we were: he still wasn't comfortable with sharing space.

"What are you doing here Yuuta? What happened?"

He fumbled for a moment, trying to find the right words for my question. But suddenly he looked at me angrily. It was too familiar, that look. Pause. Rewind. Fast-forward. Two years ago, two months ago, two weeks ago. It's not just familiar. It's the same look. Pause. Fast-forward.

"What am I doing here? I should ask you where you've been! Okaa-san is worried sick! You didn't tell her where you were!"

It struck me fast. I hadn't bothered to phone anyone about where I'd be. The prospect of having a match with Tezuka had been too great. I had forgotten. I could feel blood starting to rush to my cheeks with shame; I thought I would never do that Okaa-san but apparently I was wrong. We were never perfect.

"I'm sorry Yuuta. Come on, let's hurry home."

He frowned at me with great disapproval before turning to go. "You shouldn't apologize to me Aniki. You should apologize to Okaa-san."

"I know. But I should apologize to you too."

"…"

We walked in silence for a while. I followed him as best as I could, hopping on my other leg for support. He was almost running so it was a bit harder to follow but I couldn't blame him. The sooner I got home the better. Stop. It hurts too much to see that he didn't even turn around once. Fast-forward.

The front door burst open on Yuuta's first knock and revealed Otou-san. He nodded at Yuuta briefly as he bowed. His eyes rested on me, filled with a hard emotion. Pause. I still can't tell what it is. Play.

"I'm sorry for not telling you where I was Otou-san. I am sorry for my tardiness also."

"Syuusuke?"

I allowed myself to raise my eyes to see who it was. Okaa-san. She rushed out of the door and promptly hugged me in my awkward position. I could never fully understand her outbursts of emotion either.

"You're home thank goodness! Come in come in. You too Yuuta, it's getting cold."

I repeated my apology to Okaa-san but it seemed trivial to her. I started to feel embarrassed at the attention she showered on me: Otou-san and Yuuta seemed so far in the background.

"Did you hurt your leg Syuusuke?"

I didn't realize my hopping would be that evident. The shock was starting to wear off now. Still it didn't change that fact that I was caught.

"Ano…I was playing tennis and…"

"It doesn't matter for now. I'll treat it after dinner. Hurry, it's getting cold now."

Then everything falls out of proportion. Reality and the mind collide to leave a warped image of what happened. Yuuta's embarrassed face looms over me and Otou-san's stare is greater than ever. Okaa-san's image seems to disappear under them both.

Pause. Rewind. Stop. Pause. Play. Stop. Rewind. Fast-forward. Pause. Stop. Rewind. Stop.

I've broken my family.

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"Fuji?"

The said teenager jerked awake, caught off guard. He looked quickly to his side to meet brown eyes that he had seen before, just a while ago and when he was much younger.

"Saeki?"

His question was replied by a smile that said he had guessed the correct name. His childhood friend slid himself into the empty seat beside him.

"So it was you. You were sleeping so I couldn't be too sure. Everyone looks a little different when they're sleeping."

"Sou?"

Fuji did not question his friend's ability to detect the unseen as well as the unforeseen. Seigaku was nearly beaten in doubles two because of the ability.

Trying to shake old memories out of his head, Fuji used the opportunity to distract himself.

"So what are you doing on this train Saeki? It's going to Tokyo you know."

Saeki laughed and for the first time Fuji saw the plain white box he held in his lap protectively.

"I could ask you the same question; this train is going from Chiba to Tokyo."

"Well I asked you first so I think I deserve an answer first as well." Fuji said playfully, knowing undoubtedly that his friend always liked to give answers rather than ask questions.

"That's true," Saeki said good-naturedly. "I'm taking some nuts to my uncle's." He shook the box slightly so the rattling noise of nuts crashing with each other could be heard.

"Really? I didn't know you had an uncle here."

"Ah, it's a distant uncle. One of my relatives just got married a few months ago and Okaa-san thought it'd be a nice gesture."

"I see."

The Rokkaku tennis player looked down at his box blankly before looking back up again.

"So how about you? Were you visiting Chiba?"

The brunette shook his head, his smile pasted on firmly. "No, I just like trains. I thought I'd relax a bit before I start my homework."

His friend nodded in understanding. "Relaxation is good but don't make a bad habit out of it."

Fuji laughed at his friend's warning. "I know, I know. I won't."

The conversation might have gone on longer, friendlier but the train had stopped. Immediately the train seemed to grow smaller as masses of preoccupied people stood to get off. The two teenagers also stood up and soon began to blend in with the faceless crowd. One body, one mind. Or lack of mind. At least that seemed to be what Japan was whenever he saw the crowd walking busily towards who knows what during rush hour.

"Fuji! Over here!"

Looking around the crowded platform, he caught sight of his friend waving to him from the bench on his right. He waved back as he pushed through the rush of people. His first time at the station hadn't been all that pleasant; he didn't want to upset people therefore he had not pushed them to get to where he wanted, leaving him stranded at the station at the very edge of the Kanto region. Remembering that always gave him strength to push people out of the way, whether in stations or in matches.

Stumbling out of the main current Fuji gave Saeki a smile. "So where are you going to?"

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"Are you sure you want to come? I thought you had homework."

"Mah, it's not that much actually. Besides, isn't this more fun?"

"Well…"

Saeki shifted his weight, stuck between feeling guilty for letting his friend come to an errand with him and being slightly happy since it had been a while since he did anything with Fuji.

"So, where does your distant uncle live?"

Saeki reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper from his worn black wallet. Fuji felt his mouth forming a smile when he saw the wallet. He still kept it.

"He lives near the General Hospital on Rikotsu Street."

"Sou…Mah… that wallet, it wouldn't happen to be the same one I gave you would it?"

Saeki reached for his pocket automatically to pull out the tattered leather again. "It is actually," Kojirou gave it a pat fondly as if it were a loyal dog. "It's pretty sturdy so I like it."

"That's good. I never got a response after I sent it so I was worried."

"It's a gift. I wouldn't-"

"Rikotsu General Hospital."

The two friends looked up from their conversation as the computerized voice announced their stop. The doors at either side of the bus opened to the bustling street outside.

"Well I guess this is our stop. Are you sure you want to come along?"

"I already said it would be fun didn't I?"

Shrugging, Saeki walked through the open doors.

They landed on the gray streets on the outskirts of the river of people. It wasn't the crowd but the heat that struck them first. It climbed over their skin in waves of merciless warmth that made sweat form almost immediately. Across the street the white walls of the hospital loomed over the countless bobbling heads, partly covered by thin stunted trees. Its windows seemed to wink at the shorter of the two teens with amusement. Fuji turned away, fast enough to attract Saeki's attention.

"Is something wrong?"

"Saa, nothing. Let's go."

Putting it off as nothing, Saeki started walking away from the hospital to the green apartment buildings that grew taller as they walked closer. He suddenly felt susceptible holding the box of nuts; the last time he had met his uncle his relative had failed to fit the description of 'friendly', though he would never say it out loud. In actuality, his uncle seemed a little irrational, if not unbalanced during his visits. He glanced back to make sure Fuji was following. He sighed. Nothing he could do really. He was just glad his friend had decided to come along.

"Ta ta ta ta ta ta! My laser shoots you in the heart!"

"But I use my super shield before you can hit me!"

"Hey that's not fair!"

"It is! Bam! Now you're hit!"

Saeki watched as two boys playing with toy guns came into view. The playground was empty except for two of them, allowing them full access to the features that might not have been available had others been there. He smiled as they climbed up bars and tires to avoid and 'hit' each other. It reminded him of his childhood in Chiba, watching the tennis courts beside the playground with more interest than the games that happened around him.

However, his eyes widened as the two boys started running towards them at a quicker speed than he would have expected. They were too occupied in their games to see the two junior high students standing in their path.

The Rokkaku tennis player quickly sidestepped out of the way. He held up the white box over his head just in case. He glanced over to his friend, expecting him to do the same. Yet he didn't.

He stood almost blankly as the two boys who were on a direct collision course with him closed the distance between them. Thinking he had not seen them, he gave him forewarning.

"Fuji! Watch out!"

And still, no movement. He watched helplessly as one of the boys bumped into Fuji's leg, making them both fall. He cringed slightly as the dust rose up from the impact. The safety of his nuts forgotten for the moment, he jogged over to the two figures in the dust.

"You okay Fuji?"

The brunette nodded as he pushed himself up. Brushing the dirt from his clothes, he offered the fallen boy his hand.

"You should be more careful when you're playing."

"Hai Mister!"

Of course his agreement was seemingly wiped from the child's memory when he picked up his toy gun. The two boys ran in the opposite directions, still happily shouting nonsensical sound effects as their epic battle continued.

"Let's go Saeki. I'm fine."

"Ah… mm…"

He led the way again but this time with less nervousness and more suspicion. The way he just stood their staring at the approaching disaster was… wrong. The image was different from what he anticipated. Or… I'm too suspicious. He rubbed his eyes. He might have seen it incorrectly and it could all be a misunderstanding. Pressing the elevator button of the apartment building, he sighed.

Ding!

The elevator bell sounded as the metallic door slid open. The two teens entered wordlessly as yet another button was pressed inside the closet sized space.

"Ne… Saeki. Do you have time after this?"

"Time?" Saeki repeated. The question was unexpected. He looked at his friend who leaned against the cold metal bars, his back to the mirror.

"I guess I do. Why?"

For the first time in months he saw the blue eyes again, this time distant and distracted. He could even make out a hint of worry at the edges.

"I have something to tell you afterwards."

"…okay. Sure."

He watched the numbers go up: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5… The strange uneasiness that was emitted from the one statement his friend had made him perturbed. He tried to put it aside as his friend's general love for mystery, but the mood that had come about at the simple request was troubling. What could it possibly be? It might be Yuuta again, since their relationship seemed strained the last time he had talked to them. Although…

Ding!

The doors opened again to admit the two into a new floor. Checking the number on each, Saeki stopped at the door that bore the plaque engraved with '711'. The Rokkaku senior rang the doorbell, his uneasiness with Fuji slipping away to be replaced by a petite dread of having the door answered.

"Coming…" rang from the other side of the door, the owner of the voice sounding worn out. The steady padding of foot could be heard as well.

Fuji frowned. "This voice…"

"Hai?"

The door swung open with more force than it was used to and the two friends back away to avoid being hit. The habitant of the apartment ruffled his already disorganized hair and scratched his chest, drawing attention to the fact that his shirt was wrongly buttoned. Yawning, his olive eyes looked out with disinterest… until he spotted the brunette staring at him.

"You!"

The lazy stance was gone and the man stood erect, his arm hesitating between hanging by his side or pointing offensively at the visitor. He suddenly blushed as if realizing his unhygienic state for the first time.

"Wanazuki-sensei?"

The tennis prodigy could not help but stare at the doctor. His current image contrasted his professional image so starkly that frankly, it was frightening. However, his surprise transformed into false happiness as his eyes settled back down into being only half open and his usual smile was in place.

"How are you doing?"

"G-good. Uh… Kojirou? What are you doing here? Don't tell me. It's the nuts again."

Snapping out of his own surprise, Saeki held up the white box apologetically. The doctor sighed in response.

"Well just tell her that she doesn't need to send me nuts again. I can buy them at the grocery store you know."

"H-hai…" Saeki said, knowing well that he could not in fact tell his mother to stop sending nuts. His mother had drilled it into her head that his uncle was not getting enough nutrients.

"As for you," the doctor looked at Fuji menacingly, though the box of nuts in his hand took away from the threat. "What are you doing here?"

Secretly, he prayed to God he wasn't a stalker.

"Saeki here is my friend. I asked him to bring me along."

"…oh." The doctor looked down, dismayed that it didn't sound more sinister than he had predicted. He scratched his head again, looking around awkwardly. He had never had a patient visit him, even by accident. Well there was that one time…

The doctor blinked while staring at his patient. The blue eyes darted back and forth between Saeki and him at a rapidly before disappearing behind pale lids. "Saa… I think I should get going. It's nice seeing you."

Fuji bowed to the doctor and waved goodbye to Saeki as he turned away.

"Ah wait! I thought you wanted to tell me something!"

"Maybe next time!"

Saeki stood as his friend disappeared around the corner, his footsteps echoing hollowly in the hallway. He sighed. Perhaps it was nothing after all.

"You."

Saeki jumped. He had completely disregarded the doctor that was behind him. He turned around ready to say goodbye. However the somber look in the already intimidating eyes stopped him.

"Get in."

The doctor pointed to his apartment. Not knowing what to do, Saeki followed the blunt order. Once inside, the doctor locked his door and stepped inside, motioning Saeki to do the same. Taking off his shoes, Saeki flinched as his uncle threw the white box carelessly onto the crowded table in the living room. His mother would have a heart attack if she saw this.

As soon as he stepped inside though, his uncle turned around.

"You. Did your friend tell you?"

Saeki gulped. His uncle was not just unbalanced. He was mentally unstable. He was sure of it.

"No…"

Wanazuki Keshime muttered to himself about 'wimpy kid' before closing the gap that had been formed between them, his eyes never leaving his nephew's face.

"Sit. We're going to have a talk. An unprofessional one."

Ugh. Disappointing. I know. Even i dont like this chapter. Therefore (yeah, im doing my english right now XD) i name thee 'the worst chapter ever'! Well anyways, you'll just have to wait and see what happens in the next chapter. Laterz!