Chapter 7: More to Tezuka Buchou?!

Tezuka carefully made his way down the stairs and placed his rolled up sleeping bag and his backpack on the last step. He walked around the corner and took a peak inside the living room where his teammates lay rolled up in their sleeping bags like little silk worms. He shut his eyes for the briefest moment before turning around and making his way to the kitchen where he could sit quietly and wait for them to wake up.

"Fuji." He said surprised to see the Tensai sitting at the table sipping from a cup.

The Honey brown haired teenager smiled, "Ohayo Tezuka." He motioned to a cup resting on the table top in front of a chair beside him that had been already been pulled out.

Something was steaming from that cup. It looked like Fuji had been waiting for him.

"Ohayo." He said and took a seat in the offered chair, "How long have you been up?"

"Not long." Fuji said smiling, "Were you able to sleep?"

"Aa. Thank you." Tezuka reached for the cup.

Tea.

He raised it to his lips and relished in the feeling the hot liquid had going down his throat.

"Everyone is worried about you." Fuji said lowering his cup to the table without removing his hands from around it, absorbing the heat.

Tezuka sighed, "They should be worried about the Nationals."

Fuji opened his eyes, "You're more important than tennis."

The young captain turned to his friend surprised by the anger in the gentle voice, "I want Seigaku to win. That's my promise Fuji. That's important to me."

Fuji turned, his eyes closing, and sipped his tea.

Tezuka reached for his cup.

"Who did this to you Kunimitsu?" Fuji's soft voice whispered stopping Tezuka's hand in mid air.

Fuji reached over and took the cup out of his trembling grasp and set it on the table.

Tezuka immediately removed his hand from the table and placed them on his knees as he sat back arrow straight in his chair.

"Kudo Tetsu."

Tezuka's eyes darted towards the entrance of the kitchen and then back to the wall directly in front of him, "Do the others know about him?" he asked softly.

"Oishi. And Possibly Inui."

The young captain's gaze lowered to the table surface.

Fuji studied him carefully. It was time he tested his theory, "It seems like this clinic in Germany is very good. Maybe Oishi should go there to get treated and at the same time his tennis would-"

"NO!" Tezuka said firmly turning to Fuji with slightly widened eyes.

The Tensai stared back at him shocked at the outburst. This clearly confirmed his suspicions. He watched his Buchou in silence.

"What's going on in here?" Eiji asked walking into the kitchen rubbing his eyes, "Buchou, I heard you yelling." The red head turned to his best friend, "Are you bugging Tezuka again Fuji?" He mumbled as he came to the table and pulled out a chair to sit down.

"Did you brush your teeth Eiji?"

The red head's eyes popped open and he slapped a hand over his mouth before rushing out of the kitchen leaving the two friends alone again.

Fuji leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table so he could stare at his friend. He was confused. How could Tezuka Kunimitsu, the proud and confident buchou and friend, let someone affect him and change him? No. Tezuka wasn't someone that would let anyone destroy him. His eyes narrowed. That could only mean that whatever happened, had been against his will. And whatever Kudo Tetsu had done to him…

"The clinic should know about him Kunimitsu." A person who could hurt the Buchou like this had to be stopped immediately.

Tezuka nodded quietly.

"Do they know already?"

"No."

There was a silent moment as Fuji considered his friend's response, "I see… His status makes it complicated ne Tezuka…"

Tezuka reached for the tea that was now lukewarm, and downed it quickly.

Fuji reached for the pot and poured him more tea.

The young captain nodded his thanks.

"So you'll come to talk to neesan again?"

Tezuka nodded slowly.

"I'm glad."

"What are we going to eat for breakfast?" Eiji asked bouncing into the kitchen.

"Breakfast?" Momoshiro repeated trailing behind him.

Fuji smiled, "Well I could cook s-"

"No no! I'll do it!" Eiji volunteered, "It's too early for wasabi nya."

"I agree!" Momo chimed in.

Fuji just chuckled.

Tezuka sipped his tea. He hadn't missed the worried looks directed towards him by Eiji and Momo.

Slowly, as the kitchen filled with the aroma of food, the regulars all joined them in the kitchen. When breakfast had started, Ryoma looked up at the young captain, "Buchou?"

Tezuka looked up and met his gaze. He prepared himself for the question he knew they all wanted to ask.
"Are you ok?"

"Aa. Please everyone just concentrate on the Nationals."

There was a split second of silence.

"It was probably just a bad dream ne Tezuka?" Eiji chirped optimistically.

"Eat your food before it gets cold Eiji." Oishi said before anything more could be said on the matter.

"Tezuka, why don't we hold a practice today as a continuation of this team building exercise?" Inui suggested adjusting his glasses.

"Sounds like a good idea." Oishi said, "Can everyone make it?"

Affirmative answers came from each regular member.

"No." Tezuka's deep voice caused everyone to stare at him, "Oishi and Inui can run the practice. Make sure to inform Ryuzaki sensei." He finished his tea, "Please excuse me." He said getting to his feet and bowing politely.

Fuji also got to his feet."

"Bye buchou."

"See you tomorrow Buchou!"

The regulars exclaimed between mouthfuls of food.

Fuji followed Tezuka to the foyer where his friend grabbed his sleeping bag and his backpack.

They walked towards the door and Tezuka removed his slippers and put on his shoes.

"Come see us if you have time."

"Aa."

Fuji opened the door and watched as his friend stepped out and started in the direction of his home. When Tezuka was out of view, he closed the door and went back to join his teammates.

Tezuka walked down the sidewalk deep in his own thoughts. It would be more responsible if he informed the regulars of… He shook the thought away. Now wasn't the time to be bringing distractions to the team. He promised to bring them to the Nationals and that was what he was going to do. Afterwards, well…

"Come on Daisuke-kun! It will be fun!"

Tezuka glanced to the other side of the street where a young girl was tugging on a young man's arm.

"I promise you'll like it!" The girl said smiling at him.

Tezuka saw the corners of the boy's mouth curve up slightly. He turned away knowing fully what that look meant. The boy was going to indulge the girl.

He sighed. With his gaze lowered he continued down the street. Girls had an unfair advantage over guys. To be a gentlemen, it was often hard to refuse a girl…

Flashback

A soft knocking at his door made him jump. His head snapped around and his eyes zeroed in on the door.

The knocking came again.

Tezuka steeled himself and slowly got up off of the rumpled bed and made his way to the door. He ignored the pain as his body moved stiffly until he was standing rooted before it. Eyes glued to the doorknob.

"Tezuka-kun?" A muffled female voice sounded from the other side.

The Seigaku captain felt the tension pour off his body and he reached for the doorknob and opened the door a fraction.

"Hi." Hitomi said smiling.

Tezuka glanced at her briefly and nodded once before looking past her and up and down the corridor.

"Umm… I was wondering, if you wanted to go out with me. I mean just to get out of here."

"I have work to do."

The girl frowned, "I thought you had finished everything already?"

"There's something else." He didn't know why he was even giving her excuse. He didn't owe her anything.

"Can you do it later? I'll help you with it. I really want to leave the clinic for a while. Please!"

He met her gaze a moment. Something was bothering her.

With a resigned sigh, Tezuka nodded, "Just a moment."

A large smile formed on her face and she nodded as the door closed softly. She looked up and down the hall before the door opened again and Tezuka came out with his jacket.

"Let's go." She said smiling and they walked away from his room.

As they stepped off the clinic's property, Hitomi turned to her companion, "Thank you Tezuka-kun."

"Hn."

Hitomi smiled, "You're always alone. Why?"

Tezuka glanced at her but said nothing.

The girl nodded and continued to walk in silence beside him.

Tezuka took a side-glance at her. She was walking fully content to simply remain quiet. He looked away. This was different…

End Flashback

Before he knew it Tezuka had reached his house. He dug in his pocket and pulled out his house keys. Unlocking the door he stepped inside, "Tadaima."

"Aa Kunimitsu, you're back already?" A middle-aged woman said with a smile as she walked out from the kitchen.
The teenager nodded and removed his shoes.

"Have you eaten?"

"No."

"Come in the kitchen then, we're still having breakfast."

"I'm not hungry. Please excuse me." He started up the stairs to his room.

The woman watched her son disappear upstairs and heard the soft clicking of his door shutting behind him.

She frowned and walked back into the kitchen, "Honey, Kunimitsu is acting a little strange."

Her husband looked up from the newspaper, "Perhaps he's stressed about the National Championships. Being captain comes with a lot of pressure."

Across the table Tezuka Kunimitsu's grandfather was frowning. No. His grandson had changed.

Tezuka closed his bedroom door softly behind him and made his way over to the desk where he sat down and stared at surface.

Push it away. Push it away.

He reached down to his school bag that lay leaning against the side of his desk and pulled out his math textbook.
Numbers. Numbers were safe.

"Ohayo!" Fuji strolled into the kitchen.

Yuuta groaned upon hearing the cheerfulness in his brother's voice.

"Oh Syusuke, please remind Tezuka to come see me. So make sure you bring him home with you." Yumiko said getting up from the table and putting away her dishes.

"Hai. Thanks Neesan."

The young lady simply smiled and left to go to work.

"Why is Tezuka coming to see Neesan?"

"Because Tezuka is a different person now."

"What do you mean he's a different person?"

"Come watch his match and you'll see."

Yuuta frowned, "I heard he's improved a lot."

"And who told you that?"

"Everyone is talking about it."

"I see." The news had traveled fast but then again he wasn't that surprised. Tezuka was a national level player, and everyone took notice of National level players.

"So how does that have anything to do with him being a different person?

Syusuke laughed, "You'll have to come out and see." He gabbed the toast on his brother's plate and darted out of the kitchen.

"Baka Aniki!"

Fuji's laughter could be heard as he left the house.

Atobe Keigo stood with his arms crossed.

Waiting.

He never waited. But this was important.

Where was he? Making Ore-sama wait like this!

He straightened suddenly as he saw the familiar blue and white uniforms of Seishun Gakuen. The Seigaku Regulars were walking towards the court Atobe was currently standing by.

"What are you doing here?" Fuji challenged his cerulean eyes opening at first sight of the Hyotei Captain.

Atobe ignored him, "Ore-sama wishes to speak to Tezuka." He held eye contact with the Seigaku Captain as he took a step towards him, but he was quickly blocked off as the Tensai stepped in his way.

"What for?" Kikumaru asked suspiciously as he took a step close to Tezuka, "Are you going to apologize?"

"Apologize?! Hmph! I don't apologize!"

"Why you!"

"Calm down Momo!" Oishi said jumping in front of the power player to prevent him from attacking Atobe.

"Everyone go get ready." Tezuka said suddenly.

They all turned to him.

"You heard Buchou! Let's go!" Oishi echoed the order.

All the regulars with the exception of Fuji followed Oishi away.

"Fuji." His voice was firm.

"He doesn't have anything to say to you Tezuka."

Tezuka placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, "I'll join you shortly." He said in a gentler tone.

Atobe watched the exchange carefully until Fuji turned to him again with those piercing eyes.

"I'm watching you."

Atobe just smiled and watched as the Tensai slowly walked away from them. He turned to Tezuka, "Seigaku's Tensai is very protective."

"What do you want Atobe?"

The smile fell from Atobe's face, "I saw your match the other day."

Tezuka crossed his arms.

"Ore-sama wants to grace you with a re-match."

"No." Tezuka started to walk pass him.

"Oye Tezuka." Atobe moved to grab his arm but soon let go when he felt the boy distinctively flinch back. He frowned. What was this?

"Don't. Touch. Him." The words were said slowly. Threateningly.

Atobe blinked, noticing that Fuji had joined them and was staring menacingly at him.

"Let's go Fuji." Tezuka said and turned to walk away.

Fuji gave one last warning look at the Hyotei Captain that clearly told him he would pay if he came near Tezuka again before he turned to follow.

"Ne Fuji."

The Tensai turned around his eyes still open and angry.

"That's not Tezuka."

"As far as you're concerned, he is Tezuka." With that said he turned and went after his captain.

Atobe watched them thinking. There was no way he was injured. Tezuka hadn't pulled away in pain. It was something else. Something was going on. His hindsight told him so. He looked... Broken? He pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. He was going to find out exactly what was going on with Tezuka Kunimitsu.

Ryoma looked at his captain from under his lowered baseball cap. The older teenager was stretching his muscles slowly like he was just waking up. Watching him like this gave him the feeling he was watching a dangerous giant who was just waking up from a deep slumber. He shut his eyes.

Buchou…

"Singles two will start in One minute." The announcement came.

Ryoma's eyes opened and he noticed that Fuji was now standing beside the Buchou. Both were silent. Tezuka continued to stretch his shoulder muscles while Fuji kept a watchful eye on their competitors. He wondered what the Tensai and his sister knew that the rest did not. The memory of Tezuka's no return aces a few days ago caused him to look at Tezuka's opponent. He smiled. He had better be ready…

"Players please take your places at center court."

From the corner of his eyes, he saw a flash of blue and white. Turning he watched as Tezuka pulled off his Seigaku jacket but left the tack pants on. This was interesting…

The young captain turned his back to the court and grabbed his racket. His eyes shut briefly as he took a deep slow breath then turned about stone faced, and walked out onto the court.

Fuji Yuuta squeezed his way among the people. He couldn't believe the size of the crowd that had gathered to watch Seigaku play. It was after all only a high school match. He frowned. Despite the large gathering, it was early quiet as people whispered softly to each other. There was a strange a thick tension and a sense of curiousity as though they were watching the final points in a tie breaking set.

Yuuta glanced at the players on the court. They were at the nets and had just pulled away from shaking hands.
"What's going on…" He muttered as the full impact of the tension tightened around his body. And the game hadn't even started yet! He looked over towards the sidelines where he knew the Seigaku Regulars and their coach would be gathered in support. All eyes were glued on their captain. And his Aniki… His eyes were wide open.

He frowned.

'Tezuka is a different person now.'

Syusuke's words echoed in his mind.

Was this what his Aniki meant by 'different'? His increased popularity?

Yuuta was scanning the crowd again when the referee called the start of the game. Tezuka to serve.

He watched as the Seigaku teen pulled out a tennis ball from his pant pocket. Looking down at it, he could clearly be seen giving the ball a quick squeeze before tossing it into the air.

Strange. An unusual occurrence. He was still contemplating that action as he watched Tezuka's racket reach back between his shoulder blades. Before his brain had fully comprehended the odd pre-service motion, the referee was calling the score.

"15-love. Seigaku."

Yuuta blinked then rubbed his eyes. He hadn't even seen the serve! Across the court, Tezuka's opponent was still standing at the ready.

Frozen. Eyes wide.

The spectators didn't cheer. Too shocked as they tried to replay the serve they didn't see in their minds.

Tezuka grabbed another ball.

"30-love."

Yuuta shook his head and blinked rapidly. There was no way… This was the same injured Seigaku captain… No…

'Tezuka is a different person now…'

It was over in a flash and before anything that happened could register in the minds of the onlookers, Tezuka Kunimitsu had walked over to the net and awaited for his opponent to do the same.

They shook hands and Tezuka soon after walked off the court.

The Regulars made room for him as he made his way to the bench. They followed him and watched as he sat down and slipped his arms into his team jacket. They were amazed…

"Sugoi Buchou!" Eiji exclaimed suddenly. His outburst seemed to cure everyone's verbal handicap as everyone started commenting on the match.

"Singles one to start in two minutes."

Everyone fell silent.

Ryoma moved away to warm up. Tezuka was completely different from before. He wondered if he could beat him now. Was he truly the best in Japan? When he was standing on the court, he lowered his cap over his eyes and glanced over at his captain.

Tezuka was watching him. He nodded.

Ryoma returned the nod and adjusted his cap again before turning to his opponent and smirking.

"Tezuka."

The young captain froze at the sound of the familiar voice.

The eight Regulars surrounding him all stopped and looked at their Captain curiously before turning around to see whom the speaker was. Shocked, they looked repeatedly between their Buchou and the girl that had called his name.

Tezuka slowly turned. He nodded, "Hitomi-chan."

The girl smiled softly then she glanced at the rest of his teammates. She bowed politely, "I'm Minamoto Hitomi."

Oishi stepped forward and introduced himself before introducing his teammates, "How do you know Tezuka Buchou?" He asked finally.

"Oh." She glanced at him before turning to the one called Oishi again, "We met in Germany." She answered smiling. Turning back to Tezuka she became serious again, "I'm sorry I couldn't make it to any of your matches yet."

Tezuka nodded.

"Hitomi! Time to warm up!"

"Hai!" She called to a girl that was waving her over. She looked at Tezuka, "Good luck then." She bowed then turned to the others, "It was nice meeting all of you." She blurted out. Taking a last glance at Tezuka she turned and ran towards where the other girl was waiting.

"Wow! She's cute!" Momoshiro exclaimed scratching the back of his head.

"Nya Buchou I didn't know you had a friend who was a girl!"

"A girl friend… Ii Data…"

Fuji smiled, "Is this true Tezuka?"

"Fuji! Inui! It's none of our business." Oishi said blushing as he stole a quick glance at his friend.

"But Oishi! He's our friend we should know these things!"

Fuji nodded smiling.

Ryoma lowered his cap. Buchou had a girlfriend?

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"How old is she?"

"Lots of Data.." Inui smirked happily.

"Listen.." Oishi tried to get their attentions.

"Quiet!" Tezuka's voice rang out sternly, "Everyone ten laps now!"

The regulars turned to him stunned then bolted towards the court to start their laps.

Tezuka crossed his arms with a frown as he watched his teammates run. Ryuzaki joined him smiling, "Nosey aren't they."

"Aa."

Oishi blushed "Minamoto Hitomi Ii Data…" Inui mumbled as they ran.

"What do you know about her Inui?" Fuji asked suddenly

"Minamoto Hitomi was considered by many to be the number one ranked girls singles player until she dropped out of competition very early this season with a serious knee injury."

"It couldn't have been that serious, nya."

Inui pushed up his glasses, "The percentage of coming back from such a knee injury and competing was 50 percent."

"She must have had good doctors." Fuji said.

"Aa."

"No wonder that clinic in Germany is so famous…" Eiji said.

Authors note:

It's been so long and I think I've altered the course of this story so many times... Does it feel choppy and disorganized?

Anyway,

Cheers,

CelicaChick.