Yoruko: Yo! I'm sorry that it's been such a long time!

Shusuke: Not at all, Yoruko-san. I'm looking forward to this. I think that it will be worth it. ^.^

Yoruko: Well, that's good. Considering you have quite a big part.

Momo: What do you mean? Is he the one you're pairing Higurashi with?

Yoruko: Nope.

Momo: Well, then, what kind of part does he have?

Yoruko: You'll see. ^.^ Now on with the story!

Disclaimer: Yoruko Rhapsodos owns neither Inuyasha, Prince of Tennis, nor anything else you recognize in this story.

Pairing: Kagome/Seiichi Yukimura

Song: N/A

Summary: Kagome and the Prince of Tennis characters are in high school now. Keigo Atobe, aka the Monkey King, keeps trying to get the guy Kagome's cousin has feelings for to go out with him. Not willing to stand for this, he enlists Kagome and her boyfriend, Seiichi Yukimura's help in protecting the one he sees as his from the arrogant former captain of Hyotei. When the success of the plot has the unforeseen but nonetheless pleasant side effect of bringing Kagome's cousin and the object of his affections together, Kagome and Seiichi reminisce how they finally confessed their feelings for one another.

The Monkey's Downfall and the Fox's Victory

Kagome and Seiichi were in the Tennis Club's office. It was the start of their third and final year of high school and they had stayed late even though it was the first day of school and were discussing what training routine they should use that year. Kirihara whined when he learned that Kagome would be helping Seiichi come up with the training schedule. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Kagome called, not looking away from the paper she was going over with Seiichi.

"Good evening, Kage-chan. Seiichi-kun." said a voice.

Kagome, recognizing the voice, turned towards it, surprised. She thought it was… No, it couldn't be. But she turned, and surely enough, there he was- her cousin.

"Good evening, Shusuke-san." said Seiichi.

"What are you doing here at this hour, Shusuke?" asked Kagome.

It was indeed unusual for the tensai to be at Rikkai Koukou at that hour on a school night. After all, he often did something with the other regulars after practice- or used the time to spend some quality time with Yuuta. Except for some Fridays, of course- Shusuke often opted to spend Friday afternoons with Kagome. After all, until their first year of high school started Shusuke had barely seen her since around a couple of months before Kagome's fifteenth birthday.

It was all the foolish koinu's fault, too. If he had let her come home from Feudal Japan more often, then Shusuke may have gotten so spend more time with his precious cousin. Kagome and her family were the only relatives that Shusuke could stand- not that the other relatives could tell that he disliked them. That was just one of the good points of having people be easily fooled by his ever-present smile.

Shusuke had openly pouted when Kagome was late to her own birthday party. Though that only lasted about a millisecond or two. Only to be replaced by a frown when an hour and a half passed and no sign of Kagome. Her mother had presumed that Kagome had spent the night at a friend's house after school. How wrong she turned out to be. There had been no sign of or word from Kagome until two days later. Shusuke had frowned the whole time until he heard that Kagome had finally gotten back home. Even Eiji had avoided him, saying later that he was really scary. This time his pout lasted for almost two hours when he showed up the next day only to find that Kagome had gone off somewhere with a new friend.

It wasn't until around half a year later when he caught Kagome and Inuyasha arguing in the park with Inuyasha not wearing a hat of some sort that he finally found out about Kagome's little time-travelling escapades. When he saw Inuyasha, his comment had been 'so this is why Oba-san was rambling about kawaii dog ears and Ojii-san was muttering about demons when I tried to visit you the day after you got back from disappearing on your birthday.' The fool of a puppy's reaction had been very amusing.

Kagome had told him everything right then and there. After all, no one knew better than Kagome that it was rarely any good trying to hide something from Shusuke Fuji when he was curious or simply wanted to know something. So when Kagome had told him right before their first year of high school started that they had already finished the quest and so she wouldn't have to travel to the Feudal Era more than for a day or two every so often, Shusuke had been ecstatic. Most people who knew anything about him had avoided him for three days after that.

"I need your help, Kagome-chan. Seiichi-kun." Shusuke said.

"What do you need our help with, Shusuke-kun?" asked Seiichi.

"Atobe-san is after His heart. I cannot tolerate this. I've just decided to confess- I can't let that fool of a monkey take what is mine." Shusuke said.

Most would have been shocked at hearing Shusuke Fuji talk so frankly about something like this. Not Kagome or Seiichi. Seiichi was similar to Shusuke and understood and Kagome on top of having always been very close to him was nice but could also be quite sadistic herself. Therefore they understood him and could even follow his line of thinking- having similar ways of thinking themselves. So Shusuke had no need to hide behind a mask of infallible kindness.

Kagome's eyes narrowed. It was rare that her cousin had such strong feelings for someone. She had been so happy for Shusuke admitted to her that he had fallen for someone. After all, in her opinion, if anyone deserved to be happy, it was him- there was so little that he cared about and even less that he wanted- he had always been indifferent, not truly wanting or caring about anything, with a few exceptions- he cared about his family, he had things he liked or was fond of- but nothing that he cared about.

No one but Kagome and Seiichi realized it, but if Shusuke were to ever truly put in effort, to give his training and actual matches all of his effort and try his best, he could be better than even Tezuka. For the first time, there was something that Shusuke wanted, someone he truly cared for outside of family. And the monkey diva was trying to take that away from him. Not that Atobe would succeed without interference- after all, the object of the diva's so-called affections didn't care about Atobe in the slightest. And hell would freeze over before that person even considered going on even a single date with Atobe.

Seiichi and Kagome looked at each other and smirked. This would be so much fun. No one messed with either of this trio, each being known for being sadistic and cruel if you ignite their temper. Each of the three had caused at least two or three people to, at the very least, need at least a couple of years' worth of therapy. Not to mention they couldn't wait to see how the diva would react.

Kagome looked at Shusuke, still smirking. "How can we help?" she said.

"I knew I could count on you, Kage-chan." Shusuke said. "Here's the plan…"

Shortly after they finished plotting, the trio parted ways; Shusuke off to his house and Seiichi and Kagome for dinner. Kagome and Seiichi discussed Atobe's possible reactions. He wasn't known as a diva for nothing: he tended to be melodramatic. They were laughing at a particularly funny scenario when Seiichi dropped Kagome off at her house. They exchanged a quick hug and kiss at the door then parted ways.

Around a week later

Keigo Atobe had been having a very bad week. First various essential pieces of equipment went missing, was mysteriously broken or replaced with old, inefficient, or faulty equipment over the first two days. Then the entire team fainted after drinking an unknown substance that had been in their water bottles instead the next day- two first years were still in the hospital, they had woken up just the other day. Apparently whatever it was that they drank, it was edible but gave a good portion of the team- most of the regulars included- food poisoning. The first years were allergic to something in the drink and that was why they had reacted like that, apparently. Then someone seems to have told his fan club his locker combinations- his shoes were missing and so were his gym clothes and his tennis uniform. He had had to buy a new uniform, needless to say. On top of all of that, the fan-girls also managed to find out where he lives, somehow. The security was doubled right away and yet the guards still need to work twice as hard to keep the grounds and mansion free of intruders. He apparently was now known as the melodramatic Monkey Diva.

And on top of all of that every time he was around the brat trying to get him to finally agree to go out with him (and stop calling him Monkey King) strange freak accidents kept happening. In fact, strange or embarrassing incidents had occurred regularly in general. No matter, though. Today his luck would change, and the brat would be his! He would have everything else straightened afterwards. Who cared that he'd received a note that said 'Leave him alone or suffer the consequences, Monkey Diva. This is your only warning.' only the day before the incidents started. He ignored it, of course. He figured that 'him' was the brat- why else would it call him 'Monkey Diva' of all things, after all.

"Come on, Brat. Stop being stubborn and come on. You will go on a date with Ore-sama and that is final." Atobe demanded.

He grabbed the 'brat' aka Ryoma's arm and proceeded to drag him to the limo, ignoring Ryoma's unusually vocal protest- he rarely protested so much when the Plebeians dragged him somewhere- and his painful kicks to his legs in attempts to trip him. He was only about a quarter of the way when a voice made him pause.

"Stop right there Atobe Keigo. I've tried to be nice about this- I even gave you a warning. Didn't you get the hint when your fan-girls found your precious chinchilla as a gift for them in the room that they meet in, with no signs that you would ever get her back?" Shusuke said.

Atobe started when he saw Shusuke Fuji's face. Not only were his eyes open for once, instead of the ever-present smile he was frowning and Shusuke was glaring at him. This didn't make any sense. Why would Shusuke Fuji care what Atobe did to or with the brat?

"Ore-sama takes orders from no one." Atobe said, now continuing his trek to the limo once more.

This time he didn't even get three steps. For suddenly, he found his path blocked. By none other than Seiichi Yukimura and his cousin, Kagome Higurashi. Kagome was glaring at him and Seiichi had his eyes narrowed dangerously. Uh-oh. This wasn't good. He had managed to make all three of them mad at him somehow.

"Atobe-san, it would be in your best interest to let Ryoma-kun go. Right. This. Instant." said Seiichi, all trace of gentleness gone from his voice.

Atobe shivered unconsciously. He'd never heard the blue-haired captain sound so cold and emotionless. He didn't loosen his hold on Ryoma though. He was still determined to win.

"Get out of Ore-sama's way now. Yukimura. Higurashi." Atobe demanded.

Seiichi and Shusuke's eyes both glinted dangerously. How dare he not only attempt to order them around but both try to order Kagome around and call her so informally? Ryoma flinched, but it wasn't from Atobe tightening his grip to the extent that Ryoma's arm would possibly bruise. It was because he knew that whatever was coming would not be pretty. Ryoma almost pitied the Monkey King. Almost, but not really. Monkey King was mada mada dane and deserved whatever was coming.

Atobe kept going and tried to force his way past the two in front of him, still holding onto Ryoma. He didn't notice, but Shusuke was following. When neither Seiichi nor Kagome was willing to let Atobe through he resorted to shoving his way through. Three things happened at once. Instead of giving way Kagome nearly fell over because she was caught off guard only to be caught and steadied by Seiichi. Atobe accidentally let go of Ryoma. Ryoma fell to the ground, where Shusuke caught him before his head hit the ground.

"Kagome, are you okay?" asked Seiichi.

"I'm all right." Kagome said.

"Ryoma, are you all right?"asked Shusuke.

Seiichi and Kagome looked over to where Shusuke and Ryoma were. Shusuke's eyes were open as he said this, revealing how worried he was. There was something else too, Ryoma noticed. Something that made him blush slightly. (Not enough to be noticed, luckily.) What was going on? He appreciated that someone was helping with the Monkey King issue (though Ryoma was sure that he could have handled it) but as clueless as he was Ryoma still knew that he was missing something. Something that Monkey King either couldn't see either or ignored. Monkey King's in trouble now. No one hurt Shusuke Fuji's cousin or Seiichi Yukimura's girlfriend, intentional or not. Everyone knew that. And as they were the same person, Keigo Atobe had unknowingly did both.

"Un. I'm okay." Ryoma answered.

"That's good." Shusuke said, closing his eyes and smiling.

Ryoma wasn't, of course. The concrete had scraped his leg when he fell. He winced slightly. Okay, now that stung a little. Shusuke noticed Ryoma wince and glanced over him, checking for injuries. Shusuke frowned.

"Ryoma, you're bleeding." Shusuke said.

By this point, Atobe had finally started to realize that he was in trouble and was currently trying to sneak away. Kagome noticed, of course. He was only human, so there was no way that she could possibly miss him trying to leave after dealing with demons as long as she had.

"Stop. Right. There. Mister." Kagome said.

Atobe froze, knowing he was busted. Ryoma smirked slightly. He knew Shusuke Fuji's cousin well enough to recognize that tone. It helped that his mom sometimes had a similar tone when dealing with his baka oyaji. This was getting really good. Shusuke's smile widened, eyes slightly open. Had Atobe been able to see, he would have shivered at the look in his eyes.

Kagome was walking towards the diva now, eyes glinting dangerously. She had put up with a foul tempered half-demon, his softie yet appears cold full demon half brothers, an annoying toad creature that were overly attached to said half brother, perverted monks who liked to swindle people into providing free lodging, a wolf demon and a classmate that just wouldn't take a hint that she didn't want to go out with them, a walking clay pot that wanted to kill both Kagome and the half demon, and a half-demon of a spider monkey obsessed with either destroying everything or being an over-ruler of everything. She even put up with conniving, plotting so-called friends that kept trying to force her to date said classmate that wouldn't take a hint. She would not tolerate king-wannabee monkey divas that wanted to force her friend to date him, thus taking him away from her cousin. After all, no one messes with Kagome Higurashi's friends or family. And the monkey diva had done both.

"You're really stupid, you know that?" Kagome said angrily.

"Explain yourself. Ore-sama is not stupid." Atobe said.

"You messed with both my cousin and my friend, and continued to do so even after warned. Therefore, you're either tired of living or simply stupid. As someone as arrogant as you loves yourself too much to be suicidal, you must be stupid." Kagome said.

"What do you mean, I messed with your cousin?" Atobe demanded, "I don't even know your cousin."

"Saa, Atobe-san, Kagome-chan is my cousin." Shusuke said.

Shusuke was smiling, eyes closed like normal as he said this but something was different about it. Something that made Atobe shiver slightly. It was all falling into place. Now that he was thinking about it Shusuke Fuji seemed to be- Atobe's eyes widened. Everything was finally falling into place.

'Oh shit.' he thought. Atobe paled. He was a dead man walking.

"So I see you finally get the picture." Seiichi said, voice so cold it made Atobe shiver yet again, "Now, here's a piece of advice. You leave Echizen alone from now on, and your life will return to being what for you is relatively normal."

Atobe nodded. "Ore-sama understands. Ore-sama will leave the brat alone for now on." Then he ran.

Ryoma looked at Shusuke, who hadn't let go of him even after helping him to a bench so that Kagome could attend to his leg.

"Fuji-sempai, why did you do all of that?" he asked.

Shusuke's eyes opened and his smile softened a little. "Because, Ryoma. After knowing you for so long I find myself inexplicably attached to you. I love you, Ryoma Echizen."

Then he leaned down and kissed Ryoma briefly on the lips. Ryoma was blushing when he pulled away. Who'd have thought…

"I… love you too, Fuji-sempai."

"Shusuke will do just fine, Ryoma."

Ryoma smiled slightly. "Shusuke it is then." Then he leaned into him, just enjoying his prescence. Having baka Monkey Kings try to kidnap you so they could make you go out with them was tiring, after all. Hm… he felt like a nap. Maybe he would make Shusuke buy a ponta for him when he woke up.

By this time Seiichi and Kagome were taking their leave. After all, such moments deserved privacy. It was rude to intrude on such a moment. They gazed into each others' eyes, and smiled. This reminded them of how they finally confessed to each other…

Flashback

Seiichi and Kagome had been the best of friends ever since they met in kindergarten. They were in the same class all throughout elementary school. No one understood Seiichi like Kagome did and if anyone understood Kagome like Seiichi did it was only her cousin Shusuke. Yuuta and Souta were both nice and she was close with the both of them but it just wasn't the same. Even when because of Kagome's mother forgetting to ask Kagome what school she wanted to go to they ended up in different Jr. highs, they remained as close as ever. They still saw each other just as often- simply as often as they could after not only did Seiichi end up in the hospital but Kagome was rarely in their time because of the whole mess with the jewel.

Yes, Seiichi Yukimura knew what had happened. As soon as Kagome was home for more than part of one day, she visited Seiichi in the hospital, confused and almost overwhelmed with the bizarre mess she had gotten herself into. When she needed advice, or needed to talk about anything, he was the first person she went too. She told him things that she had never even talked about with Shusuke or her mother. He was the one she'd poured her heart out to when she was confused and upset after practically getting her heart broken by Inuyasha.

Yes, she'd almost developed a crush on Inuyasha. But that all ended around the time that Kikyo was resurrected. Or that she'd realized that had things turned out different, she could have developed feelings for Sesshomaru. He was the one she'd admitted to shortly before the final battle that even though she could fight now she was afraid of dying, and that no one she cared about in this time would ever know what happened to her. She'd never even told Shusuke about the almost crush on Inuyasha or the almost-romance with Sesshomaru.

And Kagome was the one that Seiichi talked to about his fears and worries when he was sick and basically lived in the hospital. He'd never talked to anyone else about how he really felt about it- not even Sanada or his family. Kagome was the one he admitted to after nationals that even though it had been a wonderful game, he felt that he let his team down. She was the only one that Seiichi ever talked to about his feelings.

At first, they were simply the best of friends- nothing more, nothing less. Even on a platonic level. There was nothing romantic between them. Though their families had both suspected for a long time that they were dating.

Then they were truly reunited when they graduated from Jr. high. It was just like it always had been, even with Kagome befriending the regulars of Rikkai and the both of them befriending the regulars from Seigaku. And they were closer than ever. It wasn't until some point after they entered high school together- the same class, just like when they were in elementary school- that they started to see each other in a different light- started to fall in love with one another.

All of their friends knew. It was even obvious to Ryoma- though Momo, of course, was the only one who knew them yet was clueless- that the two of them were in love. In their high school, anyone who saw them interact knew how they felt. It was obvious, and even though both had yet to confess, neither bothered to hide how they felt. They even almost suspected at times that the other felt the same.

Naturally, Seiichi's fan-girls did not like that. So they cornered Kagome on a day when she was stuck on clean-up duty by herself. Seiichi would have helped, but had been called out to clear up a misunderstanding between Kirihara and his teacher before he even had a chance to get his things together. They tried to order her to stay away from him, and had even threatened her. They were about to tie her up (more like try to) so that they could beat her. But just when a bunch of them had grabbed her, Seiichi returned.

"What are you doing to Kagome?" his voice was cold, far colder than anyone of them had ever heard him speak before, and he was glaring. The ones who could see the look on his face felt like they were being frozen from the inside out.

"Yu-Yukimura-sama." one said.

"We-we were…"

"We were trying to protect you from this witch who tries to steal you from us." said the ringleader, who was either very bold or else extremely stupid.

Seiichi's eyes glinted dangerously. "It's looking to me like if anyone needs protection it's Kagome and myself- from the likes of you."

"But Yukimura-sama-"

"Leave. Now. And I don't want to see you anywhere near either of us again or to even look at either of us. Ever." He demanded.

They knew instinctively from the tone that to disobey would basically be signing their own death warrants. They obeyed, and ran out of the room. One was foolish enough to look back and saw a deadly look in Seiichi's eyes. After making sure none of them would be foolish enough to try to come back, he went over to Kagome, who was kneeling on the floor, having been caught by surprise at the encounter in spite of herelf. Seiichi kneeled down to the floor and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Kagome, are you all right? They didn't manage to hurt you, did they?" he asked gently, a look in his eyes that Kagome wasn't sure if she had seen before.

She shook her head. "I'm fine."

He smiled lightly. "That's a relief."

Then he did something that took Kagome completely by surprise. He pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in her hair. Kagome blushed. This wasn't the first time they had hugged one another, but there was something different about this one.

"…Seiichi?"

"I was so worried when I heard a student comment that he saw a group of fan-girls headed for our classroom, looking like an angry mob. I… I was afraid that they would manage to hurt you before I could get to you."

She put her arms around him. "You were… worried?"

"I know that you can handle the lot of them easily after the Feudal Era, but I couldn't help but worry."

"Why were you so worried?"

Seiichi pulled away and looked Kagome in the eyes. She couldn't help but blush at the look on his face. So intense… Then he did the most surprising thing that he had ever done. He kissed her right on the lips. Kagome's eyes widened a little before they closed and she returned the kiss. The kiss was brief, but passionate.

"Because… I love you, Kagome Higurashi. More than anything."

Kagome smiled. "That's good… Because I love you just as much, Seiichi Yukimura."

Then Seiichi smiled, one of his rare genuine smiles. The one he reserved exclusively for her. And he leaned down, capturing her lips in another kiss.

End Flashback

They laughed at memory of the looks on their friends' faces at having their plans of playing matchmaker crushed into dust when a few days later they said they couldn't join them for dinner because they had a date. The ones who didn't pout or gape just smiled or said something along the lines of 'It's about time.' Arm in arm, Kagome's head on Seiichi's shoulder, they the park, smiling serenely. Yes, it was nice having a happily ever after.

Owari