Okay, so three weeks isn't a great response time, but it's a LOT better than 2 months, right? Right? Don't worry I'll do better next time, I hope. Plus, just in case you haven't noticed, the chapters are getting a lot longer. In fact, thiss one was going to be at least 3000 more words or so, but then it'd never get published haha. Anyways, thanks for putting up with my erratic postings!

StelraEtnae: I know! I was SO excited for her to get to meet her...him...it. I don't really know anymore haha. Thanks for reviewing :)

.miss: hehe sorry for the long wait....life kind of caught up with me. Well, that and I also am probably one of the worst procrastinators you have met in your entire life. Ever. Even though you haven't met me. That's just how bad it is haha. Keep reviewing!

NAO-chan33: Yeah, if I knew a guy like him, he'd drive me crazy cause I couldn't hide anything. Anyways, thanks fo the review!

Fii aka Ficchan/AkimotoAyumu: Your new screen name almost threw me off! Thanks for signing it :) and yes, you are indeed a faithful reader for a not-quite-so faithful writer. I don't deserve you, or any of my reviewers for that matter. Thanks for stopping by to review anyways :)

Azumi POV

Um...

It seemed as though I was getting caught more and more often off of my guard. This was not acceptable.

Had I just been on the run, it may not have been so bad but people had sacrificed themselves for me already. The stakes were already set too high for me to slip up even once.

Mochizuki and Koga were being held somewhere and it was because of me.

I turned to face Fuji as I straightened up and gave him a coy smile; "Ryoma woke up a little more on the way down and wanted to get his Ponta from the bed stand before he left."

I am a good liar. A fact that I was not particularly proud of. More than that, I was a frequent liar, which just compounded the problem that my conscience continued to nag me with.

With that, I put my hand on Ryoma's arm and nudged him out of the elevator. I kept my eyes locked with Fuji's as we brushed past him. His exuded suspicion as the bright blue shade of his eyes flashed at me, while mine I kept innocent and totally oblivious to the confrontation that was taking place between us.

I was sure that my little charade was in vain. Fuji's suspicious eyes gleamed, completely unconvinced. It was necessary to keep up regardless. As long as I kept it up, he could not confront me about something I had "not done". Mind games were a tricky thing, and many times, more dangerous than the physical kind.

When I was far enough away from him, I turned my head away to what was in front of me. The strands of hair from my wig were shading my eyes as I kept my head down and the gaze of Fuji's eyes disappeared behind the cold elevator doors as they slowly slid shut. Somehow, I could still feel the accusations they stabbed at my back, even after the doors were closed.

My lips were pursed as I strode at a faster pace than I probably needed to, trying to escape the feeling of guilt for both lying and almost blowing my cover…again. Ryoma looked at me with an expression of both confusion and concern.

But I couldn't concern myself with him anymore. My focus had slipped as soon as I had let my guard down. No matter how much I had wanted to see my brother, or how much he meant to me, I was going to have to put him and my feelings aside for the greater good of something else. I had most certainly let my anticipation of seeing him blind me. I couldn't let it happen again.

I ignored Ryoma's questioning eyes and as soon as we went into Tezuka's room, I handed him his Ponta and began to check the chart at the end of Tezuka's bed, making it clear that we were done talking for now. However, so that he would not misunderstand and think me angry with him, I turned my back to Tezuka and made a series of hand signals indicating that I wanted to meet with him later by the temple bell at 2am tomorrow morning. I got a subtle nod from him, as he pretended to sip his empty Ponta so that he could incline his head backwards and then back forwards without any suspicion, not that we had to be quite this covert with only Tezuka in the room (though he was exceptionally sharp), but Ryoma knew me when I got in this mode and he took more caution, probably just to make this overly paranoid twin sister happy.

I was a tad overprotective of him and though he was definitely more than capable of protecting himself, I wanted to ensure his safety even when we were both very young and I was first at the academy. When I came back home for visits, I gave him a crash course on a little self-defense (just the basics, he was too busy training for tennis for much else), and hand signals (though we ended up using those more to communicate in secret in front of our parents and giggling than actually doing anything top secret). If I had really been smart, I would have left him a way to contact me, but alas alack, I wasn't a genius at everything, like tennis…and the transformation of exponential functions as a function of negative properties. Don't ask.

Anyways, Ryoma strolled nonchalantly out of the room as I checked more of Tezuka's medical information and watched him leave out of the corner of my eye. If you ask me, Ryoma probably would have been more suited for the program than I was. He was extraordinarily athletic, could act cool under the most extreme situations, and was very good at neutralizing attacks, even if it was just on the tennis court. In any case, it proved that he could think on his feet (literally) rather well, which was the quintessential element to every good agent.

Tezuka must have noticed that I was staring off into space, as I had been looking at the same patient chart for 5 minutes and gave a polite cough, probably an indication that he wanted me to finish up so that we could get out of the hospital and go home.

I was definitely all for that idea.

I gave him an apologetic smile and dashed out of the room to make my rounds to all the departments I had visited regarding Tezuka's illness.

(Tezuka POV)

I watched him rush out of the room, no doubt to concern himself with all the problems I was causing.

I gave a small sigh and sat up in my bed.

I didn't approve of this situation.

Jukodo reentered the room, put some x-rays up on the lighting board and stared at them for about 10 seconds before running back out of the room.

I hated feeling so helpless. Last time I had come to the treatment center, that had not been an issue as Hannah Essenheimer (episode 130-131) was hardly ever sober long enough to actually care for me. The rest of the treatment staff however, made up for the marginal help from her, but they hardly hovered over me like Jukodo insisted.

But there was another thing that made me uneasy. I prided myself on being able to see things that others couldn't. It was the essential skill every leader needed. The ability to see potential, and exactly what a person needed to be put through to reach it. I could see that Jukodo-san was a kind, hard-working person, but something seemed off. Fake. Even when I looked into his eyes for an answer, it seemed as though there was a film between me and anything real about him. It made me a little restless. I could not read him at all, and the brief times that emotion was present on his face, it was of anger.

I sighed again and swung my legs over the side of the bed in order to get up. I closed the door and the curtain around the bed and changed back into my regular clothes.

Fuji seemed to be uneasy about Jukodo as well.

Flashback to ten minutes ago

Fuji stood up and walked to my bedside as the door swung closed behind Jukodo-san and Ryoma as he leaned on her shoulder.

"Tezuka, how are you feeling?" he asked.

Fuji would never ask this kind of question to me. He knew that I wouldn't respond. How I felt was pointless to the situation. He was just beating around the bush. He had something to say and just didn't want to introduce it abruptly.

"What is the problem Fuji?"

His ever-present smile widened by a little.

"Saa, you know me so well Tezuka." The smile then faded and with the fading of the smile, his eyes almost always opened. It meant he was serious.

"What do you think of Jukodo-san, Tezuka?"

I thought for a moment. I didn't really know much about him. He never really showed emotion aside from on the airplane. Other than that, he had been the model doctor, never frazzled or concerned, just there. But on the plane, he really had opened up, though fear will make all one's emotions come out…

Actually as I thought about it, his lack of emotion up until this point should have been disconcerting. I had been preoccupied. I furrowed my eyebrows; I had let my guard down. He had not until on the plane and even then I could not explain some of his reactions, like to the tennis ball and the flashes of anger I would see cross his face, but would be gone so fast that I wondered if they had been there at all.

Fuji was sitting waiting patiently when I turned to him.

"He has exhibited very little genuine emotion, so I know very little. I would not jump to conclusions if I were you Fuji."

"Saa…be careful Tezuka, he's not what he seems. I won't tell you anymore of my suspicions until I can verify them for myself. But, don't let your guard down." He ended with a smile, as he mockingly intoned my life motto. "As if I need to remind you."

"Ah." I responded as Fuji got up to leave.

I was going to have to keep a closer eye on Jukodo Ryuu.

End Flashback

I stood up and reopened the curtain to see Jukodo moving about the room, packing up the last of our belongings.

I moved to help him and he shot me a glare as he put down what he was doing to take the things that I was trying to pack out of my hands and placing them on the side as he pushed me back into a chair.

"Tezuka-san, I know that being served is against your nature, but you have to rest your elbow. And that's a doctor's orders." He finished with a smile.

But I didn't trust the grin. I was sure that he wanted me to rest, but something was going on beneath the surface that he tried to hide behind his graceless smiles.

(Fuji POV)

The doors of the elevator shut even as I continued to stare at the disappearing back of Jukodo. Or at least someone who claimed to be a Jukodo Ryuu.

I felt the elevator begin to descend. My eyes opened.

Saa, he was alone with Echizen in the elevator. At the airport as well, he gave special attention to Echizen, if not subtly. Like how he stiffened every time his name is mentioned. And then on the elevator…those expressions held some stories. There is something going on here. Something big. He's also a very smooth liar from the way he quickly regained his composure and came up with a semi-plausible story on the elevator. But, his eyes though they were oblivious almost issued me a challenge as he walked by. He could be trouble.

I closed my eyes again into half-crescents as I felt the elevator come to a shudder and then stop.

I contemplated waiting for Ryoma. From the looks of things he knew what was going on, or at least he was involved. But I didn't want to look like I was suspicious. Ryoma was pretty sharp and if he was involved, I didn't want him to clam up or warn Jukodo to be on his guard against me, well not more than he was already anyways.

There was a cafeteria, but the team had all just eaten, so stalling by ordering food might be a bit too suspicious. I did a quick swivel of the area and noticed a TV with a tennis match going on between the Wilson sisters. Not my favorite players in the world, but an ample enough excuse for me to wait for Echizen.

(Ryoma POV)

I headed down the hall back to the elevators.

One-san was back.

But why in the heck was she dressed like a boy? And Tezuka's trainer? Where had she been up until now anyways?

This was so annoying.

Why was she being so secretive? I never understood people like that, though One-san had always kept her fair share of secrets I supposed.

But something big was happening.

I sipped my Ponta.

If I needed to know, she'd tell me, and it looked like she was going to anyways tonight. No need to get all worked up.

The elevator opened up to the lobby and I began to walk towards the doors.

"Saa, Echizen. The Australian Open is on. Care to watch for a bit?"

I turned to see Fuji in front of a TV on which the Wilson sisters were playing.

I kept walking.

"Mada, mada dane." I shrugged in reference to the Wilson sisters and began to head back towards the doors.

They were boring to watch.

"I'll walk with you then." Fuji's voice came from behind me.

I flinched a bit, I had some things that I wanted to sort out in my head, but really I didn't care.

"Sa, it's nice to have Tezuka back, isn't it Echizen?"

I shrugged.

"Though Jukodo-san said that he may have more than just arm trouble."

Interesting…maybe that's what One-san had wanted to talk to me about tonight. I would find out soon enough, no need to worry.

"Something about cancer, I think…" Fuji mused as he looked up without much look of concern.

I choked on my Ponta and I saw Fuji-senpai's smile widen just a little bit.

"Fuji-senpai?"

"Yes, I do believe that that's what Jukodo-san said."

"Mmm…" I acknowledged, a bit dazed. Stupid sister, she could have at least told me that much.

"I don't know, he's only 17 though, he could be wrong."

Fuji sure was talkative. It was almost as though he was trying to provoke a response from me…as if to confirm a suspicion he had, or just find out information in general.

"Mmm" If that was the case, I would give as little response as I could.

"What do you think of Jukodo-san?"

"There's nothing to say."

"Sa…" Fuji intoned.

We then fell into companionable silence.

If Fuji had been trying to make me give something away about my sister, he had failed miserably.

I resisted the urge to give him a "Mada, mada dane" for the effort as we parted ways.

(Fuji POV)

"Fuji! You're home so late."

I heard my sister Yumiko shout from the kitchen.

"I made some raspberry pie because Yuta said he would be stopping by.' She said as she held up her pie proudly and gave me a genial smile.

"Sa, you are such a good cook One-san." I admonished as I sauntered into the kitchen. "Yuta's really stopping by/"

"Do you think that he's going to miss out on his favorite?"

I smiled a bit more and shook my head. "I guess not."

I sat down at the counter and began thinking once again about my walk home with Ryoma.

He definitely knew something and he wasn't going to tell anyone, which was unusual for Ryoma. He may not talk much, so there was a lot that people didn't know just by default but when asked directly, he would normally answer honestly. Especially when it came to what he thought about people. Like how he held disdain for Atobe, chided Sakuno on the smallest of things and made blatant comments about people that were around him that most sensible people would keep to themselves.

"What do you think of Jukodo-san?"

"There's nothing to say."

Nothing to say, hmm? Someone who was normally forthright would only give such an answer if they wanted to give out no information whatsoever. Especially when asked by a senpai. Now who could Ryoma value enough, or what kind of secret would make him curb his nature to be blunt?

And another thing. Why would a world-class therapy center hire a 17 year old, albeita genius 17 year old.

I decided to call Inui. By now he had probably done at least some preliminary research on this Jukodo Ryuu.

Ring.

Ring.

"Mushmushi, this is Inui Sadaharu."

"Sa, Inui. I was wondering if you had done any research about Tezuka's new trainer."

"Mmm, as a matter of fact I was just pondering over that same person. The data I found was most peculiar."

"How so?"

"Everyone has something about themselves on the internet. Even if one is totally incompetent when it comes to technology, you will in all likelihood be put on the internet at sometime by someone else, whether it be accidental or purposeful." Inui paused and I could just imagine him adjusting his glasses, as he normally did when he was perplexed. "Considering Jukodo-san's age, he should be quite prevalent by at least self-promotion, but all the Jukodo Ryuus I have found have nothing to do with the one we know."

"Sa…"

I contemplated the implications of what Inui had said for a moment.

"How long have you been searching for information?" I inquired.

" Ever since I got home, which was approximately 4 hours ago."

4 hours. That was normally enough time for Inui to find out the entire history of a small country in more detail than most history books.

"And you're sure he is not mentioned or photographed anywhere on the internet."

"Not even a facebook page."

"What do you think about him Inui?"

"Hmm…from how he holds himself and how we have seen him interact, I'd assume that he is who he says he is. But there is a 0% chance that a child prodigy that graduated from medical school at 16 would not be mentioned. There is a 100% chance that the school to which Jukodo-san went to would boast about him in order to attract more students. For now, he is a complete unknown."

"Thanks Inui. Let me know if you find anything."

"I will. Ja."

"Ja."

I closed the phone.

I didn't particularly care for unknowns hanging around my close friends.

Ryoma trusted him though, which indicated that he was not a threat, or at least an imminent one. But I did know for sure that Jukodo was not who he said he was, and any liar was a threat. Ryoma also knew that he was lying. If Ryoma hated cheaters in just the game of tennis, why would he put his faith in someone who deceived everyone around them by literally pretending to be someone else?

He must have been someone really important to Ryoma…but who could hold that much significance?

"One-san, do you have that raspberry pie?"

I turned and saw Yuta with his usual sour expression which Yumiko and I always paid no mind to. He was our brother after all.

…

Brother…

A sibling?

(Azumi POV)

We stepped out of the hospital shuttle in front of what I presumed to be Tezuka's house. Well, Tezuka's grandparent's house.

I grabbed all the luggage before Tezuka could get up, or else I'm sure he would haul the luggage until his arm fell off.

Tezuka got out of the car and I could see a cross look flash across his face and I felt a slight smile threaten to show up on my face, but I suppressed it amply well I was pretty sure.

We walked up to the door of his house and he raised his hand to knock.

Did he really have to knock on his own door? He was the epitome of politeness. It was almost kind of irritating. Kind of like his face. Ugh.

The door swung open to a very cheery looking older woman and a very…um…uncheery looking man. He must have been where Tezuka's sternness came from.

"Kunimitsu! I'm so glad to have you back home!" the lady at the door said as she ensnared him in a hug…, which he tolerated. Hmm, that was surprising.

"And you are…?"

I was interrupted from my ponderings when I realized she was waiting for a response…from me.

"Oh, erm, Jukodo Ryuu." I said with a smile and this one was real. I had a feeling that this lady knew the most about Tezuka. It would be interesting to learn more. "I'll be Tezuka's trainer and personal medical assistant during my stay here."

"Oh! You are so welcome Jukodo-san to be here. I'll show you to the guest room so you can put those heavy bags down." She extended an arm into the house, motioning for us to come in.

"Thank you for allowing me to stay at your house." I said with a small bow before entering the house.

I smiled at Tezuka's grouchy looking grandfather and preceded to follow his grandmother to my room.

Their house wasn't big, even by Japanese standards, which surprised me. Someone rich enough to send their child off to a country halfway across the world at a world-class therapy center I thought would have a rather large house.

She led me to the only hallway in the house and stopped at the door at the end.

"This will be your room Jukodo-san. Make yourself at home and if you need anything I'll just be out in the kitchen."

"Thank you." I said with another small bow.

I opened the door to see…a closet. And we're not just talking like a rich people walk-in closet that could fit enough clothes to outfit all the penguins in Antarctica and maybe a few narwhals. This closet was more like for the hobo down the street with one jacket and two pairs of boots, maybe. I saw that a low bed that was a cross between a bamboo mat and a mattress had been wedged into the space and took up all the floor space. I take it back, there's no way you could fit more than a jacket and one pair of boots in that space.

I sighed and began to unpack my belongings. I stuffed all the things that I would really prefer people not to find under the bed.

I had just begun to fold my clothes and place them on the end of the bed when Tezuka turned into the hallway.

He looked at me, took one look at the closet, and his eyebrows met when he observed the bed, as well as the fact that I seemed to be trying to unpack a suitcase onto said bed.

He turned around abruptly and I could hear a low voice and the warm voice of his grandmother's conversing.

I continued to unpack until I saw Tezuka round the corner once more.

"Jukodo-san, you will be staying in my room."

I looked at him, perplexed.

"And let you sleep in the closet? I don't think so. I'm much shorter than you and will fit much better." I stated defiantly as I continued to unpack. Really, the notion was quite ridiculous. He'd never recover from anything all cramped up in this amount of space.

"I won't be sleeping in the closet either Jukodo-san."

What? Than where was he going to sleep? The couch? Also not conducive to the recovery of a sick patient.

"We'll both be staying in my room."

…

…

…

Wait…

What did he just say?

He didn't wait for my response and simply walked into his room as though the topic was not up for discussion.

Well, that was too bad because I wanted to discuss the topic.

I walked over to the doorway to his room and peered in to see him starting to unpack.

I knocked on the doorframe and walked in quite ready to vehemently protest the new sleeping arrangements. If I let this happen, Ryoma would never let me live it down.

However, before I could even open my mouth, he spoke up.

"We can bring the bed over from the closet. There is space over there," he indicated pointing to the opposite wall underneath his window.

"Um…Tezuka-san this is very kind of you bu-"

"You can place your clothes in the closet on the hangers, I never use them."

"Tezuk-"

"The bathroom is just down the hall to your left and there are two sinks. I only use the left one."

"Excuse me, um, Tezuka-san, I'm quite satisfied with the closet." I said firmly.

He turned to me, "There is no reason to put up a guest in such inhospitable conditions." Stating, just as immovably.

"I prefer a little bit of privacy." I said with a steely edge. He was going to be hard to budge.

"Then we'll put up a screen down the middle of the room."

"What if you snore?"

"Earplugs. And I don't snore."

"What if I snore?"

"Earplugs."

"What if I decide to stay up late and want to keep the light on?"

"Booklight." He countered as he tossed one at me.

I was running out of excuses. I couldn't say that I wanted more room. His room, even cut in half was more than three times the size of the closet. I couldn't argue that I was uncomfortable being um…undressed in the same room as someone else considering I was a doctor and supposed to be used to it.

Drat.

I opened my mouth again to protest but not having anything to say, I closed it again and slunk out of the room to go get the bed from the closet.

This was a bad idea.

I lugged the bed into Tezuka's room with a bit of trouble and deicded that I'd better figure out what our game plan for the next few weeks would be. Assuming I stuck around that long.

"So, Tezuka, we need to discuss the arrangements for how I'm going to be able to accompany you throughout the day. Considering we don't know the extent of your condition, and I don't' trust you at all to lay off the work on your elbow. I'm going to have to be with you throughout the school day." I said as I continued to try and drag the bed as far away from Tezuka's as possible.

"I have talked it over with the administration."

Wow, he was on top of things. As the trainer…I probably should have done that. Or at least thought about it before the night before, but I had a lot on my mind.

"They understand the significance that you hold over my future and how I may be able to promote their school if I turn pro so they have no problem with you coming. However, because of your age and the inappropriateness of having a trainer present at all times in a classroom, they have requested your presence as a student." He said with absolutely no inflection in his voice.

"So I'm like an undercover therapist?" I said playfully. In my mind I was trying to count the number of deceptions I was trying to pull off all at once. I was a girl dressed as a boy who was an agent posing as a therapist who was 17 when I was really 15 who was going undercover at a school as a student when really I was a therapist. Even I was getting confused.

"Ah"

He walked over to his closet, which unfortunately was on his side of the partitioned room and pulled out some old uniforms.

"Here." He said as he handed my the uniforms. "We can replace the first year pins with third year ones when we get to school."

Great, I was so unboy-like that I was the size of Tezuka as a first year. Though I had heard from Ryoma that he was extremely tall even in middle school, so maybe my size was okay. Maybe. Hopefully.

"Aside from that you will be the trainer consultant for the entire team."

I furrowed my eyebrows once again perplexed. From what Ryoma had said, both Oishi and Coach Ryuzaki were quite capable at taking care of injuries.

"Is a trainer needed?"

"No."

"Then…why am I being put on in such a role?"

"I don't want to attract attention to my physical state."

Ah, that made sense. He didn't want to alert anyone to the fact that he was in need of a personal 24-hour medical assistant. Prideful boy. Man. Guy. Thing. I couldn't quite categorize him yet along those lines. I'll bet he had requested me to be sent in a student so that he wouldn't have to be questioned about my specific duties concerning him.

The lights turned off and the only light left in the room was coming from a lamp on Tezuka's side of the room.

"Good-night Tezuka-san." I said cheerily.

"Ah, good-night."

I checked the time. 1:10am. I had to get going to the meeting place soon. I really hoped that Tezuka fell asleep before then.

(Mochizuki POV)

The stupid psychiatrist had finally stopped coming by to see and interrogate me. I think that between my complete lack of interest, and the fact that I figured out he hates the sound of fingernails on metal had gotten through to him though it had taken about 10 hours to do so. I had to give the guy kudos for being persistent. I wouldn't have to cut my fingernails for the next year or two I was pretty sure.

It had been one day since Koga and I had arrived back at Imei but I had yet to see her. I was pretty sure that she was going through the same thing. Imei had no solid evidence against us and were probably just stalling for time so that they could deliver a ludicrous accusation on us, we'd get a slap on the wrist, and then we'd be returned to our team. We just had to wait it out.

(Koga POV)

My eyes were dry.

Whether it be from the slow but steady stream of tears that ran down my cheeks or the fact that I was now scared to even blink, I didn't know. What I was waiting for I didn't know. Why I was trying…I was beginning to lose sight of.

It was inevitable. It was all my fault. They just had to wait it out.

Please review! Yeah, I know it was a lot more just info instead of action this time, but a LOT is going to happen in the next chap so stay tuned! :)