Well... Hi? *scratches cheek and grins sheepishly*For those who've forgotten... This is EP, just with different penname now.

I'm really grateful that dear readers still read this particular story. I'm so sorry for ditching you all. I hope this chapter can make up my faults X(

Disclaimer: The Prince of Tennis and its characters belong to Konomi Takeshi-sensei. I only own the OCs and fic's plot.

My English hadn't improved at all so... expect typos and errors.

Ch15: Runaway Marriage

Tsubaki thought she must have gone crazy. No, she must be crazy now.

She had disobeyed her mother and the older lady must be deadly mad right now. She would surely take a detour once she arrived at the first station. She would run after her. She would do anything to find her.

And what would happen once her mother found her? Tsubaki was way too afraid to even think about it... as the thought itself was enough to make her drenched in cold sweat.

Lost in her deep thought, she didn't take much attention on her surrounding and failed to notice that the person in front of her had stopped. She bumped into him.

"Ouch!" She yelped. She instinctively looked up to find what, or to be precise: who she had just run into. Her eyes met a pair of dark green orbs; they were sharp yet tender.

They belonged to Zaizen... the person who had driven her into a crazy decision of leaving her family behind.

"Wh- What happens? Why did you suddenly stop?" she asked, slightly bewildered, to the guy who was supposed to lead their way out of the station.

He looked at her for a while in silence before answering. "Your hand... it's so cold."

She looked at her hand, which was held by his warm one. She blushed as she realized that they had been walking hand-in-hand. She pulled her hand out of embarrassment (in many ways), but, instead of letting her go, he tightened his grip onto her. Her cheeks turned three shades redder when he did so and she dared not to face him. They were holding hands in public. People would think that they were couple even though in reality they were just friends.

Yes, just friends. He had stated it clearly, and it wasn't a lie.

For her... he was really a precious friend; a friend who listened to her, a friend who understood her, a friend who would do anything for her. It was the first time she met someone like him and she was sure she would never find someone like him again. His presence was just like a gift from God.

But why did she feel slightly disappointed by that friend word?

She closed her eyes and slightly shook her head. No, it was not the right time to think about it. For now she should focus on the problem before her.

Her mother, her family...

"It's okay." he suddenly said. "Everything's gonna be alright."

It was as if he could read her thought again and it made her felt like crying. She looked up with teary eyes and once again their eyes met. His eyes were still as gentle as ever. They were the ones. They were the eyes that could penetrate through her mask and saw her real self.

He was the one who understood her the best.

Was it a sin if she wanted to be with him?

"Where are we going?" She asked as soon as they reached the station's exit.

"You'll see..." He replied, but not really answering the question. He seemed a little cheerful and it was kinda strange to see him like that, remembering he was the Zaizen Hikaru. It looked like he had a plan in mind. She knew he would never up to no good, but... She couldn't help but feeling curious on this boy's strange behavior.

Nevertheless she followed him. They exited the station from the South gate, then crossed the street, then... they arrived.

They stood in front of a shop. She curiously looked at the signboard which was decorated with many colorful LED lights and read: KARAOKE.

"Karaoke?"

Out of all place, why karaoke? She had thought they would go to somewhere far, far away, where her mother could not find her, but why did bring her to a karaoke, which located right in front of the station?

"Zaizen-kun, I don't understand. Why here?" She demanded for an explanation, but he just smirked in reply and dragged her inside without saying anything.

An employee opened the door and greeted them with a businessman's smile. "Second floor, room #14." he said to Zaizen. Zaizen nodded to him then walked toward the stair, while still dragging her. There was a slight confusion reflected on the employee's face when he saw this, but it disappeared right away and replaced with a smile. "Hope you enjoy your time here."

Zaizen led their way to the second floor. It seemed like he was really familiar with this place, which made her even more curious. They walked along the corridors, passed several rooms and finally arrived in front of a door with 14 on it.

"Here we are." He announced nonchalantly.

She could vaguely hear people's singing and laughing from the other side of the door. Who were there? What was going on? Why were they here on the first place? Unspoken questions started piling up.

He raised his empty hand (the other was still holding her hand) and grabbed the doorknob. He stole a glance at her and smiled in amusement at her puzzled look. He slowly turned the knob and opened the door.

"Oh, here they are!"

They were greeted by familiar voice.

She lost her words when she saw the occupants of the room. She was stunned to see the entire tennis team regulars were there. She was even more surprised when she saw her captain, Sanae, was there as well. The strangest part was that none of them looked surprised by her appearance. It was as if they had been expecting her. She turned to Zaizen, silently asking what was going on there, but he just smiled (again). He pushed her into the room and closed the door behind him.

"Zaizen you're so slow!" Kenya exclaimed, which, as usual, ignored by the said junior. The blackhead just casually walked past him and sat down on an empty coach. He took one of the song binders on the table then leaned back while flipping through the pages.

"Hey!" Kenya said in annoyance. He wanted to complain on the junior's rudeness, but got cut by Kintarou's loud voice.

"EEEH! Why do I only get 76?" The first year whined. Apparently he had just finished singing and got a not-so good score. "Why? Why?"

"It's because you sang a little too enthusiastically." Shiraishi explained.

"Eh? Why? Wasn't it a good thing?"

"Until a certain degree, it should have been."

Kintarou's brows furrowed as he didn't get what his captain was saying. "One more time then! This time I will get more than 90!"

"No," Shiraishi firmly said. "You've sang for three times in a row."

"Buuut!"

"No buts."

"Stingy!" Kintarou pouted as he handed over the mic to Chitose.

The tanned guy patted the sulking boy's head as he stood up. "96 points." He announced confidently.

"What's that?" Tsubaki, the only one who didn't know about Saiki Kanpatsu asked.

"Well... That's... " Kouki scratched her cheek as she didn't know how to explain about the God-ly like tennis skill. She then took a song binder and asked Tsubaki another question in order to change the topic. "What do you want to sing, Yamato-san?"

"Eh? Um..." This time it was Tsubaki who was at a loss of words. "I don't know..." She said sheepishly.

"Let me help you choose a song then." Kouki said cheerily as she flipped the binder and read through the list. "I know! What about AKB48's songs? We can sing it together. Hayakashi-san should join us as well."

"I rather pass," Sanae refused flatly.

"Eh? Why?" Kouki whined.

"Their songs are just... not so me." The kendo club captain sighed.

"Me neither." Tsubaki said. "I'd rather listen to the others sing."

"But it'll be more fun if you sing as well." Kouki tried to persuade. "And it's ok if you don't want to sing AKB. There're plenty of songs here. I'm sure you'll find one that suits your liking."

"But..." Tsubaki looked down and played with her nails. "I don't really know what to do. It's... It's my first time going to karaoke." Her cheeks turned slightly rose-colored because of the embarrassment. What a countrified high school girl she was! They must find it was really strange that a girl on their age had never visited a karaoke before.

Kouki and Sanae looked at each other. Tsubaki thought they would laugh at her, but she was wrong. They only smiled and their smile wasn't the mocking one. It was more like an understanding one.

"Oh, in that case, just ask us if there's anything you don't understand. I've visited this place several times so at least I can help you operate the machine and input your song of choice."

Sanae nodded in agreement. She then took the song binder from Kouki and flipped through the pages. "For the song how about..."

"Oh, so that's why you suddenly asked us to go to the Karaoke. That's sooo thoughtful of you." Kenya grinned ear-to-ear. Finally he got a chance to tease his beloved kouhai, who had been doing nothing but listening to the girls' talk and smiled quietly. Zaizen's soft expression disappeared as he turned to Kenya and glared, which only made the blonde grin even wider. "You're welcome~" He said cheerily.

Zaizen just sighed instead of denying. He knew it was pointless to argue with this senior of him. Besides, Kenya was right. She was the reason why he had asked his teammates to gather at that place. He glanced at the girls for a while before turned back to Kenya. "Why's that kendo club captain here?" He asked. He didn't remember he had asked them to bring her along.

"Well," Kenya shrugged. "She came to the tennis club and was looking for you. She said she wanted to ask you something regarding Yamato, and since we were going to meet both of you, we decided to take her here with us," he paused for a while before continuing. "Well, actually Kouki did... Anyhoo, it's good to see you back to yourself."

Zaizen blinked several time before his lips eventually formed a thin smile. "Thanks, senpai."

Kenya smiled back at him. He then went on a more serious matter."We heard from Hayakashi that Yamato was supposed to move out today. Is that true?"

"Well, yes..." Zaizen nodded slightly.

"Then why is she still here?" Kenya raised a brow. He looked at Tsubaki then at Zaizen then at Tsubaki again. He kept on looking forth and back before finally concluded. "Don't tell me you..?"

"That's just so sweeeeeet! You're just like a runaway marriage couple!"

It was Koharu who suddenly joined the discussion.

"I'm so jelly! Actually I've always dream on becoming Hikaru's bride. But, but... If it's for Hikaru's happiness... " The bespectacled ga-, uh, guy took out a pink handkerchief and wiped his eyes as if he had been crying.

"Wait! Why Hikaru's? Why not mine?" Yuuji grabbed his lover's shoulders and shook him.

"I'm sorry Yuu-kun. To be honest I actually have had a crush on Hikaru since the first time I saw him." Koharu sobbed.

"Wha- That's impossible! You... You cheated on me?"

And so the soap opera went on. Zaizen could only facepalm, while restraining the urge to vomit.

Time passed so quickly. After karaoke the group went to a nearby Wac Donalds and had a dinner. They chatted and laughed. It was really fun. From Koharu's and Yuuji's live comedy show to Kintarou's cute reaction on Shiraishi's poison hand, and from Chitose's random prediction to Koishikawa's sulking because his friends often forgot about him. Everyone was really friendly toward Tsubaki and she laughed with them as if they had been old friends.

It was so fun... to the point that she even forgot her family issue.

Nevertheless, the clock was ticking and their time was eventually up. It was already eight in the evening and they must go home.

Home... She couldn't possibly go home. She was too scared to go back to the place she referred as home. She was too afraid to meet her family.

But where should he go now? She only had a little money with her and it would be inappropriate for her to stay over at Zaizen's house. No matter what circumstance they were in, no matter what excuse she had... Even thought they were friends, even if his family would willingly accept her... She was a girl and he was a boy and that was that.

"Yamato-san's staying at my place, right?" Kouki's voice broke her chain of thought.

Tsubaki was confused with the sudden question. She glanced at Zaizen, asking for guidance. The younger boy slightly nodded at her and smiled. So Zaizen had even prepared a place for her to stay tonight... Such a kind and thoughtful fellow he was.

"Mm, yes." Tsubaki quickly replied to the long haired girl.

"Alright." Kouki clapped her hands. She then turned to Sanae. "Do you want to stay at my place as well, Hayakashi-san?"

Sanae was caught off guard by the question. "Eh? But I..."

"Come on, the night is still young. We still have a lot of things to talk about, right?" Kouki winked.

As if Sanae understood what Kouki meant by that wink, she quickly made up her mind. "I guess it's okay... staying at your place, I mean. Tomorrow is Saturday after all."

"Should I send you home?" Shiraishi offered.

"Nn." Kouki shook her head. "It'll be okay by the three of us."

"Okay then." Shiraishi patted his girlfriend on the head. "Be careful, k?"

"So hot here..." Kenya referred to the couple while fanning himself. He then nudged Zaizen. "Why don't you do the same to your girlfriend over there?"

"Oh, shut up." Zaizen groaned. Nevertheless, he involuntary glanced at the said girl and their gazes accidentally met. He touched his nape. Thinking what would be good to say.

"Good night."

That was apparently the best thing that he could come up. After all he didn't want to sound cheesy like Shiraishi, or sickeningly lovey-dovey like Yuuji and Koharu.

"Good night too, Hikaru-kun." Tsubaki smiled at him, which made him blush slightly.

"Oh, oh~ She said Hikaru, didn't she?" They boys whispered loudly behind his back.

"I wonder if our ears are deceiving us~"

"Man, it's really hot here~"

The night was still young... And Zaizen was sure it would be a long one.

Such a looooong night.

Zaizen sighed as he finally arrived in front of his house. Those senpais, they had kept pestering him with questions for more than an hour. Couldn't they mind their own business? He sighed again.

Still, those idiotic seniors had helped him and Tsubaki today and he was really grateful for that.

He quietly opened the front door. It was almost 10 o'clock so Azusa and Mitsuhiko must have been in bed by now. That was what he thought... but he was wrong.

Azusa was the one who greeted him as soon as he went inside.

"Hikaru!" Azusa exclaimed when she saw her brother-in-law. "Where have you been?"

It was strange to see her that hasty about his coming home late. It wasn't the first time he went home at this hour after all.

"You've got a guest, and she's been here for hours." She said.

Oh, that explained everything, he thought. But why did this guest willingly to wait for him until this late? He didn't remember he had made any appointment with any girl. He even doubted there was any classmate who was close enough to him to the point she would come to his house. Curious, he went to the living room where that person had been waiting so patiently.

He widened his eyes in surprised when he saw her... or to be precise: him.

"Yamato?"

It was the younger Yamato, Yamato Tsubasa.

Finally Zaizen's and Tsubasa's confrontation! Why do I like cliffhangers so much ^^;

Thank you for your time reading. Please review! I'd love to hear your opinion on this particular chapter. As usual, concrits are always welcome. You might also rant about what a terrible author I am. I'll take anything so please speak to me once again!

Next: Zaizen and Tsubasa are going to rip each other neck! Uh, kidding ^^a But at least there will be something happen between them. Also, a pajama party at Kouki's place :3