Okay, here's another chapter of chibiness! I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I very unfortunately do not own Prince Of Tennis. Maybe somebody could get it me for Christmas?

Chapter Four

Marui woke up first the next morning, carefully stretching as he tried his best not to wake the still sleeping chibi. His efforts went to waste, though, as Niou stirred and sat up yawning.

"Mornin'." He managed to yawn out. Marui returned the sentiment and they both quickly got dressed before exiting the tent and joining the rest of the team outside.

"What we doing today?" Marui asked as Jackal handed him a plate of baked beans, sausages and toast. Yukimura swallowed before answering.

"Well, as well as having a beach, you've probably noticed that this place is quite hilly so I was thinking that we could go on a hike. After breakfast Jackal, Sanada and I are going to be making some sandwiches for a picnic lunch. Any filling requests?" Niou and Marui both shook their heads.

About an hour later, they were all ready. They set off, Yukimura at the front with a map that he had procured from seemingly nowhere. Marui walked at the back of the group beside Niou who had insisted that he walk by himself and keep up. The hills were covered with lush forests that provided cool shade in place of the beating sun. They walked for several hours before coming across a wide stream that separated two hills. The only way to get across it was by stepping stones that protruded about an inch above the water. The team form a semi-orderly line and started to cross.

"You go first, 'Haru." Marui said, standing back so the other could get by. Niou nodded as he cautiously made his way across, Marui only ever a stone away at all times. Everything was going fine until Niou got to about the middle. The stones were slightly wet from the wind blowing water over them and the one in the middle had a slight indent that had allowed a puddle to form. Niou slipped as he put his foot down on the puddle, yelping as he felt himself falling towards the water. Marui quickly lunged forward, pulling Niou to his chest and spinning round so that he landed in the stream. The stream wasn't that deep, barely making it up to Marui's waist as he landed. Marui winced as his bottom hit the gravely bed and shivered slightly at the cold water as Yagyuu and Jackal waded through the water to help them up.

"Are you two okay?" Jackal asked as he and Yagyuu each grabbed one of Marui's elbows and hauled him and Niou up, the chibi Trickster held securely in the redhead's arms. Marui nodded.

"I'm fine. You okay, 'Haru?" He asked worriedly. Niou nodded as well as Marui walked towards the bank. He wriggled slightly in Marui's arms and the tensai put him down when they got on dry land. Marui pulled his soak shorts away from his skin, sticking his tongue out in disgust. "Urghh, so wet…"

"Let's stop here for lunch. There aren't many trees here so the sun will dry your clothes out quickly." Yukimura said as he held his hand out to Sanada to give him the blanket. They quickly got out the sandwiches, sitting down in some circular looking shape. It only took the about them about fifteen minutes to clear all the sandwiches.

"Man, those were good sandwiches!" Akaya said as he sat back and rubbed his stomach satisfactorily. "Anybody want to play a game of Tag?"

"Akaya, I haven't played that since I was five." Marui deadpanned.

"I don't remember playing tag a month ago." Akaya said with a thoughtful look, a small smile playing on his lips. Marui opened and closed his mouth a few times before shutting it for good, shaking his head with a small grin.

"For that one I think you deserve a game of Tag." He said as he stood up, brushing the crumbs off his clothes and doing some light stretches. Everybody else besides Sanada and Yagyuu followed suit. After a few quick and messy rounds of ro-sham-bo they decided to make Akaya it since he was the one who suggested the game. Akaya gave them all a five second head start before running after Marui.

"I'm gonna get you, Marui-senpai!" Akaya shouted gleefully as he slowly gained on the redhead.

"Akaya, stop picking on me just 'cause I'm the slowest!" Marui wailed as he desperately put on extra burst of speed. His actions were futile, however, as Akaya easily caught up with him and pounced on the volley specialist. Marui fell to the floor with a small 'oomph', grimacing slightly as pain shot up his back as Akaya landed on top of him.

"You're it, Marui-senpai!" The second year laughed as he scrambled off of Marui and started to run away. "By the way, no tag backs!"

"I know that!" Marui yelled as he quickly clambered to his feet, running after the others. They all let him come tantalisingly close before quickly evading his grasp, leaving a pouting Marui behind. After he failed to catch the Jackal for the third time, Marui looked round to see if there was anybody who might take pity on him. His eyes fell on Niou. Marui felt slightly bad for deciding to go after Niou since, because he was five, his legs were naturally a lot shorter than everybody else's so he wouldn't be to run as fast but the others were more likely to take pity on him and let him catch them and Marui was starting to get slightly annoyed.

"Sorry 'Haru!" Marui shouted as he bounded after the chibi. He easily caught up with Niou but just as he was about to tag the Trickster, Marui tripped a protruding tree root and tagged Niou with more force than necessary. Niou fell to the ground as Marui hopped to keep his balance so as not fall on top of the other. "Sorry 'Haru…" Niou just nodded as he picked himself up, sniffling quietly. Marui moved to comfort him but the rest of the team beat him to it. Yukimura picked the chibi up carefully as Sanada turned to the redhead.

"Tarundoru!" Sanada slapped Marui hard. "Marui, fifty laps up and down the hill, now!" Marui wanted to know what constituted a lap but the look on Sanada's face scared him and he clammed up as he began to run.

Marui was panting heavily by the time he finished his laps and his legs felt like jelly but he didn't have time to rest as the team set off again on their hike. He once again hung at the back with Niou, though this time it was partly because he was too tired to walk up at the front rather than because he wanted to keep Niou company. He looked guilty at the plasters on Niou's knees and right hand.

"'Haru, do you want a piggyback?" He offered. Niou shook his head.

"No, I'm fine, Bunta." He said dismissively. Akaya looked back at the two.

"Hey, Niou-senpai, I just realised: You're not saying 'puri' anymore." He said in slight amazement.

"That's because I didn't even know Yanagi when I was five so I hadn't drank that stupid Puri Tea and started to say 'puri'." Niou told him, scowling slightly at the memory. Oh, how he hated Yanagi for forcing that foul stuff down his throat.

They walked for half an hour making small talk when Niou suddenly jogged up to Yagyuu.

"Hey, Yagyuu, can you carry me? My legs are tired." He said. Yagyuu nodded and everybody besides Marui melted slightly at the cute sight. Marui had to admit that he felt slightly upset by Niou's actions but pasted on a smile for everybody else's sake for the rest of the hike.

Niou found himself staring at the fire that night, slowly drifting of into a trance. He quickly caught himself before he fell over and rubbed the sleep that was starting to gather in his eyes. Marui had gone into the tent half an hour earlier to read his book and Niou decided to join him.

Marui looked as Niou ducked inside.

"Hey 'Haru. Are you tired?" He asked as he began to reach for the Trickster's pyjamas. Niou shook his head.

"No. Well, yeah, a little bit, but I actually came to see how you were." He said. Marui blinked confusedly.

"To see how I was?" The redhead repeated in puzzlement. Niou nodded.

"Yeah. I think I might've hurt your feelings this afternoon by asking Yagyuu to carry me even though you offered." Niou told him. Marui made to shake his head but a look from Niou made him stop. Akaya was right, Niou's glares were scarier when he was a kid. He nodded hesitantly.

"I was a little upset…" He admitted slowly. Niou became downcast and Marui looked stricken. "I don't blame you for wanting Yagyuu to carry you! I mean, he's a lot stronger than me so there's less chance of you being accidentally dropped and I'm a boring guy so I can see why you wouldn't want to spend all your time with me."

"Eh, Bunta, you're not boring! It's just that you've been rubbing your back all day so I was worried that you hurt your back." Niou said. Marui looked slightly surprised.

"I have? I didn't really notice. I just slept in a slightly weird position last night, that's all. I'm fine so don't worry." Marui smiled reassuringly but his words seemed to have the opposite effect to what he wanted.

"I'm sorry. I'm the one that made you sleep in a weird position last night. I bet having Akaya land on your back and falling in that stream to catch me didn't help either." Niou said as he looked at the ground sadly.

"Stop worrying, 'Haru, it isn't your fault. My back is completely fine." Marui tried to reassure him again.

"Then why are you rubbing your back?" Niou said accusingly. Marui blinked in surprise, slowly moving his hand from his back and looking at it.

"I didn't realise…"

"That means you've gotten used to the pain. That's bad, Bunta. If you get used to the pain then you won't realise when it gets worse and you could hurt yourself really badly." Niou said seriously as he tugged Marui over to the less bumpy side of the tent and gently pushed him down. "Lie down flat on your back, that should help." Marui nodded.

"Okay. God, I'm useless at times, aren't I? You're five-years-old so I should be the one taking care of you but you're taking better care of me then I can of myself." Marui said, a slightly twisted smile on his lips.

"Actually, technically we're both fifteen so the healthy one should take care of the unhealthy one. I'm okay whilst you have a bad back so it's okay for me to look after you." Niou said as he laid down next to Marui, resting his head on the violet-eyed boy's shoulder and wrapping his small arms round Marui as best as he could. Marui gently pulled him into a hug of his own.

"Thanks 'Haru…"

A/N: I hope you liked it this chapter! Niou and Marui are so cute! The next chapter should hopefully be up on Boxing Day but I might be a little late because I have a serious case of schoolitis i.e. mock exams and homework. *sigh* School is evil...

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading and until next time! Bai bai!