~DISCLAIMER: I do not own Prince of Tennis!~

CHAPTER 2

Slowly, I opened my eyes to reveal Kirihara on top of me, arm pulled back as if he was going to punch me, and a look of astonishment on his face. Up close, I could not help but notice how devilishly cute he actually was.

"Devil boy, if you're not going to hurt me could you please get off?"

At that, Kirihara jumped off me as his cheeks blushed a scarlet red.

"Help her up." he said as he turned to face the opposite direction as me.

I wonder what he is thinking.

When the two that tried to hold Kirihara back helped me up, Kirihara asked in a muffled voice for his hand was over his mouth, "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

At his question I did a quick self-examination, and noticed only a few scrapes from when my arms hit the ground. "No, not really." was my reply.

"Just… don't piss me off and this won't happen, Seigaku girl!" Then he ran off, leaving me watching him.

What was that all about? Did I really offend him that much?

---

Class has been resumed, and instead of glaring at me, Kirihara is making a point to completely avoid looking at me. Yet, I can still see his cheeks, which are still a little flushed. This new attitude of his remained all the way to the end of school.

When everyone was gone and I was packing up my things, Kirihara turned to me, head down and said, "Look, I'm sorry for earlier."

I looked at him, but his head remained towards the ground. "It wasn't your fault, I provoked you somehow. So I should be the one who is sorry."

His head shot up and his green eyes met mine, we looked at each other for what seemed like the longest time until Kirihara cleared his throat, looked away, and said "Look, um, Seigaku gi--- no I mean Yumiko, if you want to wander the courts then it's fine by me," Kirihara began walking away, "I'm heading over there right now for practice if you want come."

All I could do is look at him in shock, as he walked out of the room.

"Hey, wait!" Catching up to him was easy, "You called me by my name!"

Kirihara stopped and looked at me, "I guess I did, there isn't there a problem with that, is there?"

"Well, of course not, but now I am going to feel obliged to call you by your name instead of Devil Boy, and I don't want to do that!"

A hint of a smirk played across his face, "Devil Boy, huh? You really want to keep calling me that? Fine by me, anyways, just because I called you by your name once does not mean you should call me by my name." Then Kirihara began walking away, leaving me standing there, "Well, are you coming or not?"

Devil Boy is nicer than people say

Kirihara was already at the door now, so I had to run to catch up with him. Shockingly, I believe I have made a friend on the tennis team!

---

For the whole of practice I stayed. Kirihara was actually quite a good captain, which completely stunned me. Most people whom I've come across have said he is like the Devil, but from what I can tell he is surprisingly nice. He can be mean, though, I already know that for sure.

"Alright, practice is over! First years stay and pick up the balls, second and third years you are free to go, so GO HOME!" yelled Kirihara. Then he went over to a bench and sat down, wiping his face with a towel.

"You're a good captain." I said, coming over to him. Kirihara must have forgotten I was even there, because he jumped up off the bench at my approach.

"You think so? Sometimes I wonder whether or not I am too easy on them," Kirihara sighed, "Yukimura always made being a captain so easy, but then again, everything seemed easy when it involved him." The first years approached Kirihara and bowed.

"Buchou, we're done picking up the balls."

"You may leave then." Kirihara watched them scurry away before standing up, stretching, and walk towards the locker room. "Alright, time to lock up."

I followed him and waited outside without thinking as he went in to change.

Why am I following him? Just this morning we were total enemies, are we friends now? I thought to myself. Wait a minute, he didn't even ask me to wait, so I should probably leave before he thinks I am any weirder than I already seem!

Just as I turned around to leave, the door behind me opened, and out walked Kirihara,

"Hmmp, were you waiting for me?" he asked. I turned around knowing a smirk was on his face just by the tone of his voice, which seriously infuriated me!

How can this stupid guy be nice one moment, but horribly infuriating the next?

So, I retaliated by saying, "Waiting for you? Absolutely not, I was merely just deciding on whether or not I should go home so soon." wiping his smug look right off his face and turning it into a frown! His eyes clouded over with an angry gleam.

"You're doing it again, Yumiko." he said. I paused, there was something about the way he said my name that made me want to stop.

"Doing what?"

"Provoking me like you did earlier." My anger flailed up at this comment. Not everything was about him and his uncontrollable anger!

"That was the point, didn't you get that? Your smug look was driving me insane and I wanted to wipe it right off of your face, and it worked!" I stated, turned around, and left. The blood began rushing to my face as I walked off in tears, positive I had just ruined what could have turned into a beautiful friendship.

---Kirihara's View---

That damn girl, I just met her and she is already getting me riled up! I mean, what is her problem?! All of these thoughts and more were racing through Kirihara's mind as he watched Yumiko Nami walk away. Realizing he was know glaring at empty space, his feet instinctively turned to opposite direction of his house and walked. He needed time to think.

Was she really just thinking, or was she actually waiting for me?

Kirihara slowed to a complete stop, lost in his mind.

If she was waiting for me, then why? His eyes widened at a new thought. Did she already consider us friends? How could that be, we only just met today! Sure, she seemed really nice, but you can't become friends in just a day, or can you?

His eyes narrowed, Shit! That stupid girl! How can she already be making me feel this guilty?! Then he abruptly turned around and ran in the direction Yumiko Nami had gone.

---

Kirihara ran, and kept running until he heard a squeaking noise on his right. He slowed to a stop and turned, seeing Yumiko just sitting on a swing, head bent and back to him. Sighing, Kirihara walked silently over to her, concern filling his eyes.

I wonder what's on her mind. He thought. Then, as the swing was making it's slight descent backwards, Kirihara grabbed the chains and slightly pushed her forward.

"What?!" Yumiko's head shot up and turned around, causing her to startle at the sight of him. Kirihara's laughter rang out as she fell off the swing and landed on her butt.

"It's not funny! Stop laughing!" Yumiko pleaded.

"I'm sorry, but I just can't believe you fell of the swing!" His laughing calmed down as he walked over to help her, extending his hand.

"I don't need your help, you pushing me was what caused me to fall off in the first place!" grumbled Yumiko.

"Look, I didn't have to come back to find you, so the least you can do is be nice! Besides, I didn't mean for you to fall off!" Kirihara said trying to keep his emotions in check.

She glared at him saying, "Then why did you?"

"I felt guilty, for some reason." He looked away, not wanting to get lost in her eyes. Once again, he held out his hand, but once again she refused. In Yumiko's attempt to stand back up she only managed to fall back down, earning herself a few more laughs from Kirihara.

"Just shut up!" Kirihara looked at her, thinking to himself, She really is cute when frustrated. I still don't know why I feel this way, but I'm just going to go with it now.

"Here," he held out his hand for the third time, "Just accept my help… and my friendship." Yumiko hesitated, and did not reach out for his hand.

"Alright, fine by me." Kirihara took his hand back and turned around, not wanting to show that he was actually hurt by her not accepting him immediately.

"Wait!" Yumiko cried out. She went to jump up, but as she did so she immediately fell forward emitting a squeal. "AHH!" Kirihara turned back around just in time for Yumiko to fall against him, knocking the both of them to the ground now with Yumiko on top. His arms wrapped around her so she would be safer from the impact on the ground.

---Back to Yumiko---

I felt my heartbeat quicken as his arms wrapped around me. When I went to move off from on top of him, he just tightened his grip on me and rolled over to where we were both on our sides, not getting up. Kirihara's eyes were staring at me intently as he whispered into my ear, "Are you okay?" My heart skipped a beat.

No, Yumiko, I thought scolding myself, You just met him today, and you're not even completely sure if the two of you are friends yet, so you should not be feeling this way about him! However, my feelings stayed, stronger than before. The usual smirk on Kirihara's face did not appear, but stayed concerned as I did not answer. Instead of waiting for me to answer, however, he pulled me closer covering my lips with his in a passionate kiss.

~Should I end it there or write more? You decide. I think I will put a poll on my page for you to vote.~