BP: My mood was a little ruined by the lack of reviews. Also, *sigh* I was looking through photos and found one of my CCA, taken when I was in Sec 1. I wondered why there was a slight ache of my heart when I looked at the former chairman's face in the photo. Then I remembered she was already dead. Also, I got into a fight with my friend, because he stated that because I wrote my story in a more popular category, I would therefore have more reviews, stories and favorites than him. So, I am in a pretty bad mood now, please don't aggravate me any further.
There are times when Jude, the champion swimmer, wants to just disappear. You would not have believed what just happened. It so happened when he walked out of his room to get breakfast, and there was Atobe and Ryoma, with Pakura and Ryoga sitting at the table eating pancakes! Atobe, Ryoga and Ryoma were wearing T-shirt and short pants, looking like they have just woken up! And Pakura was in a dark blue flannel nightie! When Ryoma saw Jude, he choked on his pancake. "Jude, what are you doing up so early? I thought you usually won't wake until an hour later." He wished he had. He wished he had chosen to sleep in and never had to look at them in shorts and T-shirts looking like they had just woken up. He could have lived a full and happy life without ever having seen that. If Atobe and Ryoga looked like they had just woken up, it meant that they spent the night in the captain's and vice-captain's rooms! He was taken aback. Why did the vice-captain allow someone, especially a boy, to spend the night in her room? He sat down next to Ryoma, collected his breakfast and started eating, while the other champions slowly came out and joined them. After breakfast, all of them changed into their training gear. Today, Coach Levi was in charge of the practice matches. At some point, Pakura laced her head on Ryoga's shoulder and fell asleep. When things get even a little bit boring, she will fall asleep, pretty much like Ryoma. He shifted so that her head was resting in his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her. Pakura smiled. Her head felt really good there, as if his chest had been made to fit the exact shape of his head. In fact, Ryoga had to wake her up for lunch.
Unbeknownst to them, Seigaku had a plot against the champions. Fuji stood up, with a bottle of Inui's Juice (Improved Super Royal Inui Juice Z) in hand, went to the gymnasium. He went to the water bottle marked, "Ryoma" and another unmarked one, and emptied the water bottles in the water cooler. He then filled the bottles with Inui's juice. He replaced the water bottles, smiled, and went back to lunch. They intended to get Ryoma and another champion to forfeit his match (due to bad stomach) so that they can laugh at him of being a coward and then the players would know that believing Seigaku is the right move, and also prove that the champions are not as good as they thought after all. Also, this juice can knock out someone for a week (proven once during practice at some point) , perhaps they won't recover in time for their light version of the ITM matches. After lunch, the players returned to the gym. The next match was Pakura against Kite, and she won 6-0 in 20 minutes flat, without using her left hand. She went to the bench where all the water bottles were placed. Unfortunately, she didn't bother to read the label on the water bottle. Meanwhile, Eiji tapped Fuji on the shoulder. "Fuji, we have the wrong victim. Look!" he pointed to Pakura, who was actually taking a sip. And the label on the bottle read, "Ryoma." The next second, Pakura paled, and vomited all over the gymnasium floor on one of te courts, and fainted. "Pakura!" "Princess!" "Vice-captain!" most of the champions shouted in horror. Ryoga ran over to Pakura's fallen body, and flipped her over. Coach Levi also ran over. "What happened?" said Coach Levi. All the players, including Seigaku, shook their heads, indicating they don't know what's wrong. "Send her back to her room, now." ordered Coach Levi. Ryoga picked her up bridal style, and carried her out of the gym.
"What happened, Ryoma?" said Atobe. Ryoma frowned, and picked up his water bottle. He touched the surface of the juice, tasted one drop, and immediately grimaced. It was very sour, worse than vinegar. He looked at the water bottle. It was labeled with his name. Pakura must have taken the wrong water bottle, and she didn't even bother to check. He looked at the other water bottles belonging to his fellow champions. He hoped Seigaku only meant to target him. However, after Philip's match against Oshitari Yushi (they took the court furthest away from the vomit covered one), within minutes after he drank his water bottle, without even asking the coach, he ran towards the elevator, only to faint after taking 20 steps. Ryoma grimaced as the second victim of Inui's Juice is being carried back to his room. Due to two of the champions unable to practice and the vomit needs to be cleared up, the training was cancelled. At the twelfth floor, Ryoma slumped on the couch. "What's wrong, Ryoma?" said Atobe, wrapping his arms around Ryoma's waist. Ryoma sighed. "Because of me, two of my champions are currently not in the condition for training. This is my entire fault." Atobe patted his hair gently. "The champions don't blame you for this. I am sure they know the whole situation, and Seigaku is bound to have targeted them, I am sure they are prepared for their counterattack themselves." Ryoma looked up, looking miserable. "I know! But why can't they target me instead, since I am the only enemy after all?" He cradled his head in his hands. Atobe said, "Don't worry. We do have the other schools on our side. Your champions will recover soon enough in time for the matches."
"Really?" said Ryoma.
"Yes, really." said a voice. Ryoma looked up, and found all the champions (except for William and Pakura) standing there. "You are not alone in this battle. You have us. You can't give up just because Seigaku has done away with two of our champions temporarily." said Tyler. "I am sure Princess and William wouldn't want this, if they are still here." Ryoma nodded. "Let's not give up." said Tyler, holding out a hand. The champions and Atobe one by one placed their hands on top of Tyler's. Once they did, they raised their hands, and shouted, "Yeah!"
Later, while Ryoma and Atobe were taking a walk around the Training Center, they stopped when they saw Fuji, Tezuka and Inui talking. They moved into the range of their conversation.
"I didn't expect the princess to be drinking that. It was meant for Echizen." said Tezuka. Then, seeing Fuji's expression, he went on, "Fuji, what are you looking so angry about?"
"One that Echizen didn't drink it but it was the princess, and two, it wasn't me who carried the princess back to her room. Nee-san called and said I was supposed to have flourishing romance. I wonder if it may be the princess." Fuji said thoughtfully.
"Stop dreaming, Fuji. She said she's already dating someone." said Inui. "Like she'll go for us anyway, since we are the traitors, not that anyone knows about it, though."
"Oh come on, we're National Champions, of course she'll be tripping over her own feet to go out with us. In fact, I'm the tensai of the National Champions. I'm surprised she's quite shy to ask us out, though." Fuji said thoughtfully. "Hmm….do you think I should ask her who she likes."
"There's 100% probability she'll just ignore you and say mind your own business. Anyway, the drink you gave to Anderson and the Princess will knock them out for a week, so once they recover, expect the cold shoulder from them." Fuji, defeated, sullenly nodded. Atobe and Ryoma would like to walk away, but the main (and only) entrance out of the Training Center is over there, so they had to walk past the Three Monsters (Three Strongest) of Seigaku in order to get out. Atobe nodded once, and hand in hand, they stepped out of their hiding place, and walked past the three of them. "Ah, Echizen, how's the princess? It's a pity she suddenly vomited and fainted during practice. She must have suffered from food poisoning. If you like, I'd check with the chefs whether they have been cooking their food well." Ryoma gave Fuji a faint smile, and said, "No thank you, Fuji. I can handle the well-being of my champions by myself. I don't need your help, thank you." They continued walking, but Fuji said, "So, will I expect to see all 8 of you at the light version of the ITM?" Ryoma turned, and nodded. "In healthy condition too." With that, he left with Atobe. Meanwhile, in the penthouse, Ryoga was trying to suppress the fever that Pakura suddenly developed. It had been 8 hours since she was unconscious. He looked out the window. It was getting dark. He sighed; he couldn't leave the girl like this. He climbed into the king-sized bed, and brought the girl to his embrace. He looked at the "sleeping" girl. Does everyone look younger asleep? Because she could have been the timid freshman girl who was just picked for the ITM, and he had to mentor her. Unbeknownst to him, Pakura was yet having another nightmare, thanks to the Inui's Juice's influence….
Pakura was dressed in her New Day's Academy tennis outfit, and she was carrying her racquet. The place was white and clean. There was no sign post to tell her where she is, so she kept walking, to an unknown future. The place materialized into a tennis court, and a person is already waiting for her on the other side of the court. The person had brown hair and startlingly green eyes. "Natsuhi!" Pakura called out. The said boy turned, and smiled at her. He took his place at the court, gesturing for her to do so too. She did, and he served.
He won, but this time, the score was 7-6. Pakura was on her knees, panting. Natsuhi silently offered her a hand, and she accepted it. "Natsuhi?" Natsuhi inclined his head, indicating he was listening. "I love you, I do." Natsuhi nodded.
"But I love him too. You don't mind, do you?" Natsuhi gave her a long, hard look, before nodding slowly. He looked at the girl that once belonged to him, said, "I'm going to Iceland to further my studies." and slowly walked away. Pakura watched him walk away. She thought for a moment that he will turn around, saying he would stay for the school. For the tennis team.
For her.
She did not know why she is thinking that, because she told him she is going to let him go. She watched as Natsuhi walked away from her, from her life. She stood there, and made no move to stop him.
Ryoga jerked awake as he felt Pakura stirring furiously in her sleep. Suddenly he woke up and began struggling to remove herself from under the layers of bedclothes. She rolled and vomited over the edge of the bed. Ryoga got up, quickly went to the bathroom, and came back with a mop, a bucket of water and a cloth. He wiped Pakura's mouth with the cloth, and splashed the pool of vomit with the bucket of water, before mopping it up. He then sprayed air freshener in the room for good measure. Pakura had calmed down and she drifted back to sleep. Ryoga climbed back to bed, brushed Pakura's hair from her face and tucked it behind her ears, and fell asleep next to her.
Meanwhile, in William's room...
"Think he'll be alright?" said Chris, looking at the unconscious William lying on the bed. Derek shrugged. "I don't know. I wonder what's in that juice Seigaku gave him. It even knocked William down, and we all know he has one of the highest endurance in the team."
"That's probably Inui's Juice." said a voice at the door. Chris and Derek turned to find Ryoma and Atobe standing there. "How's he doing?" Chris shook his head. "Not good. He hasn't moved a single inch since he was carried here." Derek frowned. "What's Inui's Juice?" Ryoma sighed. "Inui created several Inui Juices as punishment for his teammate's failures. He has created a variety of them. Most of us fainted due to the effects of the juice. I wonder what he put in them. However, perhaps it would be better if we don't know…." Derek and Chris shuddered. Atobe nodded as well. "Once, we went to eat Yakiniku together, I placed a meat that was drenched in Inui's sauce, and the whole place filled with thick smoke that engulfed everyone, knocking them out. That was after you fainted, of course, Ryoma" He added, grimacing at the memory.
Ryoma said, "Does anyone know how Princess is?"
Derek shook his head "No, the last I saw her was when Ryoga carried her." Ryoma nodded. "I see. Well, I am going to the lounge for a while. Take care of William." He went to the lounge with Atobe, where Tyler and Jude were having a conversation. "So you really think our coach and the princess is dating?" said Jude. "Yes, they are, Jude." said Ryoma, startling the two sitting on the couch. Jude looked astonished. "Surprised at the fact that the Princess is dating?" said Atobe. Jude nodded. Ryoma smiled. "Don't worry, she's 17, she's old enough to date. Besides, I know my brother. He likes glamorous, adventurous, type of person, so I expect that's why he has gone for Princess. Besides, don't you think after two years, it's time for her to start dating again?" Jude meekly nodded. After all, most of the girls in his class date. Even a girl called Natalie Furman has started dating. She's been quite popular since she developed breasts over the summer. True, her curfew is ten o'clock, even on weekends, and she has to introduce her date to her mom and dad, and her date has to provide a detailed itinerary of exactly where they're going and what they'll be doing besides showing two pieces of photo ID for Mr. Furman to photocopy before he'll let Natalie go out of the house with him. But still, she's dating. Somebody asked her out. "I thought so." said Ryoma, smiling. "I am sure my brother wouldn't dump her like a hot potato when he sees other pretty girls. If he does…." He grinned and laughed manically. The others shuddered at the laugh.
In the penthouse, a certain dark green haired boy sneezed in his sleep.
"Anyway." said Tyler, interrupting the conversation. "I don't think any of our champions should go anywhere alone form now on. Even to the bathroom, I personally think we should have a small escort of 2-3 people. Who knows what Seigaku would do if they see any one of us alone." Ryoma nodded. "Yes. We mustn't give them another opportunity to strike. We must stick close together from now on." Atobe nodded. "If needed, Ore-sama will get his team to stick close to you, so that Seigaku won't get you." Ryoma nodded. "Thanks a lot, Keigo." He gave a quick peck on his lips. "I'll go back to my room to discuss something with Keigo. You guys do help me check on our champions." With that, he left for his room with Atobe.
Jude watched them leave, before turning to the others. "Do you know what that means?" said Jude worriedly.
Tyler nodded. They must not leave William or Pakura alone either, because who knows what Seigaku will do when they leave those two vulnerable champions alone in their rooms…..
Omake (Family records)
Tyler: Hello, everyone! I am sure you are dying to know about some of our champions' family background.
Ryoma: So, we are going to first introduce the Goldstein family, the family name of our favorite female champion.
Tyler: For the record, Pakura's father was a highly regarded family businessman while her mother was actually a housewife. She had two older brothers, who had the Goldstein look.
Ryoma: For those who don't know, The Goldstein looks means the person had dark brown hair and gray eyes. The call it the Goldstein look because all the Goldstein family members has dark brown hair and gray eyes.
Tyler: However, it was speculated that Pakura's mother apparently has an affair, because Pakura didn't had the look about her.
Ryoma: Yes. Due to this fact, she was the "cursed" child and she wasn't given what she craved the most- family love.
Tyler: Although she worked hard to prove she was worthy of the Goldstein family, by training and studying, she wasn't even given a glance by her parents, who instead gave their love and attention to her two brothers, because she's a girl, and in the Goldstein family, girls are inferior to boys because they believe all they can do is get married and squeeze some kids out. For the record, her brothers' names were Chase and Blake. However, Chase got into drugs and fighting with gang members, and ended up in jail. He died in jail a few years ago, if I remember.
Ryoma: While Blake nearly spent the family money on gambling and womanizing. Also, in the Goldstein family, girls do not have a say in anything. In fact, if Pakura didn't run away from home after she won, she would've married Josh Richter at the age of 18. Before she left home, she slapped her mother on her face out of anger, because her mother was hoping she'll share her riches with the family after she won the ITM, and after what they did to her! Pakura was so sick and tired of them treating her like dirt, and not giving her love, which is what she craved all along.
Tyler: I am glad you pummeled that Richter boy. Speaking of which, what happened to the Goldstein family?
Ryoma: Well, recently, a terrorist set a bomb on Bronx Mall, and it exploded. The Goldstein family perished when the bomb exploded. Pakura is the only living Goldstein member left.
Tyler: If you ask me, I think Pakura is the family genius. And also the family beauty of the Goldstein family!
Ryoma: I agree. The Goldstein family members are all scums. Well, except for Pakura. I'm glad she's happy now. Well, as happy as she can be with nightmares, that is.
Tyler: Right. (Turns to camera) That's all for today! See you in the next chapter!
BP: I know this is bad, because I was reading and watching Beezlebub at the same time, and I am in a bad mood. I hope I get more reviews this time, because I don't need the lack of reviews to add to my bad mood. I hope to get at least 10 reviews for this chapter. Please, don't aggravate me any more.