-1Hello anybody reading this!
Blufox- (Akaya: What the HECK do you mean you get to keep Bunta to yourself!? How dare--) -Cuts him off.- Anyway... -Akaya is dragged away.- How could you not love them?! Love love! Apathy is not acceptable! -Is carted off herself.- (Random person from the mental institute: We ask that you don't upset the patients. Thank you.) ((Um... Yeah... Sorry, got carried away...)
Sakimi1014- Fluff is great...
Meino Nanako- Well, Fuji-san is upset, because he did hurt Yuta before, ne? With the twist shot, you know? (I read the manga mostly, so I'm sorry if this makes no sense because it is called something else in the anime. I don't know!) Fuji just wants Yuta safe and happy. As for the plan... Nufufu... It's Fuji, so it should end up great. (I hope so!) I also recently learned that Fanfiction(dot)net doesn't like percent signs... -Sigh.-
Yoshikochan- I don't know if Mizuki will be nice to Yuta. If he loves him, he should be, don't you think? If not, I will gladly help Fuji and Tezuka destroy him!
DarkDemonCat- Bitter sweet... Hmm... Nope, can't think of any stupid thing to reply to that with. Glad you love the fic!
Shimizu Miki- I run distance too! And hurtles! I tried high jump, but I'm honestly not very good at it... I do okay in practice, but I always flop at meets... Sad.. Soap operas, by the way, are very funny. At least, I think so. Also, don't worry about ranting, I actually enjoy long posts.
Alaena Flame Dragonstar- Ahahaha... Well, Fuji's plan might end up being a little drawn out, but I'll try not to disappoint.
Vierblith- You're a fan of Ouran High school Host Club, aren't you? Just a guess. Also, Ikasu requests that you not -pat- him. -Laughs.-
ImmortalTigress- Well... I dunno about Akaya, but I'll try to use 'Marui' from now on, in the story... I'll try, but it's hard for me, for some reason!
RaiPheonix015- Yeah, my family is insane, so I understand... Well, today is an anti-Mizuki day for me, so you won't be seeing him. Atobe, on the other hand, I don't hate right now, but had no space for him. -Sigh.- In my opinion, Ikasu is totally smitten with Akaya-kun, but won't do anything as long as he believes that he has no place in Akaya's heart. As for what Bunta thinks, you'll get to see some of that in this chapter! As for Yuta... The 'adorable' thing was complete on impulse... I get bored sometimes, and strange things happen... I'm not entirely sure if it's Fuji and Tezuka that enjoy destroying (Or threatening to destroy) people, or if it's me. OR perhaps it's both? Yes, I like that answer. Regardless, Yuta is very blessed, I agree. (P.S.) I tried to print out your review, because it's the longest I've EVER seen (I was impressed!) to show my friends, but my printer went insane. It was scary... Anyway, they say hi to you as well.
KiriharaAkaya- I agree with you about Yuta deserving better, but it's not up to me, not really... As for Akaya and Marui... I'll do my best! As for Ikasu, if you look back at when Yukimura is talking about Ikasu, he says 'When Bunta uses his power, his 'other personality' comes out. Of course, he can come out other times if he really wants too, and he can give control back to Bunta without the power turning off, but it just normally works out that he doesn't.' You can go look if you want, it's chapter twenty-two!
Disclaimer- I do not own Prince of Tennis
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'What the heck?!'
That was Marui's immediate thought upon waking up. Actually, it was his second, because a split second before that he had thought 'since when is this bed so comfy?'. He distinctly remembered going to sleep in his own bed the previous night, and he was positive that he hadn't sleepwalked in years. So how had he managed to get himself in such a predicament?
'What the heck?!'
Marui didn't understand this at all. Although having Akaya sleeping in his arms was certainly not a bad thing. 'No no no!' Marui shook his head with hopes that he could clear it. He had no idea how he had ended up in the junior's bed, but if Akaya woke up, chances were good that Marui would meet an early end. Maybe he could slip out really quietly? Yeah right. Fat chance, with how tight Akaya's grip on him was.
A tight grip? Hmm... Perhaps it was a sign that the younger boy didn't mind his being there. Wah! What was her thinking?! Of course Akaya would be bothered by something like this!
Akaya stirred underneath him, and Marui's breath caught in his throat. He watched as green eyes fluttered open. He took a deep breath. "Umm... I'm not sure how I got here, but I swear I didn't do anything, or at least I don't remember doing anything, and I'm really sorr--" Akaya shut him up with a kiss.
"Be quiet... 'S still early..." the other boy mumbled. Marui forced himself to relax a bit as Akaya slowly woke up. He glanced at Marui with a small smirk. "What's with the look?"
Marui blinked. Twice. Akaya wasn't making any sense. It was almost as if he had already known he would be there when he woke up.
"It was cold last night," Akaya shrugged, seeming to follow Marui's line of thought. "Ikasu was just helping me stay warm." Marui felt a surge of jealousy. "Nothing happened." Marui smiled again, knowing Akaya would notice if he was too obvious about how jealous he felt of his other half.
"I know," he wagged his tail, knowing even then that Akaya had him totally wrapped around his little finger. He pressed his lips against his love's forehead. He would have to find someway to talk to Ikasu later, but, for now, he was content with just this. Despite how he had gotten here, waking up next to the person he had liked for so long certainly wasn't a bad thing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It had been a week since he had seen it. That... Terrible thing, who had the nerves to put it's hands all over his buchou. That thing... Fuji. Ayame Seikaku had been extremely confused when he first saw it: Fuji and Tezuka kissing in the locker room, last Monday. He hadn't been sure then what was going on, but those wings...
He blushed to even think about it. Tezuka-buchou had looked... Beautiful was the only thing that fit. Fuji, on the other hand... Looked like a demon in angels' clothing. Ayame didn't understand it at all. There was no way that his buchou could want to be with that horrid thing.
That was when he had figured it out. Clearly, Fuji was blackmailing Tezuka-Buchou. There was no other way to explain what he had seen. Reflecting upon this point further, Ayame had discovered that perhaps Tezuka-Buchou had turned him down before because he was afraid of what Fuji would do. As terrible as that sounded, Ayame could see it. That Fuji was evil, he had seen it from the beginning, what with the way the so called tensai stared at his buchou as if he was a piece of juicy meat. It was disgusting.
So, he had been trying since that day, when he saw first hand what was happening to his poor buchou, to find Fuji's weakness. He had tried everything so far. He left frightening things in Fuji's locker, and put disgusting things in the tensai's lunch when he wasn't looking, but the boy just smiled like he always did, and either removed the thing from his locker, or ate the food as if nothing was wrong with it. Ayame had shivered at that, and had never messed with Fuji's food again. He had, however, even gone so far as to follow the tensai around. That was how he had found out that they were even living together! His poor, poor buchou had no escape!
"Nya, Fujiko!" The shrill voice snapped Ayame out of his thoughts immediately, and he looked across the locker room, at where Kikumaru was speaking, or whining, rather, to Fuji. "Shouldn't you take your necklace off? Noburo-sensai said we were working with electricity today, and that it would be best to not wear any jewelry!"
Necklace? Ayame peeked over as discreetly as he could, and saw the silver wing hanging from Fuji's slim neck. He recognized it immediately, and fumed. He had seen Tezuka-Buchou wearing the same necklace, clearly the other half. That terrible beast was probably making Tezuka wear it like a reminder that he owned him.
"Saa..." Fuji sighed, fingering the necklace delicately. Ayame felt a not unfamiliar urge to break those thin fingers, for what he was doing to his buchou. "I suppose you're right, Eiji..." Ayame watched, thoroughly revolted at how Fuji looked all depressed about taking it off. Ayame's eyes followed the necklace as the tensai placed it in his locker, and locked it in.
Ayame thought about how that necklace symbolized all of the terrible things that Fuji put Tezuka-Buchou through, and then smiled. He had a plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shishido was too nervous to sleep in his classes. He was too nervous to pay attention as well, so he secretly prayed to the gods that the teacher didn't call on him. Thank Kami-Sama that this was his last class. He gulped then, thinking that there was no way he'd be able to make it through afternoon practice. His leg had long ago started to bounce up and down with a strange, yet familiar need to move. The stallion half of him was always needing to move, at all times, but now even his human instincts were screaming at him to just get out of that classroom and run. Just run.
He was nervous as seemed humanly possible about meeting Choutarou's parents. He knew that it needed to be done, and he had promised Choutarou that he would, but he was still so nervous that he felt like running away. And Ryou Shishido had never run away from a single thing in his entire life. The only reason he didn't was because he knew that this meant a lot to Choutarou, and, he realized, it meant a lot to him as well.
He had promised Choutarou that they could do whatever he wanted on Saturday evening, the night after Atobe's party, but because of everything that had happened, he hadn't been able to follow through on his promise. He felt terrible about that, and wanted more than anything to make it up to Choutarou.
And the only way to do that was to talk to Choutarou's parents and convince them that he wasn't such a bad person. To convince them that he was indeed worthy of their son. The final bell finally rang, and Shishido felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Ore-sama would suggest that you skip afternoon practice," Atobe said smoothly, but quietly. Shishido nearly laughed. If anyone heard the buchou talking to someone about skipping practice, it would surely be a small scandal.
"Oh, would he?" Shishido responded, grinning despite himself.
"Yes," Atobe said, beginning to walk away. "Ore-sama also suggests that you remember that he plans to work you and Ohtori into the ground tomorrow."
At this, Shishido did chuckle a little. "Hai, buchou."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Well," Taka's father glowered up at Kabaji, "You really think you're good enough for my son?"
"Usu," Kabaji said, his eyes determined, but his tone the same as it usually was.
"Really? Boy, what have you got? What is to say that your feelings won't suddenly change, and you won't leave my son in the dust?" Taka cringed. That wasn't a fair thing to be asking Kabaji things like that. Of course his feelings might change, they were young. Taka was only fifteen, Kabaji was only fourteen. How could his father even ask something like that?
"I can't imagine ever leaving your son," Kabaji stood tall. "So, believe me, if anyone is left 'in the dust', it will be me."
Taka, still not used to hearing Kabaji use complete sentences, had to take a few moments to riddle out what he had said. When he finally understood, he held a hand out to Kabaji, "Ueito..."
Suddenly, Taka's father laughed and clapped Kabaji on the back. "You're a good boy, son!" He seemed to find all of this funny, but Taka knew he was impressed. He looked at Taka with a smile. "You have good taste."
"I know." Taka smiled back, "I think so too."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Choutarou! Ryou-kun!" As always, Choutarou's mom seemed to just be happy to see them. She was always always happy to see Shishido, especially, which was one reason Choutarou wasn't as nervous about talking to his parents as he normally might have been. Choutarou smiled a little wider, thinking that Shishido was her favorite houseguest. "You two will be staying for dinner, won't you?"
"We can't. I'm afraid to say," Choutarou said, and really was sad to say so. It would have been nice to hang out with his family, and have a little bit of reassurance, after everything that he had to tell them. "But... We did want to talk to you... Is Dad home?" He didn't even ask if his sister was home, as it was obvious by the fact that the house was nearly silent that she was elsewhere.
"No, he's working late tonight," Choutarou's mom looked a bit saddened by this, "And your sister is at a friend's." She smiled at them kindly, "But you can talk to me, anyway, Choutarou, you know I'm always happy to listen."
"Thank you," Choutarou said, and meant it. They sat down in the living room, Shishido and Choutarou across from Choutarou's mother. Choutarou took Shishido's hand in his own, and took one deep breath, and then said it straight out. His mother seemed stunned for a small moment, then looked between the two of them with soft eyes.
"Is he your choice, Choutarou?" Choutarou understood, and fought the urge to smile. This had been the other reason he hadn't worried. Shishido was his favorite. His mom knew how big of a del it was for him to make a choice like this.
"He is," Choutarou smiled, unable to help it anymore, and squeezing Shishido's hand a little harder. Shishido was looking between the mother and son, looking confused, but somewhat pleased, seeing Choutarou's smile. "He's my favorite."
"I'm very happy for you Choutarou," Choutarou's mother said, smiling just as brightly as the junior was. She shifted slightly to be directly facing Shishido, and bowed her head to him. "Please take care of my son."
The smiles in this family, Shishido had long ago decided, were contagious, as he proved now. "I can promise you that I will."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was gone. Fuji went through his possessions again, but the result came up the same. His necklace was gone. Missing. Stolen. And Fuji was almost positive it had been stolen, because he remembered specifically placing it in his locker, had hung it from a hook inside the locker, in fact, because his teacher was having them do an experiment today with electricity. The experiment had include letting a very low voltage run through a circle, and then see how it effected those in the circle. Wearing jewelry would have probably led to a few small burns and shocks.
That, however, didn't matter, what did matter was that the necklace was gone now, and he had locked his locker like always. The lock, he observed, was not broken, but had obviously been picked. The very thought that someone would go through his stuff, and take something, especially something so dear to him, made him writhe with anger and a need to hurt whoever had done it. Actually, he actually felt like crying as well, but he would never let himself, not over something like this.
It wasn't as if people hadn't done things like this to him before. He was smart, intelligent and good looking, people got jealous of him all the time. What hurt was that they had picked that particular thing, as if they had known that it would most affect the tensai. He felt his shoulders tremble slightly in his mix of emotions, and allowed this only because everyone else had left already.
Kunimitsu, the only other person there, put his hands on those trembling shoulders, and squeezed lightly. "We'll find it, Shusuke. I promise."
"Hnn," Fuji said, but looked through his things again. He didn't want to end up going home without it. The very thought was disconcerting.
"And I'll mention that you lost it at practice tomorrow, if it somehow did get lost," Kunimitsu's gaze told Fuji that the buchou didn't really believe this either, "Some one will surely return it to you. I'll tell the other regulars as well, and we can all watch to see if someone responds strangely when we mention it. If you want, I'll even put up a reward for it's return." As he spoke, he knelt down beside the tensai and let his arms slip around slim shoulders. "I promise you, we'll find it. Or, if we don't, I promise to get you a new one."
"Thank you, Kunimitsu, but that won't be necessary," Fuji smiled slightly, a hand touching the buchou's arm lightly. "I'm going to find this one." He was determined.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Um, Choutarou..." Shishido said, looking the other boy into the eyes, making him stop before they headed into Shishido's house. "Before we go in..."
"Hai, Shishido-senpai?" Choutarou asked with a smile. Shishido, though annoyed that Choutarou still wouldn't call him by his first name, ignored it for the moment.
"About... My family," Shishido said, smiling in a little bit of a nervous way. "They might say some really mean things, to me, not you, but I want you to just let me deal with this, okay?"
"Mean things?" Choutarou's head tilted to the side adorably.
"Yeah," Shishido sighed, "But I promise you that they aren't saying them to be mean." Choutarou's face twisted to show his confused disapproval. "It's like a test, that's all. They'll ask me things, and what they say might come across as insulting, but they're not trying to sound that way. They'll just want to make sure that I'm firm in my decision."
'You are, aren't you?' The unspoken words passed between them, and Shishido gave Choutarou a reassuring smile.
"Ready?" he asked. Choutarou nodded and opened the door.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There was an awkward silence in the living room after Shishido had told them all what he had come to say. His older brother was standing frozen near the entryway, and his parents seemed to have grown roots to were they sat. Shishido hadn't given them a choice, and no one knew how to react.
"Choutarou and I are more than just friends, or doubles partners. I really care about him. Accept us, or lose me."
"Ryou..." Shishido's father said, his voice sounding a little dangerous. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm doing what I feel is right," Shishido answered, feeling Choutarou tense up next to him. 'Please, please, Sweet, just let me handle this...' He thought, using the name he always called Choutarou, if only in his head.
"Where is your pride?" Shishido's mother then asked, after another short silence. She had a much better poker face than his father, and it was a lot harder to see what she was thinking. Shishido thought that he understood, so he answered without hesitation.
He wrapped his arms around Choutarou possessively. "He is my pride."
Shishido's mother nodded, satisfied with this answer. Shishido's eyes settled on his father, who said nothing, but took his keys out of his pocket and stomped out, slamming the front door. They heard the car start up, and then drive away. Shishido's mother gave Choutarou a sympathetic look, and Shishido's brother crossed the room to place a hand on the young boy's shoulder.
"It doesn't have anything to do with you," he smiled apologetically. "He'll get over it, too, he did before."
"Before?" Choutarou tilted his head in that cute way of his again, looking around at (most of) the Shishido family.
Shishido and his brother both grinned, as Shishido pointed to his brother, and the high school aged boy pointed to himself. "Before."
Choutarou laughed.