Hello anybody reading this!
Sakimi1014- Yes, it's a very sad chapter, but I enjoy writing drama, and angst, so I'm glad that you like it!
Meino Nanako- Please don't be sorry, I really was just a bit sad, because you said that someone ruined it for you... So, yeah, I kinda felt like it had been pointless to write it, but now I feel better! Arigatou!
Darknesswithinthebush- Um, well, thank you, I suppose! I'm very flattered that you like it so much!
Yoshikochan- Well, I'm glad that you liked all that. The necklace seen is one of my favorites, out of everything I've written for this story... I also like writing Dirty Pair fluff, and KiriBunta too, so that was a very good, fun chapter to write... Oh, I'm sorry, I'm rambling! So, I think that's it!
DarkDemonCat- Well, thank you very much, I'm glad that you like who I have chosen to have the power you suggested. I was really hard to decide, but I'm very happy with it now!
Blufox- Just so you know, whether you pout or not, I will eventually update! I'm late sometimes, but I do try to be reliable. I'm glad you liked last chapter, and look forward to more IkasuAkayaBunta in this chapter!
AnimeFan06- First of all, thank you for reviewing! Also, good luck on midterms and finals! I'm starting them soon too (I'm not in college though, so I realize it is different, but, ne) so I think I can relate some. I'm a little stressed right now! -Laughs.- Please enjoy this new chapter!
Shimizu Miki- Hmm... The fact that you thought 'oh snap!' could be that it was four in the morning when you read, or it could be that a violent Fuji is downright scary! ...Or maybe it's just me... -Laughs.- Hmm... As for the ogre-boy-thing-wannabe, I never thought about it, but that is rather stalkerish of him. Very scary. Poor Gakuto... You know, this chapter really let me know who my insightful readers are. You'll probably understand what I'm saying when you read this chapter. Please remember, by the way, that it was Ikasu he caught, not Bunta, kay-o? Also, I'm very jealous that you are on your last week of school. I have two and a half weeks left. -Sigh.-
ImmortalTigress- Well, read on to find out what happened with the girl! And how they all deal with it!
Vierblith- Well, I hope you enjoy the list of birthdays! It's can be very handy! Oh, but you don't have to review for every chapter if you don't want, it was no trouble! As for Ayame, I think he's insane not stupid. Well, he's stupid too, but, ne...
WirbelWind- I think that you're one of only two that mentioned Tezuka letting Fuji wear his necklace. I LOVE that, and have wanted to write it for so long... -Sigh.- Anyway, please do read on! Arigatou!
RaiPheonix015- Thank you for your concern, but I'm not sick enough that writing as often as I do is a danger, my family just overreacts a lot of the time. As for the twins, why Youhei in particular? AS for Tezuka, he really is just looking out for Fuji, and at school he had to treat him like he would anyone else. Besides, you know he won't actually have to run the laps. It's FUJI, I mean, come on! Fuji, on the other hand, hah his own ways of handling things, so we'll just have to wait and see that later. I've officially decided, so you can quote me, if you like, that Ayame is insane. Clinically. I honestly do believe, after getting into his head, as an author, that he is crazy, so him trying to kill Fuji is a possibility. And poor Yuushi, he has no idea why his parents hate him either... And Gakuto is in a REALLY bad situation there, ne? The situation with the girl, by the way, is mostly explained in this chapter, so please do not be confused anymore. You sounded like you were going to pass out! Again, thank you for your concern about my health, but I'll be fine, I'm sure!
KiriharaAkaya- Well, if you don't mind, I ask that you leave the killing of Ayame (And yes, the name makes me think of Ayame from Furuba too...) to the people (Tezuka and Fuji, for example) who deserve the first whacks. The behemoth, however, you may murder, as soon as Yuushi has gotten his revenge! Ikasu, on the other hand... Well, killing him probably won't be necessary... Please read on!
Disclaimer- I do not own Prince of Tennis
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Ikasu pushed the girl away from him, no longer worried about acting like Bunta and ran off after Akaya. He cursed at himself over and over in his mind, feeling that he had really messed up this time. How could he explain what he had just seen to the junior? If he would listen to him in the first place.
He hoped to Kami-sama he would listen to him.
'... For Bunta's sake.' He thought after a moment, knowing that front wasn't going to work much longer. He cursed in his head again, and continued to run. He was a ways away from the school when he realized that he had no idea where Akaya might be. He had spent a lot of time... Bunta spent a lot of time, he corrected himself, watching the younger boy, but he still had no idea what Akaya would do in a situation like this.
Ikasu sighed at being reduced to this and, making sure no one was watching, let himself slip into the form of a Red Irish-Setter. Nose to the ground, he had caught onto Akaya's scent in no time, and followed it back to the house.
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"Buchou." Kunimitsu turned slowly around to face Ayame in the otherwise empty locker rooms. Everyone else, as it was, was already out at practice, and Ayame had stayed at the buchou's request. Kunimitsu's sensitive ears could clearly hear the thumping of the younger boy's heart, as the room was very silent without it.
Kunimitsu wished Ayame's heart would not pound so hard, as it was quite distracting, and sounded more like the other was excited, as if he expected Kunimitsu's conversation with him would be a wonderful thing. Kunimitsu didn't understand or enjoy the thought of such a thing. Honestly, what he really wanted to was tear that beating heart right out of the boy's chest and then call a flock of birds to---
Kunimitsu caused himself to breath deeply and make himself look outwardly composed, like his normal self, though the thoughts raging through his head were anything but normal, for him. Kunimitsu got himself together within seconds.
"... You stole Fuji's necklace," He said finally.
"Hai," The other boy beamed, as if this were something to be proud of. Kunimitsu had to fight down another wave of homicidal thoughts. "I did."
"Why?" Kunimitsu forced himself to ask calmly, though his entire being screamed against it.
"'Why'?" Ayame asked, looking confused, then he smiled, "For you, of course."
"For me?" Kunimitsu was confused, and knew it showed on his face, if only a little bit.
"H-hai," Ayame was blushing slightly, Kunimitsu noticed, but still smiling. "I know how... Things are between you and Fuji. I wanted to help you." Kunimitsu didn't know what to say, so he said nothing. Ayame continued, however, as if Kunimitsu had answered him. "Yes, that's it exactly. I've seen the way Fuji treats you, so I knew I should help you, because even if you're not with me, I want you to be happy."
"And stealing Fuji's necklace helps, how?" Kunimitsu asked, an eyebrow raising at the other boy's odd behavior.
"The necklaces bound you together," Ayame said, "So, of course, if I take Fuji's necklace away from him, it will symbolically show him that I won't allow that. It's only the first step, however, in saving you."
Kunimitsu was shocked, but Ayame sounded so proud, so assured. It bothered the buchou endlessly.
"Oh," The junior added, as if suddenly remembering something, "And don't worry, I know, about the wings, I mean. Yours. Fuji's."
Now Kunimitsu really did freeze up, not having expected that. For someone to know. "... How?"
"I saw," Ayame frowned, obviously remembering something he didn't like, "You and Fuji, a week ago... You looked... Beautiful, like an angel with black wings, but Fuji... Fuji looked more like a demon. Then again, he always looks like a demon, with that smile of his. He tricks the others, but not me."
Kunimitsu felt something snap inside him, and he practically growled, "Never call Shusuke a demon."
Ayame smiled, seeming to take Kunimitsu's hostility to mean something else. "Don't worry, Tezuka-Buchou, I would never say that to his face. I know how violent Fuji can get, I've watched him. To keep you safe. It makes me happy that you are worried about me, but there's no need. I'm going to save you from Fuji, so everything will be fine. I'll free you from the demon's clutches."
"It's not like that, Seikaku-kun," Kunimitsu said firmly, his voice demanding attention. "I love Shusuke. I don't know how you got the idea that he was controlling me, but you are sadly mistaken. Please return Shusuke's necklace, and we can pretend this never happened, alright?"
"B-buchou, but..." Ayame stammered, but Kunimitsu held up a hand.
"That's the way it is, really," Kunimitsu said firmly. He held his hand out. "The necklace, please."
"... Hai," Ayame sighed finally, and fished in his pocket for the necklace, placing it in Kunimitsu's upturned hand.
"Arigatougozaimasu," Tezuka said, and turned to walk out.
As soon as Tezuka's back was turned, Ayame's eyes hardened, and he breathed in deep, even breaths. Then the buchou was out the clubhouse door, and Ayame punched at one of the lockers, rattling it. He knew now just how hard Fuji's hold was on the buchou. His buchou. Strong enough that Tezuka could not leave if he wanted to. He must want to, Ayame knew, but also knew that he needed a new plan, because this one was not working.
He knew now that the only way was to confront Fuji directly.
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"Hey, Kid, please talk to me!" Ikasu said, tapped his fist against the door once more. "Come on, please just let me explain."
"There's nothing to explain," Came Akaya's muffled voice through the door. Ikasu wasn't sure, but he thought it sounded like the other boy was crying.
"Please," Ikasu pleaded, knowing that he had no other choice. He had to get Akaya to understand what had happened, or it would effect the way the younger boy dealt with Bunta later. "Hear me out."
There was only silence on the other side of the door, except for a few nearly silent sobs. Sobs that he only heard because of his very acute hearing. He didn't think he could bear the thought of Akaya crying, not over something that hadn't even happened. That girl had confessed, to Bunta, and had tried to kiss him, but it was actually Ikasu who was there, which she couldn't have known. Stupid girl though, not noticing the eye color of the person she supposedly 'loved' had changed. He had caught her face, not wanting her to kiss him, for both his sake and Bunta's, but why had the kid have to walk in just then? It wasn't fair, not at all. But how could he get the younger boy to listen to him?
"Listen, kiddo, what you saw wasn't what it looked like, I promise you," Ikasu said slowly, hoping, praying, that Akaya would listen to him. "And even if it was, you can't treat Bunta any differently, alright? He hasn't done anything wrong. Neither have I."
"Just because you think you and Bun-chan are two different people doesn't mean that you kissing some girl isn't wrong," Akaya said, quietly enough that Ikasu had to strain to hear. "It's his body too... And if you want to go around kissing other people, what's to say Bunta doesn't as well?"
Ikasu understood then, the younger boy's insecurities. He was upset about Bunta perhaps wanting to cheat on him. It had nothing to do with Ikasu himself. He was thankful, and yet somehow that thought hurt.
Ikasu sighed softly and let his power run through his body, a trail of ice weaving it's way under the door, to unlock it from the inside. The door opened quietly, and Ikasu's heart nearly broke at what he saw. Akaya was curled up on his bed, sitting as far back into a corner as he could, and crying, whimpering slightly every now and then. It broke Ikasu's heart, and he knew that that was what it was doing to him.
He couldn't delude himself any longer, he knew, looking at that suddenly frail figure before him, trembling with sobs, that he couldn't keep saying that he didn't care for Akaya like Bunta did. He was obviously lying to himself, because how could he not love him? He saw him through Bunta's eyes everyday. Every smile, every laugh, every little loving glance, and every adorable expression or statement. He saw it all, and he loved it, loved him. Ikasu loved him.
"If I wanted to be kissing other people," Ikasu said quietly, "Would I be able to do this?" He closed in on the younger boy's lips then, trying to show him everything he felt, these forbidden feelings he harbored, in a single kiss.
Forbidden feelings. The thought ran through his mind again and he pulled back. 'No.' Akaya was Bunta's, and, no matter what he felt, he couldn't doing anything. He shouldn't have done anything. He noticed that he had been leaning on the bed as he kissed Akaya, and jumped backwards.
"I'm sorry," he said, "I'm very sorry. I should never have..." Akaya's face was angled down again and Ikasu couldn't see his expression. "I'm sorry, I'll never do it again, I promise you."
"...Go away..." Akaya said, and then threw his pillow at Ikasu, "Just go away Ikasu! I don't even want to look at you right now!" True to his words, Akaya didn't bother to look up, though he trembled still, now in what Ikasu assumed to be rage. Ikasu, shocked, didn't move for a moment, and didn't bother to block the pillow when it flew towards him. It bounced off his face, and brought him back to his senses.
"I truly am sorry," He whispered.
"Just go!" Akaya yelled, and Ikasu, holding out a hand once, not wanting to go, but knowing he had to. He had to leave. For Akaya's sake, for his own sake, and for Bunta's. He turned, against his own will, and left the room.
He walked until he was outside the mansion, and could see the rest of his teammates; Bunta's teammates, he corrected. He walked up to Yukimura and asked for a piece of paper. Yukimura handed it to him, and a pencil, without a word, but with a questioning look, and Ikasu wrote a note quickly.
"Give this to Bunta, alright?" Ikasu asked, and waited until they nodded to let himself fall back into the deepest depths of his and Bunta's mind.
Bunta opened his eyes, confused as to what had happened. Before he could get his bearings, a note was passed into his hands. He opened it and read.
Bunta,
I'm sorry. I really messed up, but please, don't worry. I won't be bothering you or the kid any longer. I'm sorry. I kissed him, but he doesn't even want to look at me now. I don't expect you to forgive me, but, please, just love him. I already know that you do, so just take care of him. Forget me, like I never existed.
Goodbye,
Ikasu
Bunta read through the letter again, just to be sure of what it said, and then reached through his subconscious, as he had done before. He dropped the note.
"I can't feel Ikasu...!"