Disclaimer: I will own Prince of tennis!...in my next life

Chapter 14: There's nothing like tennis

"Kunimitsu-Kun!" Aizawa Sayuri jumped as she saw the scrawny yet sturdy boy of thirteen perched upon her couch staring down seriously.

"Oba-San, Aizawa-San is sick from high fever. I apologize for not noticing it before we attended the concert." He bowed maturely while Sayuri was flustered. After she quickly nodded and told Tezuka to not mind, she rushed upstairs.

"My mother said she should be fine because she had called her doctor over to give Aizawa-san an injection."

Sayuri smiled in relief as she placed a hand over her beloved daughter's forehead and found out that her daughter's immune system was working fine.

"Will you join me for a cup of hot chocolate?" she asked with a smile as she strolled over to the kitchen.

Tezuka was about to answer no but one smile from Sayuri seems to have forced him back onto the couch.

"Here you go," the middle aged lady handed a steaming cup of hot chocolate with two marshmallows on top. "I'm sorry for troubling you Kunimitsu-Kun." She stated while sipping her tea. Mina really resembles her mother, gentle looking, soothing voice and they both seem to have this charisma that draws people towards them because people can't grasp who they are…

"I seem to have taken advantage of Mina's kindness for too long." Sayuri whispered, audible for the two of them as though she was thinking aloud, "Ever since Mina was about 4 years old, my husband and I left the house empty. We were always busy with work, we deprived her of any childhood fantasy she could have had."

Tezuka shifted in his seat in discomfort. I don't want to intrude her in her personal thoughts.

"Weekends were the only time we had to spend time with her but we never considered taking her to the amusement park. She was never upset that we exploited our weekends to something that we wanted which was usually rest. In time, we began to see her maturing by herself: taking care of the family, overcoming any obstacles and nurturing herself with qualities needed to become a humanitarian." The elder cradled her tea which was still steaming and she gave a huge sigh. "And the one thing she cannot do by herself, I can't help her with…I'm a failure as a parent."

Tezuka, slowly shook his head, "Your love and care toward her outweighed the pain of your absence," he interrupted her babbling smoothly, "She wouldn't have tried so hard to become the person she is today if she wasn't able to figure out how much she meant to her parents." Tezuka quickly stopped talking; it wasn't his nature to explain himself far.

"You're right," Sayuri nodded with a skeptical smile but imminently relieved, "Wow I'm so sorry its already 3 AM! I'll walk you back to your home. I'll thank your mother tomorrow. I'm sure she's already asleep. The stoic boy gave a bitter expression that seems to reject Sayuri's offer to walk him home but was stopped with an icy smile sent by Sayuri once again.

This family sure uses their smiles as powerful tools, although Mina's is warmer.

Tezuka couldn't sleep soundly for the rest of the darkness. He tossed and turned endlessly. She's just having another fever, nothing unusual. But the key word is she's having ANOTHER fever…

Next morning…

"Kunimitsu! Kunimitsu!...KUNIMTSU!!" Tezuka rolled off the bed and his book fell off from the desk, hitting his head in the process.

"Hmm?" he grunted groggily.

"You don't have to go to practice? It's in 15 minutes." His mother glared down on him as she observed that Tezuka's eyelids were about to close once more. But hearing that he was late, his eyes snapped open. In a flash, he changed his clothes and headed towards the door. "Ittekimasu!!" he yelled and started to run but braked to a stop as he caught sight of milk chocolate shaped into a pony tail.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" he questioned authoritatively as I gave him a smile.

"I'm fine now. Thanks so much for yesterday. You're the best!" I squealed as I hugged his arm. Annoying him was my hobby but seeing Tezuka uncomfortable is what I live for.

"Your mom didn't try to stop you?" he hit the bull's eye as he gently yanked his arm out of my grasp.

"Er…hehe." Actually, she was asleep when I slipped by the living room. I looked away quickly as he continued to glare at me for answers.

"Hi, Fuji-kun!" the smiling tensai was here to save my day again.

Meanwhile…

PINGPONG!

"Hmm?? Who is it so early in the morning?" Aizawa Sayuri yawned as she got up from her uncomfortable position on the couch.

"Morning Aizawa san, may I come in?" Even without asking, Ayane Tezuka was taking off her shoes, not that Sayuri minds.

"What brings you here so early?" The woman with the scrub shirt questioned as she headed toward the kitchen to make some tea.

"I need to talk to you about Mina-Chan." Ayane declared flatly, she is a Tezuka after all.

Sayuri gave no answer as she cautiously poured the tea into her ivory tea set.

"Have you reserved with any hospital for a bone marrow?" The elder woman asked right away.

"The doctor is waiting for a bone marrow donor." As Sayuri looked up, she noticed that her neighbor's expression was filled with anxiety and dread.

"I had a friend named Lily, she was one of the triplets…"Ayane began, "Leukemia can be genetically inherited but the symptom can arouse through continual stress."

Sayuri froze as she heard the latter. This must be my fault Mina is going through this illness, if I trace our heritage, no one had leukemia in my family before.

"But leukemia is solved once you receive the bone marrow transplant, no?" Sayuri felt she met the devil once her neighbor's head shook a sad no.

"Lily received the transplant with 60 percent chance. We thought it was successful until she died 3 months later. Finding the right bone marrow is complicated; surgeons are not able to determine how your body will react to it unless you have already transplanted it," she continued, "I'm sure the cause was the environment that Lily worked in was harsh or unhealthy and stimulated her immune system too often. Did Mina-Chan spend time in an unhealthy environment?"

"I believe she's always had weak health. She used to get sick every year, she never had perfect attendance. Environment wise, she volunteers in the hospital and I remember she went to convalescent homes and orphanages to volunteer." Sayuri carried her head as she regretted not stopping her daughter, "Do you know of any treatment that Mina can receive or any hospitals that you would recommend that may increase the chances of her surviving?"

Ayane remained silent for a while, thinking hard and reminiscing what her friend had done in the past. "I can recommend you this hospital but it is in United States. This might be hard for you in that you won't be able to visit Mina-Chan as often but I've known that they receive bone marrows faster than any other hospitals and the doctor specializes in bone marrow transplants."

"If it increases her chances, I rather send her abroad." Sayuri sighed.

"By the way, is there a time limit to this?" Ayane said half jokingly, believing that at least it was 10 years. Diseases and cancers do not take effect fast since the virus acts as a parasite.

"2 years," the younger woman whispered, Ayane wanted to ask her neighbor to repeat it but judging by Sayuri's concealed face, she knew better than to have her repeat what she said.

"Soka…then I guess I'll have to call Lily's family. I'm sure they'll be happy to help out. It'll be like being given another chance to save their sister." Ayane stood up, "Oh and don't show that expression to your daughter, I know this is hard but let her enjoy life while she can. Let me know anytime when you need me ok?" Ayane rubbed her neighbor's back, receiving a weak smile in return.

Flashback

"Lily, what's wrong?" seventeen years old Ayane demanded as she rushed toward her best friend.

"Just not feeling well," her friend responded immediately but she wasn't able to hide the blood that she coughed up on her hands.

"Lily, how are you feeling?" 25 years old Ayane questions once again as her once- healthy friend came out from the Positron Emission Tomography scanner.

"At least she's in heaven now…"

"At least she's in heaven now…"

End of flash back

The last phrase stayed with her and Ayane Tezuka blanked out in her kitchen until her boiling can was making whistling sounds.

In Seishungakuen…

"As you all know, today's the raking tournament. Please check your court and your block. Remember to come report the score when you're done. Dismissed!" The gentle yet authoritative voice sounded through the tennis court.

Since I'm not a boy, I am not able to become a regular, therefore, I cannot play today. How depressing…I guess I can just cheer on others. Yesterday Captain Yamato had read aloud the names of members that will participate in the tournament. I was surprised when the only freshmen participating were Oishi and Tezuka. I expected Fuji to be chosen but I guess no one noticed his abilities except for Tezuka and me.

"Do you want to go cheer for Tezuka?" Speak of the devil, he was right beside me.

"Sure…" I answered right away but paused, "That is, if I can even see him." Of course, his court was already crowded; if I go, I'll be standing about 1 mile away from the fence.

"Maybe we should just head towards Oishi-Kun's court." I suggested right away and Fuji nodded also.

"Hmm?" the blue orbs were suddenly shown as he turned around toward the tree.

"What's wrong?" I questioned anxiously since Fuji's eyes are usually concealed 99 of his day and right now, the sapphires were opened, clear and wide. He shook his head and smiled once more as he urged me toward Oishi's court.

Behind the tree…

"Grrr….Fuji-Kun, why do you want to put your hands on a two-timer like her?!" the shadow hissed, her mouth quirking up in anger to reveal her sharp canines.

"Sssshhh he's going to hear you. You know Fuji-Kun is a genius. He has like a 6th sense or something." A chubby blonde quickly covered her friend's mouth with her hand.

"Kyaa!! He looked this way, I think he felt my ray of beauty shining through." A red head with freckles squealed.

"When are we done? I'm hungry…" an athletic looking boy ruffled his messy black hair, "So refresh my memory, we're here because…"

"We need to get that new girl's hands away from our two precious princes:Tezuka-Kun and Fuji-Kun!"

"You mean that hot chick?" the boy answered, his tongue hanging, "I don't think she's interested in any of them. She looks like she's more interested in girls, since she always scurries past the guys to talk to girls."

"A lesbo?! Makes our job so much easier," the red head nodded.

"Nuh-uh, we must carry out this plan. I swear she's going to end up playing all the guys in Seishungakuen…or only the hunks of our school, if we don't ambush her using this plan!"

"Err so what's the plan?" Her companions looked up at the girl filled with menace.

"Here's the schedule. So just follow me." She answered, smacking her lips.

Back at the court…

"Umm…Excuse me. Your name is Aizawa Mina-San, right?" a gentle deep voice announced.

I turned around to come face to face with the sunglass face, Yamato Buchou.

"Yes." I nodded, wondering what he needs.

"I want you to play a match against me," my eyes widened, "I need to report to Minamoto Buchou about how much you have improved and its time for her to determine the regulars also."

If Minamoto Buchou wants to check my ability, why can't I play against her? It'll be really embarrassing, knowing that I'll be bageled or something…

Just when I placed my water bottle down on the bench near the court, there was already a huge crowd.

"Buchou's planning to slaughter that girl?"

"He might just go easy on her!"

"Her legs are hot…"

"Gambare Mina-Chan!"

I frowned in disgust but I also waved with a smile towards the freshmen that I had become acquainted with: Kikumaru, Fuji, Inui and Kawamura.

"Which?" the captain asked, not wasting anytime.

"Smooth," I replied with a hint of anxiety.

"Please don't be nervous. Just do your best and believe in yourself." As usual, Yamato was on his role with encouragements.

I nodded graciously and chose to receive first.

This is the captain of Seishungakuen, I shouldn't waste time in seeing his abilities, or I'll lose before I realize that the match already started.

The serve did not come as fast I expected but it was accurate. I aimed for the corners and any chances that I may have in drop shots.

"1-0 Aizawa leads. Change court!" the chair umpire called, causing the crowd to roar in confusion.

"Yamato Buchou, please play against me seriously. I'm stronger than I look." I whispered as I passed by him." What's with these guys at Seigaku? Do I have to beat them 6-0 ? Hot-Cha here I go!

That day, I alternated my serves with flat or slice serves and quickly finished up the match 6-1. I was truly dissatisfied that bystanders were whispering "Oh, Buchou took it easy on her. She is a girl after all." I bit my lip in anger.

By the end of the day…

"Everyone please come in!!!" Yamato announced through the tennis courts with his mega phone.

Once everyone crowded together, the friendly Buchou placed his mega phone down, "So after the ranking tournament, I decided that the people best fit as regulars are ….blah blah and Tezuka. Oishi will be an extra. And that is all I have to say today. Rest well and train well. We'll be ranking members every month so don't lose hope, anyone can become a regular if you work hard. Kantou tournament starts in January. Dismissed!"

Everyone started to walk towards the lockers until I felt a strong arm pulling me back.

"I need to ask you a favor," it was Yamato buchou with his go-lucky smile.

"How may I help you?" I questioned, eager to get away.

He grinned widely, "Can you... be the manager of boy's team?"

On the way home…

Seems like I had no choice but to accept. (Sighs) Oh well, at least I can cheer on Tezuka-Kun and Oishi Kun if he plays. Manager is no big deal right? It's just recording scores, spying on other teams…what fun.

While I busily persuaded myself to love the job, I was unaware that I was being followed. Tezuka was not walking with me today because I was suppose to volunteer at the hospital.

As I turned at the corner, I came face to face with a curly black haired body. I noticed his muscles were well-toned since my head almost hit his chest.

"Oops, I'm sorry." I apologized as I walked towards my left to pass him. However, he followed me by moving to his right. I smiled apologetically, believing that it was another coincidence so I moved to the right.

"I'm sorry but can I get through?" I inquired, noticing that he moved in my direction once he saw me step aside.

"Obviously, I don't want you to pass. That's why I'm blocking you."

"Then I'll take another road." Annoyed, I spun around and began to power walk.

"Whoa, not so fast. I think you're hot, why don't we go to a café to chill?" he asked flashing me a grin. I declined his offer immediately but perverts are known for their diligence.

"You don't deserve your looks with that quality." He blabbed as I fumed with anger.

"Thank you for your opinion. Now if you are done…" my voice left me and everything went black.

The boy smirked in satisfaction and removed the handkerchief that he placed on my mouth. I guess I get to have fun tonight.

"Hey you guys can come out now." He announced toward the nearby bushes and three girls came out grinning maliciously.

Thanks to everyone that gave me reviews and added me on your favorites, story alert, c2 community!!!

I know this chapter wasn't very interesting I'll try to make the next one a lot better!!