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

Review Replies!!

bLoodY vEngEfUl sOul(Princess): lol awww how sweet. Then I shall call you princess whenever I refer to you from now on  As for three schemers I'll take care of them but don't know if it's anytime soon.

fightingpheonix36: thanks for reading!! I hope you review this chapter too

ShadowedSilverMist: Hmm kill her off or not was what I had been debating so I'm not sure but I don't think it's anytime soon  LoL yea I need to make the three girls more hateful for a heavier impact. Does it bother you that they're anonymous?

annaxu510: Wow that's cool! Does it look like him? If that robot exerts Tezuka's hotness, I will buy him!!!

kenshinroks2111 Yup Tez will find out later on!! Nope he doesn't know now but he's mom does.

kuro-chan10307 I'm so sorry but I have to admit cliffies are so enjoyable 

White Alchemist Taya Yeah sorry it may seem out of character but I thought it might be interesting.

Thanks to other reviewers such as DaydreamerMagby, leafninja95, coreagurl and LittleAngel22493!!

Please continue to support me and other readers out there, please review I love reviews as much as a fat kid loves cake 

Chapter 17: What I will do for a true smile

"Please deliver it by 6PM." The deep voice of Teuka Kazuma continued, oblivious to our frozen positions.

"Yes, sir." I was the first to recover from the trance. "I will repeat your order: a dozen of purple roses, Hong Kong wrapped with clear wrap, with name card Hayashi Sumire and deliver it to…" I let my mouth do the talking and let my eyes fall upon Tezuka. It was similar to watching a lion cub at the zoo. As fearless and as stoic it may seem, lion cubs feel insecure for being stared at behind the bars. Tezuka was gazing at the grass field, his eyebrows furrowed and his hands were shaking slightly in his lap.

"Ok this should do it, thank you for your time," I ended the conversation as short and real as possible. I was ready to slam the hang up button without waiting for his response. Are you okay? were the words that came to my mind as I looked at my devastated classmate but I shook it off. Of course he's not ok. Such question sounds redundant.

"Hayashi Sumire, did you ever hear of her name?" I sat on the down next to him.

"…"

"Maybe she's your relative?"

"…"

"Your father's old friend?" more like high school sweetheart?

"…" I was ready to give a sigh or shake him violently then another idea hit me.

"Want to go on a date with me?"

"…"

"I take that as a yes."

"Aizawa san now is not the time..." I grinned he finally gave me an answer. "On our date, I'll wait for you at…" I looked down at my memo.

He looked up suddenly, his glasses almost falling off in the process. "The answer is already given. There is no need to trifle with my father's personal life." He threw a rock in the bond, it skipped 3 times.

"But what if he wants to give the flowers to this Hayashi-san because of business alliance persuasion?" I said looking up hopefully.

"…"

"Or it's someone that has been ill for awhile and she recovered." Not everyone's ill like you Mina. My subconscious mind reminded. The 4eyed genius ignored my words and threw another rock, it skipped twice only.

"Like I've already said, this is my family matter, there's no need for you to be concerned." A twinge of pain jabbed my heart but I stood up and caught Tezuka's arm as he was about to throw another rock in the pond.

"Fine then if I throw this rock," I snatched the pebble from his loose grip. "And it skips more than 3 times, you'll listen to me." I threw it with all my might. However, the rock just sank to the sediment below.

I snarled, "Wait, I didn't have a good angle." Another rock left my grip but no luck with it either.

"Throw it like you're about to hit a forehand," he commanded as I reached for another pebble. Forehand? I threw it hesitantly but the result wasn't bad, it skipped 3 times, one skip short of what I needed though. I gave a huge sigh and at the corner of my eyes, I can see Tezuka's side of the mouth lifting to form a smirk.

Does she really care? Or is she just plain nosy? He wondered as the frail girl in front of him threw a pebble on the ground angrily.

"Why do you try so hard to convince me when it doesn't even concern you?" he calmly questioned.

"I can't wait to see who your father's going out with!" So it may be the latter, she's nosy…sweat dropped from the back of his honey brown head.

"But also because I really want to see your mother's true smile." I added sheepishly.

But she also cares he added boring his gaze into he girl standing beside him.

"I think I've invaded enough personal space today. Some issues are better left untouched." He said folding his arms together. I admired his bittersweet kindness. No matter if the situation he found himself in was detestable; his love for his father prevented him from taking any action that will hurt his father.

However, I saw doubt in his eyes and I didn't hesitate to take advantage of it. "So, I take that as a yes you'll follow my plan so keep the rest of the afternoon free please!"

Not waiting for the fragments of reprimands, nor a change in his expression, I hopped up and speeded to my classroom. For the rest of the day, I avoided the stoic boy the best I can. He tried countless times to make eye contact with me during lectures but I ignored it, when I was heading toward music class, he followed but I rushed into the girl's bathroom. Finally annoyed, Tezuka gave me ice cold glared as I sat with the group of freshmen boys during tennis practice.

"What's wrong with Tezuka?" Kawamura asked timidly as he quickly turned away from the frozen expression.

"I feel like he's directing his expression at you, Mina Chan." Fuji smiled as he offered me wasabi flavored chips. Sweat dropped down the back of my head as I was astonished how he interpreted Tezuka's expression so correctly and fought back the urge to sneeze from the pungent smell of the green contents. The chips matched the bag itself, each piece was dark green, no spot of yellow potato can be discovered and the bag had a picture of a dinosaur breathing out fire.

"Doesn't he always look like that?" Kikumaru bounced toward us and took a chip from the open bag. Big mistake…in a second he cart wheeled away from us toward the water fountain, mewing away like a wounded cat with Oishi trailing after him.

"So Tezuka's eyebrow arches 0.0032 millimeter higher when he is upset…ii data." The data genius scribbled away. In a way, I felt it was cold of the boys to leave their respectable friend sulking but I found it admirable that they know when to give each other space when they need it. I had no problem evading Tezuka's glare once practice started since Captain Yamato told him to pair up with a junior to play doubles.

"We should not do this." He persuaded once again when he was finally able to talk to me alone after practice, "Maybe you're right, she might be a relative."

Waiting for my response for 2 minutes was too long for the now impatient Tezuka. I smiled at him as he threw another dagger at me with his eyes.

"Do you think we're just playing here?" he growled low and dangerously as he snatched the earphones out of my ears. "This is my family's bond you're having fun with!" "Having fun comes with a price, so I'll pay for it if I need to." I said calmly as I inserted the ear phones in my ear once again.

"Do you think this will be something as simple as patching up a ripped shirt?' His emotions were drained into that statement. He didn't want to know. He didn't want to confirm if his father was truly in a secret affair. He wanted to just turn the other cheek and pretend everything is fine. For a moment, his iron mask seemed to have shattered and I was confronted with a face that was expressed worry and anxiety, it was as though I opened Pandora's box. Even if fragment of me tugged at me to stop what I was planning, my conscience stopped me. There is no use in closing your eyes from reality; there is no use in running away from a problem. The solution is bound to be found only when your eyes are open, just like when my mom decided to find a bone marrow donor outside of Japan. I painfully removed my gaze away from the honey brown head whose eyes were still eyeing the ground. In a distance, I spotted a red head; a very familiar red head…then an idea came to me. Grabbing my water bottle, I emptied all the clear fluid from the honey brown head to unfortunately, the white shorts. Before my drenched neighbor can bite my head off, I covered his mouth and dragged him toward the red head,

"Oh no! Tezuka-kun I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed as I dragged Tezuka past the red headed acrobat.

"Nya?" Mina Chan? Tezuka?" He questioned as he landed form his somersault.

"Oh Kikumaru kun!" I said scrunched up my face as much as possible to look anxious. "I'm so clumsy!" I tripped on a rock while I was drinking water and poured all the water on Tezuka kun!!" I said in one breath.

The panicked feeling I was trying to drain into the statement made my voice high pitched, "Do you happen to have extra clothes with you? I'm afraid Tezuka Kun will catch a cold!" I was almost in a state of hyperventilation; high pitched voice takes a lot of energy. Confusion and anger was running through Tezuka's head as he watched the innocent looking girl in front of him. His hair was dripping with water continuously. After all, she spilled 1 liter of water on him, And the worst part is, he wore white shorts today! He was practically a well polished window to the public. It's a good thing his A-shirt prevented the wet Seigaku poloshirt to enhance the shaped of his upper body. Kikumaru fought back a snicker as he turned his gaze from his fuming teammate to his trembling classmate.

"Nya…Tezuka don't get mad! Get glad!" the red head landed beside his teammate.

Get even was more like it… Tezuka muttered in his mind.

"My house is right there, you can borrow my clothes. The ones in my duffel bag are dirty." The acrobatic said with a bright grin and started to push the grumpy Tezuka toward the direction he pointed out. I continued to apologize to Tezuka, praying that he won't open his mouth to question me and thanked the catlike boy repeatedly. Subconsciously, I was excited more than ever. Everything goes according to plan.

"I think this will do. " I said rummaging through Kikumaru's disorganized closet. It looked like tornado has swept by but I managed to find decent clothes for Tezuka, very decent actually. Tezuka's eyebrow quirked up in horror when he saw what I was holding: a bright yellow t-shirt with a very cuddly looking brown cat print with its claws lashing out. The text read "Me---Ow!!"

"You have good taste Mina Chan. That was my favorite shirt in 6th grade." Kikumaru clapped as I smiled triumphantly.

Who gave her the permission to rummage through Kikumaru's closet, Tezuka didn't know but he never gave her permission to let him pick out what he should wear, even his mother didn't do that anymore. Let him be damned if he was to wear that thing. He nodded to himself but he was being pushed into the bathroom by a petite ivory arm and a larger, hairy arm. Before he could resist, I threw the yellow t-shirt and a khaki shorts I found in the corner of the closet and shut the door.

"Tezuka-Kun, please hurry or you won't get to the library in time to return that book that will be overdue tomorrow." I said tauntingly.

"Ooh! Tezuka! You better hurry!" He could hear his teammate chiming in. Damn that Kikumaru. He should have known that innocent looking girl is far from innocent. Since when did Tezuka wait until the last day to return a library book? Doesn't he remember that Tezuka Kunimitsu returns library books at least a week before it is due? He just finished a group project with him too! Besides if Kikumaru can think more, the bottle that Mina was holding had a slender neck, it is impossible to spill all of its content on him before he evades. In addition, how can she spill it on his head if he was taller than her by half a head? Gritting his teeth to the point where it was possible to grind it, he roughly opened the door.

"Tezuka you look cute!" Kikumaru squealed.

"Would you mind if …" but the hazel eyes didn't get to finish as the acrobat grabbed the plain gray t-shirt that Tezuka wanted to change into.

"No! Mina-Chan spent so much time looking for an outfit for you. Besides, you look just like me!" Eiji nodded approvingly.

Is that supposed to be a complement? Tezuka felt he was at his breaking point. Damn that Aizawa Mina. She better have a reason for all this.

"Where is Aizawa-San?" Like buchou would say, she would deserve 100 laps.

"She's downstairs with my mom nyah. They're arranging flowers!" Sure enough, I was downstairs with Mrs. Kikumaru, watching her arrange flowers.

That devil…her expression sure changes quick…Tezuka was ready to go lecture her if Mrs. Kikumaru wasn't with her.

I heard a feint clearing of the throat to come faced with an ambush made over Tezuka. "You're so cute!" I couldn't help but squeal.

His adolescent face formed the rebellious nature instead of the usual sophisticated and mature look.

Tezuka raised his eyebrows in anger, causing Eiji, Mrs. Kikumaru and I to say "Awww…." But I snapped back to reality as I saw the clock hit 5:30.

"Thank You for teaching me, oba-san" I bowed. "My first successful pot of arranged flowers will be for you."

"You're so sweet Mina Chan" The elder Kikumaru said as Tezuka sneered. "Come over any time."

"Mom finally found someone that will arrange flowers with her." Eiji snickered. "In this family, nee-chan tachi runs away whenever she tries to get them to start."

"Mina Chan said her mom loves flowers and she wants to arrange it for her. Isn't that sweet? I wish my daughters were like that…or my son" she directed her gaze at her son. So… everybody lovers her huh? Tezuka mocked. Wait till she gets to the core.

"Here's your backpack." I said coming down the stairs and flinging his bag at Tezuka. "Thank you so much Kikumaru kun and oba san."

"So what is this all for?" Tezuka finally questioned in his baritone voice after I shoved him out the door.

"Can't you tell?" I grinned, picking up my pace. "To follow your dad, you need to wear something out of character so that no one will recognize you. I will add the final touch when I get to your house. I was hoping Kikumaru kun will let you borrow something out of his duffel back but I didn't know his house was nearby. Luck is with me today" I hummed happily.

"You really are deceitful." Tezuka concluded. I could feel him boring his gaze on my back. In a way, his words stung.

"I'm honored," I replied with a fake smile.

At Tezuka's house…

"Ah…Mina Chan, how are you?" Tezuka Ayane greeted me once her son opened the door wide enough for me to get in.

"Fine, thank you oba-san. You look gorgeous today. Are you going out on a date?" I held back a hollow laugh. Double affair?

"No, just a high school reunion. I have to be off now. Enjoy your stay. Kunimitsu, dinner's in the fridge. Mina-Chan stay for dinner ok?" I gave a slight nod of thanks and after I heard the door click, I rushed Tezuka to the bathroom.

After awhile…

"Is this truly necessary?" he questioned, silently cursing me.

"Yes" I said, my hands sticky from hair gel. "Don't worry you'll only get like one or two pimples from this."

Ten is more accurate. Tezuka flinched as he saw me add a handful of gel to spike up his hair.

"Plus, you already humiliated yourself this far." I shrugged and pointed to his outfit. "It's a shame to start something and not finish it." Oh what joy, I feel a bundle of daggers stabbing me.

"Then what are you going to wear?" he questioned, hoping it will be something even more humiliating or I'll just choose for her.

"You'll see." I smiled as I molded his strand of hair into a thorn.

"Oh yea Tezuka kun" I called from the sink.

"Hm…?" Tezuka gaped at his reflection.

"Pay me $65" I said, stretching a hand out.

"Why?" Don't say for working this plan out.

"The flowers. Don't complain. I'm paying half here."

"Why is it so expensive?"

"Don't ask me. Ask your father."

There goes my saving for a month. Tezuka sulked.

"Hey, hey, don't sulk. I'm going to ask you to buy it for my birthday so get used to it." I said, clapping him on the back.

After awhile...

"You really are deceitful." He gave a sigh as I put on the red baseball cap.

"It's addicting." I smiled as I tied the apron around my waist that was printed Boutique…find the perfect gift for your loved ones.

Flashback

"Mina Chan your order is done. I thought you wanted it to be delivered to 3224Yamato Daichi?" the cash registrar called from the counter.

"Matsui san, my school requires a community service report. Do you think I can deliver this myself? I'm really bad at directions and I haven't really lived here long enough to know my way around..."

End of flashback

And that is how she ended up using their boutique uniform. Tezuka gave a huge sigh as I was putting on sunglasses. I can't believe people fall for her tricks. She knows more people than I do in the city and she has been here for 6months. I bet she knows which stores are which with her eyes closed.

"Excuse me, miss," I declared as a secretary in the lobby greeted me. "I would like to deliver this to Mr. Tezuka Kazuma."

"Which department is he in?" the secretary inquired as she flipped through the directories.

Great…I don't know. I looked over at the boy next to me.

"Department of technological industries." He responded nonchalantly while he ignored the questioning look the secretary gave him.

It was a good thing I made him take off his glasses. Even without it, the stoic look in his eye can make a small connection with Tezuka Kazuma.

"Oh yes, Mr, Tezuka Kazuma on the 6th floor room 608. I shall have it sent up in a minute. Thank You." The secretary attempted to grab the flowers out of my hands but I retreated, out of her reach.

"I'm sorry, miss but I have been informed that I have to take it directly up to him."

Yeah right like that works, both Tezuka and I were crossing our fingers and toes.

"Oh and then I'll give him a call, please hold on." My knuckles were turning g white from crossing my fingers. Please let me pass, I need to follow oji-san or find a clue on where he will go!

"Oh…yes sir, Let her pass?" She gave me a nod of approval but she stopped Tezuka when he attempted to follow.

Think of something quick! "He needs to go to the restroom." I said confidently.

Tezuka felt never more humiliated. First he's wearing funky clothes, now, he's being treated as a kid that is not potty trained? Before the secretary can say an answer, I pulled the grumpy boy toward the elevator.

"Thank you" Tezuka Kazuma said when I reached my final destination. "Sir, please sign here." I took out the receipt.

"Oh, by the way, I called an hour ago for an additional message card but they said my order was never made," sweat dotted on my forehead.

"I'm sorry sir, your order must have been misplaced, as I am in charge of delivery, I do not have further information." He nodded and excused me.

"Any clues?" caramel eyes confronted me as I shut the door.

I shook my head, "Only business cards and papers on the desk." I was about to continue the description of the room until bony dried hands covered my mouth.

"Hello…yes…" the deep voice protruded from the room. "Yes, I made reservation at 7PM at Al Formatio, yes for two... thank you…"

"What are you two doing here?" a security was standing there with a bat on his right hand.

"I'm sorry sir, I just tripped and this boy was helping me get up." I'm getting good at this unfortunately.

"Well, please leave after you are finished with your business there," the security said swinging the bat. I nodded and bolted toward the elevator.

"Al Formatio…that's an expensive place…" Tezuka muttered. "If he's going there, the guest must be someone important."

Back at Tezuka's house…

"Do you know the number? I need to make a reservation for us." I said as I rushed to the phone. "We can't find out why he's meeting her if we stay outside."

"We can't hear them if we're two tables away either." He responded automatically as he took out a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Leave it to me…" Now Tezuka didn't like the sound of that.

"Hurry please, Tezuka kun. We only have like 30 more minutes."

"Are you sure…" he began but I cut him off,

"We came this far, your persuasion won't work." I felt rude but I was running out of time.

Our frustration ended when I saw a golden colored business card with green texts titled "Al Formatio."

"Eureka!" I smiled as I speedily punched in the numbers. "Hello, I made a reservation under the name Tezuka Kazuma."

What is she doing now, Tezuka gave up arguing but kept an ear on alert.

"I would like to add a separate table for two yes uh huh. Just next to the other table is fine."

Next to? What if my father recognizes us? He moved toward me but I put a finger to his lips to prevent him talking. And I ended the conversation as fast as possible.

"What if they see us?" Tezuka demanded.

"They won't recognize us." I said as I stifled a yawn. I was getting tired of his arguments.

"What if they do?"

"Then oh well…" I shrugged.

This wasn't reassuring, Tezuka dreaded.

"Oh Tezuka Kun can you call a cab for us? I need to go change."

"Oh then can I change out of this too?"

"No" I said as I grinned devilishly.

"Why?!"

"I can look like a mom taking a child in to a restaurant but delivery girl on duty does not go into restaurants. Besides, that hair took a lot of work Tezuka kun!"

Sulking, Tezuka strutted to the phone while I hurried toward my house. Opening my mom's closet, I took out a light fur jacket, a brown v-neck outlined with lace and black slacks. The clothes were too large on me but I had no time to look through everything so I stapled my slacks to prevent me dragging it. Now for the make-up...

At Tezuka's house…

"…" Tezuka couldn't help but gape.

"Do I look my age?" I had to laugh at his stony rigidity.

Besides her smooth skin, she looks just like her mom: brown drawn eyebrows and peach colored eye shadow.

"But what if my father recognizes your mom's face?" Now he got me there.

"Oh…Then I'll turn the other way." She never learns, Tezuka shook his head skeptically.

"Um…anyway here's the cab." I rushed out, taking the business card of "Al Formatio"

After getting off the taxi…

There goes two months worth of savings…face scrunched up similar to a pug, Tezuka was shoving the change back into his pocket.

"Going in means we have to order right?" he asked aloud hesitantly

"Just order a drink, we have to concentrate rather than eat." I said marking off an item on the list.

"You're really enjoying yourself aren't you?" Dark hazel eyes were gleaming from the dark tension.

"Exciting yes," I said crossing off another item. "But I wouldn't call this fun. I have to think of the consequences if I find flaws in the plan." Why does she even bother doing these things??

"Hello miss. I have a reservation at 7 under Tezuka Kazuma. By the way is he here already?" I questioned once I entered

"Over here please. No he has not arrived yet. Here is the separate table that was added." Before she left, she gave a funny look at Tezuka. I could see he's face was burining up in blue flames.

Luckily, the two tables were separated by a bush (or more like potted plants.) Menus were passed out to us and the prices were not favorable.

"Eh…one drink costs $8?" I questioned my supposed son.

"Let's hope seeing can be deceiving at this moment." He agreed.

"Vay ai tek ur ordah?(May I take your order?)" an Italian looking man with high nose and blonde hair asked with a heavy accent.

"Ice cappuccino please." I said automatically, "Oh wait, sorry it's cold outside so hot cappuccino instead please."

"And you, boku? (little boy)"

"Black coffee please." The waiter looked surprised that such a little boy had a mature voice and preferred to drink bitter black coffee. He thought the boy would ask for a banana split sundae at least.

"Are you sure Kuni Chan?" I teased. "I thought you told me you wanted the hurricane crashed mountain high mud pie. You can ask for a cherry on the top, sweety" I continued, ignoring the killing intent from the other side of the table.

"Yeah let's do that. Just one of that please and hot cappuccino thank you." I ordered not waiting for a response.

"Wud du lik da shary on dop?(Would you like the cherry on top?)" he smiled with a bright grin.

"Yes please!" I agreed enthusiastically.

Can this humiliation get any worse? Tezuka couldn't help but carry his head.

"Ah…dur lookie tu hab e hays mum ey?(Your lucky you have a nice mom ey?)" and loud hahas were heard as the waiter and I laughed.

"Du hab tu apeeciate hur moor.(You have to appreciate her more)" The waiter said clapping Tez's back. I was amused more than ever.

"Eni vein korses?(Any main courses?)" he continued.

"No thank you, we're just in a mood for refreshments." Yea right, my stomach is going to growl.

The waiter bowed away and it was time for me to suffer the stoic genius's wrath. "What was that for? My pride has gone down the drain." Tezuka roared

"Ah.. Don't be mad Kuni Chan I wanted to try it. It sounded interesting." I smiled my best smile. "Just share with me. You can drink some of my cappuccino if you want." The honey browned eyebrows arched higher than ever but suddenly his gaze fell on the table next to us.

"He's here." He whispered hoarsely. Sure enough, Tezuka Kazuma arrived looking tired than ever but nonetheless sophisticated with his black suits and lavender dress shirt.

"Over here please." I heard the waitress asserting.

"That's not who we really want to see though," I whispered behind the bush as Tezuka pulled his chair next to me.

"Tell me when she gets here." I said as I flipped through the dessert menu. The pizookie looked good also. I heard a low gasp from the right side of my ear and turned my head toward a space between the bushes.

"Oh no!" I muttered under my breath as I saw the approaching woman.