Disclaimer: If I owned Prince of Tennis, most of the guys would have found girl friends by now.

Hey guys! I hope this time you guys didn't have to wait as long! Bleh though I took close to a month sorry!!

Review Replies!

Izaquix078: Thanks that's so sweet of you!!!! I really appreciate that you tell me my stories make you laugh. It's really hard for me to think up of humorous stuff but I'm glad I accomplished some of it. Wait all of my stories? Does that mean "Hiashi's mistake" too?

brownirises: hehe cliffies are my specialties. Noooo Taka-San Junior please don't kill me..

fightingpheonix36: Yeah if his father was cheating on someone, i would go snuggle Tezuka to comfort him. Heheh

Final Flare: Yes I should make an effort to update faster!!

JuniperScaymoore: lol the coke thing came out once in awhile when i was reading other fics. Very distracting!!

ShadowedSilverMist: Yup sorry for the oocness but just gotta make them softies!! Aww i'm glad i left you warm and fuzzy. By the way I love naruto too!!!

LittleAngel22493: Mr. Tezuka must be another hottie since Tezuka is one. Not hard to believe that he can be a two timer. Heheh. Aww i'm not that good of a writer but thanks! You make me blush! Missminnie08 is a really good writer by the way.

White Alchemist Taya: Heh yup it wasn't sorry for the commotion!

Thanks to other reviewes such as: White Prayer, darkheart1992!!!

That cheating affair was a commotion wasn't it? Oh well here comes more trouble...

Chapter 19: Let's decide this together

"Mina wake up!"

I felt my bed shake slightly.

"Mm" I rolled over, pulling my comforter up to muffle up the sound.

"Mina!"

I held onto the blankets tighter.

"MINA!!!"

My mom peeled off my blankets and I ended up rolling off my bed.

"Hmm?" I sat up, too weak to yell at the person who disrupted my sleep.

"You have a doctor's appointment remember?" my mom said, folding up the blankets that I was cuddling to my body.

"Hm…" I said as I rolled over to sleep on the floor.

"MINAAAA!"

Drowsily, I walked my way toward Hanno General Hospital. There is a tennis game in 2hours. The long awaited season was coming up. "Regional tournament" as it was called and it is the first step to reach the nationals.

I have to make this check up quick.

But even if I woke up late, there is a long line to wait for Dr. Kurosawa. Since I had 5 people to wait on, I decided to take a quick walk.

Dr. Sakurai, Dr. Itoe, so many doctors, no wonder the septic is so strong.

I was about to walk by the offices until caught my eye. Dr. Yamaguchi…Wasn't he the one that Mrs. Tezuka sent?

Since he looked over me when I was sick last time, I decided to go thank him.

"Your arm is getting worse."

I stopped in my tracks. He's seeing a patient

"You have to resist putting pressure on your joint, in your case, this is not tennis elbow." Oh someone that plays tennis?

"Hai" the deep baritone voice caught my attention. Tezuka-kun…

"My recommendation will be able to quit tennis. You can go back to play next year. It's better to take care of this before it gets worse."

"No doctor! I'll be careful." Tezuka kun…

Panic was apparent in his usual stoic voice. Of course he won't quit tennis he just made the regulars.

"Then as your doctor, I have to demand that you reduce your practice time. I'll prescribe carisoprodol, it should relieve, muscle pain associated with your condition. When your elbow joint starts to hurt, tell me immediately"

"Hai Arigato gozaimashita sensei" I heard a chair being pulled out but I was too slow to hide from view.

"Aizawa-san" his eyes widened at the sight of me.

"Tezuka kun," I gave a small bow as though I had just entered, oblivious of his conversation with his doctor. The doctor turned his head around, thus breaking the uneasy tension between me and my neighbor. I gave a nod toward Tezuka and walked in without another word. He did the same though I felt his gaze studying my expression carefully.

"Hello, how are you feeling today?" the doctor gave me a pleasant questioning look. Apparently, he didn't remember me.

"Dr.Yamaguchi, I came to thank you for coming over last time to my house to give me medical care."

"Oh, you are the one with…" he faded off, hesitating with the final words.

"Yes, sir, I'm aware of my condition, I just wanted to thank you for coming over at such time." I gave a low bow.

"You have a family doctor to check up on you often?"

"Yes, in fact right now!" looking up at the clock, I indeed need to rush. "Thanks again doctor!" I stood up and was about to dash.

"Wait! Who's your family doctor?"

"Dr. kurosawa!" I yelled back at the exit and took off.

"Kurosawa Keiske?" the elder stated furrowing a brow.

In the check up..

"So…how are you feeling these days?" the nurse asked while I stepped on the scale. "Um…I think normal…"

"You lost 5 pounds though…" she cocked a lovely brow, her dark brown eyes held a soft gaze, perfect appearance to be a pediatric nurse on my opinion.

"But you should talk about any change in your daily routine to doctor…."

"Hai.."

She finished my vital signs and seated me on a comfy brown chair. As I idly gazed around I caught sight of couple of anatomical posters and one poster that didn't fit in with the rest was: "Verb..just do it! (I don't think that's the usual slogan) the poster showed numerous sports and activities: basketball, swimming, tennis…right tennis.

"I recommend you quit tennis."

How did Tezuka kun feel?

I wasn't able to see his face so I don't know what his expression was but must have been heart trending. What would I do if I was told that? Tennis to me was always part of my life. From when I was able to walk, I perched on the tennis bench, watching my father rally with my uncle. The green part of the court allowed me to feel persistence, the white lines on it gave me competitive nature, and the reddish brown surface provided me with relief when it was time for me to stand on it, signaling a changeover or end of a match.

So how do I live without that?

"Mina Chan?" Instantly, I blinked at the mature tenor voice.

"Doctor Kurosawa." I greeted along with my traditional bow. And the never ending questionings began between patient and doctor. It included usual inquiries like "Have you been eating well?" "Did you take any different medicine from your last visit?" "Did you increase any dosage of medicine?" and so on.

"I noted you lost weight since last time. Children your age does not lose but rather gain weight."

"Maybe that's because I started exercising." I told him proudly, "I joined the tennis team."

After all he has a "verb" poster that promotes exercises. Shouldn't he be happy that I wasn't heading toward obesity?

"Tennis?" I saw the doctor give a slight frown, "Such a vigorous sport is not recommended for your condition."

I furrowed my brows and held my hands together.

"When a patient has leukemia, they must avoid having bruises, cuts and all sorts of injuries that causes internal and external bleeding. It will trigger your immune system and call forth white blood cells, the problem of your condition."

Oh please don't let him say the same thing Tezuka kun had to hear…

"I recommend you quit tennis." My heart stopped but it started to pound harder.

To him, tennis is just a childish obsession that I will grow out of. Maybe it is, but somehow I felt offended. I stared straight at him, wanting to end the topic being discussed.

"Doctor, how do I know I'm getting worse?" he seemed to get the message that I didn't want to talk about my routine.

"Hemoptysis" he answered simply. "Or coughing up blood" he added when I stared.

"I had that once…" I declared quietly. Was I going to die so fast?

"Impossible, hemoptysis does not show up so early in stage. You must have taken something not compatible to your health." I tilted my head questioningly.

"You never told me you had frequent symptoms of dizziness, nauseous or excess bleeding anywhere."

Something not compatible? When I had hemoptysis what happened that day? I came back late that day because I ate sushi at Kawamura Kun's and I was there because…because I was drugged. Drugged?

"Are sedatives usually compatible with my health?"

"Depends on what kind…have you been taking drugs?" he game me a piercing look.

"Of course I have," I gave him an ironic smile. "I have a drawer full of anti cancer pills..."

"No…drugs that were not prescribed." I hesitated if I should tell him of the events but to avoid it would mean I have been taking drugs, which was worse.

"Doctor, will you believe me?" And the account of my kidnapping was told, though I cut down the details at the end.

"Whether I believe it or not is not the point but what caused I'm glad I found out why you had hemoptysis."

"It does seem like a hard story to believe but I ask of you to not tell my parents about this." I gave him a pleading look.

"Your parents don't know about this?!"

"Please sir." I begged, "They're stressed as it is. I don't want to add anymore stress." Reluctantly the white lab coat figure nodded and adjusted his stethoscope.

"Just do the best you can to avoid contact with medicines that I don't or other medical staff prescribe so that you can avoid anaphylactic shock. This can be caused by bee stings and allergic reactions. Also remember what I said, avoid getting bruises and cuts ok?"

I nodded this time and smiled.

"Now that smile assures me you don't take drugs or…do you?" I smiled wider, allowing him to judge and with a final thanks headed out of the hospital.

Quit tennis I can't do that…I thought as I slipped on my seigaku track jacket but to be careful I can do. I placed my duffel bag strap on one of my shoulder, so I'm sorry Dr. Kurosaw, I can't do as you recommend.

"Sorry did you wait long?" I questioned the sophisticated yet cold face.

"No…I saw you come back 15 minutes ago." He muttered as he moved from his planted position.

"Oh..." I gave a slight smile and he started our way towards the school. The sun was already high up, the warm, humid air betraying my feelings inside.

She's quiet today. Tezyka thought. Is she trying to make me talk about what I was doing at the hospital? He gazed up at me but I gave him nothing more than a smile.

If she's not saying anything why should he? But Tezuka was curious, very curious. How much of my conversation with doctor did she hear? How long was she standing there before I walked out?

"Um…"

"Ne… Tezuka kun, are you hungry?" I interrupted on purpose, "I made crunchy rolls."

I wasn't into engaging in a long conversation right now. I shuffled though my bag and held out a bento box.

"Want some?" I held it out.

"No thank you" the automated answer came and I didn't bother to ask him what I interrupted by shoving a crunchy toll into my mouth.

With that, he seemed to get my message and became silent.

The bus ride was emptier than I thought. Only the regulars and an extra from the boys and girls team were allowed to be present. So 18 people in total, including the 2coaches were seated in the bus.

"Aizawa san and Koishikawa san, are you ready?" Minamoto buchou turned around eagerly.

"I am so nervous! This is my first time in a competition." Koshikawa Miki who became one my good friends stated.

"You'll do fine." I gave a gentle squeeze on the hand. I noticed it was clammy and sweaty.

"Miki, you volley so well. That's an advantage in singles." The reddish brown hair seemed to blend in with her cheek as she blushed. I smiled at the girl next to me. Miki's such a gentle and friendly person but on the court she is an aggressive player, she can smash as hard as one of the boy regular which earned her spot as number 3 singles.

"You encourage others to do well but why are you so quiet today? Nervous?" Minamoto buchou clonked me on the head.

Am I that readable? "I'm hungry" I pouted as I bit my lip.

"Again?" Miki exclaimed. "Weren't you munching before we got on the bus?"

"Yes and if I don't get off the bus soon, I'm going to munch on you red riding hood!" I bared my teeth and the four of us, including Hashimoto senpai who is sitting next to buchou roared with laughter.

In the aisle next to the girls…

"I'm so nervous Tezuka kun" Oishi trembled.

"Oishi kun, don't be such a worry wart." A slightly feminine voice called from the back. "Fuji Kun you'll take my place if I lose right?" The lemon shaped head looked up worryingly.

"No, I'll take your place if you faint." Oishi looked away as the feminine boy's smile broadened at the word "faint".

"Just don't get careless." The usual silent boy lifted up his glasses with one finger. "Your lobs should serve as a threat…moon volley was it?"

"Thank you" To be praised by Tezuka Kun really gives me confidence. Oishi smiled, an unknown warmth spreading throughout his body.

Quit tennis? I can't do it. Tezuka thought as he flashbacked to the check up earlier in the day. But the way what was she doing there?

Hazel eyes shifted toward the next aisle but to see nothing more than the brown haired girl trying to bite the hair of the girl next to her.

Never mind...she's in a busy state. He thought as he glanced back at the window.

After getting off the bus…

"All right all of you remember to follow Aizawa. Remember to eat plenty, we still have 2 hours before we begin." Coach Ryuzaki coaxed.

Everyone gazed at me as I smiled and shoved another rice ball in my mouth.

When everyone had time to eat and drink, our captains registered and we were off to warm up. Miki and I partnered against Buchou and Hashimoto senpai. It's been awhile since I was able to practice with girls and I had to admit, it felt good being a conformist for once. Girls' speed was slower but their shots were more angled and planned rather than the bam bam bam that I was used to when hitting with the boys. When it was time to play against Midori Oka junior high, blue and white of seigaku met green and white of Midori Oka. Although I felt guilty to mock, their line up was similar to a sound wave. One girl was taller than the girl next to her by a head and a half, giving the line up a sound wave like pattern. However, since the boys and girl were intermingled in the line up, our line up had such pattern too. Especially because I had to stand between the boys number one and two singles who were third years. Damn it. I wished I can stand next to Tezuka kun since he is shorter than other singles but he is number 3. He's next to Miki lucky! Minamoto Buchou and Yamato Buchou were at the head of the line to present the line up "Number one single of Midori oka is…" And so the line up went on. After the line up calls, we had a group huddle.

"All right we can do this!" Buchou encouraged.

"We have to win this and rise up to nationals!" Hashimoto senpai added "It is our last year." All third years nodded.

And we proceeded with a team cheer. "S-e-i-g-a-k-u can say hey seigaku hey seigaku oh! You can do it!"

The boys were the ones to go next, "Seigaku fight oh! fight oh!" very plain on my opinion.

Now it was now the opposing team's turn. The whole team chorused: "We are the tigers we can beat everyone, we can, I can, nobody else can go Midori oka! Rawr!"

"can can can… can can can..." Hashimoto senpai mocked quietly next to me.

"Senpai!" I scolded her, though we were having a hard time hiding our smiles.

"You have to admit that cheer was waiting to be teased." I had to bite back a smirk.

"And now…match between Midorioka and Seigaku starts on begins on court A." the intercom announced. Along with Miki, buchou and Hashimoth senpai, I cheered and clapped as hard as I can. Oishi Kun played fine as number 2 doubles. In the first two games, his nervousness showed as he stiffly stood on the service line and his partner's bossiness wasn't helping either. When I yelled "Go oishi kun!" some of the first years girls followed. Oishi gave me a wobbly smile and played more cautiously.

In time, his accuracy showed and he even showed us his special move, "Moon volley" pulling his match to 6-4.

When Miki was called out to start the number 3 singles match, a light tap on my shoulder made me turn around.

I came face to face with square rimmed glasses. "Aizawa san, can you warm up with me?"

"Sure," I smiled and left followed Tezuka kun with my racket in my hand. He could have asked Fuji kun why me? Not that I minded of course.

"Aizawa san how much do you know about my arm?" It was very in his character to get to the point in his opening sentence, but it was out of character of him to question something about himself.

"I didn't get to hear anything…" I said calmly afraid that Tezuka may see through my lie. "I just heard 2 people conversing so I was about to get out but you came out."

"Oh…" Bony white hand gripped the equally white racket tighter.

Flash back

"Did you know putting trust in someone helps you to mature?" the motherly voice questioned. "Put your trust in her so you can grow as a person."

End of flashback

I should trust her this time. After all, he knew she was lying. He knew when she walked in. He thought it was a nurse when he heard someone walked in but decided it wasn't when the person stood rooted on the ground.

"The doctor recommended me to quit tennis because of my arm."

"Oh…" I replied This is getting too out of character of him. What's worng with him?

A moment of silence passed as we walked through a path where we were sandwiched by trees.

"So are you?...quitting tennis?" I cursed my curiosity which was gnawing my stomach at the moment. We came to an empty court but instead of walking toward the court, Tezuka leaned against the wall and I took the sign to sit on the bench.

"I don't know…" he said after a while.

For the whole time we were at the warm up site, we sat in comfortable silences, both of us thinking about if we should quit tennis or not. Until we heard the crowd cheer.

"I think it's your turn," Tezuka nodded and we both stood up, his white racket gleaming in the sunlight.

"Ne… Tezuka kun." I looked into his hard, serious hazel eyes. "What is tennis to you?"

I wasn't expecting an immediate answer as Oishi and Fuji hurriedly pushed him on to the court and I was bombarded with Miki.

"Mina where were you? Did you see my great smash? And that snap volley? Perfectly on the line. Omg I hate you! You shoud have seen it. So where were you?"

I smiled, "Soul searching."

"More like food searching" Buchou joined us as Miki and her began to poke me as punishment.

Tezuka played brilliantly, he was the first player to receive 6-0.

When number one single was called, I stepped forward, dizzy from my thoughts.

I'm such a hypocrite, I expect Tezuka kun to answer all those questions I asked him even though I can't answer them myself. I'm sorry...Tezuka kun

I said in my mind as I looked at the stoic boy who surprisingly nodded at me encouragingly. I smiled back and my eyes landed on buchou who was sitting on the row below Tezuka and was currently very loud at the moment. Seeing her so pumped up made me forget everything except to do well on my match.

I won't settle for less than Tezuka Kun's score. With such motivations, my performance was well. My concentration had never been better. I sprinted, I jumped, and I conquered, Well the game I mean.

"Total score seigaku girls 4-1, Seigaku boys 5-0. Seigaku wins!" The girls hugged each other and guys thumped each other on the back. Well one thing is for sure. Both Tezuka and I thought: I can't quit tennis.