Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, Prince of Tennis or any of its characters.

New Beginnings
[13] Devil's End

The week flew by and despite his best efforts Tezuka could not get himself to recall what he had agreed to do. Of course, he could have asked Echizen but that would require him revealing the fact that he hadn't been listening in the first place.

He sighed and looked out the window, ignoring the fact that this was just about the most awkward car ride he had ever been in. Higurashi-san was sitting up front, but he noticed her glancing at the rear mirror to look at him every now and then. He wondered if Monday morning was still fresh on her mind. Her two friends were sitting across from him, whispering in low voices and Echizen himself was staring out the window, bored. Sometimes, he wished he had Echizen's care-free attitude.

His stomach churned as they pulled up in front of the… palace, for the lack of a better word. Tezuka wondered if he was nervous. He gave it a thought, he probably was since he really had no idea what he had agreed to.

"Okay, okay," Higurashi called out cheerfully. "We're here!"

She climbed out of the car before the driver had the chance to completely stop the car, much less get out and open the door for her.

"Kagome," he more than whined, much to Tezuka's surprise. "At least let me do my job."

She ignored him. "Come on…" she paused wondering what to call the older man.

"Buchou," Echizen said, climbing out of the car.

Tezuka followed.

"Well," he heard Higurashi whisper to one of her two friends. "We know who's in charge of that relationship."

He froze.

Echizen turned slowly, facing his cousin with a blank expression. Tezuka would have winced internally if it was anyone else. But Higurashi is Echizen's cousin and they are both so stubborn. He might have been able to turn everyone away with a cool, bored glare but Higurashi was scary in her own right.

"Now, now," one of Higurashi's friend said, stepping between the two cousins. "We all know that Kagome let's her mouth get away from her sometimes. Let's just move on and leave such words behind us, eh?"

Higurashi grinned at her cousin behind her friend's protective back.

Tezuka blinked in shock as Echizen shrugged. "It's not like we don't know who's in charge of your relationship with Sesshomaru."

The effect was immediate. "My what with who?" she shrieked.

Echizen ignored her but Tezuka saw the barest hint of a smirk playing across his lips. "Echizen," he warned softly.

The younger boy looked up him innocently. He huffed, "Kagome's just kidding. She doesn't really think we're in a relationship."

Tezuka wasn't sure what to think about that. "Ah."

The driver walked ahead of them and pushed a set of large, heavy double doors opened, and waved them in. Tezuka felt his fingers tightened around the strap of his tennis bag, anticipating… something.

"You're late."

He looked up and saw the Wakagami-san. He swallowed hard. He had Fuji tell him that his voice was cold and flat but it was nothing compared to the man in front of him.

Higurashi was not fazed despite the fact that she had seemed utterly frightened of him days before. "Sorry," she said, sarcastically. "We were stuck in traffic."

"Hn."

"Shall we get started?" one of Higurashi's friend asked.

"Hn."

Silence.

"Buchou?"

Tezuka snapped his head towards him in shock realizing that he was supposed to do something. Damn it all! He really should have asked Echizen when he had the chance.

"You don't have to be worried," Higurashi said softly. "Despite appearances, I'm a good doctor."

He blinked. "Doctor?"

"I asked for him to show you tennis moves," Echizen said, glaring at his cousin.

She glared back. "I thought we agreed on me being a doctor."

They glared at each other with Tezuka standing uncomfortably in the middle.

"This is quite pathetic," Wakagami said. "You two can't agree on a story and it's pretty obvious that he has no clue what's going on. Did you even ask?"

Ryoma redirected his glare. "I did."

Tezuka wondered if he should speak up. After all, it wasn't the younger boy's fault that he hadn't been listening.

"Okay," Higurashi interrupted before anyone else could comment. "Here's the thing: Ryoma said that your arm's been bothering you." Tezuka blinked at her words. "So, since I come from a family of doctors, we thought it wouldn't hurt for me to check it out."

"I see," he answered hesitantly. "And you need me to play… tennis?"

She scratched the back of her neck shyly. "To see your… um, muscles at work… and stuff."

He didn't believe her story but in the end it didn't matter why she wanted to check out his tennis moves so he consented. Unzipping his tennis bag, he pulled out his favorite racked and a set of three tennis balls. He looked around. The dojo was pretty large so space wasn't an issue.

"The zero-shiki serve, buchou," Echizen murmured.

He narrowed his eyes but otherwise appeared as if he had not heard him. Taking a deep breath, he turned to face the opposite wall which appeared to be a good three to four tennis court length away from him and threw the ball in the air. He tensed his muscles in preparation and slammed hard on the ball as the force of gravity pulled it back down.

"Wah!" Higurashi cried out. "Oh my god! Did you see that? It rolled back! Rolled!"

He turned and stared.

"His arm, priestess, his arm."

She blushed at the reminder. "Oh, heh, um, oops?"

Tezuka almost smiled in amusement but caught himself in time. He turned around again and pulled another ball out of his pocket. His muscles tensed and he ignored the painful throb as he threw the ball into the air.

"Eyes front," he heard Wakagami said.

"I know," she insisted as he hit the ball.

He clenched his teeth together as the pain flared up around his arm making it feel as if every single nerve in his left arm was on fire.

Silence.

"Well?" Echizen asked, eyeing Tezuka's arm almost worriedly.

Higurashi sighed and looked over at Wakagami. "It's like you," she said.

The older man raised an eyebrow.

"You know," she said, waving a hand towards him. "When you're… well, all this. And then you get angry or something and lose control and your energy just slips out."

"Is there anything you can do, Kagome?" the other one of her friends asked. Tezuka frowned, he really needed to remember their names because it seemed like they would be hanging out a lot now… not that he knew exactly what was going on.

She sighed. "I don't think so."

Echizen narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean, you don't think so?"

"There's nothing there," she snapped. "Right now, him just standing there, there's absolutely nothing wrong with his arm." Tezuka wondered if they were talking about the yips. "But when he does something, something that requires most of his strength and power, it comes out."

"But—"

"What?" she shouted. "I can't do anything. And if I can, it has to be when he's playing tennis or something. And if I am to make sure I don't make his arm disappear I need him to be completely still so I can concentrate."

"We can't just leave it," Echizen shot back.

Tezuka wished he knew what they were talking about.

Higurashi looked as if she was ready to burst into tears. "I'm sorry!"

"There, there," her friend said, placing a soothing arm around her shoulder. "Kagome-sama's trying her best, Echizen-san."

"Hmph."

"Kagome gets really emotional if she can't do anything to help," her other friend whispered, leaning closer to him.

Tezuka raised his eyebrow. "I am going to go to a doctor later."

Higurashi turned her attention towards him and eyed his arm sadly.

"Don't bother with false hope, boy. Doctors can do nothing about your arm." Tezuka blinked at Wakagami's words. "At this point, all we can do is wait and see. Presence of it around the world is getting stronger and stronger. If it exposes itself and remained exposed, we will move on from there."

Higurashi exploded. "What the hell do you mean, wait and see? I'm so fucking tired of waiting and seeing." She kicked a nearby sword-stand. "Why can't I just have a perfectly normal life?" she screamed, stomping out of the dojo without a backward glance.

Tezuka blinked.

"I'll go talk to her," her friend said softly and ran after Higurashi.

Tezuka blinked again. "Was it something I did?"

Echizen sighed. "I'll go apologize," he murmured, going after the two girls at his own pace.

"Hm," one of Higurashi's friend said thoughtfully. "It's not your fault, Tezuka-sama. Don't worry about it."

He wasn't convinced.

"I'm so selfish."

"Kagome," Sango said. "You know that's not true."

"After the well sealed itself, I spent my time mourning and sobbing over my lost. You know, that's the reason why I moved here, because home felt nothing like home when I couldn't get access to both." She hiccupped, and Ryoma had a suspicion that she was crying on the other side of the door. "I hated everything, you know? I hated how I have to worry about school and Naraku at the same time and—"

"You were fifteen," soothed Sango.

"I know! But even back then I still wished I was normal. And Naraku was defeated and I got my wish when the well sealed itself but then I just couldn't accept it also meant losing all of you guys!"

"Kagome—"

"And then I wish that I could see you guys again and I do! My wish came true but here I am complaining, once again—"

"Kagome—"

"I'm so selfish," she cried, her voice breaking.

Ryoma frowned as he opened the door, snapping both girl's attention towards him. Sango blinked at his presence and hid a smile as she gave Kagome a hug. "I'll be back in the dojo," she whispered, pressing a light kiss on the younger girl's cheek. Slipping away, she flashed Ryoma a smile and made her way out of the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Kagome stared at her cousin as he took a seat next to her.

Silence. Then:

"I'm sorry."

She blinked in shock, tears and problems forgotten. This was, after all, the first time she has ever heard him apologize and sound like he meant it.

Ryoma looked away, embarrassed. "I just… don't want Buchou to—" he cut himself off and frowned.

"If I could do something, I would," she said softly. "You know that, right?"

He nodded and buried half his face into the crook of his elbow. "So… what are you going to do now?"

She was silent for a moment. "Wait and see, I guess. There's nothing else I can do."

Ryoma frowned. That wasn't exactly what he wanted to hear but he didn't say anything, especially not when Kagome was so emotional. She sounded as if she had the entire weight of the world on her shoulders. He pursed his lips in thought, wondering if he should say some soothing words or something

(not that he knows what those were but he could at least hazard a guess or something).

The two of them sat in silence, comfortable with just the presence of each other.

"Oh!" Kagome suddenly cried out as she up straighter. Her bright blue eyes, moist with tears suddenly looked brighter. "I know what to do!" And with that said, Kagome jumped up and ran out the door and back in the direction of the dojo, leaving Ryoma to stare after her wondering what in the world just happened. He blinked, sighed and then got up to follow her.

"We seal it!" Kagome cried out happily as she threw the doors to the dojo open.

Everyone's attention turned and they all stared at the large, heavy double doors that smacked against the wall with a loud thud. Then they looked at the small, young priestess who really had more strength than she should.

She didn't wait for anyone to respond. "Sango! Miroku! Remember Mishiko? And how she sealed Inuyasha up? And how that as long as the seal was on him, every day was like the new moon to him?" She threw a quick glance in Tezuka's direction who hadn't the faintest idea what was going on. "So all we have to do is duplicate the seal until we figure out what to do. That way, in the mean time we don't have to worry about him overusing his arm and having you-know-what take over."

Silence.

"Well…" Miroku began. "I do see your point, Lady Kagome… however…"

"My plan's flawless," she pouted.

"How do you plan to duplicate such a seal?" Sesshomaru's voice cut in, firm and cold like strong glass.

Kagome immediately began wilting and Ryoma watched with interest as she leaned towards one side. He gave her hair a quick yank, pulling her back into the present instead of willowing in his sponsor's cold reality. Kagome recovered and then flashed Sesshomaru a smile. "Well, I was hoping you would help us with that."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes.

"I have a plan," she announced. "I just need some materials!"

Although suspicious Sesshomaru nodded his head in consent. "You are positive it will not slowly destroy his arm?"

Kagome gave him a flat glare. "Yes." In her mind: Well, Inuyasha didn't slowly disappear when Kikyo pinned him to the tree, now did he? She turned towards Tezuka and gave him a bright, reassuring smile.

Ryoma was the only person who saw him wince.

"Lady Kagome," Miroku said slowly. "This seal looks strangely familiar."

"Yea," she agreed, carefully carving another character into the small, flat stone. "It's the same one that sealed Inuyasha to the tree."—Tezuka still had no clue what they were talking about.—She blew away the access layer of dust from the carving and held it up for inspection. "What do you think?"

Sesshomaru stared at her. "You plan to recreate the seal that—"

"I toned it down!" A pause. Kagome almost faltered at the flat stare Sesshomaru was giving her. "A lot!"

"Do you think it will work?" Sango asked.

"Yes!" the young priestess said firmly. There was a determined light in her eyes that left no room for argument. "Now… I just channeled my pr—you-know-what into it. But… it's missing something."

"Blood," Sesshomaru answered automatically.

"What?" she replied just as quickly.

"Blood is always the final ingredient of any seal."

For a moment no one moved and then all at once they turned their attention to an extremely uncomfortable tennis captain, who, of course, had no idea what was going. Seal for what? Sealing who to a tree? You-know-what? It? What is it? He forced himself to swallow hard. "I want to know what's going on," he said in his captain-voice with an added edge.

It was the voice that he inherited from his grandfather. The voice that stopped everyone in their tracks and listen to his words. The voice that rose above all when there was a loud argument. The voice that demanded attention. The voice that was currently making Higurashi and her friends shift uncomfortably in their spots, looking everywhere but in his general direction. The voice that was currently having no effect on Wakagami whatsoever.

He felt his eyebrow twitch.

"You will be told," Wakagami said in a voice that puts Tezuka's to shame, "what we deem is appropriate for you to know."

Tezuka held back a wince.

But he knew that the older man was serious. Letting out a slow breath, Tezuka bowed low. "Thank you for your time," he replied, voice calm despite the fact that his innards were in turmoil. "I will take my leave—"

"No!" Higurashi interrupted, stepping between the two men in an attempt to pacify the tension, facing Tezuka. "You can't! Don't you see how worried Ryoma is about your arm?"

Tezuka paused.

"I'm not—" Echizen began.

"Shh!" someone hushed.

Higurashi spun around towards Wakagami. "And would you please stop that?"

"I will not allow anything done on my person if I do not know everything that is going on," Tezuka pointed out.

Higurashi turned her attention back towards him, eyebrows raised and lips pursed in an angry fashion. "Your person," she repeated. "You two should be friends," she muttered darkly, glancing quickly in Sesshomaru's direction before turning back towards him. "Shouldn't the fact that I'm going to make your arm all better good enough?"

He narrowed his eyes. "You said you needed my blood."

"Just a little bit," Higurashi assured, smiling prettily. "Like a blood test."

Tezuka was not convinced.

"Really," Higurashi pressed.

He pressed his lips together in a thin line.

Silence.

"Okay, okay," Higurashi said, giving in. "Look, I'm a priestess."

Yes, Tezuka thought. Because Wakagami had called her one more than a few times.

"And your arm's cursed."

Tezuka stared. Then blinked. And then continued staring. "Cursed," he repeated, just to make sure he was hearing her correctly.

She nodded. "I know it sounds stupid but just stick with my me for a moment. The curse is too strong for me to get rid of completely so I can only seal it."

Tezuka stared some more. Then very slowly he turned his gaze towards Echizen who had a hand pressed into his face. He saw the younger boy sighed deeply before looking up and catching his gaze. As if unsure of what to do or say, Echizen shrugged and jerked his head in his cousin's direction.

Does he want me to listen to her? To believe her? Tezuka wondered.

"Please?" she begged, clasping her hands in front of her. "Just a drop of your blood."

Tezuka felt his gaze flickered towards Echizen again. He sighed. "Fine," he murmured feeling his stomach flip uncomfortably at his own words.

"Great!" Higurashi cried out, clapping her hands together in excitement. She turned towards Sesshomaru with a bright smile. "Where's your first aid kit?"

Wakagami stared at her. "First aid kit," he repeated. "You think I have one?"

Tezuka watched as she flushed at the older man's words. "Uh… do you have a needle at least? Or some other small and pointy objects?"

Wakagami nodded towards the wall. "I have knives and swords." He flashed her a grin that almost made Tezuka step back in fear. "Among other pointy objects."

"That could be taken a number of different ways," Echizen muttered loud enough for everyone in the dojo to hear. He wrinkled his nose in disgust.

Everyone froze.

Kagome turned towards Miroku and glared.

"I don't talk to your cousin, I swear!" Miroku said quickly, backing up and hiding behind Sango. "That was all him! No influence from me whatsoever!"

Sesshomaru sighed, diverting Kagome's attention from Miroku making him sigh with relief. Sango's lips twitched in amusement and she had to force down a giggle lest she disrupt the rather tense atmosphere.

Giving Miroku one last glare, Kagome made her way towards the weapon rack, her nose scrunching up as she examined the different type of weapons. Finally, she picked up a sai and weighed it in her hands for a few moments before making her way towards Tezuka (who was currently fighting another urge to step back and away).

"I need a finger," Higurashi said happily as if she wasn't planning on poking Tezuka and drawing his blood.

Tezuka glanced warily at the sai and hesitantly held out a hand. He gave a quick mental prayer, hoping that she wouldn't accidently cut off his finger or something equally as painful. Higurashi was so accident-prone too. He held his breath as she gave his index finger a sharp poke with the tip of the sai and then almost sighed with relief when she didn't slice off the same finger.

Higurashi pulled Tezuka's hand closer to her and placed the small stone tablet on the small wound and waited until his blood completed layered the surface with her carved character on it. She smiled and plucked the stone tablet off his finger and gave him a handkerchief for his wound. "All done," she announced.

He nodded, tightening his hold on the handkerchief.

"Now…"

"Your blood," Wakagami murmured.

Tezuka watched Higurashi swallow hard, resting the sharp edge of the sai against her palm. She took in several deep breaths as if attempting to calm herself. Tezuka narrowed his eyes.

"I can't do it," Higurashi suddenly cried out, thrusting the sai in Wakagami's direction. "Here."

Tezuka's eyes widen in realization and then watched in horror as Wakagami took the weapon, threw it into the air and caught it by the handle and sliced Higurashi's palm open in one fluid motion. He watched the blood leak out, pooling in her palm and wondered how deep the cut went.

"Ouch," she mumbled.

Understatement of the year.

Higurashi gave Wakagami an evil glare before turning her attention back towards her bleeding palm. She dropped the stone tablet into her palm and narrowed her eyes in concentration. Tezuka swore he saw a pink spark dance across her bloody palm before she broke out in a smile. "All done!" she said happily, fishing out the tablet.

Tezuka blinked and then slowly handed her back her handkerchief. She took it and allowed the cotton to soak up most of her blood before pulling out a thin string and looping it around the stone tablet. "Wear this at all times," she instructed, wiping it clear of any linger blood before handing it to him. He eyed it for a moment before taking it and slipping it onto his wrist.

"Thank you," he politely said, giving her a small bow.

She smiled at him in response. "Why don't you try out that backward rolling serve again?"

Backward rolling serve?

Tezuka pressed his lips together and tightened his arm muscle as if anticipating the upcoming pain. "All right," he said. He gave Echizen a look as he made his way back towards the middle of the dojo and picked up his racket and a nearby tennis ball. Echizen shrugged and Tezuka took a deep breath, tightened his grip on his racket as he threw the tennis ball into the air.

He saw Higurashi give him two thumbs up from the corner of his eyes as the ball dropped down, back towards him.

He struck.