Warnings: slash, nothing much yet
Pairings: Perfect, Imperial, Marui/Fuji

This is from Marui's point of view, I think it's around the same time as the first chapter.

Chapter 2

In Tokyo the weather forecast had said something about a storm, but in Kanagawa the weather was truly fantastic. It was a typical summers day. A lot of sun and no cloud in the sky. It was also the last day of training for the Rikkaidai tennis team before the had a week of, some sort of holiday break. This was because the schoolboard had decided that is would be a nice idea to expend the school.

The had just finished training and had given the first years the task of cleaning up the nets and courts. Marui was busy changing, deep in thought. He was so far away with his thoughts that he didn't even notice the prank Niou pulled on Kirihara.

Well ,he may not have noticed, but Yukimura had a good observation ability. He had noticed that Marui wasn't there with his head during practice. His play wasn't like it normally would be. His thoughts were somewhere other then at Rikkaidai. Yukimura changed his clothes and then walked towards Marui. He really ought to know what was going on. Marui was almost finished packing and was about to leave. "Marui-kun". Yukimura didn't wore his usual driven expression, but he looked more curious. Because even though Yukimura was know as someone who didn't expect anything less than the best and drove his teammates till their limit and beyond, he also cared al lot about them. They were his friends and if there was something wrong, he would support them, like they had supported him. "Marui-kun", her repeated. "What's wrong? You're not here with your head. Your play isn't good and throughout all practice you haven't eaten a single cake. Is something bothering you?". Yukimura made sure that Marui looked at him directly. The other regulars had stopped changing and listened closely to their conversation. Marui looked around briefly, but getting away without giving a proper answer was impossible. "It's nothing Yukimura-buchou. I look forward to this week's break, that's all.". He tried to sound as neutral as possible. He had just turned around to finish packing his stuff, when he heard Niou say the words he didn't want him to say. "But you were going to Tokyo this week, am I right? That is what you said, last week, right?". They were best friends and that was probably the main reason that he hadn't flown at Niou right at this moment and strangle him at the spot. With all the willpower he could summon, he stayed calm. "Yes, I've said that, but I also said that you weren't allowed to tell it to anybody". "Oops. I'm sorry. That must have slipped my mind.". Niou didn't look like he was sorry at all. "What should you be doing in Tokyo?", Kirihara interfered in the conversation. "Well, because…", Niou started, but Marui cut him short. His face had in the mean time gained almost the same colour as his hair. "That's none of your business. I am going to Tokyo this week and that's it. What I'm going to do there is my own business". Angry he took up his bag and stamped out of the locker room.

"Hve I said something wrong?". Kirihara looked dismayed. Niou slapped him on the back of his head and grinned wide. He looked triumphant around the room, but then he met the eyes of Yukimura. These were ice cold, without a sign of mercy. "Niou-kun", Yukimura started on a tone that didn't predict something good. "Before you go back out there and run a hundred rounds around the courts, I first want to know why Marui doesn't want to tell why he is going to Tokyo". If it were a normal person, Niou would have beated around the bush, twisted the truth or blown it up. But this wasn't a normal person, this was Yukimura.

"Actually, I can show you why". He turned around and walked towards his bag. He scrambled for a bit and then took something out. It was a piece from a newspaper. "Some weeks ago I stuck my nose in his stuff and then I found this article. It is the commentary of the final match of the Nationals. You know, our game against Seigaku. The article itself isn't all that interesting, but the photo that came with it, is." He unfolded the piece of paper and the photo that appeared showed nine people, the complete tennis team of Seigaku, right at the moment the received their first price. However, around one of them there was drawn a red circle. It was a slender boy, with honey-brown hair and closed eyes. Next to the photo was written a phone number and a address.

"I made a copy, under the pretext of blackmailing him someday. That was until a couple of days ago when he came to me and asked which bus we always take when we go to Tokyo. I teased him a little with the photo, he got angry and made me promise not to tell anybody." Niou stopped and looked around a second time. "So, you want to tell us that Marui is going to Tokyo to visit Seigaku?". Yukimura didn't sound convinced. "No, not just Seigaku, but for a visit at a certain tensei of Seigaku, Fuji Syusuke." Yagyuu decided to join the conversation, he had seen where his partner was heading. "According to my latest information Fuji is involved in a relationship with Tezuka and I don't think it is wise to kindle between those two". Yanagi looked up from his notebook. "However, I have to add that Atobe has shown a lot of interest in the captain of Seigaku lately. And according to some of my calculations there is a 80% chance Tezuka will fall for his charms".(1)

"Ho, ho, hold on for a second. So, you want to tell me that Marui-sempai has fallen in love with that… that… freak from Seigaku?". Kirihara's voice sounded shrill and was filled with disbelief. "Yes, we do believe that is the case Akaya. And please, don't call Fuji a freak, it gives me the chills", Yukimura urged him to silence. "Oh my-". He didn't got any further before he fainted.

Marui hosted his bag a bit further over his shoulder. He was really pissed off. Was Niou ever so incompetent that he couldn't even keep a simple promise. How difficult could it be shut your mouth for once. What did it matter that he would be going to Tokyo this week. Well, actually it did matter. Marui sighed again. Ever since the Kantou Finals against Seigaku he had had a fascination for the brown-haired tensei. He had defeated Akaya when it seemed impossible. At first he had been in awe, although he would rather not admit it out loud. Without really noticing it, this admiration had turned into affection and after that even into love. He had tried to deny it, but eventually had to admit that it was a hopeless case. He had fallen for his biggest rival. And he had fallen hard.

He walked on until he reached the bus-station. There he sat under the roof and waited till the bus would arrive that would take him to Tokyo. It took about ten minutes, in which Marui nervously kept changing his position. The longer he thought about it, the more it sounded like the most idiotic plan he had ever come up with; visiting Fuji in Tokyo. Man, he didn't even know that Marui liked him. Let alone that it could ever work out between them. With a sigh, he searched for a free spot in the back of the bus, nobody had to know how he was feeling.

The whole journey to Tokyo took about one and a half hour. The closer they got to the right stop, the more nervous Marui got. And the fact that the weather had turned around completely, didn't help either. He praised himself for being thoughtful enough to bring along an umbrella.

The bus stopped and Marui got off. Immediately he put up his umbrella to make sure not to get totally drenched. He got a map out of his pocket, one he had printed at home. On the map the road was marked h had to take to Seigaku. With a quick look around, he started to walk down the street. Following the directions on the paper, the school he was looking for came into his view. Right at the moment he wanted to walk through the gates onto the grounds, something dashed past him. Quickly he turned around, to see what it was. To his surprise is was a slender looking boy with honey-brown hair.

A/N
(1) Remember, Tezuka just broke it off around the same time as he is saying it. Now, unless he is a psychic, which I don't think he is, he can't possible know that they split up.

I loved it how Kirihara reacted. He Just Fainted! Epic. Well at least from my point of view.

R&R