Yeeeey! I'm alive :D. It took me quit some time to write something as simple as the next chapter, but I somehow had a writersblock, had a week full of exams, which I all passed gloriously (exept for math that is) and I've been feeling sick during the other days. So when I woke up and had a good idea how to finish the chapter, without making it to illogical, I was very Happy :D. I even already have inspiration for the next chapter, so I think that won't be to long now (wait didn't I also say that a month ago, when I put up the last chapter. Oh well, never mind).

Pairings: ex-perfect, Imperial, future!Fuji/Marui, some others

Warnings: nothing yet, my poor attempt in bringing in some complications.

Chapter 07

When he woke up the next morning, Marui didn't knew where he was right away. The room he was in was neat, yet cosy. The walls where painted in a sea-blue colour and through the windows the sun was shining bright. He had some difficulty remembering what had happened the day before and why he was here in this strange room.

He looked at the bedside clock and forced his brain to function at half past eight in the morning. At first it only resulted in a headache, but after some time, images slowly seeped into his mind.

The argument in the locker-room at Rikkai.
He, walking to the bus station, very pissed.
Seeing Fuji running through the rain, without a jacket or umbrella.
Fuji's heartbreaking story and eventually his collapse.
The hospital and a women stating he will be sleeping at their place.

After that, only darkness.

Now, having a slight idea where he might be, he sat up in the bed and looked around for his clothes. They lay on a chair in front of a desk, neatly folded. He walked towards it and dressed himself. Then he took a second, more closer look around the room. On the desk was a computer and some books. Further there was a light-coloured wooden closet, with a great mirror plastered on it. But the thing that caught his attention were two small picture frames, standing on the nightstand. One of them was obviously a tennis team, seeing the attendance of the brown and white jerseys, the yellow balls and of course the tennis rackets. The second photo on the other hand was one of two people. One cheerful, smiling a closed eyed smile. The other, although he was smiling slightly, didn't seem to like the fact that the photo had to be taken.

The not so happy one was also in the team photo, so this probably was his room. But why he would have a picture at his bedside which he didn't like, Marui didn't understand. He decided that getting something to eat was his best option right now, but before he could lay his hand on the doorknob, the door was opened from the other side.

"Ahhhh!", Marui jumped backwards, back into the room. The women in front of him smiled a small smile, which held traces of sadness she couldn't hide. "Ah, I see you've woken up already. I thought I'd come and check on you, since it's morning already.". She walked to the window to pull open the curtains. "I hope you've had a good night of sleep." Marui nodded, but then remembered that she couldn't see him, since she stood with her back facing him. "Yes, ma'am.", he answered. "Good to hear". She smiled another sad smile and mentioned him to follow her. "Now, come along to the kitchen. You must be hungry and I think there are some pancakes that are waiting to be eaten". Marui's eyes widened on the word 'pancakes' and he didn't know how fast he had to follow her. Foreign situation be damned, the taste of pancakes in the morning was something he couldn't resist.

Niou set himself on a bench near the grocery store. He had been up all night looking for his friend. He had been able to catch the last bus to Tokyo and had gotten off at the same bus stop Marui would have gotten off. It had been pouring by then and even with his umbrella he got soaked after half an hour of walking. He then decided that it would be better to find some shelter, so he had stopped at the first 24/7 café he passed, to wait there until the sky would clear up.

It took some time, about three hours to be exact. During which he had drowned six cups of coffee, just to keep him awake. The café employee had looked at him with confusion. He probably didn't understand why a teenager was drowning himself in coffee in the middle of the night, instead of being home in a warm bed. Niou himself didn't really understand why either. The only thing he could think of was 'guilt'. He felt guilty for teasing him about his crush, for telling everybody when he had promised not to.

He knew how deeply Marui was enamoured with Fuji and although he would never admit it out loud, he couldn't blame him. They both had a tensei quality which would make them perfect for one another.

But Niou knew, unlike Marui, that Fuji gave his heart to someone else. Namely, Seigaku's buchou Tezuka. Secondly that Abobe had been wooing Tezuka for the past couple of months. Who knows what will happen if everything came to the surface. Who's defences will be shattered and who will there be to pick up the pieces?

Niou thought about his own team. About the little brat who almost stuck like glue to his friends butt. He might not want to interfere in other people's private business, but he recognized a crush when he saw one. Hence, he had one himself. At that thought he felt his blood rushing to his cheeks.

He sighed once more. He was tired, had sore feet and he could see the sun poking his head above the horizon. It was morning already. He took out his mobile to check what time it was, when he got an idea. He quickly dialled a number and waited impatiently for the other to respond.

"Moshi… moshi…". The voice on the other end of the line sounded a bit groggy, like he was just waking op from his sleep, which probably was the truth, since it was only 5.20 in the morning on a Saturday, when they usually only had practice at 9.30.

"Oi, Yanagi. How nice of you to pick up the phone this early in the morning.", Niou spoke cheerfully.

"Niou-kun, although I appreciate your call, for whatever reason it is this time, I have to remind you that it's 5.20… no, 5.21 in the morning and I would like to get some more sleep before practice starts. So, if you'll excuse me". Niou heard Yanagi fumble with his phone.

"No, Yanagi, don't hang up, I need your help for a second.". Niou shouted. Just in time apparently, because a sigh of resignation could be heard from the other end of the line.

"I need your help. Marui's mother called me to asked if he was with me, because he didn't come home last night. I went to Tokyo, but now I can't find him. I figured he might be at Fuji's house, but I don't have his address."

"And now you want me to give you the address so you can see if he's there?", Yanagi sounded more awake than before now, so Niou had good hope it would be alright.

"Give me a moment and let me call someone, I will be back a you with the address soon." . After that there was a sharp beeping noise and the line went flat.

A/N Hoi hoi, hope you liked it, I personally am deeply impressed by myself that I've been able to pull something like this off after my writersblock.
Oeeeeh! Niou's got a crush on someone. And you can guess all you want, because you'll never know who i'm pairing him with.
Little hint: I, myself don't even know yet, maybe you've got a suggestion? ^_^

R&R