AN: So I'm very late with updating, I know, but I wanted to make this chapter right and I've kinda rewritten this thingy three times, maybe more. Now I'm relatively happy with it. I once again finished something in the middle of the night (2:30 AM) So if you all will pleas forget all the silly grammer mistakes I made. If you really can't read it, because it doesn't make any sense, tell me and I will try to fix it.

Pairings: Marui/Fuji, Imperial, ex-perfect AND... *drumrolls* Niou/^_^ (someone)

Warnings: Bad humor maybe, nothing serious yet.

Chapter 10

"What do you mean, I'm not gonna like it? It can't be that bad, can it?". Niou grimaced and Marui gulped. "Only if you promise not to tell anyone". Niou's face was dead serious now. "Yeah, yeah, whatever, I promise. Hurry and tell me already.".

Niou held his head down and muttered something. "What did you say? I couldn't hear it". Marui strained his ears to catch what Niou was saying.

Again Niou muttered something. Although a little louder, still too soft to make something out of it. "Oh please Niou, be a man an say it already." Marui groaned in frustration.

"It's Yukimura-buchou, okay! Are you happy now?", Niou yelled at him. Marui was stunned, which wasn't an unusual occurrence lately. "But… you… he… love… Sanada… Yagyuu… huh… WHAT!"

Marui's mouth opened and closed again, but he didn't say a word. Niou Masaharu, his best friend, although he could shout him sometimes, was in love with their captain. He could have said anything else and he wouldn't be as shocked.

"Oh, you've got yourself a big problem here. How are you going to win over his heart? It's not like your efforts have done the trick". Marui looked at him questionally. Somehow he couldn't help but feel a little bit sorry for him. Fuji wouldn't be easy for him, because he hardly knew him, but Yukimura could be a lot more difficult, because he did knew him so well. Besides that he never showed any interest in Niou other than his abilities on the court.

"I know that I have a problem. It's just that I haven't found a way to tackle it yet. But I'm sure that I will get my prize in the end". Niou wanted to sound confident, but he failed miserably. Why didn't things for once work out fine, he couldn't stand to go through a heartache again.

Marui could hear the desperation in his voice and see the tears that threatened to overflow his eyes. He went and kneeled in front of him. With the tip of his sleeve he wiped away his tears. Niou didn't look up, but kept staring at the ground. Suddenly he felt strong arms wrap themselves around him and embrace him in a firm hug.

"Just like you said you're sorry for making me angry, I'm sorry for not understanding what you're going through and practically saying you were stupid".

To make him feel more at ease he started rubbing small circles on his back. Slowly but surely he felt Niou calm down. That was as calm as Niou could get (you and I both know he will never be totally calm, with his hunt for new pranks).

"I promised you earlier that we could help each other to get the ones we want. If you're up to it to help me succeed, I dedicate my genius skills to help you get the man of your dreams". Marui looked quite pleased with himself. He was certain that his genius instincts would get him through these events.

"There is no need for you to look so smug", Niou grinned. "If it were so easy, we both would already be settled and all this drama would never have happened".

Marui's face held a thoughtful look. "Hey, I guess for once you are right."

"For once? Don't make me remind you that I'm always right". Niou started pinching Marui's sides in a way that made him squirm with laughter. "Alright, alright, stop it. You always right. The 'great' Niou Masaharu is always right. Just stop the pinching already". Niou looked approvingly and stopped his tickling.

"So… are we friend again?", Niou looked hopeful in Marui's direction. "Yeah, I think we might as well be friends again. Besides, you know I can never stay angry at you forever, you always start to bribe me back with some pie".

"Guys, we are going to the hospital to see Syuusuke. If you want to tag along you need to come right now". The women who had send them into the garden to talk it out was standing in the doorway, waiting for their answer.

"We are coming right away Fuji-san. I only have to grab my stuff from the bedroom". With that said Marui sprinted passed her up on the stairs to get his bag.

"Is he always that wild and bipolar?", Fuji-san asked Niou who had been a little bit slower to cross the lawn. "I'm afraid so. He is even worse when he's on a sugar high. Luckily that doesn't happen too often. Only once a week, I think. Otherwise he's pretty much like this", Niou told her. He saw her face pale a little. "You don't need to worry about him, as long as I'm around, he won't do anything stupid".

Suddenly they heard a loud bumping noise and a few moments later they saw Marui sliding of the stairs on his ass, with his bag close behind him. At the bottom of the stairs he came to a stop and rubbed a hand over his sore buttocks. His face was a bit pained.

"Okay, I take back what I just said", Niou sighed. "He could kill himself, even if there were a whole group of paramedics to save him". He walked towards Marui to help him up on his feet again. "You never learn, do you? If you don't watch out, you will get yourself killed in one of these days".

"I'm sorry, just exited", Marui muttered.

"Come on you guys, let's not linger any longer". The women ushered them out of the house and in the direction of a bark blue car. "Take your seats and let's get going". With that said they headed off to the hospital. Marui was excited to be able to see Fuji again, but also worried for the things he would find. He after all had no idea how bad it was. But something inside him told him that he would find out soon.

AN: I hope you liked it. And one word of advice, never try sliding of the stairs like Marui did, not even by accident. It hurst a lot. I've been there and speak from experience.

R&R