Chapter 18

Night at Tsubaki's

"I'm so happy!" Koizumi shouted out the bus window as it started to drive away from the beach.

"Calm yourself!" Ryuzaki-sensei scolded from the front of the bus.

"Sorry sensei. I'm just really happy."

A few people chuckled at Koizumi's happiness. It had been four days after Tezuka and Yukimura's match. They had never gotten to finish it, but they promised each other that they would finish the match the next time they had time to see each other. Practically everyone except Tsubaki understood why they were having a match against each other. He obviously knew about the kiss. Everyone was angry at Oishi for telling Tezuka. He had guiltily admitted that he had told him, but Tezuka had not yet given a punishment to anyone, and not only that, but he hadn't even asked how Oishi knew. He just took Oishi's word, but then again, everyone took Oishi's word since he was so trustworthy. So trustworthy in fact that it made Kumiko want to puke.

Kumiko had been put on parole by Oishi. He had been following her around and telling her to do good things for the rest of the training trip. She had been so angry she was almost thinking about punching him, but when she tried, Oishi would just stop her and give her a lecture about hurting people, so she learned her lesson the first time she tried.

'I guess I am turning into a civil person,' Kumiko thought. 'Not that I want to, Oishi is going to annoy me to death with his lectures if I'm not civil. So it's either be civil, or die and listen to his lectures forever. I have to watch out for myself though, I'm already turning like him!'

Kumiko sat at a window seat with Faye right beside her. They decided to sit together because Kumiko didn't want to sit with Oishi, and Faye didn't want to sit with Fuji. Fuji would sit with Faye just to annoy her and Oishi would sit with Kumiko to make her behave.

"So . . ." Koizumi started to say with a sly look, "are we still up for your house tonight, Tsubaki?"

"Up for your house?" all of the guys asked.

"Yeah, we're all going to be spending the night at Tsubaki's tonight. We all decided that on the day we come back, all of the girls will be going to Tsubaki's so we can stay there for the night."

"Jealous?" Ayumi asked wagging her eyebrows at Tezuka.

Tezuka's eye twitched very slightly, but everyone was able to notice that little piece of movement. He didn't reply to the question and just turned away when everyone was looking at him. He coughed and continued to stare out the window.

"I love Tsubaki's place!" Aine announced.

"I know!" Saori replied. "Especially with the things and because you know."

"I do! It's so awesome because of that and everything!"

The guys stared at the two girls with confused looks on their faces. They didn't know what the two were talking about since they seemed to be talking in a code.

"What are you talking about?" Eiji ventured to ask.

"Oh it's nothing," Saori and Aine replied at the same time quickly. A little too quickly and Inui took note of that. He wanted to find out what was going on.

The girls were talking about Tsubaki's place all the way back to Tokyo.

"I want to see what it's like!" Eiji piped up once they were almost back at the school.

"Well you can't," Koizumi said. "I doubt Tsubaki would let you guys stay over since she doesn't really know you. Plus, how can we trust you? You guys are . . . well . . . guys!"

"So?"

"Urgh! Never mind!"

The girls tried to ignore the guys the rest of the way back to Tokyo. They were all too excited about going to Tsubaki's house to really care. They were practically bouncing in their seats. The guys got more and more curious as the girls got more excited. They wanted more than anything to go and check out Tsubaki's house. It must have been really something to make the girls get all peppy over it. As soon as they all reached the school, the girls waved their quick good byes and quickly started walking with Tsubaki to her house.

"I wonder what's at her house," Inui wondered.

"I want to know too!" Momo agreed.

"Let's go then," Fuji suggested.

"What? We can't do that! They're girls, and it would be inappropriate to go and sleep at a girl's house," Oishi said looking appalled.

"Oishi is right," Tezukia grunted. "It would be impolite of us to go to Tsubaki's without any warning."

"Tsubaki?" all of the guys shouted.

"Yes . . ." Tezuka had a confused look on his face.

"Oh come on Tezuka-buchou," Eiji said while slinging his hand over Tezuka's shoulders. "We all know you have a crush on Tsubaki-san, and that you want to go and see."

"Yeah," Fuji said. "You even called her name without a suffix!"

Tezuka was silent as he realized what he had just done.

"So let's go!" Eiji shouted.

"I don't know . . ." Takashi admitted.

"Who cares!" Momo shouted. The guys dragged away all of the guys who didn't want to go. They followed silently behind the girls who didn't even notice because they were talking and laughing so loudly.

"Why is it that Tsubaki lives all the way down here?" Oishi asked with a concerned face. The were nearing a rich district, but it wasn't rich in a good way, the whole area was notorious for having yakuza clans spread throughout the whole district.

"Maybe she's yakuza," Eiji suggested.

Everyone contained their laughter at the impossibility of the idea (even though it wasn't impossible). Only Inui took great note of what Eiji said. He wrote it in his notebook and kept a closer eye on Tsubaki. Tezuka noticed that Inui was watching Tsubaki closely and he felt as if he had to interfere. He put a hand on Inui's shoulder and gave him a look. Inui only replied with a look of his own saying, "I know you like her and that's why you're doing this." Of course, that wasn't said out loud, but it was implied in the look.

Inui turned back away from Tezuka and started to take in the district. Almost everywhere they went, the managers or owners of a business would bow and greet Tsubaki in the most polite way. She would casually wave and say a hello back.

"What's going on?" Momo demanded.

"I don't really know," Inui replied. "It seems as if Tsubaki is very well known in this area of Tokyo."

"What does it mean?" Eiji questioned.

"We'll find out."

"Urgh."

The guys continued to follow the girls until they got to a gigantic old, Japanese style house. They hid behind the fence as they saw about a dozen people lined up on either side of the walkway. As soon as Tsubaki waked past, the bowed and said "Ojou-sama".

"Why are they calling her a rich, young lady?" Momo whispered.

"Fsssshhhh," Kaido said. "Idiot, maybe because she is a rich young lady."

"You're the stupid idiot Viper!" Momo said while his voice started to rise.

"Sssssshhhh!" Everyone scolded as they tried to watch.

The girls walked in and the dozen or so people did too. They looked tough as if they were body guards rather than house keepers or anything else.

Tezuka didn't say anything, but he didn't try to make everyone leave either. He just silently watched.

Soon they heard the girls talking loudly from a side of the house and they all sneaked over to that side. There was a window at the room, and there was a thin white curtain over it. The guys could still see the girls' silhouettes through the curtain. They could also hear the voices coming through the curtains.

"I love your house Tsubaki!" Koizumi shouted. "I mean, it's so awesome, and that's why you're my best friend."

A breathy laugh came out through the open window, and Tsubaki said, "I thought that there were more reasons to why we're best friends, Koizumi."

"Well, that's one of the reasons. Ha ha."

"Well what's the other?" Ayumi asked.

"For one, she has like the awesomest bodyguards in the world! I mean, were they not funny when they were following us and the guys the day before we went on the trip? They're so protective of Tsubaki. Did you beat up Suzuki and Yano, Tsubaki?"

"I did," Tsubaki replied. "They know better than to be so obvious about it. If anyone knew about my family business . . ."

"I don't even see why you need bodyguards. You're more than capable enough to take care of yourself. I mean, if you can beat up Suzuki and Yano, then you can definitely fend off rapists and well . . . Yukimura!"

The girls all burst out laughing. The only voice that wasn't heard was Tsubaki.

"I knew I shouldn't have told you if you were all to act like this," Tsubaki said.

"I'm sorry Tsubaki," Koizumi said. "It's just that you and him . . . I didn't even know it was possible for him to have a crush on anybody."

"Yeah, it was really weird," everyone else agreed.

Outside, you could see Tezuka's hands grinding in the dirt subconsciously even though his face was emotionless as ever.

"Are you going to be with him, Tsubaki?" Aine's voice wafted through the open window and all of the guys froze.

"I . . . I don't know," Tsubaki replied. "I don't like him like that, but I don't want to lose him as a friend. I just . . . I just wish he never did that in the first place."

"You and Tezuka sure are getting close though," Miki pointed out.

"Yes, that's true."

Silence permeated the room as the girls waited for Tsubaki to say something. They looked at her expectantly and some ever cleared their throats.

"Well . . . ?" Koizumi prompted.

"We're friends too," Tsubaki replied.

"Do you like him more than Yukimura?" Ayumi thought to ask.

"In fact . . ." Tsubaki paused. "I do, but we're still just friends." Outside, Tezuka allowed himself a small smile.

"Urgh!" The girls groaned because Tsubaki wasn't getting what they were asking her.

"Let's take the spotlight off of Tsubaki for a moment . . ." Kumiko said with a laugh. You could practically see her evil smile through the curtain. "I say we should be asking Ayumi, Miki, and Aine what's up with their significant others. Hehe."

"What? What significant other?" Miki and Aine asked.

"You know, Momoshiro-san and Takashi-san."

Both Momoshiro and Takashi scooted closer to the window because they wanted to hear what was going on. Momo had an eager look on his face since he still had a thing for Aine, but Takashi felt a bit embarrassed that he was spying on Miki who was his friend.

"Well, Taka-san and I are just friends," Miki admitted.

"Really?" Kumiko asked. "Then why do you call him by his nickname? Plus, you spend way too much time with him! You're even nice to him."

"Didn't you hear me? It's because we're friends. Close friends."

"Exactly, close! You know that's not suppose to be how it is!" Kumiko was referring to the war that was still going on between the two teams.

"Well yeah I know that, but I just can't do that with Taka-san."

"Fine whatever." Kumiko gave out a cute huff of anger and her silhouette was shown laying back down on the pillows that were on the ground. "What about you Aine?"

"Huh?" Aine looked up from braiding her hair. She was too busy doing that to notice what direction the conversation was going in.

"What about you and Momo-san?"

"Oh, there's nothing between us," Aine answered truthfully.

"Then how come you're so nice to him?"

"I'm nice to everyone though."

"Well do you like him?"

"I like everybody." Aine smiled, not getting that Kumiko wanted to know if she had a crush on Momo.

"That's not what I meant . . ."

"Well what did you mean?"

"Ugh! Whatever!"

"Calm down," Ayumi joked.

"Don't be talking!" Kumiko shouted back. "You're the one dating that data man!"

"You already know why." There was a bit of venom in Ayumi's voice.

"Jeez. Gosh, no need to be like that. No need to defend your lover. I get it."

Everyone laughed at Kumiko's bad attitude, but Oishi was scolding her silently outside. He determined that he would have to train her more to be a good person.

"So," Koizumi started to say, "when are you going to take over, Tsubaki?"

"Take over as the head of my clan?" Tsubaki asked.

"Yeah!"

"Well, I'll become head of the Oto clan when my dad retires from that position. It'll probably be when I'm twenty-eight or so."

Koizumi whistled. "Wow, Oguri Tsubaki is going to be the head of the Oto Clan even though her last name is Oguri and not Oto, but her grandfather's last name is Oto."

Outside, the boys tried to suppress their surprise. Tezuka seemed shocked, and the others just stared at the window with wide eyes. Tsubaki! The head of a Yakuza clan! But before the boys could get out of their paralysis, they were all yanked away by someone unknown and thrown into a room. They were thrown into Tsubaki's living room, and they were all on the floor right at Tsubaki's grandfather's feet.

"Oto-sama!" the two people who captured the boys said. It was Yano and Suzuki. "We found these boys outside of Tsubaki-sama's room! We recognize them, they are the boys' tennis team at Seigaku where Tsubaki-sama goes."

Oto-sama held up a hand to silence them and then asked, "What were you boys doing outside of my granddaughter's room?"

"We just wanted to know what was up with them! Honest!" Eiji blurted out.

"Well, you just found out that my granddaughter is a part of the Oto Clan."

"Now we have to silence you for Tsubaki-sama's sake!" Suzuki and Yano shouted.

"Sir," Tezuka said, "we meant no harm to your granddaughter. I'm one of her friends. I would never betray her like that."

"How would I know?" Oto-sama said. He got up and started pacing. "I know who you are child. You're Tezuka Kunimitsu, grandson of Tezuka Kuni'ichi who is friends with Sanada Gen'emon. They are old friends and were on the police force together, which must mean that you have a great sense of justice and duty. Your grandfather taught you that didn't he? Surely, you know what we Yakuza are and do. So you will tell your grandfather about my granddaughter being the next head of the clan, and then she'll get kicked out of school and branded as a bad child. I don't want that for her, therefore, I don't trust you."

"I would never do something like that to her," Tezuka humbly said.

"You don't know that for sure," Oto-sama replied.

"You have to trust me. Your granddaughter is worth more to me than justice or duty."

The guys stared at Tezuka in shock at what he just admitted, and Yano and Suzuki were fuming about it behind their backs.

Oto-sama sighed and called Tsubaki and her friends out. As soon as the girls saw the guys they froze in their tracks and Tsubaki said in a surprised voice, "Tezuka!" The girls all shifted their gaze towards Tsubaki because she didnt' use a suffix with Tezuka's name.

"Tsubaki," Tezuka said back.

"What's going on?"

"They found out," Oto-sama said. "They heard your conversation outside of your window."

"What are you going to do to them?"

"What do you want me to do? This Tezuka friend of yours is the grandson of a retired police leader at the station. He'll surely tell, he said he wouldn't, but how can I trust him when it comes to my beautiful and delicate granddaughter?"

The girls and guys snickered when he called Tsubaki delicate.

"I trust him," Tsubaki stated causing an almost invisible blush to come to Tezuka's cheeks. He quickly retained his calm composure though.

"Fine, I believe you," Oto-sama sighed. "But if they tell anyone of this, then we'll have to silence them somehow."

All of the guys gulped wondering how they would be "silenced".

Oto-sama turned to the guys and said, "If any of you are to tell, I will make sure your lives will be hell for the next 100 years."

"Yes sir," they all complied.

"Now leave!"

The boys scrambled up and headed for the door, the girls followed.

"So now you know," Koizumi said while leaning against the wall outside.

"This was your secret," Fuji said.

"It was," Faye admitted. "We all wanted Tsubaki to stay in school, so we kept the secret for her because we wanted to help her."

"Don't worry, Tsubaki-san," Tezuka said. "I'll make sure no one on this team ever tells. If they do, they'll have a harsh punishment."

"I knew I could trust you," Tsubaki admitted.

"Of course." They quickly shook hands and the guys walked away.

As soon as the boys were out of sight, the girls all groaned.

"Now what are we going to do?" Koizumi asked the sky.

A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in so long. It's just that school has been keeping me busy and making me sick at the same time. I miss updating though! I miss fanfiction. Hopefully things will get better since tomorrow is my birthday!

Anyways, go to the website if you want to learn more about my characters, and don't forget to review! I love reviews. :) They make me happy! And they make my heart sing! Yay! Haha, anyways, please review. For me? :) I'll give you a virtual cookie.