A/N: I'm so sorry for the late update. My finals are coming up. But I'm trying really hard to present you with amazing chapters. Please forgive me if it's not up to its usual standard. Please R&R!

Chapter-10

Asuna ran around the courts holding a bag of sweets as Marui chased her. Jackal ran after the both of them so they would stop goofing around and start practice.

Yukimura, Sanada, Niou, Yagyuu and Renji stood outside the courts watching them. None of them in a hurry to start practice. Apparently, what Asuna had shared with Yukimura, was shared with the rest of them. Without her knowledge of course. She wouldn't want anyone's pity. And telling the others in front of her, would make her feel exactly that.

Renji felt guilty for the way he had acted. It must have terrified her so much. Being locked up all day, having all her hair chopped off, getting cut in the process. Yet he pushed her to tell her darkest secret without waiting to consider what she was dealing with.

All he could think about was his selfish needs and unnecessary jealousy. He should've trusted her more. He should've known she would never betray Rikkai. She even apologized to him for acting up whereas it was only normal for her to do so. He sighed. She needs more time before he could make any move.

DDDDDDDDDD

Fuji spent his entire day in a daze. He'd been in this state since last night. His evening with Asuna had not been at all what he had thought it'd be. He had no idea that she had to deal with something so horrible and he couldn't do anything about it.

Needless to say, he'd told Tezuka all the details and he could tell that Tezuka too had thought it was disturbing.

He couldn't forget the way she'd showed him her scar. Her face was so sad. She looked so broken.

"Why'd you cut all your hair off? Did you want to move on that badly?"

Asuna smiled in an odd manner and moved her hair to one side. That is the first he'd seen that disturbingly long scar along her neck. It wasn't there before.

"Don't pretend like you don't know a thing" she seethed.

"Don't act like you don't know how your fan girls tied and locked me up in some closet all day then chopped my hair off without lights."

Fuji only stared. "What?!"

"Don't. Okay? You think it is okay for you to mess with anyone to any extent. But this time you've crossed the line."

"Asuna," he wasn't sure what to say. He had no idea. "Asuna please tell me what really happened. Believe me I didn't know a thing."

Asuna assessed the man in front of her. He really did seem like he didn't know. She sighed.

"Well, it happened a week before I left Seigaku…"

He snapped out of his trance to see Oishi looking at him with concern.

"Fuji are you okay? I've been calling you but you just didn't seem to listen."

Fuji shook his head and smiled weakly. Suddenly everything looked so dull and hopeless. He wondered if things would ever go back to normal.

"Uh Fuji, Yukimura is outside. He's looking for you." Oishi scratched the back of his neck nervously.

Fuji only nodded and headed out.

DDDDDDDDDD

Yukimura, Renji and Niou stood near the tennis courts of Seigaku. They had hurriedly finished practice to come to Tokyo. Now they waited for Fuji to come.

Soon they saw Fuji and Tezuka coming towards them and guessed that Tezuka too was aware of the situation.

Surprisingly, today the tensai did not have that infuriating smile on his face. Even Tezuka seemed to be a bit nervous.

"I'm guessing you know why we're here." Yukimura jumped straight to the point.

Both the Seigaku players nodded.

"Good. I will say this once and only once Fuji." Yukimura's voice was levelled. But only barely.

"Stay the hell away from Asuna. We don't want her to come to any harm because of you or your dumb fan girls."

"If you don't" Niou's eyes blazed. "Then God help you and those girls."

They turned to leave, but Fuji's voice stopped them.

"Renji," he called. Said data master looked over his shoulder to hear the tensai out.

"I know you like her." Fuji's cerulean eyes narrowed.

Renji opened his eyes and turned to face him fully. Was he that obvious?

"Don't think threatening me would make things easier for you. I'm not backing down without a fight."

Without missing a beat, Renji replied, "I'm not giving up either. Unlike you, she means a lot to me and I want to keep her safe. You're just upset we care about her and she likes being with us more. You don't really like her."

Fuji's jaw clenched and Tezuka was starting to get worried.

"Who are you to say if my feelings for Asuna are genuine or not. Even I could say the same for you. You haven't even known her for that long."

"Yes, I admit I know very little of her. But I'm willing to get to know her better. But at least my feelings don't include tormenting her and making her life a living hell."

Fuji didn't have an answer to that. He only clenched his fists in anger.

"I refuse to pity Asuna. She has my respect and she'll have it no matter what. I am not afraid to lose. Not to you at least, but I am scared of losing her. I'll give everything to win her over. You won't have it easy Fuji." Renji turned and left with his friends.

Fuji stood there with Tezuka as they walked away. Tezuka patted his shoulder and went back to the club room.

I won't give up. Not that easily Renji.