Chapter Nine – A Little Trouble
Miyako shifted a little, tightening the hold she had around the pillow at her side.
A small sound startled her. It was familiar to a voice, but unfamiliar in its use. It was Tezuka. Then she remembered; they'd been sitting there talking when she'd fallen asleep. But that meant…
She slowly opened her eyes and bit back the gasp. Then there was a sharp and loud sound coming from somewhere else in the house. And then a familiar voice calling her name. Tezuka stirred and Miyako sat up. "Dad?..." She muttered, still groggy from sleep. She turned over and looked at the clock on his nightstand. She groaned. "It's so late, why did he come?"
"The rain's stopped." Tezuka replied righting his glasses.
Miyako grumbled, slapping a hand to her forehead. "He's such an idiot."
Tezuka chuckled and climbed out of the bed, detangling his feet from the bunched up blankets. "You should get your uniform and change – I don't think he'll favour you being in my clothes."
"He'll live." Miyako said, following close behind him. "He's never going to live this down." She said, taking his hand as they reached the front door. "Play along." She whispered.
Tezuka released her hand. "He probably hates me enough already." He suggested and opened the door.
"Dad, what are you doing?" Miyako asked instantly.
Naoko reached out and grabbed her arm. "Come on, we're going home."
"Fine, but you won't drag me." Miyako stated angrily, pulling her arm free. "Besides I need to collect my things."
"Hang on, are you wearing his clothes?" Naoko demanded.
"Would you be quiet, his parents are sleeping?" Miyako hissed, stepping up the ledge to the hallway. "I need to get my uniform."
Tezuka stopped her. "Let me get it." He suggested then breathed. "Don't leave me alone with him."
Miyako giggled as Tezuka fled down the hallway. Then she turned on her Father. "You're horrible. It's nearly half past eleven at night. Are you crazy?" She hissed, picking up her bags and socks and slipped her shoes on her bare feet.
"You said if the rain stopped before midnight then I could come and get you."
Miyako glared at him. "That was an example. Half past eleven is still late."
Naoko shifted his feet nervously. "I just wanted to have you home. I didn't know what to think when I found out the guy was special to you."
Miyako rolled her eyes to disguise her blush. "He's just a very good friend Dad. If something was happening then you'd know before now." She explained, looking away.
Tezuka returned with a full plastic bag in hand. "It's still a little bit wet." He said, handing her the bag.
"Thanks, Tezuka." Miyako said. "I'm sorry about this. Dad's just a little paranoid about his little girl's safety, that's all."
Tezuka looked up at Naoko and bowed. "That's perfectly understandable." He then looked back to Miyako. "I'll see you at school on Monday?"
"Absolutely. We have to make up for all that time we missed out on last week." Miyako replied.
Tezuka smiled slightly. "I look forward to it then."
"Me too."
. : . : . : .
Miyako shut her bedroom door; grumbling and feeling tears fill her eyes and dribble down her cheeks.
"Miya – "
"Go. Away." Miyako stated angrily.
"Go to bed, Naoko. I'll talk to her." Tamie's voice carried through the door and Miyako sunk onto her bed, bringing her hands to her face. Her door slowly opened and then closed shut. "Miya…I tried to stop him."
"I know. I'm not upset because of that." Miyako said, wiping her eyes. "I'm more than a little bit disappointed." She admitted.
"Disappointed? Did something happen while you were with Tezuka-kun?" Tamie asked, sitting on the bed beside her.
"I fell asleep with him…on his bed. I'm glad that Dad didn't see that." She laughed a little. "He'd have broken a bone in his skull if that were the case."
"You fell asleep huh?"
"Yeah…but….Mum, he said that he couldn't bear a moment without me around – but then he totally contradicted what he said by saying that he wasn't ready for anything and – ugh! I'm so confused." She growled, clutching her head. "But then I said that I understood. I didn't even argue or complain. I should have Mum! Things might be so much different if I had."
"But then you both might have jumped into something that you didn't fully understand. Or for that matter, it might not last if you jump into it." Tamie said. "You haven't stopped being friends?"
"Of course not. If that had happened then I'd have begged you to come and get me hours ago." Miyako replied. "I think…I think that he's waiting until he feels ready – and though my heart aches right now I'll wait for him too. And when he asks me I won't refuse."
Tamie kissed her forehead. "Don't give up on him." She whispered. "I have a feeling about him; he's going to make you very happy."
. : . : . : .
"You know, 'tennis isn't about attractive guys', Miya." Kara quoted.
"Oh shut it." Miyako grumbled as she chewed on some sushi. "Quoting me isn't very fair."
"But come on, you have to tell me more about it~." Kara insisted. "Was it totally romantic?"
Miyako frowned. "Did you hear me? Nothing happened, except for my Dad coming to get me when I told him not to." She said angrily.
"So you don't plan to talk to him?" Kara asked.
"Not for a while. Just to teach him a lesson." Miyako replied.
"I know this has nothing to do with me but…don't hate him too much, okay?"
"I don't hate Dad. I'm just a little annoyed that he went against what I had said." Miyako said. She sighed. "I kind of wanted to stay with Tezuka longer. And besides: what if I do end up with Tezuka and Dad freaks out because we're five minutes late from a date."
"That would be a problem." Kara allowed.
"What's this I just heard?"
Miyako shrieked, leaping back and into the window beside her desk. "Momo-san!"
"Something about dating the Buchou, huh?"
Miyako slapped a hand over his mouth. "Shhhut up!" She hissed. "You perverted eavesdropper – what happens between Tezuka and I has nothing to do with you."
"Too bad Fuji-senpai already knows." Momo grinned wickedly.
"What?"
"I saw him this morning – think he should get in touch with a spy agency or something, he's very good at getting clues." Momo said, walking off.
Miyako grumbled pathetically as she leaned her head down on her desk. "That's so embarrassing."
"If everyone knew about it things would be much worse." Kara pointed out.
"What do you mean?"
"You won't believe what people have already been saying. No one would come directly to you though – it's a whole lot of gossip really. Did you really give Tezuka-senpai a necklace or something at the tournament?"
Miyako flushed. "They were dog-tags. To wish him good-luck." She explained.
"Oh…I thought they were only rumours." Kara said thoughtfully. "That takes a lot of guts."
"Not really." Miyako contradicted. "Everyone thinks that he's scary but he's actually rather kind."
"I'll take your word for it."
Miyako laughed lightly. "I don't expect you to believe me." She sighed. "But the more embarrassing thing that I have to do now is – I have to give his clothes back."
. : . : . : .
She stepped onto the half court, his presence not yet there.
She toyed with her racquet a little and the prepared to serve when someone cleared their throat.
Miyako turned in surprise – the only voice she'd expected was that of Tezuka. Six girls stood behind her. Two of them she recognised from her classes, but the others were certainly third years. She noticed that they were all in the Girl's Regulars uniform. "Can I help you?" Miyako asked.
"I'm Anne Harris. You're not in the tennis club, are you?" The golden haired third year asked, her short hair tied back into two low ponytails. Miyako knew instantly that she was from overseas. A name didn't change the fact that her pronunciation was a little off and her American accent showed through.
Miyako motioned to her lack of official tennis uniform. "Obviously. But I'm not interested if that's why you're here."
"No, it's not. Why were you on the courts at the tournament?"
"Kikuchi-sensei asked me to take care of the team's water bottles – I had to stay by the esky at all times." Miyako replied.
"People who aren't on the tennis club shouldn't be on the court, let alone interact with the Captain like you have been." Anne explained. "He's not even in your league."
"What does 'league' have to do with any of this?" Miyako demanded.
"Harris."
A giggly gasp chorus passed over the five girls around Anne. "Captain." Anne greeted as Tezuka walked up beside Miyako. "Congratulations again for winning the tournament."
"Why aren't you and your team over on the tennis courts?" Tezuka asked impatiently, flipping his racquet over in the air and catching it. "The girls need guidance and order."
"Don't the boys need it too?"
"Oishi has the capabilities to take charge. Oishi is the Vice Captain, if you'll remember correctly." Tezuka stated. "Miyako, begin the lesson by running fifteen laps, your step was a little sluggish on Saturday."
Miyako nodded. "Yes, Tezuka." She said, putting her racquet and ball down by the side of the court as she began her laps.
"Messing around with Miyako is a needless act and if I see you over here with less than helpful intentions then I'll inform your coach."
Anne's eyelids lowered seductively. "You drive a hard bargain, Tezuka-kun."
. : . : . : .
"Uh oh, Harris-san is at it again." Eiji said, catching the other Regular's attention.
Tezuka looked over from informing Oishi of what he wanted the club to do that afternoon and he frowned. The protective side of him raised its head angrily. "Oishi?"
"Tezuka?"
"Set them up with some common intensity training – give the club a break from the intense training from last week." Tezuka instructed.
"Right."
Tezuka had grown incredibly annoyed with Anne Harris. She'd found it necessary to intimidate any female who dared speak to him – even young Sakuno Ryuzaki wasn't left alone. But for her to approach Miyako was taking it too far.
He grabbed his racquet from the fence and made his way over to the half courts.
"This doesn't look good." Eiji fretted, watching as Miyako began her laps.
Tezuka turned back to Anne to talk to her, but Fuji could see that something in Anne's actions were a little different.
"We need to inform Miyako-chan." Fuji stated, running off the court. "Let's run some laps." He suggested, pointing to Eiji, motioning him to follow and running over to the half courts.
"Why are we running laps voluntarily?" Eiji complained after being pushed out of the courts by Momo.
She couldn't concentrate on running, her eyes kept finding them, standing on the half court. Anne was standing too close to Tezuka, her half lidded eyes and too short skirt bothering her to no end. She grumbled to herself and knew that the girl was putting on an act to drive her mad – so she turned her eyes down to her feet and concentrated on not falling flat on her face.
"Miyako-chan~."
Miyako looked up from her running feet as Fuji appeared beside her. "Fuji-senpai?"
"Hi Miyako-chan." Fuji greeted. "Is something bothering you?"
Miyako's eyes trailed back to the girl who was now even closer to Tezuka – who was unfazed and only staring angrily at her. "Nothing."
"This is a normal occurrence, Miyako-chan." Fuji explained as Eiji arrived on Miyako's other side. "I wouldn't be worried by it."
"Yeah, Harris-san is a little more than obsessed with our Captain." Eiji added. "And because she's the Captain of the Girl's squad she feels entitled as well." He sighed. "It's a little sad really."
"She's an annoyance that Tezuka's been trying to get rid of for some time now." Fuji explained. "And it doesn't help that she's in most of our classes as well."
Miyako sighed, understanding the situation. "Do you think that…?"
"Don't go over there." Fuji interjected. "It'd only make things worse for you."
"You should have heard what she said to Sakuno-chan~!" Eiji exclaimed. "It was horrible. Ryoma was pretty mad – and Tezuka too. Sakuno-chan was only bringing the Captain a note from Ryoma and Harris-san saw it and at a lunch break just about tore Sakuno-chan apart. You know how shy and gentle she is."
"That's horrible." Miyako said.
"When Tezuka found out he went to the Girl's Squad coach to complain and Harris-san was suspended from club activities for two weeks and missed a girl's tournament." Fuji replied.
"When was this?" Miyako asked.
"About three weeks ago." Eiji replied.
"Tezuka was pleased that she got this punishment. He was very insulted that someone would do such a thing to a first year – not to mention one that had a boyfriend already." Fuji explained. "And he's confronted Harris-san several times in the past about her backing off – but she's just too obsessed."
"Why hasn't she come to me yet?" Miyako asked. "Tezuka's been spending every afternoon with me for weeks now."
"Well, to be honest, she'd backed off for a while, especially after Christmas Break – she even had a boyfriend. We only know because she was boasting about it in class for weeks." Eiji replied.
"But I found out that she was paying him." Fuji laughed brightly. "I couldn't believe that she'd go that far to try and make Tezuka jealous. Either way she broke up with that guy when it clearly wasn't working."
Miyako frowned. "But then…what if…"
"That's why Tezuka won't make anything official with you yet. He wants to make sure that Harris-san won't do anything to you." Fuji explained.
"He's what?" Eiji asked. "You mean, he and – " He looked at Miyako. "You?"
Miyako flushed, looking to the path ahead of her. "When he asks me." She replied. "But I'm glad that he told me the truth, kind of. I need to – "
Fuji and Eiji grabbed her arms and kept her running when she tried to enter the half courts.
"Syusuke. Eiji."
All three turned to see that Tezuka was looking at them, a slightly perplexed look on his face. "Yes?" Eiji and Fuji asked.
"Get back to the courts to get instructions from Oishi – leave Miyako to run on her own."
"I've nearly finished my laps, Tezuka." Miyako said, smiling. And then she noticed it for the first time. He had the dog-tags on around his neck. The silver chain showed from under the collar of his jersey and shirt and it gleamed slightly in the sun.
"How many have you done?" Tezuka asked, ignoring the fact that Anne was still trying to regain his attention.
"Nearly nine."
"Run one more and you may start with a racquet." Tezuka instructed.
Miyako nodded, shook herself free from Fuji and Eiji and began her last lap.
Tezuka walked over to the gate and in a low voice said. "Thank you."
Fuji and Eiji smiled, gave him a thumbs up and ran back to the main courts.
Tezuka then turned to the Girl Squad Regulars. "Get off the court. Now." He said, glaring darkly.
The other five girls were gone instantly after being addressed like that. Anne however, didn't budge. Standing with her arms crossed over.
Tezuka sighed exasperatedly. "I have and will never have any kind of romantic feelings for you. The only feelings, if any, are those of contempt and annoyance. And if I so much as see or hear that you have troubled Miyako then so help me I will have you expelled."
"Expelled? That's a little excessive, isn't it?" Anne asked, whining innocently.
"You seem to think that I am unaware of what happened after Christmas Break. I know that you payed that poor bastard to pretend to date you."
"What? That was a rumour." Anne insisted.
Tezuka sighed, glaring at her again. "You're one of the lowest beings I've ever encountered."
Anne scrunched her nose up. "That's a little mean."
"And I meant every word."
"Tezuka?"
Tezuka turned, surprised that Miyako had already returned. She'd picked up her racquet and was swaying it by her side aimlessly.
"Is there anything you want me to start off with?" Miyako asked.
"Start a rally." Tezuka replied, offering a gaze of apology to her as he spoke. "I'll be with you in a moment."
"Yeah, wasn't this lesson supposed to be private? Or is there something that you're not telling me?" Miyako giggled brightly.
"There are several things I've yet to tell you, Miya." Tezuka replied, smiling a little himself as he turned back to Anne. "Now. For the very last time: leave. Do not make me organise a meeting with your coach."
Anne hissed through her teeth angrily as she walked off.
Miyako watched her from the corner of her eye, and she cringed slightly as Anne slammed the gate shut. "She's got a right temper on her." She whispered.
Tezuka sighed deeply, pulling his glasses off for a moment to press the bridge of his nose. "What a nightmare." He muttered.
"Are you okay, Tezuka?" Miyako asked.
"I'm sorry." Tezuka replied as he placed his glasses back on. "I never wanted you to interact with her. She's a snake that crawls around the earth with no mercy."
"Just like Kaidou-san?"
Tezuka chuckled. "He's tamed."
Miyako burst into laughter. "You're so funny, Tezuka~!"
Tezuka smiled. "I've been told so once or twice. Now – oh. There was something that Kikuchi-sensei wanted me to ask you. He wants you to see him in his office once your lesson with me is done."
"Oh? What about?"
Tezuka hid his smile. "I'm not sure."