Due is circumstances Hazumi has me hounding me to change the end of the chapter so that the original ending that we had planned would pan out. So this chapter and the chapter after it will be rewritten. It is being done right now! If you read this chapter all you have to do is skip to the end where it was revised. Thanks for your patience!
Hazumi: That part about hounding her is such a lie!
Kizuka: (rolls eyes) Really now? Who would believe you?
Hazumi: Obviously Fuji, Kaoru, Malcolm…(continues with more names of random people)
Kizuka: Right….On to the chapter!
I don't know how long I sat there thinking. An hour, maybe two hours, hell maybe even three hours but it sure as hell wasn't enough to get my thoughts completely straight. I had an inkling about what I was supposed to do but the thought of rejection always fills my heart.
With a heavy sigh I get up and walk over to the courts where we are playing Hyotei. I make sure to sit in the back of the stands, distancing myself for a little more 'Me' time. It only took about a few seconds for something retarded, but still relative, to pop into my head.
To Love or not to Love? That is the question.
A really hard question. 'I really should stop reading Shakespeare for a while.'
While pondering the said question I find myself stealing glances at my ex-boyfriend. Honestly I admit that I love the aggravating bastard but it still hurts. I guess it's because I'm scared. Past experience has taught me that.
That's another story for another time.
The matches have been set up, and due to emotional instability, so says the old bag lady, I am unable to play. It is fine by me. I need the rest anyway.
All the matches last relatively long. The girls have improved greatly since we first met and I'm proud of the. It's all thanks to their dedication and hard work. And my training regiment, of course.
I clap as Nami wins her singles match against some girl whose name is obviously unimportant. It is so unimportant that I zone out and completely don't see Fuji come up to me from the right.
"What's on your mind Kizu-chan?" asks the Tensai player out of nowhere causing me to jump at least 5 feet in the air. I place a hand over my heart to calm its quick palpitations before I have a heart attack. I'm clearly too young to die.
Yes, I'm 14, get over it.
"Fuji-nii, the hell! You scared the crap out of me." I scold, he just gives me an 'I-know-cuz-my-ninja skillz-rock' smirk. Shaking off the after shock I tune into what his initial question was and how I should word my answer.
"Well…" I start, trying to find my words but he sees my trouble.
"Look, I know it's hard, on both of you, but you have to understand that it's not about just you and Tezuka anymore. If you haven't notice most of the couples that surround us have been split because of this…this feud." Now consciously aware I observe everyone and true to his word none of the couples are together, like usual. I sigh feeling ashamed.
"Gomenasi. I didn't mean for that to happen." He rubs my back sympathetically.
"We know." Breaks in Hazumi, sitting on the other side of me. I lay my head on her shoulder and for once in our best friend relationship, she allows me to do so without complaint.
"He loves you, ya know." I sit up and look at both of them suspiciously.
"What? How do you know this?" Hazumi shrugs and Fuji gives a smile that sends cold shivers up and down my spin.
"That's for us to know and you to accept and confess to him. We're practically family and it's being ripped apart by the biggest…bimbo of the school." Hazumi grins as I look at her as if she were an alien.
"Bimbo?"
"It was the only censored word I could think of." Fuji and I shake our heads at her answer but it did put a sincere smile on my face. I initiate a three way hug and they return it whole heartedly.
"Thanks guys. You truly are my besties."
After a minute Hazumi pulls away and stands.
"Yeah, that's enough affection for one day. Syusuke let's go. I think she needs to figure out a way to confess to mister stick-up-my-ass." She says. Fuji nods and gets up to follow her. I shake my head.
'It's a wonder we get along so well.'
It's a no brainer that our girls ended up winning. They were, after all, trained by the best. Now it is time for the boys to play and I am anxious. I'm so anxious that I can't watch. In a rush I pull the two closet people and run out of there. When I know we are far enough away I stop for a rest.
"Buchou? Why did you drag us away?" Asks one of my prisoners. I turn to see Yukiko and Meeky-chan (Umeko).
I just realized something.
That's the first time I've heard Yukiko speak.
I must have a weird look on my face because they ask me if I'm ok. Coming back down to earth I nod.
"Yeah, it's just this is the first time I've heard Yukiko-san speak." I say in awe. Yukiko nods with a smile, but still noticeable smile.
"I don't like to talk much."
'I can tell.'
"Well, to explain things, I'm taking advantage of your company until I deem it time to return to the courts." I huff before going into a pose thinking of what we should do.
Sadly we only walk around for about an hour watching other school's matches and commenting on the players. I'm not too into it, my mind obviously on other things. After a while I decide that this was a big mistake in the first place at that I should suck it up. Mentally smacking myself a few times I suggest that we should head back to the courts. The girls nod and follow with much complaint. They were dragged here in the first place.
As we got back to the courts I realize that we have arrived at the worst possible time. Atobe and Kunimitsu are about to battle it out. The Hyotei crowd is in a frenzy and the Seigaku crowd look they are lost at what to do. I growl at the thought that Hyotei would even think they are better than us. Quickly, I swipe the flag from Momo, a headband from one of the underclassmen, and take a place high in the stands.
"You think you bastards are better than us, well then think again! Tezuka you better play your ass off. I may be mad at you but that doesn't mean we can't be civil! WIN! WIN! FIGHT-O! FIGHT-O!" My enthusiasm is probably what set off the biggest and loudest chain reaction I have ever seen. All the Seigaku students are cheering so loud and hard that I just shut up and waved the flag.
I look at Kunimitsu to see an emotion in his eyes that I really miss. I grin and nod as if telling him that everything will play out like it's supposed to and to play his hardest for the team. He nods back with a small smile and gears up to start the play for the next point.
-20 Minutes Later-
This is the most irritating match I have had to watch in my entire life. Even through the irritation I am beginning to become worried for Kunimitsu's well-being. I mean they are evenly matched, well until Atobe pulled off an unexpected move.
'Asshole! He knows!'
I can't believe I didn't realize he would do this sooner. Of course he would try to make this a long drawn out match knowing that Kunimitsu is injured. And I don't think having me cheering for the one I supposedly hate is a good thing for his ego anyway. I growl causing the surrounding spectators to look in my direction.
"Kizu-nee, what's wrong?" Questions Eiji while watching me bite my nails in anticipation and eyes narrowed in a fierce glare. I don't answer too focused on the game.
'Kunimitsu.'
"You sense it too, Kizu-chan?" asks Fuji letting me know that I wasn't the only one who knew what was going on. I nod in reply.
"Ah, and it's not going to be pretty."
"What is Atobe talking about? What's wrong with Buchou?" inquires Kaidoh curiously. Everyone except Inui, Me, Fuji, and possibly Ryoma are confused about the situation. If I had known this would happened then….
"We have to stop the match."
"We can't. You of all people know how stubborn he is."
"Chikuso!"
"Kizuka calm down! Your unnecessary worrying is getting on my nerves and you need to have a little more faith in your future husband. I mean he is the Captain." Assures Hazumi in her own way. I nod in agreement totally disregarding her 'future husband' statement.
"Game Seigaku's Tezuka; 6-5" The cheering starts up again as Kunimitsu makes a comeback. I want to join in but my awareness of his well-being is at an all time high.
'I still think this won't turn in our favor.' I think as Atobe begins the 2nd half with his Rondo to Destruction.
"Kizu-nee! Look, Buchou used the Tezuka-zone!" shouts Momo in excitement.
"And that's not all…." Adds Oishi.
"Zero-Shiki Drop Shot." I finish, my mood lighting considerably.
"Kunimitsu! Just three more points and…." My words faded as I caught the slightest of muscles spasms from his left shoulder. My mind goes numb as I knew the outcome of the match.
"He won't win." I mutter softly to myself. Now I don't dare to watch the rest to see everyone in a state of panic. I want to cry and the event hasn't even happened yet.
I watch as he throws the ball in the air for the serve and I can't keep all the emotions bottled up anymore.
"Yamete kudasai Tezuka! Don't take the shot!!" [Yup that's whole thing means 'stop'.] I yell but it is too late. We all watch in shock and horror as the stern captain falls in agony to the ground holding his shoulder as if in slow motion. It is a delayed reaction as all the Seigaku Regulars hop the wall and run over to their captain.
"Tezuka!"
"Buchou!"
"Don't come!" he attempts to stand, "The match hasn't ended yet!" everyone freezes in their spot in shock. He walks past them and to the bench sitting next to Chibi-chan as if the event were an everyday occurrence. I have the urge to smack the living daylights out of him but decide against it.
"Kizuka, come here for a moment." Commands Ryuzaki. I comply without retaliation, which is unusual of me, grab my bag, hop the wall and make my way toward them.
"Can you assess the situation and let me know if he can continue to play?" she asks calmly and goes to talk to the ref. I immediately get to work placing my bag down and gather the courage to ask the dreaded question.
"Can you remove the shirt from your left arm?" He stares at me for a second to see if I am kidding but the obvious pink tint of my cheeks and avoidance of eye contact told him different.
With a little help from me he is able to remove the left side of his shirt. I immediately set to work with the examination of his shoulder muscles trying my hardest not to blush uncontrollably.
'The muscles are extremely strained. Anymore activity and he won't be able to play with his left arm anymore.' I think sadly and try to relay the message through eye contact. I think he got the message because he turned his head and his glasses gained that glare.
"I knew you we're gonna do something stupid."
"Can I finish the match?"
"Just barely." I answer applying a little pressure to the muscle. Tezuka winces.
"I guess it's a good thing I stopped you from using it earlier. You never would have even made it this far."
"Oh..so you're glad I didn't hit Shouji?" Tezuka growls, then mumbles, "I knew it."
I have to hold back from further injuring him, but then again I'm not Hazumi. Even the purple haired freak wouldn't be that mean.
"Watch it. I was doing it for you. Just like I'm doing this for you."
"Whatever."
I roll my eyes. "Just lay off the left arm."
Without saying anything Tezuka gets up and walks away from me.
"Are you gonna listen?" Still no response.
'Screw you then." I think to myself as he grips the racket in his left fist. Even though he still seems to hate me, I can't help but worry.
After checking that he could continue the game we told Ryuzaki and the ref. I pack up my things and walk toward the wall but I am stopped by Hazumi.
"Are you ok?"
"Just fix it." I mumble down hearted looking towards him.