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Learning to Land	By : Suteishichic Category: Prince of Tennis/Tennis no Ohjisama > General Views: 11419 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis (Tennis no Ohjisama), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Learning to Land. Chapter Thirty One ~Ohtori~

Warnings: Yaoi, Love, Angst, Fluff, and Lots of Sex. Some kink. You've been warned ;)

Disclaimer: Nope not mine. Still in my dreams. ;)

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Ohtori didn't want to pressure Shishido-san so he just kept doing little strokes the entire first week and responded whenever Shishido-san was nice back to him. It was going well because Shishido-san was nice to him often. Ohtori replaced the bottles of water that Shishido-san kept offering him at night when they were done going over what he had to learn.

One morning Ohtori heard a noise and a whispered curse as he dressed in his room. He looked out to see Shishido-san bending down and his coffee beans spilled everywhere. He knew better than to try to help or be anywhere near Shishido-san when he had dropped something and was angry. Especially before he had any coffee. Ohtori looked for a moment at the small beauty mark Shishido-san had on the back of his neck as his drying hair fell forward. Ohtori had several times thought of pressing his lips to that spot. Then he blushed and quickly hurried back into his room before Shishido-san could ever see him.

As he listened though he heard a noise so he looked out again. Shishido-san was angrily throwing the dropped beans away. Ohtori looked, half hidden by his doorway, as Shishido-san tossed even the ones still in the bag and in the grinder away too. Taki-san had warned Ohtori a few days ago to not mess with Shishido-san's coffee. Ever. Apparently Taki-san had learned this the hard way and Shishido-san had been furious. The beans were expensive Taki-san said and Ohtori knew without anyone telling him they were given to him by Atobe-san. Ohtori was convinced they were no longer together and he wondered if Shishido-san had been trying to make the beans last because it was a way of holding on. So Ohtori was surprised when he saw him throw them away. Surprised and happy. Gakuto had said though that Shishido-san and his family didn't have a lot of money. Maybe that was why he didn't replace them. As they went to leave for practice Shishido-san threw Ohtori an annoyed flash of a look. As if for some reason he blamed Ohtori.

Ohtori tried to think of what he possibly could have done. Maybe it wasn't his fault about the beans spilling but maybe it was something else. Maybe something no one bothered to tell him was wrong. If he did something wrong then Ohtori could see Shishido-san standing up for him. Even to Atobe-san. Could that be why Shishido-san and Atobe-san weren't together? Did they break up because Shishido-san was Ohtori's sponsor? Was Ohtori to blame somehow? Ohtori wasn't sure and didn't want Shishido-san to be angry at him so on his way home, he stopped at an expensive grocery store the really rich kids who went to his school loved and asked the guy to recommend the best coffee they had. The guy asked what country, kind, and flavor. Ohtori had no idea but then he remembered the smell of the shampoo Shishido-san used that made his hair smell so good. So Ohtori bought the vanilla one and thought to himself on the way home how Takeo used a vanilla shampoo but his hair always smelled clean and a little bit sweet. Shishido-san's smelled very different, very sexy and his hair looked like it would be so soft to touch. Ohtori put the bag on Shishido-san's shelf and hoped he was happy.

Apparently this was the wrong thing to do. Shishido-san put them back on Ohtori's shelf as if he was still angry. The next morning while Shishido-san was in the shower, Ohtori came out and made the coffee for him. He had no idea how and had to read the bag for directions and first figure out the grinder. He thought if Shishido-san could maybe just try it then maybe he would like it and maybe wouldn't be angry at Ohtori anymore. To make the point that it was for him, Ohtori poured it into Shishido-san's mug. Ohtori went to dress and really, really hoped he liked it.

When Ohtori came out of the shower and saw Shishido-san was in his room with his door closed. Ohtori saw Shishido-san's mug empty, not washed, sitting in the sink, and the coffee was spilled all over the sink like it had been poured out. His heart sank and Ohtori began to wash things up. Taki-san whispered to him as if Ohtori was taking his life in his hands just touching Shishido-san's mug, "What are you doing?"

He whispered back, "I think its my fault Shishido-san spilled his coffee beans. I bought him more and made it but I don't think he drank it. Maybe he didn't like it. I don't know. I think he's mad at me."

Taki-san whispered back, "He didn't drink it. I saw him. He dumped the whole thing down the sink."

"oh." Ohtori's heart sank even further. Shishido-san didn't even try it. He must be really angry.

"Don't worry about it Ohtori. He's just like that. He's a jerk. Leave him alone. Just let it go." Taki-whispered back.

Ohtori couldn't let it go though. He tried again the second morning and found it too was poured down the sink. He resolved to make this right between them. Shishido-san hadn't said anything to him about it but Ohtori still felt terrible about it. Ohtori avoided him so he didn't make him any angrier and decided he would keep trying until Shishido-san forgave him. The third day, Ohtori made and poured it again and as he did he kept thinking, Please drink it, please really like it, please Shishido-san, please...

Ohtori then made sure he was in his room when Shishido-san stepped out of the shower. He heard Taki-san say good morning to Shishido-san. Ohtori peeked out at Shishido-san over by the coffee. He decided that if Shishido-san poured it out again, Ohtori would go to him and apologize for whatever it was he did wrong. He would even offer to buy Shishido-san the same beans he had dropped. Anything. Ohtori's heart pounded and Shishido-san's back was to him. His arm looked like he went to pick up the mug. Either he would raise it to his mouth or he would pour it out again. Ohtori couldn't breathe as he waited. Shishido-san took a step back. He didn't move the other way to the sink. Ohtori quickly hid behind his doorway again and he heard Shishido-san's door close. Ohtori waited until he counted to ten to look again. The mug was gone! Ohtori dashed to the kitchen. There was no coffee poured down the sink. Shishido-san must have drank some and taken the mug to his room! Shishido-san must have liked it! Ohtori smiled and had to keep himself from laughing out loud he was so happy.

Ohtori had been off the pills by then and he could almost feel his head clearing a little more every day. That first night he went into the bathroom and lied to Taki-san after, his senpai must have said something to Atobe-san. That doctor the next day called Ohtori at home and told Ohtori he could try stopping the pills if they were bothering his stomach but he should call the doctor if he had any side effects. Headaches, getting easily upset, trembling hands, if he had anything, then he should let the doctor know. Ohtori had been thrilled to throw the bottles away even though his stomach felt fine. He had no real side effects other than he was not able to fall asleep easy but he had always been uneasy in an unfamiliar bed so it might be that. The night Shishido-san had drank the coffee, Ohtori decided it was time to see how things were and if Shishido-san was still mad at him.

Ohtori decided to go out by the couch when Shishido-san was up at night and talk to him. He waited until he was certain Taki-san was deeply asleep. So asleep he didn't ask Ohtori where he was going for a change. Shishido-san gave Ohtori the perfect thing to talk about as he went over a things with Ohtori earlier. He offered Ohtori his history notes after he heard Ohtori say to someone else at lunch they had the same dry dull teacher. Ohtori leapt at the chance for his notes, curious if during the long dull class Shishido-san doodled or just wrote in that same careful elegant square way throughout. It was only later that Ohtori thought their teachers were a great and safe subject for him to bring up. Ohtori went to the washroom and washed his hands and brushed his teeth. He planned on stopping by Shishido-san on his way back just to make sure he wasn't out on the couch asleep.

He wasn't. "Hey." Ohtori said.

"Hey." Shishido-san said.

Ohtori looked at the television. "Any good?"

Shishido-san shrugged but moved down a bit so Ohtori could sit. "Not much on." He said as if it annoyed him.

Ohtori watched the screen for exactly two minutes. Then he turned to Shishido-san. "Who'd you have for English last year?"

Shishido-san made a face and Ohtori knew before he said it. "Imoo. You have him too?" Ohtori nodded and made a face. "He's okay as long as you don't have to sit in the first row...you sit in the first row...in the afternoon?" Shishido-san laughed and Ohtori laughed with him. Imoo-sensei had a strange and terrible body odor that got progressively worse as the day wore on. "How can you stand it?"

"I can't." Ohtori laughed, "A girl who sits next to me has this perfume stick and we rub it under our noses before class starts. Otherwise I would be gagging. The first day, I didn't know her and she didn't have it and we were both like..." Ohtori made a face that he would have previously only made to Takeo to show him how fetid and cloying the insidious odor was.

Shishido-san laughed. Genuinely laughed. Ohtori felt great for making him laugh. Then Shishido-san said, "I sat in the last row and a few times in warmer weather I almost was sick. I have notes from his class too if you want them." He paused, "You know, if yours smell too bad?" The joke was the stench ate the paper. Shishido-san smiled and then his smiled faded. "They say its a natural thing with him and that he's always been like that. I can't imagine..." Shishido-san shook his head as if in wonder.

"I know, I heard! I feel so bad for him too. Why doesn't he try cologne? A lot of cologne? Or a shower at lunch? Or something?" Ohtori had always wondered about it. He thought maybe the guy did try it once but now no longer cared. But he did smell less in the morning so a shower at lunch was sure to help him.

Shishido-san looked at Ohtori as if he was astonished, "You feel bad for Imoo-sensei?" Shishido-san looked at him thoughtfully, "You know some people have switched out of his class because they couldn't take it. Some even said they were allergic to his smell."

Ohtori said without thinking, "Of course I feel bad. I mean, he isn't the nicest guy but people have probably been mean to him his whole life." Ohtori smiled, "He's actually a good teacher when you can't smell him. The perfume stick works."

Shishido-san looked curious, "What's it smell like?"

"Really strong. After I smell that and put it under my nose, I can't smell anything else for hours."

"Who do you have for math?" Shishido-san asked him. Ohtori spent the next hour talking with Shishido-san about teachers. Shishido-san talked about the people he had this year, some of whom Ohtori might have the next year, and then they both talked about teachers they used to have. Funny ones, smart ones, silly ones. Ohtori got to make Shishido-san laugh a few more times. A couple of times, Shishido-san even made Ohtori laugh too. Ohtori told the last funny story about his mean old teacher in his last school who they drove crazy hiding his things everyday. The guy would step out of class at the same time every day and they would hide his keys on a high shelf, his books they would mix in with his others, and his bag they would move to a new spot every day so he had to look for it. They never broke anything or threw anything away, they just moved things so much that the guy thought he was losing his mind. True, Takeo did it but Shishido-san laughed so Ohtori felt good. It was a funny story.

Ohtori saw Shishido-san wanted to talk more but Ohtori knew, like when you started stroking a fostered cat, that you had to pull a little back so they don't feel too close to you too soon. If they did, they would panic and avoid you. You have to leave them wanting more and curious. They laughed over Ohtori's story for a while and he looked at the clock. He gasped a little not realizing that more than an hour had passed. It was easy and fun talking to Shishido-san. "Its late. I have to get to sleep." Ohtori stood and decided to give him another little stroke, "This was fun, Shishido-san."

"Yeah." Shishido-san smiled his warm smile as if he agreed. "Good night." He said still smiling it.

"Good night Shishido-san." Ohtori went to sleep smiling.

The next morning Shishido-san drank the coffee Ohtori made and that night, Shishido-san talked a little with Ohtori while they were going over his induction work but he kept most of it on a serious level. Shishido-san took his responsibility very seriously but he was even warmer to Ohtori than he had been before. Ohtori had a hard time that night resisting going out to talk to him. He had thought about several things during the day he wanted to tell Shishido-san but he held back not wanting to scare him away when he had gained so much ground.

It was Taki-san that seemed to want to talk. He seemed jealous of Shishido-san but Ohtori didn't think he should say anything until Taki-san said he liked Ohtori first. Otherwise, Taki-san could say Ohtori was mistaken and that would be really embarrassing and uncomfortable. Ohtori was tired from staying up the night before so he must have drifted off to sleep while Taki-san talked.

It was Ohtori's bed moving that woke him up. Taki-san was leaning close to him. Ohtori jumped away with a gasp. "What! You...startled me." He said to explain why he had jumped. His heart was pounding and he wanted Taki-san away from him.

"Sorry," Taki-san said. "I don't have my contacts in and you just stopped talking. I was just making sure you're all right."

"Fine. I just fell asleep. Sorry. I'm tired. Good night Taki-san." Ohtori rolled over with his back to him. Taki-san was still sitting there. He pulled Ohtori's blanket up. Ohtori had to resist the urge to throw it off him. He also had to resist the sudden urge he had to go out to Shishido-san. Taki-san rubbed Ohtori's back through the blanket. Ohtori felt himself fill with tension and stop breathing. His back stiffened up but nothing else on him did. "Taki-san...?" Ohtori asked and he heard the anger in his own voice.

"You seem tense Ohtori, are you tense?"

He was now. Like a taught wire but he said, "No. I'm not tense."

"Are you sore? From practice?"

Yes. "No. I'm not sore. All I am Taki-san is tired. I want to go to sleep. Good night." Ohtori was too worried to even turn to look at him because he had a feeling that if he turned, Taki-san would kiss him.

"Okay. Good night." Taki-san said but did not move. Ohtori said nothing and about a minute stretched out. Finally Taki-san moved away and Ohtori heard him lay down in his own bed. About five minutes later he got up and said, "I need to use the washroom."

Ohtori knew what he was going to do and said nothing. He decided if Taki-san came back and sat on his bed again that he would get up and maybe ask Shishido-san if Ohtori could sleep in his bed. Maybe. He could just say Taki-san snored or something. Or maybe he should go out on the couch. Ohtori lay there and wrapped his blankets around him closer. He asked Takeo for help because he felt so tired. A short time later Taki-san entered the room and closed their door. Ohtori heard him standing there and tried to keep his breathing even and slow how he did sometimes when he would know Takeo was awake and Ohtori didn't want to have to get up yet.

He must have convinced Taki-san that he was sleeping too because he heard him get into his own bed and sigh as if he was annoyed. After a long while Ohtori fell asleep.

He felt a tap and went to startle again but Takeo said, "Shh...its okay old man. Its just me, shift over."

Ohtori knew he was dreaming and hadn't dreamt Takeo like this for a long time. Maybe because of the pills and getting off them helped. "I miss you." Ohtori said.

"I miss you too, but you know I've stayed with you right?"

Ohtori in his dream nodded and was almost crying. "Its been really hard Tak. I don't have anyone to talk over things with."

Takeo smiled and put his arms around Ohtori. "You can tell me. I'm here. I'm listening. Its going to be okay old man. I promise." He kissed Ohtori's forehead a few times and held him while he cried a little.

"I can't tell you." Ohtori whispered to him. "You always used to get so mad when I try to tell you stuff like this."

"Its okay. You can tell me. I won't get jealous anymore. And I'm sorry about the coffee. That was my fault, not yours, but I'm not really jealous anymore. I really do want you to be happy, Chou." Takeo held him closer. "You can talk to me about anything. Even other people." Takeo paused as if waiting for Ohtori to say something. Ohtori still didn't feel like he could. "He likes you by the way. You're plan is working very well. Its very smart of you to foster your senpai." Takeo sounded like he was grinning. Ohtori smiled slightly and blushed at someone knowing what he was up to. "The other one I don't like or trust."

"Fox." Ohtori whispered. Takeo didn't hear him, "He's a fox. You're a dog. You two instinctively don't like one another. He's okay, he just likes me. I'll talk to him when he says something or tries something else. Maybe I should have let him kiss me and then I..."

"No." Takeo said surprising Ohtori. "No, you can't let anyone else kiss you. I'm not being jealous its just the second person you kiss is the right person for you. That's what I came to tell you. That's how you'll know. So watch who you kiss. Okay old man?" Takeo grinned, "But you can kiss me, I don't count." Takeo kissed Ohtori's lips and Ohtori kissed him automatically back, but then he moved away and started crying.

Ohtori said, "I can't...I don't...It's too hard...I..."

Takeo held him close and made shushing noises. "I'm sorry its been so hard on you old man. I'm so sorry. You know if I could do anything about it I would right?"

Ohtori nodded. "I'm sorry too Tak, I'm so sorry..."

"Hey old man, you have nothing to be sorry for. You have the hard part. Not me. And you're doing okay. You're fine. I love you Choutarou." Takeo held him close and kissed his forehead. "So, no kissing, but is it okay if I hold you while you sleep?" Ohtori nodded. He wanted that. "You won't be upset in the morning again?" Ohtori shook his head no. He didn't need to say anything because it was Takeo and it was his dream and everything felt safe and warm and good. "All right, I'll stay with you then."

Ohtori relaxed in his arms and started to drift deeper into sleep. Then Takeo said, "By the way, I'm annoyed at you." Ohtori looked at him. "You forgot the best part of the story. When I kept putting your sister's tampons and things like that into the teacher's bag and he had no idea how they got there. I don't even think he knew what they were. Remember he showed them to another teacher and asked what some things were. She was so mad that he asked her. That was the best part. He really thought he was going crazy then!" Ohtori smiled and then laughed a little remembering. He did want to talk more with Takeo but sleep dragged at him like an anchor pulling him down and away.

"I'm so tired Tak."

"Then go to sleep old man. Just sleep."

Ohtori did.

He woke up in the morning and looked for Takeo out of habit. He remembered then of course he wasn't there. He was gone, it was only a dream. A nice dream, but still just a dream. He looked over at the clock and then Taki-san's bed. It was empty. Ohtori got up. Shishido-san's door was closed and there was no music or anything coming from inside so he must have gone to sleep eventually. Ohtori made him coffee and went to wake him by knocking on his door when he heard the shower water stop.

Ohtori had some notes to gather for school and he could shower last. He didn't mind but Shishido-san seemed to hate being last one in. Taki-san soon came in the room. "Hey." He said and waited for Ohtori to turn. "Sorry about last night."

Ohtori decided to be brave about it. "I just don't like that Taki-san."

Taki-san looked wary. "You don't like what? Guys? Or...me?"

He looked a little crushed so Ohtori said, "I do like you Taki-san, but just as a friend. Not anything else. You've been a good friend and a very good roommate and I don't want that to change but that's all I want to be."

Taki-san said, "Gakuto told you about Sato." He sounded totally dejected.

"Gakuto told me a lot of things about a lot of people but most of it seemed like gossip." Ohtori shrugged.

Taki-san said, "Did he tell you anything about himself?" Ohtori shook his head no. "Sato cheated on me with Gakuto. When I found out, Sato said that he was only using Gakuto for sex but he still cheated on me. And not just once or twice but for pretty much the entire time we were together. Gakuto knew we were together, he just didn't care. He and I used to be best friends and were close the entire time he was going behind my back with my then boyfriend. I lost my friend and my boyfriend. Its been hard to get over and yeah, I kind of like you. You're the first person I've been interested in since this happened, but most of all Ohtori, I don't want to lose you as a friend."

Ohtori said, "You haven't. You won't. I do like you, but just as a friend. Okay?" Ohtori held out his hand for him to shake. Taki-san did. "You've been a really good friend to me Taki-san, if you ever want to talk about anything..."

"Thanks Ohtori. You're really not angry?"

Ohtori shook his head, "No."

Taki-san smiled a little, "Hey, you want to go for dinner later? There's a good noodle shop nearby."

"Sure, Taki-san." Ohtori didn't but couldn't say no because that would be rejecting him as a friend. "I just have to be back in time to practice with Hiyoshi." Taki-san agreed. Ohtori felt good having set things right.

After dinner with Taki-san, Ohtori went to meet Hiyoshi as he usually did. He was running late but he figured Hiyoshi would understand. He had in the past. Ohtori couldn't find him anywhere and the lights on the courts were off which was strange. Usually Hiyoshi was there already moving and was waiting for him. Ohtori got out his cell phone and called him. He heard his phone ring from nearby. He had to be near. "Hiyoshi?" He called out and turned on the lights to start warming up. Ohtori couldn't believe what he saw. Someone was laying half naked on the court covered in blood.

He only knew it was Hiyoshi from his tennis shoes. Ohtori dropped his things, cursed, and ran to him, "Hiyoshi? Hey Hiyoshi?" Ohtori was afraid to move him in case he hurt him worse.

Hiyoshi groaned and then startled as if he was going to fight. He grinned when he recognized Ohtori and his split lip bled more. One of his eyes was swollen shut and his nose seemed to be swollen. "Sorry, Ohtori. I'm gonna have to take a raincheck on playing tonight. Something came up." He laughed as if it was funny until he coughed and couldn't catch his breath. Ohtori helped him sit up and helped him much like he used to help Takeo. Hiyoshi finally got his breathing back and spat out blood. "Don't worry, its not all my blood. Most of its theirs. I gave better than I got." He said proudly as if daring Ohtori to dispute this.

Ohtori swore. "Don't talk. Hold on. I'm going to go get you help..." Hiyoshi suddenly gripped Ohtori's shirt as if he wouldn't let him go. He didn't want to be alone. Hiyoshi was afraid and Ohtori figured it was because the coyote was hurt too bad to fight again if whoever did this came back. That scared Ohtori more than anything. Ohtori had dropped his phone back with his bag so reached for Hiyoshi's bag and dug around for his phone. He called home because it was the only number Ohtori knew off the top of his head. Shishido-san answered, "Shishido-san, we need help. Hiyoshi's hurt. Bad. We're at the south courts..."

"Stay there. I'll get help. What happened..."

"He's really beat up. I think he needs an ambulance. Hurry." Ohtori interrupted. This was more than the school nurse or Atobe-san's doctor could patch up.

Shishido-san paused. "I understand. We'll be right there." He hung up.

Hiyoshi slurred, "'Tori?" He looked like he was going to fall asleep. Ohtori knew not to let him.

Ohtori took his hand and noticed most of his knuckles were split and bruised. Hiyoshi had not gone down without a fight. "Hey. Stay with me. Don't go to sleep. I'm here Hiyoshi. I'll stay with you. They're coming."

Within a few minutes Shishido-san arrived looking shocked. Then right after Atobe-san and Kabaji-san were there too. Taki-san came a few minutes later and was winded as if he ran the entire way. Ohtori realized Shishido-san must have called Atobe-san. Atobe-san took control immediately. He made a few cell phone calls after asking a groggy Hiyoshi what happened even though he didn't get any more answers than Ohtori did. Atobe-san told Hiyoshi he would be all right and walked a little away to talk on the phone. He told Kabaji-san to watch for the ambulance and send it over when it arrived. Ohtori stayed with Hiyoshi and kept him calm and awake. Hiyoshi when lucid was more angry than upset though.

As the ambulance people checked out Hiyoshi, Atobe-san took Ohtori aside. "Ohtori, see if you can get him to tell you exactly what happened. Any details. How many guys did this. Anything they said." Ohtori nodded. Atobe-san looked away disgusted for a moment. "Do you think he'll drop out of the tennis club?" He asked.

Ohtori was confused. "Because of this? Never. Atobe-san, he said he gave as good as he got. His hands are all split and bruised from hitting whoever did this back. Hiyoshi is extremely tough. A survivor." He was a coyote. "There had to be just too many of them and they had to be really strong to take him down." They stopped to watch the ambulance guys load a groaning and cursing Hiyoshi into the ambulance. Atobe-san told them they would meet them at the hospital.

Atobe-san nodded at Ohtori, "You'll come to the hospital with us and see if he talks more after they treat him. If anyone asks you what happened Ohtori, tell them all you know is he was beat up. That is all you know all, right? You found him like this? You saw nothing?"

"Yes, Atobe-san. He was laying there with the court lights out when I arrived. No one else was around."

"Good. Let's go. Shishido, Kabaji, you're with us. Taki, take care of their things." Taki-san did not look happy about that and opened his mouth. Before he could say one word Atobe-san took two steps to Taki-san and whispered harshly something in his ear. Taki-san's eyes widened and he said something back and nodded.

Atobe-san snapped his fingers and said, "Let's go."

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Learning to Land