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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 Two ~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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A few hours later, Shishido-san and Ohtori returned home. Ohtori felt shell-shocked and fatigued but knew he would not be able to sleep for hours. Shishido-san at the hospital had bought Ohtori tea and himself coffee so Ohtori figured he would be awake as well. When they walked in, Taki-san was still up waiting for news. "What happened?"

Shishido-san answered before Ohtori could. "He said it was four guys. He's got a broken nose, two cracked ribs, and a concussion. He's one hell of a tough kid. Most of the blood on him wasn't even his."

Taki-san said quietly, "So did they...?" Ohtori knew what he meant.They all had seen that Hiyoshi only had half a shirt on and his pants were also nearly torn off.

"No." Shishido-san said. "They probably would have but they really picked the wrong kid. He must have beat the hell out of them. He's a tiger."

"No. A coyote." Ohtori said quietly. "He's a coyote." Shishido-san looked at him and cocked his head at him like a puppy would sometimes do if it heard a new sound or a person it never had before and was carefully considering the new experience.

He held the look for a moment and then looked at Ohtori up and down. "Go on and shower. All right? I'll tell Taki the rest."

Ohtori shrugged in agreement, left them talking, and went to go shower. He did have blood on his clothes and himself from Hiyoshi and he felt gross. He knew Hiyoshi would be all right but still it was upsetting. Ohtori had talked to him for a while at the hospital and pretty much all Hiyoshi said he remembered was that they kept telling him if he didn't quit the tennis club they would be back. They also knew Hiyoshi by name, turned the lights out just before at least two big guys grabbed him, and they left before the time Ohtori was supposed to arrive. Ohtori wasn't sure why it had happened. He felt guilty because maybe if he had showed up earlier, maybe if the two of them were fighting they could have defeated the guys. Because of Takeo's mouth and tendency to lie, Ohtori had gotten into fights in the past, usually to back Takeo up. Ohtori didn't like to fight but could if he had to. He was really angry that Taki-san had kept him at dinner so long that he was late. He wished he had arrived earlier and felt terribly guilty about it.

The doctors were keeping Hiyoshi overnight because of his concussion but he would be able to go back to school the next day although he would have to take it easy in his room. He would have to sit out the rest of the weeks classes, was supposed to rest, and he couldn't play tennis for a while at least until his ribs healed. Ohtori knew Hiyoshi was most upset about the last part. Not playing tennis would be hell on Hiyoshi.

Then Ohtori thought about what homework he had to do. He would have to get to it tomorrow. He just wasn't up to doing it tonight. Thinking about his own homework reminded him about Hiyoshi being out the rest of the week. Ohtori decided he would help Hiyoshi by bringing his homework for him and helping make sure his friend stayed caught up with that and the class notes. Maybe Ohtori could bring him his food too. Just in case he should probably stick around Hiyoshi for a while to make sure he wasn't still a target. He could call him right after morning classes and see if he needed anything.

Hiyoshi had a tendency to put people off because he was so strong and so quiet. Ohtori knew several of their teammates were intimidated by Hiyoshi. He was talented. It was possible that someone felt jealous and saw a great opportunity. It was hard to think of someone doing that even at Hyoutei, but it could have happened that way. Ohtori could honestly see Hiyoshi not telling anyone who it was that attacked him and trying to handle his revenge himself. Ohtori needed to talk to him and wanted to remind him to be cautious. At the very least he could back Hiyoshi up this time and make sure while he was recovering, he wasn't easy prey.

Their school was supposed to be safe. There were many extra security measures because their school had so many elite students who were sons and daughters of wealthy, famous, and influential people. Ohtori had to recount for both the regular police and the campus security again and again that he was late, they always met there around that time, and that the lights were out so he didn't see anything. He didn't hear anything either. He wished he had. He wished again and again he had been there early because maybe he could have helped Hiyoshi and it would have been enough. Ohtori realized that by the questions Atobe-san asked, it meant something like this must have happened before. Which was why Atobe-san wanted to know how many guys it was, any specific details, and if Hiyoshi would drop out. Because it happened before. Ohtori considered that perhaps their school was too reliant on their state of the art security and had sadly grown too relaxed. Things like this should not be allowed to happen.

Ohtori wondered how many tennis club members had dropped out and how many had something like this happen. Or had things happen that were even worse because few could fight back like Hiyoshi must have. Was it jealousy among teammates? Would they do that to Hiyoshi because they were jealous? Had Hiyoshi just made a powerful enemy? Wouldn't they obviously be beat up badly in school the next day? Wouldn't they already know Hiyoshi was well trained in Kobujutsu? Why would they do this? Ohtori had more questions than answers. And it bothered him. He stood under the water for a long time trying to wash the images of a very badly beaten Hiyoshi out of his mind's eye.

When he came out of the shower he found Taki-san was in bed sound asleep. He must have taken a sleeping pill because he didn't even stir as Ohtori went in the room. Ohtori gathered his things for the next day and looked over what he had to do. He didn't do his work though, he just wasn't up to it. He also didn't really want to be alone so he went out to the couch where Shishido-san was watching television. He was sitting up and not laying down which was unusual because it was late. "You okay?" He asked Ohtori and looked concerned.

"Yes, thank you." Ohtori said looking down at his own hands that he had clenched into fists in frustration. He relaxed them. There was a long moment of silence that stretched on for a while. Ohtori didn't know what to say.

"Would you like some water with me?" Shishido-san asked.

"Please." Ohtori said. He was not thirsty and thought maybe Shishido-san wasn't either but it was becoming a little ritual. It was a way Shishido-san took care of him without saying anything.

"Here." Shishido-san held out a cold glass to him and sat back down sipping at his own.

Ohtori took a sip and watched him in the television before setting his glass down next to his on the table. "Thank you Shishido-san."

"I need to talk to you." Shishido-san said and then turned off the television. He had Ohtori's full attention. "You really wouldn't learn any of this until later in the year but when you're inducted, you take a binding oath. Its very similar to an oath you would take if you were pledging a fraternity or joining the free masons. The first coach of Hyoutei was a free mason so most of the ideas for the oath were probably inspired by him. We take it very seriously. We all do."

Shishido-san paused to look at Ohtori who was surprised to see Shishido-san who seemed so rebellious in his own way, even he very deeply believed in this. Ohtori then understood something more about him. Shishido-san swore to this oath and that meant a lot to him. Shishido-san meant it when he swore or promised to do something because even though he seemed rebellious, he was a good guy. Ohtori nodded that he understood and that he understood how serious this was. Shishido-san sighed. He was upset and Ohtori saw it clearly flash on his face. He paused a moment and then said, "The problem is Ohtori you can't take the oath yet. You haven't finished enough to be inducted and what's happened in the past when there was an incident that happens or is witnessed by someone who is not yet inducted, the person is asked to leave the school for the good of the team." He turned to look at Ohtori again.

Ohtori was...shocked. No. He would be asked to leave? This could not be happening. He couldn't even speak. He had nothing to do with this. None of this was actually his fault but just like that he was out. Gone. Tomorrow he would be forgotten as if he had never gone here. As if he never existed. No one would ever even speak his name. It would be as if he had never been there. No.

After a long moment, Shishido-san spoke, "There is one exception. It rarely ever happens. It has only happened a handful of times over the years. The last time, several years ago, it was two brothers a year apart in grade. The older one was inducted and the younger one wasn't yet. I don't know what happened or why but the younger brother would have been asked to leave. The older inducted brother swore on his oath for his younger brother and accepted the responsibilities and penalties if his younger brother failed in any way to uphold his brother's pledge." Shishido-san looked at him as if waiting for Ohtori to ask a question. Ohtori's mind was reeling and he didn't even know where to start. He didn't have an older inducted brother. He didn't have anyone.

Ohtori took a deep breath. He was not going to get upset or cry like a baby in front of Shishido-san. He had lived through worse than this. Heck, he was still living through worse than this. Ohtori wondered if that was why Taki took a sleeping pill so he wouldn't have to face him. He ignored how upset he felt, took another deep breath, and waited with his questions because it seemed like Shishido-san had more to say. He looked at Ohtori for a moment and then very seriously and gravely said, "Ohtori, if you want, I've offered to swear on my oath for you."

"Wh...what? Shishido-san...why?"

"Because I don't think its fair. I don't think its right. I want you to stay and because...I believe in you." Shishido-san shrugged and then tucked his hair behind one ear. "I believe you'll uphold my pledge. I don't think you'll let me down and..." He looked right into Ohtori's eyes and looked completely hard and serious, "...I don't think you'll let me get hurt."

"Hurt?" Shishido-san was clearly trying to say something but Ohtori could not believe it.

"The penalties for breaking your oath are...severe." And if Ohtori broke them, Shishido-san would pay. Physically pay and perhaps worse than just being asked to leave as if he had never existed. Gakuto told him Shishido-san's brother had dropped out of Hyoutei because he couldn't take the class divisions. It was hard for both of them never having money to begin to keep up with the other students let alone try to compete with them. It had been too hard on his brother. The final straw for his brother had been his brother dating a girl who dropped him as soon as she found out who his family was...or wasn't. It mattered so much to the girl she stopped speaking to his brother from one day to the next. His brother had left unable to handle the rejection on top of the exclusion he already felt. Shishido-san had tried to keep his brother there telling him in an argument several people had overheard that they had as much of a right to be there as anyone else. More even because they fought for their places and were not just handed them. In the end, the arguments added up to nothing and his brother had left. Gakuto had told Ohtori all about it and that Shishido-san had chosen to stay and fight alone. He was putting all that on the line for Ohtori. Shishido-san believed in him that much.

Ohtori already knew what he would say, "What do I have to do Shishido-san?"

Shishido-san smiled but it was a kind of angry smile that never reached his eyes. "Not much and I'm not supposed to tell you before you agree but I'm going to because I want you to know everything before you choose. All right?"

Ohtori nodded and Shishido-san continued after tucking his hair behind his other ear. He was not comfortable with what he was going to say next, "Atobe, the Captain, the Coach, and the elders feel the attack on Hiyoshi was to scare the other team members. Probably some guys from another school for either revenge or who want to weaken us. Hiyoshi was targeted because he is young and strong but they didn't know how strong. The idiots who attacked him had no idea he would fight back so hard. The elders and the Coach don't want anyone to know because it might make the other team members worry. They want time to look for whoever did this. You know how news here spreads. Especially bad news. If the attackers really go to school here, it should be easy to find them thanks to Hiyoshi beating the hell out of them. If they don't go here, then the elders will put more security in place and investigate further without scaring everyone. Hell, if this news got out the media would be down here and parents would pull their pampered little boys and girls out until it was again safe. If that happens, it will never get solved or resolved. So they need time. They've decided the story that is going to circulate, the one everyone will hear and gossip about, is that Hiyoshi got hurt while you two were practicing. I'm sorry. People will probably think of your serve and it will give you a tough reputation for a while, not that your serve doesn't already have one but still..."

Shishido-san looked upset for an instant and then shrugged. He didn't like it but there was nothing he could do. Ohtori nodded to show he understood probably what everyone would say. That he did this to Hiyoshi on purpose. There was some fight. Probably over a girl. Possibly his little sister that he barely had anything to do with. It would go on and on from there until Hiyoshi was back. "I'll help you all I can. We all will." Ohtori nodded. He knew Shishido-san would help him and that more than anything made him feel better.

"What they want you to do is to go along with the story. You don't really have to lie, just go along with it, and don't ever say what really happened. Not to anyone. Not ever. Not even to other people you think might know. Not even to other sub-regulars."

"The police?" Ohtori had to know how far this went suddenly. He was wondering who "they" all were.

Shishido-san shrugged. "They've already talked to you but if they ask again, you tell them the truth as you did."

"Hiyoshi?" Ohtori was suddenly worried he would be asked to leave for just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This was hardly Ohtori's fault but it really wasn't the victim's. That would be completely unfair. "What about...?"

Shishido-san smiled a little like he did when Ohtori did something good or gave him a right answer, "Hiyoshi's fine with it." Shishido-san gave a small smile. "It was his idea to say that he got hurt from your serve.Hiyoshi doesn't want anyone to know what happened anyway and really wants just to find the guys who jumped him and have another go at them. He is still on the team and is fine because he's unsponsored and doesn't know anything yet. He'll be watched but he's already agreed to the story that you were practicing and he was hurt during. He doesn't want anyone to know or worry. Atobe will reward him for his loyalty. He will probably be brought up to the sub-regulars soon and sponsored sooner. He'll probably be inducted with you."

Lying bothered Ohtori. It was something Takeo would have no problem with but Ohtori hated it. He thought of something, "The rumor about you is that you never lie, Shishido-san. That's what they say."

Shishido-san looked surprised now. He smiled slightly more but only with half of his mouth in a way he had, "That's what they say about me?" He thought about the question and then stopped smiling, "Really I don't like to, but I'd lie if I had to. To protect people, keep them safe, not let them worry about things they don't need to worry about. For the good of the team I would lie." He shrugged.

"What do you want me to do Shishido-san? What should I do?" Ohtori needed to know. He hated lying but he had been lying about Takeo this entire time. No one knew. Not telling the entire truth was lying.

He looked at Ohtori for a moment as if thinking about it. "Stay. Stay and don't let me down." Ohtori felt relief flooding through him and had a sudden stupid urge to throw his arms around Shishido-san and hug him. And maybe kiss him. Ohtori closed his eyes on the image and the urge and nodded to Shishido-san.

"All right. I will. I swear Shishido-san, I won't let you down." Ohtori said and then wondered out loud, "Do I need to do anything?"

Shishido-san smiled, "You just did. It'll be all right Ohtori. I'll take care of it from here. I'll call Atobe, tell him you agreed, and make sure the elders said its all right. Its an unusual request but Atobe thought he could push it through due to the circumstances and my oath as your sponsor."

"Thank you Shishido-san." Ohtori meant this from the bottom of his heart. Shishido-san was putting himself on the line for him because he believed in him. Ohtori was very touched and very thankful. It was incredible to him that a few weeks ago he would have jumped at the chance to leave Hyoutei and now staying felt like the most important thing in the world to him. "Can I wait?"

"You're not tired?" Ohtori shook his head no. There was no way he could sleep not knowing. "All right." Shishido-san stood up in a fluid motion and walked to their phone. He dialed and said hello. All Ohtori heard him say before he went into his room and shut his door was, "He's agreed. He understands. Yes, he generally knows what would happen. He won't. I understand. Yes, I do..." Ohtori could just barely hear him talking in his room and then he didn't hear anything so he must have been listening or whispering. Ohtori turned on the television but kept the sound muted off. He flipped through channels until he came to a late night monster movie Takeo liked. Ohtori never really liked them so he kept flipping through until he went around all the channels another four times. He settled for the monster movie because it was the only thing on.

Ohtori also thought about sipping water from Shishido-san's glass. It was the dumbest urge he knew. He dreaded thought that this all wouldn't work and he would still be asked to leave. Ohtori considered that he might never have the chance to ever do this again so he almost reached his hand out to do it. He stopped himself just barely and thought about how stupid he would feel if Shishido-san walked out of his room and saw him. After saying he believed in him Ohtori couldn't act so stupid. So instead he talked to Takeo in his head and asked him to maybe make sure everything was all right. That he could stay. That this was for the best.

Shishido-san must have stood behind him for a moment and Ohtori didn't hear him because he was so lost in his thoughts. He almost jumped out of his seat when he realized he was standing right behind him. Shishido-san walked over and hung up the phone to charge before walking back to the couch and sitting down with a sigh. He flipped his hair back and again looked at the screen. "You like this?" He sounded surprised. Ohtori handed him the remote.

"Not really. There was nothing else on." Ohtori looked at him.

"My brother likes stuff like this." Shishido-san shrugged. He left it on and muted and turned back to Ohtori. "Its over. Everything went through and was agreed on. You don't have to worry about it, just go along with it. If you need to talk about it, about any of it, just talk to me. All right?"

"Thank you again Shishido-san. Thank you so much. I won't ever let you down." Ohtori vowed to him. He would never let anything happen to him or let him get hurt because of him. He wondered if Shishido-san thought of him as a friend now. Ohtori knew there were very few others in Hyoutei who Shishido-san would go out on this much of a limb for.Shishido-san trusted him. He believed in him. Ohtori felt amazed, grateful, and happy.

Shishido-san smiled a little. "I know." He said it with complete faith in Ohtori and then he turned back to the screen where one monster was smashing cardboard buildings. He asked tucking a strand of hair behind his ear, "Aren't you tired?"

"No Shishido-san." Ohtori wasn't. He wanted to stay right where he was more than anything. He watched Shishido-san reflected in the screen look at him for a minute.

"Hey, I thought of something that happened on a school field trip when I was in second grade that you would like." Shishido-san said and now smiled a little for real. "Its funny but a little disgusting." Shishido-san smiled a little more as if remembering it alone was hilarious. "Want to hear it?"

"Please." Ohtori leaned in to listen and smiled back at him. It felt like the first time Ohtori had smiled in hours and hours.

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Learning to Land