Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

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.

Chapter List
- 57
- 58
- 59
Learning to Land. Chapter Fifty Eight ~Shishido~

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

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

------------------------------------

Shishido returned home right before lunch. Most days this happened because he was too exhausted to stay awake any longer and had to what he called crash-sleep through the rest of the afternoon's classes to function at practice, but for once, he wasn't tired. That in itself was rather remarkable and puzzling in a wonderful way. Shishido considered it to be part of the magic that was Ohtori Choutarou. All morning, after last night, the freshman had been on Shishido's mind. He couldn't get Choutarou out of his thoughts, and what was really nice, Shishido found he didn't want to.

What he did want was to see Ohtori. To see him, touch him, talk to him, and maybe even kiss him a little more...

All right, a lot more.

Shishido was used to people watching him. They seemed to have crushes on him all the time, so he had become accustomed to being stared at almost constantly. His response to the perpetual attention and scrutiny was to try to ignore all of it. He tried not to even think about it, otherwise he felt exposed or even occasionally stalked. It happened so much that over time, Shishido had become an expert in pretending to not notice all the girls that daily went out of their way to pass by him saying hello or good morning. He excelled in avoiding contact with the girls that every day would bake him cookies or try to give him little gifts they had bought or made. Many girls with many gifts. So absurdly many.

To his annoyance though, the bolder ones would linger in front of his locker or in front of his homeroom hoping to force the chance to see him and chat with him. They would stand in his way and talk to him, all giggling and blushing, about stupid, trivial things. Worse was when they asked him tons of stupid questions in the mornings when he felt tired and grumpy.

Despite his excellent avoidance skills and nearly constant scowl, he would find himself just about every day cornered by two or three giggling girls at least once or twice. The questions were always stupid and so he would answer abruptly to try to discourage any more. It never worked because they would giggle as if he was even more adorable for being in a bad mood and then come up with further things to talk to him about. Actually talk at him about, because most of the time he had already stopped listening to whatever inane things they were babbling away over. Always they were meaningless things. As if he would fall for them because they said it might rain or that they thought he played tennis really well. They would sometimes ask him if he was going to a party or some gathering after classes when they must know he rarely ever went to parties or things like that anymore.

Shishido had also learned to ignore the many guys who were into him. The guys all pretty much did more direct variations of the kinds of things the girls did. The girls would hint that they wanted Shishido to ask them out while the guys would directly invite him places. Shishido ignored the hints the girls dropped, and turned down all the invitations the guys threw at him. He used to think that people would get that he wasn't interested in dating anyone, but it seemed the more he turned people down, the more desirable he became. His saying no only perversely served to encourage more guys and girls to pursue him harder.

The guys were harder to handle though, because when Shishido was younger, it had been hard for him to tell who liked him as a friend, and who was really interested in more. When he was younger, he was admittedly naive to the point of being stupid when it came to guys liking him. Shishido would be happy to make a new friend, but one by one, all his new "friends" eventually confessed their deeper feelings and attraction to him. It had hurt to find out he had spent all this time with someone who was only hanging out with him because they wanted him sexually or liked him as more than a friend all along.

So, over time Shishido had learned to steel his heart and become self-protective enough to know that when someone seemed to really like him as a friend, girl or guy, they most likely didn't see him or like him as just a friend. And it was ridiculous because they never took the time to really get to know him so all that time they had spent together just was a waste. People would tell him things like how much they liked him, and some would even say they loved him, when they had never gotten to know him as a person. Shishido just couldn't understand it. Saying you liked someone you didn't even know was as absurd to him as him agreeing to date someone he didn't know just because they said they liked him.

Well, okay, yeah, quite a few times in his past he had agreed to go out with a girl who was pretty hot and said she liked or even loved him, but he had discovered dating from a start like that meant disaster ahead. The "relationships" if you could even call them that, at most never lasted more than a week. They went bad from the start. It had always made Shishido uncomfortable when a girl confessed to him, especially love, when they were just getting to know each other. He had learned that appearances were deceiving and wondered why it didn't occur to the people who supposedly liked him so much that maybe he wasn't on the inside as they perceived him to be on the outside.

For his part he had discovered that the seemingly prettiest, most perfect looking girls were not as pretty or perfect inside. A lot were fake from the outside too. Many would have terribly out of shape bodies hidden behind cleverly padded uniforms or tight pantyhose, or even worse, padded and stuffed bras. Others had worse problems, bad habits along with poor manners, low intelligence, or horrible personalities. One girl he went on a date with shortly after she confessed the beginning of his freshman year wore so much makeup that when she washed her face and took out her colored contacts, Shishido didn't even recognize her. In her uniform she looked tall and thin, out of it she was shorter, heavier, and dressed shabby. She looked like a different person. Her dorm room was a mess, cluttered and dirty, and she had said she cleaned up for him.

They watched a movie in her room. It was their first date and she kissed Shishido first. Practically attacked him. It was awkward because he had no idea she was even going to try to kiss him until it was happening. A moment after she straddled his lap, she shoved her tongue into his mouth, and she kissed him hard. He tried to gently pry her frantic lips off his face and her body out of his lap, but she whipped open her shirt revealing a very padded red bra pushing up nothing. As if that would turn him on.

Shishido had been even more embarrassed for her as she made a sudden grab for his crotch. It was like she was desperate. She reeked of too much perfume and nervous sweat. He finally stopped her and tried to calm her down, tried to talk to her, but she kept trying to kiss him, pin him down, and touch him. He felt guilty that he wasn't hard at all and only wanted to literally escape. He was glad he turned her offer for alcohol down earlier, and tried to physically restrain her without hurting her. She said she wanted him to make love to her. She wanted him to be her first. She said she loved him. Unable to take any more, he stood up and snarled at her that he was leaving. She burst into tears telling him he was cruel. He tried to explain that he liked to take things slow and they should get to know each other, but she insisted she had loved him since she first saw him a month ago, so for her this was slow.

"I love you." She said.

"You don't even know me!" Shishido heatedly pointed out.

She cried more and insisted she really did know him. She said again and again she loved him. No matter what he said, it finally dawned on him that really, she wasn't listening. She wasn't in love with him, and she was incapable of seeing him for who he was. So then when he said they shouldn't see each other anymore, she sobbed and told him she loved him, and about a second later called him a bastard.

It went downhill from there. Her friends all gave him the cold shoulder for weeks after as if his not liking or loving this bizarre acting stranger was somehow his fault. She went really crazy for a while. She prank called him constantly. She said she hated him and even convinced her friend to break up with Shishido's brother. The girl cruelly told his brother it was because his family had no name and no fortune. Shishido felt badly about all that, but honestly, he was baffled at how any of that was love. While his brother was devastated, Shishido honestly thought he was better off without a shallow girl who dumped him because her friend told her to.

Ohtori though was completely different from anyone he had ever known. Shishido was used to forcing himself to not notice people watching him, but he couldn't help but watch Ohtori. The freshman had always been much more obvious about his feelings than a girl, and yet he was sensitive and subtle where it mattered unlike other guys. Ohtori never openly confessed or tried to have a stupid talk to Shishido about his feelings, and he never tried to force himself onto his senpai. Instead he gave Shishido much needed space. And time. They had slowly gotten to know each other as friends first. Even more than friends because Shishido felt Ohtori looked up to him. The freshman seemed to need him, and if felt very good to help him and to be needed by someone.

If nothing else he felt that even if he rejected Ohtori, the freshman would have been happy to be Shishido's friend. Not that he wanted to reject him, but Ohtori was the first person Shishido felt liked him for who he was and not just how he looked. At least, by now, he hoped that was how Ohtori felt.

It was nice that Ohtori made as much effort at getting to know Shishido as Shishido had at getting to know him, and yet Ohtori never pushed. The freshman never came to annoy or talk at Shishido in the hallways about meaningless things like the girls. He would watch a lot yeah, but would never say a word. At least not until lunch when they sat together if Shishido was eating with everyone. Instead of pestering him, Ohtori strategically placed himself down the hall and near corners so that for a time, whenever Shishido turned, he felt Ohtori watching him without needing to see him actually doing it.

Shishido had figured out a while ago that Ohtori had an interesting daily pattern where he would go out of his his way everyday just to watch him. It was annoying at first, sure, but in the last few weeks or maybe even longer, it had even become a kind of game for Shishido to pretend to not notice the freshmen's attempts to view him. Just like it was a game for him to discover all the small and occasionally intricate corners and angles Ohtori found a way to look around while he watched his senpai in what he probably thought was secret.

Of course, it helped that Ohtori stood out so much. Ohtori was the only student with that colored hair in the entire school, and the tall, broad-shouldered freshman towered over a lot of the students. The walls were painted a muted beige and most of the students had dark brown or black hair, so Ohtori's handsome, often blushing face and silver hair were easy to spot over everyone else. He was always watching Shishido with that look of adoration, over the sea of same looking bland faces and uniforms. It happened between almost every class.

Occasionally Shishido even changed his patterns of walking and had to keep from laughing as Ohtori came up with clever new places to hide. Shishido by now was so focused on Ohtori and where he might be, he no longer took note of the fangirls and guys who all scattered in a near panic. They scrambled around to say hello to Shishido who now casually sauntered along in a completely different direction. Whenever he did notice the others scampering, their little plans thrown into chaos, it always made Shishido have to fight to keep the smile off his face. He wondered often if Ohtori knew Shishido was aware, and also wondered when it was he started looking forward to seeing Ohtori as much as Ohtori seemed to enjoy watching him. He liked that everyone else around them seemed utterly oblivious to this intimate game that was unfolding between them.

Ohtori was unique. Shishido liked that.

He liked it a lot.

A few times when he had noticed the freshman looked a little down or seemed to be having a rough day, Shishido would purposefully put himself in Ohtori's path. He would go out of his way to smile, say hello, and talk a bit to the shy, blushing freshman. It was strange, because Shishido could mostly live without small talk, but even the weather didn't seem small or unimportant when he talked about it with Ohtori. Even stranger was that Shishido never had to search for something to say to fill the space or start a conversation with Ohtori. It all came so easily, so naturally. And Ohtori practically glowed whenever Shishido spoke to him, and not just his blushing face. Even if it was out of Shishido's way, he figured talking to him was his part of helping the freshman through this tough time, and he looked forward to spending time with him more and more.

Shishido had really looked forward to seeing and talking to him throughout the day after this morning's confusion. He had carefully planned several routes to put them on the same path just to see Ohtori and spend a little more time with the freshman, but all morning Ohtori was conspicuously missing. Now that Shishido found he was wanting to see Ohtori all morning, and to his complete frustration, for once the freshman didn't seem to be around anywhere. And Ohtori was normally always around. Even if last night had not happened, Ohtori's missing presence would feel wrong.

It made Shishido miss him and want to see him even more urgently, because now he was worried. He worried that something might be wrong or Ohtori might be avoiding him after this morning. Shishido felt terrible about making Ohtori upset earlier and even worse for making him turn a darker crimson than even their regulars shirts.

Each year the Hyoutei captain got to choose the regulars and sub-regulars jersey color and design. This year's captain had chosen a blood red shirt with black collar and a thin light gray stripe on the sleeves.

It was a dreadful choice.

The dark shirts were a silk and cotton blend. They were gorgeous to look at but the reality was they were hot as hell in the sun and even though they were absurdly expensive, the dye in them ran whenever they got the slightest bit wet. The first few weeks of practice, nearly the entire team looked like they were practicing so hard they were sweating blood. It dripped down their arms and legs leaving red stains on the court. If you forgot and wiped your brow with your sleeve, your forehead dripped red and looked like you were gushing blood.

It was rather embarrassing. For both the captain and the regulars. So of course this being Hyoutei, no one said a word about it.

And because it was not ever discussed, a legend had grown to explain the odd phenomenon. Not one of the regulars said anything to dispel that myth and it quickly had become just another wrinkle of the famous Hyoutei team legend. It rapidly spread among other schools too, that everyone brought into the Hyoutei regulars practiced so hard, they sweat blood.

Of course anyone with a new shirt would--but only the sub-regulars and regulars knew that.

It had also earned the new guys brought up after the beginning of the year a brand new nickname. Guys like Ohtori who started with the regulars late were now called pinks or pinkies because it was their turn to drip blood. And as a result their skin would be dyed red when they stripped after practice. And it wasn't just their skin that was turned red, usually after doing their laundry, the new guys were wearing hot pink underwear and socks. At least the ones who didn't run out and buy new ones right away.

In the beginning of the year, Shishido could only afford one shirt. One shirt for two practices a day six or seven days a week simply was too hard to maintain. But Atobe had helped Shishido. Atobe simply had his shirt copied by someone. The knockoffs looked even better than the originals, felt cooler, and best of all did not bleed. The Vice-Captain shared his stash of shirts with his favorite people. At first it had just been he and Shishido, and he had presented the shirts to Shishido in a casual way that had been impossible to refuse. Now though, Shishido suspected that the group included Jiroh, and maybe even Oshitari as well.

He noticed close up that Atobe's group did not include Ohtori.

As they had warmed up and stretched out, Shishido had to keep from laughing as he noticed a small flash of very pink underwear several times. Ohtori's face was already deeply red, all the way to his scalp probably just from being so close and touching Shishido. Or maybe from his similar dirty thoughts and glances. The freshman's hands shook and sweat as they touched each other even though it was perfectly proper for the two of them to touch here. Though tempting, there was no way Shishido could say anything to the freshman to embarrass him further. Even if Shishido found it rather attractive. And erotic in a sweet and simple way.

And confusing as well.

Because Ohtori for most of the night before had been rather, well, forward. Even verging on aggressive and impolite when he interrupted Shishido several times. All morning though, the freshman had blushed and stammered and stolen little glances at Shishido as if thinking sexy dirty thoughts for the first time in his life. It was almost as if Ohtori somehow was two different people. At one point, Shishido wondered if in a way Ohtori wasn't like Jiroh at night, only painfully shy during the day instead of asleep.

Shishido could not figure it out. Although, he was glad he straightened things out with the freshman before practice began. When he played Atobe earlier, Shishido had taken out all his anger and aggression on the ball. When it was over, he could think clearly again. Rationally. He blamed himself for feeling insecure earlier when he shouldn't have. The truth was he felt good about Ohtori and what had happened. Positive. And Shishido felt wide awake. Not tired at all which was a rare blessing.

So he had been thrilled when he saw Ohtori in the meeting room before practice. He felt a flutter in his stomach just at the sight of the freshman's silver hair in the back of the room towering above almost everyone else. Shishido couldn't wait to see him again, so he was annoyed as hell when Ohtori gave him that fake weak smile and turned away so deeply red in the face.

Shishido had been shocked.

He felt rejected and hurt. He felt just like he had when he woke and found him gone, but seeing how Ohtori trembled as he whispered in his ear, Shishido was completely befuddled. If Ohtori was rejecting Shishido, then Shishido still seemed to have quite a hold over the freshman. Shishido had been so furious at being rejected so cruelly, he was almost shaking, but then Ohtori turned to him and was almost in tears.

Suddenly his rage drained. And Shishido understood he got everything wrong again.

He felt terrible. Terrible enough to stand up to Atobe and stay with Ohtori, because even though they worked it out, the freshman still seemed upset about something. Very upset. Even more upset than Ohtori had been the night before and Shishido was worried about him. His first move was to make Ohtori smile again and reassure him about whatever it was going on with them. Ohtori always did better when he was self-confident, and nothing seemed to make him as confident as when Shishido went out of his way to make him feel good. Shishido had been pleased to see another blush bloom in Ohtori's cheeks as he smiled, this one though from being happy and thinking sexy things, not from being embarrassed or feeling rejected.

As if Shishido would reject him, but then he felt guilty when he remembered that his plan originally was to stay away. To give both of them breathing room, but now that he saw Ohtori was going to give him space, all the space Shishido needed, suddenly Shishido didn't need or want any space anymore.

What he wanted was for them to be even closer. Shishido found he really wanted more, not less.

Especially as he watched Ohtori. For the first time really, Shishido started actively watching him during practice and keeping a very close eye on him. The freshman was tired, anyone could see that, but what was worrying Shishido was Ohtori looked frazzled and upset like he had when he first joined the team. Shishido was also concerned because all the attention he was giving his little brother was being noticed by other people. Shishido could feel Atobe watching him even more intensely than he normally did. Soon enough their Vice-Captain was by his side as Shishido cooled down after winning a practice set against a third year.

"I see why you wanted to watch him. What's wrong?" Atobe said it as if Shishido had apologized earlier. Perhaps to Atobe, Ohtori being off was enough of an apology for Shishido's earlier refusal.

"I don't know." Shishido said it honestly because he was worried. He could have kicked himself for being that open with Atobe the instant it was out of his mouth.

Atobe had his fingers to his face, watching for a flaw, "His shoulder is fine today. And he's so tired he's falling off his feet, but it's more than that." Atobe cocked his head slightly, "Could it be the sleeping pill?"

Shishido grabbed on to the excuse though he knew it wasn't that. "It could be. He said he doesn't like taking them because he says they make him groggy the next day. You know I hate them, they make you feel like you're walking underwater all day and you can't focus or think straight."

Atobe smiled slightly and turned to Shishido, "Yes. I remember." He said it with more meaning than necessary, paused a moment, and turned back to watching Ohtori, "So it's not you keeping him up after all." Atobe looked amused, but the smile never reached his eyes. He was clearly very jealous and angry to the point of almost smoldering.

"No." Shishido said deciding to clear some air immediately, "It's not me. It's Taki. Notice the hickey he has?" Atobe turned shocked to look at Ohtori again. Their Vice-Captain looked very surprised to have not seen it. "It's small, behind his ear." Shishido pointed on himself where it was, but very casually so anyone watching him and Atobe talk would think he was smoothing his hair back behind his ear. "Taki did that and probably worse while the kid was asleep."

Shishido just remembered at the last second to call Ohtori the kid and not by his given name in front of Atobe like he had when he didn't know the freshman well. Although he was worried, he counseled himself to be more careful. Atobe jealous was dangerous. "Taki's been..." He searched for the word, "...molesting him when the kid's trying to sleep. That's why his shoulder was hurt, from how he slept trying to keep Taki the hell off of him. The kid is too nice to punch out his senpai. He said he's told Taki he isn't interested several times, but Taki won't listen. I just found out. The kid begged me to not do anything. To let him talk to Taki." Shishido turned to Atobe, "I'm not letting Taki do this to my little brother anymore though. It stops today."

Atobe slowly nodded as if he felt that was only fair, but then asked, "So you think that's all this is? He doesn't seem a little...emotional? A bit stressed out? You don't think it has anything to do with the big memorial? For his dead boyfriend?" Atobe smiled as if already knowing how much it would bother Shishido to not know anything about this. Of course he did not know, and of course it made Shishido angry. Ohtori, as always, never mentioned to him anything about his friend except the little tiny bit last night and even that was barely much more than a little history, poorly rewritten.

Shishido had a sudden memory of kissing Ohtori last night, and Ohtori kissing him so passionately back. It made him smile. It made him believe and feel secure enough so that his words were calm when he turned to Atobe, "I don't know about any of that, but with what happened to the kid, with his past, what Taki is doing is more than enough to upset him. He'll be fine once Taki leaves him alone and he gets some rest. I'll take care of it. As I said, it stops today."

Atobe nodded and then went to arrange some doubles matches. He seemed obsessed with doing this lately, and since Shishido only played singles, he never bothered to ask why or really pay any attention. Shishido realized this was probably a mistake because he saw Ohtori and Gakuto put together as a team to play against Taki and Oshitari. If he asked now, Atobe would think Shishido was similarly obsessed--over Ohtori.

Which Shishido realized, in a way he actually was. Well at least he couldn't get him out of his head. He was still thinking about last night and about Ohtori instead of really watching the matches around him, when he heard Atobe say his name. "Shishido! Switch with Taki!"

Shishido scowled. He hated playing doubles and Atobe knew that. He looked and noticed that Gakuto and Oshitari were now on one side of the net together. Oshitari played singles too. What the hell this was about he had no idea. Shishido walked over to where Ohtori was and hoped he chose the right side and match as Taki stormed off. He half smiled and said to Ohtori quietly, "How's it going? I wasn't paying attention."

Ohtori smiled a little, then looked Shishido up and down. He promptly turned red and said, "Atobe-san said Taki-san was staying at the net too much. Gakuto took back and was playing instead of fighting with him. Should I stay up or go back, Shishido-san?"

Shishido shrugged, "I don't care. I hate doubles. Do whatever you want to do." Ohtori's face fell a little. Shishido felt bad so he smiled and was honest, "If I'm stuck playing doubles, I was hoping to face your serve, Choutarou."

Ohtori smiled shyly and Shishido had a thought. Ohtori was supposed to be very good and experienced at doubles. Shishido asked, "What do you think? How do we win against them?"

"Hey! Peacock! Are you going to play today or WHAT!" Gakuto bellowed.

"Hold your horses munchkin!" Shishido yelled back over his shoulder knowing Gakuto would turn as red as his hair in fury. He grinned back at Ohtori. "Ignore him. You were saying...? Tell me how we beat them."

Ohtori looked alarmed at Gakuto and then back at Shishido. Suddenly, the freshman suddenly went all serious. Shishido was surprised as Ohtori said, "Gakuto plays too fast. He has no stamina for a long game. He'll try to win each point quickly instead of focusing on the game as a whole. He won't plan ahead. He'll try to rely on smashing, tricks, and quick net play, and try to make you forget his partner. Oshitari-san will wait in the back and look for an opening. He follows Gakuto too closely. He plans out too far ahead and often gets confused by quick changes or illogical plays that go against his plans. If you take the net with Gakuto angry at you, I can watch the back and surprise Oshitari-san...if...if that is okay with you, Shishido-senpai?"

Shishido remembered to close his jaw just in time. "Sounds good, Choutarou." Shishido smiled. He was impressed.

Ohtori smiled back but never blushed this time. He was very serious, very focused, and with Shishido listening to him, he was suddenly looking very confident. And rather sexy, Shishido thought, remembering adorable dyed pink underwear and very hot peppermint-flavored deep tongue kisses. He shook his head to clear it, but made it look like his ponytail was bothering him as he got in place and waited for Oshitari to serve.

"That wasn't nice, Shishido." Gakuto said surprising him out of his concentration. This was another of Gakuto's tactics.

"You weren't nice first, Gakuto." Shishido shot back.

"I can't help that I'm short." Gakuto still insisted.

Shishido grinned, "And I can't help that I'm gorgeous." Shishido heard Atobe laughing with a few other people. Someone said something about how it would be better to be gorgeous than short but Shishido didn't catch who it was. Maybe Sato by the deep voice. Shishido grinned, "Gakuto, you're so short your hair smells like feet." An old one, but still good. Several people cracked up, although several others moved away in fear.

"Oh please," Gakuto grinned now thinking he had a good one, "You're so stupid you threw a tennis ball at the ground and missed."

People chuckled and waited for Shishido to respond as Oshitari went to serve. Shishido had heard a few of these a while ago and was storing them up though, "You're so small you could pose for tennis trophies."

Gakuto looked angry for an instant and then smiled, "You're so dumb you sit on the TV and watch the sofa." Behind him Ohtori returned the serve and around them people laughed. Including Taki. Loudly. At him. Shishido was only dimly aware. Gakuto, as Ohtori predicted, tried to smash after his distraction.

But Shishido was ready and waiting for him.

It was an easy return. Gakuto looked surprised. Shishido had his full attention, waiting to play more or trade a few more insults without slipping into distraction. Shishido for once was wide awake. They exchanged a few more volleys back and forth. Each return came faster and faster. Shishido hit one just beyond what should have been his reach the redhead suddenly did some kind of strange flying flip through the air to reach it just in time. Shishido was already moving to return it, and anticipating where it would land. He hit it to the opposite corner forgetting for a moment this was doubles, not singles. Oshitari was suddenly there and returned too far away for Shishido to reach in time.

In an instant, Ohtori was at the ball and returned it with such force it nearly screamed as it cut the air. It slammed into the ground hard between Oshitari and Gakuto, perfectly placed so neither could reach it in time unless they had been a practiced doubles team used to knowing who was responsible for what and when. The ball struck the ground with such force it left a mark on the court. The loud sound echoed for a moment that stretched out.

People whistled in awe and a few watchers clapped. Jiroh must have been awake for once because he yelled excitedly, "Yeah! Love-fifteen! Awesome Ohtori-kun!"

Shishido looked slack-jawed at Ohtori. Impressed again. "Damn," he said quietly and then smiled.

Ohtori smiled slightly, blushed, and bit his bottom lip lightly in a very adorable way. Shishido smiled a little more and got ready for the next serve. Gakuto looked infuriated and Oshitari looked determined as Oshitari went to serve again. Gakuto was now deadly serious and Shishido knew they wouldn't be trading any more insults or making jokes until after whoever won the game earned the privilege.

Shishido was really into it, and felt keenly disappointed when Atobe said, "Ohtori, Sato, switch!"

A second later he shocked Shishido even more when he said, "Taki, Shishido, switch!"

From the murmurs no one else expected that either. Even Gakuto made a small squeak of surprised sound. Taki marched right past Shishido to the front without looking at anyone, and leaving Shishido feeling both astounded and in awe. He was clearly still bothered to be around Sato, but must have reasoned that to refuse was as good as getting dropped. So he stood ready before Shishido even walked off the court.

He went and stood next to Ohtori on the side.

"Shishido-san..." Ohtori whispered concerned. Shishido thought it said a lot about the freshman who was still worried about his roommate after all the guy had put him through. Instead of answering him, Shishido "accidentally" brushed his shoulder against Ohtori's arm as he stood next to him. It was the smallest touch, the most casual thing in the world, but Shishido felt it go right through him. He shivered slightly from the small area where their warm skin, slick with sweat from practice softly touched, and he felt even through their clothing the strong muscles of Ohtori's arm against his own. He was tempted to ask Ohtori if he felt that shock of electricity flow through him too, but knew better than to say anything in front of anyone.

He could not help smiling in his crooked half smile though as he felt Ohtori turn to look at him. He knew without needing to look that Ohtori would be blushing and looking at him surprised because he felt that shock at their contact too.

For a moment everything and everyone, Taki, Sato, Atobe, the tennis club, all of it fell away and it was just the two of them feeling so strong from just a light touch. Shishido's heart was pounding and he wanted nothing more than to turn and kiss him. To taste the salt on his lips from practice, smell the outside and sun on his skin, and see after all their exertions if Ohtori's tongue still tasted sweetly of peppermint. Shishido tried to keep the smile off his face as he figured it probably wonderfully did.

They had time for this though, he told himself trying to will his body and mind to stop racing ahead. They had time for all of this. A deep voice right behind him startled Shishido from his thoughts.

"Sorry Vice-Captain," Sato said. He made the honorific seem twisted and mocking instead of giving Atobe the respect he had earned. "I'm injured as you know. I can't play. I'm having surgery in a month."

"If you can warm up and practice then you can play." Atobe shot back sounding bored. It was more insulting the way Atobe spoke to him than if he got upset at Sato's tone and refusal. Shishido had heard that tone before. It was something Atobe used when he was disgusted with "the help" and complaining about the pool boy or gardener not doing a good enough job. "This is just a practice match." Atobe said in dripping tones that mocked Sato hard for his refusal.

Sato wasn't done yet. "I'm a senior. You can't order me around. I can't help your little problems for next year. We seniors will be focused on our exams." Sato turned to the person standing one down from Atobe, "Right, Captain?"

There was a long pause while Sato tried to stare them down. Atobe and the Vice-Captain glared back unflinchingly. The Captain broke it when he quietly said, "Sato, you heard the Vice-Captain. Get on the court. As you are able to warm up and practice, you are able play a practice match."

Shishido actually felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up in warning. He knew that Sato was a heartbeat away from going after Atobe and Shishido was directly in the big bastard's way. Without question Shishido would block Sato and fight him if he tried anything with Atobe. He felt Ohtori again beside him, lightly touching his arm, but now it was a silent gesture of solidarity. Whatever he did, Ohtori had his back. Either to protect him or to aid him. Shishido wondered if Ohtori even knew how to fight or had ever been in a fight before. A real one with no holds barred and two or more guys beating the hell out of each other.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Oshitari go stand by Gakuto. Probably to both defend him and keep him from saying anything. It would be just like Gakuto to say the wrong thing at the wrong time, or to make a joke that took the attention off Sato and Atobe and put it back on himself. Shishido for the first time thought that he could see Gakuto doing that because maybe to the little guy it was his way of defending Atobe.

But he could feel Sato behind him. The rage was nearly radiating off him.

This could be bad. It could get seriously ugly. Shishido didn't know how many seniors would stand with Atobe and it looked like now also the Captain and how many would stand with Sato. The bully was not popular, but some would follow him just because they were afraid not to. The tension was so thick that it appeared only Atobe was remembering to breathe, and breathe calmly.

"Fine." Atobe said as relaxed as if he was ordering soup from a fine restaurant. "Then you're dropped. Kashiwa switch in!" Atobe turned his back. A final challenge. "Let's go. We've wasted enough time."

Sato tried to push past them but picked Shishido and Ohtori to try to get between. They stood their ground and though they moved, he was repelled back. "Outta my way!" Sato bellowed. "You can't drop me Atobe! You don't have the authority!"

"But I do." The Captain said in nearly a growl, "Go Sato. You're finished."

Sato surprisingly laughed, "Go on and try it bastard. You know what'll happen. You know what I'll do. You gonna risk everything over this? For him? He's really worth it?" He pointed at Atobe.

"He's the Vice-Captain. I should have done this a long time ago. It's over Sato. Try to do your worst. But do it from somewhere else. You're dropped. Completely. I don't want to see you around here again." The Captain turned to Atobe. "My apologies for interrupting practice over this. Please continue. May I borrow Kabaji? He'll want to make sure none of his things are touched." Shishido was surprised. This could only mean the Captain was completely kicking Sato off the team and making him move into the general dorms.

"Of course." Atobe said with a casual wave of his hand. "Taki? Serve. Kabaji? Go."

"Yes!" Kabaji and Taki said at nearly the same time.

The rest of practice had gone fairly quietly after that. Everyone was simply too stunned to talk much and didn't want to draw attention to themselves, although Shishido knew the entire school would be in an uproar over what happened.

Later as they headed towards the showers, Shishido said quietly to Ohtori, "You all right?" Sato had shoved them both pretty hard. Ohtori's shoulder had been hurting the day before too.

"Yes..." Ohtori said quietly, and then said making Shishido turn to him, "No. He shouldn't have said that Shishido-senpai." Ohtori looked furious.

"Said...what?" Shishido was trying to remember exactly what it was Sato said.

"That you're stupid. You're not stupid at all." Ohtori looked as angry as Shishido had ever seen him.

Shishido certainly felt stupid then, "Sato?" He asked lamely.

Ohtori smiled ruefully, "No. Gakuto. He said you were stupid...and dumb. He shouldn't have."

Shishido despite himself grinned and shrugged. That was why Ohtori was angry? Shishido thought it was rather adorable. "Like I care what the shrimp has to say. No one listens to Gakuto. Don't you start, okay?"

Ohtori nodded and probably would have said more, but Shishido was already working on a bigger problem. He just realized that the two of them had walked in together. If Ohtori stripped and went to shower next to him Shishido knew he would be instantly hard seeing the freshman naked. Or did Ohtori wear a towel in and out. Like that would be a big help. He couldn't remember and visions of last night kept dancing in his head now with Ohtori either naked or wearing only a towel. Shishido needed to stall for time. Damn it.

Especially as Atobe was beside him.

Shishido could feel the Vice-Captain right next to him without needing to turn. Atobe must need a bit of reassurance after this morning. Shishido turned to Ohtori and said with a small smile thinking of his pink underwear, "Ohtori, go shower."

"Aren't you going with him, Shishido?" Atobe smiled but the smile again never reached his eyes.

"I was waiting for you." Shishido smiled.

"Really?" Atobe purred not believing him for an instant. "Next thing I know, you'll be telling me you're going tonight."

"Actually, I am," Shishido said. Atobe looked at him only slightly smiling to show he was surprised. "The kid is my little brother. I'm supposed to go to his little sister's birthday aren't I?" Shishido shrugged and took his sweat soaked hair out of the ponytail holder.

"You are supposed to..." Atobe started as if to say there were a lot of things Shishido was supposed to do but didn't.

Shishido wasn't sure what the hell the Vice-Captain meant by that so he said, "I'm going." Atobe looked disbelievingly at him. "I planned it. I even got her a gift."

Atobe smiled. "You did? What?" Now he was amused.

Shishido smiled back and peeled off his sweat soaked clothes. He went to wrap a clean towel around his waist but decided Atobe had already seen it all so why the hell bother. He wasn't turned on anymore anyway. It did give his ego a boost to notice Atobe was admiring the view. The Vice-Captain started to strip as well. Shishido said, "Now if I went around telling everyone before she opened her present, it wouldn't be much of a surprise."

Shishido grabbed his things and padded off towards the showers. He heard Atobe right behind him, "Damn, you are such a tease."

Shishido laughed. He looked to see what ones showers were empty and noticed several people peeping to see who it was Atobe was calling a tease. Among the eyes watching, he saw a flash of silver and a chocolate brown eye. Shishido winked at him and took the empty stall right next to his. He felt a rush of heat as he thought of Choutarou being naked and there just on the other side. He turned the water on full blast ice cold and closed the curtain. Shishido prayed silently to any deities that didn't already despise him that Atobe didn't step in with him again.

Someone must have heard because he heard a curtain moving aside and it wasn't his own. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Just tell me one thing Ryoh," Atobe said in the stall behind him, "is it expensive?"

Shishido thought about it. Technically yes, but he actually paid nothing for it. That was when Shishido noticed four fingertips high up on the top of the stall. The shower walls did not go up all the way to the ceilings. Only up most of the way. It was strange because he had never looked up there before or thought to look up there. There at the top were four fingertips. Ohtori's? Shishido was pretty sure he had gotten into the right stall and winked at the right person. He certainly hoped so. "Is what expensive?" Shishido asked to make sure the person on the other side knew it was him.

Atobe said annoyed, "Your gift. For tonight. For her. Is it expensive?"

"And that matters?" Shishido said and stretched his hand up. Unable to resist, he gently touched the fingertips with his own, and hoped he got it right. He hoped Ohtori knew he wanted to be with him and was not with Atobe. The fingers jumped back as if in surprise at the contact and then caressed his fingertips back. He wondered if Ohtori was touching himself but it was the right hand. Ohtori was right handed when he played, so Shishido guessed not, but wasn't sure. He very much wanted to switch stalls and join him. Just to touch his naked wet skin. Just to hold him close. Just to kiss him for a while...

Atobe interrupted his delicious thoughts, "No I guess it doesn't." He sounded so down, Shishido felt unaccountably guilty. He almost took his hand away in guilt, but had a feeling that the person attached to the hand on the other side would be hurt if he did. He still needed both hands free to wash his hair so after waiting another moment, he lightly tapped the fingers on the other side which released his. He quickly soaped up his hair and smelled the rich scent of vanilla blooming all around him. This was the last of the shampoo Atobe had sent him and he knew there wouldn't be any more coming.

He was all right with it except that he noticed Ohtori liked the smell too. Shishido smiled and touched a now soapy hand to the fingertips. He was hard despite the cool water and wished the wall between him and Ohtori was gone. All the walls he thought as he recalled Atobe talking about a memorial that Ohtori again never told him about. Shishido was being as honest and patient with Ohtori as he knew how to be but it was getting more difficult as his feelings grew.

As he thought this, the warm, strong hand on the other side now tapped his and gave him a final touch. When Shishido came out to dress with Atobe following closely behind him, Ohtori was gone.

Shishido hadn't seen him since.

-------------------------------
- 57
- 58
- 59
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Learning to Land