Eiji and Oishi [[-If I had a choice-]]9

Recap: "You talking about Eiji?" I asked suspiciously.

..........................................................................

Oishi scratched his head.

"Uhmm..."

"Why do you keep talking about Eiji? I'm here with you now, not Eiji."

"But... but... The other time... I saw you with him..." I suddenly took a sharp intake of breath. He saw us? Oh gosh now I'm stuck... I don't know what to say. I kept quiet. Oishi waited for my response, but I think I didn't looked like I was gonna give any. He gave a depressed sigh.

"I thought so..." He said slowly and softly. He got up and walked away.


"Maybe Eiji would be better for you than me..." Gosh why the hell do they always say the same things that I thought they would say. It's bloody irritating, and maybe a little scary, come to think of it.


"Matte Oishi!" I called out after him. But he didn't turn around. Damn him. Fine! I give up! I wash my hands off everything. Like I CARE.

Next week at school. Friday, after afternoon practice on the rooftop.

Almost a week since Sunday... I've been ignoring them for almost a week now... Ok not really ignoring, just... don't care. Sigh. Wonder how they feel... I actually kinda miss them, come to think of it. Hmmm... Weird, wonder who I miss more. Geh what am I thinking about. I'm not supposed to think about them anymore. But, I really do miss them. Argh I wonder who should I choose... If I choose one then the other wouldn't be happy... What should I do then? Maybe I should just forget them altogether. That should save on a lot of bigger problems...


*SCREAAAAAAMMM!!!*


Dammit. Those fangirls again. Wait... How can they be here? Unless...


"GET OFF ME NYAA~!"


Shit. Eiji's here? Damn I gotta get away fast, if not, I'll be really awkward around him. Eeeek.... Gotta... get... away....unnoticed.... I tried to squeeze past the squealing fangirls.


"Eh? What's SHE doing here?" Someone screamed.


Greaaat...


"Isn't SHE that girl who went out with our Eiji and Oishi? What a two-timer!"


What can I do when both of them like me at the same time? It's not really my fault, right?


"Hey! You better stop hurting them and break up with Oishi and leave our Eiji alone!"


Your Eiji? When did he become all of yours?


"Yeah! You're doing them more harm than anything else! You bitch!"


Ok that was really the last straw! I gritted my teeth, but put on my iciest smile.

"Why thank you." In a voice thick with sarcasm.

"I can't believe you still have the cheek to say thank you!" Someone screeched from somewhere behind me. I turned round to see an extremely short and plump girl with half her height in thick braids. I kneeled on one knee in front of her, still smiling.

"A bitch is a female dog, right?" I explained in a parent-teaching-child-voice.

"Right." She stared at me.

"Hmm... Then, a dog barks, right?" I looked up and pretended to think.

"Right. But-"

"Aaaaand... Bark is found on trees, right?" I cut her off.

"Yes... But-"

"And nature is beautiful, right?" I counted the things I said off my fingers.

"DUH!" Finally, I made her exasperated.

"And that's why I'm thanking you!" I grinned.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"From bitch to beautiful. You're complimenting me, aren't you. Thanks lots!"

She clenched her fists and tried to punch me. But then, if you count that I'm almost 1.7m, and I'm a pro tennis player, and also the fact that's she's slightly more than half my height... Well... you do the calculations. I lazily blocked it with my palm, yawning. Holding it, I stood up and towered over her.

"It's useless to try to do that girl." I growled at her, my temper rising, staring at her with my killer glare. She cowered back in fear. Satisfied, I strolled, yes you got me right-strolled- smirking out of the gang of fangirls, leaving them looking shocked and angry.

Fangirls?

"LAAAANAAA-CHAAAAN~! HEEEEEEELP!" Eiji screamed. I turned to see a frantically running Eiji, frantically running from the girls squealing for his autograph. I rolled my eyes at the sight and hid behind a corner, pulling him in when they ran past me.

Eiji and Oishi [[-If I had a choice-]]8

Recap: Maybe I'll ask him tomorrow...


............................................................


Tomorrow:7:25am

I went outside to wait for Oishi, but-

"Ohayo Lana." Someone smiled at me.

"Oh. Ohayo Oishi! You're early, been waiting long?"

"Nope I just arrived. Figured I shouldn't keep you waiting."

"Right then. Let's go." I grabbed his hand.


"You hungry? Ate your breakfast yet?" Oishi asked me.


"Yeah. I haven't eaten and I'm starving." Well, actually I'd already had my breakfast(I wake up at 4.30am everyday remember?), but that was so long ago. But the fact remains that I'm really starving.


"Let's go have breakfast then." Oishi smiled at me, and took me to a cafe.


Very nicely decorated. Nice.


I got a brownie, with ice cream on top. Yum.


"Ice cream for breakfast?" Oishi stared at my brownie.

"Why not?" I grinned.

Oishi shrugged, but didn't say anything else. I tackled my brownie in peace. Oh boy was that some brownie. Delicious. Then I realised Oishi was staring at me.

"What? Is there something on my face?" I wiped my mouth with the back of my palm, then looked at it.

Nothing.

I looked at my nose.

No ice cream either. So what was he looking at?

"No..." He moved into the seat next to me and took my hand. I think my heart missed a few beats around there.

His hand, so big, so soft, so warm, so... right in mine. I smiled and rested my head on his shoulder. Gosh, his shoulder is so warm too.

He lifted up my head and looked into my eyes.

"Maybe it's because..." He leaned in closer to me and whispered in my ear.

"I really like you." He kissed me on the lips. I could've sworn my heart missed so many beats it almost stopped.

It feels so right, I don't want this moment to end ever! I squeezed his hand. He put one hand over my shoulders and squeezed my shoulder. I stroked his cheek with my free hand.

Who cares, I'm Oishi's now...

"I really like you too, Oishi." I snuggled up to him.

"Really? I mean... you don't like anyone else, do you?"

"You talking about Eiji?" I asked suspiciously.

Eiji and Oishi [[-If I had a choice-]]7

Recap: "Maybe... Maybe Eiji is better for her..." Oishi said softly to himself. "I'll have to tell her that Sunday is... our Sunday is cancelled."



..........................................................................


"One set match! Eiji to serve!"

"Come on Eiji! Give me your best shot!"

"YEAH!!" Eiji bounced into the court and did a cartwheel. "Here ya GOOOOOOOO!"

He shot me a really hard serve that knocked my racket away.

"Good one Eiji!" I cheered.

I did my best against him, but weirdly, he somehow found a new source of energy from somewhere and even I couldn't beat that.

"Kikumaru BEEEEAAAMMM!!"

"6-4! Game and set to Eiji!"

"That was GREAT, Eiji!" I grinned at him.

"Heh heh heh!" He smiled nervously.

So anyway, Eiji didn't get the regular place because he lost to a few of the non-regulars, and so did Oishi, while I got the regular place.

"Nya~ Never mind nya. I'll do better next time yeah!" He grinned at me.

Well, at least Eiji is alright. But what about Oishi? He's still doesn't look normal. This is very abnormal-"Oooffhh! Ah Gomena- Oishi?!" Deep in thought, I'd bumped into Oishi.

"It's okay..." He trailed off, walking away. I stood in my place in shock for a while before...

"Matte Oishi!" I ran up to him.

"Huh?" I'd caught up with him.

"Is there something wrong? You didn't look... normal this entire week. Can you tell me why?"

"I-it's nothing... really... don't-don't worry about me... I-I'm fine..." He shifted his gaze. I grasped his shoulders and shook him.

"No your not fine and don't you think that I don't know what happened. Why are the both of you so dumb? Why'd you have to do this to yourself?"

"I guess... that means that... our Sunday is... it's not going to happen, is it?" He smiled weakly and ruffled my hair. I grabbed his hand and glasped it in my hands.

"It will. And I will make sure it does." I said.

"B-but I thought... I thought you preferred Eiji... more than me?"

"You big baka." I hugged him. Oishi smiled and hugged me. I rubbed my cheek against Oishi's.

"Tomorrow, 7:30am, outside my house. You'd better be there, or else." I winked at him.

"Or else what?" He asked playfully.

"You don't wanna know." I pinched his cheek and ran off. "Ja ne, Oishi! See you tomorrow!"

"Bye then." Oishi waved goodbye to me.

Back at my home...

I'm soo glad that Oishi and Eiji are back to their usual selves again. Seesh I don't believe it, teo guys like me at the same time. I wonder if they liked me for who I really am, not who I try to be, or who people want me to be. But, if I pick Oishi, then Eiji would get mad, and if I pick Eiji, Oishi would get really, really upset, and I mean really. But if I continue to pick Oishi, and if Eiji really gets mad, then Oishi, being so nice, would just give me up for Eiji, right? Gosh that would be horribe... No, Oishi wouldn't do that, right? But, just say that he did, that would make Eiji really happy, but Oishi would be really sad... And if Oishi's sad, Eiji would be the first to realise that, right? Then he'd blame himself for causing Oishi to be like that, and then he'd give me back to Oishi. Hey! I'm not a puppet to be passed around between people and I will not be treated as such! Gosh this is really giving me a big headache! Plus, those two are best friends, what if I spoil their relationship? I can't do that, besides, they've known each other longer than they've known me. I really cannot jeopardize their friendship, that's downright heartless! Oh gosh... What am I going to do? Seesh how did I ever get stuck in such a difficult love triangle?

"Ita... My head hurts a lot." I grumbled.

Can't be helped, can it?

Shut up.

Oh come on not again.

You're so not helping. If you can't help then stop trying to.

I'm not trying to help, I'm just giving you advice.

Right isn't that like helping?

Nope. You get to choose whether you wanna listen or not.

So what if I don't wanna listen huh.

Then I'll take it that I'm not being nuch help.

For once in my life, you're talking sense.

You mean to say whatever I've been telling you is nonsence?

Well, you can say that whatever you tell me goes in one ear an out the other.

Seesh, then I won't help you then.

You were helping me? I thought you were just telling me advice...

Whatever.

=.=" If only you knew how to get out of this stupid love triangle.

Just get out, then. Like that's so hard.

Yes it is so hard. And stop talking to me. Your not helping. I really can't believe I'm talking to my ceiling.

It's technically not talking. And you've been talking to me ever since you came to live in this room.

Fine whatever. Just shut it. I need to think about something.

I rolled over to lie on my stomach.

Maybe I'll ask him tomorrow...

Eiji and Oishi [[-If I had a choice-]]6

Recap: "HORRIBLE!!!!" I yelled to my ceiling.

That's life my girl. You just gotta live with it baby.

Shut it you.

I'm just giving you advice my dear.

Yes you are, but I'm not listening.

Fine by me.

....................................................................

Today: Saturday, the ranking tournaments.

Eiji and Oishi have been acting very weird this entire week. Eiji hadn't jumped on me the entire week, and he's not been acting very... normal. He runs at the sight of me, and he didn't put much heart into playing tennis the entire week. He actually lost to a non-regular!

And then there's Oishi. He's been avoiding me the past few days, he's not even spoken to me once even though I walk with him to school every day. He's acting all werid as well, almost like Eiji. Speaking of the golden pair, they've not been playing very up to standard lately. Somehow, they've been lacking co-ordination and harmony between them. But then, weird thing is that they don't argue with each other, not even when they lost to a Momo and Ryoma pair. They left the entire team speechless.

I wonder what on earth is on their minds. I'm really worried for them.

I'm up against Eiji today, maybe I can find out what happened to them through him. Maybe Fuji would know, I'll ask him later.

"6-0! Game and match to Areshi!"

"6-0! Game and match to Areshi!"

"6-0! Game and match to Areshi!"

So boring. All 6-love games. It ain't no fun at all. These people here aren't good at all.

"Fuji and Areshi! One set match!"

Oh finally, I can finally get serious.

"Let's have a good match then." Fuji smiled at me.

"Yes. Let's." I grinned.

"1st game! Areshi to serve!"

I pulled off my famous fast serve, it's faster than Ootori's scud serve.

Fuji just stood there, stunned. Ha. Calls himself a prodigy. Go out to see more of the world person! There are people with much faster serves than mine. Oh seesh, I can't use this serve too often, I'm can't let Fuji learn it's weakness- not that it had any- and if I do that too often, I'll get tired myself.

"Saa~ That's one nice serve." He smiled. I sweatdropped. It wasn't supposed to be called nice

"Uhm, what do I say... Thanks then." I scratched my head.

But throughout the game I didn't pull out anymore of my special moves, well, I figured I didn't really need them that much. Fuji did his triple counters, and I found out how to prevent them from being used too often quite soon. Sugoi, ne? Heh heh heh.

"6-4! Game and match to Areshi!" Heh now he just lost a game.

"SUGOI!!! Lana!" Momo shouted. Guess he just finished his game or something.

"Oh. Heh. Hi Momo."

"Lana you're really good. It was a total defeat." Fuji smiled at me.

"You're not bad yourself, Fuji." I grinned at him.

It was Fuji and Eiji's turn to play next. Eiji wasn't concentrating well, and Fuji won the game easily. I really wasn't happy with Eiji, he should have tried harder. I'm really pissed at him, but I don't know why. OK this is really weird.

There was a rest period in between mine and Eiji's matches. Fuming, I pulled Eiji to behind the regular's room. Weird, he had that really un-Eiji-like look on his face.

"What's wrong with you these days? You don't seem yourself at all." I pinned him to the wall. He shuffled his gaze away from mine, and tried to look away.

"Answer me! I've really been worried about you, you know? What's wrong with you, really? What's wrong with you and Oishi? Why have you two been avoiding me so much?" I held his face in my hands, so he couldn't look away. His eyes shook and brimmed with tears.

"Nani? Would someone tell me what's wrong?" I screeched. Eiji shook away his tears and suddenly crashed a fierce kiss on my lips, without warning. He tried to pull me close, but I shook my head hard and wriggled out of his grasp, gasping. Why did he do this to me? I was really confused, and hurt.

Eiji hung his head really low I couldn't see his eyes.

"I'm sorry... I'm so s-sorry... I-I didn't mean it. I just... I just..." His shoulder shook and his voice waivered. He turned to the wall and started banging it furiously. "Why? Why? I told Oishi... I don't think he told you yet... But, I wished he did! But, he-he didn't help me, I asked him to... He didn't... But instead he... he... Argh! WHY?"

"Huh?" What the hell is Eiji talking about?

"I... I really like you nya... I didn't know Oishi liked you too, so I told him. Maybe I shouldn't have..." He stopped banging the wall.

NANI?! He likes me too? Oh damn.

I hugged him from behind, like I did with Oishi, and buried my face in his back.

"Is this what's wrong with both of you? Why? You're all sooo dumb. But I don't like the Eiji now. I don't like the Eiji in front of me. I preferred the Eiji I saw last week, the bubbly, cheerful one, not the Eiji like this. It hurts to see you like this. Onegai Eiji, please don't stay like this."

Eiji turned around in my arms, apparently shocked. Then, he leaned in forward to kiss me.

There. This is much better, isn't it?

They thought that no one could see them, how wrong they were. Someone had been watching them since they disappeared from the courts. Someone who loved Lana very much. Someone who was heartbrokened from watching the scene in front of him.

"Maybe... Maybe Eiji is better for her..." Oishi said softly to himself. "I'll have to tell her that Sunday is... our Sunday is cancelled."

Eiji and Oishi [[-If I had a choice-]]5

Recap: "Why can't they just free one of day of their time to come and see me play tennis? Ever since I'd started playing tennis, my parents have never seen me play before. Why can't they do it? Even for their own daughter..." I banged the ground, tears streaming down my cheeks.

...................................................................

The next week at school, Monday. I woke up at my usual time, 4.30am and did my usual morning exercise. I left for school earlier, as there was morning practice. When I got out of the house, I noticed a figure by the tree.

"Eh? Ohayo Lana." Oishi smiled at me.

"Ohayo Oishi." I returned the smile. "What're you doing here?"

"Was waiting for you."

"Oh. Okay let's go." I took his hand and started to run. "Otherwise Tezuka-bouchu would make us do laps." I'd known enough about Tezuka-bouchu by then because I'd spent so much time with the team all week. But what I didn't know was that Oishi was blushing.

"H-hai!" And we ran off to school together. Thankfully, we weren't late. I seriously don't want to run laps. Practice was easy today, just Eiji that was difficult. He kept jumping onto me for some unknown reason. I thought I saw something... different in Oishi's eyes, but I quickly brushed it away as a trick of the light.

More dozing off in class later, and more tennis during practice. I walked home with Oishi after school.

"The ranking tournaments are this Saturday. That's when we decide who gets the regular place."

"Oh. Cool. So everyone's going to play against each other eh?"

"There are 4 blocks, and 2 top players from each block will get the regular place."

"Ohh. Which block will I be playing at and who'm I up against?"

"Mmm... Lana... LanaLanaLana... Block C. With... withwith Eiji and... Fuji... And the other guys from the team."

"Hm. Up against the Tensai and the hyper kid. Sounds good." I smiled. I can't wait.

"Uhh... Well. I was... uh. Wondering if... Uh..." Oishi went deep red as he stuttered.

"Yes?"

"D-do y-you wanna... wanna go out... with... me? O-on Sunday?" He looked at the ground.

Huh? Did I just HEAR that? Did he just... ask me out? My heart beat faster and faster, and I'm guessing my cheeks were red. Wait... Why am I feeling like this? Why?

"I... I guess... Okay." I smiled at him. He stared at me for a second or so then-

"Yosh! Sunday then." He smiled at me. You know... He actually looks... Kinda cute like that... Oh what am I thinking.

"Sunday." I smiled at him, then I stopped walking. Well, I reached my house already. Why the hell would I still need to continue walking? Oishi stopped walking also. I started to walk into my house, but Oishi had a hand on my shoulder, like he didn't want me to go in, well, not yet. Like, it was as if he had something to say to me. I turned around and-

?!?!?!?!

Oishi's face was in a really, really close-up position, his arms were wrapped around my back, and his lips, his sweet, soft, lips were on mine. My hands were on his chest, and I clould feel his heartbeat steady... steady.

Oh why do I feel like this? This really isn't normal... But, what the heck. I smiled into the kiss. Maybe I really do like this guy... After all, what's not to like about him? Sweet, caring, kind, and a fantastic tennis player, what more could I ask? I pulled Oishi closer to me, and I never want to let go. His hands came up to my face and caressed my cheek. I wished time would stop, just for us, but all too soon it had to end.

"I liked it." I smiled at Oishi. He smiled at me, but that smile, it seemed... different. Kind of... rather... sad.

"I'll... go now... I'll... see you tomorrow then." He turned around.

"No... WAIT!" I hugged him from the back. "Can you... don't go? Yet? Onegai?" Gosh why am I asking him this?

Oishi seemed to hesitate before he answered, "I'm really sorry, I have to go." He didn't turn around. Dejected, I let go, and he went away. Forcing back tears, I went into my house, slamming my room door as hard as possible and yelling at the top of my voice at the ceiling.

"IT'S WAY TOO QUIET!"

How could Oishi do that to me? He promised to help me! I told him because I trusted him as a bestbestbestbestest friend? How could he bear to hurt me like that? He knew I liked Lana, HE DID! So how could he do that kind of thing? WHY? My heart feels so horrible, it hurts so much. But, if I really love Lana, I should let her choose who she preferes more, right? But she doesn't even know I like her. How? How? What should I do? Should I tell her? But she seems so much happier with Oishi. How can I ever face Oishi if I'd ever come between them? I would be the third party... Should I let them be? I guess that would be best, if I really love her I want her to be happy. And she's happy with Oishi now. That Oishi better be good to Lana, if not, I'll never let him off!

"ITA! My head hurts alot nyaa~" Eiji clapsed his head in his hands, watching the entire scene from behind a tree.

Oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh! Eiji will never let me off now... Why did I even do it? Why? And I was supposed to be his best friend, that's why he entrusted me with his secrect. And I promised to help him! Oh gosh Oishi what the hell did you do? How could you do that to your best friend? How am I ever going to face him tomorrow? What should I do... Should I let Eiji have her? No... I'd never. She's not a toy that can be owned by people. I guess I should let her choose...

"Why do I even feel like this?" Oishi hit his head with his hands.

What going on with me? Why do I feel like this with Oishi? Do I really like him? Does he like me back? Or does he only like me because I'm rich? This type of people I've seen too much, and I hate this species of people. What if he isn't? But if he really likes me, why does he seen so... sad? Gosh I'm so confused.

"HORRIBLE!!!!" I yelled to my ceiling.

That's life my girl. You just gotta live with it baby.

Shut it you.

I'm just giving you advice my dear.

Yes you are, but I'm not listening.

Fine by me.

Eiji and Oishi [[-If I had a choice-]]4

Recap: I decided to go down and do some tennis, it helps me think properly, and sometimes forget all my problems.



.............................................................................



"HYYYAAAHH! Take that! And that! Why must they ALWAYS busy?" I vented my anger through the balls, hitting them as hard as possible. After the last ball, I fell to the ground, exhausted. The tennis court. So familiar, yet so foreign. The first time I watched a tennis match. I can still feel the exhilaration, I can still hear the all the cheering, I can still see the game. I closed my eyes as memories flashed back in my mind.

"7-6! Game and match to Kanagi!" A defeated opponent dropped to her knees after she lost the game to her opponent opposite her.

"SUGOI ne!" A little girl of 5, watching her first ever tennis match, screamed out with glee. For the past 10mins, she had been watching this match anxiously as the battle between the two women grew heated. She was awed by the tennis they played, her eyes flying with the ball all over the court. Someday, she decided, she would play tennis like that. But first-

"MUMMMMEEEE!!! DAAAADDDEEE!!!! Could you buy me a tennis reacket please? Onegai??"

"Yes dear." They'd smiled at her. But that yes, it never came. Her parents were always busy, and her racket was never bought. She'd pestered them daily, but, as always, they were too tired after a long day at work to listen to the ramblings of a little girl. She soon grew tired of thier empty promises of "I'll buy you the racket tomorrow", and so she broke her piggybank and used it's contents to buy herself a racket. She vowed to be the top tennis player in the world. She, Areshi Lana, would train extermely hard in tennis, win every single competition she'd ever compete in. All with the hope that one day, she would be good enough for her parents to notice her. She entered every single competition in every country that her parents took her to, hoping that her parents would come to cheer her on. But they were always WAAY too busy with meetings to even bother to go to their only daughter's tennis matches. Over time, she lost the hope that her parents would ever come. But over that time, she found a new goal: to always be No. 1.

I turned around to lie on my stomach.

"6-0! Game and match to Lana!"

"Go work on your skills. You still have a long way to reach my standards." I sneered, pointing my racket to the defeated opponent.

My world championships win. Because of that I bacame the top in the world, recognised all over the globe. I was elated beyond all feelings. But my parents still did not come to see my game. I was distraught over that. I disguised myself as a boy and disappeared from the women's tennis world. From then on, for every match I'd played, I wouldimagine that my parents were there, behind the fence, cheering me on. That gave me the motivation I needed , and I won every single one of my matches.

"Why can't they just free one of day of their time to come and see me play tennis? Ever since I'd started playing tennis, my parents have never seen me play before. Why can't they do it? Even for their own daughter..." I banged the ground, tears streaming down my cheeks.

Eiji and Oishi [[-If I had a choice-]]3

Recap: "Done. Let's go." He turned and walked up to me. I smiled back and we left the school together.



..............................................................................................

"Ne, Lana. Where do you stay?" Oishi asked me.

"Uh. It's along that stretch of roan, all the way down, then turn right at the crossroads. And you'll get there, it's quite obvious, the 2nd house on the right." I pointed out the road.

"Mine's near too! I turn left at the crossroads, the 3rd one on the right. But I've never seen you here before..."

"I just moved in from America. My parents got some job that makes them travel around the world alot for meeting and conferences and such. I've been to Africa, America, Australia, China, New Zealand, Malaysia, Switzerland etc. etc." I ticked the countries off my fingers, then I added. "But I was born in Japan."

"Sugoi ne! That's really alot alot of places. You must have had a lot of experience playing with the tennis players in the competitions..." Oishi looked slightly envious.

"Yeah... I'd say so. I've seen and played with the best and the worst. Won many gold medals in the women's competitions." Oh shit did I just say WOMEN'S COMPETITION? Sheesh... He DIDN'T just hear that, right? Tell me you didn't! Wait, if you didn't hear, then you wouldn't know what to say right? Gah never mind. Say whatever you want then.

"Sugoi! That's waaay coo- wait. You're a girl?" He scanned me up and down with his eyes.

"Uhm... Yeah."

"Oh. I didn't notice. You must be really good eh, to want to join the guy's team."

"Naturally. I was getting bored of the girls. But, uh. Can we keep this "I'm a GIRL" thing from the rest? I know Inui knows, but still. I'll tell the rest when I feel like it."

"Why?" Oishi was confused,

"People have a nasty habit of asking waaaay~ too many questions." I answered plainly.

"Ok it's your choice and I respect your decision." Oishi smiled. I gave him one of my rarest smiles- literally- the truest one.

"So, what's your position in the team and what's your playstyle?" I asked him.

"I'm the vice captain- Tezuka's the captain. I play counter-puncher."

"Ooh that's cool. I play all-rounder. Oh yes... When does practice start? I can't ask Bouchu cuz I don't know where to find him or how he looks like."

"Practices will all begin next week, Monday. Morning practices are 7.30am to 8am. Afternoon practices are after school, 3pm to 5pm."

"Thanks. Oh we're here." I stopped outside my house.

"That's your house? It's gigantic!" Oishi gaped staring at my house in awe. I stared at my house boredly. I knew what he was thinking- I wanna live in that type of house too! She's so lucky to be living there. Why can't they stop thinking that they wanna live at my house? What the problem with theirs? It's just the difference in size, isn't it? And maybe mine's more convenient too, but then, at least they have their parents with them all the time. I don't. I sighed inwardly.

"I guess it is..." I said softly, part wishing that mum and dad were at home.

"Huh? Lana, you okay?" Oishi looked at me with eyes full of concern.

"Uh. I'm okay. Just tired... First day of school yeah..." I waved it off with a small smile and a wave of my hand.

"You better go back and rest. You look beat." Oishi said concernedly.

"Okay. See you tomorrow then." I smiled at him.

"Ja ne." He smiled, ruffling my hair and turned to walk away.

"Bye." I said softly, raising my hand for a wave, but all it turn out to be was a half-wave before Oishi disappeared around the corner. I heaved a sigh before going back into my house. There was something bugging me, something in my head saying You don't really want him to go, do you? I shook my head, clearing the thought. I purposely dropped my bag on the floor, with half a mind to make some noise in this deathly quiet house, and maybe to make some mess as well. That's the problem with this house, it's too perfect. A maid came rushing into take my bag to my room. Not for long, then. I watched her scamper up the stairs before I truged up after her.

I flunked down on my bed and stared at the ceiling, sighing. I tried dialing my parent's handphone, I guess I needed someone to talk to, but then-

"Sorry I'm not available to answer your call right now, please leave a message after the 'beep' sound."

Should've known. I threw down the receiver. Why is it that everytime I call them they're always busy? Can't they just be not busy for even 1 second? I just need someone to talk to, is that too much for a request?

I decided to go down and do some tennis, it helps me think properly, and sometimes forget all my problems.

Eiji and Oishi [[-If I had a choice-]]2

Recap: "Help!" He mouthed. Maybe I shouldn't leave him there, even I can't stand those girls.

........................................................................


I turned to the bouncing redhead pulling on my wrist.

"Matte Eiji." I stopped him.

"Hoi? Nyaa~? Isn't that Oishi nya? Oi! Ois-" He noticed the wierd-hairstyle-guy through the window and turned around to wave to him, before I cut him off by covering his mouth with my hand.

"You baka. Do you want all those fangirls surrounding you also? I'll go get- what's that guy's name?- Oishi out. And, please try to stay away from those girls, they look like trouble. I don't wanna have to rescue you too." I told him warningly.

"Hoihoi! Got it nyaa~!" He gave me a cheesy grin. I rolled my eyes and strolled into the class.

Now to rescue that guy.

With my famous killer glare, I managed to easily stroll through the shrieking girls and get to the center where Oishi was. All of them glared at me like as if I was an intruder or something, but my eyes were on the verge of shooting out daggers that all of them shrank back.

All the better, eh? Makes my job WAAAY~ easier.

I dragged a stunned Oishi out of the class.

"You okay?" I asked him once we were out of the girls' sight.

"Uhm yeah... Yeah I guess so. Thanks." He grinned, then as if suddenly remembering something- "I'm Oishi Syuichirou, what's yours?" He stuck out his hand.

"It's no problem. I'm Areshi Lana." I grinned and took it.

"Hoi! LAAAANA was amazing nyaa~! All of them were so freaked out nya!" Eiji appeared and jumped onto Oishi, who staggered forward a little.

"Oh. So I see you've met Eiji." Oishi steadied himself, smiled at Eiji, then at me. Does he know Eiji well? Eiji jumped on him so suddenly but he didn't even seem shocked!

"YEAH! Oh ya! Lana wants to join the tennis club nya!" So Oishi plays tennis too.

"Oh. Then you have to get the application form from the office."

"Uhm... okay..."

"Let's go NOW! Let's go let's go let's go let's go!!" Eiji tugged on both of our sleeves and cartwheeled around us. Just then, I heard someone's stomach growl. Eiji stopped his cartwheeling immediately and hugged his stomach.

"Er... Heh heh. I'm hungry." He scratched his hair sheepishly.

"Why don't we go have luuch before Lana gets her form then." Oishi smiled.

"Yeah. Good idea." I nodded my head, and we went down together, with Eiji in the center of me and Oishi, arms around our necks.

"Hoihoi! There's Fuji! OI! FUUUUUUJIIIIII!" Eiji called out to the smiling boy. Some other guys turned around at the same time. Eiji dragged me over to the table.

"Ne, guys this is Lana! He wants to join the tennis club nya!" He introduced me to the table of guys. I spotted a short first year in a white cap among the other boys.

"Oh hi Lana." Fuji smiled.

"Ne, Lana. That's Kaidoh Taka-san Inui Momo Ryoma! And and and that's Oishi and Fuji. And I'm Eiji!" He grinned, sticking out his hand to me. I sweatdropped and whacked him lightly on the head. Then I counted off my fingers...

"You're Kaidoh, Taka-san, Inui, Momo and Ryoma right? Nice to meet all of you." I grinned at them. Then I looked at Oishi, Fuji and Eiji,.

"And OH! You're Oishi and Fuji aaaaaaaaand..... Eiji." I said in a mock-surprised tone, then smirked dangerously at Eiji. Oishi and Fuji smiled nervously.

"Mada mada dane." I turned to see Ryoma playing with his cap.

"Heh heh hi Lana. I'm Ryoma's best buddy." Momo grinned and stuck his hand out to me.

"H-hi Lana. I'm Kawamura Takashi." Taka-san smiled shyly at me. I returned the smile.

"Areshi Lana. Been to many countries such as Australia, China, America, Africa etc. Swims and plays tennis very well. Won almost all the competitions and tournaments s-" I gave Inui a glare that shut him up.

"How did you know all this?" I asked him suspiciously.

"Because he's the dataman!" Fuji smiled. Dataman? More like stalker... But wait, stalkers DON'T go all over the GLOBE, like me, to collect information! So where the hell DID he get those information?

"Ffsssssuuuhh." Did he just... HISS at me?

"Oioi Mamushi!"

"Don't call me Mamushi you baka."

"Ne Mamushi's getting angry."

I thought I saw smoke coming out from Kaidoh's ears.

"STOP CALLING ME MAMUSHI!!!!"

And with that polite note, both of them started a friendly quarrel. Oishi tried to pull them apart.

"Guys... And I thought the cafeteria was getting quieter, or was it you two that were louder than everyone else?" I stared at them. Guys were IMPOSSIBLE. The guys stared at me like I suddenly sprouted a new head or something. But then again, they couldn't beat my killer stare heh heh.

Well, anyway, Oishi managed to break those two apart, and it was time for class.

Next class: Math. Damn was it EASY.

Ryuzaki-sensei, our math teacher kept going on and on about algebraic terms that I already knew loooooooong~ ago. See how smart I am? Heh heh. I fell asleep in class, but I wasn't the only one- Eiji was already snoring beside me, his entire body slumped over his desk.

"MATH TEST!" That surely woke both of us up. I jumped up in my seat as Ryuzaki-sensei passed out the math papers. I flipped through the paper and found that it was SUPER-DUPER-OOOBER easy. I finished it in 15 minutes. I noticed Eiji struggling with the paper beside me. I snickered to myself.

After school that day, I went to the office to get that application form, filled it up and passed it back to that lady beind the counter before going back home. She said to go find out from the Bouchu when will the practices officially start.

"Hai." I answered before I left. But then-

"Ooffhh." I'd bumped into someone.

"Ah gomen gomen! You okay?" Oishi.

"Ah Oishi. Gomenasai I didn't see you there. What're you doing here?"

"Gotta hand up something to the office. You going back soon?" He took out a sealed envolope.

"Yeah. Go on, I'll wait for you." I walked back into the office with him. Oishi smiled at me. He went up to the counter and told the lady there something, I couldn't hear as I was standing riiiiiight at the back.

"Done. Let's go." He turned and walked up to me. I smiled back and we left the school together.

Eiji and Oishi [[-If I had a choice-]]1

I turned in my bed to face my yet-to-ring alarm clock.

4.29am

It was due to ring in 1 minute's time. I stared at the seconds on my digital clock as it ticked closer and closer to 4.30am. A second to 4.30, I reached out my arm and promptly switched the alarm off. I threw back the coveres and sauntered to the window, throwing apart the curtains to reveal a pitch dark outside. Typical. Even my ALARM CLOCK wakes up later than me. Why can't someone esle wake up EARLIER than me for a change. But then again, I wouldn't have the entire wirld to myself, wouldn't I?

I went into my bathroom all the way across my room and did my morning routine-e.g. brush my teeth and wash my face etc. I threw on some exercice clothes over a swimming costume, slipped on my 20 lbs ankle and wrist weights, tucked my black tennis racket over my back and between my elbows(more like how Ryoma does it), and went down to the courts. After some light stretching, I did 100 rounds around the court as warm-up.

Hardly panting, I pushed up my bangs by tying a black band over my forehead, leaving two long black strips down my back. I kicked the ball feeder and it sprang into life, shooting out balls at 0.5sec intervals. I sturck the balls as hard as I could, making multiple dents in the ground. I stopped after about 100 balls. Mopping the sweat from my temples, I dumped all the balls back into the feeder and headed to the toilet for a quick wash before diving into my pool for a 20-lap warm down.

I was almost 7 when I done, and I got out of the pool and went to change.

I stared back at the purple-eyed girl, black-haired girl in the Seigaku boy's uniform. She looked so much like a guy she could easily be mistaken for a guy. I felt the broad shoulders, the perfectly toned arm muscles, the chisled abdominal muscles and the strong thigh muscles. Perfect for swimming and tennis. I grimanced as she grimanced, blinked as she blinked. I put up my hair in a black band, keeping my bangs up, leaving two long strips of black down my back. She looks so much more like a guy now. I went down to eat my breakfast.

Finished, I slung on my school bag and set off for school in a chauffered car. It was about 7.30am when I stepped onto school grounds. First day in my new school. I went to the office to register myself.

"Areshi, Lana. 3rd year, class 6. " I sauntered up to the counter.

"Here." The woman passed me an application form for me to fill up.

"Here's a map, just in case." She smiled at me and handed a map of Seigaku when I gave her back the form.

"Thanks." I said as I walked out of the office.

7.45am. I found my way back to class with my oh-so-wonderful sense of direction, chose a desk and sat down. It's the first day of school, guess the teacher wouldn't mind if I sat anywhere I wanted.

15mins later, the bell rang, and the noise level grew as everyone started to rush in and talk at the same time. Gah. I hate noise, and people. Why do they have to make so much noise EVERYWHERE they go? Will it kill them just to keep a little quieter? I sighed and laid my head on my arms on the table.

"Hoi? Are you okay nya?" Came a concerned, but bubbly voice(illusionist: Well, if it's Eiji, it's gotta have at least some degree of his personality in it, right?) from beside me. Great WHO is it NOW?

I lifted up my head to see a bubbly redhead with a bandaid on his cheek. Hmm wonder what's THAT for.

"Huh?" I looked at him.

"You okay nya?" He repeated himself, looking more concerned. Maybe this guy's not really okay nya. He thought.

"Oh. Yeah... Yeah I'm okay." I rested my chin on my proped-up fists, and looked at him with deep curiosity. He broke into a cheesy grin that stretched over his entire face. Wow someone can actually SMILE like that.

"YOSH! You're OKAY!!!" He yelled. "Can I sit beside you then?"

"Uhm.. Yeah sure... Suit yourself." I was rather taken aback by his sudden outburst and didn't know what to say.

"YAY!!" He gave me a cheesy peace sign and plopped down in the seat beside me. Oh, he plays tennis too? I noticed his tennis bag.

He minded his own business for a second, then suddenly turned to face me with that cheesy grin of his still plastered on his face. "OH! I don't know your name yet! So, what's your name?"

"Oh. Uh A-Areshi Lana." My eyes stretched wide in shock again.

"Heh! Mine's Eiji Kikumaru!" He grinned wider(illusionist: Like that's possible. His grin is already soo wide...). Then, the english teacher came in.

"Class, we have a new student from America with us today. Areshi-san, please come up and introduce yourself. Since it's english period now, everyone will ask her questions in english." Harumi-sensei addressed the class, then she smiled at me. I took that as a que to go to the front now.

"Areshi, Lana. 14. I just came back from America. I play tennis and swim." I leaned back on the whiteboard and put my hands behind my head and looked around at the class. Some of them raised their hands.

"Did you really stay in America?" Asked a girl with over-sized glasses.

"Yes." And maybe the rest of the world as well. I rolled my eyes while she gaped at me.

"Nya~! Is your tennis good?" You could guess that, right?

"Wait till I play you then we'll say." Eiji turned to talk to a brown-haired smiling boy with closed eyes. What are they talking about? ME? I thought to myself.

"Oh! YAY! I WANNA PLAY WITH YOU NYAA~!" ZzZ he just needed a translation. I smiled weakly at him.

"Saa~ That's cool. You wanna join the tennis club?" I turned to see that brown-haired smiling boy with closed eyes.

"Uhm.. Sure?" I answered uncertainly. He continued smiling.

I answered a few more... dumb questions before the teacher let me return to my seat.

After the lunch bell rang and the teacher walked out of class, Eiji jumped on me.

"Hoi Lana! Meet Fuji!" He ruffled my hair.

"What's a Fu- Oh. Hi." I turned to see that brown-haired smiling boy with closed eyes. "So you're Fuji."

"Saa~ That's right." He smiled. Gosh does he just love smiling or something? Why are his eyes always closed? Maybe he's hiding something behind those eyes and that smile...

"Nya~! Lana said she wanted to join the tennis club! Let's go!" Eiji dragged me to class 1. Fuji stared at his hyper friend through closed eye(illusionist: Heh staring with closed eyes.) for a moment before that smile returned to his face.

"Hey where're yo-" Eiji had dragged me past class 2 on the way, and I caught a glimpse of a guy with a weird kind of hairstyle, kind of like half-shaved with two antaenna hanging down his forehead. He was surrounded by tons and tons of fangirls who were shrieking for his autograph, and he looked kinda stressed out, smiling really nervously and such. He glanced in my direction for a second with really pleading eyes that locked onto mine.

"Help!" He mouthed. Maybe I shouldn't leave him there, even I can't stand those girls.

Eiji and Oishi [[-If I had a choice-]] intro

Your name: Areshi, Lana (Last, first)
Your age: 14 going on 15
Your year/class: 3rd year/ class 6 (Same as Eiji and Fuji.)
Eye colour: deep purple
Hair: short black, longer fringe than behind(Short enough to be mistaken for a guy)
Likes: Nobody really knows, but from what we gather: Swimming, tennis, black things, and being the no.1 in everything.
Hates: Everyone, skirts, flashy colours, annoying people... quite a load of things.


Appearance:


Background:

Mum and Dad, no siblings

Both your parents are always forever working OT or overseas for some bloody conference meeting or something like that. One reason- that they're obsessed with a craving to make more money. Their excuse? To give our girl all the best. Hell like that's true. In a way, yes. They gave you loads of presents whenever they returned from some weird country, and your allowance itself is a small fortune, you lived in a gigantic mansion with an indoor swimming pool plus an indoor tennis court. Why? Because you liked both sports. They'd even got a you a personal coach. Your own room is the size of your neighbour's living room, plus an attached bathroom. You have just come back from America, the last place your parents worked, and so your english and japanese is good. After repeatedly moving from country to country, state to state, you made your parents promise never to make you move along with them anymore. Because you moved so much, you never stayed in a place for more than a year, and you changed schools more times than you could count.

You knew that many people wanted to live like you did, but secretly, you wished that your parents weren't always so busy, and that they'd spend some time with you once in a while. But, you soon grew used to coming back to an empty house. And somehow, that made you a little, different from other people.


The next day you are about to go to your new school, Seishun Gakuen-or Seigaku. You heard the tennis team is good, so you decided to join the tennis club.

Note: You're really smart and you ace all your subjects, but no one dares to go near you because of you killer glares, or preferably you think that everyone's scared of you. You're good in many languages, seeing that you've been to countless of countries. Your tennis is awesome, and so is your swimming, you have won countless of competitions in every single country you have been to. Your stack of gold medals is what every sportsman would want to achieve, and you decorate your room with them. And because of your short hair and your hate for skirts and flashy colours, people usually mistake you for a guy. But then again, like you care.