Tears welling up in her eyes, the Hyotei first year was already on her feet. "You wanna bet?" She took off down the street even as her best friend stared sadly after her.

    "Oh ...you have to talk about this. Running's not going to fix your broken heart," whispered.

Run Away

    "Hey." sat down on the ground next to her best friend. "I knew you'd be here."

stayed quiet for a moment more before glancing over at her dark haired friend. "I can think up here, y'know? It's quieter and I have it all to myself." She was referring to the fact that the rooftop of the school was her favorite place to hang out. The view was spectacular and no one ever bothered her – just the way she liked it.

The two friends remained in comfortable silence until decided to break it. "Are you ready to talk yet?" she asked.

turned her head away and looked down through the chain-link fence at the tennis courts, where the boys' tennis team was currently practicing. "I'm sorry for ditching you before," she said, ignoring 's question.

    "..." She sighed. "I'm worried about you."

She felt a pang of guilt and turned back to smile reassuringly at her friend. "I'll be fine, y'know. It's not like we were exclusive or anything. It was just a few dates..."

found her friend's smile to be decidedly fake. But she sighed, knowing no one could coax her friend to talk unless she wanted to. She just had to give her time. was concerned that if continued to bottle up her feelings, the fallout wouldn't be pretty. "I'm here if you need anything. Anything at all." She reached out and squeezed 's hand.

    "Thanks, ." This time smiled genuinely, and even though it was small, would take what she could get. "I promise I'll talk. I just... I need time."

    "Alright."

---

One year later...

    "Okay, class... Remember that project I told you about?" The teacher sighed at the blank looks his students gave him. "Anyways–" He cleared his throat. "– today, I will be assigning you partners."

    "Partners? For what again?"

    "I don't remember any project."

    "Oh crap. Now I remember what he's talking about..."

    "Zzzzz...."

The teacher's eyebrow twitched. "Pay attention! This project is a third of your final grade. Depending on your gender, you and your 'wife' or 'husband' will be in charge of taking care of your 'baby' for two and a half weeks." He lifted up one of the baby dolls behind his desk. "Do not even think about neglecting your child. There is a computer chip embedded into each doll, which will monitor your progress." He steadily ignored the groans and complaints. "Now that I've reminded you... I will now announce the partners."

    "Kyaaaa~! I want to be with Hiyoshi-kun!"

    "Are you kidding? I want to be Ohtori-kun's wife!"

    "No! I'll be with Hiyoshi-kun!"

    "Hey! Who said you get Ohtori-kun?!"

Hiyoshi Wakashi just ignored all the squeals from the girls and the glares from the guys. "Che..."

Ohtori Choutarou, meanwhile, was ducking his head and trying to hide his blush.

The teacher cleared his throat loudly. "Settle down. Settle down." Finally, when the class hushed, he picked up his clipboard. "Now, this was all done randomly. I merely picked names out of a hat, so no complaining." Most of the students were eyeing the partners they wanted, while a select few remained nonchalant. "Okay... the first set of partners is... Hiyoshi Wakashi and ."

The females in the class either groaned in disappointment or glared at , who ignored them all, save for sending them a sweet smile.

    "The second set is... Ohtori Choutarou and ."

This led to another uproar in the class as all the girls complained that both of the tennis members were already taken. That sparked the anger of the rest of the guys in the class, who wondered aloud why those two got all the attention. The girls retaliated with all the reasons why and the irritated male classmates constantly interrupted them. As the teacher tried in vain to calm down the class, Ohtori turned around in his seat and smiled at his project partner.

    "This will be interesting, ne?" he asked, a wry note in his voice.

returned the kind boy's smile, even though inside, she was dreading going near the rest of the tennis club when she had successfully avoided them for a year. "Yeah, it will."

---

    "What the hell is that, Ohtori?" Mukahi Gakuto sat down at the designated tennis table for lunch, eyeing the doll the younger player cradled in his arms. "Don't tell me you've reverted in age."

Ohtori sighed. "Mukahi-san, it's–"

    "That baby project from Yamamoto-sensei's class." Oshitari Yuushi joined the table with a slight smirk playing along the corners of his lips. "I remember that from last year."

Mukahi frowned. "I never had to take care of a doll last year."

    "That's because you had your partner do all the work," Oshitari retorted dryly. "The poor girl."

    "Oh yeah, now I remember!" Mukahi brightened, but then frowned again. "I ended up with the least attractive girl in the class." He gagged. "She was such a bitch."

Oshitari cleared his throat. "Again, that was only because you wouldn't help her out, and she was very attractive, if I remember right. You just wouldn't admit it."

    "Whatever." Mukahi waved his hand in the air as if that would signal the end of the conversation. But then he turned his attention to Ohtori again. "So, it looks like your partner dumped you with the doll. Is she going to make you do all the work?"

    "No, -san and I have come up with a schedule." Ohtori rocked the baby some more as it made whimpering noises. "We're rotating days and nights."

    "-san?" Mukahi shook his head. "That name doesn't ring a bell at all. Do you know her, Oshitari?"

The tennis genius shook his head, choosing not to say anything, though his eyes had a glint of recognition. "Hmm..."

    "Her first name's ." Ohtori scanned the lunch area, but could find no trace of his project partner. "Well, it doesn't look like she's in here right now. She must eat lunch somewhere else."

    "I'm guessing Hiyoshi has to do this, too?" Oshitari directed his question at Ohtori.

    "Yeah, but he's not too happy about it." The second year winced as he remembered the mood his team member was in after having talked to his partner, .

    "What the hell is that?"

Ohtori sighed and turned to find his doubles partner staring at him strangely. "Hi Shishido-san."

---

    "Oi... that project is such a pain." Shishido eyed the doll with distaste as he and Ohtori headed to the tennis clubroom. "I don't even see what the point is."

    "We learn the responsibilities of caring for a child and of working together with your respective spouse," Ohtori replied factually. "I think it'll be fun."

    "Only you, Ohtori," Shishido rolled his eyes. Then a thought occurred to him suddenly. "I can't believe I didn't even ask. Who's your 'wife'?"

Ohtori blushed. " ."

Shishido stopped walking. "What?"

The younger doubles player had to turn around, wondering why his senpai had stopped suddenly. " ," he repeated, a puzzled look entering his eyes. "Do you know her, Shishido-san?"

The capped boy was silent for awhile, and just when Ohtori was going to say something, Shishido shook his head. "No... no, I don't." Then his legs were suddenly working again as he brushed past his teammate quickly.

As he watched his senpai hurry away, Ohtori didn't believe him for a second.

---

    "I'm so sorry, Ohtori-kun! My teacher needed to talk to me!" rushed up towards her partner, who was just heading into the tennis courts, racket in one hand and baby cradled in the other. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I know you have tennis practice!"

Ohtori looked down into the anxious girl's face, not the least bit mad. "It's okay. Practice hasn't started yet. You're just in time." He smiled and handed over their 'child'. "I'll take him back after practice ends."

She supported the doll in both arms as it cried softly. "Him? Who says it's a him?" She smiled slyly. "You've spent some time thinking about this, haven't you?"

Ohtori blushed and stuttered. "N-not at all!"

    "-chan? Is that you?"

stiffened at the familiar voice and turned around slowly. "Long time no see, Oshitari-kun," she said stiffly.

The genius pushed his spectacles up his nose. "If I didn't know better, I would've believed you transferred. I haven't seen you around school at all."

    "We are in different years, senpai," she replied. "Besides–" A bitter smile crossed her lips. "– I'm really good at disappearing when I need to."

    "Eh?" Ohtori looked from his school partner to his tennis teammate. Something else was going on that he didn't know about. "You two know each other?"

    "It was a long time ago," whispered.

    "Yeah, it was."

Another voice sounded from behind , and she instantly recognized it. If Ohtori thought she had frozen up when she heard Oshitari's voice, she looked like a statue now. She clutched the baby doll closer to her as if that would protect her somehow. But instead of answering the voice, like he thought she would, just turned to Ohtori awkwardly. "I'm sorry about being late," she apologized softly. "It won't happen again. Goodbye." Then, before another word was spoken, she ran away.

    "There she goes again." Oshitari sighed.

    "What was that all about?" Ohtori asked aloud. He looked from one senpai to another. "Shishido-san? You said you didn't know her."

Shishido was staring emotionlessly at the spot had occupied. He murmured, "It was a long time ago."

---

    'Baka. Baka. Baka!' ran and ran up the school stairs. 'Did you really think you would never see him again? You go to the same school, for cryin' out loud!' she scolded herself inwardly. 'I don't want to see him again!'

She burst out onto the school roof, startling the birds that had settled there. Once she shut the door behind her, she leaned against it and slowly slid down until she hit the ground. The baby doll was now crying madly after having being jostled roughly in her arms when she ran up the stairs. The cries finally reached her ears and she immediately started rocking the doll softly, whispering to it. "Shh... shh... hush now," she whispered. "Don't cry."

    "I didn't realize you wanted to be exclusive."

    "It's all right, little one."

    "I can't afford to have a girlfriend right now. Not when I just made the Regulars."

    "Don't cry."

    "I'm sorry, but I can't give up my tennis."

    "Don't cry."

With Shishido's voice ringing in her head, realized she had now been talking to herself since the doll had quieted awhile ago. She felt the tears roll down her cheeks and she clutched the baby tighter. "Don't cry..." she murmured to herself.

---

Shishido had been off his game the entire practice, and Ohtori glanced at him worriedly when Atobe called him over, frowning. "Do you think Atobe-san is mad?"

    "No. He probably just wants to know what's wrong with one of his best doubles players," Oshitari answered as he came up from behind the younger player.

    "Oshitari-san, what exactly is wrong with Shishido-san?" Even though he was close to his doubles partner, Ohtori had never seen the third year so out of it. He was usually so focused and ready.

    "-chan brings out a lot of memories for him."

    "He told me he didn't know her."

The genius smirked. "Did you believe him?"

    "No," Ohtori replied without hesitation. "He was lying through his teeth."

Oshitari chuckled lightly. "Yes well, wherever 's concerned, Shishido's never been that good at lying... except to her."

Ohtori began to piece together everything in his head. "Were they... were -san and Shishido-san in a relationship?" he guessed.

    "They had a brief affair during the summer before our second year and her first year to attend Hyotei Gakuen," Oshitari informed. "We were at Atobe's summer house. Her family had a house down the street. We met her on the beach one fateful day."

Ohtori gulped as images ran around in his head. "A-affair? But they're too young–"

    "Baka." Oshitari flicked the younger player's forehead. "I meant, they went out on a lot of dates during the summer together. Alone. It was clear to me they were falling for each other. But then..." He trailed off as he stared at the capped boy, who was still talking to Atobe.

    "What?" Ohtori tensed, preparing himself for the worst.

    "Shishido chose." The Hyotei genius shook his head. "He chose tennis over her."

---

    ", you can't run away from this. Don't you see?" took her best friend by the shoulder, trying to shake some sense into her. "No matter how much it hurts, you need to talk to him. You need closure."

    "...I'm just so tired."

    "Oh ..."

    "I haven't stopped, y'know?" looked up from the doll at her friend, the tears falling down her eyes. "I tried so hard to forget him... but then I remember a smile, a touch...a laugh."

gathered her friend in her arms and hugged her, offering the comfort that only a friend could. ', you still...'

    "You know what I can't get over?"

    "What?" she replied softly.

    "He looks even hotter with that blue cap and his hair cut short!" burst into hysterical giggles, even as she confessed, "I just want him back... that's all I ask."

    "He broke your heart."

She quieted down. "He's the only one that can piece it back together again."

---

    "Ryou-kun! Ryou-kun! Aren't the fireworks beautiful?"

Shishido hit the same tennis ball over and over against the wall of a side building. Tennis practice was already over, and he didn't feel like going home just yet. Not when he had been reminded of what he lost.

    "I wish we could stay like this forever! Just you and me! What do you think?"

That summer had been the best summer of his life. He never expected to fall for anyone. No one had ever really interested him. Then came along this ball of sunshine that was cheerfulness and mystery wrapped all in one. She could be so care-free about one thing, but then something else would make her turn serious. Before he knew it, he was being drawn to her.

    "Wow, you're amazing! Guess what, Ryou-kun? You just met your number one fan!"

Somehow, she managed to get under his skin. Then she was all he could think about. One night, he stayed awake wondering what that meant for him. They were still in junior high! Their relationship couldn't last... or at least, that's what he told himself a year ago.

    "I would never ask you to choose between tennis and me. Tennis is so important to you."

He decided he had to distance himself from her. There was tough competition at Hyotei, and if he wanted to keep his varsity spot, he would have to concentrate on tennis alone. She made him lose focus. She made him want... want other things. He had to break off things with her permanently.

    "You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

But he had been so cruel. He didn't know why he said such mean things. Maybe he really wanted to push her away for good, and that's the only way he knew how. He lied to her about not thinking they were exclusive. He didn't want anyone else to have her, but there was no other way.

    "I don't understand. I thought we were happy...?"

When she had finally left him, running away in tears, he had never felt so alone. However, he pushed it to the back of his mind and persevered, like always. For the past year, she had been nothing more than wisps of a long-forgotten dream.

    "It won't be the same without you..."

    "Damn it!" Shishido smashed the tennis ball with all his strength and it rebounded over his head.

    "Now Ore-sama would never show such a lack in control," a voice interrupted his tormented thoughts.

    "What do you want, Atobe?" he asked tiredly.

    "You're off your game, Shishido. You have to fix it." The elegant captain of the tennis captain tossed his hair back dramatically. "Soon."

The capped player growled. "I don't know how."

    "Hmm..." Atobe placed his fingers over his face in his classic pose as he studied his teammate. "Perhaps you should be talking to someone else about this? Like, for instance, Ohtori's new partner?"

    "How did you know about that?" he snapped.

    "You should know by now that Ore-sama knows everything." Atobe smirked. "I see that -chan looks as pretty as ever. I knew she still decided to attend Hyotei, even after your break-up during the summer. You wouldn't know it though, would you?"

Shishido turned away to glare at the wall. "Who cares?"

    "Seems like you do." Atobe shook his head. "Shishido, get your act together and figure out what you want. You don't need to sacrifice tennis to be with her." He started walking away. "Don't you think you two have been alone long enough?"

---

A week and a half later...

ran up to her partner before he headed into practice. "Hi Choutarou-kun!" She was smiling, but her eyes kept a sharp watch for the person she was avoiding.

    "Ah, -chan." Ohtori returned her smile. The project caused them to spend a lot of time together, and they became close enough within the week to call each other by first names. "Here's Makoto." He handed over the baby carefully.

    "Choutarou-kun, I love how you're taking this so seriously!" genuinely laughed as she took the doll in her arms, cradling it. "You're gonna be a great father some day."

Ohtori turned red and stammered. "T-that's n-not for a l-long t-time!"

giggled, loving how Ohtori always made her feel at ease.

Shishido gripped his racket tightly, his eyes narrowed as he watched his doubles partner and ex-girlfriend act so friendly together. She was smiling and laughing. God, he missed her laugh...

    "Jealous?"

    "Shut up, Oshitari," Shishido snapped without even looking at him.

    "Oh, touché." The tennis genius shrugged even as a smirk adorned his face. "I think you want something your doubles partner has."

The capped player feigned indifference. "I don't know what you mean."

    "Y'know, -chan has a tendency to run away from her problems." Shishido turned around and locked gazes with Oshitari as the genius continued. "But it seems like she's not the only one running away."

---

gazed down from the roof at the tennis courts, watching as the Hyotei boy's team practiced. The doll was currently making sleeping noises in the basket she had gotten from her house. Unconsciously, she searched for a blue cap, but frowned when she couldn't find it. 'He never misses practice. Where is he?'

    "I finally found you."

stiffened and turned around slowly. Her hands went behind her back to grip the chain-link fence for support. "Hello, Shishido-san," she said softly.

He stepped towards her hesitatingly, clad in the tennis team uniform. She cursed the fact that he looked as handsome as ever. "-chan."

She looked at the ground. "Please don't call me that."

He winced. "I want to talk to you."

    "There's nothing to talk about." She pushed away from the fence on shaky knees. "I have to go." She bolted past him for the door, but he was quicker. He cut off her escape route and grabbed her shoulders. She wouldn't look at him. "Let me go."

Shishido gazed at her as his hand lightly touched her hair. "Why are you always running from me?" he whispered.

closed her eyes. "You hurt me."

    "This is long overdue, but..." Shishido leaned down until their foreheads were touching. "I'm sorry. You'll never know how much."

The apology and his remorseful tone soothed her somewhat, but she didn't know what it meant. Her stomach had butterflies all over again from being so close to him. It had been too long since they had even talked, let alone hugged or held hands. "Shishido-san, what are you really here for?"

He breathed in her scent deeply and braced himself. "I want you back."

She had wanted to hear those words forever. "No."

    "No?" Shishido never thought one word could hurt so much.

    "You're just going to hurt me." She shook her head. "I'm too scared to let it happen again."

He squeezed her shoulders tightly, desperation suddenly sinking in. "I made a mistake and I'm sorry. Please... I never realized it until now. Until I saw you again... Tennis is a huge part of my life, but it's not worth anything if I can't share it with someone." He leaned down even further and then they were pressed cheek to cheek. "I want to share it with you. Please... come back to me. You can trust me now. I know what I've lost, and I never make the same mistake twice."

    "Oh..." shut her eyes as she felt the tears forming. There was heart-stopping silence for a minute before she murmured, "You always knew what to say."

Shishido felt a spark of hope. "Then...?"

pulled back to look him in the eyes. "I think I've been waiting for you this entire time," she confessed. "I couldn't let you go." She touched his cheek gently with her fingers. "You have always meant something to me. I never stopped caring for you." Her fingers trailed up to his head. "You cut your hair..."

    "Yeah." For some reason, he was embarrassed and ducked his head sheepishly. "I made such a big deal about it, but...in the end, it was only hair."

She tapped his cap. "You look great."

    "Thanks." He beamed at her before his face turned serious. "Y'know, since we're getting back together, you'll need a 'divorce'."

    "A divorce?" scrunched her nose in confusion. "What?"

    "I won't allow Choutarou to keep you as his wife." He settled his hands on her hips. "You're mine now."

grinned. "Oh, I don't know... Choutarou-kun is awfully cute."

There was a teasing glint in her eye that eased Shishido's worries, but he played along anyway. "He's not that great y'know. He can be kind of annoying," he lied. "You wouldn't want him, right?" just shrugged, not answering him. "Does this mean you'll run away again?"

Despite herself, laughed and threw her arms around his neck. "Never again." Then she pressed her lips against his, sealing her promise with a sweet kiss.

fin.
Krys
8.October.2005