Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction ❯ Reflections of Myself - Rikkaidai AU - Niouyagyuu ❯ Chapter 1

Reflection of Myself

A Prince of Tennis Rikkaidai AU Fic

By Andrea Readwolf [andrea_readwolf @hotmail.com]

Chapter: 1

Rating: PG

Pairings: Niou Masaharu + Yagyuu Hiroshi, Marui Bunta/Jackal, Yukimura Seiichi/Sanada Genichirou

Genre: Drama

Warnings: AU story. Shounen-ai. Family secrets.

Spoilers: Rikkaidai arc, perhaps.

Summary: Niou transfers into Rikkai HS as a freshman with ulterior motives.

 

Disclaimer: Tennis no Ohjisama, characters and settings are the property of Konomi Takeshi.

 

Date Started: September 2, 2004

Status: chapter complete

Revised: November 18, 2004

Word Count: 4628

 

 

"Reflections of Myself" Chapter 1

 

 

He hung his keys on the hook near the door and kicked off his shoes.

 

"Masaharu? Is that you?" a woman called from the interior

 

"Yeah, Mom," he called back, heading towards the kitchen. "Whatcha doing home so early?"

 

A young and attractive woman, just a year past thirty now, appeared in the kitchen doorway, wiping her hands on a dish rag that hung from her waitress uniform. "I was just making myself something to eat. Wanna join me?"

 

"You're working tonight?" he returned, frowning.

 

She smiled absently and turned back towards the rice maker sitting on the kitchen table. "Mmm, just a few extra hours."

 

"But you just got in from the convenience store!"

 

"It's all right, Masaharu," his mother chided gently, scooping up a portion of the rice and cupping it into a triangular shape.

 

"You're working too much again, Mom," he growled, bumping her away from the rice cooker and taking over making several rice balls. "If you would just let me--"

 

"No. Absolutely not," the woman cut in, frowning angrily. "I told you before. I don't want to even hear you *think* about getting a part time job while you're in school. Your job *is* school.

 

"Now," she said after a minute of angry silence stretched between them. "Tell me about your first day of high school? Was it fun? How's the school? Do you think you'll like it? What class are you in? Are there any nice students that you think you'll get along with? How about your teachers?"

 

"Mom. Mom!" Masaharu laughed as he placed a plate with three perfected rice balls on the table before her. "Chill, eh? It was just another first day of school, like every other one, huh?"

 

"No day is ever quite like another," his mother replied. "Ikadaikimasu!"

 

"Okay, Inspector," Masaharu grinned around his own rice ball mouthful. "Ask me no more questions and I'll tell you no more lies."

 

"Ha, ha," his mother scoffed, reaching over to ruffle his hair.

 

"Hey! Not the hair! Mom!" he protested, trying to dodge sneaky fingers that threatened to mess up his perfected style.

 

"Spill it, little man--I want all the dirty details---or the scissors are coming out," she threatened.

 

Masaharu glared. "You wouldn't."

 

His mom smirked back at him. "There's one way to find out...."

 

"I'm in 1-C," he started after a weighing pause. "There looks like there might be a few other interesting kids in the class. Maybe some potentials in the other classes. Don't know yet for sure. Met most of the teachers. They all seem okay. Tomorrow's the sports pep rally, and then we'll all get one week to sample the different clubs before formal sign ups begin."

 

"So which clubs are you going to look at?"

 

"Tennis," he replied promptly, and his mom huffed an exaggerated putout sigh.

 

"Well, I *know* *that*---" she answered. "After all, isn't that the reason you wanted to go to this school so badly in the first place? They've got one the best tennis teams in Japan, ne?"

 

Masaharu blinked. "I didn't know you knew that..."

 

"You're my son," his mother quipped, standing up to go wash off her plate. "It's my job to know all things having to do with tennis or else I fear you'd never have a reason to talk to me!"

 

"Mom--" he started with embarrassment, but she cut him off.

 

"I mean, aren't you going to at least pretend to look at any of the other clubs?" she clarified. "You never know what interesting people might be waiting for you to find them, ne?"

 

"I wasn't planning on it, no. Not really."

 

"Well, you should go look around while you've got the chance," she told him. "You might see something that strikes your fancy. Oh my god, is it already that late?" she cried, catching sight of the digital clock on the microwave. "I need to get going or I'm gonna miss the bus."

 

"Mom!" Masaharu stopped her near the door, and before she could reach for her keys he caught her in a hug, unmindful of the fact that he practically towered over her. "Love you."

 

His mother's surprise softened immediately into a reciprocating embrace. "I love you, too, baby. Try not to stay up too late, hmm? See you later," she added, reaching up onto her toes to kiss his cheek and snatching up her keys at the same time.

 

"Be safe!" he called after her, watching as she waved and darted across the street to the approaching bus.

 

And then he shut the door.

 

~~~****~~~

 

Niou Masaharu and his mother lived alone. They didn't own a dog or a cat because, frankly, they couldn't afford one. Masaharu's father wasn't dead, but he wasn't a figure in their lives, either. He had another family, a wife and a couple of kids, somewhere. Masaharu only saw the man about once a year; otherwise, he was just a name on a check that arrived every other month--barely enough to cover the rent. Once a year, an extra check arrived to help pay for school tuition, but somehow it never seemed to contain enough to cover everything...

 

Niou Satomi had been a junior in high school when Masaharu's father spotted her at her weekend job. He'd flattered her, and bedded her, and knocked her up, to boot. Apparently, he'd been kind enough to offer to pay for an abortion. Masaharu was rather thankful that his mom had refused.

 

He knew that education was important to his mom because she had never been able to finish high school or even attempt to go to college. And now Masaharu was attending a fancy private school. Rikkaidai High School--one of the best in the country.

 

His mom had been so thrilled and proud when he had passed the entrance exams---they weren't exactly easy, after all. Especially if one was trying to transfer over from a public school, like Masaharu was. But he'd done it.

 

He'd gotten in.

 

That was the first step. The hardest step. Now he was ready to move on with his plan.

 

~~~****~~~

 

"You're new."

 

Masaharu looked at the other boy, draped casually over the back of the bench he was currently lounging on, before turning back to the tennis courts. "You don't say," he responded, because apparently the kid was waiting for him to say something.

 

The redhead frowned and popped his bubble gum. "What position did you play at your old school?"

 

"Who? Me?" Niou tried for his most innocent 'I-didn't-do-it' voice. "What makes you think I've ever played tennis before?"

 

Red almost choked on his gum. It was rather amusing to watch him cough and sputter for a moment. "What!" he finally managed to spit out. "You can't be serious! You haven't played before, and you're trying out for the tennis club? Are you crazy?"

 

"Certifiably insane," Masaharu answered, grinning. "Niou Masaharu."

 

"Yeah, I know. We're in the same class," Red replied, practically growling. "You're the only new kid in our class, you know. Everyone else went to junior high together. We've pretty much been together for the last 3 years. Some of us even went to the Elementary Division."

 

"How nice for you all."

 

"It's pretty hard to transfer into Rikkaidai from an outside school," Red continued on as if Masaharu hadn't said anything at all.

 

"Yes, I know."

 

"And, yet, here you are!" Red exclaimed again, clearly impressed.

 

"Here I am," Masaharu agreed, resisting the temptation to shake his head in exasperation.

 

"OH! Look! Buchou's going to play against Nakujima-buchou!"

 

"Buchou?" Masaharu repeated, obediently looking to the court in question.

 

A slender, dark-haired teen--a first year, like themselves, Masaharu noted--was shaking hands and smiling at a rather broader-shouldered spiky-haired blond third year.

 

"Yukimura-san," Red explained absently. "He was captain of the junior high team last year. And that's this year's high school captain, Nakujima. He was vice-captain when he was on the junior high team. A pretty good guy; not an ass like the original captain..."

 

Masaharu was about to ask how good they were, but right then Yukimura served, and he had his answer.

 

~~~****~~~

 

"So? Was it as great as you thought it would be?" his mom asked before she'd even dropped her keys.

 

Masaharu looked up from the comic book he was reading. "Huh?"

 

"Don't' give me that!" Satomi teased, grinning like an excited schoolgirl. "I *know* you checked out the tennis club today, so tell-- Is it as good as you'd thought it'd be?"

 

Masaharu grinned, remembered the match between the two captains.

 

"Better," he answered, and his mom squealed with happy delight, rushing over to the couch and plopping down next to him, tucking her feet beneath her. "So, you like it, huh? Gonna join?"

 

"Of course I am."

 

"Tell me, tell me, tell me *everything!" she demanded.

 

Sometimes it was weird--like his mom was more of a teenager than a grown woman, instead of his mother. Still, Masaharu wouldn't change her for anyone or anything. Not even--

 

~~~****~~~

 

"Damn, Yagyuu! How many times are you gonna keep whacking that poor thing?" Marui Bunta whistled before popping his gum.

 

"Is there a purpose for your being here, Marui?" Yagyuu asked calmly, swinging his golf club again and effectively whacking the innocent looking white ball.

 

"Yeah. Keiko wants to know if you're gonna run for student council again this year or not," the redhead replied with another snap of his bubble gum.

 

"If I must," Yagyuu replied. "Now, if that's all, your gum chewing is distracting."

 

"You should come back to the tennis club," Marui announced suddenly, frowning.

 

"We're already discussed my reasons for leaving, Marui. They haven't changed."

 

"You play tennis?" Niou interrupted with casual curiosity.

 

Yagyuu paused in mid-swing to look up at him.

 

"Yagyuu, this is Niou--"

 

"I'm quite aware of who he is, Marui," the taller boy stopped him. "I am merely curious as to why he is here."

 

"Just trying to be nice," Masaharu grinned.

 

"Be nice, Yagyuu. Niou-kun and I are friends, right, Niou?"

 

Both Masaharu and Yagyuu made a rather rude, mocking snorting sound before looking at each other with surprise. Then Yagyuu turned back to Marui.

 

"You just enjoy watching someone else get in trouble for a change," he replied, shooting a sideways glance towards Masaharu. "What was it again? A bug while the girls were changing? Deodorant replaced with spray paint?"

 

"Don't forget about the fish tanks," Masaharu reminded the other cheekily. "But I really can't take credit for the roach. It was already there."

 

"And all this during our first week."

 

"Yeah, I know. It's been a slow start," Masaharu mockingly apologized.

 

"Stop being such a stick in the mud, Yagyuu," Marui complained. "It's not like anyone was hurt or anything. Frankly, I think it's refreshing!"

 

"Marui, you are hardly a candidate for the voice of reason."

 

The redhead snapped his gum angrily. "Niou's going to join the tennis club."

 

"Good for him."

 

"Fine. Whatever," Marui huffed. "See you in class," he added before stalking off.

 

Masaharu shot Yagyuu one last look before turning to follow the redhead at a more leisurely pace. Hands shoved into his back pants' pockets he strolled away, whistling, rounding a random corner and walking into a scene he hadn't quite expected to find.

 

The previous year's tennis captain--Yukimura-- had another boy pinned to the school wall.

 

The fact that the second teen was both taller and wider than Yukimura did not detract from the fact that it was the slighter boy who was most definitely the aggressor as he shoved his tongue into the taller boy's mouth.

 

Yukimura ended the kiss and turned to look at Masaharu, as if he wasn't surprised at all to see him standing there.

 

"Niou-kun," he greeted amicably.

 

"Yukimura-kun?" Masaharu returned somewhat bemusedly.

 

The other boy reached absently for his cap.

 

"Sanada, Niou-kun intends to join the tennis club," Yukimura offhandedly introduced the two. "He's in Marui's class."

 

"Actually, I'm looking for Marui right now. That Yagyuu-guy seemed to really upset him. I thought he'd run off this way."

 

Yukimura frowned thoughtfully. Sanada was already frowning. "He probably went to look for Jackal," the taller boy suggested.

 

"Yes, he was supposed to return today, wasn't he?" Yukimura looked up at Sanada for confirmation.

 

Masaharu frowned. "Jackal--his doubles partner, right?"

 

"Ah, that's correct," Yukimura turned back to him, smiling. "He was away in South America during the break, so he hasn't been to school yet. But I believe he will be in your class."

 

"Look forward to meeting him," Masaharu replied.

 

"I would suggest giving them some time alone," Yukimura continued. "I'm sure you understand doubles players, ne, Niou-kun? You're a doubles player yourself, am I correct?"

 

"Yeah, generally. You two doubles, too?" he couldn't resist asking.

 

Sanada glowered at him, but Yukimura just chuckled. "Partners, yes. Doubles, occasionally. But mostly Sanada and myself play Singles. Could we, perhaps, interest you in a game?"

 

The match from the other day was still impressively imprinted in Masaharu's mind. He grinned. "Is he as any good as you are?" he questioned, nodding his head in Sanada's direction.

 

"Would you care to find out?" Sanada finally addressed him directly.

 

~~~****~~~

 

It was pretty easy to distinguish the former junior high regular tennis players from the high school regular members. Besides the obvious fact that the junior high regulars were freshmen currently.

 

Rikkaidai High School's tennis club was top class, one of the best in all of Japan, but so was their junior high team. In fact, last year's junior high club was number one in nationals. There wasn't a junior high student who was serious about tennis who didn't know Rikkaidai's Junior High School tennis club members' names, and Masaharu was no different.

 

Unfortunately, Masaharu's junior high hadn't been nearly so great.

 

Meeting these boys, playing with them, joining their ranks and being one of the greatest players.... That was one of Masaharu's reasons for joining Rikkaidai High School.

 

But it wasn't the first.

 

No, his main reason for joining was---

 

~~~****~~~

 

"Niou-kun."

 

He looked up from his notebook where he was doodling a picture of a well-endowed kitsune.

 

"Would you kindly return my golf bags?" Yagyuu requested calmly, holding out a garishly primary colored tennis bag with plastic tennis racquets--the type of toy given to a toddler to play with.

 

"Your golf bag?" Masaharu frowned. "I don't know what you're talking about, Yagyuu. How should I know where you've left your stuff?"

 

Yagyuu took a deep breath and readjusted his glasses--a sure 'I am not amused' sign.

 

"Tell you what," Masaharu offered, closing his notebook and leaning back in his chair so he could look at Yagyuu without craning his neck. "You come play a game of tennis with me, and then I'll help you look for you clubs, ne?"

 

Yagyuu's frown deepened. "Unacceptable. I don't play tennis."

 

"Don't and won't are two different things," Masaharu countered, standing up and heading for the door. "See you on the courts."

 

He was checking his racket's gut when the few others on the courts quieted, and then the whispers started. Masaharu didn't need to look to know that Yagyuu had arrived.

 

"I don't have a racquet," he announced, and although his voice was calm and composed, Masaharu could hear the undercurrents of annoyance and frustration the other boy fought hard to hide.

 

"You may use mine, Yagyuu-kun," a benevolent voice offered, and Masaharu had to look away to hide his grin.

 

"Yukimura," Yagyuu said tightly. "I would hate to think you had anything to do this."

 

Yukimura continued to smile as he held his racket out towards Yagyuu. "Take it," he said gently, but there was an authority in his voice, and Masaharu knew without looking that Yagyuu would take the offered racket.

 

~~~****~~~

 

Masaharu was just finishing up his homework for the weekend when his mom got home.

 

"Here," Satomi called out, tossing something to him.

 

His hand shot out and long fingers curled around something hot and squishy.

 

"And I have some ice cream for later," she added, heading for the kitchen. "I got you red bean, but you can have the vanilla if you want."

 

Masaharu scrambled off the couch and followed her into the kitchen, already unwrapping the steamy meat bun. He paused when he saw the two small containers of Haagen-Dazs. "Hey, Mom, isn't that kinda expensive?"

 

Satomi turned on him, smiling a bit sheepishly as she reached up to cup his cheek. "I can't take you out to a fancy dinner or someplace really nice like you deserve, but I can buy you a meat bun and some ice cream to help celebrate your first week of high school, hmm?"

 

She slid her hand back to finger through his hair. "I am so proud of you, Masaharu... So," she said cheerfully, taking her hand away and balling up the plastic bag. "You all finished with your homework, because I borrowed a movie from a girl at work, and I thought we could watch it together?"

 

"Yeah, cool, just let me repack my bags," he replied enthusiastically, dancing back into the TV room.

 

~~~****~~~

 

Yagyuu was waiting for Masaharu after the assembly the next day.

 

"Niou-kun? A moment of your time?"

 

Masaharu looked back over his shoulder, surprised to see the other boy seeking him out so soon. It was only the second week of school, after all.

 

"Sure, Mr. Class Rep," he replied flippantly, reversing his steps to allow himself to lean up against the school building as he looked over expectantly towards Yagyuu. "What can I do you for?"

 

"Why me, Niou-kun?" the other boy asked rather point blank, and Masaharu blinked.

 

"Excuse me?"

 

"You're targeting me. I would like to know why."

 

Pretty sharp. Masaharu appreciated that in a person.

 

"Tell me what happened to your doubles partner," he requested in return.

 

There was an immediate tightening in the teen before him. He'd already known from the others that the former D1 partnership was almost taboo to discuss, but he didn't know why. And he wanted to know. Very badly.

 

"He returned to his home country," Yagyuu answered after a moment's deliberation.

 

Masaharu rolled his eyes and exhaled dramatically. "I already *knew* that part," he replied. "What I want to know is, why? What happened between you two that was so bad that it sent Akiyama shipping and you packing away your rackets?"

 

"I fail to see why it should matter to you," Yagyuu snapped, a smidgeon of his anger and frustration seeping into his voice.

 

"Yeah, I think you fail to see a lot of things," Masaharu returned, pushing off the wall to get in Yagyuu's face. "I wanna know why one of the best damn tennis players in Japan suddenly quit? I wanna know what made you turn your back on tennis and pick up something so stupid and boring as *golf*. My *god*! Golf! What were you *thinking*?"

 

"And yet again," Yagyuu growled, "It shouldn't matter to you what I choose to do with my life, as it's *my* life."

 

"It isn't just your life!" Masaharu shouted. "Damn you! How can you be so selfish? Do you have any idea how hard I busted my ass to get here, and for what? I'm a doubles player without a partner!"

 

"And how is that my problem?"

 

Masaharu looked him square in the eye.

 

"You're a smart guy, Yagyuu. You're a doubles player without a partner, too. Figure it out."

 

~~~****~~~

 

Wednesday after school, Yagyuu walked onto the tennis courts like he owned them. Masaharu grinned as he watched from the other side of the courts as a would-be big-shot third year approached Yagyuu with a clipboard.

 

"You here to try out for the tennis team?" the kid asked, sounding terribly bored.

 

"No."

 

Yagyuu slid his bag off his shoulder, retrieving his racket in a smooth, glided motion that appeared seamless in its execution.

 

By now others had stopped what they were doing to watch.

 

"Excuse me?" the third year frowned.

 

"I'm here to conduct an experiment," Yagyuu replied. "I'll be using D court," he added, stepping towards the court in question with assured footfalls. Niou was already moving towards him, grinning a hundred watts of satisfaction.

 

Word spread like wild fire on the tongues of the freshmen until it reached important people's ears. Niou couldn't have stopped grinning if his life depended on it. Yagyuu was swiveling his wrist, his torso, his neck--slowly getting his body ready for a workout.

 

"Changed your mind, huh?" he couldn't resist asking.

 

"No," Yagyuu replied, not bothering to stop stretching. "But I have decided to allow you the chance to change it for me." He paused, looking over at Masaharu. "Ready?"

 

"Come on," Masaharu called. "Let's go!"

 

"Ohno, Eiguchi!" Yagyuu raised his voice to the watching tennis players and two boys jumped immediately, startled.

 

"Wait just a minute!" another voice shouted and the masses parted before two approaching third years. "Just what the hell do you think you're--"

 

"Senpai," a voice called out and all eyes turned to Yukimura.

 

'Damn,' Masaharu thought. 'Talk about Power of Authority. He didn't even shout or nothing....'

 

"Yagyuu was a member of my team last year," Yukimura explained apologetically. "But due to unforeseeable events, he left the team for a period of time--"

 

"I don't care who he is--He can't just--"

 

"I believe you're a doubles player, ne, Ishibashi-senpai?" Yukimura cut in smoothly. "Perhaps you would be so kind as to play him? Just one match shouldn't take up too much of your time, and I'm sure we could all learn something valuable from watching you play?"

 

Yukimura was not a person to be in the bad graces of.

 

Masaharu had made that decision last week, but it wasn't until that moment that he realized just how much of a bad idea it would be.

 

Pride and arrogance nicely stroked, Ishibashi and his partner stepped across the net from Yagyuu and Masaharu.

 

"A quick game--and then we have to get back to serious practice," Ishibashi trumpeted.

 

"Of course," Yagyuu agreed. "Thank you for your time, senpai."

 

Masaharu wondered if he was the only one who heard how insincere Yagyuu's words were. Looking across the net showed the two senior boys were clueless. Masaharu looked back at his partner and grinned again.

 

"You're heard the senpai. Let's make this quick."

 

A corner of Yagyuu's mouth twitched--just a little bit into a curve that could be construed as a smile, he thought. "Of course," the bespectacled boy repeated before tossing the tennis ball up in the air to serve.

 

The two senior boys didn't even get a chance to pick their jaws up from the ground before the first game was over. A love game.

 

Yukimura had said these two seniors were doubles players, but they couldn't have been more than third string, if that. Their service was pathetically weak and their formation was crap.

 

Or maybe it was Yagyuu and Masaharu who simply shined.

 

The match was at 2-0 within five minutes, and Masaharu approached the service line. Yagyuu stopped him before he could serve, though--a simple warning guised as a question.

 

"Are your muscles warmed yet, Niou-kun?"

 

Masaharu looked at him, for once there was no grin on his face. To someone else the question might have appeared as such--a simple question. Or perhaps a taunt to the two senior boys. But to Masaharu's ears, the question made a different implication--this is just a practice, take it easy, don't push too hard, too fast. Yet.

 

He nodded, and he served. Another love game.

 

It was well past six thirty when Yukimura finally raised his voice to call an end to the massacre/experiment. The Niou-Yagyuu pair had played over ten games since the beginning of practice. They only lost once.

 

"That's enough for today," Yukimura called, waiting a moment to make sure the four boys on the courts would obey him.

 

As if there was any doubt, Masaharu thought, but he could feel the resistance of his body, trying to fight the order to leave a match without a conclusion. Yukimura must have seen or known this too, because he continued.

 

"There will be another time," he predicted, watching Yagyuu closely. "Won't there, Yagyuu?"

 

The teen in question looked over to Masaharu and relaxed. Actually, visibly, relaxed.

 

"Yes," Yagyuu agreed. "There will be."

 

Masaharu thought they were some of the sweetest tasting words he'd ever heard. And the next day, Yagyuu was standing beside him as the first years formally joined their chosen clubs.

 

 

~~~****~~~

 

Masaharu was on a high the whole way home. It had easily been one of the best days of his life he thought as he entered his home and kicked off his shoes.

 

"You're looking chipper today."

 

He looked over to see his mom lying stretched out on the couch, and grinned as he sank down on the floor next to her.

 

"I am. I joined the tennis club today."

 

"Oh, my, what a surprise," Niou Satomi teased, reaching over to ruffle her son's bangs.

 

"As a doubles pair," Masaharu continued, eyes gleaming with surprised glee.

 

This time her surprise was genuine. "A partner? Already? Anyone I know? Is he any good? I don't want someone holding you back--"

 

"He's hot, mom," Masaharu answered. "I mean, today was our first time really playing doubles together, but we *smoked* through all the other freshman teams, and most of the sophomores, too, before we had to leave. It's the best trip I've ever been on. I can't wait until we can play a ranking game. I bet we could easily make first string this year. Heck! I bet we could even make D1!"

 

"Really? Even against the seniors?" Satomi frowned. "Will they allow a freshman team on the Regular line up, though?"

 

Masaharu made a sucking face. "I don't know. It really depends on the coach and the captain, I suppose, but from what I've seen this past week, this year's freshman class is a lot stronger and better skilled than both the senior and junior years."

 

"Mmm, that could cause trouble," Satomi predicted, worried for her son. It was already difficult to be the new kid in an exclusive school, but to be one who was already an exceptional player... "To have that much skilled potential in one year... I don't envy your captain and coach."

 

"I know. Me neither," Masaharu grinned, ducking his head a bit. "But if we do get to play in a formal game, you'll come watch, right?"

 

"Of course. I'll make sure I have off that day," she promised.

 

"Speaking of work," he frowned looking over at the clock. "Aren't you going to be late?"

 

"Nope," she sighed and leaned back into the couch. "I have tonight off, so I've already decided I'm just going to lay here and *zone*."

 

"Mou... you've been working too hard lately," Masaharu noted, poking his mother in the side. She swatted his hand away.

 

"Maybe a little," she admitted, "But I'll cut back soon. Don't worry, I know my limits."

 

Masaharu gave her a dubious look as he got back to his feet. "You'd better," he warned. "I'm gonna head up and get my homework done."

 

"Okay. Make sure you eat something!" she called after him. "You're too scrawny to be a fifteen year old! Nothing but skin and bones!"

 

"Mah! I'm just in a growth spurt," he answered back, grinning as he detoured through the kitchen for some food before settling with his books and schoolwork.

 

It was going to be a very good year. He could tell.

 

 

&*&*&*&*&*&