Title: Life Must Go On.... Part 3
Fandom: Prince of Tennis: Fudomine Chuugaku
Characters: Ibu Shinji, Tachibana Kippei, Kamio akira
Prompt: 056 - Breakfast
Word Count: 367
Date finished: 07/17/2008
Rating: G
Summary: Kippei makes a decision.
Author's Notes: A short part, but necessary. Parts one, two.
Disclaimer: Characters are owned by Konomi Takeshi, and whoever did the anime. At any rate, it's not me.

Life Must Go On.... Part 3

The rumors started before Kippei had even officially hired Akira. Kippei slammed the paper down, scowling. "You'd think the press would have something better to do," he growled. "They've decided I'm going to hire Akira for… other reasons than to help me warm up."

Shinji, the only witness to this mild temper tantrum, said nothing as he continued to work on breakfast.

"You think this is a bad idea," Kippei continued.

Shinji folded his arms. "This job will either break him, or fix him," he said bluntly. "Tread carefully."

"Shinji…."

"Just don't hurt him. I don't think he could take it if you left him."

"I don't plan on it," Kippei growled.

That didn't intimidate Shinji, and he hadn't expected it to. "Neither did An," he said bluntly.

He hadn't expected that, and reeled back, stunned by the blow. "I told you nothing would happen."

"No. You said you wouldn't do anything," Shinji corrected him.

Kippei stared at him. "I won't. Do you want to come along as chaperone? The press will throw a party."

Shinji shook his head, relenting. "No. I'm just scared for him."

"Yes," Kippei said, because he felt the same way.

He told Akira about the news story the next morning as they warmed up together, and Akira's reaction surprised him. "Do they always jump to conclusions?" he asked as they warmed up the next morning.

"If they have no facts," Kippei admitted. "I generally ignore them. You know it'll just get worse if you come."

Akira shrugged. "Let them talk."

"It doesn't bother you?"

"They don't know anything," Akira said. "Why should it?"

Kippei got to his feet and smiled. "You have a very interesting outlook," he said.

Akira stood as well. "Uncolored from dealing with the press," he agreed.

Kippei nodded and turned to walk across the court. "Show me what you've got," he said, and had no illusions that his former vice captain would do anything but.

At the end of the match, facing each other across the net, he had to ask, "Are you interested in the job?"

Akira didn't hesitate. "Yes."

Only later, thinking through the morning, did Kippei hear the edge of desperation in the redhead's voice.

Fudomine Table | Challenge Main

Home | Stories | Links | Contact me