Title: Manipulation 12: Behind the Scenes
Fandom: Prince of Tennis: Fudomine Chuugaku
Characters: Ibu Shinji, Atobe Keigo
Prompt: 072 - Fixed
Word Count: 804
Date finished: 10/07/2007
Rating: G
Summary: Atobe takes things further.
Author's Notes: "Ibu Shinji / Atobe Keigo - hack". Yep. Computers again. I just couldn't see Atobe taking a cab. Previous parts: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven.
Disclaimer: Characters are owned by Konomi Takeshi, and whoever did the anime. At any rate, it's not me.

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Shinji merely blinked as the person on the other end of the phone identified himself. "Uh, who?" he said after a moment.

"Atobe Keigo."

Astonishment stole his tact. "Why are you calling me?"

"Tachibana said you were the best person he knew, where computers are concerned."

Again, Shinji was stunned speechless.

Atobe snorted softly. "I did not expect silence from you."

That shook Shinji a little. "I didn't expect to get a phone call from you, either," he said. "What do you need, exactly?"

Atobe's pleasure was plain in his voice. "Is Tachibana right, thinking you can hack into any computer system?"

Shinji hesitated. "I haven't met a system I couldn't hack," he said carefully. "Time depends on the quality of the equipment I have access to."

Atobe was quiet. "I can get you the best equipment, on one condition. That you promise you will not use what you learn here against me or my family."

Shinji hesitated. "I think we should continue this face to face," he said. "It will be safer that way for both of us."

"I will send a car."

Before Shinji could object, Atobe hung up.

Muttering under his breath, Shinji went to gather his things, called a good-bye to his mother, and went out to sit on the front step.

Atobe was waiting when he climbed in the car, but didn't speak until they were well underway. Shinji was willing to wait.

"How much do you know of Tachibana An's engagement to Ohtori Choutarou?" Atobe started.

Shinji shrugged. "That they seem happy and it seems like a really odd match," he admitted.

Atobe smiled. "I see." He continued, explaining exactly what was behind the engagement. Shinji stared at him, again speechless. "An… is doing that?" he asked.

Atobe nodded. "Earlier this week, she was attacked, and had Kabaji not been there, who knows what would have happened."

"She's okay?" Shinji asked.

"Yes. But the information that made me send Kabaji with them indicates that it will not be the only attempt, and I'd like to know when and what they plan on doing to stop this marriage from happening."

Shinji held up a hand. "Wait. Why do you care about An?"

"I don't," Atobe said bluntly, "aside from the fact that Ohtori's happiness depends on her remaining in the role she's agreed to play."

It didn't surprise Shinji a bit, but it was enough for him. "Okay. What do you want me to do?"

Atobe smiled. "I want to know what they plan to do."

Shinji forgot about the rest of the house when he saw the computer set up. "Oh, wow," he breathed, and his hands clenched once. "Okay. Who am I hacking?"

"I have your word?"

Shinji glanced at him. "Oh. Yes. I will not use anything I find out here against you or your family," he said quietly.

With a smirk, Atobe ushered him into the chair. "The name is Ohtori Masato," he said. "Do you need anything?"

Shinji flexed his fingers. "Not at the moment." He lay his hands on the keyboard, then stopped. "How did you know to send Kabaji with An and Ohtori?" he asked.

"Tachibana told me Ohtori's family was trying something. He found out from Kamio."

"Yes." Shinji grabbed his phone and dialed his friend. The conversation was short, and triumphantly Shinji hung up. "This shouldn't take long," he said.

"When you find something or need something, speak to the maid right outside the door. She will take care of everything."

Barely aware that his host had spoken, Shinji muttered a vague "thanks," already deep into cyberspace.

It was easy to get in, but he was well aware that Akira had done all the work, and his friend would get the credit for it.

He still had a lot to do, however, working through the files and everything, and he bothered the maid only a couple of times, once for something to drink, and once for a bathroom break. Even then, he was working, trying to figure out what something like he was looking for might be hidden under.

Finally, he walked to the door, and opened it. A different maid stood there, but she acknowledged his request for a sandwich and Master Atobe's presence.

Atobe, dressed in a bathrobe and looking barely awake, arrived before the sandwich. "What did you find?"

Shinji pulled the papers from the printer. "I plans for a wedding between Ohtori Choutarou and Hosokawa Takako. I also found, in the email, a promise that Ohtori-san will do something to get rid of "the girl in the way"." Shinji sighed. "It doesn't say how - I suppose Hosokawa-san doesn't care - but there are definitely plans."

Atobe nodded. "Excellent work. Can I offer you a bed?"

Shinji nodded, suddenly exhausted. "Yes. Thank you."

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