BLURRY EYES

"You know Riki Mink?" Maki asked in disbelief.

"Yea, he�s Shinji-aniki�s ex-boyfriend."

"Sakuya!" Shinobu said a bit alarmed.

"What?" Sakuya replied looking confused.

"Things like that are very personal and are not supposed to be talked about. Especially without the permission of the person involved." He said in a commanding tone.

Everyone was shocked. They have never heard or even thought that Shinobu can speak in that way.

"Ah, gomen." Shinobu said suddenly realizing what he has done.

"Excuse me." he said turning around and ran off in a corridor, others staring at him until he is out of sight.

"Sorry about that guys. I guess he's just a bit upset." Sakuya said to the team captains in an apologetic and worried tone.

"Nah, it's ok. We understand." Sendoh, waving his his hand in a dismissing manner and giving Sakuya his reassuring smile.

Sakuya couldn't help but smile back at Sendoh feeling relieved and happy.

Shinji came back looking confused, "What's wrong with Nobu? You didn't upset him did you?"

Sakuya just shrugged not really knowing what's wrong with his other older brother.

"Hey, did you get the tickets?" Sakuya asked his aniki remembering why he left them in the first place

.

"Yeah, I even got the backstage passes you asked."

"Great! Thank you aniki!" Sakuya said skipping happily around Shinji.

"Remember, you owe me. We'll get the tickets and passes tomorrow since it's already a bit late."

"That reminds me. How about you guys stay for dinner? Momo-chan is a great cook." Sakuya asked the three captains.

"Hey, why not? What do you say guys?" Sendoh asked the other two.

Fujima just said a quiet ok and Maki a shrug.

"Well, we agree!"

Shinji took a glance at the wall clock of the room. "It will be ready in an hour. What do you guys want to do while waiting? A tour of the house perhaps."

"A tour is nice." Maki answered.

"Yeah, I would like to see what's in this big house of yours." Sendoh answered enthusiastically.

The Ryonan and Kainan captains directed their gazes to the Shoyo captain.

"What? I'll go with you. Like I have a choice anyway." Fujima told the two. 'Atleast maybe we will bump into him in the tour.' he added to himself.

"Alright then, please follow me." Shinji said in a tour guidely manner followed by a chuckling Sakuya, casual Sendoh and Maki, and a relieved Fujima, realizing that they were heading to the direction Shinobu disappeared to.

****

After running through the long corridor, Shinobu finally stopped in front of a door. He went in and closed the door gently.

In the room, wind and string instruments can be seen in glass cases. The grand piano is at his right. A drum set at his left. He went to the drum set, picked up his drum sticks and took a seat on the stool. He took a deep breath and started hitting the drums hard with his frustration. Even though he played out of frustration, he still made good beats. Good, LOUD beats. Good thing the room is sound proof.

*

"...the next room would be the music room, where we keep and play musical instruments." Shinji said gesturing them to follow him as he turn the knob of the door.

Loud beating of drums immediately 'came out' from the room when Shinji opened the door. He opened the door completely and they saw Shinobu, hitting the drums so hard that it will break.

After a few minutes of oblivious drumming, Shinobu finally stopped, sweating and panting. His arms sagged at his side most probably tired and aching after the hard hitting of drums. He just sat there staring at the floor, still panting and all sweaty, looking helpless, still not noticing the audience.

"...damn you Riki..." Shinobu whispered to himself.

"Hey...Shinobu?..." Shinji finally saying something.

Shinobu's head suddenly shot up, his eyes wide seeing the people in the room. He secretly wished that they didn't heard him awhile ago.

"Nobu-aniki, that was...uh...great music you did, yeah that's right! You did great!" Sakuya told his brother trying to make the tense atmosphere disappear.

"Thanks..." Shinobu replied.

Shinobu stood up, wiped off his sweat with his blue long-sleeved, turtle neck, loose shirt. He then faced them with a small smile on his face.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"We're taking them on a tour of the house." Shinji answered.

"Let me accompany you guys then." Shinobu answered back, the small smile still on his face.

"Let's go then! We don't have much time now do we?" Sakuya said, grabbed one of Shinobu's arm and dragged him happily out of the room, followed by his other brother and their guests.

*

Shinji opened the double doors. Theirs guests can't help but be amazed at what they saw.

"And this, gentlemen, is the court." Sakuya said, entering the court his arms opened widely.

"Wow..." Sendoh was suddenly out of words.

"A-amazing..."

"Woah..."

With a shout from Sakuya, the three captains are out of their reverie.

"Since we're already here, why don't we play some ball?" Shinji said twirling a ball on his index finger.

"Yeah, you three against us!" Sakuya added.

"Unless you guys are scared to be beaten by us." Shinobu also added.

With what Shinobu said, all three of them agreed immediately. The two teams huddled up and discussed some strategies. Finally, they have agreed to start the game.

*SENDOH'S TEAM*

"Ok, guys, how are we supposed to do this?" Sendoh asked his team mates.

"I want to guard Shinobu-san." Fujima said immediately.

"Oh no you're not!" Sendoh complained.

"He's right," Maki said immediately agreeing with Sendoh, "You might just want to stare at him and go off into space instead of playing the game."

"But..." Fujima tried to defend himself and failed miserably, "Oh all right! I'll guard Shinji-san."

"I'll be guarding Shinobu. I already know how he plays." Sendoh told the two.

"I'll be left with Sakuya then."

With their plans agreed, they are ready to play.

*UMEDA TEAM*

"This will be a bit hard since Sendoh already saw us play." Shinji told his two brothers.

"What are we supposed to do then, Shinji-aniki?" Sakuya asked his older aniki.

"Nobu, I want you to guard Fujima."

"What?! Why me?!" Shinobu complained through his clenched teeth, trying not to shout.

"That's a great idea, Shinji-aniki!" Sakuya agreed and met with a glaring Shinobu.

"C'mon now, think about it. Fujima will surely get distracted with you guarding him, Nobu." Shinji said, as-a-matter-of-fact-ly.

"Can I get to guard Sendoh?" Sakuya hopefuly asked his brother.

"No, I'll guard him. You'll guard Maki."

Sakuya couldn't help but pout like a kid who didn't got the toy he wanted.

"Now that's it's settled, we better start the game."

*BACK TO NORMAL TIME*

All of their strategies were carried out as planned. When the Umedas had the ball, Sendoh's plan is carried out but was faced with a little problem especially with Shinji and Shinobu. Though it is effective on Sakuya, since Maki is better built than him. When Sendoh's team have the ball, Umedas' plan took action. Shinji had been wrong about letting Sakuya guard Maki so they sometimes changed.  Much to Fujima's delight, he was guarded by Shinobu and was completely not paying attention on the game.

After a few minutes the game ended. The Umeda team won but only for a point.

Chapter 10