Entry tags:

fanfic series: engagement, fanfic: tenipuri

Engagement - Chapter 01
Title: Engagement

Chapter: 01 - The Fiancé

Series: WIP

Rating: Mostly G, will adjust accordingly.

Pairings: None! Absolutely none! Not a romance story!

Summary: Tezuka is told that he is engaged. Uht-oh.

Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine. Even the story idea isn't mine.

Author's Notes: Okay, I realize that this has been over done. However, I'm giving it my own spin and see if I can't squeeze something new out of it. Well, you can't go wrong with the ways that are tried and true right? Also, I have the second chapter written already, so there will be an end and a quick one too. So even if you have an aversion to WIPs, this won't be quite so painful.

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Chapter 01 – The Fiancé

Tezuka stood stoically at the edge of the tennis courts and watched the practicing regulars with hawk-like diligence. Pre-nationals had always been the most important training time and Tezuka was going to follow his personal idiom to the last, “Yudan sezu ni ikou.” (1)

As the regulars of Seishun Gakuen trained special drills designed by one Inui Sadaharu, an aged figure appeared outside the courts.

“Tezuka.” Inui was the first to notice the foreign presence. “I think your grandfather is here.”

At Inui’s announcement, the other regulars stopped their training to look in the direction Inui had indicated. True to Inui’s deductive abilities, Tezuka Kunikazu was standing outside the tennis court fence waiting patiently for his grandson to notice him.

Seeing that everyone had stopped to gawk at his grandfather’s appearance at school, Tezuka bellowed, “What’s everyone standing around for? All of you, 20 laps around the court.”

The regulars knew better than to complain. Instead, they meekly followed Tezuka’s orders and began running obediently. Seeing the training had not been disrupted beyond salvage, Tezuka deigned to leave his training teammates for a few moments to address his grandfather.

“Grandfather,” he bowed respectfully to the old man. “Why are you here?”

“Why? Can’t an old man come watch his grandson practice?”

“Grandfather, non-school members are not allowed on the premises without due cause,” Tezuka clarified, prudent not to state that his grandfather’s presence was most certainly not welcomed, but not wanting to encourage the behavior through negligence.

“But I have due cause, Kunimitsu,” the old man nodded then dragged his bewildered grandson out of sight of the running regulars.

As they walked to the back of the clubhouse, Tezuka realized exactly what his grandfather had come to talk to him about.

“Kunimitsu, meet your fiancé, Yamamoto Minako,” Tezuka Kunikazu gestured to the fairly comely female that stood respectfully a few meters away. Said female bowed deeply and murmured, “Hajimemashite.” (2)

Tezuka blinked to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating – Inui might have “accidentally” switched the water bottles again. However, rapid blinking did not make the bowed figure disappear. He briefly considered keeling.

“Grandfather, I’m fourteen,” Tezuka said faintly.

“Old enough to marry!” Tezuka Kunikazu announced triumphantly. (3)

“I’m not ready for marriage, Grandfather,” Tezuka pursued, hoping to dissuade the old man from the absurd idea. However, he was not so lucky.

“Nonsense, Kunimitsu. Why, back in my day, fourteen was already a man.”

Back in your day, Shoguns were still running around, Tezuka wanted to retort but didn’t. Instead, he bowed respectfully and said, “Could you excuse me, Grandfather? I need to get back to practice.”

Tezuka left his grandfather in a daze and headed back to the courts, only to find a group of eight interested faces peering back at him. He wondered if he needed to assign more laps. Clearly, his teammates were slacking off.

Finally, Oishi was the first to break the silence. “Congratulations, Tezuka…um, I think.”

For what, Tezuka wanted to ask, but was cut off as an enthusiastic Kikumaru jumped in front of him and started hollering, “Yay! Yay! Tezuka is engaged!” He was followed by Momoshiro and Kawamura, and the three began an awkward cheer. Even Inui and the ever anti-social Kaidoh offered up their congratulations in their own backward way.

Fuji smiled forcefully and said, “Saa, I guess you’re a married man now, Tezuka. I wonder how family life will suit you.” Tezuka thought the words sounded slightly ominous instead of full of good cheer, as congratulations should be.

Thankfully, his protégé remained the same and merely muttered an indifferent “Mada mada dane.” (4) Tezuka agreed whole-heartedly.

“I’m not getting married,” Tezuka announced to the regulars.

“But, didn’t you just get engaged?” Oishi asked

“It doesn’t mean I’m getting married.” This was directed at the Seigaku tensai who was smiling and sulking at the same time. “And it doesn’t mean I’m agreeing to the engagement.”

“But, Tezuka, this is a very important decision. You have to think of the bride’s feelings! And your family, how would they react!” It was just like Oishi to begin worrying needlessly. At the outburst, the three-person cheering squad stopped to join in agreeing with Oishi.

Tezuka sighed. While Oishi had been an invaluable addition to Seigaku’s tennis club and a treasured friend, Tezuka sometimes wished Oishi would learn how to mind his own business. This was one of those times.

“This matter doesn’t concern the tennis club. Everyone get back to practice or I’ll start assigning laps.”

The regulars heeded the warning and quickly returned to the original orderly practice. However, that didn’t stop them from darting furtive glances at Tezuka when they thought he was looking the other way.

Clearly, the matter needed to be resolved and soon, if he didn’t want the team to be affected during nationals.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Tezuka decided it was time to call on a few favors.

~*tsuduku*~

1 – Roughly translates to “Let’s not get careless.”
2 – A phrase that’s said to people who one meets for the first time. In other words, Tezuka and the girl have never met before.
3 – Fourteen is the age of consent.
4 – Roughly translates to “You still have far to go.” Otherwise can be interpreted as stating Tezuka’s not ready for marriage.