The Girl You Left Behind

Summary: Ryoga had royally screwed up. He'd had the perfect girl at his side; athletic, played tennis, witty, fun and friendly, more importantly, she was real. There had been nothingfakeabout her. She spoke her thoughts as quickly as they came, and held nothing back, if she had a problem, she'd let him know, but she also let him know how much she loved him...and he threw it back in her face out of fear...fear of following in his 'fathers' footsteps.

Genre: Romance/Angst

Pairing: Fuji/Kagome/Tezuka

Rated: M

-x-x-x-

Year – 2008

Going through the same motions throughout each of her classes, she was finally done with her first day of school, and yet...she still had some things to take care of. And that would be pacifying her teacher who, all throughout the day, insisted that she become the manager of the tennis team since she was already knee deep in acquaintances. So walking towards the tennis team's club room. She was happy to encounter at least one person standing in there staring out the window with a clipboard. "Hello?"

"..." the person turned, and vaguely, she recognized him as one of the boys from the other day.

"Hi, I was wondering if there was a management position open in the tennis club."

"...there is, it's currently being monopolized by one of our Regulars, but you are more than welcomed to it."

"Thank you, your name is?"

"Tezuka, Kunimitsu, the boys tennis teams Captain."

"I see, it's nice to meet you, Tezuka-San, and my name is Higurashi, Kagome."

"Ah..."

CLICK

Kagome and Tezuka both turned as the door to the room opened, another student that she'd somewhat noticed from the day before.

"Good timing, Higurashi-San, this is Inui-San, he's the one I mentioned earlier. You and Inui-San will be working together, please take care of us. Ah...I think I speak for the rest of us when I say this, but if you could take care of the preparations for our drinks, then I'm sure we would all be grateful."

"..." Inui looked at Kagome curiously, who was confused by Tezuka's comment, but nodded all the same.

'I guess I'll ask Inui-San later.' She watched Tezuka leave the room with his jacket in hand, pulling it on as he left through the door. Somehow, she found herself blushing. '...those were nice...biceps...for his age.' She shook her head and laughed, "That's tennis for you."

"You will be my assistant?"

"Ah, I'll be taking the role of the Tennis Teams Manager. Or Assistant Manager, in the case of helping you out." She bowed before straightening up, "about the drinks Tezuka-San mentioned..."

"Ah...I'll show you."

-x-x-x-

Kagome cringed as she watched Inui make the drink in front of her. "Are those red peppers?"

"Yes, they are,"

Kagome frowned, "is this healthy? Wait...you don't give this stuff to Ryoma, do you?"

"All of the Regulars drink it if they make a mistake."

Lifting a large garlic clove only for Inui to grab it from her hand and toss it in the blender next to the cleaned red peppers that he'd just de-seeded. She looked in shock as he placed the lid on the blender then turned it on, watching the drink turn into a sickly green color before settling after he turned it off. "Is this healthy? I don't know if I asked that already."

"You did, and it is. No one on the team is allergic to the ingredients in my Penal-tea."

"...I see..." Kagome watched the smile form on Inui's face, and at that very moment, she understood what it was that Tezuka had meant. "As Tezuka-San told me to, I will take over after today."

Inui glanced next to her, and seemed saddened by this, but nodded all the same. "This will allow me more time to take down data and prepare more drills for the Regulars."

"Wonderful! Then everything will work out great!" Kagome gave a mental sigh, 'I'll go out with Ryoko and Ryoma later, and we can go buy some smoothie ingredients...that aren't liable to send people to an early grave.'

-x-x-x-

Kagome had excused herself after Inui had given her a book of recipe ideas for drinks. Making her way to the courts to see the team cleaning up the balls and baskets. "Ryoma, I'm going to go pick up Ryoko from daycare, I'll meet you back here after. I want to stop by the grocery store before heading home."

"...right."

Kagome left Ryoma standing and staring after her before he turned back to the basket of balls he'd just finished collecting. Looking up, he was surprised to find a pair of steely blue eyes looking after Kagome too. "..."

-x-x-x-

(Elsewhere)

Keigo looked up at the sound of someone tapping their feet behind him, the sound was one of impatience. One he knew well. He turned and frowned as he took in a familiar looking teen. "What do you want?"

"I'm wondering if you have come across a female tennis player recently, or if you would by any chance recognize a couple of her signature shots."

"What, do you plan on demonstrating them?"

"...I was actually hoping for a game."

"Ore-Sama has no time to waste on meaningless matches...who is this girl you are looking for?" Keigo asked, watching the teen step forward with a photo. He gazed at the picture, and for a moment, he felt like he did recognize her, but he couldn't begin to remember where. On the other hand, even if he could remember..."why would I tell you where she is? Not that I know."

"...I need to find her..."

'I don't know where I saw her...but...hmm.' Keigo pulled his racquet from his bag. "I'll play that match."

"...heh..."

-x-x-x-

(Back With Kagome)

Kagome laughed beside Ryoko who was twirling while holding Ryoma's hand. They were in the fruit isle and her basket that she was carrying, was stocked full with a variety of fruits and vegetables. As well as some other raw ingredients like Agave syrup and bittersweet chocolate.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Kagome-Nee." Kagome nodded as they walked out of the store.

-x-x-x-

(Elsewhere)

Keigo looked on in shock, "...what?"

"...mada mada...daze."

-x-x-x-

Me: Here is the next chapter to The Girl You Left Behind! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Tomorrow is my birthday, November 12th. So I'll try and update another story, but if I don't, I apologize! Review, nyan~!