Disclaimer: Pot belongs to the greatest Konomi Takashi. Thank you so much for making it!

AN: Ok, this is my first attempt to write something in English. I know it's terrible but please be easy on me. I swear I did my best and didn't move my nose away from the dictionary.

My only way to improve is to write, so I will be really grateful if you correct me when you find mistakes. But please don't be too much harsh with me. If you do, I might get really upset and not write ever again!

And it's really not the purpose of this fandom. Right? 0.0

Chapter one

Echizen Ryoma opened the door of his house and found Fuji Syusuke standing there, smiling and holding a suitcase. The younger boy blinked, stared and blinked again.

"F-Fuji-senpai?"

"Good Evening Echizen-kun," The tensai greeted politely. "Can I sleep here tonight?"

Ryoma's first instinct was to slam the door on his senpai and to return to his room, but it was too late for him to do so, since his father who was nearby also heard the talking and came to see who it was. He stared at Fuji in confusion and then turned to look at his son grinning. "Well. Well. Who could have guess my son will get a visit from such nice lady."

"Dad!" Ryoma needed the all power he could get for not shouting at his old man. "It's not a girl. It's is Fuji-senpai, One of my teammate.

"Oh…eh…"

Nanjiro was about to apology but Fuji only laughed. "It's fine. Things like that always happen to me."

Nanjiro returned to smile. "Oh so it's fine then. So what brings a nice boy like you to visit a brat like my son so late at night?"

Fuji stopped smiling and turned serious. "Will it be fine for me to stay here over the night? I ran away from my house and I don't have anywhere else to go."

For a moment Nanjiro and his son stared at each in confusion without saying a word and then Nanjiro turned to Fuji and smiled again. "Well, it's very cold outside. Why don't you come inside so we will be able to talk?"

Fuji went inside the house and Ryoma was about to follow, but his dad prevented him from doing so. "And as for you, lazy brat, return and bring your friend's suitcase. Is it the way I teach you how to treat our guests?"

"You have never taught me anything other than tennis." Echizen complained but did as he was told.

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Nanjiro, Ryoma and Fuji were sitting in the guess room, drinking from the tea that Meino had served them. "So…" Nanjiro began. "Do your parents know where you are?"

Ryoma almost slapped his forehead. "All the meaning of running away from the house is not to be found."

Nanjiro ignored his son's comment and continued to watch Fuji who lowered his head toward the ground. "I think it's the best thing for you to call them." He told him softly. "they must be really worried by now."

Fuji shook his head sadly, "All my parents care about is money and that stupid Steve."

"Steve?" Ryoma repeated. "Who's that?"

Fuji took a deep breath before answering. "Steve is my sister's new boyfriend. She met him at her university. He is an American and new at Japan, so she invited him to our house until he found an arrangement."

"And don't you get alone?" Nanjiro asked.

Fuji shook his head slowly. "You might say I am paranoid. But I really don't like this guy. He is very important to Yumiko however, and she wants to join him to America in the summer."

"Did you try to talk with you parents about that?"

Fuji sighed. "They didn't listen to me. Steve came from a very rich family so they encourage this relationship and claim I am too young for understanding about these kind of things. That's why I left the house. And I am not planning to return as long as Steve stays there."

Ryoma raised an elbow. He really respected his senpai, but on this subject he agreed with the parents. Over his year at Seigaku he studied the tensai well enough to know how he could become very protecting over his friends and family, most of the time with unneeded extremism.

Ryoma believed that Fuji needed to learn how to keep himself from other people's business and he was sure enough that he would be scolded by his dad and would be sent home. For that reason he got surprised from the upcoming words of his father:

"Well, I can't see any reason for you not to stay here until you handle the problems with your family. But only on one condition, you must call them right away and tell them you're okay."

Ryoma nearly choked on his tea and Fuji smiled happily, "really? Am I allowing me to stay? Thanks you so much!" He bowed. "I promise I not to cause any problem, and I will do all of the house chores!"

Nanjiro laughed awkwardly. "It won't be necessary. Nanako might get really upset if she finds out you took those duties from her. And beside, I am sure it will be really useful for my son to have an elder brother in the house."

Fuji seemed to take those words deeply to heart. He opened his eyes and stared at the very awkward Ryoma and then returned to look at Nanjiro. "I promise to see in your son a second brother to me."

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"Dad!" Ryoma whispered angrily later on in the kitchen while Fuji went with Nanako to see his room. "Why did you take Fuji-senpai so seriously? Don't you understand how irritated and suspicious he can be with people who dare to befriend with his family? And even if he had a point about that Steve, it's really not a solution to run away from home. By helping him you only encourage his acts!"

"Nonsense boy," Scolded him Nanjiro. "Fuji Syusuke seemed really nice and honest to me, and I'm sure you can study a lot from him. And beside…" Nanjiro seemed very proud suddenly. "He came to my temple for asking my help, so it's my obligate to assist him."

Ryoma slapped hard on his forehead. "You only make the situation worse. Believe me that Fuji can take care of himself. But if you still have a great desire to help someone, you might start with that Steve, after Fuji signaling him.

"Nonsense…" Nanjiro glared at his son and looked around carefully making sure no one was listening before speaking again. "That boy left his house and was ready to live with a brat like you. I am sure he had a very good reason to do so, and I am honestly afraid something much more drastic happened between him and Steve than he was ready to tell us, so be nice with him." Saying that, Nanjiro left the kitchen and Ryoma rolled his eyes. Talking to his father was more difficult than talking to a stone.

Fuji appeared in the room suddenly, and seemed quite cheerful for someone who passed something as drastic as running away from the house. "Ryoma-kun, Guest what? Your cousin allowed me to help her with breakfast tomorrow morning! Won't it be great?"

Ryoma lowered his head and sighed tiredly. "If you need anything I'm in my room with Karupin." He mumbled more to himself, and left the kitchen.

TBC