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Eiji the Cat

by Yoshikochan

DISCLAIMER:  Konomi-sensei owns Prince of Tennis.  ...but I own yoshikochan . com! (that's got to count for something, right?!)

NOTES: This first part is silly, kind of like a prologue.  Inspired by The Brilliant Green's "Brownie the Cat".  And no, Eiji does not turn into a cat in this fic.

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Part 1: Pink Ice-cream

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        When I saw you sitting there

        On your yellow flower chair

        You were eating pink ice cream

        I fell in love with you

--------------------------------  ~<3

"Ooo-ishi!"

A heavy weight descended onto Oishi's back with a thump, and in reaction to what he knew was coming, he curved his arms down and around the two kitty-like legs that had gripped his sides.  Eiji snuggled his face against Oishi's short hair, his arms clasping loosely around his partner's neck and shoulders.  Despite the sudden bouncy glomp, experience helped Oishi keep his balance.

"Eiji!" he still charged, knowing that if he didn't reprimand a little now, some other victim of Eiji's giddy huggles wouldn't be so capable - not that this would stop him.

"Hehen, Nya!  Oishi is snuggly!" Eiji's voice was as energetic as ever, and Oishi was sure a watermelon smile currently graced the red-head's face.  The thought of being 'snuggly' brought heat into his upper cheeks.

Eiji craned his head forward, and sure enough, Oishi could see the beaming watermelon smile was really there.  "Okay!!  Let's go to practice!"

"Like this?!"  Eiji was heavier than he looked; his leaps and bounces on the court were deceptive as to the true effect gravity had on him.

"Yay!!  GO!"  Eiji shot one fist into the air in excitement, a declaration of departure, using the other one to help stabilize the piggy-back.

Oishi felt a sweat drop cover his expression, and looked up to give Eiji an I'll-never-make-it speech -

"Oh, Eiji!  You have ice-cream on your face."   Sure enough, cuspy pink splotches were all around his lips and cheeks.

"Nya?!"  A cat-like expression of surprise seemed to match the way he pawed his face, his mouth forming a little 'o' as he realized it was true.  

"Waaaa!  But I ate that ice-cream over two hours ago!" he pouted,  "Nyaaa Fuji was just giggling all during class!  He didn't even say anything!"

Oishi found himself chuckling, forming a mixed expression of amusement and concern.  He bet the tensai had gone to great lengths in order to insure no well-meant comment from any of their classmates would spoil his fun.

"Did Fuji bring you the ice cream?"

"Nope!" exclaimed Eiji, already exuberantly cheerful despite the remaining patches of cream he'd missed on his nose and lower lip. "A girl in our class brought a biiiiiig tub of Neapolitan ice-cream during lunch!  I only ate strawberry, though."

Oishi couldn't help but smile at the thought of his ever-springy doubles partner digging a tiny wooden paddle spoon into a large bin of brown, white, and pink, quickly and possessively so no one would have a chance to sneak any of his precious strawberry ice-cream, stuffing it ungraciously into his puffed up mouth.  A cold smoothness would have coated his tongue and inner cheeks, instantly warmed by the ever-flowing energy swirling rapidly through all parts of the acrobat's body.  Strawberries suited the red-head pretty well.

He remembered the first time they had gone somewhere to eat, to a homely cafe not too far from school.  He had kept his order down to coffee and macadamia nut biscotti, but Eiji had ordered a ridiculously large three-scoop ice-cream special topped with fresh strawberries, caramel, peanut bits, and of course whip cream.  That time too it had ended with half that whip cream reaching Eiji's face but not his mouth.  He also recalled that it was that time that the abnormality had occurred.  As they were waiting for their order, the red-head had been shy and dilute, talking dully about some nonsensical lack of clouds and other orders of academia.  He had not liked the missing energy and willfulness he usually saw Eiji with at school.  The happy moon beams of nyas and purrs had been vacant.  Oishi had felt cheated, denied of the explicit bubblyness that was showered upon everyone else.   But that had only lasted until they received their orders.  He smiled nostalgically, still not knowing what had gone through the acrobat's head at that time.  He definitely liked this cheerful Eiji better.

"You're late for practice, sempai-tachi."  The calm, condescending tone could belong to none other than Seigaku's youngest regular.  

"Ochibi!"  Eiji abandoned his turtle-shell position on Oishi in order to cup the scornful freshman into an exuberant glomp.

"Ooouf- sempai get off!"  Eiji's shining eyes and smile completely missed Echizen's obvious annoyance.  Oishi could only smile.

"But really, you guys are late.  I have permission to be since I had to run some errands for the library club..."

Oishi checked his watch, gulping.  At Seigaku, even ten minutes of tardiness could be fatal.

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"Forty laps."  Cold, hard, and impassive, Seigaku's buchou gave no mercy, even to his usually reliable vice captain.

"Nyaaa~" Eiji cried, sounding like a kitten whining at the door to be let in, but he began the trek anyways.  

For the umpteenth time that day, Oishi found his lips drawn into a smile.  He didn't mind running even a hundred laps, if it was with Eiji.

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Author's note:  Short, and silly.  ^^;;  Does this fic have a plot?  Does it even deserve a part two?  Isn't it cliché?!  The mystery thickens!