Tezuka looked around the mansion he’d been ushered into, a sinking feeling
\n in his stomach indicating that this was a horribly bad idea and he should
\n just go home. He wondered where his better judgment had gone, and decided
\n that it had probably left in disgust the moment he spoke with an angel. He
\n noted the rather prominent chair at the other end of the room, which was
\n made all the more notable for the fact that the tea table a few feet away
\n from it had a motif of peach and cherry blossoms. <\/p>\n
\n“Nakuru calls it the Throne of Evil,” an amused voice informed him
\nfrom the shadows. “I would move it out of the room, but everyone’s
\nterribly fond of it, especially little Nadeshiko.” There was a pause. “I
\nhad no idea I had another cute relative in Tokyo.”<\/p>\n
\nTezuka’s expression didn’t change. “I was under the impression
\nthat you kept track of the Li family and where they went.”<\/p>\n
\nA man emerged from the shadows. Tezuka quirked an eyebrow at the man’s apron,
\nwhich had a pink heart on it, and his blue head kerchief. The man smiled brightly
\nat Tezuka. “Well, I kept track of Ayana until I was sure she was happily
\nmarried, but I couldn’t possibly track all of the children that married
\nout of the Li family through the years, now can I?”<\/p>\n
\n“I suppose not,” said Tezuka stiffly. “I apologize for my rudeness.
\nI’m Tezuka Kunimitsu. It’s an honor to meet you, ancestor.”<\/p>\n
\n“Pfft. You make me feel old. I’m Hiiragizawa Eriol, though you’re
\nfree to call me ‘uncle’ if you like.” Something about Eriol’s
\npurely friendly smile made Tezuka uneasy. He wasn’t sure precisely why he
\nwanted to have a wall at his back at the moment, but he forced himself to ignore
\nthe urge and go on.<\/p>\n
\n“…Uncle,” Tezuka began. He was mystified when Eriol snickered,
\nbut Eriol waved at him to go on. “I don’t want to take up much of
\nyour time…”<\/p>\n
\n“Oh, but you must stay for tea,” Eriol said firmly. “Indulge
\na poor old man like myself and sit,” Eriol said, waving to the table. “I
\nalready made enough for both of us, and if Nakuru and Spinel stop being so eerily
\nquiet, I’m sure they’ll enjoy the tea too.”<\/p>\n
\nAs if on cue, there was a crash from upstairs, accompanied by a series of thuds.
\nEriol walked over to poke his head out the door. “Is everyone alright?”
\nhe called.<\/p>\n
\n“I DIDN’T DO IT SUPPI DID!”<\/p>\n
\nEriol sighed faintly. “I suppose I’ll find out later,” he said,
\nwaving at Tezuka to sit down, again. <\/p>\n
\nTezuka hesitantly moved to take a seat and Eriol poured the tea. Upon trying one
\nof the scones, he remarked, “This is very good. Where did you get it?”<\/p>\n
\n“Oh, I like to cook,” Eriol said offhandedly. He shrugged at Tezuka’s
\nmystified look. “If I couldn’t make proper scones myself, I’d
\nhave to give back my English heritage, and that would be very difficult at this
\npoint. But you said you have a problem,” he added, just as Tezuka took another
\nbite of the scone.<\/p>\n
\nTezuka attempted not to give Eriol a dark look, and succeeded only from a life
\nof training. It took Tezuka a few minutes to finish the piece of scone, and he
\nsaid, “I’ve been visited by members of the heavenly host. And people
\nfrom hell. Currently, the archangel Raphael has healed my shoulder…”<\/p>\n
\n“I noticed that you’d been touched by an angel,” Eriol remarked
\ninto his teacup. Tezuka decided that he never, ever wanted Eriol to meet Fuji.
\nHe knew that inflection, and given that Fuji might have already spoken with that
\ndemon, Tezuka did not need any more headaches. <\/p>\n
\n“…Yes. Michael offered, but I refused. Lucifer and the Mad Hatter
\nhave also visited.” Tezuka looked down at his teacup. “I’m concerned
\nfor the well-being of my team…”<\/p>\n
\n“You’re looking at the Nationals, aren’t you?” At Tezuka’s
\nglance, Eriol added, “I’m psychic. Also, your mother sends me regular
\nletters.” Tezuka scowled at Eriol, whose smile only brightened. “Got
\nto keep up on the children who are close by, wot?”<\/p>\n
\nTezuka knew better than to point out that Eriol had said the opposite earlier
\nand forged on. “I just wanted your assurance that, in the interests of looking
\nafter your family, you would be willing to help me if any of mine trapped themselves
\nin a mistake.”<\/p>\n
\nEriol nodded. “Of course. I’m always willing to help out family. I’ll
\nhave to meet your team, now, to make sure there isn’t undue influence already…”<\/p>\n
\nTezuka twitched, and nearly did so again when he realized that Eriol’s smile
\ndidn’t have to change to look cheerfully evil. “I’m sure that
\nRaphael…”<\/p>\n
\nEriol took a sip of tea. “Yes, yes, he’s very good at what he does,
\nbut I should see my nephew’s friends, and besides, the last time I saw a
\ngood game of tennis was at Wimbledon.”<\/p>\n
\n“Thank you,” Tezuka managed. “…though,” he added,
\nsuddenly thoughtful, “I might need your help in making a fair balance.”<\/p>\n
\nEriol set down his cup as his smile shifted to one of polite interest. “Oh?
\nKeeping the balance in what way?”<\/p>\n
\n“It would require too much participation, really,” Tezuka added. He
\nshook his head. “I’d hate to impose on you, since I know that they
\nhave a minor angel taking care of them already…” Tezuka kept his gaze
\nfirmly on his teacup.<\/p>\n
\n“Do tell,” Eriol urged, sitting back and steepling his fingers. “You’ve
\nintrigued me.”<\/p>\n
\n“Hyoutei seems to be the only school in serious contention in the Nationals
\nwithout special backing,” Tezuka explained. “They have an angel, but
\nnot one on the level of the others, and I’d be disappointed if they were
\nput at a disadvantage by no fault of their own.”<\/p>\n
\nEriol looked thoughtful. “I have been looking for something to do with my
\nfree time.” When the smile returned, Tezuka found himself wondering if he
\nfelt sorrier for Hyoutei or for the other teams. “I’ll help you out.
\nNow, let’s finish our tea, and then I’ll go meet your lovely boys.”<\/p>\n
\nIt was at that point that Tezuka began to wonder who had manipulated whom. He
\n pushed the thought aside, deciding that in this case, he really didn’t
\n want to know. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tezuka talks to relatives about his problems.