Bunseki (Analysis) by Monnie

Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Pairings/Characters: Shishido/Ohtori
Rating: K+
Author: tiamatv
Website: sinsofwill
Summary: As much as you love him, your son has always been a little bit of a puzzle to you.
Why: I've been on a Shishido/Ohtori kick for the past couple days, and this is one of the results of that kick. This story is written in 2nd person, from the point of view of Ohtori's father. Don't let the 2nd person scare you off; Monnie does a wonderful job with it. I barely even noticed it, personally. Plus, its use provides all these lovely descriptions that were a perfect reminder just how much I love Ohtori and Shishido, and why. I also really enjoyed the slightly different take on just how Shishido and Ohtori met and became friends. This story doesn't follow the cliche of the two of them not interacting until Shishido's fall from the Regulars, and I appreciated that. Really, I appreciated this entire story. The author expresses her doubts about it at the beginning, but I have no doubts. This story made me a very, very happy fangirl.

Bunseki (Analysis) by Monnie

Going Somewhere by Monnie (K)

Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Pairings/Characters: Shishido, Ohtori
Rating: K
Spoilers for: takes place after episode 112
Author: tiamatv
Website: sinsofwill
Summary: Just a quiet moment in the bus, on the way back from the practice matches against Seigaku...
Why: This is a lovely look at Shishido, who's been slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite characters ever since I first watched the series. I absolutely loved the way that Monnie portrayed him here because it seems so true to who he is and the way he thinks. Also, even though there isn't anything overtly Shishido/Ohtori about the story, there's still a beautiful glimpse of their relationship as doubles partners, friends, and people who lean on each other by choice rather than by necessity.

Going Somewhere by Monnie

Built This Way by Scoradh (MA)

Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Pairings/Characters: Ohtori/Shishido
Rating: MA
Author: scoradh
Website: rainspots
Summary: While there are hundreds of deaf alley cats who know more about music than Shishido, it doesn't mean that he can't appreciate something that sounds good when he hears it.
Why: One of the best things about this story, in my opinion, is the music. I love the idea of Ohtori teaching Shishido how to play the piano (and Shishido being good at it) to pieces because of the way that it gives them a connection other than tennis to build on. Which is not to say that tennis isn't perfectly sufficient, but this was the first time I saw music used in any capacity other than something that only Ohtori does, and it's now one of the first things that I think of when this fic crosses my mind.

Another aspect that really caught my attention in this story is the bumpy path that love takes and the ways that Shishido and Ohtori (particularly Ohtori) change. It seemed like there was a fair amount of conflict that for once wasn't caused by Shishido's cluelessness, which is a difference that I enjoyed.

In sum, I really liked this story as a bit of a longer and different look at how the relationship between Ohtori and Shishido could have come about.

Built This Way by Scoradh