Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.

A/N: Meh =u='' Just a random plot that popped into my mind.

Chapter 1: The Deal

In the Echizen Household:

"Wait for me, Ta-chan!" A 6 year-old girl that had emerald locks and hazel cat eyes that looked like golden, shouted while running after an 8 year-old boy that had red-pink hair and amethyst eyes who was running away from her, holding a pack of bubblegum in his hand.

"No way! Catch me if you can, Ryo!" 'Ta-chan' shouted back while running away as fast as he can.

After a few minutes of chasing, 'Ta-chan' finally got tired and slumped back against a wall, "Looks like your stamina is bad as usual, Ta-chan!" The girl teased the older boy with a grin and only sweated a bit while the boy was panting very hard.

"Then... I'll only have to... work on it...more," The boy managed to say while panting between words. Indeed, Marui Bunta was seriously having stamina problems even as a kid.

"And that's why you never beat me in tennis!" The young girl taunted. In a young age, Echizen Ryoma was already cocky but sweet and kind.

The redhead plainly ignored this and popped a piece of gum inside his mouth. Ryoma frowned at this but to Bunta, it looked like a pout and adorable. Standing up, he only grinned and patted the shorter girl's head, which reminded her of the height difference.

"Stop doing that!" Ryoma protested.

"Why?" Bunta asked while grinning, obviously enjoying teasing the younger girl.

Ryoma was about to reply but then both of their parents came into the living room. Seeing her dad and mom, she ignored Bunta and went to her mom and dad. She ran to her parents only to be carried and hugged by her dad that had a face-splitting grin.

"Ryo-chan! Had a fun time with your 'Ta-chan'?" Nanjirou teased/asked his daughter while wiggling his eyebrows.

"Mou, Ta-chan isn't an object to be considered as "owned"! Better work on your eyes, o-ya-ji~" Ryoma countered and purposely stretching the "oyaji" to point out he's old.

The other occupants of the room just chuckled at the antics of Ryoma and Nanjiroh.

Nanjirou countered back by tickling his daughter on her sides. This could've gone on forever if Rinko didn't cut in, "Anata, stop that before Ryoma gets cramps," Rinko scolded her husband.

"Hai..." Nanjiroh relented with a fake pout towards his wife.

Marui helped Ryoma stand up and gave her a piece of gum, "Arigato, Ta-chan!" Ryoma got the gum and popped it into her mouth before hugging him.

"You're welcome, Ryo." The redhead said while hugging her back.

Rinko and Shizuka (1) squealed at the "fluff" shown while Nanjirou and Sai (2) grinned at the children's interactions.

"Looks like it was a good idea to make that deal," Sai said while looking at his son's fond expression that was directed to the girl on his arms

"Yeah, I'll be damned if Ryoma ended up with some random guy," Nanjirou agreed while ignoring his wife's protest of his choice of words.

The children's ears perked up at this and asked, "What are you talking about, tou-san/oyaji?"

The adults suddenly grinned and asked them to sit down. The four adults sat on one couch while the two children sat on another one while blowing/popping their bubblegum.

"Well you see, we made a deal with each other that involves the two of you," Shizuka started while beaming at the two children.

"What deal?" Bunta asked while popping his bubblegum.

"Long story short, you guys are engaged," Rinko said as she grinned at her daughter and soon to be son in-law.

"NANI?!" The two children shouted while almost choking on their bubblegum.

"Yeap!" Nanjirou confirmed childishly.

"Why?" Both of the kids asked again as they were still in shock. They were both smart enough to know that being engaged means soon to be married and will be together forever.

"Because, I want you to be safe and happy in the future. Looking at the both of you interact earlier confirmed my guess that you will both be happy with each other in the future," Sai calmly explained before drinking tea.

At this, both kids looked at each other and thought about it.

'Well, Ta-chan is pretty nice and fun to be with. I feel safe with him and gives me free sweets. Plus, he's quite a decent opponent in tennis,' Ryoma thought as she stared at Bunta's face.

'Ryo is quite cute and kind even though she's quite a tsundere. She's like a little sister but when I think of her as that, it doesn't feel right. Is it love?' Bunta thought as he stared back at Ryoma.

A cough broke them out of their thoughts and looked back at their parents. They suddenly blushed on how they stared at each other for a long time and how they thought of each other.

Thus, came another round of squealing and grinning.

After a few minutes, Shizuka gasped as she suddenly remembered something important. Sai and Rinko noticed then asked if something's wrong.

"Ah... It's just that I remembered that I promised Okaa-san to make the whole family live together with her in Japan..." Shizuka explained as she smiled nervously.

...Complete silence in the room~

"EH?!" Nanjirou shouted while Rinko was moping that she won't some "fluff" for now. Sai was taking it more calmly as he also remembered about the promise Shizuka made. The kids were just sad that they won't see each other for a long time.

"Well... I do wonder how is Okaa-san handling the twins (3)," Sai wondered while taking another drink at his tea.

"Knowing those two, they probably gave her a heart attack already," Bunta commented dryly.

Sai and Shizuka sweatdropped at the deadpanned remark their oldest son gave.

"Do you want to stay with us for dinner? It is getting quite late." Rinko offered as she stood up to prepare dinner.

"Yes, it would be a delight for us and Bunta could stay longer with his fiancée," Shizuka said while teasing her son. Bunta and Ryoma blushed at this.

"Ryo, want to help me with my Tightrope Walking while waiting for dinner?" Bunta asked Ryoma while standing up to get his racket.

"Sure!" Ryoma agreed as she also stood up to get her racket.

They both headed to the tennis court in Ryoma's house while talking about ways how to improve Bunta's signature move.

Nanjirou, Sai, and Shizuka just drank their tea and chatted about stuff.

At the Airport:

"Looks like this is good bye," Ryoma murmured sadly as she looked at the Marui-fusai that had their suitcases at their sides.

"Don't worry, Ryoma-chan! I won't let Bunta fall for another girl while we're at Japan!" Shizuka assured her soon to be daughter in-law. This made Ryoma and Bunta flustered while looking at anywhere but each other.

Nanjirou, Sai, and Rinko only chuckled at their children.

"Tell us when you guys decide to move at Japan. We need to prepare for it!" Shizuka told Rinko as she winked at her son.

"Sure, though I'm sure it's not anytime this year because of my work here," Rinko said apologetically at her best friend.

While the adults continued to chat with each other, the two children had their own conversation.

"Ne, Ta-chan. While you're there, promise to email me every week?" Ryoma asked Bunta as she blush slightly.

"Sure. You can even make that every day," Bunta said as he grinned and winked at Ryoma. The younger girl blushed more visible and found her feet interesting.

Ryoma fumbled around her shorts pockets and held out a pair of silver rings with a red gem on it that had a fully bloomed rose as a design.

"Here. This is our promise to meet again and nothing will be changed." Ryoma said as she handed one ring to Bunta.

Bunta only nodded as he wore the ring on his left hand's ring finger while Ryoma wore the other ring on her left hand's ring finger.

"Flight number 305, from New York to Narita: check-in is now in progress."

"There's our cue. Good bye, take care of yourselves here." Sai said as he picked up his suitcases.

"Let's meet at Japan again. Good bye, be careful," Nanjiroh replied as he waved.

"Of course, if we won't meet again then Bunta would be so sad," Shizuka said as she grinned and waved making the boy flustered again.

"Ja ne, Ryo. Keep our promise, 'kay?" Bunta said to Ryoma as he kissed her forehead.

"Un! I will keep our promise. You better keep it!" Ryoma kissed Bunta's cheek and hugged him.

"Ja ne!" the Marui-fusai and Bunta waved good-bye as they left for their flight.

"Sayonara! Take care of yourselves!" the Echizen-fusai and Ryoma waved back as they wished them well.

After seeing their airplane leave, the Echizen-fusai and their daughter went home quietly as they thought of what will happen in the future.

Shizuka (1): My fan-made name for Bunta's mother as they didn't reveal what it really is.

Sai (2): Bunta's dad. Same reason.

Ryohei and Kohei (3): Bunta's younger brothers. Same reason.

A/N: And that's a wrap for chapter one!~ Please leave a review and oyasumi (it's 2 AM here ; - ;).