"Forty-fifteen," the referee, aka Yanagi Renji, announced.

Sanada closed his eyes and sensed the ball nearing his racket. He visualized the sword he used at his grandfather's dojo in his hand, then swung the racket with easy skill.

Across the court, his red-eyed opponent gaped as the ball appeared to vanish, then reappeared behind him.

"Game and set, Sanada, six games to two," Yanagi announced, smiling at his friend. The team had just been listed for this year, and as expected, the two had made it, along with quite a few talented others.

Sanada stepped up to the net. "Good game," he told the other player, not only being gracious. It was very difficult to get that many games on him, and he knew it. Especially if the other player was a year younger. Yukimura had chosen the new team well.

Kirihara Akaya scowled. "Yeah, for you."

Sanada shook his head. "You're relatively good. I'd say that only Yukimura, Yanagi, and I are better than you, although I don't know most of the others' skills well."

Akaya shrugged. "I'll be better than you two by the end of the year, then," he said confidently.

Someone laughed from behind Sanada. "You're pretty confident for a grade 2," a voice Sanada knew well snickered. Sanada shook his head and turned to face Marui Bunta. Marui hadn't been on the team last year, but Sanada knew him well from his battle to make the team this year. Actually, Sanada had helped him with a simple suggestion- maximize energy. Now, Marui would play for Rikkaidai.

"I'm allowed to be confident," Akaya rolled his eeyes. "I'm good."

"Of course you are," a Brazilian boy with a shaved head said encouragingly. His name was Jackal Kuwabara, and he was fairly new to the school, just having moved a few months before. He had apparently taken Akaya under his wing, but Sanada barely knew him.

"Why? Because he's Rikkaidai?" suggested another boy who had just approached. This boy lived just a block away from Sanada, but he barely knew the boy. His name was Niou Masaharu, and despite his amazing "reading" abilities in tennis, Sanada doubted that he would have made the team if not for his doubles partner, tall and purple-haired Yagyuu Hiroshi, a former golf player whom Niou had sold onto tennis. He was actually an old friend of Sanada's from elementary school, and remembering how he played, Sanada wondered if what he had told Akaya about who was best was really accurate.

"That's good enough a reason," smiled Yukimura, or Yuki, as most of the team called him. He was captain to Sanada's fukobuchou, and had been playing with Sanada for years. "Champion's pride means we'll win again this year!"

There was a lot of nodding at that. Akaya looked like he was going to cheer, but thought better of it, since his senpais were not.

"Our first game is this Saturday," Yuki announced. "We'll be playing Kishimoto, Hirogen, and then probably Chisanaki." It was generally easy to predict who'd win each game. "None of them are very good teams, so it'll be easy sailing." He winked at Sanada. "Sanada and I are going to have some fun with the lineup…"

Sanada, being who he was, simply nodded. But inside, he was bored. These games were just stepping-stones to Rikkaidai's next champion title. After all, they were invincible. They were Rikkaidai…

A/N: I know it's short, but I'm being kicked off the computer. Anyway, this is Rikkaidai, as close to the script as possible. I didn't watch the "Atobe Kara no Okurimono" movie, though, and if anyone knows of anything mentioned about Rikkaidai's players in it, please tell me when reviewing! I'm also trying to keep this mostly English- I remember how hard it was to understand some fics before I learned Japanese. I'm not officially pairing anyone up- you can interpret things as you wish…

Some Questions:

Does Rikkaidai have a coach? Kirihara seems to be talking to one in the episode where he "visits" Seigaku, but that could've been anyone. If they do have a coach, what's his/her name?

What's with the Niou-Yagyuu switcheroo thing? I've read a few fics where they switch places, so I'm inclined to believe that it's a fact, but I don't quite understand it.

Lastly, in which area is Jyousei Shounan? I need to know if they're anywhere near Rikkaidai..

If anyone can answer these questions, please tell me while reviewing!