DISCLAIMER: I do not own Prince of Tennis!

A/N: I have had this for quite a while... I may have possibly forgotten to upload it? *flinches* Forgive me? The chapter is here now...

Note: Thoughts will be shown as such: 'Ryoma's thoughts will be italicized and in single quotation marks.'

Chapter FOUR

He was ready. The match continued.

Ryoman could see it in the eyes of his opponent; Ibu Shinji wanted to crush him. He mentally snorted. He was not going to lose here. He threw up the ball and served. The serve was the fastest so far, and he could hear cries of amazement from the crowd.

"Fifteen-love!" The referee shouted. Shinji griped his racket with more force.

Ryoma smirked. 'I will find out how you're making my arm go numb. It's only for a second, but I will figure out that technique.' His let his smirk become more noticeable. He couldn't taunt his opponent verbally, but Ryoma found body language and facial expressions often worked just as well. He served once more. However, Shinji was ready and returned the ball. The ball was hit back and forth until Spot appeared once more.

And once more… and again. The Spot seemed to come at random times; Ryoma couldn't find a pattern. As he moved to hit the ball, his arm froze completely for a second time, and the racket flew out of his hand. He heard the crowd's gasps, and for a few seconds, he was frozen. His mind flashed back to the accident that caused his injury. He looked down as his arm twitched and picked up his racket. 'That won't happen again. I won't let it.' His eyes grew determined. His mouth set in a firm line.

He heard Oishi's worried mutterings, though he successfully refrained from looking at his teammates. He knew his time limit was fast approaching. He knew he was still giving points to his opponent. He knew his teammates were beginning to feel anxious. But now, as the match continued, there were three more things he knew. He doubted few people aside from his opponent knew these things, but it was more than enough that he did.

'I've figured you out Ibu Shinji. You need alternating topspins and slices to numb my arm. That's an interesting technique, watching for muscle contractions. But you've never played a nitouryuu player before, have you?'

Shinji looked up from his self-mutterings to see Ryoma smirking at him. He grit his teeth; the freshman was provoking him even know. He served, and the freshman returned it easily. He smirk grew wider as he switched hands. Gasps could be heard from the crowd once more.

Ryoma continued to return Shinji's hits with a smirk firmly on his face. The match was going well, and the score was in his favor as it should be. He didn't even need to think about using the one-footed split step. It was natural to him, and he was glad he had practice the technique as much as he did.

He heard a female gasp. "Ryoma-kun!" The freshman trio echoed his name. "Echizen!" He heard sharp inhalations from the crowd, and he could hear the distinct, worried sounds of his teammates. From his twin, however, he heard nothing. Her silence troubled him, but he could not afford to be distracted now. As it was, he was already ignoring the blood seeping through his bandage.

"Game, Seigaku's Echizen!" The referee shouted.

Ryoma served. He won the point, but Shinji tied by winning the next point. However, he won the next two points. As they rallied for the point that would win him the match, he saw Tezuka stand from the corner of his eye. He knew his time was running dangerously low, but there was no way in hell he was losing now. He heard words of encouragement from Momoshiro, and he smiled inwardly.

He smashed the ball, and Shinji caught it, still spinning, in his left hand. "Ah! Echizen is amazing! That smash looked like the Twist Serve!" Horio shouted.

'Ever the observant one, aren't you?' Ryoma barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes, but he smirked widely as he heard the score. The game and match were his. He turned to his teammates and hesitantly made a thumbs-up gesture. They all returned it with cheerful smiles. Tezuka nodded, the corners of his lips upturned. Ryoma breathed a sigh of relief. He had made it within the time limit. He looked directly at his twin, and Yuuki smiled brightly at him as she gave him a thumbs-up of her own. The crowd cheered widly.

"Presenting, the District Tournament winner Seishun Gakuen with the runner-up Fudomine Chugakko. We will be anticipating good games from both teams at the Prefectural Tournament. Thank you." (1) Both teams bowed.

Tetsu Ishida turned to Kawamura to inquire about his right arm, but the kind Kawamura told him not to worry. That is, until Momoshiro slipped a racket into the senior's hands. Further down the line, the Golden Pair's opponents wished them a good game while Kaidoh and Kamio exchanged insulting names. As Ryoma moved to walk off the court, Fudomine's Shinji and Tachibana blocked his path.

Shinji said, "Echizen-kun. I feel bad about the injury to your eye. Are you okay?" His voice grew lower as he began to mutter about the accident not being his fault. Ryoma grew puzzled as heard Shinji accusing him of hurting himself. Shinji continued his mutterings until his captain cut in with the sharp call of his name. "Ah, sorry."

Ryoma simply pulled his hat down and nodded. He moved to walk away, but Shinji once more began to speak in low tones. "How rude. He did not even say a single thing in reply to me. He probably does not want to say anything because he is embarrassed he has been found out—"

"Excuse me." Tezuka interrupted. He stepped up behind Ryoma, placing a hand on the freshman's shoulder. He glanced at Ryoma, and their eyes met. Ryoma's eyes were fierce, but they gave nothing away. The younger teen merely nodded. Tezuka looked back to the Fudomine pair. "My teammate does not speak."

Tachibana raised an eyebrow as he looked at Ryoma. His gaze drifted back to Tezuka, and he nodded. "I apologize for my teammate's words. We did not know." The two captains continued to stare at each other until Tachibana spoke once more. "We don't plan on losing twice to the same opponent." (2)

"Aa. We look forward to our next meeting." Tezuka replied, and the two shook hands. Tezuka and Ryoma stepped around the Fudomine pair and rejoined their teammates.

Kawamura spoke up. "Ah, now that everyone's here, I wanted to announce that our celebration dinner is on me, at Kawamura Sushi!" The Seigaku regulars cheered.

Ryoma began to walk over to his sister, but his path was blocked once more. Ryuuzaki-sensei smiled at him. She said, "You did very well today, Ryoma. However, before you go to celebrate, you need to get that eye checked out by a doctor. I will be taking you to the hospital, and you will be able to meet with everyone later."

Ryoma pulled his hat down and nodded. Yuuki came to stand beside him, and she looked at Ryuuzaki-sensei with a question in her eyes. The coach answered. "I will be taking only Ryoma. There's no need to take more than one person from the celebration. Come, Ryoma. We should leave now." Ryoma and Yuuki looked at each other. They knew they had no choice in this matter. They hugged briefly, and Ryoma left to follow the quickly leaving coach.

Later that evening

Ryoma slid the door open to see absolute chaos. His eyes met with Yuuki's and she smiled. She waved a hand to the empty seat on her left side, and he made his way over, dodging and stepping over various regulars. He sat down and nodded a greeting to Fuji, who sat across from Yuuki. He felt Yuuki's left hand sneak closer to his right hand, and they locked their pinky fingers together. They had often done this as children to give each other hidden comfort, and they needed it now, after the day's earlier events.

"How is your eyelid, Ryoma-kun?" Fuji asked. Ryoma looked at his senpai and gave him a small thumbs-up. "That's great." The tensai smiled, and he was a tensai with reason. He had seen the twins link their pinky fingers, and he knew the reasons behind the action. However, he would not comment on it. He knew the protective feelings a sibling felt for an injured on; he had often felt the same need for comfort whenever Yuuta was injured. Speaking of Yuuta, these two really reminded him of his younger brother…

"Echizen! I'm glad to see you're okay. Here you go!" Kawamura came from behind him and set a platter of sushi on the table. "Your sister mentioned to me that you liked the same foods, so we prepared the same platter. Enjoy!" Kawamura left to serve the other regulars. Ryoma looked down at the platter, and a small smile slipped onto his face. All his favorites were right in front of him! He dug in eagerly. Yuuki chuckled and continued eating herself.

Fuji looked at the twins and smiled. They really were adorable, and they looked so similar! He let out a small chuckle of his own. He didn't intend for the two to hear him, but they did. Ryoma and Yuuki looked up at him, questions in their eyes. "Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking you two look uncannily similar: your eyes and hair, facial structures, overall physical structures, and your gestures." The twins stared at him, and he laughed again.

"Fuji! You're so selfish! You have an entire platter to yourself. Let me help you along!" Kikumaru exclaimed. Before anyone could stop him, he ate a piece of Fuji's sushi. He chewed, swallowed, and began to choke. "Wahh! Fuji! What is this? So spicy!" Kikumaru grabbed Fuji's tea and finished it in one gulp. "Wahh! Too hot! Fuji!"

Fuji looked at his fellow year-mate with a completely innocent look. "It's my favorite, Eiji, wasabi sushi." Kikumaru continued to exclaim as he ran to his doubles partner, looking for drinks to cool down his mouth. Fuji covered his mouth as he laughed. Kikumaru was just too funny. He looked up to see the Echizen twins laughing themselves. They really were adorable!

"Fuji-senpai, can I sit here?" The trio looked up to see a slightly blushing Kaidou.

Fuji looked up at Kaidou and followed the junior's flickering gaze. His eyes landed on a curious Yuuki. 'Saa, looks like someone has a crush.' Fuji looked back up at Kaidou. "Go ahead, Kaidou. I won't stop you." The junior muttered a gruff "thank you" before sitting down, sushi platter and tea in hand.

Ryoma looked up and met Kaidou's eyes. He knew his eyes were fierce, and he intended them to be. He had seen Kaidou's glances at his twin, and he had seen the blush creeping up the junior's neck. He smirked slightly; if Kaidou wanted to date his twin, the junior would have to go through him first.

Yuuki averted her eyes. Unlike her twin, she was not oblivious to others' feelings towards her. It was a bold move on Kaidou's part to sit at their table, and she did her best to force down the blush she could feel. Her pinky finger tightened around Ryoma's. She knew where his thoughts were going, and Kaidou would not be safe if they continued.

The table was silent as its occupants silently ate and eyed each other. They paused in their eating when Fuji looked up and pointed to the counter. The three lower classmen looked over to see Kawamura's father offering Tezuka alcohol. Tezuka said seriously, "I am the captain, Tezuka."(3) Everyone laughed even as Kawamura's father apologized profusely, completely embarrassed.

That night

Ryoma turned over onto his right side, facing his bedroom wall. He could not sleep. His mind was restless, his thoughts running wild behind his eyes. He sighed and sat up. Karupin shifted at his feet causing him to pause. Fortunately, his Himalayan cat did not wake up, and he swung his legs out of bed. He rested his elbows on his knes and clasped his hands together, setting his chin down on his hands. He stared at the opposite wall; the moonlight from the window illuminated his room well enough for him to see the wall clearly. But he didn't see the wall. Instead, that crimson-stained memory flashed before his eyes, mixing with the day's earlier events. The sights were running together, and closing his eyes did nothing.

Ryoma shook his head. He used his hands to push down on his knees as he stood up. There was only one way he would get any sleep that night. He walked outside his bedroom.

Yuuki turned over onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. She could not sleep. Her thoughts were flying through her mind in twisted circles. She sat up and sighed. She pushed off her blankets, untangling them from her legs. She crossed her legs and rested her elbows on the sides of her thighs. She clasped her hands together and set her chin upon them. She stared at her door; the moonlight from the window illuminated her room well enough for her to see the door clearly. But she didn't register the door. Instead, crimson-silver pain made her right eye twinge with pain, and she could only think of the pain Ryoma must have felt.

She shook her head. She swung her legs out of bed and stood up. There was only one way she and her twin would get any sleep that night. She walked outside her bedroom and into the hall.

Ryoma and Yuuki's eyes met as they simultaneously stepped out into the hall. They did not say a single word and met halfway between their rooms. The twins sat down, backs against the wall. They leaned against each other as they linked their pinkies. Yuuki rested her head on Ryoma's shoulder, and he laid his head atop hers. Their eyes fluttered closed, their minds slowed down, and their breathing matched the other's. They were soon peacefully asleep, dreaming of sweet nothings and kind darkness.

A/N: So what did you think? Please let me know in a review!

Oh, and as a bonus, I will be posting a short omake at the end of the next chapter. Look forward to it!