A/N: So, I'm back in writing again. It's pretty tiring "rehabilitating" by myself and what with our finals coming. *sigh*

Anyway, this chapter is dedicated to VampyBlood24. Teehee, here's the fourth chapter! I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis. And never will it be mine.

The loud sound of tennis balls hitting a certain metal tennis racket can be heard throughout the green grass courts of Rikkaidai. The non-regulars have already left at that time, leaving only the regulars to suspect their frustrated vice captain release his fury.

"What's the matter with Sanada today?" Niou asked his co-regulars by the fenced court Sanada was in.

"Ssshh, Niou-kun. Sanada-kun may hear you." Yagyuu whispered to Niou, sticking his forefinger out to his lips.

"Oi Niou. If you have time to ask ridiculous questions, surely, you have time to train yourself to be a better tennis player." Sanada told−no, it was more of a command than a suggestion.

"Boo, Sanada. What a kill joy." Niou retorted back with a pout before starting his laps.

Really, Sanada's team mates can't really understand him at times. The only reason he's a bit frustrated today is the fact that the baby of the team is nowhere to be seen. Yes, he cares. Even though that kouhai of his gets on his nerves, he still cares. He's not a total rock, either. He can feel Kirihara's been upset lately, He can sense that Kirihara's not that happy with tennis, and most of all, he knows Kirihara cries at night, hurt and lonely.

It had been a week or so since the sudden loss of Kirihara in the team. At first, he thought that the baby was just slacking off again. But his worries grew when the boy was not seen around Kanagawa for the last three days. He even suspected that the Kirihara family moved form Kanagawa to another place without notice. Hell, was he surprised when he tended to visit the brat's place and give him a lection, but was only left staring at the locked front gate of the house.

And that worried him. He never had the courage to ask Kirihara his problems, achievements, and all about him. He wanted to know the brat more; he wanted to be friends with the boy because his personality interests him. And that fact can never be hidden from the other two demons from the team.

Yanagi grew from being a plain schoolmate of Akaya, to being his own babysitter and tutor. Yanagi could see worry, pain, and disappointment well in Genichirou's eyes. He also knows how Genichirou felt with Akaya's loss. And he felt that too. He's quite close to the junior and knows him well. Like Sanada, he knows Kirihara has been keeping a weight in his heart for a long time.

Yukimura is seen to be the closest one to Akaya of all the regulars of the team. He felt his heart drop when he heard from Genichirou that Akaya is nowhere to be seen. But what hurt him the most was remembering the other teen's smiling face, that one smirk on the courts, the cutest pout ever, and most of all, the voice that calls him Yuki-buhou. He misses Akaya's whines everytime Niou and Marui pulls another prank. He misses Akaya and wants him back on the team. Now.

During lunch time, Kirihara Akaya is still the topic of the remaining regulars' conversations.

"Where do you think Bakaya is?" Marui started while eating his packed lunch.

"Maybe on vacation?" Niou joined in while also chewing on his food.

"As if Akaya would do that. He's completely aware that the nationals are coming to a close. He cannot be doing that." The baby sitter also chimed in.

"Then what could be his reason for…moving? Wait, did he really move?" asked Marui to everyone present in the group.

Yanagi pretended not to hear about the whole conversation. As a matter of fact, he knows something about Genichirou's trip to Akaya's house.

It was last Saturday when he caught sight of Genichirou turning to a corner of a street in Kanagawa, which leads to Akaya's house. This piqued his interest and decided to follow suit. What he suspected was a depressed-looking Genichirou in front of the Kirihara residence's gates and quite…shaking? Yanagi thought at first that his friend was crying like there's no tomorrow but he's wrong. Instead, he saw another frustrated Genichirou ready to rattle the gates down. This saddened him and wanted to show his self to the vice captain. But before he could even do that, the stoic boy left.

But what he saw next was what he least expected. A woman somewhere in her twenties arrived in front of the gates after his friend had left. The woman was quite familiar. He thought deeply and finally realized that the woman was no other than the sister of Fuji Syuusuke of Seigaku. He wondered what would be a Fuji doing in Kanagawa, much more in front of his kouhai's house? And that thought still disturbed Yanagi Renji's mind.

Renji continued to search for clues or any idea on this awkward event in their lives while a sudden statement of Niou's shook him out of his reverie.

"I saw Akaya's sister yesterday." This made all heads turn around from their food to Niou.

"Y-You mean Aya-nee?" Marui nearly yelled, drawing all attention of the students in the cafeteria to their table.

"Hn."

"Where did you saw her? It's been a while since she last visited Japan."

"I saw her exiting Kanagawa Hospital last Saturday."

"Niou, what else do you know?" Yanagi waited for Niou's reply intently, his small brown eyes open for all to see.

"Hmm…Nothing much. She ran into me and it's a good thing she still recognizes me," said Niou. "Man, the woman looked so depressed even with her smiling face. I can clearly see dark circles growing under her purple eyes."

"What did you say? Came from the hospital? Looked depressed?" Yanagi just wanted to make sure he heard everything right. And now, realization hit him once again.

Heavy running footsteps can be heard throughout the cafeteria as Yanagi ran and ran as fast as he could.

"Oi Yanagi! Where are you going?" Jackal tried to call out, but to no avail. For Yanagi had already turned on his heels and went out of the building.

"That Yanagi. He's always unpredictable."

A/N: So that's it. Anyone confused with the whole thing? I think it's pretty confusing now. So, thanks for reading.

I hate how crappy I write.