Welcome everyone and especially Koto Shinobi with whom this story is dedicated to. I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long. A little background on this story before I get started. I did not read the manga nor do I remember much about the ending of Prince of Tennis. I've seen it once before the site went down that I was watching it on so I hope I don't mix anything up. I've added some things of my own and some things from the actual anime that I remember. I'm sorry if anything was mentioned, and I missed it or don't remember it. If you notice it's wrong can you tell me please? I only have the first four volumes of the anime since they didn't produce more than that *tears* Anyway this is set when Ryoma is seventeen, and a senior in high school. This is also very different from me. It's not dark or anything like that, but it does have a slight plot. Thank you for joining me.

I don't own any of the characters from Prince of Tennis. I don't even own any of the settings. I wish I did LOL.

Dedicated to Koto Shinobi who requested this pairing.

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Chapter One

Everything seemed quiet in the bright morning. The birds chirped in the distance, allowing the young tennis prodigy to enjoy the early morning hour. Moisture from the early morning dew soaked his clothes as Ryoma stared aimlessly into the cloudy sky. His usual black tennis bag was missing for the first time. Normally every Sunday morning he'd warm up in this park, away from the chaos of the city, but not today. He felt lost and despised the bag, causing him to leave it at home.

Ryoma never thought returning to Japan would feel like this. True he wasn't happy competing in the American tournaments and longed to return to Seigaku, but that was four years ago. Now all the seniors and his friends have moved on. Ryoma was just about to start a new school. Unfortunately none of his old teammates were going to be there. He was going to have to live in a dorm, away from his family, his cat, and especially this area.

His father informed him that this was his decision, and he could transfer to any one of the other schools that his fellow teammates went to, but he didn't have the courage to confront them again. Once each member left to go their own way, they didn't come back. He felt abandoned and alone and tennis just didn't have the same meaning anymore. When he first started playing tennis, he didn't need anyone else. In fact, he was always a loner, challenging anyone that was either too cocky and would test his game. Now, after coming to Japan for the first time, that all changed. Seigaku was a team full of intense players that he wanted to challenge one by one. Ryoma found, for the first time, happiness on a team. The members were never tiring and always made him laugh, but what he enjoyed the most was developing his skills along with them. He'll never forget their first competition together, nor his first match with Kaidoh.

And, yet, it was all lost now. The members that were on the team in his first two years at his high school were too serious and pose no challenge to the now graduating senior. But, that was a few years ago. He hasn't played on a team since and now, he was transferring schools to get away from the hurtful reminders of tennis. He was bored and depressed, hoping and wishing for his old teammates to return even though he knew it was impossible. Sighing, Ryoma finally sat up from under the tree. The clouds were beginning to clear, revealing the sun more and more. It was going to be another beautiful Sunday. He didn't want to return home early because his father would either challenge him to a match or discuss the new school he'll be attending in the fall. He wanted neither which was why he sat in the park so early in the morning.

Ryoma wandered pass the tennis courts. A few were occupied with either one person practicing by himself or a pair squaring off. He stopped and watched them for awhile. Ryoma picked up on each of their games, judging their strengths and weaknesses along with their game plan. It was difficult for him not to do that while watching people play. Call it a habit that he had trouble breaking. Finally after several long minutes, Ryoma broke away from them and walked over to the bench near the vending machines. He considered buying his favorite grape drink, but he decided against it. Nothing felt normal. He noticed a few months ago that not only did he abandon tennis, but everything else he usually did or liked.

With a heavy sigh, Ryoma sat down at the bench. He placed his head on his folded arms and stared at the tree beside him. A gentle breeze blew through his hair. He cursed his forgetfulness when he got to the park and realized he forgot his cap. It didn't matter. He hated that hat too and made a mental note to get rid of it. "Now, look who we have here. It's Ryoma Echizen, tennis prodigy," a deep voice sneered from behind him. Ryoma rolled his eyes, used to getting harassed by people that recognized him. He lifted his head just in time to be smacked in the face. Ryoma was knocked off the bench and fell on the cement. He tasted blood in his mouth as more ran down the side of his chin. He wiped the blood away and rose to his feet with his usual emotionless face.

"Do you have a problem with me," he asked calmly, facing the tall dark haired man. The other three men around him snickered.

"The kid has guts," the blond commented, coming around the back of Ryoma. The other two continued to stand behind their suppose of leader. Ryoma stepped away from the blond behind him, knowing what he was doing.

Just as the four were going to jump him a voice shouted, "Hey! Do you have a problem with that man?"

Eiji walked in the middle of the crowd, his red hair now slightly longer, but still styled the same. The group looked at him. "The problem isn't with you, scram."

"If you have a problem with Echizen, you have a problem with me," he snarled. The blond charged Eiji who jumped to the side and kicked him right in the stomach. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

"You bastard!" the leader yelled, running towards Eiji who easily back flipped away, kicking the man in the face as he did. He landed nicely on the bench, kicking the last two men in the face. The group recovered and ran off quickly. Eiji did his usual V for victory dance before hopping off the bench and over towards Ryoma.

"Are you okay, Chibi?"

Ryoma smiled to the nickname. "I'm fine."

Eiji laughed. "Attracting attention again. That's normal. Oh, I guess I can't call you Chibi anymore. Wow, you've grown!"

Ryoma laughed. "If you want to, I don't mind." He was delighted to see his old friend and teammate. It didn't matter what the man called him. "What brings you in the neighborhood?"

"I was looking for you actually. I wanted to see if you still played tennis. There's some rumors going around that you hang up your racquet. Judging by your bag is missing, I guess it's right."

"I'm switching schools in the fall. The tennis team at my old school was full of serious amateur players. None of them challenged me like you guys. What have you been doing?"

Eiji's usual smiling face saddened. "I'm in the same boat you are. Oishi left to go to another school. He was offered a full scholarship to take up teaching. He said it was his dream. Tennis just isn't fun anymore. Without Oishi even the school that I'm going to feels boring. Have you seen any of the others?"

Ryoma shook his head. "After everyone left and started down their own path, no one bothered to come back. I got a full scholarship to play tennis at a nearby high school, but since I quit the team they're taking it away so I'm transferring schools. I don't know what I want to do for a living. I can't believe Syuichiroh, wants to be a teacher."

"Yeah," Eiji laughed, "He wants to teach chemistry and coach the tennis team." Eiji remembered Oishi telling him that. At first he was hurt and angry that his best friend was abandoning him, but he smiled and wished him luck. He wasn't the same after that. He, too, stopped playing tennis and became lost among the shadows of his school. He didn't know what he wanted to do with his life. Tennis was everything to him.

Then, on the last day of the semester, he heard people talking about Ryoma quitting tennis. At first, he was going to leave the young man be, but he wanted someone to talk to, to relate to. He wanted to find that happiness he felt at Seishun Academy. Eiji made up his mind and begged his family to let him move back in for a month while he tracked down Ryoma. They were leery at first, thinking that he was giving up on school, but he assured him that he wouldn't. Eiji smiled at Ryoma. "How about we have a match," he announced.

"I don't know. I haven't played in awhile," Ryoma answered with a frown.

"Just for fun. Tomorrow? Please, Chibi."

Ryoma sighed unable to say no to Eiji's pleading eyes. "Alright. Tomorrow is fine. How about around this time?"

Eiji jumped for joy. "Of course. See you tomorrow?"

Ryoma nodded. "It's a promise."

Eiji ran off. "I got to buy some supplies then. Bye, Chibi." Ryoma watched the hyper active man ran off. At least his energy didn't fade as he got older. Ryoma felt happier than he'd been in months. Maybe this match was just what he wanted. He found himself getting excited about the match. He longed to see someone from the old team and here he was. Deciding to go home, he planned to have a practice match with his father. That should warm him up for tomorrow.

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I hope that's okay for the first chapter. I'm going to work on the next chapter tomorrow and try to have it updated then. If not it'll defiantly be up on Thursday. Thank you for reading please review.

Angel Dove