DISCLAIMER: I do not own Prince of Tennis. I wish I own Royal Pair though, but I don't. Sob...

WARNING: This will be YAOI / BL story. Cannon characters may be OCC.

SPECIAL THANKS: Koshimae Ryo for betaing.

THANK YOU FOR R&R: Misting Rain, .friends, Eos-hime, itachisgurl93, Pri-Chan 1410, Ali Midnight, xxSnowxxAngelxx, HiKaRi-ChIbI, Koshimae Ryo, 14thEternityNightMare, elsey951, anonymous, Mile, denizen of the night, bluedoves

A/N:This is the promised part 2 of chapter 17. Pleas read a/n at the end. Remember, bolded text is in English.

ENJOY !

Chapter 18: Nasty mood

Previously on chapter 17:

PLL,

FYI, I'm ISO oranges. BBB4 lunch.

To do list: 100L + 150 P-U + 150 S-U + 100 C-U + 200 K-B

Bench Press 10x20; ¾ weight

B (at) the main gate: 3pm

DNBL8, coz we r going BBQ.

CUL8R

Ryoga

PS. Ryoma RU OK? PCM.

"Heee?"

"Hmm."

"Exactly."

"I totally agree."

"You seem like you need some help," David said when he finally got bored of watching struggles of his rivals from Japan.

"If you would be that kind-" Tezuka started, but Fuji interrupted him suddenly.

"No, thank you. We do not," he said, sending shivers down the spine of more than one player. His blue eyes were drilling holes into the American's strategist head. Fuji still didn't find a way to get back on David for stealing hisOshitari from him. Seriously, since when had Fuji become so possessive?

"Fuji," Tezuka said firmly. He had no idea what got into his friend and why he was acting like that for the past few days, but now certainly wasn't a good time to discuss the matter.

"Did you explain the note for them already?" Kevin asked, appearing with his team, with most of the players at least. One green-haired teen was still missing.

"Well, actually, I was about to start," he answered, smiling lightly in Fuji's direction. David wasn't stupid; it's quite the opposite, and, although he didn't understand Fuji's illogical jealousy, he still found it extremely amusing to tease the tensai.

"Can we start already?" Tony said impatiently, "The sooner we start, the sooner we finish, and knowing that bastard, Ryoga, he will work us to death." He still wasn't on talking terms with his ex-boyfriend, and the fact that the other went yesterday to the pub and had fun by himself wasn't helping either.

"Easy, cowboy." Kevin patted his friend on the shoulder, coming closer to the fence. "Let me see," he looked at the note, and then started reading it aloud without any difficulties. "People, I'm in search of oranges. I will be back before lunch…"

"Oranges?" Kirihara quietly asked Sengoku, who was standing next to him.

"Have no idea."

"I will explain to you later," Momoshiro whispered.

"About the training menu," Kevin continued, "100 laps, 150 push-ups, 150 sit-ups, 100 chin-ups, 200 knee-bends and ten series of twenty repetitions of each on the bench with the load of ¾ of your weight."

"Oh, my God."

"We are going to do this 'til evening."

"Kikumaru-senpai, what are chin-ups?"

"Be at the main gate at 3 pm. Don't be late, because we are going to havebarbecue.See you later. Ryoga." Kevin finished reading, and then addressed Rick, "Can you text Ryoma and tell him that Ryoga is asking if he is 'okay' and is waiting for a call?"

"So that's it? He is not going to show up today, too? And, instead of tennis practice, he is going to make us run for a whole day again!" Kirihara shouted, really pissed by then. His hair was turning white at that point. He threatened that he would explode at any moment.

"Akaya, stop it," Sanada cut him shortly, although he, himself, wasn't happy about the whole situation either. They took tennis seriously and were used to discipline.

"So today, I'm not going to play Koshimae, too?" The tears appeared in Kintarou's eyes, and his lips started to twitch. He then turned his big, wet eyes towards Shiraishi, expecting that his captain would do something about it. It was already their sixth day at the camp, and he still didn't get to play Ryoma. Aside from this, he hadn't even touched his precious tennis racket.

"Don't sulk, Kin-chan. There is still plenty of time 'til the end of the camp. I'm sure you will be able to play Echizen later," the Shitenhouji's captain tried to pacify his most troublesome kouhai. If it's not done at the early stage who knows what the red-head may do.

"I think they are right," Shishido stated, crossing his arms on his chest, "We are supposed to improve our skills and choose the Japan team. I came here to play tennis, not to join track and field club."

"Oi, don't say it like that, Ryou. I'm sure that both Echizen senseis have a good reason for this kind of training. Right, Yanagi senpai?" Chotarou asked, turning to his senior, and then patted his boyfriend on the shoulder. He knew that Shishido had a short temper, and he already complained couple of times during past days for both of their coaches and their methods.

"According to my data, it should help you improve your stamina, but because I do not possess your personal, accurate results from just before the camp, I can only estimate the results."

"Anyway, I agree with Shishido-san." Kentaro Aoi stepped forward.

"Me, too." Kamio supported him, although he tried his best not to look at Tachibana. He knew that his captain, as the rest of the captains, didn't tolerate insubordination.

"I have to agree, too." Momoshiro said, putting his hands into the pockets of his jersey and drawing his head back to look at the morning sky. "I do respect Echizen-san and Ryoga-san, but I do not like the way they treat us. They make us run for most of the day, do not let us touch the rackets and even do not show up for trainings. I don't like it at all. I really don't." He sighed, dropping his head.

"Fsss, as much as I hate to agree with him," Kaidoh pointed at his greatest rival, and unrequited, secret love, "But I admit that he is right."

"Did you just agree with me, Mamushi?"

"Do you have any problem with that?"

"No, but what would you do if I had, huh?" Momoshiro moved so that he was now facing Kaidoh.

"You are a total moron, you know it?" It was one of those not-so-rare times that Kaidoh wondered how the hell did he fall for that idiot, Momoshiro. What had he done to this guy above, that he hated him so much?

"Enough, both of you." Tezuka's voice was calm, but not allowing any objection. It seems that it was one of the attributes required for the captain position – the ability to silence the players, gain their full attention with one word and threaten them silently with the unimaginable punishment if they did not obey.

Immediately the atmosphere between the players became quite tensed. Fortunately, it didn't last long. Kevin soon burst into laughter and almost started to cry.

"Kevin, would you like to explain what was so funny?" Yukimura asked, smiling at the blonde.

"Sorry guys, but I couldn't help myself." He said, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Seriously, you are sulking like some girls. Haven't we been told at the very beginning of the camp that the first week is going to be like that?"

Few players nodded; few averted their eyes to the side. Some of them were waiting for what Kevin had to say more. "Besides, didn't Ryoga tell you yesterday that you were big boys already, and did not need the supervision while doing a simple workout?"

Bull's eye to the last question that Kevin shut the whole discussion.

xxx

When Ryoma finally got his laughter under control, he squatted to lower himself to his nephew's level then asked, "Junior, could you bring me one chocolate bar and the can of energizer drink from your dad's room?"

The boy nodded and dashed out of the room.

"It's not what you call a nutritious breakfast, Ryoma."

"I know, but I'm already late for training, so you can see by yourself that there is no time for a normal breakfast." He stood up and went towards the bathroom. "Besides, I'm not sure if my stomach can take any more than this now," he added then disappeared behind the doors of the small bathroom connected to the room.

When Keigo was ready to leave, he was stopped on his tracks by the voice coming from the bathroom. "Are you coming, Monkey King, or do you plan on standing in the middle of my room for the whole morning?"

Keigo smirked to himself and followed the voice. Seems that he will get lucky today, too.

When he entered the bathroom, Ryoma was in the middle of taking off his jeans. The only thing that would make Atobe happier in that moment was a pipe and some music. And, of course, some kind of miracle that would let him enjoy watching Ryoma making use of the above mentioned things.

"I thought that you were late for training and had no time," Keigo said teasingly, unfastening his watch and putting it next to the wash-basin. He was not going to show Ryoma how happy he was that the younger boy actually called him there.

"I am," Ryoma simply replied, scanning the label of the tube of ointment he should rub couple of times a day into his tattoo, "but as you can see, I look 'kinda chewed and still reek of alcohol. I'm not going to excuse myself before Oishi-senpai. Any more problems, Monkey King?"

"You are in a nasty mood after drinking, you know it, brat?"

"…"

"Nevertheless, I'm glad that you have changed your mind about the tattoo," Keigo said, pulling his t-shirt over his head and tossing it on the nearby chair.

"It's not like I could hide it from you for long," Ryoma brought his right hand to the hem of his bandage. "But I warn you, Kei, one word about it, and you won't get any from me for the rest of your life."

"Don't be so harsh, Ryoma," Keigo said, coming closer to his boyfriend. Both of them were wearing only boxers at that moment. "You cannot threaten people with the threats you cannot execute." He lowered his head, grabbed Echizen's chin with his fingers and placed a soft kiss on his lips, "It's not just me who is enjoying our time together," he added with a smirk.

"Shut up, Kei," Ryoma retorted, but the small blush that made his way up to his cheeks significantly weakened the power of his words.

Ryoma started to slowly un-stick the bandage, revealing his tattoo bit by bit. First, something that looked a little like a reverse triangle, wide at the top and narrowing towards the bottom. Before it came to the apex, it widened to the sides, revealing that it actually was a hilt of some sort. When Ryoma was pulling the bandage farther down, the black color of the tattoo was slowly mingling with red. Bit by bit, the red ink was forming into petals, just to turn into a beautiful rose. Its stem was entangled around the smooth surface of the sword's blade, showing some thorns here and there.

When Roma took off the whole bandage, Keigo stood still with his eyes wide open. For the first time in his life, he didn't know what to say. Just in front of him was standing his almost naked boyfriend with a palm-size tattoo just above his heart displaying Atobe's family symbol. The one so much detested by Keigo. The one, that never let him forget who he was and what was expected from him. The one reminding him of all the things he had to sacrifice, just because he was the heir. Finally, the one that was recognized by everyone, standing for Atobes' property. And it was that last thought that made him realize what he was looking at. It was like a signature. Ryoma signed himself, showing that he belonged to Keigo. It was an undeniable evidence that Ryoma was his, and only his alone. It made him the happiest man in the world.

"So? You are not going to say anything?" Echizen asked, looking at his boyfriend. Of course, it was he who forbade Keigo from any comment, but he didn't expect him to actually only stare with this unreadable expression of his.

Keigo took Ryoma's head in between his hands and kissed him softly.

"I love you, Ryoma."

When Keigo whispered those words just against Echizen's lips, the younger boy felt incredibly happy and relieved. Some kind of burden fell off his shoulders. He intertwined his fingers in Atobe's soft locks and brought him closer, deepening the kiss.

Keigo's left hand moved to his boyfriend's neck, while his right started to roam all over his back, gradually moving lower and lower. They pressed tighter against each other's body with a caution not to touch Ryoma's tattoo and his still irritated skin.

Atobe's index finger made his way beneath Echizen's boxers, and soon, his whole hand was kneading Ryoma's butt. When Keigo was about to get rid of the irritating piece of cloth, they heard a loud slam of a shutting door.

"Did you close the door to the bathroom, Monkey King?"

Ryoma didn't have to wait for the answer because Junior opened the door to the bathroom and dashed towards his uncle while holding a chocolate bar in one hand and the energizing drink in the other.

"I brought what you asked, Lyoma. Will you play with me now?" He asked, running toward between Ryoma and Keigo.

Atobe was once again pushed aside. He just couldn't believe how impertinent that boy was.

"Oi, brat, nobody taught you to knock, ahn?" His voice was accusing, but his outfit, meaning black boxers, wasn't making him anymore dreadful.

Junior gave Ryoma what he brought for him, then tilted his head up and looked straight into Keigo's eyes. "Are you Lyoma's boyfriend?"

Atobe was looking at the smaller version of his boyfriend, not so sure what to answer. He could only guess that the boy was not older than six, and he had no idea whether or not Ryoma wanted to tell the boy about their relationship. Most probably, it wouldn't end up only in the simple story about flowers and bees.

"Yes, he is, Junior. And now, take Keigo to find your grandfather, okay?"

Junior nodded and dashed out of the bathroom, shouting that he is going to take his cap from his room first, leaving Ryoma and Keigo alone. All moods were also gone.

"Ryoma, you certainly do not expect me to baby-sit the brat."

"Who said something about baby-sitting? I just wanted to take a quick shower, and it would be impossible with you here, Monkey King," he said taking off his boxers, instantly reminding Keigo about their activities before they were so brutally interrupted.

"Are you sure it is okay to tell the brat about us?"

"Yeah, after all, his father and Tony, you know, the small guy from my team, are together, at least in the times between their break-ups."

"Break-ups?"

"I will explain it to you later."

xxx

"Oho, look who is coming, Kevin," Matt, one of the twins shouted, pointing to Ryoma, who was slowly approaching the players. His cap was lowered as much as possible, preventing most of the sun beams from getting to his still sensitive eyes.

"Do you think he still can see anything with his cap lowered so much?" Alex asked teasingly.

"Ochibi! Why are you so late?" Eiji exclaimed and dashed towards his kouhai.

"Wait, Kikumaru-senpai," Kevin grabbed his hand stopping him and therefore, successfully saving his life.

"Huh? What's wrong? I just wanted to greet Ochibi."

"I wouldn't do it if I were you," David said calmly, stepping behind Kevin. "Ryoma plus hangover is a very dangerous combination."

"What?

"Huh?"

"What do you mean by a hangover?"

"Yo, princess, I see you've decided to favor us with your presence."

"Shut up, blonde."

"Got a hard night, captain?" One of the twins asked, chuckling under his nose.

"Do you want me to give you 20 extra laps, Matt?"

"You can't do this, Ryoma."

"Wanna bet?"

"…"

"I thought so," he then looked at the rest of his team, "What are you still doing here, anyway? Didn't Ryoga leave a note?"

"He did."

"So? Are you waiting for - an invitation or what? Move."

All of the Japanese players were observing the scene with quite a big shock, although, if you thought about it for a while, they really shouldn't be that shocked anymore. After all, Echizen was constantly doing or saying something unexpected since the beginning of the camp.

"Looks like your little pillar of support is no longer as innocent as everybody thinks, ne, Tezuka?" Yukimura whispered to Tawamure's captain, watching as the American players without any word started to run laps assigned by Ryoga.

"Oishi," Kikumaru pulled his doubles partner's sleeve, "What happened to Ochibi?"

"I don't know, Eiji."

"Echizen- " Momoshiro started, but quickly resigned from asking when he saw the dreadful look in Ryoma's eyes when the latter turned to him. "Never mind."

"I've got something for you, princess," Kevin said, throwing to Ryoma two grip emphasis devices that he took out of his pockets.

"Thanks."

"Did you show him already?" Kevin asked, placing his own set of grip emphasis devices in his hands and turning his back to the rest of the players ready to start running.

"Show who what?"

"You are really slow today, Ryoma," he said, starting to run slowly next to Echizen. "Helloooo, tattoo. It's not that hard to figure it out."

"Yeah, I did."

"And?"

Ryoma didn't say anything but a small smile made his way up to his lips.

"Ah, I understand."

By the end of the conversation, both Ryoma and Kevin were already far away, somewhere on the track that was surrounding tennis courts.

"Hmm, interesting," Oshitari commented to no one in particular.

"Did he just say tattoo, Sanada fuku-buchou?" Kirihara asked his vice-captain.

Fuji turned to his friend, "So, Echizen got himself a tattoo. What do you think about it, Tezuka?"

Tezuka adjusted his glasses. What was he supposed to answer? He made Echizen the next pillar of support. Everyone had seen him as his successor, someone who would continue Seigaku's, and now Tawamure's, traditions. And what was Ryoma doing? Up until now, he was only showing how much he didn't care about all of it.

"You all look like someone has just told you that the whole camp was just a joke."

"Atobe!"

"You can't live even one day without Ore-sama? Did something happen when Ore-sama was not with you, ahn?"

"You can say that it's just the usual, Atobe." Fuji informed and started to run the assigned 100 laps.

xxx

"What do you think about them, Oyaji?" Ryoga asked his father, taking a big bite of his fresh orange. They were standing at the rooftop of the Saitama Sport Center where they could easily observe all the players. They were still running around the courts.

"They are running constantly for four hours now and they still aren't dead on their feet," Nanjiroh commented, and then started to laugh to himself.

"Wanna share?"

"I just recalled how they did look when they arrived at the hot springs on the first day. You should have seen them. Some of them were almost unconscious."

"Do you remember how Chibisuke and Kevin swore like troopers when you made them run that distance for the first time?"

"Ahn, those were the good times."

"Do you have any favorites by now?" Ryoga asked, pointing to the still running players.

"Some of them have much better stamina than I expected them to have. Like that guy," Nanjiroh pointed to the one player that was running close behind Matt and Alex.

"The one in a green bandana?"

He nodded. "Despite the whole hard training, I've seen him run by himself in the evenings."

"Or that one who is running next to Ryoma and Kevin," he pointed at Kintarou, "He came running with those two to the hot springs on the first day, too. He is small, but has unbelievable deposits of energy. "I saw his one-point match with Ryoma three years ago, and if his skills had improved since that time, he would have a huge chance of being selected."

"It won't be an easy decision to make. All of the captains and vice-captains stamina is also way above average."

"It may be," Nanjiroh agreed, putting his hands into the wide sleeves of his monk robe, "But even if that's the case, they are all still mada, mada dane," he smirked then turned around and started to walk toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Nap," he threw over the shoulder. "After all, tomorrow is the last day of their stamina improving training, and we will actually have to start teaching them something, so I need to rest as long as I can," he finished then disappeared in the doors leading out of the rooftop.

A/N:Congrats to all of you who was able to encode Ryoga's message =) Except for those under 'to do list' the rest can be easily found in the Internet as most commonly used abbreviations.

How do you like Ryoma now? Don't you think that one more interruption when Keigo is with his lovable brat and he will start to hate Junior? =p

I can't tell you when I will be able to update, but your reviews (and please write something more than "I love your story, update soon', although it still nice) will definitely motivate me =)