Vannen: Well, here's my latest idea. We'll see how far it goes. Hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own Prince of Tennis.

Chapter 1

The Student

Fuji Syuuske's eyes snapped open. "What did you just say?" he demanded, turning his piercing gaze onto his best friend as they walked to high school. The two were seniors, and had surprisingly been best friends and gone to the same school since they were first years in middle school. They, and many of their friends, had miraculously all decided on the same high school, an odd occurrence in Japan. Then again, they'd all just decided to go to the high school that shared the name with their middle school and thus the same set up for the tennis team.

"My family's hosting a foreign exchange student from America," Kikumaru Eiji repeated, linking his hands behind his head as he walked. He glanced at his friend out of the corner of his eye.

"That's interesting," Fuji replied, his eyes closed again and his usual smile on his face. "Know anything about him?"

"All we've gotten so far is a name. McVey Kaery."

"Any idea on when he'll be here?"

"When we get back from school today."

Fuji turned his unnerving smile onto his friend again. "How long did you say you've known this for?" he inquired calmly. Eiji gulped in alarm, getting the odd feeling that he was going to find himself experiencing a bit of bad luck for the rest of the day. He only hoped the "bad luck" didn't include any Inui Juice. He could handle anything else pretty much, but Inui Juice would kill him, he was sure.

"A couple months," he finally stammered, turning a little to keep some distance between him and the calmly smiling teen. Smile was used loosely. The term smirk applied a little better. "I forgot to tell you?"

One of Fuji's eyebrows rose in slight questioning. Eiji hung his head in defeat. He might as well get used to the idea that things would not go his way for a while.
As it turned out, he was right. Crap just seemed to happen to him all day long. His locker jammed, his homework went missing, he forgot his lunch, he misplaced his tennis bag and was late for practice and was thus forced to run laps, and, worst of all, his water bottle got mixed up with Inui's latest concoction. Someone had to drag him off the court after that.

He staggered home after practice that day with a seemingly concerned Fuji at his side.

"Are you sure you're okay, Eiji?"

"I'll be fine," he gasped. "I just need some normal food to quiet my stomach." He shifted the bag on his shoulder before turning down the path that led to his front door. Fuji followed him silently.

"Tadaima," Eiji called weakly as he kicked off his shoes, "and Fuji's with me." He started towards his room, hoping to avoid his family until he could at least put his bag in his room.

"Eiji, there you are."

So much for putting his stuff in his room. "Hi Mom."

"Hurry and put your things away then come down here and meet McVey-san," the woman smiled kindly and greeted Fuji warmly as he followed his best friend. Within minutes, the two walked into the kitchen where they could hear voices.

"Eiji, Fuji," Eiji's mother motioned them over to the table. "This is McVey Kaery."

Eiji and Fuji bowed, trying to hide their surprise at the figure before them as they were introduced in turn as the youngest and his best friend. The person before them stood and returned their bows, light brown hair veiling calm and reserved green-brown eyes. The girl spoke in a quiet, yet firm voice as she greeted them.

Once released from meeting the girl, the two young men went outside where Fuji gripped his friend's shoulder a little harder than was necessary. "I thought you said the foreign exchange student was male," he remarked, his tone that of one commenting on the weather.

"I thought he-she- was," he replied, wincing slightly as he squirmed free. "I guess I was wrong."

"Yes, you were," Fuji replied, his face still calm. Eiji didn't respond and the two remained silent for a while.

"Now what?" Eiji finally asked, starting to get bored.

"Tennis?" Fuji asked, pulling a yellow-green ball out of his pocket. Eiji grinned in reply and the two went to retrieve their tennis bags.

Eiji found himself with a silent shadow behind him the next morning. McVey Kaery didn't speak as she followed him as he went to school, still tired from the night before. Eiji, for his part, had only pestered her until he realized what the problem was. Now, he talked with Fuji. When they reached the school, he turned to Kaery.

"Just go in and follow the signs to the administration offices," he told her. "I've got tennis practice so I can't come with you. Good luck and I hope you're in our class!"

Kaery nodded wearily and followed his instructions, waving over her shoulder tiredly

"I wonder what the duffel bag is for," Eiji murmured, just now noticing the large black bag tossed over the girl's shoulder.

"We'll find out later," Fuji told him. "Let's get to practice before Tezuka-buchou decides to make us run laps."

Eiji and Fuji went back to the courts and joined the rest of the team for morning practice. Running laps, stretching, matches, and competitions to keep their skills sharp progressed throughout the morning, each player working to better themselves to either remain as a Regular or to become one. The freshmen watched on as they kept equipment clean, picking up pointers and ideas from the older students.

"Eiji!"

"Got it!" The Golden Pair was in great form that day, not giving Inui Sadaharu and Kaidoh Kaoru a single game as they fought on against each other. They'd almost lost one when Kaidoh started using his Boomerang Snake, but through the acrobatics play Eiji favored, they overcame it when Eiji dove to the line with a yell of, "Hoi, hoi!" barely knocking the ball over the net for a court ball.

The excitable redhead jumped up from his position on the ground. "That was lucky! I was sure it wasn't going to clear the net, nya!" He put his arms behind his head as he smiled back at Oishi.

"That was a good move," his teammate said sincerely. "Good match, Inui, Kaidoh," he called across the net as well while he stepped up to stand next to his grinning partner. "You're getting better."

Inui and Kaidoh nodded as they went over to their water bottles.

"Oi, look at O'chibi," Eiji ordered, looking over at the only freshman Regular. "He's been trying to increase his short range accuracy and he's getting pretty good."

Indeed, Echizen Ryoma stood on another court, receiving balls served by Momoshiro Takeshi and returning them into the same six inch squared area on the right hand side of the court, twisting to get the angle right or switching hands.

"Echizen is improving," Kawamaru Takashi commented as he walked up behind the two, his racket resting against a bench next to the fence. "He's taking Momo's serves with ease."

"His arms are getting stronger," Oishi added, watching the younger boy slam another ball into the small area he'd chosen as his target. "If he continues to advance this well, he'll beat Buchou by the end of the year."

"If he continues to advance this well, he'll go pro by the end of the year," Momo replied as he came over, rubbing sweat off his face as Echizen went after a drink from the taps. "That kid just doesn't stop!"

"He should start to slow down a little within the next few weeks," Inui claimed, his trusty notebook in front of him. "He improves in spurts, usually directly before, during, and directly after tournaments. The rest of the time, he relaxes unless someone strong challenges him."

A bell rang.

"Time for class already?" Eiji demanded, whining slightly. Fuji smiled as he walked past him, heading to change for school.

When the two entered the school and went towards their class, they looked for the young girl that was staying with the Kikumaru family for the school year. They found her standing in the hallway, talking to another young man from their school, probably from their grade as well. Or rather, trying to get around the youth that was talking rather aggressively at her.

Eiji went to intervene on the situation, stepping forward with a slightly angry look on his face but stopped when Fuji's hand rested on his shoulder.

"Wait for a moment and see what happens," the perpetually smiling tennis player ordered gently, eyes closed but still able to observe somehow.

Eiji stopped his forward motion and stepped back next to his friend but remained ready to jump in if he felt he was needed at any moment.

After a few more attempts to sidestep, the young girl lifted a hand in a gesture asking for silence. She spoke quietly, too quietly for the two observers to hear, and gave a small bow to the youth in front of her, keeping a calm face. When she went to move around the person again, he caught her wrist. Her formerly calm face hardened, a slight scowl crossing her features. Eiji stepped forward, this time with Fuji at his side.

"…traveling for almost twenty-four hours and am still suffering from jetlag and sleep deprivation." Now that he was close enough, Eiji could hear her voice. It was slightly deeper than the one she'd used so far in his and Fuji's presences, more menacing. "I'm not the friendliest person when I'm tired. I suggest you let go before I loose my temper." Her free hand was moving towards her duffel bag's strap, ready to pull the bag off her shoulder and turn back to make good on her threat. She didn't need to as Fuji and Eiji came up, the former gripping her adversaries shoulder rather tightly and the latter going to her with a wide grin.

"McVey-san!" he said happily. "Come on or we'll be late for class." He slung an arm around her shoulders and gave a discreet glare over his shoulder at the young man sternly who in turn let go of the girl and was steered away by a smiling Fuji.

"Thank you, Kikumaru-sama-"

"If you're living with my family for a year or so, you should call me 'Eiji-kun,'" he interrupted good-naturedly as they stopped a short distance away, around a corner in the halls, "or 'Eiji' will work. I'd even be okay with 'Aniki' since I'm your host brother, and I guess I'm older than you..."

"Yes, Eiji-kun," she replied quietly, "but I could have handled that on my own."

Eiji's grin widened. "But that's just it," he informed her. "You don't have to. Like I said, I'm your host aniki and so I should look after you."

"But Fuji-sama-"

"Just 'Fuji' is fine, and Eiji's practically part of my family so that should make you part of it too, all things considered." Fuji caught up to them, dusting invisible dirt off his hands. "Keeping an eye out for you is the least I can do."

"Fujiko-chan, did you…" Eiji started curiously and a little warily.

Fuji chuckled. "No, I didn't hurt him but Earou probably won't bother you anymore, McVey-san."

"If I'm to call you two Eiji-kun and Fuji, then you might as well just use my first name. I was never one for titles back home either."

"Alright!" Eiji pumped a fist into the air. "Kae-chan considers us friends, nya!" He hugged her with the arm he still had around her shoulders. "Now, what class are you in?"

She handed him a paper. Fuji closed in on her other side to look while Eiji held it.

"Kaery-kun, you're in our class," he informed her. "Let's go before we're late."

The three set off down the hall, the girl between the two much taller boys on either side of her.

"Oi, Kae-chan?" Eiji asked. "What's with the duffel bag? You can't have that full of school supplies."

"I'm hoping to try out for the soccer team," she replied easily. "All my gear's in the bag."

"Soccer?" Fuji asked with a soft chuckle. "You were thrown into the wrong school. Seigaku is famous for its tennis."

"Only for the guys though," Kaery said. "Their girl's soccer team is on the rise, or so I hear. They just need a good goal keep. The rest of the team is pretty solid."

"We have a girl's soccer team?" Eiji asked.

Fuji smiled. "If you'd pay attention to more than just tennis, you'd know that."

"Nya, Fujiko-chan! Don't be so mean!"

Kaery smiled slightly as her host brother pulled her into a classroom with his arm still around her shoulders as he bantered with his best friend over her head. The school year would definitely be interesting with these two around. Yippee for entertainment!

Indeed, the day wasn't as boring as she'd thought. Eiji sat on her left with Fuji on his other side as she sat at the aisle. The redhead seemed to be a master at knowing when he could talk without getting caught and he took full advantage of it, making fun of their teacher, yammering on about nothing, or daydreaming. Once he was almost caught when asked to read out loud where someone else left off. Fuji, however, came to his rescue, whispering the page number so that only Eiji and Kaery could hear. It was lucky that she did as well because she was called on to read next. She did her best, stumbling over some of the barely familiar kenji.

When lunch rolled around, Eiji practically dragged her out of the room in his excitement to go outside. Good thing she'd grabbed her duffel bag which contained her lunch. Eiji had his in hand and she found herself outside with him under a tree on the grounds. Fuji soon joined them with his own bento box.

Kaery listened to the two young men as she carefully tasted all her food, unsure of what some of it was. Fortunately, it all tasted good. Fuji noticed her carefulness with her food.

"Kaery-kun, would you like to try some of mine?" he inquired, holding out his own box with his usual smile.

"Thanks Fuji," she replied and took some of his food in her chopsticks and popped it into her own mouth.

"Kae-chan don't-" Eiji started, but it was too late. She was already chewing the food Fuji had offered her.

"What?" she asked once she swallowed. "That was really good." She smiled at Fuji in thanks. He nodded.

"What did she eat that didn't kill her?" Eiji demanded, eyes wide in surprise.

"Wasabi sushi," Fuji replied, popping one into his mouth.

The redhead turned to the girl. "You ate wasabi and didn't choke on it?" he inquired incredulously, eyes wide in shock.

Kaery blinked at him for a moment and then realized why he was making a big deal about it. "I grew up on authentic Indian curry with my mother's special hot spices," she informed him. "You haven't had spicy food until you've had my mother's curry." She looked up at the sky, eyes clouding over in memory.

"Mmmm… Sounds good," Fuji murmured as he continued to eat.

"I'll make it some time," Kaery promised. "Then we can see who eats the stronger food."

"I look forward to it."

"Oi! Eiji!"

The group of three turned and looked across the grounds where another young man was jogging towards them.

"Oishi!" Eiji called out in return, raising a hand in greeting and waving it frantically. "Come meet Kae-chan!"

The young man stopped next to the group, he bowed to the still sitting girl who in turn leapt to her feet and bowed in return. Eiji introduced them. "This is Oishi Suichiro, my double's partner in tennis. This is McVey Kaery, the foreign exchange student staying with my family."

"Nice to meet you," Oishi said, slightly flustered.

"So what did you need, Oishi?" Fuji asked politely as he offered his bento box which the vice captain declined quickly but politely.

"I think I've figured out the problem with our formation," he told Eiji and the two were immediately engrossed in a heated discussion about tennis.

"I have no idea what they're saying," Kaery confided to Fuji quietly, after she'd sat back down. She stretched her legs out in front of her and proceeded to touch her toes, stretching her muscles carefully.

"You'll learn soon enough," Fuji replied as he watched her, semiconsciously noting how flexible she was.

"How long have you been playing tennis?" she asked pulling one foot back and touching the other in a hurdler's stretch.

"Since I was little," Fuji told her. "I'm not really sure how old I was when I started. How long have you been playing soccer?"

"Since I was able to walk," she said with a grin. "My family all played baseball but I've always had to be strange so I took up soccer. I've been a goal keep since I was seven though. I was a left offensive wing before than."

"I'm sorry," he apologized a little sheepishly. "I'm not very familiar with soccer. What's a left offensive wing?"

"The outside halfback or midfielder on the left side of the pitch. I still play it occasionally but only when we're really far ahead."

"Pitch is another word for 'field?'"

"Yes, sorry. I'm from Ireland originally and I mix up the words other countries use. It took me forever to get used to saying 'soccer' instead of 'football.'"

"Eiji said you were from America."

"For only about a year. My father got transferred so we moved there. I heard about the foreign exchange program last year and, well, here I am."

A bell rang and again the group found themselves trooping into the school, this time with Oishi at their side, still talking with Eiji about some formation or other. When they parted ways, he made a point to bid the new girl farewell.

Vannen: Well, that's the first chapter. Do you like it? Do you hate it? Well, there's a way to tell me. Just click on the little button in the bottom left corner of your screen and leave me a review please! I'm open to suggestions, but not particularly flames. I like ideas. Please feel free to leave some! Thank you all!