A/N: Here is another shot at a pilliar pair story of mine. Hope you all like it!

Disclaimer: nope don't own and never will..closest i'm at is owning my ownn seigaku uniform and all four boxsets english dubbed.

Chapter 1.

Echizen Ryoma took another sip from his nearly empty can of grape Ponta. He allowed the sweet liquid to stay in his mouth for a moment savoring the taste before swallowing it and crunching the can up before tossing it in the nearest wastebasket. He was early for morning practice for once but knew no one would bat an eye considering all would be too tired to notice let alone care. That morning he had been lulled from his slumber due to an odd feeling, a sensation that something was going to happen that day. He hadn't been sure if it would be pleasant or not but he hadn't allowed himself to ponder on the thought and neither had his stomach.

Considering he hadn't eaten the night before thanks to having to pull an almost all-nighter studying for an important exam his stomach had kept him from dozing back to sleep. Not being able to argue with his hunger pains he had indeed woken up before anyone else in the house and had even managed to beat his tennis captain to the school gates. Now he was patiently waiting for the other members of the tennis club to show up.

"Echizen?"

Ryoma jerked his head at the sound of the strong yet gentle tone coming from behind him. "Ohayou Tezuka-buchou." he had greeted in means of politeness if anything.

Tezuka nodded a greeting in return before pulling out his key to enter the clubhouse that was clipped to his tennis bag. "It's odd to find you here before the others. You are usually one of the last to arrive particularly for morning practice."

Ryoma only shrugged. "Couldn't sleep and I found no point in wasting the morning so."

Tezuka made a vocal gesture indicated he had heard the other regular before changing into his uniform. "I hear the first years have another exam today. I'm assuming you studied?

Ryoma was busy changing into his own uniform. "Hai. I know I'm smart but I wanted to go over the material so I had all the knowledge. It's before lunch period so."

Tezuka zipped his tennis bag shut after pulling his white racket out. "Well best of luck to you. I know I had struggled with that exam myself. It is not an easy one." He looked at the clock to see the actual practice time was not for another 45 minutes. He too had arrived earlier than usual. "Echizen would you be up for a practice match with me?"

Ryoma pulled out his white filla cap and jammed it on his head with a smile. "Hai." he grabbed his racket and followed his captain out to one of the courts. "Smooth or rough?" he asked ready to spin his racket.

"Smooth."

When the racket clattered to the ground Ryoma looked up, "Smooth it is."

Tezuka reached into his shorts pocket and pulled out a tennis ball. "I'll take the first serve on this side."

Ryoma nodded and positioned himself on the court eager to start the game.

The match ended in Tezuka's favor considering the two of them weren't playing all out just enjoying the skills of their opponents. They shook hands across the net in means of sportsmanship just as the other regulars filed onto the courts awaiting instructions.

Ryoma walked over to the fountains to get a drink only to be greeted by an all too familiar voice.

"Oi Echizen I didn't even see you on the way to school. How the heck did you get past me?"

Ryoma looked up at his 2nd year senpai Takeshi Momoshiro and shot him one of his famous arrogant smirks. "I've been here for while Momo-senpai. I was here before Tezuka-Buchou even showed up. In fact I just finished a match with him."

Momo's jaw dropped. "You were here that early?"

Ryoma only glared at his senpai before returning to the courts in time to hear the instructions from Tezuka.

"That was torture! They make us take exams like that like they think we're all geniuses or something!"

Ryoma packed up his books and grabbed his lunch before heading up to the roof ignoring the constant complaints coming from his classmate Horio. He did shoot a quick glance of sympathy towards Kachiro and Katsuo who had been locked by Horio's unibrowed gaze. "Mada mada dane." with that he walked up to the roof where he knew he could enjoy his meal and a nap in peace. Once his bento was empty and his stomach was full he set his alarm on his watch for five minutes before the end of lunch and dozed off with his white cap over his face to block out the blinding sun.

"Tezuka, Ryuzaki wants to see us after practice tonight if possible. She said she wants to discuss a new training regime." Oishi had managed to catch up to his tennis captain determined to pass on the message before the end of lunch hour.

Tezuka glanced up from his bento with a look of indication. "All right thank you for informing me Oishi." he returned to his lunch and finished long before the warning bell was to ring and used the extra time to catch up on some student council business. If he ever received spare time he would use it wisely. As he made his way to the office he couldn't shake the feeling something was going to happen. Settling on placing it on paranoia if anything else the Seigaku captain set to work.

"Hey Runt."

Ryoma could hear someone being addressed but he wasn't sure if was him and if it was he had no intention of answering; especially to a tone that indicated trouble if anything else. He merely pulled his cap further down over his face in response only to have it thrown off a second later. After taking a moment to allow his eyes to adjust to the assaulting light change Ryoma looked over to see an unfamiliar face. "What do you want?" Screw his manners he had been sleeping and everyone in the school knew by now not to wake Echizen Ryoma up unless it was to keep him from being late to class.

"Listen brat I'm here to get revenge on you for me and my dad."

Ryoma sat up with a look of arrogance. Who the hell does this guy think he is? He took another glance and noticed the other guy wasn't wearing a Seigaku school uniform but something from high school. He had medium greasy brown hair and a face not even a mother could love. "You're in the wrong school pal. Get lost or something?"

"The name's Sasabe learn it and remember it you brat."

Sasabe Sasabe the name did ring a tiny bell but not loud enough for him to consider this guy important to earn a second thought from him. Ryoma glanced at his watch and saw he still had at least another ten minutes and he wasn't about to waste it on this lowlife. "That's nice now if you don't mind I'm going to finish my nap." With that he reached for his cap only to have it pulled away. "Give me my cap."

Sasabe hoisted it above his head so Ryoma had to struggle to reach for it. "Come on you little brat." he taunted.

Ryoma sighed. "You're not worth my time." he muttered as he picked up his bento and headed back into the school. Now that, that jerk had touched his cap he had feeling it would bring a bad omen if he wore it again. He could always get a new one.

Sasabe glared at him. "You little wimp you can't beat me anymore can you?"

Ryoma stopped only for a moment. "Mada mada dane." With that he headed back into the school leaving a slacked jawed Sasabe.

"Hey Echizen you up for burgers after practice today?" Momoshiro asked as he pulled his white undershirt over his head.

Ryoma was busy retying his shoes. "Sure senpai if you're paying. I didn't get my allowance yet this week and when I do I need to get some more grip tape."

"Yeah I'm paying as long as it's just you and me this time. I won't have enough if Kikumaru-senpai tries to join in."

Ryoma chuckled. "Well there is a way to avoid that senpai."

Momoshiro looked at his fellow regular confused. "How?"

Ryoma stood up and tapped his racket on his shoulder. "Easy; don't mention it." He headed out to the courts and waited for instructions from his tennis captain.

"All right good practice everyone. Keep up the good work." Tezuka announced ending another practice session. "Dismissed."

Momoshiro and Ryoma bolted for the clubhouse changing out of their jerseys' as fast as they could hoping to avoid Kikumaru and making another dent in Momoshiro's already suffering wallet. Ryoma considered himself lucky his senpai was agreeing to pay for him. Once the two of them were dressed they exited the clubhouse nodding respectively to their senpai tachi and walking off the school grounds.

As they walked Ryoma couldn't help but notice the power player giving him looks that didn't make him feel flattered. "Momo-senpai if you're expecting me to do a trick I'm sorry to disappoint you."

"No no I just noticed something." Momoshiro protested. "Why weren't you wearing your hat during practice? You told me yourself you use it to keep the sun out of your eyes."

Ryoma subconsciously reached up and then remembered he didn't have said hat anymore. Luckily for him it wasn't one of a kind nor was it expensive. "Betsuni." He muttered picking up his pace. "Let's get to the burger shop I'm getting hungry."

When his kouhai spoke in that tone Momoshiro knew not to question him. "All right but limit will be two for each of us this time. As I said I have just enough to pay that and probably two drinks as well."

Ryoma only nodded, "Thanks again Momo-senpai."

"Sure. But you know this means no burgers for a while. At least not until I get paid again."

Ryoma looked at his senpai confused. "Paid?"

"Yeah since I do such a great job watching my sisters my mom invited their friends to join in after practice. But since they're not relatives their parents are paying me. Add that with my allowance and well." Momoshiro explained opening the door to the burger shop.

Ryoma entered the shop and smirked. "You do realize I'll be looking to you for burgers more often then."

"You know I find it kind of funny. You like Japanese food more then Western food and yet you eat burgers every chance you get." Momoshiro pointed out.

Ryoma shrugged as he looked at the menu. "Well I've heard food tastes better when you don't have to pay for it. So I figure if I'm going to enjoy my meal might as well enjoy what I'm eating right?

Momoshiro only rolled his eyes. "You know I will never understand you Echizen. You're too complicated."

Ryoma turned to his senpai "No if you want to talk complicated I suggest Fuji-senpai or Tezuka-Buchou."

"You're both wrong."

The 1st and 2nd year turned to see their redhead hyper senpai standing behind them. "What do you mean Eiji-senpai?"

"Inui and Taka are the most complicated of us all." Eiji answered walking up to the counter.

"Uh Eiji-senpai, please tell me you're paying for yourself. I only have enough for Echizen and myself." Momoshiro said.

Eiji chuckled. "No worries Momo. I'm paying for myself." The redhead turned to the counter and ordered his meal. "But do you mind if I sit with you two?"

Ryoma couldn't hide his smile, "No problem Eiji –senpai."

The three enjoyed their choice of fast food cuisine in silence for a few minutes before Momo cleared his throat. "Oh I need to get going. I have to watch my sister's again tonight while my parents are out."

"Okay we'll see you at practice tomorrow Momo." Eiji said with a smile.

Ryoma only waved seeing as how he still had a mouth full of burger and fries at that moment. Once he had finished is meal he looked up at his redheaded senpai who was smiling at him.

"Ochibi are you going home right after this?" Eiji asked as he slurped up the rest of his strawberry shake.

"Hai, I have homework to do." Ryoma answered finishing his own drink and gathering up the wrappers from the two burgers.

"Would you like me to walk you home? It's getting dark early this time of year."

"I've walked alone in the dark before senpai." Ryoma responded. "Besides my house isn't that far from here."

"Okay just do me a favor and call me when you get home okay?" Eiji requested.

"Why?"

"I saw that high schooler talking to you on the roof earlier at school."

"So?"

"What did he say to you?" Eiji asked.

"Doesn't matter, it's my business." Ryoma answered picking his tennis bag up and slinging it over his shoulder. "But I'll call you when I get home senpai." With that he dumped his wrappers in the trashbin placed the tray on the provided stack and headed out of the restaurant. All the while he couldn't stop shaking off the feeling that was now creeping down his spine.

Tezuka took one last look around the office before closing the door and locking it with the spare key given to him when he became captain of the tennis team. The brief meeting with their captain had ended with the decision of the next ranking tournament matches, which were to take place the following day. Hoisting his bag on his shoulder he headed out of the school and looked at his watch.

The last bus had left and he would have to wait at least 45 minutes for the next one. Deciding it would be quicker to just walk he double-checked to make sure he had everything before heading towards the street courts to take a short cut.

When the third year student crossed in front of a deserted alley he all but stopped in his tracks he noticed something out of the corner of his eyes, something that he didn't want to believe. No he was seeing things. It couldn't be. But it was."

"Echizen!"

A/N: Well, if anyone is curious as to what happened to Ryoma please review! 3 reviews= chapter 2