The Princess of Rikkaidai
Prologue
"What do you mean we were invited to Rikkai for their summer tennis training camp oba-san," Momo asked the coach. "We haven't won a single match against the ever since we won that one time during the finals and the nationals," he added.
"We aren't the only schools invited and it wasn't Rikkai's idea. The department of sports decided this and since they have the latest equipment, they were chosen as the host," Coach Ryuzaki explained.
"But doesn't Hyotei have the best equipment," Eiji asked scratching his head.
"We aren't going to be training in the school. We're training in the same place the Rikkai male tennis club train every year. Besides Hyotei's principal wouldn't allow it," she said.
"This would be a good chance to gather some valuable data. I haven't been able to gather data on them since last year. Now we're in our third year of high school. Besides it would be a good chance to test out my new vegetable juice," Inui said as he readjusted his glasses.
Everyone on the tennis club sweat dropped at the data player's antics.
"Saa, this will be interesting, ne Tezuka," Fuji said.
"Hn," the ever so stoic buchou agreed.
"This will be a good chance for me to get stronger," Kaidoh said.
"Is that all you think about mamushi," Momo taunted.
"Are you trying to start a fight peach head," Kaidoh countered.
"Oi, don't call me that ma-mu-shi," Momo stressed out.
Ryoma just brought his cap down and sighed at the sight of his bickering senpais. Oishi broke them apart after some time. Coach Ryuzaki just sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Meet here tomorrow morning at 7:00 AM," Ryuzaki said before leaving the blub room.
Tezuka soon followed.
Chapter 1 First Meetings
"Whoa, Rikkaidai's training place is really sugoi," Momo announced.
Eiji nodded his agreement while bouncing around energetically. The Seigaku tennis club regulars were standing outside Rikkaidais training center. It was huge and near the ocean. The tennis club was waiting for their coach to come back with a guide.
Ten minutes later Coach Ryuzaki appeared with a girl who looked serious. More serious than their stoic buchou.
"Sorry to make you guys wait. The girl next to me is…" Coach Ryuzaki trailed of.
"My name is Kinomoto, Sakura. Third year, honor student, and student council president. I will be showing you around this training of as of your coach will be at a meeting," the girl said.
Kinomoto, Sakura had long brownish blondish hair, brown eyes in glasses and was wearing a school uniform. She looked just like their buchou.
Sakura gestured for the regulars to follow her and marched into the building all professional like. After a nod from their coach, the regulars hurried to catch up with the girl who was quickly disappearing from their eye line of sight.
"In case you don't know, this training center is not only for tennis. It is for all our sports activity related clubs so don't panic if you don't see a tennis player," Sakura said as she lead them down the hallway.
The regulars followed her not bothering to speak for the striking resemblance between their buchou and her.
"This is where you will be staying starting next Monday. You will room together with three of your teammates."
"We have an indoor swimming pool in case you want to practice your upper arm and leg strength but please note that it isn't always open. Our swimming club is also practicing."
"And this is our trophy room," Sakura said as she led them through a door.
What was inside surprised all the regulars immensely. The room was huge rivaling the size of an average auditorium. The room was filled with certificates hung on the wall, trophies on shelves, and medals displayed everywhere.
Momo whistled appreciated.
"These are all the medals, trophies, and certificates we have won ever since the school was founded. Of course you wouldn't care about these ones since they're old," she said as she led the regulars deeper into the room.
The regulars noted that deeper down, all the trophies were on sports. Most of them were in tennis. When they finally reached the end of the room all the regulars could do was stand and stare. In front of them stood all the trophies for the Rikkaidai tennis club. Above it stood a huge picture of the Rikkaidai regulars.
But that wasn't what was strange.
The picture was set in a room with checkered floors, red and black. The walls were red and there were huge windows with black drapes. The room was in Victorian the middle of the room was a throne. Like the ones you would imagine a king sitting on but instead of a king sitting on it there was only a girl. The girl had long pitch black hair with red highlights. Her eyes were a startling crimson red. She was wearing a dress, that you would see in old times in America. It was big and poufy in the colors or red, white, and black. The girl was looking bored with her head slumped down supported be her hand which rested on the throne. In back of her stood Yukimaru Seiichi who was resting his head on his folded hands which rested upon the top of the throne. On his right stood Sanada while on his left stood Renji. Laying on the bottom of the throne atop the girl's legs sat Kirihara. Niou was sitting on the right side on the throne with his doubles partner Yagyuu who was standing and vice versa for Jackal and Bunta on the left side. All the boys were wearing black tuxedos except for the fact that the tie was red.
Fuji was the first to break the silence surprising everybody for he rarely showed interest in anything. "Who's that girl? I don't recall ever seeing her."
"Her name is Yukimura, Sayuki. She transferred to Rikkaidai High last year in her first year. She's in the same year as Kirihara-san. Sayuki was appointed to Rikkaidai's manager contrary to the fact that she isn't a fan girl. Hayashi-san is considered to be Rikkai's princess," Sakura answered in the same monotone voice except Fuji detected a slight hint of jealousy.
"She's cute, nya," Eiji said as he did a handstand. "But her name, Yukimura. Wait, is she the buchou's imouto?"
"Hai, she's Yukimura-san's little sister. Yes many boys find her irresistible," Sakura said.
The last part was true though. She was irresistible. Her long black hair complimented her pale ivory skin perfectly. Her cheeks had a small blush, the color of a blooming rose. This girl, Sayuki, had a nice figure. It wasn't to curvy but wasn't to flat. Her blood red eyes actually made her cuter whereas if it was someone else it might have been creepy.
She didn't have a striking resemblance to her older brother but they were both beautiful in their own way. Their facial structures were built slightly like each other's besides the fact that Sayuki had more prominent cheek bones.
"She was pronounced most wanted girl and has kept that title all throughout her freshman year even now," Sakura said. "Now come on lets go. I'm pretty sure you want to play some tennis. Your coach is in a meeting that will last a day after all."
The regulars and Sakura made their way down the hallway but stopped when the basketball team stood in their way. How they knew it was the basketball team? Well, the dudes were all wearing basketball jerseys while holding basketballs.
"Look who we have here. If it isn't Kaichou and a weak tennis team," the tall one in the middle said. The guys who flanked him started guffawing.
"Get out of the way Hirashi," Sakura said through clenched teeth.
"Make me," he snarled back. The guys in the black started laughing when Sakura started spluttering. Momo was about to open his mouth probably something about how you can't treat a girl like that but was interrupted by another voice.
"You should listen to what Kaichou says. You don't want to get in trouble," the voice said. Judging from it, it was probably a girl.
The boys paled and quickly excused themselves. Sakura paled and scowled. Anyone could assume that whoever it was, she didn't like.
A girl stepped out from behind a door next to a vending machine.
She was the same girl, the regulars noted. She was the girl that they had seen in the painting.
"Hi my name is Yukimura, Sayuki. Nice to meet you all," she said randomly not caring at the awed faces of how she looked like.
The girl was much more stunning and anyone could tell that she wasn't wearing any make up. Sayuki was about five foot two which would be considered short but she was proportioned perfectly. Her hands were small. Sayuki's black hair looked perfect against her skin and her blood red eyes shone brightly. She wearing a regular's jersey that was a little too big for her. Basically the girl was petite and looked as if she was a doll made by Kami-sama.
The regulars were all looking at her in awe. Yes, even Tezuka and Ryoma. Fuji was looking at her as if she'd be perfect entertainment.
"What were you doing in the hockey rink?" Sakura asked suspiciously.
"Nothing," she said quickly. A little too quickly, soon seeing that Niou Masaharu and Kirihara Akaya walked out with devilish grins on their faces.
Sakura looked suspiciously at them before making her way to the door.
"No you don't want to go there," Sayuki quickly said panicked.
Sakura just looked more suspicious. Sayuki was sweating bullets. Kirihara was praying and muttering something along the lines of "please don't let fukubochou find out about this." Niou just stood there with his usual bored expression although people close to him could tell that he was worried.
Sakura opened the door…and a bucket of white paint fell on top of her. Sayuki cringed.
Sakura turned around and stalked over to where the trio was standing. She grabbed the back of their shirts and started to drag them of down a hallway. The regulars followed her not knowing where they were or what to do.
They were soon led into a tennis training room. The room contained five tennis courts and all the newest tennis training equipment. It also contained the Rikkaidai male tennis club.
"Whoa, what happened to you Kaichou?" Marui Bunta asked while stifling his laughter with coughs.
Jackal tried to comfort his doubles partner after his doubles partner Marui has been hit by one of Sayuki's terrorizing death glares.
"What are you doing here? Interrupting practice," Sanada asked stiffly. He just couldn't tolerate anyone interrupting practice.
"I was showing Seigaku around until I caught some of your players setting up a prank which I paid for," Sakura said stiffly. Sanada quickly noted the white paint on the girl's hair and shirt.
"Don't worry about it, I'll deal with them," Sanada said. His tone was clear 'get lost'.
Sakura huffed and walked out the door holding her head up high.
Sanada turned his attention back to the trio much to their fear.
"What were you doing trying to pull the prank? 500 laps. NOW!" he said.
Sayuki quickly ran to Yukimaru much to the Seigaku tennis team's confusion.
"Seiichi-nii, Haru and Aka-chan blackmailed me into doing the prank. It wasn't my fault," she said as she started crying. Or more accurately, fake crying. Fuji quietly chuckled in amusement.
"Kirihara, Niou, 1000 laps," Sanada roared.
"Why don't you sit down Yu-chan. I'm pretty sure that Niou and Akaya will see that you get the teddy bear you always wanted," Yukimura said as he threw the two a glare. The two peeped and nodded their heads in agreement. For his glares were just that scary.
When the three demons of Rikkaidai weren't looking Sayuki stuck her tongue out at the two running boys.
Fuji smiled in amusement when the rest of the boys started saying how she was the shadow demon. Guess she wasn't as sweet as she looked in the picture. The girl did spark his curiosity so he made his way to the girl.
The rest of the regulars were warmly welcomed and decided to play some tennis.
"Who are you and what do you want," Sayuki asked after she heard Fuji's footsteps. You see, Sayuki was laying down with her right arm covering her eyes.
"Saa, I go to Seishun high. My name is Fuji, Syusuke," Fuji said charmingly.
"Hmm, so you're that dude who Yu-Yu wants to crush. In tennis related ways of course," Sayuki said.
Fuji raised his eyebrows. Here a girl was calling him "dude" while back home he was considered a tensai. This girl was certainly entertaining.
"So, you are the manager of Rikkaidai. How'd you get the position?" Fuji asked. Don't blame him. He's just curious.
"Well it all started back when I transferred to Rikkaidai for high school. My aniki, the buchou of the tennis team threatened me into doing it." She said. "Not exactly threaten, more like scaring me into doing it. He's very scary especially when…" she trailed of when she felt Yukimaru's glare. Sayuki shivered.
"What color are your eyes?"
Fuji laughed at this.
Before they could continue with the conversation though, a voice piped up startling everyone.
"So this is where you have all been practicing," the voice said before it revealed it's beholder.
Atobe Keigo. And the rest of his team following behind him.
"Eh, you guys were also invited?" Momo asked.
"How foolish of you to think that they would invite you but not the king?" Atobe opened his mouth to say something else but was cut off by another voice.
"Yes, yes we know what you're going to say Keigo. Be awed by my prowness or something along those lines," Sayuki said indifferently with a wave of her hand. The dash specialist Ryoh Shishido started snickering at the comment.
"Eh, so you transferred to Rikkaidai, Yuki," Yuushi purred.
"Oh shut it poker face." Everybody can probably guess who said that.
"I went to Hyotei during my middle school years and managed to get along with all the Hyotei regulars," Sayuki explained noticing Seigaku's confused expressions.
"Since minna is already here, let's have some practice matches. We can draw strings," Oishi offered noticing the weird atmosphere.
"Yeah what he said," Gakuto bounced around cheerfully.
"For a challenge, let's try playing doubles. We can pick our partners and everything," Niou drawled.
"WHAT?" yelled all the singles players excluding Tezuka because he's just that awesome.
"Well if you think you can't do it, then you can always chicken out," Yagyuu said.
"NOO, hanging with Niou-Senpai has turned Yagyuu-Senpai into a sadistic meanie," the baby of Rikkaidai cried.
"Or they could be switching their appearances like they do in matches," Marui said while chewing on gum.
"You revealed my trick," Niou mused as he switched back. Kirihara was trying his best to not look embarrassed. Sanada started to rub the bridge of his nose when he saw all the commotion that was going down.
The Seigaku regulars were looking at Rikkaidai like they were crazy. Not that they weren't.
Hyotei was inspecting the equipment to make sure that it was worthy of them or something along those lines.
"HEY!" Sayuki yelled. "I just wanted to say that if we were going to play doubles then I'm partnering up with Aka-chan," she added when everyone stared at her.
Kirihara nodded his approval.
After Drawing Sticks
Eiji/Oishi vs. Mukahi/Yuushi
Marui/Jackal vs. Jiroh/Kabaji
Fuji/Tezuka vs. Sayuki/Kirihara
Momo/Ryoma vs. Kaidoh/Takashi
Yukimura/Sanada vs. Atobe/Hiyoshi
Shishido/Ootari vs. Niou/Yagyuu
Jackal and Marui will ref.
The doubles teams drew sticks from a cup to see who would play who. Since they were all rival teams, it was agreed that the matches would take place one doubles team at a time seeing that they had the whole day.
The first match was Eiji and Oishi pair verses Yuushi and Mukahi pair.
Eiji and Oishi won 6-4.
Then it was Marui/Jackal versus Jiroh/Kabaji.
Nonetheless Marui/Jackal won 6-2.
The next match was Fuji and Tezuka versus Sayuki and Kirihara.
Whispers went around from Seigaku to Hyotei on how Tezuka and Fuji would win but Rikkaidai just smiled. You should never underestimate the devil pair.
The Match
Both pairs went to their respective sides of the court and got into position. It was Fuji's serve. He served a normal serve. Kirihara returned it with ease. Sayuki stood back and grinned, almost maniacally.
"Are you underestimating me?" Kirihara asked,
"No, why would I do that? Besides tennis is about having fun," Fuji smiled. It was obviously a lie seeing how all the other players blanched.
Kirihara laughed maniacally as his skin turned red, his green eyes turned red, and hair turned snow white. He was in his devil mode. Most of the players on the sidelines cowered back in fear.
"I can't let you have all the fun, can I?" Sayuki asked. She laughed and her eyes turned obsidian black. Sayuki's hair, usually black with red highlights was white with her red highlights running down like blood. Not the highlights she usually had. When she moves, it was like her highlights were actually real blood..
"Nani, nani?" Eiji asked.
"Did you think Akaya is the only one who can play tennis like that. You must going soft," Sanada reprimanded.
"Physical and mental," Yukimura said appearing out of nowhere.
"Pardon," Oishi said.
"Akaya represents physical pain and terror while Yu-chan represents mental fear and pain," Renji said.
Inui scribbled into his notebook making sure to get everything.
Everyone could only watch in horror and awe as Kirihara and Sayuki played in synch beating their opponents into oblivion.
Player's Perspective
Fuji and Tezuka tried their hardest in playing doubles but even Tezuka was having trouble seeing that he was an singles player. The score right now was 3-0 with Kirihara/Sayuki pair leading.
It was Fuji's serve again. He served and Sayuki returned it. Fuji stood still seeing that Tezuka was running towards the ball.
"15-love," Marui announced.
Wait what?
Tezuka looked at Fuji who was looking back at him in confusion. Tezuka could've sworn that he saw Fuji run towards the ball. The game continued from that point the Tezuka/Fuji pair never even touching the ball. Both were bruised from Kirihara's violent style of tennis. They were starting to turn on each other with a few arguments here and there.
When Fuji thought that Tezuka was getting the ball he would stop completely in his tracks to let the ball go and vice versa.
The tennis court was starting to get interesting.
Sidelines Perspective
The people watching were completely perplexed besides a select few who have either played with or against the Sayuki/Kirihara pair.
"Eh, why are buchou and Fujiko just standing there?" Eiji asked half whining seeing that Fuji and Tezuka were letting down the balls go.
"It's not that simple," Renji said.
"What do you mean Renji?" Inui asked.
"It's not that they aren't getting the balls it's because they can't get the ball."
"What do you mean, senpai?" Momo asked confused.
"The way Sayuki plays, like buchou said before causes mental pain and fear. What your buchou and Fuji are seeing is probably some fake image. Judging from the way they aren't moving, I'd say that Sayuki is showing the image of the other teammate getting the ball," Renji explained.
"What are you talking about?" Inui asked.
"It's so simple. Fuji is probably seeing the image that Tezuka is getting the ball and vice versa," Niou said. "And don't ask why they won't get the balls themselves. Renji already said it. They can't," Niou added when he saw Momo opening his mouth.
"This isn't like Yu-chan though. Instead of causing them horror she's causing them to break up," Marui said.
"No shit Sherlock." Isn't it obvious as to who said that?( a/n For those of you who can't tell, it's Niou.)
Everybody sweat dropped as they watched as the two tennis regulars started bickering.
"I think that Yu-chan might be trying to play tennis in a different way seeing that all the people she has ever played never broke through her illusion," Marui said.
Player's Perspective
Fuji couldn't believe this. He was actually being beaten by someone he already beat and a girl. Fuji watched helplessly again and again as Tezuka ran towards the ball. Fuji wanted to get the ball himself but there was something holding him back.
"6-0!" Jackal shouted out when Sayuki/Kirihara pair won their match point. Fuji and Tezuka walked towards a bench and slumped down.
Normal POV
"Why didn't you get the ball?" Tezuka asked in an even voice but there was a hidden layer of anger underneath.
"What? I thought you were going to get the ball but you just stopped in your tracks," Fuji said evenly.
Slowly the two teenagers came to realization.
They had been tricked.
"Finally figured it out?" Sayuki asked smirking.
"I am curious though, how did you do that?" Fuji asked.
"Phobia of the mind, that's all you need to know."
"Phobia of the mind?" Tezuka asked.
"You can look into how the mind works if you want. You might just put one and one together unlike all the other idiots I've played against in the past," she rolled her eyes.
"You hurt me, talking about me like that," Niou faked hurt as he walked onto the court.
"Please don't be mad, Haru," Sayuki said as she hugged Niou tightly.
Everyone who didn't know her beforehand just sweat dropped at her sudden change of mood. First she was sadistic, and now she's all sad like. Maybe she had a personality disorder. Fuji would have to look into this.
"This is so boring," Marui whined from where he sat. All the matches had been played. The three teams were sitting on the bleachers either talking or just laying down bored.
"If I die right now, make sure that my funeral flowers are black roses. If you can't get any then paint them black or something," Sayuki retorted.
"If you want to do something, I have a new energy drink. It's called The Greater Demon. Want to try it?" Inui asked, his glasses glinting evilly.
"Sure anything to kill this boringness," Sayuki stood up and walked over to Inui.
As he handed her the drink, all the regulars could only watch in horror as she brought the oozing green liquid to her mouth. Of course none of them had thought to knock the cup away from her mouth. Even though they were all geniuses in tennis, they were all still idiots.
Sayuki fell to the floor convulsing. Everybody ran towards the girl's petite body. They checked her pulse but they had found nothing. Everybody suddenly turned serious. Even Fuji, who had opened his eyes.
Fuji faced Sayuki as Eiji started yelling at Inui about murdering someone. Suddenly Sayuki opened her eyes.
"So that's what your eyes look like. Why do you hide behind you fake smile? Why don't you open your eyes and show people what you feel," Sayuki said.
"How are you alive, you had no pulse," Ootori Choutarou asked.
"I put a tennis ball under my armpit." Sayuki said. "It stops your pulse for a minute."
"Eh, senpai isn't as sweet and innocent as she looks," Ryoma smirked.
"I get that a lot Ryoma Echizen," she smiled.
"Momo-senpai, why can't you be like Yukimura-senpai? She's much more understanding and carefree." Ryoma said.
"Don't call me Yukimura, that's what people call my aniki. Call me Sayuki or Yu-chan, or maybe even Yuki. I wouldn't mind if you called me Sayuki-sama either."
"Don't flatter yourself too much. You're still mada mada dane." Ryoma said as he lowered his cap.
"Your attitude might not be the best, but I think that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," Sayuki said.
"Agreed Yuki-senpai," Ryoma smirked.
"We can work on the whole senpai thing later but for now, who wants to come with me to buy a ponta?" asked Sayuki. Everybody sweat dropped at her randomness.
In the end after much bloodshed and bickering, it was agreed that everyone would go with Sayuki. What a sight they were? Sayuki and the rest of the Rikkai regulars led the way down to the cafeteria.
The Rikkaidai regulars accompanied her because they were suspicious that the other tennis teams might hurt her. The Hyotei regulars came along since they missed her and last but not least, the Seigaku regulars. They had come because somebody(coughFujicough) found Sayuki entertaining.
The lunch-lady lad had thrown a fit when she found out that all the ponta in the soda machine was sold out. Apparently the lady was addicted to that stuff. The lunch lady had withdrawal symptoms which included shaking, screaming, and pointing things that did not exist. In fact, she had gotten so unmanageable that the security guards had to carry her away. Not without drawing attention first though.
It had attracted many eyes but soon they all went back to their respective club rooms. All except one girl. The girl who's eyes were burning red with a fiery back round. The dreaded Kaichou is here(insert horror movie theme songs).
"Just what do you think you're doing? Causing so much commotion, and on top of that bringing so much people with you," Sakura scowled.
"I believe that is no one of your business Kaichou," Niou drawled out.
Sakura's face turned red. Who could blame her? Niou was using his charms.
"Do you have a fever Kaichou?" Sayuki asked.
"No, why would you think that," she said making everybody notice. Many regulars started to wolf-whistle until Sanada glared at them for they weren't making his headache any better.
"Well you face is red," Sayuki said innocently.
"Argh, I can't stand it anymore." Sakura growled.
"Can't stand what?" Sayuki asked.
"YOU! I CANT F*****G STAND YOU! WHO DO THINK YOU F*****G ARE?" Sakura vented out her anger.
"I think that I'm Yukimura, Sayuki unless that changed a minute ago. What did I ever do to you?" Sayuki said in a cold voice that made everyone shiver.
"That's the problem isn't it?" Sakura laughed maniacally. "I always thought that someone couldn't have it all. Guess I was wrong. You have the money, the looks, everything. I spent that whole summer giving myself the ultimate makeover. I thought that it had worked too. When I got back to school, many boys asked for my number. The problem: all the boys were geeks. All the other boys were too smitten over you. The cute new girl. The fan girls for the tennis regulars didn't even hate you because you were too nice. I know that you're someone else though. You aren't who everybody thinks you are. You're just a cold, unfeeling b***h" With that last word, the Kaichou turned around and stormed of.
Everybody turned around and was surprised to see tears slide down Sayuki's face.
"Is it true? Am I really a cold unfeeling b***h?" Sayuki asked brokenly as she sled down onto the floor.
"No it isn't. you're a sweet and sensitive girl. You're nice at times and a devil at others but never forget who you really are." Everyone watched surprised as the trickster of Rikkaidai comforted the small frail girl.
"He is her best friend though," Yukimura mused.
"Yeah, you're the princess of Rikkaidai. Don't ever forget that Yu-chan." Kirihara said. Soon regulars from all the teams started to comfort her.
"Thank you minna, now let's head back," Sayuki said.
Fuji had taken it as his job to walk next to Sayuki.
Eiji had sighed. Fuji had found a new human puzzle. One that is dear to many. This could be a huge problem for his best friend but whose side was he really on? Eiji didn't want the Rikkaidai tennis team going after Fuji. Eiji knew Fuji since middle school but over the short time that Eiji had known Sayuki, he has taken a liking for her. ~Sigh~. The next two months were going to be tiring.
Fuji POV
That night when Fuji got home he had skipped dinner and instead laid on his bed thinking about the events that had happened over the past few weeks. First he has learned that they were going to train with their rival tennis teams. Then he met Sayuki, a girl of many mysteries. Her playing style was quite intriguing. Next the Kaichou stormed off after yelling at Sayuki for no reason. Sayuki was certainly someone interesting. Unlike her sort of innocent appearance (She has red highlights and crimson colored eyes, remember?) she was short tempered but nice. Her moods quickly changed and she was obviously someone Rikkaidai and Hyotei treasured. Besides she intrigued him. First meetings were certainly fun. Especially since it was Sayuki. Saa, next week would certainly be interesting.
