Chapter One

Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis!

Author's Note: Yes...I like Prince of Tennis ...and I like Japanese history. So lets see what happens when I put them together! Comment please! I DO NOT want flames!

Footsteps echoed across the roofs of many houses of Kyoto causing a couple of dogs to bark in the silent midnight. When the owners of the troubled dogs went to see what was bothering their four-legged comrades, they were unable to see of hear anything.

Hidden in the moonless night, Eiji couldn't help but smirk as he watched a man yell at his dog for barking so loud. He was perched on the roof of the house that was next to the yelling man's house. He noticed the katana tucked securely in the obi tied at the man's waist. "Foolish samurai," he muttered to himself before quietly dashing off into the night.

As a ninja who worked with the Ishin Shishi, people who wanted change for the sake of Japan, Eiji was not liked by many people. He had lost the trust of his friends and family, as well as the love from a lover. Basically now, Eiji was alone and for a reason he didn't understand, he didn't really mind this loneliness.

After Eiji delivered the news to his allies about the enemies movements, he was dismissed for the night. He stretched, popping he joints before walking down the street towards his home. Intead of being dressed in his ninja uniform, he was now dressed as a commoner, wearing a black yuukata. The only thing that differed from him and a commoner, were the many shurikens and knives he had with him.

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Ryoma allowed cold water to splash over his face. He wiped his face with the sleeve of his haori before shaking what water had gotten into his short, green locks. He then stood, grabbing his swords and tucking them in his obi. He left the river to head home after a long night of patrolling.

Ryoma worked with a group that associated themselves with the Kyoto police and the Shinsengumi. The leader of his group, a daimyo named Tezuka did not prefer for his group to join either, for it would give them a burden they didn't need. Ryoma was actually glad that his daimyo thought that, he believed that the Kyoto police and the Shinsengumi were weak compared to him.

He stopped, his mind jumping out of his daydreaming as he heard footsteps infront of him. Instinctively, his hand went for the hilt of his katana, golden orbs looking at the figure that passed under the street light. He blinked, the figure was male and by the way he was dressed, a commoner. His hand moved away from his katana's hilt as the commoner came closer. Yet, what was a commoner doing out in the middle of the night? The male looked like a teenager, close to his own age.

The commoner stopped infront of Ryoma, a grin playing across his face. "Ah, what a short samurai you are. Your swords are almost taller than you."

Ryoma let out a growl. He hated when people made fun of his height. His hand when for the katana's hilt again, grabbing hold of it as a warning.

"It isn't good to unsheath your sword at a mere commoner such as myself," purred Eiji as his voilet-gray orbs glared at Ryoma.

"Don't lie. Atleast commoners have sense to keep their mouths shut around high-ranked samurai," said Ryoma unsheathing his katana.

Eiji let out a chuckle as two shuriken came out of his sleeves. "It is good that you are smart, even if you are a foolish samurai."

Ryoma got in his fighting stance as Eiji circled him, the shurikens swinging in his hands. Quickly Eiji threw one of the shuriken and then threw the other. He watched as Ryoma used his katana to block the shuriken. Ryoma growled before running towards Eiji, his sword raised above his head. Eiji jumped in the air in time to dodge the blade and landed on the ground behind Ryoma.

Ryoma turned, swining his sword toward Eiji, only to see the ninja jump gracefully in the air away from the sword's reach.

"Looks like you can't hit me, Ochibi, ne?" said Eiji with a chuckle.

"What are you? A cat?" retorted Ryoma. Eiji put up his hand which was folded up like a paw towards his face. He winked at the samurai and let out a meow before disappearing into the night.