Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. Konomi Takeshi does. I'm merely playing with them for the moment.

A/N: Between the 1st and 25th of December, I kept posting one fic/update a day over at my LJ, lumelle. These updates were in series of five fics sharing a theme.

The fourth series of five started five AUs. This one is going to be a super power AU simply because my mind demands one. No, it won't be only about the data players; in fact, the PoVs will be quite varied.

Shattered Reality

Prologue

In Which There Is Data

Over the years of an ordinary person's life, various forms of media again and again reinforce the misconception that sinister plans are always brought to being in shadowy rooms or even half-ruined chambers in the highest towers of an ancient castle. This is, obviously, quite untrue. Just as well and even more likely diabolical schemes will be designed in the comfort of a perfectly ordinary living room, fighting for the best spot on the couch while someone is always trying to hog the snacks.

This time the scene of planning was one of the living room variety. It was not a very spacious living room - the ones in Japanese homes rarely were - but it was enough to host a couch, an armchair and a small coffee table in the middle. The coffee table was currently covered with bowls and plates of various snacks, the armchair claimed by a rather calm-looking boy while two others were seated on the couch, arguing over a bowl of crisps in the civilized tones of one who believes - or wants the others to believe - that his opponent is not worth the energy of being yelled at. A fourth boy stood aside to watch the scene, seeming somewhat amused.

Data players could occasionally be observed to possess a somewhat peculiar sense of humour.

"Really, now, let's all be adults here," the boy in the armchair chuckled, crossing his long legs at the ankles. "If you just agreed to sit next to each other, you could simply share the bowl."

"Ah, but that would be too easy, wouldn't it?" the standing boy asked, smirking a bit as he adjusted his dark-rimmed glasses. "How about I go and get another bowl so you won't have to fight over that one?"

"Fight?" One of the two boys on the couch blinked innocently, large chocolate-brown eyes simply radiating innocence even as his fingers were still tightly curled around the edge of the bowl. "Of course we weren't fighting! Why ever would you think such a thing, Inui-san? We were merely just agreeing that Mizuki-san was just about to give the bowl back to me because I had it first desu."

"Ah, but my dearest Dan-kun, you are quite mistaken," the other boy said, fiddling with a dark curl falling over his face even as his hand, too, gripped tightly on the bowl. "Have you forgotten you were going to give this bowl to me since you prefer the barbeque-flavoured ones?"

"Your data is obviously quite flawed, unbelievable though that may be desu." Smile, smile, let go you little bitch. "In fact, I very much prefer this flavour. Perhaps you could go off somewhere to update your data and leave this for me?"

"Okay, that's it, kids. I'm getting another bowl so perhaps we can finally get to actual business," the bespectacled boy said, adjusting his glasses again before he turned around to leave the room. "Renji, I'll trust you to keep them from killing each other."

"I'll try not to betray your faith in me, Sadaharu," the sitting boy chuckled, watching amusedly as the two other boys kept glaring at each other. "…Hard though it may be in this case…"

As Inui returned from the kitchen, both Dan and Mizuki were indeed still alive, though very much glaring at each other. However, as Inui handed them another bowl of the very same crisps, they finally seemed to come to an end in their hostilities, each retreating to one end of the couch with his own bowl. Smirking, Inui took the last seat between them, wisely separating them in case of any further conflict between the two, save for the occasional glare.

"Okay. Now that we have all settled down, I do think it's time to start." Reaching forward, he snatched a bit of popcorn from one of the bowls, then rapped his knuckles against the glass surface of the coffee table. "I hereby declare the most recent semi-regular meeting of Kantou area data players open. Present from last time Inui Sadaharu of Seishun Gakuen, Yanagi Renji of Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku, Mizuki Hajime of St. Rudolph, first attendance of Dan Taichi of Yamabuki Chuu, from hereon to be officially included in any listing of data players." He nodded at the smallest boy. "We're glad to have you here, Dan-kun. A new generation is most certainly welcome in the data field."

"I'm honoured to be here desu," Dan replied with a happy grin, putting a crisp into his mouth and then licking his fingers clean. "This is certainly not an event just anyone gets the chance to ever attend~"

"Most definitely not." Yanagi raised his eyebrows. "For some time, I was worried Sadaharu might not even want to include me anymore after what happened in our last… encounter."

"What happens on tennis courts stays on tennis courts," Inui said, though a careful enough observer might have caught a sharp glance being sent to Yanagi's direction through the nigh opaque lenses. Of course, it just so happened everyone in the room was quite a careful observer. "I should think some form of unity among us, despite any rivalries, would be more important than petty grudges."

"Very much agreed." Mizuki raised his eyebrows, eyeing the others challengingly even as he curled up further into his corner of the couch, the bowl of crisps held possessively in his arms as though afraid Dan would still try to seize it despite having his own snacks now. "What were our topics of discussion for today? The conclusion of the National tournament, I believe? Nfu."

"As though Sadaharu would let us ignore that topic." Yanagi sighed rather dramatically. "I have to say, my calculations were rather off the mark on that one."

"As were mine, to be honest," Inui admitted. "Of course, I did not predict a crushing defeat, but really, only one of the matches proceeded in the manner I first predicted. And that would, naturally, be Doubles One."

"Which is another one I was rather surprised by," Yanagi chuckled. "Your Golden Pair truly is rather impressive… But then, even my own teammates managed to surprise me. I hadn't expected quite such a level of skill from Niou, for example."

"I do believe we were all quite surprised by that one," Mizuki commented. "But of course, the better one won. After all, to be my rival, it wouldn't do for Fuji Syusuke to lose to just anyone. Nfu." He again twisted a curly lock around his finger, looking quite satisfied with himself.

"Rival is certainly an interesting way to put it," murmured Dan, only to smile innocently as Mizuki sent him a glare. "Really, both of your teams were just amazing! Just as I thought I finally had at least some substantial data, everyone decided to rewrite their data all over again desu. I don't think anyone's data was quite the same after the finals!"

"Those were certainly some rather impressive matches." Yanagi nodded in agreement. "Though I'm afraid you lost some of the data, Sadaharu… I'm sorry."

"I managed to get my hand on some recordings afterwards, so no irreparable damage was done." Inui shrugged. "But then, there was some data I gathered that had little to do with tennis… such as Hyoutei's Atobe's surprising offer of help."

"Not so surprising, really, when you factor in his major personal traits of arrogance and pride," Mizuki retorted. "He couldn't stand to see another team beat the team his players failed to overcome, so of course he would want to bring back your ultimate trump card - and who better in his opinion to ensure your victory than the one who stole his?"

"That does sound like a rather believable train of thought for someone like Atobe-san desu," Dan admitted, tapping a finger against his lips in thought. "It's difficult enough for him to accept only being the second best; he certainly wouldn't want to add anyone else to the list of people who have won against him."

"I have to say I agree with your theory." Yanagi smiled a bit. "Interesting, that you could so closely identify with such an arrogant person, Mizuki."

"Really, now." Mizuki glared at the Rikkai's Data Master. "I am merely self-confident, not arrogant - though I do admit to holding some pride in my skills."

"Some, indeed." Dan smirked briefly before going back to his usual innocent smile as though he hadn't just seemed almost ominous for a second or two. "It would certainly be interesting to compare our teams' current data with yours, though. Sure, in lack of Akutsu-senpai we fell from the National Tournament, but some of us have certainly gotten better since the last time we faced you, Inui-san desu."

"And you'd be fools to think St. Rudolph has simply lain low ever since we were dropped from the official tournaments," Mizuki added with a more obvious smirk. "I assure you we would be quite a fearsome opponent by now."

"Is that so?" Inui raised his eyebrows. "I would indeed like to observe such development. Might it be possible to arrange some form of practice matches?"

"Mere practice matches wouldn't provide us with much data, I'm afraid," Yanagi pointed out. "And most importantly, they wouldn't for us all to make observations at the same time. If only there was some way to hold a tournament between our four schools so we could observe all the different combinations…"

"That would indeed be ideal from a data-gathering viewpoint," Dan agreed, nodding enthusiastically before biting at another crisp, thoughtfully snapping it between his tongue and teeth. Swallowing the snack, he then continued, "However, I hardly think any of our schools quite has the resources to host a tournament between four teams at once desu."

"While practice matches would be easy enough to arrange, you are sadly right on that," Inui sighed. "Rikkaidai might have enough courts to reduce the time of unnecessarily waiting around, but I hardly think Yukimura would be too keen to agree, not when it might be taken as Rikkai just being unable to accept defeat. That, and including a team not on National level would probably seem like mere waste of time to him," he added with a meaningful gaze at Mizuki.

"He would be mistaken," Mizuki grumbled, before fiddling with his curl again. "Though I do think you're correct… I wonder if there is any way to find somewhere or someone else to host such a tournament for our data purposes."

"Well… there is one possibility, I think desu," Dan said thoughtfully. "Though that would inevitably mean the inclusion of at least one more team…"

"Oh?" Yanagi raised his eyebrows. "Do share your thoughts, Dan-kun."

"I think I know where this is heading." Inui smirked. "There is one person who hardly would mind a rematch… and certainly has more than sufficient resources to host a tennis tournament of any kind he just happens to desire. We are thinking of the same thing, aren't we?"

"That is certainly an interesting possibility," Mizuki said, smirking. "We'd only have to find a way to convince him of that…"

"I believe I should be the one to make the attempt, as our team is the most familiar with his," Inui said, pushing his glasses up just a bit. "No offense meant, Dan-kun, but if someone like you were to approach him he most probably wouldn't even try to listen to you."

"None taken, Inui-san." Dan chuckled. "After all, I'm yet to make an impression on much of anyone, never mind someone like him." He tilted his head to the side. "Of course there's always the possibility of us approaching him as a group… your presence would ensure we are properly heard, while our number might better convince him of the necessity of including all of our teams."

"That sounds like a plan I would not entirely disagree with." Yanagi smirked a bit. "Is it decided, then? Sadaharu will arrange for an appointment with his highness and we shall all go with him to help with the negotiations."

"I don't find any fault with that plan, either." Inui nodded. "I calculate an 82 percent chance of success if we properly appeal to his pride as well as his all-consuming need to be, simply put, the best."

"Ah, manipulation, the finest of all arts." Mizuki sighed happily, then glanced at the table. "Inui-kun? Is there anything to drink?"

"Ah, yes, I'll go and get the drinks from the kitchen." Inui stood up. "Water? Soda? Coffee? Tea? Oh, and I just finished a new batch of juice yesterday, I'd be delighted to let you try it! It's high on vitamins, very healthy."

"Thank you, Sadaharu, but I think I'd prefer tea." Yanagi raised his eyebrows.

"Coffee for me," Mizuki said with a slight chuckle. "Or spring water, if you have some… I do think our little kouhai would most benefit from a glass of milk," he then added, sending a smirk into Dan's direction.

"Now, now. I'm certain Dan-kun is perfectly aware of his own nutritional needs," Inui said, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards. "So, what shall it be, Dan-kun? Would you at least care to taste my juice?"

"Surely you jest, Inui-san desu." Dan blinked with perfect innocence. "You seem to forget I make a habit of regularly checking in with the Seigaku team. I've seen the effects of your juice desu." He shuddered visibly. "I do think I prefer my short-term well-being to whatever long-term healthy effects you wish to promote. So, just soda for me, thanks."

"…I see you're not altogether hopeless. Nfu." Mizuki reached out a hand to pat Dan's somewhat shaggy head of hair, gaining an indignant squeak from the smaller boy.

"I see. Very funny. Do laugh some more at my expense," Inui said with feigned hurt as he disappeared to the kitchen once more. However, a careful observer might have caught a hint of a smile on his face.

Thankfully, once again, all the three others were very careful observers indeed.

*

"That is an… interesting proposition, certainly." Atobe folded his arms across his chest, eyeing the four people in front of him. "So, basically, you want me to host a tournament so that the four of you get to compare your current data?"

"That is basically the idea, yes." Inui, their main spokesperson, adjusted his glasses. "Of course, you surely see the benefits in such an arrangement for yourself. Not only would it be a precious opportunity for a few rematches and interesting challenges, but you would also get to test your team's current skill level."

"And provide you all with precious data on my team's tennis." Well, let it never be said that Atobe didn't have any form of intelligence hidden behind all his arrogance.

"And what would that matter?" Mizuki asked as reasonably as he could. "We certainly won't face each other in an official tournament until next year, by which time the data has most likely become obsolete, given the development rate of the best players; also, due to the all too likely mixing of teams upon our entrance to various high schools as well as the addition of older and more skilled players, your team by that time won't exactly be your team at all."

"The most advantage would be gained by Dan-kun," Yanagi pointed out calmly. "But again, his data on your few younger players would certainly be outdated by the time their teams faced each other next year, and most certainly of no effect to yourself. While we are certainly looking for data here, it is more out of our curiosity and personal pride in our respective teams than any hope of future benefit through what we would gain now."

"I… see." Atobe raised his hand to his face in a manner all four data gatherers instantly found to rather clearly resemble his Insight pose. "And you turn to me presumably because you do not have the resources to organize such an event by yourselves?"

"Precisely." Inui nodded calmly at this admission. "We came to the conclusion that the benefits offered to you by this scenario would be enough to make you respond favourably to our suggestion. We would naturally take upon ourselves the burden of convincing our respective teams to take part, so you wouldn't have to worry about the possible lack of worthy opponents for yourself."

"…You certainly have given this some thought. But then, I guess one should expect that from… data players." Atobe raised his eyebrows. "Very well… I do think I shall agree with this suggestion. Do be aware, though, that the particulars of time and place shall be arranged according to ore-sama's wishes, given that they are in any way agreeable to you."

"We did calculate an 82 percent chance you would wish to dictate such details yourself, yes." Inui smirked briefly. "Thank you, Atobe. We'll get started on convincing our respective captains that participation in such an event would be beneficial to the development of the team."

"You do that." The Hyoutei King smirked a bit. "It would, after all, be such a waste for ore-sama to organize such an event only to have no participants to speak of."

"Oh, rest assured there'll be plenty of participants, Atobe-san!" Dan said cheerfully. "Our teams will be more than glad to participate in your tournament~" Though his expression and voice were both equally innocent, there still seemed to be an almost sinister tone to them, promising things of not so desirable nature to their teams if they failed to meet this expectation.

The smiles on the older data players' faces were almost similar to those of proud parents as they left the Hyoutei school grounds.

*

"…Somehow, it doesn't really surprise me that he would do something like this." Inui smiled a bit as he glanced around, pen already settled over a blank notebook page as though expecting to see something noteworthy any second. "I would have certainly been glad with simply a tournament, but I'm certainly not about to complain about this change of events."

"Indeed." Yanagi nodded. "A weekend-long miniature camp should most certainly provide us with plenty of opportunities to gather new data - as well as give Atobe-san his desired matches."

"Which in turn will provide the most interesting data, I'm sure desu." Dan smiled brightly, quickly scribbling something in his own notebook as he took in the surroundings. There were several tennis courts in sight, and the building they were supposed to live in for the weekend was more a mansion than anything - it was rather surprising that such a place could be found so close to Tokyo. "This is all quite impressive, as expected of Atobe-san desu."

"You mean egotistic and prone to flaunting his wealth," Mizuki said dryly. "But then, like you all, I'm not exactly complaining. As I'm sure we all agree, this is even better than we could possibly have accounted for."

"More available data, too," Inui commented, glancing to where a few black-clad boys were entering the mansion. "I wasn't expecting Atobe to invite Fudoumine, too."

"Then again, Fudoumine was the one team that beat Hyoutei before Seigaku did," Dan commented. "At the opportunity for a rematch he would most likely include them as well, even though only one of his current regulars was playing at the time."

"Ah, yes. Shishido would likely want a new chance to test his skills against Tachibana." Yanagi flipped through the page of his notebook until he came across some peculiar figure. "And then, Tachibana is one of the very few players on Atobe's own level, along with Tezuka and Sanada."

"But as Inui-kun said, their inclusion simply means that there's more data available," Mizuki concluded. "Nfu. I suppose we should thank Atobe-kun for his decision. It will certainly be interesting to see the strength of these six schools in relation to each other."

"We could try to see who can predict the outcome best," Inui suggested, his glasses glinting ominously. "Before any matches are played, each of us will come up with their own predictions of how the matches will proceed. We'll then put the predictions in a closed envelope and not open it until everything is over."

"And how would we make sure nobody changes their predictions afterwards?" Yanagi asked, raising his eyebrows. "I'm quite certain we all are well capable of simply steaming an envelope open if we so desire."

"We'd just have to give it to someone trustworthy, obviously desu," Dan said. "Like… Kabaji-san. I'm sure he wouldn't let anyone touch the envelope before the very last match is played."

"For a kid, you're not too stupid," Mizuki said. "Nfu. I agree with this suggestion. After all, such predictions are my specialty." He tugged at a lock of hair by his temple. "And what would be the prize for the winner?"

"You mean gloating rights would not be enough?" Inui chuckled. "The confirmed data of one's superiority among data players?"

"That would be quite a precious bit of data, indeed," Yanagi commented with a smirk. "Very well, agreed. And I take it we all agree that Kabaji would be both unbiased and not affected by any form of bribery or coaxing?"

"I've no complaints on that." Mizuki nodded. "So by the end of the weekend, you shall all see that I am superior to the rest of you. Nfu."

"That we shall see desu," Dan said happily, his usual smile momentarily turning into a smirk that perfectly reflected those on Inui and Yanagi's faces. "That we shall see."