A/N Hello. I have been reading fanfiction for a very long time now but i've only gotten to reading and not writing. Well...this year, I've decided to just give it a go and also because I want to improve my writing skills~ So thanks for dropping by and I hope you enjoy my first piece. Constructive criticism will be welcomed however flamers will not be. I'll try to update as many times as I can, however, if there are times where I go for long periods of time without anything new, I apologise in advance. It's probably cause I'm occupied by school stuff cause its my last year (YAY! XD) so yea...i think that's all for now so I present to you, the first chapter to Kuniko.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Prince of Tennis series or the characters; the only exceptions being my OC.

Chapter 1

"It's been so long," I thought as I stepped out of the airport. I felt energy rushing through my body even though I had been on the plane for more than 10 hours. I managed to quickly hail a cab and was on my way home. Home... I couldn't wait. It had been a while since I tasted my mother's delicious oriental cooking again, so different from what I had gotten used to for the past few years in London. I hadn't told my parents yet that I was coming home because I wanted to surprise them. I can't wait to see my brother as well. It's been so long. Of course, we sent emails to eachother but it wasn't enough. He was my twin brother after all. I'm surprised I lasted this long without seeing him.

As the driver drove through the streets, which were becoming more familiar as we went further, I could see a tennis court coming up. I sighed. My parents often wondered if my brother and I were really twins because we were polar opposites. It was only due to our same hair colours and eyes that they rarely seriously questioned it. Varying from our body language and personality, we were quite a pair. This also included the fact that I completely failed at tennis which was quite ironic, due to my brother being so well-known for his skills. As I was thinking this, a large sign caught my eye.

"Wait! Stop here please."

The sign read in large capital letters, 'SEIGAKU vs. HYOTEI Tennis Tournament'.

Seigaku, huh? Oh yes...that's right. I remember Onii-chan saying something about a tournament in his last email to me...

In the space of a few seconds, I made my decision. I thanked the driver and got off. With my luggage in my hand, I walked towards the courts. As I got closer, I could slowly hear the sounds of cheering. For a few minutes, I tried straining my ears to hear what they were yelling, but once I did, I smiled wistfully, lost in my thoughts.

"SEIGAKU! FIGHT-O! FIGHT-O! FIGHT-O!"

"GO BUCHOU~~~!

"ATOBE! ATOBE! ATOBE! ATOBE!"

So...Onii-chan and Atobe huh...Interesting. With anticipation, I quickened my pace and suddenly, my eyes rested on an intense match between the two rivals, on the familiar patch of green and white.

I looked around.

The two schools were cheering their hearts out. Besides the two respective schools, there were three other schools with me. It seems that they had finished they're own matches and had come to watch this one while recuperating,still soaked in their own sweat . I turned towards my brother and Atobe-kun.

"40 – 30 TO ATOBE!"

"Be awed by my prowess!"

I rolled my eyes.

"He hasn't changed at all..." I muttered to myself.

The guy next to me glanced at me through the corner of his eyes but I disregarded him.

After what seemed to be hours, the match finished with Onii-chan as the winner after a jaw-breaking tie break.

I smiled and clapped with everyone else. Then, as if he heard my laugh through the deafening sounds of cheers, Onii-chan looked up and caught my eye.

I smiled and walked down towards the Seigaku regulars who had also seen what the Buchou had seen. I jumped over the fence and walked towards the big group. Suddenly, a blur of blue and white rushed towards me and I found myself suffocating from the tight grip around my midriff and the thundering pats on my back. I accepted it happily, and after they had calmed down, I looked towards my big brother. He had a slight smile on his face and he looked at me with a soft expression. I realised that the people surrounding us on the stands, observing the team's strange reaction to my arrival had burst into whispers as they took in Tezuka's smile. He really hasn't changed at all.

"It's a very pleasant and unexpected surprise Kuniko. Why didn't you say anything about you coming back?" said my brother, with a warm smile.

We were now out of the courts, away from prying eyes and were standing under a Sakura tree, the lean form of my brother leaning against the trunk and his serious gaze taking in my own petite form, picking up the fallen flowers and breathing in the heavenly scent.

"I just wanted to surprise you guys," I said happily, as I got up from my crouch and twirled around, trying to catch the falling flowers as a strong wind rustled the branches of the tree.

My mission complete as I came to a stop with a bunch of the beautiful, pink flowers in my arms, I smiled at my brother with a cheeky grin.

"So...did I succeed in surprising you oh wise brother?"

He chuckled and was about to answer when a familiar drawl filled the peace.

"Oi Tezuka!"

Our heads both instinctively turned towards the speaker.

A group of boys were walking towards us, it's leader being the person to grab our attention. I recognized the school uniform straightaway.

Atobe and his team mates came to a stop, resting in the shade of the tree, away from the midday sun.

"Don't think that this is over Tezuka. I will beat you next time."

"Hn," was the reply from the tennis player, his face expression showing that the big brother figure was gone, and was replaced by the captain of one of the most respected tennis teams among middle schools.

However, his reply had not been heard as Atobe's attention had already been transferred to the other Tezuka in the vicinity.

"Kuniko-chan. You've grown. Although...you still have a lot to catch up on," he said smugly, indicating the height difference.

"Baka! I'm not short. You're just tall," I said, but I didn't deny the fact that I did feel very dwarfed amongst my brother and the Hyotei tennis team.

At my retort, Atobe rolled his eyes in amusement and began to introduce me to his team. I had never met them personally although I had heard many stories (mostly very amusing) and I was excited that I could finally put faces to the never-ending list of names that I had heard.

"This is Kabaji."

"Usu."

"Oshitari."

"Hajimeshite."

"Gakuto."

"Yoroshiku."

"Shishido."

"Yo."

"Ootori."

"Yoroshiku!"

"Hiyoshi."

"Hajimemashite Tezuka-san"

"And lastly...Jirou."

"..."

I chuckled at the sight of Jirou-san slumped over one of Kabaji-san's shoulder, snoring lightly.

Atobe sighed and shrugged helplessly.

Suddenly, I also felt the urge to yawn and I realised that my previous bout of adrenaline had all been used up. My lack of sleep had finally caught up with me and I felt myself start to sway.

Strong hands caught my shoulders and I found myself leaning against my brother's chest.

"Atobe. You can catch up later because I think Kuniko needs her rest for now," said my brother and began to lead me away from the group.

Atobe nodded and smiled at me.

"Ore-sama will see you later."

I nodded sleepily and waved goodbye to the team before turning my back.

Through the haziness, the thought of finally seeing my parents again filled me with warmth and the image of our family together again was the last before I finally dozed off.