Another Tenipuri for your enjoyment! This one happens to be an AtobeRyo...which I found a little difficult to do but...eh...I tried. Choosing rare couples are more of a challenge. I have read some of those but not many. Its only the first chapter. I promise it will get better!

Being my second story and all (gulps) I am going to make this one an on-going story with chapters. I need a project to keep me busy, ne? Please let me know if i should continue!

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis. (Rub it in why dont ya?)

Out of Reach

Ryoma glared at the sun as it beamed down on them with excruciating heat. His cap was sticking uncomfortably to his forehead, and when he removed it, he found his inky hair slick with sweat. He panted slightly as he stepped up to the line to serve another ball to Momoshiro, who was looking just as miserable as he was.

As he readied his stance, he gave cautious glances to the other regulars that were moving about on the courts. It seemed that most everyone was just about to start dropping like flies from the humidity that clung to them like their regular uniforms. However, it seemed no one was going to go down without a fight; not as long as Tezuka was watching over them.

Ryoma returned his own focus to the match at hand. This needed to end soon; he wouldn't be the one to go down first, that was for sure. He muttered a soft "che" before tossing the ball up with his left hand to smash a twist serve into the far corner of Momoshiro's receiving court. Perhaps at least he could lay him out and finish this match prematurely. However, much to his dismay, Momoshiro got a hold of the twist and sent it back flying to Ryoma.

Ryoma growled in his throat as he continued the volley back and forth. This was really beginning to be too much. Even he, who had been put on the courts when he could barely hold a racket, began to feel the haze of his surroundings.

"Mada mada dane," Ryoma choked out through gritted teeth.

He smashed the ball far out of Momoshiro's reach in the right corner, and watched as his opponent didn't even make the effort to reach something he had no chance of returning.

Either Tezuka had gotten too tired of their sloppy performance or he, himself, was too hot, but when he signaled an early end to practice, the others basically collapsed in relief.

Ryoma hurried into the locker room and quickly gathered his things. Claiming one of the empty shower stalls before his senpais, he rinsed the grim and dirt off his sleek body, taking comfort in the cool water and running his hands through his sticky hair. He made quick work of changing into his uniform and barely bade the others goodbye before he was out the door and on his way home.

The sun was still bearing down on him, and he strongly hoped that he didn't pass out on the way home. He would never hear the end of it if the others found out. It would just be better to lay there on the sidewalk, unconscious and forgotten. He decided a short break might do him some good, so he took a detour through the park to a bench, which he prayed was located in the shade. Luckily for him, shade from a nearby tree fell on more than half of the bench, so he dropped his stuff on the sunny side and lowered himself into a sitting position, leaning his head all the way back, bringing one arm over his face to block the sun that still peeked through the leaves.

A small breeze flowed over his skin and he sighed at the small comfort that it brought. Ryoma wasn't much for the small things in life that brought joy, but right now, this was definitely one he could appreciate. It wasn't long before he felt another presence and the sneaking sensation of a pair of eyes focused on his form. He hoped it wasn't another pair of fangirls from school who had stumbled across him, though he highly doubted it from the lack of squealing. He was about to straighten up and return the stare, though tinged with annoyance, at the source of his discomfort when said source decided to speak:

"What do we have here, uh? Is this a little Seigaku freshman wasting time when he should be practicing? Ore-sama expects better of the team that defeated the famous Hyoutei."

Ryoma almost yelled in exasperation. Of all the people to run into, he had to cross paths with Atobe Keigo, captain of Hyoutei's tennis club and the biggest narcissist in the world. Growling in frustration, Ryoma began to gather his things as he stood up.

"I will be leaving now, please excuse me."

Almost home free, Ryoma's eyes widened as he felt a small shove on his shoulder, causing him to lose balance. He landed back on the bench gracefully (sarcastically speaking), letting his bag clatter to the ground beside it. Readjusting himself, he looked up to glare at the smirking face of the young captain. Atobe sighed and fell down beside Ryoma and gazed up into the shade of the tree (of course he took the shady side of the bench for himself).

"Hot today isn't it?"

Ryoma didn't answer, but instead posed a question of his own.

"Did the great "monkey king" call off practice because he can't stand a little heat?"

Atobe gave a side glare at the freshman and closed his eyes as he leaned back, much similar to the position Ryoma had previously held, replacing his smirk.

"For your information, brat, Ore-sama knew that even if we did practice, nothing much would be accomplished in this heat. It would just be a hazard to the players. Something I am sure your precious Tezuka thought you might be able to overcome. However, it seems he was wrong considering you are here at this time. Ore-sama also thought this park would be a little comfortable, despite the humidity."

Ryoma once again said nothing. He had tensed angrily at the remark against Tezuka, but Ryoma also felt that Atobe made sense, despite being in shock over him thinking of his players more than himself. Gazing at him in this position, Ryoma was vaguely aware and surprised at how..."human" Atobe looked. Normally, the monkey king had always seemed...way above others, with his upbringing being so much better than everyone elses. His fancy lifestyle always made him seem disconnected from everyone else and out of reach. Ryoma leaned back to join Atobe in the shady comfort, for the shade had finally spread to cover the bench completely. They sat there in silence for a few minutes before Atobe moved and stood up.

"Ore-sama must take his leave from you now. Though practice has been cancelled, the job of a captain never ends. Maybe one day you will understand, though...nah nevermind." He laughed softly at this and began to tame any disparity in his appearance.

Ryoma ignored the remark and watched as Atobe gracefully smoothed his uniform shirt into such perfection that only he was capable of achieving. He found himself drawn to the way he moved, eyes focusing on the details of the figure before him, framed by the light of the sun setting in the background. Atobe was slim, but his body was strong and firm from the life of a tennis player. His delicate hands raked through his hair with precision, allowing each strand to return to its normal position. Adjusting his tie, he turned his face to stare directly into the golden orbs of the young tennis player.

Ryoma felt a small blush creep into his cheeks and his mouth suddenly went dry. Whether Atobe noticed, Ryoma wasn't sure, but could only look on as the diva replaced his features with a trademark smirk and nod a farewell to the freshman.

Long after Atobe had left, Ryoma still sat on the bench, barely having budged from the position he had been pushed into by the Hyoutei captain. He was currently in deep thought, though his outside expression told different. Anyone who walked by would just have thought the handsome young man was bored of waiting for someone, but Ryoma's insides were churning with emotions strange and foreign to him.

Something about the "monkey king" had captivated him, enough to linger in his thoughts this long. As Atobe had stood there, Ryoma had been trying his best to resist the urge to reach out and actually touch him. Glancing down at his hand, Ryoma recalled the feeling of something he wanted being too far out of reach. Such was Atobe Keigo. Scowling to himself, Ryoma looked up at the remaining light in the sky and swore that he would figure out what this meant. He wasn't experienced in things such as these, but one thing was solid in his mind: he was going to meet Atobe again. He had to see whether or not this was just a big misunderstanding. It could have easily been the heat affecting him.

Finally making his way home, Ryoma gazed up once more as the sun sank below the horizon and a deep blue enveloped the sky. Clenching his fist around the strap of his bag, he made up his mind to seek out Atobe Keigo and figure out exactly what had overcome him.

TBC

Well, thats it for the first chapter! Please review and tell me what you think! I want to know if i should continue.

Preview: Just as Ryoma wonders how to approach Atobe, a stange occurence throws him in the Monkey King's debt! What will he do now?

Ja mata,

for now anyways!

Eclair