Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi Takeshi. I do not own any of the characters, except for the plot of this story; anything else belongs to the creator Konomi.

Author's Note: Well, this is a bit frustrating; it is hard to write in character on these characters, so please excuse me if they seem out of character. Even though I watch the episodes repeatedly, however I've discover that it is hard to try to keep to the character's personality. So, bear with me if they seem a bit different, thank you. ^_^

Warning: If you don't like Yaoi, then please do not read this story.

Relationship: FujiRyo

Declaration of War

Author: Fuji S. Yuki

The weather was nice at Seigaku tennis courts, the regulars were practicing like usual, and things were energetic. Momoshiro jumped high into the air creating a whirlwind of his slam dunk. While Kawamura yelled out loud his war cry as he returned the serve with his normal passionate strength. On the side court next to them, Echizen Ryoma was playing against Fuji Syusuke, their battled raged onward, neither side giving up, they both were in battle mode fighting it out, neither one budging to give up the points of the match.

The intensity that they played was tendencies, the power of their services, and skill were put against each other. Some might even say that they threw everything they had into the game, if Inui had a chance he would have been recording all the data he could on the two, however the data tennis man was busy, making Oishi the vice president miserable, while they play against each other.

The game raged onward until the end it was annoying for Ryoma to face the Tennis Tensai, however it was exciting to feel him gain grounds, while trying to figure the other out. And-yet it was very frustrating, it was indeed for Ryoma, while playing Fuji, he wanted the other to be more serious, while playing him. In a way, Fuji seem to mock with his smiles, while hitting back, nevertheless the Prince felt a spark of satisfaction, when ever he made the Tennis Tensai open his eyes until sharp shards of sapphire clash against his golden orbs. The electricity and magnetic vibes they place against each other, was immense attract was like polarity charges.

The tension between the two increased with each passing time they met, whether it was due to the absence of Tezuka the Seigaku's Tennis Captain, or their realization of feelings that crept onward like a storm. Maybe the other tennis members could see the storm coming and how the Tensai and the Prince both seem to be more aggrandizemental of each other. Perhaps just how they were playing made them seem bigger then what they were at the moment, however they knew what they were seeing right now were beyond the junior high level, perhaps even higher then the high schooler level. It was rather off putting, they both were far beyond their reaches, even though they try to be like them, yet none of the members would dare try to interrupt the two in their ever present battle. The feelings of tension was high the ever-present battle auras made everyone wary of being near those two. It was a tough game, however in the end, Fuji won against the Prince of Tennis, when the measurer called out Game won by Fuji six games to three.

Both of the players walked toward each other, until only the net separated them from each other, Fuji kept on smiling, while Ryoma glared at the taller willow boy. "Play serious Fuji-senpai." He whispered angrily, he wanted the other to play him, to really see him with those ever clear cut eyes that seem to see everything, even though they were shielded away.

"Ma ne." Fuji chuckle lightly, "You still did good, demo…" The tone of voice seem to change into something more deadly, the subtle message was loud and clear. Your not there yet.

"Che." Ryoma sounded out, while jerking his cap over his eyes, to conceal his expression from the all-knowing smile, he knew that Fuji was probably laughing at his suffering, from the fact he wasn't ready. "Mada Mada Dane." Turning away, he stroll off the court, the drama itself wasn't enough for the tennis members to identify what was going on, however it seem that something seem not right between the two even more.

A shout came from the court beside Fuji, "Game won by Oishi six games to five." Fuji kept his smile plaster on his face, when he notices the figure of Ryoma walking away to the side of the building. Perhaps he had been to hard on the boy, however it was inevitable that these feelings would be popping up this soon.

Oishi of course at the end of the game notice the tension, inwardly, he felt a sigh coming on, after all he manage to over come Inui's data tennis at the end with carefully time practice. However, like Ryoma, he agrees with his assessment that he would never ever want to play Inui again. It was too annoying, how the data tennis man could swing around his racket in precision, and it was rather scary in all the sense.

Inui met him at the net and shook his hand, "You've been holding back." His reflective glasses glinted in the sun, "If you didn't I would have won, demo I have more data now…" The evil grin that appeared on his face, gave Oishi chills at the terror of the data man.

"Yes, I am sure, but it was fun." Oishi said, while laughing nervously, he then turn around and walked away, noticing his partner Kikumaru Eiji standing on the side lines cheering for him. Almost naturally, he felt the towel coming toward, him, raising his hand he catches it mid-air and swung it around his neck. "Arigato."

"Nyah!! Oishi! You did a good job!" The hyperactive boy chimed happily, bringing a smile onto the vice presidents face.

Rubbing his face, Oishi shook his head, "But it was way to close…" Shivering, "Inui is so scary…" Feeling the shorter boy walk beside him to the sidelines where the benches were located at, "Next time, I'll let you play him."

"NO WAY!" Eiji cried out, "Oishi that is just plain Hidoi!" The acrobat had felt the wrath of the data tennis man, "He will make me drink that disgusting poison, how can you do that to me?"

Panicking, which made Oishi smile at his antics, "Fine then you don't have to play him for a couple of days. However, we really got to become more stronger, for Tezuka, after all I promise him we won't fail in the matches to get to the nationals." Feeling pressured with all the heavy burdens of being the one in charge, while Tezuka was away getting his arm healed.

Eiji handed over the water bottle and watched Oishi with cat like affection, "Ne Oishi I did what you said and watched O-chibi and Fuji play each other." While his partner was sipping the water, he tilted his head puzzled, "However, all I saw was the game, that they were playing more harder then before, and that there seem to be some sort of tension between them. Ne! Oishi is the reason why you wanted me to watch them is to let you know whether or not they are together like we are?" This earned a choking sound, that made the acrobatic player jump up and thump Oishi on the back. "OI! Oishi are you alright?"

Oishi spluttered and coughed, his lungs burned, while processing the information. "Chigau!" He said hoarsely, "I was told by Tezuka to keep a eye on Ryoma, he wants him to be the pillar of Seigauk or something."

"Oh…" Eiji looked disappointed, he didn't notice the ever creeping of Inui behind then with his notebook open with a pen scribbling down what they were saying. "Demo, I've notice a unnatural tension between the two, do you suppose they got into a fight?"

After recovering, Oishi shook his head; "I don't think so, if they were, we would have seen something or heard about it."

On the other court, the announcer yelled out, "Game won by Kawamura six games to four."

"Ah! It seems everyone is done," Standing up Oishi notice the spiky hair boy behind him. "Inui?"

"Hnn Data, Data." Inui seem to mutter softly, while scribbling down more information, making both regulars cringe. "Yes, they are together, hnn Data."

Oishi deciding it is best not to ask, yelled, "Tennis Club gather and do ten laps around the courts as a cool down." He glanced at Inui pointedly, "And no Juice for this one!"

This earned a couple of breathless signs of relief, while Fuji look with his normal smile, "Ah, too bad, it is very delicious." Everyone look at him, strangely, thinking what a scary guy to be able to stand up to that nasty stuff.

Ryoma just plainly gave a bored look, while running after the other regulars, the rest of the club followed, until they all finished up the laps around the court, it was rather boring in Ryoma's opinion. It was more fun, when Tezuka would yell at them to keep going, while being chase after one another, while he gave Kawamura a racket, which made them run even faster. It sure was different with Oishi as the one in charge; they weren't given harsher lap training in a sense, he missed the captain.

Fuji on the other hand, was disappointed; he wanted to see everyone suffer during training, while watching Inui give each individual the penal tea or some other concoction he made. Sure everyone was busy practicing and working hard, but it didn't have the edge when Tezuka was present, however Fuji being Fuji took it all in stride. If he couldn't annoy or watch other's suffer through other people's means, then he would find something else to pass his time. This drew Fuji to Ryoma more often; he knew that he annoyed the younger boy greatly, whenever he was near by. It was rather cute, and reminded him of Yuuta, however in all sense, he didn't want to break Ryoma like the one he did to Mizuki, even though Ryoma had won against Yuuta.

Ryoma had won, yet he had done it with style, while trying not to hurt Yuuta, so he didn't face his wrath, it was inside Fuji's mind that perhaps another style of punishment was in order. Ironically, so, if only the Tennis Prince knew what was in store for him by the unpredictable Tennis Tensai, if he did would he run, or would he not even react? These questions however wouldn't been asked since the Prince being like how he was to dense to the signs that were given off by the Tennis Prodigy, perhaps it was a fault that would in the end cost the Tennis Prince, however Ryoma being Ryoma thought nothing about the smile on Fuji's face.

However, to Fuji, he felt that things were about to get even more interesting. Whether or not it was unfortunate or fortunate for the Prince would be entirely something else, however all Ryoma heard, when Fuji was changing beside him, was him muttering, 'Let the Games begin.'

Puzzled by that certain aspect of Tensai, Ryoma decided it wasn't worth a second thought, he had other things to be concerned about like beating Fuji, and making his father cry when he won against him. "Ne Fuji-senpai."

"What is it Ryoma?" Fuji tilted his head, curious as to what was on the mind of the younger man, after all, it wasn't everyday that Ryoma would say something, he was almost like Tezuka in a sense.

Ryoma without his hat stared at the elder boy, deciding that he didn't want to say nothing he shrugged, "Nothing." Then turned back to walking away on the street, this drew concern in the willow boy, however he choose not to voice anything, after all, it wasn't his job to find out what was wrong with Ryoma in all sense.

Strolling together, they ended up splitting at an intersection, Fuji called out in his soft voice, "Ja ne Ryoma!" While Ryoma pause to look at his disappearing figure, turning he walked down the street toward his home. The sun hadn't set yet, and he was home early, perhaps he could try a hand at playing his father now.

Fuji however, heard a beeping behind him, pausing he glanced over his shoulder to see a car pull up, the window rolled down. "Syuusuke need a ride home?" His sister Yumiko called out with a smile.

Smiling Fuji nod his head, "Hai Yumiko-neesan." Stepping into the passenger side of the car, he slid in the seat, and fastened his seat belt. "Arigato Nee-san." It was a common occurrence that his sister drives up to get him from the street in order to take him home.

"I've got out of work early today, how about I fix you a cake, and read my tarot cards for you, since it's been so long Syuusuke." Yumiko chatted cheerfully, it was one of their bonding times, that Yumiko tried to keep too.

"Ah!" Fuji nodded his head in agreement, however his mind wandered a bit away from his sister, as he stared out of the window. "Demo Yumiko-neesan your predictions are always right, that it is scary."

Meanwhile Ryoma made it home and was already out at the outdoor tennis court with his father Echizen Nanjirou, they were playing like usual, the tension he felt at the Seigaku Tennis court started to get release while he use his racket to hit a return at his father.

"Here…here here…" Nanjirou called out, while hitting the balls here and there, his bare feet tapped against the dirt floor, it felt rather odd for him when his son hit back the tennis ball. In truth, there seem to be a keener sense of skill then there use to be. "You seem to be playing better now brat, demo mada mada dane!" He crowed when he slam his racket into the tennis ball, making it sail into the air, and slam onto the right side.

Ryoma sailed for the ball, but ended up missing as his body slid on the floor, tugging on his hat, while he got up he glare at his father. While the man seems to smile smugly at him, it was irritating, it reminded him of Fuji's constant mocking smile. "Shut up!" He grinded out, "I'll beat you, and make you cry!"

"Then let me see you try brat!" Nanjirou challenged, noticing the narrowing of the golden orbs of his own flesh and blood.

They then kept on playing against each other, with each step, until Ryoma swung his racket making a tennis ball sail past Nanjirou hitting right on the line. "YES!"

Nanjirou watched his son, feeling slightly pleased, "You are playing well…" Whomever was playing against his son, seem formidable, it was evident that the match today seem to have sharpen his son onwardly.

Ryoma calmed down from his score, his fist dropped, while he tugged with the other hand on his cap into his face, the words 'I have too.' Flew from his lips the wind carry them to the ears of Nanjirou, making him wonder even more, whoever this individual was, for it was certain that the other was someone different, perhaps lighter then his strength.

However, Nanjirou believed that skill itself wasn't enough to win a game that strength and power had to be equalizing to super human extent with the skill in order to be the best on the courts.

"Demo!" Ryoma lifted his head; his golden orbs seem to pierce right into the older man's body. "I want to become more stronger, I really want to be more stronger, and if need be I'll crush whoever stands in my way."

The wind kicked up blowing the bangs of Nanjirou's into his face, a please smile was on his lips, it seems that the words given out was a declaration of war on Ryoma's part. It was the right ingredient to make sure his son flourish; it was something that he wanted to see more in his son, for now the spark of battle itself was ignited at a bright intensity.

It was splendid in all sense, however his son did have a long way to go yes he did, perhaps he might have to play against Ryoma with his left hand soon, but not yet, not now, when the time wasn't right. Perhaps after Ryoma played some more with this other, perhaps if he was able to track down whomever that made Ryoma this annoyed, it would be nice to see.

In the Fuji Household, Fuji Syusuke sneezed suddenly, his hand place down the cup, as he sneezed another two times. Yumiko came in with the tarot cards concerned. "Are you catching a cold Syusuke?"

"Iie Nee-san, I think someone has been talking about." Fuji smiled, as he place down his cactus plant, and closed the blinders of his window.

Yumiko laughs, "Possibly."

Date: 8-22-03