Author's Notes

This is my very first fanfic, and my first serious attempt to finish a story I started. I love Tenipuri. It was the potential of each character in the series that inspired me to write this. I hope it isn't too dry, reviews and constructive criticism is more than welcomed. Flames will be ignored. I do need someone to beta-read my work, so if anyone is interested, please let me know.

I've tried my best to keep the characters true to their given personalities, but I also have taken liberties with them to change as they are still teenagers, and time and experience does take its toll. Just like when Momoshiro's skills as a crafty tennis player appear in the Hyotei match. It's based of the manga and anime storylines. I will also be borrowing characters from other anime series such as Hikaru no Go and Bleach.

Disclaimer: All TeniPuri characters belong to Konomi Takeshi. HnG characters to Hotta Yumi. Bleach characters to Kubo Tite.

Keira is a product of my imagination. TeniPuri could have a few female leads in its story.

This is for Cowboy, who listened patiently to hours on hours of my senseless ruminations as I was finally piecing this story together and getting enough guts to post it.

Pairings? Maybe later, they happened to be 12-14 years of age. Hmm…

Lost Within Myself

Standing in the blinding spotlight of a rising tennis professional, Echizen Keira realized something drastically missing from her life. And she was willing to sacrifice everything to find out what it was.

Chapter 1

A Brother's Pride

Tennis runs in the blood of the Echizen family, or so they could say. It might be premature to make such an assumption since it seems to be existent in only two generations. Hardly what would be deemed a blood line. However, Echizen Nanjirou possessed a certain aura that might as well be hereditary. His son Ryoma was a perfect example. The boy had the talent for tennis, it flowed in his veins. Ryoma believed his potential will remain untapped if he does not defeat the legendary tennis professional Samurai Nanjirou in his own game evenly. Tennis wasn't the only thing Ryoma was good at, but he felt it in his bones, in his very blood and soul. For him, tennis was in his genes.

Echizen Nanjirou's daughter, Keira was a different story all together. Two years older than Ryoma, and six inches taller (15 centimeters according to the metric system), she favored Nanjirou in looks more so than her brother. Ryoma had their mother's fair skin, and her delicate bone structure. Keira inherited her father's athletic build and tanned much more easily than the fairer Ryoma. She had the same playful smile as their father, with a dimple on the left corner of her mouth. However, unlike her brash brother, who had trained primarily under Nanjirou, Keira trained at a tennis school. Of course, her father taught her until she was old enough to enroll in a tennis school and he left a distinctive imprint of his playing style on hers. Keira believed she excelled in tennis because of hard work, dedicated training, and her father's persistence. To her it was not hereditary.

Ryoma and Keira shared the same intense golden eyes which they inherited from their father. Both had their mother's quiet nature. Rinko Echizen was the embodiment of tolerance and patience. For some odd reason or another, her children could not fathom, she loved the unruly, and slightly perverted monk that claimed to be their father. As much as Ryoma and Keira didn't understand, they knew that the love between their parents was true.

Ryoma and Keira were as close as two siblings could possibly be. However, at the moment, there were thousands of miles apart.

It was close to six when Ryoma finally opened the front gate to his house. He didn't want to admit it, but he was tired. However, it wasn't from tennis. Two of his senpais, the broomhead Momoshiro Takeshi and the chatterbox Kikumaru Eiji wanted to treat the youngest member of the Seishun Gakuen Tennis Club Regulars. It was a trying afternoon for Ryoma. What made it worse was that Horio, who is also his classmate, had decided to tag along. He kept going on and on about his measly two years of tennis experience. The other two were fun enough to hang out with, at least they didn't have grating voices.

"Tadaima," Ryoma said monotonously as he kicked off his shoes at the entrance way.

He could smell that dinner was almost ready, and was startled by the excited leap in his stomach. Momoshiro-senpai and Kikumaru-senpai treated the first year regular to four cheeseburgers and ice cream just an hour ago.

Nanako came around the corner. She was his cousin from his mother's side and was staying with them as she studied nursing at a nearby university.

"Okaeri, Ryoma,' she greeted with a smile. "Dinner's almost ready."

Ryoma nodded before trudging upstairs to his room. He change and turned on the television. Switching to the tennis channel, he was relieved that they were replaying the match he wanted to watch. Ryoma knew it was aired earlier that day, but there was no way his mother would let him stay home and miss school, just to watch a tennis match.

It was the round before the quarterfinals and the twelfth seeded Shirley McGregor from America was playing an unseeded Japanese player. Ryoma grinned and turned up the volume a bit. Karupin padded into the room and silently leapt onto the convenient 'basket' of his master's crossed legs. Unblinking blue eyes turned to the TV. Karupin mewed.

Ryoma rested his back against his bed, and began stroking Karupin behind the ears. Looking down at his beautiful Himalayan cat, "Yep, your mama is about to play."

Karupin's 'mama' appeared on the screen.

"In an amazing display of determination and skill, Keira Echizen is definitely setting a record as the youngest player to go for a professional title," the sports commentator said in English. The Tennis channel was an American station, and the signal was feeded via satellite. "What do you think, Mary?"

The female commentator nodded in reply. "Keira Echizen certainly surprised us all. She made it to the quarterfinals at Indian Wells (1) earlier this month and lost against Mary Sharpley, the champion of that tourney. She's playing exceptionally at this year's Nasdaq-100 (2). With a 6-0 6-3 win against 27th ranked Dmitrov during the last round, she faces 12th seed McGregor with confidence."

Ryoma didn't know the results her sixth round match, and he avoided Nanjirou so he wouldn't spoil it for him. He wanted to watch her play and win for himself. She stood there in her favorite white tennis dress, her hair tied high on her head, a head band encircling her brow. She had won the toss and choose the side facing the sun first giving McGregor the serve. Ryoma knew his sister had near perfect vision, and by choosing the sun facing side first, she expected that this match was going to be long and drawn out. She wanted to adjust her eyes to the bright light.

The first serve, a sharp angle that was aimed for the sideline.

Keira had anticipated it, returned the ball with a running forearm. The ball sailed diagonally over the net going cross court.

"That was a stunning buggy whip service return shot by Echizen!" the male commentator exclaimed.

"Love-15."

Shirley McGregor looked irritated by the ace return, Ryoma thought. She was a tall American, maybe ten inches over five feet, but on the slender side. Dark short hair held back by an elastic headband, she wore dangling earrings which Ryoma didn't approve of. His sister never wore jewelry on the courts.

The first set lasted a little less than half an hour in favor of Keira.

"Ryoma," his heard his mother's voice from downstairs. "Dinner's ready. You can eat in the living room. Your father hasn't watch Keira's match either."

Ryoma sighed. His mother wasn't going to allow him to eat upstairs, or even eat dinner later. He picked up the sleeping Karupin. The cat opened his eyes once as Ryoma settled him on his bed and promptly went back to sleep.

Nanjirou was already eating his dinner, already watching Keira's game on the flatscreen in the living room.

"Hoi, shounen (3), hurry up and get your food. Jo-chan's second set is about to start," he told his son as Ryoma passed by on his way to the kitchen.

Ryoma didn't respond to that, it was obvious he was also going to bring his food to the living room. When he got into the kitchen, Nanako handed him a plate with rice already ladled with his mom's delicious chicken curry dish. He thanked his cousin, grabbed eating utensils and a glass of water and settled himself at the coffee table in front of the TV, next to his father.

Father and son didn't say anything as they ate, eyes intent on the screen.

"McGregor and Echizen's match will be decided in a third set."

"That fourteen year old Echizen is showing amazing tenacity in lasting strong in this match against 3 year veteran McGregor. Did you see the serves on that girl? The fastest serve clocked at 110 mph. Amazing. Where is her power coming from?"

Nanjirou smirked. "From me," he said, before laughing. He slung an arm around his son. "Ne, shounen?"

Ryoma just leaned away from him and made a 'tchaa' with his tongue, and Nanjirou just laughed some more.

"Keira Echizen made her professional debut at this year's Indian Wells. She trains at the San Diego Balboa Tennis Club (4) under the tutelage of former five-time US Open Champion Victor Krueger (5)." The camera focused on an aging Caucasian man sitting in the VIP seating behind Keira's bench.

"He's not that impressive," Nanjirou scoffed.

Rinko chuckled at her husband's defensiveness. "Your daughter is leveling it out with professionals younger than you did, dear," she pointed out.

"That's because tennis runs in her blood which she inherited from me."

Ryoma ignored his father's remark, though he couldn't argue against it. His own tennis abilities felt as natural to him as walking, and must be the same for his older sister. In a few years, he may find himself in the world that Keira was breaking into.

"Other than a few local tournaments, Echizen Keira has never competed in a nationally ranked competition. To do so well in her professional debut (6) is outstanding. And she's handling herself very confidently on the courts."

Keira Echizen was leaning against the bench, a towel over her face, head facing up. She breathed evenly and in slow breaths, and rested her protesting muscles. Keira wasn't an excitable girl, although she had a nasty temper when provoked, it was hardly ever provoked. Ryoma loved watching her play and loved playing against her. He was sad when she wasn't going to be with them in Japan, but not disappointed because she will be playing professional tennis. He missed her, but seeing her on the television, golden eyes confident, alert, and unfazing, Ryoma never felt as proud of her as he did that moment.

The third set reached a tie breaker. And the score was tied at 13-13

"Echizen Ad-In!" the tennis umpire shouted when Keira executed a skillful drop volley to McGregor's fast drive over the net.

It was Keira's serve. And this time, she pulled a serve she didn't use at all during her match against McGregor. A serve that she learned from her father.

The ball flew over the net and landed in front of McGregor who was in position to hit it with her forearm. However when the ball bounced, instead of sailing to McGregor's right, it flew straight to her face. The American had no time to bring her racket up in response and jumped aside to avoid being hit with the ball.

The audience was silent for a moment and the caller stood up from his high chair. "Set and Match, Echizen Keira 2 sets to 1."

The crowd was cheering madly. Keira lowered her racket, her golden eyes, the same exact shade of Ryoma's own, were wide as she realized that she was advancing to the quarterfinals and she just defeated a top seeded player.

"Jo-chan (7) used the Twist Swerve!" Nanjirou exclaimed gleefully. "I bet you that American didn't see it coming. Keira kept it until the moment she needed to use it. Smart girl!"

Ryoma couldn't hear the words that McGregor said to Keira when they shook hands at the net, but from his sister's smile whatever it was pleased her. They shook hands with the chair umpire. Keira didn't make any outward exclamations of her victory, but the glowing look in her eyes and the deepening of the dimple on beside her lip indicated she was pleased with the turnout.

Around ten-fifteen the phone of the Echizen household rang. Ryoma heard his mom pick up the phone downstairs. He idly wondered if it was his sister. However, it couldn't be. It would be around 5am in Miami. Keira was particular about her sleeping, and would never waste a precious sleeping moment. They also had that in common. The sounds from downstairs indicated that his mother went inside her study downstairs. While unusual, sometimes Rinko Echizen received client calls late at night.

With his last thoughts on his sister's welfare, Ryoma fell into a deep exhausted sleep.

End Chapter One.

(1) Pacific Life Open held at Indian Wells, California. The first of the ATP Masters Series Tournament. Usually held in late February to early March.

(2) Nasdaq-100, held in Miami, Florida. The second tennis open in the ATP Masters Series Tournament. Held in late March to early April

(3) Shounen, Japanese, casual form for "boy." Nanjirou sometimes refers to Ryoma as shounen.

(4) A prestigious tennis club in San Diego, California. I think in the TeniPuri plotline, the Echizens were originally from New York? I really don't know. The house they showed in episode 129 in the anime series looked like one you would see in Southern California. So I choose San Diego. Great community, great weather, tennis all year round. What better place for Ryoma and Keira to grow up?

(5) Victor Krueger is completely fictional. He serves as Keira's coach in this story. I should also mention that Shirley McGregor is also fictional.

(6) There is a qualification tournament held in February for those interested in competing in the ATP Master's series. Many professionals make their debut into the tennis world this way.

(7) Jo-chan, cutesy, affectionate form of Shoujo, meaning "girl." Nanjirou's pet name for Keira.