A/N: Hello all! This is going to be a multi-chapter fic, but there will only be maybe 4 chapters at the most. I was planning on writing a one-shot, but I can't. Hope you like it! I hope you all continue reading. Reviews are optional, and I'll accept anything from comments and flames to constructive criticism. I added a lot more to it and I hope you enjoy it. I've also decided that it is going to be a RyoSaku + OC fic. There might not be a lot of RyoSaku, but there is going to be a chapter specifically for them! This is mostly about Ryoma and a girl named Clarisse Fukuda anyways. Oh! But their relationship isn't romantic. It's purely a friendship. Enjoy and Review! Your opinions help me to continue writing :o)

This story is written as a birthday present to thegrandprincessofdarkness. Sorry it's so late! i kept changing my mind about it, I decided to stick to this plot.

Summary:When Ryoma encounters a life-changing situation, he'll find inspiration in the strangest person. ::thegrandprincessofdarkness Birthday fic!::

Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Prince of Tennis. I just own the plot of this story. :o)

1. A Story Begins

Perseverance
by: Hana Ryuzaki Echizen

My father always tells me that we are shaped as much by our failures as we are by our successes....

"Mommy, I don't know how to finish my essay. Daddy always says this, but he never makes any sense. How can failing be a good thing?"

"Take a seat, Hana. I need to tell you a story of a young man who failed a big thing."

"Okie dokie."

"You see, when this young man had just entered college, he was involved in a car accident. An ambulance was called and he was immediately transported to the hospital...

The sky was grey with clouds as lightning danced across the heavens. In the distance thunder played the drums of war as tears streaked towards the earth. Time seemed to have stopped as an ambulance sped through the streets of Tokyo. News reporters followed the ambulance in a haste as worried fans filled the streets. The story of the century was about to give birth.

Meanwhile, in the emergency room doctors and nurses hovered over their patient. Family and friends waited outside anticipating the news.

"Thank you for waiting patiently. Your son is gonna live." At this, everyone's breathing evened out and tears of joy were shed as hugs were shared.

"There's more I'm afraid. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your son... he's paralyzed from the waist down and I don't think that there's much that we can do for him. A wheelchair is going to..."

The doctor was immediately quiet as the young man's father slammed his fists against the chair.

"What kind of a doctor are you if you can't heal your patient, huh?! How the hell do you expect him to play tennis or live his life?! Your acting like it's taking a lot to tell me that my son will never walk again, but how do you think it feels to be on the receiving end?! What a bunch of lazy ass doctors..." His wife hushed him down as he began to tear.

"Doctor, is there anything that you can do?"

"I'm sorry Mrs. Echizen, but your son's condition is a permanent state, but there's this clinic in Rochford, England. It houses the disabled and helps them to grow accustomed to their disabilities and use them to their advantage. They house and school everyone from the blind to the crippled. It really is a good school and would really help your son, but the tuition is relatively high."

"Look here, doc. I will not see my son off to some school in isolation! If you and your staff actually did their job in..."

"Thank you doctor. My husband and I will gladly send him."

"N-Nani?!?"

"Alright, I'll call and tell them your son is to be expected."

As the doctor left, Nanjiro turned to his wife with a look of horror upon his face. He understood that his wife had the intention to help Ryoma, but England is just too far away. Nanjiro slumped in his chair - panic stricken. Thought after thought whizzed through his head.

"Rinko, are you really sure that you wanna send Ryoma to that place? The boy's gone to tournaments across the globe, but never had he been disabled! He might need us."

"Nanjiro, I know how you feel. Do you really think that I want to see my son in a wheelchair, unable to play tennis? No, but he needs to be able to take care of himself or he'll lose his sanity. Ryoma's always been one to do things on his own. If we keep trying to help him, babying him, he'll never see us or anyone else in the same light for that matter. I think this school is the best possible choice for him and if he needs us, then there's nothing stopping us from going too."

"I never win an argument with you, do I?"

"Nope! And you never will." She added with a smirk.

"Fine..."

And so this boy began his journey to recovery. However, he didn't know what sort of obstacles and people awaited him." As Sakuno took a deep breath, she heard muffled sobs coming from the young girl beside her. "Hana? Are you alright?"

"Mommy! That's soo sad! What happens to him? Does he have fun at the school? Does he make friends? Does he ever learn to do stuff himself?"

"Hana, would you like me to continue with the story?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Oh, please."

"Alright. The boy was soon able to leave the hospital and go home. However, with fame comes the press. They managed to take half a step outside before they were bombarded by reporters and fans. They kept asking him what happened. Not one asked him how he felt; they just wanted a cover story. The family shoved through the crowd, all the while wheeling the boy to the car. Once they got home, they all went to sleep after an event-filled day. The next morning, the mother and father began packing the boy's luggage, but the boy had a different idea...

"I'm not going."

"Ryoma, please stop being so difficult. This school will help you."

"I never asked for anyone's help!"

"Listen here, boy. Your mom and I gave these people a lot of money so you can do your best in recovery and here you are - nineteen years old and acting like a spoiled brat. You're going whether you like it or not." Nanjiro and Rinko both left the room, leaving a sulky Ryoma to his thoughts.

"Hn."

A couple hours had passed since the father-and-son argument and the Echizen household was relatively quiet until the ringing of a bell could be heard - loud and clear. Rinko had decided to give Ryoma a small bell that he could ring if he needed something instead of straining himself by yelling. Unfortunately for Rinko, the bell was currently being held by a sadistic, crippled boy.

"Yes Ryoma?'

"I want some water."

"Ok, just give me a moment."

"Hn."

Rinko had made it halfway down the stairs before she heard the loud ringing coming from her son's bedroom. "I'm coming!"

"I changed my mind. I don't want water. I want grape Ponta."

"Ok."

Again, Rinko descended the stairs. It was at the moment that she was about to reach the first floor that she heard the insane ringing. Rushing up the stairs, she entered her son's room and looked at him with disdain.

"What now Ryoma?"

"Make sure that you pour the Ponta in a glass."

"I was going to do that anyway." This time Rinko slowly went down the steps in case her son decided to act like the Queen of Sheba. After a couple minutes, Rinko had made the long journey down and hesitantly entered the kitchen. She hadn't heard the calling chime so moved a bit quicker. Successfully completing her task, Rinko marched up again to Ryoma to hand him the bubbly beverage.

"Where's my ice?"

"You didn't ask for any."

"Well I want some. Go get it."

Rinko was furious. Her son had some nerve to order her around like that. Well she had enough of it. She didn't mind him being cocky in high school tennis, but arrogance is something she won't tolerate. She handed him the glass and walked out. Wrong move. The house erupted in a loud noise of chimes, rings, and dings. She didn't care. He was sulking over the fact that he had to go to that school, so this was his retaliation. Well if he wanted a war, he would get one hell of a war.

First she called a specialist, Sadaharu Inui. Rinko had remembered all the times Ryoma would come home clutching his stomach. When she asked what happened, he simply muttered 'Inui-sempai.' She didn't think too much of it at first. She just thought he got hit in the stomach with a tennis ball. However, as the years passed and Ryoma found his hormones, he began to bring home a petite looking Sakuno Ryuzaki. One day, Sakuno was waiting with Rinko, when Sakuno mentioned a certain 'Inui-sempai.' Curious, Rinko pursued the topic and found out that 'Inui-sempai' was dangerous when it came to mixtures. Back then, her motherly instincts kicked in and she confronted the young tennis player.

However, now she had a favor. In a few moments, Inui was in the kitchen mixing things and mumbling things to himself. He kicked her out of the kitchen and would sometimes mention percentages. Well as long as he fulfilled her request, she wasn't complaining. Rinko was about to doze off when Inui appeared holding a purple drink with three ice cubes in it.

"Here you are Mrs. Echizen. I call it Ponta Plus Version X."

"Thank you Inui."

"Well I need to get going, I promised I'd train with Kaido tonight. And he'll throw a hissy fit if I'm late."

"Ok. Well thanks again! Bye now!"

Rinko smiled at the closing door and turned her attention to the stairs. The bell continued ringing. Honestly, that boy was beginning to awaken her dangerous side. As she reached her destination, she silently prayed to the heavens that the drink would not kill her son.

"Sorry I kept you long dear. I was a tad frustrated, but here's your drink and ice."

"Whatever." Ryoma grabbed the drink and quickly drank it. He was getting tired from ringing the bell so much. The drink felt cool against his hot throat, but he tasted a funny aftertaste. Suddenly he felt the fatigue hit him ten-fold. He closed his eyes for a little and when he woke up he was - not in his house. He was on a plane? A plane? To where? And then it hit him. He was on a plane to hell!