Disclaimer: POT is not mine, the idea and the plot, yes, mine.

Well, last time I was watching Prince of Tennis I was playing Dynasty Warriors, and this idea sparked off, and I simply couldn't not write it. Why I am posting it now I don't know, it's far from even properly started, but I figured I might as well offer it up for entertainment purposes, and if it is liked I may offer more of it. I think it would do well as an original piece, but I figured I would pay tribute to the characters that gave me the idea in the first place.

It is an AU, set in a fantasy world that is somewhat like Dynasty Warriors. The biggest thing you need to know going in is that the focus is on the soldier race (Rikkaidai) and the mystic race (Fudomine), with large chunks devoted to the Emperor's Palace (Hyotei) and small appearances by Segiku and possibly some others. And I have upped some of the ages, because the characters in the anime all act older than they are supposed to be.

The Everlasting War

RikkaiDai fighting school was set deep in the Fire Marsh, a grand old castle once home to the Mystic's before the borders of the land had changed, and mostly forgotten in Mystic history. It lay just beyond the border line, but the Fire Marsh made attack virtually impossible, and the old castle was well fortified, and the students within well trained. Its outer walls were blackened, the fire bursts scorched the walls in an irregular pattern, their path impossible to predict. Old twisted trees surrounded the castle, also blackened and burnt by the fire. Inside the walls lay training grounds, and the main castle building, filled with twisting corridors and small rooms; Mystics it seemed had no love for grand halls, but this only offered those living here now the chance to practice their fighting in cramped conditions. The tallest tower was ringed by a balcony, which offered a full view of the huge Marshland, which spread for over a hundred miles in all direction, barren, inhospitable land, but perfectly suited for its purpose.

The RikkaiDai fighting school was the most famous of its kind, as well as the most unique. It was an orphanage as well as a fighting school, all children who had lost both parents to the war against the Mystics were sent to RikkaiDai to learn the ways of the warrior and join the front lines upon graduating. Now, RikkaiDai was also the only place with an unspoken tradition that was upheld with the greatest of care. The Honour student, that is the 16 year old who showed the greatest skills and could beat all other students in single combat and either beat or hold their own against all tutors was given the chance to chose 7 other students, regardless of age and level, who would become their permanent command team, and would then join the front lines of the war against the Mystics. All others were required to undergo a further year of training to determine which were better suited to each team.

The current honour student was Yukimura, a young man of frail appearance, mistaken more often than not for a woman. He had just two days ago beaten the last of his opponents in the school to achieve the position, and was currently relaxing with the majority of his chosen team, a group he had rallied around him in the many yeas he had been a student here. Firstly there was Sanada, his second, a strong, no nonsense young man of Yukimura's age, as were most of the team, a truly gifted fighter, and a great commander of obedience. Second was his Tactician, Yanagi, his appearance allowed many to underestimate him, but his skills were formidable. Jackal was the third, of the powerful barbarian tribes, his skin traced in the symbols of his people. Niou was the fourth, a trickster, a master of misdirection; he was an imp in battle, and someone who needed to be watched carefully. Yagyuu was the fifth, a bespectacled young man, who seemed more suited to books and the like, a perfect gentleman and the master of a fair fight. Lastly of his current group was Akaya, the youngest and the only one referred to so informally. Akaya was something of a puzzle to all at Rikkai Dai, he was not in fact an orphan, and he was also not fully of the warrior race, as evidenced by his elfin features, and strange madness. It was Akaya's madness that puzzled people, the boy, a full two years younger than the rest of the group, seemed to shift from a perfectly pleasant, if somewhat mischievous child, into an absolute demon on the battlefield, with a skill Yukimura had never seen, and could not name. Akaya was Yukimura's wild card, the one he needed to have with him, for to have him anywhere else would be simply a waste of such raw talent.

There was another reason Yukimura wanted Akaya in his command, but this secret he kept to himself.

The last member of his command had not yet arrived, so the remaining seven relaxed, chatting idly about their training, Niou teasing Akaya, with predicable, pouting, results. Yagyuu and Jackal were discussing the merits of a particular style of weapon Jackal had used as a child. Sanada and Yanagi sat quietly, playing chess on Yanagi's travel set. Yukimura watched the sky, blue above the curling smoke of the Marshlands, and waited for Marui, the red haired self proclaimed genius to arrive to complete the group so that they could discuss their leaving arrangements.

Minutes slipped past in this peaceful interlude, until at last it was broken by the rushed footsteps of Marui, who stopped by Yukimura's head, breathing heavily and looking somewhat concerned. Yukimura frowned a little at the look there.

"Problem?" he asked softly.

Marui's eyes slipped to Akaya for an instant before nodding. "I heard the Head Tutor speaking with the Horse Captain, Akaya is not permitted to leave castle grounds with us!"

This was worrying news indeed. "The reason?" he asked.

"None was mentioned, but the Head Tutor was adamant that Akaya not be given a horse, and for the gateway to be blocked should he try to leave."

Akaya had not heard this, though Niou had, but the trickster continued to keep the younger boy distracted for the moment; everyone else turned their attention to Marui and Yukimura, who sat up, a displeased look on his face. "We'll just have to see about that." No other words were really needed, for despite Akaya's more annoying attributes, each of them held some fondness for him, and it had long been decided that the younger boy would be part of their command team, for none of them had ever doubted that Yukimura would be victorious.

He stood in a fluid motion and took off towards the horse stables. Sanada also stood, knowing exactly what his Captain wanted without the need for orders. "Everyone prepare your possessions, we move out in half an hour." He too then strode off towards the dormitory block.

Akaya frowned. "I thought we weren't leaving until tomorrow?" he asked, confused.

"Change in plans little Akaya." Niou said, ruffling Akaya's curly hair and getting to his feet.

The good thing about being a student at RikkaiDai was that you did not have many possessions, a single change of clothes, armour if you wore it, your weapon, cleaning kits, a few small mementoes of times before and basic trail equipment and rations, you learnt quickly to only take what could fit in your pack, anything more was simply frivolous, and you learnt to pack quickly. All seven met again at the doors to the castle by the horse stables in ten minutes, Sanada holding Yukimura's bag.

Inside the castle, in the chamber of the Head Tutor, Yukimura stood, stone faced, holding back his growing anger for the man before him, a man he had once respected, who was now offering pitiful excuses as to why Akaya must remain here. As far as Yukimura could tell the only true words spoken where that Akaya's father, the Grand Commander Kirihara, would be coming in two days and had requested his son be present. A fact Yukimura had known a long time ago, and had planned for accordingly.

Yukimura had first met the Grand Commander on the day he had left Akaya here, a small child, half wild, with such passion and skill that was dangerous to Yukimura's plans. Grand Commander Kirihara knew exactly what his son was, and coveted him, intending to use him for his own purposes. Something Yukimura could not allow. The Grand Commander had been displeased when he had once, five years later, visited to find his son in the company of Yukimura, especially after Yukimura had told him plainly that he intended to have his position by the Emperor's side, and would work hard to achieve it. His goals had changed somewhat now, he no longer wished the Grand Commanders position, merely the power held in his son, for it would suit his purposes far better.

After a time the Head Tutor grew silent, watching his Honour Student in barely concealed anxiousness. Yukimura regarded him levelly for another moment before saying, his voce clipped and cold. "Kirihara Akaya is part of my command, by the unspoken rules of this school, he belongs to me until he defeats me in battle, or I choose to let him go. He will be leaving with me, and the rest of my command, and shall join us on the frontlines. No request by his father, even if he be the Grand Commander, can change that simple fact. Let that be understood clearly now."

"But you must understand Yukimura!" The Head Tutor blustered, caught between a rock and a hard place. Yukimura understood that, the man had to choose between upholding the time honoured tradition of the school, and thus maintaining it's reputation, or yielding to the demands of the Grand Commander, advisor to the Emperor himself. "And surely it would be better for you to take someone less… volatile than Young Kirihara." It was a feeble attempt, and Yukimura could see that the man knew it.

Akaya had not been the easiest of students to deal with, with his wild, unpredictable nature, and the sheer force he held, barely in check at all times, and he had very nearly killed half the students and teachers at the school within the first month. The only people Akaya could not defeat in battle currently were, himself, Sanada and Yanagi, and they three of them had quickly used this to reign in their youngest member, to give him a focus, a goal to strive for. Everyone in the school knew that Yukimura's group were the only one's able to handle and contain Akaya's madness. If it were not for the Grand Commander's orders, the Head Tutor would have gladly let him go.

"Head Tutor." Yukimura said his voice deceptively soft. "You are well aware of what Kirihara Akaya is, and the power he holds. I ask you simply this. Do you really believe that if I and the rest of my command leave this school today this castle would still be standing and yourselves still alive by the time the Grand Commander arrived in two days? Do you really wish to take that risk?" with that said Yukimura turned to leave the room, pausing briefly by the door to say. "If the Grand Commander wishes to see his son so badly we will be on the front lines, where all Good leaders should be."

Yukimura made his way unhurriedly through the castle and outside to the stables, meeting the gazes of those who he had beaten coolly, unbothered by the mix of hatred and awe in the crowd. Sanada was holding the reigns of his horse, everyone was mounted, and everyone else was clustered around Akaya, who was scowling, clearly annoyed by what he considered to be 'babying'. Yukimura took the reigns from Sanada and swung himself up onto his white mount and gave a nod. They would be leaving, all of them, and once they left the confines of the school, Yukimura's plan would begin to unfold, just as he wanted it to.

The Horse Captain barred their way, as he had been ordered, and called them to halt. Yukimura pulled his horse to a stop, leaning casually over the pommel to take a good loo at the man. "Is there a problem?" he asked, his eyes clearly saying that there would soon be one if the man did not step out of the way. The Horse Captain had not been one whom Yukimura had fought, but the young man knew he could defeat him easily if the need arose.

"You and the others can go through Honour Student, but Kirihara must remain in the school. The Head Tutors orders." The man swallowed nervously as very member of the team's hands moved to rest on their weapons, except for Akaya, who seemed rather too shocked by this revelation to grasp his sword. But he was dangerous even without it, so no one took much note.

Yukimura smiled the smile of a shark, quick and cold, and incredibly frightening. "You are welcome to try and enforce that sir, but be advised that the risk may be worth more than you are willing to give up." He straightened in the saddle and motioned the others on. Marui and Jackal hesitated for the merest of instances beside Akaya before following, leaving the still shocked Akaya behind.

The Horse Captain approached Akaya slowly, reaching out a hand to take the reigns from the boys' hands, but he stopped, as if something pushed his hands away and he looked up at the boy, his eyes widening when he saw the usually clear green eyes darken and turn red, as if his eyes were bleeding.

"Touch me and I'll kill you." Akaya snapped, giving the reigns a jerk and spurring his horse on to catch up to the others, leaving the Horse Captain looking after him feeling as if he had just been spared a fate worse than death. That boy was not human, not soldier, not mystic, a demon, and though he had failed in his appointed task, the Horse Captain did not feel the failure, his relief was too great.

Well? Was it truly awful? Ok? I'm not sure I got the characters right, so I would ask for people more in tune with the show or manga to maybe give me a few hints on the Rikkai team. And Hyotei. Please remember this is an AU, so some of the differences can perhaps be explained away by that. But I would like to try and keep them as in character as I can, so I will accept any help. I hope Yukimura's command of the boys came over properly; he always struck me as someone with completely authority over things.

I appreciate reviews!