A Journey of a Thousand Steps Begins With Singles One

A/n: Minna-san, hajimemashite! Elyonne desu. Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu! (Hi everyone, nice to meet you! I'm Elyonne. Please take care of me!) This work is a collaboration between theFeyRa and I, hope you will enjoy it! Special thanks to my co-writer and beta, theFeyRa, and my homophobic but supportive friend Miyu, who came up with the title.

Warnings: THIS IS SHONEN-AI (BoyXBoy)! While it won't go further than hugs, kisses and cuddles, please don't read if you are offended by them. Also, TezuFujiRyo=Tezuka, Fuji and Ryoma are in a relationship, if threesomes disturb you, please don't read.

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis nor any of its characters

Magic. No one knows how or when it came about. Some say that it was a result of evolution, a mutation meant to adapt and survive, while others say that it was a gift from God. Nevertheless, it permeates the land and fills the air. Magic is everywhere.

Early dwellers sought places with powerful dormant magic to settle down, for the source of magic ensured the survival of a civilisation. The land of Seigaku was one of such places, with the Kingdom of Seigaku flourishing as the centre of trade and commerce.

(…zzzzzzzz)

Magic in the land is dormant; by itself it merely enhances the power of magical creatures- human and animal alike. Through the eons, mankind learnt to awaken and harness this slumbering magic as a power source. Gradually, as magical technology – that which accomplished more than the average magic-user could on their own – flourished, so too did the methods by which mankind chose to stir magic. In the present day, two of the most powerful magic wielders of the land, unrelated by blood, perform an annual ritual on a particular day in order to most effectively bring forth the might of magic. It is known as the Renatus.

(…zzzZZZZZ! Loud impudent snores resonate throughout the room.)

"… With the societal… Ryoma! You insolent little brat! Here I was imparting my words of wisdom and there you are, sleeping so nonchalantly!"

Rubbing his head where he had been unceremoniously hit with a roll of parchment, Echizen Ryoma blearily eyed the court advisor Ryuusaki Sumire, whose old age belied her strength. Ryuusaki glared at him for a few more moments before deeming him a lost cause.

"Very well, I shall end here since evidently, your royal highness won't be able to stand another second of my ramblings. Run along now, we will continue your lessons tonight."

"Thanks Ryuusaki sensei(1)! I'll be off then!" With speed rivalling the Speed Star- the famous Oshitari Kenya of Shitenhouji Kingdom - Ryoma was gone in a flash, inadvertently scattering the historical records he was studying, in his haste. Ryuusaki gave a fond exasperated smile at his antics as she tidied the parchments left behind.

Ryoma strolled along the corridors leisurely, glad to be out of the stuffy room. He strode onwards, paying no mind to the exquisite ornaments on the palace walls, the richness of the costly tapestries, and the subservient greetings of the servants. He turned a corner, his thoughts occupied with a multitude of mundane tasks (which included plotting his father's untimely demise in an epic tennis match), only to catch sight of Advisor Katou.

"Good afternoon, Prince Ryoma. I hope the weather has been agreeing with you." Katou greeted politely.

"Is my mother around?" Ryoma inquired.

"My apologies, my Prince, but Lady Rinko has just left again to attend to her duties." Katou replied pleasantly enough, but couldn't hide the pity in his eyes.

"I thought she just came back. Nevermind." Ryoma turned away, already expecting a similar answer. He knew well enough that as the Queen and High Priestess, his mother's duties demanded a great deal of her time. With the day of the Renatus fast approaching, it would be impossible for the Queen to stay idle even for a minute. Even his normally-lazy father had been absorbed in the preparations, judging from the amount of noise that could be heard from different parts of the palace at random times. Even so, sometimes he wished that she would dedicate just as much to her family. He swore that he could barely remember her face at times. With practised ease, he banished such maudlin sentiments from his mind, his feet leading him automatically towards the palace gardens, his sanctuary of sorts.

"My beloved Sakura, sweet beautiful Sakura, oh how my heart beats for you so."

Ryoma inadvertently felt a shudder down his spine at that voice. Only one person could sprout flowery pick-up lines like that. Sure enough, there under the huge Sakura tree in full bloom, was Echizen Ryoga holding a palace maid's hand and planting a chaste kiss on it.

"Do you know what the Sakura flower signifies?" Ryoga tenderly whispered to the captivated maiden.

"Transience?" She tentatively replied, her back facing Ryoma just a little distance away.

"Yes, but also humility, spiritual beauty… And exceptional beauty. That last meaning perfectly suits you, don't you think?" He reached out with his other hand and plucked a Sakura petal from the maiden's hair, before giving the petal a soft kiss as he met her eyes. (2)

Ryoma finally decided that he had enough as the maid started squealing, when Ryoga noticed him.

"Ah, beautiful Sakura, it breaks my heart, but I'm afraid that our love is just as transient as the blooming Sakura. It was an exceptionally beautiful love, and now we must part. May you remember our love as the spiritually beautiful moment it once was. Farewell." With that, Ryoga left the sobbing maiden behind, making his way towards Ryoma.

"Yo chibisuke(3)!" Ryoga greeted, paying no mind to the hysterical maid behind him. "Lessons just ended?"

"You have no idea how hard it was to get the slave driver to stop. I slept a good while and when I finally woke up, she was still talking incessantly. Took a really loud snore to get her to stop." Ryoma huffed, both of them now strolling alongside each other to a different part of the garden.

"Heh, that's the old hag for you." The elder prince snorted derisively. "Say, the annual ritual is almost a week away right? That means it's the "Oyaji-Sulking-Week" soon."

"Heh… Let's get everyone to link arms for a week." Ryoma grinned as he replied. Echizen Nanjirou and Echizen Rinko would be performing the Renatus again, as they had done for the past 27 years. It was discovered that the ideal time for it to be conducted was the first full moon in spring. To ensure the success of the ritual, prior preparations were in order - the two mages were to undergo cleansing for a week, which required complete abstinence from any skin contact, and involved purification with water in the morning and evening(4). It was a running gag in the palace that every year, a metaphorical overcast rain-cloud could be seen above King Nanjirou's head as he suffered from 'withdrawal symptoms' due to the need to stay far away from his wife. Every year, his two mischievous sons would encourage the entire palace to be more touchy-feely for the cleansing period, which certainly didn't help things. And every year, it always ended with Nanjirou destroying them in a Tennis match thoroughly after the ritual's festival. The grey clouds would then be transferred over to the sons. Ryoma and Ryoga never learnt from it of course, and it was an annual source of entertainment for the whole palace. However, things would be exceptionally different for Prince Ryoma this year, as he would learn in a week's time.

TBC

(1) sensei means teacher. Ryuusaki is terrifying enough to warrant manners.

(2) This idea came from an otome game. Cookies to anyone who can guess it! ^^

(3) Chibisuke is Ryoga's nickname for Ryoma-It means 'little one'.

(4) The idea came from a famous anime/manga. Cupcakes giveaway to correct answers!

Constructive criticisms are welcome. Flames ignored.