I do not own Prince of Tennis.

Chapter 1:

I got up; the cool stone floor shot a sudden chill up my bare feet. I shivered. This did not bother me; I had more important matters to determine, for instance, where am I? Looking around I couldn't tell. Nothing looked familiar in my mind.

It was so dark. Whether I closed my eyes or opened them, it made no different. Was I blind? Why? Why are these things happening? Maybe I should shout for help. Attentively, I opened my mouth only to find that no sound came out as well. I place my hands on my throat—there were a vibration so was I also deaf? My senses were slowly betraying me. What had happened last, I thought. Thinking carefully I tried to recall what had happened last. Yes, I remember, I was playing tennis and I must have pushed myself too hard. Then, am I unconscious or dead? I breathed in deeply, trying to recall any scent that might help, but all I smelt was the plain, musty air. No fragrance floated into my lungs.

Clearly this was nothingness, no scent, no sight, no sound. Like being locked in a room with not windows, no doors, no human interaction. Just nothingness. Well, I wasn't going to let that put me down! Stretching my hands out, I reached out to see if there was anything in front of me. Hearing a dull whoosh, I knew that nothing lay in my path. Forcing my feet to walk on the icy road, I moved slowly and silently. I couldn't tell where I was going or how far I had to go, I only knew that in order to escape this cape of darkness I needed to move further.

Time was only a word here. It meant nothing. My watch that I usually wore around my right wrist no longer rested there, just bare skin to which was ice cold—just like the rest of my body. Some time passed again. My feet were numb, also my face and the fingertips of my hands. Why was it so cold here? My breath was picking up its pace. I required more oxygen now, almost as if the air had suddenly gone. So many questions ran through my mind. What exactly was happening?

I wanted to go back. Back to wherever back was. Back home, back to my school Seishun Academy, back to anywhere, but here. And when I was about to give up, a dot of light flashed in front of me. So tiny, but its warmth was big. I wanted to reach out to it and wrap it around myself, but that was only a dream. Regaining my strength, I continued to walk on. Closer, and closer the light got. My mouth watered as if this light was the thing that I most desired. My hands were trembling with content. I was exploding with happiness!

At last the light broke through and my sight, smell and sound returned. Free at last. The room without windows and doors now had a sunroof made of glass. My feet and hand soaked up the light greedily. They wanted more and more and so, I remained on the same spot for quite a bit of time, absorbing all the warmth and light. I took the time to look at my surroundings. Everything looked different to what I was used to seeing. The trees were taller, the grass, the sun and even the light breeze that brushed my face felt different, not like the world that I was used to.

I turned back to find that the darkness was no longer there. The coldness was also gone. I turned back to see a faint figure in the distance and without thinking it through, I ran as fast as I could. The warm air cushioned gently in my lungs and the wind was whishing at my forehead. I couldn't help, but laugh out loud; I haven't felt this good in ages. As I approached the person, I realized that I was an elderly man. He wore a dark green cloak around his shoulders. Underneath he wore Capri navy pants, which was way too big for him. He turned to face me and his emerald eyes glared into my brown ones. His silver hair glistened in the sunlight. As he smiled he revealed his pearly white teeth.

"Young Ryoma, I was waiting for you." He spoke in a deep, stern voice. I stopped four feet in front of him and thought of a reply only to find that he spoke before I could. "Where am I, you ask in you head?" The old man spoke softly. "Well," He answered his own question. He reached into his robes to find a dirty pipe, lit it and placed it into his mouth. "That might be a very good question." He looked away from Ryoma as a puff of smoked left his mouth. "You are neither here or there, if I put it in riddle term. You are not on the place you would call Earth, and you are not on the other side, I would say you are in the middle." He chuckled as he pulled the pipe out again.

"The middle of where?" I said, looking puzzled.

"Well, young man, that's a very good question, but perhaps now isn't the best time for questions. Please follow me." He replied as he stretched out his hand.

"Wait-" I began.

"You play tennis I presume?" He interrupted. "Shall we play a game?"

"…Very well," I said. I didn't say anything else. I knew that I had to do what this man said or I wasn't going to get my questions answered. "Wait, what was your name?"

"The tennis court is over here." He said, ignoring my question. A bag lay on the bench. The old man opened it and handed me a racket, completely made of wood.

"A bit different to the ones you are used to playing with I believe." He said as he got one for himself. "Tell you what, if you beat me in this tennis game, I will answer all your questions." I smiled. What was this old man thinking?

"Fine." I agreed as I twirled the tennis racket in my hand. These rackets were heavier than the ones I'm used to playing with too, Ryoma thought.

"We judge ourselves, you don't mind, do you?" The old made said. He placed his pipe down on the bench and took off his dark green cloak.

"Not at all." I replied, holding a ball. I was to serve first. I hit the ball. To my surprise the old man was pretty fast into the court. He dashed after the ball with ease and hit it back.

"Drive A!" I yelled and hit the ball with more force than I intended. The ball made a 'tok' sound as it whizzed across to the other side. The ball lazily bounced onto the other side. The old man hit it and that's where it all happened. I saw the ball for a split second and then it was gone. It wasn't like Fuji's vanishing ball returns; it was something different. It was almost like the ball was travelling at the speed of light.

Four hours later

I sat on the bench, breathing heavily, but not sweating. I had lost the match. Despite playing my best, it felt as if I was going really slow and needed more energy to get the ball over the net and the old man hit it effortlessly as if…this is going to sound crazy, but it was if, he was absorbing my energy from the ball into himself. I sat there and let the sunlight again warm me up. I closed my eyes and I suddenly felt cold. Snapping them open I looked up and saw dark purple clouds covering the sun. I turned to look for the old man. He was watching me on the other side of the tennis court.

Somehow I felt uneasy. As if the old man before wasn't the same now. I got up and headed for the exit.

"Going some where Ryoma?" He said in a monotone voice. He looked at me and I gasped in surprise, as his emerald pupils were no longer there. Only the whites of his eyes were visible. My heart picked up its pace, why was I scared? The old man walked towards me and I backed away, slowly. My body didn't want to cooperate. My breathing also increased. I was being pushed towards the fence of the tennis court. The clouds above me were getting darker. I glanced at the old man again, only to my surprise again, to find a young man in black robes. His hair was dark, like the pitch-black darkness I had escaped from. His hands stretched out and reached for my neck. His nails dug into my flesh as I yelled out in pain. I stared into his eyes and his locked into mine.

"You have to defeat me first, young Ryoma." His voice echoed into my mind. The air inside me was escaping and once again I returned to the darkness, without sight, without sound, without smell.

-

I woke up. Back into my room, back in Japan. I sighed in relief. It was just a dream, I though.

"More like a nightmare." I said to myself. I was good to hear my voice. I got up and peeked though the curtains. A giant orange fireball peeked though the horizon; indeed, it was the break of dawn. Sounds were to be heard downstairs. Heading to the bathroom, I got ready for school. After finishing all those sanitary activities, I headed downstairs and I found dad, attempting to make breakfast.

"Hey Ryoma," He said in a cheery voice. "What would you like for breakfast?" I walked past my dad and sat down.

"I don't know dad, seems to me, the eggs and bacon are on fire." I said casually. Crossing my legs.

"Whoa!" He yelled grabbing the frying pan and pouring water on it. The flames were extinguished quickly.

"How about I make breakfast next time." A voice said in the doorway. No doubt about it, mom found out about everything that goes on in the house.

"Honestly dear," mom said walking towards dad. "I really appreciate this and all, but if you don't want to burn the house down let me handle the cooking." I sighed. Mom knew how to quiet the situation down real fast.

"Mada Mada Dane [you've got a long ways to go]." I said getting up from my chair.

"Ryoma honey, don't you have a game today?" mom asked me. Turning I answered, "Yeah, but its no big deal or anything. It's more like a warm up" Dad came rushing.

"All right! Ryoma do your best! And don't lose!" Always so enthusiastic, I thought. Placing my cap on my head, I headed out.

"I gave up losing," I explained. "When I won against you in a game, I decided I'll never lose to anyone else." I opened the door and made my way to school.

I particularly like spring in Japan. It was much better than the American version of spring. Here there were beautiful rose pink cherry blossoms that would gracefully fall down from the trees above. The morning air was fresh and the roads were not so busy early in the morning. I do not usually like going early for meetings. Usually I try to sleep in as much as I can, but after dreaming what I did, I found it hard to go back to sleep. I shouldn't worry about these petty things, I thought to myself. Another half of my mind disagreed; it was too real to be a dream.

"HEY SHRIMP!" a voice called behind me. I turned to see Momo riding his bike towards me.

"Oh…hey!" I managed to say. Thanks to Momo, I was saved from thinking about the dream.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked as he caught up. He slowed down so he could match with my walking. I looked up to him.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, first of all you didn't hear me calling to you earlier and I had to yell out to you. And second, we have at least an hour before school starts. You're never here early, did something happen?" I blinked. Momo, always so caring for others, you wouldn't think so unless you really knew him.

"Not really and actually there are forty-five minutes until school." I scoffed.

"Why you…anyway it doesn't matter, say how about we get some exercise right now. I'll ride my bike, I wonder if you can beat me to school by running."

"Is that a challenge?" I asked.

"You bet."

"Fine, Go!" I said and sprinted away. I turned my head back to find Momo catching up.
"Is that the best you got shrimp?" He bellowed.

"Heh!" I laughed, far from it!" and speed up. I was concentrating on Momo's challenge that I forgot all about the dream. That Momo, he really is a good friend. I saw the school gate ahead and to my dismay, I also saw the man in my dream, leaning against the gates. His eyes just as dark, and they were staring at me.

So that's chapter 1…don't know if it was good enough. This is my first Prince of Tennis fan fic, so please go light on it!!! Please also leave a review, it let's me know it people are enjoying the story…or not! ^_0 Hope you enjoyed it and I'll update soon!

-Itachianimefan.