A/N: I would try to update often but since this is my first chapter fic, new chapters might become exceedingly rare so please don't kill me!

Warning: major oocness, shonen-ai, horrible attempt at romance, AU, bad Japanese, slight cursing and HORRIBLE grammar. You have been warned.

Disclaimer: I do not own prince of tennis. If I did...(Muhaaaaaaaaaa!)

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Prologue

"Come here, Kiyoshi!"

"Yes, father ?"

" Kurata-san and I are about to discuss business, would you please entertain

Ken-kun meanwhile?"

"Certainly father."

"..."

"Well? Didn't you hear him? He told you to entertain me."

The boy called Kiyoshi looked down to his pint-size companion. Even though the boy was almost 8, he barely reach 4 foot. Ken, however, are sensitive about his height and are quick to tell anyone who call him short that he is just waiting for a growth spurt. At the moment, his catlike eyes are narrowed in ire at the taller boy standing next to him.

"Well, what do you want to do, Ken-kun?" Kiyoshi replied with a smile that for whatever reason, sent chills down Ken's back. Nevertheless, Ken gathered up his courage, put on his best pout, and look at older boy through eyes that seems to be on the verge of tear. " I am boreeeeeeeeeed! Play with me!"

" I would love to, except that I don't know any game. Would you like to suggest one. Ken-kun?" The smile never changed through out this childish display.

A sulky face was his reply. Ken scrunched up his face in the traditional sign for thinking hard and you could almost see a light bulb flash on above his head. " I got it!" he excitedly shout. Ken then turned around with a smirk and asked, " want to find out how loud the maids could scream?"

Kiyoshi stared at him for a minute then slowly, an answering smile find its way onto his face. "It be...interesting" was the calm reply.

It was the start of a beautiful friendship...and much more.

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" Now, now, Matsura-san, I am sure that Ken-kun didn't meant to burn your wig off. It was a very unfortunate accident and you have my full sympathy."

" That, that... DEMON!" screeched the bald Matsura-san. His shortness of breath and copious amount of sweat evidence to a frantic chase and a body unused to exercise.

" Why don't you calm down, Matsura-san, Go to the parlor and relax a bit. I will have the maid bring a cool drink for you."

With more cajoling from Kiyoshi and much grumbling on Matsura-san's part, the disgruntled man was politely yet firmly ejected from the room.

" You can come out now, Ken-chan." The words were aimed towards the back of the bookshelf.

An irritated boy stepped out. " I told you not to call me chan!" he complained.

"But it suits you so well!" the older boy protested.

"Saids you!" a snort and a pointed once over of the boy in front of him. And indeed, the older boy could very easily be mistaken for a girl. His waterfall of blue hair and androgynous feature lend him a decidedly feminine air.

"But, Ken-chan..." Kiyoshi implore with a hurt look on his face.

" Cut the act, Kiyoshi, who do you think you are fooling? This is me, remember?"

" That IS true..." Kiyoshi mused with a thoughtful look upon his face. The sudden change disconcerting to anyone who doesn't know him.

" Anyway, mind opening the door for me? I kinda have somewhere to be."

With the breaking of the silence, Kiyoshi snapped out of his muse and turn his steely eye to his young companion. "Mind telling me why you burned Matsura-san's wig off? You did promised me not to play any more prank this week."

"But I can't help it!" Ken whined, sounding years younger than his actual age. "The guy was just such an ass!"

The older boy try hard to control the twitch around his mouth but finally give up and let out a little giggle. "He is a pompous, conceited ass, wasn't he?" Ken nodded his head vehemently in agreement. " And I guess it is okay this time, promise not to do it again?'

"Definitely!"

A minute passed, then both of them burst out laughing.

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"Ne, Kiyoshi, promise me something." The two boys were laying on the grass under a clear blue sky. The weather was perfect and the slight breeze tease their hair into twining around each other's.

"What?" came the halfhearted reply.

"Promise me that we will be together forever, that no matter what happens, you'll be with me."

The request quickly brought Kiyoshi out of his daze and he sat up in an instant. He stared intently into the face of his oldest and truest friend, his cat-slited golden eyes closed at the moment. Nothing more was said except for two words, "I promise".

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"I am leaving, in a week."

"I know."

"..."

"Remember your promise. Come and find me, okay?"

"I will, I promise."

However, the promise was forgotten. Events will happen that make such childhood promise seem pale in comparison and they will go on with their lives, the bond they once had forgotten.

The story, however, doesn't end here...

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A/N: whew, that was harder than I thought. What have I got myself into... This chapter is just flashback to get the story started, hope people liked it. Ryoma and other PoT characters will show up in next chapter so don't worry! Feedbacks(except for flames) will be greatly appreciated since I know I need a LOT of help on my writing. Reviews will keep the story going since I don't know if I will have the motivation to keep writing if nobody is actually reading my story.