Chapter two

"Yes I've had her for ages."

"Wow, we didn't know you could actually like something besides tennis." Momo joked. Ryoma glared as Karupin looked and started to his at Momo. Momo took a step back.

"She also doesn't like it when I'm picked on." Ryoma said letting Karupin nuzzle and lick his cheek. They'd never seen a side to Ryoma like this. He actually looked cute, with the cat in his arms, and he with a soft look in his eye. Anyone could tell that Ryoma was very close to the cat.

"How old is she?" Kikimaru asked, he loved cats.

"She'll be seven on my birthday." Ryoma said. "I've had her since I was five. She's really old," Ryoma turned on the cat holding her up underneath her arms and saying right in her face, "and that's why I keep telling her to stay home. She should know that I'll play with her when I get home." The cat looked like it was smiling when it meowed. It was so cute.

"Echizen, please remove your cat from the courts, its disrupting practice." Tezuka ordered.

"Hai, Captain. See what you've done you've made the bouchu mad. What am I going to do with you?" Ryoma said this as he walked across the courts and headed for the gates. That was when the Coach saw them.

"Ryoma, come over here. I want to see what you have there." Sumire Ryuusaki said. Ryoma walked over to her and showed her the cat. She got a good look at it and then started laughing.

"What's so funny?" Taka asked. The coach pointed at the cat.

"I guess it really is father like son." She stated. When she noticed the confused looked on everyone's face, she explained. "Back when Najiroh was a regular, he always had his cat fallowing him. He said it was his good luck charm; this cat is the spitting image of that one. What's its name?"

"Karupin."

"Well, I'm guessing, this is a descendent right?"

"Yes, she's the granddaughter of Karu the first and daughter of Pinny, hence the name Karu-pin, Karupin." Coach continued to smile.

"You should bring that cat around more often, but for now go put her in the club changing room." Ryoma nodded and walked off. She turned and walked over to the regulars. "You probably didn't know this, but the Echizen's have always had close connections to their pets, especially their cats. So if anyone ever even glares at that cat, you'll have hell to pay. I know, I've seen what they do. Nanijiroh once jumped in front of a speeding car to save his cat and I doubt Ryoma will do any less.

The team was surprised, that Ryoma would go so far. He never seemed to care about anything. Kaidoh, smiled.

"That makes me respect him. Any guy who'd stand up for a cat has my vote."

"Same here." Eiji declared. They were all still smiling and thinking good thoughts when Ryoma got back. He'd stored Karupin in the locker room. He looked around and ignored his senpais looks, he really didn't want to be hassled over his actions, but when he reached them they stayed quiet. And then practice continued.

……………………………………………………………………………………