DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE PRINCE OF TENNIS (characters and everything else) EXCEPT MY OWN CHARACTERS AND MY PLOT... I'M SIMPLY BORROWING THEM FOR MY FANFIC...

XXXninja-akatsukixxx1231vw Thanks for the review! Actually they're samurai, but some of them have ninja skills, and I just like the idea of a ninja Ryoma...

invisible-gurl LOL, I'm sure Ryoma's carrying some of them somewhere in his pants, oh well, they're good at hiding so nobody sees them... Haha, they also have some kind of supernatural moves, which pretty much became my inspiration to make them ninjas/samurai.

My focus on this fanfic is pretty much TezukaXOC, but you'll definitely see a lot of Ryoma here, and maybe even a little bit of Sanada and Yukimura... So there you go, enjoy... R&R please...It'll really help since this is my first time writing a fanfic... Also, for updates, maybe I'll be updating at least every other day since I'm also starting my 2nd sem right now so I'm pretty busy with school... To the story then....

Kinomiya Akumi arrived at Rikkai Dai just in time before their third class. She was excused by the teacher because she already informed the school earlier that she will be arriving late. He sat beside Sanada Genichirou and proceeded with listening to the teacher's lectures.

Akumi is your example of a student who has achieved a near-perfection level. Her scores are always the highest in class and she's also part of the Student Council. She's also known to be able to speak other languages fluently other than Japanese which includes French, Spanish and English. With concern on being an athlete, she's a very responsible captain to her tennis team, and at the same time a caring senpai to her juniors. Her level in tennis could be compared to the boy's captain Yukimura Seiichi, so basically, she is also one of the most feared players in the team. With her personality, she is a very caring, concerned and down-to-earth person. She never holds grudge but when she's had enough, expect that you'll never be able to hold her anger back. She is good friends with Yukimura Seiichi and Sanada Genichirou, more closer to the latter since their friendship was since they were toddlers. Not to mention Sanada and Akumi grew up with the same environment, dojos and swords and tennis. She was born with flawless samurai skills, with a samurai bloodline dating back as early as ancient Japan and in a samurai clan.

Akumi was born to Kinomiya Hirotaka and his wife Reiko. She is four years younger than her brother, Hiro. When she was five, she moved to the U.S.A. with her parents to study there. They lived with Echizen Nanjirou's family which made her the closest cousin of Ryoma. Mind you they were maternal cousins. When Ryoma returned to Japan when he was 12, she followed just after a few weeks and she enrolled in Rikkai Dai since they were one of the most famous tennis schools in Tokyo, and also her friend Genichirou was there. When Akumi was 12, her parents died in a car accident which made her 16 year-old brother the automatic heir to the Kinomiya Clan. Their grandfather, Kinomiya Hirotashi was still alive so he is still the leader of the clan. Despite the loss of her parents, Akumi remained to be the optimistic, happy and intelligent girl that she is which resulted in many other samurai clans asking for an arranged marriage from her grandfather. The Kinomiya leader always made sure to ask his granddaughter about it, and as expected of the humble girl samurai, she would say no. Her father had already told her that this day would come. He told her to always consider her feelings when it comes to making decisions like this, and as far as she knows, her father and mother were never involved in an arranged marriage. From then on, she promised herself that she will follow the path her parents had once walked on.

After class and tennis practice is finished for the day, she would walk home with Genichirou, as usual.

"What's the rush in going to Seishun like that?"

"You're asking? I thought Sanada Genichirou knows everything?" She asked with a teasing yet sweet smile on her face.

"Ehem, what's happening?"

"Okay, well the Tsugumi clan isn't exactly planning on being contented with me saying no to their proposal on Tsugumi-san and I having an arranged marriage. Now they're like dogs who keep on following the scent they were trained to follow.

"Oh, so that would explain those nin-, I mean samurai following you?" He said with clenched fists and tensed eyes.

"Seriously, Genichirou, cool down. They're not gonna hurt me or they'll be the ones dead from the punishment Tsugumi-sama will give them."

He chuckled lightly, but kept his tense and protective position over Akumi. They really are bestfriends. He rarely shows his calm and lighter side expect when he's with her.

"So, what are you going to do then? Let them trail you and when you're vulnerable enough to get attacked, they'll take you and bring you to Tsugumi-sama?"

With a raised eyebrow, Akumi answered in a mild but pretty arrogant tone, "Those guys will get to me? I don't think so Genichirou. And besides, with my plan that's going to take action in a few weeks, I think they'll be discouraged just to follow me."

He threw her a 'what plan' look. Of course he's curious. Akumi formulates a lot of plans, but this time she can't go wrong. With a childish smile, she answered, "Sorry, no telling! You'll know it when you see it first hand. Wait for a few weeks, alright?" He gave a surrendering sigh. When Akumi says no, it's final, unless her brother opposes it, at least. So until they got to Akumi's house, which is more like a temple like Echizen's, Genichirou never brought out that subject again. When they reached gate of the house, Sanada went suddenly went to protective bodyguard/very respectful visitor mode when he bowed and said-

"Kinomiya-sama... Good afternoon, sir."

"Ah, Genichirou, good afternoon to you too. Okaeri, Akumi! How is school today?"

Kinomiya Hirotashi, or Kinomiya-sama as he is usually called, looked very strong and young for his age. He was 80 years old. His body looked like he was still working-out in the gym, although he's pretty thin. Wearing a brown kimono, with gray hair neatly combed and sparkling blue eyes like Akumi, he looked like Akumi's late father, save for the hair color since her Father had black hair, not gray.

"Tadaima, Grandfather! School is fine, as usual. How about you? How are you today?" She said with such a sweet smile and angelic voice that Sanada couldn't help but smile at the angel who was hugging his grandfather. He liked Akumi ever since their junior year. Unfortunately for him, Akumi only sees him as a great friend. But he was still hoping that Akumi will be able to like him as more than a friend, unless she likes somebody else. He hopes not.

"I'm alright, my dear Akumi. Go inside now, you might get a cold. You're brother's waiting for you."

"Hai! See you tomorrow, Genichirou! Be careful when you go home and please tell your parents I said hi to them!"

"I will, goodnight."

Then, he left to go to his own house while trying to guess what Akumi's plan is.

It's been three weeks since Sanada learned about Akumi's secret plan. Until now, he has no idea on what is it. When he was settled in his classroom, waiting for the teacher to come, he saw Yukimura approaching him.

"Eh, Sanada-san, haven't you noticed who's missing today?" The captain of Rikkai Dai tennis club asked. Looking around, he did notice that someone was missing. Usually, that someone is earlier to arrive than him since she likes competing with Sanada. He prolonged his stare at Akumi's seat. No one was sitting. 'She can't be absent', thought Sanada since Akumi usually always calls him whenever she's not gonna be around so that he'll take care of her tennis team.

"Where's Akumi-chan?"

He turned, only to find the captain gone. Looks like he'll just have to wait for Akumi to tell him what the heck is going on.