A

A.N. Hi again! It's me! Your friendly neighbourhood, manga obsessed, slightly crazy, stressed out author! Well this is like a record for me… writing this many chapters in so little time… it is true that they are not as long as they usually are, but that doesn't really matter, at least they are being written!

Ok so know you know why I had so much trouble with the last chapter… I kept going to write 'her' all the time and then I was like 'fuck, I can't right that, cos if I do I will give away the end of the story!' Masaru Echizen is Ryoma's twin sister! For the purpose of this story (because it is actually biologically impossible, I did Bio, and hated it) they are identical (and I mean IDENTICAL) in all aspects except Masaru has long hair and blue eyes (and is of the opposite gender)

In this chapter italics is thinking or thoughts, speech is in the usual "", and sound effects are in … (if they decide to work on ). And lastly flashbacks are called flashback.

Ok so this chapter starts from the end of the first chapter, I know, I should be a linier writer… tell that to my muse… he doesn't like linier stories! Ok so now it is time for the most depressing part of the authors note. Disclaimer: I do not nor will I ever own Prince of Tennis… hay I think I am getting better at this… no… wait… here come the tears… please R&R.

Chapter 3 – the devils in the detail (or Startling Awake)

Dong! Dong! Dong!

School is boring, was the only thought going through Ryoma's mind. This was mainly because he had just finished his last lesson of the day. English. It's not that he was bad at English; actually it was quite the opposite, but the teachers didn't have a clue what they were talking about, therefore it was boring.

Stretching and standing up from his chair, Ryoma looked out the window towards the tennis courts. They were empty. Not that unusual for that time of day, class had just ended so no one was using them. But it seemed odd to the young tennis protégé. He was so used to always seeing at least one person on the courts, having grown up in a tennis obsessed household.

Turning away form the window and picking up his bag from the floor, Ryoma started to walk out of the classroom and head to the change rooms to get ready for the nights tennis practice. Masaru always liked it when the tennis courts were empty, she said it was calming, she liked the quiet. Sighing, Ryoma pushed open the door for the change rooms and headed over to his locker, he didn't need to be thinking about her at the moment, he needed to get his head in the game, the Kanto tournament was only six weeks away.

Changing quickly in to his tennis clothes and grabbing his tennis bag, Ryoma exited the change rooms just as the rest of the tennis club was making their way in. nodding to the rest of the regulars, Ryoma walked on to the deserted courts. Dropping his tennis bag on the bench, Ryoma took off at a jog, intent on doing a quick warm up before the rest of the tennis club got on to the courts.

Finishing his first lap of the three tennis courts, Ryoma let his mind wander.

flashback

"Come on Ryoma!" squealed a five year old Masaru as she bolted towards the tennis court "come on! I wanna play tennis!"

"Yeh! Tennis!" yelled a very exited Ryoma, picking up the pace to keep up with his twin.

Reaching the courts, Masaru scanned the area. Turning to her brother she let out another exited squeal "we are the only ones here! We have the courts to ourselves!"

"Why are you so exited that we have the courts to ourselves?" asked Ryoma tilting his head to the side questioningly

"Because" wined Masaru, opening the heavy metal gate "it's quiet and it's claming without all of those big people here, they always watch us"

Both walked on to the tennis court and got in to position, "your serve Ryoma"

End Flashback

"Ochibi! Hay Ochibi!"

Snapping out of his thoughts, Ryoma looked up, suddenly realising that he had stopped running and was now standing in the centre of the tennis courts. Blinking in surprise, Ryoma walked over to Eijji, the person that had broken him from his thoughts.

"Yeh?"

"You alright? You were spacing out." Replied Eiji, pointing out to the middle of the court.

Tilting his head up and using hie, in his opinion at least, copyrighted smirk, Ryoma just walked away from Eiji and over to the white board that had been wheeled on to the court by Oishi while he had been spacing out. A single glance at the board told Ryoma all that he needed to know. First years were on a marathon, then five hundred swings. Second and third years had thirty laps then individual practice. And lastly the starters had practice matches.

Cracking his neck while he walked over to his abandoned tennis bag, Ryoma looked over to where Tezuka and Inui were trying to pair up the starters for the first round of the afternoons practice matches. Wonder if they noticed how off I have been lately?

Shaking his head, Ryoma made it to his bag without any interruptions and pulled out a racket. Holding it in his hands, he realised that it was not one of his own, but instead it was one of his sisters. Her favourite. How did this get in here? I thought I left it at home. Putting it back into his bag and taking out one of his own instead he headed back over to the white bord where the rest of the regulars were gathered.

As Ryoma reached the group, Inui began to speak, "Today we are going to be playing matches against each other. You will all split in to groups of two; Tezuka and I have already chosen who you will be playing, when you finish your game you will move on to play your next opponent immediately, this will continue until you have played each and every starter. For the first round Oishi will be playing Eiji, Kaido will be playing Momoshiro, Taka will be playing Fuji, and Tezuka will be playing Echizen. Get to it."

(--)

2 hours later

Panting heavily, the Seigaku starters dragged themselves from the courts. That practice had been way too long. Not only did they have to play a match against each and every member of the starters teem, they then had to THRITY laps, with the threat of one of Inui's "health drinks" for the last person to finish hanging over their heads.

Dragging his heavy legs over to the communal sinks, Ryoma stuck his head underneath the tap and let the cool water run over the back of his neck. Sighing in pleasure at the coolness of the water against his skin, Ryoma let his muscles relax and his shoulders drop. It had been a long day. Hearing footsteps coming up from behind him, Ryoma pulled his head out from underneath the running water and turned to look at Tezuka and Inui, who were now standing in front of him.

"Echizen" started Tezuka, "you have not been playing to the best of your ability for the past two weeks,"

Swallowing, Ryoma looked from Inui to Tezuka and back. So they had noticed. It was to be expected, his mind would not stop wandering back to his sister when he got on to the court.

"Care to tell us the reason?" asked Inui, covertly pulling his notebook from his pocket

"Not really"

Ryoma knew that they wouldn't like, or accept, that answer. When some one on the team was in trouble, or was not working their best, Tezuka and Inui always found out why. And put an end to it.

"If it is something to do with your personal life, we will keep out of it unless the situation does not improve soon. If you are injured, we need you to tell us now, we can't continue to let you play if you are hurt, it will make it worse and you could permanently injure yourself." Reasoned Tezuka, looking Ryoma up and down, as if looking for any form of injury.

"I'm fine" turning back to the sinks, Ryoma turned off the tap, turned back to Tezuka and Inui and picked up his racket that he had left on the floor next to him.

Nodding his head slightly, Tezuka turned and said "we will leave you alone for the next week… if you don't pick up you pace, we will get involved" signalling to Inui, both walked away, leaving a relived Ryoma alone.

(--)

A.N. ok so just a little note here… I kind… sorta… sprained my ankle playing tennis yesterday… so I should have a lot more time to write! Peace out!