Author's Note: Well, despite wanting more reviews on the first three chapters, I'll accept the lovely ones given. =] Now, I told you guys I'm fueled by reviews, but I won't put a number up and hold a story for 'Review Ransom' and etcetera. Though, I still would love to hear from everyone!

Heftig Einzelganger: Cookies for the first review! -huggaggles- Thank you sweetheart and I do hope to hear from you in the future! Enjoy the story!
MCRDanime: Thank you for the review darling! It is very much appreciated! Now, please enjoy chapter four!
Anon: I'm updating as fast as I can! =D I hope you like this one dear!

Chapter Four:
Enter: Happy-Face

"The day was horrible. I hate school in every nation. It needs to die slowly and painfully," Tiffany continued to rant until Serenity, Paige, and I split from her. We were divided by grades to evaluate the tennis team, incognito, on all different sides of the courts.

I had learned the name of the boy with the bandage, asking him to grab a pencil for me and in-turn introducing myself. He did the same, replying with, "Kikumaru Eiji's the name! Nya!"

He also thought I was the sister of one of the American tennis team that was supposed to arrive soon. I did not give any response to this besides a simple smile, albeit forced. Momoshiro had obviously spread that rumor faster than I could serve a tennis ball.

We sat in the middle of a set of metal bleachers, lying about and watching the team. Even if we began a conversation, our eyes were fixated on the court the entire time, analyzing each and every drop of sweat that hit the ground.

"He has a style of acrobatic play that makes even Tiff look a bit rusty," Paige was completely serious, something that hardly ever happened. "That Kikumaru kid is good."

"Yes, but I'm worried about that Tezuka guy. He hasn't played yet and we all know he is team captain, which means he's the top contender on the team," I grumbled in agitation, fingers digging into my knees. "It's like he's purposely hiding his skills. You don't think-"

"No, I believe his arm is hurt," Serenity narrowed her gaze on his left arm. "He clutches at it occasionally. Anyways, I can tell that his partner has a Counterpuncher style of play."

"You'd be able to beat him," I ushered proudly, gazing over at the guy smiling to see he had disappeared. "Where'd Happy-Face go?"

"His name is Fuji Syusuke, not Happy-Face," Serenity revealed his name, her expression even more serious as we turn to look at him. She was whispering even lower than we were before. "He is a genius, a tennis-tensai, a genius."

"Hmm, so we mustn't take Happy-Face too lightly," I agreed, finally gazing at her and breaking my stare from the courts. "This will prove to be an interesting turn of events after all."

I turn to gaze back at the courts, but my view is obstructed by two smiling eyes, far too close for personal comfort.

"AHH!" I screamed, falling between two bleacher seats and landing on the foot-area, arms supported on the same bench that Serenity sat upon. Syusuke was right in front of us, beaming as per usual, "Um, h-hello there!"

"I'm Fuji Syusuke," he introduced at once. "I just noticed you three were so fixated on our game and was wondering if I could have a match against one of you? I know you may only be the family of the players, but I just want to see how Americans play." He offered a hand to right my fallen form of all people. "Just a hit or two?"

I glanced up at the other girls, asking with my eyes on their opinion. They nodded, though seemed worried. I gazed across the area, seeing my team were all secretly watching and wondering what was going on. I forced a grin back on the tennis-tensai, taking his aforementioned hand.

"I'm Castille Kimmy. You're in my class, aren't you?" I questioned in a friendly fashion as he helped me from the bleachers and released my hand quickly, as if I had a disease. I give a narrow-eyed and quick glance back at Serenity. She mouthed only a single word, "Suck."

I was to act like I was a complete bonehead right now, knowing only enough to pretend my brother had taught me. If I ever had a brother, he would certainly not be the one schooling me in the ways of tennis. It would be the other way around in a heartbeat.

"It's weird that all of the players have family that came," Syusuke added, making simple conversation, still smiling. It bugged me to no avail. "So do you know anything about tennis?"

"I dabble," I snorted. I was busy noticing that the many people around were watching in confusion. Was this a rare occasion, being asked by a Regular when you were not even in a tennis uniform to play a match? I suppose so, which made it even more suspicious as to why he asked me.

The Regulars stopped whatever they were doing, turning to stare at what Syusuke was attempting. I gulped, praying I would be able to keep up an act of being a pathetic player. I was competitive and being like I was I would take losing when not even trying as a personal flaw.

"Here, use this racket," Syusuke kindly handed me a Wimbledon racket, letting me have a moment to get its feel. It felt far too heavy in my hands. "Let's play." I take my position as he does, gripping my racket and rolling up my sleeves. I clutched the handle, positioning myself into a strong stance. "You sure know how to hold the racket and take a stance correctly."

"I watch tennis all the time." I had yet to mention about my supposed brother teaching me anything. I was not completely lying. "It's not that hard to get this far."

"Hope this isn't too much for you," Syusuke took a stance and suddenly launched a quick serve. It immediately cut to my right and seemingly disappeared from existence. My eyes narrowed for only a moment, watching where it hits but failing to strike to keep this up.

My arm twitched violently, as if reprimanding me for the blasphemous act I was committing.

"Wow, you're really good!" I smiled, feeling as if my jaw would fall apart from the strain of it.

"Thank you," Syusuke returned with a kind grin.

"Go easy on her, Fujiku!" Kikumaru called from the sidelines. "She's just an amateur!"

Again, my body convulsed painfully, anger clawing its way towards the forefront of my head. Amateur. 'I'll show him amateur! No, I can't. Serenity would probably be mad if I attempted it.' I bit the inside of my cheek so hard it bled.

"May I serve the next?" I asked Syusuke, earning both a nod and a ball tossed my way. I snatch it up, getting in stance but then remembering I had to pretend to be a novice at this.

My knuckles clutched around the grip of the handle, sighing in my mind at how ill-fated I was right now, before releasing the ball and smacking it far too hard, my eyes closed in mock-strength of thinking I would 'miss it.'

The ball swished through the air and Syusuke smacked it back to me, still leering that obnoxious smile. I wanted to strangle him with all my heart and soul. He was making a fool out of me! On purpose!

"My turn!" Fuji bee-lined that same serve, except instead it was more towards me than before. My racket instinctively matched it, though I really did not mean to get that one. Instinct had taken over and thrown caution to the win.

I sucked in a harsh breath, blinking cutely to try and fool people that were in awe. A grin was plastered on my lips as Syusuke did not hit it and simply observed me.

"That was a good return." His smile had faltered, his eyes just slightly open but not enough to hardly take notice.

"Dude, my luck was seriously kickin' in that one!" I pumped my fists childishly, feeling the bile rise in my throat and churn in my stomach at the irony of it all. His eyes closed again and he nodded. I suppose that bit of American slang made him realize I was a 'novice'.

"Mada mada dane," the First Year Aylin had identified as Echizen Ryoma told me. "You still have a long ways to go."

My eyes twitched and my body nearly gave in to its heated ferocity that had been building since the moment I stepped foot on this court in the guise of a woman, unlearned in the ways of tennis. I glared defiantly at Ryoma, opening my mouth to retort. "I'll have you know-"

"We have to get home," Aylin finished while walking onto the courts. "Come on Mimi. Lilly will be upset if we don't hurry home and help her cook some food."

Syusuke tilted his head and stuck out his hand in good-nature, "Good try, Kimmy-chan."

"You too," I took the appendage and gave it a strong grasp, shaking it. "Maybe we can try again someday?"

"Possibly."

'You really have no idea, Fuji Syusuke,' my conscious nearly screamed.

I walked off with the girls, hurrying out of ear shot and face a vibrant burgundy. We were in a large group walking back home, and I let out a loud, relieved sigh, steam nearly rolling from my ears.

"Thank you for the save!" I could feel my body shivering. "That last comment the Echizen kid made almost made me snap."

"We could tell!" Harmony and Trinity chirped in unison. "It was scary-obvious!"

"He knew," Natalie popped a lollipop out of her mouth. "Somehow, he knew."

"It might have been my fault..." Serenity glared at the ground, as if it would catch fire if she tried hard enough. "In Chemistry I asked for help on an extremely difficult equation, but I think he noticed that I had already completely worked out the ones above that with little problem or time wasted."

"Or it could have been the steady and watchful ways we were using today," Paige dropped her head. "I want to play tennis! I think I'm having withdrawals."

"So do I," I placed my hands behind my head while keeping pace. "I can't keep this up. It's useless. Tomorrow we're going to go to the courts and we're going to play. If we don't, we'll get rusty. We don't need that happening."

"Tomorrow is Friday though!" Tiffany kicked at a rock. "The Seigaku Regulars have the courts to themselves for training."

"I'll have Coach call the principal and try and arrange something," I yawned. "Right now, I just want some food and maybe to get some my stuff unpacked. The walls are bare and I don't like it."

"Gah! Me either!" Paige shook her head to the point I thought it might jump from her shoulders in protest. "I hope the rest of our stuff finally got here."

As if on cue, we opened the gate to our front yard and see multiple boxes in the opened door. A hand jutted out, waving frantically and comically.

"Better get started girls! We have a lot to unpack! I thought I told every girl she was only allowed her clothes and two other boxes!"

Each and everyone one of us laughed nervously and rubbed our heads or arms in embarrassment.

None of us had listened...

:{Out of Focus}:

"Done for the day!" I rubbed my full stomach, sprawling on my soft pink bed sheets. Both Serenity and I had finally completely put our room together, including moving about the furniture and putting random posters and such on the walls. We shared a desk and her laptop was hooked up to it.

She was currently lying on said table, face down on her notes and sleeping. For hours, since she finished first, she had been poring over notes about the Seigaku Regulars.

I smiled at her, then looked outside. It was a beautiful night out and the area we were in was frequently patrolled by armed police officers, both on bike and in vehicles...

My mind made up, I hurriedly pulled my hair up into a ponytail. I wrenched a pair of shorts on over my underwear I had decided to wear to bed, and adjusted my tank top. Snatching up the appropriate practice devices, I crawled out of the window and onto a tree-branch- second floor rooms were inconvenient- that happened to jut near the opening.

I walked down the road, wary of the officers around but making sure plenty were nearby if necessary, and towards the park I had seen as we passed it. It had a set of tennis courts and frankly, since I was not sleepy any longer, I could not resist the urge, the temptation.

At the courts, someone had already begun hitting the ball against the adjacent bricks. It was evident of their brutal style just by how hard they were rapping it. The ball, finally unable to hold together any longer, ripped.

"Damn it," the guy growled, much resembling a feral animal.

"I think you hit it too hard," I told him kindly, trying not to elicit that anger. It was best he realized I was here in case he did something foolish.

He turned to see who had interrupted his brooding, and glared twice as hard as he had been at the battered tennis ball.

"And who are you?" His voice was hard, rough.

"My name is Kimmy," I bounced a ball carefully. "Um, I really think if you didn't smash it quite so hard against the wall then it wouldn't break as easily. If you do in a real match, it would be effective, but the wall is much harder than a court or a racket in a game when it's hit at an angle like that."

"Ch, save it." He gathered up the broken ball, frowning at it. "Stupid piece of..." He trailed off, standing up and about to leave the courts which were lighted by street lamps that shown over it. I was thankful for that much, in the least.

"Hey," I stopped him. The boy could not have been any older than me and it felt a bit reassuring to have someone nearby. He turned to stare again. "Here," I tossed him an extra ball. "There's no point in leaving when you have another ball. Plus, I'd feel a bit more at ease if someone else was here. This place makes me weary at night."

He stared at the ball in his hand, then back up at me with his forehead creased, "You don't know who I am do you?" He was being rude, and had not stopped.

"Well, if you don't want it then I'll have it back," I raised a delicate brow, "And I'm from America, so I have no idea who you are."

I began tossing the ball high and giving it a topspin as I bombarded it against the wall. My Kiss of Dawn was unused for a while in my standards, and it felt good to finally use it again, especially after the humiliation I endured this afternoon at Seigaku.

We both were smacking it against the wall again, but it seemed like he had gotten calmer and was less violent towards the defenseless tennis ball. I paused, turning towards the courts and getting ready to give my serve a go. I glanced at him beforehand though.

"You don't attend Seishun, do you?" I murmured first.

He grunted, catching the ball and peering over his shoulder. "No."

"All right then," I nailed the ball and called out name, "Kiss of Dawn!" SMACK! It struck the back line perfectly and rolled off the court like it had never even been served.

He was watching my every move. "You aren't too bad. America, you said? Why are you here?"

"Suddenly more talkative?" I beamed back at him. "I just couldn't sleep so I decided to ease my mind. This is the first thing I thought of." I knew what he meant. Why was I in Japan? It was not something he needed to know at the moment.

I served it a few more times, then flopped down on the ground. He took the court over instead, aiming at the wall from across the area. He hit it perfectly and continued to play against the wall, as if in a real match. He was extremely skilled when it came to this game, though his brutality from earlier made him seem to be a violent player. I could picture Aggressive Baseliner easily.

He collapsed beside me, downing some water. He eyed me once over, narrowing his eyes and shoving the bottle in my sweating hands. I blinked in surprise, letting him look to the side and glare at something in embarrassment, before guzzling it. My once-burning throat was soothed as the last half of the bottle was emptied.

"Thanks," I tossed the bottle in a nearby trashcan. "I never caught your name."

He turned his green eyes back to me, sweat trickling from his brow, "Kirihara Akaya. You're not too bad at tennis."

"Neither are you." I smirked at him. He was not that bad when he was not brutally killing a tennis ball. He actually seemed friendly and calm, childish even, though one could not tell with the little time I had spent with him.

He gave a sideways sneer in return, "Isn't it late for a girl to be out? Most need their beauty sleep." He rolled his eyes.

"Others need practice." I yawned, feeling mortally exhausted now that I had burned off the excess energy.

"You are tired." He pointed out bluntly.

"Yes, but for some reason I think it's nice to have company to talk to that isn't living with me," I chuckled. "Or a classmate. I haven't really spoken to anyone new this long since I got here."

"Strangers aren't so great to talk to," he snorted. "I could have been a killer for all you know."

"Only a killer of tennis balls," I picked up the one I had let him use, which was beaten up, but not enough to be of any harm. It only looked like it had been used more than it had been. "You must go through these like crazy."

"The only gift I received for my birthday was tennis balls," he took it from my hands, bouncing it up and down to amuse himself for a few moments.

"I really didn't get anything. We were at a big game during that time," I reminisced of Nationals, grinning to myself as I imagine the last, winning match I played. It made my heart dance every time I thought about my friends faces as we received that trophy. I did not tell him anything of it though. "We all just kind of forgot."

He stared me down. "How old are you?"

"I just turned fifteen. And you?"

"Fourteen," he gave a short laugh. "You're older than me."

"Yup, just by a year though. When's your birthday?"

"September 25th."

"October 27th," I let my eyes flutter a bit, feeling the heavy fatigue weighing in.

He was restless, moving around a bit. "Why did you ask me if I was from Seishun?"

I cringed. Should I tell him? Why not, he was not a Seigaku Regular or even enrolled in Seishun, "I'm keeping my skills hidden from the Regulars. My rivals aren't to know my strengths."

"Rival teams," he glared at the ground. "I understand that completely. Our school has many enemies, but the Seigaku Regulars are at the top."

I sat up abruptly, shaking off my sleep, "Kirihara- would you mind if I called you that?" He shook his head, giving a sideways grin despite it being his last name. "Well Kirihara, I'm tired now and I'd rather not fall asleep on the court. I don't want to wake up naked in some old man's basement." I gave a nervous laugh.

He actually sneered, a scary thought from this once-wicked boy that I had seen earlier, "Yeah, like I'd just leave you here and let you sleep to get raped."

"Maybe you aren't so bad," I gave a toothy grin. "You kind of scared me when I saw that tennis ball tear in half."

"I just get extremely angry whenever I can't get it done right," he ran a hand through his hair. "I'm not all ways that... devilish."

I shudder at the word. How he said it was disturbing, "Which is good. Devilish can be scary." I stood up and popped my back, offering my hand to help him up. I pulled him to his feet, both of us dusting ourselves off. "Late night tennis is pretty fun."

"Yeah," he shoved his hands in his pockets and walked me to the street. We both look in opposite directions. "I go this way," we chimed.

"Too bad we can't do this tomorrow night," I placed my hands behind my head. "I've nothing better to do."

"Ten tomorrow night, I don't either," he walked away, his back to me. "Too bad huh?"

I smirked. I had a friend here now, at least that was how I thought of him. I looked at my watch, seeing it was already midnight. I took off running to get home, worried Coach Lilly would realize I was not there.

I looked forward to tomorrow. There was a lot going on.

One of which was taking over half of the Seishun courts.

And showing those Regulars what family and sisters could actually do.

REVIEW!

Next in 'Out of Focus':
It was time to let the Seigaku Regulars know exactly what they were in for. I personally could not take the humiliation any longer at being considered an 'amateur' or a 'novice' at the sport that had ruled my entire life. Now, we could finally show them that these girls are something more than little girls that wanted to come watch their family members or boyfriends play at a sport they would never be better than us in, even if it were the case. Of course, we would not dare show our true skills; no, not until the big tournament in a few months. And just why does Syusuke keep trying to talk to me?