Chapter 4

"Doubles 2 Shishido and Ootori, Doubles 1 Yuushi and Gakuto, Singles 3 Kabaji, Singles 2 Jirou and Singles 1 you," said Kisara as she read the line up for the upcoming match against Seigaku. Atobe and she sat alone in the Coach Sakaki's office re-reading the line up and changing it accordingly.

"Well?" asked Atobe, she looked at him and nodded.

"Not bad, not bad at all, but you have one miscalculation," she said.

"Which is?"

"Kunimitsu."

"Ha?"

"Swap Yuushi and Gakuto for doubles 2."

"Why?"

"To play against the golden pair I think a more experienced pair is best."

"That is why they're in doubles 1." Kisara shock her head.

"They want the first win, the golden pair will be in doubles 2," she explained. "Since Doubles 1 will most likely be a throw away match they'd probably put the second year there, singles three will most likely be Kawamura Takashi; a power player, Singles 2 would most likely be Shusuke…what's wrong?" she asked at Atobe's displeased expression.

"Shusuke?" he echoed. "Since when were you two on a first name bases, and since when did you call Tezuka Kinimitsu?"

"What jealous?"

"Actually yes, very, now tell." He demanded.

"Well, Shusuke and I met in a Chili expo," she explained. "We were the only ones under 18 there so we started talking."

"And Tezuka?"

"Hospital," she replied.

"Huh?"

"In our first year, remember how I fell on my left hand and injured it?" Atobe nodded. "Well he was hit on the elbow by a senpai with a racket and wanted to get it checked."

"What type of senpai hits a kouhai on the elbow? With a racket of all things, have they no pride as a tennis player?" Kisara laughed.

"That's exactly what he told me," she said.

"I said nothing."

* * *

"Today," said Kisara to the 200 member of the Hyotei tennis club. "As Sakaki-sensei has kindly bribed me with a booked out music room in my name for the duration of the year. We will split you all into groups and derive individual training programs, Sakaki's 'you lose get the hell out of here' rule is very effective, but, he has passed the duty of training you all to me. With a new coach comes a new training program, if it proves more effective than the last we may make a permanent change, maybe. Any questions so far?"

"Yeah!" said a 3rd year sub regular. "Why is a chick teaching us?" Kisara smiled sweetly to hide what she truly felt.

"Your name?"

"Kishimoto Fuku," he replied.

"Well Kishimoto-kun demoted to ball duty for a week. Any other questions?" she asked the group. Kishimoto gave her a foul expression and advanced, Ootori made a move to help her as did a few others but Atobe stopped them.

"She can take care of herself."

"Oi teme! Who do you think you are ordering me around!? Wretches like you should stay in the bedroom where you belong!" he spat at her

"You know, men are such unoriginal creatures, whenever a female rises above them the first thing they question is the monthly bleeding, well guess what, unless I decided to have kids that bleeding will keep coming long after you've lost all your hair and muscle," she said sharply. There were chuckles and giggles from the tennis players.

Kishimoto glared at her and grabbed her tie. "Bitch don't you talk to me like that! DO you know who I am!?" Kisara's smile disappeared, she kicked him in the shin then while he was distracted kicked him again in the stomach, and he bailed over like a crying child. It was a basic move of self defense she'd learnt from classes, distract and conquer even Sanada would flinch if someone spat in his face or aimed for his eyes.

"I kick you once it means kindly let me go, I kick you a second time it's a warning on where the third kick is going," she said to him.

"You didn't give him much time to react between kicks though," remarked Atobe smirking.

"What on earth are you talking about I gave him plenty," she replied innocently. "Any question?" she asked again ignoring the sobbing fool at her feet.

No one had any more smug comments about Kisara after watching her take down the second largest member of the club after Kabaji; the only person on in the club who'd wouldn't flinch if spat on.

"None? Good, firstly I'll be dividing you into play styles, then habits, strengths weakness and so on and so on," she continued. "To start we'll be playing a round robin. Regulars, seeing as I'm already familiar with your play styles you'll be helping dividing the team, questions?"

"How?" asked Shishido.

"Someone stays at the baseline and specializes in returning shots while making his opponent make mistakes is a counter puncher, someone who stays at the baseline and overwhelms his opponent is a aggressive baseliner, serve and volley are net players, all rounder who utilizes all types according to the situation, I've written it all down in theses," she handed them each a clipboard with descriptions of each style and a list of names.

"A Defense baseliner or Counter puncher returns every ball and relies on the opponent making mistakes. He/She has consistent shots, makes few errors of his own while making it difficult for opponents to hit winners. The game of the defensive counter-puncher has more to do with physical endurance and determination to retrieve un-retrievable balls as well as mental stamina. They tend to make relatively few errors because they don't attempt the complicated and ambitious shots of the aggressive baseliner. But that doesn't mean they don't ever attempt aggressive shots. A counter-puncher must have speed and agility to cover the court. He/She is a fighter, and has to have willingness to chase down every ball to frustrate opponents. Especially offensive baseliners who naturally have a fiery attitude and flair, returning every aggressive shot which they do will just encourage their aggressiveness and thus encouraging errors and mistakes. Usually, the defensive counter-puncher frustrates their opponent so much that their opponent might actually try to change their game by either coming to the net in which case they can just execute "Passing Shots" down the lines, or by attempting to also be a defensive counter-puncher. Counter-punchers often excel on slow courts, such as clay courts. The court gives them extra time to chase down shots and it is harder for opponents to create winners. Counter-punchers are often particularly strong players at low-level play, where opponents cannot make winners with regularity." Ootori read out loud. "I see, I fit into this category don't I Shishido-sepai?"

"Probably," agreed Shishido looking on the sheets, he read on. "A serve-and-volleyer has a great net game, is quick around the net, and has fine touch for volleys. Serve-and-volleyers come up to the net at every opportunity when serving. They are almost always attackers and can hit many winners with varieties of volleys and drop volleys. When not serving, they often employ the "chip-and-charge", chipping back the serve without attempting to hit a winner and rushing the net. The serve-and-volleyers' strategy is to pressure the opponent to try to hit difficult passing shots.

Serve-and-volleyers benefit from playing on fast courts, such as grass or fast concrete. The quick bounce and faster pace of play give them an advantage because opponents have less time to set up for a passing shot. The number of serve-and-volley players is decreasing in today's professional tennis, however, because this strategy requires more experience to master and to defeat other playing styles (As well as changes in racquet technology that have improved players' passing shots). In addition to this, there has been a trend toward the slowing down of tennis surfaces over the past few years. Tim Henman and Lleyton Hewitt have each lamented that the surfaces of their respective home Grand Slams (Wimbledon and the Australian Open) play very slowly. The serve-and-volley technique works better on faster surfaces because the volleyer is able to put more balls away without the baseliner being able to chase them down. How am I suppose to spot all that!?" he exclaimed dissatisfied.

"Hey there's a part on doubles," remarked Gakuto. "Though strategy is important in singles, it is even more important in doubles. The additional width of the alleys on the doubles court has a great effect on the angles possible in doubles play. Consequently, doubles is known as a game of angles. There are three basic doubles strategies, both-up strategy, up-and-back strategy, both-back strategy. Then it goes into detail about each."

"These must have taken a long time to make," said Oshitari.

"Not at all, these were originally intended for me, I have friends in the right places," replied Kisara thinking of Yanagi and when she first met him, he was shocked to see she didn't know what was the difference between a clay court and concrete. "Okay! Why are you standing around for!? Find the regular in charge and get working! If I spot any slacker, that includes you Shishido, I kindly remind you to the former sub-regular who has disappeared during the explanation! Get moving!" Surprisingly everyone; including Shishido; worked to their fullest.

* * *

"In the end we have 90 aggressive baseliners, 75 net and vollyers, 30 counter punches and only 5 all-rounders not including myself," said Kisara at the end of training, while the rest of the tennis club members packed up, showered and changed back into regular uniform. "Interesting, well even though they play a certain style other styles may suit them better, take Atobe for example-"

"Why am I an example?" asked Atobe sitting beside Kisara after a quick shower, he still wore the tennis uniform.

"You're an example of the perfect all rounder," replied Kisara knowing his reaction.

"Well of course," he replied flicking his hair.

"Next week is the first match of the Kantō against Seigaku, nervous?" she asked him.

"Ha! Of course not, Na Kabaji?"

"Usu," replied Kabaji who was standing not far away holding both his and Atobe's tennis bag and dressed the same way.

"Shall we go out for a snack?" asked Atobe.

"You'll get fat," she replied.

"You forget who you're taking to."

Kisara nodded. "I'll just hand these to Sakaki-sensei and meet you at the front of the school?"

Sure," he replied. "Let's go Kabaji."

Usu."

* * *

Atobe leaned against the brick wall of the front gate of the school; she was slow, probably discussing the line up next week with the coach. If it was for the team he could probably let it slide…or make her pay for his and Kabaji's share.

"You ask," said a male voice.

"No you!"

"Why me?" A group of middle school students dressed in Rikai middle school uniforms. "Hell! I barely knew her," said one, he had curly black hair and was shortest among the group.

"You're the one who declared war on her," rebutted the one with silver hair.

"I know this was my idea but why are you following?" remarked one with red hair and chewing on green gum.

"Very well, I had thought that'd you'd need moral support and someone here to prevent you from running away, I see I was wrong, come along children let us go," said Yanagi steering the other four away.

"No I want to stay!" complained Niou. Marui grabbed Yanagi's shirt.

"Gumenasai," he said.

"Oi! Teme, what's a bunch of Kanagawa students doing here?!" shouted Atobe at the six Rikai students.

"He is?" asked Kirihara.

"Captain of the Hyotei tennis club having defeated all of the members of the team during his first year," said Yanagi in a monotone voice. "He is the son of a very rich family. Atobe is severely narcissistic and arrogant, often using the quote "Ore-sama no bigi ni yoi na". He is very wealthy, and he owns various chateaus, mansions, and vehicles, which are often used to benefit his team. Despite his personality, he trains constantly and takes pride in his team. Along with Tezuka Kunimitsu of Seigaku, Tachibana Kippei of Fudomine, Genichirou and Yukimura, Atobe is a national level player. He defeated Seigaku's captain in his second year, a favor returned when Tezuka then beat Hyotei's captain at the time. Hyotei is one of the few schools in the series without a vice-captain, an indication of both Atobe's skill and leadership. His tennis abilities are centered around his superior insight, which allows him to perceive his opponent's weaknesses and attack them."

"I will pretend that didn't sound starker like and ask who you are," said Atobe.

"Eh!? The big cheese huh? Let play a mat-" began Kirihara, Marui pushed him aside.

"Been awhile Atobe," he interrupted.

"Hmm? You're that kid who used to follow Sayuri around," replied Atobe. "Let me guess you came to see her?"

"And convince her to return to Rikai," added Niou.

"As long as you keep Sanada and Yukimura away do your best, she's not going back," replied Atobe.

"What makes you so sure?" asked Marui.

"Sanada came to pay us a visit not too long ago," said Atobe. "He wanted her to visit your ill captain but she refuse."

"I see," said Marui.

"Sorry to keep you waiting Kei I had a run in with that Kajiko from earlier today," said Sayuri running towards him. "What wrong?" she asked turning to face the Rikai students. "Oh!"

There were a few 'hey's and 'hi's from the rikaidai students.

"Hi," replied Sayuri. Marui looked at her with a betrayed face. "Hi," she repeated.

"Hi," he replied.

"Kei, do you mind going ahead?" Sayuri asked Atobe.

"Sure, I'll meet you at the street tennis courts then," he replied, this was one thing he didn't want to get involved in, quarrels between clubs was one thing, quarrel between old friends another, it didn't interest him.

"Sure," said Kisara as Atobe kissed her on the cheek.

"Let's go Kabaji." Without Kisara around lecturing him like a mother it was time to crush a few tennis players.

"Usu."

"Why are you here?" Asked Sayuri once Atobe and Kabaji were out of sight.

"Why didn't you return to Rikai? How am I suppose to keep my promise if you go to another school?" asked Marui.

"I didn't want to face Seiichi," she admitted.

"And you think I want?" remarked Marui.

"Sorry, for some reason everytime I think of him I get angry... and I don't want to face the fangirls...when the opportunity came I took it."

"Should we do something?" asked Kirihara in a whisper.

"Like what?" replied Niou in the same quiet voice. Suddenly Marui threw back his head and laughed.

"His lost it," sighed Yagyu.

"You haven't changed," said Marui smiling. "That's good to hear."

"You haven't either," replied Sayuri smiling.

"Well when you were away, a new cake shopped opened, the strawberry short cake there is brilliant! My tensai skills have advanced to another level," said Marui enthusiastically, he seemed to have completely forgotten his original reasons for coming. "And also my favorite brand of gum has started selling grape flavor and also-"

"Seems like he's back to normal," said Yanagi.

"If that's what you call normal," remarked Kirihara.

"Okay, we have plenty to chat about and plenty of time," interrupted Kisara. "But now's not the time, how about Saturday?"

"Saturday's great," replied Marui. "Wait no, tennis practice, another time?"

"Sure."

"Well then see you then!" he said waving goodbye. Kisara waved back, as she put down her arm she rolled her eyes, the tensai'd still come and go as he wished.

"Bye!" said Kuwahara; the rest echoed him as they turned to leave. She shrugged and headed in the direction of the street courts.

"The big guy's playing by himself again," said one of the bystanders watching a doubles match. Sayuri slipped through the crowd to see Atobe and Kabaji playing against a red head and a spiky head.

"Honestly," she sighed.

"Please win Kamio-kun, Momoshiro-kun," said a female with shoulder length brown hair.

"What happens if they lose?" asked Kisara.

"Then I have to go on a date with that Atobe," replied the girl. Kisara raised an eyebrow; she jumped over the cement wall surrounding the court just as Kabaji hit the tennis ball.

"What on earth are you doing!?" She asked interrupting the balls path across the net with her bag and into Atobe and Kabaji's side.

"Took you long enough," replied Atobe. "We defeated every doubles team here in the time you took." Kisara rolled her eyes.

"So it's my fault then?" she said.

"I think so," said Atobe standing up, she sighed. "We're leaving Kabaji."

"Usu."

"Care to explain?" Kisara asked Atobe as they walked down the stair.

"Nope."

* * *

Kisara sat on the ledge of her bedroom window looking outside; it was raining, just like that faithful day when her parents died. She remembered it well, she stood alone in front of her parents grave, in the black dress her mother had brought, she wasn't crying, she couldn't, her tears had long dried, she wasn't even sure if she was upset, lost yes, upset... She was 8 and standing alone in the crowd of black.

"There she is," whispered one.

"Heard she cursed her parents before they left," whispered another.

"Really!? Then she's a witch!?"

"What an awful child, even before her parents' grave she doesn't cry."

She was then taken in by a family friend of her parents, for the first week she consumed herself in music, but it almost seemed she puppet on strings. The family of 5 had a son, an only child like her, at dinner she'd always look down at her plate; she wasn't even sure who lived in the Atobe mansion.

One day, she watched as a maid bow as she welcomed Kisara home, when the maid thought she wasn't looking, the maid had an expression of depression.

"Why do you put on a fake smile?" she remembered asking.

"Because it's easier."

Kisara listened to this piece of advice, she was right, when she began to smile and greet the rest of her new family they no longer gave her looks of pity, a fake smile, it was so simple and yet so brilliant.

Everyone was thrilled, all but the only son.

"Is something wrong?" asked Kisara smiling softly.

"What's with you?" he asked.

"Pardon?" Always be polite, always smile.

"If it hurts so much than cry! If you're not happy say it! Why are you hiding it inside you!? You're just like a puppet on strings!" shouted Atobe Keigo. "I hate people like you!"

"Because it's easier," she replied in her mind. Atobe Keigo, he was a selfish and arrogant diva, he cared for himself and others later, but he was true to himself, he never lied, he spoke his mind, but he wasn't disliked, people were drawn to him, he was everything she wished she could be.

"Here," said Atobe handing her a racket. She took it without arguing, she knew he was persistent.

"What's this?" she asked dumbly with full intent on making it as troublesome as possible. It was just a whim, in the end he'd give up and she was free, he'd give up on her, like so many.

But he didn't give up, every question she asked he answered, he showed her different grips, how to serve, how to hit a ball. He didn't give up on her, it was tennis, it was him and tennis that who cut the strings on this puppet and turned her into a human.

Kisara was now 10, some of Atobe's arrogance had rubbed off on her, she was no longer a people pleaser, she was Kisara Sayuri.

"-you mean that famous violin player!? He's decided to teach!?"

"No way!"

"Oshitari's bound for a place and the other most likely Ichimoku Kenji."

"Did you hear, Ichimoku was passed over some rich female!?"

"He was probably bribed to teach her."

"I hate you! You probably only got in because your rich father paid to get you in!"

"Don't be ridiculous, I got in because I have talent; don't blame me just because you lack it."

"Your music it has no life, no feeling."

"Sayuri-san, tell me what does the violin mean to you?"

Kisara was pinned to the ground by a boy no older than 14.

"Take back what you said before."

"What difference will it make? Even if I wasn't chosen there are many people better than you, so don' think that-"

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! If only you weren't here!" he shouted at her, a rock in his hand. "If only you and these cursed fingers of yours weren't here!"

"No what are you doing!?"

He was about to slam the rock on her left hand when a young boy about their age appeared.

"What are you doing!?" he demanded. Ichimoku threw away the rock and ran.

"You okay!?" She could just barely see his lavender eyes and pink hair; she just stared at her left hand. "Were you scared?"

Scared? When nearly injured my hand, I had thought a very important part of me had vanished.

She wasn't Atobe, he was confident, stubborn and got what he wanted with an ego larger than his house, she wasn't like him. She was hated, unlike him who drew people to him, he had his family and skills, all she had was the wealth left behind by her family, a broken family. She retreated back into her shell, gave people what they wanted, pretended she was a kind person, pretended she was worth their kindness, but it was not longer because it was easier, it was to survive.

Giving a child candy to get them to like you

But as usual Atobe broke past all the walls she had around her.

"Come on! We're playing a match!" he demanded.

She looked at her left hand; the fear of never being able to play again reappeared then. She was hit by Atobe's two part serve; he'd miss her grip and hit her wrist. The impacted almost fractured it. From then on she completely stopped playing with her left hand; luckily she'd do everything else with her right hand after her parents' strict training in their mind, being left handed was a sin, it was a simple transaction, just one more thing done with her right.

She kept it a secret from him.

"Just this one, I'll keep it a secret from him, but in exchange, I'll tell him the truth about everything else," she told herself. She kept her word to herself, only around him she was herself; it was only one lie, one tiny lie.

But that lie caused her horizons to broaden.

Kisara was in her first year at Rikai middle school.

A/N: *Sigh* this chapter was SOOOO long -_-"I'm sorry I cut it off in the middle but it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO long