Please read the A/N at the end of the chapter. Thank you.

Warning(s): AU fic

Genderbent characters Fem!Ryoma

OOC! Characters

UN-BEATED.


Previous on 'The Empress'

皇后


"Reika, why did you accepted the invitation?" Ryoga sighed, running his fingers over his raven colored locks.

Reika averted her eyes away and settled it on gazing on the bright moon above them. "Simple." She smirked, turning back to Ryoga and Keigo. "Because, 'they' are there." She flatly replied, all the emotions she once held earlier long gone.

Keigo threw his cousin a knowing look, sighing agreement. "So… The time had finally come. Ahn?"

Ryoga couldn't help but let out a heartful chuckle, who knew that his not so sweet but adorable sister would turned out like this. He blames her team for that. "The Empress has finally returned to pass on her judgment. I feel sorry for them…" he stopped. "Or maybe not."

"Watch out Seigaku… I'm back."


Chapter 7 : Calm before the Storm

嵐の前の静けさ

Somewhere in Kanagawa

どこか神奈川県


Meanwhile inside a very traditional house located at one part of Kanagawa's residential area, a ravenhead stood outside his house in thought. He stood in the silence, as he watched the fish on the pond swim aimlessly with the very least interest. He sighed, sitting down on the edge of the terrace heavily. Normally, he would have enjoyed the silence of night, together with the beauty the moon is bestowing upon him at that time. But—His mind could not get the image of a certain ravenhead girl out of his head. It's pure torture, for him that is. He longed for her for three years. Though he would receive occasional e-mails from her and chat online. Three years had already passed by but that's just it. He should have already learned how stubborn she is, and the only thing that he held into was her promise; her promise that she would come back in Japan, and to him.

"You're really enjoying making me wait Echizen." he mumbled, pulling his cap off from his head. He sat there for a good minute in reflection.

"Genichirouh! Come on in, dinner is ready."

The call was not as loud as yell but it was enough to snap him back from his trance. "Yes. I'm coming." Genichirouh replied back, standing up and placing his cap in his hands as he enters his home with his family…

He needed to clear his mind for a while. He couldn't stay distracted every time he thinks about her. Tomorrow is going to be a long and very important day. He will be returning back to the confined walls of the U-17 camp. Tomorrow will be the deciding point if all their 3 year long hard work will pay off. The chance of being selected as one of Japan's best.


U-17 Camp

陣営


The U-17 camp was indeed a very remarkable place. Reika was not disappointed the moment she and her brother stepped inside its steel fort. At first glance, one would think of it as big prison and by means of big, A very big prison. She couldn't help by smirk at the thought; Japan's best are all gathered here all itching to grab a spot as Japan's representatives.

"Things are going to get interesting."

She took in the lungful of fresh air before slinging her duffel bag over her shoulders. Fixing the customary sunglasses on her face, she took off just as quick, hoping to find a secluded place with a tennis court in it. She could use a little warm before she meets the players and maybe she might just meet some interesting ones during her little excursion.

Keigo couldn't help but slightly fidget on his seat. He couldn't care less at the weird looks the guys are throwing at him. All he could think about if that Reika and Ryoga are probably inside the camp already and knowing how sensitive his cousin is now—he just don't know how are things are going to turn out. Sighing in defeat, he slumped back to his seat and focused back to eating his barely touched breakfast.

"What's up Atobe? You look shaken." Shishido asked, stabbing the piece of meatball in his plate, chowing it down in one bite. He and the other members of Hyoutei had been watching their captain all morning and surely they are not dumb enough not to see Atobe so out of it.

"Ore-sama is not shaken." Keigo retorted back, turning away from the stares his team is throwing at him. But then again, he is lying to himself. Though 'shaken' is not the word, but 'worried' is. What if Reika runs into one of them while on their way here? "But Ryoga wouldn't let that thing happen." He thought, finally managing to regain his cool.

"I've never saw you like that since 'that' happened." Oshitari mumbled, sipping slowly at the hot cup of tea. He made it so that his voice is soft enough just to let his team hear him. Knowing Atobe, it's about his cousin.

"Wait. If you're acting like that… then something must have happened to her." Gakuto added, leaning closer to the team's table. It would be very troublesome if the other team heard their conversations. It should be fine if it wasn't for the fact that Seigaku is just a table away from them.

Atobe Keigo, waved his hand in dismissal. "Just shut up. You won't get anything from ore-sama. You'll just have to go find it out yourselves." He replied, abruptly standing up from his seat and glancing up to the huge wall clock mounted at one part of the cafeteria. He looked back to his team with a smirk on his face. "And you don't have to wait that long to find out."

Oshitari merely sighed, shrugging off the thought away. If Atobe said so, they better learn not to push through it more.


"Sanada? You're late how unusual." Yukimura mussed, taking a piece of croissant and taking a small bite. Marui as always is eating a heap of pancakes heavily covered with maple syrup with Jackal eating his own besides him. Yagyuu was busy drinking his tea with Niou copying his every move and as for Yanagi- Well let's just say that he decided to go for an early walk outside.

"Hn." Genichirouh only replied with a grunt before sitting himself next to his captain. He didn't mean to be rude to his team so early in the morning, but he figured if he wanted to perform at his best later today. He needed to be at his full concentration.

Yukimura smiled, knowing what's up with his vice-captain. Though not as strict as Sanada is, he too is making it so that his concentration is at its peak. And he's pretty sure everybody else is.

"It's been three years already. I wonder how she is doing there." Maru sudden chirped, taking a little break from his sugary treats. Everyone knew who the redhead is pertaining too, and immediately the started to think about it as well. Unlike Sanada, none of them receive any e-mails from her. They have all the reason to grow bitter or upset about it but they just can't. They were content enough that Reika was communicating with Sanada in a way.

All eyes made its way to Sanada who is now eating his share of breakfast. Sanada stopped; looking back to the curious stares his teammates has in their faces. "The last time we talked, she was doing… well." He sighed.

"Well that was informing." Niou grumbled, toying with his rattail.

Sanada noticed the unsatisfied look on his teammate's faces, as much as he wanted to tell more. There's really nothing to tell. It's been a month since she last sent her that mail and nothing came in after it.

"Saa… It's no use in brooding over it. I'm sure she's doing fine." Yukimura smiled, easing up the sudden gloomy atmosphere around the team. He's not really pleased with the lack of information but he can't stay upset over it.

"But really… She's too mean. Not even sending us an email." Marui whined throwing Sanada a look. "Why is it that Sanada is the only one she exchanges mail with?"

"Saa… Who knows." Yukimura smiled, looking back to Sanada with a smile.


"Mattaku. Where is she? She was just here earlier!" Ryoga whined, scratching the back of his head annoyingly. The two of them arrived at the camp together and it should have stayed that way. He can't have his little sister running around the camp with her racket, in her current state who knows what she can do. Cursing under his breath, the older Echizen decided that he needed to go find Reika before the head coaches calls them.

If he could make it so, he wouldn't want to be separated from her at any given time. True, he might look like an overly protective brother which he knew Reika won't appreciate. But he just can't take any chances; reika despite the strong front she had made herself the past three years is still fragile and hurting. He just can't bear to see her hurting once again if she happens to meet one of them at the worst time. And if they were to meet, he had to be there. Not only to provide emotional support, but also physical restraint if he needed to. The Reika they once knew is not the Reika they are about to see. And he didn't want her to get hurt or end up hurting someone.

His phone suddenly vibrated snapping him back away from his thoughts. Fishing the said device from his pocket he flipped it open and held it by his ear. The older ravenhead frowned, pursing his lips into a thin line. He nodded. "Okay, I'll be there shortly." He curtly replied before hanging up on the other caller. Looking for Reika will have to wait; they are already being called by the head coach he could only hope that the younger Echizen won't cause any unnecessary trouble and just follow him to be coaches. Typing a quick message to his sister, Ryoga quickly turned to his heels and walked away towards the main building of the camp.


Who would have thought that she could find a decent court in a very secluded place inside the camp? Reika was indeed very impressed. She smiled; putting down her bags on one side of the court she pulled out her black racket with scarlet colored grip and walked towards the center of the court. It's not really a full court but a half one. But then again, playing against a wall is better than playing with nothing right? With a tennis ball on her left hand, Reika positioned herself to take a serve. Bouncing it a couple of times, she threw the yellow ball in air jumping and hit it with incredible speed. And so the endless rally begins.

Yanagi just couldn't shake off the feeling that he needed to take a jog around the camp after he grab his breakfast with his team. Wearing his signature black jersey uniform, he jogged around area for a good hour before deciding to just walk around. He and the rest of the bearers of the black jerseys are long history, they only needed to wear it around for a year before it was replaced with the regular white one. But he made it so that he keeps using it every time he trains by himself. We could say that it provided him a sense of challenge reminding him of the gruesome training they went through during their first year inside the camp. He continued to brisk walk around the secluded part of the camp before his ears caught a familiar sound of tennis balls being hit against a wall. The rikkaidai data master couldn't help but head to the source and see it himself. He concealed his presence behind one of the huge trees located near the court, and started to watch the sole figure that is rallying alone. Yanagi couldn't really make out the person's face since the guy had his back turned against him but there's only one thing that he is certain. This player is no ordinary one, judging from the incredible amount of speed the ball is being hit and the flawless form the person has, he is just as strong as the first stringers of this camp.

The date master's lips quirked up after seeing such power and didn't notice that the figure had stopped playing.

"Hey. Do you mind? I'm playing." Reika yelled. She didn't like it when people watch her from behind without her knowing. It's like a defensive mechanism she developed over the years. She turned to her heels facing the tree where Yanagi is hiding in. She narrowed her eyes dangerously behind those sunglasses over her face. She knew it would be trouble if the person happens to be a member of Seigaku, it's still not the time for them to meet.

Yanagi knowing that he's been found out thought that it's useless to continue on hiding. He might as well step into the light and meet this interesting player.

"I apologize. I just happen to pass by and heard you playing. I couldn't help but look." Yanagi replied, his lips not losing the slight quirk. He eyed the player with his now opened eyes to analyze and gather data. And to his surprise, it happened to be a girl. He mentally whistled, such power coming from the figure's small stature is definitely something.

Reika mentally smirked, clearly Yanagi doesn't recognize her. Well that's good news, she doesn't want to ruin the surprise she had install for them after all. Flipping her hair sideways, she placed her hand over she hip and stared back at Yanagi. "I see. Did you get good data?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow at the ravenhead.

Yanagi's eyes widened by a fraction after hearing what the girl just said, how come she knew about him getting data of her? He looked at the girl quizzically, meaning to ask.

"It's not that hard to guess."

Reika stared at Yanagi for a good minute before her phone vibrated. She broke away from the stare and read her messages.

'ONII-SAMA'

"Crap." She cursed, quickly reading through the message her brother sent. She clicked her tongue in annoyance after reading it, she was worried for nothing. But then again, she needed to hustle now of else she's gonna have an earful from Ryoga.

She smiled sweetly as she turned back to Yanagi. "Well. I really can't stay and chat. I need to go." Reika said, walking back to where her bags.

Strapping her tennis back on her shoulder and another in her hand, she took off from the court without another word.

"Wait!" Yanagi called out.

Reika stopped, turning a quick glance at the datamaster. "See you around."

"What a spunky girl. Kinda reminds me of—" Yanagi froze. "It can't be."


The first stringers of the camp were of course dominated by of Rikkaidai. Yukimura, Sanada, Yanagi stood as the top three while Tezuka, Atobe, Shiraishi and Fuji not far behind from the rank, and the rest of the teams are in the second or third strings. Echizen Ryoga studied the ranking with very least interest, having played with them once during his stay at the camp. It's not really surprising how the three kings of Rikkaidai dominated the ranks. It was a well established fact.

"So? What do you think?" Kurobe Yukio asked as he watched the rest of the remaining players in one of the many monitors located at their office. He never misses out on any activities the players is doing and of course, not without a cup of his favorite Earl Grey Tea.

"Well… I can't really argue with any of this." He replied, his eyes darting back to the charts. "I'll be surprise if I didn't see these names on this list." He shrugged.

"But then again, I've been drastic improvements in them after a short period of time. I don't have any more method on how to decide who will take the spots as Japan's representatives." Kurobe explained. "That's where you and your genius sister will enter."

Ryoga quirked an eyebrow at the weird coach, he never really like Kurobe ever since he arrived here 3 years ago something about the coach just makes the ravenhead's spine tingle.

"And how are we supposed to do that?"

Kurobe only replied with a smile.


It was already mid-morning and players are still inside the cafeteria being ordered by Coach Saito to remain inside the said premise until further notice. It's not really big deal to the now highschoolers since it's rare opportunity to hang out with each other more then what they usually did outside the dorms. Almost immediately after the announcement was made, the cafeteria grew noisier by the second mainly because of the chatter and shouts coming from the team and their sugar high teammates.

"What do you think those coaches are planning now?" Momoshiro asked, poking his meatbun with his fork. Seigaku never changed that much since three years ago. Everyone is still together except for Kawamura. Who finally decided to quite tennis and help with their family sushi restaurant. Kikumaru reverted back to his cheery self but he became somewhat distant from the rest of the team, even with Oishi. Fuji remained as Fuji, while as for Tezuka. The same couldn't be said. Though he still hangs around the team there was a big change to the stoic seigaku captain that no one even Inui can figure out.

"Saa… Who knows? But it might be fun don't you think?" Fuji replied, turning his head towards Tezuka with a smile. Tezuka only nodded in reply and continued to eat his salad.

"There's a big possibility that the coaches are planning something big." Inui said, his face buried in his ever present notebook.

"You mean in the selection for the Top 10?" Kaidou asked.

"It must be nice being you Fujiko, Tezuka. You two are already on the first strings… You guys already secured a spot. I'm so envious nyaa~" Kikumaru whined, leaning back to his chair as he stares up to ceilings. An image of a certain o'chibi suddenly entering his mind, he smiled.

The rest did not say anything and just quietly agreed with the redhead acrobat.

"Heh. Getting ahead of yourselves again I see…" Shishido snorted as he pass by Seigaku's table, sneering.

"What was that?" Momoshiro yelled, bolting up from his chair and faced the latter. Kaidou was standing behind the ravenhead ready to restrain him.

"Oh you heard that? My bad…" Shishido replied, his tone heavily lace with sarcasm.

Momoshiro was just about to hit Shishido when Atobe intervened. Glaring icy orbs pierced Seigaku's power player making him freeze on the spot. He spared his teammate a look before Shishido retreated.

"Don't talk like you what will happen, Momoshiro Takeshi. Even if you're already on the first string, there's no guarantee that you've secured a spot in the National team."

The noise filled cafeteria grew silent as everyone watched the exchange between Hyoutei and Seigaku.

Keigo shifted his eyes towards Tezuka who is staring right back at him with an apathetic look on his face. "You can't use your methods to secure a spot on the team." He literally growled, making Seigaku flinched.

Rikkaidai was among the teams that settled themselves in just watching as the exchange gets tenser by the second. Only Hyoutei and Rikkaidai knew about what Seigaku did 3 years ago and they have no intention of letting other nosy team know about this.

"Methods? What do you me Atobe-san?" Fuji asked, cerulean eyes meeting Atobe's onyx ones.

"Don't play dumb, Fuji. I know you knew very well about that 'method' of yours." Oshitari retorted back.

The tensai was suddenly out of words, he can't deny it square in front of Hyoutei. He can't deny it because it's true. What they did three years ago still haunts them every night, those amber eyes boring holes in their whole beings.

"That's enough all of you." A foreign voice interrupted, successfully dispersing the tense atmosphere inside the cafeteria. "I really don't know about your conflicts but please. Not here." Running his long fingers through his raven locks, a tall figure stood among them.

"We apologize Coach Saito." Tezuka curtly responded, bowing slightly in front of the coach.

The said coach sweatdrop, he didn't need him to actually bow to him. He shrugged. "The kid's too polite for his own good."

Atobe sneered past Seigaku and headed back to his team's table, he had enough for these things already.

Coach Saito could only scratch the back of his head in thought about what really happened between the two teams. He's been trying to find it out even since they started out, and unfortunately he just can't see past it. Leaving the coach pondering to himself.

"I wonder what could have caused Atobe-san to lose cool like that?" Shiraishi mussed, watching silently with his team from the sidelines. He was never the one pries to other people's business. But then again, something is definitely up with Seigaku and Hyotei, it's not merely the competition but more like hostility. He darted his eyes to his side and saw Rikkaidai. Shiraishi pursed his lips into a thin line, how come he could feel the same hostility Hyotei has from Rikkaidai as well?

"Seigaku… What did you?"

"Well, there's no use in lingering about this longer don't you think? Settle down everyone I'm going to announce something very important." Saito said, his voice booming making the noise immediately died down.

"First off, I would like to tell you all that the selection for the final-10 will be a bit different from the previous ones."

"Different? In what way you might ask?"

Saito's carefree look was immediately replaced by a more serious and rather scary look. He intertwined his fingers with each other and looked sternly at each one.

"Coach Kurobe found it interesting if we were to test everyone's skills one last time as the selection takes place." Murmurs started to erupt from within the players as they listened to Saito.

"So we invited two people who will help us evaluate all of you and pick who will fill the 10 spots in the Natioanl team."

Ryoga had been watching the cafeteria the moment he and Saito arrived, and he saw the drama between Seigaku and Hyoutei. And so far, he did not like what he saw nothing changed amongst the Seigaku members. And he mentally thanked that Reika was not around to witness it all.

"Onii-chan."

Ryoga flinched, jumping back to where the voice came from. He was too engrossed in his own thoughts and didn't notice his sister walking right to him. "Yo Reika!" he smiled sheepishly. "Where did you go? I was worried!"

Reika rolled her eyes. How overprotective her brother can be? "I checked out the camp." She smirked. "And it's not bad."

"What am I going to do with you?" Ryoga sighed.

Reika didn't say anything more and walked past her brother, entering the café ahead of him.

"Wait! Reika!"

Reika stopped, turning to her brother with a smile. "Come on Onii-chan. We wouldn't want to make our audience wait do we now?"

"There's a big possibility that those two players they invited are Pros." Yanagi mumbled from out of nowhere.

"Y-yanagi! Don't just come out from nowhere! You scared the shit out of me!" Marui whined, flailing his arms like a little kid. Yanagi just stared at the redhead flatly.

"Where were you Yanagi?" Sanada asked.

"I was out jogging." The brunette replied. "And I accidentally found something interesting."

The word immediately piqued his other teammates and is now looking at him expectantly. If Yanagi says it's interesting then it's really is interesting.

"What is it Yanagi?" Yukimura asked.

Yanagi flashed his team a small smirk in reply.


The cafeteria then suddenly grew quite everyone now watching the two figures walking right up to Coach Saito. One they knew too well and the other. Spurting in a black tennis jersey, raven black hair and vaguely familiar emerald streaks, the two figures stopped right next to the coach and faced the teams.

Ryoga smirked, waving a hand to the players. "Yo! Everyone it's been a while! Ryoga Echizen"

Seigaku immediately flinched at the sight of the older Echizen in front of them. They did not expect the a latter to be there, memories from three years ago found its way back into the Seigaku members who shrouded in thought.

Sanada didn't pay Ryoga any mind and instead found his eyes staring at the girl next to him. He couldn't make her face out due to the glasses, but he could feel a slight tightening in his gut. He did not fail to notice those familiar emerald streaked ebony hair. "…"

Reika stepped up in front of her brother her face devoid of all emotions. She stood there for a good minute before she decided to talk. She slowly removed her sunglasses revealing her sharp amber colored eyes.

"Echizen Reika Nice to meet you."

Her eyes immediately landed towards Seigaku and glared.

"It's been a while…"


Chapter done.

Hi everyone. Before any of you decided to track me down and strangle me for not updating for 3 months let me just explain. LIFE IS BIG BITCH. Sorry for the term. It's been too hectic and I found myself losing time to update any of my fics.

And another thing because of one of the reviews I received in the last chapter. Being an writer is not an easy job especially if you got a life out from it. But then I write for myself and to all those people who reads it. But as much your feedbacks means a lot to me, it also hurts me to see bashing this fic horribly. To that reviewer, if you're still reading this fic (which I doubt) Let me just get this straight, if you don't like my fic why do you even read it? And sorry if my grammar is not perfect just like yours, English is not my first language and I have long gave up on the idea of me getting a beta. It would be a bother for me and the good person seeing I am very slow writer. If you don't like my story then there the 'back' button located in your browser.

Sorry about the rant guys, I just need to straight things out of I might end up losing interest in this story which I dont want to happen.

Anyways, Thank you everyone for reading this chapter! Please tell me what you think. I love hearing or rather reading your thoughts.

Flames will definitely be ignored.

And oh yeah, I'm going to start doing review replies starting this chapter~ fufufufu :3

Not sure when the next chapter will be. I'll try to update within the month but no promises. Thank you again!

Please Review!

-tenshi