A/N: Hey guys so sorry this is late I hadn't finished this chapter on time, unfortunately. It still is not finished because I'm having a problem with what to do next. I have a particular scene all planned out but have no idea how to reach that point. I need a filler basically. So while I figure out what to do, I shall post what I have so far. Therefore this chapter will be really short. Hopefully, I can figure out something very soon.

Enough of me, onward to the story!


The Next day Ryoma woke up very confused. Usually, in the morning, he would only start becoming aware of his surroundings when he is on his way to school. Ryoma has never been a morning person so he would get through the day as a zombie. The fact that he is currently sitting up at his bed perfectly aware is strange. Maybe he had an excellent nights sleep.

So Ryoma threw his blankets off of him and stepped out of bed. He moved towards his closet and got out his school uniform. Ryoma just stared at it for awhile at a loss for how to start. This whole situation is strange for him. Ignoring this feeling, for now, he got out of his pajamas and put on the uniform.

Finished he finger-combed his hair, brushed his teeth, then grabbed both his tennis bag and school bag. As Ryoma made his way down the stairs, he couldn't help but feel like something was utterly wrong. He doubled checked his things and found that he didn't forget anything for school. Maybe he made plans for today and just didn't remember them. Was that what was causing this nagging feeling.

No, this felt like something disappeared, not just forgotten. Startled Ryoma went back up to his room, seeing the familiar Himalayan cat sleeping at the foot of his bed made him relax. For a moment there Ryoma thought he had lost Karupin. He went over to his bed and started petting his cat. Karupin opened one eye, purred, then went back to sleep. Ryoma smiled, he loved his cat and couldn't bear ever to lose him.

However, if he didn't lose Karupin, what was this feeling of loss for? Did his dad leave? At this thought, Ryoma rushed down the stairs to the kitchen. Usually, when his father left the house for awhile, he would leave a note on the fridge. Seeing no note, Ryoma became even more confused and slightly worried. Where was his father then?

"Seishonen, whats the rush?"

Well, that answered that question. Ryoma turned around and saw his father sitting at the kitchen table reading a magazine. Ryoma shook his head.

"Oyaji, did I miss anything?"

Nanjiro glanced up from his magazine and looked over to his son. The two just stared at one another for a long time before Nanjiro sighed and put his magazine down on the table.

"I was hoping you would forget."

Ryoma's eyes widened, so there was something wrong.

"You favorite racket broke yesterday during our game."

~241~

A Mistake. Fuji had made the worst mistake he could have ever done. Why had he not noticed sooner? What made him act like that. The way he behaved was uncalled for.

Why did he act so impulsively?

He should have waited to try the hypnosis. Of course that only works on a particular type of person, especially those that are trusting. Ryoma was not a trusting person. What made him believe that that trick would work on someone like Ryoma.

His biggest mistake was not waiting to try it on Ryoma; he should have waited. Waited until he had wholly gained his trust.

Now, what could he do? He has completely backtracked on his plan to help Ryoma. He is not even allowed to be anywhere near the boy.

Perhaps he could... no, he didn't even know that guy's number. Getting Ryoma's older brother Ryoga to help might be a bad idea anyway. Ryoma probably told his brother all about what he had done.

What had he done? All Fuji could think of is that Ryoma believed he didn't need any help and got mad at Fuji for trying without his permission. Is that why Ryoma's reaction was so extream? Did he need Ryoma's permission before he got himself involved? Fuji had known that Ryoma was a private person and liked to solve his own problems. Maybe Fuji should try to contact Ryoga after all. Everything is just too confusing for him; he needed an insider's advice.

Ryoga would be his best bet.

Now he just needs to get into contact with him somehow.

~241~

Ryoga got to his sister's school campus early and decided to pay a visit to Ryuzaki-sensei. Maybe he could get some information on his sister through her first before he attempts to see her in person. It would be best if he didn't expose his sister so soon to everyone else, but it was necessary he will.

So he made his way to Ryuzaki's office and knocked on the door. It was surprising that no one asked him why he was there in the first place. The school security seems very lax, is this place really safe for his sister?

Ryoga stopped his thinking when a familiar voice instructed him to enter. Opening the door he put on a smile and said a simple hello.

"Ryoga?" Ryuzaki said surprised. "What are you doing here I wasn't expecting to see you."

"Of course, you weren't, no one but my sister knows I'm in town."

Ryuzaki looked incredibly confused. "Sister? I was only aware of Nanjiro having sons. When did

he have a daughter?"

Ryoga sighed, he was surprised, but he was hoping Ryuzaki knew already. His sister indeed was alone whenever he wasn't here. It is a good thing he could count on Fuji then. Maybe now his sister won't be so lonely anymore.

"About that. Nanjiro only has two children, Myself and my sister Ryoko. Everyone knows her as Ryoma though."

Ryuzaki stared wide-eyed. "Really? Why is she pretending to be a boy then."

"Unfortunately she is not pretending. It's a long story and something I do not wish to go into details about. However, Ryoma is biologically a girl named Ryoko. Ryoma is only an alter Ryoko created in the past."

Ryuzaki nodded. "I see. I will not pry. Anyway, Ryoga, not that I love seeing you here, but you only come when you want something. So what do you need from me?"

Ryoga smirked. "Smart as always."

"I have known your family for far too long not to be suspicious when one of you show up in front of me."

Ryoga chuckled then turned serious. "I'm a little worried about my sister and was wondering if it was okay if I oversee your practice."

"Of course you can, on one condition."

Ryoga sighed. "Okay, I will help coach while I'm here."

Ryuzaki shook her head. "Not help. Unfortunately, I have a meeting and will not be at the practice. I had already told the team captain Tezuka he would be in charge, but now I can have you be my replacement."

Ryoga groaned but complied anyway.

Ryuzaki clapped her hands together. "Good, now shall we be on our way. I'll introduce you to Tezuka."

Ryoga nodded and followed Ryuzaki to the school's tennis courts. On the way, he couldn't help but wonder what he would do if it gets to the point where his sister's secret is exposed. He shouldn't be there at the practice, but he couldn't shake this bad feeling he had. Above all else, he needed to make sure his sister was safe.