DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN PRINCE OF TENNIS NOR ITS CHARACTERS! I own a Tezuka plushie though! :3

Minna, I'm BACK! Heck Yeah! Sorry if this took SO LONG. I just couldn't fit all of my ideas into one chapter. Trust me. I TRIED. That's why it was so hard to post. I didn't know if I should cut it or just leave it be. Meh. I decided to cut it. it was like 14 pages in MS Word. O.o

OnePiecefan202 - hey, thanks for sticking out for this story. It's gone really long now. Hope you see it through to the very end! :D

xiiaogurlz - thanks for the review! Here's another chapter for you! :D

Tokyo Tensai - haha. You're not the only one, believe me. Imagine if the pair was canon though. Even Inui and Renji together wouldn't be able to fend them off for too long. (shivers)

lexibaby214 - hehe. Sorry for the slow updates. My ideas get cramped up once in a while. Though admittedly this story is growing a mind of its own. I WILL finish it, so don't worry though. :D

And now, without further adeu, Chapter 9!

Chapter 9: Revelations, and Inui's Data

Ryoma sighed as she walked towards her house. Honestly, she was pissed. Beyond pissed. She knew her sempai-tachi were only doing this because they worry for her, but that's the thing. She hated it when someone worries for her. She hated it when she finds herself protected because being protected means that you can lower your guard down, and she doesn't want to do that again. She doesn't want to get too attached and then find herself reaching for another lifeline when the persons you trusted so implicably have turned their back against you. She doesn't want to end up like before.

"Tou-san? Have you seen Aniki?"

"Hime-chan, Aniki's gone."

She growled lowly. Now was not the time to revel in unpleasant memories. She still had to train to defeat that bastard Akutsu.

"Would you like something sweet to eat?"

The voice startled her back to reality. She looked to her right to find him staring at her patiently. Honestly, she didn't know if she was being fair to herself at all. She knew she was attached. She knew that even though she's thinking that being attached would be bad, she already is. She doesn't want to acknowledge it because it would be disastrous to get attached again. But, every time she says these things in her mind, her heart just shouts back that this was worth it. Ryoma felt a migraine creep up on her. All because of the guy walking beside her.

"Echizen?"

"A-Aa. Let's, Buchou. I know a good cafe here. Want to go there?" Ryoma said, stuttering in panic.

She mentally kicked herself for daydreaming, again, when her crush was right beside her.

'I just hope he doesn't see this as a date or anything,' she thought, though inwardly she hoped that he would.

Tezuka looked at the petite girl beside him. Sometimes, he really just wants to tell her that he has a crush on her. But then, on the other hand, wouldn't it make the already antisocial girl to further herself away from him? No, he couldn't take that chance. She was only beginning to reveal herself to him and the team. He knew he couldn't be that selfish. So, he was left with only one choice. He had to bring out Ryoma out of her shell.

"Aa," he said, hoping inside that this would be counted as their first date.

When they arrived the cafe, a waitress immediately had them sat down to a booth that was partly secluded from view, but at the same time, could view the front of the shop. When the waitress asked them what would they order, Ryoma ordered a special chocolate parfait while Tezuka just ordered green tea ice cream. When the waitress went to get their orders, Ryoma looked at Tezuka weirdly.

"Ne, Buchou, your taste buds are suffering. In my whole time in Seigaku I haven't seen you eat anything sweet," Ryoma pointed out as she drank the glass of water that the waitress kindly poured out for them.

"I don't have a fondness for sweet things," Tezuka answered while he looked around.

He heard the tinkling of a bell, signalling that the cafe had another customer. When he looked, his eyebrows shot upwards towards his hairline in his surprise. Ryoma, who was gauging his reaction, looked in the direction he was looking at. She, too, was startled at the figure that had come in. The two watched as the figure went and sat with a pretty lady that was probably in her early twenties. The lady kissed the person's cheek, and then they started chatting.

"Ne, Buchou," Ryoma said a moment later, her voice thick with surpirise.

"Hmm?" Tezuka said, snapping out of his surprise when he heard Ryoma call him.

"I never knew Kawamura-sempai likes older women."

A knock interrupted Atobe and Fuji's conversation as the knock was swiftly followed by Wataru bowing lowly.

The couple was at the Atobe Mansion and was currently discussing their plans to further their work in the lives of Ryoma and Tezuka. So, when they were interrupted, Atobe was quite disgruntled.

"Keigo-sama, a visitor has just arrived. He claimed that you would let him in if I told you he had the aforementioned data with him," he said dutifully.

Upon hearing this, Fuji immediately nodded to Atobe, indicating that they should let the stranger in.

"Bring the guest here, Wataru," Atobe said as he waved the butler out. Wataru nodded, and dutifully slunk back to the door before opening and closing the door quietly.

When the door opened again, a certain data specialist was ushered in.

"Inui. What did you find out?" Fuji said as he looked at him, not at all bothered that he was practically spooned to Atobe's side.

Inui just adjusted his glasses and took a seat, showing that he was not at all shocked by what he had witnessed.

"I followed Taka-san just like you requested. I was following him at a certain distance when Momoshiro and Kikumaru crossed paths with Taka-san. They, of course, followed him. He didn't even notice. I revealed myself to the two and we stalked him to a cafe across town where he met with a lady-"

"Inui," Fuji said sweetly, immediately halting Inui's speech, and Atobe to look at his lover warily.

"Syuu, calm down," Atobe said as he tried to rub the other man's upper arm but was faced with a smiling face that practically said 'don't interrupt me', thus making the diva stand down.

"Inui, did you say a lady?" Fuji said, this time turning his 'sweet' smile towards Inui, to his credit, only flinched a couple of millimetres.

"You didn't let me finish, Fuji. The lady was actually related to Akutsu Gin-"

"Then why didn't you say that earlier, Inui? And how did you find out? Was he there?"

Inui sighed as he was interrupted, again.

"Syuu, calm down. Let Inui finish first," Atobe said as he caressed Fuji's cheek gently, making the other male lean in to the touch, thereby distracting him from his rage.

"Arigatou, Atobe. Now, we went inside the diner to try to hear their conversation. When we all finished ordering, Akutsu Gin showed up," Inui said hurriedly, having calculated someone would interrupt him, again.

"Akutsu Gin?" Atobe growled immediately, proving Inui to be correct.

"What was he doing there, Inui?" Fuji asked in a voice laced with poison.

"I told you that he is somehow related to the lady with Taka-san. Akutsu sat with them. They tried to talk to Akutsu about something but then he poured Taka-san's drink on his head," Inui said gravely, watching as Fuji slowly opened his cerulean eyes.

"He is going down," he said quietly, yet it sounded as lethal as ever.

"There's more. Echizen and Tezuka so happened to be in the same cafe," Inui said, getting out his trusty notebook and flipping it to the right page.

"Really now," Atobe said, a smirk slowly starting to form on his handsome face.

"What happened?" Fuji said, momentarily forgetting his rage in favour of giving in to his curiosity about Ryoma and Tezuka.

"Echizen and Tezuka seemed to be talking when I noticed them. And yet Echizen was sneaking glances at Taka-san's table far too often. When Akutsu left, he happened to pass by Echizen, and she tripped him," Inui said, closing his notebook with a snap.

"She tripped him?" Fuji said, amusement filling his voice.

"Yes. And she issued a challenge on him for the next game," Inui said, glasses flashing in the light.

"Ah. So the pleasure of teaching that brute a lesson does not fall on me. No worries, then. She'll do alright," Fuji said contentedly, cuddling closer to Atobe.

"So, Syuu, promise you won't kill anyone of my team who beats your brother at our next game?" Atobe said, gaining Inui's attention.

"Saa. Be gentle."

Ryoma sighed. It was the day before their match against Yamabuki. BUT. Instead of practicing like they were supposed to do, they were watching the match between Hyoutei and St. Rudolf. Why? Because her stupid cousin wanted her to support them. Oh Joy.

"Ryo!"

Ryoma sighed as she got tackled by her one and only cousin, Atobe Keigo.

"Ne, Kei, if you're so mighty, why are you acting like a five year old who just saw his mother?" Ryoma said, her sarcastic remark muffled by Atobe's clothes.

"Because, Ryo-chan! You're my cousin! And no one minds me like this, ne?" Atobe said, an aura of happiness radiating from him.

"Please excuse our kid of a captain, Tezuka-kun. I believe he took more than his share of coffee this morning," Oshitari said as the rest of Hyoutei came within hearing range.

"Aa," Tezuka said, nodding his acknowledgement of the statement.

"Oi! I did no such thing!" Atobe said indignantly.

No one paid him any attention.

"So, you guys ready to pulverize St. Rudolf?" Ryoma said, her eyes filled with pride.

"Of course, Ryoma-chan. We practiced very hard," Ootori said as he smiled at Ryoma.

"Hmp. More like Atobe ran us to the ground practicing," Shishido said as he slung an arm around Ootori naturally.

Ryoma smiled slightly as she looked at them. Yup, they're going to own St. Rudolf.

"Hold on a moment, Atobe."

Everyone ceased their chattering to look at Inui, who opened his trusty notebook and gave the Hyoutei captain a small glare.

"Don't underestimate them. Mizuki Hajime's predictions are often correct up to the scores. And he predicted that they would win ultimately at Singles Two," he said as a matter of factly.

"I know. That's why I'm playing Singles Two," Atobe said, going back to his snobby persona.

"Ne, ne, Inui, do you know St. Rudolf's line-up?" Kikumaru asked as glomped Oishi, who was slowly building up color on his face.

"Not entirely. Mizuki is good at keeping that secret. What I do know is that Fuji Yuuta would be playing in Singles Three while Mizuki himself would be playing Singles Two," Inui said as he adjusted his glasses.

"Fuji Yuuta?" Ryoma said, perking up at the sound of the name.

"Aa. You know him, Echizen?" Inui said, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses, thinking about the worst possible scenario for their plans.

"Aa. We met him yesterday, ne, Buchou?" Ryoma said while looking at Tezuka.

"Aa," Tezuka said, trying not to blush at the memory.

"Oh? Isn't yesterday the day Ochan turned ballistic because you came home piggybacked by a certain someone?" Atobe said, trying his best not to chuckle at the blush of his cousin.

"Urusai," Ryoma said, tugging down her cap to hide her blush.

"Oh? Why was the gaki piggybacked home?" Hiyoshi suddenly said, his curious eyes boring on Ryoma.

Everyone looked at the female prodigy, prompting her to tell the story. Ryoma just sighed and relayed what happened yesterday.

Flashback

"Everyone! Practice is now over! First years, pick up the balls," Tezuka said as the members nodded to show that they heard right.

"Buchou, can I wash up first before going home?" a voice to his immediate right said.

"Aa," he said as he looked at the female rookie.

'She looks like someone dumped mud on her,' he immediately thought, looking at her unbelievably messy clothes and slightly rumpled cap.

"Gomen ne, Buchou. Inui-sempai's training my strength today. I couldn't handle the heavy power shots Kawamura-sempai gave to me. I stumbled a little. I won't take long," Ryoma said, already moving towards the clubhouse.

Now, the members knew that a girl in the Boys' Tennis Club would mean that the said girl would also use their facilities. So, they made a few changes. When Ryoma was about to enter the clubhouse, she was to knock three times consecutively so that the boys changing inside would know it was her. When all things that must not be seen by a girl were covered, they would shout back to her then she would enter. She also had a section of the showers and changing room all to herself.

Tezuka sighed to himself as he himself went inside the clubhouse to change out of his jersey. When he was done, he looked around for Ryoma, but was slightly surprised not find her leaning close to the door. He looked around and spotted Fuji near the lockers.

"Fuji, where's Echizen?" he asked, letting a little concern lace his tone.

"Ah. I heard the shower on her part of the shower room still running. I think she's still trying to scrub off the grime. Inui's really worried about her match with Akutsu," Fuji said, a frown on his handsome face.

"Aa," Tezuka said as he sat down the nearest bench, waiting for his charge.

"Ja ne, Tezuka. Yuuta is going to be home tonight so I better cook something special," Fuji said, a creepy smile on his face as he went past the door.

Tezuka just felt bad for the youngest Fuji sibling.

"Buchou? Where are my shoes?" a voice said behind him. When Tezuka turned around, he saw Ryoma rubbing a towel on her hair as she flicked some of her stuff out of her locker so she could find her shoes. Alas, no luck.

"They aren't in you locker?" Tezuka said, concerned that there was a thief on their tennis club.

"Yeah. How can I go home? My training shoes are gone too!" Ryoma said as she looked at Tezuka with wide eyes.

Tezuka just sighed and went to his own locker. He pulled out his own shoes and gave them to Ryoma.

"Here. Try walking with these on," Tezuka said. Ryoma just sighed as she put them on. She took a couple of stesp forward and was rewarded with her tripping up.

"Itai," she said, rubbing the part of her arm that collided with the floor.

Tezuka sighed. This was really going nowhere. Just then, the door to the clubhouse opened and in came a dishevelled brown haired guy with an x on his cheek.

"Yuuta?"

The brown haired guy looked at Tezuka and smiled.

"Tezuka-san. Have you seen Aniki? He was supposed to wait for me here and we'll walk home together," the boy said as he glanced around the almost empty clubhouse. When his eyes landed on Ryoma sprawled on the floor, they got impossibly big and he began to gain color on his face and stutter.

"A-Ano, gomenasai, Tezuka-san! I didn't mean to intrude on a private moment!" he said, bowing very low.

Ryoma looked at Yuuta like he was crazy but Tezuka just sighed. He told the blushing teen to right himself up and told him their situation.

"Oh. Well, I think that-" Whatever he was going to say died on his throat as his cell phone suddenly blared to life.

"Excuse me a second, Tezuka-san, Echizen-san. Hai? Eh? Aniki? Why aren't you here in Seigaku? Eh? You're cooking tonight? Oh. Okay then. I'll just see you there," Yuuta said then switched off his phone.

"Sorry, Tezuka-san, Echizen-san. I need to go. Aniki's wondering where I am. Oh, and as for your problem, you'll just have to carry her! Ja!" Yuuta said as he dashed towards the school gates.

Tezuka and Ryoma just looked at the direction he went dumbfoundedly.

Finally, Tezuka sighed as he crouched down with his back to Ryoma, urging her to hop on. Ryoma just blinked for a second and consented, a smile on her lips.

"You're getting soft, Buchou."

"Not a word, Echizen."

End Flashback

"Are, are, what do we have here, ne? Ufufufu," An arrogant voice, one to rival even Atobe's flitted to their side, making the Hyoutei regulars stiffen.

Ryoma sighed. She couldn't wait to sleep off all the accumulated drama.

And it's done! Well, you guys noticed that Yuuta still has to go into the story, right? I made him not that angry at Fuji, so he's like that. And St. Rudolf also has to fight Hyoutei. Wonder how that would go, ne? :)

Aaaand, the battle between Ryoma and Akutsu AND Yuuta and whoever fights him (who do you want it to be? well, excluding Atobe that is.) is after this, I PROMISE.

And so, Read and Review! Pretty please? :D