Kaoru-chan does all the work now…no not really…she works as the writer and I'm the editor and the 'publisher' of this so-called fan fiction…This had been so much fun…some of the people here might have been slightly out of character and I'm sorry for that because I really got my imagination running really fast on this story and especially in this chapter…I'm going to make Sakuno really good …Wahahahaha…

Chapter 10: Sakuno gets to play

"Aww…morning already…" Sakuno fidgeted in her bed as she tried to wake up. The day is December 19, the last day of classes. She wiped her eyes and yawned. "I'm playing tennis today!" she hastily got out of bed, resulting in her sliding out of it and hitting the floor. It was such a loud crash.

"Sakuno! What's happening in there?!?" her grandmother called, probably from the kitchen.

"Oh, man…" she got up and tossed the blanket back to her bed. "Nothing, oba-chan!"

"Well, you better come down here now young lady or you'll be late for school!"

"Hai!" she went to the bathroom, took a quick warm shower and went into her school uniform. She fixed her bed, tied her hair in a ponytail and ran downstairs, grabbing her bag and tennis gear on the way.

----------------------------

"We're going home early so Tomo-chan asked me to teach her tennis after school hours." She ate the usual Japanese breakfast, since it always tastes really good.

"That's great! I'll just say I granted you permission to be absent from the club today." Sumire sipped her coffee.

"Arigatou, oba-chan!"

"Anyway, even if you did not make the ranking last week, I still think you did great."

"Thanks, but too bad I lost to Eiji-sempai…he really got me running…"

"That's why I'm really proud of them…"

Sakuno sighed. "I almost envied Ryoma back then…"

"Sakuno, even if you made it to the regulars, I still won't allow you to play…the nationals is too strict in their inspections…"

"Anyway…how is the girls' tennis club doing?"

"It will be implemented next year when you come back from the winter vacation." Sumire smiled.

"That's too close now…Are there activities of the club? Like tournaments?"

"Of course, there is! And I get to coach it too! The girls will also compete with the other teams in Tokyo like Fudomine, Hyotei, Yamabuki and St. Rudolf. If you won then you advance to the Kantou Regional then Kansai then the Nationals."

"That's great! Now I get to play!"

"That is, if you get into the regulars."

"I swear I'll do my best!"

"That's my Sakuno! Why try when you can do it!"

"Geez…thanks!"

"And Riko called me, she said she have a surprise for you."

"What is it?"

"That's for me to know and for you to guess. Riko would tell you when you get to school."

"Look at the time! See you at school, oba-chan!" she picked up her things and dashed to the school.

"Tomo-chan! Ohayou!" Sakuno said as she entered the room. Tomoka was having a catfight with Horio again, and so early in the morning.

"Oh Yeah?!? And you know what I think of you? I think you're aOhayou, Sakuno-chan!" Tomoka shouted. Horio was slightly confused about the suddenly change in context and turned around to see Sakuno holding her school bag and a tennis bag slumped in her shoulder.

"Sakuno! I did not know you play tennis?" Katsuo was the one to talk first.

"Yeah, she does! And you know what else? She really is good! She almost won hmmpfhpmmhhm" Sakuno had covered Tomoka's mouth before she says something unnecessary.

"What?" Horio, Katsuo and Kachiro all have puzzled looks.

"Betzuni! Hahahahah…she's just joking!" Sakuno finally let go since her best friend is turning a nice shade of violet. Tomoka tried to get air in her lungs again.

"And…she's…teaching me…this…afternoon!" she said between taking in oxygen.

"Really? Could we go too?" Kachiro asked.

"Anou…don't you three have club activities this afternoon? It's the last day of classes for this year so I think you're going to be needed there…" Sakuno said. Sumimasen…but I don't want you three in there…and it's nothing personal really…

Classes ended at 1pm that day. Sakuno was already getting ready to leave when Tomoka insisted that they watch Ryoma play first. Riko took this time to execute her plans. She went to the back of the high school building and seeing no one there, she turned on her phone and dialed her favorite restaurant.

"Moshi moshi…this is Shinohara restaurant, how may I help you?"

"Hey, Haru! It's me, Riko! I'm inviting 14 people over."

"Sure! When will we expect you to come?"

"This afternoon…around 4pm…"

"We'll do as you say, miss…"

"Arigatou gozaimasu! And make sure you have some strawberry parfait for me!"

"But it's cold, don't you want something warm?"

"Nah…I'm craving for some ice cream now…" she twiddled her hair.

"Alright…"

"Heheheheh…Bye!"

"Ok…Ja ne!"

"Now to invite people!" she went near the courts where she found Sakuno and Tomoka watching the regulars play. She had been introduced to them by none other than Eiji and the three of them really get along with each other. She also met three freshmen members of the tennis club when she came once to see them play.

"Ryuzaki-chan! Osakada-chan!" she called to them as she went near.

"Nee-chan!" they greeted her.

"Sakuno, Tomoka, I want you gals to come over my place for one whole week! Since its winter, a trip to the hot springs will ease the cold!" Riko announced.

"Really? For one whole week?" Tomo gasped, not only could she rest from babysitting her brothers for a week, she also get to a hot spring!

"Demo…I'm not sure if I can go with you…Oba-chan would be left alone in our house."

"Don't worry! I got permission from your grandma already! She said the other coaches had suddenly wanted to go to some resort spa somewhere and she can't get off it. She was really happy that I invited you over because she might just skip the trip if you were left alone for the holidays." After this, Sakuno's expression lightened up. So that was the surprise the coach was talking about.

"How about us, Riko nee-chan?" Horio asked, holding on to the fence like he was some kind of prisoner.

"Horio…We're not invi," Katsuo said.

"Don't say that! You three are also invited!" then Riko took five coupons from her pocket and gave each of them one.

"What's this?" Horio asked.

"It's an entrance ticket…" Riko said.

"To your restaurant? I thought it was expensive in there?" Tomoka asked.

"We'll meet there to discuss the outing…Anyway I plan to get this on the road the day after tomorrow."

"Hai! Arigatou gozaimashita, Riko nee-chan!" the five said.

"I'm glad to hear you are all coming…thanks…" she walked away to a nearby tree and dialed someone's number.

"I think we should get going too, Sakuno-chan!" Tomoka picked up her bag and they went to the tennis courts on top of a really tall building to pass the time before they go to Riko's.

"Hey! This is Riko! Do you see the tree with a bench underneath it?"

"Yes, I see you…what do you want?"

"Could you come over here for a sec?"

"No."

"Oh please please please!"

"Alright…but make sure whatever you want is worth it."

"Roger!"

"Hey, where are you going?" Oishi asked. They were watching Kaidoh and Taka play. All the other regulars looked at their captain.

"To meet somebody. I'll be back immediately." He walked away.

"Nya…who do you think he's meeting up with?" Eiji was bouncing with curiosity.

"Maybe something might be going on…" Fuji said.

"Don't just stand there! Let's go!" Momo grabbed Echizen and so does Eiji.

"Hey! Who said I'm going?" Ryoma was pretty annoyed because he had dropped his Ponta when they suddenly took hold of him.

"Ii data…" Inui followed.

"I don't think this is a good idea guys!" Oishi said but he followed them, nonetheless.

They followed Tezuka like the expert stalkers they are. Soon they saw Tezuka stop in front of a tree. They crowded in the bushes and it was amazing how it hid them well.

Eiji went up to the front to see who Tezuka met up. To his surprise, it was Riko. He gasped when she suddenly gave him a peck on the cheeks and usher him to sit beside her. They can't here what they were talking about but Eiji's frown grows more and more visible to the others. They just stared at him and tried to convert him back to sanity.

"Kuni-chan!" Riko rushed to Tezuka and gave him a kiss. Tezuka doesn't seem to mind it and he sat next to her. She was smiling sheepishly.

"Here…" she handed him the remaining tickets.

"What do you want again?" Tezuka inquired.

"I want to invite all the regulars to the restaurant…They're having a welcome party for me since I just came back after six years. They said I could invite friends to go there."

"Hn."

"What would I take that for?"

"Yes…"

"Oh thank you! thank you! thank you!" she hugged him and shook his hands profusely.

"I'll give this to the others after club activities." He stood up and walked away.

"Wait!" she ran up to him. "I invited Sakuno, Tomoka, and those other three freshmen. Please make you they come. The girls are on Colossians tennis courts, maybe you could pick them up?"

"I'll consider."

"Hey get out! Get out!" Momo was covering his nose.

"Argh! What's that smell?!?" Oishi said.

"Echizen farted!" Momo pointed out.

"Excuse me! I did not! Maybe it was you!" Ryoma retorted.

"AH! Fresh air! Need…fresh…air!" Eiji basked in the cool winter wind.

"Tezuka's leaving! 70 percent chance that he'll make us run 50 laps when he comes back before us, 20 percent chance he'll see us here and 10 percent chance that he'll know we're eavesdropping…"

"What are we waiting for? Run!" the others shouted and they scrambled to race Tezuka to the courts.

They all managed to come back before Tezuka and they fixed themselves to make them look presentable and innocent.

"Tezuka, you're back! What happened?" Oishi asked as the captain stood beside him.

"Later…"

"Hmph!" Eiji grunted though no one heard him. He was fuming.

After tennis practice, they were all in the locker room. Eiji had been quiet since they came back.

"What's this?" Oishi asked Tezuka after Tezuka handed him some tickets.

"Riko invited us to her welcome party. Give it to the others."

"Sure."

Oishi distributed it to the others.

"Is this what I think it is?" Momo gasped.

"This is…this is…" Taka murmured.

"The most expensive restaurant in Ginzan."

"Why are we going here?" Fuji asked.

"Riko invited us to a party in there."

"Gee…It said 4pm…It's already 3:15! Maybe we should get going…"

"Yeah! Let's!" Momo shouted and they left.

Since they arrived at the tennis courts, they were having a good time. But about 15 minutes ago, some students from a school nearby entered the court Sakuno and Tomoka were in and demanded that they leave. Tomoka refused since, of course, they were the first ones there. The students got angry and challenged the two of them to a match, thinking that they would be squashed by them easily. Sakuno refused but finally accepted when they started insulting the Seigaku regulars.

"Oh…so you think you can win me now, can you?" the senior student taunted.

"Don't ever insult Seigaku tennis club again!" she said.

"Well, little girl, how about a bet?"

"Just shut up and let's play!"

He smirked, he snapped his fingers and his classmates took Tomoka and pulled on her hair.

"Hey! Stop that!"

"If we win, you leave and never come back here, if we lose, which is most unlikely, we'll give you your loud friend back."

"You bastards!!!" Tomoka bit the hand that covers her mouth. The owner clasped it in pain and hit Tomoka on the head.

"Ittai!" Tomoka almost cried in pain.

"You're going too far!"

"Yeah, and it's your fault."

"Then let's play…" Sakuno stepped on the court and picked up a ball.

"Are you sure they're still here?" Momo asked as they got out of the elevator and walked inside the tennis complex. It was empty except for some people.

"Oh, look! There they are!" Taka said, pointing at the only people they see in the complex.

"Isn't that Sakuno?" Fuji opened his eyes. "and her friend."

"What are they doing to them?" Momo saw Osakada sitting on the ground, crying. Sakuno was on the court saying something to a boy then she picked up a ball and got ready to serve.

"They seem to be in trouble! Let's go to, What?" Taka was about to go when Tezuka blocked his way.

"Those girls knew perfectly what they're doing…let them fight for themselves…if they can't handle it we could easily go there…" Tezuka walked to a closer distance where they could still not be seen and where they could perfectly watch the match from above.

Ryoma followed his sempais. He knew what was going on and felt a slight pang of worry scratch on him. However, due to Tezuka, they just watched.

Sakuno was taking time before she serves, she was trying to calm down before she hit the ball.

"What? Are you chickening out?"

Sakuno closed her eyes for a moment before she opened them. She then got into a position she always wanted to try. She bended her knees, arched her back, and served. It's time to get serious and try those skills I watched for a long time…

Everyone watching from the upper stands was surprised. The ball spun on the ground then hit her opponent square on the face. Even Tezuka could not suppress his shock. Who would have thought little Ryuzaki could do that. Ryoma spilled the contents of his Ponta in Mom's bag but wiped it away before Momo could get back to his composure.

"This is going to be such a nice little game, ne, Tezuka?" Fuji smiled.

"Hn…"

"You're here!" Riko hugged her old friends. They haven't seen each other for the past, say, 6 years also.

"Riko! I'm so glad to see you! What's up?" one of her friends asked.

"I'm going to have a little reunion for all of us!" she announced.

"Really?"

"Where?"

"When?"

"Geez…for the holidays, I think it's perfect…"

"It's so nice to see all of us here! I've missed you guys! So much!" she hugged one of her friends then the others hugged them too.

"Group hug!" they all said, they were in a private room in the restaurant. The food had not yet arrived but the table is all set for almost 30 people to eat at once.

They all sat down and chatted with each other. They were once a gang when they were 6 years old and they were so happy with the company of each other.

"Where have you guys been this past six years?" Riko mused.

"Well, I've been trying my best in my subjects, school is so much worse than I thought." Akari clutched her head like she was having a headache.

"I help my father in our bookstore. And it's so much fun! I get extra allowance and I get to read any book I want!" Yui really looked happy.

They all looked to the third girl in line.

"Who? Me? Okay…What did I do for the past six years…hmmm…I guess I just studied then…anou…I'm going to Rikkaidai and I play tennis…Actually I'm on the regulars!" Miharu said.

"Really? That's great!" all of her friends said. "Sugoi! Congrats!"

"Oh, thanks, guys."

Yumi raised her hand. "My turn, my turn!"

"Go, girl!"

"I got addicted to studying and always got the top places in my class. I already got a scholarship to Tokyo university!"

"Wow! You really are the smartest in our group! Could you teach me, sometimes?" all of the asked.

"Sure, when I get a free time…"

The door slid open and another girl stepped inside.

"Did I make it?" she asked the surprised group.

Then a large noise erupted in the room.

"KAORI-CHAN!" they all enveloped her in a hug.

"Hey, guys, wait! I still need to breathe, you know!"

"How's Osaka?" Miharu asked.

"Great just great!" she sat down next to Miharu. "Oh, guys, I've missed you so much!"

"How long are you gonna stay here in Tokyo?"

"I'm staying until I finish my studies. I got a grant from a school in Tokyo, It's Hyotei."

"Oh, We're still scattered…" Yumi said.

"And I have a surprise for you guys!" All looked at Kaori when she clapped her hands and the door slid open showing one of their dear old friends.

"Oh my, is that really you?"

"I can't believe this is happening!"

"YUNA!" this time the whole building shook from the noise.

"Are you alright now?"

"You're not sick anymore?"

"You need some water?"

"No, gals, I just need oxygen! You're too close." Everyone took their seats as they straightened themselves.

"The doctor said I'm in the recovery state now…Actually I just got my operation 3 months ago. I pulled through!" she smiled at her friends.

"I'm so happy!" almost all of them were teary.

"Don't cry…you should be happy for me…besides I could hang out with you now!"

"How could Ryuzaki do that?" Horio asked.

"This time, I have no idea…I never have data tennis on her…just her relationship with Echizen…" Inui readied his notebook.

"Well that's wrong we don't have a relationship or whatever you call it!" Ryoma said. He looked at the match again. Well, it figures…

"What the…" the guy touched his sore cheek. The girl got hit him hard on the face. ?

"15-0! Care to continue?" Sakuno smirked, now when did she learn that?

"Tch. The game had just began…" he seem to smile.

Sakuno got ready to serve again but she just hit a normal serve.

Sakuno did not have a hard time winning the next games. Her opponent could not even win one.

"5-0!" Sakuno announced the score. It was her opponent's service again.

Her opponent was now sweating and really angry. He can't even win a single game with a little girl and to top it all he was the captain of his school's tennis team. This should have been a shock for him and his companions.

"Do you still want to play?" Sakuno asked, she was not tired at all.

"Shut up, little girl!" he served the ball and hit it in a far corner in Sakuno's court. She managed to return it, but she almost missed.

"Tch." He smirked then returned a shot. Sakuno did not caught up with it.

"HAH! 15-0!" he laughed.

"That's so good for you!" Sakuno smiled at him.

"Are you insulting me?"

"Ah…I think not…"

"Don't mess with me, little girl."

"Then what do you think I'm doing?"

"Urusai!" he served again. Sakuno returned it easily. The game continued.

"Ok." Sakuno kept her mouth shut.

He served again. Sakuno returned and seeing him still in the baseline, she tried her drop shot. And true to her assumptions, he did not return it.

"That friend of yours got our captain riled up." The one holding Tomoka on the left said.

"Of course she will! She's greater than most people think…" Tomoka smiled. Then they let go of her. She brushed her hands and continued to watch the game since the two were still guarding her.

"There's 100 percent chance that drop shot is similar to the one Minagawa does." Inui scribbled in his note. "And Sakuno's data here is almost the same as that Minagawa's…Even her service games and other techniques except for the Twist serve since we don't see Minagawa do that."

Che…She's so busted now…but still Ryoma kept his discovery to himself. There are other ways of exposing something his way. He looked at the person behind him. Eiji just sat behind, not watching the game and also seem to shoot Tezuka a really angry glare. Ryoma had never seen his face so angry before, and for a reason Ryoma had to guess. HE just took a sip from his new Ponta and turned back to the game.

Eiji was sulking in the back. He could not see the game and he was too bored to stand. His cell phone rang and he answered.

"Hey, Eiji-chan! Where are you now?" Riko was on the other line.

"I don't know!" Eiji tried to hide his annoyance but it still showed.

"Do you have a problem?" Riko asked him, her voice filled with worry.

"Why do you even care?" he said and ended the call.

'What's his problem, I'm sure it's not me because I'm also sure I hadn't done anything wrong lately…' Riko wondered as her friends started asking her why.

Sakuno got ready to return his opponent's serve. Just one more point and she would win.

Hayate was now furious. One wrong move and he would lose, badly lose, and to this little innocent looking girl, nonetheless. He's giving this all he's got.

He served it. It bounced on Sakuno's court and she hit it easily. He hit it back. The game continued for a while but then, she did her drop shot again and he did not even bother to move from his spot which was at the baseline of the court.

Sakuno smiled, pointed her racket at him, "Mada mada dane!"…Geez…she's been itching to try to say that months ago and really, it soothed her nerves, and she won't ever say that phrase ever again. She just convinced herself that she had her fill.

Clapping noises erupted from up the stands. All people in the court looked up to see the Regulars clapping their hands and shouting her name.

"Nice one, Sakuno-chan!" Oishi shouted.

"Of all the things Echizen could have given to you, you got his favorite phrase!" Momo ran to the court. The others followed and so does Eiji.

"BURNING!!!!! GOOD JOB, BABY!!!" Taka accidentally got hold of his racket.

"That's pretty, Sakuno-chan!" Fuji shook her hand.

"And now to take care of her opponents…"

Every regular got their rackets out and randomly picked the balls lying on the ground and shot each of the offenders until they ran out.

"Are you alright, Osakada-chan?" Oishi asked.

"Betzuni…they just hit me on the head nothing else." Tomoka smiled.

"I think we should be going to Riko's now? We'll be late if we don't get going…" Sakuno said, and everyone agreed as they made they're way out of the courts.

Everyone walked ahead but Sakuno was behind them all and Ryoma was walking alone also in front of her. He paused for a bit until Sakuno was by his side and walked again.

"Mada mada dane, Sakuno…" he said then walked ahead.

Sakuno just merely nod to herself.

"Hey, Where are we?" Sakuno was now walking next to Oishi.

"We're in Ginzan." He said.

"It's really huge here." Said Horio.

"Yeah…and there are lots of people." Katsuo nodded.

Sakuno walked closer to Oishi in possibility that she might get lost.

Eiji walked behind all of them. He was still sulking to himself. He stopped for a second to think what he had been doing lately and he had been missing on all the fun because of his damn stupid jealousy concerning Riko and Tezuka.

He was about to smile again when he noticed that his friends are gone and he was amidst a sea of strangers.

"Nya…where did those people go?" he turned to look around and soon can't remember the original direction where he was just walking before he stopped.

"Oh man…This is crap…" he randomly selected to go to the direction on his left and maybe find an information center where he could ask directions.

"Hey, we're here!" Fuji looked at the signboard in front of a large restaurant.

"Sugoi…I never it to be this huge…" Momo wondered.

"Come on in, Riko-san has been waiting…" the security guard checked their passes and led them in.

Riko hurriedly came to them and demanded to see Eiji.

"Kuni-chan! I'm glad you're here! Could I see Eiji?"

"Kuni-chan?" everyone behind Tezuka blurted.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?" Tezuka remained stoic though.

"Aww…don't be mad, cousin…" she smiled.

"Cousin?" again everyone behind Tezuka repeated, well, except Fuji.

Man, this guys have a problem with hearing.

"Yeah! We're cousins!" Riko announced.

"Why didn't you say so? I thought you two were," Momo was silenced before he could continue.

"We are what?"

"Cousins?" Momo replied.

"Oh…so you already knew then…now where's Eiji?"

"Eiji is right over…here…" Oishi pointed to the spot where Eiji should be but saw Taka then Taka looked back to see Fuji smiling at him. He threw a questioning look at Sakuno who was behind Fuji then Sakuno turned around to see Tomoka then Horio, Katsuo, Kachiro, Inui, Kaidoh, Momo and lastly Ryoma who threw them a look that says "What do you want?"

"Did you see Eiji?" Tezuka asked.

"How would I do that when I'm walking in front of him." He sipped his Ponta.

Everyone sweat dropped.

"What he mean is did you notice where he went?" Oishi wiped his sweat.

Ryoma tried to recall what he saw before they went in. HE recalled seeing the top of his Ponta many times, then Sakuno's hair, then his Ponta again. He did not quite know how he managed to get a glimpse of her hair besides his Ponta.

"Iie…"

"60 percent that Eiji must have lost us, 80 percent that he could not find his direction, and 100 percent that he is really hungry right now." Inui closed his notebook.

"We've got to find him!" Riko dashed out of the building then looked around her. He can't see a certain redhead bubbling anywhere. She went back inside and spoke to one of the waiters.

"Tell my friends to wait for me in the reserved section…I'll be back immediately…and serve them food…tons of food…." She instructed then ran up the stairs.

The waiter did as he was told and led them to the room.

Riko ran up the stairs and at the same time called at her house.

"What's up, Riko-chan?" a girl answered.

"Just fine…I need the chopper right now!" she dashed through the door of the rooftop and stood there.

"What for?"

"I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE IMPORTANT…"

"Yeah, I know now…but calm down! You're over reacting at the situation!"

"Stop playing with me, you two! Or I'll leave tomorrow!" she warned.

"How did you know?" two voices synchronized at the speaker.

"Just get it here immediately!"

"Alright! Ja ne!"

Riko waited in the rooftop thinking of possible places to look for Eiji. After about 10 minutes, a helicopter hovered over her and it stopped above her. A rope ladder dropped and she clung to it. When she got inside the chopper, she closed the door and looked at the two people present in there plus the pilot.

"Riko-chan! Who are we looking for?" a girl said.

"Yeah! Dare?"

"Kikumaru Eiji…and you two better help me…"

"Of course we would! Hit it, Kaoru-chan!" Hikaru said to her twin.

"Did you give him the tickets we gave you?"

"Hai!"

"Then this would be super easy…" Hikaru frowned.

"Yeah…too bad…" Kaoru nodded to her twin.

"Anyway…could you find him?"

"Correction! We already found him!" Hikaru corrected her.

"Really? Donoyouni?"

"Small bugs on the ticket…We just bought it last night…and we thought we could over hear what you're saying even if you're miles away from the house…" Kaoru smiled.

"I really wonder how I got sisters like you…" Riko nodded her head then hugged the surprised twins.

"Duh…Can't you remember, baka…You're father got us out of that orphanage in L.A." the twins said.

"Oh yeah right…"

"Nya…I'm so hungry…" Eiji murmured as his stomach growled 10 times for the past two minutes.

He looked ahead and saw a small ramen house. He immediately ran to it and ordered a bowl.

"Ojii-chan! I want another bowl!" he said.

"Sure…" the old man made some more and handed it to him.

"Arigatou, ojii-chan!" he ate, "This ramen taste really good!"

"Thanks…"

After a while Eiji got out of the ramen house.

"Come back soon!" the old man called.

"Don't worry! I will!"

He stretched out his hands in the air and stiffened a yawn. He remembered Riko.

"Eiji! Eiji!" he heard her voice. He looked around but couldn't see anything.

"Nya…I'm still hungry…" he went back to the ramen house and took the same seat he left just a minute ago.

"Back already?"

"Yeah, another ramen please…I'm hallucinating…" he took the bowl and ate. After his first bowl, he heard Riko calling him again. He just resumed eating and warned himself to stop thinking. Though…It called again…

"Eiji!"

"Do you hear something?" ojii-chan asked him while wiping a bowl.

"Hear what?" Eiji looked up.

"Someone shouting 'Eiji!'"

"You hear that too? Maybe you're just as hungry as I am…here…I'll make you a ramen…" Eiji bended down to get the ingredients when it called again.

"Eiji!"

Eiji got fed up and stepped outside.

"Would you stop calling my name, you!" he shouted expecting to see a clear sky but instead he saw a chopper above him and Riko peering down at him…

"What did you say?" Riko asked.

Good thing she did not here that…"Nothing…"

The owner of the ramen store joined Eiji sice he noticed the wind changed.

"Hey! What's happening in…whoa…who's that?" he pointed to the girl climbing down the chopper.

"The most important thing to me…well, besides tennis…but still…and she's overreacting…" Eiji waited for Riko to step on ground.

"Oh…" then the old man went back inside.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing? You got everyone worried!" Riko snapped.

"Nya…let's just go back…" Eiji walked away…Riko followed.

"We could just ride the…Oh good…they did it again…" Riko looked up to see the chopper flying away with the words –WE'RE GOING AHEAD OF YOU! JA NE! – written on a large tarpaulin the twins dangled from the chopper.

"Nya…Let's get going! Now which way?"

"There!" she pointed and they walked to that direction.

PLEASE READ!

Nya...It's done!!! Hope you enjoy it and before you put something like I made Sakuno s out of character...I just did...I really want her to be that good...maybe she'll turn pro at the same age as Ryoma...and I would like to ask what would be the perfect gift for people like Ryoma...and what gifts do you think would all the characters in this story would like for Christmas! And who would be room mates..anyway, whatever you say I still get to decide on that...and yEah, thanks for those who reviewed and would review...Geez...chapters are getting longer now...