Disclaimer: I don't own the Prince of Tennis

Authors Note:

This Chapter will be different from the rest as the interactions between the team, Akaya, and Ryoga will be different from the manga.

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Kirihara Akaya pays a visit!

"You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness, like resignation to the end, always the end." - Somebody That I Used To Know (Gotye)

(1)

"Bleh I overslept and I'm at a school I don't even know. Not to mention I don't know where I am." said a young teen into the cell phone he held.

He began looking around in order to get acquainted to his surroundings and hopefully be given some clue as to where he was, the young boy was able to spot the plate that had the name of the school written onto it: Private Sieshun Academy. The young teen made his way over towards the school grounds where the regulars were practicing. He smirked at the thought of going against the only one (in his mind) that was worth anything: Tezuka Kunimitsu!

But first he had to find him, which was easier said than done.

He never made it far from where he was because of other unmentionable members who couldn't seem to be able to keep their mouth shut.

He was questioned by an actual member of the tennis team who wore a bowl like hair style and a tall guy in sweatpants and a t-shirt.

"I'm a 2nd year champ in Rikkaidai Junior High School, The legendary Kirihara Akaya, is me!" he proclaimed.

That only led to more questioning and suspicious glances his way.

Once he spotted his intended target he praised the older teen and demanded a match, the captain off course declined the 'invitation' of a game and proceeded to ignore him.

That is until a member tried to hurt the uninvited guest and said guest hit the ball back only for it to land on someones face, from there it all went downhill!

(2)

Echizen Ryoma had always had his way, then came a time where he didn't and he fervently wished that he would. He had always won . . . yet not this time.

Once upon a time, he had been father's golden boy, not Ryoga, but he was unable to muster any resentment towards his beloved yet slightly annoying brother, after all it wasn't his fault that things had changed this dramatically. Now, he was stuck in a hospital where he would be medicated most of his time or in great pain. He was lonely, very much so but not much could be done about that, so he read his books were he could escape reality once more, he would play his music on the violin where he could drown himself in the captivating sound that came forth, he watched the matches his brother participated in without much resentment these days because he knew that his time on the throne had finally came and went.

Perhaps his obsession with tennis was because it was the only way to communicate in the Echizen family, he suppose that it was time to create a new way to do so.

Myers had taught him that there were many ways to seek enjoyment in life but the man didn't seem to understand that he lived for tennis! But that was okay because he would understand for both of them.

Nanjiroh was his father, granted the man was weak willed and fragile, easily heartbroken, and quick to run at the first sign of trouble, but he supposed that he loved the man all the same, they had a connection that was not easily broken.

Rinko, his mother was a mystery despite being here constantly fretting over him he simply could not read her. She cared for him as any mother should, loved him, but she acted as if he was in death's door even before the prognosis . . . she had so little faith in him at times, always trying to baby him as much as she could, trying to shield him from the world.

Ryoga was his idol from the very beginning. he had always been such a caring older brother, encouraging him even in the most ridiculous of ideas, helping him reach his potential, listening to him when he needed it. Ryoga would go far he just knew it.

Then came his new friend, Yukimura Seiichi, the teen was amusing when flustered, quick witted when he needed to, rather intelligent, bold at times, and gentle always so kind too when you weren't trying to annoy him.

When Myers had asked to try chemo once more his reply had been no, the pain it brought wasnt worth it in his mind, but also he was sure that it would kill him faster than it would heal him. His body was at its end, he knew, Myers knew but in his desperation he clung to anything that promised salvation.

Except there was none now.

(3)

Ryoga was on Autopilot the whole week, he did what he was told without question, trained his usual regime at home, ate what was given, answered his teachers questions, joked with his acquaintances, and played in matches at the best of his abilities. But he wasn't actually there most of the time. Constantly wondering about his brother brought many concerns to the surface at all times, so he chose not to feel at all, it was so easy yet anything had the potential to set him off. How could Ryoma do this to him? How could he lie- well not lie but give half truth to the family? Could he not see that they cared? Even, stupid Oyaji. Why was he even blaming Ryoma for not wanting to tell them? It was all the stupid diseases fault!

The regulars were worried about him the glances his way spoke loud and clear.

They started to notice two days into the week, he never spoke anymore than needed, his constant vigilance by his phone, the glances to the clock, his avoidance about anything private, the bags under his eyes, the way he was acting didn't make sense to him because his first impression he made to them was cocky, rude, and attention seeker.

Now, he did what he was told without complains or a snarly remark which made them uneasy.

He was too tired to act anyway. Ryoma needed him, so to hell with what made them uneasy, he would be there for him because that was what good brothers did, every step of the way no matter how tired he was he promised he would be there. So if his brother did leave him in the end there would be no regrets.

The laughing five-year old Ryoma he remembered at an interview in New York was whispering:

"I plan to be number one, reach the top, and never let go."

So, Ryoga planned to reach the top and never let go for them. It was everything they had wanted but if Ryoma couldn't he would, there would be an Echizen at the top of the tennis world.

Which brought him too what happened last week:

A child had been watching the regulars training, without even trying to disguise himself, he was a second year that was for sure his act of being cheery was that an act, at least in front of unfamiliar people.

The boy introduce himself as Akaya Kirihara, a second year at Rikkai Dai, he was average in height, a little lean but had some muscle in his calf and arms, tanned, and had curly silky black hair that resembled seaweed yet the kid made the hair work. If he had been another he would assumed that the kid was nothing, as in nothing special but he knew better, because his brother used to hold himself this way and many were brought to their knees. Akaya even acted like, well like him and Ryoma, asking for a match and annoying others when it wasn't given to him, the demeanor in which he treated others was truly scarily alike the Echizen that he could claim to be a missing family member and no one would disbelieve the claim, no matter that he didn't look like them.

"Always with the same serious face will tire you." Akaya said to the captain and Echizen though 'I know'

The brat kept on opening his mouth and riling the members of the club even more, he must admit it was quite impressive, considering that even he couldn't do that this quickly.

Akaya Kirihara truly reminded him more of Ryoma, the way he behaved complete with the snarky replies, and the way they tended to humiliate anyone trying to underestimate them or harm them in any way, it was like watching a mirror.

He had or was always appreciative of the attention he gathered after all good or bad.

Then again neither Ryoma or him had ever created a sequence of events like Akaya had during that practice.

(4)

As Akaya was making his way out he bumped into a familiar teen, for a moment he got lost in thought and only dimly realized he still held the others tennis ball in his hand. When he returned the ball he was amazed that the other caught it without any trouble at all.

He stood still for a moment wondering who the teen was and it was then he recalled a young child who had always won the tennis games he played and had the tendency to say "mada mada dane". He turned around so fast he surprised he didn't get whiplash and called out:

"Echizen? Echizen Ryoma?"

It was the teen this time who turned around to look at him without saying anything at all. The tennis team had also silenced themselves and turned curious eyes at them, and it was Kikumaru Eiji who shook his head and said "Oi! That isn't his name, its Echizen Ryoga!"

But it was Akaya's turn to shake his head and say "No it's not it's Ryoma!"

"Whats the meaning of this Echizen?" said Fuji Shusuke quietly but loud enough to be heard, his eyes wide open revealing his blue eyes to all who where watching.

Ryoga ignored him and straightened up before placing a sly smile at his lips and saying in a calm serene voice "Do I know you?"

By now everyone was watching the interaction between the outsider and Ryoga, from Inui who was collecting data to the captain of the team who said nothing nor did anything to stop anyone.

"So you are Ryoma! Don't you remember me? We played against one another seven years ago? In Germany! You won the whole tournament after defeating me!" said Akaya smiling sheepishly when he admitted his own loss.

"Ah." was all that Ryoga said for a moment "Do I look that young?" he asked chuckling to himself.

"Now that you mention it, you seem older . . . wait your eyes were more golden than and you were shorter as well."

It was this that made Ryoga laugh outright before calming down enough to smirk at Akaya "You noticed what the color of my eyes were like Akaya-chan?" he purred making the boy blush.

He smirked for a moment before shaking his head in amusement before looking the boy in the eyes "Sorry to disappoint you but I'm not Ryoma . . . That's my brother."

"EH!?" Exclaimed Akaya "No way ! There's two of you?!"

"WHAT!?" was exclaimed by the tennis team stunned by the news, excluding Fuji, Inui, and Tezuka whose eyes had widened at the news.

A/N: Sorry for taking so long to write this chapter or any spelling and grammar issues! Any ideas are welcomed! Read and Review!