Author's Note: Because in my book, Rikkai Dai is the very definition of all things hard-core, badass and awe-inspiring terror. The Three Demons discuss Rikkai's final line-up ahead of their infamous NT final against Seigaku.

Disclaimer: The Prince of Tennis just isn't mine, dang it!


L is for Line-up

#

They are seated across from him at the table, scarcely a full arm's length away; so close that he can easily make out the tiny pieces of lint scattered all over the sleeves of their jerseys. But even then it is almost painfully obvious that for all real intents and purposes, they would rather be anywhere but in the here and now of the dark, stuffy cubicle of an office crammed in at the very back of the clubhouse, each hiding behind the black and yellow of his Rikkai Dai pride and their matching, deliberately blank expressions. Not a word has been spoken since they gathered at the agreed place at the agreed time – some three minutes ago – not even in greeting. The air around them is heavy, thick with unresolved tension, and they have yet to look him in the eye.

He lets a small wave of disappointment wash over him. He never expected things to come to this, never imagined that they would ever shut him out so completely. And it hurts, because surely he was not wrong to expect more from them, to expect better. Surely, he was not wrong. But he can still trace Rikkai's defeat even in the proud tilt of Sanada's chin and in the deep lines around Renji's mouth, and even though they may never know it, he understands. God only knows that he understands, and this is precisely why Yukimura simply cannot – will not – refuses to – accept anything less than absolutely everything from them and for them.

Three long minutes stretch to four to five.

(It's time.)

"S-e-i-g-a-k-u," he purrs, gently caressing each syllable just to see their defences crumble. "Discuss."

The response is immediate. Sanada turns away, muttering something unsavoury under his breath, but Yukimura doesn't particularly care at the moment, not when Renji digs into his right trouser pocket and silently withdraws a piece of paper neatly folded exactly in half. Long, slender fingers push it to the table's midpoint, towards Yukimura, before slowly retracting.

"Tezuka Kunimitsu. Oishi Shuuichirou. Inui Sadaharu. Fuji Syusuke. Kikumaru Eiji. Kaidou Kaoru. Echizen Ryoma," reads Yukimura out loud. "…I see."

"An interesting line-up," volunteers Yanagi quietly, "but far from unexpected."

"At least it is creative," comments Yukimura dryly. Then he adds, with a pale smile ghosting over his lips, "It's that Inui-kun's work, I suppose?"

"Not exclusively, no," replies Yanagi at length, because Sadaharu's obvious input into Seigaku's final selection is in fact substantially less prominent than he expected. "I think they might be up to something, Seiichi."

"Seigaku stands on the threshold of its first National Tournament final in over twenty-five years," remarks Yukimura wryly as he hands the list of names over to Sanada. "I expect that they are."

Sanada snorts derisively. "Whatever they do, it's useless," he declares before flinging the piece of paper down on the table in front of him, face-down and unread. "In the end, Rikkai will win!"

The sudden fire in Sanada's eyes and the utter conviction in his voice has even Renji sitting up a little taller than before, and Yukimura finds himself thinking that maybe it is this – yes, this – that has been lacking lately, because that embarrassing meltdown at the Kantou Tournament to one side, Rikkai Dai is just one victory away from clinching the whole Championship for the third year running. They are just one victory away from rewriting history as the most successful tennis club that the junior tennis circuit has ever seen. Suddenly, their mission seems ridiculously clear: the sooner Tezuka and Seigaku are put back into their place – second place – the better.

And strangely reassured by Sanada's outburst, though in no way completely placated – and he won't be until the Triple Crown is theirs – Yukimura turns his attention back at Yanagi. "Now then, Renji—"

"How sure are we that this is the line-up Seigaku brings to the final, is what you want to say," interrupts Yanagi smoothly with some of his old confidence, "am I right?"

He is, of course. Yukimura smiles inwardly. Renji is hardly ever wrong. "You read my mind. Well?"

"Unless someone is forced to pull out at the last second…" Yanagi trails off, deliberately stopping short of a promise, but only just.

Good, thinks Yukimura. Then it is practically a done deal.

Sanada crosses his arms over his chest and leans further back in his chair. "Let's get on with it."

Yanagi nods obligingly. "I have already devised a preliminary order based on Seigaku's line-up," he says, carefully weighing his words. "But as usual, I would like to hear your thoughts first."

It is addressed to both of his friends equally, but Yanagi automatically turns to Sanada, as does Yukimura. Because even though it is Yanagi's responsibility to hatch the plans and mastermind the strategies for Yukimura's final approval, Sanada always has the first say.

"I don't care about the others." Sanada clenches and unclenches his fist. "But leave Tezuka to me."

"It's about time that the two of you met in an official match," agrees Yukimura. "And since your opponent is Tezuka, you'll get to use that."

"Aa," replies Sanada, slowly relaxing into a smirk. "I have been looking forwards to it."

"A match against Tezuka..." Yanagi regards them both thoughtfully. "I believe that puts you in Singles 3, Genichirou."

"Singles 3," repeats Sanada sharply.

Yanagi nods once. "That is correct."

"Tezuka is not Seigaku's Singles 1?" asks Yukimura just as Sanada demands, "Why?"

"Echizen," explains Yanagi simply.

"They're putting that brat in Singles 1?!" explodes Sanada. "That's tarundoru!"

"Nonsense," cuts Yukimura in sternly. "Remember, Sanada, that 'brat' defeated you not too long ago."

"I underestimated him that time," mutters Sanada sourly. "It was a mistake."

"You let your feelings cloud your judgement," replies Yukimura coolly. "But you weren't the only one."

(To his credit, Renji doesn't even flinch.)

"Maa, I'll take care of that Echizen-kun," continues Yukimura breezily. "I want to meet the boy who somehow beat Rikkai's Emperor."

"So this is how you plan on restoring Genichirou's honour, then? By destroying the person who defeated him?" Yanagi raises an eyebrow inquisitively. "That is unexpectedly cruel of you, Seiichi."

"Life is cruel." Yukimura's eyes flash dangerously. "Why should tennis be any different?"

Yanagi opens his mouth as if to say something, perhaps even to apologize for his carelessness, but Sanada is quicker. "Don't bother, Yukimura," he grumbles. "I'll get my own honour back once I defeat Tezuka."

"Seiichi, you might not get a chance to play as our Singles 1," adds Yanagi at length. "If you were to choose Singles 2 instead—"

"I want Singles 1." Yukimura sets his jaw defiantly. "I have no interest in doing battle against Fuji-kun. I would rather not play at all than having my match end too quickly."

"That Fuji is a slippery one," comments Sanada reluctantly. "He showed that in his match against Kirihara."

Yukimura cocks a brow bemusedly. "Sanada, are you trying to say that Seigaku's Fuji-kun is too much for me to handle? Or perhaps that Akaya and I are at the same level?"

Sanada rolls his eyes. "Don't be stupid," he scoffs. "You know what I meant."

Yukimura sighs. "Relax, Sanada. I'm just teasing."

Sanada harrumphs to himself, and Yukimura turns his attention back at Yanagi. "What do you think about all this, Renji?" he asks.

"If the Fuji who refuses to let even his own teammates collect his true data might be a worthy opponent for the Master of Data Tennis, is what you mean to say, am I right?"

A thin smile spreads over Yukimura's lips. "You tell me," he says quietly.

"Possibly, yes," replies Yanagi mildly, already anticipating their reactions.

Sanada scowls. "What's that supposed to mean?" he demands.

"It means exactly what I said, Genichirou." Yanagi presses the tips of his fingers together, regarding his friends seriously. "It is certainly an interesting proposition, but I have a better alternative in mind."

"Who then?" asks Yukimura impatiently. Renji isn't usually this cryptic.

Yanagi's carefully schooled features give way to a small smirk. "Niou," he says, and sits back to watch the fireworks.

And just as expected, Genichirou looks deeply scandalized at the mere suggestion, but is quickly reduced to incoherent splutters when Seiichi finally intervenes. Also as expected.

"You want to pit our Trickster against their Tensai—" Yanagi can see the curiosity in Seiichi's eyes and knows that he has won, "—why?"

Yanagi shrugs. "It's one dark horse against another."

"Renji, don't be absurd!" protests Sanada hotly. "Yukimura, tell him!"

Yukimura takes a moment to weigh his options. Sanada does have a point, but Renji isn't the type to suggest anything without perfectly viable, perfectly logical reasons. "Fine. Niou may have Singles 2," he concedes.

(But only because I trust you.)

Yanagi nods.

(I won't let you down.)

"What about the doubles?" asks Sanada tersely, admitting defeat on the Niou-issue. Mattaku. "Who are Seigaku sending out as their Doubles 1?"

"Their only nationally-ranked doubles combination, the so-called 'Golden Pair', Oishi and Kikumaru," replies Yanagi quickly. "What speaks strongly for this pair is their achieving synchro."

"They still lost their match against Hyoutei." Sanada snorts. "That's tarundoru!"

"Sanada is right," agrees Yukimura solemnly. "A one-off occurrence hardly constitutes a real threat. Let's have Yagyuu and Akaya take care of them. They have played together before, and Akaya could do with the experience."

"Perhaps, Seiichi. But I doubt that Hiroshi would be able to control Akaya should anything happen."

"You expect it to?" prompts Yukimura, genuinely curious.

Yanagi's smile is fond. "A lot of things tend to happen around our youngest."

"So it's Marui and Jackal then," declares Sanada. "Doubles 1 will be over quickly."

Yukimura's smile turns a shade more dangerous. As far as he is concerned, that match is already won. "That only leaves Doubles 2," he says instead.

"And three players," adds Sanada gruffly. "Yagyuu, Kirihara and you, Renji."

Yanagi studies his friends carefully. "I'm afraid that our Gentleman will have to sit this one out."

Yukimura frowns. "Yagyuu is the more experienced doubles player, Renji."

"That's true," admits Yanagi readily. "But I would prefer Akaya."

"Why?" demands Sanada, genuinely perplexed. "Why Kirihara of all people?"

"Because, Genichiou," sets Yanagi out to explain, "Kaidou Kaoru, Sadaharu's presumed doubles partner, is widely believed to be Tezuka's natural successor at Seigaku."

Yukimura's lips split into a wide, feral grin. Perfect.

"Akaya will be the only one of the regulars to return next season," continues Yanagi. "And like you said, Seiichi, he could really do with the experience."

"Renji," mutters Sanada, "what about that Inui?"

(Is it really alright?)

"No need to worry, Genichirou," replies Yanagi lightly. "I am, after all, primarily a doubles player."

(I appreciate your concern, but I must do this. I also have someone I need to defeat.)

Yanagi doesn't say it outright, because he's a sneaky bastard like that, but Sanada thinks he understands anyway.

(Aa. Crush him.)

Yanagi eases into the small, lopsided smile he reserves for special occasions.

(Consider it done.)

"Maa..." Yukimura picks up the list of Seigaku's line-up, and crumples it into a small ball in his fist. "I don't know about you, but I think this is going to be interesting."

(Bring it, Tezuka. We're ready. Rikkai Dai is ready. Bring it.)