A/N: Sorry I haven't been updating... I was too busy (coughlazycough). Thanks for the reviews! (and is it racket or racquet?)

Ichigo Lunette

KakushigotoAtae .Secret Gift

Spanish-Flower

AppleShortCake

blackrose4ever

mayouh101

bunnykim89

night-owl269

MinokaintheShadows

shuriken-thrower

Silver Fang 101

...and if I missed anyone, I'm sorry! Please read and review. All reviews (good AND bad) are greatly appreciated.

Chapter 12

Even Rika's normally talkative dad was speechless after seeing his usually emotion-less daughter seethe in anger as she paced around the living room. Her hands were balled into fists and with each step; her lips grew thinner and thinner.

Finally, she stopped, and a large smile stretched across her face, contrasting her furious mutterings just seconds ago.

"That's it! I'd go as a GIRL!" She nodded approval to this solution and sat down on the couch, her eyes flickering with humour as she imagined the coach's face.

Her father remained silent, his eyes wide and frightened.

"What kind of monster are you?" He demanded. "How dare you abduct MY daughter!" Then he started laughing, banging his fists on the armchair.

"We should open some champagne! After all these years, Rika Yuuki finally realises she's a girl!" He guffawed and shut up immediately as Rika returned her dad with the usual death stare.

"I was just joking. By the way, what's that?" He gestured to a piece of paper that seemed to have had undergone some serious scrunching.

"Form." Rika didn't even look at the paper.

"May I ask, for what?"

"You've already asked."

"You're such a pert! But it's a permission form right? And that means you need your mother or me to sign it, so it's best if you tell us what it's for." Mr. Yuuki sat back with a chuckle, wanting to hear how his daughter will rebut his argument starter.

"You can read right? Then pick up the form and read it." The response was immediate and cold; the man could almost feel the icy aura from behind.

"Nope, I can't, I only managed to run my business by luck. I depend on my managers to read for me." He acted stupid, and picked up the form, staring at it with a lost expression.

"Looks like gibberish. Ah! But I can read the little sentence down the bottom!" Clearing his throat he prepared to read.

"Rika Yuuki is to join-" Rika suddenly sprang up and snatched the form away.

"Alright. You win. It's for a tournament this Saturday right?" Sudden inspiration flitted across her face. "Just say you don't allow me to go. Save petrol for driving me to the grounds."

"Oh, but I can't! I want to be there to see my daughter play!" He whined, going as far as kneeling on one knee and clutching Rika's hand. "Please say yes." He added with puppy eyes.

Rika slapped his hands away. "Whatever. Just sign this stupid form. I'll go." With a huff, she stormed up the stairs and into her room, the sound of her door slamming echoed around the large house.

Mrs. Yuuki peered from behind the curtains and joined her husband onto the armchair. Silently they exchanged a high five both bore identical evil grins that matched their sparkling eyes.

Saturday came quickly, and Rika got up extra early to prepare. First she took a long shower and sprayed herself with strong perfume. Then she tiptoed back to her room and picked out a miniskirt (i.e.: her mother's) and her orange shirt, the colours clashed horribly, but Rika didn't care. Opening her mother's makeup kit (which she had 'borrowed' last night), she applied mascara and lipstick, smearing her lips with this horrible orange colour, making her look as if she had kissed a pumpkin. Her dark hair was finally free of the elastic tie she always tied it with, to Rika, every step was important.

Totally oblivious that her parents were nearly wetting themselves with laughter, they drove to the tournament grounds in one piece, both of them still cracking up.

The rest of the team was already there, stretching and talking. As Rika approached, all of them fought hard to stop them from sniggering, and even Ryoma's mouth twitched. The coach walked briskly towards them, waving the order of matches around. "We're going thi-CRIKEYS!" At this, the whole team (minus Ryoma) fell to the ground, weak with laughter.

"Ri-BOB! Stop, uh, um…" Even the coach surrendered to the bubbles of laughter rising from his stomach. This time Ryoma joined them, laughing long and hard.

Rika folded her arms. "I'm not a boy. I'm a girl. You just have to un-sign me right now."

"But there's a problem." Wiping tears, Paul stop up. "You're not a guy, but you don't look like a girl either!" Everyone continued to laugh, some pounded their fists onto the concrete, howling.

Rika bit on her lip. "So? If I don't seem like either, I can't participate right? Besides you can use the same player twice, so why can't you use a boy to be Ryoma's partner?"

Mr. Jones shook his head. "Each of them is going twice already, except Rio ma, we can't take the risk of overworking them. So, you have to play, no excuses."

Rika grumbled and unzipped her bag, taking out her racket. "I'm off practising." She said. The coach stopped her.

"First, let's wipe off the face paint and get you into some decent clothes." He handed her the team shirt and a pair of white shorts.

"You're so predictable." He added, before turning away to tell the rest of the team to shut up.

Rika strode into the bathroom and cleared her face of the muck, she even changed into the clothes she was supposed to wear. Truth was, Rika felt uncomfortable wearing make up and the miniskirt made it hard for her to even walk. Even her trusty orange shirt was covered with lipstick, and though it barely showed, Rika could fell it through the thin fabric.

When she returned, nobody laughed, they just stared at her. Turning around to go back to the bathroom, she felt someone pull on her shirt.

"It's fine. Don't worry, now you look like a human now." Paul grinned. He threw her a tennis ball and gave her racket to her.

"Come practise with us." Mike, another member said.

"We need your help. You're damn good for a girl." Another, Harry, added.

Rika accepted the offer and started stretching, not noticing that Ryoma had already left and was walking to an empty court to practice.

Watching the rest of her team laugh and joke around as they stretched and practised, Rika suddenly had a feeling she had never experienced before. She felt warm, it was not her body that was warm (even though it was, with the stretches) but her heart, and for the first time in her life, she was glad she was part of a team. Also, it was the first time someone acknowledged the fact that she was worth being friendly to. (Of course, excluding Danielle, but even then, she IS her cousin.)

"M School versus H School. Match is starting in five minutes at X court." The loudspeaker blared from overhead. Rika joined the others and made her way down to the right court. Meeting the other team, they exchanged a brief acknowledgement. Rika strode quickly away from the other team, blending in with the tall figures of her teammates. I need something to cover my long hair, she panicked.

"Oy." Someone placed a cap onto her head. The cap slid down and covered her eyes, pushing it up, she looked around, Ryoma looked straight ahead, his green hair fluttering slightly in the breeze.

"Thanks." Rika manage to mumble. Ryoma grunted and quickened his pace. "We're second." He informed her.