talking in unison

Emphasis

'thoughts'

"talking"

Chapter 14: A Challenge Issued

Several days later….

'God what is wrong with me? It's been days and I still haven't say anything to Sakuno, about how I feel. Man, this frustrating.' Ryoma groused as he dressed for morning tennis practice. Even if school was out for three more days, the regulars had a game this Saturday and Tezuka wanted them to have practice matches.

Three more days till school restarted and then he wouldn't have any free time to just hang out with Sakuno. He hadn't gotten to do anything except hang out with his brothers. He liked his brothers but they were starting to annoy him. I mean just because his room had the only working computer right now didn't mean he liked the fact his room had become a welcome mat for everyone. Between his father looking up perverted things, Nanako doing her last exam reports before graduating college, his mother looking up recipes, and his brothers barging in at all times of day or night to play videogames; he was definitely ready for tennis practices to start just so he could get away from them all for a while.

He just hadn't counted on his brothers coming to practice with him. Now he watched as Momo and Eiji alternated in groping the two Echizens, instead of him, as they too dressed for practice. Tezuka had given them permission to join the tennis team while they visited, so they would be practicing with the non-regulars as the regulars practiced for the tournament.

"Hey guys, it's time for practice better head out before the Captain gets mad at us." Momo said, and then head locking the two he headed out the door. Eiji laughed as the twins tried to wiggle their way out of Momo's arms, before he turned to get Ryoma.

"Ochibi it's time to go."

"Yeah, yeah I'm coming Eiji." Ryoma grabbed his racket and headed outside to the courts.

The sun was blaring down on the courts, making Ryoma squint as he left the darker, air conditioned club room. The freshman were already setting up the courts as the older students grabbed ball baskets and practiced with their swings as a warm up. Eiji and Ryoma were the last to enter the courts, so they shut the fence gates behind them.

"Alright, everyone gather around, we have two people we need to introduce." Oishi called out. Tezuka who'd been talking to the coach, came over to finish addressing the group.

"Everyone, I'd like to introduce two new members that will be participating with us for an unidentified amount of time." Nodding the two Echizen brothers stepped forward. "Introduce yourselves."

"I'm Echizen, Rio." Rio said stepping forward. "Please take care of me."

"And I'm Echizen, Eric." Eric said bowed a bit more stiffly. "Please take care of me." Tezuka nodded and the two went back into the line up. After addressing the group on what each group would be doing, they were dismissed for practice.

Echizen went over to wait his turn for the court. They would be practicing four against one, today and right now Momo was getting creamed. He was up against Kaidoh, Inui, Fuji and Oishi. After the four won the game and Momo was breathing hard on the ground, the others were walking off the court to get a drink and a towel.

"Just because we won doesn't mean we're not tired, Momo was as enthusiastic as always." Oishi commented as they headed out of the gate. Getting up Ryoma grabbed Momo's water bottle and brought it over to him. Momo accepted it with a grateful lift of his mouth. After chugging half the bottle Momo had his energy back and it was Ryoma's turn.

He was doing fairly well under the pressure his sempais were putting on him. He was about to score the final match point and win, when he heard his brothers yell. "His left side is open, and you're to spaced apart he's going to get the point." Ryoma gritted his teeth, as the regulars moved into said space cutting off Ryoma's point and scoring them it instead. Since it was a one point match up, Ryoma lost. The regulars grinned at their win, and Ryoma was ready to split in frustration. Walking off the court he headed to his brothers.

"Do you mind keeping your traps shut. I almost won." He glared down at his unrepentant bothers. They both smirked at him, and immediate their father.

"You're still mada mada, shounen." This mad Ryoma even angrier. He hated it when his father made fun of him and now here his brothers were doing the same thing.

"If you weren't related to me, I swear I'd murder you." The brothers shook the comment off as hot air. They really loved picking on their nii-san. He was just too easy once you knew his weaknesses.

"You know, I bet if you really had to play me you wouldn't be so sure about yourselves." Ryoma stated. He brothers shared a smirk.

"If we played against you, you'd lose big time big brother." Eric said, and Rio nodded adding.

"After all we've watched you, and we know all your weaknesses."

"Oh really?"

"Really." They said together.

"Fine when we get home, I'll show you just how many weaknesses I have." Ryoma smirked back.

"Agreed."

"Saa that would be interesting to watch." Came a feminine voice by Ryoma. Fuji, Inui and Oishi had overheard their conversation, so Fuji decided to intervene.

"Yeah I'd like to see that too."

"It'd be good data."

"Why don't you have it here after practice, so we can all see it." Fuji suggested. Ryoma looked at his brothers and shrugged.

"Okay."

"Saa, I'll tell Tezuka, he wouldn't want to miss it." Fuji moved away, and slowly the others did as well, after all they still had training to do, before they could have their match.

………………………………………………………………………..

Sorry it's short I don't feel like writing more at this time, but I promise I will next time.

Please Read and Reviews. Comments welcome.

Later,

BDOB