Author's notes: Finally, I have updated this story.

I know I haven't updated in months! I'm very sorry! I had school and exams and everything. Plus, I received something I term a "flame" from someone who didn't know the situation at all. That got me pretty mad.

This chapter took a very long time for me to come up. It is not very interesting, but it is fundamental to the development of the story. Although this chapter might not be as good, it really took a lot of thinking and planning.

So please bear with this chapter and look forward to future chapters! A new chapter would be beginning!

I will be on a holiday to Australia for 2 weeks so please do not expect any updates from me for some time! Perhaps I may return will new inspirations!

Thanks to all my reviewers!

Please read and review! I really need to know what you guys think of this story and from your reviews, I will decide how I am going to continue with the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis or any of its characters.

Chapter 21: Perfect Lie

Akaya moved his feet which felt as if they were made of lead. He did not know how he did it, but he managed to make it back home. He stood outside the door of his home, unsure of how to handle what was to happen. He reached out to grasp the doorknob but hesitated a few centimetres away from it. His mind was in complete confusion; he felt so lost. Akaya didn't know if what he was doing was the right decision.

"Akaya!" A chirpy voice greeted him as the door swung open.

Akaya's eyes held a tinge of surprise as he recognised the person at the door as his mother.

"What are you doing there Akaya?" Akaya's mother asked him. "Come on in. You are just in time for dinner."

"Err..ummm…" Akaya let out before entering his house and heading straight for his room. Once in the privacy of his room, he dumped his tennis bag on the floor and slumped himself on a chair.

"Man! What am I to do!" Akaya thought. He was very frustrated. He badly needed to vent it on something before he became mad.

"Akaya! Come down for dinner!" Akaya's mother called from below.

With a sigh, Akaya dragged his feet out of his room and to the dining table. At least there was still dinnertime for him to think things over.

After dinner, Akaya leaned against the wall at the corner of the house and flipped his phone open. Sakuno still had not sent him any messages or even called him. Anger started to build up within him when he imagined that she and Ryoma is a dating couple. He would never accept it for as long as he is alive.

"Akaya?" Akaya's mother asked worriedly, pulling him out of his own thoughts. "Are you ok?" Unknown to him, his thoughts had all surfaced on his features and he glaring sternly at nowhere in particular.

"You didn't eat much during dinner too." Akaya's mother continued. "Usually you will have a very large appetite. However you were just picking at your food today! Is anything wrong?"

"Kaa-san…I…" Akaya paused. He did not know how and wasn't sure if he should bring the matter across to his parents.

"What is it Akaya? You can tell me." Akaya's mother said.

A flash of images ran through Akaya's head. He thought about his parents, his home, then his Rikkai team mates, then Sanada and Yukimura who he have not defeated yet. The image of sweet Sakuno lingered in his mind before it was intruded by Ryoma.

Echizen Ryoma, the man who seemed to ruin everything Akaya did. The more he thought about Ryoma, especially he and his Sakuno together, he got angrier and angrier. Finally, these emotions overtook him.

"Kaa-san." Akaya looked straight at his mother. "I want to move to Seigaku."

There was shocked silence in the house. Everyone in the Kirihara household turned to stare at the youngest son in the house.

"What did you just say?" Akaya's father blurted out, being the first to regain his composure.

"I want to move to Seigaku." Akaya repeated himself, this time in a firmer tone.

"Akaya, are you crazy?" Akaya's sister let out.

"Why?" his mother asked. "Did something happen at your school? Are you being bullied?"

"How can Kirihara Akaya be bullied?" Akaya stated arrogantly. "It is just that Seigaku has offered me a scholarship which will cover all my expenses. I'm already 17. I think that I should be independent." He used the excuse taught to him by Yanagi. It came out so fluently that even Akaya himself could not believe it.

Another pregnant silence reigned in the house over Akaya's little speech. Everyone was dumbfounded over the sudden news.

"Why the sudden…" Akaya's mother was shocked.

"Akaya, are you sure about this?" Akaya's father asked.

Akaya nodded his head. "I think it is about time for me…"

"Since this is the case," his father continued. "I will respect your decision."

"Tou-san…" Akaya glanced at his father.

"If your father has said that, there is nothing else we can say." Akaya's mother said.

"Make sure you make it onto the Seigaku regular team or I will never tell anyone you are my brother!" his sister threatened.

"Ok, I'll do my best." Akaya gave his family members a small smile.

Kirihara Akaya has pulled off the perfect lie.

Akaya stared at the transfer form in his hands. It now held two signatures, that of his and his parents. His transfer was almost complete. All he had to do was to hand in the official application form to quit Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku.

Akaya stopped in front of the general office of Rikkai Dai, the forms in his hands. He gave a sigh and hesitated entering. However, he closed his eyes and took in one deep breath. When he opened them, they reflected a renewed determination in them.

"You have made up your mind Kirihara Akaya. It is now or never!"

Akaya was fidgeting and walking up and down in the club room. It was very obvious that he was nervous and worried. He had contemplated not telling the Rikkai regulars about his to-be exit from Rikkai Dai and entrance into Seigaku. However, the responsible part of him won over the other and therefore no matter how hard it was going to be, he would go through with it.

"Akaya." A deep voice with a commanding tone called out. "Why did you call the regulars here?"

"Fuku-buchou." Akaya greeted and eyed Sanada uneasily.

"I believe Akaya has something to tell us." Yanagi said calmly.

"I…I…" Akaya stuttered on his words, which was uncommon for him.

"What is the matter Akaya?" Yukimura asked. "You can just say it."

"Yukimura-buchou, I…" Akaya looked at Yukimura, then down towards his shoes. Gathering all the courage he had, he let out what he wanted to say in one breath.

"I'm moving to Seigaku!"

The regulars were all silent. Then laughing broke out.

"That's a good one Akaya! Hahahaha!" Marui laughed.

"I didn't know you could crack a joke!" Jackal commented.

"You have the potentials of being a trickster." Niou smirked.

"It's true!" Akaya let out, indignant that he was being treated as a joke.

"Stop it Akaya!" Marui got out in between laughs. "My tummy is hurting! Hahahaha!"

"It is not a joke." Yanagi proclaimed. That's was where the laughing stopped and the mood became solemn.

"Akaya has just handed in his transfer form." Yanagi added.

There was shocked silence in the room. The Rikkai regulars stared at Akaya, not saying a word.

"Akaya!" Sanada boomed. "Is it true?"

"Yes." Akaya answered hoarsely.

Sanada Genichiro, the Spartan vice-captain of the Rikkai tennis team, was furious. His face had completely evolved into that of a fuming monster.

"Why did you do that Akaya?" Jackal asked, concerned.

"Akaya has his reasons." Yanagi interjected. "And this is his choice. We have no authority to interfere."

Akaya shuffled his feet uneasily over the heavy glares shot to him by his team mates, or rather, ex-team mates. He tried to say something, but it got stuck in his throat and wouldn't come out.

"Kirihara Akaya!" Sanada roared.

Akaya flinched, ready for a beating by Sanada. However, it never came. Instead, Yukimura's voice took control of the situation.

"There are some things which Akaya must do there." Yukimura said. "We must respect his decision."

Yukimura's words seemed to have a calming effect on the team. The glares were lost on the face of the Rikkai regulars, except that of Sanada's. Yukimura made eye contact with Yanagi. It was obvious that Yanagi had told him about the matter as it would be of benefit. His words made some of the regulars wonder what Akaya's real purpose in transferring to Seigaku was.

"I'm sorry." Akaya managed to get out.

Sanada's glare never left Akaya. "You are not indispensable to Rikkai anyway. We have many who could take your place anytime." He stated, the anger in his voice evident. Akaya looked away, not daring to face him.

"You may once be our team mate," Sanada continued. "But the next time we meet on the courts, you are our rival. Do not blame us for our tenacity." With that, Sanada exited the club room. One by one, the regulars also left, afraid of incurring the wrath of the Spartan vice-captain. Soon, the room was only left with Akaya, Yanagi and Yukimura.

Yukimura looked at Akaya for some time before leaving with a little smile on his face. He believed there was no need for words and hoped Akaya would understand the meaning in his eyes one day. Yanagi also did not say anything, but gave him a pat on the back. The both of them left, leaving Akaya alone in the club room.

Akaya studied the club room carefully. This might be the very last time he could enter this room as a Rikkai regular.

"Goodbye Rikkai." Akaya said in a soft voice. As he turned towards the door, a new fire had developed in his eyes. Nobody knows what the future was like, but for now, the future was for Kirihara Akaya to take.

Author's notes: The chapter felt a bit rushed, but I had no choice... Anyway, please read and review!