Since she was a little girl, Ryoma found herself with troubling dreams, and abilities which she keeps hidden. She is also plagued by demons, another thing she hides from her team until she gets a fateful invitation...

Fighting to Avoid Recruitment

Yukimura's Hospital Room...

'Ara, it's a rare sight.' Yukimura commented as he saw Tezuka come into his room with the two Tantei. 'But I'm happy you came to see me, Tezuka.'

'Er that's because he's like us, now.' Ryoma said wryly as Yukimura gave Tezuka an owlish look. 'For now, he starts at the bottom of the ladder like you used to. And he wants to know everything since by chance, he saw me quarter a Tournament Scout.' Yukimura sweatdropped. What a way to learn the truth.

'Sou ka...so Tezuka, have any special abilities?' Yukimura asked Tezuka with a smile. 'If you trained hard enough, you'll have your own special ability. Whether for fighting or not, it's still special.'

'I don't know...all I can do is see...things best left in horror movies.' Tezuka said wryly. 'I'm not trained yet. So you're saying I can have my own power if I'm trained?'

'Pretty much it. What do you think, Echizen?' Yukimura asked Ryoma. 'What ability will fate give him I wonder...'

'Saa ne, but as long as it suits him, it's OK.' Ryoma nodded. 'Buchou...you'll be learning more about our world. You have to.'

xxx

That night when Tezuka came home...

He could not believe what he got himself into.

His kouhai, her best friend, Yukimura and now he himself, are spiritually-enhanced humans with the ability to see what humans will never see and understand. He learned about Reikai and it's laws regarding humans and youkai, and Makai, the world of the demons. But as they were avoiding scouts from the Tournament, they were lying low and even Yukimura stopped training his reiki just to hide from the committee as she was focused on protecting her helpless student than fight.

Well, he knew now why she had no qualms about killing...she was killing to live another day rather than get killed and eaten.

As if he could tell Atobe and Sanada THAT. They'll NEVER believe him unless he sees with his own eyes the horrible truth. He went to his family training halls in his martial arts gi in deep thoughts. He traced when he could start seeing monsters and ghosts.

He started to see things when serious muscular and stamina training began. At first he could sense...but when the Districts started...he could SEE the damn things...and his left arm slowly healed. The pain he was used to slowly disappeared. Then he could sense supernatural powers and it came from his kouhai who was in fact, secretly healing him while pretending to be clingy around him. He could feel her power heal him whenever she had the chance to cling to him. However, in turn, being exposed to her powers awakened his own latent potential. Not that he told her of course. He didn't. She was already nervous in letting him know and Yukimura looked ready to hit him if he wasn't...accepting and open-minded. Well, when he was, they all sighed in relief. Ryoma and Yukimura feared social ostracizing for being different after all. Now that he's like them...well...

He didn't say a word about that. He was thankful that he could soon return to the courts, so he kept her power a secret. And she never uses her power to enhance herself in Tennis and plays with her own efforts so he kept her secret...that or he thought her power centered around healing...until a couple cours ago when she could conjure weapons which was her REAL power. The healing thing turned out to be a Reiki basic.

Ryoma promised she would train him when the Ankoku Bujutsukai begins. That way, they can be sure there's no more pesky scouts and ahem, recruit them unwillingly.

xxx

Their match against Yamabuki came.

Their doubles improved but still, lack of experience still made Fuji and Kawamura lose against Nitobe-Ichiuma pair by 7-6. Oishi and Kikumaru struggled but they won 7-5. But they still had lots more to work on. Next was Momoshiro against Sengoku. Momoshiro learned an advanced technique, Jack Knife, a technique favored by some pros...at least it was not like Fuji Yuuta's Twist Spin Shot so Ryoma had no problems against Momoshiro's new technique, and he still played despite a leg cramp and his leg gave in when he won at 7-5.

That, was one thing he would get an earful for later from Ryuzaki for sure.

Next, was Ryoma's turn against Akutsu.

'Tche, I get to fight a woman?' Akutsu spat in distaste.

'Got a problem with that?' Ryoma spoke coolly.

'I do and I'll show it in this match.' Akutsu sneered. 'I'd like to see you try win against me!'

'Big mistake that guy made...hime-chan can be scary when she wants to.' Kikumaru shuddered.

'We SHOULD be scared if she speaks in her real voice.' said Kawamura sheepishly. 'It's been happening lately but she uses her real voice when she's serious or upset.'

'And when she does...no mercy.' Inui stated flatly. 'If Akutsu provokes her, it's over.'

'Uhuhuhuhuhu!' Momoshiro, Kaidoh, Kikumaru and Kawamura paled when Ryoma giggled...yes, GIGGLED! In her real voice!

'Holy crap! Here it is!' Momoshiro yelped in fear. Her real voice, is their warning sign that she'll get serious or if something pissed her off. She warned them in advance, thankfully.

'Men may win battles...but it's always the women who wins the war.' Ryoma spoke in perfect English, complete with Californian Accent, startling the spectators and Akutsu himself as she skillfully twirled her Racket like a baton by the handle. 'And I intend to win the war, little boy.' and a battle of rough Tennis erupted between the two. In flat shots and smashes. However, with her background...Akutsu found himself struggling against her. The score now bordered on 5-3 in Ryoma's favor.

'H-h-holy cow...she could actually face Akutsu?' Sengoku choked out with wide eyes.

'Sugoi desu...there's actually a strong girl who could actually face Akutsu-senpai!' Dan taichi gasped. 'What is she desu?'

'A Sleeping Tiger.' Fuji quipped.

'Ticking Time Bomb.' said Oishi wryly.

'Dormant Volcano.' said Inui, causing many people to sweatdrop. 'If she's serious or provoked, she would use her real voice to talk. But in her provoked state, she can constantly hit flat shots. Ii data. Tezuka, in her private match with you...'

'She never did.' said Tezuka. 'She was serious yes, but not provoked.'

'Sou ka...ah, she won.'

/Game and Match, Echizen! 6-4!/

xxx

The winner is Seigaku followed by Yamabuki, Ginka, Fudoumine and Hyotei-the school that won the Consolation...and these five schools will participate in the Kantou Tournament.

But...two Captains had a private meeting together.

'Tezuka.' Atobe spoke as he came out from behind the trees. 'I heard what happened from the other spectators. Ryoma got provoked?'

'Aa. Thankfully it's just Tennis. Not anything to do with real danger.' Tezuka sighed. 'She...she gave us a warning beforehand.'

'A warning?'

'Aa. If she ever talks in her real voice...everything will end. That was the warning she gave us.' Tezuka chuckled. 'That girl may be scary but full of potential...enough to surpass us.'

'Anything else you learned about her by any chance?'

'...let's say that...if you threatened the people she likes...you would wish for a quick death than suffer in suffering.' Tezuka said mysteriously. 'You'll know if you're in danger and she happened to be nearby.' and he left.

'Oy Tezuka? What do you mean by that? Hey!'

xxx

On the way home...it wasn't all peace and quiet.

'I'll be at the playground!' Ryoma called out after getting a shower and changed into casual clothes.

'Playground? Aren't you too old for that sorta thing Bishoujo?' Nanjiroh called out after her.

'Team Meeting there!' and the door slammed shut.

'It's just a team meeting, no harm done there.' Rinko pointed out while cooking.

'Haaa...I wish she's not the only girl in that team.' Nanjiroh sighed. 'She needs a girlfriend who's a good influence in teaching her how to be a proper girl!'

Little did the couple know that Ryoma had been killing Youkai Scouts left right and center around her area.