A/N: This chapter is not my best work. This is what happens when you try to write through writers block. Anyway, this is going on hold for a minute. I'm having issues with it, but I'm starting another short for this story, like Detention, except this is gonna be for Atobe! And those of you, who have still not read Detention, get cracking!

Chapter 26

A World of Talent


"Ray!"

"Jesus Christ people screaming my name at the ass-crack of dawn…" said a groggy voice from beneath the plush resort comforter.

"WAKE UP!"

"I can't." the voice whined.

"Why not?"

Rayah rolled over and stared groggily at the other dark-haired female. After her vision cleared a bit she sat up, "Well, I'm glad to see you. Thanks for flying a billion miles to do so but…I have jet lag…"

"Rayah we have no time for that!" Yuki ripped the sheets off her friend, "The opening ceremony for the Nationals have started already!"

The teen rolled onto the floor, "You lie."

"No! I'm not! Fuji text me and told me that they're calling in the teams!" Yuki shoved her phone into her face and Rayah's eyes opened wide.

"Shit! Why didn't Ryoma wake me up!" she yelled as she stumbled to the bathroom.

Yuki started to tear about the room looking for the player's uniform, "You can ask him when you see him."

Atobe sighed heavily in Tezuka's ear for about the fourth time that morning. The bespectacled captain glanced at his watch, "She's coming Keigo. Relax."

The young heir didn't calm down much, "Ore-sama wouldn't be worried if someone had woken princess up!" he said as he glared at the young child behind him.

Ryoma simply shrugged. He knew that the girl needed an alarm or person in order to wake, but really, he wasn't her babysitter.

Tezuka looked down at his watch again. Then glanced behind him down the line of his teammates. Fuji checked his phone and shrugged.

"Nya! She's coming!"

Rayah bolted down the hall just as the announcer announced the Japanese team. "And team Japan! Consisting of players from Hyotei and Seishun Academies in the heart of Tokyo!"

The teens were blasted with the cheers and lights in the stadium as they entered it to stand in their places. Russia was called out and cheered for as Jirou tapped Rayah on the shoulder.

She looked over it at him, "Yeah?"

"What happened?"

"Ryoma didn't wake me up."

The boy nodded and put a hand on her shoulder, "Tezuka and Atobe decided to change the listing for you. You'll play finals if we don't lose today."

The girl hunched her shoulders a bit, "Alright."

The teens waved to the crowed and lined next to Russia. The announcer squared his shoulders to announce the last team, "And now the 'home team' America! Consisting of Washington Prep and L.A. Magnet."

Rayah scowled, "Fuck."

Kikumaru looked over his shoulder, "Ray-kun, what's the matter?"

The girl stepped a little closer to the red-head so she could whisper to just him, "When I lived in L.A. I went to L.A. prep."

"These nationals will take place in three days. Two days of preliminaries, and on the third day the top two counties will finish off." The announcer gave the crowd a minute to cheer before continuing, "This is also a random selection national. This computer behind me will randomly pick two teams to go first, it will then pick an opponent for each winner."

Inui fidgeted, fighting to not grab his notebook. He needed to figure this out now. Japan was good, Hyotei and Seishun were good, but some of these countries were no joke.

"I will now give the teams five minutes to prepare doubles and singles before the computer chooses the first two teams."

Tezuka went straight to Rayah and grabbed her upper arm gently, "Is everything ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine. Why?"

The boy shook his head. Inui flipped open a small marble notebook that he held within his uniform pocket. "There are twelve teams here including us; China, America, Russia, Germany, France, Ireland, Egypt, Spain, Nigeria, Switzerland, and Australia."

Fuji's smile faltered a little, "It's safe to say that our best bet is to be chosen last and either face Germany or France."

Oshitari adjusted his glasses; "It's safe to say that China might wipe the floor with us."

Rayah rolled her eyes and folded her arms, "How much you wanna bet that we'll end up going against them?"

"And now the first matchup!"

Everyone held their breath as the giant screen on the stadium wall flickered through the different countries. Rayah buried her face in Tezuka's shoulder in relief as Ireland and Spain popped up. The day went on slowly, anticipation building in the stomachs of all the teams. The matches rolled on, Ireland and Russia, Germany and Russia.

Jiroh yawned and stretched out on the bench, "Maybe we won't have to go today."

"And the next matchup! Germany and Japan."

Rayah smacked the back of the boy's head, "Way to go genius."

Atobe and Tezuka looked down their clipboard, "Kaidoh and Inui, doubles one. Oshitari and Gakuto, doubles two."

Tezuka passed the board to Atobe who continued, "Tezuka, singles one. Jiroh, singles two. Takashi, singles three."

The remaining players returned to the bench and cheered as Kaidoh and Inui took the court. Tezuka sat next to Rayah, placing his racket on the other side. "So how does it look?"

"Hn?"

"You've been to Germany before right? Seen their play style? How does this look for us?"

"Fine, what we should be worried about is who we'll be facing once we win."

The girl smirked and kissed his cheek, "Your confidence is sexy."

The matches went on, one by one. It was extremely fun, especially seeing Tezuka's embarrassed face when Rayah stood on the bench to cheer him on. It was the experience her father had always wanted for her. The feel of having a loving team, and friends to share the win with.

"Match to Kawamura! Win to Japan!"

The cheers and excitement were short lived as the giant screen flickered about again. They found themselves latched to each other and everyone seemed to lose their breath and color as the announcer shouted, "Japan and China!"