A/N: Konichiwa Minna! Sorry it took so long for this chapter. Not only did I have a serious case of writer's block, but I also lost my job and had an anime convention to go to! But I'm back! Sorry this chapter is so short, I still have writer's block and struggling…but I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of tennis.

Chapter 27: Just Believe

Liberty Court: one of the biggest tennis conventions in the world. A place where tennis talents can show off what they were made of without the pressure of a tournament riding on their shoulders. Here it doesn't matter whether you win or lose…but how you decide to play the match and show sportsmanship to your opponent. You can either come as a single's player or bring a whole team…either way the competition is very fierce.

"Wow, I can't believe we get to play here!" Kikumaru said as they approached the tennis courts.

"Come on everyone we must get to the hotel. Let's get unpacked and then all of you come to my room and we'll have a brief meeting there." Ryuzaki said as she led her regulars towards the hotel connected to the tennis courts centre. She walked up to the front desk and checked them in before handing Tezuka the room keys except for two.

"Ok, to be fair there will be of course 2 to a room and we will do lottery drawing so the pairings are completely random." Tezuka announced. Once the names were drawn he looked up, "Ok, Momoshiro and Kikumaru you are in room 101. Kadioh and Inui you are in room 103. Oishi and Kawamura you are in room 105 and Fuji and I will be in room 107. Echizen-Sama and Ryuzaki sensei will have 109 and 111 since they are connected by a door."

Everyone gathered their luggage and went to their respected rooms.

"Tezuka, do you think it will be ok, if we go check out the tennis courts?" Oishi asked.

"I don't see why there would be a problem, just be careful ok." Tezuka answered as he followed Fuji into the elevator.

"Eiji when you finish unpacking let's go take a look at the tennis courts." Oishi said as he caught up to his boyfriend.

"Ok, I'll meet you in the lobby in ten minutes." Kikumaru answered as he followed Momoshiro into the other elevator.

*

"Wow it's huge! I still can't believe we're going to be playing here!"

Oishi smiled, "Come on Eiji let's head back to the hotel." He took his boyfriend's hand into his own and the two of them walked across the skywalk connecting the courts to the hotel. When they returned Oishi noticed Tezuka standing in the lobby.

"Oishi may I have a moment?" Tezuka asked.

Oishi nodded and placed a quick kiss on Kikumaru's cheek, "I'll see you in a few minutes." He approached the brunette captain, "Is something wrong? I thought we were going to have a meeting with Ryuzaki-sensei."

"Sensei is resting right now. But she and I have spoken with Echizen-sama and he has agreed to show the sights of New York to whoever wishes to see them." Tezuka explained, "Remember tomorrow we start intense training and then the matches begin. So I suggest we use today to enjoy the sights of this unique American city."

"When you say we I hope you're planning on including yourself." Fuji said as eh approached his tennis captain and vice captain. Hanging around is neck was his camera, "Since Echizen can't be here I plan to take LCTC back with me, including all the moments in between."

"In other words Fuji-sempai will be making a photo album or a collage." Momoshiro said as he entered the lobby followed by a flush faced Kaidoh."

"What's wrong with those two?" Fuji asked.

"When I got back to my room Momo and Kaidoh were fighting over the luggage. It turns out they both have identical suitcases." Kikumaru explained, "The only way they could figure whose bag was whose, was to open it. Turns out Kadioh has a stuffed animal in his."

Kaidoh looked away, "My oba-san made it for me before she passed on so it's sort of a luck charm I like to bring along."

"It was quite adorable." Momoshiro pointed out. He took a step back when he noticed Kaidoh giving him one of his famous glares.

"Nya don't tell me you two are going to start fighting. We just got here." Kikumaru said noticing Oishi readying himself to separate the two rivals if needed.

"You two realize if you start arguing both of you will be running 300 laps first thing tomorrow morning at 5:00 am." Tezuka sounded murderous."

"No need to worry Buchou. Even Viper and I know when to keep a cool head." Momoshiro replied shooting Kaidoh a knowing glance, "Besides I was being honest. I think something like that is sweet."

"Well in any case, its best we decide whose staying and who's going." Kawamura pointed out

"Isn't it obvious Taka-san? We are all going." Fuji said, "Does anyone know where Echizen-sama is?"

"I believe sensei mentioned he will probably be found in the hotel bar and grill." Inui stated as he walked into the lobby catching the last few words of the current conversation.

Tezuka nodded, "I'll be back in a moment." He headed in the direction of the bar. When he reached the entrance of the bar he was stopped by a fairly well built man.

"Need to see your ID bud."

Tezuka cleared his throat and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "No need for that sir." He spoke in nearly fluent English, "I am merely looking for someone. Can you please check and see if a Mr. Echizen is in there? He's a Japanese man dressed in the attire of a monk."

The man gave Tezuka a funny look before turning heel and walking into the slightly smoke atmosphere. Moments later he returned with a drunken Nanjiroh, "I think its best he leaves for the night. I think he's has one to many and he was starting to get a little rowdy."

Tezuka nodded his head in thanks as he managed to support Nanjroh and half-dragged, half carried him back to the others, "It seems are plans may have changed. Kawamura, will you assist me with escorting Echizen-sama to his room?" With some difficulty, Tezuka pulled the key card from the tennis samurai's pocket and the two Seigaku regulars carried the drunken monk to his room.

"What are we going to do now Tezuka?" Kawamura asked as he fooled his tennis captain back to the lobby.

Tezuka had chosen to take the stairs in order to give himself a moment to ponder on their current situation. He had wanted to see New York's splendors like the others. As Seigaku's captain he had a responsibility. The brunette was so engulfed in his thoughts he hadn't even noticed the map shoved into his hands, "What?"

"We just spoke to Ryuzaki-sensei on the phone from here and she trusts you to lead us like you always have." Oishi explined as he shot his captain a smile, "We made a list of the locations we wish to see and managed to mark them on the map. Out of all of us you have the best sense of direction."

Tezuka took a moment to glance at the map. A majority of the chosen locations were quite a distance from each other and he felt it would be best if they did not try to stuff all 8 of them in a single taxi, "Well we best get started. The distance we will have to walk will be equivalent to the laps I was going to assign tomorrow." He turned to face the others, Remember, we're not in Tokyo anymore. yudan suze ni iko"

"To bad O'chibi isn't here." Kikumaru said as he locked arms with Oishi, "He could be our tour guide."

"Yeah Echizen has left in New York hasn't he?" Momoshiro pointed out, "I wonder what Echizen is doing right now."

*

"Achoo!" A sneeze jerked Ryoma out of his blissful slumber. He rolled over to catch his alarm clock flash 5:30. He rolled back and buried his face in his pillow, "Either I'm getting sick or they're gossiping about me. Probably Momo-senpai above all else" He muttered. He tried his best to fall back asleep but failed miserably, "Hmm, maybe I'll go for a run."

Ryoma climbed out of bed and changed into red and Seigaku jersey including the track pants he had never worn, "Hmm, these are pretty comfortable." After slipping into his shoes, and walking out of the room, Ryoma stepped out of the facility and took off running. As he ran tons of thoughts began to course through his mind but he pushed them away since he wanted to focus on the task at hand.

"I need to get even better. I won't allow myself to wind up in a situation like this again." The young tennis player muttered under his breath as he continued to run. Considering he wasn't allowed to hit a tennis ball yet, his serve back at Seigaku being an exception, the next best thing he could to do train himself was by running. Plus all his tennis equipment had been locked up so even if he could play he would have to wait, "I don't care what I have to do…I'm going to see senpai tachi at Liberty Court!"

*

"Wow, this city is so cool, but I'm getting tired." Kikumaru murmured as he sat on the bench next to Oishi. The group had managed to see a majority of the locations they had wished to see and decided on visiting the rest after the convention.

"Tezuka, how far do you think it is to the hotel from here?" Fuj asked as he glanced up at the sky.

"If we start walking now, we should reach the hotel close to an hour and thirty minutes." Inui stated as he glanced at the map in Tezuka's hand.

"Let's head back." Tezuka said as he looked at the map and locked a mental picture of the route into his head before turning to the others, "Yudan suze ni iko."

"Tezuka, are you sure the training sequence Inui has written up for us is something we should really do right before something like this?" Oishi asked as he approached his captain

Tezuka didn't answer for several moments, "I trust Inui. I know he knows what best for his team. I have yet to see a time where he has let us down." He stopped at a cross walk and looked at Oishi, "I believe in my team and I know nothing can stop us."

*

"You are a stubborn one. I told you I would come and get you." Sagashita scolded the young tennis prodigy as soon as he returned to the facility. Seconds later he smiled, "Well let's get started. I know you want to improve and I'm going to help you as much as I can.

Ryoma nodded as he followed his trainer into the facility. He hadn't trained at all the previous day and had a lot of work to do, "Let's do this."

A/N: Ok, I was going to have the regulars get lost in New York, but I couldn't think of how so I hope you all liked this chapter. Next chapter liberty court starts and things are really going to heat up. 3 more chapters to go. 3 reviews= chapter 27!