DISCLAIMER: I do not own Prince of Tennis. I wish I owned Royal Pair though, but I don't. So...

WARNING: This is YAOI / BL story.

THANK YOU FOR R&R: Bluecean

A/N: This is second to last chapter. I'm looking forward to your reviews. Remember, bolded text is in English.

ENJOY !

Chapter 23: Oversized t-shirt

Altough Saitama Sport center was primarily a tennis facility, that did not mean that they didn't have some facilities associated primarily with other sports, like swimming pool or indoor volley/basketball court.

"Echizen!" Momo shouted to Echizen on the corridor. He was waving his arm furiously trying to get Ryoma's attention. "We are going to play basketball with few guys. Wanna join?"

"I don't know how much you think I've grown for the past years Momo-senpai, but I'm not really a basketball material." Echizen said showing the difference in high between him and Momo.

"Oi, Oi," Momoshiro protested, "don't be that modest. You may not be six feet tall, but you can jump. Look at your Cyclone Smash."

"I had other plans Momo-senpai." Echizen actually planned on meeting with Atobe somewhere… private.

"Please Echizen. Pretty please." Momoshiro clapped his hands in from of him and lowered his head a bit. "I do not see you anymore these days. Come one. Agree?"

Ryoma sighed. Maybe if he goes Keigo will miss him more. "Ok, Momo-senpai." He agreed. "Lead the way."

"Great! Let's go!" He grabbed Echizen's hand and dragged him towards the ground floor where the indoor courts were located.

The match was very intense, although the rules were not necessary obeyed fully to the dismay of Tachibana, who apparently had an episode with playing basketball, when he dropped tennis after the accident with Chitose. Some players had definitely problems with adjusting to the new game.

Kaidoh, whose stamina allowed him to run endlessly around was missing almost all of his shots. Each time he made a shot the ball was flying around the backboard instead of into the hoop. Inui was calculating flawlessly the trajectory, speed and power of his shots, and that would be all good, if not for the fact that when it came to implementation of those in practice, the ball was ending up in a complete different place. Gin Ishida was sitting offended in the corner as he was kicked out of the court after he used his level 30 Hadokyu and made a dent in the wall. Fuji, who was often playing on defense, was trying to use his Triple counters, but all he accomplished was sending the ball straight into the ceiling with his Higuma Otoshi, barely missing the lamps. After that he was banned from using this technique at the threat of joining Gin outside of the court. Suprisingly, Gakuto and Kikumaru proved to be one of the most valuable players. Thanks to their jumping abilities they were at least able to dunk the ball. Compared to other players Echizen was turning not that bad. He did not score, but due to his split step and very good mobility he was able to dribble with the ball between the players and pass it to whoever had a position to throw. Being constantly on bent legs and not being used to this discipline of sport unfortunately took its toll on Ryoma and his reflexes. When running with the ball just before the end of the second quarter of the game he did not duck fast enough and run into Kite's elbow. He bounced back and fell to the ground.

"You ok o-chibi?!" Kikumaru shouted running to his friend.

"Wheez." Echizen massaged his butt while he was getting up. "Just a bit bruised."

"Oi Echizen!" Momoshiro pointed a finger at Ryoma's face. "Your nose is bleeding."

"Oh?" Echizen touched his nose. When he looked at his hand he saw blood. It was currently dripping to his t-shirt. He did not even feel it. Did he lost his sense of touch? He looked to the right.

"I didn't do anything." Yukimura raised his hands in surrender. He was standing at the sideline from where he was observing the match.

"Let's take a few minutes break." Fuji said to the remaining players. "Here." He offered Echizen a tissue.

"Thanks Fuji-senpai," he took a tissue and went towards the bench. He pinched his nose and waited patiently for the blood to stop flowing. Five minutes and pack of tissues later his nose finally stopped bleeding. He got up and took a swing of water. "Alright, I'm as good to go."

"You sure are ok o-chibi?" Kikumaru asked worriedly.

Echizen popped his neck to one side and then to other. "Yup, let's go kick some butts." He moved toward the court.

"Hmm," Kite adjusted his glasses, "He is fine."

"Neeee, Echizen. Your shirt." Momoshiro pointed to Ryoma's shirt. It was stained with blood. And quite lots of it. He rummaged through his tennis bag. When he met Echizen earlier, he was on his way to leave it in his room. He could not however, risk leaving Echizen alone then as he was afraid he will simply ditch them.

"Here." Momoshiro threw a spare t-shirt at Ryoma.

Echizen caught it, but left it on the bench. "I'm good thanks."

"Don't make a fuss, Echizen. Just change." Momoshiro thrusted the t-shirt again into Ryoma's hands.

"Listen to your senpai. You are gross." Gakuto said, spinning the ball on his finger. He was getting quite accustomed to the basketball ball.

"Don't be rude Gakuto," Yukimura scolded his junior. "But he is right," he turned toward Echizen, "You look a bit hideous."

Ryoma growled and took the t-shirt. He turned his back to his friends and pulled his bloody t-shirt over his head. He was in the process of putting on the new shirt when he heard Yukimura.

"Aaaa, nice tattoo, boya."

"Tattoo?!" Momoshiro squealed. "You've got yourself a tattoo Echizen? And you didn't say anything?" In one big leap he got to Ryoma and turned him around. The latter still had his arms above his head, the t-shirt around his head exposing his chest.

When Momoshiro saw the tattoo he was rendered speechless for a few seconds.

"Oi Echizen." His eyes widened. "That is no good. No good at all." He gulped. "Do you know what is that symbol?"

"Yes." Echizen replied calmly breaking out of his friend grasp and pulling the t-shirt down. It was at least three sizes too big for him.

"Why did you do this?" Momoshiro was still looking at Echizen as though he was from another planet.

"I was drunk."

"But… why?"

Echizen sighed. "Because Ryoga is shitty in a role of a responsible adult."

"You know it's not what I'm asking about. Not at all."

Echizen started to move towards the court. When he passed Momoshiro he stopped with his back to his friend.

"Ne, Momo-senpai. Have you ever been in love?" He asked out of blue. Momoshiro became red up until the tips of his ears. Sure he had a girlfriend in a person of Ann Tachibana, but he did not think that was the love yet.

"You don't have to answer me now." Echizen said seeing Momoshiro's dilemma especially that Tachibana Kippei was with them on the court. "But when you finally are, be careful," Echizen continued, "a person does stupid things when in love." With that he moved to the center of the court, leaving dumbfounded Momo behind.

Gakuto shook his and moved to the center of the court as well, "That Atobe," he said under he breath, "Only a king could land himself a prince."

"Huh?" Kikumaru was turning his head furiously from side to side. He was trying to process what happened just now.

Yukimura just closed his eyes and started to move toward the door.

"Where are you going Yukimura?" Kite asked the Rikkai Dai captain. "We need a substitute for Kikumaru. He seems to be in a shock and unable to play now."

"You can handle it Kite. I have a bet to collect." Yukimura waved his hand and left.

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In the late evening after the game Echizen was heading to his room. He went up the stairs and turned left. He barely made few step when he saw Atobe. He was leaning on the wall next to his own room with his arms crossed on his chest.

"For someone who does not like to be the center of attention you sure fail at staying low, ahn?" As one could expect the news spread through the whole sport complex within an hour.

"Che." Ryoma stopped next to Atobe and moved his head to the side. "It's not like I do it purposefully, you know?"

Keigo grabbed Echizen by his shirt and drew him towards himself. If the cat was out of the bag he didn't have to be too cautious of his actions. He looked Echizen over. His hair was a mess and he was sweaty. But still the t-shirt was the worst.

"I don't want you to wear other men's clothes." He whispered into Ryoma's ear. His eyes were cold as steel. He did not really cared what was the story behind it. He simply did not like it. Period.

"Heh?" Ryoma smirked. "And what will you do about it?" He barely finished his question when a hot lips sealed his. Atobe took Echizen's lower lip between his teeth and bit. Not enough to draw blood but definitely enough to put his point across. When he became satisfied with the result, ie. the slight swelling of Ryoma's lip, he released him.

"Let me show you what I'll do about it." Atobe grabbed Echizen's wrist and dragged him through the door to his room and straight to the shower. That evening he showed him repeatedly, what awaited Ryoma for insubordination in that regards.

When almost two hours later they were leaving the bathroom Ryoma turned around to Atobe.

"You know Keigo, I might borrow Momo-senpai clothes more often from now on." He smiled.

"Brat."

"By the way, did you see Anabel? She came over to the courts earlier today looking for you." Ryoma asked putting on his shorts. He briefly considered putting on Momoshiro's t-shirt as well, but resigned in the end. Instead he went over to the wardrobe in the corner of the room and took one of Keigo's t-shirts. Love was definitely doing things to him. He was going soft. But when he turned and saw the smile on Keigo's face he did not mind going soft from time to time.

"Yes, she came over earlier to check on me." He put a hand over his his eyes and sighed. "Honestly, what she thinks I am? Five?"

"You can certainly act like stubborn five year old sometimes."

"Ryoooomaaaa" Atobe gritted his teeth.

"Love you too Monkey King." Ryoma smacked his lips in the air and left Keigo's room. It was almost midnight.

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"Yukimura, is there anything you wanted?" Sanada asked his captain when he made himself comfortable on his bed, leaving him no choice but to sit elsewhere.

"Why? Is it a crime to spend some time with my two favorite addicts?" Yukimura smiled innocently looking at Sanada, who was sitting in an unnaturally rigid position on the chair by the desk and Tezuka who tried to read the book on his bed. Around the same time as Echizen was getting back from the basketball game, Yukimura himself was heading towards his room. However upon seeing Atobe dragging Echizen into their room he decided to change the course.

"Che." Sanada scowled. He. Was. Not. An. Addict. For the past ten days he was successfully cut from his painkillers. By Yukimura non the less.

Tezuka looked at his watch. It was already past 10 p.m. He put away his book. He was looking at the same page for the past few minutes, but was completely unable to concentrate on it. "And what is the real reason for you being here at this hour?"

"I'd rather not get back to my room for a while." Yukimura smiled. He then proceeded to take out the deck of playing carts from his pocket. "Care for a round of poker?"

"Very well." Sanada stood up. His hands clenched into fist. "This time, I will be the winner. Tezuka?" He looked at Tawamure captain, who nodded.

"Yudan sezu ni ikou."

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Omake:

Two days earlier.

"Tezuka, you have so many couples in your team that I'm starting to think you are turning all of your players gay." Yukimura in the gym, where he and Tezuka were doing some exercises in the evening.

Tezuka stopped in the middle of his bench press. "You have one in your team as well", he referred to Otori and Shishido. "And two is not much greater amount than one."

"You've meant three Tezuka." Yukimura smiled. Tawamure captain looked at him skeptically.

"Fuji and Oshitari and Kikumaru with Oishi." Tezuka listed. "Although I thought that those two would never stop dancing around each other." He got back to his exercise of doing the bench press.

"You forget Atobe and Echizen." Yukimura said and looked like Tezuka lost focused and got crushed by the barbells. Yukimura let him lay like that for a few seconds before he helped him lift the weight.

"You are delusional, Yukimura." Tezuka sad sitting on the bench. He was done with weights for today. Otherwise it may not end well.

"How about a little bet then?" He reached his hand out to Tezuka. "The winner gets one wish that the loser needs to carry out."

"Are you five?" Tezuka asked. Pity in his voice. Honestly Yukimura was seeing love affairs all over.

"Are you chickening?" Yukimura replied.

"Fine." Tezuka grabbed Yukimura hand and shook. And the same, sealed his fate.

A/N: Thank you all for reading. I hope you've enjoyed it. Stay tuned for the last chapter.