hahahhahhaha...sorry for the long delay. my beta's having some tech problems so this is not edited. i made major revisions on the story... too bad i already finished 3 chapters ahead. anyway...please review! thanks!

Vic: let me know if you're up and running once again. miss ya!

PLEASE REVIEW!

Note: "" for dialogs and '' for thoughts and flashbacks and '' for SF

I may shift from Cassandra to Cassy….for the sole reason that Cassandra is too long to type.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Atobe cried in surprise.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Fuji turned accusingly to Ryoma.

"Did you ask?" the youngest snapped back.

"No wonder why you looked so familiar." Tezuka said.

"And very much adept into describing grips." Sanada added.

"Come on guys, loosen up. I didn't come here for me." Cassandra said with a smile.

"Cassandra Errol, World's No. 1 in Women's Tennis…in my house…" Atobe kept muttering to himself.

"Ohh Inui's gonna be so jealous!" Fuji suddenly blurted out.

"Inui-senpai?" Ryoma raised an eyebrow.

"He's a fan Ryoma." Fuji told him.

Cassandra let out a laugh. Their conversation started off in the right direction. They ate lunch and went out to the garden to continue their discussion.

"Well I'm glad my real identity is already out. Now, tell me about yourselves and this relationship." Cassandra said. This got the attention of the young men in front of her.

"You knew about us?" Sanada asked. Ryoma never mentioned anything to them about opening this sensitive topic to anyone else. They all agreed that it needs full confirmation from all five of them whether they're going to tell someone else about their relationship. All four pair of eyes stared at Ryoma.

"Don't look at me. I didn't say anything! Not a single word! Promise!" Ryoma said defensively.

"But who did?" Atobe hissed.

Cassandra knew this was going to happen.

"He didn't say anything. Actually, he was equally shocked when I told him that I already knew about you guys." She said while raking a hand through her hair.

"Would you mind if I ask who told you?" Tezuka asked ever so politely.

"No problem…" she waved a hand. All eyes are on her as of this moment. "It was Aunt Rinko."

"MOM!" Ryoma gasped in disbelief. He figured it was his father to drop the bomb but never his mother. He trusted that she was never the gossip-type of person.

"Yes." Cassandra confirmed, smiling at the memory that flashed through her mind.

"But how? They haven't said anything to me." Ryoma sat up indignantly. "Because the Circle decided not to." Cassandra told them.

"Circle?" The other four asked in unison.

"Ok…there must've been things that Ryoma forgot to tell you over the years. Don't tell me you haven't told them yet." Cassandra raised her eyebrow at Ryoma.

"How am I supposed to remember? There's tennis, then school, then tennis again, them, then college…" Ryoma rapt.

"I'm confused. Is there something that you should've told us Ryo-kun?" Fuji asked Ryoma. "Ok I'll explain." Cassandra said and took a deep breath.

"When I said Circle, I'm pertaining to the private organization that our parents out up, the ERKAECHIKO Circle. This group is composed of five big names in the world of Tennis and Soccer especially way back in the eighties." Cassandra started. Everybody was listening intently to her.

"It was founded by my Uncles Patrick Errol, Daisuke Kanou, Kaede Kobayashi and my baka oyaji." Ryoma added.

"Nanjirou-san?" Sanada asked.

"Yup." Ryoma nodded.

"Wait. Patrick Errol and Kaede Kobayashi, you mean Nanjirou Echizen's greatest rivals?" Fuji asked.

" uhuh." Cassy nodded.

" hmmm…and Daisuke Kanou, the father of the two best soccer players of Japan." Atobe added.

"At first it was just a secret club, you know, fathers planning to mold their children's future for them. With hard work they started putting up sports-oriented companies. They, together with their wives became the First Generation of ERKAECHIKO. Ryoma and I, together with Nanako, Kyosuke, Saisuke, Kotaro and Hatoko became the Second Generation and upon finishing college we will soon ascend to take over our parent's places on the corporate ladder." She explained.

"And I thought your father was just a lazy old bum." Fuji told Ryoma.

"Uncle Jirou might appear lazy to everyone but he handles business perfectly." Cassandra defended.

"It's useless Syusuke. She's a Nanjirou-fan forever." Ryoma told Fuji.

"Really?"

"Ok…back to the topic. Why did the Circle decided not to inform us that they already knew?" Tezuka asked.

"Yeah." Sanada added.

"Because I don't want you to get exposed yet. The media's eyes are upon us. You wouldn't want to have your relationship publicized without your consent." Cassandra answered. The maid came back to refill their tea.

"So what happens now?"

Cassandra sighed. "We're ok with it." Their eyes widened in surprise.

"REALLY!" they asked in unison. The woman just shrugged. She took one last sip and smiled Ryoma.

"Ne Ma-chan…"

"Yes Nee-chan?"

"Would you mind if I talk to them for a few minutes? There is something that I would like to discuss with your boyfriends privately. Would that be ok?" Cassandra said. Ryoma eyed his cousin suspiciously.

"Is there something that I should know about?" he asked, golden eyes glinted in slight malice.

"Maybe later…after I've finished talking to them." Cassandra smiled.

Ryoma stood up reluctantly. He turned to his lovers and said, "If she says anything bad to you, tell me. I'll tell Uncle Rick." Ryoma said. Atobe smiled at him nervously.

"Don't worry."

"And…"

"Don't worry Ma-chan…I think they'll tell you everything after I'm done speaking with them."

"O-ok. I'll be in the living room if you need me." With this, Ryoma stood up and left.

Silence fell upon them for a few minutes and tension kept increasing.

"Cassandra…" Fuji started.

"Don't worry Fuji-kun. Nanako already told me." She said with a small smile. Atobe can't help but stare at her.

"So you already knew…" Sanada started, "about our worries regarding Ryoma."

"Yes. I guess he told you that I'm the only girl he ever loved and that disturbed you." Cassy said, eyeing them carefully.

"To be honest with you, yes. Forgive us Cassandra-san but we can't seem to accept the fact that you're return might be the cause of Ryoma's departure form the relationship." Fuji told her.

"And for that we tried to formulate plans to delay or cancel our visit. Forgive us." Atobe added.

Cassy sighed and shifted in her seat. "I suspected that. I suspected it from the time Nanako called me up to beg that I cancel my visit."

"She did that?"

"Yes. I guess she realized that my return might jeopardize Ryoma's feelings and he'll eventually choose me over you." She replied. The gentle wind blew softly, indulging them with the sweet scent of the flowers as they grew silent for a while.

"I knew about Ryoma's feelings about me ever since we were kids. That is why when I decided to leave; I was torn deep inside because I know I'll be breaking his heart. Ryoma told me earlier that he finally realized how he truly felt about me." Cassy stated. Atobe felt his heartbeat quicken. Cassy can notice the sad expression on their faces.

"He told me that his love for me is pure like the love of a child for his mother."

With this the boys' facial reaction changed.

"And I for him as well. You know, having fathers that are rivals in tennis actually left the two of us alone most of the time. Dad and Uncle Jirou are more interested in who's going to get the first point in they famous one-set matches than in taking care of us so I was the one who looked after Ryoma ever since he was a baby. I loved him more than a cousin should be loved or how a brother should be loved. I loved him like he was my own." Cassy said and stood up. She sat between the four men and held their hands.

"And with this unspoken status that I have, I give you my trust. Promise me that you will love him as much as I do or if you can, more than what I could give him. I entrust to you his life." Cassy told them with tears glistening in her eyes. Happiness filled their hearts upon hearing what Cassandra has to say.

"Don't worry Cassandra. We promise we'll take care of him. We'll love him with all of our hearts." Atobe told her, tears welling up his eyes as well. His prayers have been heard. Ryoma will stay with them forever.

"Now I'm not pressuring you. If ever the time may come that you don't feel that love for him anymore, just return him to me and I'll take him. As much as possible, return him whole." She added.

"Don't worry Cassandra. We'll do our best not to hurt Ryo-kun." Tezuka assured her. Cassandra wiped her tears and hugged her new friends.

"Don't hurt him ok?" she said. "We promise." Sanada told her. They broke off their hug with smiles on their faces. "Oh by the way….don't call me Cassandra anymore. Call me Cassy, ok?"

"Ok."

"Now Ma-chan, you can now get out. Must be hard crouching like that behind the begonias." Cassy said. The four gasped in surprise when a very pouty Ryoma appeared behind the flowers.

"Ryo-kun…" They muttered. Ryoma just gave them a deadly glare.

"Now, now Ma-chan don't be like that. I know that there is some explaining to do so if you'll excuse me, I'll just get some things from the car ok?" Cassy said as she slowly walked away from them.

"C-Cassy!" Atobe yelled, hoping she'd stay while they explain.

"Good luck boys!" With this she disappeared from the garden. Silence befalls amongst them as Ryoma stared.

"Look Ryo-kun…" Atobe started.

"I can't believe that you doubted me." Ryoma murmured.

"We're sorry Ryo-kun. But you didn't quite clear some things with us." Sanada said. Ryoma crossed his arms across his chest, waiting for them to explain.

"You told us that she's the only girl you've ever loved…" Atobe started.

"… and you left us hanging after you said that so we figured you still love her…" Fuji added.

"…and you never opened anything else to us." Sanada finished.

"We're really sorry Ryo-kun. Please forgive us." Tezuka said. Ryoma can clearly see in their eyes that they're sorry. He took a deep breath.

"Baka senpai-tachi should go back to school and study English again. What a shame." Ryoma suddenly said.

"N-nani?"

"I said you should go back to school and study your English again." Ryoma repeated.

"Ryo-kun, you're confusing us." Sanada told him.

"I said she's the only girl I've ever LOVED…love with an "ed". Don't you know what's that suppose to mean?" Ryoma said haughtily. It took a few minutes before they could recover until one by one they embraced Ryoma tightly.

"We're sorry Ryoma. It was stupid of us to assume." Tezuka said.

"Ne buchou... Kunimitsu…mada mada dane! Nee-chan said they're ok with us but I don't think she's already used to seeing guys hug like this and all." Ryoma protested. They suddenly broke off realizing the effect of Ryoma's words.

"You're right." Sanada said.

"Ohh pooh! I've seen more than that!" Cassy suddenly spoke behind them with a silly grin on her face.

"That's one hell of a cousin you have Ryo-kun." Atobe said while kissing him on the cheeks.

"Yeah…..she is…" Ryoma replied.

NOTES:

Kyosuke Kanou: Main Character of Striker: Hungry Heart. He was a punk turned into a soccer star. His main rival is his brother who became a very big soccer star before he did thus paving a rocky road for Kyosuke to take. Spoiler Alert! he became a Special Appointed Reserve player for the Japanese Soccer Team and was recruited as the Forward/Striker for Amsterdam in his 3rd yr, an achievement his older brother never had. Also it appears in the OAV that Kyosuke is an adopted child.

Saisuke Kanou: older brother of Kyosuke. He's the star player from a rival school. His achievement became a big hurdle for Kyosuke and actually forced his little brother to quit soccer. During the series, he was the current Forward/Striker for the renowned AC Milan.

Daisuke Kanou: their dad? Huh! I just made up the first name…

Kaede Kobayashi: actualization of Hatoko and Kotaru Koyabayashi's dad from Angelic Layer…I made the first name up too…Mwahehehehehehehehe!

A/N: ARGH! Damn you inner demons! I do love cliff-hangers…last chappie I said I'm fix some of the boys' problems and reveal the main plot and I added hopefully…well I wasn't able to do the last part. Gomen ne! I'll try to do it next chappie ok? Please review!