Disclaimer: I own Kiyokawa and nothing else.

Kiyokawa stared in disbelief as Kikumaru ran off. "Of all times, why did he have to do something now?" She thought, blankly waving to him. Turning to Tezuka, she said, "Shall we go then?" He nodded.

The walk home had an uncomfortable silence. Kiyokawa was usually quiet around people when she first met them and talked more and more when she warmed up to the person, but she at least could think of something to make small talk. However, with Tezuka she couldn't even do that. Even though they were the same age, Tezuka had a very intimidating presence. After walking for about twenty minutes in deafening silence, Kiyo opened her mouth to tell him that he didn't have to walk her all the way home since she did it alone everyday, but before she could, he broke the silence for her. "Kiyokawa?"

"Yes?" She replied, in a voice much smaller than she intended.

"I know you're in the kendo club, but have you ever played tennis?" Tezuka asked, looking at a set of stairs up ahead on the sidewalk.

"Well, two or three times, but I'm not very good. I can return the ball almost half the time." She laughed nervously.

"Would you like to play? There are some street courts up ahead and they won't be too crowded at this time."

Kiyo stared blankly as his words sunk in. Did he just ask her to play tennis with him? Yes. Tezuka Kunimitsu, captain of the Seigaku tennis club, had just asked her to play a light game of street tennis with him. "I, um, well…" She stammered.

"I see. Let's go then." He replied, taking her response as a no.

"No, I'll play. I don't have a racket or anything though."

"You can use one of mine." He offered, leading the two of them up the stairs.

Tezuka wasn't sure exactly why he had invited this girl to play tennis with him. The words flew out of his mouth before he even thought about them. Of course he had no intention of using his full strength against her. He wasn't even sure she could return a ball, but this girl vexed him. She seemed to be decent friends with Kikumaru so why had he never really noticed her before? Then again, he brushed off most of the female attention he received as it was mostly fangirls who only paid him any attention because of his looks and the fact that he was on the tennis team. She wasn't like any of them. He had only met her officially a day ago and he was already asking her to spend more time with him. Interesting, to say the least. He smirked inwardly. "I'm starting to sound like Inui. Maybe the tennis will clear my head." He thought.

A light tapping on his shoulder brought him out of his reverie. "Ne, Tezuka-san, did you hear what I said?" Kiyo asked, a concerned look on her face

"Huh? No, sorry."

Kiyo smiled. "It's ok. I just asked which court we were playing on."

"That one." He replied, pointing at the court furthest back.

The pair walked to the court and set their bags down on a nearby bench. Tezuka reached in his bag and pulled out two rackets. "Here. Take this one."

"Thanks." Kiyo replied, taking the racket from him. It felt small compared to her shinai, not to mention much lighter. She took a few practice swings, trying to remember how she was instructed to hold the racket, stopping and flushing slightly when she noticed Tezuka watching her.

"I'll serve." He stated, walking to the opposite side of the court. Kiyo nodded and took her position. Throwing the ball up in the air, Tezuka served the ball with only about a fourth of his actual power. Kiyo managed to hit it, only to have it slam into the top of the net.

"Sorry!" She exclaimed, running to pick up the ball, but Tezuka already had one in his hand, ready to serve. She managed to clear the net this time, and kept up the volley for about five hits until Tezuka hit his Zero-Shiki. She stared in awe as the ball dropped over the net and skidded back toward it. "What the…?" She looked puzzled as she approached the net and picked up the ball, staring at it blankly. "And just what was that?" She asked Tezuka.

"Zero-Shiki. My drop shot." He replied, approaching the net. "You hold your racket too high. Hold it near the end and you'll have better control." She nodded and did as he told, taking a few swings. True, it was much easier to swing that way. "And relax a little. You're too stiff. This isn't kendo." Tezuka turned to go to his end of the court, but not before noticing a slight rustle of a nearby bush, and what appeared to be a small glimpse of a white hat. "Your serve."

"Okay." Kiyo said, walking to her end of the court. "Why did he use that drop shot on me? He knew there was no way I was going to return it. Is he trying to embarrass me on purpose?" She thought, throwing up the ball to serve it, taking out her frustration on the unfortunate yellow sphere.

Tezuka was surprised at the force behind her serve as he returned it to her. She had a different look in her eyes. No longer was she the shy girl he had seen moments ago. Something had set her off. Was it his Zero-Shiki? To be honest, he had no idea why he had used that move against her. It wasn't like they were playing a game. She didn't even play tennis on a regular basis. Surely he hadn't felt the need to impress her did he? He mused, as the ball went whizzing by his left hand and hit the fence behind him only to be followed by someone clapping. He half expected to see Ryoma standing there, his usual smirk on his face, but he was greeted with none other than the captain of the Hyotei Gakuen tennis team: Atobe Keigo. "So you're the famed captain of Seigaku. Tezuka Kunimitsu." He said serenely. "Must not be much of a player if you let a girl score a point against you. Although she is quite cute."

Kiyo had walked over to see who their intruder was when she heard his last remark. "Don't you insult him like that!" She sneered. "If he wanted to…" She was cut off by Tezuka placing his arm in front of her.

Atobe grinned. "Cute and feisty. I like that. How about a date with someone as beautiful as yourself…princess?"

"Not on your life." She spat back, feeling a small push on her hip.

"Kiyokawa, we're leaving." Tezuka replied simply, steering her toward the bench where their bags lay.

"Ohh, that's too bad. Well then, would you do me the honor of playing a match with me before you depart Tezuka? Captain versus captain?" Atobe smirked wickedly.

"If you want to play me I'll see you at the prefecturals." He bellowed, walking toward the exit.

"Humph. You're no fun." Atobe said softly as he watched the two leave. "Ne Kabaji?"

"Usu."

The walk from the courts had resumed its uncomfortable silence. Kiyo hung her head, feeling like she had embarrassed Tezuka. "Ne…Tezuka-san?" She asked quietly. He looked at her, Grey meeting green as she said, "Sorry about what happened back there. I just get angry when people say things like that to someone. Probably because I used to get picked on as a kid. I didn't mean to embarrass you in front of that Hyotei guy."

"Don't worry about it. It's nothing. You didn't embarrass me." He said, staring off to the horizon.

"Oh. Well, my house is this way." She said as they approached an intersection. "You don't have to walk me all the way home if you don't want to."

"I live this way as well." Tezuka replied, turning the corner. He followed her for a good four blocks before she stopped outside a house with the name "Kiyokawa" next to the gate.

"We're here. Thanks for walking me home." She smiled. "Tennis was fun too, even if I'm not too good at it." She gave a small laugh.

"You're not bad for a beginner. Well, see you tomorrow." He nodded lightly.

Kiyo nodded in agreement. "See you tomorrow." She said, and walked inside her house.

Tezuka waited until she was safely inside and called over his shoulder, "One hundred laps around the courts tomorrow. All of you."

Echizen, Momoshiro, Inui, Oishi, Kaidoh, Kawamura, Fuji, and Kikumaru tumbled out from around a nearby corner, landing in a heap. "You knew we were there the whole time?" Momo asked, disbelief in his eyes. "Why didn't you say anything then!"

"A bit careless now weren't we? One hundred laps. Don't forget." He added coldly, turning to walk home.

"Nyaa, we blew that huh?" Proclaimed Kikumaru, looking at the retreating form of Tezuka.

"Well if Momo wasn't so loud then maybe things would have gone a little differently." Kaidoh replied.

"What did you say mamushi!" Momo barked back.

"I said you're too loud."

"Shut up!"

Momo and Kaidoh continued to bicker as Echizen stared at the place where Tezuka was a minute ago. Pulling his cap lower over his eyes, he said quietly, "Mada mada dane."

Shinai – The bamboo sword used in kendo