Author's Notes (1): It happens after Episode 41 (Trouble). I think this the episode where Ginka finds out that Ryoma is the amazing first year as well as the nameless demon that beat them in Episode 37 (Tennis ball with Ryoma's Face)

Author's Notes (2): Okay, my memory sucks. I can't remember the exact words and I don't speak a lick of Japanese, please forgive me.

Author's Note (3): Whoops, changed the word for big brother from a younger female. Thus the word, 'oneesan' changed to 'oniisan'. (See, TOLD you I don't know a lick of Japanese. :# ) (date: 10-5-2005)

Title: Revealing Ginka's Nightmare

Sakuno held her breath as she looked at the Ginka Junior High School Tennis Club as they lined up on the other side of the net, opposite of Seigaku. She had overheard her grandmother say that they were a very strong team. She bit her lip as she looked at them closely. They looked like a bunch of wild men… and somehow they looked vaguely familiar.

"Seigaku! Ginka! Are you all here?" the referee asked.

"Hai!" shouted both teams.

"Are you ready to play, Seigaku?" the referee shouted.

"Hai," shouted Seigaku.

"Are you ready to play, Ginka?" the referee shouted.

"Are you ready, men?" shouted someone from Ginka's team.

"Hai!" shouted all the members of Ginka's team. Then all at once they shouted, "We can't play! Our stomachs are upset! We feel sick! We give up!"

Sakuno's jaw dropped as she heard their cries. Minutes later, Seigaku was declared the winner by default and Ginka started lining up to leave the court. She stared as she saw the faces of team Ginka leave the courts and could hear the buzzing in her ears. She vaguely heard Tomoko shout something about the fearsome strength of Seigaku and Ryoma-kun.

Then it hit her. She ran to her grandmother and grabbed her sleeve. "Obaachan! Obaachan! It's them! It's them!"

"Eh? What are you shouting about Sakuno?" her grandmother asked.

"Obaachan! It's them! The ones that I told you about!" Sakuno said as she pointed at the retreating Ginka. Some of them paused to look back at her curiously. Panicking, she went behind her grandmother.

"They're the ones that you told me about?" Ryuzaki-sensei repeated as she looked at her granddaughter in confusion. "What are you talking about? Who are they?"

"Sakuno! What's wrong?" Tomoko demanded as she looked at her friend.

"Tomo-chan!" Sakuno swung around and looked at her friend and forced her to look at the tennis club from Ginka. "They're the ones, Tomo-chan! Remember? The ones that wouldn't give us our balls back last week!"

Tomoko looked confusedly at the retreating team then her eyes widened. She marched over to the fence and shouted, "Yeah! You'd better run you cowards! Run as fast as you can! You're no match for my Ryoma-sama! He'll whip your thieving selves again if you show up here! And he'll take your balls again too!"

"Tomoko! Such language! It's unbecoming!" Ryuzaki-sensei said as she walked over and looked at her. "You know better!"

Confused, Tomoko looked at Sakuno's grandmother. "Ha-hai."

Inui came over to Sakuno and looked at her. "I take it that you know Ginka, Ryuzaki?"

Sakuno's eyes widened as she looked at her tall sempai. "Ha-hai, Inui-sempai. I-I sort-sort of know the-them."

"Can you give me the reason that you sort of know them?" Inui asked as he poised his pen over his notebook. "In detail if you can, please."

"Ha-hai," Sakuno stammered. "Ano I, uh, eto, uh-"

"Well?" Inui asked as he looked closer at her. Her eyes wide, Sakuno couldn't help but step back from him.

"Inui, you're scaring her," Oishi scolded as he looked at Ryuzaki's face, her eyes looked as if they were about to take over half her face. "Ryuzaki, how do you know Ginka?"

Sakuno's eyes went wider as she stared at Oishi-sempai. "Ano I-uh- well-"

"Oishi-sempai, you're not any better," Ryoma said as stepped next to Ryuzaki. He lowered his cap. "She and Osakada- they met them last Sunday."

"And how do you know this Echizen?" Momo demanded as he looked at Echizen curiously. He started to smile as an idea hit him. "Were you with them?"

"Ochibi! Were you double dating them?" Kikumaru asked with wide eyes. "My, you're active!"

"Eh?" Sakuno cried as she stared at Kikumaru-sempai. "Eh?"

"Ah! This is youth!" Momo sighed dreamily then glared at Echizen. "But to double date without telling your sempai!"

"It's nothing like that, sempai!" Echizen said loudly as he glared at the curious sempai-tachi.

"It wasn't a date! It was nothing like a date! Really!" Sakuno cried out as she looked at the sempai-tachi frantically. Her face getting redder by the second. "It was supposed a tennis lesson with Ryoma-kun's father! Obaachan! She made arrangements! Echizen-san- he was supposed to give me a tennis lesson! But Ryoma-kun showed up instead!"

Frowning, Fuji looked at her. "Last Sunday? Were they the ones that you saw last Sunday? Are those guys from the tennis club that you told me about?"

Sakuno nodded her head as she looked at Syusuke-oniisan. "Hai, they're the ones that were bullying me when Tomo-chan and I were getting tennis lessons from Ryoma-kun. The ones that hid my tennis balls from me!"

"And Ryoma-sama beat them real good for bullying Sakuno," Tomoko announced as she gave an adoring look at her beloved Ryoma-sama. "Just as a big idiot was about to hit Sakuno with his racket, Ryoma-sama stopped him in his tracks!" She sighed and made eyes at Ryoma again, smiling as he pulled his cap down lower. "And then he challenged the whole club!"

"Someone tried to do what?" Fuji asked in dulcet tones. He looked at Sakuno with a frown. "You didn't tell me that someone was trying to hit you with a racket."

"It's- it's all right," Sakuno stammered as she tried to smile under Syusuke-oniisan's intense glare. "Really- I wasn't hurt!"

"I took care of him, Fuji-sempai," Ryoma said as he looked at Fuji-sempai straight in the eye. "He didn't hurt her."

Pushing up his glasses, Inui lifted his head and stared from Fuji and Ryuzaki to Osakada then looked towards Tezuka and Oishi. He cleared his throat. "How did you take care of him?"

"It-it really wasn't anything serious," Sakuno stammered quickly as she looked at Inui-sempai.

"No, but it was really great!" Tomoko said enthusiastically. "All that was missing was the gushing of blood!"

"Tomo-chan!" Sakuno said loudly. Tezuka and Oishi looked at each other then Tezuka stepped up in front of Osakada.

Tezuka looked at Osakada. "So tell, what did Echizen do?"

"Nyah! Yeah! What did Ochibi do?" Kikumaru yelped as he stared at the girl as her eyes grew round at Tezuka's rapt attention.

As she remembered it, Tomoko sighed dreamily, "He challenged the whole club to a tennis match and he won."

Fuji stared at Osakada then at Echizen. "She nearly gets hit with a tennis racket and you challenge the entire team? That's how you took care of it?"

"Sakuno was nearly what? Ryoma did what?" demanded Sakuno's grandmother loudly. Tomoko let out a small squeak and darted behind Sakuno as she walked up to the two girls. "Can you repeat that again?"

"Ano um," Tomoko stammered as she looked at Sakuno's grandmother. "Ano"

"Sakuno, what happened?" demanded the coach of Seigaku. "Is this true?"

Sakuno looked up at her grandmother and gave her a placating smile. "I told you everything that happened, Obaachan."

"Humor me and tell me again what happened," Ryuzaki-sensei said as she crossed her arms.

Sakuno darted a look at Ryoma then at her grandmother. "Well, ano I told you that that there were a bunch of guys who were making me look through a basket of balls they spilled. And while I was looking, they kept my balls from me. Then Ryoma-kun came and to help me. And since it was taking so long and they were getting meaner by the second, Ryoma-kun told them that he would play them. If he beat them, then they would pick up ten balls and give them to him. The same thing if he lost."

"I think there's something vital missing in that version, Ryuzaki," Tezuka said as he looked at the coach's granddaughter.

Sakuno let out a weak chuckle as she scratched the back of her head. "Really? What part could I be missing?"

Fuji crossed his arms and was about to speak when Sumire Ryuzaki intervened. "How about the part where you were almost hit with a racket? When did that happen? And why didn't you tell me about that part?"

Sakuno gave her grandmother a weak smile. "I didn't tell you because it didn't happen?"

"It just almost happened," Fuji said in careful tones, his eyes intense and angry. "You were almost hit with a racket. So when did it almost happen?"

"What I want to know is why it didn't happen," Tezuka announced as he crossed his arms and looked at Echizen then at Ryuzaki.

"It- it stopped because Ryoma-kun stopped him," Sakuno said weakly.

"Yeah! He went wham! And they stopped! He knocked that guy down flat on his ass!" Tomoko gushed as she looked at her Ryoma-sama.

"Tomoko!" Sakuno scolded.

"Ochibi! You fought with a guy twice your size!" Kikumaru gasped. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

"How did you take them on? Did you take karate when you were younger?" Momo asked, deeply impressed. "You're such a youth to protect your Ryuzaki like that! You should have told us that you beat them up!"

"You shouldn't have taken them all on! You could have gotten seriously hurt!" Oishi scolded as he looked at the boy for some type of injuries.

"I didn't beat them up," Echizen muttered as he glared at Momo. "And she's not my Ryuzaki."

Blushing at Momo-sempai and Ryoma-kun's words, Sakuno stammered, "He didn't fight with all of them- he only challenged them to a game!"

"Sakuno! No more going around the subject!" Ryuzaki-sensei ordered as she glared at her granddaughter. "Now tell me what happened starting when that Ginka was about to hit you with his racket!"

"The one was about to hit me with his racket- Ryoma-kun stopped him by hitting him with his own ball," Sakuno said quickly. "He nailed him on the cheek with a tennis ball. It went through a small opening in the fence! And that's how the Ginka was knocked down, Obaasan! Ryoma-kun wasn't in any fight!"

Ryuzaki-sensei's eyebrow twitched. "And you didn't tell me this because?"

"Because you would get angry like you are now?" Sakuno said meekly. "And Ryoma-kun would get in trouble for playing a team outside the courts? And it really wasn't fighting because there were no fists involved so there wasn't really a reason to tell!"

"Is that all that happened?" Ryuzaki-sensei asked as she raised her eyebrow. "What about what happened on the courts when Ryoma played them? The team?"

Sakuno looked down at her feet then at her grandmother. Her eyes were angry. "Well, while they were playing, some of them were acting like that Sasabe-san from the train. They were cheating while self-judging. That was very bad of them! They deserved to have their balls taken!"

"You mean to say that Echizen played the whole team?" Momo yelped as he looked at Echizen, his mouth open in shock. He vaguely heard Kaidoh hiss. "You actually won against all thirty? You didn't lose a game? How-?"

Ryoma lowered his cap. "Mada mada dane."

"Of course Ryoma-sama didn't loose any game!" Tomoko bragged as she peeked from behind Sakuno. "He made out with 300 balls and took them all home!"

"When did you leave the courts?" Inui asked as he looked at the young Ryuzaki who shrugged then looked at Osakada.

"I think it was just about three?" Osakada estimated as she looked at Sakuno for confirmation. "About three because I got home at three forty."

"And I had just gotten to Ginka Junior High at three twenty," Inui muttered as he shut his book. He adjusted his glasses and looked at his teammates. "So that was why they were all out of breath- they had just finished playing Echizen."

Oishi stared at the Seigaku data man. "Inui, you can't mean that-"

"I do," Inui said with a nod. "The hard training they went through-"

"Was because they were done playing with Echizen," Tezuka said as he eyed the youngest member of the Seigaku team.

Sakuno's eyes widened as she heard Kaidoh-sempai hiss in displeasure. She looked at Ryoma-kun in alarm. "Oh dear- Ryoma-kun."

Lowering his cap against his buchou's glare and the growing hisses of Kaidoh-sempai, Echizen started walking away slowly.

Momo stared at Inui. "Inui-sempai- then you mean-"

"All that running," Kawamura stammered as he stared at Inui.

"All the hard training!" Kikumaru wailed. "And the Penal Tea! Ochibi!"

"Was all because of Echizen!" Momo growled as he glared at where Echizen was standing. His jaw dropped when he saw nothing but space. "Where the hell are you? Echizen! Get back here!"

"Ochibi! Where are you, nyah?" Kikumaru shouted as he looked around for the boy. "Ochibi! Get over here, nyah! Oishi! Help! Kaidoh! Taka-san! Inui! You help look for him too!"

Shrugging, Inui grabbed his green book and started walking down towards the soda machines. "It's a seventy percent possibility that he's there."

"Where is that brat," Kaidoh muttered as he started off in the direction opposite Momoshiro.

"Eiji! You're not going to hurt Echizen until after the games!" Oishi said as he followed his doubles partner.

"I'll help look for Ryoma-sama!" Tomoko called out happily as she started yelling for him at the top of her lungs. "Ryoma-sama! Ryoma-sama!"

"Just make sure that you're all here in twenty minutes!" Ryuzaki-sensei called out. "And make sure that you have him with you!"

Biting her lip, Sakuno looked at her grandmother. "Obaachan, are you very upset with me for not telling you everything?"

"Yes, I am, Sakuno," Sumire said as she looked at her granddaughter. She sighed as she looked at Sakuno's crestfallen face. "But seeing as it was you weren't hurt and that Ryoma had prevented you from getting hurt- I can be less angry. Next time just tell me everything, neh?"

"Hai, Obaachan!" Sakuno said happily. "Neh, I was so surprised to see that Ginka and those bullies were one and the same, Obaachan!"

"And I bet they were more surprised, Sakuno-chan," Fuji laughed as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "To see Echizen here, it must have been a nightmare come true!"

Sakuno thought about it then giggled. "I guess it was, Syusuke-oniisan. So Ryoma-kun scared them twice!"

"That he did," Fuji laughed again. "While everyone's off to find Echizen, do you want to see Yuuta before his game starts?"

Sakuno clapped her hands happily. "That's right! Yuuta-oniisan is playing today! Obaachan, can I go? I want to give him something."

"Just don't get lost," warned her grandmother as she sat down with a chart. "Stay close to Fuji."

"Hai," Sakuno said as she opened the cooler, took out a small bento and grabbed a shopping bag that had two loaves of bread. "Ready."

Taking the bag from her, Fuji started down the path. "So what did you make for Yuuta this time, Sakuno-chan?"

"Just some fruit salad, white bread and banana bread," Sakuno said happily as she walked beside him. "Do you think Yanagisawa-san is going to be there?"

Puzzled, Fuji looked at her. "He is a regular, why shouldn't he be there? Why?"

"It's just that he scares me," Sakuno confessed as her cheeks grew red. "I keep thinking that his jaw is going to unhinge like a snake's and he's going to swallow me."

Fuji looked at her for a second then burst out laughing.

Leaning against the side of the soda machine, Ryoma sipped his Ponta, relishing the fruity taste of the drink. Hearing people coming, he stepped to the other side, hiding himself from view. His ears perked up when he heard a familiar voice.

"Do you think Yanagisawa-san is going to be there?"

Ryoma let out a breath of relief. It seemed that Ryuzaki was being usual oblivious herself and she didn't see him. But who was she talking to?

"He is a regular, why shouldn't he be there? Why?"

Ryoma's eyes widened and he nearly dropped his Ponta as he recognized that soft voice. Peeking around, he saw Fuji-sempai and Ryuzaki walk together down the path towards the other tennis courts- where the consolation games were being played. Why was she going there? And why was she with Fuji-sempai?

Ryoma felt his brow lower as he watched Fuji-sempai let out a laugh. What was so funny? And why was he standing so close to Ryuzaki? And what was she doing with Fuji-sempai? Feeling vaguely irritated and curious, he lowered his hat and was about to follow them.

"Echizen! There you are!" shouted Momo-sempai. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Ochibi! You get back here!" Kikumaru-sempai shouted as he stomped his feet.

"Now calm down, Eiji," Oishi-sempai said soothingly as he looked at his partner and at Momo. "You, too, Momo. Echizen, come back to the courts at once."

"Hai," Ryoma muttered as he gave one last irritated glance towards the direction whereRyuzaki and Fuji-sempai disappeared to.

"Hmm, ii data," Inui said as he looked in his green book. The one that was solely reserved for the private matters of his team.

Proof 1: Fuji was walking towards consolation games.

Proof 2: Yuuta Fuji and St. Rudolph are playing consolation games.

Conclusion: Fuji is visiting his brother before the games started.

Inui tapped the pencil against his chin before writing some more.

Fact A: Ryuzaki was walking with Fuji towards the consolation games.

Fact B: She was carrying a bento box with her.

Fact C: Fuji was carrying something in a bag.

Question A: Why was Ryuzaki with Fuji?

Question B: What was Fuji carrying? Was it his? Or Ryuzaki's?

Therom 1: Fuji and Ryuzaki are dating.

Therom 2: Ryuzaki and Yuuta Fuji are dating.

Conclusion: Inconclusive. Need more data.

Then turning a page, Inui wrote:

Observation 1: Echizen seemed disturbed to see Ryuzaki walking with Fuji.

Observation 2: Momo, Kikumaru and Oishi have bad timing.

Conclusion: Inconclusive. Need more data.

Looking over his notes, Inui shut his book, satisfied that he would get the answers to his questions soon enough. But for now, there was a game with Yamabuki to be observed.

End

Author's Note (4): I'm pretty sure that Sakuno was nearly hit with a racket. It was that or the guy's hand and he was about to slap her. Either way, Ryoma really did nail the a$$wipe with a tennis ball. Go Ryoma!

PS. Someone'sreview just wrote that she was about to be slapped. sigh please forgive me- I'll correct it when I have the time.