Disclaimer: Do not own anything!

~~ The Slowly Growing Friendship ~~

~~ 25. February, Early Night ~~

Ryoma blinked with his big eyes as he slipped out of the limousine and stood directly in front of a very large and well established building with an even so large garden in the front. It was like a palace. Who the hell would want to live in this bragging house? Obviously a certain Monkey King who had enough money to throw out. It would at least explain why he called himself Ore-sama and also his all so mighty behaviour was now understandable.

The mute would need to admit, the place was beautiful but a little bit too large for his liking. Though, he would oversee the little thing as the sight of two large tennis courts on the left side of the mansion came into his view. One ground was made out of good cared and short cut grass as the second ground was made of the well known clay which was also used in the French Open tournament. Ryoma couldn't believe what he saw. The two courts were built with the finest material, on each side of the courts was a white bench and a small table. One of the table was filled with a handful of small water bottles, next to them stood also a handful of expensive looking glasses, followed by a platter filled with different kinds of fruits and vegetables. Which surprised Ryoma the most though were the butlers standing at every corner, ready to serve the master of the mansion.

Ryoma was stunned and could only stare at the unbelievable sight in front of him. Where was he?
If Monkey King had an Onsen in his mansion too, Ryoma would actually try to be nice to him.

To the mute's utter disappointment did they not go immediately to the courts but straight forward into the mansion. The double door got opened by a row of maids who greeted the four with a deep bow and a synch speech of Okaerinasai, Bocchan.

"Ah, get me, Seiichi, Sanada and my other guest something cool to drink to get them relaxed and bring it to the courts. We're going to play a little match." The maids bowed once again, ready to fulfil their master's wish and rushed off in all directions. They stopped all so abruptly when the master added on his way outside: "Oh, and maybe you could get mine and Seiichi's swim trunks. I would like to swim in the pool afterwards."

Atobe, Sanada and Yukimura walked outside a door on the left side of the very big main hall. The middle of the hall had two large stairs, leading a way up to the second floor. The walls were made out of dark shiny wood, the ceiling was one big stone and the floor was made out of creme-colored marble with dark red carpets here and there. The walls were decorated with different pictures, some of people's faces and some of daily things like bawls of fruits.

Ryoma could snatch a peek of a building looking exactly like Monkey King. The guy truly was a self-centred person.

"Echizen?" The called teen jolted out of his daze, walking behind Monkey King who opened and guided them through a large and glassy double door and out into a very large space which would be the garden. The courts were at the left; a pool and also a whirlpool were at the right side. The teen couldn't see so far but he was sure he heard a dog bark. Yukimura seemed to be familiar with everything because he took off his jacket, loosened the tie around his neck and opened the first three buttons of his shirt.

Ryoma avoided his eyes from the sight of the young man undressing and focused onto Monkey King who was doing the same, just like Sanada. Great! The reason for why they didn't put on their tennis clothes was unknown for him but he pulled out his own tennis outfit and changed into them quickly. First the shirt, then the pants. He was already standing onto one side of the court when the three noticed his impatience. The bluenette chuckled sweetly. "So eager to play."

"Ah, I want to try him as your rules forbid an unofficial match." Atobe smirked at the stupid rule, which his lover stood up for, and stepped onto the court with his racquet in hand. Yukimura and Sanada took place onto the luxurious chairs and thanked the maids for the drinks. Both seemed a bit... angry, almost disappointed. "Alright, brat. The great Ore-sama allows you to serve first as you're his honoured guest."

Ryoma snorted and smirked by the attitude. The match began. He threw the ball up in the air with his left hand and hit it with the racquet. Monkey King's grin was hit out of his face, literally. The ball bounced straight into his gorgeous face and left an ugly red mark behind. Twist Serve was this shot called, one which his father had taught him in his young years. He could remember his first time really managing a good Twist Serve. His father had been so proud and cheerful as if he had just won the Wimbledon tournament.

Ryoma smirked proudly, having fun. He would show this Monkey King not to underestimate him. Atobe narrowed his eyes, confused and stunned at the same time. He had never seen a Twist Serve and such a strong one at that too. The boy was good. He would enjoy this match. How far could he push the other teen? He had seen him earlier, playing against Sanada who wasn't so bad. Sanada had actually been pushed around for a while till he had made a comeback. This would get pretty interesting.

"Do no cry at the end of the game when the great Ore-sama has beaten you." The teen shook playfully his head, only his smirk was visible, his eyes were hidden behind his bangs of emerald hair. The ball got thrown into the air once more. The racquet made a loud impact with the ball and thundered it straight over the field.

Soon the count was 1:0 for Echizen.

It would be over soon. Ryoma got in position. It was Monkey King's time to serve. The fuzzy yellow ball flew across the net and landed sharply onto the ground. There was no bouncing at all. The ball pierced across the whole court and made it unable for Ryoma to hit it back. It went on like this - the teen was excited and smirked till it was 1:1. Adrenaline washed through his entire body, every vein and muscle worked to its fullest.

Atobe laughed like a maniac and pointed with his racquet at his opponent. "The great Ore-sama is unbeatable! You have just seen my great serve the Tannhauser Serve. Be awed by my unbeatable presence!" Someone cleared his throat and Ryoma saw the diva sweat drop and viewed at Yukimura who had interrupted them.

"If I remember correctly, I have beaten you the last time we have played against each other. And also Gen had managed to beat you once." Seemed liked he wasn't unbeatable like he wanted to be. Ryoma snorted through his nose, stifled a laugh and suppressed the need to show his amusement. He stood in position to defend his side of the court. Both seniors watched him while the diva put on the Wanna-say-something?-position.

"What do you want to say, brat? If you have something to complain about then say it n-" Atobe stopped abruptly, had gotten totally out of his diva-time by the realization of his words. "Ore-sama means…. Ah." Yukimura and Sanada, too, was at a loss of words, if it was because of the careless words from Atobe or because of the snorty attitude the boy showed before them – he truly didn't know. Ryoma rolled his eyes, it was everywhere and every time the same. That's why he didn't like company.

If one said he should say something the whole room would suddenly quieten down and everyone would looked at him with the excusing eyes as if they were sorry for his 'loss'. They all pitied him and he hated it! He hated it every freaking time he saw this certain expression in someone's orbs. He snapped with a finger, the sound echoed across the entire court and shook the three seniors out of their shock.

He made an annoyed gesture and told Monkey King with a clear sign to move his oh-so-gorgeous butt and continue to play the match.

But before the diva could even throw the ball into the air a maid cleared her throat and interrupted them. "Bocchan, there is a stranger in front of the mansion who claims to be the father of one of your guests. He is very... sad about his son's absence. He is actually wailing right now."

Ryoma's mood changed from excitement and fun to annoyance to very irritated. His father was the only person who would fit into such description. What was the old man thinking? Had his father lost his mind? For how incompatible did his father think of him?

The three seniors turned to the freshman who sighed, shook his head in annoyance and left the court. "Your father?" Seiichi asked, wrote something onto a piece of paper and walked up to the freshman who grabbed his things and forced them into his bag. A sheet of paper entered his sight. He looked up, saw a gentle smile with tender violet eyes. "It would be a pity if I let a good opponent get away. Text me with your cell phone when you have time for a match."

"Wait! Seiichi, what about the ru-" Called person shot both players a glare and warned them gently to shut their mouths. Atobe and Sanada were silence without another word. The youngest teen would have laughed by such a display of two big dogs barking and suddenly having their tails between their legs, whining in apologizes, nevertheless, he couldn't.

Why was the bluenette suddenly so friendly? What had changed? Ryoma didn't know, didn't understand it. He turned around and stretched out his hand for the bluenette to shake hands to bid goodbye. However, the hand never came; instead, Yukimura stared at him and his outstretched hand with confused eyes before he began to laugh with his right hand covering his lips a bit.

It was a beautiful sound, soft and gentle, perfect to relax. Ryoma closed his eyes for a minute, listened and enjoyed the simple sound of a cheerful laugh. It didn't matter that it was probably due to his movement to shake his hand. Even the diva chuckled while Sanada watched him with a frown. Well, there still was a change of heat in his cheeks, coloring them in a light pink. Yukimura was the first one who broke the laughing and took pity on him. The one which was appreciated. "Usually you bow down to greet or bid goodbye to someone. You also bow to say thank you, apologize or show respect. Yanagi told me that you actually moved from another country to Japan. It would explain your behaviour."

The bluenette tried to underline his words and bowed in front of Ryoma, showed him how to do it. The youngest teen blinked with his golden orbs, shook his head and plainly smirked, left the three stunned and speechless. He heard Monkey King call him a brat which made him smirk only wider.

His good mood was destroyed by the sight of his crying and whining father who sat in front of the large door. "Ryoma! Thank god, the smiling girl from next door was right. I was worried silly boy!" Ryoma sighed, grabbed his father's arm and led them to the old car which was parked right before the house. It was embarrassing to have such an overprotective father in situations like this.

His mind told him not to ask what his father had told the security to be able to stay and sit here in such a high secured mansion - no, sometimes it was better not to know everything. He entered the car and closed his eyes, remembered the last minutes of bliss. He had found another good player and if the bluenette was the same, the time here in Japan wouldn't be as bad as he had thought. It was getting better and better.

His father followed him suit, took place at the driver's seat and started the engine. They were on their way back home and for the first time since they had arrived in Japan, Ryoma felt good, happy and tired from having two great matches, even if he couldn't finish any of them. His old man had been worried about his disappearance, now, after seeing his son smiling, happy and tired, he was worried till the bones and scared as hell. There was only one thing which those guys could have done to his stubborn son...

"Ryoma?" the old man asked, frowned and glanced at him. "Have you found a good rival?"

Now it was Ryoma's time to frown. That was an unexpected question and how should he answer it? He simply smirked, directed his gaze out of the window and onto the crowded streets. Nanjiroh sighed mentally in relief. So his son had finally found some friends or at least people he didn't mind to see once more.

"I made miso-soup for dinner." That was all it took for Ryoma's stomach to growl in horror. He wouldn't get anything eatable tonight, he should have eaten some of the fruits on the table at Monkey King's mansion. Maybe then he wouldn't have been starving tonight. An uncomfortable silence grew between them and stayed till Nanjiroh couldn't bear to hide his curiosity any longer. "How was school? Anything funny to tell? Have you met some cute giirrllss? Have you found a sweet girlfriend? How about the one opposite our house? She is quite cute and very nice."

There he was again, his stupid old man. Ryoma shot him a glare and decided to ignore his father for the rest of the drive. Never would he tell his old man about his girlfriend if he ever had one. The guy would only embarrass him and shoo the girl away. Ryoma was already certain that there would be no girl by his side in the next ten years. Enduring the girls in his class were enough for him. Why would he chose one of them to stay by his side all the time to annoy him? He wasn't a masochist nor was he near attempting suicide.

"Maybe you have found a sweet boyf-" Another glare from him, this time much fiercer, let his old man's words die out in his throat. The drive was luckily over and Ryoma stomped out of the car and into his new home. "Oi!" Whatever his father wanted to say, it was too late for him to do it. He looked over his shoulders and saw his father taking off his shoes. A lamp switched on over his head. Now he understood.

Ryoma went up to the refrigerator, grabbed a can – Ponta was written on the label – and drowned the surprisingly delicious liquid down his thirsty throat. His father stood already behind him as he finished his drink. Nanjiroh held him at place with a hand on his shoulder and pushed him gently down onto a chair. It wasn't a good sign. The next words broke him.

"Your cousin wants to visit you. Your aunt called me and told me she has depression since you're gone."

Nanjiroh watched his son carefully, paid all his attention to every reaction which would surpass his son.

Ryoma stiffened and froze for a moment, not even blinking once or breathing.
It had always been a sensitive topic and he knew Ryoma was still suffering from the loss, the memories.

However, he didn't know the exact details and probably wouldn't find it out anymore as his son and Tsukiko, Ryoma's only cousin, were the only ones who knew something but would never speak about.

Ryoma couldn't speak and Tsukiko had suppressed the harsh past.