Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis, the characters are all borrowed from its magnificent writer.

Summary: Ryoma comes back from America with a dark and mysterious past that continuously haunts him. Just when he's about to forget, the person that caused all his misery reappeared in his life to claim Ryoma wholly. Will his sempai be able to save Ryoma, or will he forever be locked in a past he only knows?

Chapter 3

DICTIONARY

Saa- who knows

Baka- stupid

Hanashite- let go

Yoroshuku- nice to meet you

Gaki- brat

Ochibi- small

………………………….

'Nyyyyyaaaaaaaa'

Kikumaru Eiji whined at his doubles partner, jumping up and down.

"What's the problem Eiji?" Oishi Shuichiro glanced worriedly at his best friend as they walk with the other students towards the Seigaku High School building.

Kikumaru gave a catlike pout pointing towards his other friend, his eyebrows drawn together in mock glare.

"It's Fuji! Nyaaaa, he's hiding a secret and he doesn't want to tell me!" Kikumaru lapse in a tantrum

"Maaa, calm down Eiji!" Oishi tried to placate his partner as they are starting to draw attention, "How'd you know that he's keeping a secret anyway?"

"Because his smiling that creepy smile!" Eiji pointed out.

"But…" Oishi sweat drop "he's always smiling… like that…" Oishi chuckled nervously.

Kikumaru gave another groan and bounded towards Fuji who was just quietly observing them with the same smile Eiji's accusing him of.

"Look, Fuji's normal smile is like this" Kikumaru used his finger to tilt Fuji's lips upward, straining his cheeks. "And when he's planning something it's like this…."

Kikumaru draw Fuji's lips even higher, though Fuji just stayed still. "And it's like this when he's keeping a secret!"

Kikumaru released his hold and Fuji just returned in smiling the way he used to, irritating his friend further.

"Waaaah, Oishi can't you see the difference?!" Kikumaru cried, pointing accusingly at Fuji who just chuckled.

Oishi sighed "Okay, why don't we just ask if he really does have a secret. You might just be wasting your energy when you're not right after all."

"Ask him then!" Kikumaru pouted.

"Fuji, just answer me so that Eiji will stop, do you have a secret?" Oishi asked

There was a pause.

"Saa…"

"FUJI!" both Eiji and Oishi screamed at him.

=============================MD=============================

A pale hand shot out from under the crimson sheets, grappling for the little piece of mechanism that's hurting his eardrums.

Once he had it in his grasp, he threw it across the room, hitting the wall with a satisfactory crack making the blaring sound to stop. He sighed dreamily and burrowed deeper in his sheets. He had a really long and good sleep; he's bed inexplicably warmer than he can remember…

"Just how much are you spending trying to replace those alarm clocks?" an amused voiced asked.

Ryoma's face scrunched up in confusion, his head still in a haze from sleep. Why is there a voice in his head? And why can he imagine an irritating smirk accompanying that voice?

Someone laughed. "Now I'd pay to see that expression on your face anytime. You look like someone had placed wasabi on your sushi."

Ryoma scrunched his face even more, now in irritation. Why doesn't that annoying voice shut up? He can't go back to sleep with the noise…. He's so tired with the happenings yesterday—

Ryoma bolt up from his curled position throwing the sheets off him in the process.

"Monkey King!"

Atobe Keigo lay on his side with his hand propped under to support his head.

"Now whatever happened to Keigo, brat?" Atobe asked with a curl from his lips, flipping his perfect hair away from his eyes.

"Now whatever happened to Ryoma, monkey king?" Ryoma retorted dryly, running a hand in his a little disheveled hair. The events of the previous night came back to him with such clearance that his defense mechanism came back in full force, a.k.a, sarcasm.

"Brat"

"Monkey King"

"Shorty"

"King of Apes"

"Now what's with you associating ore- sama with those lowly deplorable creatures?" Atobe sat gracefully, his eyes twitching in aggravation.

"Because it's a fact… Keigo" Ryoma replied floutingly, his customary smirk in place.

"Well you being short is also a world known fact Ryoma" Atobe replied back with a smirk of his own, enjoying the challenged fire lighting Ryoma's eyes.

"For your information, I grew approximately thirty point forty- eight centimeters since you last saw me" Ryoma almost growled. His height has always been his sore spot.

Atobe scoffed "Well doesn't change the fact that you're still shorter than everyone does it?"

"Well at least I'm growing, unlike you who'll always be a Monkey King!"

"Why you—

Three knocks reverberated from the door.

"Ryoma- obochama, Keigo-obochama, Nanako- sama wants to tell you that you'll be late in your respective schools" the Echizen household's maid reminded them from outside the room.

Ryoma scrambled for the wrist watch Atobe's wearing, ignoring the said person's scandalous looks. "Fuck" he cursed under his breathe upon seeing the time.

"When?" Atobe teased.

"Tell her we'll be down in a minute!" Ryoma ordered loudly, ignoring his friend.

"Hai" a muffled reply came, then Atobe heard the receding footstep of the maid. When he looked at the place Ryoma occupied just a while ago, he found it empty. The boy was currently trying to button his polo while brushing his teeth.

After Ryoma finished his morning rituals in the bathroom, he run about in the room, trying to locate the blue neck tie that comes with the high school uniform. Amidst the chaos, Ryoma spared him an inquiring and annoyed glance.

"Why are you already dressed?"

"Do I need to apologize for being always presentable and ready?" Atobe replied teasingly, "You will never live through the day you'll see me rumpled."

Ryoma just scoffed, turning his gaze back to fixing his shirt. "Don't worry Monkey King I'll live through the day you eat your own words."

Atobe stood from his position and walked towards the younger boy. "You wish…" he muttered.

Suddenly, a hand grasped Ryoma's own, bringing them down to his side.

"Honestly brat, can you be competent in something other than tennis?" Atobe unbuttoned his shirt and did them all over again since Ryoma didn't fasten them in their right places.

"… and can't you keep sight of your things the way you do with tennis balls when having a game?" this time he approached the closet, opened it and rummaged through the top most shelf before protruding a familiar blue tie.

Atobe fixed his neck tie with trained nimble fingers, accomplishing it in no more than a few seconds.

"I could have done it you know…" Ryoma muttered, his head turned to the side "I was just in a hurry…"

Atobe just smiled with mirth in his eyes and took a step back "Whatever you say, brat"

There was a pause before Ryoma stole a glance at him, biting his already pink lips.

"Thank you…. Not only for the buttons and tie… I mean also for the other… things"

"Don't sweat over it" but there was a smile playing on his lips. He turned tail and headed for the door, calling back over his shoulder at Ryoma "Now's the best time to be in a hurry, we're gonna be late"

Before he closed the white French doors behind him, a shout came from Ryoma. "Don't get used to it, and you're still a Monkey King!"

======================MD======================

Ryoma entered the school gates in a leisurely pace, seeing the deserted fields and halls. He didn't bother to run or make haste, he was already late anyway, what's a minute or two difference?

Ryoma got her admission slip and schedule from the secretary, totally oblivious at the appreciative glances he elicited from people. After looking at his schedule, he quickly found his homeroom, standing just outside the sliding door. He himself had been surprise that he managed not to get lost.

Or maybe because I didn't asked directions from silly girls, Ryoma thought, remembering the time back when he was twelve years old and had the mistake of asking Ryuzaki Sakuno, which resulted in him being disqualified by default.

After composing himself, he knocked the door of class 3-A, hearing the murmurs of excitement from his classmates.

Classmates… Ryoma snorted at the thought of who will be the people inside the classroom right now. Before he could muse any further, he heard a stern cough from the teacher and the signal for him to enter.

Without missing a beat, or checking on his impeccable appearance, he slid the door open and stepped inside, walking towards the front, beside the teacher's desk. He could hear collective gasps, mostly from the girls who got a shock at seeing someone so stunning in front of them, and some, from those who recognize him.

"This is the new transfer student. As you might notice, he should just be in the first year but he passed the junior's entrance exam with flying colors, so the school allowed him to skip two years"

There were a couple of awed glances from the class. They've never really met someone so smart.

"Please introduce yourself, your likes, dislikes and hobbies" the teacher encouraged him.

Ryoma almost rolled his eyes. Does he always need to go through these useless introductions? Why can't he just take his seat and let the teacher do his job of talking? None the less, he complied.

"Ore wa Echizen Ryoma, I like Karupin and Ponta, I don't like anything or anyone other than Karupin and Ponta, my hobbies are playing with Karupin and drinking Ponta."

Ryoma said in a serious face while almost everyone doesn't know how to react. Some, those who knew him way back in Seigaku, now had no doubt about his little speech but most were puzzled at the lack of mention about tennis.

"… Yoroshuku…"

As soon as he ended talking, chaos erupted among the students.

"Echizen Ryoma? As in the youngest winner of the Gland Slams?!"

"Tennis no oji- sama?"

"Ryoma- kun?!"

"Ryoma- SAMA!"

Ryoma bit his lips to stop the charade of insults he knew his teacher wouldn't appreciate. This action just caused the majority of the girls and his faithful fan girls to squeal and screech like a pack of screaming banshees.

While the teacher tried to placate the girls turned maniacs from hounding Ryoma, he stole a glance at his former sempai in Seigaku. Kikumaru resembles a gaping fish out of water while Oishi tried his best to shake his partner from his stupor, already hyperventilating that Kikumaru seemed to have totally blocked out from the outside world. Inui had his notebook out, probably jotting down his new statistics. Meanwhile, Tezuka was as stoic as ever but a faint hint of smile can be detected behind the gleaming glasses and stern aura. The last but never the least… Fuji.

Ryoma frowned.

Fuji's ever present smile was replaced by a firm line of lips. His cerulean orbs which are usually hidden behind his lids are now blazing in fury, promises of torment swirling just beneath the surface, and his usually happy and approachable demeanor changed into a sadistic air, making everyone within his reach lean as humanly as possible away from him.

What could possibly caused Fuji- sempai's changed of demeanor? Or maybe, the more appropriate question is who?

========================MD====== ===================

Fuji couldn't help the smile blossoming in his lips that morning, not that anyone would notice the difference since he always smiles. Only Inui might have noticed since his glasses keeps on gleaming eerily and constant murmurs of 'iiieeee… data' could be heard whenever Fuji's near.

Still, one could say that Fuji Syuusuke's day started quite pleasantly.

Until Echizen Ryoma stepped into the room. It's not really Ryoma who caused his wrath, quite the contrary actually. Upon seeing the boy, Fuji couldn't help but appreciate the view that was laid in front of him. He always finds himself drawn to beautiful beings and there is no doubt that Ryoma is one.

It's the buffoons he's forced to call classmates that really drew his fury. Most people would often describe him as gentle and docile, an angel that couldn't hurt a fly. But only some really knew the real Fuji hiding behind his tender smiles. He's severely possessive of what he deems as his and wouldn't stop at nothing to show just that to every one. If threatened or even just challenged a bit, Fuji's sadistic side would completely take over. Anyone who's stupid enough to cross paths with a sadistic Fuji certainly has a death wish and would surely get it in the most painful and embarrassing way.

And that's what his classmates would surely be rewarded for even looking at his Ryoma in a not so innocent way. His thoughts were interrupted upon hearing Ryoma's familiar voice whiff through the room.

Fuji frowned.

He could also see Tezuka and Inui's baffled expression. Kikumaru was too busy trying to process the image of Ryoma in front of him and Oishi have his hands full with worrying over his partner to notice the lack of tennis in Ryoma's speech.

He decided to keep that questioned locked at the back of his mind for later use as the irritation started to creep back in him when the screeching and squealing started once again. Thoughts of murder are the only things occupying his mind presently. Fuji suppressed a groan as the teacher directed him at the middle front part of the class, a fair distance from his window seat.

No matter, there will be enough time later. Fuji grinned, causing others to lean even farther away from the dangerous aura the tensai is producing.

No one escapes Fuji Syusuuke once he sets his eyes on you.

======================MD====================

Ryoma yawned drowsily, rubbing the sleep off his eyes, after the bell rung, signaling lunch break. He had a decent amount of sleep during English… well after he showed sensei that he didn't need to be thought the language by someone who's not even as fluent as him. Ryoma scoffed, remembering the stunned and embarrassed expression swirling in his teacher's eyes after he recited the Act III, Scene Six of Macbeth not only in perfect English but also without even looking at his copy. He doubts if the teacher even memorizes a line from one of Shakespeare's play.

Ryoma decided to head for the rooftop before one of those fan girls catch him and drag him of to somewhere. He was just about to stand from his chair when a pair of familiar hands wrapped around his shoulders pushing him back to his seat.

"Ochibiiiiiiii!!!"

Ryoma shivered, dreading this would happen once his sempai got a hold of him.

"Ochibi! Why didn't you tell us that you're coming back?" Kikumaru pouted, tightening his grip "we could have prepared something for you! Look Oishi! Ochibi's really here in Japan! Nyaa!"

Kikumaru's hugged tightened even more, crashing Ryoma's lungs.

"Kiku- maru… sempai… can't— breathe…"

"Eiji!" Oishi tried to pry Kikumaru's hands away "Let go of him! He's turning blue!"

"Eh?" Kikumaru glanced down, seeing an oxygen deprived Ryoma "Wah, Ochibi! Gomen!" he quickly let go of him.

Ryoma coughed before glaring at his sempai. It would have been intimidating if he's hair wasn't mused and his cheeks flushed from adrenaline "I'll definitely consider not coming back if I knew I would just die of strangulation."

"Wah, gomen Ochibi!" Kikumaru wailed, with his hands clasped.

Ryoma sighed, exasperated. He looked at his former sempai, now his classmates. Though they're all in the same year, they would always be his sempai.

Tezuka- sempai and buchou, Oishi- sempai, Kikumaru- sempai, Inui- sempai, Taka- sempai and Fuji- sempai. This thought brought him memories of Kaidoh and Momo sempai. Ryoma grinned inwardly… now he'll have fun rubbing it in their faces that he's technically an upper classmen to them.

"Stop bawling Kikumaru- sempai, I kind of expected this reaction anyway…" Ryoma muttered.

"Nyaa! Ochibi!" Kikumaru was set to lunged back at him but froze upon Ryoma's glare.

Everyone chuckled at that, even Tezuka has a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Let's head to the rooftop for lunch, Taka- san, Momoshiro and Kaidoh should meet us there for lunch anyway" Oishi said "I'm sure they'll be glad to see Ryoma"

=====================MD=====================

"Echizen!!!"

Before Ryoma had the time to sit, he found himself in a recognizable headlock.

"Momo- sempai! Hanashite!" Ryoma tugged at the arms around his head.

"Mataku gaki, why don't you ever learn to call before returning instead of giving us a heart attack of your surprise visits?" Momo shouted playfully.

"Ssshhh… baka, if you don't release him right now he'll be the one who'll have the heart attack"

Ryoma was released abruptly and he could see Momo and Kaidoh glaring daggers at each other. Nothing really had changed that much.

"Who are you calling baka, Mamushi?!" Momo yelled.

"Isn't it obvious you peach butt?!" Kaidoh yelled back.

"Nani—

"Maa, maa, come on you two, stop fighting, we're here to eat lunch" Oishi came between the two.

After a minute of insults, the two finally managed to settle down along with the others. After everyone sat in circle, Ryoma finally realized the absence of Taka- sempai.

"Ne, Inui- sempai, where's Taka- sempai?"

"He's in a different class, according to my data, he should be here in—" Inui looked at his watch "three minutes"

"Aah…" Ryoma sweat dropped.

"Where's you bento gaki?" Momo suddenly asked, upon seeing Ryoma empty handed, unlike his overflowing purchases from the canteen.

"I didn't bring any. I actually planned to sleep through the break" Ryoma replied casually "And stop calling me gaki, Momo- sempai, if there's one who should be called sempai it should be me" Ryoma smirked.

Momo grunted under his breathe, complaining about super intelligent gakis.

"You could share my lunch Echizen, I have enough for two" Fuji offered with a smile.

Ryoma look hesitantly at Fuji's bento. The food looked delicious but everyone knew about Fuji's fetish of putting wasabi in everything he eats. As if reading his mind, Fuji quickly answered.

"Don't worry, I promise that there's no hidden wasabi in there… I've already used it all up."

"Okay everyone, let's eat, I'm sure Taka- san wouldn't mind" Oishi announced.

"Hai, hai, you should never let the food wait! Ittadaikimasu!" Momo practically wolfed down his lunch.

Ryoma accepted the chopstick Fuji offered and broke it apart "then, if you don't mind… Ittadaikimasu…"

Ryoma picked a sashimi from Fuji's bento and ate it delicately. He was almost expecting the spicy fire- like sensation of wasabi when the rich flavor of the sashimi invaded his taste buds. He almost moaned in delight. Fuji wasn't lying, such delicious food could never have a wasabi.

He was about to have another bite when horrifying screams filled the air. Numerous shrieks and yell could be heard, as well as the sounds of dropping body. Suddenly, Kikumaru turned red as his hair and almost breathed fire, before dropping unconscious on the floor.

"Eiji!" the group excluding Fuji and Ryoma gathered around the fallen figure of Kikumaru, trying to rouse him. Amidst the chaos, the door slammed open. Revealing a terrified Taka.

"Taka- sempai, what happened?" Momo asked.

"Many students, mostly from class 3-A are dropping dead everywhere. The teachers found out that it was because of the wasabi found in their food. Honestly! Wasabi in ramen?!" Taka grossed.

Ryoma turned a suspicious eye on an innocent looking Fuji.

"Don't look at me like that…" Fuji smiled eerily "I told you, I already used it all up…"

Revenge has never tasted this… spicy.

a/n

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