I just have one thing to say. Prince of Tennis: Best Match. That's all. If anybody else knows what I mean, congratulations.

Okay, I have more than one thing to say. I got a Ryoma plush and two sheets of Prince of Tennis stickers and they are fucking awesome. My Dad is the best in the world.

Warning: Lots of OOCness in this chapter. Well, for the show. For this story, it's not too bad. Besides its AU, I'm allowed to change their personalities.

Disclaimer: , No.

Chapter 11: A Brick Wall Appears

Fuji was not a happy camper right now. First of all, he had woken up Ryoma-less. Then he remembered Ryoga's challenge, and now he finds Ryoma's bed empty. Not to mention he woke up ten minutes late.

Going downstairs, Fuji was shocked to find a semi-awake Ryoma sitting at the kitchen table and a fully awake Ryoga sitting next to him. They were both eating a Japanese breakfast, albeit sluggishly in Ryoma's case, that appeared to be made by the elder Echizen brother.

Taking a seat across from the two-he noticed there was no food for him-the brunet asked the question that had haunted him since last night.

"Why are you here?" The two brothers startled at his soft voice but he kept his expression neutral.

"Well, Kaa-san and Oyaji were on this cruise and it just so happened to be the one I was being employed on." Ryoga explained, eyes never leaving Fuji's closed ones.

"Hn, what did you work as?" Ryoga's expression turned fond at his brother's question.

"I was a sort of entertainer. I played tennis and people paid to watch me. And I would get a cut of the money made off bets." Fuji was about to ask another question when Ryoga suddenly stood and dragged Ryoma up with him. "As much as I'd like to continue this lovely conversation, school starts in fifteen minutes and I still have to pack Chibisuke's lunch."

"Mrrooow." (Lol, my horrible attempt at the sound Karupin makes)

Everyone in the room froze as the fluffy Himalayan jumped on the table stared in Ryoga's eyes. The staring contest lasted about two minutes when Karupin started rubbing her face against Ryoga's.

"Ara, I wonder if she remembers you."

Blink. Blink. "Maybe."

'Damn, if the cat accepts him, then he must not be trying to be spiteful. Then why is he separating me and Ryo-chan.' Fuji pondered this till they had to leave for school.

-"Hikari"-Morikubo Showtarou-

"Um, class. We have a new student today. He's Echizen-kun's older brother, Echizen Ryoga. You may come in now." The teacher directed the last part to the door. Ryoga sauntered in, looking the entire world as if he owned the place.

"Thanks sensei. Oo, I spot a seat on Chibisuke's other side. I think I'll sit there. Unless that's a problem of course?" Ryoga was now standing next to Ryoma and pointing at the seat to the left of him.

"I don't see why it would. You and your brother must be close though, most people wouldn't want to sit by there sibling."

Ryoga threw back his head in laughter and then ruffled Ryoma's hair. "Haha, me and Chibisuke have a close relationship."

"Yamero, Ryoga-nii." Ryoga stared at Ryoma in shock-at the name he was just addressed as-for a second before pulling him in a tight hug.

"I just love it when he acts like that. So tsundere." Ryoga's comment got the whole class laughing. The elder Echizen just grinned and sat in his seat.

Fuji sulked until lunch.

The whole class jumped up and rushed out of the room as soon as the lunch bell rang. Fuji stood up and was about to ask Ryoma to join him for lunch when Ryoga dragged the little prince out of the room. The pencil in Fuji's hand cracked and split into several pieces. Fuji threw the pieces in some random direction and stormed out of the room to search for Eiji, his second best-est friend in the whole world.

All the while he did this, the smile and gentle expression didn't once leave his face. The teacher, who hadn't yet left the room, shivered in fear before continuing out the classroom.

'Note to self: NEVER get on Fuji-kun's bad side'

-"Time has come"-Morikubo Showtarou-

"And he thinks he can just come out of nowhere and steal my Ryo-chan from me! My Ryo-chan! It's not fair!" Fuji stabbed the piece of sushi he was eating and angrily brought it to his mouth, chewing with vehemence. "Where does he get off like that?"

"Ano nya, maybe because they're brother's nya." At the glare Fuji shot his way, Eiji quickly went to placate his friend. "I mean, he's a jerk nya!" Eiji's reply was half-hearted at best but this didn't seem to matter to his friend who, at the moment, just wanted a yes-man.

"Exactly! And Ryoma's being unfair too. He's just going along with his brother and forgetting about me entirely." Fuji suddenly saddened. "Maybe he doesn't love me after all."

"No nya, of course Ochibi loves you. Does Ochibi seem the type to do or say something he doesn't mean?"

Fuji straightened up a little, "No."

"Has Ochibi ever gotten away with lying to you? Does he ever regret doing the things he does?" Fuji steadily looked brighter at the volley specialist's words and a smile was working its way on his face. "And has Ochibi ever hidden his feelings when they really mattered?"

"No, no, and no." Fuji's smile was blinding in its sincereness now. Turning to his cat-like friend, Fuji smiled a most gentle smile, "Arigato, Eiji. You're the best friend a tensai could have." Eiji puffed up at the praise and slung an arm around the brunet.

"You're not so bad either, nya."

Spirits restored, the two had an enjoyable lunch together. Fuji thought that he should do this more often as the red-head had a special way to get people pumped up and remove any heavy feelings weighing on a person's shoulders.

-"Akakku Someru Tsuki"-Morikubo Showtarou-

School had let out about an hour ago and the Echizen brothers, after surviving tennis practice, were home and lazing about the living room. Ryoga was petting Karupin while Ryoma was just lying on the floor. After a few more minutes of this, Ryoma grew bored and got up.

"Where are you going, Chibisuke?"

Ryoma snorted at the use of the nickname and calmly answered, "Bath."

"Don't drown!" Ryoga yelled at his retreating brother's back.

"No promises," Ryoma deadpanned back before slamming the door to the bathroom.

"Che brat," Ryoga murmured to himself, a soft smile playing at his lips. "You haven't changed at all." Ryoga's expression turned regretful, "Sorry Chibisuke," Ryoga shut his eyes as small tears began to fall. "I wish I could have seen you get so big. I'm such a terrible big brother."

Ryoga sat on the couch, face in his hands, whispering his regrets, for the rest of the afternoon.

Meanwhile Ryoma sat in the bathtub, pondering Ryoga's sudden appearance.

'Why did he come back? I'm not stupid, I noticed he avoided Syuusuke's question this morning. How long has it been, ten years?' Ryoma sank lower in the hot water. 'How long has he been in the area? Why did he leave in the first place?' A lone tear slid down Ryoma's face. 'And most important of all,'

'How long will he stay this time?'

-"It's All Right"-Morikubo Showtarou-

Sniff, sniff. I feel your pain Ryoma. Not personally but empathy wise, yes. And I said I hate angst. Which this is technically very very light angst but still.

By the way, Ryoga is not a love rival, he just wants to make up for not being in his brother's life for the past ten years by protecting him and making sure Fuji will make him happy.

And I strongly recommend that everyone listen to the songs I put as line breaks. They're all Kirihara's Seiyuu.

Reviewers will be deeply loved and get Shiraishi plushies. Because, despite hating that he beat Fuji, Shiraishi is an awesome character. And a hot one. Plus, he and Fuji are friends now. Sooo…

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