She felt like Moses parting the Red Sea. The crowd, which had no doubt increased in size since a few moments earlier, separated without jagged edges as if made from liquid metal. Neither male appeared to be bothered by the numerous pairs of eyes focused on their charismatic presences. Both were unique characters who deserved and, on more than occasion, got the world's attention and praise. In hindsight, the living testimony of their mysterious charm resided in this very moment. Although they were engaged in what could at best be described as a childish brawl, even that commanded the attention of more than a dozen spectators.

Ryoma's observant peripheral vision noticed the child as she approached. He broke eye-contact with Atobe, who had also caught sight of her.

Almost characteristically, the older Echizen put a hand on his baby sister's hair. It was more of a derogatory statement about her height than a sign of affection. She glared at him. "Say hello to the monkey king Nabiki."

Nabiki's gold orbs wandered from her brother's face to Atobe's, and then back again. She looked adorable enough, with large moist eyes and a heart-shaped face. However, as a custom, appearances can and will always be deceptive. It was almost like the Victorian Era, where as a rule, everyone always managed to be somebody else.

Finally, the few seconds of uneasy silence were lifted by a lucky wind. "An…occasion to meet you Atobe-san."

Atobe practically glowed with triumph. "She has impeccable manners compared to you, brat."

"Hn."

Ryoma's snicker was, unfortunately, ignored.

The smaller Echizen stared up at the magnificent figure. According to anatomical definitions, he would have a biological advantage when competing for female members of the same species. Atobe Keigo was tall, something that women looked for in a potential partner, and certainly had a look of affluence. An indication of resources, another thing that many women found attractive.

"Is there something on ore-sama's face, ahn?"

She put on her best poker face, and disregarded his question. "What brings the King of Hyotei Academy to Seishun Gakuen?"

Atobe chuckled. "To grace this commoner dwelling with ore-sama's royal presence, of course!" He pointed a finger at several girls standing to his left. "Be awed at ore-sama's prowess!" But, for a moment there, the gorgeous youth knew for sure that she was analyzing his appearance. Funny. He could detect no emotional content in her eyes, just active scrutiny that was typical of most scientific processes. It intrigued him a little. She was reading him like a sheet of data, or an artifact.

"Ostentatious buffoon." Ryoma commented. He was annoyed. This pompous rich ass is delaying the tennis team's regular afterschool activities.

"Nani?" Atobe frowned. "Ore-sama won't bicker with you brat, since ore-sama is obviously the better man."

"Mada mada dane." His opponent replied as he exited the scene with visible leisure. The tennis team had already wasted enough time with this garbage.

-080-

He observed her carefully: eyes glued to the laptop screen, nimble fingers busy at work playing God to a virtual life form, and neurons firing rapidly to design her own universe. Atobe expected no praise from this girl. She was too…he paused here to search for the right word, practical. A little like a machine. He disliked people like this. They were arrogant. Sprouting from the same roots as her brother, Echizen Nabiki was going to be no exception. Atobe did not need his insight to know this much. It was quiet now, except for the occasional rattling of the fences that separated the tennis courts from the rest of the school. The last thing anyone wanted was for one of the brat's deadly Drive A's to collide with somebody's head.

"Are you bored, senpai?"

He smirked. "Ore-sama does not believe that he give you permission to drop the honorific."

"Perhaps when senpai stops referring to himself in third person I will consider it." She challenged. All the while, her hands never strayed from the keys in scandalous infidelity.

Dark eyes glistened with intrigue. "Stubborn imp."

"I don't believe my height has any logical association with this argument." Nabiki replied without looking up. But, she did not sound angry. Here was an individual who just might be able to break the borders for her expectations. She laughed. How bothersome.

Atobe's insight picked up on her change in body language relatively quickly. Her cocky laugh empowered him, it made him feel superior to the child who had dared to rebel against his power. He was the king in this exchange, and only he will win. Perhaps Ore-sama's precious afternoon shan't be wasted after all.

Nabiki had her own process of controls. This was too fun. The size of his ego is certainly no less than undersea volcanoes, arguably the tallest natural structures on Earth. She took a crack at that haphazardly. Just as arbitrary as experimental probability. Now, how many kilojoules of energy would that take? Yes. Nabiki giggled, how many indeed.

-080-

"I believe you had a question for me, senpai." The child reminded him. The heat of the battle had subsided, with both parties on neutral terms. Neither had gained nor lost any significant ground. In her brother's terms, it was time for game 7 to settle the score. However, they could use a break. In retrospect, the past half an hour had been a complete blur of several events. It did not occur to Nabiki that she could feel so comfortable while engaging in an intellectual debate with another individual almost twice her age. And to think, she had never met him officially before this day. Despite tooting his own horn, he had an incredible analytical way of thinking. Very agile. It made her happy to know that she was presented as an obstacle that he was determined to cross. Yes, the happiest.

Atobe was mildly impressed. She had not missed a beat. Comebacks were clever and well-planned. They made him eager to retaliate with his own arms. Although this was the furthest thing from a tennis match physically, psychologically it was not very different. Once you lose your mind, your locus of control, you don't stand a chance. The king was pleased to announce that he liked the results. They appeared desirable.

"What would that be?" He replied. She had a hold on the honorific for now, but Atobe would see to it a change.

"The reason you bothered to visit." She had returned to that blasted program again.

"Ore-sama believes that it is extremely rude to not make eye contact with the one you are speaking to, especially if you are ore-sama."

"Answer my question."

"Ore-sama does what he feels like doing. I do not need to give explanations to anyone."

She obviously considered that invalid information and chose to ignore him. Nabiki closed the portable computer after saving her work, and got up to leave. "Really? Then perhaps your use of egocentric speech indicates a lot more than just a lack of self-esteem, Atobe-san."

A few minutes of absolute stillness passed by uneasily before a dangerous smile formed on Atobe Keigo's lips.

"Hn, what a troublesome child."