To one of my confused reviewers, I apologize for not being specific. You see, there are a lot more tournaments in tennis than just the grand slams. Tokyo open is a one of the biggest tournaments held in Japan and is one of the one's with good prize money. Though it is not part of the grand slams, other wise they would have 1,000,000 dollars as prize money instead.

Also, yes, Kaidoh did turn pro and I'm about to explain it this chapter! You are very observant!

Italics mean thoughts

Well, let's go to the next chapter!

CHAPTER 1

Akaya and Momoshiro were standing in a long line to get two tickets that cost over 10,550 yen a piece (about $100 or less)! As they got closer and closer to the booth, Akaya spotted something. Ryoma Echizen was signing autographs. After a five year old boy asked Ryoma to sign his tennis ball, the booth closed and Ryoma was going to the practice courts the pros had access to.

"Momo, stay in line okay?" Akaya said and ran after Ryoma.

"Oi! Kirihara!" Momoshiro yelled. It was too late though. Akaya already walked into the ovalish shaped bubble dome, and Momo sighed. Darn it. Now he had to stay by himself in this heat…

PRACTICE COURTS

Kirihara was going to greet the 16 year old boy when he saw Ryoma practicing. He just stood there and stared. He had forgotten just how amazing he was. Ryoma now used a yonex racket, red just like his old one. His baby fat was gone now, and his face was powerful and calm.

Ryoma's coach tossed some more bassed back and forth into the tennis court super fast. Ryoma smiled at the challenge and ran back and forth, getting all of them. Ryoma's white shirt rode up and made Akaya's mouth instinctively opened slightly, a gasp and heavy breathing escaping his lips. It was beautiful.

Arms flexing out to reach the tennis ball, and returned it with such power. His legs were more muscular, but still lean, and were longer. His form was perfect (yeah, I'm going to fast forward!). The coach ran out of balls and told Ryoma to sit down while he picked them up. Ryoma nodded and was about to sit on a bench when he spotted Rikkaidai's tennis ace.

Akaya smirked.

"I see you haven't changed a bit. I'm surprised your snake and Tezuka didn't turn pro," Akaya said.

Ryoma closed his eyes and said, "Kaidoh-sempai turned pro,". Akaya was confused. But Kaidoh was dead.

"Though when he was supposed to play in the Australian open that year, his plane crashed and only 12 people survived," Echizen explained. Oh. "Why are you here anyways? Only coaches of the pros try to watch me," Ryoma said and pointed at a couple of old men that were also watching Ryoma practice like Akaya was.

"Must get annoying," Kirihara said without thinking. Ryoma smiles.

"Yeah, it does," he said. All the coaches left, seeing nothing but talking wasn't going to help their tennis players and walked out. About 20 minutes later, Ryoma's coach came up and said, "Oi Ryoma, let's go!". He then finally noticed Akaya and asked who was he.

"I guess you can say I'm an old friend," Akaya said.

"Well, if you want to talk to chibisuke, you'll have to do it after practice." He said. Kirihara noticed that the coach looked very similar to Ryoma, only a centimeter taller and his greenish black hair was in a ponytail instead of a hat. As the coach walked away, Ryoma answered his question with a "That's my brother, Echizen Ryoga,", grabbed his yonex racket, and walked back to the baseline for more drills. Akaya wanted to watch, but then he remembered that Momoshiro was still in line.

Ah, he'll forgive me.

He then sat down on the white, sturdy bench, and continued to observe. Echizen's footwork had improved, he had more grace than when he played the Nationals.

"Itai!" Kirihara yelled. His hair was being roughly pulled at.

"You idiot! You left me there by myself for 40 minutes!" the voice yelled. Momoshiro. Akaya pushed his roommate away, and asked if he got the tickets. Momoshiro nodded. "I'm not selfish like someone here! Honestly, you could have waited to see Echizen," Takeshi said. But when he said that, Akaya wasn't really sure. What was wrong with him? He just bolted after Echizen without even thinking.

Kirihara put the thought aside and both he and Momo watched Ryoma play. Ryoga fed balls with topspin, slice, or even no spin. All returned two inches inside the baseline at the corners. Momoshiro whistled. The balls were now being fed close to the service line and made Ryoma move forward and back to the baseline every time he hit it.

"Hey Momo, is it true that the reason your team mate three years ago, Kaidoh Kaoru was on the plane to go to the Australian open? After all, you all at Seigaku just said it was a vacation," Akaya asked. SILENCE.

"Chibisuke, I'm going to really test your speed now!" Ryoga warned and kept hitting low drop shots. But to the younger Echizen brother, it was still easy.

"Yeah, it's true. He turned pro at the age of 14 and won 9 CHALLENGER 1 pro tournaments just so he could qualify." Momo answered.

"What about Tezuka and Fuji? Or any of you?" Akaya asked.

Momo's face became serious. "I could ask the same of you," he said. Kirihara just dropped the subject and continued to watch Ryoma.

Soon all the balls were used again and Ryoga started to pick them up. When Ryoma went back to the bench for his water, he saw a familiar face.

"Momo-sempai!" Ryoma gasped. Momoshiro Takeshi laughed.

"You don't have to call me that anymore Echizen," Momo said. Ryoma smiled and started sipping at his water bottle.

"I guess it's just a habit," he said. He then saw the tickets in Momo's hand and said, "I'll be playing tomorrow night, 8:45 pm at Center Court against Andy Roddick"...

LATER THAT NIGHT

Kirihara Akaya couldn't sleep that night. All he could think about was how everything was different from back then. Echizen Ryoma was older and and was even more handsomer than 4 years ago. His facial features were still boyish, for he was obviously still 16. Echizen's body was still lean, but it had a certain exotic sex appeal that made you unable to direct your eyes away. He looked at the clock to see it was already 3:30 am. Damn it! Why couldn't he get him out of his head?

He didn't even know him well!

I wasn't even on his team or anything! Why can't he leave my mind alone?

Akaya sighed and turned over and flopped his face into the pillow. Well, that still didn't work...

CHAPTER 1 OVER

Hehe. Can't wait for Ryoma's tennis match! GO RYOMA! BOO ANDY! Haha! Just kidding Andy Roddick fans. He's pretty cool, though sometimes I think he relies on his serve too much like that guy from Higa middle school in the ova (can't remember fat guy's name). Anyways, I'll write more. But some more helpful advice would be nice. After all, I'm won't turn 14 until March! So... yeah, not that experienced.