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Disclaimer: Prince of tennis is NOT mine!
Ruka gripped the fence of the tennis courts as she watched the Rikkai Dai tennis club train, she didn't see the boy with blue hair from yesterday, and none of the members training wore the bumble bee outfit.
She wondered where they were in the back of her mind, but really, she was too busy concentrating on all the flaws she noticed as the boys trained. There were plenty, but Ruka acknowledged they were still had potential. This made her wonder how good the regulars would be.
Although it was only the second day at school, the tennis team were already working their butts off, anyone could tell they were dead serious about winning.
School had pretty much been a bore, she didn't have Chemistry or any other subjects she had advanced in today, so she was stuck with her usual first year class.
The day had consisted of History, Art, National Language studies (It's like how we you do English and learn about grammar, study films and books etc. but in Japanese since they're in Japan. Hope that made sense XD), Geography, Biology and Drama.
Ruka snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the clang of the gate and the silencing of tennis balls connecting with a racket. Looking across the court, she saw a cluster of people enter and they all wore the same outfit as Yukimura-senpai had worn yesterday.
Groups of girls started gathering around, squealing out the name of their respective player that their fan club belonged to. "Marui-sama! Ganbatte!" "Kya! Niou-senpai!" "Look! It's Yukimura-sama! The Child of God!" etc.
Ruka covered her ears, hoping that she didn't become deaf as well as immobile. She saw the boy from yesterday – the one who had been wearing a frown – and still was, glare at the girls, causing them to become silent.
A chorus of "Welcome 'Mura-buchou" went around the courts, and each member respectively bowed. 'He's the captain?!' Ruka thought, eyes wide.
Yukimura gave a slight nod and started giving out orders to the team. They all ran off in different directions and then turned to the rest of the regulars and told the boy with a black cap on the takeover. The said boy nodded and started pointing to two people at a time. They all nodded and moved onto separate courts and started to rally lightly.
On a closer look, Ruka recognised all the regulars from the day before. To be honest, she'd never expect some of them to even play tennis. The person she'd bumped into at the start of lunch – Jackal – was playing against the boy from English… 'Marui-senpai I think.' She thought.
Then the boy with the rattail was rallying with Yagyuu, Ruka remembered he was the nice boy that had offered to help her the other day. Her mysterious lab partner of whom she'd definitely not expected to be a tennis player was playing against the boy that she had helped out yesterday in maths.
She looked back to the boy with the black cap on; he wasn't playing, but standing there with his arms crossed. She thought his expression was quite familiar when it hit her. "Ah! It's that frowning boy from yesterday!" She exclaimed out loud.
A soft chuckle came from behind and she turned around to see the bluenette – Yukimura. "So, what do you think of my team?" he asked. Ruka turned her attention back to the regulars for a while before answering, "They're certainly good, but. They all have their bad points. They can all still improve. Like the frowny one over there. He told me off for helping him." Ruka pointed to the said.
"Sanada?" Yukimura questioned. "Is that is name?" Ruka asked, still watching the regulars, her eyes following the movements of the ball. "Saa, from my experience, he's the only one who's forever frowning." Yukimura said. "Heh, did you ever think that maybe, he was frowning, and then suddenly…" Ruka paused dramatically, "the wind changed!" She threw her hands up in the air for effect, giggling at her own 'joke'.
Yukimura chuckled along with her, 'I would've never thought of that one…' he thought. After their little 'giggle fest' they turned their attention back to the courts, ignoring the few comments of "Che, who does she think she is, talking with Yukimura-sama like that?"
Yukimura snuck a peek at Ruka's face after hearing this, but turned back to his teammates after seeing her smiling expression did not even waver in the least. In his opinion, she had a strong heart.
"Ne," Ruka spoke up, "you're the captain, shouldn't you be with the team instead of me?" "Ah, Sanada can take care of it." Yukimura replied. A silence came between the two for a moment before Ruka spoke up again. "Senpai, I was wondering, I know Niou, Marui, Yagyuu, Jackal and Kirihara-senpai, but, who's the brunette rallying with Kirihara-senpai?"
"Ah, you mean Yanagi?" Yukimura's smiling mask slipped a bit as his eyebrows shot up, wondering why Ruka would ask about Renji. "Hou, so that's his name. I never got to find out yesterday in Chemistry. What kind of tennis does he play?" Ruka kept asking questions, not that Yukimura was irritated that she was so interested in Yanagi or anything.
"He plays data tennis; he collects data on players and uses it to beat his opponents." Yukimura explained, in fact, now he was wondering why he was talking to this girl so much. "What about the others? What kind of tennis do the others play?" Yukimura detected a hint of excitement in Ruka's voice.
"Hmm, I guess you'll just have to keep watching to find out, ne? Why are you so interested in tennis anyway? Thinking of becoming one of those dreaded fan girls?" he teased. Ruka's expression soured into a look of disgust, "Ugh, no way! Who would want to just stand around watching tennis, not knowing a single thing about it, and squeal someone's name? I mean, wouldn't you rather know what's happening and enjoy the match instead of fan girling over some guy?"
"Saa, I guess you have a point there." "And tennis isn't just about winning, it's about having fun. You're lucky to even get to play." Ruka sighed, saying the last part in English, hoping Yukimura wouldn't detect her sadness. Yukimura was about to ask something when her phone buzzed from within the fabrics of her skirt pocket. Quickly, she pulled it out and flipped the phone open. "Mum? Ok, I'll be there soon." She ended the call and turned back to Yukimura. "Sorry, Yukimura-senpai, my mum's here to pick me up, so I've gotta go." She smiled and started to back up her wheelchair to turn towards the gate. "Ah, ok, ja ne, and please, call me Seiichi." He smiled and waved as he watched her go, before heading back to his team.
xxx
Sanada simply just cast a meaningful glance at Yukimura as he re-entered the courts. "Saa, let's play, shall we?" Yukimura asked, picking up his racket.
The two headed to an empty court. Once settled, Sanada looked at Yukimura and nodded. Yukimura bounced the ball a few times before throwing it up and the air and serving. The serve was packed with power and speed, but, Sanada knew it only contained about 20% of Yukimura's true potential. They were lightly rallying after all.
They hit the ball back and forth for a while, making it easier to return. One thing that Yukimura had noticed, was that Sanada's cross-shots were now faster and had slightly more power than before. He gave a small smirk as he realised how Sanada may just have improved since yesterday. Although he wasn't 100% sure, he kept hold of that thought anyway.
xxx
Training ended and the regulars were in the locker room, changing before heading back home or out for the usual snack (Ahem Marui). The group were not really talking about anything in particular, but it was certain they had one thing one their mind. Kirihara – being the loud mouth, couldn't hold it in any longer, so asked, "Mura-buchou, why were you talking to that girl in the wheelchair? Who is she? Who? Who? (Remember, Kirihara didn't get to find out who she was in maths the day before)."
The club room hushed into silence, waiting for their captain's reply, they were all wondering about the same thing after all. Personally, Sanada was annoyed. Not only had that girl talked to him in such a rude manner, she had possibly told Yukimura off too. Of course, he would deny the fact that the tips given on the previous day had actually helped, and finding her to apologise just… wouldn't be like him. He had a man's pride to uphold anyway.
"Saa, is it wrong to talk to a girl?" Yukimura questioned, a not so innocent smile in his lips. The team shuddered and dropped the topic, but Yanagi and Niou were still… interested. What was so special about that girl that Yukimura took off once he saw her?
Yanagi wasn't surprised though, he wouldn't deny that the girl had something unique about her. He wanted data, and that was exactly the reason he had slipped into the empty spot next to her in Chemistry just yesterday. Data. Yes, data.
Niou was really only interested because he'd found his new toy. The perfect person to pull pranks on. The only problem is, his captain would probably kill him in his sleep if he found out, and the two seemed close during training.
In the meantime, Kirihara left first, saying something about his Aunt and Uncle coming over. Niou left soon after, followed by Sanada and Yukimura. "Lock up when you're done." Sanada told the remaining four. They nodded as Yanagi looked at Yagyuu expectantly, before he nodded and the two left, probably to take care of some things in the student council.
"So, my treat today?" Marui looked at his doubles partner, being the only two left in the room. Jackal nodded, but said, "You're they only one who's going to eat anyway." Marui laughed at that and scratched the back of his head.
The two regulars quickly locked up and left the school grounds, Marui rambling on about the types of sweets he felt like eating that day.
xxx
Ruka sat outside the temple; she was the referee for the match that her dad and brother were playing.
"40 – Love! Match point!" Ruka said, watching her brother lose once again. As usual, oyaji was taunting Ryoma by not playing seriously, and using his samurai-zone.
"Game, set and match!" The game ended with the final rally, all of which 'Samurai Nanjiro' had countered Ryoma's twist serve, Drive B and Drive A. As usual. "Che, mada mada dane." Ryoma said.
Ruka sighed as she turned and headed back to the house. Ryoma had a lot to work on, but she shouldn't be telling him what to do, when he, himself knows he can get better. He barely listens to her when it comes to tennis anyway, even though Ruka had played more of an… observant type of tennis.
Ruka waited at the bottom of the steps for the other two to come and help her into the house. Her dad picked her up while Ryoma lugged the wheelchair after him. Ryoma disappeared shortly after for a shower, whereas her dad went back to giggling over his 'newspaper'.
Purposely ignoring her perverted father, Ruka went back into her own room and pulled herself off her wheelchair to flop onto her bed. She lay there, staring at the ceiling for a while. Thoughts of tennis went through her mind as she slowly drifted asleep.
xxx
(Her dream, set back in America, so they're speaking English. GORY, SO DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS KINDA STUFF.)
"Ry-o-ma!" Ruka grabbed her racket and ran after her brother as they both rushed out of the door to meet their friends at the street courts down the nearby alleyway, "Wait up!"
Ruka ran, looking at her brother's back as she followed him. Sadly, he was slowly growing smaller, and smaller, as he got further away. No matter how hard Ruka tried, she just couldn't catch up to him.
She snuck a peek behind her and saw shadows creeping up on her. They were unnatural, pointy like swords trying to cut off her feet, stopping her from escape. In front of her, a wall suddenly appeared and she was caught in a dead end.
The shadows kept advancing, and Ruka felt a cold shiver run down her spine as they crept up the wall, poising themselves at Ruka's thighs. She closed her eyes as they were about to slice through her when…
"WATCH OUT!" a voice screamed. Ruka looked up from where she was about to pick up the lost –but – now found tennis ball. As she blinked, all she heard was the sound of tyres screeching and she found herself drowning in a black pool of darkness.
Ruka saw a whisper of white, and it grew larger and larger until someone – no, something, entered the room. She tried standing up, but she couldn't feel her legs, they wouldn't move. Her hands were bound by a chain to the wall, and she was at a loss on how to escape.
The figure came closer, and Ruka could see its distorted features. One eye was larger than the other, both completely white. Its arms just dangled there, his fingers crusted with dry blood. He kept stumbling over his feet, like a drunk. And it was drooling slightly.
You couldn't call this THING a person at all!
Time seemed to stop as the creature leapt toward her. She felt unbearable pain in her stomach as she saw the thing rip out her insides, blood staining his face as he savoured her as a meal. She felt herself screaming for help, but no one heard her…
Once again, she closed her eyes. When she opened them, she found herself back in her house in America. She was sitting at the kitchen table, waiting for her mum to finish cooking breakfast. No one else was awake yet, so the two females were the only ones in the room.
Suddenly, her mum appeared next to her, holding two plates of who-knows-what and looking at Ruka with an eerie smile. Something was wrong, but Ruka didn't know what.
The plate was placed in front of her, and she looked down the see its contents moving. It was a hand; it wriggled like a fish out of water and jumped, grabbing hold of her wrist tightly. She screamed as tears streamed down her face.
Her surroundings disappeared again, leaving her sitting in an empty room, the bloody hand still gripping onto her. She was still screaming as the hand let go of her arm, now moving to cover her mouth, giving her trouble breathing.
She squirmed to get out of its grasp when she blacked out.
"Ruka~ Wakey wakey…" A sadistic voice pulled her out of nothingness and onto a road of squeals and flashes. She squinted her eyes for a moment and through the flashes, she saw a dark figure lingering at the back of the crowd.
Trying to get a closer look, she took a step forward and found herself… falling. Falling into the jaws of an animal. She could see down its oesophagus into its stomach, she saw torn limbs and a head staring up at her, its facial features told her that the head belonged to a she. And the eyes of that 'she' looked awfully familiar. The golden eyes stared up at her, and looking closely, she saw olive flecks dusting them.
She started screaming again when she realised the head belonged to none other than herself…
xxx
"RUKA! Get a hold of yourself!" A voice sliced through her as her eyes cracked open. "Daddy?" she whispered in English. The figure pulled her into a tight hug as she finally regained consciousness.
"Thank kami, thank kami." Her dad kept repeating as he held his daughter, who was sodden from sweat and tears. "Dad, I'm ok. I promise." Ruka tried to push off her bawling father, but he wouldn't let go.
She looked up to her doorway and saw her perfectly fine mother standing there, gripping on to Ryoma's shoulders as he fought to try and reach her.
Her attention then turned to the glowing clock on her desk. It read '3:42 am'. She turned back to her family, looking down she whispered, "I'm sorry…"
Her shoulders shook, but no tears came out. She didn't want to worry her family, but it always ended like this. Looking back up, she mustered the happiest smile she could and said, "I'm fine, you should get back to sleep, we have school and work, so we need our rest."
Her father finally let go and gave a small nod, she snuggled back into her bad sheets and pretended to fall asleep. But, really, at this point, she was too scared.
The door clicked, signalling that her parents and Ryoma had gone back to bed. Sighing, she tore off her blankets and heaved herself into her wheelchair.
Quietly, she made her way over to her desk and opened one of the drawers. Inside was filled with pictures of her friends, Ryoma and herself back in America. They were all smiling happily as they huddled around each other, each holding a tennis racket and a few of them sported medals around their necks, including herself and Ryoma.
She stuck her hand back into the drawer and fumbled around until she felt something smooth touch her hands. Pulling it out, she traced her fingers over her name engraved on the medal. She smiled happily and sat there for another few moments before placing everything neatly back into the drawer and closing it, sealing away most of her past memories again.
She'd lost those friends all because of something so stupid that she'd brought on herself.
She dismissed that thought immediately, before smiling again and falling asleep at her desk.
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