Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis? Not mine. Got that? Great.

A/N: I dedicate this chapter to Artic-Fox. Thank you for helping me with some story issues. This is number three. This is my gift to you, Fox-chan! :D

Warning: There will be OOCness due to circumstances invented by my imagination. Implications leading to possible character death.

Here it is, the twenty-fourth chapter!

Chapter 24: Being a sadist is a lot of hard work, but a hell lot of fun.

At lunch, the teens were once again quiet, which caught the attention of the coaches who had just returned. "What happened while we were gone?" Ryuzaki asked Oishi. "Ryoga-san came, sensei. Echizen was shouting at him when we came to check. He was saying something about Ryoga-san not being his brother. We don't know the details, sensei, but when Ryoga-san left, Echizen was in a better mood. When we asked him what happened, he only told us that Ryoga-san only came to handle some unfinished business and is now on his way back to Tokyo." Oishi replied.

"Where were you all the while?" Ryuzaki asked. "Echizen ordered us to stay upstairs. Seeing the sour mood he was in, no one spoke and followed his orders. Even Hanabi-san and Sachiko-san weren't with him." Oishi informed. "I see. It must have been some family matters." Ryuzaki concluded before they resumed eating.

Meanwhile, in the first table, Izumi was paying close attention to her proclaimed brother. "Why are you such in a good mood today, otouto?" She asked. "Aniki came over." Ryoma simply answered. "Ryoga-san? Wait! You're calling him aniki again! Did he finally apologize?" She asked. "H-hai." He sputtered out. He was surprised with her sudden shout.

"What are you talking about, Hanabi-san?" Kajimoto asked. "The man who came earlier was Ryoga-san, otouto's aniki. Otouto stopped calling him 'aniki' a few months ago, because Ryoga-san ran away again after coming home two years ago." Izumi told him. Ryoma let her explain. He did not mind that they knew about Ryoga. They were bound to know sooner or later anyway.

A few seconds ticked by as Izumi thought about something. Suddenly, she had a shocked look on her face as something seemed to register in her mind. "Don't tell me you killed Ryoga-san, otouto!" She suddenly exclaimed in a horrified manner, catching everyone's attention. "No, I did not. Like I said, he was able to leave and go back to Tokyo." Ryoma bluntly answered. She was making such a big deal out of the small matter.

"Push him from the rooftop?"

"No."

"Cut him into pieces?"

"He left in one piece."

"Turn him into a slave?"

"No."

"Use him as a human sacrifice?"

"Like I said, I did not kill him."

"Scar him psychologically or mentally?"

"No."

"Feed him to predators?"

"He is not dead."

"Give him third-degree burns?"

"No."

"Make him watch Barney?"

"As tempting as it sounds, sadly, no."

"Then what the heck did you do to him? You must've done something harmful to his health, mind or body at least!" Izumi shouted in horror and anticipation. Her reaction brought horrified looks from the other people listening to their exchange. "I only called him an idiot then brought him outside, nee-san." Ryoma said.

"Brought him outside as in throw him like a javelin or like a sack of flour?"

"A sack of flour, nee-san. Aniki is too heavy."

Needless to say, Ryoma's response scared his guests. The ones nearest to him though did not inch away but held on a mask of indifference. "I knew it! I just knew it from your bright mood!" Izumi exclaimed. "Why is that, Hanabi-chan?" Fuji asked. "Otouto might not look like it, but he loves torturing Ryoga-san in any way possible ever since his return from his previous disappearance. He's been so cranky for the last two years!" Izumi complained.

"No, I wasn't." Ryoma told her with a frown. "Who's to say you weren't? I can point out all the things you've done since training started!" Izumi said. "Like what, Hanabi-chan?" Yukimura asked. "Since you asked so nicely, Yukimura-kun, I'll tell you." Izumi replied with a smile.

"Well, the first one would be supplying me the tennis balls and racket to hit his oyaji. Second would be the Wasabi Torture incident on our last day at my place." The memory still brought shivers to the victims of the incident. "It was followed by the pink-dye-infused shampoo you guys had in the shower room during the first training. Next would be the occasional super spicy meals placed in other tables." Izumi looked thoughtful for a few more moments.

"There was that clothing swap a few days ago, which I was sure was done by otouto as well. Lastly, there was that cacti around the hallways recently." Izumi finished. Shocked stares were locked on Ryoma who looked bored, finished with his meal. "You missed one, nee-san." She raised a brow at that. "I placed some Tabasco in the juice today. I don't remember who got the spiked juice though." He said with a devious grin. As if on cue, a few males stood up, crying about the spicy juice.

"You have really done it this time, otouto." Izumi shook her head in pity for the unfortunate teens. "You were great, Young Master." Sachiko praised him. "Thank you, Sachiko. I have to admit, I had help from Fuji-sempai on this one." Ryoma replied with a smirk. "I'm happy to help." Fuji said.

'The two sadists have come together! The apocalypse is coming!'

A/N: I do not own Barney!

This note is present to also notify all readers that I, the authoress, am not encouraging any fear for the said show. Honestly, I grew up watching that show when I was still younger.

Anyway, I hope I didn't make the characters too OOC. I might have been a little excited when I typed this so... Please tell me any typos and inconsistencies, even grammar mistakes (being the "Grammar Nazi" that I am).

Constructive criticism is appreciated in the form of private messages and/or reviews.