Queen of The Suits

by Scarlette Shizuru

UNDER CONSTRUCTION - They thought only the boys' middle school team was a revolution in tennis. But what other abilities do the girls have? What makes them tick really? "Being clean is not a clinical psychological disorder!" CHP 79 up! I don't own Prince of Tennis! Only the OCs! Chapter 2 - rewritten!

6. Duel of the Silver Pair and the Prodigy

(I don't own Prince of Tennis!)

Chapter 6 – Duel of the Silver and the Prodigy

Hiyoshi couldn't believe that he got busted by Sanada Momo. What could he expect? She was pretty good among the girls and not many could just topple her down. The only one who could probably do that is Mai, her captain, Atobe and maybe some of the other tennis players in his batch. But definitely, she wasn't that easy to beat. He had considered putting Momo on his Gekokujou list the moment she flattened him in the game. Everyone was there including his favorite first year girl.

Getsugan Kiyone but lucky enough for him, she was umpiring Oshitari and Gakuto's game against Rin and Haruka so, there wasn't really much of a problem.

Momo got off the court and was talking to her captain who nodded at her performance and also got a little bit of criticism. "I guess if Kurenai-san is going to push her that hard then, Atobe's going to do a lot worse and we're not even going to beat them. I bet she's one of the few who can give Atobe a run for his money."

"How bad was it," Momo put her racquet behind her head.

Shizuru let out a sigh. "Would you like the truth or would you like me to lie?"

Momo laughed at her captain. "I played that badly huh?"

"You played pretty well," Shizuru took out her racquet and headed towards the court, "though I advice you not to pull out all your techniques all so suddenly. It gives the opponent time to analyse them and create a counter attack. You're lucky that your opponent was just Hiyoshi-san otherwise – if it were Oshitari-senpai or Atobe-senpai, I don't think you would have won that easily."

Momo let out a small sigh while watching Kabaji and Mai. "Wow, I can't believe I'm playing you."

"Usu," Kabaji used his usual reply.

"I take it because your mind has to be blank enough to absorb almost anything," Mai leaned on one leg.

Atobe smirked at Shizuru. "Nagisaki will have quite a hard time with Kabaji, arn~."

"I know but, I'm sure she does have a few plans up her sleeve." Shizuru knew that Mai didn't have much upper body strength like Kabaji or Ayane but she could hold.

Atobe looked at the girls and many students that were crowding the tennis courts. Many among them were Atobe-sama fan girls. "Ore-sama no bigi ni yoina," he snapped his fingers in the air.

All the girls surrounding the tennis court area except a few girls fainted on the spot. Ayane slapped her forehead. "Lousy idiot, he can't even stay humble for a moment in his useless life!"

"You know, if he weren't arrogant now, who would you argue with? Who's going to be your hubby?" Kiyone wondered aloud while Ohtori and Shishido snickered at the background.

Ayane fumed right away. "Getsugan, you better shut up about that narcisstic, arrogant, egotistical, brainless, selfish and annoying little brat right now before I pummel you through the floor!"

"Yeah, yeah sure, I know you won't do that. I'm your doubles partner and Shizuru-senpai won't like violence on the court." Kiyone smiled sweetly.

Shishido deftly balanced his racquet on his finger. "Do you girls mind start playing doubles before I get off this court and geld you where you both stand?"

Ohtori knew that Shishido too was a bit violent. "Maybe we shouldn't provoke them, Shishido-senpai."

"Bring it on, scowler! I'm not going to lose to a drop out like you!" Ayane had a smirk plastered on her face. "By the way, you be referee okay, Yamaguchi-senpai?"

Hitomi silently took her seat at the umpire's chair. "This would be a good opportunity for me to get data. Doubles One, Kobayagi Ayane-Getsugan Kiyone pair versus the Shishido Ryou-Ohtori Choutarou pair will now begin. Game start, Kobayagi to serve."

Kiyone stared at Ayane as if she had grown a second head. "Are you crazy? Do you want Ohtori-senpai to kill you with his Scud Serve?"

"He wouldn't. Ohtori-senpai's kind, right?" She smiled at the taller silver haired kohai.

Ohtori began scratching his head. "Well, um…"

Shishido tugged his jacket. "That's it, Ohtori, you're being too kind. They're making you look like a dweeb, get some backbone in!"

Ohtori nodded sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Shishido-senpai."

"Che," Shishido grumbled while taking his place at the net. "Damn, you and Shizuru have the same problem: you're too kind and you don't know how to tell what mockery is from a tease. How did I become your friends anyway? Well – Ohtori I know how but Shizuru…somehow, I don't understand that part."

That's because she's like a doll. A perfectly messed up one at that.

"She is not," Shishido fixed his cap while lowering himself down at the net. "Well, her mannerisms are that of one but that doesn't mean she has no willpower of her own. It takes a lot of determination to lead a dysfunctional pair like these two."

But, how sure can you be that doll version of her is real?

Shishido recalled all those moments he had with Ohtori and Shizuru when he first met them both. Shizuru came in a neatly pressed uniform with a patented smile as if it were programed into her brain. While Ohtori stammered more, Shizuru wouldn't even flinch at the sight of danger. In fact, Shishido remembered how red her eyes looked that day. When the senpai began bullying Ohtori for being "Godzilla", Shizuru simply stood in front of them with a lady-like smile but her eyes sparkled differently.

Shizuru became someone of very little words until Shishido knocked some sense into both of them.

At first, Shishido became very wary with making friends with someone like Ohtori and Shizuru but in the end - they became inseparable. Much to the capped boy's surprise, Shizuru did have a weird liking to heavy metal rock music even if she didn't look it. When they had Guitar Hero in his house, Shizuru and him played Through the Fire and Flames on Hard Mode with the guitar in which they ended up blinding themselves and needed Ohtori to put eye drops. The first time he gave her a pair of drum sticks - she kinda went crazy with it. Shishido chuckled at the memory as he recalled that he placed the sticks in a case safely tucked under his bed. All their memories were in a metal box under his bed.

Whoever made the proverb of not judging a book by its cover was correct.

Because of his strong attachment to the two, they often became a target for bullying. Not because of Shishido being a troublemaker but Shizuru being someone who would tolerate being hit and not let out a peep and also Ohtori who was freakishly tall for his age. Boys from his batch stoned Ohtori a few times and even hit Shizuru with brass knuckles to which he wondered how they managed to sneak it in. However, on that day - that didn't matter.

Oh yes, he came home bruised that day but he was content.

That incident caused him to receive a month's worth of suspension. At first, Shishido did it because he hated guys picking on people who were not of their calibre but the two gladly offered to tutor him while he stayed stuck in his house on weekdays. The funny part is - he scored better on his tests when they taught him rather than the teachers who often complained to his parents that he would sit there and stare while tuning up his tech deck skateboard toy that his brother bought from one of his trips.

It's not my fault that they're boring, Shishido snorted while forehanding another shot.

He couldn't believe that despite Shizuru being a doll-like person - she happened to scamper away at the sight of one place: a beauty salon. Last time Mai grabbed her along, Shizuru threatened her that she would cut her hair and stole his cap just to look like a boy and escape.

"Man, they're so contrasting to the point I don't get it," Shishido's head was a little too busy in the clouds.

"Shishido-senpai, look out!"

The boy didn't have time to react and the ball flew past his ear landing exactly on the doubles line, "15-0!"

Ayane cringed at Shishido's daze. "Hey, what are you dazing out for, you slacker? Get your butt in gear!"

He hated that word. He was anything but a slacker. "Shut your trap, you should show more respect for your seniors!"

"I don't bow down to anybody, slacker! I don't bow down especially to those who were thrown off the team the first time!"

Kiyone cheekily grinned while latching on to Ayane's shoulders. "Yeah, I thought that once you lose - you stay dead."

Ayane gave her a high five. "Yeah, that's right. How did you rise from the dead?"

"Oh well, who cares," Kiyone glanced at Shishido who was fuming at the orange haired vice captain of Hyotei. "He's just some other guy we have to kick down so that we can get stronger. I mean - if he goes down - everything else does too, right Yane? Can we squish him llike an orange? Please, please, please?""

"Sure we can," Clucking her tongue, Ayane returned to the baseline to serve again. "Don't let people take advantage of the fact you're spacing out, Shishido!"

Her serve was fast but Shishido hit it back with double the power. "Alright, this shot will be your last!"

Ayane fired it back with a backhand. "Bring it on, cap boy!"

Shishido returned it with a forehand while Kiyone returned it with top spin drop shot. "Wow, you're getting fast, Shishido-senpai!"

The ball went far back and Ohtori returned it back with a backhand; right down the line, "15 All!"

Kiyone clapped her hands joyfully. "Alright, looks like we got a challenge for ourselves, ne?"

Ayane didn't like the sound of that. "Are we seriously going to get a challenge out these guys? Seriously – Shishido's a slacker and the only one who's good enough here is Ohtori. They're only half a player, Kiyone. Don't get intimidated or excited over something as stupid as Shishido."

Shishido hated it when Ayane just had to insult him. "Why don't you show a little respect for once?"

"Me? Show respect to you? You've gotta to be kidding." Ayane hooted with laughter. "The only one who has ever gained respect from me is Kurenai-senpai, Nagisaki-senpai, Uchiha-senpai and many of the female regulars. I don't listen to a drop out!"

She fired another service towards Ohtori who sent it back with a hard back hand which Kiyone was forced to lob. With the ball high in the air, Shishido managed to jump up and smash it down the line but since Ayane was far enough, she waited for it to come down and bounce properly before returning it.

"I think it's time I used my Blade of the Magnolia," Ayane sneered evilly, twirling her racquet around. "Don't you think?"

This was her version of the jack knife; physically and potentially weaker, this move allows Ayane to pile drive right down the line without much effort. However, it can equal a normal Jack Knife but is far away from the Master's Jack Knife. Shishido however revealed something very new to the whole group because the moment it bounced he brought out a powerful shot.

"Is that what I think it is," Ayane gawked in amazement along with the other regulars.

Kiyone's eyes widened. "It's the Rising Counter! How did he know how to do that?"

"That's what happens when you're at the receiving end of Choutarou's serves. You tend to come up with new thingss" Shishido had a smirk across his face.

Ayane fired it back at him. "Yeah sure, I've seen that move a lot! Isane-senpai uses it too!"

Shishido fired another backhand at her but Kiyone managed to cover her with an under spin. "Think you can keep up with my top spins and under spins? Good luck with that!"

Though they were only a newly created pair, Shishido and Ohtori were doing pretty well as doubles partners. The two were playing just fine against Ayane and Kiyone who were ranked as National's level doubles players despite being first year. They showed much promise as a doubles pair.

Atobe chuckled lightly, folding his arms. "Ore-sama didn't know Shishido would be so good in doubles, arn~."

"Shishido-senpai always persevered in everything he wanted to do. He won't sit back and let Kobayagi-san insult him like that." Shizuru continued watching the doubles match.

Jirou's eyes widened. "Look at how Mai-chan's playing!"

They all snapped their heads towards the Singles Two play and Mai was playing against Kabaji. His shots exploded from his racquet and Mai could do nothing but avoid it. "Game, Kabaji: 1-0!"

Sweating, Mai felt her heart race with her breathing becoming ragged every time. "Kabaji-kun's weight contributes to the amount of power required for his shot. His power seals me at one point and makes sure I stay in one place. With that kind of power, he could actually make King Kong look like a sleazebag. Power's the main game considering that if I use a technique he'll copy it right off. But," -her amber eyes glinted. "That doesn't mean he doesn't know how to use it properly."

The ball whizzed past her and she was nearly forced down to the floor if not for her stable stance. "15 Love, Mai, are you sure you want to continue playing Kabaji? He's handing your butt to you."

"I have to, there's a time when one should lose and when one should win. I can't keep winning forever. I know my records are clean of any losses so far but there will have to be a time where I'll lose. So, don't depend on me so much, Momo-senpai. I'll just give him a match that he won't forget," Mai waited for another serve which exploded towards her, "because the only time I will probably lose, is here and now against Kabaji. I haven't faced anyone this strong and Shizuru did have a good idea of pitting us against the guys, I might get some new style here and there."

She moved far back to receive his shot where it would most likely be weaker and sent it back. Kabaji sent it back with triple the amount of power she had put on it and Mai had to stay at the baseline just so his shots would weaken. "Thank goodness I'm used to staying in the back. Otherwise – this match would have been over years ago. The very few I know who can handle his power are probably Ayane and maybe even that guy from Rikkai Dai."

The one you got infatuated with?

I'm not infatuated with that sadistic, devilish…angelic and smiling captain, Mai admitted in defeat. How long has she been crushing on that guy?

Oh yes, she's been crushing over him for two years now plus this one maybe half a year. So, all in all: two and a half years.

"I can't believe I got smitten by someone like him," Mai fired the ball back cross court while Kabaji volleyed it over. "I mean – he's so cruel towards everyone but then again, that's what made him so good."

Kabaji fired a heavy forehand and Mai knew she had to come up with something that could at least deflect his shot. "If I use any special technique, he'll soak it up like a sponge and use it back right at me and it will be never ending. There's gotta be a way how to stop Kabaji in his tracks."

Another backhand made its mark on the court, "30 Love!"

Gripping her racquet tightly, Mai felt her teeth gnash themselves together in total frustration. "How do I beat someone who is ten times stronger than I am? I've never been so frustrated in my life!"

Atobe flipped his hair back with amusement. "It seems like Nagisaki can't take another shot from Kabaji. This match will go to Kabaji unless she does something about it."

Shizuru didn't reply. "Mai, I know you can find a way out. You're the tensai of the team and you never gave up til the last match point."

The female genius visualized the match in her head. "If I make it a drop shot, he'll run and hit it hard down the line. If I baseline him, his shots will still be strong and if I volley him, that's even worse for me to do. He already broke my service game and I can't let that happen again. I don't know if I should be using this technique now but – it's still in its experimental stage. I haven't even perfected it fully yet but, do I have a choice not to use it?"

Her eyes looked entirely different now; she placed herself at the baseline with a sigh. "It's now or never…!"

Another hard service flew and Mai volleyed it with his own strength. "This is the most I can do. I can't keep staying at the baseline forever!"

Kabaji soon began firing heavier shots than last time and Mai had to keep volleying every time because it would take her much longer to do the follow through. "Besides, his strength is pretty useful at this point in time. Looks like I've got to outsmart Kabaji before he tries anything else."

His shot flew straight for her face until she brought out a technique. "Nagisaki Illusion: Black Primrose."

The ball spun high into the air and aimed straight at the sun while everyone began looking for it. "Huh? Where did the ball go?"

Gakuto was still slumped and he tried looking for it and he found the ball. "It's near the net!"

The moment Kabaji looked up, the ball dropped right next to him slowly rolling away from him, "30 – 15!"

Mai had a triumphant smile. "This seems good. Just hope it lasts for now."

Kabaji retreated to the baseline again and Mai went to the receiving end. "I just hope he doesn't absorb it fast enough or I'm going to lose this."

Receiving a heavy serve, Mai managed to swing it back with the same amount of power. Kabaji fired it again down the line and Mai was forced to lob.

"Mai gave him a chance ball," Atobe smirked triumphantly. "She's finished."

"I think you should retract that statement, Atobe-senpai." Shizuru had a twinkle in her eye. "Don't you see the look in her eyes? I think she wanted it that way."

Hiyoshi stared at her agape. "She knows the-?"

"Not exactly but, it's something distinctly similar to it." Shizuru saw Mai bend down low into a stretching position. "Here it comes…"

Closing her eyes, Mai felt her ears twinge the moment the ball cracked off Kabaji's racquet. "I will drop the curtains on you, Kabaji. This is the Adonis Drop…"

Uncoiling her body like a spring, she sent the ball high into the air and it dropped right at the corner of the singles line, "30 all!"

Shizuru's lips curved up into a faint smile. "Now, the counter attack of the Spades begins…"

Mai looked at the two techniques she had just revealed. "These will do for now. I just hope Kabaji doesn't absorb them and turns them against me."

Atobe didn't show the fact that he was surprised. "So what was that lame technique, arn~?"

"The Adonis drop is a technique that fuses her Jazz dance and tennis together," Hitomi listed down on Mai's data. "Unlike the Higuma Otoshi which focuses more on centripetal force, this one requires precise timing and flexibility of the body. Mai uncoiled her body to spring up so, she could neutralize the crashing impact of the smash."

Atobe nodded wordlessly while he continued to watch. "Hyotei's female tensai, hmmm…"

Kabaji however did the exact opposite of what she wanted him to do. He sent back her Black Primrose and it landed right beside her, the same way it did to him.

"How did he do that? I…" Mai froze in her spot; she wasn't very used to having her own attacks against her. "I made sure that technique couldn't be copied and I only used it once…"

"Mai's not very used to having her own attack used against her. Isn't she?" Atobe had a smirk on his face.

Shizuru didn't say anything but soon, Mai let out a laugh. "Now, that is something you don't see everyday. I'm going to give everything I got so don't hold back, Kabaji."

"Usu," the taller boy readied his service while Mai received it.

The two played with fearsome speed but soon, Kabaji started getting slower and for Mai, she was just beginning. "Her Jazz Tennis is showing itself again but, I hope she comes up with something new."

Mai leapt high into the air and smashed it right down, "30 – 40!"

Kabaji on the other hand fired another power shot which knocked her racquet out of her hand, "Deuce!"

Watching Kabaji bounce the ball, Mai swung from side to side to stabilize herself. "This is really getting out of hand; every time I send a pile drive at him, he sends it with ten times the force. Wait a minute – that means he can't completely control his strength. That means I can still outrun him," – her eyes focused on the ball that bounced up and down, "and I can still take this game into my hands."

The ball curved towards her and she sprinted in full speed and because she had an air stream behind her, she managed to get enough strength to hit the ball. "Hmm, perfect. I think I know what to do now. This should be perfect to take down Kabaji-kun."

The volleys speeded up and Kabaji was starting to copy her speed but he didn't have her build and therefore, he burned himself out faster. Mai was on the arcs of her foot and this allowed her to pivot at faster reaction times and she began returning his shots with awkward spins and a smile appeared on her face. "You won't be able to plant yourself properly after this…"

Atobe shook his head in disapproval. "Kabaji, don't chase after the ball," with this, he snapped his fingers.

Kabaji stopped in an instant and the ball zipped past him and curved towards the left, "Advantage: Nagisaki!"

Mai twitched at Atobe's command. "Darn it, if he went after it then, Kabaji's done in and this game would have been mine."

Shizuru gave Mai a glance. "You've worn him out enough. I don't think he'll last the next three games."

Looking at Kabaji, Mai saw that his feet were now trembling. "For him to copy my speed is a feat but for him to last this long is a bigger one. Nobody has ever made me use that kind of speed before. No one in the tournaments has ever made me run that fast. This is a good match – I may be a tensai but there are some people who aren't geniuses who can match up to one. I like those kinds of people."

Shizuru had never seen Mai so excited in her life. Usually, the prodigy would just let a few shots pass her or simply just throw one game but this time, Kabaji was good enough to rile her up. "I'm glad you found an opponent who can really bring out the best in you. Now, if only you could play like that all the time…"

Mai fired back Kabaji's serve with a huge grin on her face. "I'll show you: the Kurosakuraso!" (Black Primrose)

The ball once again floated up and landed right next to Kabaji; gaining her the next point. "Game, Nagisaki: One all!"

Kabaji stared at Mai for a moment and the tensai gave him a cheeky smile. "Wow, you really gave me a long rally! Thanks a lot, Kabaji! I really appreciate it!"

The bigger kohai stared at her as if she had grown two heads but she wagged her finger in front of his face. "Come on, we shouldn't keep the spectators waiting! I mean – our buchou has yet to play and you know Atobe, he's an impatient man, ne, Kabaji-kun?"

Kabaji couldn't help but agree. "Usu," he turned towards the baseline to ready himself for Mai's service.

The tensai threw the ball in the air. "I'm going to stop him through serves. As long as he can't catch it, there's no way he can break my service game!"

Mai specifically aimed for the corners of the service box which of course got the big man confused. The moment it bounced towards him, he rushed towards it and was forced to lob. "The perfect shot!"

He saw Mai in the air and twisting her body in the air, she put more power into her smash which zipped past his cheek, "15 – Love!"

Gracefully landing, Mai smiled cheekily. "Okay, I told you not to hold back, Kabaji-kun. This is when the game truly begins..."

Kabaji was surprised in a way that the tensai smiled so cheekily despite being faced with his brute strength but, he just gave his usual reply, "Usu."

Mai served again and she had to do accuracy more than precision. She aimed directly at the line and corner which was one of the most difficult shot in terms of service, "Ace, 30 – Love!"

Atobe watched Mai apply simple accuracy to her service. "Her eyesight is quite impressive to aim for that small corner."

"That has always been Mai's hobby: targeting small things that are not easily perceived by the naked eye. She was quite," Shizuru had to look for the term, "superhuman when it came to her eyesight."

"Arn~, it's no surprise then that she is a genius." Atobe watched Kabaji continue getting aced by Mai's services. He had to admit; even he had a hard time returning services that aimed directly on the lines.

"Game, Nagisaki 2 – 1!" Momo watched with great amazement for her kohai to be that accurate.

"Kabaji can only copy moves but he cannot copy inborn traits," Mai remarked offhandedly, "I think this would be a great challenge for him."

"Explain to ore-sama." Atobe didn't get how someone as skinny as herself could prove to be a challenge.

Shizuru smiled faintly while answering him. "Mai doesn't often rely on techniques. She relies on her physical capability and everyone knows that you cannot copy inborn traits."

It was Kabaji's turn to serve and like always; his services exploded from his racquet. Mai tried to return it but the shot was too heavy so, she let go off her racquet, "15 love!"

Another serve broke in, "30 Love!"

Haruka looked at Shizuru. "Hold on, if Mai can't return his service, what then?"

"She'll have to drag this game out. She can't return Kabaji's power shots but she can beat him with accuracy. The problem here is that she has no upper body strength to return shots as heavy as Kabaji's." Hitomi noted while watching Mai pick up her racquet after Kabaji's third serve.

Rin saw the racquet hit the wall again. "Ouchie, that's gotta hurt."

"Game, Kabaji: Two all!" Momo looked at Mai who had a cocky grin on her face. "Oh boy, she's getting cocky again."

They heard a loud bang from the other side and saw Ayane with her two fisted back hand up in the air. "That's my Magnolia Blade! Get a move on it, Shishido! I don't have all day!"

Getting up from the floor, Shishido couldn't believe that Ayane's shots were that heavy. "What exactly are you using?"

Kiyone poked her. "You didn't take Yamaguchi-senpai's advice of you using shoulder weights did you?"

"My brother's a body builder, I have to lift weights. It's his fault," Ayane spat with annoyance.

Kiyone giggled childishly. "Not really, it has its uses," -she jumped on Ayane's shoulders. "See? Yane-chan can carry me around!"

"Come on, I'm not a horse," Ayane nearly swat Kiyone but sighed in defeat as the girl clung on tight. "Well, at least we function as a pair despite everything."

Kiyone jumped up and down on Ayane's shoulders. "Yay, yay, yay, let's finish them off Yane-chan!"

Shishido stared at them dumbly. "How can they be the best doubles pair with the way they argue?"

Ohtori shrugged at the sight. "I don't know but all I know is – they've never lost a doubles match before."

"Well," Shishido prepared for Ayane's service, "we might as well as get this game done. This is where we'll win, Choutarou. Don't fall back!"

Ohtori got at the back. "I won't, Shishido-senpai!"

Ayane fired her service. "Here it comes! Kiyone, don't let Shishido out run you!"

"Alrighty then, here we go Yane!"

Shishido and Kiyone sealed each other of at the service court as they made sure every shot count. Ohtori and Ayane were more the baseline players and they defended their end of the court with ground shots zooming back and forth. Ayane nearly blew off Ohtori but he managed to hold his ground due to his stature.

"I can't believe that we're playing one of the best doubles players," Ohtori fired a backhand down the line.

"Yeah, a couple of first years at that," Shishido did a drop shot which Kiyone easily returned with another drop shot.

Kiyone did an under spin on the ball. "Hey, Yane-chan, what do you think will happen if we win the Nationals?"

"Well, all I know is: I can rub it in Atobe's face." Ayane fired another forehand down the line.

Slicing the ball, Kiyone sent it to Shishido's left side. "It would be cool that we win the second nationals title for Hyotei! I mean – it is for us too. We can say that we're the best doubles players in Japan!"

Ayane fired another backhand which Ohtori promptly returned with a forehand. "Yeah, you could say that…"

Shishido glanced at Ohtori and the kohai understood immediately and they changed their style of play. "What in the world are they doing?"

Ayane watched it for a moment. "I don't know but don't give them enough time to utilize everything."

Kiyone fired a volley backhand down the line but Shishido was there to return it in an instant. "What in the world-? How did he get there so fast?"

"Nagisaki-san isn't the only one who's got speed for a strategy and a forte," Shishido vanished again and hit the ball right where Kiyone had hit it.

Stupefied, Kiyone fired more top spins and under spins. "How does he know where it's going to land? That's impossible unless you have insight like Rin-chan and gaki-senpai."

Ayane noticed it also. "It's like they're going through our strategy and they know what will happen next. Wait a minute – they're not anticipating us… they're…!"

Before Ayane could get word out to Kiyone, the ball whizzed past Ayane on her blind side which was her left side, "15 – 40!"

Shishido smirked while tipping his cap a little. "What are you girls going to do now?"

Kiyone couldn't believe what had just happened. "For the very first time, we're actually…"

"Losing," Ayane couldn't believe that they were losing to a pair that was only created recently.

Atobe smirked. "I knew Shishido would be better off as a doubles player. When Sakaki-kantoku kicked him off the team, I suggested to him to keep him since there might be a spot for him and here it was: doubles. He and Ohtori make quite the pair. Ayane and Kiyone have never lost in doubles, have they?"

Shizuru shook her head and Atobe smirked. "This is when you can tell who has the experience and who doesn't. Your team is composed of fresh players, Kurenai. The only few who are seasoned are you, Mai, Uchiha, Sanada, Hikifumi and Shimohi. Yamaguchi's not just the manager but also one of the regulars."

"But when will they become seasoned players if they don't find people stronger than them?" Shizuru's reply was barely audible.

Atobe saw the look in her eyes; she was very concerned about them. Actually, he didn't want to show it but he was quite concerned for the vice captain as well. He snorted at the thought and then, he remembered hearing something about Seigaku having a super rookie. "Arn~, Echizen Ryoma, isn't it? Another interesting freshman… This year seems to be full of them…"

Ayane fired another forehand towards Shishido. "We can't let them win! This is our playing field and nothing's gonna stop us!"

Kiyone received Shishido's volley with a top spin. "Yane-chan and I are going to be the best doubles player in Hyotei's history! We're gonna get stronger together!"

Shishido saw that they were getting desperate. "Ohtori, end them with a backhand!"

Upon hearing Shishido's signal, Ohtori fired a backhand towards Kiyone's right side which sent her racquet flying out of her hand. "Game goes to Shishido-Ohtori pair: 3 – 2!"

Ayane stared at Kiyone and the latter stared right back at her. "Yane... they're so... COOL!"

"Kiyone, are you serious," Ayane stared stupidly at her partner; how could she get excited so easily despite the fact that they're losing? "We'll take the next six from them."

The smaller girl nodded punched her fist in the air. "Yay, Yane-chan and I are gonna mess up Scowling-senpai and Angel-senpai!"

Shishido walked towards Ohtori and gave him the signal. "Let them have it."

"A-are you sure, Shishido-senpai?" Ohtori shuddered at the cheerful giggling that the smaller girl emitted. "She might take it badly, Shishido-senpai."

Shishido looked away from Ohtori's merciful face. "I swear – stop being so merciful. The only way they'll ever learn is if they learn losing the hard way!"

Ayane handed the ball to Ohtori with a smile. "Don't worry about Kiyone, she'll be fine. She doesn't panic in the face of danger - she's kinda... blind towards that."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Ohtori sheepishly scratched his head.

Ayane gave him a cheerful smile while giving him thumbs up. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure Kiyone will be fine."

Kiyone jumped up and down a bit, laughing to herself. She had never played baseline before and now, she was going against Ohtori. "Yay, I'm gonna send it back now~!"

The ball flew by so fast that she had no time to react, "15 love!"

Ayane looked at Shishido. "What in the world was that?"

"He's famous for his Scud Serve, clocks around 200 km/hr." Shishido balanced his racquet on his finger. "I don't think I'll need to do much here in this game but, just in case."

Another Scud Serve made its mark, "Thirty Love!"

"40 love!"

Kiyone shook herself out of her daze. "Aww, it's so boring. I can't even see it."

The moment the supposedly final Scud Serve cracked off, Kiyone threw her entire body weight to send it back. Despite her small size, she managed to send it back and it came in the form of a cord ball. "Damn," Shishido dashed for it, "how did she manage to…?"

He himself landed face first against the net while seeing a little yellow ball roll, "40 – 15!"

Ayane's eyes widened. "Kiyone, you did it! You deflected the Scud Serve!"

The rattled first year sat up smiling goofily. "I see stars…"

"Waah, did you hit your head? Are you okay? Are you bleeding or anything?" Ayane broke into a wild panic. "Do you have any aneurysms anywhere? Do you feel like puking?"

Kiyone stood up and hammered her on the head. "I'm not dead, Yane-chan. I'm still alive but I don't think I can say the same about my racquet."

In her hand, her racquet's strings were bent from the impact and were caving in. "Aww, I'm gonna have to ask Megane-chan to fix my racquet again."

Ayane took a look at her racquet. "Wow, you can say that again. That was one heavy shot he gave you."

"Anyway," Kiyone went towards the receiver's end. "I deflect it now! Yipee~ I just need to make sure you don't have Scowling-senpai leaving you in the dust."

Ayane smiled and leaned towards the net. "Alright, let's do this Kiyone!"

"We're gonna win this," Kiyone rushed towards the Scud Serve and used her entire body weight to send it back again.

Shishido fired another volley which he was now met by Ayane's Magnolia Blade. "Think he's the only one who can explode shots like that? Think again, scowling-slacker!"

Her backhand exploded past Shishido and made its mark on the court, "40 – 30!"

Shishido muttered at the back of his mind. "Damn, they're coming up with a counter attack already!"

Ohtori then fired another Scud Serve and this time, Kiyone and Ayane shifted places in receiving. "Think you're little pop corn can stop me?"

Her backhand sent the Scud Serve back soaring at Ohtori and but she wasn't the only one who knew how to return the Scud Serve. "You may have figured it out but we're still going to beat you anyway!"

Kiyone did a top spin. "We're going to break you into pieces~!"

Shishido did another rising counter. "Yeah right, bring it on!"

Scoring a top spin, Kiyone finally understood why her captain had agreed to this. "This is for experience. Come to think of it – Ayane and I are the least experienced players here. Nagisaki-senpai, Kurenai-senpai and everyone else has played in tournament except us. Were we that inexperienced? Well, this is a good stepping stone so, this is a good idea!"

Ayane saw that her doubles partner had finally began to adjust to the pressure. "Thank goodness, I thought she was going to break."

"Game goes to Kobayagi-Getsugan pair: 3 all!" Hitomi couldn't believe that she was gaining that much data about the girls.

Shishido also had to admit that he was having quite the time. "These girls are actually giving me a match of my life. I didn't even enter tournament yet as doubles."

Ohtori saw a smirk on Shishido's face. "I guess you're having fun, Shishido-senpai?"

"You bet I am!" The capped regular did his Rising Counter again. "Oshitari and Gakuto didn't even push us this far. I think this is the best doubles games we've played so far!"

Atobe saw Shishido actually smirking and Ayane giving him this challenging grin. Now, she was one heck of a first year. She bowed to nobody except to the regulars in the female tennis team.

Speaking of which, how did Shizuru get her to respect her?

That question was quite a bugger because she showed no respect especially to him. He was king and he demanded respect but Ayane didn't even put a suffix for respect. She just called him 'Atobe' flat out in annoyance. She called him all sorts of names. He remembered the time he first met her back then but she was barely that sharp tongued. In fact, she was meek and mild before like a little lamb and now, she just became plain vindictive.

But, that's what made her appealing, no?

Why would I like an uncute girl like her? Ore-sama has no time for that; Atobe shook his mind away from thoughts about her. That girl was plaguing his mind and no matter how many times she insulted him, it would actually sting. Sure, Shishido had called him countless of things and so did Gakuto and Oshitari but that didn't hurt. He was able to maintain his holier-than-thou attitude in front of them but when Ayane snapped at him, it actually kind of hurt. "Why is ore-sama troubling himself over such useless matter?"

"I thought I was crazy when I thought aloud," a soft voice interrupted.

Atobe looked at Shizuru who raised her eyebrow at him. "You didn't hear anything, Kurenai."

Shizuru knew that it was about Ayane. "You have met each other before. You two are just a bit too dense to not remember."

He was dense? If there was anything he wasn't, it was being dense. "Ore-sama is not dense!"

"That's what you two often tell me," Shizuru didn't mind that Atobe was already fuming at her calm attitude.

Rin couldn't help but snicker. "Wow, she sure knows how to rile up Atobe."

"But, why do you think we value her opinion so much? She's always told us the truth." Haruka shrugged but agreed that a fuming Atobe was a pretty funny sight.

Shishido fired another shot down the line, "30 - 15!"

Kiyone sent a top spin across from Shishido, "Thirty all!"

Ayane fired her Magnolia Blade again and this time, they couldn't even return it properly, "Forty – thirty!"

The rally took longer than ever but this gave the two girls the thrill of the game. Shishido and Ohtori were having fun also after playing two first year regulars who played at National Calibre. In other words, they were the super rookies of the female team. A doubles pair that hadn't lost a match just yet, the new Kobayagi-Getsugan pair made other pairs from other schools seem like they were nothing. The only one whom seemed to be a threat to them were either a boy's doubles pair like Yagyuu-Niou or maybe even the Marui-Jackal pair but they were pretty wary also of the Kikumaru-Oishi pair. "We're going to rise to the top!"

Ayane fired another backhand which marked the court. "Game goes to Kobayagi-Getsugan pair: Four games to three!"

Breathing in and out, Kiyone walked towards the benches to get her bottle of water. "Wow, this is one of the best matches ever!"

"We've never had a close match like this." Ayane slowed down her breathing. "But, it's fun and amazing. Seeing that you have someone of equal calibre, the mere thought of it would be so cool. If we were guys, then we're definitely dead meat against the other schools. I mean – we have Rikkai Dai to worry about but since we're girls, the only one buchou said we have to worry about is Seigaku and Shitenhouji. Rikkai Dai isn't much of a threat with the girls' team as long as we have buchou with us."

Kiyone wagged her finger in front of the vice captain. "Don't underestimate them! That's the same mistake we made when we played against Yugetsu Chuu! If we weren't synchronized, then we are soooooo dead!" She waved her arms in the air, gesturing an explosion.

Ayane lowered her arms before she swat anybody. "I know which is why we're going to train so hard for Kantou that we have room to slack!"

"There's no such thing as a room to slack!" Kiyone stared at her, flabbergast.

Ayane looked around. "Speaking of which, our buchou hasn't started her match yet. She's going against the brat right?"

"If you're talking about your hubby then, yeah she is." Kiyone knew she could always get kicks out of that.

The vice captain was really beginning to hate that. "Look, didn't I already tell you: THE DAY I GET ATOBE AS A BOYFRIEND IS THE DAY PIGS FLY AND BUCHOU GETS A STATUE FOR A BOYFRIEND?"

Kiyone shrugged. "Oh well, can you consider kansai-megane-senpai as a statue?"

"He may have a poker face but he flirts and has emotions! I meant someone like that Sanada guy from Rikkai Dai! He's stone faced!" Ayane protested. "Besides, he's not even her boyfriend, is he?"

Kiyone shook her head. "Nope, she has no way of telling if someone is madly in love with her."

"Yes, she may be an athlete, a chemist and a computer genius but, when it comes to love, she stinks, completely." Ayane assessed her captain's attitude towards other things aside from tennis. "He's been piling her locker with flowers and love poems. He's pretty persistent."

Stifling her laughter, Kiyone pulled Ayane towards the courts. "We better get started before buchou hears what we just said."

Ayane tried her best to suppress her laughter. "Yeah, you're right. We still have a game against Shishido and Ohtori to finish."

Mai, managing to keep up her service game, was now at her third game against Kabaji. All she had been doing is serving and they were just scoring points with that. When it was Kabaji's turn to serve, she wouldn't even go near the ball while Kabaji was confused when she served the ball because she was very accurate. "Wow, I never played a game this long before. It's almost four 'o clock and Shizuru hasn't even started her game yet. I wanna finish this quick so I can see Shizuru play. Wait a minute – where are those two doubles idiots? Oh geez, they're getting clobbered by Shishido-senpai and Ohtori-kun. That's a new thing to see."

Isane was staying at the sidelines silently watching the regulars play. "Buchou, who are you going to put in the roster against Seigaku?"

Shizuru watched Kabaji gain another point from Mai. "You're going to have to sit back until your injuries are healed. Sunamyou-chan really roughed you up. Momo-senpai will be taking your place in Singles Three and the doubles are the same positions. Although, I'm just not sure who they're going to be placing in Singles One but hopefully, it's Souma Fuuka. If someone else faces her, I know one thing: they're not going to be prepared well enough to go against her."

Isane watched Shizuru closely analyse Mai's match against Kabaji and her speed may rival that of Oshitari Kenya but her strength was nowhere near Kabaji's. The games piled up one after the other, Mai was ahead by one game with Kabaji tailing behind. As far as she was concerned, Mai had the game in her hand as long as she didn't get too overconfident. "Most geniuses have that problem. They tend to get overconfident and they hold themselves back to enjoy the pleasure of torturing their opponents. Why are most tensai like that?"

Kabaji repeated the same thing again this time with more powerful services. Mai had a hard time seeing how fast it was actually flying because of the amount of strength he had placed in his serve. It exploded off his racquet and made numerous marks on her side of the court, "15 – love!"

His serves were so strong that it made heavy marks, "Thirty Love!"

Mai was left powerless at his shots as they made themselves a large black dot on the court, "40 love!"

Kabaji threw the ball up in the air. "The winner will be Hyotei…"

The serve crashed unto the court making a very good impression of itself on one of the lines. "Game, Kabaji: 3 games all!"

Mai fired another corner serve towards Kabaji. "Though there goes one service game but, his recovery's something that I thought didn't need to be taken in consideration."

Kabaji promptly missed it again because he couldn't tell if it was a fault or not, "30 – love!"

Another serve flew in, "40 Love!"

Then finally, Mai's last accurate serve ended her service game. "Game, Nagisaki: Four games to three!"

"This isn't getting anywhere. The only way for me to end this game is for me to wear out Kabaji again with my speed." Mai allowed the ball to pass her again. "He's way beyond my strength but, how did Ayane manage to get past him? I mean – she does have the upper body strength but she has no leg power or anything. Sure her power comes from her knees and her shoulders but, she's so slow compared to everyone else."

I nearly managed to replicate his strength but I know I'm nowhere near him. I'm only near his strength because of body building. When I played him, all I could do was use my wrist.

Mai remembered Ayane's words when she played against Kabaji before. It was a friendly match and Kabaji had beaten her in Singles, 7 – 5. He was pretty strong for a second year student and even Mai was impressed on how easily he could copy moves and take it in as his own. She remembered him copying one of Ayane's moves during the friendly match which was why the vice captain strove to be stronger and often wore weights on her body to force her to bring out her true strength.

She had dazed out for a long time that she didn't realize that it was her turn to serve. "Game, Kabaji: Four games all!"

Mai picked up the ball and began her accurate serving again. "Wait, if I keep beating him with my serves that means…"

This match was hers. Even if he did win the next one after this one, all she had to do was keep doing what she was doing now: sniper serving. She was pin pointing locations on the court and she knew that if Kabaji won't return it, so much the better. Hopefully, it stayed that way. "Here I come, Kabaji!"

She fired onto the cross of the line and this time, Kabaji returned it. "Shoot, it was too far!"

Mai volleyed it across and Kabaji gave her a forehand but Mai was fast enough to volley it again. This time, she did it near the net. "It will be so close to the net to the point, he won't even bother coming after it." The moment she did it, her theory came true because he got even more confused by the fact that her service was very accurate and her control was pretty good too, "15 love!"

She served another accurate shot and made sure it was out of reach. By adding a top spin to it, the ball bounced away from Kabaji, "Thirty Love!"

Another shot like that came down, "Forty love!"

"This game is mine!" Mai fired her top spin serve which spun away from Kabaji again gaining her the next game. "Game, Nagisaki: Five games to four!"

Kabaji went towards the ball and picked it up with a blank expression. He began his service and Mai had to let it slip past her, "15 – love!"

Mai closed her eyes as another shot cracked towards her. "Will this game last until 7 – 6? I can't last that long and neither can…"

"Fault," this left Mai completely stupefied, what was happening to Kabaji?

Another serve hit the net. "Double fault, 15 all!"

Mai saw Kabaji's form unstable and looked at his legs; they weren't doing a decent job of supporting him. "I guess my Jazz Tennis wore him out faster than I expected. That's a relief."

Atobe saw a change in Kabaji's accuracy. "This game will go to Nagisaki now."

"Kabaji-san may be strong but he could not keep up with Mai's speed." Shizuru watched Kabaji fired another faulty service. "It's over now for Kabaji-san."

"15 – 30," Momo watched Kabaji fired again in frustration which smacked the net again. "That's his fourth fault in this game. He's losing his concentration against Mai. This game is hers now."

Kabaji's hands trembled while his service flew over the net but hit the doubles line instead, "15 – 40!"

Mai's eyes analysed the ball. "There's a big chance that Kabaji can send it over but I don't think he'll be able to last a rally. Hopefully, he just does another fault to spare his feet from the pain."

Her wish came true and Mai walked off the court with a sad smile. "Game and set belongs to Nagisaki: 6 – 4!"

"I wouldn't have won if Kabaji would still be able to serve." Mai sulkily sat on the bench.

Shizuru saw the disappointment on Mai's face; she wanted a worthy opponent and found one but she still won. "Mai, just because he lost doesn't mean he stinks."

The prodigy muttered while looking away. "To think this was one of the hardest matches I have ever had."

Shizuru saw Ayane miss a ball sent by Shishido get past her, "15 – 30!"

"Who's serving?" Mai looked up at the doubles pair that was playing.

Atobe saw Ohtori fire another shot towards the service box. "Ohtori is. But, I don't think they'll get past his Scud Serve easily."

Shizuru smirked at him. "I think they just did."

Kiyone's top spin neutralized the speed of the ball, "30 all!"

Ohtori's serve gained them another ace, "40 – 30!"

Atobe watched the game progress into something bigger as more shots crashed in. "Game, Shishido-Ohtori pair: Four games all!"

The two doubles pairs were exhausted; no one had stretched out a game with them this far before. Shishido was heavily breathing and Ohtori wasn't exactly what you call peachy either. Ayane and Kiyone were both exhausted also and Kiyone never realized how tired she was until later on. "Wow, we had so much we forgot about our stamina. We're so doomed, Yane-chan. We can't exactly deflect the Scud Serve anymore!"

Ayane looked at Ohtori who was panting and breathing heavily. "Hopefully, he'll be too tired to do it. Good thing for us – Shishido's the one serving this time."

His service cracked off and another rally ensued. He couldn't believe that Ayane was still strong enough to make her shots explode and mind you – she's a girl and her power was at least three fourths of Kabaji's. Shishido thought he was seeing things. "I can't believe she can still hit with that kind of power but – she's losing her accuracy. I can't drag this game out either."

Ayane's shots were shallower but they maintained the same power while Kiyone was still using her control style to confuse them which was really pissing off Shishido. Kiyone sent a top spin which when it bounced, the shot moved away from him or just stayed where it bounced. "I hate that control of hers too. She can piss anyone off with that kind of control."

Ohtori fired another backhand which nearly slipped past Kiyone if not for her backhand under spin. "Hahaha, try again~!"

"Sure, it isn't easy." Shishido fired a forehand down the line, "15 Love!"

Kiyone sent in another top spin. "Che, I don't think it will be that easy!"

"15 all," Hitomi watched the rally get more intense once again. "Getsugan and Kobayagi do not give up no matter how tight the situation. They're training is a little light, I must increase the weights on Ayane and Kiyone must do more control exercises, ii data."

Ohtori's backhand made a mark behind Kiyone, "30 – 15!"

Ayane used her Magnolia Blade again and this time, it hit right at the corner of the court, "30 all!"

Kiyone jumped high into the air and scored another point with a smash, "40 – 30!"

Gakuto stared at what was happening between the two best doubles pairs. "Wow, I didn't know a single rally would take that long. Those two are really giving Shishido and Ohtori a good run for their money. I mean – seriously, they're first year and they're playing as if they've played in the Nationals before!"

Oshitari watched the rally intensify as Ayane scored another point. "I guess this proves one thing: we're at par and if we keep this up, we're doomed."

"If we lose, we'll be humiliated. When we get humiliated, Atobe will throw a hissy fit and when he throws a hissy fit, his targets are us." Gakuto watched Kiyone begin her service again.

Her shots vanished from her racquet as Shishido used the Rising Counter again. He couldn't feel his legs anymore. Sure, he had pretty good stamina but not when Ayane made him run around like crazy. He was a dash specialist and it put more strain on his legs especially when he tried to return heavy shots from the first year. The control shots weren't a good thing to know about either. Ohtori had a hard time anticipating where it would land because Kiyone's control was almost inhumane. The rally lasted for an average of five minutes every time, "15 love!"

Shishido scored another Rising Counter in, "15 all!"

Ohtori's backhand made its mark on the left side of the court, "15 – 30!"

"We have to finish this game in six because I don't think I can handle another round." Shishido panted while firing a shot carelessly towards Ayane who returned it with a forehand.

Ohtori received Ayane's forehand. "I don't think it will be that easy because they're really playing us well, Shishido-senpai."

"Che, gekidasa daze," Shishido muttered while sending back a top spin from Kiyone.

Jumping high into the air, Kiyone gave him a top spin going down which landed right after the net, "30 all!"

Atobe watched the various exchanges between the two doubles pair. "Ore-sama's surprised that Shishido and Ohtori can keep up with your best doubles pair."

"Shishido-senpai and Ohtori-kun always have been good friends and they function well as a doubles pair. I think you did a good thing of keeping him in the team. I noticed he cut his hair though." Shizuru noticed that now Shishido had a cap on backwards.

Atobe smirked. "He told Sakaki-kantoku that he would cut his hair short just so he would stay on the team. Shishido too used to be vain."

"Not really, I think that's more you, Atobe-senpai." Shizuru laughed softly.

Oshitari shrugged while standing next to Shizuru. "She does have a point, Atobe. Shishido didn't have a mirror in his pocket."

"Ore-sama needs that mirror," Atobe narrowed his eyes at Oshitari and Shizuru. "Now I know why she's evil - it's your fault."

Gakuto pursed his lips. "You consider anyone evil who thinks you're wrong."

Jirou was watching the ball fly left and right while he saw Kiyone's volleying prowess. "Sugoi~, I wanna play against her someday!"

Ayane wasn't that bad either. "Ore-sama still thinks that Kobayagi is more of a gorilla than a girl."

Unfortunately, she heard that from the courts and sent a shot exploding towards Ohtori. "Say that again, you egotistical gay lord!"

Kiyone in a way felt relieved; Ayane may be fuku buchou but she was short in temper. As long as her anger increased, her shots would get stronger and would be good enough to send anybody running for the hills. Ohtori tried to return it but because of Ayane's anger and annoyance put into the shot, his racquet flew off.

"40 – 30!"

Ohtori felt his hand tremble. "That was heavy for a first year."

Shishido shrugged. "Well, she did get pissed off at Atobe again so; I guess it's no surprise that her shots are more like cannonballs now."

Kiyone let out her service once more and Shishido returned it easily but this time, he used less dash steps because his legs were aching like crazy. "This is the worst moment in my life. It's near the Kantou Regionals and these girls are busting my legs before I can even play. This is smart."

Ohtori fired another forehand towards Ayane who returned it promptly with a backhand which resulted into a heavy shot. "Game, Kobayagi-Getsugan pair: five games to four!"

Breathing heavily, Kiyone watched Shishido begin his service. "Wow, this is such a good game. I've never had a work out like this."

Ayane had a bright smile on her face. "This is a match that I will never forget. From now on – I will aim higher!"

His service cracked off his racquet which Ayane returned with a forehand while Shishido volleyed it over the net. "Bring it on, Shishido!"

The capped regular backhanded another shot which Kiyone volleyed it easily towards Ohtori who sent it back to the baseline where Ayane was and she sent it back with a forehand towards him again. "We're not going to lose to a bunch of first years, right, Ohtori?"

Ohtori fired another forehand towards Kiyone this time. "You can bet on that!"

"Love – 15," Hitomi watched Ayane fire another service towards Shishido and this time, he returned it with the Rising Counter.

The smaller girl watched Shishido do his Rising Counter again. "I can't believe it. How many times has he used that move?"

"A lot of times, apparently." Ayane watched Ohtori fire another shot towards her as she returned it with a powerful forehand.

"15 all," Shishido fired a backhand again after Ayane had exploded the next ball towards him. "This is getting too long. We're going to be dragging it out to twelve games!"

Ohtori gulped. "I think it might even be thirteen if we're not careful!"

Firing it back at Ayane, Shishido tried his best not to prolong it, "15 – 30!"

Ayane did another Magnolia Blade right down the line, "Thirty all!"

Kiyone's top spin entered the small service box exactly on the line, "Forty thirty!"

Shishido did his Rising Counter again to score the next point, "Deuce!"

Ohtori fired a forehand that marked itself on Ayane's left side. "Advantage, receiver: Shishido-Ohtori pair!"

The two captains were a little too occupied to even go on to their match but they wanted to see which doubles pair was better. Shishido and Ohtori scored the next point instantly and now it was five all. Neither of them wanted to throw away a game and they were working themselves to the ground and it was evident; Ayane was on the verge of collapsing and Kiyone was breathing heavily. Shishido was now sprawled on the floor while Ohtori was trying to keep himself steady. "It's your turn to serve, Ohtori. Make it good."

Ohtori stood up with a smile. "You got it!"

Shishido lowered his body at the net and Ohtori fired his Scud Serve again and it smacked the top of the net, "Let!"

Wincing at his mistake, Ohtori did a normal serve and this time, Ayane returned it with a backhand that Shishido had a heck of a time returning. The ball flew insanely fast towards Kiyone who did an underspin. The rally had so many exchanges that it looked like that Atobe and Shizuru might have to postpone their match for tomorrow, "15 – love!"

"We can't let them put us down, Kiyone." Ayane was breathing haphazardly.

Kiyone shook herself out of her daze. "Yeah but with the way we're going they're catching up fast."

She never had a game this long before. Ayane and Kiyone always ended it at six and Shishido and Ohtori were taking them on neck to neck. They couldn't even let their guards down for just a second. Their rallies got longer and longer and it was almost to the point that Kiyone could no longer feel her legs. "I can't move anymore…"

Ohtori fired another forehand which zipped past Kiyone. "Thirty love!"

Shishido and Ohtori were now on the offensive; the two first years were helpless against the two who clearly had more experience than the both of them. They were left with no other choice but to drop one game. "I'm sorry for doing this, Kiyone."

"It's okay," Kiyone smiled at the vice captain, "we'll just strike them in the next two games."

Ayane had a smirk. "Yeah, we'll hit them hard and fast."

The ball gently jumped over the net and landed in front of the frozen Kiyone. "Game, Shishido-Ohtori pair: six games to five!"

"Now do we get them?" Kiyone's eyes gleamed clearly like a puppy-dog face. "Pretty please can we beat them now?"

"Yes, now we can."

After throwing one game, Ayane and Kiyone quickly caught up with the other pair. Firing down the Magnolia Blade, Ayane knew that Shishido couldn't block all the heavy shots all the time and neither can Ohtori. "I don't think you'll survive another one!"

Atobe turned to Shizuru. "What made you put the gorilla with the pipsqueak?"

"Kiyone is all control and no power, Ayane had more power than speed and control," Shizuru answered simply, "they compliment each other very well. They've been good friends ever since Elementary and I met them a couple of times. Ayane would always protect Kiyone from bullies and if Ayane can't handle it – well, Kiyone simply bites and makes sure they back off. I don't think you're an exception, Atobe-senpai."

Kiyone did another top spin which confused Shishido and Ohtori right away. "This is my style of tennis! Learn it if you want to be a good net player, Scowling-san!"

Ayane fired another backhand shot towards Ohtori. "You're the bigger one, Ohtori-senpai! You have to make sure nothing gets past you!"

"Forty-love," Hitomi continued scribbling on her notebook. "This is one of the most amazing matches that Kiyone-chan and Ayane-chan ever had."

Haruka watched Shishido continue playing. "This is something that is worth watching and staying for."

"I'd pay five hundred yen to stay here and watch," Rin smirked while she saw the silver haired kohai try to return Kiyone's top spin.

The two boys were exhausted with what the girls just dished out at them again. "Game, Kobayagi-Getsugan pair: six games all! Tie breaker match will now begin!"

Ayane warned Kiyone. "We better finish them before we prolong it. I don't think a protracted game is a good idea."

The smaller girl nodded while Ohtori began his service. "Here I come!"

Ohtori fired another Scud Serve but Ayane managed to catch it and send it back towards Shishido who now put focus on his dashing to keep up with Kiyone's top spins. The smaller girl would control the ball as if it was her fingers and she sent it in many awkward angles, "zero – one, Shishido-Ohtori pair to serve!"

Another Scud Serve this time made its way in, "One all! Service change to Kobayagi-Getsugan pair!"

Picking up the ball, she put all her power into the shot to the point that in order to receive it, Shishido had to lob it and Kiyone met him with a clipping smash, "Two – one!"

Ayane did another power serve which resulted to being returned by Ohtori with twice the force. "Two all, service change to Shishido-Ohtori pair!"

Shishido took the ball and served it fast and silent. The ball whizzed past Ayane and she couldn't even receive it, "Three – two!"

Unlike the last time, Shishido now managed to score at his second serve, "Four – two, service change to Kobayagi-Getsugan pair!"

Kiyone, weakening due to fatigue, saw that her services no longer went in, "Six – two, service change to Shishido-Ohtori pair!"

"It's the bottom of the ninths, Ohtori. We're gonna win! Just one more Scud Serve!" Shishido couldn't believe that their game had lasted this long. How long had it been, two hours?

Ohtori closed his eyes and fired his service. "I kyuu nyuu kon!" (One shot with soul) – Translation from onemanga

The shot slammed in forcing the two girls back. This was their first loss. "Game and match, Shishido-Ohtori pair: seven games to six!"

-That's chapter six! I'm sorry it took so long! I have so much school work now. Please review!