Me: Sorry for the late update! Once again, another chapter for Queen of the Suits! :) I never expected my story to progress this far! Nonetheless, thank you for the constant support for my story! This story was actually an accidental creation. I was trying to make a good Prince of Tennis fanfic so I tried with something very simple. A slice of life with a whole load of drama. Anyway, I don't own Prince of Tennis! I only own the OC!

magicdemi-god223: Oh yes, to answer your question - it's more of resonance with something inside her. And if you look back at the former chapters, she has no memory whatsoever of whom she really is. So, you can account it to either amnesia or that "something" is waking up. Hope this answers your question! Once again, thank you for supporting my story!

Now on with the chapter!

Chapter 73 – Off With Your Head!

Everyobe gawked at who was walking up to the plate. Even Oshitari gawked instead of his usual composed expression. Fuji's eyes opened wide and Sengoku gaped that Akutsu swat his mouth shut.

"What the hell?! Who paired up Sanada-fukubuchou and... And...," Kirihara snapped his fingers before turning to his senpai. "What's his name again?"

Yagyuu stared incredulously at the line up. "Atobe."

"Whatever his name is," Kirihara waved his hands frantically, yanking his black curls. "Whose crazy idea was this?!"

Ryuuzaki-sensei nervously bit her lower lip, looking at Banji. "Are you sure throwing these two together was a good idea?"

Banji smiled. "I am very certain. It was either him or Tezuka."

Ryuuzaki-sensei's eyes widened. "T-Tezuka?! W-wait a minute but he never played doubles before!"

Banji nodded. "True but it was either Tezuka or Sanada who brought out Atobe's true style. Secondly, if Atobe is pushed to his limits - Sanada has a very flexible playing style that would not compromise Atobe too badly."

Atobe on the other hand stared incredulously at the line up. He maintained his usual expression and quickly began going through the reminders Ayane had left him. When they were given free time, he would go with Ayane and train her. In exchange, she taught him Doubles play.

"This is the first time ore-sama doesn't feel so sure of himself," Atobe thought to himself before shaking his head. "No! Ore-sama shall not lose. He is not half a player and it would be a direct insult to his queen if he lost now."

Sanada rolled his eyes. "Atobe, quit staring at a distance - we're going to start."

Atobe snapped out of his daze, chuckling with his usual holier-than-thou expression. "Ah, of course. Ore-sama was simply making sure that everyone can see how devastating Egypt's loss is going to be to us!"

With this, he raised his arm and snapped his fingers.

"Atobe! Atobe!"

"The winner will be Japan! The loser will be Egypt!"

Oshitari shook his head. "Somehow, I am wondering if Atobe even understands the gravity of the situation."

Echizen smirked while putting his feet against the railing. "Heh, stupid monkey king. Always attracting attention."

Atobe narrowed his eyes at his opponents, exhaling sharply. "Ore-sama sees that you both at least have souls."

Girgis chuckled while scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. "Haha yeap! Osiris and Set are a bunch of experiments done by Coach Amunet. Sooooo, yeaaaaah - things just got a wee bit ugly..."

"Ugly is an understatement," Atobe let out a disgruntled snort. "Did he have to really bust Shiraishi in the jaw?"

ValBijon towered over Atobe and Sanada, folded his arms. "Osiris and Set listen to no one but Coach Amunet."

"We can see that," Sanada narrowed his eyes at the taller and bald player.

Sensing the tension, Girgis waved his hand with a grin. "Eh, haha - let's play?"

Atobe nodded as Sanada and he walked away. The Hyotei captain closed his eyes, recapping everything that Ayane had versed him in. Having Ayane play doubles with him at least gave him a basic idea how to play doubles.

"The Queen of Hearts," Atobe looked at his necklace hidden under his jersey. "Ore-sama will not lose. As the King, ore-sama definitely should not lose."

He would never admit it to the team.

But Ayane and he did have their moments.

As much as he was into grandeur, Atobe saw how simplicity made things more important. Ayane had someone make the necklace and they both had a matching pair. His was a circle with a crown, a red heart with the letters A.K. in it. Hers was the same except her pendant took the form of a heart. He remembered the first time he had bought her a necklace; the vice captain had been so shocked by his simplicity she had been sputtering and blubbering nonsense! A small smirk curved up his lips before looking at the Egyptian pair standing before him.

"And that is the reason why ore-sama cannot lose," Atobe gripped his necklace tightly before tucking it into his jersey once again.

"Atobe."

The king looked up to face the emperor. "Arn?"

"We definitely have to win this," Sanada narrowed his eyes at the other Egyptian players. "We have to win..."

Atobe chuckled in amusement. "Otherwise, Tezuka will most likely have our heads."

Sanada let a ghostly smirk curve up his lips. "You felt it too?"

"That man may have the expression that of a brick wall," Atobe snickered darkly and shook his head. "But his rage is comparable to Mother Nature on her worst days."

The Emperor dryly chuckled. "Ah, like a raging fire?"

Atobe raised his eyebrow. "Disney?"

"I blame my brother."

"No shame in admitting you were trying to live your childhood, Sanada," Atobe shook his head while snickering to himself, taking his position up front. "You take the back. Ore-sama will take the front."

"Do you have any idea how to play doubles," Sanada raised an eyebrow at Atobe.

Atobe twirled his racquet around, gripping it tightly. "You'll just have to see for yourself. Just follow ore-sama."

The Emperor had some idea on how to play doubles but he had doubts in his own capacity. Doubles to him meant relying on another person - a weakness, the clan called it. A Sanada should have the capacity to rage louder than any of his followers, to strike harder and to inspire. A thin line formed at his lips as he stayed at the back.

"Doubles One will now begin! Japan's Atobe-Sanada pair versus Egypt's Girgis-Valbijon pair! Game start, Sanada to serve!"

ValBiljon glanced at his partner. "Ramuh, these two..."

"Obviously that purple haired guy has experience."

ValBijon stared at Girgis quizzically. "Atobe...? But coach said...!"

"Coach's data is incomplete," Girgis watched Atobe carefully at the frontline. "Japan's probably banking on their raw talent to pulverize us."

ValBijon nodded slowly. "They do not look like much."

"True," Girgis' expression became serious. "But looks can be deceiving. Perhaps what we can do now is to watch who will take command."

ValBijon nodded as he slowly walked to the back. Girgis smiled before looking once again at both Atobe and Sanada. The blonde male sighed while messing up his hair before preparing himself to face Atobe.

"Well, this oughta be fun," Girgis grinned as Sanada's serve cracked off.

ValBijon narrowed his eyes as the shot exploded off his racquet. Atobe quickly deflected it while Girgis began volleying with him. Sanada ran to get the shot until Atobe stuck his hand out.

"Mine," Atobe jumped for the shot and sent it far cross court. "Sanada, return to centre!"

Everyone's eyes widened; Atobe was playing doubles! Sanada was following orders? Ryuuzaki-sensei gawked in astonishment as Sanada moved up front and began volleying. Atobe quickly retreated to the baseline while watching ValBijon's movements.

"H-how? S-since when," Ryuuzaki-sensei wanted to pull her hair in shock. "Atobe and Sanada could barely play doubles!"

Oshitari smirked and folded his arms. "He'd shame her name if he screwed up."

Everyone turned to the kansai prodigy. "Who?"

Oshitari chuckled wistfully. "The Queen of Hearts will have his head if he lost now."

Fuji laughed softly with a serene smile. "Ah yes, the Queen of Hearts..."

"She doesn't say it often but when does," the kansai prodigy brought his hand to his neck, making "kkkrgh" sound. "It means - "off with your head" in the literal sense."

Kirihara gulped nervously. "S-so Kobayagi's really gonna come after us with a hack saw if we lose?"

The whole team shuddered fearfully.

Kirihara jumped up onto the edge of the bench, slamming his hands against the rail. "Oi Atobe! Ya better not lose! I don't want to lose my head!"

Atobe coldly hummed while defending the baseline. "How dare you assume that ore-sama even entertained the thought of losing."

Sanada stared in amazement while he continued volleying up front. Atobe suddenly became some doubles tennis player. Then again, with Ayane as his mentor - he could expect that he had some knowledge. But he didn't expect him to pick it up that quick!

Atobe on the other hand continued keeping his watch on Sanada's movements. As Sanada darted off to one side, they aimed for his blind side. Atobe smirked and jumped for it, swatting the shot with a strong forehand.

"Arn~, Sanada is all over the place," Atobe narrowed his eyes until an idea hit him. "That's it!"

As the ball zoomed all the way to the back, Sanada ran for the ball while Atobe lunged for the front.

Never leave any spot on the court open.

"Rule number 3," Atobe smirked as Girgis dropped the shot in front of him. "Never leave any spot on the court open!"

Girgis smirked as Atobe began exchanging shots with him again. "I knew it."

Atobe raised an eyebrow.

"You're the one with the experience - Awi did mention some orange haired girl training you," Girgis shrugged nonchalantly while forehanding the shot. "Mind if we meet her? I hear she got the pipes of a drill sergeant."

"A Drill Sergeant would probably resign," Atobe chuckled dryly while volleying in return. "Ayane's voice can make a car alarm sound like a mouse."

/\/\/\/\/\

"AH-CHOO!"

The whole girls' team looked at Ayane who began rubbing her nose. "Ugh, I didn't have a cold when we left…"

"Maybe someone's talking about you," Fuuka snickered in amusement. "It's probably because he's wondering if his ears died yet…"

"SHUT UP," Ayane hollered into the red head's ears, effectively knocking down Fuuka.

"Goddamn it, you yell too loud," Fuuka rubbed her ears before glaring. "DON'T YOU HAVE SOME SORT OF VOLUME CONTROL!?"

"THAT'S NOT EVEN YELLING," Ayane screeched. "YOU WANNA HEAR YELLING!?"

Shizuru groaned before walking up to them both, pinching both their ears tightly. Ayane and Fuuka yelped in pain as Shizuru smiled sweetly.

"Do you mind keeping your voices down? My head is beginning to hurt from all the noise," Shizuru dragged them to their chairs and promptly dropped them on it.

Ayane rubbed her ear. "Y-Yes ma'am."

"Tch," Fuuka scowled while folding her arms in annoyance, looking away.

"Game: Twilight - 4 games to 2!"

Natsuki exhaled sharply with a smirk. "Ya ain't half bad, lass. Ah never had this much fun since mah grand pappy took me fer an Italian Job."

Jennifer smirked while twirling her racquet. "Well of course dahling! Did you really think that I would fall prey to your heinous combat style?"

"Ah wouldn't call it heinous. But ahm purdy sure that ah can hand you in lickety split," Natsuki narrowed her eyes darkly.

She may have figured out how to counter the hypnotic effect of the Dust Eater but there's gotta be somethin' in how to beat this lass down!

Natsuki bristled slightly at the idea of Jennifer playing with her eyes shut. She knew that Britain was powerful but she never found herself trembling with excitement. A small smirk curved up her lips as she slowly closed her eyes, imagining the game before her.

"Jennifer may be able ta shut her eyes," Natsuki lowered her stance once more. "But she can't predict where the shot can go next!"

"I cannot understand why Natsuki would insist using an old skill that doesn't work," Florence folded her arms with annoyance. "Would it be not simpler to use something that is so simple and mundane to confuse?"

Fuuka shrugged nonchalantly. "Don't ask me. Natsuki's a flamboyant twit when she wants to be."

Ai jumped up and down before magically producing a megaphone out of nowhere. She then took a deep breath before yelling through the megaphone.

"DON'T YOU DARE LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!"

The whole crowd got blown back by her loud voice while Natsuki and Jennifer tumbled over by the sheer volume. Florence could have sworn that the entire stadium had begun shaking from Ai's yelling. Ayane and Kiyone staggered back as Momo had her hands clamped over her ears. Mai stumbled as Shizuru looked like she had been seeing stars. Fuuka wobbled around as Ai glanced at the whole girls' team.

"Do you think she heard me," Ai glanced at the eight of them with worry on her face.

Fuuka twitched while fixing her messy hair. "Ya don't say...!"

"Um, I think she heard you loud and clear," Shizuru smiled shyly and pointed out politely. "But maybe you shouldn't use such a loud horn next time..."

Florence shook her head before looking at her stringy hair. "M-my hair..."

Natsuki smirked lightly. "Doncha worry too much about it, Ai. Ah got it all covered and Jennifer can harp all she wants!"

Jennifer smirked. "Ahahaha, and what ridiculous idea do you propose?"

The charcoal haired Shitenhouji captain twirled her racquet. "Hehe, ah know just tha thing tah put ya down!"

Jennifer rolled her eyes sarcastically. "Please, do amuse me with your barnyard intelligence."

Natsuki smirked before closing her eyes. She imagined the battle in her mind along with Jennifer fighting with her eyes shut. She exhaled sharply while gripping the tennis ball in her hand tightly. With one toss, Natsuki swung her body and shot the ball straight at Jennifer.

"Heh, that doesn't seem like much," Jennifer shut her eyes and prepared to return it. "I can easily...huh?"

The ball quietly rolled past her as the point went to Natsuki.

"Fifteen - love!"

Everyone gawked in surprise as murmurs bubbled from the crowd. Jade folded her arms and stared in amazement. Natasha smirked darkly while keeping a beady stare. Lyra raised an eyebrow as the young girl next to Natasha remained quiet. Nerissa nodded slowly in analysis.

"What in the world was that," Lyra stared in astonishment.

"Silent as it creeps, painful as it strikes," the young girl quietly spoke.

"Ugh, has anyone ever thought how freaky she is," Lyra shuddered. "I never even got her name."

Jade shrugged. "I think her name was Elyon or something - not sure..."

"It's Azola."

They glanced at Natasha who folded her arms with a cold hum. "Its name is Azola."

Nerissa sighed deeply, dropping her hand on Natasha's shoulder. "Natasha, I know you're still recovering. But it doesn't mean that you have to be mean to Azola."

Natasha clenched her hands tightly into a fist before glaring at Nerissa. The other girl however didn't seem fazed by her glare either. The two remained in a staring contest before Natasha finally broke it off and she looked away with a cold hum. Azola quietly continued watching the matches while she folded her arms in disdain. She didn't even understand how that kid managed to make her way onto her doorstep.

You wouldn't understand, Nerissa. You are just too kind for your own good!

Seeing that her own teammates were distracted, Jade twirled her racquet and prepared to receive. Anyone who had seen Azola play pretty much understood why she had been placed in she British team in the first place. The first time she saw her, she shuddered at the sheer power the little girl had been packing. She exhaled sharply while looking at Natsuki serve again.

"Ah can see some bad blood boilin'," Natsuki raised an eyebrow, preparing to serve. "Care ta fill me in, Twilight?"

Jennifer shrugged nonchalantly. "I honestly know nothing of that little girl. She just one day appeared at Natasha's doorstep and she's been there ever since."

Natsuki nodded. "It kinda reminds me of mah own half-siblings."

Jennifer raised an eyebrow as Natsuki sent the serve. The ball slowly floated an inch off the net as Jennifer ran for the ball. The British female narrowed her eyes and leapt for the ball only to miss completely. The ball quietly dropped right on the middle of the line.

"But that's a story meant fer another time," Natsuki chuckled while tossing her racquet in the air, catching it. "Right now, ah got a match ta win!"

Jennifer smirked and lowered her stance. "Please, you can't keep doing the same serve forever!"

Natsuki bristled darkly as she felt her arm and body straining. Forcing her body to remain stiff to control all the power to make a soft serve had her completely exhausted. She had been used to flexing around and quickly moving. But since Jennifer had broken her hypnotic capacity, Natsuki knew she had to shift.

"Tch, she's right," Natsuki winced at the cramps in her shoulders. "Keepin' up that kain'd of stiffness is ah big pain in the behind."

Fuuka bit her lower lip anxiously. "Tch, fighting in a contradictory playing style - that's a bloody pain in the ass! It's like asking me to be a hit-and-run when I'm supposed to be tank-and-spank."

Shizuru nodded stiffly. "Natsuki may be flexible in physical stature but not in mind set..."

"Versatility is key," Florence watched the exchange between and Natsuki. "That's something that Natsuki may need to learn through this fight."

Natsuki clicked her tongue as she jumped fpr the ball. She winced at the sudden stretch before tumbling to the other side. She managed to skid and recover her stance before darting for the net. Jennifer smirked as she drove a volley behind Natsuki. Much to her surprise, the Shitenhouji captain pushed herself backwards far enough to get the ball.

"Tch, her reaction time is inhumane," Jennifer snarled darkly as she jumped for the ball.

Natasha chuckled in amusement. "Amakusa Natsuki - next Hoshimura Florence, she has the fastest reaction time."

"Sister," Azola tugged Natasha's skirt. "Who is she?"

"Osaka's Basilisk - Amakusa Natsuki," Lyra folded her arms while watching the game unfold. "I haven't seen a match this intense in ages..."

From the other side, Fuuka narrowed her eyes. "Natsuki better get her ass in gear! She's gonna get her ass kicked!"

"Natsuki," Florence slammed her hands on the railings. "Stop fooling around!"

"Easier said than done!"

Shizuru exhaled sharply until her head started to hurt again. "Ah...!"

What was that?!

Shizuru staggered around before falling against the wall. "Wh-what...?"

Everything around her began swirling and blurring as the echoes faded in the background. Shizuru winced and massaged her temple while trying to regain her balance. Voices and murmurs began to fill her mind as she began looking around frantically. Where were they coming from? The brunette hissed in pain while clutching her head hard, falling against the wall with a loud whump. Momo glanced at her captain, noticing her staggering around.

"Shizuru," the Shinigami caught her captain. "Are you okay?"

Shizuru nodded weakly. "Y-yeah, I-I'm okay..."

Wh-why? What's going on...?

As she tried to stabilize, Shizuru didn't notice her arm sparking with electricity. As it began sparking, a black tattoo began forming on her thigh.

/\/\/\/\/\

While the boys and the girls were playing their matches, Miaka strolled around with her hands in her pocket. Rikkai's Wild Dog exhaled sharply while looking around, watching the trees dance. The wind brushed past her as she looked into the sky.

"Tell him huh," Miaka chuckled darkly while smiling bitterly. "Heh, I don't think he's willing..."

"Hey Wild Dog!"

Miaka turned around to see a group of gang members. "Heh, Eastern Wolves - what brings you here?"

"We came lookin' fer ya, boss. Hopin' ta cheer ya on," one of the thugs grinned. "Heard yer cleaning up yer act?"

Miaka shrugged. "I gotta. Otherwise, I lose my schooling and the house that my family lives in."

"But yer payin' for it! Both financially and," another thug protested.

"Save it. I don't need your pity," Miaka hissed darkly and waved her hand dismissively. "I heard you've all been doing well, Inugami."

Inugami chuckled bitterly, looking down shamefacedly. "You can call me by my real name. You're still our Inugami."

"The title sticks, Kaguya," Miaka smirked while folding her arms. "You won. I lost."

Kaguya shook his head vehemently. "Inugami-sama, I won by fluke and you lost on purpose. You had the perfect routine for World Jam and you didn't use it."

Another member of the gang spoke quietly. "You also didn't use the nitrous of your motorbike back then."

"Holy crap, not ya too - Oujirou," Miaka ran her fingers through her messy black hair with a deep sigh, looking at the sky with nostalgia. "Ah yes. I was the famous Inugami back then."

"That was before you became that uptight bastard's fianceé," Kaguya spat venomously. "What's his name - Genichirou Sanada?"

Miaka snorted with a sad laugh. "Yeah but he started liking one of the royals from Hyotei. From the stories, she turned him down for someone else."

One of the other members stepped up. "Can't you make him break off the engagement?"

"Not everyone is brave enough to change their fate, Kiriya," Miaka shook her head with a small smile. "Even then, Yamaguchi's worrying her ass off for you and she's still shielding you from your parents."

Kiriya scowled at the use of his real name. "I didn't want to be politician. It's a crazed jungle out there."

Miaka smirked. "Yeah and you were brave enough to try changing your fate. And here you are, hiding under the fake name - Yameha Kadsuki, famous three time Motocross champion."

Kiriya kicked a pebble on the ground. "Tch...!"

Miaka glanced at the other members. "Well, I wish I could have continued the journey with you all. After all, the World Jam is only 3 months away."

"So's the Motocross District Open," Kiriya frowned. "The Eastern Wolves prided themselves in winning the competition fair and square in any terrain. Be it street or stage."

Miaka chuckled softly; seeing the Eastern Wolves as a group made her heart soar.

"Our promise still stands."

Miaka then found a girl with her cap on backwards, standing in front of her.

"I, Sohma Nanao, solemnly swear to find ways to free you from your slavery," Nanao placed on her glasses with a deadly glint shining from it. "Be it by hook or crook."

Miaka shook her head with a determined clench of her fists. "I will find my own way. It'll be a disgrace to an Inugami like me and to all those who held the title before me if I cannot win in my own way."

"Ow!"

"Stupid kid!"

Miaka looked up and her eyes widened with surprise. "What the-?"

There on the ground was Ohtori shielding a small kid from a group of gangsters. But much to her surprise - a familiar face stood in the group.

"The fuck is Sengoku Tohru doin' with her own group of thugs," Miaka raised her eyebrow. "I thought she'd be slobberin' all over her younger brother!"

Kiriya shook his head. "I guess you didn't know. Sengoku Tohru has been rallying all sorts of gangs to overpower the Amakusa mafia and get rid of a specific Sanada."

Miaka bristled angrily as she suddenly began storming towards them. "That'd be Natsuki and Momo. Well this bitch better learn one thing...!"

"O-oi, Inugami! I thought you had to keep a clean slate!"

Miaka stopped at her tracks. She bit her lower lip, thinking about what could possibly happen. If she interfered, Tohru's probably going to make a huge fit out of it. Once the Sanada family got wind of that, everything would be taken from her! She would have failed her family!

Yet can you sleep with a good conscience that you let a kind soul like Ohtori get hurt?

She narrowed her eyes at the gang members slamming Ohtori with a baseball bat. Miaka stood there frozen for a moment as she clenched her fists tightly until he knuckles turned white. Although nobody knew about her associations on the street, that didn't mean she wasn't above using it. She couldn't let people know - to pay for her father's sacrifice...

"You should let him know."

"No one will listen to a beaten mongrel."

"Well, Ohtori seems to have been listening..."

Miaka remembered her conversation with Niou, regarding Ohtori. Everybody just knew her as Rikkai Dai's resident bad girl. Everyone didn't want to cross her path. People feared her as she walked the school halls. One bad look and she'll tear you to pieces, they would say. She gnashed her teeth angrily as she barred her canine fangs.

"No way in hell am I gonna stand for that!"

The members of the Eastern Wolves stared in shock as Miaka began rolling up her sleeves.

"W-wait, what are you doing," Kiriya gulped nervously. "I thought the Sanada's said for you to...!"

"Fuck them," Miaka grinned a bloodthirsty grin. "My slate's gonna stay clean as long as we shut this bitch up and clean up our mess!"

Seeing the former Inugami rise up again, the Eastern Wolves did their signature stance. "Kill!"

Miaka growled as Kiriya handed to her something.

"I believe these are yours," Kiriya opened the box, revealing a pair of brass knuckles.

Miaka smirked as she slung them on. "Gihihi, you can't beat the classics!"

"You might also want this," Kaguya handed a jacket to her. "To the first female Inugami - Inuzuka Miaka!"

Miaka grinned and slung it on before walking towards the gang. "Let's waste those brats!"

As the gang stormed over, the gang continued beating Ohtori. The grey haired sophomore doubled over as he coughed violently. He looked up, seeing Sengoku Tohru standing before him. He weakly managed to keep himself standing, shielding the kid.

"Heh, I'm very surprised," Tohru flipped her hair with an evil smirk. "I knew that Hyotei's Ohtori Choutarou was the type to go get himself clobbered by a gang."

Ohtori coughed while narrowing his eyes. "Really? Picking on a kid?"

Tohru shrugged. "I wasn't here for the kid. He was just bait."

"And you're not getting close to Ohtori either, bub."

Tohru turned around to see Miaka cracking her knuckles and flashing her brass knuckles in the sunlight. A small smirk curved up the orange haired girl's face. She slowly walked forward while placing her hands on her hips.

"Look what we have here," Tohru slyly chuckled. "Come here to take a bullet for your master, mongrel?"

Miaka growled and flashed her brass knuckles. "Don't make me bludgeon your head, bub."

"Ohohoho," Tohru sniggered. "Always with your fists now aren't you, Inugami?"

Miaka spat venomously. "Sometimes ya gotta revert back ta the old ways if ya want something done, bub."

Without any warning, Miaka lunged at Tohru. The said girl yelped and ran as the other gang members rushed down at the Wild Dog. The Eastern Wolves snarled and leapt at the other gang members. Miaka swooped in and kicked one in the jaw before ducking and punching the man's gut. Another man ran at her with a knife as she parried it with her brass knuckles.

"Ya can't beat the classics," Miaka grinned as she somersaulted over a thug, kicking him in the shin.

Ohtori stared in shock and amazement as Miaka managed to take out another thug. Her gang members fought the others as Sengoku Tohru started making her getaway. The Hyotei tennis player knew he couldn't hit a girl but he couldn't let her get away either.

"Oh no you don't," Ohtori grabbed a smooth pebble and slid it right under her foot.

Not looking, Tohru ended up tripping and falling to the ground. Her eyes widened when she saw a truck coming her way and all she could do was shield herself with her hands. Images began to flash in her mind as her body froze in fear.

"No, no," Tohru trembled violently. "Mama, Papa...!"

Miaka scowled and darted for her. "Tch, I know I'm gonna regret this later..."

Before the truck could squash Tohru's head, Miaka grabbed her by the collar and yanked her out of the way. Tohru crashed on the pavement while Miaka staggered back. The Wild Dog waited to hit the pavement but instead landed on something warm.

"Oof!"

Miaka looked around and found Ohtori holding her with a sheepish grin. "You didn't say you were part of the Eastern Wolves."

Miaka chuckled bitterly. "You didn't tell me that you were into gang fights."

Ohtori smiled as he helped her up. Miaka staggered back as Ohtori held her hands. The Inugami couldn't help but smile at the tall Hyotei player as she hung her head.

"I," she began. "I know I should have said this but..."

Ohtori blinked several times as Miaka flicked his forehead with an impish pout.

"Stop getting yourself into trouble! I can't keep saving you," Miaka stuck out her tongue before turning away with a huff.

Ohtori blinked several times. "But I..."

"It's not like I want to save you or anything, you dumb rabbit," she scowled and looked away. "It's that you're Kurenai's friend and I gotta make sure ya get home in one piece!"

Ohtori chuckled lightly and brushed the hair covering her temple, kissing it gently. "Thank you."

Miaka blushed bright red as warmth swelled inside her. "You fucking retard, what part "I didn't do it for you" don't ya get!?"

"Inugami-sama! She got away!"

Miaka looked around and found Tohru missing. She scowled darkly while looking around, thinking where the orange haired girl could have gone. She sniffed the air and looked at the tracks on the ground, seeing images of Tohru running towards the stadium.

"She's heading towards the stadium and my guess is," Miaka rolled up her sleeves, baring her fangs. "She's heading to court 2!"

Ohtori blinked several times. "Court 2?"

"Yeah," Miaka growled darkly while sprinting off. "Come on!"

/\/\/\/\/\

"Game: Twilight - 5 games all!"

Natsuki chuckled to herself, looking at how Jennifer managed to push herself. "Ahm amazed ya maaaged ta push yerself this far, Sugarcube. Ah never knew yer willin' ta play with yer eyes shut."

Jennifer narrowed her eyes. "I daresay - you do speak a lot for someone who is being pushed to a corner."

"Ahm the last thin' ya should be pushin' ta a corner," Natsuki hissed darkly.

Jennifer chuckled in amusement, tossing back her long golden brown hair. "Well, I do say – cornered rats certainly do snap their teeth a lot."

Natsuki glowered beadily as she stood up straight. Her serpentine style of fighting had completely been trumped by Jennifer's Closed Eye technique! She bristled darkly at the outcome while looking at the game, set and score. Jennifer managed to tie her up throughout the entire game and she didn't look like she had been breaking a sweat over it. The charcoal haired girl exhaled sharply while twirling her racquet while imagining the match once again in her mind.

"The mind's eye sees all where consciousness has failed, hindsight shall not," Natsuki exhaled sharply before opening her eyes darkly. "Ah reckon that lookin' in the eye of the past is gonna make sure ah trump ya!"

Jennifer scornfully laughed. "Keep dreaming, cow girl! You are most definitely not getting anywhere with that!"

Natsuki bristled darkly at the British competitor. "Bring it on, yee haw!"

Jennifer served once again with Natsuki retaliating with a backhand to the baseline. The ball zoomed back and forth as Natsuki jumped into the air and smashed another shot. Jennifer volleyed the shot over as Osaka's Basilisk twisted her body to knock the shot down. Jennifer backed down and struck the shot way past her as Natsuki stretched her farthest to fight back.

"Tch, this match is going nowhere," Fuuka scowled darkly. "NATSUKI, FLOOR THE LITTLE BITCH!"

"Ahm tryin', ahm tryin'," Natsuki hollered back while slapping the ball to the other side.

She could feel the strain overwhelming her as her body started to cry. Her legs nearly collapsed under her but the Shitenhouji captain found herself staring at her opponent. Jennifer had a huge smirk on her face and even then her body could feel its strain. All the twisting and turning, Jennifer looked like she had seen through everything!

"There has to be something," Natsuki gasped for air as she slowly stopped in her tracks as the ball floated in front of her.

Everything seemed to fall into slow motion. Natsuki could feel her mind swirling as she slowly stretched her arm. With a simple slap, the ball slowly floated over the net and dropped right in front of it and metres away from Jennifer. Everyone's eyes widened as Natsuki slowly straightened up. It was something she had never tried but fighting as a solid rock...

"Ah ought ta fight back in another way," Natsuki could feel her body tingling and twitching to jump. "Everyone's gotta learn how ta walk again..."

Jennifer slammed the shot straight at Natsuki as the Shitenhouji captain simply sidestepped. Fuuka gawked, Florence gasped and Shizuru smiled in amazement. Ai jumped up and down, hollering throughout the stands:

"NATSUKI'S GONNA WIN THIS!"

"A snake can keep on slitherin' past but there are even some places that ya just gotta go HULK SMASH," Natsuki smirked and forehanded the shot straight at Jennifer with a punch of her hips.

The ball screamed right past Jennifer and cracked at the baseline.

"Love – 15!"

Natsuki spun her racquet with a drawl. "Ahm purdy sure yer gonna have a harder time now!"

"Oh please, do not dare flatter yourself," Jennifer tossed her hair with a "humph". "I know that this is you being desperate!"

Jennifer served the shot again with Natsuki simply moving one way or another. Without any twists and turns, Natsuki could feel her body twitching to jump and do acrobatic tricks. But she held herself down; jumping around would make her go back to her initial state and Jennifer already knew her playing style. She exhaled sharply while hitting the ball simply over the net.

"Tch, this match is becoming too long," Natasha glared before glancing at Jennifer. "Finish that uncouth simpleton off."

Jennifer nodded before increasing the speed of her attacks. "Tch, go down!"

"Yer gonna have ta do more than that," Natsuki chuckled in amusement with a devilish twinkle in her eye. "Ahm gonna beat ya like a rented mule!"

Jennifer forehanded the shot with a slight grunt. Natsuki continued playing in a stiff style while watching Jennifer stumble over. She couldn't believe it herself but the style was working! Although the style had been completely unorthodox in comparison to her acrobatic and flexible play, Natsuki found herself feeling more relaxed throughout the entire match.

Ah shudda have figgered this out before! Well then, it's about time ta rock this thing!

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Game, Atobe-Sanada: three games to two!"

Atobe exhaled sharply while looking at Sanada up front. He had never expected himself to learn how to be a doubles in a week let alone get Ayane to have enough patience to teach him. He couldn't find himself playing doubles before. In fact, he had prided himself in being a Singles player!

"Ore-sama never thought he would get this far in being a doubles player," Atobe volleyed the ball over while fighting with Girgis.

Sanada followed behind him with a smirk. "Ah."

Girgis chuckled in amusement as he jumped for a smash. Atobe deflected it immediately before it made its way to the ground. ValBijon cornered Sanada as the two of them began cornering one another. Sanada dropped the ball right over the net as Girgis jumped for it, leaving VanBiljon to corner Atobe.

"Tch, that big man is being a pain," Atobe sent a strong backhand with the Jack Knife towards the other end.

As the match continued to progress, Fuji watched the ball zoom back and right. He watched Girgis play around with a huge smile. Between the two of them though, Seigaku tensai couldn't help but feel that there was something extremely off with the match. ValBijon stared blankly at Sanada as the vice captain unleashed the Ka on him.

"Oh yeah, fukubuchou's got this all under control," Kirihara whooped with joy.

"I wouldn't say that just yet," Fuji watched carefully while looking at the two Egyptian players. "There's something they're hiding and we better find that out. Fast."

Inui continued scribbling down the data. "Whatever it is however, Atobe and Sanada have 68 percent chance of pulverizing them with pure skill alone. They may not be able to synchronize but their basic playing styles should work."

However, Girgis suddenly jumped into the air before landing a shocking blow towards Atobe's wrist. Hyotei's king staggered back as the racquet clattered on the ground. ValBijon saw the ball floating in the air before slamming the ball straight at Sanada. Rikkai's emperor raised his racquet as the ball nearly snapped the strings. The ball limply landed at the top of the net as it fell towards the other side. Girgis slid and lightly floated the ball over.

"Good luck with that though," Girgis grinned as the ball inaudibly landed on the ground.

"15 love!"

Atobe scowled deeply as he flexed his wrist. "That bastard..."

"Atobe, their techniques are more on target rather than full power," Sanada looked towards the other side. "Can you still hit?"

"It will take some time," Atobe grit his teeth shamefully; he never had to admit his weakness like this! "But ore-sama can still play."

Sanada nodded as the two of them got ready to fight again. Girgis grinned as he flipped around his racquet, looking at the two Japanese players. He knew they were a makeshift pair; Sanada Genichirou and Atobe Keigo had been known more as Singles players rather than doubles players. He licked his lips in amusement, deeply pondering while watching Atobe and Sanada once again take their stance.

"They're doing pretty well, aren't they," Girgis chuckled.

"Mm," ValBijon nodded before looking towards the bleachers, noticing the angry glare on their coach's face. "Coach doesn't like your plan."

Girgis turned around to see his coach glaring, nonchalantly shrugging. "Meh, she never really liked me anyway."

ValBijon frowned. "I meant your plan, not you."

Girgis snickered and waved his hand dismissively. "Meh, I know that. But still – what does the lady want?"

"She wants us to finish this quickly," ValBijon said emotionlessly. "30 minutes for 6 games. That's quite long for someone of our record."

Girgis scratched the back of his neck with a groan. "Really? B-but I don't wanna... These guys are fun!"

"Ramuh," ValBijon chided sternly.

"Fine, fine," Girgis rolled his eyes with a pout, hollering to Atobe and Sanada. "Sorry guys, we gotta make this fast! Coach looks like she wants to take a dump!"

Amunet flushed beet red out of embarrassment. "You...!"

ValBijon face-palmed. How did I get stuck with such an idiotic partner?

Atobe winced at his wrist as ValBijon began his service. He could feel the impact reflecting throughout the bones but he shook it away. He exhaled sharply while trying to keep the consistency as his skin swelled and blushed red. Sanada noticed the sweat pouring down Atobe's face profusely as he tried to cover for Atobe's injury.

"Ore-sama... does... not... need," Atobe panted heavily, gritting his teeth in pain. "Your... help..."

"You're going to need it," Sanada simply said as he backhanded the ball.

Girgis grinned as he shot the ball straight at Atobe's wrist again. Atobe gritted his teeth in pain as the ball flew up in the air. He could barely feel his wrist as he feebly flicked his racquet to block Girgis' shot. ValBijon cornered Sanada once again as the emperor noticed a glint in Girgis' eye. Girgis began attacking Atobe with different shots, forcing the king to run towards the back.

"Tch," Atobe ran and forcibly swung his arm to block the shot.

Somehow, this event seems familiar.

The match between him and Tezuka flashed before his very eyes. Another match that appeared before him was Shizuru. He knew those two were crazy but there was something he had to respect from the two: their limitless drive.

"Kurenai's leg never stopped her," Atobe chuckled bitterly. "Neither did Tezuka's shoulder... It never stopped Tezuka either."

So you're letting a simple smack on the wrist stop you?

Atobe saw how the match unfolded as well in his mind. Their eyes burned with the same passion to enjoy and win their games! Atobe mentally slapped himself; what kind of idiot was he to let some tiny injury hold him back? A bitter chuckle bubbled from his throat as a smirk curved up his lips. Atobe clenched his fingers tightly around his racquet before pushing himself forward.

Stop being such a wuss! Get up!

Atobe's eyes widened as images flashed back in his mind.

Flashback

"STOP BEING SUCH A WUSS! GET UP!"

Atobe found himself on the ground after taking a beating from his girlfriend. Ayane stood at the other end of the court with a basket of tennis balls. He didn't need a tennis cannon to help him anymore. Ayane hit harder than one and it forced him to use his hips more often.

"You're relying too much on your arm," Ayane frowned while picking up the ball again. "Swing your whole body!"

"That's exactly what ore-sama is doing," Atobe coldly hummed while getting up. "You're the one who hits like a truck!"

Ayane stuck her tongue out impishly. "Geez, you have arms like a toothpick! Don't you lift!?"

"Ore-sama is not in the mood to look like The Hulk," Atobe scowled deeply, positioning himself again. "You're already the She-Hulk!"

"At least I'm not a ballerina," Ayane folded her arms darkly while tossing the ball into the air. "Deflect again!"

The ball zoomed and slammed itself straight on Atobe's wrist, knocking out his racquet from his hand. Atobe growled in pain before falling back from the sheer shock from Ayane's attack. He shook himself out of the daze as he could feel his wrist trembling from the shock.

"How in the world did she get that strong in the first place," Atobe mumbled while picking up his racquet, only for him to drop it again. "Tch...!"

Ayane's eyes widened as she ran towards him. "Oh crap, are you okay?"

"Perfectly fine," Atobe chuckled dryly as he winced from the pain as she tried to move it. "AGH! WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING!?"

"You sprained your wrist. You used your wrist to soften the impact," Ayane pondered deeply before dragging him along. "Come with me!"

"Me thinks you're going to break my wrist even before the good-will games," Atobe rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Ayane, I'm perfectly fine!"

"Sure you are! You can't even grip your racquet," Ayane slammed the wire door open, hollering to the loudest volume. "BUCHOU, I SMASHED ATOBE'S WRIST! HELP!"

Atobe's eyes widened. "Did you really have to announce that?"

"So I've heard."

Atobe and Ayane found Shizuru standing in front of them, finishing up her last lap.

"What did you do? Make him deflect a cannon ball," Shizuru raised an eyebrow questioningly, picking up Atobe's sore wrist.

Atobe flinched slightly from the pain, doing his best to maintain a holier-than-thou expression. "Just fix it, Kurenai."

Shizuru looked around for a moment then nodded. "Ayane, cover his eyes please."

Atobe stared at her quizzically before tensing up. "You better not have a needle with you!"

It was not a well-known fact but Atobe extremely feared needles. He had been bitten by a rabid dog once and he had enough needles piercing through him through his lifetime. He shuddered at the mere thought until he felt a warm feeling appear on his hand. A warm and cool feeling – ironic as it was, Atobe could feel a soft brush against his skin while listening to a soothing humming.

"Done."

Atobe blinked several times as Ayane lowered her hand and his wrist looked like nothing had happened. He flexed it several times as Shizuru held his wrist and shook her head.

"I don't think you should keep moving it just yet," Shizuru narrowed her eyes while chiding him. "Just pray that none of your opponents are that strong."

End of Flashback

"Arn, ore-sama can't be put off by a simple trick like that. I have taken shots that are stronger than that," Atobe smirked as the ball went straight up into the air. "Sanada!"

The moment ValBijon smashed the ball, Sanada ran straight for the shot as the smash came screaming towards him. A small smirk appeared on his lips as he remembered the time Momo had played against him in tennis. He changed his stance as everyone's eyes widened.

"Wait a minute, that's," Jackal gawked.

"Nullify like steel, Tetsu," Sanada smirked and smashed the ball exactly the moment it met the sweet spot of his racquet.

The ball crashed on the ground with a loud kablam as Girgis' and ValBijon's eyes widened. Sanada smirked slyly; he had never expected himself to use the Anti-FuuRinKaZan but Momo's tactics worked so well on his own moves. He exhaled sharply while straightening his stance.

"This is something that our family had failed to acknowledge," Sanada growled deeply while looking darkly at his opponents. "Momo is the true heir to the Sanada family. For she lived by the code of the Bushido for years as if it were a part of her..."

Atobe chuckled; although he knew Sanada would never say it in her face, he could have sworn Momo would have vomited rainbows if she heard him. The king flipped his racquet in his hand before stepping next to Sanada.

"She would have wanted to hear that," Atobe smirked and dropped his hand on Sanada's shoulder.

"I could never tell her. She would not believe," Sanada hung his head darkly.

"In times like this, Momo-chan needs someone to believe in her as her and not just your cousin," Atobe sighed deeply. "Believe it or not, the girls are not as strong as they seem. Each of them has their own shadow haunting them. They just decided however to fight against it rather than let it control them."

Sanada nodded as he positioned himself again. "Ah."

Atobe glanced at the score before receiving the service once again. Girgis sprinted forward with his eyes gleaming with delight. ValBijon easily deflected the next shot from Atobe while Sanada shielded the back. The Japanese team stared in astonishment while watching Atobe easily shift between style and Sanada began using his cousin's style as the ball screamed right past Girgis' ear.

"Whoa," Girgis nearly toppled over as the ball slipped past ValBijon.

"Fifteen all!"

"Burst like sound – Oto," Sanada smirked.

Kirihara punched the air, jumping around enthusiastically. "WHOO, GO FUKU-BUCHOU!"

"Alright," Kikumaru grinned in delight. "Way to go, nyah!"

The Hyotei cheers became much louder as it swirled around the whole stadium. All the other voices had their cheers drowned by the sheer volume of the Japanese supporters. Shishido howled in delight with Gakuto whooping at the stadium. Momoshiro had been making a lot of noise while Kawamura began swinging the Japanese flag.

"MOERZE, BURNING," Kawamura howled and chanted.

"HYOTEI, HYOTEI, HYOTEI!"

"ATOBE, ATOBE, ATOBE!"

The cheers howled from the Hyotei student as Rikkai began backing up their emperor.

"EMPEROR! EMPEROR!"

Sanada tipped his capped down humbly, hiding a small smile. "Let's finish this."

"That's exactly what ore-sama is thinking," Atobe stared down the other pair once again.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"GAME, TWILIGHT: SIX GAMES TO SIX! TIEBREAKER WILL NOW BEGIN!"

Natsuki exhaled sharply while looking at Jennifer. "Well, ah didn' expec' ya ta git this far, ya old bat!"

Jennifer glared darkly. "You are one to talk, I at least have brown hair!"

Natsuki snorted. "Mah charcoal grey hair dun' got anythin' ta do with that! Yer just a barkin' dog!"

"And you're an annoying little snake," Jennifer hissed angrily while bouncing the ball. "Very well, I may as well crush you here!"

"Yer no mongoose! Yer just a barrel full of crows," Natsuki growled back as the ball zoomed towards her.

Fuuka shook her head. "I can't believe they're trash talking each other. Heck, can't they just fuck each other and get it over with!?"

"That's not a pretty picture for the public to see, Fuuka," Shizuru deadpanned.

"I'm pretty sure she didn't mean it in that way," Momo sighed with a helpless smile; her buchou tended to take things too literally sometimes.

Mai shrugged nonchalantly, grinning amusedly. "Well, one of them's bound to be on top eventually."

Florence snickered in amusement. "That's going to be quite a racket that we're going to hear."

"Too bad they don't have a ball," Fuuka joined in out of amusement.

Ayane gasped and slapped her hands over Shizuru's ears, becoming beet red. "Noooo, don't contaminate our innocent buchou!"

Shizuru blinked several times. "Huh, I don't get it..."

Fuuka face-palmed. "I forgot; this woman is as green as a snowball."

"Yep, whitey everywhere," Ai sang childishly.

Momo smiled kindly; someone had to explain it to this girl eventually. "I'll tell you when you're older, Shizuru."

Shizuru blankly stared at them before smiling sweetly. "Okay."

Kiyone sweat-dropped and laughed sheepishly. "I'm not sure if I should be amused or scared that I actually understood the references all of you were making."

Natsuki sighed deeply while focusing on her match. She volleyed the shot over while moving simply around. The strain began to go away and she found the feeling in her legs back. She narrowed her eyes darkly before forehanding with a twist of her hips. The ball zoomed past the net as Jennifer stretched out to block the shot from passing her.

"Heh, ahm surprised yer still kickin' and screamin'," Natsuki drawled in amusement.

Jennifer smirked. "Well, obviously – one snake bite cannot kill me, you little wretch."

The Shitenhouji captain chuckled dryly while lazily slapping the ball. "Then c'mon down then, pardner! Show me whatcha got!"

"I intend to," Jennifer screeched while smashing the shot.

A glint sparked in Natsuki's eye as a smirk curved up her lips slowly.

Gotcha!

All of a sudden, Natsuki suddenly contorted her body and sent the ball curving away. Jennifer's eyes widened as the ball went right under the arbiter's chair before curving awkwardly the moment it smashed on the court. Jennifer stumbled over and fell to the ground, looking at the ball roll away from her.

Tch, what in the world?

"Finally, she thinks straight," Fuuka grinned in delight.

"Mixing something is far better than falling unto whatever extremes there are," Florence smiled triumphantly.

Shizuru nodded. "Natsuki may have been the number five of L.X.A but there has always been a big gap between number 5 and number 6."

"Yeah," Fuuka nodded absent-mindedly before snapping her head towards Shizuru all of a sudden. "Wait a minute, how the hell do you remember that!?"

Shizuru blinked with a puzzled look on her face. "Remember what?"

"How do you suddenly remember ranks," Fuuka squinted her eyes deeply at the younger girl. "How in the world did you manage to remember all that?"

Shizuru blinked several times until realization hit her. Images began flashing in her mind as she started hearing voices in her mind.

Shizuru, run!

Shizuru, stay hidden! Mama and papa will find you!

A slow, sly grin appeared in her mind. "Happy Birthday, little Shizuru..."

Shizuru gasped before staggering back. "Ah!"

Mai immediately caught her best friend, staring in shock. "Shizuru, are you okay? What's happening?"

"I," Shizuru was unable to get the words out of her mouth. "I don't know..."

Florence helped her friend to the bench. "Here sweetie, sit on the bench..."

Shizuru slowly sat down before the world swirled around her. Where did all those emotions come from let alone images? The brunette gripped her hair while looking at the ground, exhaling sharply. More images flashed in her mind with flames suddenly howling around her.

You caused them to die...

"N-no," Shizuru began to shake her head violently. "N-no..."

Florence blinked several times. "Shizuru...?"

"NO," Shizuru's irises glowed bright red and something just knocked back Florence straight onto the ground.

"Flo-chan," Ai rushed to the Jyosei Shounan captain's side. "Shi-chan, what's wrong...?"

"N-No, p-please," Shizuru's eyes widened as she darted off. "Don't come near me!"

"Shizuru, wait," Mai tried to grab her best friend's arm until a red lightning crackled from Shizuru's arm. "Whoa...!"

As Shizuru ran off, the other girls stared in shock. Shizuru ran past Isane and Niou who had been walking back to Court 2.

"Buchou," Isane tried to grab her captain only to have lightning spark from Shizuru's skin yet again. "Whoa...!"

Niou caught a glimpse of Shizuru's gleaming red eyes. "Pinch me but I think your captain's eyes were glowing...?"

"Y-Yeah," the Sniper stared in disbelief before running towards her captain. "Niou, go ask the others! I'm gonna go after my captain!"

Niou nodded before holding her wrist, staring at her in concern. "Be safe, okay?"

"You know I always do my best, baby," Isane giggled.

Niou staggered back as Isane kissed his cheek and ran. He stared aghast and dumbfounded; when did Isane get the confidence with him? He touched his cheek as he felt something funny bubbling inside him. Whatever it was, a small smile curved up his lips as his eyes had a determined glint. Niou ran towards the bleachers where he found the girls gathered there.

"Guys what happened? And was it just me or did I just see your captain with glowing red eyes with electricity sparking from her arm," Niou raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Fuuka nodded. "But that can't be her CHroME. Her CHroME had been confiscated along with ours ages ago!"

Mai froze for a moment. "The bloodline..."

They all snapped their heads towards the tensai. "What?"

"Remember what that guy from L.X.A told us," Mai glanced at all the girls. "I forgot his name..."

"Kane Michaelides," Momo recalled before she froze. "The Mishima bloodline..."

Ayane swallowed hard. "B-but why is it activating now?"

"There's something here," Mai glanced around. "Shizuru is very sensitive to environmental changes. But this looks more like... like..."

"Like an awakening," Niou pieced it together while remembering how spooked Shizuru looked. "Your captain looked like she was trying to suppress something..."

Mai glanced at her fingers, remembering the sudden spark from her best friend's skin. She narrowed her eyes for a moment before looking at Natsuki and then hollering to the Shitenhouji captain.

"Amakusa-san, delay the match as long as you can WITHOUT losing!"

Natsuki, seeing that Shizuru was missing, nodded. She knew that Shizuru had some messed up episodes but this was one of her worst ones. She shuddered upon remembering the first time she entered L.X.A. The dead look in her eyes, the blood that splattered against her clothes along with her limp movements – it scared her. However, she had seen the other side of Shizuru. The one that had to be kept in handcuffs before they saw her as "normal".

"They called her Maegara," Natsuki murmured before swallowing hard. "Maegara was made to become the most powerful weapon in the military arsenal. A soldier who knew nothing but to accomplish the mission no matter what the cost."

"What are you mumbling about there?!"

Natsuki snapped back her head and continued playing. She remembered the room that she had been placed in. She remembered seeing Shizuru fight for the first time. The charcoal grey haired female glanced at Fuuka who knew what she was thinking about. Florence bit her lip anxiously as Ai's eyes glanced to and fro between the three girls.

"Eh? What's wrong," she blinked several times. "What are you guys talking about?"

Fuuka bit her lower lip darkly. "There was a time before you were created that L.X.A was trying to create the perfect weapon. They called her Maegara, after the goddess of Vengeance in Greek Mythology."

"Apparently, she was their secret weapon in case another world war were to occur," Florence exhaled sharply while watching the match. "However, she soon became too uncontrollable and killed anything she wanted. It was a thinking machine that chose its targets out of whim."

Ayane gulped. "She... she killed people?"

"I do not know her history completely," Florence looked out the door. "But there is an 8 year gap she doesn't remember. Minus 3 years from baby to toddler, it still does not account for the five years that had been missing from her memory."

"But whatever it was," Fuuka shuddered. "It was horrifying because there was a time that thing awakened again."

"That... thing," Momo raised an eyebrow questioningly. "What is that thing?"

"It's like what we know as the "dark side" of Shizuru's personality. We can also say that the Shikabane Hime form of Shizuru was purely based on that thing," Fuuka shivered violently and shook her head. "I remember when she had been put on the stress test. It was L.X.A's way of training her. They hooked her up to an ECT and gave her a good jolt. But when that happened – it awakened..."

Ai shivered fearfully. "And then...?"

"All the scientists that had been sent to deal with her were either traumatized or killed," Florence gulped. "Every one – and she was just sitting in a pool of blood, laughing to herself and singing: "the red queen demands her tarts. But no tarts equals no hearts." Imagine, an eight year old singing that over and over again like some creepy mantra..."

Mai however remained unfazed. "So, how did they pull her back?"

"Roger Alexandersson brought this woman named Agatha Hearkess in," Fuuka bit her lip before her eyes widened in realization. "Come to think of it, Shizuru only remained calm when he was there..."

"Maegara never attacked him either," Florence pondered deeply. "But why...?"

"YA LOUSY VERMIN!"

All the members' thoughts were cut short when they heard Natsuki yelling out of frustration. Everyone's eyes went towards the court as Natsuki fell to the ground and hit the ball. She immediately recovered as Jennifer prepared to send the ball far all the way into the back. As she did, the ball zoomed towards Natsuki as she was able to sling shot and smack the ball back at Jennifer. The British girl's eyes widened in shock as Natsuki stared at the ball that landed on the edge of the net.

"Come on," Natsuki grit her teeth in suspense. "Go in!"

Jennifer stared agape as the ball slowly dropped on her side. Everyone remained silent with small gasps as Natsuki's eyes widened with delight.

"GAME AND MATCH, AMAKUSA! SEVEN GAMES TO SIX!"

Before they could say anything, the cheers howled in delight as Jennifer stared aghast. Natsuki fell to her knees with a whooping howl.

"YEE HAW," Natsuki tossed back her charcoal grey low ponytailed hair. "Ah knew ah could do it! Ah was right all alon'!"

Jennifer sighed deeply before walking back to the bleachers. She glanced at the other members before walking past Natasha.

"Natasha, I'm sorry," Jennifer shamefacedly whispered.

"It's alright, dear," Natasha smiled softly, playing with her hair. "You did well."

Jennifer looked up at her as Natasha smiled kindly. While Jennifer returned to the benches, she glanced towards the other members.

"Doubles Two, get ready for your match," Natasha ordered before coldly humming at the small girl. "Get moving."

Azola stood up before nodding. "I understand."

On the other hand, Fuuka glanced at Ayane and Kiyone. "You two, get ready!"

Ayane grinned in determination and pulled out her racquet. "You got it!"

Kiyone happily smiled while jumping and landing on the ground. "Let's go!"

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Shizuru, wait!"

Shizuru however didn't stop running. No matter how bad the strain was on her legs, she refused to stop. Something had begun bubbling inside her and she felt a rotten feeling pit at her stomach. She glanced at her hands as bloodstains appeared on them.

"Ah," Shizuru backed up fearfully, not noticing the red electricity sparking around her body.

Don't you remember?

All those people...!

They tried to hurt us, Shizuru!

"No, you're not a part of me," Shizuru hissed in pain as she fell on the ground, gripping her hair. "No...!"

I am a part of you. Don't you remember...?

Shizuru looked up in fear as she saw somebody standing in front of her. Her eyes widened as a brunette smiled at her with blood stains on a white dress with a knife in hand with her hair in a wet mess. Her hair cascaded past her shoulders and until her back. But what scared Shizuru more was that the girl had the same bright red eyes as she did except with a crazed look in them.

"N-No," Shizuru staggered back in fear. "Wh-who are you...?"

"The red queen demands her tarts. But no tarts equal no hearts," the girl sang and pranced around.

The girl kept singing it over and over again, Shizuru paled. "S-Stop... STOP!"

"The red queen demands her tarts. But no tarts equal no hearts," the girl continued to sing and prance around.

"Stop it," Shizuru broke down into tears as she was backed against the tree. "S-Stop..."

The girl stopped and cocked her head to the side innocently. "Why should I...? I like the song. You made that song!"

"Why in the world would I make something like that," Shizuru shook her head in disgust. "SECONDLY, HOW COULD I BECOME YOU!? I NEVER KILLED ANYONE!"

The moment Shizuru said the word "killed", the girl's eyes suddenly narrowed dangerously into slits as she marched towards her.

"You... You act so innocent yet you've been through the deepest pits of Hell," the girl pressed her forearm against Shizuru's neck with a deadly hiss. "Mama and papa died protecting us! Don't you remember why you're so... "gifted"?"

Shizuru stared at her blankly. "Wh-what...?"

"BUCHOU!"

Shizuru snapped out of it, hearing Isane's voice. She snapped her head back towards where the girl had been standing but then...

She was gone.

The brunette began breathing heavily as she slumped onto the ground. Isane rushed to her captain's side, holding the smaller girl in her arms. She had never seen her captain panic so badly. The smaller girl's body trembled with fear and her grip on the senior's clothes tightened.

"Sh-shizuru, are you okay? Ever since we showed up in the stadium," Isane hushed her gently while stroking her junior's hair.

"It's quite a long story."

Isane and Shizuru looked up only to find Lars standing in front of them with an old woman and a young lady standing next to him. Isane pulled her closer while watching the movement of the three people in front of her. Shizuru froze in fear but suddenly tried to scramble away.

"Shhh, it's okay," Lars began to gently approach her. "Agatha..."

Agatha nodded before straight-forwardly walking towards Shizuru, placing her hand on Shizuru's head. Shizuru began to hyperventilate in fear as Agatha began to hush her in a different language. The brunette could feel her heart pounding wildly against her chest as she whimpered in fear.

"Be still, dear child," Agatha whispered in a different dialect. "Rest your weary and darkened mind. May those thoughts stay in the depths of your soul."

After those words, Shizuru slowly calmed down and slumped over in Isane's arms. Agatha exhaled deeply as she stood up, walking towards Lars.

"Her powers are growing. This cannot be done all the time," Agatha walked away solemnly. "Her powers are overwhelming her personality."

"Yeah," Lars nodded slowly before looking back. "Did you hear that, Jin?"

Isane's eyes widened. "J-Jin Kazama... as in THE Jin Kazama?"

From behind Agatha, a dark haired man stepped out. Isane gulped nervously; she could feel the dark intent boiling from inside him. She shivered fearfully while holding onto her captain much more, wondering what he could possibly want. Jin folded his arms and stared down at Isane. The senior on the other hand could feel the physical presence alone strangling her.

"I, I," Isane stammered in fear.

Jin however squatted down to look at Shizuru as his hand began to glow with electricity. Her sparks also reacted violently as he closed his eyes. Slowly, the lightning began to spark as two auras began to clash. Isane's eyes widened as the aura seemingly began being pulled away from Shizuru's body.

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Well, that's chapter 73! Sorry for the late update! Please don't forget to review!