Soul of a Sword, Body of a Prince

Summary: Shirou Emiya have a painful life that he never regretted, couldn't have regretted. Then he died. But he's also lucky enough to wake up again, this time as Ryoma Echizen in a world where he won't have to walk the path of a sword but something else entirely. The Fate/stay night/ Prince of Tennis crossover nobody asked for yet I made anyway. Drabble series format. There'll be AU and OOC elements (Duh)

DISCLAIMER: I owned neither PoT nor FSN.

Survivor

The eyes are the window of the soul, and Ryoma Echizen's eyes told those who looked close enough that he's a survivor. One that had been through the depth of hell and came out of it over and over again. Not unsatched, not whole, not sane, but surviving all the same. He had been broken, bleeding, cursing, but still living.

His eyes are found in those who have seen the worst of the world and all the creature that lived in it, but also the best of it. Those who have seen and learned and accepted all the pain and horror that come with living, knowing that it would break others, because its what he needed to do to keep on walking on the path he chose for himself.

Ryoma Echizen was a survivor. The problem was that he's only five years old.

Sharp

It started with a challenge from Nanjiroh. Ever since Ryoga came, the former tennis star have seemed to delegate much of the "play tennis with Ryoma" to the older son. Ryoma doesn't really mind, since he found Ryoga to be much more pleasant that Nanjiroh as a playing partner.

(Ryoga's always relaxed posture, his "I do whatever I want" attitude, and many things about him ooze a strange sense of familiriaty. As if he had met someone that he could've considered a friend if it's not for circumstances. A sense of familiarity that also bring a strange unease to his chest, begging him to check that there's nothing missing there)

Then Nanjiroh declared that he wouldn't play with Ryoma until he can beat Ryoga. At first it goes like how Nanjiroh thought it would. Ryoma might have come to like Ryoga, but he also dislike losing and thus began to work harder in improving his tennis.

At first Ryoma had started simple. He tried to copy his older brother and father's techniques, he tried to exercise more like his brother and father did. He did what one would one expect from a six years old kid trying to be as good as his older brother and father in playing tennis: He tries to copy them.

That changed after a month.

It's as if a switch had been flipped. His movements become much more fluid and sophisticated. He began absorb complicated techniques faster than either Ryoga or Nanjiroh can subtly show to him. There's a sense of clarity where there wasn't before in every step and move that Ryoma take. He had stopped copying Ryoga and Nanjiroh and created something for himself.

It only takes him one week to beat Ryoga since then and three more months to beat Nanjiroh for the first time.

Servant

The Echizen household used to hire servants to take care of their daily needs. Nanjiroh could barely function as a human being outside of the tennis court, Rinko was barely there due to her extremely busy work, and Ryoga and Ryoma were just kids. That changed, however, when Ryoma turned seven. He had asked his father if he can try to cook dinner for them and Nanjiroh allowed him.

Rinko figured that since she's there, she can supervise the whole thing so their house didn't burn to the ground. Nanjiroh figured that it's gonna be a nice teasing material for him to use against Ryoma in the future (He might still be a little bitter for getting beaten by his barely seven years old son in the one thing he prided himself greatly in). Ryoga was just curious if his beloved Chibisuke can actually do it or not.

As it turned out, Rinko's worry were unfounded, Nanjiroh's plan was ruined (again), and Ryoga was delighted because the food they ate that night was probably the best they have ever eaten. Since then Ryoma have taken charge of the household's kitchen.

Then Ryoma asked if he can help one of the servant in cleaning the house. The same pattern were repeated, with Rinko's worry turning out to be unfounded and Nanjiroh's plan to get teasing material folded by an unexpectedly competent Ryoma. Since then Ryoma have taken charge of the task of cleaning the house.

Nanjiroh had teased him, saying that Ryoma will become a perfect housewife in the future. Ryoma just shrugged in response. (He have heard the same thing from Rin enough time that he stopped caring, really)

Stranger

It wasn't his family that Ryoma told of his past life first, it was a stranger. Well, not exactly a stranger, it was Fuji's older sister, so not exactly a stranger. But they never really met before, so Ryoma decided to count her a stranger.

"You're an old soul." Yumiko Fuji said in a tone that clearly says that she's making a statement and not a question.

Ryoma shrugged. "Maybe I am."

"Maybe you want to talk about it over a coffee?" Yumiko offered, walking toward the kitchen.

Ryoma expected many things when he accepted Syusuke's offer to come to his house after practice ended, but being offered coffee by Syusuke's older sister so they can talk about his previous life isn't one of those.

"I prefers tea."

Scouted

It was definitely Ryoga's fault that he ended up joining Seishun Gakuen's tennis club.

Ryoma have specifically told his older brother that by no means was he interested in playing tennis outside of the court behind their house and Nanjiroh seemed to be content with letting Ryoma do whatever he wanted ever since he beats Nanjiroh five years previously. Not to mention Ryoga have already fulfilled Nanjiroh's dream of seeing his old almamater become the champion of Japan just one year previously.

He's already part of a nearby Kendo dojo and have signed up for the Kyuudo club after all. (Ryoma's not above admitting to himself that there were things from his past life that he's not willing to let go. Archery and swordsmanship are two of those)

So, by all means, there's no reason for Ryoma to have to join the Tennis Club, which clearly were doing more than fine without him, and no reason for Ryoga to tell the club that he can play tennis. Yet Ryoga did anyway.

And there he was, standing inside a court, wishing that he could be literally anywhere else in the world, just not in a tennis court across an overly excitable tennis player whose name he couldn't remember. (He latter learned that his name was Momoshiro)

When the bespectacled captain of the club told him that he's going to join a Ranking Tournament to determine whether he'll become a regular or not, Ryoma was reminded that he's a sucker for people who tell him that they need his help.

(Genicihiro and Seiichi called him a traitor, and honestly, Ryoma couldn't really say anything to defend himself)

A/N: How the hell did I came up with this, I have no idea. Nor do I have any idea on where I'm taking this to, but hopefully somewhere nice. Also, Ryoma was already friend with Sanada and Yukimura before joining Seigaku. Hmm, wonder how that happened (It's pretty obvious how, but guess anyway).