A/N: hello everyone! I'm back! I'm so sorry for the very late chapter! I know it's been years, and I apologize. I hadn't had much time and motivation to write stories in a while since I was caught up with my studies so I am a bit rusty on this, hahahaha. Since I have some time now, I plan to continue this stories so I hope you continue to support this story and my other stories as well. I had to rewrite this chapter a few times and change some of my plot line because of it since a lot seemed not to go the way I want it to be, or what I think I plan this story to go to. Don't worry though, the next chapter may be posted in a few days/weeks or so, so stay tuned for that. Anyways, enough of my ramblings! Enjoy~!

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of tennis, though I own any OCs that may arise in this story.

Warnings: OOC-ness, and the likes.

'Hello'- thought

'Hello'- Ryoma speaking

"Hello"- normal conversation

"Hello"- flashback/ memory

CHAPTER 1

She woke up to someone gently shaking her. Opening her eyes, she met with ones similar to her own.

"Wake up, Chibisuke, we're here already." Nodding, she stretched a bit, before she got off the car, just as they finished the last of their luggage down. She looked in front of her to see a big house, in a style similar to their house in America, only a bit wider and with the obvious Japanese accents. She could make out the temple situated on the bit far back, whom she knew asked a favor to their father.

Carrying some of her bags inside, she looked around, as she set down her other bags and letting Karupin out. It had taken them a few more runs outside before they all settled out on the living room, the sliding door to the outside opened, letting the wind in. Nanako had served them some refreshments and snacks as they rested for a bit. Nanako noticed her youngest cousin to be dosing off.

"Ryoma-chan, you can go rest up at your room for a while. We'll finish up some unpacking. I'll bring your things there later." Feeling drowsy, she nodded as she trotted upstairs, her cat following her.

"She hadn't had some decent sleep the week before we came here." She heard her cousin, Ryoga, say, as he drank his orange juice. He didn't elaborate it further but it seemed that Nanako had understood. Nanjiroh merely kept silent, as he sipped his own drink. Suddenly, Ryoga stood up.

"Let me start bringing some of the things upstairs."

It had been a few more hours later when she was once again waken up, this time by Nanako to inform her that dinner is almost ready. With a nod, she got herself up and headed towards the bathroom, wanting a quick shower to wake herself up a bit.

As soon as everyone gathered, they ate. It was a silent affair at first until it was broken off by Ryoga trying to steal some of Ryoma's food, and with the latter glaring as she continued to look at his attempts. There had also been small talks around them, ranging from Nanako's university studies which would actually start in a few weeks to the high school admission of Ryoga and Ryoma entering Nanjiroh's old junior high Alma mater, Seigaku, which would start a month from now. The family had intended that they come here a month early, not just to adjust (Ryoga and Ryoma) but also to re-acquaint (Nanjiroh).

The next day, Nanako had set out to show the siblings around, from the local shops arcades and the likes. For lunch, they stopped by a local burger shop where a lot frequent to. They then saw someone enter the shop using blue and white jerseys and long jogging pants, carrying tennis bags, Seigaku proudly sewn on their jackets. Ryoma and Ryoga eyed them in interest, where the two who entered went immediately in front, to order food.

"Oh, Chibisuke, look, they seem to go to your school and in the tennis club. They must be decently skilled, if their jersey jackets indicate something." She merely continued eating her burger, nodding, and both older cousins shared eye contact and nodded, Ryoga in particular with a small frown on his face. They could still hear them talking a few table away, chatting merrily. She continued to ignore it.

They continued sight-seeing, going to a few more stops, and ending to the nearby park. Ryoga wanted to look through the sports store they've passed through and Nanako had gotten them some drinks. So, Ryoma was left on the nearby bench a few meters away from the local tennis court, where she could see some people there, playing or cheering. She looked at it in indifference, not wanting anything else to think for a while. Bored, she brought out her pen and paper on her small bag, which she always carries ever since that time.

For a few minutes, she seem to have been so absorbed in her doing that she was startled when a can of grape ponta came into view. She looked up to see Nanako smiling at her, a hand out with the ponta on it. She grabbed it, thanking her and she opened the can. A smile appeared as her intake of the familiar drink. Nanako looked towards the small pad on her cousin's lap and gasped a bit.

"Wow, Ryoma-chan! That's amazing." It was rough sketches but she could make out the outlines of the park they were in.

'Thank you, Nanako-nee-san.' She replied as she set down her drink and continued to draw. Nanako sat next to her, silently looking at her from the corner of her eyes as she looked around, and seeing the tennis match happening just a few meters from them.

"Oh, there's a match there. Why don't we take a look, ne, chibisuke?" They saw Ryoga in front of them, a large grin in his face, and a paper bag in his left arm. Before she could ever protest, her brother grabbed her arm and dragged her nearer. She could hear the familiar sound of ball being hit louder than from where she was a while ago. Suddenly, her eyes were drawn to the match, although it still looked as if she was disinterested. Ryoga, on the other hand, looked at his sister beside him, half of his attention on the court.

"Neh, Chibisuke, who do you think would win?" he asked her, as he could see her somewhat analyzing the game.

'The right pair. They're much more fluid and they cooperate better than the other pair.' She answered as he nodded. Suddenly, he felt her tugging his arm.

'Let's go, Aniki. It's late and I wanted to rest before dinner.' Not wanting to argue, seeing as she seemed to have tensed a bit, he agreed as they went back to where Nanako was, just a few from them as they went back home.

This had been a bit of their routine the whole week. They'd go out for a while, sometimes Ryoga dragging Ryoma around, especially to the parks or just the local tennis courts and centers. After that, they sometimes just laze around the house as Nanako had started her first term in university. Ryoma would be seen either drawing or reading books, and sometimes playing her violin in the yard while Ryoga would sometimes be seen playing a game or two with their father, or brushing on their Japanese and reading some of the books that got his interest.

On one weekend, Ryoga went to Ryoma's room, a mischievous smile on his face.

"CHIBISUKE, WAKE UP!" the startled girl, sat immediately, her eyes wide as she looked around before landing to her brother, who immediately fled the room. She clench her fists, stomping the urge to go after him and give a punch or two. After a few minutes or so, deeming that sleeping is not an excuse any longer, she got out of bed and got ready for the day.

'Good morning.' She signed as she looked around the room.

"Ah, Ryoma-san, good morning. Here's your breakfast." Seeing it was a Japanese one, she smiled before taking her seat and eating. Nanjiroh, who sat across her just looked at her in amusement before drinking his coffee as he skimmed through the newspaper, although the muffled giggling could tell you otherwise. They merely ignored him today.

"So, what's your plan, brats?" he asked, seemingly uninterested. Ryoga smiled widely.

"Well, I saw a local tennis tournament and signed up. I thought of bringing Ryoma along." He said nonchalantly and their nodded just nodded absentmindedly, inwardly agreeing to what Ryoga said. Nanako sighed but a small smile appeared on her face.

"Good luck to your matches, Ryoga-san!" Nanako cheered as he replied with a grin and a thank you. Ryoma just sighed, not even protesting as she knew anything she'd do would be futile. They were both stubborn after all, a characteristic they all shared with their father.

Ryoga smiled as he dragged his sister towards the registration booth, tennis bag on his person.

"Come on Chibisuke, I don't want to be late!" he said, smiling all the way. As soon as Ryoga entered his name, Ryoma looked around. Various people stood there, some in groups of two or more, some seemingly alone. Some of them seemed to be in hushed conversations, although her ears perked when she heard someone talk about the 'prince's retirement' and whatnot. Before she could hear them further, Ryoga caught her and guided her towards his first match.

This is going to be a long day.

Somewhere…

"Obaa-san! You're too late!" one young girl with long brown braids said as her grandmother came to view.

"Huh? What's the rush Sakuno?" the girl, Sakuno, just sighed at her grandmother's antics as they made their way towards the tennis park, where a tournament is held.

"Anyways, what are we really doing here obaa-san?" she asked. Her grandmother stopped walking as she turned and smiled.

"Just checking the matches around, and it feels like something's bound to be interesting." She said as they continued their way around, her grandmother walked around, who seemed to be looking for something, or someone.

Ryoma looked at match per match, with Ryoga winning each one easily. Feeling thirsty, she went to inform her brother about it, who nodded, and asked her a drink back when she returns which she rolled her eyes on and nodded.

It was sometime when, she found one and got herself and Ryoga something to drink. Placing the drink in her small bag, she slowly made her way towards the court, hoping he was still there.

Suddenly, seemingly distracted, she didn't notice anything until she bumped into someone.

"Ah, I'm so sorry. Are you alright?" she looked at the young girl, whom she assumed to be the same age as her in front, a hand outstretched. Nodding, she reached out as the other girl pulled her back up. Dusting the nonexistent dust in their clothes. She heard the other girl bow and apologize once again. Sighing, she signed her reply. It took her a few blinks to realize the other girl was confused. She brought out her pen and paper and wrote something before handing it to her.

'It's alright. Sorry.'

"Ah, it's alright. Hahahahaha." She replied, laughing nervously. "I'm Sakuno. Ryuzaki Sakuno. I'm really sorry for bumping into you." After a few more scribbles, she was handed another note.

'Ryoma. Echizen Ryoma. Nice to meet you.' She said.

"Anyways, what are you doing here Echizen-chan?" she asked.

'Ryoma. I'm not that versed with this things. And I'm here with my brother.'

"Then call me Sakuno as well Ryoma-chan. I got separated with my grandmother a few minutes ago. I hope you don't mind me following you for a while?" she shrugged as she ushered her with her towards the nearby court, where an older male, who resembles the girl beside her was sitting on a bench. When he caught sight of them, he waved his hand and Sakuno could visibly hear Ryoma sigh beside her. She smiled.

Ryoma, on the other hand, sighed at her brother's antic as they made their way towards him and her handing him the drink.

"Thanks, Chibisuke. Now, who's your friend here?"

"I'm Sakuno. Ryuzaki Sakuno. Nice to meet you, um…"

"Ryoga. Echizen Ryoga, this chibi's older brother." He introduced as he removed her sister's cap and ruffled her hair, which made her scowl. Sakuno giggled at the sibling's antics.

Seeing as there was still time before Ryoga's next match, the three sat together and talked a bit (Ryoga mostly, as he talked about just anything, Sakuno speaking bits and pieces in between as Ryoma was silent, just listening in on their conversation.)

The matches resumed after lunch, as Ryoga breezed through the competition.

"Wow, your brother is so good, ne, Ryoma-chan?" looking at the girl beside her, she was worried when she didn't respond for a while. When she did garner her attention once again, she had seen something flicker in those eyes but they were gone as fast, which made her question if it was just some sort of her imagination.

'Sorry.' She merely nodded at her, as they continued to look at the matches in front of them.

"Congratulations, Ryoga-nii-san!" Sakuno said, at the insistence of Ryoga, as he was given a golden medal, signifying his win. He grinned widely as he accepted the thanks and went towards his sister, who was leaning against the wire fence.

"Congratulation to you, young man." They turned to see Sakuno's grandmother there, a smile in her face.

"Obaa-san!" she said as she went towards her. The older lady just smiled at her granddaughter as she eyed the siblings, seemingly in thought as they recall where they seemed to know her from, although it was a hint with how Sakuno had called her grandma, and the Ryuzaki family name.

"Ah, your Oyaji's old coach. Sumire Ryuzaki-san, right?" it was Ryoga who asked. She nodded as Sakuno looked confused. With an 'I'll tell you later look' towards her, she looked back at the siblings in front of her.

"So, how's he?" she asked.

"Still the same old, perverted man." She scoffed at that, not resisting a smirk on her face.

"You must be his spawns, Ryoga and Ryoma, right?" both nodded. And they conversed for a bit. After a while, they looked to see it was almost mid-afternoon.

"Anyways, it was nice meeting you two. See you in school Ryoma, and you too, Ryoga." And saying their farewells, they separate ways.

"So, that's oyaji's old coach, huh?" Ryoga said, as they walked home.

.

"I remembered oyaji saying that if we ever met you to tell you he found another bigger dream, whatever that meant." Sumire raised a brow at that before understanding settled in as she looked at them.

"Oh?" A smile plastered on her face as she looked at both of them. "That, he did."

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