One Nil to You (A Prince of Tennis Fanfiction)

Chapter 9

Note: In this chapter, we will go back to the past on how it all began, and Artur & Misuzu (Juri's parents) are the main stars here. 

August 2, 2012

Schönsommer Mansion — Sunroom

Morning

While enjoying the warm sunshine that had splashed inside the room and a glass of iced green tea, Misuzu's eyes were filled with such nostalgia as she flipped the pages of the photo album in her hands. The album was very special that she always brought it with her wherever she and her family traveled to despite Artur kept complaining that wasn't it boring her since she kept looking at it almost every year.

"Mother..." Yuki and Aki came inside wearing their PE kits and carrying tennis rackets.

"What is it?" Misuzu asked, closing the album.

"We want to play some tennis." Yuki replied.

"We want to play with Juri-neechan." Aki said.

Misuzu shook her head. "Your sister's sick right now, she can't play."

Upstairs in her apartments, Juri, who would normally spend her day in the training compound, was lying in her canopied bed with such wanness all over her face.

"Are you alright now, milady?" Bernard asked worriedly.

Juri gave a weak nod while caressing her abdomen and pelvis that had been in this morning as if it was being violently twisted. The medicine she just took began to ease the pain, though she wished it would be faster.

"I always forget that my periods are in the first week of the month, I was lucky that I got skipped in July, and I always have these cramps to deal with..." she grumbled while keeping the ice pack on her head balanced. "I just hate this goddamn day... Damn it!"

"Milady, watch your words." Yorie told her.

"I can't watch my words when my head is boiling." Juri countered.

"It's rather churning than boiling this time, milady, perhaps this is the result of the special training?" Bernard asked, his voice had a pinch of joshing. "Or... Perhaps it's because you can't fly to Germany with Seigaku to see Young Master Kunimitsu?"

Juri suddenly groped out wildly toward the bedside table. Her fingers closed on the small vase of leonidas roses and threw it at her butler.

"Get out!" she screamed and reached for something else to throw at him.

Bernard dodged as Juri lobbed a paperback book at him. "Milady—"

Yorie quickly pushed the butler aside and stopped Juri's arm from firing the Rococo lamp. "Milady, please calm yourself," she begged before signaling Bernard to leave.

Heaving out a heavy sigh, Juri slumped back to the pillows as Yorie placed back the lamp and poured the young lady a glass of water.

"Thank you..." Juri said. "I can't afford to have Kunimitsu or anyone near me as I am right now since I am indeed churning."

"It seems Bernard-san forgot that your temper skyrockets to the limits of the heavens at times like these, milady." Yorie said gently as she can not to arouse Juri's temper. "Perhaps you should lessen the extremeness in your trainings."

Juri shook her head. "I can't... The person who could defeat me is just out there."

"Milady..." Yorie placed the ice pack on Juri's head once more.