Five rackets and a hood (A Prince of Tennis FanFic)

Chapter 4: Serious Play

Momoshiro's POV

Yea, I asked Suzuki to play serious but I wasn't expecting him to go all ballistic on me. As soon as the words left my mouth, his face changed into something scary. I could see his movements become faster and his play started to escalate. I was completely playing at his pace. His strange racket and Conductor Serve, as he dubbed it, looked like it was shaking even though the brunet stood absolutely still.

I didn't know what to do. A strange feeling was creeping into my chest, something that I had felt before. It was that feeling of fear. And I wanted that fear to go back into whatever hole it had jumped out of.

"Momo-chan. Are you afraid?"

His voice floated over to me, his voice calm but his eyes filled with impish humour. Was I shaking? Oh, my- No, I was literally shaking like a leaf in the wind. It felt like this force was trying to eat me, take my soul and mold it into nothing but clay. I could see it! A beast lurking above me, chains draped along its scaley skin, clanking softly. Drops of saliva landed around me, hungry for a meal.

Purple smoke seemed to appear from nowhere, obscuring everybody else and everything. Pitch black overtook me, the beast growling. Fangs protruded from its lips, red eyes pupil-less and cruel. The horns arched from its head, curling menacingly. I couldn't speak, my eyes wide. I couldn't move.

I'm numb.

Suzuki's POV

Perfect! Momo-chan stood frozen on the other side of the court, his face a master piece of fear.

"Well, I didn't think Lucifer's Sonet would effect you Momo." I flipped my racket, holding over my shoulder "But I stand corrected."

I took care to turn off my racket, making my way off the court. Everyone else stood, looking at Momoshiro before they rushed over to his aid but no matter how much they called his name or shook him, he was frozen in fear. The aftermath earned me quite a few enemies and a numbed Momoshiro in the infirmary but that just made everything more fun.

Hopefully, everyone else would be done with there matches but knowing them, Misaki had done something stupid already and I bet Junpei ticked out.

Junpei's POV

Why must everyone think of me as a ghost? Presence just was not my forte yet nobody ever noticed me. Jun and I stood off to the side of a court, holding hands so nobody saw us. Watching first then deciding was how I did things. Reading strengths such as dominant hand, favorite side and such but weaknesses were my favorite. Old injuries, least favorite side, faults in training. Learning on the ugly parts of people was always fun.

"Aniki. Let's play them."

Jun jolted me awake as I followed his gaze over to the doubles match and the two players, both from Hyoutei. To add on, I even knew the two. Jun and I had watched there matches and from my point of view they sucked.

Whatever, we were bored anyway.

Sai's POV

Sleeping soon became dull as my scarlet eyes fluttered open. Silence had developed through the room like dust until that dust was disrupted by the sudden rushing of footsteps. Before I could even sit up, the door was flung open, two people quickly pushed through, the smaller one supporting the taller one with his shoulders. The taller one, though, looked as if he had just gone to hell.

The short one settled the tall boy onto the bed, allowing him to sink into his bed comfortably. I sat and stared before the short one eventually realized I was there. His caramel gaze glanced over his shoulders to look at me before going back to his friend who had long fallen into a fretful sleep.

"S'cuse me? But who are you?" I asked bluntly, sitting up and yawning.

The short boy hesitated before speaking "Echizen Ryouma. He's Momoshiro Takeshi."

"Sai"

Ryouma's eyes seemed to glitter, interested, before settling back on Momoshiro.

"Sai what?"

"Sai as in Sai. Problem?" I know, I'm quick to snap but he was asking for it.

Ryouma did not respond, instead standing up and strolling up to me casually. He wasn't much taller than me, maybe only a few centimeters but we were just about the same, five foot one. His black hair had a navy hue to it which blended nicely with his melted caramel eyes and pale skin. A cap adorned his head and he a rather cold look to his face; Someone who more or less disliked talking and such.

".....Are you the transfer?" He asked casually, not seeming interested or bored.

He took a seat on one of the four desk chairs seated about the room, looking at me while not looking at me.

"Yes." Short and simple answers first so I can figure him out more.

"From where?"

"........." I hesitated, unsure of what he was expecting and unsure on whether to speak the truth. I noticed his eyes narrow mildly, in a amused manner.

"I'm from Russia. Moscow, Russia."

His eyes seemed very interested now.

"Really?" His voice was obvious mocking as he relaxed into his chair, looking away from me. Now a bored look took on his face.

What was wrong with him?! First he seem interested then amused and now bored! I don't think I'm a comedian for him to react to whatever I say.

" Конечно! Вы дурак! Я говорю, владеет русским и японский!"

His eyes shot at me, a bit taken aback by my sudden outburst. I hadn't meant for it to come out that mean sounding but I currently wasn't in the mood to deal with his bipolar attitude it seemed. And the kind of people I hated the most were ones like him.

"What did you say?" He asked, surprise trimming his voice.

"You'd rather not know." I spoke, snappy. Crossing my arms, I sat on the edge of my bed, turning my gaze a different direction, anywhere but Ryouma.

Silence began to creep up again, something I actually embraced. Ryouma seemed content with silence as well. Momoshiro, on the other hand, mumbled something in his sleep now and then. A certain mumble caught my attention though, my curiosity piqued. I stood up, making my way over to the edge of Momoshiro's bed and leaning over, my ear near his mouth to hear better.

"Hey, what'ere you do-" Ryouma started but I swiftly silenced him with a bloody glare.

He grimaced but kept quiet. Now with silence, I listened to Momoshiro.

"......L......Lu.........Ifer.......Uci"

No use.

The words were broken up and jumbled but I began to process the small phrases and letters through my mind.

L, Lu, Ifer, Uci

Lu, Ifer, Uci

Luiferuci

Luuciifer

Lucifer

Lucifer! No way! It couldn't be! The one word that I dreaded. It held many bad memories better left buried in my mind but just the sound of it was shocking. Lucifer should have only-

Unless........'They' were here? Did they follow me? No, not possible. They had left five years before me to some place.

So the real question was how did a normal tennis-player know of 'Lucifer'?

Hello~ Sorry for the really late updates everybody so I left you with a cliffhanger that I think you'll like. Promise, the next chapter will be MUCH longer! Remember read and vote for my other books.

Estimate opening of Virgo Syndrome is October fourth.