Sensual Phrase Fan Fiction / Red River Fan Fiction / Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction ❯ 4 People 8 Problems ❯ Chapter 1

Hey! Thanks for choosing to read this story! It was inspired by four people, and written mainly by m_nakita01 and Kiara3rayerayepoo. Each one of the four us is represented by an original character in this crossover of Red River, Sensual Phrase, Prince of Tennis, MeruPuri, and Ceres. We'll try to update as often as possible. Enjoy!

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" 'The Art of Love by... aw-vid'? What is this junk?" The feisty red-head would've tossed the book aside if Miyori hadn't been glaring already.

"Well, at least not all of your reading skills are lost." She gingerly removed the slim black book from Rachel's grasp. "It's pronounced 'O-vid', and this is a classic."

"Sure." Rachel snorted… "In what country?"

"Greece."

Rachel sent a devilish smirk her way before uttering between her teeth, "Then what the hell is it doing here in Tokyo,Japan?! Honestly, Miyorfreak! What are you gonna do about this mess?!" Miyori looked around at the several - but neatly stacked - piles of books that covered the entire table at the center of the penthouse.

"I definitely don't see what you mean by 'mess'..." She nonchalantly took up her pen and scribbled something down in the notebook before her. Rachel glared, sucked her teeth, and hastily shoved the nearest pile of books away, causing it to collide with another stack, sending about half-a-dozen volumes tumbling down.

"Oops." The sound was at least half-hearted as Rachel pulled up a chair for herself, plopped down on it, and put her feet up on the recently-cleared table space. She quickly stuck in her ear phones before Miyori could say a word.

The older black-haired woman sighed, shaking her head as Rachel's music, obviously on full blast, could be heard from where she sat. Miyori glanced at the clock; 9:32 pm. Kiara and Mayuki would be home soon, and hopefully Rachel would find someone else to bother. It was no use studying when Rachel herself could force her out of her element just by being that close... it was extremely annoying.

And she didn't have to ask to know that Rachel felt the exact same way. Her green eyes twinkled as she thought about just how pissed Miyori would get if she started singing... Maybe not today, though. The other girls who shared the penthouse with them - two other best friends - would be back any minute, and she had other plans for tonight.

Ding, dong. Speak of the devil. Rachel yanked out the earphones without even turning off the iTouch and scurried to the door, wondering why they didn't just open the door themselves. Miyori thanked the gods in silence.

"We forgot our keys." Kiara supplied sheepishly as Rachel opened the door. Then she looked down at the load of brown grocery bags in her arms. "Besides, we wouldn't have been able to open the door with our hands full." Rachel's brow quirked up and she took a couple of the bags without a word. Miyori looked up to acknowledge them, but otherwise resumed her work, not knowing how long the current advantage would last.

"Did you get the stuff?" Rachel asked when they were in the kitchen. She was already rummaging through the bags, half-disappointed when she couldn't find what she had asked them to buy for her.

"You mean the shelf-load of condiments we had to buy with our own money?" Mayuki asked. "Yeah, it's in this bag." She put it down on the table where Rachel was.

"Thank you!" She smiled as though told she had been bought the rarest gems from a faraway planet, and then pulled out a loaf of bread to start making herself a sandwich. The rare, childish happiness and focus on her face as she prepared herself a snack was enough to make Kiara suspicious.

"What, there wasn't any food in the fridge before we left?" Kiara stared at her wide-eyed and open-mouthed, while Mayuki shot a narrow glimpse at the large, white refrigerator doors.

"Yeah, but not nearly enough." Rachel licked the ketchup off her finger, savoring the taste. "Plus Miyorfreak has a whole bunch of vegetarian stuff in there." She made a face, then stopped her movements all at once, her expression changing. "Oh, by the way, would you guys mind going out tonight? I've been in the house with the Freak for a while now; I need to have at least some fun."

"Tonight?" Mayuki asked. "Are you bringing Ramses?"

"Of course." No one missed the mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she thought about him. Then she was back to reality; "But you guys have to come too." Then she looked quickly from left to right, as though about to tell a secret. She leaned in closer to them and lowered her voice. "Um, if you don't mind, I'd feel better if you wouldn't tell her about this."

"Who? Miyori?" Mayuki said extra loudly so said person would hear.

"Great. Way to kill the mood." Rachel narrowed her eyes and turned back to her sandwich, her face glum before her eyes fell on the half-done feast before her. She was back to happy hour in no time. Kiara and Mayuki exchanged glances, shrugging before leaving the kitchen.

Kiara headed toward the mahogany table where Miyori was hard at work. "Hey, Yori, did you"--

"Yeah, I heard." She removed her non-prescription glasses and stared up at her for a second. "But Rachel might have her way after all; I'm not going."

"WHAT?! Why not?" The younger woman's blue eyes dimmed as she pouted. "You always come with us."

"True, but I don't see why; I can't have much fun if I know I'll end up alone anyhow." Though the words were sad, her expression remained stoic, her gaze lowering to her studies before returning to Kiara's sympathetic expression. "I don't want pity either, Nana."

"No, not pity... I was just thinking..." Yori braced herself for the onslaught of words that would exit Nana's mouth in the next couple seconds; "I know this guy who knows this guy who knows this guy who knows this guy who knows this guy who knows this guy who knows this guy who knows this guy who knows this guy who knows this guy who knows this guy who knows this guy, who knows this guy's sister"--

"Would you spit it out already?!" Rachel appeared suddenly with an irritated expression, annoyed that she couldn't enjoy her sandwich without hearing the nonstop noise from what sounded like a stuck record (And the last bit of that sandwich, by the way, was being swallowed as she confronted them). "Who knows this guy, who knows this guy?!" She mimicked with pinched lips, her gestures coming close to mad rage.

"I think a few deep breaths would do you good." Yori didn't seem at all fazed by this charade. "Your reaction is simply an outcome of the accumulated pressure you feel from me, I suppose?" She looked over her as though looking over one of her patients, but didn't wait for an answer before continuing, "It could also be that you desire more attention..."

If Rachel's green but red-hot gaze could spit out fire, the whole 62 stories of the hotel would have been reduced to ashes. "Enough of your psychological yip-yapping! If I wanted to take my irritation out on you, I could do so anytime. But I'm just better than you..." she raised a shaking finger with fiery red hair tousled on her scalp and a maddened expression on her face.

Yori stared at her calmly for a few seconds. "...I see...Well, Nana, if my reasons were insufficient, this...thing right next to you should be all the excuse needed."

"Thing?! THING?! Freak, I'm gonna kill"---

"Um, guys, can we just chill for a sec?" Kiara intervened, her gaze uneasy as she tried to calm her friends down.

Rachel, already ready to pounce on her nemesis, narrowed her eyes at Kiara, and then exhaled forcefully, unwillingly unclenching her fists, and with a "Hn", she stomped away, back to her sanctuary.

"You guys really need to work things out between you two." Nana told Yori with a concerned look.

"Nah," she replied with a smile, picking up a book again, and burying her nose behind it. "That'd be too much work."

Nana chuckled. "You're probably right.... But you still have to come with us."

"Nana..." Yori put down her book; the girl was relentless.

"Wait -- just hear me out!" When Yori paused for just a millisec, she continued, "Fuji has a friend, who is awesome..." Yori gave an inquisitive look at Nana's look of admiration, then she realized what she must be thinking, and added hastily, "For you, I mean. He's"- she started to count out his qualities on her fingers-"Tall, with long dark hair--very muscular. Plus he has a sexy face. And if that's not enough, his personality is just...wow. He's mature and smart; I can't even explain it --- he's just perfect for you."

"Well, the way you're describing him, you'd think you've been thinking about him a lot lately." Yori raised an eyebrow.

"Remember that I'm describing him like this for your sake. Fuji's way more than enough for me now." She couldn't hide the blush. "And besides, he'd kill me." They chuckled together.

"Okay, I get it, but... I don't have anything to wear."

"Are you kidding me?! Your closet takes up, like, half your room, child!"

"Don't exaggerate. I've worn all of those already; they're so last summer."

"This is exactly why I can't stand her!" They both were surprised to hear Rachel shout from her room, her mouth undoubtedly full with some food of sorts.

"Shut up!" Yori shouted back, then smiled at Nana as though nothing had happened.

"Well, though you're being absolutely irrational..." She twirled a short blue-highlighted strand from the rest of her highlighted, brown, knee-length hair as ideas buzzed around her head, "We could always go shopping beforehand..."