A/N: I know - it's been a whole year! (wince) Just...Just all my apologies. Even though the reviews were awesome and you guys are so fantastic! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.

Warnings: Ditto the last chapter.

Pairings: I regret both everything and nothing!

-It gets crazy. For everyone.

-End results: OT3 (tezuFujiRyo), Golden, InuKai, MomoAn...

Chapter Two

Alliance

Waking up at the crack of dawn was a routine Kaidoh was not willing to give up, the last tie to his former lifestyle he could afford to keep. He was careful not to make too much noise as he changed, although it was a superfluous endeavor considering the volume of Momo's snores; undoubtedly Kawamura and Inui next door could hear the symphony. Kaidoh's eye ticked in irritation but he let his temper slide, stepping out the door and down the stairs.

The Kaidoh family were unfortunate. Summarily, it was a series of unavoidable events that landed Kaoru in this farce of a deadly roleplay. His father had been struck in a car accident that had pulled his overwrought mother into debt. She had done her best to pay them off but there was only so much money a supermarket employee could make, especially with two boys still in school. Kaoru hadn't planned on going to high school but his mother had made a convincing argument on continuing, even if the dream had been short-lived. Kaoru had few consolations: with the debt cleared and one less person to care for, his mother could give his younger brother Hazue everything their small family had been lacking. Hazue was a good boy, a responsible child - Kaoru didn't need to worry about them. He just needed to make sure he kept up his end of the bargain.

"Where are you going?"

Kaidoh hadn't managed more than a couple steps out the door before he was interrupted. The interloper wasn't accusative or even particularly aggressive, sounding more curious than anything else. Kaidoh turned, spotting the two figures reclined on the front porch side-by-side, eyeing him with matching looks of boredom. They were younger than Kaidoh, looking to be Ryoma's age - his friends? - and dressed in casual streetwear. Despite the stark differences in hairstyles - one had chin-length magenta hair with a single purple streak, the other with longer dark blue hair tied up into a ponytail - they had identical faces.

Kaidoh didn't take to the fact that he was being questioned (rather rudely) by a couple of brats, but their presence at this house meant they had some sort of connection to the yakuza. Were they friends of Ryoma's, kids of other yakuza members…? They were too young to be actively involved but they certainly didn't look surprised by a stranger coming out of their supposed friend's house at this ungodly hour, let alone to actually lounge on their friend's front porch without acknowledgement. So not completely innocent - but what did that mean?

"On a run," Kaidoh finally answered.

The magenta-haired twin cocked a smirk, "Running?"

The boy said it in a way that was almost mocking. Kaidoh glared down at the pair but this only had the effect of causing both boys to smirk at him. If they weren't so small and young, Kaidoh could concede he would have felt intimidated. However, there was a certain sense of ridiculousness in being scared of a couple of colorful elementary school kids that overrode his basic instincts.

"Just around the neighborhood," Kaidoh grunted out in annoyance.

Both boys cocked their heads in opposite directions. Kaidoh wondered if all twins were this creepy.

"An excellent idea. Keeping us cooped up in a house would be detrimental."

Kaidoh was the only one startled by the interjection, which was especially surprising considering the twins had their backs to the door. Inui was standing in the doorway, wearing green sweatpants and a plain white T-shirt. The older boy adjusted his glasses as he moved past the silent twins, coming to a stop beside Kaidoh and laying a gentle hand on the other male's shoulder.

The twins considered this, glancing at each other in a silent conversation.

"Are you Ryoma's friends?" Inui asked.

One snorted, the other grinned.

"We're Tanaka," the magenta-haired boy said.

No other introduction was forthcoming. The Tanaka twins looked at each other before the blue-haired one pulled out a cellphone and jotted down a quick text message. The other leaned his head against his brother's shoulder and adopted a bored expression, waving the older pair off in a clear dismissal. Kaidoh twitched, affronted, but Inui had already begun to lead him away with a steely hand still on his shoulder.

As soon as they were out of the main gate, Kaidoh shook off Inui's hold with a scowl. "What the hell was that about?" Kaidoh demanded, squashing down on the rather strong urge to apologize for his rudeness to the older boy.

Inui's bland expression did not change, "There was an 85 percent chance they were carrying weapons. It would do you well not to antagonize them."

"I could take them," Kaidoh muttered. Maybe.

Inui adjusted his glasses again, making Kaidoh wonder if it was merely a gesture of thought or habit. He didn't know the bespectacled boy well - although to be fair, he didn't know any of the boys well - but he was around him enough to see that Inui was some kind of mathematical and science genius. A socially-awkward one as well, as any discussion on topics such as hobbies or relationships had been inundated with percentages and charts.

"You have noticed the atmosphere of our mutual situation," Inui started. His tone was nothing but the epitome of cold professionalism but Kaidoh thought he could detect a hint of a condescending inquiry. He nodded and bit back a snappish retort, even as Inui continued.

"Given our individual attributes and shared goal, I believe you and I could work well together," the older boy stated. "You are comfortable with the sibling dynamic and I am uncannily observant. If we were to work together, we could both become...what we need to be."

Kaidoh frowned, "...so like allies?"

A nod. "It would be beneficial for both of us."

Kaidoh let out a thoughtful hiss, lips marred by a frown. "Why me, then?" he asked. "Most of the others had siblings, too. Even that peach-idiot would have been fine."

Inui turned to look at him. Even with his glasses obscuring the visibility of his eyes, Kaidoh felt the expression was almost thoughtful.

"You're patient when it matters and willing to listen," Inui explained. "I've compiled a 12-page report on the pros and cons of all five of you and our compatibility percentages, if you would like to read it?"

Kaidoh blushed at 'compatibility' and resolutely looked away. "No thank you. But… Working together is fine," he hissed out uncomfortably.

Inui nodded in acceptance, turning to look back straight ahead. "You're also very honest, Kaoru-kun. That was the decisive factor for me."

Inui started to jog ahead, leaving Kaidoh wide-eyed behind him.

"W-Wait!" Kaidoh choked out. "Honest? What does that mean-?"

Inui didn't turn around, lips quirking up in a smirk.

"That you're trapped in a den of liars."

By the time both Kaidoh and Inui had returned from their morning jog, the Tanaka twins had gone and the rest of the house had woken up, for the most part. It was nearing nine a.m. now and a rather silent battle was being waged at the foot of the stairs. The older boys were eyeing each other critically, all unwilling to be the one to wake Ryoma up. Surely being the wake-up call could only build up into natural dislike? The same way people grew to hate the sound of their alarm clocks?

"Mitsu-nii is the oldest," Momo pointed out with a grin, tone mocking.

Tezuka, had he been inclined to actually showing emotion, would have scowled. "Then as the oldest, I'm telling you - the youngest of us - to wake him up," he bit out monotonously.

Momo frowned. Fuji started giggling, ignoring the wary looks being thrown around by both Oishi and Kawamura. In an interesting (to certain people) turn of events, Inui had cited both himself and Kaidoh as being unfit for wake-up duty as neither made good authority figures, evident by Inui's many, many graphs and charts.

Kikumaru let out a huff of air in frustration, red bangs fluttering, "Why don't you just do it, 'Mitsu-nii? Isn't that the duty of the oldest? That's what my older sister always used to do for me, nya!"

"Why don't you do it then?" Kawamura pointed out, still nursing that grudge over the redhead's complaint over his curry from last night rather than any sense of aiding Tezuka. "We're all older than Ryoma, after all."

Kikumaru rolled his eyes in a clear dismissal. Kawamura glared over at him, fists clenched at his sides. Maybe he should show the redhead his skills in karate…

"M-Maybe I'll just go wake him up?" Oishi tentatively offered as the atmosphere turned downright hostile.

Tezuka relaxed minutely, "Thank you, Syuuichirou."

They had all agreed on the use of first names (or some bastardized form of it, such as "Mitsu-nii"). This would ground in the familiarity around Ryoma and impress upon him a more familial tie. Even if the elementary school student wasn't present, it was best to continue the practice so that it became habit.

As Oishi went back up the stairs, the rest of the boys dispersed among the ground floor in an obvious attempt to minimize contact with each other. Kawamura had taken up the chore of cooking once again, although he made only a simple Western breakfast of toast and scrambled eggs. Momo had deigned to help and was currently setting up the table, humming a cheerful tune as Kaidoh and Inui went back out the front to judge the dimensions of the yard. Tezuka had locked himself in the bathroom, probably just so he wouldn't have to see any of their faces for a few minutes. Fuji and Kikumaru had entered the living room, idly petting and cooing over a tolerant Karupin.

"Ka~ru~pin~!" Kikumaru drawled, scratching the mewling feline behind her ears. "You like me the best, right, nya~?"

Fuji giggled as Karupin answered with a complacent purr. Kikumaru crouched down to the cat's eye-level to better run his hands through her fur, apparently as enthralled with the pet as she was with him. Fuji, a step behind, took the opportunity to play with a few strands of the vivid red hair, carding his fingers through it with an airy touch. Slowly, he scraped his fingernails down the other boy's nape, smile growing at the sight of the pale lines now vividly highlighted into the redhead's flesh. To his credit, Kikumaru did not even flinch.

"You have soft hair, Eiji," Fuji remarked candidly.

Then one pale hand clamped down on to his wrist, the redhead's arm twisted in such a way it had no business being. Fuji found his own arm twisted painfully up and then he was bodily slammed atop the couch Karupin had just vacated, sapphire eyes open to lock with the mischievous bright blue pair. Kikumaru straddled his waist without reserve, one hand still holding Fuji's wrist in a bruising grip, the other lightly laid atop Fuji's neck in a silent and implied promise of violence.

What the hell is he, a contortionist? Fuji mused with a flash of irritation.

Kikumaru grinned down at him, looking the picture of playful innocence. "Thanks, nya! It's actually all-natural~!"

There was a definite suggestive tone to that last word. If it weren't for his disadvantageous position, Fuji would have been more amused. As it was, he painted a beguiling smile on his lips and rocked his hips upwards, a trill of excitement racing down his spine at the resulting friction.

Kikumaru's grin widened and the redhead leaned down. Fuji almost thought it was for a kiss and was just about to play coy, but the other boy halted a few centimeters before his face, smile never dimming.

"Sorry, but you're just not my type, nya~"

The hand around his throat spread, fingers brushing over his adam's apple and the grooves of nails resting against the sides of his throat. Fuji forced himself to remain calm and keep his smile on; Kikumaru was just playing with him now, he knew, and while it infuriated him to the nth degree - it was also impressive.

"That's too bad," Fuji acknowledged with a soft chuckle. "I think we could have been interesting."

Kikumaru cocked his head, the look of a curious cat speculatively eyeing something it found fascinating - and possibly tasty. "True," he agreed after a pause of consideration. "But I'm the type that needs to be spoiled, nya, and you're just too mean."

Fuji pouted, "Calling me mean was uncalled for, Eiji."

"Unyaa, but it's true!"

A soft cough drew both boys' attentions to the doorway, where Kaidoh was blushing vibrantly and looking anywhere but directly at them. "Breakfast is ready and the kid will be down soon," the younger male hissed before hastily making his getaway.

Kikumaru spent a moment blinking at the now-vacated entrance, Fuji not even bothering to adjust himself as he waited.

There's a remarkable lack of shame in this room, the brunet idly noted.

"I don't think I want to fuck you," Kikumaru started, looking back down at his captive. He paused another moment, before shrugging. "Well, okay, I might want to fuck you. But just for stress relief or something, nya."

A laugh bubbled out of Fuji's throat. "What if I wanted to fuck you?"

"That'd be okay, nya," Kikumaru decided. "But that doesn't change the fact that I know you're a crazy asshole and that you know that I am too."

Fuji thought about that. This entire encounter was turning out very differently from what he'd imagined, but he couldn't say he was disappointed; Kikumaru wasn't lackey-material, apparently, but he would make a very useful accomplice. The redhead could act and he was surprisingly adaptable to situations. His casual agreement to no-strings sex was just another bonus.

"I wanted to intimidate you since manipulation wouldn't work," Fuji admitted openly.

Kikumaru nodded, "I know."

"I still think we'd be interesting together," Fuji said. "Even if that means only in the platonic sense."

Kikumaru smiled down at him prettily, looking utterly pleased. Apparently Fuji had said the right thing, as the hand around his throat withdrew to instead brush a few strands of hair out of the brunet's eyes gently. Had Kikumaru not looked so goddamned smug, the kindness would have seemed practically genuine.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good plan, nya!" Kikumaru agreed bubbly, flipping over the top of the couch with one hand in an impressive gymnastic feat.

Fuji sat up with his patented smile, rising to his feet as he trailed behind his newfound ally.

Breakfast had been a short affair, although they'd all learned that Ryoma favored Japanese breakfasts over Western ones. (Kawamura had looked understandably depressed at fouling up even though Ryoma had only tossed out that bit of info at Inui's prodding.) Nearly an hour later found the gaggle of boys at the neighborhood supermarket, the employees of which were very intimidated by the teens who had arrived in two high-class black SUVs.

Apparently Echizen Ryoma's reputation preceded him, as the manager had eagerly greeted their group and kept throwing special deals in their direction whenever one of them looked at a product too long. The end result was a half-hour grocery trip and a hill of groceries, which Wakato - the driver for one SUV - happily took back to the house.

"Where should we go next?" Momo asked, clearly enjoying himself. They were waiting outside of the market for Wakato to come back to take them to their next destination, once they actually decided on one.

"Perhaps the electronics store?" Fuji suggested. "Computers would be good for school assignments and the like."

"Sports equipment, fsssh," Kaidoh added.

Tezuka's expression brooked no argument, "The bookstore as well."

"I wanna decorate my room too, nya!" Kikumaru interjected.

Inui was scribbling into a small notepad, "Akihabara would be best."

Destination settled, it didn't take Wakato long to return and pick up the rest of their charges. They split up according to the drawing of straws: five blue straws and four red straws. Ryoma was included as well - "This is our new family tradition," Inui explained. - and they piled into the corresponding SUVs. This kept their in-fighting down and gave them equal chance, which was possibly the only thing keeping them from outright brawling for the car Ryoma would be in.

Considering themselves doubly-lucky as the blue-straw group got in their designated car - their driver was Shinjou and they had Ryoma - the boys were in pretty high-spirits. Ryoma sat in the center backseat, sandwiched between Kaidoh and Oishi; Tezuka sat in the passenger's seat like the authority figure of their little troupe, with Kajimoto and Momo taking up the middle seat.

"Oh, don't we need to stop by the pet clinic for Karupin's arthritis meds?" Oishi remembered.

Ryoma shook his head. "One of their idiots is picking it up," he explained with a vague wave to Kajimoto.

"You really love your cat, don'tcha, Ochibi?" Momo grinned at the younger boy easily, turning around to better face the backseat. "When did you get her?"

There was an unmistakable sparkle to Ryoma's eyes now, "Okaasan got her for me for my fourth birthday. She was so small back then."

"Kittens are really adorable, they really are!" Momo agreed brightly.

All of the other boys in the car were cursing inwardly, wondering why they couldn't have chosen such a topic to start up conversation with their younger brother.

The red-straw group had filed obediently into Wakato's car. While the orange-haired man was definitely much more friendly compared to Shinjou, he was a speedster and too-obviously enjoyed their discomfort. Inui had reluctantly taken the passenger seat (it was just the lesser of two evils) while both Kikumaru and Fuji had taken over the very back, leaving a wary Kawamura to the middle.

"Wakato-san," Fuji piped up. "How is everything being paid?"

"Bocchan has a credit card given to him by the Boss," the man answered. "Everything's going on there."

There was a distrustful pause. Wakato burst out laughing, "Relax, kiddos! As long as Bocchan considers you family, you can't rack up debt."

Another moment of silence, then Kawamura lurched forward with a small cry of surprise, one hand slapped over his neck and eyes wide in shock.

"D-Did you just bite me?" he demanded, turning a flabbergasted look onto the boys behind him. Both boys looked innocent and - as exposure was beginning to teach Kawamura - utterly unrepentant.

Wakato was laughing so hard he nearly swerved into the other lane.

They didn't get to return home until well into the evening. They'd amassed a mountain of purchases: nine brand-new laptops, six desktops, the latest three gaming systems and about 20 new games for each one, enough books to form a rather impressive - if strangely diverse - library, a tennis net and nine rackets, a basketball hoop and ball, a host of decorations as per each boy's suitable tastes (including a painting that bore a striking resemblance to Tezuka that Fuji, Kikumaru, and Momo hadn't stopped laughing over), and enough cat toys to bury Karupin in.

Kawamura and Oishi had headed straight to the kitchen to start dinner. Despite having a filling lunch halfway through their marathon shopping, all of that walking and the fact that they were all teenage boys with raving metabolisms meant that they craved food now. Both Fuji and Kikumaru had been barred from the kitchen - Kawamura because he didn't trust them and Oishi because Fuji had just attempted to put wasabi on everyone's serving of hamburger steak - while Momo had roped Ryoma and Kaidoh into a video game competition that left the two older boys screaming insults at each other as Ryoma, smirking victoriously, beat both of their avatars up.

Tezuka and Inui were sorting through the purchases and setting them in their assigned rooms with clinical efficiency. Aside from a small incident involving one of Fuji's numerous cacti purchases and Inui nearly toppling down the stairs courtesy of Karupin's hasty run between his legs, everything was put away before Oishi had called them all together to eat.

Hamburger steak was one of the Oishi family recipes, so this time Kawamura had acted as helper. Kikumaru seemed to inwardly take note of this and beside a comment of "Unyaa, so tasty!", the dinner passed largely without confrontation.

Maybe because they're roommates, he's playing nice, Kawamura mused, eyes flicking between a smiling Oishi and a cheerful Kikumaru. Fuji, somehow having usurped the seat between Kawamura and Inui, was giggling at the taller brunet's elbow. It would have sounded sweet coming from any other person but Kawamura was far too wary to let his guard down.

"I will help with the dishes," Tezuka offered, following Oishi into the kitchen. Kaidoh and Inui had already whisked away Ryoma to see if they could make the dessert - fruit milkshakes - which left Kawamura in the lurch.

The former karate student backed away from the table with a hidden wince, managing to square his shoulders despite the predatory looks now adorning Kikumaru's and Fuji's faces. It was an undoubtedly intimidating silence that descended between them, both of the rather effeminate boys giving Kawamura such looks that they bore more of a resemblance to Echizen Nanjiroh than his own son.

"We should wait here for our treats, nya," Kikumaru suggested with a large smile. Kawamura could easily imagine the fangs.

"Yes," Fuji agreed cheerily. "And as family, we need to spend more time together. Ne, Takashi?"

Kawamura could just imagine the two working together, holding a pillow over his face and watching him suffocate with matching smiles. There was a certain dangerous air to the two, almost making him believe in the idea of being able to feel 'killing intent' the way all of those shounen heroes could.

"Ah, they're right! Absolutely right!"

Two hands landed on both of Kawamura's shoulders, unheeding his violent start at their unexpected appearance. Momo leaned over him with an easy-going smile, fingers tapping out his excess energy as he regarded the two slender boys still seated at the table.

"But 'Haru-nii and that damn snake will be taking forever with the milkshakes, so you may as well play a round with me, Taka-nii!" Momo practically pulled Kawamura out of his seat and to their game center, an exaggerated pout on his lips as he called out with mock-sadness. "Since Ochibi so cruelly abandoned me!"

"You suck at Tekken anyway, Momo-nii!" Ryoma yelled out from the kitchen.

"Ha! Just wait until I beat your ass in Street Fighter!"

They could practically hear Ryoma rolling his eyes.

Fuji and Kikumaru watched the two withdraw with equally magnanimous expressions. Kawamura's gaze scoured over Momo's face, trying to gauge just how aware the younger boy was of the situation. Momo certainly hadn't shown the most keen intellect out of all the boy's present, after all.

He was answered shortly once Momo handed him one of the Playstation remotes, leaning in quickly to murmur into his ear.

"You owe me."

A/N: Short chapter, I know. It was either that or Writer's Block! Also an unfortunate lack of Ryoma-perspective, but I'll make up for that next chapter, muahaha~!

Note 1) Characters: The boys are angry and bitter because they were literally taken from their homes and forced into this. They absolutely hate everything about it, including Ryoma and each other. However, survival trumps all of that so they will play along and use each other as much as they can. It's not just their lives on the line, after all; they have their families to think about too. Manipulation and deceit, violence and sex - most of them are willing to use anything for their own ends.

Note 2) the alliances: The build-up to being a family is slow, and as you can see, they're going to be wonderfully messed-up anyway.

- Inui and Kaidoh: the awkward but possibly most genuinely-kind pair.

- Fuji and Kikumaru: the fucking scariest pair. (Clearly, clearly I should never write a fic on the Dream Pair.) They're actually going to work together fantastically well because they're both clever and ruthless here.

- Kawamura and Momo (kinda): It's like pairing the craftiness of the Dream Pair up there with the polite niceness of Oishi. XD

Note 3) the Tanaka twins: (cue evil laughter)

Review Replies: (To answer general questions and concerns.)

-(awkward look at rosy petal 1029) Yes, eventually they may actually care for each other... At some point. Faaaar down the bumpy, twisting road. And sorry, I just... I just really don't do fluff. The fluffiest I get is Kaidoh-playing-with-Karupin fluff or Kaidoh-blushing-at-some-innuendo fluff. (I think I am only capable of Kaidoh fluff and I don't even know why.) For this story, you may as well embrace the hurt - because if there's comfort, it's probably going to be the worst kind.

-Ryoma shot the two guys last chapter because Nanjiroh gives him murder-tests. Because Nanjiroh.

-Honestly, I think the only innocent characters here are Kaidoh and Oishi.

Questions, comments, concerns? Then...

Kindly drop a review.