Wintersalad │ Disclaimer: I do not own "Prince of Tennis" or any referenced translations. │ Written: 10/03/10 │ Posted: 10/09/10 │ Last Edited: 05/14/11

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Genius 000: A New Beginning

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Arrived Tokyo (NRT) 2:05 pm

United Airlines, Flight 837

"Ryoma"

Sleepy eyes blinked blearily up from beneath the shade of a tree, fluttering the hazy edges of the world away. Anxious to keep the hands of sleep (of half-recognized nightmares) away, the child of eight struggled to sit up from a warm lap.

Rubbing one eye shut, the other soft yellow gazed at the slumped figure leaning against the rough bark of an orange tree, looking up at the bright sun and clear skies filtered through summer foliage.

"Hm?"

The child could not help but notice how the dark man's gloomy expression contrasted (so sharply!) with the day's cheery weather. With his full weight propped against the core of the tree, it looked almost as if he was borrowing his fast fading strength from the natural life around him.

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"What do you think it takes to be a genius?"

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Creasing twin delicate brows together, Ryoma took in the serious undertones belying the brooding man's usual carefree nature. What is he talking about all of a sudden…?

"Is it talent? Inspiration?

Maybe skill?

Dedication?"

Haunted eyes shifted towards the lower right to hold the child in its grieving gaze.

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"Is it love?"

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"Ryoma!"

Haunted liquid-gold sank to hard amber as intent golden eyes snapped awake beneath the sudden onslaught of bright light.

Twirling a white cap around a pointed finger, a slovenly groomed man pouted most unbecomingly at the still reclining figure hunched uncomfortably in the cramp seat. Briefly, the addressed figure wondered if the man from before was preferable to the one standing here now.

"Get up kid. We're here."

Blinking, the teen swiveled around to face the window. Indeed, it looked as if they have landed. Uneven green locks fell across a pale face and dark eyes watched the reflection of a small hand reaching up to touch the crudely shorn locks.

"Come on already. You need a haircut. And I need to see how Nanako-chan's all grown up!"

Ignoring the already departing old man, Ryoma glared hard at the dark eyes staring straight back from behind the distant stretches of Japan.

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It doesn't feel as if anything has changed.

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What is a thirty-hour long flight supposed to accomplish that four years of fighting in the U.S. didn't?

Narrowing sharp eyes at the unforgiving reflection, Ryoma inwardly answered the question left unanswered so long ago.

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What it takes to be a genius isn't love, but pain.

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Tokyo (NRT) 12:12 pm

Departed from New York (JFK) 7:17 pm

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End Genius 000

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Illustration:

http:/ /wintersalad. deviantart .com/art/Genius-000-191090877

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A/N: Greetings! After the many helpful reviews from dedicated readers, I have decided to add a prologue to Genius and edit the first few chapters, mainly chapter one though. A brief notice of warning as well: the beginning few chapters of Genius are meant as an introduction. The changes I have made to the original manga, what will make Genius different and into a genuine fanfic and not just a script-version of the original, will be clearer as the chapters go on. I will most definitely reveal more of the foundations of this story as the story develops. Hopefully this prologue grabbed your attention!

Please give this story a chance and let me know what you think! Thank you for reading!