Title: Reminiscence
Author: Cloudy Moonshine
Rating: T
Summary: Several years have passed. Things have changed. It's hard to remember the past. They used to be a team who could rely on each other through the darkest times. Can they be that same team again?
Dedication: To my friends, all of them.
Disclaimer: I don't own prince of tennis.


"Oi, Ryoma, there's mail for you."

"Hai, Oyaji."

Echizen Ryoma sighed before getting up to retrieve his mail. Baka Oyaji. Probably went through his mail while looking for his latest ero magazine. Wishing his dad wouldn't bother with that stuff was a waste of time of breath. He really didn't know why his mom had let it go all these years.

The years in general had very little effect on Ryoma, mentally and physically. Much to his dismay, he was still short, a fact that continued to embarrass him. The diet Inui had created for him had in fact helped him into a growth spurt. However, at best, he was the same height that Fuji was when they were still on the same tennis team. The thought of meeting the giants Momoshiro and Kawamura once more plagued him, being forced to remember that he would still be "ochibi". However, one thing that would never change was his relationship with tennis. His eyes still held a hidden fire, and tennis was still his passion, obviously seen through some Grand Slam victories. Winning against the same opponents every year was getting boring though. He wanted a challenge again.

However people need to be careful with what they wish for. Things were going to change. He just hadn't known things would change so quickly.

Ryoma was surprised to see a letter addressed to him from Kawamura Takashi. He barely kept up with his old team anymore because everyone was constantly moving from place to place, including himself. At best he knew Kawamura-sempai was still in Tokyo at his father's restaurant. He had heard about Inui and knew that something had happened to make Kikumaru-sempai move to London. He was lucky in just receiving the occasional Christmas and birthday cards. However now was neither Christmas nor his birthday, and he hadn't heard word from any of his sempai in years. He opened the letter, dreadfully curious.

Dear Echizen,

I hope this letter reaches you. If you can, please come back to Japan. Ryuzaki-sensei isn't doing so well, and … I'm not sure how much longer. I'm sorry I only contacted you with bad news, but please come, onegai shimasu.

Kawamura Takashi

"Nani?" Echizen whispered.

All of Ryoma's good memories were centered on his time as a Seigaku regular freshman. Tezuka buchou, Oishi fuku-buchou, Fuji-sempai, Inui-sempai, Kikumaru-sempai, Kawamura-sempai, Kaidoh-sempai, and Momo-sempai… those were the central figures of his life. However there were people like his dad and Ryuzaki-sensei who had pushed him to his limits as well. The fact that one of them was dying…

His mind was made up. He wanted change. Now he had gotten it. "Oyaji." His voice sounded hoarse to his own ears.

"What brat?" His father, taking one look at Ryoma's face, snatched the letter. He gave it a cursory glance and sighed. "Ano baa-san…" He looked over at Ryoma with a tight smile. "Pack your bags, brat. The family is finally returning to Japan."

"But what about you and Kaa-san? You guys are comfortable here." Ryoma wasn't about to disturb the peace his parents had created here. He knew he himself had to go; there was no question about it.

"Stupid gaki." Nanjirou looked at Ryoma seriously. "Your mother and I have already discussed moving back to Japan. We've just been waiting for you to decide. And that baba does mean something to me. So hurry up."

Ryoma nodded before running to his room in a flurry of movement.

"Hold on sensei."


"Syuusuke."

"Hai nee-san," a voice answered cheerfully.

"There's a letter for you in the mail. I believe it's from one of your friends."

"Ok. Arigato nee-san." When Yumiko looked away, the smile magically fell from Syuusuke's face. A letter? He glanced at where the letter had fallen onto the table and sighed. He didn't want to connect with any old friends. However, there was no way to avoid it. Nee-san would make him read it later anyways.

Picking it up, he gave a sigh of relief. Taka-san ka. He smiled at the fond memories in his mind. "I wonder how he's doing." He opened the letter. By the time he finished reading it, his eyes were wide open and one hundred percent serious.

"Matte sensei." He hoped he would make it in time. Stuffing the letter in his pocket, he made his way to his room, a little drag in his steps. He opened the door to his room, giving it a glance.

It was completely covered in photographs, from floor to ceiling. Different perspectives revealing a unique mind in itself. People, flowers, monuments. A whole variety that, with his camera, he had shed a new light with a new perspective. However these photos were not what his gaze was focused on. Instead it was small photo on his desk that had caught his eye. It was a picture from years ago, in a time where his smile came on his face easily. The team was together because of Oishi's desire to go mountain climbing to promote team bonding. That was his favorite picture of the time he had spent with them. Things were so … easy. They didn't have a care in the world. However, after that, things had not had happened as he hoped. Maybe he should have dealt with those things before they had gone to far.

Rain falling hard… Yuuta's face looking up at him brokenly…

Syuusuke shook his head hard, willing the memories to leave his mind. If not for sensei, he would have chosen to avoid Japan forever. But sometimes, things just don't happen the way you want them to.


Tezuka Kunimitsu strolled towards his apartment, a confident air surrounding him, though he stumbled when the door shut behind him. And his air of confidence dissipated. What was left was a shell of his former self.

Life hadn't treated him well. He had recovered from the injury to his arm before nationals all those years ago. However the match against Sanada had destroyed whatever healing his arm had. After that things just got worse.

He had decided to become either a lawyer or a doctor. He was smart enough to succeed in either field. Then tragedy struck the family. His father's business, which had been going strong for years, suddenly became bankrupt. His somewhat easy lifestyle was gone, and he couldn't afford a degree to become a lawyer or doctor.

Tezuka sighed. Instead he had become a trainer. It wasn't a bad job, but it really hurt. It hurt to go day after day and watch other people play a game that he could not. He would train them to the best of his abilities because, no matter what, he was Tezuka Kunimitsu, and he would do the job right.

He spotted a lone letter on his counter and sighed. When had his roommate brought in the mail?

He picked up the envelope. "Kawamura?" he muttered to himself. He was tempted to throw the letter away. He didn't want to reconnect himself to good memories long lost. However he couldn't deny his sudden desire to know what the letter said. After all, he didn't have to reply if he didn't want to. His sense of responsibility had dimmed to a small flame. However, reading the letter burst that withering flame into a larger one, roaring and raging like a proud lion.

Tezuka Kunimitsu wasn't one for surprises, and this one gripped at his heart, squeezing it tightly. "Ryuzaki-sensei."


Oishi tiredly wiped his eyes. He got up from his desk to get a drink of water. It had been another late night of studying.

The years had taken a toll on him. He was thinner and paler. However he diligently went through his daily routine. He had decided to become a doctor. After learning about Tezuka's problems (which had taken forever to needle out of Tezuka), he had decided that his friend needed someone who could try and help him play tennis again. He was comfortable where money was concerned, so he opted to share an apartment with Tezuka. After the growing money problem in Tezuka's family, Oishi knew this was one way he could help his friend for now while his studies continued.

He suddenly remembered the letter that had been addressed to him earlier. He and Tezuka had both received a letter, but Oishi chose to read his later since he had a lot of studying to do.

Upon retrieving his letter, he found it was from… Taka-san?! He quickly opened the letter, his old maternal instincts rising once more within himself. Though it had been years since Seigaku, he was still a mother hen, as Tezuka and his classmates had reminded him several times. He was relieved that Taka-san was well, but…wait. Ryuzaki-sensei…

"Sensei." His eyes, formerly filled with a desire to sleep, were now full of worry and determination. This went above and beyond those motherly instincts. "Wait for me, sensei."


"Eiji. Get over here or I'll read your mail!"

Kikumaru Eiji inwardly cursed. Why couldn't his brother mind his own business? Eiji was continuously annoyed by the fact that his brother had no problem invading his privacy.

The duo was currently staying in London. After the incident, the family had tried to stay together, but it was near impossible to do so. Eiji had to give up tennis in order to help pay for the enormous bill that had awaited them. His family was okay money wise, but they hadn't been able to pay for everything and his college intuition. So he had moved in with his brother and made something of himself through a lot of hard work. He just didn't know it would cost him his personal space. He sighed before yelling, "Aniki, give it to me."

His brother's face came into view, suddenly grim. It scared Eiji how his normally smiling brother was suddenly serious and concerned. "Wari Eiji."

Eiji grabbed the letter from his brother's hand and scanned its contents. He was not happy at all with this turn of events. What should he do? Going would probably guarantee an unforeseen meeting with Oishi. However…he sighed. For sensei, it was a risk he was willing to take.

He looked at his brother. "Aniki, I have to go." And he needed to go. He would go distances to make sure anyone on his team, no matter who it was, was alright. Even if it was Oishi, though he refused to think about that.

"Ah, Eiji. I'll go to the travel agency and buy you a ticket."

"Arigato, aniki." He knew if he was in trouble, his annoying Aniki would save him. Staying with his oldest brother had been a little surprising at first, since he had left for college before Eiji had left Seigaku. They had never kept in touch, or even talked for that matter, until it happened. Now, though he wouldn't admit it, the older brother he never really knew was his best friend. And he wouldn't trade him for anyone in the world… well almost anyone… there were a couple he rather wouldn't think about who he would be seeing in just a couple of days.


"Ii data," Inui said a he read through his mail. He had gotten information from his various sources regarding possible new contesters in tennis.

After high school, he had come up with different possibilities for a job that would suit him. He would have preferred to follow his experimentations on Inui Juice but previous experience showed that it had not been popular on his team, though it served as a great punishm—er, motivator.

So he analyzed his other capabilities. He was good at examining data, especially tennis-related data. This led him to a discussion with Inoue-san about becoming a journalist. And it turned out to be a success. He could accurately predict outcomes with his data and analyze various tennis players for the magazine.

Because of his success, he was paid very well and had time to follow through with his previous desires for experimentation. Of course, such things remained in secret. The world wasn't ready for his deadly creations, after all. His data foresaw that they would never be ready, but he wouldn't let that discourage him.

The letter in front of him with familiar handwriting did not calculate into his percentages.

"Nani?" he whispered while reading the letter. This definitely was a surprise…an unpleasant surprise. He had figured sensei had another 10 years. For something to be happening now… it would be serious. Possibly deadly so.

He picked up his phone, quickly dialing a number. "Hello. Could you book me a flight to Narita International Airport?"


"Oi Momoshiro-teme," Kaidoh growled. "There's a letter from Kawamura-sempai."

"Eh?!" Momoshiro lazily rolled his head towards Kaidoh. "Mamushi, what does it say?"

The most unlikely pair, Kaidoh and Momoshiro had chosen to become roommates to save money. It had seemed like things would become a disaster, but they were too used to their fighting to take anything personally. Another thing Kaidoh would not admit was that Momoshiro had him worried so much that he felt the need to keep an eye on him.

Things weren't going so well with Momoshiro. He couldn't stick with a relationship, and he had quit tennis. Of course Kaidoh had no idea why, which worried him. Usually Momo would just complain away whatever was bothering.

Of course, that didn't stop Kaidoh from fighting with him. And letting concern show would never help. Instead, he opened the letter and read through it. "Fshhh…"

"Nah, Mamushi, what does it say?"

Kaidoh shoved the letter in Momo's hands and stalked out of the room. Momo looked at the letter, and it made his heart stop. "Baa-san," he whispered brokenly. He quickly raised his voice. "Oi, Mamushi!"

"Hai hai." Kaidoh came back into the room, an ear to the phone.

"Tickets?"

"Tickets."


Meanwhile two lone conspirators watched the sun set, one frowning while the other was smiling.

"Do you think we did the right thing, sensei?" the first one asked. The wind blew past him, carrying mixed scents of sushi, in particular wasabi. He wore the traditional outfit of a chef, his figure with broad shoulders and a tall body.

"Ah. I've had a talk with several people concerning the past seven years." The second figure grew serious. She looked of at the sun, sadness and determination showing through. "It's gone too far. It's necessary for their sake, even if they don't understand."


Thanks for reading!