Okay… so normally I write tokusatsu stories, right? Well, a while back I learned that at least 4 tokusatsu actors have been in the Prince of Tennis musical. Recently, I learned of an "unknown" fifth toku actor has been in it and then so many more. So my interest in toku led me to the world of Prince of Tennis. I had temporarily been involved in tennis when my sister had been in her high school tennis team. And now to revisit a world of sports that I once loved is kind of cool for me.

Eiji: Come on! Get on with the story! Nya!

:laughs: So a story idea came to mind. I've seen stories of in middle school, in high school… not many about the Seigaku Regulars being in college.

In this story something happened to Eiji Kikumaru in middle school during the last few months of his last year there, but he can't remember what. Whatever it was, he had apparently not been able to fully play during the rest of his time in high school and lost the chance for a scholarship. Will the rest of the former Seigaku regulars and members from two of the other former teams be able to help him to remember and recover the Eiji they once knew?

Disclaimers: I do not own Prince of Tennis. Also, this story has angst, eventually may have disturbing imagery, and there will be fluff moments between Eiji and Ooishi – they're the Golden pair for hearts' sake!

Prince of Tennis: Forgotten Memories

Chapter One – Not Enough

It was a warm autumn afternoon. It was my last class for the day and I could go back to my apartment. I was almost thankful that I could go back and not have anything to worry about.

Well, almost.

My name is Eiji Kikumaru. I'm a college junior, though most think I'm not even there by my looks. I've attempted to tame down my curls by growing out my hair and tried to get rid of the cute. It was my signature look back in middle school. It's hard to do that with what I look like.

I try to hide myself now among the college crowds. Study, study, study. It's best that I do that. I need to get through school on my own. I can't do it by a scholarship that I tried for, but failed to get.

Had no chance to get.

No. I was on my own now. And in this last class for today, I would get through it. I would get through it and go home to my apartment. I would disregard my yearning and go to where my computer and my studies for the next day were.

The bell for the end of class rang. The professor waved some as people were gathering their things together. He gave us our assignment for reading chapters five and six of our texts for the next class then said he'd see us Wednesday.

All the students filed out of the class room and the professor just stood there. The classroom was empty except for me and him. That's when I gathered my things and got up.

"Kikumaru-san, come here please," he spoke calmly.

I slowly made my way down to where he stood. I knew what he was, what he wanted. He had asked me before and I had said no. I couldn't go back. I wasn't ready…

I hadn't been truly ready for nearly 4 years though I went back in high school…

"Kikumaru-san, you know why I asked you down here."

"Yes, Fujimata-sensei. And you already know my answer." I had told him how many times before? It was getting too high to count anymore.

"Why won't you reconsider?"

I looked away. How many times had I said it? How many times did I have to say it? How long would I have to tell him that I couldn't... Wouldn't…

"I'm not ready… I can't go back."

"But at your high school-"

"That was then, sensei!" I nearly screamed. I heard my voice crack as I did so. My cheeks were heated and I could feel the area around me starting to warm up. "I still had a chance then. I don't anymore. Not since-"

"If it's about the scholarship I can make the arrangements."

"You don't understand. It has everything and nothing to do with the scholarship," I tried to explain. I felt like I had told him this countless times in countless ways. He wouldn't listen. Even if had I cried the tears I was fighting at the moment, he wouldn't listen to what I would say.

"Eiji…" He was quiet now. And he used my first name. He'd never done this before. Did he really not know…?

"Sensei, I'll try to be in class Wednesday. I won't guarantee it, though. I have something that I need to do."

I turned away, not bothering to get the classwork for the day I knew I would miss. I had done the same with all the other professors. But Fujimata-sensei was a different reason to walk away all together. His was an added reason.

I walked through the streets of the city, going back to my apartment. It really wasn't all that far, but I was taking the long way today. I had to get my mind off of what was wanted of me.

The streets were cluttered and noisy. A good place to not be able to hear yourself think. A good place for-

"Kikumaru."

I froze. Kikumaru? Only one person called me that. I hadn't seen him in… a long time… Not since…

"Eiji, is that you?"

I felt my heart race. No, no, no! Not… not now… I started finding hard to breathe. My head hurt. Why did my head hurt? What happened to me… back then?

"Eiji-san!"

Another familiar voice. No… It couldn't be. I dropped to my knees, holding my head. No, please no… I felt myself gasping for air now.

"Kikumaru-senpai!"

No. No! NO! They can't be there! They couldn't be there! We separated when we left high school. They… no… they couldn't be there.

I had to get out of there and fast. I was panicking as it was. They… They couldn't see me like that. I had to take what little I could from that part of me I didn't want to touch again.

From my position on the ground, I lifted a knee and placed one hand on the ground. I pushed off the ground and just ran for it. I couldn't hear anything as I ran, I just ran back to my home. My escape. That was the only place I could go for peace.

Run, run, run! I could feel my mind screaming. The rest of me was telling me to stop. I couldn't. Not when I knew that they could be behind me. They really would catch me then should they be following me.

I finally reached it after what seemed like an eternity. I coughed hard, collapsing by the door. I had to take a few minutes to calm myself down before fiddling through my keys.

My body wasn't what it had been anymore. It ached. It didn't take much to tire me out anymore. And even back then I didn't have great stamina. Then again, I hadn't trained like I used to. I had no reason to.

I was able to finally unlock the door and stumble into the living area. I don't remember if I closed the door or not because I curled up on the floor. I could feel myself shaking, breathing heavy.

Why… why couldn't I completely remember what happened back then? Why did it make me such a wreck now? Why wasn't I ready to go back?

I felt comforting arms around me, lifting me so that I was sitting. I could sense them about to squeeze me gently. I felt that I could be safe, that nothing could hurt me. I sensed concern, worry… It had been forever since I had been able to...

I couldn't think as my world tried to close in on me. I was having trouble trying to breathe. The world around me was starting to darken and I felt myself fall to the side again. I couldn't…

As I looked up though my ever-hazing vision, I could see slicked back hair with a couple pieces falling in front of the face. The eyes… They were friendly. I… I could just barely see a frown of concern.

"Oi…shi…" I could barely hear the voice, register it as my own.

I barely heard the cries as my world went dark.

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