I ran a hand through my hair, conditioner smoothing out the tangles with ease. I let out a deep relaxing breath and looked down at my body.

Like I said, I was a woman in my past life, so I tended to dwell on my change in physical body a lot.

I was muscular, but I also had a lithe body, I was a bit on the shorter side, but I might be a bit taller that Marui who was known for his shortness. I ran a hand over my stomach and let a sigh escape my mouth.

I reached to turn off the water, but I suddenly felt a searing pain stretch from my shoulder to my back. I bit my lip as a scream threaten to escape my lips. I fell onto my knees and I could see a red liquid mix with the water of the shower.

My breath quickened and my eyes were open wide in agony.

"Mamoru!"

The door burst open and my father rushed in and I heard a horrified gasp as he took in the surroundings, "My god…"

I took one look at him before I let my energy leave my body.

"Mamoru? Son… are you okay?"

I opened my eyes and found myself in bed.

I turned my head and saw my father, looking worriedly at me, "Otou-san?" I asked, confused and lost.

He gave me a relieved smile, "Mamoru… thank god."

"W-what…" I hesitated, "What happened?"

He gave me a sad smile, "I heard a thud from downstairs so I went to go check on you, and found blood all over the bathroom. But when I checked you for wounds, there was only a long scar from your shoulder to your back." He took a shaky breath, "And because you seemed relatively unharmed, I didn't call an ambulance… but if you know anything Mamoru," he said, a hint of desperation in his voice, "Please tell me."

I slowly processed the words and I remembered.

When I was twelve years old in my past life, the war had come like a tornado into my village. A traitor had pinned me down and slashed my back, it was my first taste of real pain that would lead to only more wounds down the road.

I hesitated for a second before glancing at my father, seeing the desperation in his eyes.

I took a deep breath as I prepared myself to spill my secrets to him.

I was still sore after the strange attack on my body and I hadn't been able to go to school, much less get out of bed for days.

Father finally let me go to school after a week of recovery.

He didn't treat me any differently, but he was all so curious about my past life, wishing nothing but to ask me questions.

I entered the school gates with my tennis bag and school bag in hand. According to Akaya's texts, I had missed his match with Sanada, but he was invited to join in on morning practices along with me and the regulars.

Jackal and Marui had also taken to text me and relay what happened in the match. They told me that Akaya had gotten crazily fast and strong, his eyes becoming red. Yanagi had apparently dubbed it 'bloodshot mode'.

I sighed, as I scratched the back of my head, unsure of how to explain my absence to the buchou and the fuku-buchou.

Father said to use the excuse he had told the school, that there was a family emergency, but I doubt the big three would believe that.

"Puri~" a voice whispered into my ear.

I turned and looked into the silver eyes of Niou Masaharu. I rolled my eyes and pushed his face away from me, "Niou-senpai, don't do that."

He grinned and ruffled my hair, "Mamo-chan, you've been gone awhile."

I scowled and pulled away from his touch. After all these months, Niou and I had created a friendly bond, he was the closest senpai to me.

I huffed as I fixed my hair, "I had a family emergency, Niou-senpai."

He put his arm over my shoulders and started to march me towards the club room, "Come on Mamo-chan, we don't want to be late."

Yukimura was sitting on a bench when we got inside, his eyes flitting over Niou before focusing on me, "Go change Niou."

Niou took his arm off me and whispered, "Puri~" to me as he passed.

Yukimura gave me a hard look before standing up and silently motioning me to follow.

He led me to the tennis office, the office most likely for our nonexistent coach and manager.

He stared at me as soon as he sat down behind the ivory desk, motioning me to sit down with his aquamarine eyes.

I sat carefully, to not pull on my sore back too much, but also casually to not give him suspicion, and met his eyes again in silence.

Yukimura opened his mouth and his stern yet elegant voice came floating out, "How was the family, Mamoru-kun?"

I didn't bother asking him how he knew of the excuse my father had given the school, Yanagi knew everything that went around school after all. I answered without a second thought, "They're fine, thank you for asking, Buchou."

He hummed lightly before nodding, "Go get changed, Mamoru-kun."

I nodded and headed back towards the locker room, knowing assuredly that practice had probably already started.

Yukimura glanced at his companions before asking, "Are you sure that Ryuuzaki-sensei was at school last week, Renji?"

The brown haired teen nodded, "Positive."

Sanada had the urge to yell the truth out of the lithe first year, but resisted against it, hearing Yukimura's words.

"Let's see how long it'll take him to tell us the truth."

"Mamo-chin!" I snapped my head to the right, but saw a black cloth cover my vision before I could register anything and a heavy weight jumped onto my back.

"Argh!" I yelped out in shock and pain.

A bubbly voice entered loudly in my right ear, "It's been so long!"

I dipped slightly with the weight, my vision obscured by the same dark cloth, but I knew who it was, "Eiji!" I cried, putting my hands on my knees, "I can't see Eiji!"

My back ached with the weight of the cat teen. burning with the pressure of him against my scar.

I was relieved of my burden and my vision returned to me when the red head was pulled off me, "Eiji!" a mothering and reprimanding voice scolded, "You could have knocked him over!"

I straightened up and rolled my shoulders back, trying to calm my burning back. I opened my once closed eyes and saw a few bushes in front of me. I turned to see three smiling faces, and a neutral one.

Oishi came closer to me and started to fuss, as he always did, "Are you alright Mamoru?"

I nodded and fixed the strap of my tennis bag, letting a small smile to crawl on my face, "Eiji, Shuichiro, Syuu, Kuni!"

"I guess Rikkaidai has been working you hard, ne Mamoru?" Fuji commented.

I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly, aware of their slight annoyance with me choosing Rikkaidai instead of Seigaku, but also very aware of Fuji noticing my stiff movements because of my scar.

Eiji ambushed me again, his eyes filled with unshed tears and Oishi tried to pry him off.

A small laugh escaped my lips as Fuji joined in for the hell of it. I made eye contact with the lone male who hadn't said a thing while Fuji and Eiji argued, Oishi trying to calm them both down.

I smiled at the brunet.

Tezuka Kunimitsu smiled back.

It was just like the old days.

That was before, before they knew I had started playing tennis again.

Shit went down this chapter! These injuries will be the major plot point in this story.

In other news, enter Seigaku! Haha you'll see how this ends up sooner or later.