Eiji sat in a chair in his psychologists office.

"How are we doing today?" The older man asked.

Eiji shifted slightly. "Just fine." He sighed.

"We scheduled an appointment for today specifically because you were returning to Seigaku, and your old home…am I correct?"

"Yeah," Eiji replied. "I did. I'm home, and back at school with everyone."

"And how are you doing with all of that?"

"Pretty good." Eiji offered. He had absolutely no problem speaking with this psychologist. He was fun, in Eiji's opinion. The hospital that had done Eiji's surgery had recommended him, and Eiji's mom had decided that he did need to speak to someone about what had happened to him. Eiji hadn't put up to much of a fight at the time, it was nice to talk to someone who wasn't going to cling to him in a hug that put his to shame and apologize repeatedly for something they didn't even do. "Oishi came over after his tennis practice yesterday."

"Do all of your old friends still play?"

"No, well…yes. Everyone that was going to continue playing, at least. Taka doesn't but we knew he wasn't going to once high school started."

"I see," the psychologist leaned back in his chair. "Now, tell me a little bit about your feelings upon returning to your old house."

"Well…At first I was nervous. I couldn't sleep very well the first night. But it wasn't just me, Hikari and I watched tv all night. And we painted the walls too, just to see if it would help. But the longer I stayed there, I realized I was okay, and that my dad was not about to walk in at any minute and cause more problems. And now things are pretty much back to normal. I'm getting much better at going down the stairs quickly. I think Mom was going to have a heart attack when I was going through my 'sliding down the railing' stage. But that was so much easier than sitting on my butt and scooting down them." He paused to laugh. "I still suck at running, and no… I haven't picked up my tennis stuff yet."

"Do you think there's a chance that you will now that you've been reunited with your old team mates?"

"No." Eiji said, sounding one hundred percent sure of himself. "If they're practicing, they need to do it seriously. Some of them have goals to be pros. I don't want to slow them down."

"You know you could always practice on your own time, against a wall."

"All I do is fall over." Eiji sighed. "It's no fun that way either. I'm no good all alone when I play…and if I cant have Oishi as my partner, then I don't want to play…. I told Oishi what happened." he said suddenly, with hopes of changing the subject.

"Oh?"

"He was a good friend. He asked what happened and he let me cry. He listened to me. I think him being so supportive is what gave me the courage to tell Fuji to call me tonight. I want to tell him too."

"Telling people is a good start, Eiji. That's all the time we have for today, though. If you'd like you can stop at the front desk and schedule another session. If not, I'll see you soon enough."

"Thank you," Eiji said standing up and exiting himself from the room.

On his way out of the hospital building, he was so preoccupied by trying to dig the car keys back out of his big he nearly ran right into someone who was also on their way out.

"Ah, sorry!" Eiji replied quickly, only to look up into the smiling face of Yukimura Seiichi.

"That's alright, Kikumaru-san." Yukimura smiled.

Eiji blinked. "Y-Yukimura..?"

"This is certainly unexpected. The news of your disappearance was very big news a few years ago. Are you back at Seigaku?"

"I..Yeah."

"Wonderful! I'll have to have our doubles teams step up their practicing for the revival of the Golden Pair."

"Um, you don't have to do that, Yukimura-san." Eiji said casting his gaze downward.

"Of course I do, they've been slacking anyway."

"No…I…um, I mean…I don't play tennis anymore, so there won't be any Golden Pair." Eiji shut his eyes.

"You…what?" The smile slipped off of Yukimura's lips. "Why not."

"I can't." Eiji said bluntly. "Or, I suck."

Yukimura just stared at him. "What do you mean you can't?"

"I got hurt." Eiji said quietly, realizing very quickly that this was not the person to be complaining about this to. He was also shocked that he had just told more to someone he didn't think he'd ever spoken to until right now than he had the people he called his best friends.

"Hurt? What happened?"

No reason to stop now. "Doesn't matter how I got hurt. I had knee surgery. I can't run or anything, I just fall all over the place."

"So you just gave up?"

Eiji shifted uncomfortably. "I don't want to burden everyone with my bad skills. If I had something like Tezuka Zone, I'd be fine as long as no one broke it…but I don't. I'm Kikumaru Eiji. Acrobatic play is what I do. And I can't even run."

"Can't? Or won't."

Eiji sucked in his breath sharply. This was why he should have realized he was speaking with Yukimura Seiichi a lot faster than he did.

He couldn't lie, he knew that. He wouldn't stoop to that level. "I…won't."

Yukimura put his hands on his hips. "Why not."

"I don't want them to stop training to baby sit me." Now everything was just pouring out. Fantastic.

"Would you play if someone helped you?"

Eiji swallowed. He Didn't like where this was going. "Perhaps."

"Come with me. I have an extra racket."

"What?" Eiji cried out looking at the blue haired boy incredulously. "I haven't touched a racket in two years! I'll be no good. You'll be incredibly bored!" he protested.

"Nonsense." Yukimura said pulling his cell phone out of his pocket. "If anyone knows the struggle to get your body back to what it once was, it is I."

Eiji stared at him. Apparently, he had no choice. He should have kept his mouth shut.

Yukimura flipped his phone open, pressed a number and held it to his ear. "Gen, listen. Something has come up- No, I'm fine…No really. No-Sanada. I am perfectly fine. My health is fine. But something has come up, and I'm not going to be able to return to practice today as planned. Please continue things as if I were there though. Sorry for increasing the burden I have left with you." He closed the phone, apparently having convinced Sanada he was fine. Eiji looked up to find his blue eyes looking into Eiji's own. "Now, Kikumaru-san. I never pictured you as a quitter. I would like to help you, if you will let me."

Eiji sighed again. Yukimura was right. Kikumaru Eiji was no quitter. Fuji should be calling soon…but he would just call him back later. "Alright, Yukimura-san." He said.

Yukimura's smile returned to his face. "Excellent. I know of a good tennis court not far from here, shall we, Kikumaru-san?"

"Eiji." Eiji corrected. "Please."

Yukimura nodded. "You may call me Seiichi then, if you'd like."

"Okay." Was Eiji's only response.

The unlikely duo walked the rest of the way to the tennis courts in silence. Upon reaching the courts, Eiji was relieved to find that no one else was there, so no one would be able to see him make a fool of himself. He was starting to get nervous, yet excited at the same time. They walked over to a bench next to the court and Yukimura set his school bag down and began to unzip his tennis one. Eiji set his school bag down next to Yukimura's and watched as the younger boy pulled our two rackets and handed one to him. He then pulled out a few tennis balls.

"Would you like to serve?" Yukimura asked him.

"S-sure." Eiji said, his grip on Yukimuras spare racket tightening as he caught a ball that was tossed to him.

The two took their places on the court, and Eiji took a deep breath and tossed the ball into the air.

Somehow Yukimura showed up. I wouldn't be surprised if by the time this is finished, the rest of Rikkai and even Hyoutei have showed up. Ah well. I love Rikkai, so Seiichi has been welcomed with open arms. Review to find out just how Eiji and Yukimura's little match turns out quickly!