Kawamura frowned when he heard the ringing of the bell which had the private entrance to the back of the restaurant and the flat. It was now three weeks into the month of January and for the last two weeks he had been experiencing some strange things at school which he couldn't explain. His father, mother and sister had moved a couple of days after the New Year and most people in his class knew that he was home alone basically due to the fact that Kawamura Sushi didn't open anymore. There had been a big celebration of Kawamura's father success the day before he moved and the Sushi restaurant had taken in more orders in that night than it got in a period of two weeks. Kawamura and his father had been very busy that night and even his mother and sister had managed to help with it, which had been a great help. Anyway, two weeks ago, he had been asked by someone that had been in his class, someone whom Kawamura had met when entering high school and then had been transferred to a different school. She had asked him over the phone if it was possible for him to accommodate a small group of people for a while. It had been an unusual request but he had complied because he trusted her and she often gave some strange requests, like asking to be called BF instead of her full name for unknown reasons.
So at the time of 10pm at night on the designated night had come the ringing of the bell. BF had been unclear and unable to say what time the group would be coming and hadn't been able to give any details, promising it would be explained to him. Sighing he pushed himself away from the table and walked down the stairs to the door. He pulled it open to reveal a somewhat familiar face of Kevin Smith; there had been a lot more contact with other teams, including the American Team, after the kidnapping. "Smith-san" Kawamura said in surprise, the blonde hair American was more in contact with Echizen than anyone else. Behind Kevin stood two figures whose figures where unclear due to the lack of light. "What are you doing here?" he asked softly. Kevin frowned looking at the two figures behind him before staring back at Kawamura.
"Did you get a phone call from BF?" he asked softly. Kawamura nodded wondering how Kevin also knew BF.
"Yes she said to expect a group. Are you …" Kawamura was now more than confused, what the heck was going on here? Kevin only gave a nod in answer as Kawamura stepped aside to let the group in. The two strangers behind Kevin had their hoods on the back of their coats over their head. Kawamura did a quick look outside whilst the two strangers and Kevin changed their shoes in the genkan, surprised by the fact it was snowing; quiet heavily actually. How did he miss that? Shaking his head, he closed the door and walked up the stairs to the small living area.
He did not expect to see what he could regard as a miracle and he almost fell down the stairs again, only to catch himself by grabbing one of the walls and pushing himself forwards. "Fuji, Eiji" he whispered, his eyes wide in shock. His voice distracted the red head who turned around, and quickly scooted up next to Fuji who looked at the red head and placed his left arm firmly around Eiji when he saw Kawamura. Kawamura frowned; he couldn't remember Eiji being silent or meek and Fuji had reacted in such a protective way over Eiji like he was telling Kawamura not to hurt Eiji. Neither had said anything yet. "Fuji, Eiji" Kawamura said again in a gentle tone, adopting the type you would use when you saw a scared young hurt animal and you wanted to get closer to it. Behind the two boys back he saw Kevin shaking his head firmly and Kawamura gave a sigh in return.
"Do you have those rooms available?" Kevin said trying to break the iciness of the room and also so he could talk to Kawamura. Kawamura nodded, since his parents had moved out he had taken over the master bedroom as on their wishes, leaving the two other rooms free, one of which on BF's instructions had two futons lain out. Kawamura pointed to the later room.
"That room has two futons lain out" Kevin gave a stiff nod and looked at Eiji and Fuji carefully. Kawamura watched from the background trying to figure out what was wrong with his two friends as they picked up a large sport size bag each. Fuji still had his left arm around Eiji and Kawamura noticed something strange about his hand … it was …
"Kevin, are you sure Uncle Smith wants us to do this?" Eiji asked quietly, breaking Kawamura from his trail of thoughts. Kevin nodded his head and Fuji gave a long sigh before turning to the room they had been designated and taking Eiji with him and disappeared quickly behind the closing door. Kawamura gave a long question look towards Kevin when the door clicked shut, which was full of questions and concerns. The blonde hair boy looked away at the floor before walking over and nodding towards the stairs leading down into the now closed restaurant.
"I'll tell you down there, I'd rather do it where they can't hear." He whispered, nodding at the door. Kawamura just started down the stairs, not wanting to waste anymore time. He felt the need to know why his friends just didn't recognize him at all. Sitting on one of the high stools, he could only contain his anxiety as Kevin hopped up onto the one next to him before he started questioning the boy. He began with the most anxious question on his mind.
"What's wrong with them?" Kevin looked startled by the direct bluntness of the question but gave a long sigh leaning back and reaching into a small black carrying bag he had brought down with him. He pulled out two passports and a few official looking documents before handing them across to Kawamura. The elder started looking through the papers with shock and disbelief clearly registering.
"My father doesn't know that they are here. He thinks that they've gone a school trip for about three weeks and that I went home to America. He didn't know that I knew about Kikumaru and Fuji so he felt safe in letting me come over. They think that they are here, and so does the school they go to in England, because Smith wants them to experience Tyoko's busy tennis culture and make a name for themselves here."
"Their names aren't Smith" Kawamura said in disbelief and shock evident in his voice.
"I know and I've already tried explaining that to them." Kevin scowled; that had not been a fun conversation.
"What do you mean?" Kawamura asked looking up. Kevin bit his lip.
"I don't know what's happened but they seem to have some kind of amnesia and think that all the events in their lives are actually what is recorded in those documents you have in front of you. If they have a piece of memory missing it's because they supposedly lost their memories after their mother's death."
"They didn't even recognize me." Kawamura said softly with a sad twinge to the end.
"I showed them a picture of you all but nothing seemed to have registered with them apart from Fuji who murmured something but then he dismissed it like it was nothing. I was going to try and get a flat to rent for a small while, money was no matter because I get a share of my father's company profits, but when BF suggested that you had space in your house we both thought that it might bring something back. We thought seeing someone who they spent some of their life with … I guess we were wrong." Kevin muttered to himself, "I can't go to a police station because how would I explain to them that oh these are the boys that went missing but they believe they are someone not and have false memories. Oh and here are the documents that look legal enough to get them into an English school." Kevin looked over to see Kawamura's mortified face; the power player was clearly unable to speak.
"Look, I can't take them back to my father or Uncle Smith as they call him. I can't. I watched him abuse them and both of them are hurt or ill." Kawamura looked even more mortified by that news.
"Ill? Hurt? Abused?" the elder asked in an almost strangled sound of voice. Kevin nodded his head; wondering how to break the details to him lightly and in a way that wouldn't make Kawamura pass out.
"He used tennis racket frames to beat them, doesn't matter if it's just a point they miss or the whole game. He used to lock them in a cupboard if he got upset with them and there is no way to get them out because he takes the key into his own room. Apparently Kikumaru developed some kind of illness not this Christmas just gone but the year before and has to inject himself whenever an attack happens. I'm not so clear on it, it has a long name I can't pronounce and I don't know how it happens or what happens." Kevin leant back and stared at the ceiling. "Fuji has something wrong with his left wrist; if you watch him he is extra careful about it. According to Kikumaru it was broken last summer and hasn't healed properly." Sneaking a glance at Kawamura he could see the power player was having problems with digesting the information. With a sigh he crossed his arms on the counter before him. "Look, I'm going to take them around to their houses and see if the appearance of their families and homes will trigger anything. I got their address from Echizen. No one apart from you that lives here knows that Fuji and Kikumaru are in Japan and I want to keep that way. It was a precautionary measure encase they didn't recognize you. I don't want to bring anyone else's hopes up. In the mean time I want you to try and see if you can retrigger something. I don't have as much information on them as you do."
Kevin hopped from the stool and looked at Kawamura, "I'm going to get some sleep and start tomorrow. Did I spot my room was next to Fuji's and Kikumaru's?" Kawamura nodded as Kevin started back up the stairs. "I'll let you look at those documents, I couldn't bring everything from my father's study but hopefully that will be enough to give you an idea of what memories they think they have at the moment." Kawamura stared back at them as Kevin disappeared into the flat above. They all screamed the words of lies and false at him, Kevin's words on how Eiji and Fuji were ill or hurt still echoing in his head. The amount of words of abuse that he wanted to throw at Kevin's father was unbelievable. Slowly Kawamura looked up to where he knew the room were Eiji and Fuji were probably getting ready to sleep, wishing that he could see through walls. They seemed so changed.
Nya! This took ages because my computer kept being a pain. lol, I've just seen what could possibly be the most deadliest room choice in the world ... what ever gave Takeshi Konomi the idea to put Fuji, Yukimaru and Shiraishi in the same dorm room? That's almost like asking the world to end! (unless you happen to be Yuuta XD) They all encourage each other ...
Sherlockdetective99: WOOP! New reviewer! Hello! Thanks for the compliment! Oh my, that's the first time someone has told that they will kill me on this story ... apart from my friend ... but don't worry I won't drop it unless something major happens ... and I mean major ... I can still write chapters even if my hands aren't working (XD I love my laptop gadgets sometimes)
Midori-Emmi: WOOPIE! Another new reviewer! NYA! I'm glad you like my story! And my chapters are that length because I wouldn't be able to do them in one night otherwise and I could end up dropping the story because I can't handle a huge length of chapter.
BF: Nope, permanent damage is not fun. I didn't realise the last chapter was funny until you said it ... and you appear in this chapter as a phone contact ... and a friend of Smith and Kawamura's!
yume229: Yeppie! Kevin found them and took them back to Japan but it seems problems have arose.
ElementalCat: I'm glad you liked it! And YAY! More Kikumaru-fics!
eijikikumarufan01: Well surprisingly enough, Kevin might become more likeable but that's only because I don't know him that well ... so he's like mine to play with and yes, Eiji and Fuji need to get rid of those false memories somehow ...
demoncat13: Ryoma wouldn't be able to buy them airplane tickets, and it would be bringing Ryoma's hopes up and Kevin would only have to watch them crash ...
YES! Eiji and Fuji return to Japan but will they be able to gain their memories back before Coach Smith realises whats happened and comes and gets them ... Remember, he has contacts in the school, friendly contacts ... REVIEWS PLEASE!