Yuuta picked up the ball with his right hand, his racket in his left. Sighing he chucked up in the air once, and watched it fall, almost like in slow motion to his eye, back to his hand. Smith's trial was lasting longer than it he wanted to. It had been already going for over a week, nine days to be exact, due to the fact Smith had managed to employ a very good lawyer with all the finances. It was clear he was going to be found guilty, although the lawyer had apparently found a loophole in the works and was using his to get the plea of insanity verified. Yuuta wasn't allowed to the trial under his parents wishes, just like his brother had been left in the house. He gave a scoff of amusement as he remembered the news he had got from his sister on the first day of the trial of Shusuke deciding he was going to do a disappearing act much to her panic, although it was only seconds later after she found he had disappeared that she had received a call from Eiji's grandfather. Tilting his head Yuuta twirled the tennis ball in his hand, like there was something fascinating about it, reminiscing in pleasant memories of a dark period of time in most people's lives that knew Kikumaru and his brother that was not yet over and didn't seem to have an ending. One of those pleasant memories was that Yuuta had got close to Eiji's grandfather and grandmother who had once stayed in the Kikumaru household until the family moved to Osaka and they moved to their own house in Tokyo not too far. According to Yumiko, their parents had come home several hours after Shusuke had disappeared to the Kikumaru house with a much happier tennis tensai in tow. It seemed Eiji's grandfather had used his position as head of the family to get both Eiji's parents and his parents to have both boys meet more often now after evaluating the situation and concluding that they were both miserable and destroying themselves without each other. Shusuke and Eiji were now probably doing what they did every day whilst the trial was going on which was Yumiko would take Shusuke over to the Kikumaru house in the morning and then when the trial was finished for the day; his parents would come back to the Kikumaru house to take Yuuta's brother home. It also seemed the Seigaku regulars were also being allowed into the house now.

Not that Yuuta had experienced this at all, much to his annoyance. His parents had insisted that he stay at St Rudolph Gakuen as he was studying for his exams and had his tennis team to practice with. They had managed to get to nationals this year, although they had lost out about midway in the nationals. It was still a couple of steps higher than it had been last year and it had almost guaranteed him a place at St Rudolph's high school with a scholarship to pay for all the private fees if he could the points on his exams. It was an opportunity that he couldn't really miss or mess up, although there wasn't so much pressure so he could see his brother! He had only really seen Shusuke for a few days before being packed off back here, however he had been slightly happier when he had managed to return the cactus to its previous position on the windowsill whilst Shusuke had been sleeping. His brother's face when asleep was something he couldn't get rid of. His eyes shut, with the honey coloured hair falling across his face, his right hand had rested on the blue pillow besides him, and the white cast had been a startling contrast against the darkly lighted room, with the sunlight struggling to get through the curtains. His face had been like a book to read, open to everyone who would look closely. There was that certain grimace to the hold of his face that indicated painful memories that invaded the dreams, although having been experienced and knowing its course would not wake him from Shusuke's tight grip on sleep. 'Sleep probably had been the only escape for Shusuke and Kikumaru,' Yuuta mused to himself. He couldn't help but admire the fact that they were able to hang on for so long in the conditions that had been briefly described to him, although it had come at the cost of their memories seemingly.

Yuuta was suddenly jerked back to life by a sudden tap on his right shoulder and the ball fell from his hand with the unaccounted for movement. He turned quickly to face the person whom had been responsible for this action and saw a smile staring back at him occupied with a blue mass of hair. Yukimura had invited the middle school team to the high school of Rikkaidai and their tennis courts for a small practice session. Seigaku middle school had been invited as well but had to withdraw their acceptance after Fuji and Eiji's reappearance as the captain, Kaidoh, who had beaten St Rudolph's both at the Kanto tournament and the national tournament, along with help from the two vice captains, Momo whom had been given doctor's authorization that he could play again just for the last game Seigaku played in the Kanto tournament, and Echizen who was still in the annoying habit of saying 'mada mada dane' all the time, had all asked for time to focus on reacquainting themselves. Yuuta nodded his head towards the captain of the high school team in a sign of respect.

"What are you thinking about Fuji-san?" Yukimura asked softly, moving his hand as an indication to talk a walk away from the busy tennis courts. "I do not think it is about your team." Yuuta rubbed the back of his head with his now free right hand as they walked away from the forgotten tennis ball and out towards the grounds. It was indeed true he had taken over captainship in his third year when Akazawa left for high school and was yet another reason why he had been noticed.

"Just troubles at home," Yuuta said distantly, not going into much detail about the situation. Yukimura nodded, this time the press had learnt from their encounter last time and decided not to bother the former Rikkaidai third years.

"Your brother?"

"My parents are clashing over what to do and I've not been allowed to see him recently. The trial is taking ages and there is still no sign of Aniki recovering his memories. I really have no idea what to do."

"Ah. I've heard the press have tried getting statements off you."

"They never find me for some reason. They always get lost. I think Mizuki has something to do with it but I can't be sure. He never really tells me." Yuuta said.

"I heard Akaya was looking forwards to greeting the press again this year; so he was ever so disappointed when they didn't turn up," Yukimura add a quirky edge to his grin. He stopped in his pace of walking and Yuuta frowned stopping as well only a few steps ahead.

"Is something wrong Yukimura-san?" Yuuta asked confused as why the elder boy had stopped so suddenly. He was greeted by a kind expression.

"Your brother is strong Yuuta-san," Yuuta noted the change in tone but made no comment. "He won't change from being your brother but you need to be ready that maybe he won't get them back. It doesn't just take time to recover from something major. You do need people to support you and a goal to work to" Yukimura said starting his walk again but this time back to the tennis courts.

"How would you know?" Yuuta asked the retreating steps of the blue haired child of God, not moving from his spot.

"I've been there" came the almost whispered reply.


Fluffy methinks. White and fluffy. This was finished at 3.25am and I am so tired. Next chapter will be more exicting! I promise! Although saying that, the ending I have for it ... eh ... heeh heeh heeh ... yeah not saying

demoncat13: Fuji thinks its Tezuka but I'm not going to say who. It's either Tezuka or Inui. You mean the middle school? Well I didn't think of that. Maybe but they can't exactly go there because their too old now and supposed to be in high school
ElementalCat: YAY! Well thank you for telling me the spelling mistakes. Otherwise I wouldn't spot them! None in this chapter I hope
Midori-Emmi: I have never actually wrote in great detail about other schools in this story because that happens, *points to above* not a good chapter. I'm not so keen on most of them apart maybe from St Rudolph's and that's mainly because of Yuuta
BF: Thank you! Well something is going to happen to one of them next chapter. As for parents, grandparents rule! Have complete authority in the household. As for tennis, Eiji's and Fuji's bodies must be aching from not doing it everyday.

Reviews please! Your reviews keep me going! So please review!