I'm really glad that you guys are liking this story. This being my first multi-chapter PoT story, I wanted to make it at least somewhat decent for the readers. Seems like I've done that so far. I jut hope that I'm able to continue this through to the end.

Speade: Actually, no. See, the new group of Seigaku regulars had heard about the former regulars played. They learned their names, read the articles that Inoe and Shiba put out about them. Each became a fan of the different particular play style and figured they would learn the play styles, but add their own twists. Which is why Kyousuke Adachi would be able to give Gakuto Mukahi a run for his money if you rewound his age a little. And before you ask, no, Hiroki Furukawa has not unlocked the Counters – he's able to play without them.

Kiki-chan94: Yeah, I know I wasn't creative. What I figured was give each actor their do for what character they played. Mind you I couldn't put all the actors, I could only do two per spot and we're up to the 4th and 5th generations of Seigaku in TeniMyu now. Really, can you blame me for how I did it? ^_^;;;

Anyway… As memories emerge, so does the fear of Rikkai, Hyotei and Seigaku. The "Tennis Attacker" has escaped from jail. However, no one knows who they will go after. What will happen next?

Normal disclaimers and warnings for this story apply. Newish disclaimer: Slight bit of supernatural occurrence, but only because I believe that once Oishi and Eiji went synchro during Nationals, they had formed a metaphysical link. This will add a little bit more to the Golden Pair fluff.


Prince of Tennis: Forgotten Memories

Chapter 5 – Reliving the Lost

Eiji lay on his bed. He stared at the photo of his former teammates from Seigaku that he held. He felt an ache in his heart as he stared at the picture.

They had just won Nationals. Everyone had been happy and excited, even the normally stoic Ryoma and Tezuka were showing their true emotions. The first place trophy was in front of them on the bench and there were large smiles all around. Oishi and Eiji were holding the awards for the Golden Pair once again. A roughed up and bloodied Ryoma and a very worn-looking Tezuka were holding two of the four-way tie Best-of-Singles awards that had been handed out – a rarity that four people would win it because the officials couldn't decide. Fuji held the best sportsmanship award. Takashi held the Number One Power Player's medal. Momo held the Seishun Gakuen flag aside Kaido and a rather pained Inui, proud that their team had made it to and won Nationals. It had been a great day.

He frowned as he strained to remember what happened next.

A few days after the Nationals were over Hyotei, Rikkai and Seigaku all got together at the one of the city tennis courts for some friendly playing. The seniors would be moving on to the next level and the sophomores and freshmen of the middle schools still needed to keep in practice. It was one of the times out of the many that all three teams would actually show they could be nice to each other without it ending in violence. Well, in most cases anyway.

Ooshitari and Gakuto had challenged Oishi and Eiji to a match. It would be like their match that should have happened before, only this time just for play not for a spot to move up to Nationals. It was supposed to be a fun game between teams, nothing more.

Eiji's mind tried to remember on its own. He was just stepping onto the court with Oishi then… Then everything went fuzzy. He couldn't remember more than pain and certain actions, but it was getting better. It seemed as the memory cleared, the more minor the panic attack he had was. However, that meant that it was still intense at the moment.

Once and again through the link that he and Oishi had shared since they went synchro he would feel or "see" something, if only momentarily. However, just as quickly as it was felt the sensation was gone, like he had been found out. He wanted to know, but he was forced to find out on his own. So he closed the synchro link between them.

Something he didn't like doing.

"Mou… Why do I have to do this alone? Not even my doubles partner will help me, nya!" he complained to himself, not noticing he was starting to speak like he used to. He put the picture down and stood up, stretching some – as his waking muscles would allow.

I've been out of practice for two years, he thought to himself as he attempted a one-handed handstand. He was still able to do it, albeit a bit shaky. He quickly went back to his feet and grabbed his bag so he could go to classes. A twist tie went quickly into his hair, pulling it off of and away from his neck. He left his room and grabbed a packet of peanut butter crackers and a bottle of orange juice before leaving his apartment.

As he walked he looked around as he walked today. He was strangely drawn to his surroundings even if he had seen them every day for the past 20 – nearly 21 – years of his life. There was an awe that had never been there before and it made him look around. It had never happened like this before, where he had been awed by the world around him like he was a tourist.

"Eiji, watch out!" a voice shouted behind him. Quickly he did a single-handed side-spring cart wheel, sticking the landing as he caught his breath. He shook as the feel became familiar to that day. He didn't hear the screeching halt of bicycle breaks or the small group of people gathering around him.

The cry, the voice, the dodge away. Everything seemed to be familiar to him. His mind slowly was starting to clear the fog that covered his mind these past five years.

Unconsciously, he held his ribs though they weren't injured anymore. He swallowed hard and took gasping breaths.

"Eiji… Eiji, are you okay?"

The person in question looked up, gazing into frighteningly dazzling sapphire blue eyes. They were filled with concern and fear. Strong and comforting arms wrapped around the redhead from behind him hugging him gently.

"Eiji, come back to us… Don't fall in..." the second voice coaxed gently.

Eiji became limp as his bangs fell over his eyes. He shook as he reached though the synchro link, opening the floodgates that had so long been shut. Tears flowed, sobs wracking his body. The gentle arms around him had frozen for just moments before holding him softly.

"Daijoubu, Eiji… Daijoubu," Oishi whispered. Fuji gazed at the two gently as he stood before something hit the back of his head. He made a soft noise and collapsed in front of the two on the ground.

"I don't think it is," a rough voice growled. The Golden Pair looked up and Oishi gasped. He had already made it there?! But he was supposed to be around HigaChu's area, not there. How had he gotten there so fast?

"Don't you dare come any closer to him!" the baseline player cried. He moved so that he would be in front of Eiji, protecting him.

"I'll do what I want, boy," the man snapped. He made a move to go after the calmer of the two before –

"Don't hurt him!" Eiji cried softly. Oishi's eyes widened greatly.

"Eiji, don't-"

"Take me… but don't hurt them anymore."

"Eiji don't… I don't want you to get hurt again."

Before the redhead could answer, he was pulled from the safe hold of his former doubles partner. He was roughly yanked toward the person, but made no sound. Nothing would leave his lips as he gazed back at his former teammates – his best friends. Crystal blue gazed into emerald as Eiji was pulled away.

Get help… please… he mouthed to Oishi. He put the cell phone he had into his back pocket on vibrate.

"We're going to finish what we started, boy," the man growled, dragging the acrobatic player away, "whether you like it or not."

As the man dragged the redhead away, the Moon Volley user watched on. Somewhere deep inside, he fell the synchro link close off again so that it was only a trickle of what it once was. It was as if someone had just turned a bright sunny day into that of an eclipse.

An unsteady hand placed pressure on his shoulder. Oishi looked over to see Fuji kneeling some, rubbing the back of his head. His eyes opened to reveal the sapphire ones behind the ever closed eyelids.

"Fuji, are you alright?" the former "mother" of Seigaku worried.

"This is nothing. We have to get some of the others. I still don't trust Kirihara, Taka-san would be too much. We need calculations as well as power," the tensai spoke calmly and rationally. His focused, open and serious eyes revealed that his true power and knowledge was there.

"Are you sure you-"

"Oishi, the longer we talk, the farther they get away," the brunette interrupted, "if we want him back alive, we find the others now."

"A-Alright, but we're all supposed to be going to our classes right now."

Fuji shook his head. This was more important. Their best friend had just been taken away from them by the same person who hurt him before. And it happened right before their eyes in broad daylight. They couldn't let that happen without a price.

"Eiji first. We'll explain it to our teachers later if they don't hear it on the news when we're through with him."

After this was spoken, calls were quickly made. They had to act quickly if they wanted to get the redhead back. They just prayed that they would keep Eiji from relapsing into the depressive state he had just been in, let alone for the past two years.

They could only pray they would get him back in time.