Well, the story is almost over. The next chapter will probably be the last. It will definately be longer than this one anyways. Well, I can't think of anything else to say, so bye for now.

Disclaimer- I do not own Prince of Tennis

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"You're decision?" Ales asked, walking up to Kiri after the match. Kiri stood still for a moment, as if frozen in time. Then she closed her silvery eyes and seemed to go into deep thought.

"You're right, Ales," Kiri said, not bothering to open her eyes, "I am restless, but I've found something here that I never could on the move." She continued, "I close my eyes and I see the faces of people, of Father, Hiroyuki, Sachi, all of these people here, and…" She paused, as if waiting for something. It was immediately clear what she had stopped for, as Kunimitsu rushed up, breathing a little bit heavier than normal, with sweat on his brow. He had obviously ran the whole way there from his own practice at Seishun. "Kunimitsu Tezuka. All of the people I care about. It seems I can care, Ales, and I can love as well." She knew he was there behind her before he slipped his arms around her, and reached a hand up to caress his face. He lowered his cheek to her hair and closed his eyes. Kiri was ever aware of the whispers all around them, but she didn't push away.

"I can see something here that I could never see on the move," Kiri continued, "I see people, not just human beings, but true people. People hurt and get hurt themselves, they cry, they love, they hate, they fear. It's their humanity, and I could never see it before. I hope you see it too, someday. Good luck in America." Ales looked to the ground, her eyes over shadowed, and her shoulders shaking.

"I'm sorry, Kiri," she said, "I'll never be able to repay my debt, will I?" Kiri kept silent, so Ales continued, looking up with tears beginning to form in her eyes. "I owe you my life, Kiri! That day…" Kiri winced, and the action took the others by surprise.

"I don't want to hear about that," she said, "If you want to repay your debt, use the life I saved and do something with it." She smiled her odd smile, "I suggest tennis, it's great for when you're bored." Ales wiped her eyes and began to laugh.

"Maybe I will at that!" she chuckled, then looked Kiri in the eyes, "And then someday, old friend, we'll play each other."

"I'll beat you then," Kiri said and Ales laughed again before they clasped hands and said their final goodbyes.

"Birds are meant to migrate," Aine mumbled, "It's the cat that will eventually find a place to call home." (Author's note- Ales is Latin for bird.) She began to walk away. Shia's eyes widened.

"That was a hint, wasn't it?" she asked. 'A hint about Kiri's name!' she thought, but Aine laughed a short, soft laugh and continued on. "AINEEEE!"

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"It's about time I had an appearance in this story…" Ryoma muttered and Shia looked confused.

"Did you say something?" she asked and Ryoma shook his head. She sighed with a smile. They had won their tournament and she felt pretty good. They were on their way to school, heading out earlier than normal.

Ryoma sighed as he glanced over at Shia again. He couldn't explain it, but she looked different today, more mature. 'Probably just because she hasn't done anything too strange yet today,' he thought, and smiled slightly, looking away.

"… Ryoma?" Shia asked, he turned to once more, and she continued. "You know the tournament you have next week? Won't Ashi-san be playing in it as well?"
Ryoma looked away as he sighed again. Why did she always seem to be thinking about Ashi?

"… Yes," Ryoma said after a moment, "Yes, he'll be playing in it. We play him in the first round." He sped up a bit, and she hurried to match his pace. "Why?"

"No reason," Shia said, "I was just curious." 'I'm worried, but I can't tell him that…' Shia thought, with a mental sigh.

Ryoma was really starting to get annoyed about her obsession with Ashi. 'If she likes him that much, why doesn't she go bother him with questions?' He thought, but he knew her asking questions wasn't the problem. 'Again, with the jealousy…' Ryoma sighed to himself as they continued to school.

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"Shia," the woman smiled, and Shia was compelled to return the gesture. She didn't however, self-control reminding her that this was serious. The woman continued, not seeming upset by Shia's failure to respond, "We would love to take you in. Well," the fair, brown haired woman cast a loving glance at her husband, "We've always wanted a girl…" Shia was smiling now, all restrain having jumped out the window. She was crying too. These people… they had been told about her, and had seen what she could do… And they accepted her. She cried, tears of joy ran down the woman's face as well as she held her close. The man watched with a quiet smile, clearly glad to see the woman he loved so overwhelmed with happiness.

"Family…" Shia whispered, and the word seemed to hold new meaning. No more secrets and hatred were bound to that word, as she had been to them. "We're a… Family?"

"I'm you're father now," the man smiled, lifting Shia's chin as she and her new mother parted. "And she is your mother. We care for you, Shia, so we must be a family." New tears stained her face. 'We care for you, Shia.' She repeated it over and over in her mind, sitting there in the Echizen's living room, not sure she had ever been happier.

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"One last game of tennis… Before you go?" Ryoma asked, the day Shia was supposed to move.

"You're supposed to rest up for the tournament tomorrow," Shia lectured, but she was smiling. "I didn't pack my racket yet though, and it would be a waste to pass up a challenge from the great Ryoma Echizen." She put great emphasis on the word 'great', hinting to her sarcasm. Ryoma smirked as she ran up the stairs to get her racket.

On the courts, Shia took the first serve. Throwing the ball up into the air, she hit her favored Devil's Serve. Ryoma scowled as the ball went over his head, landing in. She taunted him with it the full first game, and when Ryoma finally got his serve, he was ready to return the favor.

Throwing the ball into the air, he twisted his arm into the strange position, as he had seen Shia do so many times. Swinging back, he came forward to hit the ball, and realized too late just what kind of strain this put on people's arms. He doubled over, clutching his left arm in pain. A surprised Shia yelped, then ran over to his side calling for help. When Nanjiro finally came, she seemed to be in shock.

'This is all my fault,' she thought, 'All my fault…'