Chapter 6

Flashback

Tezuka pov - Three Years Ago

'Damn him, why does he get Syuusuke. We've been friends since we were children,if Echizen never showed up, we would have been together by now. I thought angrily as I kicked a dresser in my room.

I heard a door close loudly as my parents walked into the house, and I could hear my mother crying.

I walked out of my room and leaned against the staircase to better hear the conversation below, when my mother began to speak to my father.

"It's just terrible, a brain hemmorage of all things. Oh that poor boy, and to think he's one of Kunimitsu's best friends". My mother began to cry.

I felt my heart squeeze, as I thought of the possible pain Syuusuke could be in right now. My father gripped my mothers shoulders and tried to calm her.

"Shhh, sweetheart, I know it's just terrible. I can't even grasp how Nanjiroh could be feeling right now."

'Nanjiroh?'. I thought to myself, Echizens father.

"We need to calm down honey, we do not want Mitsu to overhear. You heard what the Echizen boy said, he doesn't want pity." My father said in a failing attempt at stoicism.

"Oh dear did you see his face earlier." I watched as the grip he held my mother with tightened.

"Ah, I tried to console him and smiled at him, but he just flinched back." My mother pulled away to stare at my father.

"Of course, I would flinch to if I found my mother dead with a smile on her face. I woulden't be able to look at a smile the same." My mother said with her voice breaking in various places.

'Smile'. I thought. Syuusuke of course, all I need to do now is break his ever so fragile state, and Syuusuke will be mine.

Omnicient pov- present

Tezuka pinched the bridge of his nose "Fine Fuji, minna,". He sighed and turned to face Fuji with a resigned look,"Echizen was a member of our team three years ago. He was a cocky and arrogant boy, but an amazing tennis player. We all loved him. He left and became what the world knows now as the prince of tennis".

"I dont understand, why is it that I cant remember him but I can remember everyone else. If that's all he was, why have you not told me before? What are you hiding from me Tezuka?" Fuji coulden't help but voice his growing confusion slightly angrily. He tried to understand Tezuka's motives but they seemed resolved in remaining elusive. Kikumaru stepped in at this point.

"I dont know Fuji, that's why we didn't want to tell you. We were hoping you would remember. I mean, it doesn't even make sense why he left in the first place. He was here one day and then he was gone. And it could NOT have been JUST for the open because he didn't join any tennis competitions for the first year he was gone.

"Also if that were the case he would have told us beforehand." Oishi tacked in as his partner seemed a little to pained to continue.

"It's as if he was hiding something, nya. We were hoping you would tell us what it was... but when you finally decided to tell us. Well yo-you well you go-got hit by that car and coulden't remember Ochibi ". Eiji exclaimed glomping Fuji.

Tezuka shot a furtive, knowing glance at Fuji.

He stood, determined to find out who he was and who he was to himself, if Tezukas jealous glances were any indication.

"Can I see something with him in it, like a tennis match, maybe it'll spark a memory." Fuji voiced in a desperate attempt to control his emotions that accompanied finally seeing who they have tried so hard to deprive him of. Inui popped up right behind him with his glasses glinting wildly as he flashed a tape in his hand.

"Renji gave me this- this morning. I havent seen it yet. It contains Echizens most recent match in the U.S. Open. He said it was, if I remember correctly." He stated flipping back through his notes quickly. " Ahh , he said 'here it should be very illuminating, your lucky to have Echizen especially Fuji', So lets watch shall we."