Conversation Partners 2: The Return (OMG ITS A SEQUEL!!!)

A/N: Ya-hoi! I'm back! About three years ago I started Conversation Partners, and it took almost a year and a half to finish it! But you know what? I'm glad I did. Whenever I started a fanfic I always started strong, wrote for a few weeks, months, and then let it die out as soon as I hit writer's block. Fortunately, I was able to continue with Conversation Partners and I really appreciate everyone who stuck with me till the end and for those who stumble upon it as they search for other fics. Truly, you are all the reason why I finished. Furthermore, you are all the reason why I've decided to write a sequel to Conversation Partners. How long will this story take? Who knows, but I dedicate this story to all of you and pray that you will all be patient and follow it until the very end! *LOVES*

PS= There's been a time-skip, so don't hate me too much if the years are off! BEAR WITH ME!!! And while I AM a fan of the boy/boy kink, this story is not. Please don't hate me too much! *dodgesthrowingobjects* Feel free to read and review! Thank you for looking! ^_^

PPS= Oh and I don't own Prince of Tennis and I don't intend to profit from this.

~ Chapter 1~

She stared at the window and watched the moving truck roll away down the street. It was official now. She sighed and turned around. Her mother had just set down the last box with a thud.

"Well, that's everything, are you excited Uma?" Her mother asked as she dusted her hands off.

Ito Uma shrugged her shoulders and tightened her grip on the small cardboard box she was holding. "Oh, yes, I suppose…"

"It's so nice to be home! I'm so glad your father got transferred back to Japan. America is a nice place, but I'm so glad to be home again!" her mother said excitedly. After her father's heart attack three years ago left him bed-bound for three weeks in America, the company he worked for decided to transfer him to the American Branch in Anaheim. It had been right at the end of second term, before the Middle School Tennis Nationals. When they had arrived in America, she had arrived just in time to begin her freshmen year of high school.

"Me too," She said. 'Even though I didn't really leave Japan on good terms….' She thought a bit sadly.

"Just think Uma!" Her mother continued as she started trekking through the house. The renters had taken good care of it while they were away. "You're back in time to finish your senior year at Seishun! Isn't that great?"

"It is," Uma replied shortly. And it was great. She had already been half-way her Junior year in America and she was so happy that she didn't have to make it up back in Japan. She could begin her senior year with everyone else.

"Did you ever keep in touch with any of your friends at Seishun?" Her mother asked suddenly. Ayako knew that Uma didn't really have many friends. And she had felt terrible that she had taken her daughter away from her very first love. While they were in America she had seen Uma change slowly. Ayako hoped that Japan would bring her daughter back to her.

Uma gripped her box harder. "Well…..I….." she stuttered turning slightly pink.

Ayako smiled smugly, "You must make sure to bring them over! We'll have a house warming party." She insisted as she picked up a box of utensils and headed towards the kitchen.

Uma sighed and let her shoulders slump. "Right mom, I'll get on that. I'll get on that…"

~*~

"No, no! Use your angles! Make the follow through natural! You're trying to force it!" Seigaku High School's Tennis captain shouted at a first year. He was standing at the edge of the courts watching the new prospects work on their form, Horio and Katsuo were leading them through the drills.

"I'm sorry senpai! I will try harder!" The first year bowed quickly and got back in line, his face screwed up in the utmost concentration.

"Man, Kaidoh-taichou, you sure have the kohei scared already!" Ryoma commented lazily as he walked into the main court, a can of Ponta in his hand. Kaidoh resisted the urge to smack him.

"Shut up Echizen….." Kaidoh hissed. He refused to let that brat get under his skin this early in the morning. Besides, he thought as he turned towards the sound of running feet, there was a bigger idiot that needed his attention.

"Hey! Hey! Guess what? Guess what?" Momoshiro called out as he rushed up to Kaidoh. Kaidoh rolled his eyes. He was NOT interested in the latest piece of gossip. "I heard we're getting a new transfer student this term!" Momo grinned cheerily.

Kaidoh hissed. This was big news? "So what? We get transfers all the time!"

Momo continued, "No, but this one is different! She's a girl and from AMERICA and a FORMER student!" he emphasized hoping the message would start to sink in.

"A girl? Really? Like I've never seen a girl before!" Kaidoh exclaimed, layering the rarely seen sarcasm as thickly as possible. Momo and Echizen exchanged slightly surprised looks. Nevertheless, Momo nodded excitedly a huge grin plastered on his face.

"But an AMERICAN girl, Kaidoh!! Eh, eh, right?" Momo goaded with his elbows. Kaidoh turned away abruptly his cheeks turning slightly pink. He would NOT be dragged into conversation.

"Shut up! Go run some laps!" he said as he walked away towards the first years.

Momo laughed and scratched his head, "I knew he'd take it well!"

Ryoma looked at him confused. "What are you talking about senpai?"

~*~

"…and as you can tell Seishun has proud tradition that expands for decades….." The principal recited as he lead Uma and her mother down the third year hallway. Uma was only half-paying attention. The high school section wasn't much different from the Middle School section, except the desks were a little bigger.

"Yes…" she said slowly as she paused and looked out the window. Suddenly a flood of memories came rushing back to her and she stopped and stared intently at the tennis courts that had come into view. She could make the tennis team on the courts. "Already working hard I see," she said to no one in particular.

The principal and her mother paused at her comment and turned around. He followed her stare and his face lit up. "Oh! You've noticed the pride of Seishun; Our Nationally ranked Tennis team!" He said eagerly. "Are you a fan?"

"You could say that,"

The principal beamed. "Very nice! Our women's team is recruiting; perhaps you would be interested in trying out?"

Uma shook her head. "I don't do sports."

The principal nodded, slightly disappointed.

"Oh….anyways, if you would follow me this way….." he said gesturing towards Third Year Commons.

Uma was still looking at the courts. There she saw it! That green bandanna! "….Kaoru…." she whispered.

"I'm sorry what was that?"

Uma jumped and turned away from the window. "Eh? I'm sorry, it was nothing…." She said apologetically bowing quickly. "I do like tennis! I'm not a good athlete is all. I'm sorry, sir!"

"I see…right this way then…" The principal began walking away.

Her mother turned towards her and held out her hand, "Uma?"

Uma finally peeled herself from the window. 'Get over yourself Ito that was a long time ago!' Smiling, she took her mother's hand and started after the principal. "It's nothing Mom, nothing at all."

~*~

Just as he was getting ready to serve Kaidoh felt as though he was being watched. He paused and looked over his should toward the school. Momo, his opponent, stood up from his position and called over,

"Kaidoh! What's the deal?"

"What?" Kaidoh asked slightly distracted. He glanced up at the window panes. He could have sworn he just saw someone standing.

"Something wrong?" Momo called over.

Kaidoh shook his head. "No, it was just….no, it was nothing." Hissing, he bounced the ball a couple of times and refocused his energy on the match at hand.

Momo smiled with relief. Viper was back! "Right! Be en guard mamushi!" he challenged pointing his racket at Kaidoh.

Kaidoh smirked sardonically and tossed the ball in the air. "Bring it Idiot!"

~*~

Kaidoh walked down the busy halls of Seishun High School to his homeroom. It definitely felt like first day. Girls were clumping together in the hallways, boys were racing each other down the halls and as he passed classrooms he could hear the excited chatter of catching up.

"Kaidoh-kun! Kaidoh-kun!"

Kaidoh paused and turned around at the sound of his name. Coming toward him was a small petite girl. "Eh? Oh, Touya-chan! Good morning how was your break?" Kaidoh bowed politely.

Touya Ritsu giggled and bowed back. Kaidoh was always so formal and polite! "Oh, very nice, thank you, Kaidoh-kun." She replied. She was excited about today! She knew that Kaidoh would be excited too! "What great news! Isn't it exciting?" she asked eagerly.

Kaidoh was confused, "News?"

Ritsu laughed. Silly boy! Trying to play dumb! "Yes," she exaggerated. "Uma-chan is back from America! She just came a few days ago! She's going to be back in our class!"

The news had hit him like a ton of bricks.

"U-Uma is back…?" he asked completely bamboozled. This was NOT what he was expecting on the first day of school!

Ritsu laughed, completely missing his reaction. "Of course you knew this, I mean you two were so close, but I just had to confirm it! Oh, I did miss Uma-chan, she was the only one who really liked me for me, you know?" she rattled on. "Of course! Oh! The bell! I will see you in class 'kay?" Ritsu waved and scampered off leaving Kaidoh frozen in place, her words slowly sinking in.

"Uma? You're home?"