Last chapter guys! I know that this one is going to be very anti-climactic, but don't worry… I'll make it worth your while. ::wink:: Promise!

speadee: Saa… I missed your reviewing! Don't mind, don't mind! (What the heck? Go from Fuji to Eiji in a matter of a couple sentences.) I know what you mean about school. It's getting hectic in my classes as well. And I mean insane hectic! And I know what you mean about once rivals becoming friends. But really, if you just watch their actions some of the time in the shows, you can actually tell that some of the "rivals" are actually quite friendly. Some of the big examples? Atobe and Tezuka, Saeki and Fuji and in some really strange, messed up way, Echizen and Kirihara. Ah! And I think you were the only one to catch about the blood on the ball! No, it's not Eiji's. It's actually the Kiku-napper's own blood from slicing one of his fingers on the metal rim of a ball can after he had just opened it. The blood got onto the ball and he didn't wash it off (tennis balls and water don't agree w/ each other).

Here's a bit of a long explanation – for anyone who's lost on a couple things. Thank you to speadee for allowing me to explain a few things for this via your review.

As far as the HigaChu alumnus goes, no it's not Kai or any of the Nationals team that we know. While Eiji was a pain in Kai's backside, the HigaChu player lost fair and square and took his loss as such. He would not call for revenge, nor if he did would his captain or Rin (you know, the HigaChu blonde player) allow that. That would be too dirty, even for them. And besides, they were back at their school by the time of the attack on Eiji happened. No, the reason for the HigaChu reference for the Kiku-napper was because the school's team is known for their speed in moving forward to the net. It's almost like they have super human speed in that they can move forward in the blink of an eye. Which is why he was able to catch up so quickly.

Now as to why the guy would go after our favorite neko-boy? Well, Eiji used his acrobatic skills to get to the upper deck from the Seigaku "green room" in the movie and listened in on the bad guy's plans with the high school team. He imitated a cat (hence the nickname "kitten") to try to throw off the bad guys once back at the Seigaku prep room. He also kinda was the big cause as to why the ship blew up in the first place (bullet aimed toward head + move to dodge bullet + boiler room pipes = BOOM!). Once our bad guy got back to shore (he disguised himself as one of the passengers) he vowed to go after the one that caused the most trouble. He couldn't go after Ryoma or Ryoga – they were too high-profile, especially since Ryoma had won the US Junior Championship thing and both were the son of Echizen Nanjiroh. So he went after the next one in line – Eiji.

I hope that cleared some things up. Standard disclaimers apply. I hope you like this final installment.

Prince of Tennis: Forgotten Memories

Chapter 8: Moving Into The Future

The scene was eerily familiar. Former members of Rikkai, Seigaku and Hyotei filled the waiting room of the hospital. There weren't as many as there had been five years ago, nor were they dressed in their former teams' uniforms. Even the staff that had been working that day five years ago had noticed that they had taken the same spots as the last time. No one dared come up to them because they wouldn't talk or talked little.

There was another slight difference this time. There were no arguments among the young men. Those who had been around during the last time round took comfort in staying close to the others. It was the only way they'd keep away from the complete panic of the new memory that plagued their mind.

The police and ambulance had gotten to where the members had indicated. It had turned out that the man – identified to the members of Rikkai, Seigaku and Hyotei as Hakutoru Maleku – had actually tried to escape the jail two years before. He hadn't done any damage, but it had been enough to heighten the security. Of course it hadn't been enough since he had actually escaped this time.

Eiji – who had been literally stabbed in the back – was immediately rushed to the hospital. The only ones allowed into the back of the ambulance were Oishi and Fuji to help keep him awake. He had lost a decent amount of blood by the time he had gotten to the emergency room. The doctors, fearful for the young man's life, didn't allow his friends in. One of the nurses, having seen the state of the redhead's friends, helped them to the cafeteria to get something warm to drink to help them with any shock. Once again, the scene was almost like an echo of what had happened five years before.

"Please… Please don't let him… Don't let it be too late."

Heads turned in the direction of the voice. Oishi was sitting there staring at his trembling hands. No one had sat with him. No one had taken a spot by the volley specialist. He was alone, one half of a team that was incomplete.

"Oishi-kun…" Yukimura uttered then went over to Oishi's side. The former Rikkai captain draped a gentle arm around him. "He's going to be alright…"

"But… I can't feel him…" the former Seigaku vice-captain muttered, "The link… our synchro link… I can't feel him."

"I'm sure that he just shut it down so that you don't have to feel what he's going through."

"That's just it… I'd still feel it if he closed it," Oishi muttered, "But I can't feel him at all."

The words sent a chill down everyone's spines. For a synchro link to not be felt, that wasn't right. That link was one of the strongest bonds that a doubles pair could have. For that link not to be connect was like tearing a soul in two – painful and incomplete.

Eventually a doctor came out of the emergency room doors. She made her way to the waiting room where the group was waiting. Looking down at her medical charts she gazed up.

"Kikumaru Eiji."

Nearly everyone in the waiting room stood up. Oishi and Fuji were the ones that went to the doctor.

"How is he?" the tensai questioned.

The doctor fell silent as she watched everyone behind them shift into new positions. Some had moved closer, as if wanting to hear the prognosis. She wasn't sure she would be able to tell them.

EIGHT WEEKS LATER…

All of the former teams of Rikkai, Hyotei and Seigaku had gotten together at the city courts. All those who could make it did, including Taka-san. The event that happened eight weeks before was still fresh in everyone's minds. It had been rough for everyone. Even for those who hadn't been there when Eiji had been taken into the emergency room.

But now the large group was together again. It felt like it was supposed to.

"Hey Oishi!" Ooshitari shouted from where he was sitting, "How about we play that match we never got to? After all, first time you had gotten hurt and the last time was interrupted."

"I don't know, Ooshitari… I mean…"

"Nyah, Oishi! I'm fine! Stop acting like I'm made of glass, nyah!"

Everyone looked over.

A shock of red was leaning against the white center building. The hair was still long, so it was pulled up in a ponytail. The signature bandage on the right cheek had returned. Crystal blues were smiling just as big as the lips. In the right hand was held a racket. The hand flipped said racket over it, letting them know that they were serious about playing this game.

"Eiji, are you sure you're ready to play? After all-"

"I'm all healed now Oishi!" the person in question bounced, going over and flicking former vice-captain between the eyes.

"Eiji, I live in the same apartment as you. Are you sure?" Gakuto tilted his head slightly. He remembered how Eiji had had a few difficult times as he was healing up from the stab wound. For the longest time the redhead hadn't even been able to sleep on his back because it was too painful. There had even been classes that he'd missed because of the pain.

"Nyah! Muka-chan you've seen me! You live with me after all!" Eiji exclaimed as he spun around, almost like that of a contortionist, "I'm all better now, nyah!"

"Ore-sama says let them play. For Kikumaru-kun to be like this, he must be better," Atobe chuckled whole-heartedly, his arms crossed over his chest.

"I agree," Tezuka nodded, stepping forward. "Kikumaru has shown that he has healed to his fullest. Kikumaru, if you start to feel bad…"

"Don't mind, don't mind," the red head grinned. Right now he didn't care if he started feeling bad. He was well past the recovery period that he had wanted. He was ready to play.

"Alright."

Yukimura went over to the line judge chair and sat in it. A smile was on his lips. This was how it should have been five years ago. It should never have been interrupted. Now they would be able to finish that game that was never played.

And on this 28th day of November, this day of Eiji's birth, he would step back onto the courts for the first time in two years. They knew it wouldn't be the last time either. It would be one of the best birthdays that the neko-like player would remember for the rest of his life.

"One set match," the former Rikkai captain announced, "Gakuto-Ooshitari pair versus Kikumaru-Oishi pair. Kikumaru-Oishi to serve!"

And a yell went up from everyone around the courts. The game could finally be played.

OWARI

And on this the final chapter… put out on the 28th day of November, I just have one thing to say…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EIJI!!