Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.

Lady Monozuki: Hello. It's been forever. I am officially done with my first year of college. I wish that I had more time to write but holding down a full-time job and 17 credits was not pleasant. I am sad to announce that this is the last chapter for this story (for now). I don't have any more ideas for it at the moment but will update it if more come along. My other stories will be updated at one point but I have some health issues that I am facing in the mean time. Please continue to be patient with me. All stories will be finished at one point or another. In the mean time, please enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Forty: Forever

Frantically, he decorated the tables in the backyard, knowing that time was winding down until it was time for the ceremony. Mentally, he cursed Syuusuke for turning off his alarm sometime before it went off this morning, insisting that his "beautiful bride-to-be needed his beauty sleep." That had earned his fiancé a pillow to the face. Curse his fiancé for being an early riser and having a key to the house. He hoped that Fuji didn't plan on doing that every morning he had something important planned. Otherwise, Syuusuke wouldn't just have to deal with an angry Ryoma, but an angry coach as well.

The mental image of his coach chasing Syuusuke for making him late to practice delighted him. Oh, he'd love to see that one play out. Of course, he was certain that it would come to pass eventually. Given how Fuji would be moving into their house after their honeymoon. Things would certainly be interesting and different. The voices of his parents brought him out of his thoughts. He could hear them, even though they had just arrived.

"Ryoma!" his mother called.

"Out back," he replied. They had visited him in America before and knew how to get to the backyard without proper escort. Plus, they knew that he had planned to decorate the yard before the wedding by himself. His mother insisted on coming over early to help out, much to Nanjiroh's protests. His parents met him just a few seconds later.

"Oh dear, you haven't much done, have you?" his mother fretted.

"It was Syuusuke's fault. He came over early and turned off my alarm."

"Where is he?"

"I sent him to do something productive," he said. "He's out picking up the suits."

"Did you get the flowers?" his mother asked.

"On the kitchen counter," he replied. He looked up to see his father messing around with the wedding decorations. "Oyaji, go get ready, you'll just break things."

"But—" Nanjiroh started to protest.

"Anata," his mother said. That was it. His father wandered off toward the house.

"Oh, and let guests in as they arrive!" he shouted as his old man, who waved as an indication that he had heard.

With his mother, they had set up the backyard almost entirely when Syuusuke had arrived with the suits. Nanjiroh had been entertaining what guests had come in the meantime.

"Ryoma, you should go get ready."

"But what about you, mom?" he asked.

"Don't worry," she said. "I'll finish here and be ready in time for the ceremony."

He nodded and went inside the house. He slipped up the stairs without being seen by the guests, and went to his room. As he closed the door, he caught sight of something frilly, lacy, and sparkly. He glared at it. It was ivory in colour, large enough to eat him, and worst of all, in his room. Where his tux should be.

"So this is what the beginning of forever looks like, huh?" he growled. Why the hell had he agreed to marry Syuusuke again?

"Syuusuke!" he shouted and stalked off toward his fiancé's room. "You better have my suit with you!"

~The End~