My first Smiling drabble. I ask for constructive criticism and no fake syrupy reviews if you actually think this sucks, but don't have the heart to say so. I can improve, so please help. Written for the POT forum's Royal Flush Share the OTP Love! challenge. OOCness abounds. If you find typos, do point them out. It's cliche. Warnings in random spurts.

"I'll always be here. I promise."

Why had he said those words, Yukimura wondered idly as he touched the window beside his hospital bed. He saw his long, pale fingers tremble and he withdrew his hand at once, and it lay clenched into a fist on his bed.

They were perfect for each other – or so they and everyone else had thought. Both of them had nice, quiet personalities, with just a wicked touch of sadism to humour others. Both had lovely, almost angelic features and a smile that made knees go weak. Both had sharp and clever wits, intelligence that sparked in determined eyes.

But while one was limited by his illness and poor health, the other wasn't.

In the beginning, Yukimura really enjoyed Fuji's visits. He always brought lovely flowers and his intelligent conversation was always a refreshing welcome.

Nobody knew about these visits.

Both of them felt more than just a 'spark'. It was something more, Yukimura knew, but he also knew that it couldn't last long.

He listened anxiously to the news broadcasted about Rikkaidai's match against Seigaku.

When he heard that Akaya would go up against his Syu-chan, he felt himself grow cold. He prayed that Fuji would not suffer the same end as some of Akaya's opponents, who had been crippled or worse, the game of tennis barred from them forever.

When he heard that Fuji's knee was badly twisted, the word 'agony' brought new meaning to him.

Then he heard of Fuji's unexpected victory, how the tensai had fought on despite the climbing odds against him. The relief in him was so great that he felt guilty for days afterwards, wondering if he should have hoped for Rikkaidai's victory instead.

Fuji still came to see him in the hospital, even then. He walked with a slight limp, Yukimura noticed, but he had six beautiful crysanthemums in one hand.

"How are you feeling, Yukimura?" Fuji inquired politely. He arranged the flowers in a vase before taking a seat beside the bed.

"Shouldn't you be resting your knee?" Yukimura asked softly.

"Oh, that? It's getting better already." Fuji smiled. "Akaya is quite a talented junior, Yukimura. You're very lucky to have him."

"I'm sorry, I - "

"Don't apologize for Akaya's behaviour," Fuji said, a hand reaching out to clasp Yukimura's. "He chose his own way of playing, although I doubt he will continue using it."

Yukimura chose not to reply.

"I'll always be here for you. I promise."

The end, when it came, hurt Yukimura more than he cared to admit. He had hoped, perhaps a bit desperately, that they would be able to stay together, to go back to the early months of their genuine interest.

But two souls of such similarities clashed. 'Opposites attract' - that was the English saying Yukimura had heard before. Perhaps it was truer than what Yukimura knew. Two people in love were two people who loved the other's quirks and unique personality. Opposites were what drew people together.

Loving Fuji Syusuke was like loving himself. Yukimura finally understood that, and relinquished his grip.

xEndx