Disclaimer :

Author's Note:

I changed the title of this story to "Forever" cuz I just thought of THE MOST perfect ending while I was nodding my head off in Biology at school today. Muahaha ... and I also changed my nickname. Anyways...

To my readers-

Kaiyako Kagami : tq soooooooo much for the 1st review.

Purplewindfairy : no probs. I wrote this fic cuz there wasn't any Sano x Rinko pairings. It made me so sad so I decided to write 1 myself.

Ayachan107 : tq for ur review too. it really means a lot to me. XD

I was so happy to receive to receive the reviews so I decided to update today. XD hope you all enjoy it!!!

I would also like to apologize for the mistakes I've made typing my last chapter. But I'll be sure to triple check this time.

Chapter 2: Falling Tear Petals

Rinko climbed onto the window and jumped onto the tree. Looks like she still has some skills even though the tournament's already over.

"Here you are Sano-kun," Rinko handed him the lunch box. "I made it myself."

"Really? Thanks." Sano felt his heart do a back flip and took the lunch box.

"So why were you in this tree Sano-kun?" Rinko asked. She had wondered why he had disappeared to right after the bell rang for the past three days. She was just walking by when she had heard him up in this tree.

"Huh?! Oh err... Nothing really... I ... I'll tell you about it later." Duh. It's because of you Rinko, Sano thought. Your fan club thought we were dating or something. Then again i wouldn't blame them cause you're a lot prettier than - wait a minute?! Did I just?! No no no no no it couldn't be... we're only friends...

"So, Sano-kun can you show me around the school later?"

Rinko sounded unsure. She had a lot of offers from the boys in school but she didn't know them well so she turned them down. She tried asking Mori but she was busy stopping Ueki from standing up to every single bully he sees. To be honest, she had lost herself a few times.

Sano suddenly realized that he'd been so busy avoiding the school's male population he had forgotten about how Rinko felt.

God I'm such an idiot! Sano thought. She must feel confused being in a new school with new people. Mori, Ueki and I are the only people she knows here. He mentally banged his head against a wall.

"Oh ... alright. I kinda forgot. Sorry. And thanks for the lunch. It's really good." Sano apologized.

Suddenly Rinko spoke with a serious voice, "No Sano-kun... I... I should be the one to thank you..."

"Huh?" Sano stopped biting into the onigiri (rice ball) he was holding. Why had Rinko suddenly thanked him? He didn't do anything... yet.

Rinko continued "Do you remember ... 2 years ago ... after the tournament?"

Flashback...

Ueki had finally defeated Anon. They had won the tournament and the gang was getting ready to go home.

"Hey has anyone seen Rinko?" Mori asked. "We're almost done packing."

Sano who was sitting on the window then volunteered to go look for her since his things were already packed.

Maybe she's outside. Sano thought as he walked in the deserted corridor.

He turns at a corner and was nearly run over by Rinko. It looked as if she had been running. Sano couldn't see her expression because her bangs were covering her eyes.

"I'm s-so sorry! I wasn't l-looking where I was g-going." Her voice was shaky and there was also a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Whoa relax Rinko it's only me."

When Rinko finally lifted her head, Sano was shocked to see her in tears. He practically panicked because he'd never been in these situations before. But before he can give another thought about it, Rinko had dashed away.

Sano followed his instincts and immediately followed her. Rinko had run out of the house and ran in the direction of the woods. Sano followed her until she reached a sakura tree. Obviously tired, she leaned onto the tree with her back to Sano, still crying as hard as ever.

Sano stopped a few feet away from her and was about to ask what happened when he suddenly remembered the night before, he had accidentally overheard Rinko telling Mori that she was finally going to confess to Robert about how she felt. (He was caught eavesdropping and was the first test subject for Rinko's new and improved Beads Cannon II.)

Rejection... a girl's worst fear...

Sano suddenly felt awkward but he didn't ask anymore.

"You know, I'm not an expert or anything at curing broken hearts," Sano said. Rinko was shocked that Sano had guessed correctly but was also grateful he was smart enough not to ask. She was still crying very hard.

"But," he continued "If you ever need a shoulder to cry onto, I'll be more than happy to lend you mine."

"Sano-kun ..." Rinko had finally turned around. She was still very pretty even though her eyes were red and puffy. She looked into his eyes and walked over to him slowly and finally leaned onto him for support and cried into his shoulder.

She had been so tired after the tournament and just being rejected had made her even more exhausted. She couldn't think properly anymore. All she wants right now is to cry out her hearts content.

"It's going to be ok ..." Sano said while patting her gently on the shoulder.

The petals of the sakura tree fell silently around them just like Rinko's tears as they stood under it. Rinko had a feeling... she would never forget that day...

END OF CHAPTER 2!!!!! Forgive me for putting another cliff hanger like this. I'll be updating as soon as possible. Dun forget to tell me what you think! XD

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED IT!!!

Favourite lines by moi : You know, I'm not an expert or anything at curing broken hearts, but, If you ever need a shoulder to cry onto, I'll be more than happy to lend you mine. Said by Sano Seiichiro.

SANO YOU ARE GOOD AT THIS! I salute you! XD