Here is the new chapter. I hope you like it.

Chapter three

The days were coming and going and soon, before Aomine could realize how much time had passed by since he was hospitalized, the winter came.

He was furious, irritated that he wouldn't be playing in the Winter Cup, but he had other things that were troubling him more. None of the treatment was giving a result. Three months into a hospital, three months of chemo therapy and it was not working at all. He was getting weaker and weaker with every passing moment. Hell, it was hard to stay on his own feet for long. The cancer had spread through his body, making it almost pointless to try fight it.

Aomine let his head fall back against the pillow and closed his eyes. He was tired of watching everyone around him suffer just because he was about to die. He was suffocating because he had to witness how his parents were barely dealing with the situation, how Kise was putting this ridiculous act of being okay just for the sake of Aomine. No, the Touou's ace was seeing through it. He knew just how much his boyfriend was suffering. He knew that whenever Kise stayed with him through the night, the blond wouldn't sleep at all and would instead lay there, holding Aomine's hand during teh night. But Kise hadn't cried even once. Instead, he would smile and say as confidently as possible that he knew his Aominecchi would be okay.

His heart skipped a beat and for a second the machine monitoring his heart rate went crazy. Aomine clenched the sheets under his hands. When he opened his eyes again, there was a new resolve in his dark orbs. No matter how sick he felt, he was going to fight until the very end. He was not leaving Kise alone.

Kise wiped off the sweat from his forehead and smiled widely at his former captain.

"It was a good match, Akashicchi," he said cheerfully and panted, trying to calm down. The adrenaline was still kicking in his blood and the thrill of playing with all he had was still keeping his mind in haze.

The red haired boy nodded and zipped up his jersey.

"Indeed it was," he said calmly. "Too bad you lost again."

Kise laughed a little, brushing this aside. He hadn't even thought he would win against Rakuzan. Still, he didn't regret being the loser in this game.

"It's fine, I will beat you next time, " he muttered and put on his own jersey to keep his body warm. Kise took out his cell phone and quickly texted his boyfriend to let him know the outcome of the game.

Akashi frowned a little.

"How is Daiki doing?" he asked carefully, not really sure if it was okay to remind the blond that his partner was lying in a hospital bed, dying. Actually, it was hard on all of the Teiko's miracles. All of them were trying to cope with this in their own quiet way.

Kise looked up and his smile wavered for a second.

"He is fine..." he muttered and sat down to change his shoes. "As much as he could be in his current condition."

Akashi nodded, telling him that he understood.

"I will come to visit him in a few days once all of my exams end," the Rakuzan captain stated and put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "He will be fine, Ryouta," Akashi said unusually gently. "Daiki is the most stubborn man I know."

Kise didn't say anything. He just stayed quiet with his head bent down as he listened to his former captain's steps fading away. Pale fingers clenched around the expensive phone. He hoped Akashi was right because his own resolve was slowly fading away every damn time he went to visit Aomine and saw just how weak the boy was. It hurt to see him in this state.

Kise took a deep breath and gripped tightly the handle of the door before cracking it open and peeking inside. He tried his best to keep a happy smile on his face.

"Aominecchi!" he greeted the boy who was currently reading a book. "Sorry, I got stuck in a traffic jam!"

Aomine looked up and his tired blue eyes seemed to regain a little bit of the previous light as his gaze fell on the familiar face. He smiled a little and put the book down.

"Ah, don't worry, Rin kept me company up until a few minutes ago," he said and watched as his boyfriend walked inside and shut the door behind himself.

He didn't feel bothered at all at the mentioning of the nurse's name. She and Aomine had developed a strangely friendly relationship since she was the one to take care of him whenever he was alone. And Kise actually liked her.

"Ah, I didn't see her on my way... I guess I would stop by to say hello later," he set the bag he was wearing down and sat on the chair he had claimed his own. "How are you today? Feeling any better?"

This question had become a routine for them and now Aomine didn't feel bad for shrugging as his boyfriend leaned down for a kiss.

It was a quick peck on the lips but it was enough to warm Aomine up.

"Now that you are here, yes," he muttered and pushed himself up into a seating position.

Kise watched with a clenched heart how his lover struggled to fix the pillows but he didn't dare help. The last time he had tried to, Aomine had become furious, saying that he was not that weak.

"Ah, I am happy to hear that," said the blond and reached out to take Aomine's hand. "Akashicchi said that he would come to see you once his exams are over."

Aomine frowned as he played with Kise's long pale fingers.

"I guess I will have to endure it, right?" he asked with a faint smile. Although he was always complaining whenever his former teammates visited, he actually liked it. "How do you feel? Still crying because Akashi crushed you? Again."

Kise threw his head back and laughed. He had missed Aomine's teasing. Not that he was going to admit it.

"I am not a baby! I don't cry every time we lose a game, Aomincchi!"

Aomine snorted, not believing it for a second.

"Yeah, right, whatever you say..." then he let his head fall back and rest against the mountain of pillows. He felt like sleeping again. "Ryo came to see me today."

Kise hummed, telling him that he was listening, as he leaned forward and brushed a few strands of hair away from Aomine's forehead before placing a soft kiss on it.

"We will be playing against Seirin tomorrow."

The model knew just how much his boyfriend wanted to go up against his former shadow once again. That's why Kise nudged Aomine to the side and slipped between the sheets to embrace him.

"Hate to be rude, but you will be crushed tomorrow," Kise said softly and wrapped his arms around Aomine's form. "Without you, Touou stands no chances against Seirin."

Aomine made a sound at the back of his throat and burried his face in the crook of the blond's neck.

"I know that, moron!" he whispered. "I just wish I was able to play."

Kise tightened his hold and kissed the other's temple.

"You will play another time, for now focus on getting better. Kurokocchi and Kagamicchi are waiting for you. Just like everyone else."

Aomie stayed quiet, eventually falling asleep.

At some point of the night, Kise was woken up by Aomine's sudden cry of pain.

It was a kidney crisis. The cancer had reached his kidneys.