Seeing, REALLY Seeing!

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince Of Tennis. I do, however, own the idea of the story. Oh…it's Eiji's Point of view!

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The Kikumaru Family

Oldest brother – Akio Kikumaru - Age 22

Older brother – Kenta Kikumaru - Age 18

Oldest sister – Cho Kikumaru - Age 19

Older sister – Yasu Kikumaru - Age 15

Youngest - Eiji Kikumaru - Age 14

Mother – Akemi Kikumaru – Age 39

Father – Daiki Kikumaru – Age 41

Grandmother – Naomi Kikumaru – Age 55

Grandfather – Isamu Kikumaru – Age 61

The Fuji Siblings

Oldest sister – Kimiko Fuji – Age 21

Older brother – Shusuke Fuji – Age 14

Youngest – Yuuta Fuji – Age 13

Other Siblings

Oishi's sister – Ayaka – Age 7

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Chapter 7 – Letters

Saturday

I watched my mom nibble at her lip as she drove down the freeway. Her normally bright red hair (I get most my genes from her) was dull and flat. Her blue eyes that are normally filled with a bright shine were even duller than her hair. I have to wonder, if that's her…what do I look like?

"Mom?" I question lightly, settling my frail-looking hand on her shoulder lightly. She murmured her attention, so I continued. "Don't be so worried, nya! You have to be there for Akio, Cho, Kenta, and Yasu! Not to mention Dad, Granny and Gramps!" I informed her brightly. "I'll be fine! If I have to stay a night or two, I'm going to send letters to my friends! They'll be there for me, nya!"

She smiled briefly at me. "Yes…I know…but I still worry about you! I never will stop!" I laughed and hugged her tightly, acting brave. Inside, I wanted to cry and rely on her for comfort. I know that I can't though. She needs comfort right now. She is 39 and her 'baby's' going to…(Gulp) die…

When we got to the hospital, I was sent to room 14B. It was a room with only one bed. They are going to examine me, but the outcome is kind of clear.

"Eiji Kikumaru?" I nurse said. She had dark black hair and kind, dark brown eyes. She seemed to be in the mid-twenties. She walked over to my bed and bent down so we were face to face. (I was lying on my stomach while she was standing.) "My name is Rei Sayuri, I'm gonna be you're night-nurse if it is recommended that you stay." Her voice was like silk.

"Umm…Ok…Ms. Sayuri!" I beamed. She told me to call her Rei. "Ok…Rei?" I questioned lightly. "Do you know what's going to happen to me?" They had just completed. My doctor is Yuuto Toyo.

"Um…sorry but I don't. Doctor Yuuto will have to tell us when he comes back," she told me kindly. She raised her eyebrows and murmured, "Speak of the devil…"

I looked over and saw the man coming toward us. "Hey Doc. Yuuto!" I joked. "What's the case, Doc?" I muttered, indicating to the folder he was carrying.

"Not good, Eiji…" His face was sad. "We are going to have to keep you here for treatment for a few weeks." He tugged gently on his wire-rimmed glasses.

"A few weeks?" I gasped. I looked at my mom and then at Rei. They nodded sadly, understanding the doctor's words.

"Akemi, you're ok with this? If you are, you have to sign this form." He led my mother out.

"If I have to stay a night or two, I'm going to send letters to my friends! They'll be there for me, nya!"

My words I had spoken to my mom rang through my head. "Um…Rei…?" I looked up to the raven-haired nurse. "Can you put these in the mail for me? I want to tell my friends, but I can't bear to tell them in person…" I sniffed lightly. Tears were filling my eyes as I realized this is much more serious then I had first thought.

"Sure, Eiji-kun!" I watched as Rei walked out of my new room for the next few weeks.

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Monday (Fuji's POV)

"Hey! Shusuke-Chan!" I looked up and saw my older sister, Kimiko, waving an envelope in the air. "This came in the mail!"

I got up and slipped the envelope out of her slim fingers. "Thank you, Nee-Chan. I wonder what it is?" I pondered aloud. I looked at the writing on the outside. "That's Eiji's writing!" I slipped my nimble fingers under the lip of the envelope and slowly and gently opened the letter.

Dear Fuji,

If you get this letter, than that means I'm in the hospital. You were right when you said something was wrong with me. I should have told you but I was a coward. It's just…I have cancer, Fuji. They can't get rid of it either. It is in both my lungs and severally. That's why I have been getting such coughing fits. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I couldn't bear to see your face when you found out. You and Oishi are my best friends and always will be. I sent a letter to all of our friends on the team. I…I'm sorry I had to tell you this. You may phone my Mom or Dad and find out what room I am in if you care to visit me (And I know you do!)

From Your BESTEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD,

Eiji

I couldn't believe it. Eiji had cancer. Eiji had incurable cancer! Eiji was going to die!

"Nee-Chan?" I asked politely. "Eiji's in the hospital. Could you drive me and Oishi there after school?"

"Oh…that's sad to hear. Of course I'll drive you to the hospital, Oto-kun!"

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(Oishi's POV)

"Hmm…a letter for me? From Eiji?" I inquired, perplexed. I plucked it gently from the table and opened the white paper-envelope up.

Hey Oishi!

Yeah, this is Eiji! Before I say anymore, I have to say I am sorry. I kept something away from you. I can't break this to you slowly, so I will just say it bluntly. Oishi, I am sick, very sick. I actually have cancer. They can't get rid of it either. It is in both my lungs and severally. I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you! Right now, I am in the hospital. I sent a letter to all of our friends on the team. You may phone my Mom or Dad and find out what room I am in if you care to visit me (And I know you do. You're worried about me, right?)

From you apologetic friend,

Eiji

"What?" I cried, staring at the messy writing in disbelief.

I jumped when my little sister, Ayaka, tugged on my pants. "What's wrong?" she questioned. I guess I cried out a bit louder than I had thought.

"Oh…no, Ayaka!" I laughed, easily tricking her into believing I was fine. What a gullible sister I have. "I just read something that surprised me.

Ayaka smiled brightly and let go of my pant leg. "What was it?" Curse her and her cuteness! It's so hard to keep things away from her.

"It's nothing, Ayaka…nothing…" I drifted into my thoughts as I spoke that lie. Oishi, I am sick, very sick. I actually have cancer. They can't get rid of it either. It is in both my lungs and severally. Oh god, my best friend has cancer!

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(Kuwamura's POV)

"Hey, son?" I look up from the sushi roll I was putting together.

"Yeah, dad? What is it?" I walk over to my dad and look to see what he was holding in his hands. It was an envelope of some kind. It was white with messy handwriting written in aqua/blue ink. It was from Eiji, I concluded.

"Here…this came in the mail for you today, Takashi. It's from the cat-boy!" he said, tossing the letter to me.

'Cat-boy?' I questioned silently, shaking my head at his blatant behavior. 'I wonder what it says…'

Dear Takashi,

I know I don't normally talk to you, let alone send you letters! I have a good reason, though. BELIEVE ME! Kuwamura, I am in the hospital right now. I have cancer in both lungs, so it is incurable. I am scared, but I know you, as my friend, need to know about this. I sent a letter to the others. Hopefully they read it right away! You may phone my mom and dad if you want to know what room I am in.

From your friend,

Cat-boy (I heard your dad use it before)

I blushed at his last sentence. He heard my dad say that? But more importantly, Eiji was going to die from severe lung cancer! I will have to visit him today.

"Hey? Takashi, you ok?" I looked up and only realized the tears slipping down my cheeks.

"No, dad. I'm not…"

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(Ryoma's POV)

"Hey…Ryoma…" I turned to face my over-annoying dad. He had a letter in his grasp. "For you, Chibi!"

I walked over there and snatched the paper out of his hand. "Thanks, dad," I retorted. I stalked over to my room, pausing long enough to pick up Kalpin.

"Hey, Kalpin? Wonder what this is? It's from Eiji, I think…" I slipped my fingers under the flap and pulled out the aqua-written letter out.

Dear O'Chibi,

I never can tell if you like me as a friend, or the fact that you can rip me off at the burger place. Just kidding. I know you're my friend! Well, the thing is, O'Chibi, I have cancer. I'm going to be short with this. If you want to visit me, ask my mom or dad for my room number. The others got letters, too.

Eiji

"Kalpin…" I murmured as I finished reading. "Eiji has cancer. That's what he was hiding from Fuji this week…" I hug my cat tightly to my chest. "I'm worried about him, Kalpin…"

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(Momo's POV)

"Ooh! A letter for moi! Oh yeah!" I tear open the letter and read the words written inside. I realize it's from Eiji-senpai!

Momo,

This is Eiji…or course. I…don't want to worry you, but I have cancer. Yeah, that's right, I have cancer. I wrote this a while ago, before I came to the hospital. At the moment I am really tired, so I am keeping this short. To visit, ask my mom or dad for my room number in the hospital.

From,

Eiji

"Wah-what?" I cried, scaring the life out of my mom. 'Eiji has cancer…'

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(Inui's POV)

'Hmm? A letter from Eiji. What could it be about? I have an 86 percent idea that this is bad news…' I sipped my finger under the flap of the envelope, bracing myself for the worst. Nothing could save me from the shock I was about to read, though.

Inui-San,

How are you? Um…I can tell you already know this is bad news. The truth is, I am in the hospital with severe lung cancer. Too severe. I will not live, Inui. I am scared, but I know I have to be strong. If you want to visit me, ask Fuji for my room number. He will know by now.

Eiji

'He has cancer?' I sigh. I never saw that coming. 'Eiji has cancer.'

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(Kaidoh's POV)

"A letter? Nobody sends m a letter. Fssshhhh!" I hiss at the opposing piece of paper. 'It is from Kikumaru-senpai?' I open it, not knowing why my senpai would send me a letter.

Dear Kaidoh,

This is Eiji. Ya, I know this is unexpected but Fuji was right. There is something wrong with me. I have severe cancer in both lungs, meaning it is incurable. I hate to say this to you because you're my friend. I'm not sure if you think of me as a friend, but I think you as one. I'm at the hospital now. If you want to know what room I am in, in case you want to visit me or something, you can ask Fuji.

Eiji

"Eiji is in the hospital? And he's going to die from cancer? Oh my god!"

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(Tezuka's POV)

"Hmm…Tezuka-kun," my mom said, handing me an envelope. "This came in the mail today."

"Thank you, mother," I muttered. I opened the envelope and scanned over Eiji's messy scrawl.

Dear Tezuka,

Haha! I used your real name, not Bucho! Well, you know that day you and me were at the school training? How I got in that coughing fit? That wasn't a normal coughing fit. You had a right to be worried about me. I have cancer. I won't survive it. It is in both my lungs and is incurable. I should have told you and the others when I first found out (Which was two weeks ago). I gave you the most information, because I can trust that you won't tell the others and panic with them. I also trust you to be there for me when you know that my days are numbered. I wrote this letter after the others, when I was at the hospital. The number of my room is 14B. Please visit me, Tezuka. I am so scared!

Eiji

"He trusts me more to tell me everything than Fuji and Oishi. I am…touched. But Eiji is going to die." Tezuka held back tears as he realized that as he finally let somebody into his mind, that person is going to die. His first true friend s going to die.

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At practice

"So…we all know about Eiji having cancer?" Fuji questioned, blocking out his emotions. "Oishi and I are going to the hospital today. My sister is driving. Because she owns a van, I think I could con her into giving all of us a ride."

Tezuka sighed, relieved. "That would be appreciated, Fuji. I am going to cancel practice for today so we can visit him."

The others all agreed.

Little did they know someone else got a letter.

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Sakuno,

I was contemplating on whether to give this to you or not, but I realized that you are my friend as much as the guys are. I don't want to alarm you, but there isn't much hope in succeeding in that wish. Sakuno, I have cancer. Right now I am in the hospital, room 14B. I would appreciate it if you visited me but could handle you not. You should know that I am not going to live through this. The cancer I have is in my both my lungs, explaining why I was so easily taken by coughing fits and lack of oxygen. I thought about how I should write this, but unfortunately this was the best I could come up with. I just wish I could tell you something, but now I can't. Sorry. I think you were the hardest person to explain this to, but one of the most important. You are my newest friend, but a good one. I hope this won't be too dramatic for you. But you must assure me in one thing. Whatever happens, you have to move on. I don't like it when you dwell on something you had no power to change. If you don't come, let me say this now…I'll miss you, Sakuno. Forever and for always!

Regrettably (Having to tell you this monstrosity, that is),

Eiji Kikumaru

"Eiji…" the young girl sobbed. "Why you?"

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It's kind of an Eiji/Sakuno story. He does seem to hold fondness for her, but then again…he holds a fondness for all his friends. Even Inui and Kaidoh!

Review…

-LoNeLy aTHRuN ZaLa