Thanks to unknown player, ObsidianEbony, AuroraxHime, shadow, CherriAme, For Eden, and D0M0 M0NSTER for reviewing. 8 reviews. I now have over 30 reviews. Me very happy.

So far the votes are:

Atobe – 1

Oshitari - 1

Sanada - 4 (I'm surprised. I wasn't expecting him to be so popular.)

Niou - 1

You can still vote. I wasn't expecting him to win. I might have rethink my story to fit Sanada or I might think of another idea. I still have some time since it will be a while before this story ends.

I know many of you are waiting for Yukimura but please be patient. I promised he will appear within one of the next ten chapters. So please don't hate me.

On with the story.

I do not own PoT.

CHAPTER 10

-YUKI POV-

I think I was cloud nine. Scratch that I was probably on cloud infinity. I wanted to jump and scream at how happy I was. I couldn't wait to tell everyone. I might have been going crazy with happiness. Nothing could wipe the smile off my face. I looked like an idiot. Actually I felt like one. But I didn't care.

Thankfully Tezuka was there to calm me down and pay attention and take down the details of what the doctor had said. I know the rates of success were low and there might be some other problems which I didn't listen to. But who cares.

I was literally skipping home. Tezuka decided to postpone his practice till later to bring me home so that I could tell the good news. And probably to stop me from getting struck down by a car since I wasn't really looking where I was looking.

Once I was home, Reiko oba-chan was worrying over me. "Yuki, the hospital called me and told me you went for a check up. What happened?" She was trying to pull me towards the couch and sit me down. She didn't even notice Tezuka behind me.

"Oba-chan calm down." She looked at me confused when she heard the ecstatic tone of my voice. "Besides we shouldn't leave guests outside."

She then spotted Tezuka. She blushed in embarrassment. "Tezuka-kun oh I'm so sorry. Please come in." Tezuka then sat on the couch next to me while my aunt went to get something for us to drink.

I was trying my best to wait for her to return before I told her the news. I kept shaking my legs in excitement. I couldn't stand it anymore so once she came out of the kitchen, I just blurted it out. "Oba-can I can be cured and I won't lose my voice."

She stood there stunned at my outburst. She almost lost her grip on the tray she was carrying. Luckily she caught it and quickly dropped it on the table and came towards me. She took my hands in hers and looked into my eyes. "Is it true? You can keep your voice?" I smiled the biggest smile I could muster and nodded my head. She quickly gave me a big hug not letting me go. I could feel all the tension in her body just fluttering away. Then she released me and looked at me with sparkling eyes. "Oh we have to celebrate. I'll cook a big dinner tonight. Tezuka-kun you should stay. Oh I have to call Ren." She quickly went off to busy herself.

I turned to Tezuka. "You should stay for dinner. Please. "

"Yuki didn't you hear about the details of the operation?"

"Like?" I asked innocently.

"The low risks of success or the chance that you might die in the operation is very high. Its still under the trial stages and so far only one person has gone through the operation successfully."

"Oh." It hit me like a rock.

"There are many factors to consider."

"But there is still that chance it will be successful. Even if the chance is small I'm willing to take it."

"Yuki. What Tezuka said, is it true?" I turned around to see Oba-chan. "That you might die?" I nodded. I was too caught up with the point that I didn't look at the details. "Yuki we have to discuss this."

But in my mind this had become the only option. I couldn't take any other way out. This was it. Any other method would be insufficient. "Oba-chan this is my only hope. I want to do this. I won't accept any other way."

"Oh Yuki." She came over and hugged me. "We just don't want to lose you ok. I'm sorry. We'll talk about this with your uncle tonight." I just gave a silent nod. "Tezuka-kun you are still welcomed to stay for dinner. It seems our Yuki didn't pay attention to any of the details. It would help if you were here to help with our talk tonight."

"Sorry but I think its best I go. I don't want to impose on you. I can write down the details for you on a piece of paper."

I quickly turned to him and took his hand. "Please stay. Please."

"Yuki you shouldn't force the poor boy." Said my aunt.

I continued to look at him and then he finally gave in and nodded.

"Yuki-san."

"Tezuka please just call me Yuki."

"Yuki, I'll go out and do some practice. I'll be back in about an hour's time."

"Can I go with you?"

"No." That was quick. "But..."

"You should help your aunt with dinner. You need some time to talk things over. Don't let her worry. Speak to her. She needs you." Then he left. I knew he was right. I just wanted to avoid the problem. I guess I owed her that much.

I entered the kitchen and put my hand on her shoulder. She turned around to look at me her face tainted with tears. She tried desperately to wipe them away. But I just hugged her and kept chanting "You have to be strong, I'll be fine."

I didn't know how long we stayed that way but it just felt right.

-TEZUKA POV-

I heard the doctor talk about the details of the operation. "There's a high risk. There is only a 30% success rate. The operation is still under the trial stages and there has only been one successful patient. If something goes wrong, the best case scenario would be that you lose your voice and the worse would be death. So far we are trying to contact the doctors in America for more information. It's not a 100% that we can get them to treat you and you would probably have to go to America to receive the operation."

I looked at Yuki-san. She was so drunk on happiness that she probably didn't listen to any of the details. She got blinded by the first sentence the doctor said to her.

I didn't want to disturb her but I wished she would listen. These were important factors to consider. But I think that no matter what anyone says she's already made up her mind. So now it's do or die for her.

The doctor promised to contact us with more details so we thanked him and left. I walked her home for fear that she might get struck down by someone or worse a car. She was literally skipping and not looking where she was going.

When she opened her front door her aunt came running out worriedly asking her where she was and dragged her to the couch. Only when Yuki mention me did she notice. She looked embarrassed and invited me in. She quickly went to get some refreshments.

I looked at Yuki and she was shaking in excitement. After a while it got a little annoying. But it ended as soon as her aunt appeared as she blurted out the news. I didn't think it was totally good news due to all the risky details but at the same time I don't think it was bad news as there was still a chance for her if she chose to path.

The two of them looked so happy. She had a smile so huge, something I hadn't in the past week where all she had were fake smiles and tears. I couldn't bear to be the one to convey the bad news. But I had to remind her. She couldn't do the operation without knowing all the facts. Once her aunt left I asked her "Yuki didn't you hear about the details of the operation?"

"Like?" she asked.

"The low risks of success or the chance that you might die in the operation is very high. Its still under the trial stages and so far only one person has gone through the operation successfully." I stated.

"Oh." It seems to have sunk in.

"There are many factors to consider."

"But there is still that chance it will be successful. Even if the chance is small I'm willing to take it." I knew she had already made up her mind.

"Yuki. What Tezuka said, is it true?" I saw her aunt behind us looking disheartened. "That you might die?" Yuki couldn't help but nod. "Yuki we have to discuss this." I could see that she just didn't want to lose her niece.

"Oba-chan this is my only hope. I want to do this. I won't accept any other way." She said determinedly. Nothing could change her mind.

"Oh Yuki." Her aunt walked towards Yuki and enveloped her in a hug. "We just don't want to lose you ok. I'm sorry. We'll talk about this with your uncle tonight." I could see that Yuki didn't have to her aunt so she gave in by silently nodding. Her aunt then faced me. "Tezuka-kun you are still welcomed to stay for dinner. It seems our Yuki didn't pay attention to any of the details. It would help if you were here to help with our talk tonight."

I didn't want to disrupt such a conversation so I had to reject. Besides I needed to practice. "Sorry but I think its best I go. I don't want to impose on you. I can write down the details for you on a piece of paper."

Yuki quickly turned to me and took my hand. "Please stay. Please."

"Yuki you shouldn't force the poor boy." said her aunt.

She looked at me her eyes literally begging so I could only comply with her wishes by nodding.

But I still needed to practice. There would be enough time for me to go to the nearby park and hit a few balls before dinner was ready. "Yuki-san."

"Tezuka please just call me Yuki." That would be slightly weird but since we had gotten closer it was only natural.

"Yuki, I'll go out and do some practice. I'll be back in about an hour's time."

"Can I go with you?"

"No." That was quick. "But..."

"You should help your aunt with dinner. You need some time to talk things over. Don't let her worry. Speak to her. She needs you." She needed to be with her aunt. Her aunt was worried sick. I could see it in her eyes even though she didn't voice it out. Yuki needed to comfort and assure her.

I left her house at the same time taking out my phone to call my family to let them know I was going to be late and not coming back for dinner.

By the time I reached back it was almost seven. As I neared her front gate I saw a figure in the distance. It looked slim. Then I saw the light brown hair and I knew who it was. Fuji. He didn't look too happy. The next thing I knew, Yuki had come out to greet me and we were locked in a triangle staring cycle.

-YUKI POV-

Tezuka had sent me a message saying that he was on the way back. When I thought I heard his footsteps I quickly rushed out. But what I didn't know was that there was another person out there. The last person I wanted to see. I soon as I walked out I regretted it.

-FUJI POV-

"Syusuke." I heard her call my name. I'd miss that beautiful voice calling my name. I just wanted to forget about everything and take her in my arms and not let her go.

But I remembered the extra person standing there. Why was he going to Yuki's house and the fact that Yuki was eagerly waiting for him to arrive just made me even more annoyed.

I gave Tezuka an irritated look and saw that there were tears in her eyes. Great, now she was unhappy that I glared at her 'not a friend but not a lover', Tezuka. I couldn't stand it anymore I just walked back into my house and went straight into my room.

I couldn't stand this. Why couldn't she just do what I wanted? I shouldn't care.

Right there and there I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't bother about whatever she does.

-YUKI POV-

He shot me a dirty look. He hated me, I didn't want that. I couldn't stop the tears from coming. He couldn't stand to be here anymore so he walked into his house. I ran back into the house, dropped onto the couch and I started to cry. Tezuka sat next to me and comforted me by patting my head.

I cried to act as naturally the rest of the night. But oba-chan and oji-san could probably tell the difference but at least they didn't pursue the matter. So at dinner we discussed the details of the operation. It was decided that we would visit the doctor the next day.

Tezuka had left and here I was lying on the bed thinking about everything that has happened. I would go for the operation. I knew the risks were high but I think I would rather die than live without my voice. I couldn't, I just couldn't.

Then there was another issue. Fuji Syusuke. Why do I let him get to me that way? I've already decided to let him go. I should stick to it. I shouldn't let him affect me anymore.

Fortunately, I was so tired I managed to fall asleep.

I had set my alarm to 5.30am the next morning. I had promised to make lunch for six today. Oba-chan agreed to help me since it wouldn't be easy. I'd felt slightly better since I had at least gotten eight hours of sleep. I stretched and got out of bed. I took a quick shower and headed downstairs.

Oba-chan was already in the kitchen laying out the ingredients. "Oba-chan ohayou."

She turned to me "Yuki ohayou. Did you sleep well?"

"Hai."

"That's good. So what do you think about making some Chicken Karage, fish with salt and an eggplant salad."

"That's sounds good. I was thinking of making some tempura ebi as well."

"I think we still have some prawns left, there is also some squid too."

"Let's get started then."

At exactly seven, the doorbell rang. "It must be Tezuka-kun, Yuki why don't you open the door and I'll just finish up here."

I opened the door and there he was. "Tezuka, I'm almost done. Why don't you sit down first." I ran back into the kitchen to see oba-chan wrapping up the six layer bento box.

"Are you sure this isn't too much Yuki?"

It didn't look that much before. "I should be fine and Tezuka is here too." I grabbed the bento box and headed towards Tezuka. I grabbed my bag and he offered to carry the bento box while I carried the bottles of green tea.

"Oba-chan Ittekimasu."

"Tezuka-kun, Yuki iterashai. Oh remember we'll be picking you up after school to go to the hospital."

"Hai." I shouted.

We rushed to school today since we had extra baggage today and we were running a little late so we weren't able to talk much today.

"Yuki." It felt nice like we were closer when he dropped the honorifics. I wonder what it would be like to call him Kunimitsu. "Yuki, have you made up your mind?"

"Yes. No matter what the risks or consequences are I will work hard to achieve the outcome that I want."

"Then I'll support you."

"I support you too but don't hurt your arm too badly ok." He nodded. "So when will be playing Ryoma?"

"Today."

"Eh?" That was quick. I hope he doesn't hurt himself especially since he got better.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice we had reach school. We were about to enter the school building when one of the freshman, Kachirou I think came running towards us.

"Buchou, Kaidoh-senpai and Momo-chan senpai are fighting. They won't stop."

Tezuka turned to look towards me. "I'll be fine. Just go. When I'm done I'll see you at the courts."

He left to solve the conflict and I was left to carry the bento box and bottles of tea up three flights of stairs. It wasn't easy but I somehow managed to. I left them under my desk and put my stuff down. I stared out the window to see Momo and Kaidoh running laps under the command of their buchou. There weren't many people on the courts. I guess it was still kind of early. Feeling that I'd rested enough I headed towards the courts.

When I was about to turn towards the courts, I was blocked by a group of girls. The leader, a girl with long black hair stepped out "Ikeuchi Yuki?"

"Hai?"

"We want to talk to you."

"I'm a little busy now. So if we could..." Apparently they didn't want to listen and they forcefully pulled me towards the other side of the school.

I was unexpectedly pushed against the concrete wall. That hurt. The leader suddenly slammed her hand against the wall next to me. "We don't like how you've been so close towards Tezuka-sama." Great fan girls. Just what I needed to start my day. "Don't think that because you are Eiji-sama's cousin you can get away with this."

"This is stupid. I'm just his friend nothing else."

"Are you saying that Tezuka-sama is not worthy? How dare you." The next thing I knew I had been slapped in the face. I used my hand to touch where I had been hit. It stung.

"What is wrong with you people? Just because you fawn over someone doesn't mean that person will fall in love with you. If you want something you need to go out and grab it by yourself."

"You dare to insult me." screamed the leader. She suddenly pulled out a knife. I knew fan girls were dangerous but not this dangerous. I might have expected some hits and bruises but not this. "I wonder if Tezuka-sama will look at you the same way if you have a scar. He probably won't will he." She had a crazed evil look on her face. How could I escape? Her cronies were surrounding us blocking any escape route. She was slowly raising her hand. Oh Kami-sama. I closed my eyes preparing myself for the pain to come.

"What are you doing?" shouted a voice. A very familiar one.

A fan girl cleared my uncertainty. "Fuji-sama."

-FUJI POV-

I had just walked Asahina-san to her class and was heading towards the courts. Out of the corner my eye I saw a group of girls pushing a girl towards the back of the school building. I didn't really care what they were doing. Maybe they were giving the girl a surprise. But then I spotted a familiar shade of green. I turned to look towards them. Wait I promised myself that I wouldn't get involved in her matters anymore. Then I saw that they had pushed Yuki against the wall. My Yuki.

Who cares about some stupid promise. I lost all rational and ran towards them. I turned the corner to see that their leader was threatening my Yuki with a knife. "What are you doing?" I shouted. They all turned to look at me.

"Fuji-sama." I heard one of the girls say.

"Get away from her." I screamed.

Their leader seemed to falter and she dropped the knife running away with her minions following her. I saw Yuki drop to her knees. I quickly went over to her side and I held her in my arms.

"Syusuke is that you."

"Yes. It's alright now. Are you hurt anywhere?" I asked worriedly since she hadn't open her eyes.

"No. Why are you here? Don't you hate me?" Why did she think that? How could see think that?

"Silly girl. How could I ever?"

"Yokatta. You don't hate me." Those were her last words before she blacked out. I saw tears roll down the corner of her closed eyes.

Then I realised. She was crying over me. How could I forgive myself? I'd made her cry.

Hope you enjoyed reading it. Not sure whether I stuffed too many things into one chapter. Please review and continue to read my story. Thank you :)