Disclaimer: I do not own prince of tennis. I only own the characters I created.

Yellow Rose and Blue Orchid

Two weeks passed in a daze for Ryoma. Tezuka had talked him into eating on the third day after Sakura had been hospitalized, but he would only eat a small snack; and then he finally was pushed into the shower on day 5. Ryoma was lost in some black hole in his heart; he was too far gone to be reached, but Tezuka kept trying anyway.

Finally, after 2 whole weeks…Tezuka talked him into playing tennis. Ryoma hadn't spoken much at first, but he was talking more now. His face was less pale, and his eyes weren't nearly as hazed over.

"I feel like I can't breathe…" Ryoma severed the ball fiercely across the court.

"What are you talking about, you're breathing just fine." Tezuka rallied the ball back with force.

"You remember how much of a loner I was before I left for America. Hell I was even more of a loner there than I was here…and now…it's like…I don't know." Ryoma was trying hard not to stumble on his words.

Tezuka's heart burned a little as Ryoma spoke. He was well aware of the change that had occurred in Ryoma's world; and that it was now completely shattered. Sakuno hadn't come back to the hospital once. Well at least not while Ryoma was in the room or awake. Every morning there were fresh flowers in the vase next to Sakura's bed, and her hair was combed thoroughly then placed neatly over her shoulders and onto the pillow behind her. It was obvious that Sakuno was showing up, but it was like she was avoiding Ryoma.

"It's like you can't even breathe anymore without Sakura…right?" Tezuka finished Ryoma's sentence for him almost without skipping a beat.

"It's not just her…it's Sakuno…she was the one who opened my world to begin with…without her, I don't know that I ever would have even spoke to Sakura. Without her, I don't think I would have had the capability to love so much…falling in love with her was the best thing to ever happen to me, and yet she is avoiding me now…and I feel like I can't breathe without her." So he has noticed Sakuno's presence, sharper than I thought in your present state of mind Echizen Tezuka thought.

"Maybe it's just hard for her you know. Like maybe seeing Sakura like that triggers painful memories…or something." It was a terrible excuse, Tezuka knew it…and so did Ryoma. "I guess that doesn't sound like her huh? Not to mention, if that was the case…she wouldn't show up at all…sorry man, I tried." Tezuka forced a little bit of a smile over his face.

"She thinks it's her fault…" Ryoma's voice trembled as he spoke…his voice was low, and his words were filled with sadness.

"THAT'S INSANE MAN! THIS ISN'T HER FAULT! HOW THE HELL COULD THIS BE HER FAULT?!" Tezuka wasn't sure why he was yelling. He didn't know if he was mad at the idea itself…or maybe mad because he thought Ryoma blamed her too.

"Of course it's not her fault…if it was anyone's fault it would be mine, but I know that isn't true either…I have beat myself up for 2 weeks, telling myself I could have prevented this, but I know that's not true…I just wish she would come back…I…I…I love her so much, and I miss her…I neeeed her right now…" Ryoma let Tezuka's serve rush past him as he spoke. He locked his eyes on the ground, and tried hard not to cry.

"Just tell her that…" Tezuka said as he made his way up to the net.

"I don't know what to say…" Ryoma's head dropped a little lower.

Sakuno tried her best to stay away from the hospital, and she thought she had done a pretty good job the past two weeks. She would only show up when the room was empty, or when the boys were sleeping. She had managed to avoid what she feared the most, Ryoma.

Sakuno quietly made her way down the hospital corridor that afternoon. She checked at the nurse's station, and was told that the boys had left…tennis rackets in hand. That made her smile, she was sooooo glad Tezuka had talked Ryoma into playing tennis. She was worried he might never play again after this.

Sakuno strolled into the quiet hospital room. She placed her jacket and her bag on the couch and cracked open the window. The breeze felt wonderful…summer was turning into fall slowly, but surely. She removed the old flowers from the vase, and retrieved fresh water. She didn't know Sakura's favorite flowers…she never asked, I wish I had now…I wish I had asked more about her…I wish I knew more about her. Today's flowers were a single yellow rose, and a single blue orchid. They reminded her of the two sets of eyes that captivated her soul eternally.

Once she had the flowers set up, and the room clean…she moved on to her favorite task, brushing Sakura's hair. The nurses' had already given her a bath, which Sakuno would have happily taken care of if she had showed up earlier, so Sakura's hair was silky smooth and still a little damp. Her head bandage was taken off two days ago, which made things much eaiser.

Sakuno let her nimble fingers glide through the silky black strands as she gently combed through the dark locks. Sakura was so beautiful…and Sakuno couldn't hold back her gleaming smile as she peered down at her. She was lost in her task, absolutely oblivious to the world around her.

All of a sudden her heart stopped. Sakura's cool hand was resting on her bare knee. Sakuno was frozen…with anxiety, hopefulness, fear, and astonishment. Her deep chestnut eyes were as wide as they could be…and she waited…staring down at Sakura's face…praying to God that she would open her eyes.

"Sakuno…is…that…you?" Sakura's eyelids raised slowly, revealing the most beautiful shade of blue that Sakuno had ever seen…it was enough to make both the sky and the ocean look dull.

Tears of happiness poured out of Sakuno's eyes, but she remained frozen in the moment. "Yes…Sakura…it's me." Her voice was barely a whisper. She sat watching Sakura blink her eyes into focus. Her was heart was swollen…she had never….ever…been so happy before. A flood of emotions poured over her in strong waves. She could no longer keep herself still…her whole body writhed in the flood…she cried hysterically…her body slid off the side of the bed, and she landed on her knees on the floor, with Sakura's hand gripped tightly in hers.

The sound of Sakuno's loud crying echoed down the hallways of the hospital. As soon as Tezuka and Ryoma heard it…they sprinted towards the room. Ryoma's heart was racing…his blood was pounding through his veins. His head was nearly spinning so fast that he couldn't see straight. Please don't let her be dead….please don't let her be dead….she can't be dead….she can't be dead…tears feel from his eyes, just the thought of what could have happened broke his world into pieces.

The boys stopped dead in their tracks when they got to the doorway. They were held in place by Sakura's serene blue gaze. Ryoma couldn't think anymore. He had already stopped breathing…and his heart was no longer beating…he was sure he was dead. Maybe he was dreaming. He wasn't sure, all he knew was that in this moment…everything was perfect; and he never wanted it to change.

"Ryo…? Ryo…? RYOMA!" Sakura's voice was filled with elation. Her eyes lit up brighter than they ever had before. Tears started to fall like rain from blue skies. She took her hand from Sakuno's grasp, and just like a small child, she stretched her arms out…singling him to come to her.

To be continued