Title: Nothing Last Forever

Author: Rings of Saturn

Genre: Romance/Angst

Pairings: Ruhana/HanaRu, a slight MitKo and SenKosh

Status: 3/ ? (probably 10)

Rating: PG -13

DISCLAIMER: Just read the last last chapter, me too lazy to write.

A/N: Ok, so bored now and I only have the mind to write this story, so here I'm. I can't believe I still have the time to write! I have mountain of homework waiting for me. *sob sob* Forget it, I'm running from reality! Anyway, R&R!!!!! And thankz for all those ppl who reviewed!!!

* *: A/N note

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Chapter Three: Bloom Passion *really, where do I get this weird and stupid titles anyway?*

WATERFALL HOSPITAL: DOC. LINA'S OFFICE

The bright light of the burning sun shone though the dark room as someone slowly removed the white curtains. A nurse came in and before saying anything, dropped a folder on to Lina's desk and with a swift nod, left the room. Getting back to her desk, Lina, a woman in late thirties stared at the folder dropped by the nurse. Her features were plain, normal Asian eyes and tanned skin, yet her eyes shone tiredness and pain. The room was in deafening silence as she flipped though the folder, her eyes wondered aimlessly over the page. Is there really nothing I can do? Her jumbled up brain thought.

Stuffing the folder back on the desk, Lina took a long drink from her cup and bit back the bitter taste of the Chinese tea; at least it keeps her awake. After few moments of silence, Lina went back to her computer and start typing a report that will be in the hands of the boy, Sakuragi Hanamichi shortly, with a form for operation. Please don't give up this chance like your mother, Sakuragi... Lina's heart clenched in pain as she remember the death of her best friend, her friend that she knew before anything, a friend that she will never forget.

^*^*^

AT THE SHOHOKU HOSPITAL WING

Rukawa gaze at the sleeping form on the bed, he had been staring on to that face for the past half an hour but he couldn't seem to be able to loosen his worries even the tiniest bit. Sakuragi shifted a little and tilted his head sideway, his arms folded neatly on his tummy, with fox patterned blankets *I want one!!!* placed on top of the redhead (which was needed to be put back on redhead now and then because the of tensai's vigorous kicking skills ;D) Sakuragi face was facing Rukawa, and slowly he parted his lips... Rukawa gulped. *Just kiss him!*

Are you trying to make me kiss you deliberately? Rukawa lowered his face just above Sakuragi and couldn't help but gaped at the softness of the redhead's skin as his lips gently brushed against the redhead's tender skin.

Why am I feeling this way, do'ahou? Why are you able to stir these feelings in me? Rukawa shook his head to get his mind away from such emotional thoughts, he was never good at his feelings, and now the do'ahou is just making his feelings more mess up. Baka, why did you have to enter my life? Thinking it's time to leave, Rukawa prepared to get up but a voice stop him.

"Rukawa...?" It was the first time Sakuragi had called he's biggest rival's actual name in a nice way, but Sakuragi was too tired to care. "What happened?" Sakuragi begin to sit up and his visions became clearer and he notice he was in a hospital room *duh*.

"After you left the gym, you fainted."

"Oh."

Uncomfortable with silence and his teammates sudden quietness, Rukawa blurt out the question he dearly wanted to ask.

"Why did you say that?"

"Say what?" Confused eyes stared up into deep blue ones.

"What you said in the gym." *Can't he say more than five words???*

"...." Nothing, Sakuragi didn't expect Rukawa to ask him that, anything, but THAT. He didn't know what to say, all he could do was stare stupidly ahead and waited for the silence to eat him up.

"Why?" Another unexpected word escape Rukawa's mouth, but that's not what surprise Sakuragi, it was the tone of Rukawa. He sound.... so painful and sad, like everything around him had left him and he was desperately trying to know why.

"Why...? Why... why would you care anyway?" Couldn't stand the piercing stare from the Rukawa and the different tone of his voice, Sakuragi turned away. Please... please leave me alone, I don't want to talk about this!!! Sakuragi screamed inside his head.

"....." I don't' know why I care, but the pain in my heart when you are sad and the emptiness in my heart when you are not by my side cannot be push away no matter how hard I try. I can no longer run away from my feelings.... Rukawa lifted his hand and turned to cupped Sakuragi's chin and turn him to look at him. "What make you think I don't?" He asked softly, staring straight into those honey-brown eyes.

NO! Don't look at me like that! Stop looking at me with those eyes, I can't stand it! I can't let you change my decision! Sakuragi shook his head from Rukawa's clasp, missing the rejected look that flashed though Rukawa's eyes, but was soon gone. "It doesn't matter if you do or don't, my decision is final. I'm NOT playing basketball." Sakuragi tried his best to make his voice strong yet the quiver in his voice betrayed his true feelings.

Rukawa also noticed the hesitant in Sakuragi's voice. "You can't just GIVE UP! What happened to the promise you made that we will achieve to be the best? Where did your ambitions and dreams go? Where's the undying determination to become the best? Where did that all go?!" Rukawa didn't care if he was loud *when is he ever loud?* he didn't care if he's losing his cool, all he wanted is the redhead, all he ever wanted is the redhead back. *sweet!*

Stop it! Sakuragi tried to block out Rukawa's voice by clasping his hands over his ears and shaking his head but Rukawa pulled his hand away and continue talking. Please stop it.... Sakuragi silently pleaded as he remembers clearly his dreams of becoming the best. His memories of his first every lay-up, his first ever rebound, his first ever three-point shoot, his first ever dunk... so many memories clouded in his mind he could hardly breath.

"Shut up!" Couldn't stand the painful memories any longer, Sakuragi grabbed his arms away from Rukawa's tight clasp and covered his ears again. "I don't care about basketball! It's nothing to me! I don't care about becoming the best! I don't care about my dreams! I'm not playing!! I'm not going back, I'm not going back... I'm not going back....I'm not going back..." Sakuragi's voice became softer and softer until you can hardly hear him. His body was shaking terribly and he will soon lose his sanity if this topic goes on.

"Stop lying to yourself!!! Don't pretend you don't care?! Have you forgotten your vow that you will one day beat me? Answer me!" It pain Rukawa so much to see the one he care most suffer, his heart break in two just watching his redhead in this state.

"Stop it! I don't care!!! It's just a stupid game! It's just rules, rules, and rules. I'm tired of it! It's just a total meaningless boring game! Now shut up and leave me alone!"

But no, Rukawa didn't leave him alone, instead he threw a punch straight at Sakuragi's cheek *bad Rukawa! Sakuragi's a patient!* *BANG* Sakuragi landed painfully on the wooden floor, and his left cheek burned with pained and it stung just to talk. Rukawa stood above him, his eyes blazing with such anger and fury that was never seen before.

"How dare you punch me?! You baka Kitsune!" Sakuragi kicked Rukawa in the stomach in return and shouted a bunch of curses as Rukawa felled to the floor clutching his stomach in pain.

But Rukawa didn't answer him, instead he chucked another punch at Sakuragi again, and well.... the fight continued with the two boys desperately trying to make the other understand.

"WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU TWO DOING?" An VERY angry doctor, with smoke coming out of her head, slammed open the room's door and she gave the two boys death glares. Both boys shrank back in fear as the scary doctor who was looming above them. "THIS IS A HOSPITAL!!! GET OUT IF YOU WANT TO FIGHT!" With that, the angry female witch kicked both Sakuragi and Rukawa out of the door, totally ignoring the bruises on the two boys.

The two boys didn't say anything when they were outside, just stare at each other and in the end, Sakuragi turned away. Rukawa stare at Hanamichi's back as he slowly (and wobbly) walked out of the front gate. After seeing his do'ahou disappeared completely from view, Rukawa then turned and went to fetch his bike. I WILL get you back, Hanamichi.

^*^*^*^

Few days after that, each member of the team tried to persuade Sakuragi to come back, but he just shooed them away time after time (even when he was punched five times in a row by Gori). After few days, they stop bothering him yet they didn't give up, they can only hope that the guntai will be able to persuade Sakuragi. At last, just 3 days before the official game with Ryonan *is that right?*, another visitor came to see Hanamichi.

"Sakuragi-kun?" The same sweet voice that was always able to cause fluttering feelings in Sakuragi's voice interrupted his quiet nap under the tree.

"Haruko-san?" Sakuragi's voice was tired, and he looks thinner, his eyes losing the fire that it usually held, replacing it was only a dull look.

"Can I speak to you for a few minutes?"

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Boring chapter, sorry -_-. My brains stop working after overload of test, anyway, Haruko was suppose come out in the next chapter but since this chapter wasn't long enough, I had to add her in :P I can't wait to use her to mess with Rukawa and Sakuragi relationship*evil grin* Don't worry Haruko fans, I won't do anything bad to her. Also, is this chapter a bit weird? The character seem a bit OOC *well, they always OOC* and the conversation seem to go so slow *sigh* me too lazy to check, but don't worry I will check it.... someday :P Well, I had this really mushy bit in it... but in the end I cut it out, it's so damn freaky mushy!!!! I can't believe I wrote that!!!! Also, Sendoh is coming next chapter!!!!

Please R&R!!!!!!!!!

email: waterbaby12us@hotmail.com

Rings of Saturn