DISCLAIMER: I, Hikaru R. Kudou, am not the rightful owner of SD.
Author's Notes: Uh, slight OOC?
OrOoo: Upload five chapters at once? O.O But I haven't finished typing out the whole thing.
akane: Um, is this long enough?
ayu: Haruko is pathetic…sorry Haruko fans out there…eh, wait, seriously—is there really any?
Fiery Ice: ^^ In my biased opinion, Rukawa and Sakuragi shouldn't get Haruko either—I mean, since they belong to each other… *clears throat*
kristel, SephirothduMatrea: This is Haruko we're talking about na…it's nothing new to hear her mistaking guilt for love ^^;;
Keitsu Han'ei: Maa maa…before you come after me I think it's better if you read this chapter first… ^^
Yuuki: Hello, Yuuki~ ^^ I agree about Haruko being an idiot – though I don't think Rukawa appreciates it should I agree Sakuragi is one… *avoids Rukawa's death glares*
Leonora Cosmos: Thanks! I'm glad you like it!
Keax: Gomen, I've been too busy immersing myself in fic-writing I forgot to do anything else *bows apologetically*. You can call me sempai if you want to – but I don't think I deserve to be called one… ^^"

~

            "You hardly touched your breakfast," commented the nurse in reproof. "If you keep this up you're bound to get gastric…"
            "It doesn't matter to me anymore," responded Sakuragi flatly.
            "You have an attitude problem, young man."
            Sakuragi spontaneously threw insults and curses at the poor nurse.
            "Please behave!" said Dr. Matsuyama sternly. "She's just concerned to see your stomach empty!"
            Sakuragi did not bother to answer. He turned his head away from the doctor. His appetite had decreased dramatically, and it was a miracle he still retained his perpetual energy.
            "If you don't show good manners, I'll put your to sleep."
            "All the better."
            "On the contrary, my dear boy. Too much of that sleeping stuff may bring undesirable consequences. Stay silent."
            Sakuragi was bored to death. Before the fateful accident, he took for granted seeing the morning sun shine through his window. But now, he missed the sunlight, and was willing to give anything just to see a glimpse of it.
            He dreaded mornings. He did not get any visitor at that time, since Haruko and his friends were in school.
            "Sensei…" he murmured.
            "Yes?"
            "Give me that drug—the one that can put me to sleep…" And forget all this disaster temporarily…
            Dr. Matsuyama shook his head. "I said no. Nurse, just leave his breakfast with him. Sooner or later, his disobedience will wear off."
            Sakuragi snorted. Yeah, right…

            "He's an obstinate one," declared the nurse.
            "Aa, I agree. He's the worst patient I've ever had," replied Dr. Matsuyama as they walked out of Sakuragi's ward. He noted a tall figure walking in their direction. "Ah…pardon me…"
            The boy stared at him. The boy's cold eyes made Dr. Matsuyama felt slightly incomfortable.
            "I believe you're a friend of Sakuragi Hanamichi?" asked Dr. Matsuyama.
            He hang back before giving a nod. Is his state deteriorating?
            "Your friend hasn't eaten anything," explained the doctor. "Can you please try to advise him? It will help to rectify him, in a way."
            Advise the unbending do'aho? "Sure."
            "Thank you." With that, the doctor and the nurse departed.
            Rukawa quietly moved, entering the room Sakuragi was in. The redhead was trying to sleep. He did not look as if he was succeeding.
            "Argh! Damn it all!" He, frustrated, ruffled his hair and pummeled his head viciously.
            Rukawa stepped forward and held the redhead's wrist firmly. Sakuragi was surprised.
            "What the—" I know that grip…that can only mean…He wrestled his hand free. "Rukawa?"
            "You're hurting yourself," said Rukawa. He could not bear looking at the blind boy.
            "That's none of your business!"
            It is… "The doctor spoke to me, saying you've been missing your meals."
            Of all people, the doctor told HIM? "So I have. What's that got to do with you?"
            Plenty. "Why?"
            "You mean why I'm not eating? Because I'm not hungry."
            "Other than that?"
            Sakuragi flared up immediately. "Why you—need you ask me why? Are you blind too, Rukawa?"
            It's because you cannot see the food you're eating…"Why did you not ask for assistance?"
            "Yeah, right. From who? That irritating doctor?"
            "No."
            "Who?"
            "Me."
            Sakuragi burst out laughing.
            Rukawa felt relieved. He missed the once sickening laughter, after so long Sakuragi did not…
            "I think my hearing is failing me. I thought you said you are going to help me? Are you daft, Rukawa?" said Sakuragi after he ceased laughing.
            "No."
            "Seriously, Rukawa, what has happened to you? Did you knock your head or something?"
            Rukawa could not miss the mild sarcasm in Sakuragi's question. "I'm fine." I'm anything but fine, seeing you like this…
            Sakuragi had a doubtful expression on his face.
            Rukawa took the bowl of porridge on the table. "Eat, do'aho, or…"
            "I don't want to!" insisted Sakuragi. "Or what? Are you threatening me, you deaf fox?"
            "…or I'll make you." Without warning, Rukawa shoved a spoonful of porridge into Sakuragi's mouth.
            His eyes widened in pure shock. Once the ladle was out of his mouth, he made an attempt to spit the food in his mouth out. Rukawa's hand, however, had covered his mouth, not allowing the food to come out of it. Sakuragi was forced to swallow it down.
            Removing his hand, Rukawa murmured, "How was it?"
            Sakuragi was at a loss for words, completely bowled over. When his voice returned to him, he demanded, "What did you do that for?"
            "Feeding you."
            "Damn you, Rukawa! This genius is NOT a baby!"
            "You don't have to be one."
            "You…"
            "Open up." Rukawa held a spoonful in front of Sakuragi.
            Even without looking Sakuragi could tell he was blushing madly.
            "Open, or I'll just thrust this down your throat."
            "Oh, I hate you!" He opened his mouth all the same, letting Rukawa to feed him for the second round. And the third…the fourth…
            "Do you really?"
            "What?" asked Sakuragi as he chewed.
            "Do you really hate me?"
            "I…I don't know."
            Rukawa stirred Sakuragi's breakfast slowly, watching him intently as he did so. "It's because of her, isn't it?"
            "Haruko-san?"
            "Yes, her."
            "I'm not sure anymore. She—she told me that she loves me…and I could hear the truth in her words."
            "You love her too." I'll change that one day…
            "Well, I can't say I don't." A nervous smile.
            Rukawa stared at him. Is that joy…or uncertainty?
            "Rukawa?"
            The Shohoku Ace raised his head.
            "How come you're here, and not in school?"
            "I woke up late," lied Rukawa.
            "So you decided you should visit me?"
            "Maybe." Decided long ago…
            "Teme! How can you be unsure!"
            Rukawa goggled at the porridge. "How's the food?"
            "Uh…I don't know. Why don't you try it yourself?"
            Rukawa tasted a small portion of it. He flinched. "Too watery."
            "Is it? I didn't notice that…" I thought it tasted rather nice…
            "I'll bring you some edibles next time," said Rukawa.
            Whoa! "I'm not sure if the doctor allows…"
            A snort. "Who cares? With food like this it's a wonder patients can recover."
            Dumbfounded, Sakuragi voiced out, to test his theory. "So, um, what happened to the vase?"
            "Vase? What vase?" Rukawa asked innocently after awhile.
            "You know perfectly well what I'm trying to tell you! The vase I threw at you yesterday."
            He knew… "It's at home."
            "Ah…" What else should I say? Should I ask him what he was doing here yesterday? Maybe next time…
            The silence that had settled in was making them both felt uncomfortable. Rukawa was so used to the loudmouth, annoying Sakuragi Hanamichi. It was amazing how he could change so much into a quiet person.
            "Why don't—" began Sakuragi.
            The words apprehended Rukawa's whole attention.
            "Why don't we make peace?" Where did THAT come from?
            The best suggestion he has ever come up with; the one I've been waiting for…
            "How about it?" He must think I'm acting strange…
            "Alright."
            Did he say what I think he said? "You agree?"
            "Hn."
            Too many shocking incidents in a short period of time will be the death of me…
            "I have to go now. I shan't tell a soul about my feeding you."
            "And I won't tell anyone of your visit. That is, if you don't want me to…"
            "They don't need to know."
            "Are you coming tomorrow?"
            The question halted Rukawa is his steps. "Do you want me to?"
            "Do stop answering my question with another question. It's irritating me."
            "I would, if you want me to."
            "Alright."
            He actually said yes…"Goodbye."
            "Goodbye…and, oh, Rukawa…thank you for your visit, honestly."
            Rukawa turned to look at him for the last time. The sincere appreciation was clearly obvious on his face.
            "Finish your meal." Rukawa departed.
            Sakuragi sat still for a long time, a momentary doubt in his mind—was it indeed Rukawa? His hand searched for his porridge. He dipped a finger into the white substance, and sucked it. He frowned.
            "It is watery…"

            "You're eating your breakfast at last!" stated Dr. Matsuyama.
            "It wasn't easy…" mumbled Sakuragi.
            "Your friend did a good job, if I may say so myself."
            "Rukawa?" Sakuragi blurted.
            "I asked him to persuade you. You don't mind, I hope?"
            Sakuragi shook his head, apparently deep in thoughts. I can't believe him…
            Dr. Matsuyama's eyes fell on Sakuragi's untouched lunch. "You'll still eat your lunch, I reckon?"
            Sakuragi's fingers reflexively caressed his lips. "I…I'm not sure…"
            "Hanamichi!" The caller appeared in front of the door.
            "Youhei?" asked Sakuragi.
            Mito Youhei and Sakuragi's group of friends (a.k.a. Sakuragi Army) were visiting him.
            "At least that part about his broken neck is false," remarked Noma with a thankful sigh. "And the one about both of his legs broken as well…"
            "They thought I've broken my neck and my legs?" asked Sakuragi. Merciless bunch of…
            "Well, yeah…that and a bunch of other things…I don't think we need to mention them to you, though…" Yuji coughed, hiding what suspiciously sounded like a snicker.
            Youhei gripped Sakuragi's hand. "So sorry for not coming earlier, Hanamichi. We have been too busy…"
            "Right. Too busy playing Pachinko," answered Sakuragi, dryly.
            "No, no! It's nothing like that!" Yuji shook his head in denial.
            "We rushed here right after school is over." Youhei sat beside Sakuragi.
            "So how're you feeling?" his friends asked in unison.
            Sakuragi sighed. I hate that question…
            "By the way, Hanamichi," said Youhei. "Haruko-chan will come a bit later today. Is that okay with you?"
            "Ha—Haruko-san? Ah…sure." Sakuragi smiled forcedfully.
            Youhei watched him vigilantly. Something's amiss…
            As his friends related to him what happened in school, Sakuragi barely listened to them. Something—or someone—was lingering in his thoughts…

            Rukawa was restless. He could hardly sit at one place without feelings of anxiety bothering him. Should he attend school that day, everyone would notice how weird he was behaving. Of course, they would not link him to Sakuragi Hanamichi, right? Right?
            Of course…Maybe…Definitely.
            But he was amazed at his own bravery, to had just feed Sakuragi casually, without any irresolution on his part. And it was another shocking story to see Sakuragi accepting his kind offer.
            Does that mean I still have a chance? To be his one and only?
            Unfortunately he still had no answer to that.

            Finally, I'm alone.
            Haruko had gone after visiting him, as she had promised.
            What has the world come to? How was it possible that so many unexpected events just came propping up from nowhere thus making his life more of a puzzling riddle rather than the easy-going one he had encased himself in? Why must everything take a drastic turn right after the accident?
            He actually consumed his dinner.
            Wow.
            Haruko and her confession of love.
            Was that for real?
            Rukawa dropping in to see him. Moreover, he made sure he ate.
            Was it really him? Somehow I believe so…
            He was looking forward to ask Youhei for his opinion, but it would be an absurd step to take with the rest of the army nearby.
            Why must all the questions hang about in his brain when he was feeling most depressed?
            He was unsure of the whole lot.

[Flashback]

            "Ne, Hanamichi…" asked Haruko. "If you can have one wish, what will it be?"
            "To be able to see again," he had replied impulsively.
            There was a pause before Haruko answered. "Me too, Hanamichi…me too."
            And she kissed him.

[End of Flashback]

            Unpredictably the kiss was not as electrifying as he had thought. It was consoling, nothing more.
            What has gotten into me? Am I THAT sick?

~{to be continued}~

More Author's Notes: Is the length of this chapter satisfactory? I seem to be rushing to complete this fic that it's quite hard for me to make it longer. Besides, I'm in the habit of writing one-shots, but this is my first long one. Sorry, I really am! *bows* Leave a review, na? Thanks!