Opening

They were still there, standing frozen at the same place where they last saw Ohgami on the ground, shaking. The look on his face was frozen in their heads; his mouth was partly open and his eyes were wide open, the pupils of his eyes were covered in his trembling eyelids. Even Sakura stared at him in shock as she was wheeled into the ambulance.

The medical teams struggled to calm down the shivering Ohgami. His body temperature dramatically dropped to 33 degrees celsius; hypothermia was already evident. Luckily, his condition went stable when he reached the hospital but the battle's outcome has not yet been decided.

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Chapter 3: When a flower blooms

"You may see her now."

Ayame looked up to the owner of the voice. The owner of the voice, a nurse, had a smile which indicated something good has happened. The still sleepy vice-commander stood up and followed the nurse to room 631. The nurse opened the door and let the vice-commander in.

"Ayame-san."

"How're you feeling Sakura?" Ayame took a chair and sat beside the bed of Sakura while the nurse checked her dextrose.

"I'm a little better now demo, how's Ohgami-san?"

"There is still no word yet from the emergency teams. Don't worry, I'm sure he'll be fine. We can trust him."

Sakura looked at the nurse in hopes of hearing a satisfactory reply about Ohgami's condition.

The nurse was aware of her patient's questioning look and replied, "I will check on him so don't worry, okay?"

"Arigatou."

The nurse smiled and left.

"Rest now, Sakura and don't worry about a thing. Ohgami-kun will be able to come out of it."

Sakura lay her head down on the pillow, unsure if she should relax or not. Then, she started to pray that Ohgami survives.

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Ohgami's eyes were partly open. He was unsure if he was alive or not. He could only see darkness.

Is this what he gets?

Did he deserve this for saving a girl's life?

Was this the result of saving the girl whom he secretly loved?

Was he meant for Sakura?

His eyes were now wide open and no matter how hard he tried, he was still standing on eternal darkness which stretched towards infinity.

Then, a ray of light shone. He walked closer to the ray; faint beeping noises could now be heard. The closer he walked towards the ray, the beeping noises grew louder and louder followed by voices; Voices of plea.

His walk broke into a run and he abruptly stopped right in front of the ray. The voices can be heard clearly now.

'Check his temperature!'

'It has dropped to 29.7 degrees celsius!'

'Doc! His heart rate has become more unstable!'

'Just keep trying! There is still hope!'

'Hold on, we're losing him! We're losing him!'

'Keep track on his heart rate!'

'It is beating at a slower rate!'

'Ohgami-san, fight it! Onegai!'

"Sakura-kun?" Ohgami, amidst the other voices, tried to hear that particular voice again. Was he given a second chance? He looked at the ray which is, as it turned out to be, his second chance. It was now gradually getting smaller and smaller as his chance and his life fades away.

Without hesitation, he stepped into the ray and a strong white light burst out, blinding him. His blurred vision slowly cleared up and men and women in green clothes gradually became clearer.

"He's back, doc."

"All vital signs normal."

"Good job, minna. Let's bring him to the recovery room."

Ohgami listened to the relieved voices all around him and concluded that he made the right decision. The beeping noise had already sounded normal and he could feel his heart beating relaxedly. And before he was wheeled out of the emergency room and before he took the chance to sleep, one word escaped from his mouth:

"Sakura-kun..."

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"Hello, Sakura-han!" Koran greeted, as the others followed behind.

"Minna-san! How are you already?"

Kanna chuckled, "Heh, I think that should be our line."

"Oh, well then, I'm better already."

The others cramped around Sakura's bed and engaged themselves in conversation.

"By the way, do you know how Ohgami-san is?"

"Gomen Sakura, we don't know. The nurses and doctors didn't want us to see him yet."

"I'm sure the taichou is fine." Maria added.

"It's okay, minna." Iris spoke, in a cheerful tone, "Iris can feel him resting peacefully."

Sakura smiled and thanked them for comforting her. The others stayed with her for a while before deciding to get themselves some lunch.

The nurse came in after a few minutes of their departure. "I just had word that he is fine and will be staying in the recovery room for a while."

Sakura was so overjoyed and she was on the verge of jumping off the bed and running to the recovery room except that she had dextrose on so she reconsidered the thought. Anyway, at least her Ohgami-san was fine.

"We're sorry but he can't have visitors yet; he needs a lot of rest from what he had gone through."

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A day has passed and Sakura was allowed to go out of her room.

The first thing Sakura did was pay a visit to Ohgami as soon as she knew his room number. Luckily for her, it was just at the other end of the hall. When she reached the front of the door, she knocked and partly opened it. To her relief, Ohgami was sitting on his bed, staring at his hand.

Ohgami, unaware that Sakura was peeping, answered, "Come in."

Sakura came in and slowly closed the door behind her, smiling when she saw his face relax. The atmosphere in the room was hotter than the other rooms but she didn't mind. She knew that Ohgami needs it for his recovery. "Hey,..." she spoke softly.

Ohgami was longing to hear that voice again ever since his ordeal. It was a sweet greeting, just like the others' except that Sakura's was much sweeter. "So, how do you feel now?"

"A lot better. And you?"

"Still recovering, but a little better." [now that you're here] he then put his hand down on the bed.

Sakura sat beside him on the bed and stared into his azure eyes while he stared back into her brown eyes. "I'm so glad you're okay. Well, we're glad you're okay." she placed her hand on his and held it. It had no warmth in it; just coldness but she didn't care.

Ohgami felt her warm hand soothe his cold one and simply smiled at her and held her hand in turn. "I will be fine as long as I have all of you, the Hanagumi. It will take more than that to bring down Ohgami Ichiro."

Sakura felt her tears well up in her eyes and she hugged him, weeping tears of joy in his chest; their hands still held each other. She pulled her hand free and used it to rub her tears off while Ohgami used his to gently caress her hair.

"It's okay, Sakura-kun, it's okay." He felt Sakura's warmth ino his body. It was as if she was returning it to him.

They stayed in that position for a pretty long time. Ohgami started to worry because Kayama might be watching them from the window but he reassured himself that no idiot would ever try hanging around on the ledge of the sixth floor of a building. He returned his gaze back at Sakura. She was already fast asleep in his arms.

He gently lifted her and lay her on the other bed. She stirred around for a bit then smiled, her sleeping face showed signs of peace.

"I was wondering where Sakura was."

Startled, Ohgami turned and his eyes focused at the tall, red-haired woman.

"I should've known she is with you." she continued as she walked in the room.

"Oh, hi, Kanna. Um... arigatou for... visiting me. You should've... knocked, you know." Ohgami stammered.

"No problem, taichou!" and she pat him on the back. "I have a feeling that your,... relationship with Sakura is much... deeper than just friends, hmm taichou?"

The two sat on the chairs and Ohgami rested his head in his hands, covering the little pink spots which are starting to appear on his face. "No, not really. How could you tell?"

"I just saw you two in an...um, how should I say this?... Intimate moment, am I right?"

"You're just seeing things."

"Nah, nothing deceives the eyes of Kirishima Kanna!"

[I'm at a loss here...] "...uh,..." he covered more of his face as the pinkish spots grew bigger. "...by the way, where are the others?"

"Oh, they're outside talking to your doctor. Well, I'll go check on them. See ya in a while."

"Yeah, bye." [well that was close.] he waited until Kanna left the room before he focused his gaze on the peaceful-sleeping Sakura. [Ah, Sakura-kun. You don't know how much my feelings are towards you. They are much deeper than you can ever imagine.]

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"He was very lucky that he is a strong man. Many people have survived hypothermia but only a few, like him, had ever survived that degree."

"Well, he is a sailor and all..."

"I agree, Sumire-han. Ohgami-han is a pretty strong guy, ya?"

"Hai. Pretty strong." [I wonder if it was I who was the one drowning. Will he save me like that? Oh, how he cradled Sakura-san in his arms... So sweet! I must show him how Kanzaki Sumire can please a guy and win his affection! But first, I have to get RID of that country bumpkin.] "Ohohohoho!"

"What's so funny Sumire?" Maria interrupted. Puzzled by the sudden change of mood from Sumire.

"Huh? I j-just remembered something funny." she replied, playing with her fingers in nervousness.

"Well, considering Ohgami-han's situation, this is no laughing matter." Koran spoke, fixing her ponytail.

"I was not laughing at him!"

"Demo, Iris saw a weird smirk in your face. Are you planning something bad on oniichan? Bad, bad Sumire!"

Sumire showed an irritated face at the small French girl. "I was not!"

"Okay but whatever it was, we must be grateful that the taichou is fine."

"Ah, minna!"

The girls looked at the newcomer.

Koran shifted her glasses, "Kanna-han!"

"The doctor told us that oniichan is fine!" exclaimed a happy Iris.

"Hai! The taichou is fine and guess what?"

"Guess what what?" Koran asked.

"I just found Sakura sleeping with him."

"EH!?"

"Not in that sense! I mean, sleeping while taichou watches over her."

"Oh,"

Sumire's face turned into an angry frown. [That will change in a few moments once I step in! But how?...]

The doctor excused himself because he had other things to attend to. The others agreed and he left, leaving them to visit Ohgami in his room.

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That face...

It was pale...

Was... cold... dead...

Those hands... carried me... saved me...

also... pale...

I... want... him... to live... forever...

If possible,... with me...

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It was silent... Only the sounds of the breathing of two people remained. They sounded as if they breathed as one.

[As one... a dream I couldn't grasp.] Ohgami stared at the ceiling. The fine, white light was bright enough for one to be blinded just by looking at it for a long time. [Well, at least her life is enough for me.] He looked at his female companion on the other bed and saw her hand raised up, reaching for something.

Ohgami quickly stood up and went over to her, somehow knowing what she was reaching out for. Without hesitation, he sat down and took her hand. He knew he shouldn't do that; his hands are still too cold to produce comfort. He didn't mind though, Sakura smiled and her eyes slowly opened to greet his.

"Ohgami-san, thank Kami!"

"I know, Sakura-kun, I know..."

They looked at each other with smiles when the door suddenly opened...

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This chapter is still a bit long but I think I should post the first half of it already to some of you anxious readers especially to my friend, Yoru no Angel, who has started giving me death-threats. Anyway, Yoru no Angel, thanks for the suggestions and the encouragement. More power to you! And to all of you out there who had reviewed my two stories. More power to you all!

Please wait for the fourth chapter! It might take a while (to much to do, too little time!) Please, R&R! Reviews give me the drive to push me on whether positive or negative.