"I'm so sorry that you had to hear about it from your friend," Celena said as she was putting new pillows onto Hitomi's bed. She had moved Hitomi to a wheelchair and put her next to the window so that she could look outside.

"It's okay. It's hard enough for you because you're a nurse. You must have to tell people these things all the time," Hitomi responded. Celena looked at her with pitiful eyes. She realized that Hitomi was depressed and that she had no more spirit left inside her. She had an urge to try and change her mind about life. She wanted to make her realize that there was hope.

"Why don't you go outside and enjoy the fresh air?"

"Is that even possible?" Hitomi asked indicating that she was in a wheelchair and that she was wearing hospital clothes. Celena smiled nervously and nodded her head.

"You're right. I guess I never should have asked you."

"No. It was nice of you to ask me. If the offer still stands then yes I would like to go outside."

"Really? Where? You name the place and I'll take you," Celena said breaking a smile.

"See this park?" Hitomi said looking back outside as Celena moved to stand next to her.

"Yes."

"I want to go there. I want to sit underneath those cherry trees." Celena looked at her and frowned slightly.

"I don't know if I can take you there. I mean it's behind the hospital and it's so far away. I don't think the doctors will let me."

"I can take her," a voice said from behind them. Hitomi and Celena both turned to see whom the voice belonged to. Standing in the doorway was a boy with raven black hair with some of it getting into his face. He wore a loose red t-shirt and had on a pair of black jeans.

"Who are you?" Celena asked.

"Van," Hitomi said plainly.

"Hey you remember my name," he said still smiling. Celena looked from Van to Hitomi then from Hitomi to Van. Celena began to walk to the doorway and while she walked she had on a big smile on her face.

"Celena where are you going?" Hitomi asked.

"I'm going to leave you two alone to talk," she responded with a giggle and with that she left.

Van still stood in the doorway and looked at Hitomi in her hospital clothes. He could see that she was helpless and that she needed to depend on someone now. Secretly, a deep feeling inside him had hoped that she would depend on him and no one else. He saw how the sunlight shined on her face giving it an inhuman look. It seemed as if she were a goddess. Then she turned to look at him straight in the eyes. He saw that her eyes were an emerald green color. She looked beautiful and it didn't matter whether she was in her hospital clothes or not. 'It's weird. I've only just met Hitomi and yet it feels so right to like her. Something about her attracts me to her,' he thought, 'Whatever. I'm sure she doesn't feel the same way about me. Maybe sometime later in the future, we'll fall for one another. But that's in the future and who knows what could happen within that short amount of time.'

'I'm falling for him! What the hell am I thinking!? I just met him and now I expect him to like me back. I just wanted to be his friend and yet a part of me wants for him to just hold me in his arms and keep me safe. That's all I ever wanted . . . for me to be protected by someone. My heart beats so fast when I'm around him. No. I'm not going to give myself up to that . . . inevitable feeling,' Hitomi thought.

"So are we going to go to that park?" Van asked as he walked into the room and looked around.

"I guess," Hitomi responded. Van walked towards the small stand next to Hitomi's bed and touched the black roses that he had gotten for her. Hitomi watched him gently cup one of the now dying roses into his hand. She watched his fingers trace the petals and then saw his face turn to her with a gleam in his eyes. Walking over to her, Van began to push the wheelchair towards the door.

"What if I'm not supposed to go out?" Hitomi said worried.

"I'll have you back before dark and besides you need to have a little fun once in a while," he responded coolly.

The park was even more beautiful than she imagined. Young couples sat on the grass holding one another. Children played on the playgrounds, screaming and yelling while chasing after one another. There were some people that were quietly sitting on the benches, reading the book that was placed in their hands. Everyone looked so happy. Off to the side there were two cherry trees standing side by side. Hitomi thought that it was strange for there to be only two cherry trees, but it was still beautiful. Just to stand under the trees, or in her case sit in a wheelchair and look at the trees in awe, was amazing and she felt that there was some kind of magical aura emanating off of the trees. Hitomi was getting up from the chair when Van offered his hand for support. She stared at it for a while deciding on whether or not to take it. Cautiously and slowly, she slipped her hand into his and stood up. His hand was warm and soft to touch. A sense of electricity passed through the two people as they looked at one another's eyes. They were forming a powerful bond between themselves. Their bodies were almost joining with one another as they filled in the gap between them. Their faces barely inches apart. Both wanted to hold each other and chase away all of the other's fears, but at the same time they both wanted to pull away, afraid to get hurt. Their lips were getting closer and closer. Hitomi could feel Van breathe the very same air that she was breathing. Suddenly Hitomi turned her head quickly and looked at the two cherry trees.

"I'm going to go sit under the trees now," Hitomi said letting go of Van's hand and walking towards the trees. Van sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair. The bond that connected the two people was broken. Then he too walked over to the shade and sat down. He became calm and was slightly relieved that the bond had been broken. Hitomi on the other hand, was nervous. Her heart beat at one hundred beats per minute. She couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened there. She couldn't believe that fact that she was about to kiss him. This dark raven-haired boy had attained all of her passions for life, ambitions, but most of all love. He had begun to change her very soul. His very existence challenged everything that she believed in. She turned her head slowly and took a glance at him. He was looking at the children playing in the playground. A small smile spread across his heavenly face as he chuckled slightly.

"What's so funny?" Hitomi asked turning to see what he was looking at. She saw a little girl playing in the mud with a little boy the exact same age.

"What are the odds that those two will fall in love?" he asked Hitomi still smiling.

"I don't know, but it rarely happens that way."

"Maybe. When are you coming back?"

"Back? Back where?"

"To school."

"Probably tomorrow. It depends the doctor said."

"Oh." The sun was turning into a small red and orange glow. Hitomi knew that the sun was setting and that time was coming to an end. 'I don't know what to do. Should I tell him about my illness? No. I won't tell anyone except for the ones who already know. At least I can trust Yukari. Besides, what are the chances that I get better and that we'll fall in love and I'll end up telling him later?' Hitomi thought. Getting up she headed back to the wheelchair and sat down. Van followed after and took her back to the hospital. When they reached the room, Van folded and put the wheelchair away and watched Hitomi as she crawled into the bed with difficulty.

"Here. Let me help. You're never going to get anywhere like that," he said as he tucked her into the bed and made everything comfortable for her. Hitomi was helping him help her and as she was tugging at the sheets of her bed, when Van's hand touched hers and that same electricity passed through them. Embarrassed Hitomi quickly retracted hers and looked in the opposite direction. Van slipped one of his hands into his pocket and had the other behind his neck.

"So I'll see you at school tomorrow?" She looked at him with her solemn eyes and nodded slightly.

"Yes. I'm sure that I'll be there."

"Okay. Well just to let you know. Mr. Foreman is making us do a play in English class."

"Really?"

"Yeah, Just giving you the heads up." Then he smiled at her one last time and walked toward the door. On his way out he shut the door and stood there for a while. Leaning against the door to the hospital, he sighed. 'I don't get it. The more time I spend with her the more I begin to feel for her. I want to do more for her. I want to give my whole heart to her,' Van thought then suddenly he smiled to himself, 'I'm falling in love . . . with her.'

A/N: OMG!!! I finished this chapter! Sorry this took soooooo long, but it's time to cram for me because finals are here!!! This sucks anyways . . . hope you liked this chapter!! If any questions at all email me or if any suggestions email me too haha . . . I'm always open for those kinds of things . . . don't forget to review this story!!! It's kind of funny that love strikes in the weirdest places . . . and the whole play thing in the story?? It's not Romeo and Juliet because people use that play too much and I don't want to use it . . . I want to be original haha . . . *whispers* if you have a play that relates sort of to this story then email me . . . because I'm having the hardest time finding one :)!