Yay! Last chapter coming up! Don't worry folks, this'll be a happy ending. I don't like tragedy fics too much even though I like reading them. Besides, I can't write them. I end up crying if I try. I want to get over with this 'cause I've got another idea, but I made myself a policy saying that I can't start on another fic until I finish the others. On with the conclusion!
DISCLAIMER: DON'T. OWN.
Chapter 5"It's nee-san."
The words echoed in Kamio's head as he went through practice hitting balls as always. He could tell by the panic in Shinji's tone and from what he heard about his sister that she wasn't looking good. Kamio had rushed Shinji over to the front where Shinji's mother drove off towards the hospital with him.
"Kamio, doushita no?" Kamio was snapped out of his thoughts when Ishida shook his shoulder. "You've been out of it all day. Tough break-up or something?"
"Nan demo nai," replied Kamio.
"Oi, where's Shinji today?" yelled Mori.
"I don't know," replied Sakurai. "He was here today. I saw him at lunchtime."
"Kamio, do you know where he is?" asked Tachibana. The redhead stared at the ground. He didn't want to tell them his friend's whereabouts, but he couldn't hide it.
"He's at the hospital, to see his sister," said the redhead.
"The hospital?"
"His sister?"
"Hai, his sister has a special health condition when she was pregnant with Shinji's nephew, Hiroki. She got diabetes mellitus, but sadly it got worse after she gave birth. Shinji's family's been searching for a kidney donor, but they haven't been successful."
"That still doesn't explain why he had to visit the hospital," said Ishida scratching his head.
"He said that his sister only had about a month to live. A month's almost up. She might be in critical condition."
"Good point."
X-
"She took a sudden turn for the worse. Ibu-san is in critical condition, she may not pull through. We'll give her 24 hours, but…her chances are low. You can go see her."
The woman tugged on the racket letting her son know that they were going to move and started walking fast toward the ward one hand holding the racket and the other one carrying the younger Ibu. She kept her pace but still rushed at the same time. Mrs. Ibu saw the number plaque and threw open the door. The Ibu daughter slowly turned her head.
"'Kaasan…Shinji…Hiroki," she whispered.
"Rika, you shouldn't speak, save your energy," said Shinji's mother.
"But if I don't speak…I won't be able to tell you…what I want you to do."
"Anything, what do you want?"
"When I die…I want you…to…" she began to say when she suddenly started coughing violently. Shinji felt around quickly until he felt the emergency button and pressed it with the palm of his hand. Immediately several nurses came rushing in and started doing their routine. Shinji moved aside to allow them room.
"Doctor Yamazaki!" Mrs. Ibu turned toward the doctor.
"I'm sorry Ibu-san, I'm afraid there isn't much we can do for her." The woman was stunned speechless as tears began to roll down her face. Shinji tried to hold back the tears, but they were irrelevant as the floodgates opened. Little Hiroki didn't know why his grandma and uncle were crying, but he walked over to the bed and touched his mother's cold hand.
"Mama." The Ibu daughter used her last amount of strength and kissed her son on the cheek.
"I'm sorry, Hiroki, Mama has to go now. Take…care, okay?" The young Ibu nodded dumbly not knowing what would happen to his dying mother.
"Shinji…I want you to…" The last words were barely audible, but it was loud enough for Shinji's now well-trained ears to hear. The cold lifeless hand fell onto the white bed as life left its owner who knew that she wouldn't make it.
Shinji's mother turned and hugged her son tightly tears rolling down her face. The blind youth did nothing as the liquid pain in his heart rolled from his sightless eyes and down his cheeks. He couldn't see his sister for the last time and he never would.
X-
The next day Kamio noticed there was something relatively different about Shinji. The blind youth seemed to have a serious case of the Blues. Even though he managed to keep up when they had to make a beeline for class to avoid being late the redhead also noticed that Shinji wasn't taking any notes. Normally he would be scribbling away.
Kamio suspected that the Ibu daughter had indeed died and that the blind youth still needed some time into getting over it. The redhead knew perfectly well that the two siblings were relatively close compared to some other siblings. To having to bear the fact that a relative you love so much is no longer in this world is a cruel thing to bear especially at a young age.
The bell rang signaling for the lunch break. Hungrily Kamio took out the bento his mother made him today. He never got that too often and was only used on special occasions. Since today was his sister's birthday all three were given bentos. Kamio bit into some sushi and chewed on it happily. His mother made the best!
He almost lost his appetite when he saw Shinji. The blind youth didn't even take his lunch out or buy the school's lunch. He had his head propped on his two folded arms and many would get the impression that he was sleeping.
"Shinji must be going through a tough time," thought the redhead as he bit into some inari sushi. "Best if we give him some time."
Kamio didn't know how right he was until afternoon practice. During the practice matches the blind youth didn't seem all that energetic and even his 'Spot' and 'Kick Serve' seemed to only have half the power today. Of course, this didn't go unnoticed by the others. Tachibana suggested in taking Shinji to see the nurse, but the said youth shook it off insisting that he was fine.
"Shinji you haven't been doing well all day," said Tachibana. "I'll excuse you from practice today. Go home and get some rest."
Seeing as there was no point in arguing with his captain Shinji allowed himself to be lead outside to the front. He called his mother that he was excused early and after driving up toward the front the car drove away from Fudomine.
X-
Three days dragged by as lazy as a turtle. Shinji continued to come to school and participate in tennis practice. By the end of the second day he seemed to be back to normal. He started to mumble again, to some people's annoyance, and his skills in tennis were up to their usual standards once again.
Then one day Shinji didn't come to school. Kamio found it puzzling as he waited for his blind friend to pull in outside the front, but when practice was about to start he gave up and hurried toward the courts to prevent from being late. He managed to make it in time gasping out why he was almost late.
The seat that was normally occupied by the blind youth was empty when Kamio showed up at class along with other students. Thinking that it was probably because he needed to calm down after his sister's funeral the redhead shook it off and began to take notes for his first subject, History.
X-
The bell finally rang and Kamio gathered his things together before heading towards the tennis courts. The Kanto tournament was coming up and they had to be ready for it so it was inevitable to being late; or that's what he told himself.
As he was rounding the corner he spotted a bus at the front. And getting on it was the Fudomine regulars still in their school uniforms.
"There you are Kamio!" yelled Mori. "Come on!"
Confused, the redhead quickly dashed to the bus and climbed on. The doors closed and vehicle headed for the traffic. Kamio quirked an eyebrow at the team; they seemed to be somewhat…excited.
"What's going on?" asked Kamio finally have found his voice.
"Kamio, you didn't know?" asked Sakurai in disbelief. The redhead shook his head still thoroughly confused.
"I forgot you had to go yesterday because of your sister's birthday party," muttered Tachibana. "Yesterday, Shinji told us that he was going in for a transplant-"
"TRANSPLANT?" yelled Kamio in disbelief.
"Calm down, Kamio, it's nothing serious," said Ishida. "He went in to get an eye transplant. His sister donated her eyes to him."
"They're installing her corneas (that's a part of the eye) into him."
"In other words-"
"Shinji's going to see again!"
Excitement poured into Kamio as he heard the news. He felt like doing fifteen cartwheels. Shinji was going to see again! He couldn't wait!
X-
The operation was already in progress when the boys arrived. The 'Operation In Progress' light was turned on already. Kamio was even more anxious than when Shinji was first in that room when he was attacked. This would decide if he would receive sight again or face blindness for the rest of his life. The rest of the team was as anxious as their teammate. Some like Mori couldn't sit still. Others like Tachibana were trying to busy themselves to keep their minds off Shinji.
Finally the 'Operation In Progress' light was turned off. Immediately all six boys stopped what they were doing and ran toward the door as if they were in a 200 meter race.
The operation was a success.
After the operation the Fudomine regulars were able to see their teammate. Shinji had to wear bandages around his eyes since the doctor said that the eyes would take another two days before the corneas would kick in. Until then, life would continue as it always did. Kamio took Shinji to practice and class, they trained for the Kanto tournament, and did homework at night.
X-
"Ready Shinji?"
"Hai."
Shinji scrunched his eyes as the cloth bandages were unraveled. He was getting nervous. What if the corneas wouldn't work? Then the operation would have been all for nothing. One by one each layer was removed taking the pressure off his eyes. Nearby the rest of the regulars were waiting anxiously.
"Open your eyes."
He did. At first nothing happened. Then he saw some light, then outlines, then faded images, and finally clear vision. He gasped looking around at the blue sky, the tennis courts, and finally, Kamio.
A smile was gracing his features.
OWARIWhew! I'm finally done! Man, that ran quite a bit. Oh well, anyway, in case if you're wondering about the bandages part I got a review from Risa-chan saying that it would have been the logical thing if Shinji had an operation on his eyes. Review kudasai minus the flames. Ja ne!