I've been bad and haven't been writing! slaps self hehe. Dishing out the much awaited Chapter 2! Thank you all for the lovely reviews!

Sitting, Waiting and Wishing: Chapter 2

Ryoma sat alone in the dark apartment, holding onto the ring. It shone under the soft moonlight. Ryoma stared at it and with a sudden rage, hurled it against the wall, hurling his hatred, sorrow and misery with it.

The ring made a small clattering noise as it hit the floor, which was magnified by the silence in the apartment. A small sob was heard and gradually crescendoed into a howl as Ryoma bent over and cried for the first time in his life.

"Are you feeling better?" Fuji asked, as Sakuno sipped on the warm coffee. The two were in Fuji's apartment after Fuji had kindly offered to put her up since she did not want to go back to her own house lest her grandmother ask arkward questions.

She put down her coffee mug and nodded slowly, smiling through her tears. Fuji sighed inwardly. Sakuno had always been one not to let her emotions show too easily and even now, she still had a wall around her. He lifted his hand and touched her tear-streaked face gently, stroking away the tears.

"Such a pretty face should not be ruined by tears. Its not worth it."

The sudden warmth of Fuji's hand took Sakuno by surprise and she could only remain silent. Fuji looked a little surprised but managed to recover his posture, thankfully.

"Why not you go take a rest? I tidied up the guest room already." Sakuno nodded meekly again and got up to leave. Fuji heard the door close with a soft 'click' and settled back into the comfort of his armchair. He closed his eyes.

After all these years, was it really true that he had still not given up hope yet? Fuji shook his head to clear his thoughts, opening his eyes. He looked up in surprise to see Sakuno standing in front of him.

She smiled shyly. "I thought it would be rude of me not to wish you goodnight. Oyasumi, Fuji-sempai."

"Fuji will suffice. I'm only two years older than you but you make me sound like I'm twenty years older." She laughed a little.

"Oyasumi then, Fuji-sem..Fuji-san." She turned to head back to her bedroom but not before turning around for a second and adding softly, "Arigatou, Fuji-san."

Just as she was about to walk back, Fuji spoke. "Do you still love him?" She hesitated for a moment.

"No." She turned to look at him.

And for that brief second, their eyes met. That moment vanished as she left for her room, closing the door.

Fuji picked the phone up and dialled, calling the only person he knew who would keep calm despite the present calamity. "Tezuka? I hope I'm not disturbing you but..."

Momoshiro pounded furiously on the door. He looked at his watch and frowned. The young man was due to meet him at 10am for a morning coffee but it was 11am already and he was still not ready.

"Echizhen! I'll make you treat!" He threatened but there was still no response. Just as he considered kicking the door open, the door slowly creaked open and Ryoma appeared.

"What?" He blinked, unfamiliar with the harsh light. Momoshiro stared in surprise. Ryoma looked scruffed and weary, and he smelt of alcohol. A lot of alcohol.

"Oh my gosh." He muttered under his breath. Something must have happened. "You were supposed to meet me today!" Ryoma yawned.

"I was? Sorry." He turned and Momoshiro followed him. Ryoma stumbled and fell forward into the sofa.

"Watch it!" Momoshiro yelled and to his relief, he found his junior snoring away. He looked in distaste at the cans of beer lying around. Where was Sakuno?

He stepped on something hard and lifted his foot to see a ring. The ring looked familiar. Oh yes! It was the one Ryoma had got for Sakuno for White Day a long time ago and unfortunately for Ryoma then, Eiji and him had spied the freshman then proposing to Sakuno and had teased the hell out of the brat. But why was it on the floor?

Spying a crumpled piece of paper lying nearby, he picked it up and unfolded it. There in Sakuno's neat handwriting, Momoshiro read through it. When he finally finished it, he understood why Ryoma was in such a state. He fished out his mobile phone and dialed a number. Two clicks were heard and a familiar voice came on.

"Nya Momo! What's up!"

"Eiji-sempai? I have bad news."

Ryoma groaned and rolled over. His forehead was burning and he had a queasy sensation in his stomach. He tried to get up, but fell back as his legs gave way.

"Easy ochibi!" A strong pair of arms propped him up and rested him on the sofa. Ryoma struggled to open his eyes.

"Eiji-sempai?" He asked groggily as he stared up into the redhead's eyes. Eiji looked at his junior worriedly as Momoshiro came rushing in with a wet towel, pressing it against Ryoma's forehead.

"Ugh."Ryoma jerked forward to puke, and fortunately, Momoshiro was prepared with a plastic bag. Eiji sat besides Ryoma and patted his back. Ryoma groaned again, obviously uncomfortable.

"When did you arrive?"

"Nya ochibi! Get some rest first!" Eiji exclaimed and motioned to Momoshiro to carry the lad to his bed. Ryoma protested weakly but could do nothing. Before falling asleep, Ryoma muttered Sakuno's name softly. The two closed the bedroom door behind them and sat on the sofa.

"You mean Ryuuzaki-san broke up with Ochibi? But they are getting married! And they love each other!" Eiji exclaimed. Momoshiro had called the redhead earlier about Ryoma's current funk which prompted the redhead, who was a famous radio personality by now, to cancel his interview.

"If only Sakuno knew when…Echizhen didn't exactly give her a date." Momoshiro sighed.

"But they've been together for the past 11 years! She can't do this to him!"The redhead wailed, flapping his arms. "They are meant for each other!"

"I don't know but Ryuuzaki probably has her reasons. She won't make such a hasty decision."

"That's true. Poor ochibi. So much for 11 years of love..." The two settled into silence. Just then, Eiji's cheery handphone ring tone pierced the air and Eiji apologetically answered it.

"Nya Fuji! What's up?" Eiji greeted cheerily. His face grew solemn and Momoshiro could only guess that something was not right.

"Ok, I'll meet you at 3pm. Usual place. Bring her along."

"What happened?" Momoshiro asked. Eiji turned to look at Momoshiro.

"Fuji called to tell me that…Ryuuzaki-san is staying at his place now." Momoshiro looked thunderstruck as Eiji could only let out a sigh.

Fuji stared out of the window. He knew Eiji would probably yell at him for this but he had to inform him of the turn of events. Fuji hated this. He hated not being able to be in control. As the famed Seigaku tensai, he could always prempt what his opponent wanted to do and counter it with anything he wished.

Unfortunately, he could not do so when it came to the affairs of the heart.He was just another fumbling idiot along with the rest of the world, grapping with the word "Love". Fuji wished he could know more about love, but he could barely understand it. He tried to capture it in his photographs, of elderly couples in marital bliss, a newlywed couple or a young couple kissing on the streets.

"Are you really sure you want to do this, Fuji?" The deep baritone voice had asked, 1000 miles away from Japan in Germany.

"Is this really love, Tezuka?" Fuji had asked back in return. "If so, then I want to hold on to it." There was a pause.

"I don't know, Fuji. But I trust you'll make the right decision eventually."

What was love? Fuji did not know if waiting for a person for 10 years meant it was love. Or if possessing the person was love.

"Fuji-san?" He turned to see Sakuno standing behind him. "I prepared breakfast."

"Oh, you shouldn't have. I apologize for being a bad host."

"It's alright. Let's eat before it turns cold." He smiled as he followed her.