A CHALLENGE TO FOREVER

-CHAPTER 2 REALIZATION -

=Hey! 2nd chapter here!

=hope you feel some kind of … uhm… of sadness.

=please read it until the end… THANKS!

…..

"Hey, Rinko I'll borrow your son for a bit, I'll take you to her, Ryoma" Sumire went towards the door, without a doubt, Ryoma followed her, but he pause.

"Wait for a bit, I'll take some important files." He went to his room and checked his luggage; he found what he was looking for. He clutches it in his hands until it rumpled. As soon as he grabbed it, he followed the old woman standing in front the door.

"Sumire-sensei, let's go." Ryoma said as he was giving signs that she may go ahead. "Ryoma, if you don't mind, what is the content of that brown envelope?" Sumire asked as she was pointing at it.

"Oh this? This contains all the answers." Ryoma said as he was clutching it tighter leaving a crease. "Oh, is that so? Come on, step inside the taxi." Sumire felt something wasn't right, but she just ignored it and she sighed, then she opened the taxi door and she insisted that Ryoma enters first, so he did. He was sitting there, all lifeless and quiet, he closed his eyes and he sighed deeply, he examine the parts of the taxi before he stared at the envelope he was holding, he stares at it for a bit and he thought. 'What is this Kevin?' He inhaled deeply and he was dubious to open it, he was in dazed when the old lady tapped his shoulder.

"nhe, Echizen. Why didn't you know that my granddaughter is in coma? I know for sure we informed you." Sumire dejectedly say as she was gazing outside the window of the taxi cab.

"I just don't know." Ryoma exhale noisily and shows an awkward face, he is doubting again whether he likes to see her or not. Sumire took a glimpsed at the sad prince through the driver's mirror. "Don't show an idiotic face. Sakuno wouldn't want you to be troubled. By the way, what is the relationship of you two?" After she said that, there was a long silence. Either Ryoma can't say it or he doesn't know what their relationship is.

"…hn? Our relationship?" Ryoma imitate what Sumire said and he laughed the tension off. "I'm asking you Echizen." Sumire says as she stopped looking at the window and she looked at the boy sitting beside him, Sumire look intently at Ryoma, she saw the boy fret and trembles; his face is in grimace as he was holding that crumpled envelope. As she was examining the boy, she just sighed and thought that there is a problem so she just looked at the window again and said. "You don't have to answer if you don't wa-" She was cut off when Ryoma said "I don't know what our relationship is, but, I care for her like my life depends on it, I'm having fun being with her, and I don't know why but, I dreamt of being with her. But, if you ask me, I'll just have to answer that she is a special friend, I just don't know what she thinks of me so I can't confirm what truly our relationship is." He groaned. He was shocked again when Sumire tapped his shoulders and she points at the hospital.

"We're here." They both left the taxi cab and headed for the hospital but Ryoma steps little by little leaving the woman with him in thought 'He's more scared to see her than to lose in tennis, this is the first time I see him tremble.'

"Jeez, Echizen, if you're not sure if you want to meet her or not, we'll go back at your house." Sumire shrugs as she was looking at the boy.

"No way." He inhales and worn a calm face, he straighten his back and clenched his fists. "Please lead the way." Even if he says that, the shaking of his body is not stopping. "Okay, as you wish boy." Sumire led the way to the entrance of the hospital and pushed Ryoma towards the elevator and went ahead of him, to Sakuno's room.

"We're here. Are you ready?" Before she can open the door, Ryoma hurriedly open the door and entered before her. He was in daze as he was examining the girl lying on the bed.

The girl with the those long brown auburn hair that spreads brilliantly on the pillow, that body with a very pale color, and the body that used to be healthy is now thin-looking. That girl sleeping, without knowing what is happening, was suddenly embraced by her prince.

"Sakuno." Ryoma was uneasy holding the thin body in his arms. "Ryoma! Stop making that idiotic face while looking at my granddaughter!" Sumire cried because before her… is a prince… a prince that wants to be calm but whatever he does, the tears lingering in his eyes can't stop from flowing. He is smiling while he was holding her but he's still crying… those beautiful tears are flowing uncontrollably.

'Ryoma you idiot. You should've done that a year ago.' Sumire whispered to herself, and she left reluctantly. While looking at Sakuno, Ryoma felt it was a bad idea embracing her like that, so he gently placed her down. He whispered to her ears the words that should've been said 1 year ago. The words 'I love you, please come back to me.' Ryoma held her hands, he clasped it tightly.

"Why did this thing happen to you…?" Ryoma placed Sakuno's hands near his heart. He heard a knock, he release his grasp from Sakuno. 'Come in' was the only thing he said, after that, the door opened and showed Tomoka's crying face, "Ryoma-kun, I'm sorry. But I feel that it's my fault that this happen to her."

She bowed her head leaving Ryoma in confusion "I don't understand you." Ryoma stood up and walked towards Tomoka "Explain it to me." He pulled Tomoka to the chairs and pushed her to sit, Ryoma is still standing, waiting for Tomoka to raise her head. "Explain it." Ryoma said again. Tomoka didn't raise her head but she starts talking.

"It happened last year, one week before the 24th of December, or should I say, your birthday." Tomoka looked up at Ryoma and insisted him to sit down in front him, so did he.

"Ok. Go ahead and continue." Ryoma wears that stern face while intently listening.

"One week before your birthday we planned on buying a present for you, so that it will be send to you in America earlier rather than after the event, so we plan on meeting at the time of 2:00 pm in front of the xxx waiting shed, so Sakuno went there 15 minutes earlier and she sat on the bench, waiting for me. At that time, I was looking at a bear with the words 'I miss you' imprinted on its tummy, I was doubting to buy it without Sakuno with me, so it took me 30 minutes to think about it, and in the end, I just ignored it, that was the time I notice that I was late, so I hurriedly went to our meeting place and I saw many people surrounding the place, there was a truck turned upside down on the other side of the street that has blood…" She gasps and then she cried.

"Tomoka. Please calm down. I think I know what happen next, its fine. And I think it's not your fault." He shrugged as he tapped Tomoka's shoulder.

"No… I saw Sakuno lying on the ground, bathing on her own blood…. With her eyes close I was shocked.… I was so scared so I hurriedly went to Sakuno's place where there are police officers. I asked one of the bystander there what happened, and why did it happen. That person said 'That poor girl was just sitting quietly on the bench when a speeding truck came and it lost its balance and drift towards that girl, the girl was shocked and was about to stand up but it was late.' That's what I remember. If only I wasn't late… if only I wasn't" Tomoka cried. Ryoma comforted her.

"I'm telling you, it's not your fault." Ryoma tapped her shoulders again. They heard a knock, and the door opened, revealing Tezuka's face. He entered the room and sat in front of them.

"I'm sorry I've eavesdropped, but, I think Ryoma was right Tomoka, what happened to Sakuno wasn't a coincidence, let's call it lightly, destiny's will." He sighed, and bowed his head, after a long time of looking down; he looked up and saw Ryoma's face, Ryoma's face in daze.

"No Tezuka-san! Please don't call it destiny's will! That's too much!" Tomoka stand up as soon as she noticed Ryoma's face. She glance at Ryoma, she saw him smirk.

"Whether its coincidence, or its destiny's will… I don't care. But if it wants to separate me and Sakuno, without a doubt, I'm going to destroy it. " he stand up and went to Sakuno's side, he sat down and detained Sakuno's hand, he kissed it passionately. Then he continued.

"I haven't told her this yet but, without her, my rate of success in winning in those foreign competition is only 50%. She's my other half." He hugged her hands and held it tightly, he smiled beautifully.

"Nhe, Ryoma, don't be too emotional. After a day or two, I think she will wake up. –

If your destiny said you'll be together." He smirked and was about to leave.

"Idiot. I told you, I WILL DESTROY THAT DAMN DESTINY." With a determined face, he stands up and grinned. Tezuka stopped and looked back.

"Well, as long as you're confident with it. Good luck." Tezuka left and after an hour, Tomoka left as well leaving Sakuno and Ryoma alone.

"Hey, Sakuno… please wake up." He stayed with her for the rest of the day, massaging her body, and checking her breathing. He was intently watching sleeping girl. He stared at her. With those loving eyes, he thought that why did he only realize that he loves her now, if only he knew his feelings for her earlier, the feelings he have now was only comprehend when he thought of losing her, he sighed long. He didn't sleep at all.

…..

12:00 am

Echizen's Residence.

"Nanjirou. I thought this will be a happy welcoming party, but after Ryoma left, the atmosphere felt heavy, it's as if, they feel the sorrow Ryoma is feeling now." Rinko said as she was fixing Ryoma's bed.

"Rinko, I think Ryoma will not go home today so stop fixing it. And of course, everyone will feel lonely without that sweet and loving girl." He sighed and pulled Rinko downstairs and he prepared a coffee. Rinko obediently followed. They talked about their past, and something about Sakuno.

…

Hospital 12:30 am

He was still awake; he couldn't help himself and went closer to the sleeping Sakuno.

He moved his face closer and felt the breath hitting his face, he looked at her lips, those almost dry lips, and he moved closer and he kissed her-

"Damn it! It's not like she'll wake up. After all, this is reality. " He sighed and showed a worrying face when he was touching those lips that were felt by his.

'Please wake up' he murmured. He gasped as he remembered something; he quickly opened the envelope on the table. He reads it.

The title was. "I'm sorry; these are my sins.-Kevin Smith"

It tells about how Ryoma wasn't informed about Sakuno's condition, it was all because he blocked their communication in order for Ryoma will not be distracted with tennis.

"DAMN THAT FUCKING KEVIN!" He clenched his fists… He sighed and thinks for a little while.

He grinned as he realize Kevin's true motive, he opened his cell and voice mailed him.

"I didn't hate it when I arrived in Japan, and I don't despise you. I think you did the right thing to do. If I was in your situation, I'll do it too… Thank you Kevin,"

….

Ryuzaki's residence

7:00 am

"Hey darling, do you think it's alright to let Ryoma and Sakuno be alone in that room?" Mr. Ryuzaki said.

"Stupid! It's not like they'll do something, and I think it will benefit us because our own schedule is hectic; Ryoma is a help if you look at it closely. We can set a schedule, for who will look at her in the morning and in the evening." Mrs. Ryuzaki said and she smiled.

"Yeah, and… maybe,,… I think he loves her." Mr. Ryuzaki said as he doubted.

"He does love her. My lucky daughter, I hope she wake up soon." She weeps.

…..

Hospital

"He's asleep" Sumire said then she placed a blanket over Ryoma.

"Mom, I think today is not a good time to set the schedule." Mrs. Ryuzaki said as she was about to leave when Ryoma opened his eyes, still, holding Sakuno's hand.

"what schedule?" He asked.

"Oh, it's cause i.. I mean we… want to have a proper look-out for Sakuno. And, we can't look after her when it's night. So if possibl-"

"Ok. I'll after her when you're not available." He said

"Oh, our work starts at 5:00 pm so, we will leave at 4:00 pm. Is it ok?" mrs. Ryuzaki said.

"I'm fine with it. I'll just have to practice tennis every morning, until she wakes up." He politely bowed his head and smiled. "I'll be going ahead." He left.

"Yeah. I hope so." She sobbed and she hugged her mother.

….

After a year, Ryoma was doing the same routine every day. He hasn't joined any tennis competition ever since. Sakuno's condition was improving, somehow.

….

Doctor: I'm sorry Mrs. Ryuzaki, but… there is a big possibility that when she wakes up, some part of her organ system wouldn't work properly, and to my hypothesis, it' her.—

…

Echizen's residence:

"Hey, Oyaji, I'll be going to the hospital now." Ryoma said as he was buttoning up his shirt.

"Huh? I thought your schedule is every 4:00 pm? Why are you leaving now? It's only 12:00 pm?"

"Because I want to be the first person she sees, whether her parent is there or not." He smiled.

"You love her that much that you'll sacrifice your time, and your youth for her." Nanjirou laughs.

"Yeah, and I'm willing to die for her. That's why I hope… She can see me first. That's the only payment I want of her for me, in support of waiting for her to wake up for a year! I want to hug her so tight!" He smiles brightly.

"You go now lover boy! hahaha" He laughs then he gets hit by Ryoma . "Bye oyaji!" Ryoma went out thinking of her.

…

Doctor: my hypothesis says that she won't be able to see because her eyes were damaged.

Mrs. Ryuzaki: …. No way…. She'll be …

Doctor: Yes Mrs. Ryuzaki. She'll be blind. But there is a cure-

END

…

DAMN it! Why am I so mean! Urgh!...

Please wait for the update! Thanks much!

And …. I don't know ,much about the body injuries…. I mean,, severe injuries.

SORRY!