AN UPDATE! HURRAY! I was having a major crisis so it's updated later than usual XP Yes so this chapter will begin with… nya, you'll see when you begin the chapter. Don't want to spoil anything :) Let's get moving!

I do not own Prince of Tennis nya.

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Why did the disease choose me? I can not carry it, if it's just for the word 'fate'.

-1 Liter of Tears

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He was just passing by. Honestly.

Doctor Wanazuki sighed. Oh the things doctors had to do. He fished out his handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his brow. Once more, it was an unbelievable hot day. He checked his watch. It wasn't even noon yet. He didn't want to be outside to see how much hotter it could get.

He looked carefully at the plaque on the house fence. It read 'Fuji' quite clearly. He tested the gate to see it was open. The metal was scorching from being in the sun. He took his hand off as soon as he found it locked.

Blowing gently on his hand, he looked up. The house was a pretty simple one. Plain with a well groomed garden surrounding it. However, it didn't look all that cheap. They had probably paid a sizeable amount of money for it. He whistled at the paint job. Flawless. He pressed the door bell on the gate which was connected to an intercom.

No one will be home. Fuji-kun would be at that camp thing and Fuji-san would… well she would be doing something outside. I can just walk away and call her later.

"Hai?"

Damn.

He looked at the intercom beside the gate. The voice had come from there. He opened his mouth to speak only to be interrupted by the female voice from before.

"Wanazuki-sensei? I'll let you in."

The gate clicked opened and the doctor walked in coolly. The stone path made a wavy road to the front door. Just as he stepped on the ledge, the door opened to reveal Yumiko fully dressed in a business suit. She smiled. "Please, come in."

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The doctor put down the tea cup none too gently. It clinked on the table sharply. Yumiko didn't seem to mind at all. She put her own cup down without a sound.

"Please be careful sensei. That is one of my mother's collections."

The former blanched. He did not want to be paying for a tea cup; who knew how much it cost? And he couldn't help but feel a tea cup was a rather superficial thing. Can't they just drink from cups? Ignoring the hostess' comment, he decided to begin. Yumiko sat attentively.

"I normally don't do house calls but I happened to be passing by and thought it most convenient."

Yumiko nodded, waiting patiently. The doctor cleared his throat.

"Well, the reason for my visit is… well Fuji-kun had a request actually."

"Syuusuke?" She looked at him in surprise. Request? When had they even talked together?

"Yes. We met briefly at the rehabilitation center. He wanted me to try to convince you to…" he drank from his cup. This time he put it down cautiously. Yumiko watched vigilantly.

"He wanted me to convince you to… well to tell him what he has."

He thought he heard the wind blow. Or maybe it was the AC system inside. The woman in front of him did not shift her gaze away. The doctor fingered his collar in an effort to try to get more air.

"Thank you for informing me. In fact, that is what I had in mind."

"Pardon?"

She, who had cried so desperately in his office, wanted to tell him now? What on earth… oh well. She had decided to tell him. That was a good start.

"I discussed it with my parents last night. They weren't too happy of course, but we came to the conclusion that he should know. Then perhaps he would enjoy things more. And also…" Yumiko smiled sadly. "I believe I made a mistake. This sympathy… I don't think it would do him any good."

The doctor felt a wave of discomfort while sitting in the room. He shifted, letting his clothes try to make a racket in the room to suppress the moment.

"I see. That is… very good. Yes. He would… enjoy more. I'm sure. Knowing you have limited time, I'm sure he'll try harder."

Surprised, Yumiko looked up. The last part of his sentence almost sounded wistful for once. He picked up the cup again, draining it completely. Maybe he wasn't all that bitter.

"Then I would like you to come to my office again. I have free time at around two or so. Thank you for your time."

He bowed courteously, grabbing his coat. Yumiko led him to the door. Instead of leaving right away, the doctor looked at her thoroughly with his olive eyes.

"I'm glad you see the error in your compassion. It was a wise decision Yumiko-san. Because he is just starting to live, it's better to tell earlier. He can prepare himself better."

Only when he had left did she realize what he had said. Today. At two.

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"It sure was a shock, Ryuuzaki-sensei being hospitalized so suddenly."

The Seigaku regulars had taken time out of the camp to visit the local flower shop. They wanted to buy a bouquet for Coach Ryuuzaki who had collapsed yesterday.

"I heard that she'll stay in the hospital for a while. At least until the results come back."

Oishi paid for the flowers while they talked amongst themselves. Fuji had wanted to buy the lilies, but they had chosen a group of bright orange flowers instead. Ryuuzaki-sensei could have different tastes after all.

"I guess the Kantou Tournament was more stressful for her than we thought." Fuji added.

"It's probably because of the rescheduling delay and the tournament lasting so long." Inui said. For once, he did not look inside his notebook for information.

"But even without sensei we have to work hard at this camp." Eiji said. Always optimistic as usual.

"Taka-san and Fuji's group should be fine, but what about our group? Will we remain without a coach?" Oishi, though he was Eiji's doubles partner, had a completely different view. He was fretting like a mother hen. Fuji could see the concern making wrinkles on his forehead.

"They might have already chosen a replacement coach."

The entire group turned to their shortest member. "Do you know something about it Echizen?"

In return, Ryoma blinked in confusion.

"Nothing at all."

The group visibly relaxed. Fuji chuckled. Their boy wonder's attempt to fit into the conversation had backfired. Well, he doubted Echizen actually wanted to be in their discussion though. He was rather independent for a thirteen year old. Perhaps a less tense Tezuka.

Fuji smiled. As expected, the 1st year was immediately assaulted by Momo for 'talking about things you know nothing about'. The regulars just grinned, completely ignoring the victim's cries.

"Let's go. I'm sure the bus is here."

And without causing too much destruction, they arrived at Morita General Hospital.

Before they even arrived, Fuji had calculated Ryuuzaki-sensei's reaction. One-sixth gratefulness and five-sixth annoyance. He was right. He had potential to beat Seigaku's own data collector.

"It's a rare opportunity to have all the candidates from the Kantou Regional Tournament to be in one camp. Do you know how precious every minute and every second of your time is?"

She sat back in her bed without satisfaction. The regulars stood rigid in the room. He heard Eiji whisper to Momo how sensei had turned into a complainer. Surprisingly, it was Sakuno who berated the old woman.

"Grandma, everyone was worried about you and went through the trouble to come and visit you here…"

Fuji watched. She was a different character from school; she was bolder with her grandmother. He could see the stubborn streak that would grow and develop like Ryuuzaki-sensei. She had grown since the beginning of the year.

He half-listened to her lecture them again for coming to visit her. She was a caring lady that was afraid that her sickness might affect others. It was silly almost. But he didn't dare smile in her presence.

"Now hurry and return to the practice courts instead of worrying about me!"

In complete defeat, the Seigaku regulars filed out of the room. They could hear Sakuno address her grandmother about her behavior muffled by the walls. The hallways were quiet as well and let their shoes echo throughout the floor. Fuji stopped when his cell phone began to vibrate.

"Moshi moshi?"

"Syuusuke? Where are you? I need to pick you up right now to go to Wanazuki-sensei's office."

"Nee-san?" The other regulars stopped to look at him. He smiled an apology before turning away to talk. "I'm at Morita General Hospital. I was visiting Ryuuzaki-sensei. Yes. Wanazuki-sensei? Ah… I can take a bus to go there right now. Okay. I'll meet you there nee-san."

The 3rd year tucked his cell phone away. His teammates looked at curiously.

"Gomen. It seems like I have to go somewhere right now. Could you inform Sakaki-sensei that I'll be late?"

"Ah. Sure. See you then."

"Right. See you."

The tennis prodigy ran ahead, nearly tripping while rounding a corner. The rest of them watched silently.

"Ne… doesn't it seem like he's always going somewhere these days?"

Eiji puckered his lips thoughtfully. It was true. Just the other day he had been missing for an hour or so going 'somewhere'. Also, before the camp had started, he had been making visits often.

"There's a 40 chance that it's a girl."

"No way! I don't think Fuji-senpai would skip practices for a girl."

"But since it is the Goodwill Tournament, it becomes a 10 chance."

"Fssh… Maybe it's family problems."

"Hm… it could be that Fuji-senpai is sick."

Everyone stopped to stare at Echizen. "Do you know something this time Echizen?"

The short boy yawned. "No."

Everyone sighed in relief. To have one of their best players in Seigaku sick would be a crisis, in the future and now.

"But… he has been falling a lot lately…."

No one dared respond to Taka's statement. They felt the ice form around the sentence, preventing it from interacting with their lives. Without saying it they knew: it was something to be ignored. If they ignored it, it might just go away. Foolish but hopeful. The normally cheerful regulars stood, hushed in thought. The silence was broken when Oishi looked at his watch.

"Ah! Let's hurry! We might miss our bus!"

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"Syuusuke! Over here!"

He could see his sister waving to him. He waved back and walked over.

Fuji relaxed when he entered the building with his sister. It was sweltering. It was a typical humid summer day in Japan, but somehow today seemed hotter. He fanned himself a little.

"Nee-san, what is this meeting for?"

Yumiko preoccupied herself with straightening her skirt. "Just something we need to discuss with the doctor." She was avoiding looking at him. He could tell that. The way she looked around hastily in all directions except where he was standing; she didn't want to talk about something. He didn't answer to her comment.

After a few minutes, a nurse informed that Doctor Wanazuki was available to see them. The siblings walked wordlessly to the office down the long empty hallway. For some reason, they felt there was nothing to say.

The scene before them was typical. The doctor was sitting busily taking notes like before. He didn't look up as they entered, not that Fuji had expected him to. This probably wasn't the doctor's first priority.

"Good. You are both here."

He gestured to the chairs across from him. Silently they complied. Fuji felt the tension in the air rise like water evaporating on a 400C day. Which was what the temperature outside was.

"Fuji-kun, we are here to talk about your request."

The doctor was stone-faced. Now he's like Tezuka.

He felt Yumiko breathe. Felt, not saw. It was a feeling. For now, he was feeling everything. It was ideal right now. It was a perfect situation where he could analyze everything around him flawlessly: he no longer saw but felt. He didn't need to see; he knew already. By knowing, he felt it. He felt the breath, he felt the air, he felt the worry, and he felt the gravity of the circumstances.

"As requested… I will tell you your disease."

Fuji merely watched him. There was no answer. The doctor cleared his throat. He was nervous. What for? I've had training in this. Plenty of it! I've succeeded in all of them too… He coughed for the sake of it. Here goes.

"Your disease. It's called Spinocerebellar Atrophy, otherwise known as Friedreich's ataxia."

He paused and waited for Fuji to pose questions onto him. Yet, the question that was asked wasn't something he expected.

"Will I really not be able to move soon?"

(Fuji POV)

I waited patiently. I had chosen this way of telling them mainly because of the shock factor. I could wait.

The doctor looked shocked. His eyes seemed to bulge impossibly from his head; it didn't help his eyes was one of the most eye-catching qualities he had. It looked like two olive balloons with white rims. And nee-san… I didn't look at her. I knew she would be devastated. I felt a slight pang of guilt for not telling her what I suspected… but this was like karma. Cruel true, but what comes around goes around; she had not told me and I had not told her. I could feel the tears threatening to spill on her face.

"I… yes. I'm afraid you won't."

"I see."

I carefully adjusted my face to be one of calm. I had no expressions to choose from which would suit the mood of the office. I was being selfishly dramatic as always.

"Is there a surgery or treatment of some sort that is available?"

Without my command, my lips tilted upwards. Habits were hard to fix.

"There is none. Only those that can slow down the progress like the rehabilitation you are attending."

I realized I hadn't heard that. It was a jumble of words. It passed me by like the wind did on cold autumn mornings. I remembered… always trying to catch the wind with my net. I never caught it. Although now… the net is full.

"I'm sorry. Could you repeat that?"

(Doctor POV)

There was something wrong. The moment he asked me to repeat, there was something going on in my creepy patient's head.

He had maintained a calm face; I had to give him points for that. He had done his research. But not enough. He had obviously failed to see the last section: there was no cure. No matter how bright he may be, he was still young and making mistakes.

However it was… melancholy, watching his face fall apart like that. His jaws became slack to the point that it was in danger of flipping open. His lips carefully pointed upwards moved down until it reached its lowest point. Even his hair seemed to react as it grew a few shades darker. Then, his eyes opened.

At first, I couldn't see them. Gradually though, he raised his head and his eyes were rose like eerie sapphire suns. They were a marvelous shade of blue. I had never seen them before, both the eyes and the color.

Instead of comforting him like I should have been, I was frozen. His eyes had caught me.

It was blue like the sea, like the sky, like everything and nothing. They said so many things and at the same time kept its secret. Where had he gotten eyes like that?

"Sensei?"

I looked at the person who had spoken to me. It was the sister. I coughed, realizing I was looking at her with annoyance. Stupid, I should be thanking her for waking me up.

"Fuji-kun?"

He didn't look at me. His eyes were fixed onto the floor tile next to my shoe with pointed attention. He didn't show any sign of life.

"Syuusuke?"

I began to feel fear. Maybe he had died on the chair? How I didn't know but maybe? Was that even possible? It was supposed to be medically impossible but who knew? Had he died on the chair like that? I started panicking. What was a doctor supposed to do now?

(General POV)

"Gomen nasai. Arigatou for fulfilling my request."

The stool screeched unpleasantly. Fuji faced the door.

"Is that all sensei?"

As if he had just stepped into the room, the doctor gave him a confused look. "That… is… that is all…" He sat, feeling undeniably dissatisfied. There was a bitter after taste in his mouth.

"Let's go nee-san. I need to… I need to pick up something… from home."

Without waiting, he opened the door and left. Soon, Yumiko followed like a lost puppy. The doctor was left in his office alone.

He sighed. That was the hardest news he had to give all these years.

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She was an idiot.

Throughout the days she had planned out numerous ways to comfort Syuusuke when the time to tell him came. Now it had come and she didn't know what to do. None of them seemed to fit with the situation and none seemed good enough to say to her brother. Instead, they would probably aggravate him more. She was a hypocrite and true fool.

He sat in complete silence. His lovely locks of brown which she had adored blocked the view to his face. Now, she cursed them for putting a wall between them, no matter how fragile it seemed to be. Reluctantly, she turned her eyes back to the road. Gray upon gray upon gray seemingly moving in the day's heat. A poor substitute for her brother.

Yumiko kept on looking as he climbed up the stairs. He didn't fall. He didn't walk unsteadily. But all joy seemed to have left him. He used to hum as he opened the door, look at the flowers in the garden. He was different. It had ruined it all.

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Though it could have been quicker, he purposely adjusted the camera slowly, letting each shutter click click click click before settling on the one he wanted. He then took an equally long time adjusting the angle he wanted. He wanted it perfect, just the way he was seeing it now. Perfect.

With unbearable caution, Fuji shifted the position of his tripod slowly. He stopped it when he was in the same corner as his door. He leaned down further than he already was to look into the lens. The lighting could be better but for now… it was perfect.

He wanted a picture of his room. He knew he wasn't leaving. He would come back very soon. Before long, he would be sleeping in his own bed again. But it was different. A little inkling of doubt nagged him to no end. He could not strangle it to death like the other ones; he couldn't see where it was. So he had let it grow until it made him do this. No… that wasn't entirely true. He wanted to do this too.

Fuji let his finger linger on the button. The room remained immobile. He sighed.

Because I'm afraid that when I come back… it won't be the same.

DONE! I think this is one of my longest chapters. I wasn't planning to write this much but I guess that's how it works! I have to thank my cookees for successfully keeping me up :) So thank you for reading! Fuji finally finds out! AH! And it will take nearly FOREVER for the others to too! GAH! How am I EVER going to fit that in?!?! ugh… headache coming… must take some cookee pills to relieve pain… I experimented with POV again… but I think I messed up :( im sorry! I'll try to write a better chapter next time!

So thank you for reading and putting up with me so far!