NEW CHAPTER TIME!!! Okay I know it's short but tests were coming up and I have to keep my average up :) Besides, inspiration came half-way through my study session XP

"Hello?"

He hoped, listening intently to the silence at the other line, that it wouldn't be what it had been for the last five times.

"Hello. You've reached Fuji Syuusuke's cell phone. I can't pick up right now but I will get back to you as soon as I can."

It was, yet again, the recorded message. He sighed. It was much easier to give up. Besides, he could always talk on the phone. There was no need to meet him face to face for an uncertainty. It was uncalled for.

-Go talk to your friend. That's all I can say to you for now.-

No, he still had time. He would go home a little later than planned; however it would be understandable. It wasn't if he had anything important to do after anyways…

Saeki pulled at his collar, feeling highly uncomfortable in the humid heat. He had sat in the sun for quite a while now. Normally the heat wouldn't have bothered him so much but that was because he was usually playing tennis in the sun. It distracted him from all the things around him, including the heat. And the sweat starting to form on his body wasn't one of hard work either. It was sweat from doing nothing except sitting idly on a summer day. He hated that kind of sweat.

He licked his lips and looked longingly at the vending machine standing beside him. It was broken but the sample drinks were still lined up behind the glass. The bottles gleamed invitingly to him which only made frustration mount up inside him. Somehow it all felt like his uncle's fault. He probably came here on his mental instability trips and that was why the vending machine was broken. Yeah…

"Hey mister…"

Saeki glanced downwards to the voice that addressed him. A child, perhaps about five or so, looked back up at him while clutching a worn soccer ball to his dirty t-shirt. He sniffled before speaking; a summer cold.

"Your phone's ringing."

His eyes widened as he heard the familiar ring tone play lazily in the back of his pocket. Nodding his thanks he retrieved his phone.

"Moshi moshi?"

"Saeki? Gomen, the reception on the bus isn't very good."

Smiling out of relief that his task was part ways over he nodded unconsciously to his friend on the other line.

"It's alright. Listen, how far are you?"

"How far…? Let's see… I'm not too far. About two blocks from your uncle's house?" There was a loud scratching noise as static took over but it soon disappeared to be replaced by Fuji's calm breathing. He waited before speaking again.

"Good. Sorry but can you meet me now? We'll meet in the park near one of the bus stops."

"…Is this an emergency?"

Guilt spreading quickly, Saeki sat up from the wooden bench he occupied.

"Ah, it's okay if you're busy. We can talk some other time…"

"No, it's not that. I meant if you're in trouble or something."

He wasn't sure how to respond to his friend's concern. He could only stare off into space momentarily to admire the care he showed to all his acquaintances, no matter how distant in space or time.

"Well, it's nothing big but it would be better if we can talk in person while we have the chance."

"I understand. I'll meet you in the park than."

Getting up from his seat, he started jogging down the street. At least this way he can be more focused and less preoccupied with the heat.

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"What do you want? Ponta?"

"…Water is fine…"

"Hn. Good choice. I don't have Ponta anyways. Can't stand the stuff."

Placing a mug roughly on the scratched table, Wanazuki placed himself across from his perplexed nephew. Leaning back as comfortably as he could in the rigid chair, he stared at Saeki with an air of aloofness.

"So let's talk."

"Hai."

However the talk did not start. Minutes were passed with the two staring at each other until Saeki broke contact as his attention began to drift elsewhere. Namely the oddly shaped clock above his uncle's head.

"Well?"

"Hai?"

Tapping his finger impatiently the doctor pursed his lips.

"Talk. Someone has to talk to start a talk. Go."

Saeki nearly gaped at his uncle. He was just so… he couldn't quite place his finger on it, but it was not something very pleasant or charming.

"Ano… I thought you wanted to talk Uncle…"

"Yeah, but I'll tell you my thing later. Seems too abrupt now."

"Oh."

His eyes wandered to a vacant corner of the room where it seemed a picture was recently removed; it left a clean surface in the middle of a dusty shelf. Moving his eyes back to the olive eyes that bore holes into his face he cleared his throat.

"So… how is work Uncle?"

"Good."

"And… how do you like Tokyo? Is it a lot different from Virginia?"

"Hn. Busier for sure."

"And how is-"

"I asked you to talk, not play twenty questions with me."

Suppressing the burst of irritation from being chided for doing exactly what he was told to do, Saeki nodded obediently. His uncle continued to gaze at him, unimpressed by what he was seeing.

"Hai…"

"Well," the doctor drank long from his cup before setting it down, completely empty. "Since you're so bad at that, we might as well get on topic. You say Fuji Syuusuke is your friend? Are you good friends? Or bad friends? Distant friends?"

Immediately bombarded by the same type of questions he had asked at a much slower pace to his relative, Saeki took a moment to digest all that was said. He had a feeling he wouldn't be forgiven for asking his uncle to repeat himself.

"Hai. We're childhood friends. We both lived in Chiba for a while."

"Right right. You said he was going to tell you something?"

"Yes…but I'm not sure what."

The older of the two family members placed his fingers on his mouth as if smoking a cigarette. He breathed in as if taking a drag of the toxic stick before looking at his nephew. It was as if he wanted to make him uncomfortable.

"Really… And you like your friend right?"

"I do. He's a good friend."

"Friends are nice."

The phrase seemed like the only genuine thing his uncle had said throughout the whole encounter. His sharp eyes took on a faraway look as it penetrated through time and took one more glance at the joyful past. It did not last long though. The sharpness returned and fixed itself onto Saeki with more ferocity than before.

"This is unprofessional so don't mention it anywhere else. I'm probably going against the law by even mentioning this. Well maybe I'm not. But listen carefully. And don't tell your friend I said this."

With his biting tone increased to a hazardous level he blurted out everything that could, partly unknowingly and partly knowingly, destroy his recent patient.

"Your friend. He's a patient of mine. He's being treated for something rare. If I were you I wouldn't be sitting there while listening to me rambling. I would go out and look for him. Go talk to your friend. That's all I can say to you for now."

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"So what did you want to talk about?"

He realized the irony of the statement. He should be saying that, if all had gone 'well' in a sense. The roles were now switched; it was he who wanted to talk and Fuji who was listening with curiosity.

"I wanted to talk about… your health."

"My health?"

Fuji stood at a slant against the banister, confusion written across his face. His hand gave him away though. It gripped the rusting metal tightly than before, making it turn white at the knuckles. At the same time, he looked unbearably… healthy standing in front of the playground. His arm, while not looking substantial, was strong from the years of training. His legs were likewise, one of them resting comfortably on top of the other. His neck stretched at an angle, revealing lean muscles that had developed even there. His hair came in reasonably thick strands, framing his face.

Saeki began to think of the possibility that his uncle was playing a joke on him out of spite.

"Yeah… uh…" He scratched his head, trying to support his unspoken argument. Truthfully, he hadn't noticed any change in his friend. Everything was the same. His way of speaking, his stance. The last time he had played tennis with him he had been fine too… Tennis.

"I heard you quit the tennis club."

Eyes opened fully; sapphire orbs now faced him.

"News travels fast."

"When the tennis prodigy quits it does." Saeki replied smoothly, regaining his composure.

"I won't lie to you about that. I did quit."

His accidental although effective point swelled his pride; he decided to press further. It was the only way to know.

"Why did you quit?"

"Because I have an incurable disease."

"W-what?"

What could he do now? Only stare. The children played around them, yelling all kind of nonsense that only made sense at that stage of life. His friend stood coolly across from him, his eyes open. And he knew from past experience that if the eyes were open, he was serious. So he was telling the truth… he was truly serious. Saeki felt the first wave of inevitability fall on him, making everything heavy.

"Just kidding."

"Eh?"

Fuji smiled, his eyes disappearing instantly. A low chuckle began to fill the air.

"You really fell for it Saeki."

Shock. Blankness. Relief. Annoyance.

"I-I can't believe you joked about that Fuji!"

This time the smile became one suited for apology, shedding its previous skin.

"Mah, I'm sorry. I couldn't resist. It's been so long since I've played a joke on you."

Saeki felt his cheeks flushing slightly. Out of embarrassment he knew. However his friend didn't. He pulled at his collar again, putting on the illusion that the heat was affecting him.

"You're forgiven… if you were wondering."

"Thank you Saeki."

He patted the Rokkaku tennis player's shoulder playfully. "Don't be mad Saeki, if you were. The joke set itself up."

He sighed, wiping his forhead. "I guess it did." He licked his lips again before looking up to his friend.

"So what are you getting treated for?"

"Wanazuki-sensei told you?"

Saeki felt a twinge of doom run up his spine as the question was spoken. If his uncle caught wind of this, he was dead.

"He…yes, he did."

Looking even happier, Fuji flashed his friend a toothy smile.

"That's funny. I should have told you before but I was just being treated for a minor tennis injury."

Saeki nodded slowly. His uncle had made it sound so serious. Than again, his uncle seemed like the type of person who had a flare for drama…

"I see. I'm sorry for calling you out like this for that."

"Saa… can't be helped. We haven't talked this much in a while anyways."

"Yeah…"

Ring!

Both teenagers searched their pockets for their cell phone. Saeki put his back as he realized it was not his; he diverted his attention to his friend since it had been his. Fuji said something quietly into the phone before putting it away.

"I have to go now."

"Sure. It was nice talking to you."

Fuji giggled childishly, a small part of him that still remained from his days in Chiba.

"To you too. See you sometime."

"See you."

Saeki waved as his friend jogged to the bus stop across the street. The only thing that stopped him was the fact that he had overlooked an important fact.

Why had he quit the tennis club?

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It was wrong to lie. Of course he knew that. Everyone was taught not to lie early on. Lying is bad, lying hurts people. Nevertheless that is not why he does not lie.

He had lied before. He was sure everyone had. Unlike other though, it wasn't because he was caught that he stopped. It was the overwhelming power and the way he was so devoid of any feeling at all after it was said that frightened him. He had heard people mention that they felt guilty after they lied, so they stopped. So far he felt nothing. It was the only thing that made him feel like… a monster.

As well he would not lie about lying today; the way that it slipped out so easily would be remembered all throughout his life. The two simple words had changed everything. It had twisted his true purpose into a joke. It was wrong. He knew. Lying was wrong.

But there was a side that wanted to serve himself. A selfish side that does not die in anyone. It nagged him until he had to do it. It was shameful to say but he saw some truth in its voice.

Why? Why was he chosen? It wasn't fair. Not at all. Why was he chosen? He had family, friends, a whole life ahead of him. They would all disappear. So wasn't it fair to do something for himself? Just this once? To stop smearing his image in everyone's mind?

He wanted, so badly, for just one person to remember him as he was. Know him as the person still untainted. For a little while at least. For a little while.

He could still do this one thing, couldn't he?

SHORT! I KNOW! -sigh- o well. i can't really fix it now. And i did manage to get it done. Anyways, a lot of talking in this chapter 0.0 more than i usually put... which is new i guess. So i hope you aren't too disappointed that it's really short. GOMEN! I'll try to make up for it!

ALSO, most of the internal conflict (that's what i call it) is done so there's going to be major time skip soon. I will say that there is a time skip next chapter though. I'm not sure if it's during Nationals or after. I'm actually leaning more towards skipping the nationals. Well if you have any input, you're welcome to say it.