Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis.
"Out of Sight"
"It's says that our names are written on the back side of the bracelet." Akihiko summarized.
The regulars nodded then each picked up a bracelet. As if by chance, what they picked up was theirs.
"Do you like it?" Akihiko asked.
Most of them nodded then stared at the bracelets they received.
"Hey Kitsuhara-san. Isn't this a bit expensive?" Fuji asked after a time of silence.
"I know. When she bought that, it already had your names on it. I asked her why but she told me to wait until our last year of high school. Since then, I never asked her about those bracelets again. Now I can see why she told me to wait." Akihiko said.
"Is she psychic or something?" Taka asked.
"She isn't. She just got a feeling to buy those. I never understood why she puts her trust on it sometimes." Akihiko said.
"Why would you say that?" Eiji asked.
"There was this one time at two years ago. She was being bullied by a bunch of girls since she always sat near Tezuka-san since middle school and became his partner in some projects for a couple of times too. She told me to don't tell anyone about it and wait for a few days." Akihiko told the regulars.
"You didn't tell anyone, right sempai?" Momo asked.
"Yes, I didn't. A few days later, the girls who bullied her got suspended for bullying her. When I asked how she knew this, she said she got a feeling that we shouldn't tell anyone about that then when I asked the principal about it. He only said a teacher saw them." Akihiko ended his story.
They became quiet after that.
"Guys, I wanted to tell you this earlier but I didn't have a chance to. Onee-san has a friend she met 6 years ago. She had blue hair just like our friend." Fuji said.
"Are you saying that the girl your sister met was her, Fuji-san?" Akihiko asked suspiciously.
"Yes, I am. Onee-san told me that happening two years ago. The connections were to similar to just ignore. Even with Inui's lack of data about her, it makes sense." Fuji said.
"Honestly Fuji-san, you are right. I'm too tired to play games so please get to the point." Akihiko mumbled then gave a tired sigh.
"Well, I recently asked onee-san to tell me about the results of her monthly reading." Fuji said.
Akihiko's eyes had widened by a fraction. His mouth was almost agape too.
"What did she say?" Akihiko asked coolly after taking a few deep breaths.
"Onee-san said that her future wasn't clear but she might have a terrible end." Fuji inquired in a low tone.
"So it's about to happen. She's about to die, isn't she?" Akihiko mumbled under his breath in a sad tone.
Fuji nodded slowly.
"How-"
"She has been living on a borrowed life. Her time here was extended by a few years because of medicine and sessions. She wasn't healthy when she was born. It only became worse 9 years ago, she told me." Akihiko quivered.
"For how long was her life extended?" Oishi stuttered.
"Four years. It is her fourth year as of this moment, or as she told me just awhile ago." Akihiko told them.
"If it is okay, what is her sickness?" Inui asked.
"I'm not sure but it may either be a weak heart. I think it's a weak heart though, since she told me that her transplant was for around three years or so before she needs to get a new one." Akihiko mumbled.
"You said that she would need to get a transplant again after her current heart fails. Why are still scared?" Inui asked.
"It's because she denied the transplant when her current heart fails. It was her brother's life that was lost instead of hers. I'm sure all of you know what I meant." Akihiko said in a voice barely above whisper as he tried his best to hold down his tears.
The regulars kept quiet.
"When did he die?" Ryoma asked.
"What did you say?" Akihiko asked.
"When did he die?" Ryoma repeated.
"He died on December 28th, four years ago. Why do you ask?" Akihiko asked.
"It's nothing." Ryoma said then pulled down his cap.
"Do you know him?" Akihiko asked quickly.
Ryoma nodded slightly.
"Who is he?" The rest asked.
"There's a chance that it is Ryoga. He died on the same day. He went missing again after he left the ship." Ryoma mumbled.
Just then, an ambulance was heard passing the arcade they were in.
'Can it be?' Akihiko thought then took a look outside.
He saw a familiar car following the ambulance.
'It is.' Akihiko thought gravely.
"Guys, I have to go but I think it is best if you all, Fuji-san's sister and Echizen-san's family come too." Akihiko gravely said.
The others wondered why but still complied. Ryoma and Fuji got their phones and contacted the people Akihiko mentioned and told them to meet them at the arcade they were in.
"Why did you call for us, Kitsuhara-san?" Yumiko asked after introductions were done.
"Well, all of you know Shishido Amaterasu-san, do you?" Akihiko asked.
They all nodded.
"Well, that's done. We should follow that ambulance which passed-by earlier." Akihiko mumbled then took out his phone and started messaging.
A few seconds later, he kept his phone after reading the message he received.
"She's in ABC hospital just a few blocks from here. Let's go." Akihiko mumbled then started walking.
The others had given him curious or worried glances then followed him.
"I'm here to see Shishido Amaterasu-san. I'm a close family friend." Akihiko whispered to the nurse.
"She's in room 301 on the third floor, usual hall. I see you brought the others." The nurse said when she noticed the regulars, Ryoma's family and Yumiko.
"Yeah. I'm sure they would be glad, mostly her. Thank you." Akihiko said then bowed.
"Let's go to the third floor, room 301." Akihiko said monotonously.
The others nodded then followed Akihiko to room 301 silently. When they got there, they didn't know what to expect. The site that met them though, wasn't a pretty one.
"Kitsuhara, I see you brought them."
All of them turned around other than the said boy.
"Of course I would Shishido. I promised her that I would. She would want to see them for the last time." Akihiko said.
A woman around her thirties approached them.
"Nanjirou-san and Rinko-san, the three of you may enter now but please refrain from making any loud noise." The woman said.
The two nodded and entered the room. What they saw was one of the things they feared to see. There was a person, with clothes stained with blood, hooked to many machines, helping the person live longer for awhile. The person was no other than Amaterasu.
"Terasu-chan…" Rinko whispered.
Rinko walked forward to the bed and stared at Amaterasu's face. After a few moments, she moved away, going back to her husband. They stayed for a few more moments then left the room with solemn faces. Eiji, Taka, Oishi, Momo, Inui and Kaidoh entered afterwards. They left the room with similar reactions too.
"Nanako-san, Yumiko-san, Echizen, Fuji and Tezuka, come with us." Akihiko said then entered the room with Shishido.
The said five followed the two seniors inside.
"Hello."
They looked in front and saw Amaterasu weakly waving at them.
"I'm sure some of you are wondering how I am related to Ryou, right?" Amaterasu asked shyly.
Ryoma, Fuji and Tezuka nodded slightly.
"We are cousins." Shishido stated.
"Did you guys like the bracelets she bought? They were kind of expensive, you know." Nanako suddenly asked the boys.
The three boys nodded nervously.
"Why don't you all sit down?" Akihiko asked.
They all sat down on the couch near the door.
"What happened?" Akihiko asked.
"A couple of guys cornered her in an ally. She tried to fend them of but was in vain. Luckily, I happened to pass-by and save her." Shishido answered.
They talked more for awhile when suddenly, Amatarasu began coughing a bit.
"Can you all leave except Tezuka-san and Echizen-san?" Akihiko suggested.
They nodded then left the two boys. Akihiko followed the others soon afterwards. The two boys stood next to Amatarasu. She faced Ryoma.
"Echizen-san, I know that you know it was Ryoga-nii who helped me live. I hope you achieve your big dream. Ryoga-nii always said that even though you're short, you have a bright future." Amaterasu mumbled.
'I need to do this now so I can leave no regrets.' Amaterasu thought, suddenly getting a boost of courage then placed a hand on Tezuka's arm after facing him.
"Tezuka-san, there was one thing I always wanted to say to you. I love you." Amaterasu whispered then her hand dropped to her side.
Ryoma and Tezuka just stood there, not moving and still emotionless, though inside, they were having a wave of emotions.
Ryoma was shocked when he heard what Amaterasu said. He was slightly sad that she was gone. He was confused on how was she related to Ryoga and why she seems familiar. All of those emotions were battling for dominance inside him.
Tezuka, on the other hand, was a different story. He was shocked when he heard her say that she loved him. He was sad that she's dead. He was confused on why he was feeling this way and having this wave of emotions.
They left the room silently after a few moments of silence.
"Sempai's gone." Ryoma mumbled under his breath when he passed everyone then sat on a chair nearby.
Tezuka sat down next to him. Nanako sat next to Ryoma then Yumiko sat next to Tezuka.
"She told you about Ryoga-san, right?" Nanako asked.
Ryoma nodded.
"Ryoga-san was her real brother. He was separated from them when they visited America. The last time they saw him was on his death bed, with his heart transplanted to his sister." Nanako told Ryoma solemnly.
Nanako continued her story. Yumiko, on the other hand, had asked Tezuka about Amaterasu.
"Did she tell you about her feelings?" Yumiko asked, choosing her words properly.
"Ah." Tezuka said.
"Do you feel the same?" Yumiko asked curiously.
"A-aa…" Tezuka whispered, quite unsure if it was right to tell Yumiko, Fuji Syusuke's older sister but sister none the less, about it.
"I'm sure she would be glad to hear that Tezuka-san." Yumiko said the place a hand on his shoulder.
"But I think she was happy when she knew that you saw her, right Nanako-san?" Yumiko asked from the other side.
"Ah." Nanako said then left the two boys alone.
The two boys' questions were answered. Ryoma now knew that Ryoga was the real brother of Amaterasu. She was also the one who he saved years ago, which answers why she was familiar. Tezuka now understands his feelings for Amaterasu.
The only emotion that was similar with both of them was depression. Ryoma was depressed, but it wasn't noticable, because she was like another sister for him in that very small amount of time, with Nanako being the first. Tezuka was depressed since he loved her and wasn't able to say it to her. They were depressed like everyone else because she was dead.
The boys didn't notice Nanako and Yumiko talking on one corner though for they were to busy thinking. They were talking with hushed voices so what they were saying can't be heard by the others.
"May you heard him that time, Ametarasu-chan." Nanako whispered as she stared out the window.
"For what he said was true." Yumiko continued as she stared out the window as well.
'And you weren't out of his sight.' They thought sadly as the first snowflake fell sadly to the ground.
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"Sight"
A Tezuka Kunimitsu Two-Shot
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