Disclaimer: Konomi Takeshi owns Prince of Tennis and not me… The oc is mine though… :)

Chapter 2: Her Sanctuary

Inui's pov

After a train ride and a quite long walk, I was surprised to find myself in Tokyo general hospital. I was not quite sure of the reason why she brought me here, though I had a lot of possibilities in mind.

"What are we doing here Sadahashi-san?" I asked.

"You'll find out later." She replied.

We walked inside the hospital. We took the elevator to the 6th floor. I was really dying to find out the reason why we were there but like a movie, you have to wait for the thrill.

We finally arrived in room 609. I followed her inside the room. To my surprise, the room was vacant, and Sadahashi-san didn't even seem to wonder.

"Where's the patient?" I asked.

She didn't answer me. She just continued inside, arranging her stuff.

"This is my sanctuary… Inui-san." She said, smoothing the sheets of her bed. "I have sort of lived here for few months now."

I was staggered. "You… are hospitalized?"

"Un."

"You don't look sick to me," I said half jokingly..

"That's what you call, "the wonders of make up"…" She said.

I went back to the topic. "You were admitted here for a few months… What's the reason?"

She let out a small chuckle. "I don't know if I should be telling you this or not… but well, here it goes," She said. She then took a deep breath, "I have leukemia, stage 3."

I was shocked. Leukemia is not an illness that can easily be cured. I heard that only 50 percent of leukemia patients survive, depending on the case. I thought she was like Yukimura, who indeed stayed for a few months in the hospital or like Tezuka or Tachibana who were rehabilitated for an injury.

"You couldn't blame me for attempting suicide a while ago… If only you just know how much this sickness hurts me…"

She then pulled up the sleeves of her jacket and showed me her bruises, which probably were made by the thick needles that the doctors struck through her skin.

"These… were made by my doctors' hard work. They did everything they could but my situation is already hopeless." She said.

"Every ache in my body feels like a minute of my life is taken away from me." She added.

I fell silent. I couldn't say anything more.

"Actually," she said. "I'm only supposed to live for 3 months but because of the medications, my life was extended to five." she spoke as she tried to hold back her tears.

Flashback (Mishika's pov)

"How is she sensei? Will she survive this?"

"I'm so sorry to say this, but your daughter will not live for long. We tried everything, but all we could do is to extend her life for five months."

"No…She's too young to die…"

"I'm so sorry Sadahashi-san."

I closed my eyes, trying to absorb the doctor's words. "I'm… gonna… die."

I felt a pang in my heart as she said those words. I wanted to comfort her so that at least, her pain would be lessened a bit… but I couldn't. I just didn't know how. All I could do is just listen to her and let her say everything that's in her heart.

Silence again filled the air.

She smiled at me, and took a deep breath. "Whoo! Let's cut this drama thing shall we??" she said. "Thanks to you, I woke up and saw the reality that I still have 5 months left to enjoy so I shouldn't waste it on emoing."

I smiled at her, but still remained speechless.

"Hey," she said as she poked me in the shoulder. "You're giving me the hint that you're feeling sorry for me. Say something."

"It's not that Sadahashi-san… It's just that it's the first time in my life to encounter something like this…" I said.

"This news shocks everybody anyway." She said.

"By the way, where are your parents? Aren't they supposed to be watching over you?" I asked.

"They went out to buy something… They'll be back later." She replied.

"You're so lucky you didn't get caught."

She smirked. "I know…"

Silence again filled the air.

I looked at my watch. It was 7:45 pm. "I'm really sorry but I have to go…"

"I understand."

"Sadahashi-san?"

"Hm?"

"May I visit you again… tomorrow perhaps?" I asked.

"Sure, sure! I would really be glad if you could come… My parents are gone during the day and my friends are also busy in school so I have no one here to accompany me." She said.

"So, see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow that is."

"Ja." I said as I headed out of her room.

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As I exited the hospital, I realized that part of me didn't want to leave. I was kind of worried for her, knowing that she's all alone in that room. However, part of me also told me not to worry because she was a strong girl.

I smiled and made my way home.

So here's chapter 2! I do hope you had fun reading! And please don't forget to tell me your thoughts through reviewing!

To ahgwa, thank you very much for reviewing and I do hope you'll find improvements on my character… if ever there's anything wrong, please do tell me… :)

To bloodheron, thank you so much for reviewing and giving me tips… please do review if ever you see something here… :)