Aniki

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis nor am I making a profit off this story. I write for my own pleasure. Nor do I own any brands mention herein; it's all just to go with the storyline.

Summary: Ryoma and Ryuuka Echizen are born to be tennis players. Devastatingly, Ryuuka is diagnosed with a blood disorder. Playing in Japan, Ryoma worries over his dying sister in USA. Or will she live to join him at Seigaku?

Pairings: Golden Pair, Inui-Kaidoh, Momo-Ann. (for now)

Note: Ryoga does not exist!

Pairings! Vote! It will influence my choice:

RyomaxYukimura - (workable and cute!)

RyomaxAtobe - (Amusing. I see lots of torture...)

RyomaxSanada - (Potentially hot! I see a bro-sis dating the vice-cap)

RyuukaxYukimura - (easier to write and very cute fluff)

RyuukaxFuji - (I like protective!Fuji)

I can work the story around these pairs. Tell me what you think as I need to start planning... But note that it will only be a slow build up, as these people aren't even sixteen yet...

Note: My little brother deleted my Prince of Tennis. All two hundred episodes... I'm in mourning. But I'm also finding it difficult to write the chapters, as I Iike staying true to the anime with my own spin on things. Sorry!

Note 2: I mention Gene Therapy as a cure for sickle cell anaemia. It's used to keep the disease under control and is not fully developed. I'm using my right as a writer to make it a cure. It is not, as far as I know, in reality.

RivalAdmirer19 (I think that's your name) I think this story is now dedicated to you! I've never had such a loyal reader! I will promise you this; I will finish this story, even if you're the only one reading it!

Chapter 3

Coming Home

Ryoma was more withdrawn than usual. Everyone noticed it and no one could draw him out. Momoshiro and Eiji tried to take him out to eat, but he refused each time. Tomoyo and Sakuno tried bribing him with food and he turned them down. Even the Freshman Trio was at a loss. He didn't even protest when he was paired with Momoshiro for double's training. Though the way the pair got tangled in the rope tying them together made everyone cringe. All previous co-ordination was lost.

In the end, Ryuzaki-sensei ordered everyone to leave him alone. She had heard the news about Ryuuka and was happy she made it through. But they were still waiting on news if the operation worked. It was a long shot, even Nanjiroh admitted that over the phone, but they were hoping. Ryuzaki sighed as she put off her plans to get the father-son pair to help her granddaughter with her tennis.

Ryoma, on the other hand, was on autopilot for most of the time. His mind was in America. But after he got a tongue-lashing from Ryuuka about neglecting his tennis, he threw himself into training. After practice at school, he went home to train by himself.

The Prefactories rolled by and Ryoma was ready to let off some stream by pulverizing some poor soul in tennis. Ryoma scowled as he pulled his cap down. It was bright, sunny day and his teammates were being too loud, again. Sighing, he just pulled down his cap and followed his team, pouting at the unfairness.

'I don't want to be here!' he whined mentally as he watched the courts with disinterest. They were playing St. Rudolph, on the other best eight. Inui went on about something on the manager and team member Mizuku, or something. It really didn't matter. Though it did peak his interest that Fuji's younger brother was on the team after leaving Seigaku.

Leaning back against the bench, Ryoma pondered, 'I wonder if she ever felt like that? That she was in my shadow?' Ryoma shook his head and smiled slightly to himself. 'She wouldn't. She's too sure of herself to even think that she meant anything less than me; no matter what everyone else said.'

That brought back memories. Back in the States, when they first started competing at age seven, people always compared them. Where Ryoma knew he had sheer natural talent, Ryuuka had this unwavering spark. All their comments just made her laugh it off and then challenge him. She was always saying that he should keep working and never look back; because she would always be on his tail. One step behind him. That if he stopped she would over take him, talent or not.

Ryoma shifted his head slightly and took in Fuji's form. His sempai seemed unbothered by the gossip around him but Ryoma could see better. Fuji's stance was slightly tenser than what it usually was. 'It must hurt,' Ryoma realised, 'for your younger sibling to hate you for what you are; for always being inferior in the eyes of others.'

Fuji turned his head at the feeling of someone watching him, and found himself mildly surprised see the intent gaze of Echizen on his. Blue eyes opened to meet the golden stare. The lack of the younger boy's general apathy was missing and was replaced by a mild look of understanding and empathy. Fuji raised an eyebrow only to receive a shrug from the first year ace.

Curious, Fuji walked over and took a seat next to the green-haired boy, keeping half an eye on the doubles matches. Both teams were putting up and fight, and it was close, but Fuji had confidence in his teammates. He said nothing to Ryoma though, as Ryoma turned his attention to the matches.

They watched in silence as the golden pair lost to the Kaneda-Akazawa. "Close match," Ryoma murmured. Fuji nodded, knowing the boy was speaking to him, and replied, "Eiji's stamina ran out. It's their fatal weakness." Ryoma nodded and his eyes slid to regard his sempai. Fuji merely smiled as the boy muttered lowly, "I wonder what's yours?"

They watched in mild amusement as the most volatile pair kept pushing their opponents. Momo and Kaidoh made a surprisingly good pair, but it could be contributed to the fact they both hate losing.

"You're going to be facing Yuuta in Singles 3," Fuji said quietly, eyes still closed. Ryoma shrugged in response.

"The left hand killer?" Ryoma said. He paused before adding, "Or your brother who hates walking in your shadow?"

Fuji tensed as his eyes shot open. No one dared to talk about that around him. Ryoma met the stare head. "Isn't your sister the same?" Fuji asked seriously.

Ryoma smirked as he tilted his head back and stared at the blue sky, "No. When they talked she turned her back and made her own place on the court. In fact," Ryoma stopped for a moment before continuing, "I think it made us closer. We trained together. She wanted to reach me and I wanted her there. After some time, people saw the truth."

"The truth?" Fuji asked almost hesitantly. It hurt to know what could have happened to Yuuta and him. They could have been close. Their relationship was the other side of the coin when compared to the Echizen twins.

Ryoma sighed as he stood and stretched, getting ready to go and warm up. "The truth."

Ryoma started to walk away but he stopped. He didn't turn around but his fists clenched on his bag straps. "Ryuuka was better than me. I have the natural born talent but she had the drive. She always did. And that made her a formidable opponent. I have to work to be her target nowadays."

And he walked off. Fuji sat in contemplation. "Drive, huh?" Fuji Syuusuke smiled as Momoshiro won the match by knocking out his opponent. Unconventional but still a win. But his mind was back to what Echizen said. "Saa, we are more alike than I thought, Echizen Ryoma."

Blue eyes opened, "I look forward to a match and meeting this sister of yours."

~0~0~0~

Ryoma watched in disinterest as Fuji Yuuta used the 'rising shot' technique. It was a somewhat difficult technique. The movement and angles had to be memorised by your muscles because of its nature. And the follow-through was important.

"1-0! St Rudolph lead!"

Green eyes slid over to the coach's bench as he eyed the black-haired player-manager. The guy did his research. The 'Rising Shot' would seal his Twist Serve if played correctly. But, and Ryoma smirked at the thought, he now knew how good the guy's super rising shot was. And if he read the path correctly...

'I may need to get serious faster than normal,' Ryoma thought as he bounced the ball in his right hand, ready to serve. A small smirk tugged at his lips, 'Then again, I need to let off some steam.'

Ryoma served his Twist Serve and it was returned as expected. 'He's pretty decent, considering he's been chasing one person in his tennis.' And the little voice reminded him that he, Ryoma Echizen, wasn't that different. He and Ryuuka were playing for the pros but their father was an obstacle that they were both aiming to beat.

Smirk firmly in place, Ryoma took back a game even with his serve sealed. It wasn't a serve that won a game after all. All he had done was win with the follow-up shot. Yuuta was glaring at him. Ryoma met his gaze calmly, "Made made dane. I've played against far stronger left-handed players."

Yuuta stepped back when he saw the fire and conviction in the younger boy's eyes. He almost believed the brat as his eyes slowly slid over to Tezuka, captain of Seigaku. Yuuta knew that his brother never played the Tezuka officially but the captain's strength was almost legendary, even with his injury.

Yuuta gritted his teeth as he replied, "Play me before you say that!" He lowered his left shoulder and got ready for his ace. Twist Spin Shot.

Ryoma's eyes widened as the ball shot upwards, much like the Twist Serve. He watched the path of the ball as he thought determinedly, 'I can counter the Twist Shot, so I can counter this!'

Ryoma rushed forward and tried to hit the shot after it bounced. The ball flew into the net. "Che," Ryoma muttered, "sharp angle."

Yuuta gave him a confident smirk. The match suddenly turned against Ryoma as Yuuta started his play with super rising and ended it with the Twist Spin Shot. Ryoma let it bounce as he tried to jump to reach the ball. "Damn it!" he grumbled as he couldn't reach it.

Golden eyes turned to glare at the younger Fuji but he had a smirk on his lips. 'Well,' he mused as he got ready for the next ball. 'I do like a challenge. So this is the Left Hand Killer?'

Instead of waiting for the bounce of the Twist Spin Shot, Ryoma moved forward, sprinting towards the ball. Fuji Syuusuke's eyebrow rose as he watched the super-freshman try and hit the ball before it bounced.

'Trying to copy the Super Rising?' Syuusuke thought as he opened his eyes. 'You are good but are you that good?'

Ryoma gritted his teeth as he returned the shot. The ball bounced and landed just outside the line.

"Out!"

Yuuta turned to stare at the mark on the court before he returned his attention to Ryoma. Ryoma was staring at his racket and muttering under his breath. "I need more practice to get this shot down even if I understand how it works."

'That was close,' Yuuta thought in amazement, 'Just what is this guy?'

The game continued in vain as Ryoma seemingly kept trying to copy the Rising Shot.

"3-1! St Rudolph lead!"

Ryoma sighed as he looked at Yuuta. Yuuta raised an eyebrow in question.

"You shouldn't use that shot so much."

"What?" Yuuta said, surprised. "Too much for you to handle?"

Ryoma said nothing as he got into receiving position. Yuuta shrugged and served. Ryoma returned. Yuuta used Super Rising. Ryoma used his one-foot slit step and returned the shot. Yuuta used Twist Spin Shot.

Ryoma sighed as his warning was ignored as he sprinted forward. He kept running, well aware he would pass the ball at that rate. He smirked as he pulled his cat down. Bending his legs, he bent backwards slightly, forcing his body to slide under the ball. He hit the ball before it bounced, adding the correct spin on it as he jumped upwards to meet the descending ball.

Yuuta smirked as the ball seemed to be heading out. Then the ball dropped with a reverse spin and bounced twice.

"Drive B," Ryoma uttered, smirk firmly in place. Yuuta stood in his pace, shocked as he stared at were the ball finally rolled to a stop.

'A Drive Volley?' he thought amazed.

Ryoma sighed as the technique worked. He had been wondering how he could use momentum to add power to one of his shots, and the Super Rising had given him the answer. A drive volley that would return any falling ball and allowed his to be an in position to receive any shots returned.

And like that, the tide turned. Ryoma stood smirking as he needed on more point to win. He looked at Yuuta, who was panting, and still using the Twist Spin Shot.

"Who taught you that Twist Spin Shot?" Ryoma asked eyes narrow. The crowd murmured at the question, curious as to why the usually silent player was talking.

"Mizuki-san," Yuuta replied easily, "he's the manager and trainer."

Ryoma threw a glared at the boy on the bench before returning his gaze to Yuuta, "I wouldn't use it. I don't think he told you but you can feel it, can't you?"

Yuuta looked at him confused, "Feel what?"

"The strain."

Yuuta stepped back as his hand came up to grip his shoulder, unconsciously.

"The Twist Spin Shot puts a strain on the shoulder, and could result in permanent damage to an adolescent," Ryoma replied, locking eyes with the younger Fuji.

"Game! Set! Seishun Gakuen! Echizen Ryoma! 6-3!"

~0~0~0~

"5-0! St. Rudolph lead!"

Fuji paused as they were told to change courts. He walked to net, eyes hidden behind his hair. Ryoma watched curiously, his sadistic side wanting to know what Fuji Syuusuke's revenge would be against the one that was purposely injuring his younger brother. Ryoma's gaze turned into a glare. Ryoma knew that he would kill anyone that dared to lay a hand, or thought, on Ryuuka.

"I need to know one thing," Fuji said to his opponent across the net. Mizuki smirked and inclined his head. "Did you teach Yuuta that shot knowing it was harmful?"

Mizuki smirk got bugger as he coldly replied, "It's so easy to manipulate a fool who just wants to defeat his older brother."

Fuji's eyes opened slightly as he turned around and walked to the bench. Ryoma watched as he changed his racket, pulling out a golden one. But the most interesting thing was Syuusuke's eyes. The blue was shining in anger but she had an undertone of hurt.

Ryoma sighed as he leaned back, "So the match finally begins."

Inui looked at him, curious as he pushed up his glasses. "You think he will start playing now, Echizen?"

Ryoma didn't look at his sempai, rather watched the court. "It's going to be brutal. But that guy deserves it. He taught Fuji-sempai's younger brother a harmful technique and he knew."

Fuji Syuusuke held nothing back as he proved that all the data that he collected was false. Fuji annihilated Mizuki 7-5, not letting the other boy get a single point.

But there was no mercy in his molten blue eyes as he stared at the fallen, broken form of his opponent. "You are his sempai; you were supposed to watch out for him."

~0~0~0~

"This is not fair!" Ryoma practically yelled at his father. For once the man was serious as he stood in front of him son. "I don't want to be here!"

Ryoma wanted to scream, he wanted yell and shout and hurt someone, anyone! He just wanted to go home; he wanted to go back to America. He needed to see his twin! And no one seemed to understand that!

"Your team needs you!" Nanjiroh replied somewhat calmly as similar golden eyes glared back at him.

"I don't care about this damned team!" Ryoma practically roared, "You don't have a twin! You don't understand! Something is wrong! I can feel it!"

Ryoma was unconsciously gripping his chest directly above his heart. Nanjiroh's eyes widened slightly at the gesture and sighed as he tiredly rubbed his face.

"She doesn't want you there," Nanjiroh tried the last card he had. Ryoma always held Ryuuka's feelings in highest priority.

"I know!" Ryoma stormed but like a wind that lost all its power, he stopped. His eyes dropped to the ground as he clutched his chest, "But I need to be there. I need to..."

Nanjiroh sighed as he hugged his son. "Everything will be fine. Just wait a little longer, seishun."

Nanako sighed from her place in the kitchen and went back to cooking. It seemed these fights were becoming more and more common. Silently, she wondered how much longer Ryoma would stand it before he just got onto a plane for America, parents be damned.

~0~0~0~

Ryoma panted as they finished the running laps. Inui was a sadist, he was sure. The guy wanted to feed them his poison! Ryoma flopped onto the floor as Ryuzaki-sensei started speaking. That they would start the next part of their training: practice matches.

Truth be told, Ryoma really couldn't care. He only trained because it gave him a way to pass the time. They had gotten a call from Ryuuka. The operation had been successful and she was recovering. But due to state of her body, the recovery was slow.

That had been like the weight of the world had been lifted. Oyaji went out and bought a party worth of food to celebrate. But Ryoma couldn't help but feel that something else was wrong. Like Ryuuka was still in trouble and his heart literally hurt at the thought.

"Ryoma and Fuji! You're up first!" Ryuzaki-sensei said as she motioned to the open court. There were murmurs at who was playing. Even Ryoma found himself peaking slightly at the thought of playing the 'tensai'.

Ten minutes later, Ryoma smirked as he finally found a way to beat one of Fuji's triple counters. He had to force Fuji to miss his sweet spot by hitting a net ball. 'He's one scary genius.' Ryoma admitted as he fell into the game. It wasn't like any other he played in Japan. It had the distinct thrill be had almost forgotten about. He had played at the level required of his for so long he had forgotten what it was like to be pushed and actually care. Tezuka tried but his mind had been solely focussed on Ryuuka. But Fuji... Maybe it was their similarities but Ryoma really, really wanted to win the match.

Ryuuka gripped the fence in front of her as she watched the match. Ryoma was playing poorly compared to what he used to play at, but the old pieces were starting to shine through. Slowly but surely that fire awakened as he craved that victory. He craved the challenge and the thrill of playing tennis.

'It was worth it,' she thought as she sat in a wheelchair while being hooked up to a drip, 'sending him here. He's grown, enough to find the fire to keep playing tennis no matter what.' Ryuuka stared at the match from the sheltered area in a barely visible corner. She had finally gotten the okay to travel from her doctors. She had been on the plane as soon as they made arrangements. For her it meant just transferring to another hospital, but it made all the difference in the world that she also was in Japan.

The nurse hovered behind her but she didn't care. This match was intense and it made her itch to grab her racket and get on the court. To shove the brunette off and take over. To see how far she could push her twin to the point when he threw his every soul on the line to win.

"Echizen-san," the nurse said from behind her and Ryuuka growled. "We need to go. It will start raining soon and it would be dangerous if you got sick."

Ryuuka sighed as she looked at the sky. It would start raining soon. 'But,' she thought as she bit her lip, 'I want to see them play.' Logic said otherwise. The doctors told her that her heart was healing, now that the sickle blood cells had decreased. She was on medication that lowered her chances of heart failure to a manageable level. And that was also why she was in Japan. The hospital in the city of one of the best when it came to 'gene therapy'. They were all hoping that the therapy combined with the transplant would almost completely stop her sickle cell anaemia.

"Echizen-san, we need to get back to the car." It was like the clouds parted and the skies cried. Ryuuka watched as the other players rushed off the courts. But Ryoma and the other make kept on playing. Both were smirking, almost smiling.

Ryuuka said nothing as the nurse hurriedly pushed her away from the courts and towards the car. Her mind was fixated on the match she had been watching.

~0~0~0~

Ryoma grumbled as he dried his hair. He had already changed out of the wet tennis kit and into his school uniform. He eyed Fuji out of the corner of his eye as he sat, still in his wet clothing, leaning against the wall. There was a small smile on his lips.

And Ryoma found himself agreeing. A small smile played on his lips after all. That match had been something else. He hadn't cared much about his matches, just winning so he didn't tarnish his record. (And then getting an ass-kicking from Ryuuka.) But when he played Fuji, for the first time in a long time he had wanted to win.

Ryoma was brought of his thoughts by his cell phone ringing. It was his father's ringtone. Ryoma groaned as he rolled his eyes and opened the phone to take the call.

"What do you want?" Ryoma said rudely into the phone. He was still holding a grudge against the man. He wanted to see his twin!

"Seishun! It's pouring so I decided to pick you up! Hurry up! We're waiting in the car park!" the annoying voice came over the phone. "Itai!"

Ryoma frowned as he heard the phone be changed and the grumblings of his father. "Surprise, Ryo."

The call ended as Ryoma sat in shock. His eyes were wide.

"Echizen?" Oishi asked, worried, "Are you okay?"

Ryoma swallowed hard as he stared at the open phone. 'That voice...!'

Without a word, Ryoma stood and grabbed his bag. He bolted out of the door before any of his teammates could react. He didn't care about the rain as he ran through the school, cell phone in hand.

Ryoma skidded into the car park and headed straight for a blue car. As he got closer his heart sped up. There were two people in the front: his mother and father. And there were two people in the backseat. A lady dressed in white and...

"Ryuuka!"

~0~0~0~

Ryuuka watched with slight amusement as her brother went mother hen on her. She was currently in her private ward in the hospital. The rain had made things lightly chilly and Ryoma was tucking an extra blanket around her as she sat in bed.

It seemed that Nanjiroh had prepared the room in advanced. Her recovery from the operation would take two months, pending on her healing rate. So he had gone ahead and decorated her room. There were some flowers in a vase and some photo frames. Her tennis bag was already in the cupboard and a few tennis magazines on her bedside. Her posters were already on the walls.

"Ryo! Stop!" Ryuuka finally said with a laugh, "I'm fine!" She patted the bed next to her as a message.

Ryoma sighed as he looked at his twin with a soft smile. He sat down next to her on the rather large bed. He slipped an arm around her and gave her a hug. No words were needed.

The pair sat in silence, not needing to say anything as the rain pattered against the window.

"Ryo," Ryuuka murmured as she leaned against him slightly tired.

"Hmm?" Ryoma replied as he enjoyed the warmth and the knowledge that his little sister was safe.

"I was going to surprise you at the courts but it started raining. I saw you play against that guy with brown hair."

"Fuji Syuusuke. A tensai at tennis," Ryoma replied to the unasked question but tensing at the words he knew was going to say.

"You enjoyed that game." She didn't mention the change in his play.

She said nothing else as he watched similar golden eyes stare out the window.

"And," Ryoma said almost hesitantly, "you've been keeping something from me."

Ryuuka dropped her gaze as she winced. That told Ryoma everything he needed to know.

"That bad?"

Ryuuka shook her head. She couldn't bring herself to speak.

"Ryuu."

Ryuuka swallowed and Ryoma steeled himself for the worst.

"The sickle cell damaged my heart, Ryo. I'm down for a transplant."

Ryoma stilled on the spot as he closed his eyes. A pained expression filtered across his face.

"With the operation, it means that I can try and heal my heart. I'm on medication now to try and prevent a heart failure."

"Ryuu..." The unsaid words...

Why didn't you tell me?

".. and they were talking about some surgery so I wouldn't need the transplant, maybe."

Heart failure? A heart transplant?

"I'm sorry, Ryo. I just didn't want you to worry about something outside our control..."

Ryoma sat there and he refused to move. He refused to open his eyes and realise that this was the reality of what was happening to his sister. His little sister who had been dealt an unfair hand at life.

"Ryo?"

Ryuuka found herself pressed against her brother in a tight hug as he murmured into her hair. "Don't you ever keep something like this from me again! Don't you even pretend to be okay when you're not! You can pretend in front of everyone else but not me!"

"Ryoma..?" Ryuuka asked quietly as her brother held her. She sighed as she felt a huge weight lift off her. She said nothing as she felt a wet patch growing on her shoulder.

Just like Ryoma said nothing about the wet patch on his shoulder. Between them, some things just didn't need to be said. They simply understood each other like that.

~0~0~0~

Ryuuka looked up from buttoning up her shirt to see a boy in a wheelchair. The bluenette went bright red when he saw her, and more specifically her state of undress. Ryuuka paused as she processed what was happening. She was practically shirtless and a boy just entered her room.

"Pervert!" Ryuuka yelled out and she grabbed the closest thing to her. It happened to be a large tennis ball plushie that Ryoma had made her. The boy blushed and stuttered an apology and backed out of the room, only to be caught with a tennis ball plushie to the face before the door shut.

Ryuuka was red, both from embarrassment and anger. 'How dare he just walk into a room without knocking?' she fumed as she buttoned up her shirt. The doctor had just finished her daily check-up and she was still in a mediocre state of undress. 'Still! He probable saw my underwear!'

A timid knock sounded on her door. Ryuuka stormed over and yanked it open; ready to bite the guy's head off if he dared to come back.

A yellow ball of fuzz was thrust in her face, "Sorry. I didn't know anyone was in there. I was told by the nurse to go in."

Ryuuka sighed as she glared at the nurses' station. 'At least he apologised,' she thought, still red in the face as she took back her plushie.

"It's okay," Ryuuka said as she got a good look at the guy. He was older than her, maybe in high school. Blue hair and gorgeous purple eyes. And he was in a wheelchair. "Just don't make a habit of it."

The guy gave a light chuckle, his hair swaying as he tilted his head to one side, "I'll be sure to knock from now on."

They stood awkwardly for a moment before Ryuuka tried to break the silence, "Um, are you looking for Doctor Minami?"

The guy nodded with a smile.

Ryuuka sighed as she stepped away from the door. "You better come on in then. She will be back in a couple of minutes. She went to get my test results."

The guy winced. Ryuuka can sympathise. Being a hospital meant that most of the people you talked were either sick or a doctor.

Before he could enter the room, a voice called out from behind him, "Yukimura-kun?"

Yukimura turned his head and saw it was Dr Minami. He smiled at her, "Ohayo, Minami-san."

"I'm sorry I'm late. I'll be right with you," Dr Minami said as she walked past him and into the room. Yukimura nodded and wheeled himself to the side of the corridor to wait.

Dr Minami entered the room with a nurse right behind her, pushing a wheel chair. Once they were inside, the doctor turned to Ryuuka.

"You shouldn't be up, Ryuuka-chan," the lady scolded Ryuuka softly.

Ryuuka pouted as she sat down on her bed, "Well, if it weren't for closest perverts..."

"Perverts?" Dr Minami asked curiously before shaking her head. "Well, you're tests are good. You're healing well. Nurse Akio will change your bandages and hook you up to your drip."

"Can I go?" Ryuuka asked quietly but the eagerness shone in her golden eyes.

Dr Minami laughed as she nodded, "Nurse Akio has agreed to go with you. She likes tennis."

Nurse Akio was a strict redhead who ran her shift of nurses with an iron fist. It was a surprise to Dr Minami who asked if any of the nurses would mind escorting a patient to a tennis match and Akio volunteered.

"Well," Dr Minani said with a smile as she closed the file in her hands and handed it to Akio, "I'll leave you in Akio's capable hands. I'll check up on you when you return. Enjoy the match, Ryuuka-chan."

Ryuuka gave the doctor a grateful smile, "Thank you Dr Minami."

The doctor nodded and left the pair. She stepped outside and turned to the waiting teen. "Yukimura-kun,' she greeted again and took the handles of the wheelchair."I apologise for the wait but Ryuuka-chan needed clearance for an outing."

Yukimura smiled as he shook his head, "It's alright."

Dr Minami couldn't help herself as she asked, "So what was Ryuuka-chan going on about when she was muttering about 'closest perverts'?"

Yukimura went red and Minami chuckled at the boy's discomfort as he stuttered out, "It was an accident. The nurse told me to go right in and I didn't know she was changing...I apologised!"

"I'm sure it was, Yukimura-kun," Dr Minani said as she wheeled the boy towards her office. She was in charge of monitoring the condition of his organs. If any of his organs were under strain they couldn't perform the operation he needed.

They were silent as they waited for the lift.

"Her name is Ryuuka?" Yukimura suddenly asked quietly.

Minami looked down at her patient with an amused smile, "Yes, it is." Slyly she added, "Do you like Ryuuka-chan?"

"What?" Yukimura spluttered as a blush swept across his cheeks, "No! I just wanted to know because I wanted to ask her if she played tennis!"

Minami was laughing out loud now as she teased the boy, "Ryuuka-chan does play. Want to ask her on a tennis date? She's cute after all!"

"Dr Minami! It's not like that!" the boy protested. Inwardly, Minami was relieved he was acting more carefree. Ever since he had been diagnosed, it was like his world ended and she worried about his emotional and mental health. And if she got to play matchmaker while helping her patients, all the better.

"I could ask her for you...'

Yukimura Seichii groaned as he buried his face in his hands. He had a feeling this incident was not going to leave him alone for a long time... Even if the girl... Ryuuka... was cute.

~0~0~0~

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Amira D.