" What an exciting day that was..." Kaoru said to himself, holding the baseball. The memories for this one were a little bit muddled, though your would be too if you were hit with a base ball going that fast

Flashback

It was near the end of the game. The bases were loaded and the sun was high. Kaoru was on one team and his brother, Hikaru was on the other. They were in middle school at this point, very early middle school. Hikaru was on a second base getting ready to rush off to third and score yet another point. Kaoru focused and held the baseball tight in his hand, his eyes narrowed as he imagined himself at some professional level, about to win the game. He through the ball, a fast ball, and it sped towards the person at bat. The trouble was it was one of the best hitters and he hit hard.

It was hard to hear any of the voices around the field. Maintenance men were mowing the lawns, and dust was flying everywhere. There was a large gust of wind that every so often would blow as hard as it could, it made things difficult but Kaoru would manage. The ball made contact with the bat and flew into the field.

It was all a blur after that. Hikaru had taken off for third but after one of the infielders had gotten the ball they went about to let him go without a fight. It was thrown to first then made a bee line for third. Hikaru was already gone from there though and heading for home. The ball was thrown again and this time to home plate. It was going to be close but that wind picked up again and a cloud of dust flew up blinding what actually happened at that plate.

A group of people were on the ground. The ball had bounced off somewhere else. Hikaru was under it all. He had slid to steal home but the catcher had gone to catch the ball. They collided needless to say. It was a good thing that the older of the twins had a helmet on, for the ball bounced off his head on it's way to the plate.

When all the after shock was over the only one injured was Hikaru. Throwing his mit to the ground Kaoru rushed over and slid to his side. " Hikaru.!!" he said in shock. He grabbed his hand. " Are you alright Hikaru?" he asked after more worried then anyone else.

" Aww Kaoru it's nothing I'm fine.." Hikaru faked a brave smile and tried to sit up.

" No No don't move.." Kaoru said trying to fight back tears. Kaoru cried for everything but it was more so in front of his brother and not the whole of the gym class. One of the kids had gone to go get the nurse and she was on her way within a minute.

The next thing that Kaoru remembered was that he and his brother were sitting in the infermory. Hikaru was bandaged up, only minorly bruised and nothing serious. That didn't stop the younger twin from worrying though. He was curled up on the bed with his brother, still clinging to his hand. " Hikaru- does it hurt a lot??" he asked shaking.

" Kaoru I'm fine, just a bruise."

" But you got hurt.." he retorted, it wasn't much of an argument for being worried, but words weren't coming to his mouth.

Hikaru reached his free hand over to stroke his brother's cheek, wiping away the liquid tear that was rolling down it. " Shhh...it's okay.." he said trying to make him feel a little better. He was the hurt one but his brother was the one crying.

Kaoru gave a small sigh and snuggled up to his brother, who winced a little as he brushed against his bruises.

" Ahh sorry.." Kaoru said, that didn't make him feel any better now that he was the one causing the pain.

Hikaru brushed his lips over his brother's forehead. " It's okay Kaoru..I'm fine.." he whispered and wrapped a single arm over his lithe body.

" Hey Hikaru..."

" Hmmm.." he responded. Hikaru was quite comfortable like this and had actually drifted off slightly.

" One of the other boys gave me this." A shredded discolored ball was pulled from his pocket. It looked like someone had murdered it. " The lawn mower got it.." he laughed. " But everyone signed it..." he smiled and passed it over so that his injured brother could see.

Hikaru let a smile cross his face then he pocketed it and closed his eyes again.

End of flashback

Kaoru looked over the faded signatures of the people who were there that day and a smile came to his face. The following days after that, Hikaru got to miss gym. His bruises went away but Kaoru still couldn't help but feel bad that his brother had gotten hurt.

Placing the ball in his lap Kaoru looks into the box once more. There were soo many items but something caught his eye. They were scattered everywhere, dried red rose petals, from a flower that Kaoru knew well, he almost started to cry right there on the spot.

Wait for the next chapter

When the memory of the flower will be revealed.

Comments are greatly appreciated.