What? No one guessed why I named Niou's mother that name? Nah just kidding XD

A virtual lollipop for EcstaticPetenshi for guessing it right! You rock!

Niou Sachiko came from Nagai Sachiko-sensei's name. She is Yukimura Seiichi's voice actor in the anime:)

Thanks for the concern my dear readers, I'm really very touched by it. I admit, its been hard, and I still cry, but I will move on. I will come back to you readers in full force soon enough:D

Disclaimer: Lets see...Marui hates sweets. Valentine Kiss is not a romantic song. I'm done.

Warning(s): I already said character death, angst…yeah. OOCness if you see it that way (though I doubt it *is shot*). Yaoi. Add in more if you deem fit.

I will talk more after this.

Story time then:)

There were some cancellations at the start of the letter, as if the writer could not decide on how to start, but the words that followed after were neat and organised.

Hey Yagyuu, nice day ain't it?

First thing he noticed, was that Niou used neat italics- his right-handed font, to write the letter. There were also some…tear marks? He swallowed uncomfortably as he recalled his friend mentioning that he almost never used his right font, and if he did only when he was serious. Yagyuu continued reading.

Right, so why am I writing this letter to you? Well, I don't know myself. Maybe its cuz I feel too weak to speak much right now, and I have a lot to say to you. Writing makes it easier.

'Oh, that's true'

So how is the tennis team? There is only so much I can hear from Sei-nii, and I kept wondering if you were ok. I didn't ask you while the others were also visiting cuz it will only get awkward and all. I've been away for quite a long while. In fact, I kind of miss Sanada-fukubuchou's Tarundoru slapping already. It just isn't the same lying here in bed, staring away at the ceiling. Still, it makes for some slack time from hell practice.

Yagyuu smiled a bit, Niou was still joking around.

I still remember the first time I met you, or got to know your name for that matter. We were paired together for a maths project. I remember that look on your face when I managed to solve a sum you couldn't. Man, that was totally priceless! I guess I found the serious side of you fun, and so just like that, we became friends- and now doubles partners to this day.

'I remember too. Yes, its ironic isn't it? Niou-kun? That the two of us with such contrasting personalities would become such great friends…'

Also, sorry for keeping quiet about the fact that Sei-nii and I are brothers, godbrothers to be exact. The opportunity just never came up I suppose, so I'm sorry. I mean you are supposed to be my closest friend and all, but I didn't tell you. Anyway, the commotion with my mother that night? Just pretend it never happened. My mother is just…overprotective of me and my brother- fiercely overprotective if I may. Maybe she was just shocked, traumatised or something. She almost never resorts to violence though, so even I was surprised. But you can't blame her. Its not exactly everyday your son suddenly faints at practice and has to be rushed to the hospital, lol.

'Its alright, Niou-kun. It is true that some of our teammates might have thought it was favouritism if anything about that relationship was revealed. I understand completely. Your mother is right to be so worried about you…'

Then also, help me tell Akaya that I'm really sorry for pulling all those pranks on him throughout the years- assuming he felt really angry or hurt by any of them. I'm actually surprised he still wants to call me his senior even after all I've done. That kid really is a good boy. He will make a good future captain just like Sei-nii had already planned for. I'm sure, that he will not let any of us down. You believe in him too ne? Yagyuu?

'You shouldn't worry Niou-kun, Akaya is a good boy like you said. You just have to convince him that you really are sorry with a gift. I'm sure he will forgive you.'

Hey Yagyuu, remember the first time we actually switched identities? The reactions of the team was awesome. Never knew Akaya made that type of spelling mistake. I mean, 'apple' and 'ample'? You gotta be kidding me! Must have been tough on you, having to teach a brat like that. It took all of my willpower to maintain your 'Gentleman' façade. Marui also looked so guilty when he realised the one he water-bombed that day was none other than the innocent and unsuspecting you and not me XDXD Thanks for taking that blow for me, that meant a lot, even if it was a mere water bomb.

'No problem Niou kun, I was prepared for it anyway. I knew you weren't exactly the 'goody-two-shoes' in school.'

Lets see…oh right! I also remember the day the both of us dragged all our teammates (Yes, even Sanada!) to the karaoke lounge. It was 14 February. Valentines Day. That day, I was totally convinced that Sanada-fukubuchou had completely lost his mind. For a guy who had been reluctant to come in the first place, he was REALLY eager to sing something wasn't he? Seriously! Who knew his sense of music totally rocked? That song's name was…Valentine Kiss? Yep, that's the name. He was totally putting his heart into it. But then..as if what he felt towards Sei-nii wasn't obvious enough to any onlooker…except for a certain someone of course…

'Oh yeah, I remember too…Sanada-fukubuchou had a pretty good voice too. Yukimura-buchou…lets pray that he will realise soon, ok?'

Although, I wish you could have heard me sing…it was kind of…my first time you know. It was the same song that Sanada sang. I thought you would have wanted to hear it…God, this is getting awkward…Ok. Maybe I SHOULD have poured that bucket of mud into Yanagi's locker, he deserved it, dammit! He of all people should have known that he was not to carry any weird juices he got from his childhood friend- that glasses guy from Seigaku, in his bag! Those belong in the safe boundaries of his locker!

'Now that I think about it…I did kind of black out for the remainder for that night…'

Now…jokes over. From the very first moment our eyes met and we exchanged names, to the very moment I fainted on the courts. Having actually met you and to have made friends with you, it was a great fortune in itself. I was always the loner in elementary school, and everyone avoided me…cuz of my hair I guess. Nothing could describe my happiness when you actually treated me like the normal kid and friend I so wished to be. Thanks a lot, thanks for everything. Thanks for playing tennis with me.

'You are welcome, Niou-kun.'

That day I fainted was really scary for me. Yes, just so shocking for me too. I admit, I had been feeling a little off for a while, but I never thought it would be this serious. You've gotta put yourself in my shoes too, since you or any of the other guys would probably do the same thing. Who am I kidding? Of course its my fault for having ignored the need to visit a doctor. I mean, it was just 20 laps, nothing big. Then pain in my abdomen and I just…yeah…

Wow, this letter is getting pretty long-winded. Uh, then let me get straight to the point then. What they diagnosed me with…its…a very long scientific term. I painstakingly (nah, not really) remembered it for you, so listen up! I'm only going to say it once. Its 'Metastatic Gastric Carcinoma'. In short, stomach cancer. Pretty shocking huh?

'Niou-kun…you are telling me about this…why?'

And that treatment Yukimura-buchou kept talking about? It never existed. Just thought I would make things clear. Everything was just too risky…and…I…just decided to stop with everything. Stop. Pronto. I just saw no point in staying for much longer anyway, it would have been too painful, both physically and mentally.

'Wait, Niou-kun? Niou Masaharu? What are you saying?'

You're probably angry, frustrated. I understand. I betrayed every single iota of trust that you had in me as your fellow doubles partner. Its been hard on you, having to put up with a jerk like me. You didn't deserve any of it.

'This…this isn't the Niou-kun I know…it just isn't! He would never…' Yagyuu felt so confused, turmoil raging inside of him.

And…by the time you read this…I will probably be gone. Yes, gone. I bet you will be asking: "Why didn't you say this at the start of the letter?" I thought about it and Yagy-Hiroshi? Can I call you Hiroshi? Its been so long that we knew each other, and its just so ironic that we still go by surname basis. Then again Hiroshi, you are the Gentleman and I am the Trickster. Then, in the following months up till the day I passed this to and instructed the doctor to hand this pathetic excuse of a farewell letter to you, I kind of…realised something. It was unsettling, and Sei-nii also saw it. He told me I should do what I needed to do, or I just might regret it for the rest of my life.

'Niou-kun…I…I don't know what to say to this…I never knew…you never told me…'

Hiroshi.

The mention of his given name in a line all by itself on the letter shocked Yagyuu out of his reverie, and he forced himself to keep on reading. There was a much deeper meaning that he was not seeing.

There has been something I had wanted to tell you for a long time now, but whenever I summoned up the courage to do it, the sight of you just saps it all away. And I just stay silent. I was just awaiting the day that, you know, I could finally say it directly to you with confidence. But, time has run out for me, and what I want to say…to confess…I'm gonna say it…now…

Yagyuu's hands were trembling- shaking hard by now, and he was sweating cold sweat considerably. This letter was obviously supposed to be given to him after Niou's passi- No. He couldn't think of it that way! Back to the matter on hand, why did the doctor and Yukimura decide that he should read this before the intended time? Why…why?

Hiroshi, I-I-I love you. I had ever since the day we went to sing at that karaoke lounge. No…I probably already fell for you long before that, and Sei-nii knew. So yes, that's my confession to you. Part of me was hoping you would accept, and maybe give me a kiss, if you ever loved me back. But then, another part of me was also screaming for you to reject, for you to hate me. Then perhaps our parting needn't be so painful for you, and you can move on with life without me.

Yagyuu didn't know when his legs gave way just then, but he was kneeling on the office floor, silent tears flowing, some dripping onto the letter, joining the tear marks of the writer on the paper. It was so painful, so painful…

I'm a selfish person, really. I have never thought much about your feelings whenever I did things. So now, its goodbye. Goodbye Hiroshi, and however life in Rikkai goes on without me, please continue to support the team, and clinch that Nationals title once again. I know that in both your heart and mine, we will always be the ultimate Doubles 1 pair of our year. Remember the rules Hiroshi, especially the one we had pledged to go by the moment we decided to follow Sei-nii in his captaincy.

Losing is not allowed.

Win, and don't let the team down. Don't let…me down. We fought so hard for this, and its just so unfortunate that I would not be able to join you guys in fighting for the last lap- the Nationals. I won't forgive you if you dare to lose any of your matches, partner. Keep that in mind.

Take it as a promise, a promise between the two of us, ok?

Ja ne. Adieu~

With that, Niou concluded his letter. Yagyuu was crying by now, so upset that everything had to turn out this way, yet also grateful that he could receive and read this letter before it was time. He felt feelings of betrayal, but it was nothing compared to his realization that he too…loved his teammate. There was just so much to take in.

What else could he call that slight darkening of his cheeks whenever the Trickster came a little too close? What else could he call that sudden acceleration of his heart whenever he saw Niou smile, or when he saw the silverette's kind side? What…else could he call…that slight feeling of sourness…when he saw one of the Senior High fangirls advancing on his partner?

The doctor just watched on, and patted him assuringly on the shoulder. Nodding to show that he was fine, the boy gave thanks to the doctor, then left for home to ponder about stuff.

The little lavender and silver coloured envelope lay in the safety of his pocket, unaware of the importance of its contents.

xXEternallyXx

*Brrr…* *Brrr…* *Brrr…*

An annoyed Gentleman reached out groggily and flipped open his phone, not bothering to look at the Caller ID as he answered it, with promises to kill the caller if it wasn't important.

"Yagyuu, Yukimura speaking. Its Niou, he mig-"

The sole mention of the Trickster's name was enough to send him out of the house in seconds, and just minutes more to reach the hospital room, where everyone who was supposed to be there was there. He was apparently the last to arrive. The sight of the bed occupant froze his heart.

Niou was panting heavily, his eyes closed in weariness from the effort to even breathe, and even with the assistance of a breathing mask. And when he did open those orbs, what were once a bright and shining sea-green were now reduced to a faded, unfocused and glazed look. A heartbreaking sight, but nothing could be done.

"Hiro…shi…"

Their eyes met at that instant, and time seemed to freeze at this point, as Yagyuu hurriedly bolted from where he was at the door to the side of the bed, taking Niou's hand into his own. To see his mouth twitch into a smile melted the Gentleman's heart. But, he wasn't done yet.

His hands seemed to have gained a mind of their own as they started pulling the breathing mask off Niou, much to the horror and shock of the others in the room. There was no hesitation as he leaned down as far as possible, and captured those pale lips into a kiss.

Yes, the kiss that was supposed to be long before that. The kiss that was supposed to be on that day, at that time. The kiss that was supposed to be passionate, and repeated many times after.

Realising that he was taking up too much of his doubles partner's oxygen supply, Yagyuu mentally slapped himself and swiftly replaced the mask firmly on the patient's face. Niou was still a little frozen from what had just happened, and took a few seconds to recover. Niou looked up questioningly. Yagyuu forced a small smile.

He waved that two-toned envelope that he took from his pocket.

Niou scowled.

"I…will…kill…that…doctor…"

Said doctor, who was standing at a corner filling in some things on his clipboard, coughed uncomfortably and slowly made himself scarce.

There was awkward silence as Yagyuu's and Niou's gaze met again, now with much more intensity than before. It was as if the two were in a world of their own. The tennis team just watched on, waiting for what they knew was going to happen. Niou's family just sat in silence, knowing not to interfere, watching the exchange take place.

Niou suddenly reached out and yanked Yagyuu by the neck to his level, at such a close proximity that their foreheads were touching. The closeness of which went uninterrupted by the others in the room.

"Hiroshi...so…it was…out of obligation after all…huh?..."

Those eyes looked so genuinely sad, and Yagyuu felt a huge stab in his heart. No, it wasn't out of obligation that he did it, it was out of real love. One that had made itself known after reading that letter…

"No, its my answer. My true and sincere answer."

Those eyes brightened in hope considerably, looking at him with so much apprehension and adoration, it was scary. Then Niou showed an even wider smile than before.

"…You have…no idea…how long…I've waited…for…this…"

"I know now, Masaharu. Some part of me was hoping for you to say what you did in your letter too."

"Hiroshi…will…you…give me…a…ki-"

No need to finish that sentence. The breathing mask was yanked off once again and the purple-haired teen's lips crashed down hard on the other's. Memories, so many memories, of each other flowed through like never before. The dam that had been holding them all back had finally crumbled, and now there was no stopping them. Tiny videos and snapshots from their most memorable moments together, all the way up till the last moments.

The memory of Niou placing that whoopee cushion on the elementary school teacher's chair, the one whom everyone hated. Yagyuu had laughed along with the class. Even though at that time he had not known the other yet…

The monitor beeped erratically.

The memory of Yagyuu helping Niou to the nurse's office when he had tripped and sprained his ankle due to those first few gymnastics lessons…

Even faster, if that was possible.

The memory of that time they lost their first doubles match, and how Niou even risked a hundred laps from Sanada just to sneak out during practice, dragging Yagyuu along with him. The antics Niou even bothered to come up with to cheer themselves up with…

The beeps were starting to slow…

The memory which Yagyuu now remembered more clearly. The memory of Niou singing a heartfelt Valentine Kiss, of which the intended target was now clear. Those eyes had been full of unreqruited love…so he hadn't been fully knocked out after all…

Slower, and slower, getting further apart…

Those memories, and many more mostly in video-like form, flooded their minds as they shared their deepest kiss for now and forever. The imaginary wall that had put space between their relationship was crushed. It was just mere seconds after that they let go, separating.

They had sealed their newfound feelings, their newfound status, with that last kiss. Niou refused the mask, his arm gripping tightly onto Yagyuu's to prevent him from forcing it back on him. He even managed yet another one of his trademark wink and smirk while he was at it. Milleniums seemingly elapsed.

A wracked sob from Akaya, as Yukimura moved to comfort the junior. Then progressively even more sounds of sobbing or crying, as Niou's time with the group slowly ran out…

The silver-haired teen was determined. He fought on till the last seconds. It was only after it was getting too much to bear that the boy finally shut his eyes in exhaustion, knowing full well he would never open them again, and his grip on Yagyuu's hand loosened…

But the Gentleman did not move to latch on that mask. They were doubles partners, of course he knew what the other half was thinking, and he complied…very reluctantly.

That last, painful and raspy gasp. That last grain, that last particle of sand that tumbled through his hourglass of time. That last iota of his life energy draining away. That last thump of his weakened and tired heart. The last beep that resounded…

…and the line finally went flat, the silent yet loud beep that echoed throughout the deathly quiet room. Echoing, echoing hauntingly.

Maybe it was their imagination, maybe it was their hallucination, but the occupants of the room had heard the same thing. Sachiko closed her eyes.

I will come back…someday…

Yep, and thats that. I can actually just end it right here and now and just leave it sad and unhappy, but I wanna hear what you readers think. *Winks*

For those who like angst, this is the end of the intended 'twoshot', where it ends at this point with no more elaboration. Read on only if you are interested in the rest of the fic :)

I already have a few written chapters for the continuation of this fic, about Yagyuu's life years down the road after Niou's passing. Don't worry, it only contains a single OC and a twist. A twist that will definitely make you gasp:)

But it all depends on you guys. I won't upload the others if no one wants them. So tell me in your reviews ok?

I know this might sound random but I can't get enough of Tenimyu! The actors are just so awesome and the songs and choreography are so well performed! I will murder anyone who doesn't think they are awesome! Nah, kidding.

Please Review! Reviews are the air we authors breathe, the food we authors eat, the water we authors drink! Don't let us die just like that!

Comments and Constructive Criticism please? We all love the 3 Cs! XD

Thank you very much for reading, will update soon:)