It really wasn't long before the regional tournament came around. Eiji was training harder than ever to keep up his stamina. Doctors had told him to either stop or at least cut his training regime right down to a fraction of what Eiji needed to keep up with the Seigaku team. Even Nurse Kobayashi was trying to pull Eiji from the regulars at least. He'd visit her for the first ten minutes of lunch break every day and she'd ask him about tennis. Somehow, she'd always weave in that he should cut down on the tennis. Eiji would just smile and laugh as if it were a joke.

But it finally sunk in when Eiji was on the train that early morning. He was standing still in the empty carriage. Morning practice sometimes meant he bet all the workers and students that travelled by train.

He couldn't breathe. He was gasping for air and dizzier than ever before. It was strange considering he hadn't fainted since that first time in the classroom. Since then he had only ever felt like fainting. He got off of his seat and sat on the floor, curled up in a little ball. His lungs settled just a little. His chest hurt so much. Even the tiniest breath felt like his lungs were burning.

It was the first time Eiji realised just how sick he was. The warnings were all true. If he didn't stop pushing himself so hard, he'd die. His lungs had always been bad, hence his bad stamina. The doctors couldn't diagnose him with an official illness so he was considered healthy. When the symptoms suddenly stopped before his last year of elementary school, they dismissed him as completely healthy and there was nothing to worry about. He was left alone then. But when the symptoms came back the doctors still couldn't diagnose him. They just told him that he had anaemia because of it and eventually he would die.

Eiji didn't want to die.

The train slowed and Eiji tried to breathe again. It hurt even more than before. He was crying, choking on his tears. It made it hurt more, so he cried more.

"Kikumaru-kun, what's wrong?" Rika asked quietly. She was a classmate and had been for a long time, but they never really spoke. Rika was too shy for Eiji's liking. Eiji couldn't joke around with her like he did with others because she got too nervous to say anything. She would laugh and listen but she was beyond shy – she was afraid of what others thought of her and therefore did nothing to make them think badly of her. She was also Nurse and Dr Kobayashi's daughter.

"Rika-chan," he gasped. Words hurt even more than crying.

Rika sat in the seat beside Eiji. She looked at him as he sat in front of her. His head was back and leaning on the wall of the train. "Kikumaru-kun, what's wrong?" she asked again.

"Call your parents, Rika-chan," Eiji gasped as he grabbed his chest. He knew she wasn't used to the informalities he was using. Not many people called her Rika-chan. Usually it was Kobayashi-san or Rika-san.

"Rika, don't race onto the train by yourself. What if someone dangerous was on board?" Dr Kobayashi scolded his daughter. He, like his wife, was average. Nothing stood out too much. He was your average weight, average height kind of guy who happened to be a doctor.

"Your father is right, Rika, dear," Nurse Kobayashi said. She looked at Rika in confusion at the look of distress. "Rika…?"

Rika stood. "Otousan, okaasan, something is wrong with Kikumaru-kun," she stuttered out. She panicked as Eiji began to cough. She didn't even have to look to know there was blood.

Nurse Kobayashi almost dropped the bags. She and Dr Kobayashi raced over to Eiji's side.

"Eiji, you'll have to go to hospital. We need to get you off this train," Dr Kobayashi explained.

"No!" Eiji almost shouted. He cringed. "They'll make me quit tennis! But I won't! God damn it, I won't do it. I wish you doctors could do your jobs and fix me!" Eiji gasped in pain. He had his head between his knees and nails buried in his legs.

"Kikumaru-kun, don't say that!" Rika cried out defensively for her medically employed parents. Mainly for her father who was ironically Eiji's doctor.

Dr Kobayashi stopped and pulled his hand away. "If you really feel that way, I'm very sorry, Eiji-kun. But we cannot fix you yet. But we can help you. Quitting tennis-"

"NO!" Eiji cried. He was too used to hearing everyone telling him to quit tennis. He wouldn't. Not even if he was going to die on the tennis court. "I'm not quitting! I'll die on the tennis court if I have to! Oishi and I will be the number one doubles team in Japan and Seigaku will defeat Rikkai Dai! We won't stop until we have to. We must win-"

"Eiji-k-"

"I WON'T, I WON'T. I WON'T QUIT TENNIS!"

"EIJI, STOP THAT!" Nurse Kobayashi scolded. Her temper was wearing very thin. But it was because death had finally clicked in Eiji's head that he was in hysterics. He realised just how little time he had left. It wasn't a joke anymore. She doubted she could slide it into a conversation and get away with it anymore.

"Eiji, we'll take you to school where I'll try to help you with what's there but you have to come and see me after school, okay?" Dr Kobayashi compromised. He really didn't get along too well with children. It was a wonder he was a father. "If we don't check your organs, you could die within the week."

"Die?" Rika asked. "Kikumaru-kun is going to die?" She fell back into her seat. She had just lost her grandfather. She couldn't lose anyone else. Even if they weren't as close as Rika was to her grandfather, another person dying would just destroy her.

"Rika, dear, calm down," Nurse Kobayashi said. "We won't let Eiji die yet."

Rika watched as Eiji was laid across the floor and her father tried to find where the source of this pain was. "But he's terminally ill, right? Like Grandpa. Eiji hasn't got cancer, has he?" she asked.

"No, Rika, dear," her mother smiled. "But we'll find out what he has soon."

-Seventy Nine Paper Cranes-

After recovering miraculously from his morning episode, Eiji had proceeded to morning practice anyway. He was stubborn. He was giving laps for running late and sent on his merry way.

Class, however, was more stressful. His anaemia continued to play up so things would go blurry for a few moments before he'd tune back in. He missed half of the notes and when a test was that was coming up. He was good at concentrating in class until Fuji would distract him on most occasions. But nobody believed that Eiji was the smart one of the pair. Fuji's 'tensai ability' only ran for tennis and the arts. Everything else he could plod along, study occasionally, get good marks and make it look effortless because he could make it look good. The content however wasn't usually all that good.

"Kikumaru-kun, are you alright?" Rika asked. She shared her mother's kind smile but her father's dull coloured eyes.

Eiji looked at Rika. She had already asked at least five times that day. "I'm fine, thanks, Rika-chan!" He hid his annoyance quite well. He didn't want this sort of attention, even if he was a spotlight hog. He didn't want anyone to know just how sick he was.

Rika nodded. "That's good," she muttered. She was socially awkward when talking alone to someone in a room full of people. She couldn't speak a single sentence of Japanese in front of a crowd. But she was better with one-on-one experiences. She could usually figure out something to say in that sort of situation. Her social impairment wasn't as bad around friends and family, of course. "S-since I have to go see my dad after school, do you… want me to wait and we can walk… together?" she was nervous. Her nerves made it sound more like a date then what it was supposed to be. It was supposed to be just company.

"Sure, nya," Eiji said, fake smile still plastered to his face. "Meet me after club activities. I'll be at the tennis courts, of course."

"S-sure," she agreed as Eiji left. She could tell the smile was fake. She was the daughter of a doctor and a nurse; the caring gene was forced there. She brushed a hand through her hair to push it out of her eyes. Her hair always sat across her eyes. She had a crooked smile and a positive outlook on things, aka, she was an optimist.

Eiji avoided her all day. He couldn't face those eyes that screamed pity on him. Practice was awkward once Rika turned up to watch the end. The Student Support and Representative Group, which oddly Oishi wasn't it, had finished early. They were not as high as the student council, but like a back-up committee.

"You played well today, Kikumaru-kun," Rika smiled. Eiji groaned. It was going to be a long walk.

-Ninety Two Paper Cranes-

Eiji hadn't been looked at the same way in weeks. He had hit Rika; she had followed and pestered him all day that day and the only feeling he had got from her was pity. It was an accident, in being unintended. She understood though, his new medication was meant to relieve pain but it caused so much psychological pain it wasn't worth it. His marks and all dropped and he was moodier. Fighting with others in the class was almost common now.

"Eiji, are you alright?" Fuji asked. Eiji had explained he was on new medication to him, but not about his lungs. He doubted he'd ever tell Fuji.

Eiji nodded. "Hoi, hoi!" he said with a fake smile. He had seemed to almost perfect it. "I'm fine, Fujiko."

Fuji just had to open his eyes. He could have triggered Eiji's breakdown in a millisecond, but he didn't. After the crap Eiji got after the mistake with Rika, he didn't deserve to breakdown and cry in front of everyone. They all thought his anaemia had driven Eiji into seeking more attention. They didn't believe him when he said he was sick or he needed to see the nurse. They said it was an act – Eiji craving for attention.

The bell rang and Fuji picked up his books. "Off to see Nurse Kobayashi?" he asked.

Eiji nodded as he took his books in his arms and dodged a paper ball that had been aimed at his head. He wasn't insane like they had said, just more emotional than usual.

"Hey, girl-basher. Hurt any girls lately?"

"I bet he can't even stand up to fight a guy. He has to beat up girls."

Eiji didn't even go to his locker anymore. His books were split between Fuji and Rika. His locker was full though – full of letters teasing and criticizing him. He didn't smile much anymore. Not in class anyway. The only time he would was playing tennis. The club, well the regulars mostly, believed Eiji. They defended him.

He put down his books on the small table in Nurse Kobayashi's office, then proptly fell back on the bed. His chest was killing him.

"Eiji-kun! How are you?" Nurse Kobayashi smiled.

Eiji groaned. "Do you want the true or convenient answer?" he asked.

"I'd like the truth," Nurse Kobayashi frowned. "It's only polite to tell the truth. Never lie to me, okay?"

Eiji nodded as he put his arm on his forehead. "I'm not good at all, nya. My chest hurts, I'm being picked on and my medicine is making me emotional and woozy."

Nurse Kobayashi smiled a little. "Well, I'll give you some medicine to make your chest stop hurting, I'll speak with your teachers about the students but I can't help the side effects. They're going to give you a different medication when you see the doctor tonight, remember?" she pointed out.

Eiji smiled. At least he had Nurse Kobayashi to escape to when it all got bad. She wouldn't judge him. "Thanks," he almost whispered. Nurse Kobayashi handed Eiji his medicine and placed a bucket beside the bed. She looked over how thin he was. He didn't eat much and the medicine made him ill. It wouldn't be surprising if his illness also made him thin. She worried so much about if he'd be okay. The doctors had said he'd be lucky to live a month after he collapsed on the early morning train. That was almost a month ago now.

Eiji was very lucky to be alive.

"Nurse Kobayashi, there's been a fight in the main hall," a student said as they stood in the doorway. "There's blood everywhere."

Nurse Kobayashi looked at Eiji. "Will you be okay?" she asked. He nodded and she grabbed a first aid kit full of bandages and left.

He really did not feel well. They were so worried about the effects more 'serious' medication could take, they gave him this… 'shit' as his oldest brother had dubbed it, to make him better. He had never felt worse.

His stomach churned. He may have had a bucket, but he could flush vomit away if it was in the toilet. Then it didn't smell as bad. He'd had plenty of practice; this was almost a daily routine now.

He sat in the small bathroom with a toilet and a shower in case chemicals were spilled or someone was burned. The door was slightly open. He could hear footsteps. "Okaasan, are you here?" Rika asked.

"No, there's a fight somewhere and she had to leave," Eiji called out. "I'm feeling like crap."

Rika opened up the door. "That's not good," she said with a small smile that resembled her mother's. "Want some company?"

Eiji moved over a little. "Are you sure?" I'm sick," he said in reply. Rika sat down and put a hand on Eiji's back.

"It's alright," she said. It was times like these where Eiji actually didn't mind having Rika around. Rika was a friend, but she got annoying when she asked him if he was okay when he was obviously fine. At least for what Eiji could be. Eiji listened to her; she was his friend when everyone else had turned their backs on him.

Eiji hunched over the toilet as Rika gently supported his back. He was struggling – there was nothing left in his stomach.

After the nausea had faded, Eiji got up and Rika helped him to the bed to lie down again. "Feeling better?" she asked. Eiji nodded and Rika sat in her mother's chair.

"I don't care, Momoshiro-kun, you should not engage in an aggressive act," Nurse Kobayashi said so loudly it was perfectly audible to Eiji and Rika in the next room. Eiji and Rika looked at each other. This was going to be bad news.

"But, Nurse Kobay-"

"How are you feeling now, Eiji-kun?" Nurse Kobayashi asked as she walked into her office. "Oh, Rika, when did you get here?"

Behind Nurse Kobayashi stood Momo, Kaidoh, Fuji and Oishi - along with some other students of course. "Eiji-senpai," Momo and Kaidoh spoke in unison. They had bandages on their arms and bandaids everywhere. Their white shirts had red patches on them.

"Much better than before," Eiji smiled a little. "Why are Momo, Kaidoh, Fujiko and Oishi here?"

Nurse Kobayashi looked at the boys. "Anyone care to explain?" she asked. She turned to a shelf and pulled down two containers. "Rika, dear, you're here for your lunch, right?"

Rika nodded as the four boys all looked guilty. Oishi spoke first. Eiji, there were some juniors and seniors talking about you and they were mocking you in front of Fuji, Momo and Kaidoh. So they argued back, it became a fight and I tried to stop it on my own and got caught up in it too…"

Eiji had stopped looking at them as soon as they mentioned it was about him. He saw the bandage tightly wrapped around Oishi's wrists. "You're all idiots," he breathed. "Let them talk about me, I don't listen to them and either should you! I thought you were better than they are!" He hated this sort of attention.

"Eiji-kun," Rika said, trying to usher him to calm down. Eiji was mad at them. Almost… no, even more angry than he was at Oishi when they fought about Momo's position as a regular.

The four boys looked apologetic. "Eiji."

"Eiji-senpai."

"We're really sorry," they said in perfect unison.

Eiji sighed. "I guess I can't stay mad, nya." He smiled a little. "Do it again and I will though."

Nurse Kobayashi smiled then took down the names of those involved. School policy meant she had to send home a letter of any treatment – unless it was like Eiji's and was requested by the parent/guardian – to be sent home including the cause. They would all be in trouble soon.

-One Hundred and Eleven Paper Cranes-

"Fighting, under no circumstances, is unacceptable," Ryuuzaki-sensei scolded the four boys. "What gave the idea you could fight other students?"

There was silence. "We were def-"

"He wasn't even there and he wouldn't want you in fight either. Do you know how the reputation of this tennis club – no, the school – will be once word gets out four of the tennis club members engaged in a fight?" she asked. "Not good." She looked at Tezuka. "Is there anything you would like to add?"

Tezuka looked something other than stoic for once. He must have been really mad. "If you fight again, you're out of the club. Do I make myself clear?"

"H-hai!"

"Good. Run fifty laps and then all four of you are on ball duty with the freshmen. Do not get careless," Tezuka concluded. The four ran off and Tezuka sighed. He never thought his regulars would get into a fight. "I feel a headache coming on," he muttered as he returned to the four remaining regulars. Eiji could not stop watching his friends being punished for protecting him.

Inui looked at his notebook. "That ruins the schedule for today's training," he said, flipping through his data for a training schedule appropriate for five people. There was no doubt he'd have one.

"Warm up, ten laps," Tezuka shouted while Inui tried to find something to do. "Freshmen, non-regulars are to do drills on court C and D. Regulars to courts A and B. Those being punished, continue as specified."

"Eiji-chan~!" Eiji heard as his sister ran up to the court.

"Neechan," he breathed. Today was the day he was supposed to skip practice, wasn't it? He sighed. "Sorry, Tezuka-buchou. I've got to go early," he apologised as he left the courts. He watched as Oishi looked at him. At least he looked apologetic. Fuji, on the other hand, did not. He was crueller than usual. He did not spare mercy on anyone who said anything even remotely mean about Eiji.

Eiji saw Fuji look at him. His glare hurt. What had he done to his best friend?

-One hundred and Thirty Eight Paper Cranes-

"You're here, Eiji-kun," Dr Kobayashi smiled. "Today we got the results from the tests."

Eiji's mother looked hopeful. "Isn't there any good news?"

Dr Kobayashi's smile faded. "I'm afraid, not so much," he said. "Do you want the best of the news or the worst?"

"The worst," Eiji spat out. He'd end on a good note, hopefully. Or what sounded like a good note.

Dr Kobayashi nodded. "I see. Well Eiji-kun, it seems we have to strongly advise you to stop playing tennis. We can't force you, but we've asked a lot of opinions of other doctors – even a doctor that is famous in Europe – and they all agree."

"Next," Eiji said abruptly. "I've been told that enough and I refuse."

Dr Kobayashi chuckled. "Is that so?" he smirked. His face returned to seriousness quite quickly. "Well, I have to alert you, forty-three percent of your right lung and fifty one percent of your left lung have stopped functioning. You barely have a single lung left altogether. Your walls of your heart have weakened ten percent in the last month and your motor skills are down a further twenty percent. You're going to find it hard to use chopsticks soon, or even hold a tennis racket. Your left hard is quite obviously the worst."

Eiji's mother burst into tears. "That's a lot more than before."

Eiji's body was almost frozen. The only movement was the movement of his shallow breaths in his chest and the curl of his left hand. Sure, his grip with his left hand was horrible. He always dropped the left side of things. But his left arm was still strong. He played acrobatic tennis like there was absolutely nothing wrong.

Dr Kobayashi nodded. "That's an overall decrease of about thirty one percent of functions in the last month. It's increased its rate one hundred and sixty percent. That means next month, if we follow this pattern, you shall have the lost seventy-nine of functions. After that, you will be at no body function, an increase of two-hundred and five."

"But the nationals-"

"Eiji-kun, I must be frank. You must quit tennis. You're very lucky to be alive," Dr Kobayashi said sternly. "You won't live until Nationals."

Eiji felt something warm roll down his cheeks as his mother wailed. He never wanted this to happen. He didn't deserve this. Had he killed people in his last life?

Shou put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "It'll be alright, Eiji," he tried to say comfortingly.

"Eiji-kun, we want you to stay in the hospital. Then we can watch over you and maybe even cure you," Dr Kobayashi said, shuffling the tissue box toward the crying family. "But you'll have to withdraw from Seigaku and therefore the tennis club."

Eiji got up and took his mother's hand. "We'll be leaving now, Dr Kobayashi. Thank you very much. Do you have my new medicine?" he asked. Eiji hated hospitals. All he got was bad news. People die in hospitals and Eiji didn't want to die.

"Yes. Here is the prescription and a doctor's certificate as always. Miyuki-chan will meet you there and help you," Dr Kobayashi concluded. "Please, Eiji-kun, Kikumaru-san, take care."

-One Hundred and Ninety Seven Paper Cranes-

(A.N: You'd never guess this was meant to be a oneshot when I started this last year. I seperated it because it's almost forty pages long. I hope you enjoyed it. The next chapter will be up tomorrow! Please review!)