CR: Ok, for those who wonder why I wrote Ryoma being mean to Sakuno, it's because I hate her! Simple as that. I'm sorry for all Sakuno fans out there, but seriously, I don't think Ryoma even likes her, he barely remembered her throughout the series. And I don't care if you Sakuno fans hate me for this, because I have no intention in backing down from my beliefs. Anyway, for those who knew about my bruised eye from the near car accident, I have good news for all of you. I have been discharged today. Anyway, back to the story!

The hospital diagnosed Shizuka's condition as gastric pain, having a slight flu and was overly fatigued. Ryoma blamed the flu on the unpredictable shifting of the weather temperature that had befallen Japan; while he blamed the over fatigue to himself (and their secret job) as she skipped lunch due to the fact that he always forgot his. According to himself, she had started skipping lunch meals since the day the assassin started taking their sleep. When the nurse finally let him in to see Shizuka, he immediately burst in the room and found Shizuka sitting there, looking slightly pale and feverish. Sweat beads had appeared on her forehead. Ryoma sighed. "Why did you give me all your lunch when it's clear you need some? You shouldn't take your health so lightly, Shizuka, please don't make me worry about you unreasonably." Shizuka merely shrugged. "Well, you forgot your lunch, so I gave you mine. Anyway, I don't know you can worry about me." She chuckled at the sight of Ryoma glaring at her. "You shouldn't do that, you'll get premature wrinkles." she reached up her hand to use her thumb to smooth the skin between Ryoma'a brows.

"Doubt it's likely that we'll live long enough to get wrinkles, anyway," Ryoma muttered. "Our job is always involving us risking our lives after all."

"Hey, don't say that! We will stay alive, even if the odds are against it." Ryoma looked at her. Although her face was pale, her eyes had the shining determination to it. Ryoma nodded. "Yeah, we will stay alive. No matter what happens. After all, we have each other."

"Speaking of having each other, do you have someone you like? I'm sure even people as despicable as us would like someone."

Ryoma's thoughts wandered to a certain brown haired captain. "Yeah, I suppose I do."

"Do you intend to confess to this person?"

"Maybe. I mean, even if I do confess, what if that person says no? What if I'll put him in danger."

"Don't say that, Ryoma. Love is blind. If the person loves you, that person will love you for who you are, and won't desert you no matter what. I'm sure there's someone out there who you love and will love you back." Ryoma smiled "You really think so?"

"Yes, I do." Just then, they heard the door being opened and both assassins turned toward it expectantly.

A blonde female nurse pushing a tray cart stepped in.

"Hello Shizuka. Your medi-"she cut herself off, stopping dead in her tracks when her eyes fell on Ryoma. His captivating golden eyes mesmerized her, with his golden black hair bathing in the sunlight. Also, he is rather short, around 151cm, which made him cute and all the more desirable. Shizuka doesn't like the look the blonde nurse is giving her partner; she looked like she was going to jump on him and do him right then and there. Shizuka intentionally got up and rapped on the nurse's head, breaking her daydream (in pain). She moved towards the bed and handed Shizuka a glass of water and her medicine tablet. The assassin stared at the medicine in her hand for few seconds before she said, "You gave me the wrong medicine, you bimbo." The nurse looked insulted, but checked the medicine and saw Shizuka was right. She handed the female assassin the correct medicine then left, giving Ryoma a surreptitious glance. "That wasn't very nice of you, Shizuka." said Ryoma. "Talk about a pot calling the kettle black." Shizuka stuck out her tongue, before taking her medicine and drinking it. "Meh, she's pretty dense anyway. I bet she doesn't even know what a bimbo means." She ran a hand in her hair. "Anyway, I'll be discharged in a week, so be sure to collect my homework while you're at it."

"Yes, Shizuka." said Ryoma, smiling.

The next day during practice, Ryoma's playing was a bit off. You could tell he was distracted. He felt lonely without his partner constantly by his side. He missed easy balls from Momoshiro, and did not even speak much, other than to ask for the opponent to serve the ball or when he is spoken to. The regulars were getting worried by his odd behavior, and decided to ask him what's wrong. After all, they are his senpais, they can't not care about their precious freshman.

"So Echizen, what happened to you? Are you having family problems? Relationship problems? School problems? Please not let it be your health problem (haha, we all know who had it right now, right?)." said Oishi, going on 'mother-hen' mode. "Wait, Echizen having a health problem? Nooo! Who am I going to call 'Ochibi' from now on?" said Eiji, wailing. "Calm down, Eiji. He probably had relationship problems with some girl. I bet it's our coach's granddaughter, that Sakuno girl." Momoshiro sniggered. Only Kaidoh and Tezuak had a vague idea why Echizen is like that. However, they did not know what the Shizuka girl meant to him. "32.5% it's relationship problems, 40.5% it's on family problems, and 27% something happened to his friends or family." said Inui, jotting down in his notebook. Ryoma sighed and massaged his temples. "Hoi? Ochibi's acting like Tezuka-buchou!" said Eiji. He sent a glare in Kikumaru's direction. He changed his clothes, grabbed his tennis bag, and proceeded to walk off, when Momoshiro said, "Wait! You didn't tell us what happened yet!"

"And why should I?"

"Come now, Echizen. Surely you could tell us." said Momo, concern on his face.

"Is one not entitled to personal space? Is it wrong for me to want to keep my private life private?" he snapped.

"Echizen. We didn't mean-" Fuji began but was cut off by Ryoma.

"I'll be going now." he muttered angrily and brushed past his senpais.

"Sheesh, what's with him?" said Momoshiro.

"I don't know. He seemed to be like this since today. Sakuno mentioned the fact that his seatmate, Shizuka wasn't here today. Maybe it's because Shizuka's not here, that he became like this." Fuji mused.

"What? He loves her?" said Oishi.

"Probably." Fuji smirked, loud enough for one captain to hear. He inwardly laughed. Tezuka was holding to his water bottle so tight, it's a wonder why the water bottle didn't break. 'I wish I could assign Shizuka laps, but she's not even in the tennis club! Damn it! If she is in it, she'll be running 80 laps every day for dating Ryoma!'

"Ah, I thought Ryoma liked Sakuno."

"Please. He couldn't even remember her first name. What's more, do you notice Ryoma calls Shizuka by her first name?"

"Oh…you don't think….."

"Yes. I think they are lovers."

"Ano…so should I….BURNING! Echizen! Young love! BURNING!" yelled Taka. Someone had slipped him his racquet in mid-sentence. Tezuka, who was still clutching his water bottle and glaring at it as if it did him a personal wrong, felt like he was the one burning, with rage, hatred and anger towards a certain female assassin (not that he knows) who seemed to have won Ryoma's heart (haha, but we know better, don't we).

Back to Ryoma…..

Ryoma was at the hospital, giving Shizuka her homework.

"So how was practice today?" said Shizuka.

"Che, they kept annoying me, and asking me questions. They sound like they have the right to know about my private stuff."

"Come on, Ryoma, they're your friends. Of course they have the right to know."

"Nah, I don't really trust them with secrets. The other day, I tested the waters by telling Fuji-senpai a lie that I failed my English, and by lunch break, everyone seemed to know about the lie that I failed English."

"Didn't know Fuji was untrustworthy."

"He's always smiling that angelic smile of his. You don't even know what he is thinking. Who knows, he even may be plotting and planning behind that kind smile of his."

Shizuka laughed. "And also, my senpais had a tendency to jump to conclusions." said Ryoma.

"What kind of conclusions did they jump to?"

"Well, Oishi, Inui, and Kimumaru-senpai though I had either relationship, family, school or health problems, Momo-senpai thought I had relationship problems with that Ryuzaki girl. As if I will have a relationship with her, I'd rather kiss my knives. Besides, I like someone else anyway. Who knows what conclusions they came up with when I left?"

"Maybe if you don't know, you'll be happier."

"Probably. If I find out what ridiculous conclusions they draw up and they act on it, I swear they are dead!"

Somewhere, a bunch of Seigaku regulars sneezed.

CR: I know, I know, this is lame right? Well, can't do much about it, except go on slowly