Unveiled Love In Winter 2 - Chance For Survival

Standard disclaimer applies. You are warned that the characters might not be in their usual selves (in other words, possible OOCness).

Author's Notes: The setting of this story is in first year high school. Momoshiro and Kaidoh aren't exactly present in this part of the story since they are still in middle school, only in their third year. Ryoma isn't present either as he was residing in America (at least he was in this story). The timeline and original anime plotline will somehow be changed in this fanfic, especially about Tezuka supposed to be going to Germany, Oishi supposedly not going to enroll in Seigaku's High School Division, and Kawamura supposedly going to quit tennis to pursue being a sushi chef. In any case, this is my story so I guess that's one of the changes that I had to do.

xxxxxx

Chapter 2: Chance For Survival

Kamamura didn't know why, but he felt careless since he dropped two sushi plates at the time. He immediately picked up the scattered shards but his father already saw him doing it.

He was surprised that his son carelessly dropped some plates when Kawamura Takashi was so focused in his duties (cleaning duties) earlier. Just what in the world was bothering Takashi to commit such careless mistake at this busy hour?

If only Mr. Kawamura knew that his son Takashi didn't have any idea or how to answer that, he would've smacked him on the head right there and then.

Takashi was startled about something, though right now, he couldn't actually point his finger to a particular issue. All he knew was that he felt something foreboding—one that she hadn't felt in a long time. But what could it be? He couldn't go on working and helping his father in that shop now that it had come to this.

But he mustn't waver at this point, even though that foreboding feeling really gave him the reason to call Aika. He needed to make sure she was alright. He did leave her on the park even though he promised that he would take her home. Somehow, he felt guilty because of that.

Just what kind of person he was for doing that? For him to promise something and then he wouldn't fulfill it in the end.

"Takashi, if you're that worried about Aika-chan, then go. I don't want any more damage to the utensils in here before it reaches my customers."

He raised his head upon hearing that. He found his father smiling at him knowingly and encouragingly.

"Dad…"

"Go before I change my mind about letting you go after her."

He smiled widely after that. After cleaning up the scattered plate shards on the floor, he immediately went out of the shop. Takashi decided to head straight to the spot on the park where he left her.

But she wasn't there.

She must have gone home already, he thought and was about to head to the direction going to Aika's house.

However, ear-splitting screech of tires and loud honk of the car's horn made him stop to his tracks. Hearing them made it feel like something terrible had happened. His heart was beating wildly for some weird reason. It was a foreboding type of beating, similar to what he had felt while he was still at the sushi shop.

Now he knew that what he felt was already like a premonition—one that was probably mean for the person he was looking for.

Without a second thought, he ran towards the direction where he heard the screeching tires and the honking car horn—which turned out to be the sound belonging to an FD car. But that wasn't exactly what made him freeze to his spot.

The sight of the blood did… along with a figure lying lifelessly on the ground and covered with the red substance all over.

He shook his head slowly then eventually doing so vehemently when he realized that the lifeless figure was too familiar. He did so in denial and disbelief.

It couldn't be, right?

It couldn't be… her.

Before he knew it, he walked—or rather dragged his feet—towards the blood-covered figure lying on its side. Soon after, his walking turned to running when impatience and denial continued to wash over him. He needed to make sure his suspicions were wrong.

He needed to do so in order not to worry anymore.

He ignored his crazily thumping heart as he approached the figure. But his nightmare came true in front of him when one of the onlookers—who turned out to be a doctor and a familiar person, as well—decided to check on the body of a girl lying on that road.

And it was—as he had feared—a girl with long maroon hair… similar to that of—

"Aika…" he muttered in disbelief. "It can't be… right?" With that, he approached the figure as he ignored the others' warnings. "Aika! Aika! How could you let this happen to you? Aika!"

As he continued to shout the girl's name—who really turned out to be Aika in her Seigaku high school uniform—with denial continuously echoing in his head, another figure watched the whole scene.

Just like Kawamura, that figure was also in a state of shock and disbelief in the situation. But that state was also mixed with one other emotion—guilt.

That seaweed-haired boy wearing a Rikkaidai uniform watched the scene in denial and disbelief as he continued to mutter incoherent words that only he could hear. But he was repeating some of his words over and over as he let himself wallow in guilt.

"It's my fault… It's my fault…" were the boy's words that he continued to utter over and over, blaming himself for what happened to the maroon-haired girl now lying lifeless on the ground and covered in blood.

The boy's friends later spotted him now collapsed to his knees.

"Akaya!"

"Kirihara-kun!"

"Kirihara!"

That boy turned out to be the current captain of Rikkaidai Fuzoku Middle School's tennis club—Kirihara Akaya.

Kawamura later saw that seaweed-haired boy with the other Rikkaidai boys (who were the boy's former teammates) comforting Kirihara somehow. But right now, it didn't matter to him. What was important to him was to save Aika as soon as possible.

He had to save her… if he wanted to save his heart from breaking apart and never lose her to the hands of Death.

"Don't give up now, Aika… Do it for me… Just don't give up and live, okay?"

xxxxxx

Kawamura knew he had never felt this scared his whole life. He had never felt such hopelessness for not being able to do anything other than to stay around and wait for the doctors to finish their job in helping Aika. His best friend was in the operating room at that moment, ith several doctors doing their best to save her at all cost.

At that moment, however, he was waiting all alone for them to finish their job. He hadn't told anyway about it yet. He couldn't afford to disturb them right. And he definitely didn't want to worry them even more.

However, he also considered that though as something selfish on his part. After all, Aika was also their friend, especially the other Columns. Tezuka and the others were also Aika's friend even though they weren't that close yet. But still, Kawamura's friends were as important to Aika as Kana and the others. So how was he supposed to tell them that Aika had the possibility of dying if nothing was done to save her in that operating room?

He had a lot of questions to ask about the incident but he couldn't figure out where to get the answers at this point. He was confused and at the same time, furious at the situation-however it all started-had gotten to this extent. How did it all become worse like this? What in the world was Kirihara doing in that place where the incident happened? Did he know something about this? How did Aika end up getting hit by the car? Why did she have a slash wound on her back as if a sharp blade injured her that much? Was that injury too deep to endanger her life? Would she survive the operation?

The questions in his head was too much that he was desperate enough to get the answers as soon as possible. But he couldn't leave there just yet. Not until he made sure of Aika's condition as stable. He would never leave her now. He would stay there and be with her even when the ordeal was over.

After three long and agonizing hours of waiting and praying, one of the doctors came out of the operating room. Kawamura immediately stood up and approached Dr. Yanai Shingo-a doctor who happened to be someone he knew from a few incidents a year ago.

"Yanai-sensei, how is she? How's Aika? Will she be okay?" he asked continuously and in a hopeful tone, as well.

A heavy sigh escaped from the doctor's mouth before removing the surgical hat on his head and faced him. "Kawamura-kun..."

He didn't like the looks of that. Dr. Yanai's face told him that there was more to come in that ordeal. "Sensei... Please tell me she'll be okay..."

"We did all we can to save her," Dr. Yanai started in a solemn tone. "But the rest will still be up to her."

"What do you mean?" Now Kawamura was really confused and he could feel himself starting to get frustrated over the situation. Aika couldn't possibly be dying, right?

She couldn't be... She musn't...

"The blade that struck her on the back created a deep wound that ruptured a few blood vessels, not to mention that it also reached her spinal cord. From the impact she had during the accident, she had broken a few bones, in addition to the traumatic head injury that will render her in a state of comatose for now. And if she did wake up, I can't guarantee that she would be able to play again... or even walk again," Dr. Yanai gravely stated.

His words had caused Kawamura to collapse to his knees when he suddenly felt so weak. How could something like this happen to Aika? How could such a blade managed to struck her? She was a national karate champion in both elementary and middle school division, for heaven's sake! She could've avoided that. She could've saved herself from the attack.

How did everything end up like this?

Just what made you stop fighting for your safety, Aika? How in the world did you end up like this? To not play in both tennis and karate again? No walking? You won't let that happen to you, right?

"She suffered from severe blood loss, as well, which also resulted in oxygen loss to her brain, causing it to shut down passively. Because of tha, she was under comatose right now. This is why I said that the rest will be up to her. We did our part, now it's time she do hers," the doctor added. He knelt in front of Kawamura and tapped the young man's shoulder. In turn, the high schooler faced him. "Be with her. I can tell that she's important to you. So I'm giving you the permission to stay by her side. Perhaps it would give her a reason to fight for her life. By the way, do you know her parents' contact numbers?"

Kawamura nodded. "I'll just write it down."

"I'll call them for you," Dr. Yanai suggested. "I can tell that you won't be able to tell them everything about this."

The teen was grateful on the suggestion, as he was too weak (in an emotional sense) to even tell Aika's parents that their daughter met an unfortunate accident on the way home. And to think it was an incident that could possibly cost Aika's life.

"Thank you for all that you did, Yanai-sensei," Kawamura said sincerely despite the despair and heaviness he had in his heart at the moment. "I guess I won't know what to do if you're not there at the time."

"Thank me when your friend wakes up, Kawamura-kun. I know, and I can tell that our struggle for her survival in this fight will begin now. The only thing I can say to you is to stay strong. At least do so for her sake."

Kawamura looked at Dr. Yanai once more. The latter's eyes showed no pity for what the boy felt for the girl. Instead, it showcased encouragement and resolve to remain strong to overcome the situation. It was a desperate attempt in doing so but it was for the best that he had to be firm in this situation. Aika would surely need her friends' strength to surpass this trial as she stood on the line that bordered life and death.

Yes... Staying strong was the least of things he could do for her sake. He mustn't falter now.

He nodded and the doctor left him after announcing the ICU room where Aika was transferred right after the operation.

Even though he nearly lost his strength to walk, or even do anything, he tried. He had to reach Aika's room as soon as he could.

If only he knew he would feel ever weaker when he saw Aika's situation, he never should've decided to see her like this.

If only he knew his heart would shatter at the sight of bandages and tubes on her almost lifeless body, he should've gone home already.

But he mustn't think like that now, of all times.

Just hang in there, Aika...he said inwardly as he approached Aika's bed. He tried his best not to break down in front of her despite the fact that his heart shattered over and over again at the devastating sight of of his best friend's situation. I'm not going to leave you... Whatever happens, I'm not going anywhere. I'll be with you until it's over. I won't leave you at all.

He made that resolve as he held her cold hand. He cried when he did so and made him kiss it. At least maybe... Just maybe... Aika would know that he was there. She would know that he would never leave.

And perhaps, there would be a way for her to know-even in that oblivion-how much he loved her.

Not just as a friend...

...but as someone more than that.

"I'm not going to leave you... So please stay strong and don't leave me, as well, Aika. I don't know what will happen to me if you did..." he pleaded as he cried silently.

The steady beep of her heart monitor was his only proof that somehow, she was still there...

...alive, in some sense.

xxxxxx

The next day...

News about Aika's accident hadn't reached the Seigaku students' ears yet since Dr. Yanai made sure the media wouldn't leak the information to the public at all cost. Not only that, it was also the will of Aika's parents since they wanted to know discreetly who would do something like that to their daughter. Sarasugawa Saori-Aika's mother and a renowned lawyer-was expectedly devastated at the sight of her only child's situation. Aika's father Sarasugawa Tanato wanted nothing more than to avenge his daughter but did nothing such as that since he knew Aika would never like that. In fact, it was him who thought Aika not to use martial arts to intentionally hurt anyone and not be blinded with personal emotions that would eventually lead to one's own defeat.

The couple were grateful, nevertheless, at the support from Kawamura Takashi and his family who knew the situation by far. At the very least, they found comfort at the sight of that young man doing his best to be with Aika and wait for her development. This teenage boy had changed their daughter's life a long time ago. This boy did his best to be with Aika at the cost of almost everything. He did it no matter what happened along the way. He never left her-at all.

And now, he was by her side once again.

At that point, they knew Aika was someone special to him. It was only a matter of time before the relationship progressed into something greater.

But this turn of events would now become a test to prove Kawamura's worth to Aika's life. And it was a test that Kawamura had no intention of failing at all.

Mranwhile, Aika's absence in school became a mystery to the others, especially to the other Columns and the other tennis guys. Same goes about Kawamura's absence.

Lunch time came and they gathered on the rooftop. By far, it was the only place where they could talk freely. But their talk only led to speculations forming in their minds that had rooted from a foreboding feeling that the girls felt last night.

Of course, they were surprised that the four girls actually felt the very same thing.

"I thought I was the only one who felt sonething weird last night," Hanako commented with a laugh-albeit a forced one.

"Not to mention, it was a scary one, too," Kazumi added. "That was the first time in a long time that I've felt something like that."

"I won't be surprised if the four of us will say that we ended up not sleeping really well because of that," Kana said.

"I wonder what happened," Miyako contemplated after muttering those words. "Nationals is just around the corner and Aika wasn't someone who would just be absent like this. And to think she did it without a word to any of us."

"Do you think something happened to her, nya?" Kikumaru suddenly blurted out that snapped the four girls out of their musings.

Miyako sighed in near exasperation. "We already knew something happened to her. The only question is what could that 'something' be for her not to be here at school right now."

"Taka-san wasn't at his house when I called there. His mother said he would take a leave of absence for a weekor so. She didn't specify the reason, though," Oishi said, which only frustrated everyone even more.

"First was Aika, and now even Kawamura-kun? Just what in the world was going on with those two?" Hanako blurted out.

"They could have possibly eloped, you know."

Miyako eyed her boyfriend Fuji Syuusuke incredulously. "Syuusuke, this is serious!"

Fuji chuckled. "I know, I know. I'm sorry. I just want to lighten up the mood for a bit. The more we stay totally serious about this, the more we'll find out that Sarasugawa-san might have ended up in an accident last night and Taka-san possibly knew the truth so he stayed with her." The tensai became serious after that.

At that moment, Miyako could tell that Fuji did have a point on that.

"I pray nothing like that happened. I don't know what I'll do if it ended up true," Kazumi uttered in slight worry and complete seriousness.

"The possibility for Fuji's words to be true is 96% judging from the fact that Sarasugawa-san's parents weren't even in their house and Taka-san's parents were reluctant in disclosing details of his reasons to file a leave of absence at such a crucial time of the year," Inui stated before closing his trusty notebook.

"There could be other possible reasons besides that, right?"

"Perhaps," the data man replied to Hanako's question. The worry that soon placed itself on the Jovian Column's (Hanako's) face was something that wrung his heart, though. But he couldn't take back his words if it was the truth.

At that crucial point, Miyako's phone suddenly rang. The blonde girl frowned at the name that registered on the screen.

"Seiichi?"

"Eh? Yukimura-san? I wonder why he would call you, nya."

"What could possibly be the reason for him to call you?"

"Who knows." But before further questions were to be asked to her, Miyako decided to immediately answer the call if she didn't want it to get redirected to her voice mail. "Hello? Seiichi, what's wrong?"

"Sorry for calling you all of a sudden, Miyako."

"It's okay. As long as you're not moping around there again." She heard a gentle chuckle on the other line. "What made you call me?"

"I need to ask for your help. Yours and Kana-chan's help."

That was when she frowned. "What do you mean you want my help? Is there something wrong?"

"It's about my kouhai, Kirihara Akaya. You know him, right? He was our Junior Ace during middle school. But that's not the issue here. It's just that someone appeared to be targeting him these past days and it was starting to scare him."

'"So you're saying that you want me and Kana-chan to know who's targeting Kirihara-kun? But Seiichi, the person you're looking for could be living in Kanagawa. Not that I mind the distance I have to travel from here to there but-"

"Just listen to me first, Miyako. That person was confirmed to be residing in Tokyo, that's why I'm asking for your help. Not only that, the culprit already attacked Akaya last night."

"What? How is he? Is he okay? Did he get hurt? Did he remember that person's face?"

"As far as I could tell, he saw the culprit's face. But right now, Akaya's in a state of shock because of what happened. Someone actually saved him from getting killed...at the expense of her own safety."

"'At the expense of her own safety?' So you're telling me that a girl saved Kirihara-kun that night?" This was getting ridiculous, in Miyako's point. But Yukimura was serious now that he was talking to her. She could tell that he wasn't joking at all.

If that was the case, then who was the girl that saved Kirihara?

"Seiichi, do you know the girl that you're talking about?" she asked.

But for some weird reason, her heart started beating fast...and she could somehow tell that it was because of nervousness. This was silly. What was there to be nervous about?

"Renji knew her, at least from his childhood friend's stories about her."

"From Yanagi-san's childhood friend? Are you talking about-"

"No, not Inui-san. His other childhood friend who happens to be a girl. Yamazaki Hanako-san. But that's besides the point. What I'm trying to say is that the girl who saved Akaya last night appeared to be someone close to Yamazaki-san. From what Renji told me, that girl was a national champion in karate in both elementary and junior high school division who is said to be Yamazaki-san's rival."

A national champion in karate? Said to be Hanako's rival?

Miyako's eyes widened in surprise. She had the urge to let her cellphone slipped from her heart but tried her best not to. Not now...

"You're kidding, right? It can't be her... Aika would've avoided that. She could've taken that bastard down..." she muttered in slight denial that even her friends heard.

All of them stiffened at Miyako's mention of Aika's name.

"Miyako, what's going on?"

"I'm sorry, Miyako. But I want to let you know that it wasn't Akaya's fault. It's just that-"

Miyako sighed but it was ragged. At that point, she had to rein in her emotion if she wanted to discover the truth. Her sigh made Yukimura stop talking.

"I know that, silly. And it's okay. Thanks for telling me. But that's not the only reason why you called, right?"

"Yeah. For some weird reason, Akaya wanted to avenge that girl who suffered and ended up in an accident in his place. I can understand that he was guilty because of what happened to the girl but I don't want another devastating incident to happen again. This is the reason I called you since you and Kana-chan are the only people who can help me with this. I wanted to ask Mamoru-san's help, as well, but the maid at the mansion said that he went to Paris two days ago. I don't want to disturb Hotaru-chan and Nanasaki-buchou with this issue so I didn't tell them even though they would provide some help. You know I'm not a good investigator, right?"

She heard a faint chuckle, but it was obvious to her that it was a forced one. It was like Yukimura was forcing himself to laugh just to lighten up the mood but failed.

"Where's Kirihara-kun right now?" she asked after a few moments.

Yukimura mentioned the location which turned out to be a familiar hospital-Beika Central Hospital. Then that could possibly mean...

Yanai-sensei or even Shouda-sensei knew about this, she thought as her brows furrowed. But why didn't they call us about this?

The conversation ended as soon as they agreed to meet at the hospital that Yukimura mentioned. As soon as the call ended, Miyako collapsed to her knees that surprised the others.

"Miyako!"

"Are you okay?"

"Miya-can, what's wrong? What happened?"

Miyako stood a few deep breaths first-no matter how ragged because she was quivering in anger and disbelief-before speaking. "We need to go to Beika Central Hospital. Aika-chan is there."

"The hospital?"

"And we need to find the bastard who took her down like that."

"What are you talking about? Miyako-chan, will you please make yourself clear with this? You're confusing us," Kazumi said with her brows furrowed, not to mention her voice was laced with confusion and worry, as well.

The blonde girl faced her friends with a grave look on her face. The others were taken aback. "The foreboding feelin we felt last night was related to Aika-chan's accident."

"ACCIDENT?!" They all exclaimed.