Celestia: *drops her pen in daze* I can't believe I'm actually doing this...

Luna: *tears welling her eyes* I can't do this anymore! *cries and runs away from the room*

Hakuryuu: *enters in the room when Luna passed by him, crying* *confused, he looked at the remaining groups in the room* Mind telling me what's going on?

Tenma: *sniffling*

Kariya: I'm not gonna cry. I'm not gonna cry. I'm not- *sheds a tear* Dammit! *grits his teeth and hangs his head low*

Tsurugi: *stands and leaves the room, slipping passed by Hakuryuu*

Shindou: *very quiet*

Kishibe: I don't think I can handle this Celestia-chan...

Yukimura: This is just... *shakes his head* Relentless..

Hakuryuu: *more confused at their actions* What the hell?! What is going on here?! *points at them* And why are you all looking gloomy today?!

Amemiya: You'll know it later, Hakuryuu-san. *undeniably silent*

Hakuryuu: *looks at Celestia, eyes demanding* *then sputters* Are you..? Crying...?

Celestia: No. *sighs touchingly, then wipes her eyes* It's nothing. Just on with the story. This is requested by @ProcyonStar and SavageDniyah. Hope you like it.

WARNING: The story has violent, dramatic scenes and a few cusses elicited from our dear characters. The scene took place in Galaxy, just after Shinsei Japan's launch off to the Galaxy.

Written in 3rd P.O.V

..~*~..

Rain showered roughly upon him, thunder roaring bright and loud, frightening people around the vicinity. The ground below was soaked with rain, soil murky and very soft if one dares to stand on it. The weather howled in agony, crying at this fateful event and face gray with devastation. No one is under this kind of time, either at home waiting for the frigid temper of the weather to die down or seeking for shelter.

No one, but a certain white haired braided boy.

He remained motionless, eyes blanked with nothingness and lips flat in a tight line. He was never one to show his own emotions and yet, the tears that seem to be camouflaged from the rain trickled down his face, then to his chin and slowly to the soft soil below. His white strands of hair soaking wet sticked to his forehead, hiding those dreaded maroon eyes.

He raised his head to face the darkened sky, eyes void of life as the rain poured to his face instead of his hair. The rain pattered his eyes in gentle kiss of comforts, trying to ease the pain but only to numb the sensation. He wanted to scream - no, he needed to scream, scream so loud until the heavens heard his anguish pain.

And thus, he screamed. Screamed at the top of his lungs, and the thunder boomed together with him as if to acquaint with their feelings. He fell to his knees, screaming and held his head, eyes shut close at the nightmare he's facing. Everywhere he looked reminded him of the horrible thing he has ever done. More horrible than destroying soccer. And it crazed him senseless.

He cried, until his throat gone raspy and painful, but not as excruciatingly painful than his heart was. He threw his fist on the moistly dirt, not in the slightest bit caring if his hand had gone dirty. He needed to release this guilt clawing inside him, the venomous burn plaguing.

He gritted his teeth, shoulders quivering and a few whimpers escaping him. He never meant for this to happen. He was supposed to look after her, care for her and yet, what did he do? He failed. He failed her.

He was selfish, he fell to his own desiring wants and needs. So he pushed her away, far away than he ever hoped for. He pushed their limits, underestimated their bonds and now here he was, accepting the harsh truth of reality which he never wanted to hear of.

It's the least thing he could do - that is what he always say, if he wanted to become stronger, he needed to eliminate the nuisance that kept on trailing after him. But he never expected that this very nuisance will be the very reason for his success, his happiness and his source of strength.

He meant to give a break for himself. He was busy after all, trying to find a way to become stronger than he usually was. He wanted to evolve, improve, everything to become the ultimate. So he pushed all the things coming to his way, not even bothering to stop and just enjoy the time their worth sharing.

Now she's gone, he doesn't know what to do anymore. It's like an alarm wake-up call - an awakening he yearned to accept at the beginning and yet by the end, finds himself afraid and frightened from the thought of it. It's his worst awaited enemy, more appealing and terrifying than his longtime rival, Tsurugi.

Hey Haku-kun~

That voice. That voice again. And that nickname... he swears to the gods above there, are they torturing him? If so, then it's working. It's f*çk*ñg working. He gritted his teeth and shut his eyes tight, afraid that if he dares opening them, the scene will replay in front of him. "Shut up! Shut up!"

Do you want some Haku-kun?

"Enough..." He whimpered. The Hakuryuu, captain of Resistance Japan, whimpered. He just showed a mere weakness. And it's all that damn annoying girl who made him like this. He held his head, shaking violently from both coldness of the weather and the excruciating pain. "Enough, enough, ENOUGH!" Every word grew in maximum volume just as the wind picked up the pace. "I don't want this anymore! I can't bear this pain any longer!" He screamed in all his might and power, mustering any shattered hope he could find to spit it at the tombstone in front of him which he'll be sure would plague his entire mind and sanity. Droplets of rain whirled around him with the wind, giving him a small, icy slap on the face. Just what he needed. A wake up slap. But no matter how many times this would emit, he can never escape the fate that's destined for him. He has to embrace it, even if it means of him getting burned.

"It was supposed to not end up like this!" He sobbed against his raspy throat. He looked up and crawled towards the tombstone. (F/n) (L/n), the tombstone says. He read it with dampened eyes. Her name. How much he loathed it yet at the same time, yearned for it. How can a single name and a thousand memories able to bend down his knees? He's the ultimate. Nothing can deflate him.

But then again, here he was, drenched under the rain, crying his heart out - he's a broken mess, kneeling in front of a stupid goddamn tombstone that wasn't supposed to be inlaid in the first place.

"You were supposed to be there for me. You were supposed to never leave me. You--" he choked on. He hangs his head low, adding more words. "I love you. I did love you.." He winces as his heart contracted painfully against his rib age. Three words that would've changed everything. Three words that would've lead him somewhere. Three words that would've left him sleeping if he knew that he'll end up seeing the source of his light.

"I love you okay? I've always been and was still in love with you. That point in my life, when you first knocked down my walls; the mark you left inside, it will never change anything. Only you can. Only you.."

He finally glanced up, eyes burning with lingering passion - a passion that stood hidden away from the world, alongside with the pain and the desperation to be heard, "I LOVE YOU! I REALLY DO LOVE YOU OKAY?!" He has to escape. He needs to escape. Needing to wake up from the horrid nightmare. "YOU, CAN YOU HEAR ME?! CAN YOU HEAR MY LONGING?!"

"Hakuryuu!"

Unison of voices echoed somewhere, but he paid it no heed. He has to scream. He needs to.

"I'M SORRY! I SHOULD'VE SAID IT BEFORE, I'M SORRY!" He screamed even further. The cracking of his voice signifies the limitations of it. It begins to hurt too, but Hakuryuu; he won't feel anything. He's numb already. Too numb to even notice.

"(F/N)!!"

"That's enough!" Embrace of his beloved teammates warmed him but the coldness pulsipating his heart could never be surpassed. Thus, he shook his head, struggling to break free from their barricaded arms.

"Let me go! Goddammit! Let me go, Yukimura! Namikawa!" He bellowed, and pushed Kisihibe harshly, who was obstructing his sight of the tombstone. Kishibe fell down with a thud and splash - he's now covered with mud. But quickly, Kita lifted him up, eyes looking at him in worry. However, Kishibe was too surprised to even act. He understands that Hakuryuu is a type of guy who acts rashly but the mere sight of his condition is overly pitiful. Their once captain who was brimming with confidence finally met his downfall. Those eyes, once monotonic and fierce is now widened. Different kinds of emotions were swirling in vortex through his glassy eyes: love, pain, anger, regret, and hopelessness. Kisihibe knew how important (f/n) is to him. She, too, is important to him and the rest of the team too. But Hakuryuu is a different matter.

He loves her. His only source of light. But only to be taken away from him..

"Please Hakuryuu.."

"No! Kishibe, don't you start there!" He screamed and tried to break free from Yukimura's and Namikawa's steely grip. "If only... If only time was on our side..." Hakuryuu shook his head, a disdainful scoff can be heard escaping from him. With an insurmountable rage, he roared at the two along with the struggling. "Let me go!"

Namikawa sighed in annoyance. Finally losing his cool, he pulled Yukimura behind him, making the ice striker look at him, confused. Without any warning, he released Hakuryuu and punched him square towards his jaw. The impact itself sent the captain on the ground which left him in surprise.

The other members gasped and quickly, just like a while ago, Kita held Namikawa by the shoulder to avoid any violence that would soon arise. Namikawa glanced at Kita over his shoulders for a moment. The said youth shook his head at him in disapproval, his hand unconsciously gripping too tightly at the pirate. Namikawa then turned at their captain, a glare being sent to him - sharp and steely enough to make Hakuryuu's blood boil. Namikawa sensed this and quickly turned away from the rest of the team and their captain - not without saying some words to Hakuryuu.

"This wouldn't solve anything." Surprisingly enough, the team heard him despite the world's devastation for this event. His voice is shockingly soft; however, his shoulders are tensed. Either of the cold or the resultant of the event, the team doesn't know. He's also drenched, hair a mess and sticking downwards just like the others, but that doesn't stop him talking. "(L/n)," - his hands coiled even more - "she won't like this. If she would be here, she doesn't want you to feel like this."

"NAMIKAWA!"

Namikawa looked over behind him. Hakuryuu began stumbling over his feet as he stood from the murky ground. He has a rather purple bruise on his jaw where Namikawa punched him and he looked even more pissed than the last time.

"YOU--!" Hakuryuu started, Namikawa just stared at him blankly which fueled the white haired youth's anger in higher level. Hakuryuu was about to storm over and punch the living day lights out of him-- when Kishibe, snapping away from his trance, blocked his way. And out of himself, he clutched Hakuryuu's collared dirty shirt, anger flaring through his veins.

"STOP! PLEASE, JUST STOP ALREADY, HAKURYUU! THAT'S ENOUGH!" He shouted against the frigid weather, a tinge of desperation evident in his voice.

Silence. Only the sound of the rain pattering onto them and the howling of the wind could be heard on their location. Kishibe's hold onto their captain loosened and Hakuryuu hang his head low. Silence. Such a deafening word, Hakuryuu would've scoffed at this thought but now, he doesn't think he would be able to. The event is eating him alive, consuming everything all he ever was.

"Hakuryuu.." Kishibe whispered out to him. Gulping, he looked up, expecting to meet those kind yet mischievous teal eyes he has grown seeing all the time in the practice but only to perceive a Kishibe hanging his head low. "Don't let this event control you. There must be a purpose why it ended up this way."

"No. That's--" Hakuryuu started; Kishibe cut him off.

"Let me finish first, Hakuryuu." Hakuryuu opened his mouth to retort but the serious aura radiating off of Kishibe made him silent. "(F/n), she never wanted to do this to you. She never did. And all we know, she always will." Kishibe finally met his, eyes softening ever so softly. "Did you ever think for once why she visited us regularly despite her ill condition?
She wants us to continue moving forward. To never stop improving. She wants to give us the motivation to stand strong until her days come to an end. She wants you to be of what you aspire to be. She wants to give you a chance to prove yourself."

"No.. I- I don't understand. Why does she has to do this? Why won't she stay and recover? It's a selfish thing to do!" He shook his head. "To leave us here. To-!"

"And yet, it's also a selfless act, Hakuryuu." Kishibe finally smiled. "She did this for us. For you. She wanted to die happy. She wanted you to serve her death - not only to grieve and mourn, but as a motivation to continue forward. She didn't die for nothing, Hakuryuu. She was there for us. She never left us. And it's now our turn to return the favor." He laid a hand on his shoulder, smiling widely. "To improve. To never let go of our dreams. To stay strong." He then looked at Hakuryuu in such intensity. "To wake up."

Hakuryuu glanced away from him, gritting his teeth. He remembered something. Just a small fragment, but it's clear. It's there.

It happened 5 days ago in the stadium, after winning against the Shinsei Japan.

He was just talking to their coach, Fudou Akio; when Kishibe appeared and politely excused to have a word or two to the captain.

"(F/n) has something to tell you. Be sure to approach her and don't you even think ignoring this, Hakuryuu. I'll be watching you from afar." Kishibe even threatened him. He could be scary sometimes when he wanted to. But despite that, Hakuryuu just lazily agreed to talk to this nuisance after the discussion he is having with Fudou-kantoku.

After the semi-session he had with the coach, he quickly strode over the pale (h/c) haired female, who sat on the bleachers with her eyes closed and a frail smile on her lips. Despite her status, she still looked pretty, Hakuryuu had to admit. It's not like he adore or admire her - scoffs - no way. He has no time for such a nuisance herself. However, whenever he took sight of her, there's something inside him stirring. It terrifies and confuses him, but it also sends a pleasant shrill on his body.

He sat beside her quietly. Of course leaving a few inches of space between them. Normally, he'd demand an answer right away from her whenever she calls him, but something at the way when she seems to be calm and quiet made him ponder a bit.

What did she call him for?

"Ah, I apologize Haku-kun. Were you been here all the time?"

He snapped away from his thoughts. The female smiled at him and he narrowed his eyes at her to give her a disdainful look for hearing that stupid nickname despite the warm feeling he's having.

"That doesn't concern you. What do you want?" He kept his steely frame and tone icy, just as he wanted. He expected her to cower a bit but she still smiled at him, which made him cuss mentally all the time.

"Nothing actually. Just wanted to spend some time on someone I grew to admire."

Hakuryuu's frosty image melted a bit. Is she kidding him? Her? His admirer? A loud thump occurred through his chest at the thought of it.

"Tsk. If you're here to flatter me--"

"Ne Haku-kun.." She beats him to it and Hakuryuu gave a glare at her way for interrupting him, but then looked away. "I want you to listen." She said quietly that Hakuryuu has to strain his ears to hear her clearly. "Can you do me a favor?"

He deadpanned, "No--"

"Will you wake up for me? Be free from the nightmare you're facing. Live and embrace life to the fullest and never, EVER give up. You hear me?"

The captain just gave her a look that signifies 'are you mental' before shaking his head. "I didn't agree to this."

"You should." She snickered at his lost look. Hakuryuu then gave her a withering glare.

"If you're playing with me, I have to take my leave." He was about to stand up, when suddenly; her dainty hands coiled his wrist and forced him to sit down beside her. He was surprised for a moment, but then diminished into an annoyance. "Who are you to-?"

"Hakuryuu," she says his name this time with such seriousness. Hakuryuu quickly shuts up and the female continued, "you're the only one I'm waiting for. I'm waiting for you. Just your answer, and I'll take my leave. I have to know that you abided on it."

He looked at her for a moment, then at her hand which still has coiled around his wrist, before glancing at her for a moment. "Why?"

Her features softened. A tinge of guilt and sadness played through her eyes, but it vanished before he has the time to determine it. "Because, I have to sleep. I need to sleep. And I don't want you to fall in a deep slumber just because of me. I want you to wake up. I want you to continue moving forward. To improve, to prove, Hakuryuu-kun."

"You're going to... sleep..? And me, to wake up... what?" He shook his head. This girl is talking nonsense. He can do whatever he wanted to! And as if he'll fall in a deep slumber for her-- well, whatever she pertains!

The girl let out a laugh, "You'll understand someday, Haku-kun." Standing up, she stretched and cheered, "I feel so alive today! Hah~" Turning around, she gave him a peck on his cheek and gave a one-eyed close smile. "Thanks for your time, Hakuryuu-kun and for giving me the chance to prove. Now I know what I must do." She then bowed at the still mortified captain, grinning cheekily, "Aishiteru, arigatou and sayonara Haku-kun." Turning to her heels, she walked away from him and outside the stadium.

5 days already passed, she never returned to take a visit. Hakuryuu always seemed so restless and would constantly glance at the door, waiting for her to barge in with that cheerful smile plastered on her face and with that overflowing optimism. Hakuryuu was once confident to everything, but now, he's worried over a single matter. He never focuses to the practice anymore. He always misses the ball and now his shoots are nothing compared with the ones he had before. It now slackened and lost its power. He has no motivation to continue anymore. His mind was filled with the shadows of the girl that left upon him. And that favor she asked for him.

He was currently standing at the center of the field with his teammates looking quite worriedly at him. They can't play in unison when one of the members is not coordinating properly. Especially a captain to one. As a captain, he should oblige to his own responsibilities and must lead his team to success and victory. But now, gazing at theirs, they don't think their captain has any plans to do anything anymore. His mind is off somewhere. Away from the world. And it'll be a matter of time before this team fall down in a heap of failure.

The door opened and slammed through the wall on either side, creating a sound as loud as a gunshot around the stadium. Hakuryuu quickly snapped away from his thoughts and eagerly looked at the door-- but only to disappear when he realizes that it's only Kishibe, late for their practice for the first time. Hakuryuu glanced away, an excruciating pain forming through his chest.

"M-minna!" Kishibe's panicky voice echoed around the stadium. His breath is ragged, which they believed of him having to run for a while to have his entrance. He stumbled over words, and when Hakuryuu heard a specific name, he swore his heart stopped. The blood flowing through his veins run cold and he turned at Kishibe, acting out of himself.

"(F/n)?! What about her?! What happened?!" Yukimura asked in a hasty manner. Kishibe took a sharp intake of breath before stammering his answer.

"S-she's dead! (F/n) is dead! F-five days ago after leaving the stadium!"

It went to a blur for everyone when Hakuryuu stormed over a panicked Kishibe, and held his shirt, demanding. "Where? WHERE DID THEY BURY HER?!" His voice is clipped, anger lacing his voice. But amidst that facade, Kishibe swore he heard Hakuryuu cracked a bit, tears threatening to fall.

Desperation lacing his voice, Kishibe answered, "That same cemetery she always visited."

No longer needing to understand, he pushed Kishibe aside and ran away from everyone. His teammates yelled after him but he blocked them all away. He needs to reach her. He needs to know why.

"She needs to sleep... Is this what she means five days ago? Why did I not think about that?" Hakuryuu thought and cursed at himself for being too slow to get the obvious hint. He panted when he reached outside the stadium and looked upwards. The sky is already turning dark, and droplets of water began to kiss him gently. One of the millions of raindrops rolled down his cheeks, but then finding the irony that it's his tears after all. He never bothered wiping them away. It's no use. They'll continue to cascade, able to wiped away yet at the same time, unable to retrace.

He ran, just as the wind paced after him. The weather is already turning more frigid and people around him dissipated to seek for shelter to avoid getting drenched. He ran, summoning up his every ounce of willpower and strength, afraid to lose any more time than he did before when she was still alive.

"I would've slept for you, if you let me."

He did not bother to apologize whenever he bumps with everyone. He just ran, and nothing can stop him.

"I can't bear to wake up anymore if it means of not seeing you.."

Finally reaching the cemetery, he panted, searching for the answer to all this roundabout.

"Let me be the one to wake you up. Just give me another chance.."

As if the gods pitied his condition, he quickly found a certain tombstone in his right line of sight. He walked slowly to it, as if waiting for himself to wake up in the nightmare he's facing.

But he knew. He knew this is not a dream wherein he'll wake up and everything goes back to normal. No, it doesn't. The moment he reaches the tombstone, he was too late.

Too late to wake her up.

And at that, he brought himself here, not even aware that his teammates followed him all throughout from the stadium and to the cemetery.

"Hakuryuu?"

He finally looked up, after his flashback session. All of his teammates-- no. All of his friends, they are here for him. It may be hard- heck, it's harder for them. (F/n) is a dear friend of theirs and is still shocked of the news Kishibe gave them. And then there goes their captain. Almost in a verge of breaking down. It's two times greater than his. But if (f/n) wanted him to be stronger, then so be it. He'll be strong for her. And when that happens, he'll be sure to prove her someday - someday in another lifetime that he can wake up and continue surging forward to the dream he and his team are aspiring.

"You're right." He finally smiled at them. Kishibe was surprised. Having to agree Hakuryuu so easily is an achievement considering he's not that warm to them. The captain walked passed them and bent his knees to match the tombstone in his eye level. He was quiet for a while before saying, "(F/n), if you can hear me then fine. Fine that I'll abide with your last request. I'll wake up; sooner or later, but not now. Let me grieve for you. Just for a couple of days. Let me mourn the times that would have been if only I gave myself a chance to know you better." Hakuryuu gave a tight smile as he shed another tear and stood up, turning away from the tombstone. "I still have a lot of challenges to be focusing on. A future in front of us." He then looked at the Resistance Japan, "You're right. If I want to improve, I must be strong enough to lead my team elsewhere rather than staying in the same path as always."

Namikawa smirked at him but nonetheless; nodded at him in approval. Hakuryuu smirked at him in return but when a sharp pain jolted his jaw, he quickly gave a hiss at Namikawa. The pirate himself just shrugged, "You needed it. You won't listen to us if I didn't do that."

Makoto chuckled at this, "Now, Hakuryuu, do you have any violent reactions for this?"

Hakuryuu tenderly grabbed his jaw and winces. He grumbles, "I don't know. Many things have happened so suddenly in one day that I don't know what to feel anymore."

"Except for that jolt of pain in your jaw though." Yukimura snickered; Hakuryuu glared at him.

"Now, now. Let's not start another fight, shall we?" Kita sweatdropped. "Don't forget; we're still in the cemetery." He gestured around them then at (f/n)'s tombstone, "And we're still in front of (f/n). We don't want to disappoint her now, do we?"

Kishibe grinned and finally looked upwards the sky. "The rain stopped."

Hakuryuu looked up, a smile gracing his lips. The sun started to peek out from the dark clouds and the sky is finally showing its vibrant blue glory. His eyes soften and three words shoots off his lips.

"Thank you, (f/n).."

..~*~..

Luna: *peeks in the room* Is it done already?

Celestia: *deadpans* It's already done the moment you peeked.

Luna: *sighs in relief* Ah.. Good riddance. *walks inside* How is our favorite captain of Resistance Japan so far?

Celestia: He's been quiet ever since this story was aired.

Luna: Could it be..? *eyes sparkles* Wahhhh! I knew Hakuryuu has a soft heart!

Hakuryuu: Shut up.

Luna: Sooo~ This story's genre is Angst and Friendship?

Celestia: If you would put it that way, then yes. *looks at the story again* So far, this is my most favorite story.

Luna: Hehehehe. Three points for me~ ^_^ *looks at the story too* *grimaces* I like the whole plot, but I just freaking don't like it when the ending is sad.

Celestia: Deal with it. *keeps the story* Life's like that.

Hakuryuu: What she said.

Celestia: *nods* *faces the readers* Since Christmas is almost brewing (and as a sorry for not updating that much and for publishing a sad story in this joyful month), I'll update Hiroto's fic since he has the perfect plot for Christmas. So yes, I'll be updating his sooner or later. I hope you'll stay tuned for more.

Luna: To those who requested Shuu, we'll be sure to update his. But we're not sure when. He's a challenge for us since we are having a mental block for his story even though Celestia's had a plan for him already. We're not sure, but we're planning to update his in summer. I hope you guys don't mind. :)

SAYONARA!!

[Word Count: 4774]