Synopsis:The story plays around between the two main characters Rukawa Kaede and Karin Maho. Their friendship started with an unforgettable encounter; grew into a love interminable. But when Rukawa left America, everything changed. What happened to Rukawa? What will happen to Maho? (Rukawa x OC x Sendoh)
Disclaimer: I don't own Slam Dunk and all their characters.
Chapter 1 The Encounter
People were rushing into the street. The cars were beeping because of the traffic jam. Newspaper boys were fighting with one another, trying to sell their paper to a customer. Two figures, small ones, were trying to pass through the crowds. They were panting and heaving; turning at their backs; searching for those unwanted. But as they tried to get through the crowd, it became thicker and thicker. One of the small figures turned his head to the right and found an empty corner. He grabbed the small hand near him and pulled her through the corner.
"Whew… I think we already lost them…" the boy said. His chest was heaving fast.
The girl beside him was already sitting; trying to catch her breath.
"Hey… Why do we need to run away from them?" she said as she gasped for more air.
"I just don't want to see my tutor. That's it."
"What? You told me that you're going to do something important. Then, you're just going to tell me that you just don't want to see your tutor!"
"Maho, this thing is important to me… more important than Mister Toms."
"What is 'this' thing?"
"What is that important thing? It's you of course."
Her face turned red. She knocked his head. He acted like he was hurt.
"How can a ten year old boy say those things? Do you hear it from a movie or any of your favorite night series?"
The boy burst into laughter. He moved his faced closer to hers. Her face became redder. Suddenly…
"Hmmp… You two lovebirds… Enough for those nonsense!" Someone from the dark said.
The two were stopped. Maho moved to Kaede's back. Kaede spread his arms to protect her from any possible attacks from the strangers.
The strangers revealed themselves. They were also kids like them – two to three years ahead of them. They were carrying baseball bats and pipes as their weapons.
"Don't worry Maho. I'll protect you… like before…"
Flash back
"Heya… Aren't you the new comer?" one of the bullies said.
The other bullies encircled her.
They were the school bullies that loved to make fun with the newbie. They always got their snacks and also their pocket money. Sometimes, they just want to make fun with the others without any reason. The school cannot kick them out because they were sons of wealthy families.
The leader of the bullies approached her and held her uniform's collar.
"Give me your snack little fella!"
"Why do I have to?"
The leader started to get irritated.
"What? Because I said so."
"Then, who are you for me to obey?"
The bullies' leader was completely irritated. He smirked at his companions.
"This little fella is asking who I am."
All the bullies laughed. They were starting to clench their fists and roll their sleeves.
"You're causing me to lose my temper!" the leader shouted as he swung his clenched fist to punch her.
After that punch, the leader realized that he did not hit anything. He missed her. The girl was able to move away quickly from that attack. Without his notice, the girl was already on his side. She raised her arms and hit the back of his neck. The leader fell down to the ground.
The other bullies grabbed her arms immediately. She could not move her arms. The leader stood up while massaging the back of his neck. She saw his unbearable anger.
"What you have done is unforgivable!"
He lifted his arms to punch her. The other bullies kept on controlling her struggling. When he was about to punch her…
"Huh!?! Who are you?" the leader asked in pain because someone held his arms, stopping his punch.
"None of your business monkey head." the unknown savior replied.
"Mon… Monk… MONKEY HEAADDD!!!?" the leader shouted. The veins on his head popped out. The other bullies let go of her. They clenched their fist and went ready to attack him. The leader was the first to attack him but he missed him. He quickly moved away. The others attacked him one by one but all of them failed. He easily escaped all those attacks. Since they could not get him, the leader's attention went through their first prey. He grabbed her arms. The little girl could not move out. The leader was about to punched her when suddenly something hit his face. The leader was knocked down. The unknown savior was able to punch him before he could hurt her. Then…
"All you students! What are you doing down there? All of you go to my office!"
The school's vice principal stopped the rumble. She commanded them to go to her office. The little girl was excluded.
The little girl looked at her savior. He was straightening his uniform. He was almost three inches higher than her. He had a black messy hair but it suited his angelic face. His eyes were blue – the blue that reminded her of the ocean. He noticed that she was staring then looked at her. A smile flashed out on his face.
It was almost four in the afternoon when the vice principal dismissed everyone involved in the rumble. Almost all of the students went home. The unknown savior, after being dismissed, went straight to the school ground. Then suddenly…
"You're the one who save me, right?" someone asked.
The boy looked back. It was the girl he helped a while ago. He thought that everybody left school.
"Then she waited for me." he thought. A smile flashed on his face uncontrollably.
The girl approached her. He was surprised when she bowed her head and thanked him.
"Thank you for what you have done. Thank you for saving me."
"On the way she bowed and thanked me, she's probably a Japanese." he thought.
As she raised her head up, he saw how beautiful her face was. She had a brown hazelnut eyes, a pair of beautiful eyelashes, a rosy cheeks and a perfect red lips. Her hair was black, straight and long. Though he was only six at that time, he fell in love with her. He could not move his eyes away from her.
The girl's face showed confusion on his reaction. His face turned red because of embarrassment.
"Are you alright?" the little girl asked.
"Hai…"
"You're Japanese too! Am I right?" the girl asked merrily after finding out that there was also a Japanese in her new school.
"Yes… But I grew up in here. How about you?"
"I'm from Japan. But my grandparents decided to move here."
Out of nowhere, someone was yelling…
"Little young master, where are you?" a guy on a black suit called.
The boy was startled. "Uncle, I'll be there in a minute!"
"Hey, what's your name?" he asked the girl.
"I'm Karin Maho. But please call me Maho." she said as she extended her hand to him.
"Then call me Kaede." He reached the hand being offered.
Someone yelled again.
"Little young master, we will be late!"
The boy got irritated. Why this time? This wonderful time?
"Maho, I have to go. See you tomorrow."
He ran to where the voice was coming. But he could not stop himself to look back. He did not want to go. Unexplainably, he stopped running and faced Maho's direction.
"Maho!" he yelled. They were almost five meters apart.
Maho turned back and saw him.
"Maho, always remember that I will always protect you… Always…"
End of Flashback
The group of those bad kids encircled them. The leader of the group crossed his arms and examined the two of them. He was the biggest and the scariest of them all. His face showed all the fights he'd been through. As he examined the two of them, he kept on patting the baseball bat on his left palm.
Rukawa glanced at Maho. He was not worried about what might happen to him but on what might happen to her. He studied the place. He found out that there was no way to escape but to fight them. He scanned all those enemies. They were bigger and older. He glanced at Maho to signal her on what to do. He suddenly kicked the leader who seemed to be unaware. The leader flew away to the trash near them. The other bullies approach them but Rukawa's punches welcomed them. He grabbed Maho's hand and pulled her out of that place. They entered the crowd they had been a while ago. They tried to passed them as fast as they can, making sure that they lost them.
They were already under their favorite bridge when they confirmed that they already lost them. Again, they were panting and almost losing their breath because of the nonstop chase. They sat on the ground and watched the river flow. Their attention was focused on the paper boat floating into water. Silence was in the air.
"Where do you think this boat will end up?" Maho asked as she lean her head into Rukawa's shoulder.
"I think it will flow to the sea… then to another sea… then to a river somewhere… and then back to the sea…" Rukawa said as he waved his hand to emphasize what he was saying.
"Really? Then where do you think our friendship will end up?" Maho asked as she stood up and faced Rukawa.
"I think our friendship will end up right now."
Maho was shocked. She put her hands to his shoulders and shook him.
"Now? Don't joke me."
Rukawa stood up. Her hands fell down to her side. He grabbed one of her hands.
"I'm not joking." he said. His face changed into a serious one.
"Why?" she asked. Tears were starting to form in the corner of her eyes.
Rukawa became alarmed. He did not want her to cry. He never really meant it.
"Hey! Don't be paranoid. I don't want to be friends with you anymore because I want you to be my girl."
To be my girl… Maho wondered what that was all about.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Rukawa's face became red. Finally, he got the courage to confess his feelings. But he didn't know what was her feelings towards him. He also didn't know how he can make her understand his feelings. She did not understand what he was saying.
"I mean… like what the old ones do… They form a special relationship…They became girlfriends and boyfriends…" He was having a hard time explaining. She seemed to be innocent about relationships.
"Uhmm… But we are only ten years old. Then why do we have to…?"
"Because I love you, Maho. I really do…" Rukawa blurted out. He could not explain how those words flowed out from his mouth. Yet, he felt relieved. Finally, he was able to say it to her.
"I love you too, Kaede."
He lean forward and kissed her.
The wind blew and the paper boat kept on flowing. The sun was already setting. Its golden rays started to form the shadow of the two small figures, standing together, holding each other's hand… Promising forever…
End of Chapter One! Hope you like it guys… This chapter is not that long. But do expect that the coming chapters will be longer. Please keep on reading! = )