A Chance to Love

By Shellagh22

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own the anime, I just write about it. But how I wish it were otherwise...(",) Shellagh and Zoë are my own creation.

Author's note: I've always thought Mitsui and Rukawa were the cutest characters in Slam Dunk. Seeing that they didn't have any love interest in the anime, I decided to see if my imagination can put some...shall we say, love in their life. Hehe...(",) This is also slightly AU so I hope it doesn't confuse you when I don't follow some of the events in the series. Hope you enjoy my story! Oh, yeah, reviews wouldn't hurt a bit. Unless their flames...(",) Enjoy!

Chapter 1: A Ghost from the Past

Shellagh opened her eyes into slits, unaccustomed to the bright morning sun shining through her window. She opened her eyes wider, taking the sight of the beginnings of unpacking littering the floor. She was still sleepy; comfortable in her soft ensconced body under the covers. She stretched a bit, after which she found herself dozing off. From afar, she thought she heard slamming doors and pounding footsteps but thought it was her imagination. Zoë cannot be awake so early in the morning. She was a complete sleepyhead, sleeping away the hours. But the sounds behind her door were unmistakable. Doors and footsteps.

Shellagh groaned. If Zoë was awake, every person in the house who wasn't was going to be soon. She burrowed herself under the covers deeply, trying to bar the sounds she was hearing from the other side of her door. Soon, she found herself praying. "Please...Please...Please...No..."

A bundle of excited energy shoved the door open and jumped on Shellagh. "Rise and shine, Shellagh!" it cheerily exclaimed.

Shellagh rebounded from her twin sister's movement on her bed, jolting her more fully awake. She sighed loudly and looked at Zoë. She was wearing their new school uniform, looking very pretty and cheerful with a big smile on her face. Shellagh groaned again. "What are you doing awake, Zoë? We just got here yesterday."

"What does that have to do with anything? I want to go to school!" answered Zoë, pulling the blankets from Shellagh and grabbing her arm to a sitting position. "Get dressed now."

Shellagh shook her head. "Don't wanna...we agreed to go next week. I'm not ready to go to school yet."

"You agreed but I didn't," said Zoë. "Come on, it's better this way. At least you wouldn't feel as nervous next week if we go today. We can grab the bull's balls as early as possible."

Despite her sudden apprehension to go to a school she knew nothing and no one about, she laughed at her sister. "Bull's balls? Where did you learn that?"

Zoë grinned back. "I watched the rerun of Never Been Kissed last night. I thought that phrase is appropriate right now. Hey, no changing the subject! Go get ready."

"But, Zoë! I don't want to go." Shellagh grasped on one thought that might change Zoë's mind. "Do you honestly want to go and do homework already? Study for quizzes? Exams?!"

"Get out of here, that's my life you're talking about," Zoë answered emphatically, a teasing grin on her face.

Shellagh rolled her eyes. "You know, I have to get to terms of the inevitability of our never-ending situation. I can't face another new school again."

"You always say that! But it never works. Besides, I'll be with you, doesn't that ease your mind that I'm here?"

"Well, you're different, Zoë. You like to talk to other people and I don't. I'm so shy I feel like a wallflower!"

Zoë snorted derisively. "No you're not! No one who looks like you would look like a wallflower. We do have the same genes you know."

Shellagh looked at a mirror standing across from them, showing their reflection. They looked like day and night, complete opposites of each other. Zoë was always cheerful, energetic and curious much like a cat. Her short white-blond hair was fine and straight, framing a pair of dark green eyes and ending just at her chin. She also had an athletic body and skin tanned from the sun. Zoë was the outgoing sister, always wanting to join sports clubs: rowing, basketball, volleyball, baseball, soccer and any other sport she has the mind to try. She would pursue anything that she wanted.

Shellagh, on the other hand, was the quiet sister, contented to stay indoors and read books or use her computer. Her looks completed her silent personality. Her long wavy black hair, blue eyes and pale complexion gave her such a poetic look that matched her so well. She was as curious as her sister was but she hid it mostly to herself. Zoë would talk to people about anything that catches her attention. She didn't care what others thought of her and Shellagh always found that amazing of her sister. But again, that was Zoë's personality.

People were always surprised that they were twins, both looking so different from the other. But they were born from the same mother and on the same night, just a couple minutes apart. Though they didn't look identical, they were as close as two peas in a pod.

Shellagh looked at her floor and saw another way out. She pointed. "I have to unpack all my things and that would probably give me the whole day to do. Let's just not go today."

Zoë shook her head. "I refuse to even acknowledge that. Get dressed or else I'll tell every person in our new school your deepest, darkest secrets."

"Ha!" scoffed Shellagh. "As if I have any. In that case, I'll definitely stay."

Zoë quoted, "Jason is soo cute...his eyes...lips..."

Shellagh crossed her arms across her chest and glared at her. "If you do that, you know I'll never speak to you again. Stop reading my journal!"

"I will when you get dressed right now. See you in 5 minutes." Zoë winked at her sister before she left the room.

Shellagh sighed and headed to the bathroom. She knew her sister would not stop hounding her until she was dressed and ready to go to school.

Shellagh walked beside her sister, her steps slowing down as soon as she saw the building of a school looming in the horizon. She absolutely hated first days of school, as much as she hated moving days, which she had experienced plenty of. She disliked meeting new people because often she had nothing to say to them and that embarrassed her.

Zoë glanced at her twin, moving so slowly, a turtle would have passed her and been in the finish line way before Shellagh would have started. She rolled her eyes in exasperation at her twin. She always told her that she shouldn't feel shy. Shellagh was okay around people she was friends with but it completely boggled Zoë why it wasn't the same for new friends. They were just people!

"Shellagh, spotted any cute guys around?" she asked for distraction. "I think I saw one enter the school just now. He was tall and wearing what looks like a varsity jacket."

Shellagh laughed at her sister's outrageous question but she knew what the purpose of it was. Zoë was trying to distract her from what she was feeling. "Nope, none yet. But I'll tell you when I do," she answered in stride.

Zoë pulled Shellagh faster. "Then let's go! There must be a lot inside the school. I can't wait to go to our classroom right away."

"Hey! Wait! We need to go to the principal's office first!" Shellagh called out.

Zoë laughed, excitement evident in her voice. "So, let's hurry!"

Shellagh looked at the pink cards that contained their class schedules. "That's strange. Why don't we have Literature together? I thought we're in the same section."

The principal spoke behind the desk. "With your excellent grades in literature, you are placed in the 3rd year level. We feel that the 1st year Literature would not benefit your intelligence in this subject."

Zoë beamed at Shellagh. "I do have one smart twin."

Shellagh gave her a slight smile but turned to the principal again. "But why wasn't I informed of this? Don't you at least give a notice first to students like me?"

The principal regarded her above his glasses. "I called yesterday afternoon and you said it was fine. Are you saying that you don't want to be placed in this class anymore? I assure you Ms. Riechtmann, you will enjoy this class."

Shellagh flashed a look at her sister. "Oh, you must be mistaken, sir. You must have talked to my sister, Zoë, about this for I don't remember agreeing to be transferred to a higher level class."

The principal looked astonishingly to the other sister. "Is this true, Ms. Riechtmann?"

Zoë gave a guilty smile to both persons. "I'm sorry, sir. I agreed for my sister because I know she would like the class very much. I remember plenty of times she complained of inferior Literature classes from before so I thought assenting for her would make her happy."

"You could have just told me, Zoë," said Shellagh coolly. "I would have answered for myself."

"I was going to tell you but I forgot, honest! I'm sorry."

The principal looked at Shellagh. "Well, do you accept the acceleration in this class?"

Shellagh glanced over at Zoë. She also remembered many times that she hated the Lit classes she used to take before. They were boring and unchallenging. She wanted a class that would make her think of new ideas and stretch her mind to accommodate new knowledge. This class with the 3rd year seems to be the class she was looking for but all those new people...

Shellagh bit her lip in indecision, unable to reply but Zoë squeezed her shoulder for support that she finally made up her mind and reluctantly answered, "I...accept."

The principal nodded. "That's fine then. Welcome to Shohoku High, girls. My secretary will show you your classroom."

"Shellagh, I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to do this to you. Well, actually I did, but it was for your own good! It would expose you to new people and it would help you develop your people skills."

Shellagh let Zoë grovel for a few minutes as they followed the secretary to their classroom. After awhile, she replied, "I know you did it for my good but it doesn't mean that I have to like what you did."

Zoë sighed in relief inwardly. Shellagh was no longer angry. She placed an arm around her sister's shoulders. "I know and I apologize. You forgive me?"

Shellagh shook her head in exasperation. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Smile and say we're friends again?" suggested Zoë.

"Fine." Shellagh smiled and said, "We're friends again."

"Sisters for life?"

Shellagh laughed. "As if that can change between us."

Zoë whooped so loudly that the secretary turned around and shushed her. Zoë gave the woman an apologetic smile that seemed to pacify the secretary. When the woman turned around again, Zoë dug her elbow into Shellagh's side, making her smile back.

When they reached the door to their classroom, the secretary entered, giving a piece of paper to the teacher. Then she summoned the two girls to enter the room. She left right after.

The class was in a buzz when Zoë and Shellagh entered the room. They were tall for their age and striking that all the attention was on them.

"Class, it looks like we have two new students who will be joining us." The small male teacher smiled kindly at them. "Which of you is Zoë?"

Zoë stepped forward with a big smile on her face. "I am," she answered confidently.

"Class, this is Zoë Riechtmann," the teacher addressed the students sitting behind their desks. He turned to Shellagh. "Then you must be Shellagh Riechtmann."

Shellagh nodded, her demeanor cool and quiet.

"Are the two of you cousins? Both of you have the same last name and age."

Shellagh shook her head. "No, sir. We are twins."

"Twins!" exclaimed the teacher. "Wow, fraternal twins. That's why both of you don't look alike. That's great."

Zoë grinned. "We think so, too," she replied flippantly, making the class smile at her.

"Well, go ahead and take your seats and I'll start my lecture."

The class groaned and Shellagh thought he must be a new teacher with his easygoing personality. Most teachers she knew were old and all of them were strict.

There weren't any seats that would put the two sisters beside each other, so Shellagh found herself sitting beside a girl, named Haruko. She smiled at her but felt her tongue drying up. She didn't know what to say. She sought out Zoë and found her sister in the circle of boys.

Shellagh wove through the throng of students in the lunchroom, looking for her sister. They were separated from each other because of the crowd and haven't spotted her yet. Since she was taller than most people were, she got to use her height in advantage. A waving hand caught her attention and she saw Zoë sitting on one of the tables. She wasn't alone though. Shellagh recognized the girl, Haruko, as one of the people she met earlier. She still didn't know what to say.

Shellagh nodded to her sister and moved towards her. Suddenly, a push almost made her fall that it placed her right into someone's arms. "Hey. Are you alright?" asked the one who caught her in time before she would've fallen flat on her face.

Shellagh was about to answer when she looked up and gasped in surprise. "M-Mi-chan?"

The tall dark-haired boy looked down at her and recognition showed on his face. "Shellagh. What are you – How can you be –"

Zoë suddenly appeared before Mitsui could even think of the right question. "Mitsui. We didn't know you studied here," Zoë said, her voice tinged with scorn. She pointedly looked at his wrapped arms around her sister and glared at him.

Mitsui removed his arms around Shellagh, his face unreadable. He glanced at her and asked, "Are you okay now? You were pushed because of the crowd and I was only trying to help."

Shellagh's mind was still in a daze. "Mi-chan."

Zoë pushed between her sister and Mitsui. "Thank you very much for your heroic stunt. I'll make sure you get a medal." She pulled her sister behind her, wanting to separate the two as much as possible. Shellagh just looked back at him as she was dragged along.

"Shellagh!" hissed Zoë. "You are not turning all soft on him, are you? Remember, he left you!"

Shellagh shook her head from the memories that rushed through her mind. "Yeah, he did. I cried for a whole month."

Zoë nodded satisfactorily. "Yes, I'm glad you remember. Don't ever talk to him again."

Shellagh wanted to look back at him so bad but she knew Zoë would get angry with her. She couldn't believe out of all places, Mitsui would turn up here. That brought more memories from the past.

"Hey, Mitsui. Who's that girl you were talking to?" asked Ryota, walking beside him on the way to the indoor basketball gym. "She's pretty."

Mitsui was looking from afar, his face shuttered. "Isn't Ayako your girlfriend? Why are you asking about another girl?"

"Figured as much," said Ryota, looking at Mitsui with a nod.

Mitsui glanced at him sharply. "What does that mean?"

"It means that I figured that girl you were talking to was an old friend with a past."

Mitsui hunched his shoulders forward. "None of your business."

Ryota sniffed. "I figured as much, too."

Mitsui saw Shellagh's smiling face clearly in his mind. An image that was burned in his thoughts forever from a past he wanted to change.

***

Shellagh found herself staring at the ceiling of her room, unable to sleep. Mi-chan. She never thought she would ever see him again. It was a long time ago when she wished she did just to return things the way they were. But seeing him again was too sudden, so unexpected that it left her shocked. She remembered him as someone very special to her. More than a friend, but lesser than a boyfriend. They never even kissed.

Shellagh stood up and dragged one of the boxes still littering her floor. She opened it and rummaged through it. An old picture came into her hand and Shellagh looked at it grimly. Mitsui had longer hair then, looking so boyish and sweet. He had his arm around her and both of them were smiling at the camera. She laid the picture down and looked for something else in the box. After a moment, she found her old journal. She flipped the pages until it stopped at a particular passage.

I saw Mitsui again. I can't believe that I talked to a stranger! Usually, I don't know what to say. But with him, it seemed that I could do it. He's really nice, always laughing. I'm glad that he's spending his summer here. I can't wait to see him tomorrow. He's going to teach me how to play basketball. Me! A geek to the core and couch potato at heart will try to be athletic. I hope Zoë can give me some pointers for tomorrow.

Shellagh flipped several pages in her journal and stopped at another passage.

We had a lot of fun today! We went to the carnival with Zoë and her latest boyfriend. Mitsui coerced me to ride the roller coaster with him. It was so scary! I couldn't stop shivering afterwards. Mitsui was so guilty that he took me to the boat rides to calm me down. I have to write this down because it was so perfect. Well, almost. He almost kissed me.

Shellagh moved to the last passage of the book.

I don't know what happened! He's gone. Gone! Why did he leave when things were going great between us? I thought we had something special. I thought I found the guy I can actually picture myself having a relationship with. No note, no phone call, nothing from him! Will I ever see him again?

***

AN: What do you think? I hope you guys enjoyed it so far. Hope to get a lot of reviews on this one! (Hint, hint) One more thing before I go, you must have noticed Shellagh in the story. Well, you might wonder if this is a self-insertion fic or not because a lot of my friends who read this story kept asking me if it was me. My answer would have to be a big, fat N-O. Nope, this is not me. I just love the name and so used it in my story. It's not even my real name! (",) So, sorry if I made you wonder or confused or whatever. Well, I hope you give me reviews! Thanks.