Author's Notes: "Kaede Akagi, Haruko Rukawa" is a fanfic for the Rukawa-Haruko (RuHaru) pair. It's loosely based on a South Korean film entitled 체인지, which was released in 1997. I saw it once on television, but I was so touched by it that it stayed in me. Shallow, I know :)

The idea of adapting the film to a fic came to me while doing other Slam Dunk stories. Please note that I'm hardly a RuHaru fan. I just thought that Rukawa and Haruko would be the perfect pair for it, seeing that their relationship was never really fully explored in the anime. The fic is not just about them, mind you, but also involves other character in SD, too. Hope you enjoy this one ^^

"Kaede Akagi, Haruko Rukawa" is best read in 3/4 story width setting.

And, oh, I may have overdone Rukawa in this chapter but, hey, the guy has his reasons ;)

My muses are Stephen, Amy, and Rose, who have no idea how instrumental they are in this project.

This work of fiction is dedicated to midnightsolitaire, who have always been there all these years. Thank you, Krizia :)

I

The Surge

"I knew I'd find you here."

Rukawa turned upon hearing the familiar voice from behind.

A girl's head was peeking behind the door.

…Now what does she want.

Haruko Akagi timidly stepped out of playful hiding and carefully shut the metal door after. She then beamed him her most charming smile.

Anyone can tell by the way Kaede Rukawa looked at her that he's not amused. Curtly, he acknowledged their captain's sister with no more than a gruff sigh. When she just stood there lightly blushing in utter speechlessness, he looked away.

It was a gloomy Thursday afternoon at school. And as always, Rukawa was alone on the rooftop at his usual spot near the ledge – back stooped, head perched over the metal railings, and hands loosely clasped as his elbows rested on the cold, steel banister that supported all the weight of his torso – seemingly dazed while overlooking the whole of Kanagawa from where he stood. It was an unexpected sight for Haruko to have found him staring blankly into nowhere when she actually expected him to be in slumber, or simply hanging out while listening to his favourite music from his trusty Walkman. Apparently, he was different today. Rukawa was in deep contemplation.

A gush of wind blew past him, gracefully tousling his hair away from prickling his eyes, and hence revealed more of the beauty that was already visible in his impassive and ashen face. He welcomed it with blissful contentment; letting its fierce wafting relieve him of his tacit distress as the gust slowly cooled his body, as moisture slowly dampened his skin. The cold draught was relaxing no doubt, but to him, it felt rather unusual. Kaede looked up and saw flashes of brilliant light just above cumulus grey clouds gradually forming over the horizon.

A lightning storm is coming…

"You've been missing classes for the past three days now…and exams are already next week." Haruko spoke suddenly, softly, after an ensued length of silence. "You haven't been attending basketball practices either."

Rukawa's eyes shifted back at her, then he spoke in a very guarded tone of voice, "Is that why you're here? To remind me of my laziness?"

For a moment, the girl stiffened from his petulant remark, feeling that it denoted more of an accusation than an enquiry. "No! I-I didn't mean to sound that way!" she was feebly shaking her head in defense. "Since you haven't been showing up lately, Oniichan went looking for you…to see if you're doing well. He even asked some of your senseis to assist him in his search, but you were never there for your classes. Can't you see? Oniichan is worried about you…and he's desperately finding a way to talk to you. I just…I just…" Haruko trailed off, her gaze now riveted on the floor. "I just volunteered to help out."

Kaede studied her in a brief moment and turned his back against her. Somehow, he didn't quite hear the last words she just said.

"We're all worried about you, Rukawa-kun…

(I, for one, am)

…It just isn't like you to be acting this way all of a sudden."

He didn't bother to react.

She advanced warily, reluctantly placing a comforting hand on his broad shoulder when she stopped just inches away beside him. "Is there something bothering you, Rukawa-kun? Maybe I can do something to help."

Truthfully, he wouldn't have minded her good intentions and concern…but her mere nosiness simply irritates him. Rukawa immediately deviated from Haruko's hand the moment he felt the sting of her touch cling to him. What a nuisance! He gave her one last indignant look before he turned on his heels and treaded for the door.

"Rukawa-kun!" Haruko called.

A thunderous roar violently shook the sky following its frequent flashing. Streaks of lightning were now visible in the firmament.

"Do you really think I can entrust you my problems, Haruko?" Kaede hissed, his unfeeling blue eyes darkened when he met her gaze. "I never asked for your sympathy, or theirs. Why don't you just leave me alone," He averted briskly, "And, for a change, try sticking your nose on Sakuragi's business instead. That idiot needs more attention from you than I do."

Draft came rushing from behind her, suddenly blowing forcefully from the north. Haruko's pale and weary face flushed from the tingling cold. However, she felt more of the chill on Rukawa's words than the wind's icy feel on her skin.

R-Rukawa-kun…

Haruko made a small step to follow him. But as she did, she abruptly saw Kaede's retreating back double in a hazy mirage. N-Nanda? Hastily, she seized for the metal railings at her side to help her regain back balance. Her legs suddenly felt like wooden stilts and her body began to sway uncontrollably. Not much, but only a little. Haruko moaned quietly, shut her eyes tight and let her light-headedness pass as the burning sensation from her neck reached her eyelids.

The distress she had been manifestly nurturing for days of restless thinking and worrying was too much, even too tiring for her body to take. She didn't realize that 'till only now. On impulse, Haruko raised a hand over her mouth and let out a gravely cough. She looked up, feared that Rukawa might have heard her, and then eased down when she saw that he didn't. She cannot let herself be overheard that way, much less articulate what she was thinking now.

Why do you keep pushing me away?

She could have cried the instant he shot her that last look before completely turning his back to leave. Oddly, the thought of crying was too trivial to mind now than keeping herself from uncontrollably plopping on the floor, almost drained from all strength.

The event of her brother Takenori confiding to her last week about his agitation flooded back into her memory. Haruko had no idea how long he'd been keeping silent for what he was feeling, but what he told her then nearly broke her to tears. It wasn't just his words; it is how he said it. He sounded confused, disappointed, and merely talked in strengthless whispers. She felt his remorse and her heart went out to him instantly. Being the confidante, she unknowingly carried the weight of his worries, along with it her own personal and undying longing for that man. She had never seen her brother so serious about this—about Rukawa suddenly leaving the team without a word. Just when everyone was ecstatic for the championship game that is only three weeks away.

Then all too suddenly, unexpectedly, her temperance started to give way to the overwhelming weight her frail heart can no longer carry. She always kept an open mind on his side of the story, telling herself that maybe he is just having a bad day, but something deep inside her is beginning to take form: a flower. An enraged rose threatening to bloom—and it scared her. Anger was unlikely, even impossible, for her to feel for someone she adored like Rukawa, though she knew for the fact that (sometimes) he can be uncaring, conceited, inconsiderately stubborn...

Haruko promptly stopped herself from thinking, summoning control. Her pulse now hammered wildly in her temples making her head ache. She felt extremely tired – tired of going after him all this time – heavy, feverish, and anytime now, she expected to pass out.

Part of her had the sudden urge to just let him go, leave him alone as he obviously stressed and then wish him not to look back to say something that would hurt her again…but she couldn't.

No.

She refused to let him go now.

She refused to let him go the way she did when she first met him in this very place, face-bloodied from Sakuragi's mad beating. He blatantly refused her aid, not caring how that made her feel, and left. She let him go, still, because that is what he wanted. Haruko will do anything he say. But not this time.

She quickly gathered as much bearings as she could carry to confront him once more. Standing straighter, she unclasped her hand from the metal railings that supported her. This is for her brother. This is for Shohoku.

Haruko felt herself moving, walking, running.

The championship is near. Exactly a week away from the festival. A good three weeks, in all. And the team is in need of an ace…

They are in dire need of Kaede Rukawa.

"Matte yo!"

Rukawa heard Haruko call to him once more but had no intention to comply. Then for a second, he saw her run pass his left side and stood directly in front of him. He stopped pace, and then frowned at the sight of her standing awkwardly between him and the door with an expression of mixed agitation and weariness.

"You could at least talk to my brother if you don't feel like opening up to me." She pleaded, looking back at him with glassy, solemn eyes. "Please…do talk to him now. Promise me you'll do that before you go."

He glowered at her, definitely more annoyed than ever. "Out of my way."

"The team needs you! How could you just abandon them like this!"

Rukawa gritted his teeth. Like her, he had been controlling his temper.

Then his head quickly snapped up upon the skip of his heartbeat when he perceived the crashing sound of the heavens growing louder and deadlier by the second. There was movement among the clouds, and then he heard the leaves rustling from flailing branches against the angry wind. The school's newly installed lightning rods, the higher one erected on the main building and the other one on top of the small platform just above them, suddenly became an eyesore to him.

If he would get out, he had to do it now…

And quick!

The hair on Rukawa's head began to stand. He began to shove her aside.

"Please! For once, listen to me, please!"

"Damn it, Haruko! I have no time to argue with you!"

He grabbed hold of the door latch…

…She grabbed hold of his arm…

Then lightning stuck the rod above them.

Intense amount of electricity surged through their bodies rendering them helpless. The current continued to rush uncontrollably to the lower floors, hitting and spreading on every metal conductor it can get its voltage on – from the student's lockers on the empty hallway, to the windows' metal frames and panel. Three clear glass casements vibrated and shattered in an instant.

A final spark broke Rukawa's contact with the latch. That sudden outburst of energy hurdled Kaede and Haruko on the concrete some two meters away from the door.

Their bodies lay motionless.

No one knew how long their hearts stopped beating.

Tsuzute (to be continued)

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