Disclaimer: I do not own Slam Dunk, nor Haruko and Rukawa. I only ownmy original characters.

The story is completely different to the Anime/Manga, and the characters can be OOC.

Enjoy! :)

Chapter one

I heave out a sigh as I stare outside the classroom window, bored out of my mind. I dart my eyes to the clock attached to the wall, making me hold back a groan.

Fifteen more forsaken minutes till this hell hole of a class is over. Gosh I hate math.

I look around, noticing everyone work and furrow their eyebrows while trying to finish their worksheet, while I, obviously the smartest one out of them, am doing absolutely nothing. If counting the minutes till the end of class counts, that is.

Why, you ask?

Simply because math and I were not made for each other.

Fifteen minutes pass, and I finally hear the heavenly sound of the bell ringing. I hold back a squeal as I jump out of my seat and rush out of the door, almost tripping on someone's bag on the floor, but I manage to hold on one of the desks. I turn around, only to see I stepped on one of my classmates' backpack, meeting eyes with a pair of quite unpleased and annoyed ones. I smile sheepishly.

"Watch where you're going," he grumbles, picking up his bag and dusting it off.

I roll my eyes. "Watch where you leave your bag,"

"Whatever," he mumbles under his breath, brushing past me and outside the classroom.

I swear, that guy is the embodiment of weird.

Like, he's popular, very, every girl worships him and every guy envies him, yet he's the quietest person you will ever come across to. He always sits alone, has no friends I know of, and basically avoids any sort of contact with human beings.

I shake my head. I wonder what his story is.

I rush out of the classroom and head to the bathroom, because my bladder is about to burst. No, not sorry about the vulgarity.

"If it isn't little Haruko," Yana seethes at me, as she crosses her arms over her chest and stares at me in disgust.

I groan. For God's sake, can't I have a little peace, just for once?

I ignore her, as usual, and try to make it out of the bathroom, when she grabs my arm, stopping me on my tracks. Fear crawls up my skin at her cold touch, and memories I do not wish to think of come back.

I try to shake her grip off, but she holds tight, digging her nails in my skin, making me hold back a wince of pain.

"You look at me when I talk to you," she looks at me with her cold blue eyes, her lips pulled into a tight line. I instantly feel myself get weaker by the second, just by looking at her eyes.

"What do you want?" I mumble, trying to hide the fear that laces in my voice.

"For you to disappear off of the face of earth," she replies.

"Then leave me alone, forget I exist," I sigh.

"Where's the fun in that? You still have to pay for what you did,"

Oh yeah, pay for what I did.

I lower my head. "The class is about to start," I say in a small voice. "Please let me go,"

On the contrary to my request, she tightens her grip on my arm and brings me closer to her, making me unintentionally yelp from the sudden movement.

"One day, Haruko, one day, you will pay for what you did," she says in a dangerously threatening voice, making a chill run down my spine and get goosebumps. My eyes feel cloudy as I fight the tears that threaten to fall any moment. I bite my lip.

And with that, she releases my arm, and with one last cold look my way, exists the bathroom.

I break down.

I sit down, letting out a sob. Tears fall down freely, down my cheeks and reaching the floor. I bury my face in my hands and shake my head, feeling this huge loathing for myself, for what I did. I hate this, I hate her, I hate myself, I hate everything. I don't want to feel like this. God being dead would be easier and less painful.

After a few minutes, I stop crying, my eyes finally running out of tears. I let out a dry laugh, which ricochets through the empty bathroom. Yeah, my eyes never run out of tears. I manage to get up, cringing at the fact that I just sat on a dirty floor. God knows what stepped here. I make my way to the sink, my body feeling numb and aching. I turn the faucet on and rinse my red blood eyes and dried tears off my face. I look at myself in the mirror and feel the urge to cry all over again. How can your own relfection disgust you so much?

Without further ado, I head out of the bathroom and toward my class, knowing the teacher is gonna give me hell for being late. I sigh. How worse can this day-no, how worse can this life get?

I knock on the door, turning the knob slowly and entering. I fold my hands behind my back and look up sheepishly at the teacher.

"Haruko, you're late, why?" The teacher rolls his eyes as he looks at me, adverting his attention from the blackboard.

I shrug. "I had a few problems, personal ones," I hint.

He gives me an unconvinced look, but sighs nevertheless. "I'm not in the mood for scolding, so if you could kindly take a seat and arrive in time next time, I'd appreciate that,"

"Thank you, sir," I mumble and quickly rush to my seat, trying to avoid the stares of everyone.

I take out my English textbooks and notebook, and begin to take notes written on the black board. I scribble down on my notebook as fast as I can, seeing as I have to catch up with the teacher. Darn me for being late. I hate catching up on lessons, especially notes. I feel eyes bore at the back of my head, making me frown and look up, only to see him looking at me. He instantly turns around the moment our eyes meet, leaving me to stare at nothing but the back of his jet black hair.

Well, that wasn't weird.

The bell rings, making me curse under my breath. I couldn't finish on writing down all of the notes, and not to mention we have a test tomorrow. Darn it.

Without knowing what to do, I quickly tap on his shoulder, making him take off his earphones and turn to look at me. He raises an eyebrow and gives me a what-do-you-want look.

"Can I have your notes?" I get straight to the point. I know he's good at English, so he has to have the notes.

"What makes you think I have them?"

"What? Weren't you writing them down all this time?" I ask in confusion.

"No," he scoffs, plugging his earphones back in and ready to leave, when I stop him again. This time he groans in response.

"Please, I can't ask anyone else, none of them could care less about English and notes, let alone the test coming up tomorrow," I sigh.

"I'm being serious, I don't have them," he huffs. "I don't need them,"

"What?" I groan, tilting my head back. "What am I supposed to do now?"

"Maybe try and arrive in time next time," he mutters, before plugging his earphones back in and this time, leaving for real.

"Maybe try and arrive in time next time," I mock him, feeling irritated. It's like that guy is in his period every day, he is always moody and a smartass. It annoys me.

I take a bite out of my apple as I stare ahead of me. This is so relaxing. I love being alone, especially when it's lunch time and I get to come here, at this place, and relax, be alone, away from everyone with nothing but the sound of birds and the huge beautiful tree surrounding me. It makes me happy, being here. I feel peaceful.

I write down on my journal as my eyes water, for no reason. I just despise writing my feelings down, but I know this is necessary, because my therapist told me so. According to her it will help me feel better and let it all out, but no, it actually makes me feel even worse when I write down my messed up feelings and events, giving me twice as much pain. This isn't working. I hate this. I grip down hard at the pen as I furiously write down.

Which reminds me, I have another meeting with her this afternoon. I lay down, resting my head on top of my crossed arms as I stare above. The therapist isn't helping much. I know she's trying, but it isn't helping me. All she tells me is "try to understand your feelings". You don't say that to someone with a condition like mine. But, she is a therapist after all, she knows what she's doing and what's best for me, so I can't really complain.

I wish this was over.

I wipe away a tear that just rolled down my cheek and manage to stand up, brushing my skirt and taking my journal with me.

As I walk toward the school entrance, I get this weird cold feeling crawl up my skin, making me shiver, for no reason. I don't know, it's like the feel you get when someone is watching you. It's making me really scared and uncomfortable. I bite my lip as I lower my head, trying to brush it off.

Suddenly, I hear a movement in the bushes, making me quickly snap my head in that direction, only to gasp out at the sight of a shadow passing by extremely fast, almost too fast for me to notice it.

Blood drains from my face as my body suddenly feels very cold, my legs shivering. I shake my head. Maybe this is just my stupid hallucination, right? But it definitely looked and felt so real... goodness.

I take a moment, contemplating whether I should just go back to class and try to forget it, or go behind those bushes and try to find out what it is, just for the heck of it. Oh well, my next class is boring anyway, I need a distraction, and somehow, as much as that shadow creeped the hell out of me, it also intrigued me.

I try to be as discreet and careful as possible, taking slow quiet steps, aiming to catch whatever it is off guards. Yes, I'm pretty sure it was a real thing. It could be a hallucination, after all, but I know that my senses don't lie to me.

As I reach the bushes, I am met with nothing but trees. How disappointing. However, it may be hiding somewhere else now. I start walking toward the direction I saw it go earlier, it leading toward an odd lake that no one ever visits, because everyone claims to be... haunted. I freeze. My heart starts beating under my ribcage as I put two and two together.

A ghost. It could've been a ghost. That's why it headed toward the proclaimed haunted lake.

I take a deep breath, for some reason, my legs refusing to take me back and leave the hell out of here before I get myself into something dangerous. Instead, they take me toward the lake.

As I reach the lake, I notice it looks pretty normal to me. Although a little... alarming. The moment I step foot near it, I can't help but feel extrmely uncomfortable and frightened. No wonder people call it haunted.

There's a medium-sized lake, with crystal clear water. Plants surround its circumference, while a dashing, yet strange black rose floats in the middle of the lake.

I furrow my eyebrows. I wonder what it could be. I take a few heavy steps toward the lake, hugging myself in the process because of the coldness.

One step, two, three... I reach the beginning of the lake. I crouch down and with a shaky hand, proceed to touch the water, only to let out a bloody scream as I feel myself get yanked away, before my hand could make contact with the crystal clear water.

My whole body gets numb as my eyes widen, breath caught in my throat, making it weird for me to breathe.

Something clasps a hand over my mouth, and that's when I realize I'm having a panick attack.

I start shaking uncontrollably, my eyes clouding along with my senses. My heart beats rapidly, and I have no idea what's happening to me. I dig my fingers in the nearest object, which so happens to be a thigh. I cannot decipher anything. I can only dig my nails, hard, on that thigh and try to take deep breaths, just like my therapist told me, but the hand over my mouth won't let me. Without thinking, I dig my nails in the hand too, thankfully succeeding on taking it off of my mouth. I hear a yelp of pain, but I'm too busy to care about it. I focus on my breathing.

In, and out.

After a few more in-and-outs, I feel myself get calmed down. I close my eyes, too scared to turn around.

"Hey, um... are you okay...?" I hear a rough voice behind me, making me let out a sigh. It doesn't sound like something a ghost or someone who's going to harm me would say. I slowly turn my head around, only to widen my eyes at the sight of none other than Kaede Rukawa standing there, biting his lip awkwardly, rubbing his thigh.

I blink a few times, trying to take all of this in.

"What in the world?!" I scream, slapping him, hard, across the face.

I gasp when I realize what I just did.

He looks a little taken aback, as he stares at me with a shocked look plastered across his face, rubbing on his now red cheek.

"Uh... I-" I start off awkwardly, but get cut off by him.

"I'm sorry, for scaring you like that... I just didn't wan-"

"Why did you do it then?!"

"I was getting to that!" He exclaims, making me shut up. "I just didn't want you to touch the water, and you were pretty damn close to doing so,"

I raise an eyebrow at him. "Care to enlighten? It's only water for God's sake!"

He groans. "It's hard to explain, but it's not only water, it's something... harder to explain,"

"Just tell me already!" I demand, getting impatient.

"I can't, dammit!" He shouts back.

I pout, crossing my arms over my chest and giving him the nastiest glare I can muster.

"Tell me,"

"I can't,"

"Tell me!"

"No,"

"Tell me or else I dive in right in that lake!"

"I can't tell you!"

"Fine then," I say as I get up, brushing my knees.

"Where are you going?" He asks.

"Back to school, genius," I mumble, but he gives me a suspicious look.

I turn around and start walking slowly, then make a run for the lake, literally getting ready to dive in. Right as I'm about to jump, he grabs me by the waist and yanks me back, making me scream.

"Let me go asshole!" I squirm, trying to make him let go of me.

"Say you won't get near that lake again!"

"Never!"

"Fine then, I'm taking you back like this!"

"Fuck you!" I aim for his knee, but accidentally kick his seemingly crotch.

He lets out a loud groan as he lets go of me, holding onto his crotch for dear life.

I bite my lip, trying to hold back a laugh.

He looks up at me, only to send daggers with his scary and cold eyes.

I turn my head around, folding my hands behind my back. I will not apologize.

"You had it coming," I mumble.

"You have one hell of a kick," he groans.

I shrug. "I watch a lot of movies,"

Right as I take a step toward the lake, I'm surprised at how quickly he managed to get a hold of my wrist, yanking me back. I roll my eyes.

"Hell no, you're not going anywhere," he glares at me.

"Let's go," he suddenly speaks up, straightening himself and giving me a firm look.

"Where?" I cock an eyebrow.

He rolls his eyes. "For a swim in the lake,"

"Really?!"

"No! We're going back,"

I frown, and stomp my foot on the ground. "Not until you tell me."

"Stop acting like a child," he groans. "I cannot tell you,"

"Why?!" I cry out.

"Because my lips are sealed!" He fires back.

I let out an exasperated sigh. "I don't care,"

"Fine!"

I grin. I knew he'd give in.

"It's because..." he trails off. "It's poisoned,"

I give him a deadpanned look. "Seriously,"

"Yes," he nods.

"Ask someone else to buy that," I roll my eyes.

"It's true!" He exclaims.

"Whatever, I'm out of here, it's getting really creepy," I shudder as I look around. Which reminds me... "What are you doing here?" I turn to look at him suspiciously.

"What are you doing here?" He fires back.

"I asked you first,"

"I asked you second,"

"You're so childish,"

"You're so ironic,"

"You're so lame,"

"You're so persistent,"

"See, so childish!"

"Whatever! I'm here because I followed you,"

I frown. "What? Why did you follow me?"

He shrugs. "I saw you heading toward the lake and I wondered what you were going to do there, considering it's the so-called haunted lake,"

"Oh," I say. Well, guess he definitely isn't the creepy shadow. Or... is he?

"I'm here because I saw an odd and creepy shadow, and my curiosity got the best of me,"

"Curiosity killed the cat," he states.

"Good thing I'm not a cat then," I reply, turning around to leave. "I'm leaving," I turn my head to look at him. "You coming?"

He takes a good look at my face, before returning to his senses and nodding. "Right, yes,"

We start walking back, quietly, side to side. It's gotten quite chilly.

He sticks his hands in his pocket, making me wish I had pockets too right now, my hands are freezing. I pout as I continue walking ahead.

"I'm not going to give up,"

Hello everyone, this is a new story I've been working on, and decided to share it with you. It would mean a lot if you would share your opinions on it with me, thank you! :)