Disclaimer: I do not own Slam Dunk. I own Yukie Shibahime.
author's notes: in the prologue, rukawa is acting different because that was how he really acted before shohoku, and before yukie's departure.
Only When I Sleep
Chapter 1
[Prologue Part 1]
Rukawa Kaede, then 14 years old, walked up to the girl he liked -- Yukie Shibahime.
"Yukie, I bought you some flowers," he said shyly, offering a bouquet of daisies. "Happy Birthday."
Yukie looked at him, her best friend, and hugged him. "Arigato Kaede."
Rukawa blushed. "Yukie..."
"Yes, Kaede-kun?" she said, looking at the daisies she had taken from his hand.
"I like you, uh, I mean, I like you, as in not only as best friend...you know..." His face was flushed.
"Kaede," Yukie whispered. "You know I like someone else."
"Yes, but he's not the one for you! He doesn't even know you exist!" Rukawa said.
Yukie laughed softly, used to her bestfriend's tactlessness. "Kaede, come on and sit down beside me. You don't really like me, you know. You just don't look somewhere else. I swear, I'm your only friend. And that's okay. But to limit yourself to one person who you'll let in your heart is NOT okay."
"But you're the only one I'll like," Rukawa argued stubbornly.
"That's just because you haven't met her yet. How'll you meet her if you're eternally playing basketball and hanging out with me? You should meet other people."
"See? You're the only one who understands me, Yukie."
Yukie laughed again. "That's because I'm the only person you let past your big wall of defense. Besides, can you imagine us kissing?"
Rukawa wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Come to think of it, no."
"See?" Yukie hugged her confused best friend and smiled at him. "Don't be in a hurry to get into a relationship, Kaede. She'll come at the right time. Be patient, you're good at that, you know."
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That night, Rukawa flopped on his bed and turned off the lamp besides his bed. Okay, so maybe he was in a hurry to get into a relationship. Who could blame him?
In a few minutes, he was fast asleep, even snoring gently. But he didn't have a dreamless sleep -- instead, his mind was filled with colorful scenes focusing on two people...
"Rukawa!" she greeted. Rukawa tried to look closely but he couldn't see her face. All he knew was that it was her. She grabbed his hand and they started to walk. Rukawa couldn't aptly describe the happiness that he was feeling. They talked about everything under the sun, never running out of any topic. He was happy.
Rukawa woke up and he sat up on his bed thinking about his dream. He usually didn't recall his dreams, but this one was so vivid that it seemed almost like a memory.
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"Kaede-kun?" Yukie said after class as they were walking home. "Is anything the matter? You seem perturbed."
Rukawa looked at his bestfriend and told her all about the dream. "What do you think that was all about?"
"I think it means something good," Yukie replied, smiling.
When they were at Yukie's gate, Yukie stopped and looked up at Rukawa sadly. "Kaede...I have some, er, good news."
"What?" Rukawa asked suspiciously.
"I...Otoosan got a better job in America, and we're moving."
"Nani?" Shock was apparent from Rukawa's face.
"I'll write, of course. Don't frown, Kaede. This is really good for us 'cause it would mean a higher salary for dad."
"But..."
"Be happy for me Kaede-kun."
"..."
Yukie opened the gate and went to the front door leaving Rukawa standing near the gate, staring at her dumbly. Yukie apparently forgot to say something so she went back to Rukawa and said, "Kaede-kun, promise me one thing."
"Promise you what?"
"Promise me that you'll find another friend, and that you won't be a loner...okay?"
"Okay."
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author's notes: let me do some explaining. after a week, Yukie went to America with her family, leaving Rukawa very sad... This leaves Rukawa angry at FATE/LIFE for stealing his best friend, his only friend actually, and that's why he breaks his promise to Yukie about not being a loner.
After three weeks since Yukie's departure, he started to dream about the girl again. First, he dreamed about her once or twice a week, and then everyday, and then everytime he slept, he would dream about her. All those times, he would never see her face...