Enigma (of the heart)


Guide: Haruko's ipod is a 4th generation ipod nano which is given a shake to shuffle the songs.


Prologue

"17 years—17 long years that I've heard about the word LOVE. I know its meaning and probably, I myself had witnessed so many types of it. Like how a mother cares for her child or a platonic love shared between friends. However, the love that I long for is far more different from what I have felt. Since it came to my senses, I have always wanted to feel love from someone I would want to share my whole life with. In fact, I never showed interest in other guys. No one really reached my expectations. No, perhaps, I haven't met HIM just yet."

Haruko sighed after writing in her diary and walked towards her bed. She laid there silently thinking about her latest entry. With a heavy sigh, she took her ipod nano from her bedside table, gave it a shake for the songs to shuffle.

"Hmm... Claire de Lune. Classics" She moaned, as the song played and drew her deeper to a slumber.

*dream*dream*dream*

(Haruko's dream)

She entered a dimly lit room, only to find out that she was inside Shohoku high's gym. She looked around to see if there was anyone inside. To her surprise, he saw a lad wearing a jersey the same as her niisan's and aiming to shoot a basketball on the ring looking very much like a professional on his stance. However, the guy before her was the most graceful player she has ever seen. He kept his masculine features intact as he beautifully threw the ball to the ring.

Shoot

Bounce, Bounce

She noted the features of the lad even when he had his back turned away from her.

Undoubtedly Tall (About 6'3")

Perfect body built. No doubt about his 6 packs.

Hair gelled roughly onto one side.

In short, HE WAS HOT!

Haruko stared at the mysterious guy with too much amazement. She instantly felt like she was being drawn over the guy and almost drooled at the sight. She blinked once, one moment he was walking away. She chased after the nameless Adonis and wanted to call out to him yet her voice was nowhere to be found.

(End of Haruko's dream)

Knock

Knock

Knock

"Haruko! We're gonna be late! Get up now!" Takenori was pounding her door this time now.

"Good morning too, oniisan!" Haruko said sarcastically as she yawned, yanked herself out of bed then prepared herself for school.

Weird dream she said in her head.

Who is he?

***

Chapter 1

Throughout the day, the guy on her dreams kept on plaguing her mind. His image of shooting the ball perfectly on the basket reminded her of her brother Takenori's move.

How can I actually like someone I never even know?! He's even nameless for crying out loud! Haruko, snap out of it!

She was on one of the bleachers on the gym either spending her free time or after class noting the moves of each player as requested by her oniichan. In this case, school was done when she went to watch Team Shohoku's practice.

She was still thinking about the mysterious guy on her dreams when suddenly--

"Watch out!!!!!!!!!!" Somebody yelled.

"WHA--?!"

Slap!!!!!

"OW!!!" She yelped in pain.

"Haruko!!! ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?" Takenori's voice roared over the gym.

She heard footsteps running towards where the ball hit her straight on the face.

"I'm so sorry Haruko. I didn't mean to. It's just that, I yelled for you to move... and... I'm really sorry!!!!" A voice said, not recognizing whose voice was it after the hard impact on her face.

"Hanamichi!! If something wrong happens to my sister's face, YOU'LL PAY BIGTIME!!!!"

Takenori was now sounding like a wild gorilla on the loose. No wonder why he's often called Gori by his fellow team mates when he's furious.

"Oniisan, I'm fine." Haruko wiped her bleeding nose, which scared Takenori to death. If there was anything that would scare him, it's blood. Instantly, he went pale and went into hysterics.

"YOU!" Takenori pointed at Sakuragi.

"Since you were the one who injured her, be the one to take her to the clinic! NOW!!" Takenori Akagi once again roared as if hell broke loose on the gym.

"Yes captain." Sakuragi said with a strained voice. "That Gorilla!" he said in his thoughts, as he gently helped the bleeding Haruko up.

As they were walking towards the door leading to the exit of the gym, they noticed Coach Anzai walking along with a tall guy wearing a jacket with its hood covering his head.

Haruko was used to Coach Anzai bringing along one of his newly discovered basketball players with potentials. However, this time, she felt something different towards the guy with Coach Anzai. She never got to see his face clearly because of the hood, but there was something she can't really explain. She's feeling something towards the lad, sort of a deja vu.

"Haruko, Really, I'm so very sorry" Hanamichi said with sincerity.

"Huh? Oh!" She snapped back to reality. "Really Sakuragi, I'm fine, it's just a nose bleed after all."

"JUST A NOSEBLEED!? What if you die because of blood loss or anything like that? Or worst you suffered an internal bleeding or a hemorrhage due to the impact!?" He said non stop, making Haruko wonder if he ever had breaths in between.

"You've gone over board Sakuragi, It's really nothing. I feel fine. There's nothing to worry about." She said with a smile. Noticing the similarities Hanamichi Sakuragi has with her brother Takenori Akagi.

They reached the doors of the infirmary as Sakuragi banged the door, went straight towards the nurse's table and told the nurse everything rapidly. The Nurse narrowed her eyes on Sakuragi as she helped Haruko with a paper towel to wipe the stains of blood and then led her to the sink afterwards to wash her face.

"I'd suggest you go home first and take a good rest since your friend here is in hysterics and is requesting you to be sent to the hospital." The Nurse said as she eyed Sakuragi exasperatedly.

"I'm really sorry for bringing him along." I should've gone here alone. She said again in her mind.

"It's alright. Besides, I told him that the least I can do is to send you home. Oh, and put some cold compress on the bridge so it wouldn't swell much alright? Take some Tylenol as well if you feel any pain." The nurse said then led her to the way out.

"Oh, Okay then. Arigatou" She bowed as a sign of gratitude to the nurse.

"You're very much welcome dear."

She walked out of the clinic only to see Sakuragi leaning against one of the pillars of the corridor.

"Haruko! How are you feeling? Are you better now?" Sakuragi's voice was a little less alarmed now. Yet, he still managed to irritate Haruko a little bit.

She pressed a bit on her temples only to find it painful. Darn, I forgot, I've got a broken nose! "Hanamichi, for the last time. I AM FINE. Don't worry about it. The nurse said it's going to be okay."

"Oh… Okay… So uhm.. Haruko, Uhm…" Sakuragi stuttered.

"Yes??"

"I was just wondering if.. I can give you a ride home? Just so I can suppress my guilt. You know..." Hanamichi said, obviously sounding shy.

"It's fine with me, But how about your practice? Niichan wouldn't be happy to know that you're ditching him again."

As they were talking Hanamichi led the way to where his bike was parked.

"Well, I guess Gori... Oh I mean, Captain Akagi wouldn't mind. Besides, he said that I was responsible for you because I got you hurt and everything." He went to get on his bike and motioned her to sit in front of him.

"Alright, But make sure you'd be back in time for practice after you send me home ok?" Haruko demanded as she sat on where he told her to.

"Okay I will." Man! I thought I could go somewhere else to eat after. Sakuragi thought.

He then tried to push his bike and put in motion, but to his surprise, he saw a chain locking his bike on to one of the iron bars of the fence of the school.

"What the?!" He said miffed.

"Where's the key to the lock of the chain?" Haruko said, surprised by her companion's reaction.

"There is no key, nor are there any chains! I never lock my bike. I just park it anywhere." Apparently, his voice was now annoyed.

"Are you saying someone played a trick on you and locked your bike?" Haruko asked, concerned.

"I guess. Probably one of the guys! Oh they're so dead!" Hanamichi said with a threat to his voice, thinking that one of his friends played a trick on him.

While Sakuragi was talking with too much profanity, Haruko searched around the area to find some clues on who the culprit might be when—

Slam!

Sakuragi ran towards her, shocked by the sudden commotion again Haruko had caused.

"What happened to you!? One moment you were standing, one moment you're falling!" Sakuragi said. Apparently trying to suppress a chuckle on the sight.

"I bumped onto something! See!" She pointed an object in front of her. Darn it! I need to work on my eye coordination better! I keep on slamming onto something. I might be in a coma if this pursues! Haruko told her clumsy self.

Sakuragi's eyes looked at the thing Haruko bumped into with recognition. He flickered his eyes on the object and turned to Haruko "Hey! Ha ha! I guess you solved the mystery!"

"Huh?!" Haruko said, confused again "My bike's got a twin! See!" Sakuragi pointed at the chained bike he was riding a while ago and the bike Haruko bumped into just now.

"Oh! I see. I guess I'm a good detective!" She beamed. "But Hanamichi, Next time, do you mind remembering where you parked your bike and please secure it in place. You could've injured at least 20 people that pass by!" Unfortunately, I had to be one of the reckless bike owner's victims. Again, her thoughts were more straightforward.

"Oh, I'm sorry 'bout that." Hanamichi said obviously embarrassed by the girl's retort.

It took them a good thirty minutes all in all to figure out that there were two identical bikes on the parking area and that they were pulling the wrong one before they were able to leave the school premises. By this time now, Haruko was feeling the pain of her broken nose.

I guess I could really use some rest, it's getting painful now.

They reached the Akagi's residence at around 7:30 pm after Sakuragi's ten minutes of pedaling. Haruko got off the bike and thanked Sakuragi for his care and all.

"No problem, It's the least I can do for having your nose broken. I'm really sorry." Sakuragi said with sincere apology.

The girl sighed and let a smile form in her lips. "You're apologizing again. I already told you its okay. Besides, its Friday today, I could use the weekend to rest and eventually it'll be better before you know it."

Hanamichi chuckled and said, "Alright then, Goodbye, Get your nose fixed soon."

She "hmpt" at him then bade him goodbye as well. "Take care Hanamichi! Don't ditch practice!" she said after him.

Haruko entered their empty house, locked the doors, went to the kitchen fridge to get some ice and went to the medicine cabinet to take some Tylenol as the nurse prescribed. Afterwards she went to her room laid on her bed and placed the ice bag on the bridge of her broken nose.

"That's better." She said as she felt the pain subside.

Slowly, as she relaxed, she felt unconsciousness take over her system as she was drawn to a slumber once more.


A/N: I try as much as possible to stick with the original story. It's just that this is MY idea of how the love story of Haruko and Rukawa should bloom. I find Rukawa's character really intimidatring, and I want to make him do more than just hoops. You guys got what I mean?

Anyways, I really hope you guys would enjoy. :) It's my first fic as I said. Hopefully you'd like it. :)

Please leave your reviews for the betterment of the fic! :) Thank you! :P