1 The Blooming Rhapsody
A/N: Ohayo minna chan! Thanx for reading my fic. Anyway I just wanna say that I don't own Slam Dunk or Sailormoon. For those who had been wandering who is the guy I'm talking about, Well read and find out.
Chapter One: The encounter
The librarian looked at the clock. Ten minutes to closing time. She knew at this time almost everyone in the library would have left except for her and a certain high school boy. Sighing, Mrs. Ayame stood up and began walking towards the study corner of the library.
Turning to the left, the librarian smiled at the hardworking student. He had been coming to the library for three months now. He had been coming daily that she had taken notice of his carefree, loving, helpful and sensitive nature. Not only did she know his nature, she even knows his name and the usual spot he would seek refuge. In short she knows him like her own son.
At first when he first stepped into the library, she had the impression of him trying to create trouble. Instead he just smiled warmly at her and asked for the location of a certain book on basketball. From then on, he had been coming in daily and reading all sorts of topics. Math, Science, English, philosophy. You named it all.
Mrs. Ayame smiled when she noticed his hands move quickly, scribbling down notes, no doubt. Oh how she hates to break the bad news that the library will be closing for the day. Mrs. Ayame walked to the side of the table.
"Sakuragi Hanamichi, I'm sorry but I have to close the library for the day," the mass of red hair suddenly shot up from the book and notes and looked at the middle aged librarian in disappointment.
"Now?" he asked.
"Hai, now" Mrs. Ayame looked at the red head. He is a handsome one alright and if she had not been old and married with kids, she would have fallen head over heels for him. Form his tall well-built body to his red locks to his drop dead-gorgeous eyes that looked even great when framed with a pair of rimless titanium reading glasses to his lips. She wondered if he had any girlfriend.
"Five minutes more... Onegai Ayama-chan! I need to finish this work," Sakuragi pleaded as he gave her puppy eyed looks.
"Oh ok, five more minute. No more than that, ok?" she sighed.
"Hai! Arigato Ayame chan. Have I ever told you that you are my favorite librarian?" Sakuragi exclaimed.
"Don't try to be a charmer, Sakuragi. You better finish your work," the librarian laughed as she walked out of the study corner.
A shouldered length raven-haired girl slowly walked through the mazes of houses. Swinging her bag from side to side, her mind began drifting off to the conversation between her guardians last week. Since her parents had died a long time ago, Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna had legally became her guardians.
Her life with her new family was fun and great. Until Haruka voiced out that Setsuna and her should be transferred to Kanagawa. At first she felt bad to hear the news. Since she is going to miss her good friends, Usagi, Ami, Rei, Makoto and Minako. But after much persuasion and encouragement from them, she felt better.
But now that she is in Kanagawa, she felt horrible. First, she is in a foreign land although it is still in Japan. Second, she felt left out. Everywhere she went, she hardly recognizes any of the people. Life can't get any worse can it?
The girl was so intense in her thoughts that she didn't notice a group of men following her. "Ugh! Sumi masen," the girl apologized as she tried to move away from the person she just bumped into. But unfortunately each time she tried to pass the person, the person seemed to block her way.
"Excuse me but could you please move out of the way?" she frowned.
The man in front of her snickered. "Well look here guys. We have ourselves a beautiful one."
Only then did the girl notice a group of disgusting looking men surrounding her. Frightened, the girl slowly backed into a wall. She quickly scanned an opening in the surrounded men for escape. Praying for luck, she quickly darted towards an opening but a hand shot out and caught her. She could only scream for help.
Sakuragi turned at a corner and continued walking towards his house. A soft smile played at his soft lips as he hummed a song. Smiling into the starless night, he let his mind wander to the event that had passed lately.
First he was able to beat Rukawa. Everyone was shocked by it. Who would have thought an idiot like him could be an ace like Rukawa. Sakuragi laughed softly when he remembered that Miyagi had thought the world was coming to an end. What they didn't know that during his three months of recovering, after nearly breaking his back during the last game with Sannoh, he had been practicing madly especially his three-pointers. But thank god he didn't show them his three-pointers when he beat Rukawa. He wanted to surprise them.
Second, his result had improved tremendously especially his Mathematics. It's not weird since he had been coming to the library and studying right after school and basketball practice. But unfortunately he could not show his results to the irritating sensei until the upcoming exam, which is next two weeks.
Lastly, he had gotten over the fact that Haruko would never return his one- sided love. It had been hard trying to destroy the love for her that had grown over the year. But at least he got the hang of her as his good friend that the girl of his dreams.
Sakuragi let out a sigh of frustration. Would his life always be like this? Be the fool of the community? A scream suddenly broke through his strings of thoughts. Somehow his guts kicked in and forced him to find the source of the sound.
"How come there is a party here and I wasn't invited?" a voice suddenly rang.
The raven-haired girl looked fearfully towards the new comer. "Oh god! Not another one of them!" she groaned inwardly.
But instead of a welcome greeting that she had expected them to do, her aggressor suddenly snarled at the new comer. "Who the hell are you?"
"Who I am is not important. What you are doing at this moment is much more important," a corner of the red head's mouth tipped upwards.
"You are arrogant bastard! Buys get him!" the leader ordered.
"Ch! Only five of you? Well better than nothing," the red head slowly braced himself for the coming attacks.
The girl watched in awe at the sleek moves the red head did, her present pain temporary forgotten. She watched as the red head side stepped a kick from his opponent and sent a gut-wrenching blow to his guts. She was momentarily paralyzed as she noticed the look in his eyes. It was a look that could set the hairs on a person to rise. It was a look that gave him the commanding and invincibility aura around him.
When all of his opponents had fallen unconscious did she realize something about her captor. He was shaking as the red head advanced towards him dangerously. With a cry of fear, her captor suddenly turned around and turned tail, leaving her and her savior alone in the solitary night.
"Daijoubu, ka?" he whispered as he knelt beside her.
The girl just nodded as she tried to suppress the urge to shudder. A sudden cold breeze brushed her and she gave in.
"Damn! You got a nasty bruise on your arm," the red head tentatively touched the bruise on her right arm. When he touched her arm did he realize some thing. The girl's blouse is badly torn and now the remainant hung loosely on her.
Blushing hotly, the red head took out his sports jacket and handed it to the shivering girl. "Umm... You better wear this. Your shirt is torn."
The girl complied and wore the jacket. Strangely the jacket felt warm and comforting. It even had a nice musky smell. Snuggling deeper into the jacket, the smelled again. It smelled of spices and had a manly tinge in it.
"Watashi wa Sakuragi Hanamichi. Can you walk?" the red head asked as he smiled warmly at her.
The girl nodded and tried to stand up. Unfortunately her knees betrayed her and she stumbled. Instead of meeting the hard floor, a pair of strong arms caught and held her.
"I guess not huh?" he teased. Sakuragi looked down at the raven-haired girl. Suddenly, the head shot up and both were locked in each other's eyes.
Blushing, both of them broke their gazes apart. Sighing, Sakuragi slung his bag over his shoulder, brought his arm underneath her knees and carried her up. The girl gave a surprise yelp once she realized that her feet no longer touched the ground.
"I might as well carry you home. Mind telling me where it is?" he asked. The girl softly whispered her address.
"Arigato, Mi-kun. I mean Sakuragi-chan," Sakuragi smiled at the gratitude as he continued walking.
"No problem. You can call me Mi-kun if you like. My friends usually call me Sakuragi."
"Hotaru Tomoe. My friends call me Hotaru," it was a soft whisper but he heard it all the same.
"So Hotaru, do you live with your parents?"
"Ie. My parents died a long time ago. I lived with my guardians but at the moment only Setsuna." Sakuragi felt her stiffened as she whispered her answer.
Sakuragi felt a pang of remorse and guilt for her. He should know how it felt to loose someone you love. He had experienced that a long time ago when is father died. But to loose his mom? Sakuragi shuddered at the thought of losing his okaasan.
"I'm sorry to hear that," he whispered.
"It's ok. I had gotten over it," Hotaru spoke. Turning her head, Hotaru began inspecting the features of her savior.
Hmm... Soft red hair, beautiful eyes, thick eyebrows, chiseled jaw and those lips. It must be very soft and tantalizing. Oh god! What am I thinking? I should be thinking of tomorrow at school. Not at his strong and handsome features.
Blushing hotly, Hotaru unconsciously snuggled deeper into his strong arms and buried her face at the crook of his neck. Breathing his scent, Hotaru began thinking of how caring, loving, sensitive, strong and not to mention patient in handling those damn jerks. Something about him made her feel safe, protected and even loved. Shaking her head, she dismissed her childish thoughts and slowly fell asleep listening to the beating of his heart.
Sakuragi blushed hotly when he felt the girl in his arms snuggled closer. He nearly dropped her when he felt her nuzzling his neck. God! What is it about the girl? He had never felt this way before, even when he was infatuated with a particular brown haired girl.
There is something about her that entranced him. Could it be that innocence he saw every time he looked at her. Could it be her soft inviting lips. Whoa! You barely know her and you are thinking of her lips! What kind of pervert are you? He cursed inwardly at his disgusting self.
After much twist and turn, they finally reach her house. He was about to wake up when he saw the peaceful expression on her face as she slept. Without upsetting her, he reached out and pressed the bell.
After a minute of waiting, the door opened and a green haired lady with ruby eyes greeted him. Seeing Hotaru's state, she quickly let him in with a worried expression.
Setsuna watched as the young man slowly and ever so gently laid her ward on Hotaru's bed. She mentally noted that he is a loving, brave and sensitive man. She was about to question what had happened when he suddenly blurted out.
"She was disturbed by some unruly thugs. Nothing bad had happened to her except for a few bruises."
"Arigato gosaimasu. You must be thirsty. Let me get you some tea." Setsuna was about to enter the kitchen when he protested.
"Ie. It's alright. I have to go anyway. Um.. Tell Hotaru that she can return my jacket later. Oyasumi nasai," Sakuragi bowed and started for the door.
"Matte! What is your name, young man?"
Sakuragi turned and smiled. "Sakuragi. Sakuragi Hanamichi."
A/N: ohayo minna!! Thanx for reading my lil fic. Don't worry but the next chapters will be great but please be patient.. I still have loads of fics to upload...Ja ne!!
A/N: Ohayo minna chan! Thanx for reading my fic. Anyway I just wanna say that I don't own Slam Dunk or Sailormoon. For those who had been wandering who is the guy I'm talking about, Well read and find out.
Chapter One: The encounter
The librarian looked at the clock. Ten minutes to closing time. She knew at this time almost everyone in the library would have left except for her and a certain high school boy. Sighing, Mrs. Ayame stood up and began walking towards the study corner of the library.
Turning to the left, the librarian smiled at the hardworking student. He had been coming to the library for three months now. He had been coming daily that she had taken notice of his carefree, loving, helpful and sensitive nature. Not only did she know his nature, she even knows his name and the usual spot he would seek refuge. In short she knows him like her own son.
At first when he first stepped into the library, she had the impression of him trying to create trouble. Instead he just smiled warmly at her and asked for the location of a certain book on basketball. From then on, he had been coming in daily and reading all sorts of topics. Math, Science, English, philosophy. You named it all.
Mrs. Ayame smiled when she noticed his hands move quickly, scribbling down notes, no doubt. Oh how she hates to break the bad news that the library will be closing for the day. Mrs. Ayame walked to the side of the table.
"Sakuragi Hanamichi, I'm sorry but I have to close the library for the day," the mass of red hair suddenly shot up from the book and notes and looked at the middle aged librarian in disappointment.
"Now?" he asked.
"Hai, now" Mrs. Ayame looked at the red head. He is a handsome one alright and if she had not been old and married with kids, she would have fallen head over heels for him. Form his tall well-built body to his red locks to his drop dead-gorgeous eyes that looked even great when framed with a pair of rimless titanium reading glasses to his lips. She wondered if he had any girlfriend.
"Five minutes more... Onegai Ayama-chan! I need to finish this work," Sakuragi pleaded as he gave her puppy eyed looks.
"Oh ok, five more minute. No more than that, ok?" she sighed.
"Hai! Arigato Ayame chan. Have I ever told you that you are my favorite librarian?" Sakuragi exclaimed.
"Don't try to be a charmer, Sakuragi. You better finish your work," the librarian laughed as she walked out of the study corner.
A shouldered length raven-haired girl slowly walked through the mazes of houses. Swinging her bag from side to side, her mind began drifting off to the conversation between her guardians last week. Since her parents had died a long time ago, Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna had legally became her guardians.
Her life with her new family was fun and great. Until Haruka voiced out that Setsuna and her should be transferred to Kanagawa. At first she felt bad to hear the news. Since she is going to miss her good friends, Usagi, Ami, Rei, Makoto and Minako. But after much persuasion and encouragement from them, she felt better.
But now that she is in Kanagawa, she felt horrible. First, she is in a foreign land although it is still in Japan. Second, she felt left out. Everywhere she went, she hardly recognizes any of the people. Life can't get any worse can it?
The girl was so intense in her thoughts that she didn't notice a group of men following her. "Ugh! Sumi masen," the girl apologized as she tried to move away from the person she just bumped into. But unfortunately each time she tried to pass the person, the person seemed to block her way.
"Excuse me but could you please move out of the way?" she frowned.
The man in front of her snickered. "Well look here guys. We have ourselves a beautiful one."
Only then did the girl notice a group of disgusting looking men surrounding her. Frightened, the girl slowly backed into a wall. She quickly scanned an opening in the surrounded men for escape. Praying for luck, she quickly darted towards an opening but a hand shot out and caught her. She could only scream for help.
Sakuragi turned at a corner and continued walking towards his house. A soft smile played at his soft lips as he hummed a song. Smiling into the starless night, he let his mind wander to the event that had passed lately.
First he was able to beat Rukawa. Everyone was shocked by it. Who would have thought an idiot like him could be an ace like Rukawa. Sakuragi laughed softly when he remembered that Miyagi had thought the world was coming to an end. What they didn't know that during his three months of recovering, after nearly breaking his back during the last game with Sannoh, he had been practicing madly especially his three-pointers. But thank god he didn't show them his three-pointers when he beat Rukawa. He wanted to surprise them.
Second, his result had improved tremendously especially his Mathematics. It's not weird since he had been coming to the library and studying right after school and basketball practice. But unfortunately he could not show his results to the irritating sensei until the upcoming exam, which is next two weeks.
Lastly, he had gotten over the fact that Haruko would never return his one- sided love. It had been hard trying to destroy the love for her that had grown over the year. But at least he got the hang of her as his good friend that the girl of his dreams.
Sakuragi let out a sigh of frustration. Would his life always be like this? Be the fool of the community? A scream suddenly broke through his strings of thoughts. Somehow his guts kicked in and forced him to find the source of the sound.
"How come there is a party here and I wasn't invited?" a voice suddenly rang.
The raven-haired girl looked fearfully towards the new comer. "Oh god! Not another one of them!" she groaned inwardly.
But instead of a welcome greeting that she had expected them to do, her aggressor suddenly snarled at the new comer. "Who the hell are you?"
"Who I am is not important. What you are doing at this moment is much more important," a corner of the red head's mouth tipped upwards.
"You are arrogant bastard! Buys get him!" the leader ordered.
"Ch! Only five of you? Well better than nothing," the red head slowly braced himself for the coming attacks.
The girl watched in awe at the sleek moves the red head did, her present pain temporary forgotten. She watched as the red head side stepped a kick from his opponent and sent a gut-wrenching blow to his guts. She was momentarily paralyzed as she noticed the look in his eyes. It was a look that could set the hairs on a person to rise. It was a look that gave him the commanding and invincibility aura around him.
When all of his opponents had fallen unconscious did she realize something about her captor. He was shaking as the red head advanced towards him dangerously. With a cry of fear, her captor suddenly turned around and turned tail, leaving her and her savior alone in the solitary night.
"Daijoubu, ka?" he whispered as he knelt beside her.
The girl just nodded as she tried to suppress the urge to shudder. A sudden cold breeze brushed her and she gave in.
"Damn! You got a nasty bruise on your arm," the red head tentatively touched the bruise on her right arm. When he touched her arm did he realize some thing. The girl's blouse is badly torn and now the remainant hung loosely on her.
Blushing hotly, the red head took out his sports jacket and handed it to the shivering girl. "Umm... You better wear this. Your shirt is torn."
The girl complied and wore the jacket. Strangely the jacket felt warm and comforting. It even had a nice musky smell. Snuggling deeper into the jacket, the smelled again. It smelled of spices and had a manly tinge in it.
"Watashi wa Sakuragi Hanamichi. Can you walk?" the red head asked as he smiled warmly at her.
The girl nodded and tried to stand up. Unfortunately her knees betrayed her and she stumbled. Instead of meeting the hard floor, a pair of strong arms caught and held her.
"I guess not huh?" he teased. Sakuragi looked down at the raven-haired girl. Suddenly, the head shot up and both were locked in each other's eyes.
Blushing, both of them broke their gazes apart. Sighing, Sakuragi slung his bag over his shoulder, brought his arm underneath her knees and carried her up. The girl gave a surprise yelp once she realized that her feet no longer touched the ground.
"I might as well carry you home. Mind telling me where it is?" he asked. The girl softly whispered her address.
"Arigato, Mi-kun. I mean Sakuragi-chan," Sakuragi smiled at the gratitude as he continued walking.
"No problem. You can call me Mi-kun if you like. My friends usually call me Sakuragi."
"Hotaru Tomoe. My friends call me Hotaru," it was a soft whisper but he heard it all the same.
"So Hotaru, do you live with your parents?"
"Ie. My parents died a long time ago. I lived with my guardians but at the moment only Setsuna." Sakuragi felt her stiffened as she whispered her answer.
Sakuragi felt a pang of remorse and guilt for her. He should know how it felt to loose someone you love. He had experienced that a long time ago when is father died. But to loose his mom? Sakuragi shuddered at the thought of losing his okaasan.
"I'm sorry to hear that," he whispered.
"It's ok. I had gotten over it," Hotaru spoke. Turning her head, Hotaru began inspecting the features of her savior.
Hmm... Soft red hair, beautiful eyes, thick eyebrows, chiseled jaw and those lips. It must be very soft and tantalizing. Oh god! What am I thinking? I should be thinking of tomorrow at school. Not at his strong and handsome features.
Blushing hotly, Hotaru unconsciously snuggled deeper into his strong arms and buried her face at the crook of his neck. Breathing his scent, Hotaru began thinking of how caring, loving, sensitive, strong and not to mention patient in handling those damn jerks. Something about him made her feel safe, protected and even loved. Shaking her head, she dismissed her childish thoughts and slowly fell asleep listening to the beating of his heart.
Sakuragi blushed hotly when he felt the girl in his arms snuggled closer. He nearly dropped her when he felt her nuzzling his neck. God! What is it about the girl? He had never felt this way before, even when he was infatuated with a particular brown haired girl.
There is something about her that entranced him. Could it be that innocence he saw every time he looked at her. Could it be her soft inviting lips. Whoa! You barely know her and you are thinking of her lips! What kind of pervert are you? He cursed inwardly at his disgusting self.
After much twist and turn, they finally reach her house. He was about to wake up when he saw the peaceful expression on her face as she slept. Without upsetting her, he reached out and pressed the bell.
After a minute of waiting, the door opened and a green haired lady with ruby eyes greeted him. Seeing Hotaru's state, she quickly let him in with a worried expression.
Setsuna watched as the young man slowly and ever so gently laid her ward on Hotaru's bed. She mentally noted that he is a loving, brave and sensitive man. She was about to question what had happened when he suddenly blurted out.
"She was disturbed by some unruly thugs. Nothing bad had happened to her except for a few bruises."
"Arigato gosaimasu. You must be thirsty. Let me get you some tea." Setsuna was about to enter the kitchen when he protested.
"Ie. It's alright. I have to go anyway. Um.. Tell Hotaru that she can return my jacket later. Oyasumi nasai," Sakuragi bowed and started for the door.
"Matte! What is your name, young man?"
Sakuragi turned and smiled. "Sakuragi. Sakuragi Hanamichi."
A/N: ohayo minna!! Thanx for reading my lil fic. Don't worry but the next chapters will be great but please be patient.. I still have loads of fics to upload...Ja ne!!