A Love Within Three Hearts
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk, and its original characters do not belong to me. It belongs to Inoue Takehiko. All the unoriginal characters in this fic are mine, though. What If?, A Fling and A Love Within Three Hearts is a trilogy. If you haven't read the other two stories, read those first.
Summary: Sequel of A fling.
Chapter 1
R.Len Xiao Tian Adam watched the scenery of New York City from the balcony of his penthouse apartment in Central Park West. His mother had just died a few days ago.
"Mr. Rukawa," the lawyer called.
Len gave him a glare. "For now, can you please call me Mr. Adam?" asked Len. "I don't like to be called by that man's name,"
"Mr. Ru -, I mean, Mr. Adam. Your mother had left a will just before she died," the lawyer replied.
"What did she say?"
"Let me read it for you, 'to my son, I left him 1/2 of my money left in the bank accounts stated below. While the other 1/2, I leave it to my other son, of whom I never visited, Kaede,'"
"Let me continue, Mr. Ru -, I mean Adam, all Ms. Adam's money in bank accounts not quoted here, will be donated to the children in the third world region," continued the lawyer, when he saw Len's surprised face.
"And I request my son to leave New York City, and return to Kanagawa, Japan," the lawyer ended.
"What? Leave all this?" Len outraged. "What about mother's other assets in the company?"
"Mr. Rukawa, all the shares that your mother owned are now under your name, of which she had instructed the bankers to freeze, until you return to Japan, and accept your brother and father," the lawyer answered.
"What if they won't accept me?" Len asked.
"It's not in the will, but she really wished that both of you will get along well, and she added, "the penthouse apartment will go on rent, and the money will be put into your account, but, you can only withdraw 10% from the rent every month,"
"Who is responsible to place the money in my account?" asked Len again.
"The tenant will pay straight to your account every month through the bank," the lawyer answered.
"What about my permanent move to Japan?" asked Len.
"Your mother had applied for your Japanese nationality, and its already approved, all you've got to do is pack up and leave," the lawyer answered.
Len sighed wearily. "What about school?"
"It seemed that your mother had left letters to all your teachers and school, that you are leaving for Japan for good. She instructed it to be sent the day she died,"
Len sighed again. "Why does she always manage to control my life?" he asked himself.
"Enjoy your stay in Japan, Mr. Rukawa," the lawyer replied.
"Don't call me that," he gritted.
"Your mother instructed everyone of us to call you by your real surname. She wrote that, it's time for you to accept your father's name, and not use your mother's maiden name anymore,"
"What about my 'family' over there?"
"They've been informed of it, and they are now getting ready to take you in. Mr. Rukawa, sr. is very glad that you are finally going to live with him,"
"Okay," Len answered, uninterested.
*****
Japan...
"Young master Taka, young master Kaede, Mr. Rukawa requested you to be in his study," said their butler.
"What does he want to talk about?" Taka asked.
"I've no idea, young master Taka," answered the butler.
Kaede just shrugged his shoulders.
"Hello, father," both of them greeted.
"Hello, I assume that both of you wanted to know why I called both of you to the study?" asked Mr. Rukawa. Both nodded.
"Look at this photograph," Mr. Rukawa said, and handed over a framed photograph of a 16 or 17 year old.
"He looks just like me!" Kaede exclaimed.
"He's your twin, Kaede," Mr. Rukawa said softly. "His name is Rukawa Len Xiao Tian Adam, or more precisely, Len Xiao Tian Adam Rukawa, but the boy put his Japanese name at the very front, shortening it to 'R', so that nobody knew he's a part of the Rukawa family,"
"But you never told me that I have a twin!" Kaede stormed.
"I did! As you know, your mother, Mei Li Ann Adam, and I, divorced when both of you are mere 5 months old, we divorced after your grandfather found out that I had a wife, your mother, Taka,"
As a legal adult, Taka understood why his father divorced his mother. Both didn't love each other, but was forced onto a marriage, which failed miserably. But, as Taka observed, Kaede didn't take the news of his newfound brother maturely. Taka only knew Kaede's existence when he was 14, when his mother died, and his mother's last wish was for Taka to go to his father, and accept him, and Kaede was 10 at the time. And Kaede didn't talk to him at all, until four years later, when he's 14, and asked for an opinion about high school.
"That's not the point now, father, the point is, why *why* you didn't tell me all this at the first place?" Kaede asked. "You expect me to accept him just like that?"
"Your mother died a few days ago, Kaede, and he's moving here, you have to accept him,"
Kaede couldn't help but act maturely. Sure, he never knew who his mom is, except that she's a very beautiful Chinese-American, and it's from her that he inherited his cold blue eyes.
"Your eyes always reminded me of Mei Li Ann, Kaede, she had those same eyes, come to think of it, your grandfather, Daniel Adam, has the same eyes as well,"
****
A private talk between Mr. Rukawa and Kaede...
"Father..."
"Yes?"
"You said I have my mother's eyes, and my grandfather's eyes, is grandfather not chinese?" asked Kaede.
"Your mother was Chinese-English-American, her great-great-great-grandmother, a Chinese, married an Englishman in Hongkong, then, they emigrated to America to find a better life, and there's where you great-grandfather started the Adam Corporation," explained Mr. Rukawa, and sighing to himself, he muttered, "Old money..."
"How did you meet mother?"
"I was at the Rukawa Ltd, doing negotiations and business with Adam Corp. I hadn't inherited the company yet, then, that time, I was already divorced from your stepmother, Taka's mother. I fell in love on the spot with your mother, who's representing Adam Corp. It was a very sweet love, we eventually got married, and then have you and Len, but..."
"Grandfather ordered mother to divorce you?"
"Yes, he found out about my past marriage, you see, and he ordered me to 'get the hell out of New York' that's what he said, as Len is older, by a minute, and he need a male heir, he took Len, leaving you with me, I knew your mother didn't want that, but he threatened to disown her, and as an obedient child, she agreed with the whole thing,"
"Your grandfather, the chairman of Rukawa Ltd. of that time, found out about this, and seeing that Adam Corp. will probably destroy our company, he wisely moved it to Boston, and up till now, our base in US is in Boston, and made one of your great-uncle to take my place, and ordered me to get home to Japan, as soon as possible, and until now, the Rukawa Ltd. in U.S. has been controlled by your great-uncle's side of the family,"
"I was tempted to send you to Taka's mother, but I changed my mind, instead, I employed nannies for you, and I'm sorry if I didn't give a lot of time for you, since your grandfather died, I was made the chairman,"
"I know, father, I understand everything now, I'm no longer the 10-year old kid that aniki met when he was 14,"
"Taka sure did a lot of maturing in you, I must thank him for that,"
****
Shohoku High - basketball practice...
For once, the ace played badly that day.
"Oi, Kaede? What's the problem? You are playing like an amateur all day!" Hana scolded.
Despite their recent break-up months ago, Kaede and Hana became good friends just after the latter got back from the States. Kaede had tried changing the course of their relationship from friends to more than that, but Hana doesn't want that just yet. The others concluded that she still missed the guy who helped her a lot in the States.
"Ok, rest," Miyagi commanded.
Hana immediately went to the bench and listen to 'Make A Wish' by Vic Zhou, the album that Len bought her a few months ago. Len didn't email her these past few months, and she had resorted to listen to the cd everytime she missed him.
Kaede watched as she listen to the sad Mandarin song, he doesn't know how she can sing along to the song, when she doesn't even know how to speak Mandarin.
"So, what's your problem?" she asked.
"My brother, of whom I've never met, is returning to Japan from US," Kaede answered.
"Oh, are you excited?" asked Hana again.
"A little bit, but it feels rather awkward, I've never even met him, thank god father explained everything about him already,"
"You only meet Taka-kun after he moved away from Hokkaido, what's the difference?" Hana asked.
"Aniki is older than me, but this guy, he has a chinese name, I don't remember, is my twin," Kaede answered.
"I rest my case, Kaede, I've no idea," Hana replied him. "I want to practice some lay-ups,"
*****
New York...
3.00 p.m.
Len packed his trophies first. His clothes came next, his flight is at 8.00 p.m., New York time. By the time all his stuffs are packed and the house is bare, (all other stuffs that belonged to his mother went to her personal vault in the bank), he took his slingbag and placed the framed photograph of a smiling Hana inside.
He had already said goodbye to all his teammates and teachers at his farewell party yesterday. Everybody wished that he meet Hana again. Although he himself wished it, he knew it's hard, because, according to Hana, Kanagawa is big.
"Make a wish..." he hummed as he went out the apartment towards his car.
***
At the airport...
"Thank you for seeing me off," Len told all of them. "I will never forget all of you,"
"Here's a present to you, it's from all of us," said Billie, handing over a framed copy of Black and Gold, Kennedy's newsletter. "The article about you and Hana, your first gossip,"
"Thanks" Len said.
"Bye Len! Be sure to say hi to Hana to all of us if you see her," Honey said. "I'm sure you'll meet her again,"
Len nodded to Honey, and then entered the customs and immigration.
*****
Japan...
Len arrived in Tokyo at around midday.
"Rukawa-san, welcome to Japan," said a middle-aged man, who ushered him to a VIP room at the airport. "Your father and brothers are waiting for you,"
"Konnichiwa, Len, I'm your father, Rukawa Ren, while these are your brothers, your twin, Kaede, and your half brother, Taka," said a middle aged man.
"Konnichiwa," Len replied. He looked at his father and brothers. Kaede reminded him of somebody, aside from himself. He suddenly remembered that Kaede looks just like a photograph of Hana's ex-boyfriend that he had saw months ago.
"Well, it's time for us to return home to Kanagawa," said Mr. Rukawa.
"The car is outside, Rukawa-san," said the middle aged man that ushered Len in. Mr. Rukawa nodded.
"I assume that you'll be going to Shohoku," started Kaede. "I guess I'll call you Len, if its ok with you,"
Len nodded. "I don't mind, just don't call me aniki, we don't know each other that well,"
Kaede replied, "I thought the same thing as well,"
"You can call me Taka-kun, Len-kun, if you don't wish to call me aniki as well," Taka piped.
Len nodded.
"Do you play basketball?" asked Kaede.
Len merely nodded.
******
The Rukawa home...
Len didn't expect his father to be *this* wealthy. No wonder his mother only left him 1/2 of her money. She wanted his father to finance him.
"Father had installed an indoor basketball court when Kaede couldn't use the public courts. But even then, he doesn't really use it that much," Taka said.
"Aniki, I prefer practicing with Hana," Kaede answered.
Len startled when he heard the name 'Hana'. 'Maybe it's just coincidence that they share the same name,' he thought.
****
Len's room...
"Well, here's your room, enjoy your stay with us, and be sure to wake up for dinner. I know you are suffering from jet lag," Mr. Rukawa said to him. "New York and this part of Japan are 14 hours apart,"
Len didn't go to sleep, first he unpacked his stuffs, placed all the trophies at the glass cabinet, and placed Hana's framed photograph at the nightstand. And then, he goes to sleep.
"I wonder if I'm going to meet you," he said to Hana's smiling face.
End of Chapter 1 - pls read and review.
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk, and its original characters do not belong to me. It belongs to Inoue Takehiko. All the unoriginal characters in this fic are mine, though. What If?, A Fling and A Love Within Three Hearts is a trilogy. If you haven't read the other two stories, read those first.
Summary: Sequel of A fling.
Chapter 1
R.Len Xiao Tian Adam watched the scenery of New York City from the balcony of his penthouse apartment in Central Park West. His mother had just died a few days ago.
"Mr. Rukawa," the lawyer called.
Len gave him a glare. "For now, can you please call me Mr. Adam?" asked Len. "I don't like to be called by that man's name,"
"Mr. Ru -, I mean, Mr. Adam. Your mother had left a will just before she died," the lawyer replied.
"What did she say?"
"Let me read it for you, 'to my son, I left him 1/2 of my money left in the bank accounts stated below. While the other 1/2, I leave it to my other son, of whom I never visited, Kaede,'"
"Let me continue, Mr. Ru -, I mean Adam, all Ms. Adam's money in bank accounts not quoted here, will be donated to the children in the third world region," continued the lawyer, when he saw Len's surprised face.
"And I request my son to leave New York City, and return to Kanagawa, Japan," the lawyer ended.
"What? Leave all this?" Len outraged. "What about mother's other assets in the company?"
"Mr. Rukawa, all the shares that your mother owned are now under your name, of which she had instructed the bankers to freeze, until you return to Japan, and accept your brother and father," the lawyer answered.
"What if they won't accept me?" Len asked.
"It's not in the will, but she really wished that both of you will get along well, and she added, "the penthouse apartment will go on rent, and the money will be put into your account, but, you can only withdraw 10% from the rent every month,"
"Who is responsible to place the money in my account?" asked Len again.
"The tenant will pay straight to your account every month through the bank," the lawyer answered.
"What about my permanent move to Japan?" asked Len.
"Your mother had applied for your Japanese nationality, and its already approved, all you've got to do is pack up and leave," the lawyer answered.
Len sighed wearily. "What about school?"
"It seemed that your mother had left letters to all your teachers and school, that you are leaving for Japan for good. She instructed it to be sent the day she died,"
Len sighed again. "Why does she always manage to control my life?" he asked himself.
"Enjoy your stay in Japan, Mr. Rukawa," the lawyer replied.
"Don't call me that," he gritted.
"Your mother instructed everyone of us to call you by your real surname. She wrote that, it's time for you to accept your father's name, and not use your mother's maiden name anymore,"
"What about my 'family' over there?"
"They've been informed of it, and they are now getting ready to take you in. Mr. Rukawa, sr. is very glad that you are finally going to live with him,"
"Okay," Len answered, uninterested.
*****
Japan...
"Young master Taka, young master Kaede, Mr. Rukawa requested you to be in his study," said their butler.
"What does he want to talk about?" Taka asked.
"I've no idea, young master Taka," answered the butler.
Kaede just shrugged his shoulders.
"Hello, father," both of them greeted.
"Hello, I assume that both of you wanted to know why I called both of you to the study?" asked Mr. Rukawa. Both nodded.
"Look at this photograph," Mr. Rukawa said, and handed over a framed photograph of a 16 or 17 year old.
"He looks just like me!" Kaede exclaimed.
"He's your twin, Kaede," Mr. Rukawa said softly. "His name is Rukawa Len Xiao Tian Adam, or more precisely, Len Xiao Tian Adam Rukawa, but the boy put his Japanese name at the very front, shortening it to 'R', so that nobody knew he's a part of the Rukawa family,"
"But you never told me that I have a twin!" Kaede stormed.
"I did! As you know, your mother, Mei Li Ann Adam, and I, divorced when both of you are mere 5 months old, we divorced after your grandfather found out that I had a wife, your mother, Taka,"
As a legal adult, Taka understood why his father divorced his mother. Both didn't love each other, but was forced onto a marriage, which failed miserably. But, as Taka observed, Kaede didn't take the news of his newfound brother maturely. Taka only knew Kaede's existence when he was 14, when his mother died, and his mother's last wish was for Taka to go to his father, and accept him, and Kaede was 10 at the time. And Kaede didn't talk to him at all, until four years later, when he's 14, and asked for an opinion about high school.
"That's not the point now, father, the point is, why *why* you didn't tell me all this at the first place?" Kaede asked. "You expect me to accept him just like that?"
"Your mother died a few days ago, Kaede, and he's moving here, you have to accept him,"
Kaede couldn't help but act maturely. Sure, he never knew who his mom is, except that she's a very beautiful Chinese-American, and it's from her that he inherited his cold blue eyes.
"Your eyes always reminded me of Mei Li Ann, Kaede, she had those same eyes, come to think of it, your grandfather, Daniel Adam, has the same eyes as well,"
****
A private talk between Mr. Rukawa and Kaede...
"Father..."
"Yes?"
"You said I have my mother's eyes, and my grandfather's eyes, is grandfather not chinese?" asked Kaede.
"Your mother was Chinese-English-American, her great-great-great-grandmother, a Chinese, married an Englishman in Hongkong, then, they emigrated to America to find a better life, and there's where you great-grandfather started the Adam Corporation," explained Mr. Rukawa, and sighing to himself, he muttered, "Old money..."
"How did you meet mother?"
"I was at the Rukawa Ltd, doing negotiations and business with Adam Corp. I hadn't inherited the company yet, then, that time, I was already divorced from your stepmother, Taka's mother. I fell in love on the spot with your mother, who's representing Adam Corp. It was a very sweet love, we eventually got married, and then have you and Len, but..."
"Grandfather ordered mother to divorce you?"
"Yes, he found out about my past marriage, you see, and he ordered me to 'get the hell out of New York' that's what he said, as Len is older, by a minute, and he need a male heir, he took Len, leaving you with me, I knew your mother didn't want that, but he threatened to disown her, and as an obedient child, she agreed with the whole thing,"
"Your grandfather, the chairman of Rukawa Ltd. of that time, found out about this, and seeing that Adam Corp. will probably destroy our company, he wisely moved it to Boston, and up till now, our base in US is in Boston, and made one of your great-uncle to take my place, and ordered me to get home to Japan, as soon as possible, and until now, the Rukawa Ltd. in U.S. has been controlled by your great-uncle's side of the family,"
"I was tempted to send you to Taka's mother, but I changed my mind, instead, I employed nannies for you, and I'm sorry if I didn't give a lot of time for you, since your grandfather died, I was made the chairman,"
"I know, father, I understand everything now, I'm no longer the 10-year old kid that aniki met when he was 14,"
"Taka sure did a lot of maturing in you, I must thank him for that,"
****
Shohoku High - basketball practice...
For once, the ace played badly that day.
"Oi, Kaede? What's the problem? You are playing like an amateur all day!" Hana scolded.
Despite their recent break-up months ago, Kaede and Hana became good friends just after the latter got back from the States. Kaede had tried changing the course of their relationship from friends to more than that, but Hana doesn't want that just yet. The others concluded that she still missed the guy who helped her a lot in the States.
"Ok, rest," Miyagi commanded.
Hana immediately went to the bench and listen to 'Make A Wish' by Vic Zhou, the album that Len bought her a few months ago. Len didn't email her these past few months, and she had resorted to listen to the cd everytime she missed him.
Kaede watched as she listen to the sad Mandarin song, he doesn't know how she can sing along to the song, when she doesn't even know how to speak Mandarin.
"So, what's your problem?" she asked.
"My brother, of whom I've never met, is returning to Japan from US," Kaede answered.
"Oh, are you excited?" asked Hana again.
"A little bit, but it feels rather awkward, I've never even met him, thank god father explained everything about him already,"
"You only meet Taka-kun after he moved away from Hokkaido, what's the difference?" Hana asked.
"Aniki is older than me, but this guy, he has a chinese name, I don't remember, is my twin," Kaede answered.
"I rest my case, Kaede, I've no idea," Hana replied him. "I want to practice some lay-ups,"
*****
New York...
3.00 p.m.
Len packed his trophies first. His clothes came next, his flight is at 8.00 p.m., New York time. By the time all his stuffs are packed and the house is bare, (all other stuffs that belonged to his mother went to her personal vault in the bank), he took his slingbag and placed the framed photograph of a smiling Hana inside.
He had already said goodbye to all his teammates and teachers at his farewell party yesterday. Everybody wished that he meet Hana again. Although he himself wished it, he knew it's hard, because, according to Hana, Kanagawa is big.
"Make a wish..." he hummed as he went out the apartment towards his car.
***
At the airport...
"Thank you for seeing me off," Len told all of them. "I will never forget all of you,"
"Here's a present to you, it's from all of us," said Billie, handing over a framed copy of Black and Gold, Kennedy's newsletter. "The article about you and Hana, your first gossip,"
"Thanks" Len said.
"Bye Len! Be sure to say hi to Hana to all of us if you see her," Honey said. "I'm sure you'll meet her again,"
Len nodded to Honey, and then entered the customs and immigration.
*****
Japan...
Len arrived in Tokyo at around midday.
"Rukawa-san, welcome to Japan," said a middle-aged man, who ushered him to a VIP room at the airport. "Your father and brothers are waiting for you,"
"Konnichiwa, Len, I'm your father, Rukawa Ren, while these are your brothers, your twin, Kaede, and your half brother, Taka," said a middle aged man.
"Konnichiwa," Len replied. He looked at his father and brothers. Kaede reminded him of somebody, aside from himself. He suddenly remembered that Kaede looks just like a photograph of Hana's ex-boyfriend that he had saw months ago.
"Well, it's time for us to return home to Kanagawa," said Mr. Rukawa.
"The car is outside, Rukawa-san," said the middle aged man that ushered Len in. Mr. Rukawa nodded.
"I assume that you'll be going to Shohoku," started Kaede. "I guess I'll call you Len, if its ok with you,"
Len nodded. "I don't mind, just don't call me aniki, we don't know each other that well,"
Kaede replied, "I thought the same thing as well,"
"You can call me Taka-kun, Len-kun, if you don't wish to call me aniki as well," Taka piped.
Len nodded.
"Do you play basketball?" asked Kaede.
Len merely nodded.
******
The Rukawa home...
Len didn't expect his father to be *this* wealthy. No wonder his mother only left him 1/2 of her money. She wanted his father to finance him.
"Father had installed an indoor basketball court when Kaede couldn't use the public courts. But even then, he doesn't really use it that much," Taka said.
"Aniki, I prefer practicing with Hana," Kaede answered.
Len startled when he heard the name 'Hana'. 'Maybe it's just coincidence that they share the same name,' he thought.
****
Len's room...
"Well, here's your room, enjoy your stay with us, and be sure to wake up for dinner. I know you are suffering from jet lag," Mr. Rukawa said to him. "New York and this part of Japan are 14 hours apart,"
Len didn't go to sleep, first he unpacked his stuffs, placed all the trophies at the glass cabinet, and placed Hana's framed photograph at the nightstand. And then, he goes to sleep.
"I wonder if I'm going to meet you," he said to Hana's smiling face.
End of Chapter 1 - pls read and review.