CHAPTER 21: "Ryota's Dreaded Dream"
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Slam Dunk.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, I've updated after a long absence…I hope all of you are still there, reading and reviewing this fic. And before I knew it, this fic has gone off a year ago! YUP! This fic is already one year old! Can you believe it? I certainly couldn't! Okay, I know, I don't update fast that's why it lasted for a year but because of you guys, it lasted that long. I mean, I wouldn't update if no one commented and reviewed my fic, right? And this is also my first year here in …Oh my…it's been that long. And I'm glad I've found many friends here…you know who you are…Okay I'm getting emotional…before I cry, here's another chapter.. hope you like it! Special thanks to: patrengkee, New born angel, archangel of the tempest, SportsMakeMyWorldGoRound, champylin, Iron Duke, StarzNight and dionie.. Please continue supporting my fanfic!
NOTE: The italicized words/phrases are the character's thoughts/P.O.V
"Tut, tut, tut, tut,…"
The pulse rate and heart beat of Ayako is getting shorter and the pace is getting slower. She feels numb. She can't hear anything. She feels that she's being trapped in a world of darkness far away from anyone but herself. She's in a world only she knows; a world full of emptiness and despair. Ayako doesn't know what to do and where to go. She ran for miles but she always ends up on the same spot same she'd been standing. She slumped on the dark pavement and cried: "Ryota, help me…RYOTA!!"
Ryota opened his eyes and found himself lying on a bed. He sat up and asked as he looked around: "Where am I? What am I doing here?"
"You're in the hospital, Miyagi." Akagi answered him, his arms crossed. "You passed out and lost a lot of energy."
"Captain…" He looked down and said, "I'm sorry…I haven't been able to come to our game…I know it was really insensitive of me and I also know my role and…how crucial I am to the game…I left my team and instead…participated in a brawl which is prohibited and could subject me to a lifetime ban in team…I haven't thought of that, Captain…I know I've been stupid…Gomenasai, Captain.."
Akagi kept his straight, stern face. "That was really a low thing to do, Miyagi and you know what consequence awaits you." He paused. "But fighting for someone is the noblest act that I've ever known in my entire life…and with my point guard doing that, nothing else will make me prouder than what you did a couple of days ago…" He ended with a smile.
Ryota felt a sudden warmth into his spirit and said: "Thank you, Captain…" Just then, all of the members of the Shohoku team came in Ryota's ward. Some of them jumped with joy onto his bed, shook him and tried to get off his dextrose. The whole team was, indeed, reunited and overjoyed.
"Ryochin! We missed you!" said Sakuragi as he tried to smooch Ryota, "What's up?!"
"You baka!!! Stop kissing me you look like an idiot and a faggot at the same time!!" he said at his best friend, who sat on his bed. "Did we win the game?"
"Yeah…" butted Mitsui, who's standing behind the wall. "…without you in it. which is quite good actually because there's no one being cocky around and telling everyone that he's the best point guard in the district."
"Well, I really am the best point guard…" Ryota said proudly, "Did Sakuragi made a single shot or even a single fake?"
"Hah!! Well, of course I did!" said Sakuragi, his chest out and his eyes twinkling with pride. " I know Ryochin's going to ask about that…AHAHAHA! I'm the tensai, remember? So all that you taught me was done in the game. No need to worry, WAHAHAHA!"
"Self-proclaimed tensai." Ryota corrected him. "When did you become a tensai, huh, Sakuragi? You can't even dribble a ball correctly. You're just all talk and whine…anyway, the one who gets the credit was supposed to be me…I'm the one who taught you to do fakes and stuff…I was able to uplift your incompetence…"
Everybody laughed and Sakuragi's face flustered in a deep shade of red.
"Of course I'm born tensai, BAKA!" argued Sakuragi, "I'll prove to everyone that I'm the best basketball player and Haruko-san will be proud of me…unlike Ryochin here…who's all talk when Ayako's around…stiffens up when she would get near him…WHAT AN IDIOT! BWAHAHAHA!" He laughed at himself.
Everyone stared at Sakuragi. Even Rukawa dropped his glass of water which crashed into pieces on the tiled hospital floor.
"Sakuragi! Shut up!" Mitsui exclaimed…Don't pay him any attention, Ryota…Just lie down…"
Ryota was puzzled and asked something that the whole basketball team was dreading: "Have you seen Aya-chan? Where is she?"
Everybody remained silent and motionless. They don't know what and how to tell Ryota…
"Just lie down, Miyagi," ordered Akagi, "…don't push yourself too much."
"I'm not pushing myself too much…" he said annoyingly, "Where is Aya-chan?"
Then again, nobody answered him instead they just looked at each other with the I-don't-know-what-to-tell-you-tell-it-if-you're-brave look. He looked around his teammates.
"I said 'where is she'?!" He shouted. "Can't you all hear me?! Where's Ayako?!" His voice was already trembling. Ryota sighed and was about to stand up but Mitsui held his shoulders.
"Ryota, sit down…You're stressing yourself…" he said, "You're still not in good shape."
"I don't care!" Ryota shouted, taking Mitsui's hand off his shoulder. "It's as if I am talking to ghosts! None of you is answering my questions! I want to see her."
"You can't," replied Kogure, "…because…" He cut off.
"Because what???!" Ryota said impatiently. "Tell me Kogure-san!!! Where's Aya-chan?!" he was now strangling Kogure, his glasses were already screwed off. But Kogure just looked down.
"We're not the right person to tell you," said Akagi, "It's not yet the right time, you're still recovering…"
"That doesn't make a difference!!" he shot at Akagi. "I want to see her…if…if..she's okay…"
Everybody fell silent. Ryota looked at them helplessly. "Please just let me see her…let me assure to myself…that…that she's okay…"
"What if she's not?" Rukawa simply said while picking up the pieces of the glass. "What will you do…blame yourself?"
Ryota looked annoyingly at Rukawa. "What happened to her? Tell me."
"Shut up, Rukawa!" interrupted Sakuragi, "Don't say anything."
"I'm not talking to you, bakeru," replied Rukawa which flamed Sakuragi's being. "Don't tell me what to do."
"Say what to me?!" Ryota turned to everyone. "What's happening to all of you? Why can't you tell me? What is it?!"
"She's in coma, Ryota."Akagi said silently. All eyes turned to him. "She hasn't awakened for the last three days. She's in a…critical condition."
Ryota froze. He felt all the happiness draining out of him. It's as if a huge lump barricaded his throat that kept him from speaking…from reacting. It's as if his heart fell down to his feet.
Ayako is in coma and it's all because of me…He said to himself. I should've come earlier to save her. I should've known…I should've protected her…It's my entire fault.
Ryota wanted to blurt these all out but none of these came out.
"Where is she?" he asked them, his fists clenched, "I want to see her."
"Maybe you should just rest." Mitsui said, accompanying his friend back to the bed, "You're still not okay."
But Ryota wouldn't budge. He stood still, his eyes flaring with anger.
"No. I want to see her…" he repeated, "I want to stay with her."
"There's nothing you can do." Akagi answered him, "Just take a rest and think of nothing. Take care of yourself."
"I don't care about myself." He said. I want to see her."
"Please, Ryota," Kogure pleaded, "follow Akagi's advice, it will do you good…Do you think Ayako will be happy when she hears about this?"
Ryota's eyes widen as Kogure spoke Ayako's name.
"I said I want to see her!" he shouted, Can't you understand?! Do you really think staying here would do me good?! Ayako is in danger…and…it's all my fault. I want to see her. I want to wake her up…to..to…tell her how much…how much…I love her…how much I care. Is that hard to understand?"
"It's not your fault, Ryochin," said Sakuragi, "No one wants this to happen, so calm down…"
"I told you, don't blame yourself…" said Rukawa, "…all is done. You can't do anything but to wait…"
"No, I won't wait here," replied Ryota, "I'll wake her up."
Everybody can't move, they just watched Ryota standing there. He turned his back and headed to the door.
"Miyagi," Akagi broke the silence, "Listen…" He motioned towards Ryota but Mitsui held him.
"Just let him, Akagi," said Mitsui, "He needs a break. Don't worry, I'll follow him, in case he'll do anything stupid…"
Akagi nodded and sat down as Ryota exited the room first followed by Mitsui.
As Ryota walked through the hall, Mitsui caught up with him, "Hey Ryota, wait up!" He called. Ryota came to a halt and faced him:
"Where's Aya-chan's room, Mitsui-san?" he asked.
Mitsui gave him a concerned look which was repaid by Ryota's face full of determination.
"Are you sure about this?" he questioned him, "Are you ready for what you'll see?"
"I am…" replied Ryota, "I'm sure."
Seeing that Ryota wouldn't back out and there's no slight chance of pulling him back, Mitsui said:
"Very well." He nodded and led the way, "Follow me, this way."
While walking, Ryota asked Mitsui, "How did we end up here?"
Mitsui answered, "A girl came to us at the Shohoku gym…I thought it was just a fan…you know, stalking Rukawa…but then she said she saw you and Ayako lying lifelessly on an abandoned construction site…At first, I thought she was just making fun of us…but then she seemed too serious for a practical joke…so Akagi bought her "joke" which turns out that she's telling the truth…we found you there, lying with Ayako on top of you. Both of you were covered with blood but it so happened that Ayako was the one who lost more blood…the doctor said she was stabbed by a knife on her side…more than half of her body was affected…"
That…bastard…he was the one who wanted to rape and kill Ayako…I'll kill him…I swear. Ryota said to himself. Suddenly, his ribs began to ache. He can't breathe easily.
"Hey," Mitsui caught his friend, "you okay? I said don't push yourself much. Why do you have to be this hard headed?"
"I-I'm okay, Mitsui-san…" he replied, his arms around Mitsui's neck for support, "Let's go…"
"To tell you the truth, you've broken some of your ribs…" Mitsui said, "so don't be like you're a superhero or something, saving your damsel in distress…"
As they reached a door, Mitsui turned the knob and the door creaked open. He motioned for Ryota to come in. Ryota found Ayako lying on a bed. Though her face and her arms are full of bruises, she still looked beautiful. Her face was serene yet there was a hint of tiredness in it. Ryota noticed Ayako was in a life support which only made his heart ripple madly, his eyes close to tears. He came closer to her, examining her face – which he had always seen happy and smiling – were now full of bruises. Tears came dropping from his eyes. He was about to held her hands when:
"Oi!!" someone yelled form behind, "What are you doing here?"
It was Fujima.
"Fujima." Ryota said, "I-I was just…"
"Haven't you done enough?" He cut him off, "Aren't you happy?"
"I didn't…" Ryota swallowed, his words caught him. "I didn't want this to happen…I-I love her…"
"You love her?!" he repeated, "You love her?! Look at what you did to her! You ruined her! You ruined her entire life! And now, you say you love her?! Get out of here!"
"Fujima, listen! Ryota said impatiently, "you've got to understand…"
Fujima pushed Ryota to the door but Mitsui intervened.
"Hey Fujima! What do you think you're doing?!" he shot at Fujima, "Can't you see Ryota's condition? Who are you, by the way? You don't even know anything between these two yet you're acting like Ayako's father or something."
"Shut up!" he yelled, "Go to hell, sickos. Don't come near us again."
"That…I swear…I'm gonna…kick…" Mitsui said, "Are you okay, Ryota? What did he do to you?" But Ryota wouldn't budge. He was still sitting on the pavement his ribs are aching so much but he didn't care…
Aya-chan…please wake up…please. Aya-chan, I'm sorry…What have I done?
The next day, Misaki visited Ryota. She brought flowers and fruits to liven up Ryota's simple room and for him to recover faster.
"Here," smiled Misaki, as she finished arranging the flowers, "…these will brighten up this room, honey."
Ryota didn't reply. He was staring at the wall, deeply thinking. Misaki noticed this which irritated her but hid it instead of getting angry at Ryota.
"Do you want some oranges?" she forcefully smiled, "I've peeled some for you…"
She then put a plate full of oranges on Ryota's lap. "Eat it, honey."
But Ryota just looked at the oranges. "I don't want to eat." He replied.
"But you have to…" Misaki said, "It can help you recover."
"I don't want to recover! I want to die!" he shouted throwing the plate, "Please, Mi-chan. Leave me alone."
Misaki was shocked. She never thought Ryota would ever say this to him. So, she got out of the room and cried.
That night, Ryota woke up only to find Misaki sleeping on the couch beside his bed. He tiptoed over and walked silently out of bed. He creaked open the door and got out. He walked swiftly through the hall. He opened the door of Ayako's room. He found her sleeping. Nothing has changed since he last entered this room. The only good thing was Fujima wasn't there to push him away. He walked towards Ayako's bed and sat next to her. He touched her face, every corner, every angle. As he held her hand, everything flashed back to him, all his memories of her smiling happily. He closed his eyes to bring back those memories, those times when they all think about is having fun and laughing all day long.
Her smile is my treasure. He thought.
But when he opened his eyes, he came back to reality: seeing Ayako lying there, only depending on a life support, still in a coma. The thought was like a knife stabbing him straight in his heart. He realized how he wanted to kiss her, to hold her, to feel her warmth. He realized he just couldn't replace her, that he loves her and always will. His eyes automatically shed tears as all these struck him one by one. He held her hand tightly.
I shouldn't have let you go, Aya-chan…I shouldn't have waited for this to come…if…if only I've grabbed all those chances for me to tell you…Please, Aya-chan…Hang in there…Please don't go…don't…leave me. Please let me see you smile again…wake up…Aya-chan…I…I love you…
What Ryota didn't know is that Misaki's eyes were staring at him from the one-way mirror. Misaki witnessed how Ryota cried. She felt helpless…
He doesn't love me…he never did…I was fool enough to do everything for him to love me…I became a jerk…
A smile crept over Misaki's face. She got out of her pocket a charm she found on Ryota's hand when they found him and Ayako…the charm she gave him when they were still kids…when they were still in lover with each other…when they vowed that they will marry each other.
But I'll never let him go…He's mine. I don't care whoever he loves…I'll make sure he chooses me over her…
Another chapter has gone by... please read and review!!!! I really need those reviews!!! Critics are also welcome! I'm really sorry if Misaki is being a bitch again…hahaha! Please hang in there until I finish this fanfic…. I swear you'll like the ending. It will be like a couple of chapters away… LOVE YOU ALL!!!!