1 Disclaimer: I do not own Slam Dunk. Neither do I own the characters. But
I do own Sal, my very own creation.
A/N: It's the moment of truth… Version 2 actually… those who read the first one I hope you read this one too. I think it should be better.
~~
"There is something. Tell me, Kaede-kun. Then I'll tell you how I know."
Sal watched Rukawa back away from her, back to where he was originally sitting. His expression was of utmost bewilderment. Such a sight would never be seen in public. Rukawa's pride would never allow that.
He felt his back press against his wardrobe, giving him support as he once again sat on the floor, leaning on it. Was it time to release the past that had been so carefully hidden by him?
"Don't tell anyone."
Rukawa could only manage these three words. Sal nodded her agreement. And the story started.
"I have a distant cousin. A female. It was only a few years back when I actually first met her. At that time, I was already playing basketball. But it was only for pleasure and exercise. I wasn't so determined to be the best. Her name was Reina."
Rukawa paused to collect his thoughts and phrase his next few sentences.
"Reina was a beautiful girl. She was one year younger than me, but she skipped a grade. Her parents wanted her to meet more of her relatives so they sent Reina to my family for a short stay during summer break. She came down from Kobe and stayed for a week. In that period of time, the only similarities we found in each other was basketball. She was a good player too. Reina was terribly shy and had not joined her school team. She would have made it. So we spent the week mostly playing basketball or talking basketball. Gradually, feelings for her blossomed as hers for me. After she left, we wrote letters to and fro."
Kaede stopped as he reached the part he was dreading. The reason why he clung on so desperately to his desire to be at the top. Unwilling to continue, he glanced at Sal, showing his displeasure at having to talk about his painful past. Images from his past swirled in front of him, clouding his senses, bringing a dark shadow to cover his future. Soon, he slipped into a world of his own, oblivious to all around him. What happened before had affected him too much. He couldn't face it.
"Take your time. If you aren't willing, don't force yourself. You'll feel even worse."
Sal's voice rang through his head, bringing him back to reality. He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. Never could he concentrate when he was thinking of his past. Opening his eyes, Kaede took in what was in front of him. When he made eye contact with Sal, he suddenly found the strength to go on.
"Two months later, I received yet another letter from her. I opened it joyfully, at first. When I read it, I changed completely. To what I am now. Reina had left me for some other. A basketball player. And a better one in her opinion. You'll be surprised to find out who. Sendoh. Akira Sendoh. From then on, I strove for the best, and to beat Sendoh. I wasn't doing it to get Reina back. She was out of my life since then. I don't care whether they are still together. I suppose Sendoh knows about me and Reina too. That experience created an impenetrable barrier around me. I didn't care about others. I only cared about being the best."
Rukawa stopped. He knew Sal would understand what went on after that. For years, he regarded Sendoh as a threat. When he finally beat him in the finals and the practice game after that, Rukawa found satisfaction in surpassing him.
"Did you talk to Sendoh about Reina?"
"I never did much talk to him. Only at times in a match, when I challenge him. Besides, I had forgotten Reina. She doesn't matter to me now."
"Surely you want to know how she is faring? Your parents didn't know about the relationship?"
"My parents confronted me after she left me. So I told them there was no such thing. They had suggested inviting Reina over again. But I found excuses. Reina was only my childhood infatuation. I have seriously gotten over her. Now I only strive for the best. The only I can be grateful to Reina for is her highlighting how important being the best is. Other than that, I have nothing to do with her."
Sal had not expected anything like this to happen. She wouldn't have thought that Rukawa was once caring. But it explained why Kaede hated attention from girls. His mind had turned away from all females and any caring. He grew withdrawn just to concentrate on basketball and nothing but basketball. And it was no wonder why he hated Sendoh. What could she do to help him? Having heard his story, and being the first, she felt obliged to help him. The first step was to draw his attention to things and situations around him. He had to learn to care, to show concern. It wasn't going to be easy.
As Sal turned to post another question, she found Rukawa staring at her with a look that contain demand, eagerness and curiosity.
"Don't forget your part of the deal, Sal. How did you know?"
Indeed, she had forgotten. This time, it was her who shifted about, trying to find the best words to explain. Sal hadn't tried telling anyone about this "special ability" of hers.
"Well, believe me if you must. It was simply a feeling. Nothing more than that."
Catching Rukawa's blank look, she tried again.
"I can't really tell you how but I can read people's actions and minds. But I'm that accurate too. Everyone make mistakes. So if you were to deny any thing about your past just now, I would have left it as it is."
The young basketball player was silent for a moment before he spoke again.
"You better be getting home."
Rising, he picked up the tray and headed towards the door. He stopped and turned back to glance at Sal expectedly. She followed.
~~
Sal waited in the living room once again, while Kaede cleared the drinks away. When he was done, he walked Sal out where he unlocked his bike.
"You're going to send me home?"
The unexpected, caring gesture came as a mild shock for Sal.
"I'm not about to let you walk back in the dark. Besides, you are still sick."
He spoke as he wheeled the bicycle out to the road. Climbing on, Rukawa motioned Sal to join him. And she did. Then both set off towards Sal's hostel.
~~
On the way home, Sal noted that Kaede was still as cold, but small acts showed very slight changes.
Rukawa pedaled fast and the wind rushed past Sal, the cold biting into her skin, causing her to shiver. The night air held a touch of saltiness, indicating possibilities of rain. With her arms wrapped around Rukawa's waist, Sal knew he had felt her shiver, and he slowed down considerably after that. Grinning to herself, Sal leaned forward to whisper in Rukawa's ear.
"You can care when you put your mind to it, can't you? Kaede-kun?"
There was no reaction from Rukawa. Which was good. If it was any other normal time, he would burst with anger.
His change left Sal very happy. She hated people to be cold and unfeeling. And she loved to see people change for the better.
They reached home and Sal got off the bicycle.
"Arigato, Kaede-kun."
He nodded and waited till she entered the gates safely before going home.
~~
Rukawa had felt Sal's reaction to the gale forming around them due to the speed he was cycling at and the natural coolness of the air. Automatically he had slowed down. And he didn't notice anything amiss till Sal popped the question. To his surprise, instead of being angry, Rukawa felt a warm glow within him. Strangely, it felt good to be "warm" again.
It seems as though the frost around him was beginning to melt. Perhaps, just perhaps, he can change, into someone people would accept, someone he would accept.
~Owari~
A/N: Ok… I think this is much better yah? I'm so glad I re-written the ending. This way I can make it better and answer this new review I received…
SilenceR-MitsuI33: I know Haruko probably acknowledges Rukawa's skill but it is in Rukawa's POV after all… so he probably doesn't even notice Haruko…
Mikage: Sal is not modeled after me.. I wish she was..
Glossary:
Arigato: Thank you
A/N: It's the moment of truth… Version 2 actually… those who read the first one I hope you read this one too. I think it should be better.
~~
"There is something. Tell me, Kaede-kun. Then I'll tell you how I know."
Sal watched Rukawa back away from her, back to where he was originally sitting. His expression was of utmost bewilderment. Such a sight would never be seen in public. Rukawa's pride would never allow that.
He felt his back press against his wardrobe, giving him support as he once again sat on the floor, leaning on it. Was it time to release the past that had been so carefully hidden by him?
"Don't tell anyone."
Rukawa could only manage these three words. Sal nodded her agreement. And the story started.
"I have a distant cousin. A female. It was only a few years back when I actually first met her. At that time, I was already playing basketball. But it was only for pleasure and exercise. I wasn't so determined to be the best. Her name was Reina."
Rukawa paused to collect his thoughts and phrase his next few sentences.
"Reina was a beautiful girl. She was one year younger than me, but she skipped a grade. Her parents wanted her to meet more of her relatives so they sent Reina to my family for a short stay during summer break. She came down from Kobe and stayed for a week. In that period of time, the only similarities we found in each other was basketball. She was a good player too. Reina was terribly shy and had not joined her school team. She would have made it. So we spent the week mostly playing basketball or talking basketball. Gradually, feelings for her blossomed as hers for me. After she left, we wrote letters to and fro."
Kaede stopped as he reached the part he was dreading. The reason why he clung on so desperately to his desire to be at the top. Unwilling to continue, he glanced at Sal, showing his displeasure at having to talk about his painful past. Images from his past swirled in front of him, clouding his senses, bringing a dark shadow to cover his future. Soon, he slipped into a world of his own, oblivious to all around him. What happened before had affected him too much. He couldn't face it.
"Take your time. If you aren't willing, don't force yourself. You'll feel even worse."
Sal's voice rang through his head, bringing him back to reality. He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. Never could he concentrate when he was thinking of his past. Opening his eyes, Kaede took in what was in front of him. When he made eye contact with Sal, he suddenly found the strength to go on.
"Two months later, I received yet another letter from her. I opened it joyfully, at first. When I read it, I changed completely. To what I am now. Reina had left me for some other. A basketball player. And a better one in her opinion. You'll be surprised to find out who. Sendoh. Akira Sendoh. From then on, I strove for the best, and to beat Sendoh. I wasn't doing it to get Reina back. She was out of my life since then. I don't care whether they are still together. I suppose Sendoh knows about me and Reina too. That experience created an impenetrable barrier around me. I didn't care about others. I only cared about being the best."
Rukawa stopped. He knew Sal would understand what went on after that. For years, he regarded Sendoh as a threat. When he finally beat him in the finals and the practice game after that, Rukawa found satisfaction in surpassing him.
"Did you talk to Sendoh about Reina?"
"I never did much talk to him. Only at times in a match, when I challenge him. Besides, I had forgotten Reina. She doesn't matter to me now."
"Surely you want to know how she is faring? Your parents didn't know about the relationship?"
"My parents confronted me after she left me. So I told them there was no such thing. They had suggested inviting Reina over again. But I found excuses. Reina was only my childhood infatuation. I have seriously gotten over her. Now I only strive for the best. The only I can be grateful to Reina for is her highlighting how important being the best is. Other than that, I have nothing to do with her."
Sal had not expected anything like this to happen. She wouldn't have thought that Rukawa was once caring. But it explained why Kaede hated attention from girls. His mind had turned away from all females and any caring. He grew withdrawn just to concentrate on basketball and nothing but basketball. And it was no wonder why he hated Sendoh. What could she do to help him? Having heard his story, and being the first, she felt obliged to help him. The first step was to draw his attention to things and situations around him. He had to learn to care, to show concern. It wasn't going to be easy.
As Sal turned to post another question, she found Rukawa staring at her with a look that contain demand, eagerness and curiosity.
"Don't forget your part of the deal, Sal. How did you know?"
Indeed, she had forgotten. This time, it was her who shifted about, trying to find the best words to explain. Sal hadn't tried telling anyone about this "special ability" of hers.
"Well, believe me if you must. It was simply a feeling. Nothing more than that."
Catching Rukawa's blank look, she tried again.
"I can't really tell you how but I can read people's actions and minds. But I'm that accurate too. Everyone make mistakes. So if you were to deny any thing about your past just now, I would have left it as it is."
The young basketball player was silent for a moment before he spoke again.
"You better be getting home."
Rising, he picked up the tray and headed towards the door. He stopped and turned back to glance at Sal expectedly. She followed.
~~
Sal waited in the living room once again, while Kaede cleared the drinks away. When he was done, he walked Sal out where he unlocked his bike.
"You're going to send me home?"
The unexpected, caring gesture came as a mild shock for Sal.
"I'm not about to let you walk back in the dark. Besides, you are still sick."
He spoke as he wheeled the bicycle out to the road. Climbing on, Rukawa motioned Sal to join him. And she did. Then both set off towards Sal's hostel.
~~
On the way home, Sal noted that Kaede was still as cold, but small acts showed very slight changes.
Rukawa pedaled fast and the wind rushed past Sal, the cold biting into her skin, causing her to shiver. The night air held a touch of saltiness, indicating possibilities of rain. With her arms wrapped around Rukawa's waist, Sal knew he had felt her shiver, and he slowed down considerably after that. Grinning to herself, Sal leaned forward to whisper in Rukawa's ear.
"You can care when you put your mind to it, can't you? Kaede-kun?"
There was no reaction from Rukawa. Which was good. If it was any other normal time, he would burst with anger.
His change left Sal very happy. She hated people to be cold and unfeeling. And she loved to see people change for the better.
They reached home and Sal got off the bicycle.
"Arigato, Kaede-kun."
He nodded and waited till she entered the gates safely before going home.
~~
Rukawa had felt Sal's reaction to the gale forming around them due to the speed he was cycling at and the natural coolness of the air. Automatically he had slowed down. And he didn't notice anything amiss till Sal popped the question. To his surprise, instead of being angry, Rukawa felt a warm glow within him. Strangely, it felt good to be "warm" again.
It seems as though the frost around him was beginning to melt. Perhaps, just perhaps, he can change, into someone people would accept, someone he would accept.
~Owari~
A/N: Ok… I think this is much better yah? I'm so glad I re-written the ending. This way I can make it better and answer this new review I received…
SilenceR-MitsuI33: I know Haruko probably acknowledges Rukawa's skill but it is in Rukawa's POV after all… so he probably doesn't even notice Haruko…
Mikage: Sal is not modeled after me.. I wish she was..
Glossary:
Arigato: Thank you
