Author's rant:
Hi minna-san! Here's chapter 3!!!! This is Sendoh's part so we'll finally see what's behind that goddamn beautiful smile of him! Ok Slam Dunk doesn't belong to me. Please review!!!! Domo arigato gozaimasu! ^-^
Tikki de lune: No sap here folks! Just plain, shallow mush. As in bland mush.
The Mask of Obliviousness
Chapter 3: Sendoh
He was just standing there. He didn't even move to help her. He could, but his feet remained rooted there. And his eyes remained staring at her.
He knew something was wrong. But no matter what he did, he couldn't get close to Sumire without being reminded of the huge scar that was slashed on her arm. His weakness at her helplessness made his trauma about her wound even more unbearable.
*Flash back*
It was a Tuesday, school day, Akira Sendoh just skipped his classes once again. "This is just so boring," he sighed. He was headed to the park near by and then he saw her from his location across the street, silhouetted against the fading sunlight.
It was rare to see a sight like that. She was bruised, her uniform torn, but nobody even cared. She was walking slowly maybe because it may hurt so much if she walked faster. Her purple hair covered her eyes, but the fact that she was crying didn't hide it. Her tears affirmed his observation.
He tried to move form his place but realized that he couldn't. He suddenly felt his whole body go numb, just by watching her. She was walking down the stairs of the overpass, hugging her self for she thought that it was her only protection. But then a man came rushing towards her, bumping her in the process, causing her to fall down the stairs. Tearing at her sleeve.
That man, he hissed to himself in savage fury. He didn't even bother to say sorry nor to look back he just ran away as if nothing happened.
Sendoh was aching to beat up that man but the sight of the girl recaptured his attention. A fresh wound, a terrible laceration to be exact, was on her arms and it was that man's fault.
She let out a yelp, indicating her pain, and then she slowly stood up and continued to walk.
He just stood there watching her leave, still standing there until she was out of his sight. He stood there frozen.
"Aargh!" he punched the wall of his bedroom. "I can't take this anymore!"
His thoughts drifted back to Sumire walking along the sidewalk, clutching her wound, crying the pain out.
"Why? Why couldn't I help her!" he cried. "Some friend I am, letting her on her own like that. With a wound even!"
He punched the wall again.
The feeling of stupidity and weakness coursed through his body again.
*End of flash back*
"Oi! Sendoh!!!" Koiichi called his attention, "Aren't we going to practice today?" he asked.
"Gomen nasai Koiichi-san, are you guys finished with the warm ups?" he beamed.
"Yes, we're just waiting for your instructions Sendoh-sempai," one of his teammates said.
"Umm, ok. Why don't you guys group your selves and have a basketball match and that would be all for today. What do you say?" Sendoh said.
"It's ok but aren't you gonna play with us?" Koiichi said.
"No, gomen nasai minna, I just don't feel good today." Sendoh answered. "Would you guys be fine without me?"
"Yeah we can manage," they all answered.
"So what are you waiting for? Play!" he smiled.
Across Kanagawa, Sumire and Rukawa were having lunch.
"So what do you have for lunch Kae-chan?" Sumire flashed a smile as she took her lunch box out.
"Nothing, I don't eat lunch remember?" he said.
"Oh well here, I've made you your lunch."
"You didn't have to," he said as he thanked her inwardly.
"Kae-chan! You have your practice later, I know it will be hard so I made you lunch."
"No I mean, you're always making me lunch. Thank you," he said.
"Whoa… Rukawa Kaede saying thank you that's a very rare thing to hear," She laughed.
That afternoon a mob of schoolgirls flooded the court. "Ahhhhh!!!! Rukawa!!!!" The girls screamed.
"There he is! Isn't he gorgeous?" giggled one of the girls.
"He's just so irresistible!" another one sighed.
"Temmeee!!! What does kitsune have that got all these girls attracted?" Sakuragi shouted.
"Do'aho." Rukawa ran passed him, sealing the ball away.
"Kitsune give tensai his ball!!!" Sakuragi screamed.
"Baka." Replied Rukawa. "Do'aho."
"Oi!" Sendoh suddenly appeared at the doorway.
"Sendoh-san! What are you doing here?" Sakuragi asked.
"Well I was just----" he was cut off by Sakuragi.
"No, wait don't answer. I know you're here to battle tensai! Whahahahaha!!!! I know I am just so good!"
"Shut up do'aho!" Rukawa murmured. "Well actually I came here for Rukawa," he said.
"What? What do you want with kitsune?" ranted Sakuragi.
"Shut up do'aho," again Rukawa said.
"What brings you here?" he asked.
"I just wanted somebody to talk to." Sendoh simply answered.
Rukawa nodded, "Then what are you waiting for? Speak."
Sendoh took a deep breath and sighed, "Well Ru-kun, I am bothered… what should I do?"
"Bothered by what?" he asked. "I don't know, I just can't put it in words really, and the more I think about it… It makes me go insane!" Sendoh merely kicked the stone in front of him.
"I am listening."
It was late that evening still she stayed awake, scared, alone… "Otousan!!! Chotto matte kudasai!!!" screamed Sumire. "Gomen ne 'tousan! Damare! 'Tosan!!" she pleaded. A disturbing sound woke almost half of the neighbors. Sumire crashed down the stairs.
Still sleepy Rukawa, rode his bike to school, 'damn those history essays!' he cursed, 'they made stay up all night!'
Tikki de lune: There, there, that wasn't so bad. After all, I made every criticism to my friend and gave her tons and tons of advices (like in a two-hour phone conversation in an almost daily basis) as not to embarrass my good writing reputation. Hahahaha! Conceited jerk I am. Just review and tell me what you think and I'll tell her what you said you think.