--part 15--
Story of us, still written in the heart
Sakuragi Hanamichi walked along with Rukawa Kaede, leaving footprints in the white layers of snow covering the road. They were heading to Sendoh Akira's funeral, last moments to take a glance of the former superstar highschool basketball player. He died, just about a day ago, suffering from a heart disease. As they had noted, they were late for the ceremony. Besides it takes about an hour or so from Rukawa's residence to reach the cemetery.
By the time they had reached the graveyard, people, all dressed in dark and black clothes gathered around. It looked so ironic, the snow had been falling, the city is white. Yet today here there were so many people in dark apparels, grieving for have losing one of their loved ones. Rukawa met some familiar faces as all of his team mates. Eventually, most of the Kanagawa basketball players were here.
"So, Rukawa-kun… You did came anyway, didn't you?" Ayako patted his shoulder, since she can't reach his head without standing on her toe. He only nodded and made his way into the mass.
In the middle there was a coffin, it was half closed. Rukawa walked slowly and approached it. There layed Sendoh, his face was pale as snow, his lips were white. He looked so peaceful, and so bliss. For the last time Rukawa reached out his hands and touched his cheek gently, then to his nose, forehead and his nose. Then finally he ran his thumbs lightly upon the smile arched on his lips. He had been smiling, ever since the first day they met. And now he's still smiling in the end. Rukawa then bent down and kissed Sendoh's forehead and then smiled.
From his back, Sakuragi walked over and bent down to take a closer look at him. "Can't believe he's still smiling to his very end, and look! He's not in his usual spiked-hair today!"
Rukawa chuckled lightly and looked back to take his very last look at the person whom he loved most before they closed the coffin. Soon after that the ceremony began, people started to weep. The priest read out a few verses from the Bible and gave a blessing upon him, and then his coffin were buried.
Tears ran down through his cheek. It's beyond his control, he couldn't hold back. The atmosphere was so gloomy. Every person you see is crying, or at least they got red and watery eyes. He looked at Sakuragi, he was bawling like a baby. Amazingly, Rukawa Kaede didn't feel sad at all. It wasn't because that he was heartless and disliked Sendoh or anything, it's just that he felt so very warm. He felt Sendoh's existence near him. That's why he felt so calm and soothed.
Haruko, who was standing in front of Rukawa turned to look at him. "Rukawa- kun… You don't look sad… Why are you smiling?" She was carrying a handkerchief on her hand to help her wipe the tears that had been overflowing from her eyes.
"I don't know… I just don't feel like sad… Instead, I was glad…" Simply, he answered back at her questions.
"Aa! Kitsune you are so mean…!! You had pretended to be sad all the time but you actually wanted him to die, didn't you… I never knew you're such a good actor!! Kitsune, you got me once this time…" Hanamichi exclaimed out loud, and almost disturbed the burial.
"No… It's not that… I'm glad for him because he now is free from those pain that he suffered all the time. And besides… Even though he's dead, I still feel like he's all around me… I can feel his warmth near me…"
Haruko tried to smile, even though she's still sobbing hard. "Rukawa-kun… Death means separation for the spirit from the body. He's not totally gone, his spirit will still be with you...," she pointed her small and slim fingers to Rukawa's chest, "in your heart… forever…"
An ample smile was tinted on his lips. He kept her phrase remembered in his head. It meant something, and she was right. With that now he felt easy, his heart no longer throbbs anymore. "Haruko-san… Arigato…" He brushed her hair lightly, making her to blush and fly in happiness.
It was over, the ritual was over, people started to leave. "Rukawa, you're not going?" Rukawa only shook his head. "Well then, I'll be leaving now…" And Hanamichi went off, along with Akagi and Miyagi.
When everybody has left, Rukawa made his way to the grave. He looked down on the stone with the name of his friend carved on it. "Akira… Did you know? I felt happy now… Even though you're gone, you're still in my heart… And I feel happy for you too… I bet you can do whatever you want right now… I heard spirits can fly like birds in the sky up high. Is it true? I would like to hear from you someday…" Rukawa knelt down and touched the gravestone. "Akira… I've learned so much from you. You teached me how to open my heart, and I did… Now I got myself a friend, I made Hanamichi a friend… I won't be alone from now… I'll have you, him, and guess what? My parents are coming back, after such a long time. I'm glad, I'm so overflowed with delight… I can't wait to see them again. How would they look? I mean, there must be changes after 7 years… Anyway, Akira… I wish you could still be here, we can share stories. But I know we still can… Akira if you're in heaven, you would still know who I am, right? We'll have so much to catch on later that day. I longed to for the day I'll see you again. Therefore, Akira… Wait for me in heaven. And now I got to go, my friend."
Rukawa stood up and smiled at the grave. "Akira… Arigato…" Then he left, back to his house. He got some cleaning to do, especially on the kitchen. He didn't want his parents to look at the mess he've caused. It's terrible, it's a nasty view.
He decided to take the long path to his house, rather than the usual route he used to took. He wanted to look at the world, and study the things he had missed. From now on, he'll promise to be a better man, and keep on improving on himself. "Kirei… The world is so beautiful, how come I haven't noticed them all these years."
After taking a few glimpse of a few of the Kanagawa prefecture, he reached his house, feeling a little bit numb on his feet. Strangely he found some footsteps printed on the thick layers of snow, and it headed towards his house. Filled with curiosity, he entered the house without making a sound. Beyond the door, there were 2 pairs of shoes for both of the genders. Who could it be? His parents?
Rukawa's heart beated faster, and in his mind, he hoped and prayed that he will find his father and mother. He took a few steps and emerged into the living room.
"Kaede-chan?? I can't believe you have left all this mess in the kitchen?" A lady's voice called for him. Rukawa turned his back, and on the couch, his long-lost parents were there in his sight, smiling in happiness. They had grown a few more wrinkles on their face, and in his mom's arms, layed a child, perhaps almost 2 years old, sleeping in her laps. She then stood up and carefully placed the boy's head onto the leather-covered sofa. His father stood up too and come near to his son, who had grown so much.
Rukawa spread his arms wide, and welcomed them in his embrace. He found himself crying in joy. "Ka-san, To-san… I missed you so much… I thought you'll never come back." His arms wrapped tight around them. He felt as if he was in paradise. Happiness that had slowly depart from him were coming back into his life. "I thought I'll never see you again… Ever again…"
His mom hushed him down. "Kaede-chan… I never thought the three of us meet together again as a family… Ka-san and To-san thought we're getting ourselves divorced…"
"I thought I'll lose the place to be your father, Kaede… But then we settled our fights and get back along…" Father continued Mom's unfinished sentence.
The three shared their tears together. They were happy to be able to see each other again as a family, just when they thought they were breaking apart from another. Then from the sofa, the little child was awaked because of the cries and sobs that they made. "Ka-chan…"
Everybody's attention turned to the little boy, who was walking towards them. Rukawa knelt and lightly tapped the little boy's head and messed the hair around a bit. "Kawaii… Who's this boy, Ka-san, To-san?"
"Kaede… From now on he'll be your new younger brother. We gave birth to him in Venice, after our quarrels were done."
Ka-san walked over and touched Rukawa's back. "Kaede-chan… You'll now have the privilege to name the boy, we hadn't call given him a proper name, all we did was call him Kei."
What? He doesn't have any name yet? It looks like he's two years old already, and still he doesn't have a proper name? What a poor child (^^;). "Ka-san, To-san… How bout Akira?"
After a short thought, they agreed. "Akira sounds fine… Okay!"
Rukawa stared into the boy's tiny eyes. It was blue, like his. It was funny, Akira really looked like his older brother. They both were like twins, especially since their hairstyle were quite similar. "By the way, Kaede-chan… How did you get the name Akira?" Asked his mother.
Rukawa carefully placed his new brother on his back and stood up. "Well, Ka- san.. It's a long story, a long story of us…"
She was confused about her son's answer. Well, she decided to give up thinking about it and rushed to the kitchen. "My oh my, Kaede… Help me clean up this mess…! It's horrible..!"
Rukawa laughed, Akira still clingin upon his back. "Wait, Ka-san… I'm going to take Akira down to the beach and for a little walk."
"Okay then, honey… Take care of him, will you?"
Rukawa smiled and left his house. He met with Sakuragi on his way out, and he find him shocked. "Kitsune? Who's that little boy you're carrying on your back? Your neighbor?!"
The shohoku ace only laughed. "Well, Hanamichi… It's my brother, Akira…"
"Akira??!?!"
"Yeah…"
"How in the world did you get yourself a two-year old kid as a brother…? I bet it's just a little boy you borrowed from your neighbor!"
Still, he went on laughing. "Hanamichi, it's our long long story…"
"Huh? Your story?"
"Yeah… the Story of us… Hey? Mind to join us?" Hanamichi then followed them for a walk around the sidewalks. Rukawa was now a different man, different than the way he was before. The ice king had melt, now had turn to a happy and gentle man. But his thought about Sendoh hadn't fade away though. Even though he looked back on the memories that he've spent with him, he looked at it with a smile on his face as a part of his foundation that had made him the person now.
Time passes, the world changes
But I'm still the same ole' kid
And your jokes still bring me laughter
As if you still were here
And it hurts
When I smile
'Cause my heart still remembers
When you were around
'Cause you were there
When no one was
Just when I thought nobody cared
You showed me love
'Cause you were my friend
You always told me
And I am still here
Because you were there
So precious, small treasures
A time when truth was innocent
True friendship, was all we were after
A place where kids could still be kids
And it hurts
But I'm glad
'Cause at least I was blessed
To have you as my friend
'Cause you were there
When no one was
Just when I thought nobody cared
You showed me love
'Cause you were my friend
You always told me
And I am still here
Because you were there
You're my best friend
And there are no accidents
God has a pland for everyone
And he brought you in my life
To show me what a true friend was
'Cause you were there
When no one was
Just when I thought nobody cared
You showed me love
'Cause you were my friend
You always told me
And I am still here
Because you were there
As I look back, I'll see the path that I had walked on. It's strange to think, I've changed so much in a small period of time. It's your existence that had caused a great impact in my life, Sendoh, it's you… No matter how bitter the memories we've passed together are, but when I looked back and think through it, I'll find myself smiling… Smiling over the story of us, written in the depths of our heart…
Akira… once more… Thank you…
a.n :: [I added a little song ^_^] wow…..!!!!! IT'S FINALY DONE!!! I'm so touched… I listened to the song called gaining through losing by ken hirai, I was startled!!!! It fitss the ending scene, so so very very much…!! XD~~ I'm so happy… even though the whole story were still rough and unedited, I'm so happyy~!! Feels like I wanted to cry… especially when I hear the song… aaah… anyway, enough of unesseccary talks!! Minna… thank you so much for had reading this patheticcccc pathetic story, I apologize for the poor grammar and language, I'm not a native speaker :(… anyway, I'll love to hear your comments about the story, and how I should change the story around a bit… thank u thank u so much, minna~~!! Love you alls… :)
Story of us, still written in the heart
Sakuragi Hanamichi walked along with Rukawa Kaede, leaving footprints in the white layers of snow covering the road. They were heading to Sendoh Akira's funeral, last moments to take a glance of the former superstar highschool basketball player. He died, just about a day ago, suffering from a heart disease. As they had noted, they were late for the ceremony. Besides it takes about an hour or so from Rukawa's residence to reach the cemetery.
By the time they had reached the graveyard, people, all dressed in dark and black clothes gathered around. It looked so ironic, the snow had been falling, the city is white. Yet today here there were so many people in dark apparels, grieving for have losing one of their loved ones. Rukawa met some familiar faces as all of his team mates. Eventually, most of the Kanagawa basketball players were here.
"So, Rukawa-kun… You did came anyway, didn't you?" Ayako patted his shoulder, since she can't reach his head without standing on her toe. He only nodded and made his way into the mass.
In the middle there was a coffin, it was half closed. Rukawa walked slowly and approached it. There layed Sendoh, his face was pale as snow, his lips were white. He looked so peaceful, and so bliss. For the last time Rukawa reached out his hands and touched his cheek gently, then to his nose, forehead and his nose. Then finally he ran his thumbs lightly upon the smile arched on his lips. He had been smiling, ever since the first day they met. And now he's still smiling in the end. Rukawa then bent down and kissed Sendoh's forehead and then smiled.
From his back, Sakuragi walked over and bent down to take a closer look at him. "Can't believe he's still smiling to his very end, and look! He's not in his usual spiked-hair today!"
Rukawa chuckled lightly and looked back to take his very last look at the person whom he loved most before they closed the coffin. Soon after that the ceremony began, people started to weep. The priest read out a few verses from the Bible and gave a blessing upon him, and then his coffin were buried.
Tears ran down through his cheek. It's beyond his control, he couldn't hold back. The atmosphere was so gloomy. Every person you see is crying, or at least they got red and watery eyes. He looked at Sakuragi, he was bawling like a baby. Amazingly, Rukawa Kaede didn't feel sad at all. It wasn't because that he was heartless and disliked Sendoh or anything, it's just that he felt so very warm. He felt Sendoh's existence near him. That's why he felt so calm and soothed.
Haruko, who was standing in front of Rukawa turned to look at him. "Rukawa- kun… You don't look sad… Why are you smiling?" She was carrying a handkerchief on her hand to help her wipe the tears that had been overflowing from her eyes.
"I don't know… I just don't feel like sad… Instead, I was glad…" Simply, he answered back at her questions.
"Aa! Kitsune you are so mean…!! You had pretended to be sad all the time but you actually wanted him to die, didn't you… I never knew you're such a good actor!! Kitsune, you got me once this time…" Hanamichi exclaimed out loud, and almost disturbed the burial.
"No… It's not that… I'm glad for him because he now is free from those pain that he suffered all the time. And besides… Even though he's dead, I still feel like he's all around me… I can feel his warmth near me…"
Haruko tried to smile, even though she's still sobbing hard. "Rukawa-kun… Death means separation for the spirit from the body. He's not totally gone, his spirit will still be with you...," she pointed her small and slim fingers to Rukawa's chest, "in your heart… forever…"
An ample smile was tinted on his lips. He kept her phrase remembered in his head. It meant something, and she was right. With that now he felt easy, his heart no longer throbbs anymore. "Haruko-san… Arigato…" He brushed her hair lightly, making her to blush and fly in happiness.
It was over, the ritual was over, people started to leave. "Rukawa, you're not going?" Rukawa only shook his head. "Well then, I'll be leaving now…" And Hanamichi went off, along with Akagi and Miyagi.
When everybody has left, Rukawa made his way to the grave. He looked down on the stone with the name of his friend carved on it. "Akira… Did you know? I felt happy now… Even though you're gone, you're still in my heart… And I feel happy for you too… I bet you can do whatever you want right now… I heard spirits can fly like birds in the sky up high. Is it true? I would like to hear from you someday…" Rukawa knelt down and touched the gravestone. "Akira… I've learned so much from you. You teached me how to open my heart, and I did… Now I got myself a friend, I made Hanamichi a friend… I won't be alone from now… I'll have you, him, and guess what? My parents are coming back, after such a long time. I'm glad, I'm so overflowed with delight… I can't wait to see them again. How would they look? I mean, there must be changes after 7 years… Anyway, Akira… I wish you could still be here, we can share stories. But I know we still can… Akira if you're in heaven, you would still know who I am, right? We'll have so much to catch on later that day. I longed to for the day I'll see you again. Therefore, Akira… Wait for me in heaven. And now I got to go, my friend."
Rukawa stood up and smiled at the grave. "Akira… Arigato…" Then he left, back to his house. He got some cleaning to do, especially on the kitchen. He didn't want his parents to look at the mess he've caused. It's terrible, it's a nasty view.
He decided to take the long path to his house, rather than the usual route he used to took. He wanted to look at the world, and study the things he had missed. From now on, he'll promise to be a better man, and keep on improving on himself. "Kirei… The world is so beautiful, how come I haven't noticed them all these years."
After taking a few glimpse of a few of the Kanagawa prefecture, he reached his house, feeling a little bit numb on his feet. Strangely he found some footsteps printed on the thick layers of snow, and it headed towards his house. Filled with curiosity, he entered the house without making a sound. Beyond the door, there were 2 pairs of shoes for both of the genders. Who could it be? His parents?
Rukawa's heart beated faster, and in his mind, he hoped and prayed that he will find his father and mother. He took a few steps and emerged into the living room.
"Kaede-chan?? I can't believe you have left all this mess in the kitchen?" A lady's voice called for him. Rukawa turned his back, and on the couch, his long-lost parents were there in his sight, smiling in happiness. They had grown a few more wrinkles on their face, and in his mom's arms, layed a child, perhaps almost 2 years old, sleeping in her laps. She then stood up and carefully placed the boy's head onto the leather-covered sofa. His father stood up too and come near to his son, who had grown so much.
Rukawa spread his arms wide, and welcomed them in his embrace. He found himself crying in joy. "Ka-san, To-san… I missed you so much… I thought you'll never come back." His arms wrapped tight around them. He felt as if he was in paradise. Happiness that had slowly depart from him were coming back into his life. "I thought I'll never see you again… Ever again…"
His mom hushed him down. "Kaede-chan… I never thought the three of us meet together again as a family… Ka-san and To-san thought we're getting ourselves divorced…"
"I thought I'll lose the place to be your father, Kaede… But then we settled our fights and get back along…" Father continued Mom's unfinished sentence.
The three shared their tears together. They were happy to be able to see each other again as a family, just when they thought they were breaking apart from another. Then from the sofa, the little child was awaked because of the cries and sobs that they made. "Ka-chan…"
Everybody's attention turned to the little boy, who was walking towards them. Rukawa knelt and lightly tapped the little boy's head and messed the hair around a bit. "Kawaii… Who's this boy, Ka-san, To-san?"
"Kaede… From now on he'll be your new younger brother. We gave birth to him in Venice, after our quarrels were done."
Ka-san walked over and touched Rukawa's back. "Kaede-chan… You'll now have the privilege to name the boy, we hadn't call given him a proper name, all we did was call him Kei."
What? He doesn't have any name yet? It looks like he's two years old already, and still he doesn't have a proper name? What a poor child (^^;). "Ka-san, To-san… How bout Akira?"
After a short thought, they agreed. "Akira sounds fine… Okay!"
Rukawa stared into the boy's tiny eyes. It was blue, like his. It was funny, Akira really looked like his older brother. They both were like twins, especially since their hairstyle were quite similar. "By the way, Kaede-chan… How did you get the name Akira?" Asked his mother.
Rukawa carefully placed his new brother on his back and stood up. "Well, Ka- san.. It's a long story, a long story of us…"
She was confused about her son's answer. Well, she decided to give up thinking about it and rushed to the kitchen. "My oh my, Kaede… Help me clean up this mess…! It's horrible..!"
Rukawa laughed, Akira still clingin upon his back. "Wait, Ka-san… I'm going to take Akira down to the beach and for a little walk."
"Okay then, honey… Take care of him, will you?"
Rukawa smiled and left his house. He met with Sakuragi on his way out, and he find him shocked. "Kitsune? Who's that little boy you're carrying on your back? Your neighbor?!"
The shohoku ace only laughed. "Well, Hanamichi… It's my brother, Akira…"
"Akira??!?!"
"Yeah…"
"How in the world did you get yourself a two-year old kid as a brother…? I bet it's just a little boy you borrowed from your neighbor!"
Still, he went on laughing. "Hanamichi, it's our long long story…"
"Huh? Your story?"
"Yeah… the Story of us… Hey? Mind to join us?" Hanamichi then followed them for a walk around the sidewalks. Rukawa was now a different man, different than the way he was before. The ice king had melt, now had turn to a happy and gentle man. But his thought about Sendoh hadn't fade away though. Even though he looked back on the memories that he've spent with him, he looked at it with a smile on his face as a part of his foundation that had made him the person now.
Time passes, the world changes
But I'm still the same ole' kid
And your jokes still bring me laughter
As if you still were here
And it hurts
When I smile
'Cause my heart still remembers
When you were around
'Cause you were there
When no one was
Just when I thought nobody cared
You showed me love
'Cause you were my friend
You always told me
And I am still here
Because you were there
So precious, small treasures
A time when truth was innocent
True friendship, was all we were after
A place where kids could still be kids
And it hurts
But I'm glad
'Cause at least I was blessed
To have you as my friend
'Cause you were there
When no one was
Just when I thought nobody cared
You showed me love
'Cause you were my friend
You always told me
And I am still here
Because you were there
You're my best friend
And there are no accidents
God has a pland for everyone
And he brought you in my life
To show me what a true friend was
'Cause you were there
When no one was
Just when I thought nobody cared
You showed me love
'Cause you were my friend
You always told me
And I am still here
Because you were there
As I look back, I'll see the path that I had walked on. It's strange to think, I've changed so much in a small period of time. It's your existence that had caused a great impact in my life, Sendoh, it's you… No matter how bitter the memories we've passed together are, but when I looked back and think through it, I'll find myself smiling… Smiling over the story of us, written in the depths of our heart…
Akira… once more… Thank you…
a.n :: [I added a little song ^_^] wow…..!!!!! IT'S FINALY DONE!!! I'm so touched… I listened to the song called gaining through losing by ken hirai, I was startled!!!! It fitss the ending scene, so so very very much…!! XD~~ I'm so happy… even though the whole story were still rough and unedited, I'm so happyy~!! Feels like I wanted to cry… especially when I hear the song… aaah… anyway, enough of unesseccary talks!! Minna… thank you so much for had reading this patheticcccc pathetic story, I apologize for the poor grammar and language, I'm not a native speaker :(… anyway, I'll love to hear your comments about the story, and how I should change the story around a bit… thank u thank u so much, minna~~!! Love you alls… :)