Disclaimer: all characters in this story belong to Inoue Takehiko...*sigh* (I wish I was the one who owned Slam Dunk)
This is it.. the night that will both change their lives.. ;) Please R&R!
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Ryota gasped. He couldn't believe who he saw, certainly she was the least person he least expected to be at his very own doorsteps especially after what has been. He silently walked towards Ayako. All his problems slowly vanishing at the sight of her Aya-chan…
"Aya-chan…" Ryota whispered. He wanted badly to say how he felt, to kiss her, and to love her. If only he could say it but did he had the right. Will he ever have the right?
Ayako, still sleeping from weariness, shivered from the cold, unaware of two eyes watching and loving her. Ryota placed his jacket over Ayako's shoulder, carefully trying not to wake her up. He silently sat beside his angel and gently moved her so that she would rest against Ryota's shoulders….
"Ryota? Ryota…."Ayako mumbled softly, her eyes still closed
"Ssshhh…I'm here Aya-chan..everything's alright" Ryota tenderly replied, gently running his hand through Ayako's hair as if it was very fragile..Aishteru, Aya-chan..
"Aishteru…." She softly said…
Ryota's eyes widened. His whole body became stiff. He could not believe what he heard. Nani!! Did she really say she loved me? Or was I just hearing things? Ryota thought.
Ayako must have felt the change because she suddenly woke up form her sleep and now came face to face with Ryota who looked like someone who had seen a ghost. But her face was just inches apart that Ayako blushed deeply, she hadn't expected something like this would happen. She backed away from Ryota, stood up and tired her best to apologize.
"Ryota..aah" Ayako said, taking a deep breath
Ryota came back to her senses again and saw that Ayako was standing in front of her acting shyly. He could not believe of what just happened but he still could not trust himself to say anything now, much less to bring up the topic of what she said earlier.
"Ryota…Gomen..gomen.." Ayako began "I really don't know what to say but I know that what I did to you was both unfair and unacceptable. You've been nothing but nice to me and what I did was simply wrong." She said, tears slowly forming in her eyes "I know I really had hurt you but what I did made me feel hurt the most. Will you ever forgive me?"
Ryota smiled affectionately. "Aya-chan, no matter what you do or say, even if it hurts me, I never had ill feelings for you. Never. Just the way I saw you tonight, by my doorsteps…you were already forgiven" He said, as he walked towards her
Now they were inches apart from each other.
"I really missed you, Ryota, you know…" Ayako whispered, looking down, a slight sound of sadness in the way she said it. Tell him you love him too. A voice whispering into Ayako's ears. Before its too late..
Ayako thought. What if he doesn't want me anymore. I don't want to take the risk of being hurt and embarrassed. But the voice answered back telling her. He can't wait forever…
Ryota shifted nervously. Both of them facing so close together but neither one was speaking. So many words to be spoken but neither had the courage to do so, as unspoken love envelopes both of them but finally…
"Aya-chan, there's something I need to ask you" Ryota started "Back there while you were sleeping, I though I heard you say…"
"Aishteru.." Ayako interrupted him. "I said..Aishteru, Ryota"
Ryota stared at her numbly. He tried pinching his arms so he could know if this was real or sadly, just a dream.
Ayako looked straight into his eyes. "I know you're surprised. I mean I can't blame you" She said. She managed a shaky little laugh. " I know its seems from the first time we've met, Ive been trying to avoid your feelings. I did not know how to deal with it. Its just that I'm so preoccupied with so many thing like with my parents, my baby sister, basketball, studies, that I failed to realize what mattered most to me, my happiness. I was surrounded with so many things that …." Ayako took a deep breath. " I really did'nt know I was looking for love until..until I found you, Ryota.."
"Aya-chan.." Ryota lovingly said. All his life, all he ever wanted was to be loved back by Ayako. He took a step forward, their faces ever so closely. He gently caressed Ayako's cheek. "I have always loved you" he said. He looked tenderly at Ayako and all he could see was so much love. He then slowly brought her lips into his, as they finally shared a kiss under the moonlit sky.
Their kiss started as sweet until it grew deeper and deeper. It was a kiss that was long due. And when they did finally stopped, they looked into each other's eyes. Both knew that they did'nt need words, as both felt the love they had for each other. That was already enough….
Ryota finally spoke. "Its already late Aya-chan, let me walk you home"
"Thanks, Ryota-kun" Ayako smiled
And for the first time, He held her hand, kissed it, he did not want to ever let go of her hand. As they walked together hand in hand, the stars and the moon witnessed the start of a love between two people so right for each other that should have happened way back then…
Yey!! Ayako finally said "I love you" to Ryota. I know its quite unimaginable for Ayako to profess her love but I do quite believe that even in the anime series, she did love him, she just had a funny way of showing it ne? :)
Please don't forget to make a review. And wait for the last chapter of this story. Until then…