::Time Heals All Wounds ::
[Chapter One]
[The Beginning]
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk and its characters do not belong to me!
Author's Note: My first fanfic, so be gentle! Comments and constructive criticisms are always welcome! Now, on to the story…
It hurt. The searing pain threatened to tear her mind apart. She resolutely remained standing, supported only by the force of her will. Her eyes she shut tight, looking at the three faces in front of her. The three dead faces.
"Leave me alone," she choked out, brushing away hands that reached out for her.
Four years ago, a family of four went to the beach.
Only one stood on this very beach now.
Cold and lifeless, the three others had returned, so to speak. But they had returned in coffins.
Suzuki Kimi watched as the crests of the waves rose and fell in a hypnotic rhythm, matching the thoughts beating in her head. The scenes flashed by once again, despite her willing them not to, and she once more relived the moments of terror.
"Run!" Her father's baritone was the only thing that she heard. Its clarity belied the fear behind it. A fear born of a madman. She froze, not knowing what to think, and then her instincts for self-preservation took over. She ran.
"Run!" Her mother's tearful voice was shrill and scared, full of the love for her family that made her fear for them. She pushed Kimi ahead, but was rendered unable to follow.
"Run!" Her brother's response had been quickest, his small feet speeding across the sands. He had thought it was a game, and beckoned Kimi and the rest of his family to chase him. But those who chased him were not family; they killed him.
"Run!" Kimi's athletic ability spurred her on, as her legs pumped up and down relentlessly as only a person in fear of his or her own life is able to do. Breathing came hard and fast, and the ache in her abdomen was unbearable. But still, she bore it.
"Run!" The voice in her head urged her. She ran without turning back, as her father had always told her to do. He was her coach, her mentor. He was dead.
"Run!" Three bodies were enough, it seemed, and she heard no more chasing footsteps.
"Run!" Her last thought as she sank to the ground, exhausted, in front of the police station.
If she had looked back, she would have seen the yakuza beat her father to his death as he tried to stop them from harming his family.
If she had looked back, she would have seen her mother stand unyieldingly by his side.
If she had looked back, she would have seen her brother's corpse being torn apart in front of her mother's eyes.
If she had looked back. But she didn't.
She closed her eyes.
The yakuza responsible for the attack had been arrested and jailed for life. He had confessed to the revenge killing, for her mother had prosecuted his partner in the courtrooms not long before.
The beach was quiet and serene. Yet her heart was thumping wildly. She gritted her teeth, and opened her eyes.
"Face the fear."
Her mother's words echoed in her head.
She knew she had to get on with life. Face the charging bull that threatened to tear it into pieces. Face the danger that was fear.
That was why she had moved here.
Kanagawa.
Kogure Kiminobu was walking along the beach, shoving the sand along with his feet, with his hands stuck deep in his pockets. School was out for a while, and he was making full use of the vacation to relax besides doing homework. The beach was a favourite place of his, being one of the most peaceful places in Kanagawa. The sea waves were always beautiful; if it was a calm day, the flow and ebb were slow and harmonious, if it was a stormy day, the waves crashing onto shore spoke of majesty.
Today, it was calm.
The tears fell, anyway.
Tears were so unpredictable and unmanageable. They were insistent on appearing when they were least wanted.
The least thing she wanted was to shed tears in public like she was doing now.
Her hand struggled to wipe the tears away, but the over-reactive tear ducts just kept them coming. She turned around and started walking towards her new home.
"I'm home!" she called out to her guardian, a middle-aged spinster living in a luxurious house near the sea.
Sato Miyuki was forty and single, her betrothed had died in a plane crash when she was twenty-six. She was a rich woman, chairing the committee of her own business, Sato Electronics, which she had started at the age of thirty. Then, Japan's economy had been booming. It was slowing down now, in a recession, but she still made money. After all, electronics was something no one could do without in the modern world. She lived in a house near the sea, a place she bought after moving to Kanagawa, since relocating the business here would be more cost-effective.
Two weeks ago, her old friend, Suzuki Aiko, had written to her, requesting that she take in Suzuki Kimi, daughter of her elder brother, Ichiro. Ichiro and the rest of his family had been killed by the yakuza. Kimi, fortunately for her, had survived, and Aiko assured her that the girl was not being hunted down. Aiko knew her pretty well. Miyuki did like some companionship, and her previous tenant, a university student, had left for further studies in the United States. This could work out.
Two days ago, the girl arrived at her doorstep. Smiling cheerfully, Miyuki greeted her and ushered her in. The girl had short black hair, and was taller than Miyuki. She had beautiful yet sad-looking eyes. She was dressed decently, in a pair of denim jeans and a short-sleeved T-shirt. Miyuki nodded in approval – she detested the scantily clad youth of today.
The girl had been courteous and polite, and had been a thoroughly enjoyable dinner companion. She was mature for age, but as Miyuki reminded herself, she had been through a lot in those sixteen years.
"Itadakimasu!" Kogure and his family tucked into a delicious meal prepared by his mother. It was perfect for topping off a relaxing day. His younger sister grinned cheekily at him from the opposite side of the square table, sticking out her tongue with half-chewed grains of rice stuck on it. She was immediately reprimanded by his mother. He had to smile.
School was starting again tomorrow. He missed having basketball practices in the afternoons. Basketball had been an integral part of his life since junior high, and he had grown to love it a lot.
Kimi sat on her bed, hugging her knees. The thought of school the next day brought excitement, anticipation and dread. Three years spent abroad in Singapore, running away from Japan and its memories, and now, she was back to enter the final year in high school. She had studied consistently and well in the Japanese School in Singapore, and felt confident of keeping up with the rest of the class. Her Japanese had been kept up to standard as well, despite having no cause to use in the largely English-speaking Singapore scene.
Would it be any different if they had survived? Of course. She would not be going to Shohoku, then. More like another school nearer to her previous home.
She sighed and went to bed, hugging a worn stuffed toy giraffe as she slept.
To be continued…[when I find the time, and if reviews are favourable…]
[Chapter One]
[The Beginning]
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk and its characters do not belong to me!
Author's Note: My first fanfic, so be gentle! Comments and constructive criticisms are always welcome! Now, on to the story…
It hurt. The searing pain threatened to tear her mind apart. She resolutely remained standing, supported only by the force of her will. Her eyes she shut tight, looking at the three faces in front of her. The three dead faces.
"Leave me alone," she choked out, brushing away hands that reached out for her.
Four years ago, a family of four went to the beach.
Only one stood on this very beach now.
Cold and lifeless, the three others had returned, so to speak. But they had returned in coffins.
Suzuki Kimi watched as the crests of the waves rose and fell in a hypnotic rhythm, matching the thoughts beating in her head. The scenes flashed by once again, despite her willing them not to, and she once more relived the moments of terror.
"Run!" Her father's baritone was the only thing that she heard. Its clarity belied the fear behind it. A fear born of a madman. She froze, not knowing what to think, and then her instincts for self-preservation took over. She ran.
"Run!" Her mother's tearful voice was shrill and scared, full of the love for her family that made her fear for them. She pushed Kimi ahead, but was rendered unable to follow.
"Run!" Her brother's response had been quickest, his small feet speeding across the sands. He had thought it was a game, and beckoned Kimi and the rest of his family to chase him. But those who chased him were not family; they killed him.
"Run!" Kimi's athletic ability spurred her on, as her legs pumped up and down relentlessly as only a person in fear of his or her own life is able to do. Breathing came hard and fast, and the ache in her abdomen was unbearable. But still, she bore it.
"Run!" The voice in her head urged her. She ran without turning back, as her father had always told her to do. He was her coach, her mentor. He was dead.
"Run!" Three bodies were enough, it seemed, and she heard no more chasing footsteps.
"Run!" Her last thought as she sank to the ground, exhausted, in front of the police station.
If she had looked back, she would have seen the yakuza beat her father to his death as he tried to stop them from harming his family.
If she had looked back, she would have seen her mother stand unyieldingly by his side.
If she had looked back, she would have seen her brother's corpse being torn apart in front of her mother's eyes.
If she had looked back. But she didn't.
She closed her eyes.
The yakuza responsible for the attack had been arrested and jailed for life. He had confessed to the revenge killing, for her mother had prosecuted his partner in the courtrooms not long before.
The beach was quiet and serene. Yet her heart was thumping wildly. She gritted her teeth, and opened her eyes.
"Face the fear."
Her mother's words echoed in her head.
She knew she had to get on with life. Face the charging bull that threatened to tear it into pieces. Face the danger that was fear.
That was why she had moved here.
Kanagawa.
Kogure Kiminobu was walking along the beach, shoving the sand along with his feet, with his hands stuck deep in his pockets. School was out for a while, and he was making full use of the vacation to relax besides doing homework. The beach was a favourite place of his, being one of the most peaceful places in Kanagawa. The sea waves were always beautiful; if it was a calm day, the flow and ebb were slow and harmonious, if it was a stormy day, the waves crashing onto shore spoke of majesty.
Today, it was calm.
The tears fell, anyway.
Tears were so unpredictable and unmanageable. They were insistent on appearing when they were least wanted.
The least thing she wanted was to shed tears in public like she was doing now.
Her hand struggled to wipe the tears away, but the over-reactive tear ducts just kept them coming. She turned around and started walking towards her new home.
"I'm home!" she called out to her guardian, a middle-aged spinster living in a luxurious house near the sea.
Sato Miyuki was forty and single, her betrothed had died in a plane crash when she was twenty-six. She was a rich woman, chairing the committee of her own business, Sato Electronics, which she had started at the age of thirty. Then, Japan's economy had been booming. It was slowing down now, in a recession, but she still made money. After all, electronics was something no one could do without in the modern world. She lived in a house near the sea, a place she bought after moving to Kanagawa, since relocating the business here would be more cost-effective.
Two weeks ago, her old friend, Suzuki Aiko, had written to her, requesting that she take in Suzuki Kimi, daughter of her elder brother, Ichiro. Ichiro and the rest of his family had been killed by the yakuza. Kimi, fortunately for her, had survived, and Aiko assured her that the girl was not being hunted down. Aiko knew her pretty well. Miyuki did like some companionship, and her previous tenant, a university student, had left for further studies in the United States. This could work out.
Two days ago, the girl arrived at her doorstep. Smiling cheerfully, Miyuki greeted her and ushered her in. The girl had short black hair, and was taller than Miyuki. She had beautiful yet sad-looking eyes. She was dressed decently, in a pair of denim jeans and a short-sleeved T-shirt. Miyuki nodded in approval – she detested the scantily clad youth of today.
The girl had been courteous and polite, and had been a thoroughly enjoyable dinner companion. She was mature for age, but as Miyuki reminded herself, she had been through a lot in those sixteen years.
"Itadakimasu!" Kogure and his family tucked into a delicious meal prepared by his mother. It was perfect for topping off a relaxing day. His younger sister grinned cheekily at him from the opposite side of the square table, sticking out her tongue with half-chewed grains of rice stuck on it. She was immediately reprimanded by his mother. He had to smile.
School was starting again tomorrow. He missed having basketball practices in the afternoons. Basketball had been an integral part of his life since junior high, and he had grown to love it a lot.
Kimi sat on her bed, hugging her knees. The thought of school the next day brought excitement, anticipation and dread. Three years spent abroad in Singapore, running away from Japan and its memories, and now, she was back to enter the final year in high school. She had studied consistently and well in the Japanese School in Singapore, and felt confident of keeping up with the rest of the class. Her Japanese had been kept up to standard as well, despite having no cause to use in the largely English-speaking Singapore scene.
Would it be any different if they had survived? Of course. She would not be going to Shohoku, then. More like another school nearer to her previous home.
She sighed and went to bed, hugging a worn stuffed toy giraffe as she slept.
To be continued…[when I find the time, and if reviews are favourable…]
