::Time Heals All Wounds ::

[Chapter Three]

[Flashback]

Disclaimer: Slam Dunk and its characters do not belong to me!



It was seven years ago. Kogure Kiminobu, then just ten, was walking home after school when two school bullies confronted him. His spectacles were lying on the ground, trampled upon mercilessly. His hair was tousled and messy, and his eyes were filled with fear. He gulped as the taller of the two bullies pinned him to the wall. "Give me your pocket money, Four- Eyes!"

His hand was reaching into his pockets, as the hand around his neck tightened. In his mind he thought, 'Not fair, I have a broken arm!'



"What are you doing?" a girl's voice resounded in Kogure's head.

Apparently, it was not a fragment of his imagination.

The bullies dropped him and turned to the intruder. They laughed. She was small in size, and her hair was tied into two ponytails. She stood there, arms akimbo, demanding that they stop their bullying.

She had the skill to give weight to her words. She kicked them forcefully in the shins, and they limped away in pain.



"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yes. Thank you," Kogure said. "I'm Kogure Kiminobu."

"I'm Kimi. Suzuki Kimi."



Kogure sat bolt upright in his seat. The television was showing a movie which he had ended up sleeping through. He jolted awake when he recalled that scene so long ago. That was where he had first met Kimi. He wondered if she still remembered. He almost didn't.

Kimi had stayed for the whole of practice, and had met Anzai-sensei. It turned out that he was an old friend of her mother's, and he was pleased to see her after so long. The last time they had met, Kimi had been but a three-year-old. Not that she remembered. They spent some time catching up, and Kimi did most of the talking.

She had waited till practice was over, and was introduced to the players. They headed off for the locker room, while she stayed behind with Ayako.

When he had come out after a refreshing shower, she had come up to him and thanked him for allowing her to watch the practice.

"No need to thank me," he had said, surprised. Akagi had said the same thing.

Later, the team dispersed and went their separate ways, with Akagi tearing Haruko away from her gaze at Rukawa, Ryota insisting on accompanying Ayako home, and she on her part not refusing very wholeheartedly, and rest stalking out on their own. Kogure had switched off the lights and locked up the gym, then suggested that he walk her home.

Which he did.



Author's Note: Sorry, are my chapters getting shorter and shorter? Well, look on the bright side: at least they're coming along! *grin*