::Time Heals All Wounds ::

[Chapter Four]

[A Walk in the Rain]



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

Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews, I really appreciate them! Coming to the end of what I've planned so far. I'll probably be rounding off this fic in the next chapter…we'll see.

Replies:

icko14: I agree! Non-yaoi Kogure fics deserve some share of the spotlight too!

Iron kitty: thanks for taking the time to review!



It was raining hard that day. Unabashed, Rukawa headed out into the rain. Followed closely by Mitsui. The rest staggered out in twos and threes, huddled under whatever shelter they could find. Some exercise books and newspapers were hence sacrificed. Haruko and Akagi made their way along awkwardly under Haruko's umbrella, with Akagi slouching comically. Ayako returned the many "favours" Ryota had given her and suggested that this time, she walk him home.

"Kogure? How are you getting home?" Kimi asked.

"Me? Err…what about you?" he stammered.

"Don't return the question to me like that! Anyway, I'll be walking home. I've got an umbrella; it's an absolute necessity in the tropical Singapore, so I got used to carrying it everywhere."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow then. I'm going to get my umbrella from the locker room. Ja!" Kogure lied through his teeth. He did not have an umbrella.

"Okay then, ja!"



He waited till she had gone a respectable distance before walking away from school.

Not long enough though.



Kimi was kneeling on the ground, tying up a stray shoelace that had threatened to trip her twice already. Then, she heard footsteps behind her. Due to the late practice hours, it was quite dark, and she could not see who he was. Instinctively, her right fist was clenched into a ball. She forced herself to relax, rule number one of a fight. Still, her mind was on the alert, and she stood up from her crouched position in a fluid motion.

The footsteps grew louder. She could vaguely make out the silhouette of the person – broad shoulders and short hair – and concluded that it was a male. He was walking with his head down, the rain, she guessed, and with luck, he would walk right past her since they were on opposite sides of the street.

He did.

It was only when he had turned the next corner that Kimi realised that it was Kogure. His side profile was unmistakable.

"Kogure-kun!"



Kogure was startled, and turned in the direction of the voice. Kimi's voice. He thought, 'I'm dead.'

"Kimi-chan?" he asked hesitantly, knowing it was her yet hoping it was not.

"Kogure-kun baka," she said in a hurt tone, "I did tell you I had an umbrella!"

"I…well I…I…" Kogure tried coming up with an excuse that did not sound lame. By then she was already beside him, and had the umbrella sheltering both of them.

"Enough. I'll walk you home today."



Kogure felt embarrassed. Very embarrassed.

He kept silent.



Kimi noticed this, and smiled to herself. Boys could be so stubborn. Just then, she noticed that his left shoulder was getting wet with the rain. She moved closer to him so the shelter covered both of them.

People she had loved had died. She was afraid to love again. Yet, why this feeling?

She obstinately shut her mind to her feelings, choosing instead to focus on the pavement in front of her.