Comforting Warmth: A Slam Dunk fanfic
By: nikki hiiragizawa nikki_hiiragizawa@rurouni.com
Rating: R
Genre: angst/drama/romance
Pairings: RuHana/HanaRu, RuKo/KoRu, MitKo/KoMit
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk is not mine. If it is mine, then Kogure is the main character. ^.^
Nikki: Welcome to the second chapter! *wipes eyes* I kinda got sniffy over that Sakuragi thing…now I regret killing him…
Fujima: Now, now, Nikki-san…
Kiyota: YES! Be guilty! Confess to the electric chair…*WHAM*
Kiyota lay unmoving on the floor.
Nikki: Saa, this one is more depressing for me…but not for you I hope, cos it took me a lot of time to think about this…anyway, I am planning to remove the PG-13 rating and replace it with R. the conflicts and scenes and issues are getting to be R-ish, don't you think? Please read on!
Fujima: Don't forget to review kudasai!
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CHAPTER 2:
Samui… Rukawa sighed as he stirred on his bed. His dark hair was slightly ruffled as he continuously changed his position on the mattress. Something was making him excessively uneasy tonight. He was really worried about Sakuragi. He shouldn't have made the power forward stay until it was late. The storm continued to roar through the city and Rukawa became more and more anxious.
But Sakuragi told him not to mind. Rukawa smiled as he remembered what the tensai had told him before leaving. Surely, there isn't anything to worry about, especially that Sakuragi himself said it. They will see each other tomorrow. A new movie will be released tomorrow, too and they'll go watch it together.
"Tomorrow," Rukawa whispered against his pillow as he shifted to get some sleep. "Tomorrow we'll see each other again, and my do'ahou will make the day complete." He pulled the covers over him as he drifted off to dream land, where his red-headed lover was waiting to be with him.
+++
"Nani?" The Shohoku captain almost crushed the phone under the pressure of his massive hand. "Miyagi, you better be not joking!" he roared, his voice competing with the rumbles of thunder outside.
Miyagi's voice was apparently laced with agitation. This was one emotion Akagi had not seen or heard in the point guard before. "I cannot believe it myself, Akagi-sempai. I…well…" A girl's cries was heard in the background. Akagi recognized it to be Ayako's. Miyagi excused himself from the phone and Akagi could hear him soothing his girlfriend. Then, the point guard was back. "Akagi, believe me, please. We need you here now!"
It cannot be true…Akagi said to himself. Just when everything is alright…no… He slammed the phone back to its cradle and got his coat, plunging to the shadows as he hurried to the hospital where Ayako and Miyagi were.
+++
Akagi Takenori, Kogure Kiminobu, Mitsui Hisashi, Miyagi Ryota, Kakuta Satoru, Tetsushi Shiozaki, , and Ayako stood inside the hospital lobby. Although struck with shock, they finally accepted what was done. Most of them shed tears every now and then. The doctor had said his verdict.
Sakuragi Hanamichi is dead.
They tried calling all their teammates, coaxing them to get their last glimpse of the tensai. However, they cannot contact the others because of the intensity of the storm. They all stood in silence, hoping they will have the guts to report this hideous happening tomorrow at the practice.
Kogure went over to Akagi and touched his shoulder. "Oi," he softly called to attract the captain's attention.
"Nani, Kogure?" Akagi sat weakly on the bench provided for visitors. It was a shock, Sakuragi's death. It never occurred to him that that bastard boy would meet his end soon. If he knew so, he would have been more tolerant with the red-haired monkey. He would have wished to have a million injured feet than lose Sakuragi - their comic relief, their rebounder, their daily annoying companion, their life.
Kogure pursed his lips in a tight line and whispered, "We haven't called him yet."
For a while, Akagi can't quite grasp what Kogure was talking about. Then he remembered. "Why haven't you called Rukawa, then?"
The vice-captain looked at him as if he was a weird being. "Don't you think it will be a shock for him?"
"It was much like a shock for all of us."
"But, Akagi!"
The captain nodded. He knew. Rukawa will be much affected by the loss. Even though neither Rukawa nor Sakuragi had told him, he and Kogure already know about the relationship between the two. It was quite obvious if you look beyond their daily doses of quarrels. Although he doesn't fully understand the feelings of the two, he is sane enough to know how losing someone you love feels. "Sou ka. Somebody must tell him one way or the other."
Kogure bowed his head and sat on the bench with Akagi. "Demo…" he found himself being watched. He looked up and saw Mitsui on the other side of the room intently watching him.
Oops. Mitsui quickly turned his head towards the group of their teammates the instant Kogure looked up. Shit! He mustn't know I'm watching him. This is not the time for flirting, man! Mitsui knew he was right. He actually cannot put up with the fact that the red-haired monkey is gone…forever…what on earth will Rukawa feel? He strove to turn his attention to the Sakuragi gundan who were entering the hospital at record speed. Mitsui watched them scramble towards the room where Sakuragi's form lay.
Kogure sadly shook his head, his hands firmly fisted on his knees. He saw the Youhei and the others ran to Sakuragi's room. Demo, how will we tell Rukawa about it… he kept thinking. Ever compassionate and sympathetic, he cannot bear to see Rukawa languish, no matter how much of an ass that guy is. Kogure's brows furrowed as he tried to think of ways to placate Rukawa when he tell him…
"Hanamichi!!!!" Sakuragi's friends' voices echoed through the hall. The present members of the Shohoku basketball team bowed their heads. A while ago, they were the ones screaming the power forward's name. How distressing was it to hear somebody else mourn.
Sakuragi's parents finished talking with the doctor. They shook hands with Akagi as the captain bade their farewell to the couple. "Kogure," Akagi said as he walked slowly out of the hospital. "I'll leave Rukawa to you. I have to do comforting like yours…to Haruko." He sprinted to the night, leaving Kogure staring at the near empty road.
"Maa, Rukawa will kill me!" he muttered to himself as he clenched his jacket nearer to his skin.
"Kogure!" Mitsui came towards him. "I was wondering if we could go home together."
The vice-captain smiled weakly, his mouth still quivering from the tears he had shed a while ago. "Sure, Mitsui. If it does not bother you, I will be glad to have a companion." They walked off to their homes.
+++
Rukawa cautiously opened the door to the basketball court. He was well aware that he had arrived three hours before the practice, and that he managed to cycle to school even though the fog was thick and the storm had not yet ebbed. The rain still showered steadily and clouds darkly covered the supposedly clear autumn sky.
His eyed roved the floor. Within an hour, Sakuragi will be here. That thought earned a smile. They would practice shooting of course, nothing more but it was enough. Just a little time before Mitsui and Miyagi come barging in will be enough. Oh Joy. He donned his white shirt and blue shorts and tied his shoes tightly.
He picked up one of the basketballs from its container and began to warm himself up vigorously. Dribbling and shooting like mad, he scored continuously, not missing even a single shot. Many minutes passed, and he finally halted his practice and looked at the clock. Seven o' clock, he mused. An hour had already passed since he started practicing. Hanamichi will be here soon, he happily thought, running through his mind images of his angel…that red-haired impish angel of his…his only.
The door groaned as somebody pushed it open. Rukawa expectantly turned around, eager to see the smiling face of the shooting guard he had memorized the features of. He could almost hear him…
The Shohoku vice-captain Kogure was standing on what should be Sakuragi's place on by the door. Hiding disappointment from his face, Rukawa turned around once more.
"Rukawa." Kogure's voice was firm, yet a slight gentleness in his quivering tone coaxed the Shohoku ace to turn around.
"Nani, sempai?"
Kogure wiped his sweaty palms on his pants. Really, why is he the one who is supposed to do this…he who is not so good with talking to people like Rukawa? He took a deep breath and steadied himself. "We, uh, need to talk about something."
Rukawa eyed his sempai carefully. "You're going to talk to me?"
"Ha…hai…is something wrong with that?"
"Only me?" Rukawa grew more and more curious. He never got to know Kogure very much. Most of the time the vice-captain would prefer speaking to Ayako or Akagi or Mitsui, and move away from him. Shrugging, he nodded to show that he is attentive.
"Do you…" Rukawa saw Kogure shift his weight nervously. "Do you want to talk about it in the locker room?"
Now, Rukawa had both of his eyebrows raised. This was very unlike the vice-captain, but since Kogure is inching towards their locker room, he hesitantly followed.
Inside, Kogure let out a long sigh. Step one is over, he thought to himself. Now, for the worst part… he saw the ace enter the room from the corner of his eye. Rukawa sat down on one of the long benches. "Anou, Rukawa…I have to tell you something very important."
"Just get on with it, sempai!" Rukawa snapped, sending quivers down Kogure's spine.
Kogure sat beside him. "Anou, yesterday, did you…did you talk to Sakuragi?"
"What is it if I talked to that do'ahou?" Rukawa sensed the vice-captain's form tense. He clenched his fists on his shorts and kept quiet.
Kogure was ready to fall dead. Akagi must be crazy to let him handle Rukawa alone! Still what has happened cannot be undone, so he prepared himself for the worst. "You see, Rukawa…" He slightly bowed his head, covering his eyes from Rukawa's view. "You see, Sakuragi met a terrible accident last night."
Rukawa turned stiff. He slowly turned his face towards Kogure. "What happened?"
"He…he was hit by a truck, just as he was going home. Ayako…and Miyagi were the ones who hurried him to the hospital…but the doctor…"
Rukawa shut his eyes, loathing seeing Kogure's sympathetic face before him. No, it must be…it cannot…
"The doctor could not save him."
A cold splash whipped through the small forward. It is not true, he mused as he sat frozen. Hanamichi told me not to worry…no…
Kogure was puzzled by Rukawa's silence. His brown eyes scanned the other boy's face. "Rukawa, I am so sorry…"
Rukawa let his head bow. "What do you have to be sorry for? It's not like it's your fault. At least, I have one person off my back."
"Nani?" Kogure looked at him with horror. He couldn't think that Rukawa could even say such things. "But Rukawa don't you love him?" He suddenly covered his mouth. Now he got what he really wanted - Rukawa's attention.
"What did you say?"
Oh well, better be honest… "Rukawa, we…Akagi and I already know…about you and Sakuragi…" He jumped as Rukawa stormed out of the locker room.
Kogure ran after the small forward, only to find out that he has gone back to his practice. The ace stiffly stood at the middle of the court, plaintively dribbling the ball. "Rukawa, I…I know how you feel…"
"No, you don't."
"Ru…kawa?"
"You do not know how I feel," the ace flatly said. He continued to dribble the ball continuously, never missing a rhythm. Down, up, down, up, went the ball; until Kogure realized, in sync with the rhythm, tears dropped on the floor.
Kogure moved a foot. "Rukawa…"
"He is gone…forever." Rukawa bounced the ball so hard it almost reached the ceiling as it tumbled out of reach. Rukawa followed it with his eyes but said nothing.
Tears, real tears…and I never hoped for the day I will see our ace weep. Kogure couldn't help feeling immense concern for the small forward. He finally walked towards Rukawa and held his shoulder. "Rukawa…"
Shohoku's ace slumped on the floor, bunching his knees before him and placing his head on the joints of those knees. Kogure crouched beside him, and the vice-captain could swear he heard a sob. Dropping all caution, Kogure pulled Rukawa to him and encircled comforting arms around him. "I'm so sorry, Rukawa. I never wanted to break it to you harshly…I…"
His eyes widened as Rukawa moved his head and let it settle on Kogure's shoulder, the vice-captain's shirt bunched on his fists. "He's gone," he whispered against Kogure's chest. "He is gone…"
Kogure almost melted as he witnessed Rukawa's other side - the one who is making his shirt wet with warm tears, the one who was clutching to him like a lost child, the one who was crying as if the world had already crumbled. The weak, seemingly useless side that Rukawa never revealed to others, maybe to Sakuragi, but not to him, Kogure Kiminobu, not to him. Being able to see Rukawa like this was like being shot. He ruffled Rukawa's dark hair and soothed him with comforting words.
It seemed to go on forever, but then Rukawa suddenly moved away and stood up. "Sempai," he huskily addressed the vice-captain. He pulled up the hem of his shirt and wiped his tears.
"Rukawa…are you sure…" The small forward nodded.
Rukawa looked away and started to walk towards his things, picking his bag up and slinging it over his shoulder. "Please tell captain I am going to skip practice today."
"But…" The only answer Kogure received was the shutting of the basketball court's door.
+++
"Kogure, what happened to Rukawa?" Akagi asked the seemingly lost Kogure while they practiced their daily drills.
The vice-captain seemed to wake up and smiled faintly. "Oh, he said he'll skip practice today."
Akagi nodded in understanding. He could understand Rukawa's situation. Emotions are very strong pillars but once they tumble, it takes a long time to recover them. He shot a last glance at the faraway vice-captain and ran towards the other direction. He better not pump Kogure with too many questions. His talk with Rukawa must be emotionally exhausting.
On the other side of the court, Mitsui worriedly watched Kogure, who was staring off to space like some swooning high school girl. What on earth could have happened on his talk with Rukawa? Deciding to give his secret dream some peace and quiet, he forced himself to ignore Kogure for the rest of the day.
+++
Kogure ate his dinner mechanically, his thoughts somewhere else. Luckily, his parents weren't there, or they would be lecturing him on proper Japanese etiquette on the table. Poor Rukawa, he thought. I wish I could help him get rid of those painful thoughts. He placed one cheek on his palm and pondered deeply. He knew there was no way anybody could replace Sakuragi, but maybe a little comfort and talk would get Rukawa going again. He did not stop to wonder why he was doing this to make his life difficult, for it was his nature to get involved with other people's dilemmas. Instead, he thought about good ways to make the Shohoku ace feel better.
The doorbell chimed, breaking Kogure's stream of thoughts. He grumpily stood up and opened the door.
"Ru…Rukawa!" His brown eyes dilated in shock as he saw Rukawa's tall frame outside his house. "What are you doing here?"
Rukawa met his eyes but did not answer his question yet. "Is anyone there with you?" he asked.
"No, my parents are in Yokohama…but why are you here?" Kogure eyed the bag Rukawa was carrying. It was not the same bag he was carrying what seemed lie moments before.
"I…Will you let me stay for the night?" Rukawa straightly asked the vice-captain.
Kogure nodded. "Demo, why would you want to stay here…with me? Do your parents…"
"Kogure." The vice-captain stopped his speech in mid-sentence as he heard Rukawa address him informally.
"Rukawa…anou…"
Rukawa leaned and took the vice-captain's shoulders in a firm grip. "Kogure, please…comfort me. Make me forget…"
"Rukawa….?"
The Kogure residence's door slammed shut, enclosing the two people under its protection. Slowly, the dark clouds were blown away, leaving in its trail the promise of a bright day tomorrow.
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Nikki: Ko…*chokes* Kogure!!!!!!!!!!!
Fujima: now, now…
Nikki: This is a mortal sin! My love, Kogure…
Fujima: You mean, I am not the one you really love?
Nikki: *suddenly perks up* Oh, of course you are Fujima! I was just…erm…carried away!
Kiyotadead: Don't let yourself be fooled. She's a…
A flying figure suddenly appeared…transparent, glowing…and…red-haired???
Sakuragighost: Teme you fanfic writer! Why did you kill me?!
Nikki: Oh Kami…*scuttles behind Fujima* Save me!
Fujima: I am afraid I only know basketball. *grabs Nikki's hands and started to run*
Sakuragighost: Oi! You…I'll get you sooner or later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nikki: *.*
