:: With Eyes that See ::
[Chapter Six]
[The Road Home]
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk and its characters do not belong to me…
Author's Notes: I didn't plan on making Shika fall for anyone…but there's a reason behind the implied pairing…but it isn't a pairing…did I just contradict myself here? Anyway, Rukawa is one of my faves…but I'm NOT one of those Rukawa Brigade members… :P
Replies:
Keax-XV: Too much Rukawa X OC that kinda revolves around the same storyline…I agree!
Nellie: I checked out your new Fujima fic…interesting combi! I want four German shepherds too! No fair! Do they romp around the house a lot? Not destructive, I hope!
L.I.D: Rukawa does not always get the girls…in my opinion at least! Check out my Kogure X OC fic "Time Heals All Wounds"…
Icko14: Internet hours…sigh…anyway, June's comin' up!
"How do you play so well?" Rukawa asked.
"I told you, practice! You sound as if you don't believe me," she said.
"Yare, yare…" Rukawa mumbled.
"It's true!" she exclaimed.
She was reaching home already. Most of the walk had passed in silence, or one-sided conversation as Shika tried to bring out a response from the ever- silent kitsune. She talked about everything – from how dark the sky was to her guide dog, Seiko.
It was only toward the end that Rukawa started asking questions. From what he was talking about, Rukawa's passion was basketball. He kept asking her the secret of her success. She was a little sad. It was saddening to hear a boy ramble on about a sport that seemed to take up every bit of his waking hours, and exhausted every ounce of his energy. It was as if nothing else mattered, not family, not friends, not anything else. Would she have become like that? She had been fanatical.
Maybe she would have been.
Rukawa's mind was focused on but one word. Practice. Practice. Practice.
She was good. He would be better. He had to be the best. He had to show everyone. He had to show his father.
I am not a loser. I am the best. I will be the best in Japan. He had no right to call me a loser.
Indeed, Rukawa was still filled with resentment against his abusive father. His ambition all but consumed him. It was his being, his reason to live.
Rukawa stopped when the dog stopped. This had to be her home. It was an average house, and at the doorway stood a woman, her silhouette clearly visible. Had to be her mother.
Shika smelt the fragrance of the flowers on the creeper that grew on the gate, and knew she was home. "Shika!" her mother's relieved voice could be heard. Definitely home. She turned to Rukawa, who was still beside her, "Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow in school, then. Don't stay up too late to practice, okay?"
Rukawa looked on as Shika tried to get Seiko to say goodbye as well, but his mind was reeling with the shock her words had brought on him. How did she know he was going to practice?
Shira entered her home, giving her mother and father hugs. 'I wonder if you will go home tonight, Rukawa,' she thought.
He didn't.
He was at the neighbourhood basketball courts, practicing till dawn. He shot basket after basket, willing himself to stay awake, willing his body to endure. He didn't dare to try a shot with his eyes closed – he was afraid of the results. He told himself he didn't need to shoot with his eyes closed. He had to be better than the girl.
Dawn broke, finding an exhausted Rukawa sleeping on the hard court.
It was a marvel that he even got to school that day, though he shouldn't have bothered, since he slept through all the lessons anyway.
[Chapter Six]
[The Road Home]
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk and its characters do not belong to me…
Author's Notes: I didn't plan on making Shika fall for anyone…but there's a reason behind the implied pairing…but it isn't a pairing…did I just contradict myself here? Anyway, Rukawa is one of my faves…but I'm NOT one of those Rukawa Brigade members… :P
Replies:
Keax-XV: Too much Rukawa X OC that kinda revolves around the same storyline…I agree!
Nellie: I checked out your new Fujima fic…interesting combi! I want four German shepherds too! No fair! Do they romp around the house a lot? Not destructive, I hope!
L.I.D: Rukawa does not always get the girls…in my opinion at least! Check out my Kogure X OC fic "Time Heals All Wounds"…
Icko14: Internet hours…sigh…anyway, June's comin' up!
"How do you play so well?" Rukawa asked.
"I told you, practice! You sound as if you don't believe me," she said.
"Yare, yare…" Rukawa mumbled.
"It's true!" she exclaimed.
She was reaching home already. Most of the walk had passed in silence, or one-sided conversation as Shika tried to bring out a response from the ever- silent kitsune. She talked about everything – from how dark the sky was to her guide dog, Seiko.
It was only toward the end that Rukawa started asking questions. From what he was talking about, Rukawa's passion was basketball. He kept asking her the secret of her success. She was a little sad. It was saddening to hear a boy ramble on about a sport that seemed to take up every bit of his waking hours, and exhausted every ounce of his energy. It was as if nothing else mattered, not family, not friends, not anything else. Would she have become like that? She had been fanatical.
Maybe she would have been.
Rukawa's mind was focused on but one word. Practice. Practice. Practice.
She was good. He would be better. He had to be the best. He had to show everyone. He had to show his father.
I am not a loser. I am the best. I will be the best in Japan. He had no right to call me a loser.
Indeed, Rukawa was still filled with resentment against his abusive father. His ambition all but consumed him. It was his being, his reason to live.
Rukawa stopped when the dog stopped. This had to be her home. It was an average house, and at the doorway stood a woman, her silhouette clearly visible. Had to be her mother.
Shika smelt the fragrance of the flowers on the creeper that grew on the gate, and knew she was home. "Shika!" her mother's relieved voice could be heard. Definitely home. She turned to Rukawa, who was still beside her, "Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow in school, then. Don't stay up too late to practice, okay?"
Rukawa looked on as Shika tried to get Seiko to say goodbye as well, but his mind was reeling with the shock her words had brought on him. How did she know he was going to practice?
Shira entered her home, giving her mother and father hugs. 'I wonder if you will go home tonight, Rukawa,' she thought.
He didn't.
He was at the neighbourhood basketball courts, practicing till dawn. He shot basket after basket, willing himself to stay awake, willing his body to endure. He didn't dare to try a shot with his eyes closed – he was afraid of the results. He told himself he didn't need to shoot with his eyes closed. He had to be better than the girl.
Dawn broke, finding an exhausted Rukawa sleeping on the hard court.
It was a marvel that he even got to school that day, though he shouldn't have bothered, since he slept through all the lessons anyway.
