The Bride
Author: Silhouette
Email: silhouette_panther@msn.com
Genre: Romance, Alternate Universe
Pairing: Rukawa X OC (Shinya Hiiragashi)
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk does not…. blah (I mean, everybody knows it, right?)
Chapter 2
[He looked at her, and noticed that her eyes were blank and empty, totally emotionless. A peculiar feeling came through him and before he knew what he was doing, he kissed her on the lips.
Shinya felt her world spinning into oblivion as she felt that kiss.]
It was unlike anything else she had felt before. The kiss was feathery light, but it was more like a gentle caress. Her heart was thumping faster than ever and she could feel tears stinging her eyes. No, she could not bring herself to dislike the man.
Just as fast as it came, the kiss went. The entire church roared with applause and various cheering from the people outside, old ladies could be seen dabbing their eyes with their husbands' hankies, "This is so beautiful…so beautiful…"
Shinya blushed to the toes and started examining the intricate designs on the carpet instead. Rukawa Kaede merely looked at the air in front of him, "What am I doing," He thought, "I'm not going to fall for a little gold digger am I?"
* * *
The magnificent garden was flooded with guests, toasting each other and enjoying the food. Among them, a red-haired man was clowning around with another man with a wild mop of black hair (^-^ any idea who?), earning peals of laughter from the girls around them. Under the garden shades was a mob of seven men, namely, Sendoh Akira, Uozumi Jun, Maki Shinichi, Akagi Takenori, Kawata Masashi, Kogure Kiminobu and Miyagi Ryota (A/N: He is certainly out-Weighted ^_^)
Maki: That ice block's finally got himself tied down.
Sendoh: * Laughs * Yeah, finally. It's time for a girl to control him. Wahoo! I shall miss the good ole days when the eight of us go hunting together. (A/N: You don't think he goes hunting alone do you?) That girl's a babe, darn lucky fellow.
Kawata: * Rolls eyes * Damned Casanova, what happened to your Ryoko?
Sendoh: * Jumps to defend himself * Ryoko will always be my favourite girl! I was just stating a fact. * Grins stupidly * Here comes Ryoko.
Ryoko: Akira, are you saying bad things about me? No wonder I sneezed so many times just now. * Pouts *
Sendoh: Oh, no, Ryoko darling, I was just telling them how sweet and lovely you are. Come on, let's say hi to the new couple. * Goes off with Ryoko *
Akagi: * Laughs * One more down, we can expect another wedding within this year. Sendoh is really serious about Ryoko this time.
Kogure: * Looks around * Where's Mitsui?
Miyagi: * Bored tone * He is over there, flirting with the bride's sister. That pig, drooled like crazy when he saw that poor girl. * Turned pink * that's Aya-chan! I shall go and speak to her. * Runs off *
Uozumi: Who is the pig around here?
* * *
Shinya sipped on a glass of Champagne that was offered to her by Ryoko, listening to the pretty girl talk about how Sendoh spoke of Rukawa, "Akira said that Rukawa-san is usually very silent and never broke through his eight-syllable rule," She giggled, "However, there's something he really like to say," Shinya looked at her curiously, "What is it?"
"Do-aho." Ryoko broke off into peals of laughter, "He loved to call Akira 'do-aho', said that he smiled too much. You see the redhead over there? That's Sakuragi-san. Rukawa-san always called him do-aho." Shinya looked in the direction Ryoko was pointing in and saw this man with flaming red hair guffawing crazily. She could vaguely hear him say something about a Tensai. "No wonder." Shinya laughed softly, Sakuragi certainly had the comical air about him.
* * *
"Hoi, Bridegroom, why are you ignoring your exquisite little wife like this?" Sendoh went up to Rukawa.
"Don't need to." Rukawa looked at Ryoko who was chatting happily with Shinya. "You don't like her?" Sendoh narrowed his eyes; he was always very sensitive about this kind of thing.
"Shove off, Do-aho." Rukawa rose from his chair and walked past Sendoh, "Don't let me hear anything about the wife again."
Sendoh stared at Rukawa's back, bewildered, "That's 1, 2, 3…11, 12, 13 syllables!"
* * *
Shinya eased herself into the huge bathtub, closing her eyes to the steam rising from the warm water. It was a busy day, entertaining all the guests. There were some nice old couples that were friends of the Rukawa clan, who were gushing over her like she's some immortal being. 'Angel' was the word they used on her. There were also a group of young ladies who were glaring at her with daggers in their eyes. Shinya felt sure that if Rukawa had not been sitting nearby, and that Ryoko and Sendoh were talking to her, the young ladies might say or do something drastic to her. They were apparently advent admirers of her newly wed husband. This is absurd. Why would they fall so badly for that walking block of ice? There's no guarantee to some people's taste in men. The kiss at the ceremony was the only form of contact that they had in the entire day. The remaining time they had was spent entertaining the guests, but Rukawa did not say a single word to her. He probably treat me as some form of goods, returned in favour of the debts. She thought bitterly, not a bride who had fallen in love with her husband.
Shinya drew the sponge over her delicate skin lightly, making up her mind. If Rukawa Kaede wanted to look down on her, she would not allow him to do so. She shall prove to him that she has the ability to take care of herself and his household. After all, she was the future mistress of the house.
She got out of the bath, dried herself and slipped on a long nightgown. "Mitsuko?" She called out lightly. The old lady had introduced herself as the mistress's maid-in-waiting and Shinya liked her very much, for she had a sweet motherly air about her that reminded herself of her own mother. Mitsuko came in, beaming, "Mistress, you called for me?" Shinya smiled sincerely, "Mitsuko, would you mind drying my hair for me? It's too long and takes a long time to dry." "Definitely, Mistress, lie down on the bed, on your belly please." Shinya did what she was told and relaxed into the mattress as the old lady rubbed the towel through her hair gently, "Mistress, what do you think of this house?"
"It's very large, very grand." Shinya replied simply, she bore no sentiments to this place at all.
"That's nice, how do you find Master Kaede?"
"He is a good looking man."
"That's all?" Mitsuko sound surprised, "I thought you would say more?"
"What more? About the fact that his grandfather forced me to marry him? About the fact that he himself was reluctant to do so? About the fact that he ignored me throughout the whole event?"
"But Mistress, Master Kaede must have liked you a lot! You see, I noticed him looking at you for quite many times and he had a gentle, passionate fire burning in his eyes. I never saw him look at any woman like that before…" Mitsuko's voice broke off suddenly, "M…master Kaede!"
Shinya turned her head and saw Rukawa standing by the bed, his face a cold hard mask, "Clean my study and go to bed." Mitsuko gently apologized to Shinya and left the room. Shinya got off the bed and took the towel beside her; she sat down before the large mirror and continued to dry her long wet tresses, without a word. Rukawa moved towards her and took the towel from her in a wrenching motion, "I'll do it." He fingered her hair and caressed it with the towel. Shinya stared at the man through the mirror, outraged. How dare he be so impudent! So tyrannical, so mean, so… she struggled to find words to describe the man who had robbed her of her towel and invading her privacy. She stood up in a flustered move and grabbed a comb, trying to make her way to the bathroom.
A cool voice approached her, "Do you really hate marrying me?"
She stopped dead in her path.
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A/N: Unfortunately an anti-aircraft missile had hit our plane. We hope you enjoyed the ride. Goodbye and hope to see you again.
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