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 8

She woke up with a splitting headache, her mind a mundane swirl of thoughts.

Kaede and Nakami…

Nakami is pregnant with Kaede's child.

Kaede and Nakami…

The thoughts were so painful, she screamed, sitting up violently. Immediately she found herself wrapped up in a warm embrace. The gentle, familiar voice caressing her senses, "I'm here, I'm here."

Rukawa felt a wave of relief when she stirred and showed signs of waking up, but his heart tightened when she sat up screaming, "Nooo!!!" More fervent to soothe her than ever, he pulled her close to himself and whispered into her ears, hoping that could calm her down. True enough, her screams stopped and turned into heavy sobbing instead. He patted her back comfortingly as she cried. They stayed that way for a long time until she cooled down and sat back, staring at him with mournful eyes.

"Shi…Shinya." Don't look at me like that…I'm not guilty.

"How long has it been?"

"What?"

"You being with Nakami."

"Shinya, we are childhood acquaintances, but I never touched her."

"…Really? But she said…" Shinya stared at him with wide eyes.

"She had always wanted to marry me, and she's jealous of you." Rukawa sighed, moving closer towards her, his nose brushing across her forehead, inhaling the fresh aroma of jasmine flowers issued from her soft black hair.

"…Oh." She closed her eyes, fighting back tears that threatened to fall again. She had wronged him. She should have known that Kaede doesn't like Nakami a single bit, right from the beginning.

* * *

Nakami looked back at the house with a strand of regret and disappointment in her eyes. She came, hoping to seduce her childhood love into marrying her. She had been so confident of herself, but Shinya proved her wrong. Nakami could see for herself that Rukawa's wife was far superior to her in many ways, even in terms of looks and posture which, Nakami, had prided upon. She knew that if she stayed on, Rukawa would hack her to bits, if not strangle her. Why stay on and be a nuisance to both him and his little wife? She should have just gone back to Tokyo and enjoy the adoring gazes of the men who worshipped her. "Kanagawa Internal Airport please." She said quietly to the cab driver.

* * *

Alas, as for so many other stories, our story had to end here. As would for many other stories, we have a happy ending here. Kaede and Shinya would live together happily for a very long time, if not ever after. Let the curtains fall, and if you want to read a sequel, please mail the author.

* * * * *

THE END

(Or is it?)