A Fling - Does It Mean A Thing?
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk belongs to Inoue Takehiko. It doesn't belong to me at all, except probably the three Sakuragi siblings.
Summary: Rukawa broke up with Hana because he didn't want her to be a distraction to his Japan Youth Camp. Set after Akagi, Mitsui and Kogure went to take their entrance exams, Miyagi became captain, and Rukawa's going to leave.
A/n: Expect OOC
Chapter 4
"Hmm, probably in four days' time," answered Mr. Sakuragi.
******
School...
Mr. Sakuragi faxed the letter to the principal, and Hana's form teacher, telling them that Hana will be away from school for a month and a half.
Anzai-sensei, meanwhile, received the letter from Hana herself.
****
"Sakuragi, are you sure about this?" asked Anzai-sensei.
"Well, oyaji, it's not actually my decision, but I'll be back after two months," Hana answered.
"You are fluent in English, ne?"
"Of course I do, Oyaji," Hana answered in English. "Half my blood are gaijin blood,"
"I know that," Anzai sensei answered and smiled at Hana.
"Hana, you are leaving?" asked Ryota sadly.
"Don't worry Ryocchin, I'll be back in two months," Hana answered.
"Anything to do with him?" asked Ryota quietly, watching the silent ravenhead.
"Partly, don't tell anyone though," Hana answered quietly.
"I'll email you when I get the chance, Hana-chan!" Haruko said excitedly, and yet, sadly.
"Sure sure, Haruko-chan,"
"Where are you going to stay over at the States?" asked Ayako.
"At my brother, Ryuen's apartment,"
***
Keisuke, and Ryuen, and quite coincidently, Akagi, Kogure and Mitsui happened to meet each other when all of them headed towards the gym.
"Konnichiwa," Keisuke cheerfully greeted.
"Sakuragi's brothers?" asked Akagi.
"Yup, both of us are, how'd you guess?" asked Ryuen.
"Your red hair, it's so similar to Sakuragi's," Kogure answered. "What are both of you doing here?"
"We want to watch Hana's last practice match with Shohoku,"
"Nandato?" Akagi thundered.
"What do you mean by last match?" Kogure asked curiously.
"We'll explain later," Keisuke answered.
*****
At the gym
The first thing that Keisuke did, was try to chat up Ayako.
"Hi Ayako," Keisuke greeted brightly.
"Hi Keisuke-kun, what are you doing here?" Ayako replied.
"Just wanna watch Hana's last practice match," Keisuke answered.
"Kei-nii-chan! Ryuen-nii-chan!" Hana squealed happily and proceeded to hug her two taller brothers.
"Hana-chan, we want to watch your last practice match with Shohoku," Ryuen said.
"Sakuragi, is it true that you are leaving?" asked Akagi.
Hana nodded. "But don't worry Gori, the tensai will be back in two months time!" Hana boasted and laughed her insane laugh.
Akagi felt an urge to punch her at the head, and Ayako had an urge to hit her with the fan, but both of them stopped due to the presence of Hana's brothers.
"Oh yeah, Ayako-sempai, you know my brother, Keisuke already, right?" Hana asked.
Ayako nodded.
"And this is Sakuragi Ryuen, my other brother, twin of Kei-nii-chan," Hana introduced. "Ryuen-nii-chan, this is Ayako,"
"Boku Wa Sakuragi Ryuen, yoroshiku," Ryuen introduced himself.
Ayako thought, 'They are twins, but yet, Ryuen is so different that Keisuke. Keisuke tried to chat me up, but he didn't, maybe he's gay,'
"Do you play basketball too, Ryuen-kun?" asked Ayako.
"I do, I'm in the university's basketball team in the States," Ryuen answered.
They watched the match, Hana had succeeded in stealing the ball from Miyagi, making the lightning quick captain gasp.
"If I could steal from Fujima, doesn't mean I couldn't steal from you, Ryocchin," Hana boasted, dribbling the ball towards the 1st years offence area, and then, she scored a three pointer.
"Sakuragi! Go! Go! Sakuragi!" chanted the Sakuragi cheerleaders, comprising of some of the boys who have a crush of Hana.
"Too bad she's leaving," Ayako said sadly.
"C'mon, she'll be back in two months time, just in time for the Winter Championship," Keisuke replied.
"Nani? She is?" asked Ayako.
"She didn't tell you all that she'll be back for the championship?" asked Ryuen curiously.
"That means she 'forgot' about it then," Ayako muttered. "She did tell that she'll be away for two months though,"
Ayako made some calculations in her head, and said, "I guess she'll be back, the winter championship is roughly two - three months away. But I'm sure the team will miss her very much,"
"Ayako, why are Sakuragi and Rukawa seemed like, last time?" asked Kogure. "They seemed to be rivals one more time,"
"Didn't Haruko tell both of you?" asked Ayako. "Both of you should have heard it, it's all over the school,"
"Heard what?" asked Akagi.
"They broke up," Ayako said.
"Nani? Can you repeat that again, Ayako?" asked Kogure.
"Sakuragi and Rukawa broke up,"
"Well, I heard that rumour, but I didn't believe it," Akagi answered.
"And I heard it as well, from Mitsui, but I thought Mitsui's joking," Kogure said.
"You should believe in me, Kogure," Mitsui said. "I'm always with the team,"
"Okay okay, you are right," Kogure sighed.
*****
Four days later,
Kanagawa Airport
"I'll miss all of you sooo much! Thank you for sending me off!" Hana said to the teammates that came, and to her guntai.
"Same here, Hana," Miyagi answered. The absence of Rukawa was noticeable, Rukawa deliberately didn't come.
"Don't stop playing basketball over at the States, Hana-chan!" Haruko squealed, although inside, she felt sad that Hana's going away, 'Oh, how can I make them be together again?' she thought.
"I won't, Haruko-chan, here's my email address," she said to Haruko. Haruko took out a pen, and jott down, 'HanaTheTensai@yahoo.com' and S_Hana10@hotmail.com' and Hana jott down Haruko's, 'Akagi_Haruko@hotmail.com' and Akagi_Haruko@yahoo.com
"Eh, you have hotmail, maybe we could chat using MSN, or Yahoo! Messenger if you have it, Haruko-chan," Hana said, after that.
"Sure, Hana-chan," Haruko answered.
"I'll miss you, Mama, Papa, Kei-nii-chan!" Hana said, hugging all her family members.
"Take care of Hana, Ryuen," Mrs. Sakuragi sobbed. Her little girl is going away.
"I certainly will miss your loudness," Keisuke joked.
"Kei-nii-chan!"
"Don't get into trouble, Hana, we won't be there to protect you," Yohei said on behalf of the other gundams, who's deep in tears. Hana nodded.
"Okay, Hana, let's go inside," Ryuen said. Hana nodded. They were just about to enter customs when somebody shouted, 'HANA!'
For a split second, Hana thought Kaede had come to stop her leaving, but as she turned around, it's her two other 'adopted' nii-chans, Hanagata and Fujima.
"Kenji-nii-chan! Toru-nii-chan! Both of you came!" Hana shouted, making other people glare at her.
"Of course we came, we want to send you off as well," Fujima said. "Good luck in the States,"
"And don't stop playing basketball!" Hanagata replied.
"I won't stop playing, and I will play basketball over there,"
And Fujima whispered, "And find a guy worth forgetting Rukawa for,"
"Kenji-nii-chan!"
Fujima laughed, "I'm just joking, Hana,"
The boarding call came and Ryuen and Hana entered customs. Just after they entered customs, Sendoh came.
"Am I too late?" asked Sendoh.
"She entered customs already," Keisuke answered. "You could still wave at her from the waving area, though,"
Sendoh dashed towards the waving area. He made it just in time, but Hana's not looking at the waving area. The guy next to Hana looked at him, and nudged Hana. Hana turned, Sendoh could see the twinkling in her eyes. She waved at him, he waved back. Although a bit reluctant to go, he waved one last wave, signalling that he have practice to Hana. Hana nodded, and Sendoh went away.
'Strange,' Sendoh thought. 'Rukawa's missing from the Shohoku gang, maybe I should ask Hikoichi to check,'
*****
Shohoku high basketball practice - the next day...
"Yesterday Sendoh actually went to see Hana off," Miyagi loudly said, wanting to attract the attention of the silent ravenhead. No response.
"And even though he's a bit late, and missed Hana, he actually went to the waving area to wave goodbye at her," Mitsui loudly continued. And again, no response.
'Does this guy has a heart of ice?' Mitsui thought. 'He should be jealous that Sendoh actually went to see Hana,'
Practice continued as usual, with both Miyagi and Mitsui 'accidentally' mentioning Hana's name now and again.
*****
New York, USA
In the plane...
"Where exactly in New York do you live, Ryu-nii-chan?" asked Hana.
"Upper East Side, just a few blocks away from Kennedy High, the school where Dad put you in," Ryuen answered.
"Who do you live with?"
"Hmm, a Japanese, my college mate. Dad bought me that apartment, and the dormitory were full when this guy asked me if I want a housemate, and I rent out a room for him," Ryuen answered.
"Oh,"
Just as they are about to land at the airport, Hana thought, 'A new beginning of my life, even if it is just a short one,'
End of Chapter 4, please read and review.
A/n: From Chapter 5 onwards, I'll be jumping back and forth from Hana's life at US, and Kaede at Japan.
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk belongs to Inoue Takehiko. It doesn't belong to me at all, except probably the three Sakuragi siblings.
Summary: Rukawa broke up with Hana because he didn't want her to be a distraction to his Japan Youth Camp. Set after Akagi, Mitsui and Kogure went to take their entrance exams, Miyagi became captain, and Rukawa's going to leave.
A/n: Expect OOC
Chapter 4
"Hmm, probably in four days' time," answered Mr. Sakuragi.
******
School...
Mr. Sakuragi faxed the letter to the principal, and Hana's form teacher, telling them that Hana will be away from school for a month and a half.
Anzai-sensei, meanwhile, received the letter from Hana herself.
****
"Sakuragi, are you sure about this?" asked Anzai-sensei.
"Well, oyaji, it's not actually my decision, but I'll be back after two months," Hana answered.
"You are fluent in English, ne?"
"Of course I do, Oyaji," Hana answered in English. "Half my blood are gaijin blood,"
"I know that," Anzai sensei answered and smiled at Hana.
"Hana, you are leaving?" asked Ryota sadly.
"Don't worry Ryocchin, I'll be back in two months," Hana answered.
"Anything to do with him?" asked Ryota quietly, watching the silent ravenhead.
"Partly, don't tell anyone though," Hana answered quietly.
"I'll email you when I get the chance, Hana-chan!" Haruko said excitedly, and yet, sadly.
"Sure sure, Haruko-chan,"
"Where are you going to stay over at the States?" asked Ayako.
"At my brother, Ryuen's apartment,"
***
Keisuke, and Ryuen, and quite coincidently, Akagi, Kogure and Mitsui happened to meet each other when all of them headed towards the gym.
"Konnichiwa," Keisuke cheerfully greeted.
"Sakuragi's brothers?" asked Akagi.
"Yup, both of us are, how'd you guess?" asked Ryuen.
"Your red hair, it's so similar to Sakuragi's," Kogure answered. "What are both of you doing here?"
"We want to watch Hana's last practice match with Shohoku,"
"Nandato?" Akagi thundered.
"What do you mean by last match?" Kogure asked curiously.
"We'll explain later," Keisuke answered.
*****
At the gym
The first thing that Keisuke did, was try to chat up Ayako.
"Hi Ayako," Keisuke greeted brightly.
"Hi Keisuke-kun, what are you doing here?" Ayako replied.
"Just wanna watch Hana's last practice match," Keisuke answered.
"Kei-nii-chan! Ryuen-nii-chan!" Hana squealed happily and proceeded to hug her two taller brothers.
"Hana-chan, we want to watch your last practice match with Shohoku," Ryuen said.
"Sakuragi, is it true that you are leaving?" asked Akagi.
Hana nodded. "But don't worry Gori, the tensai will be back in two months time!" Hana boasted and laughed her insane laugh.
Akagi felt an urge to punch her at the head, and Ayako had an urge to hit her with the fan, but both of them stopped due to the presence of Hana's brothers.
"Oh yeah, Ayako-sempai, you know my brother, Keisuke already, right?" Hana asked.
Ayako nodded.
"And this is Sakuragi Ryuen, my other brother, twin of Kei-nii-chan," Hana introduced. "Ryuen-nii-chan, this is Ayako,"
"Boku Wa Sakuragi Ryuen, yoroshiku," Ryuen introduced himself.
Ayako thought, 'They are twins, but yet, Ryuen is so different that Keisuke. Keisuke tried to chat me up, but he didn't, maybe he's gay,'
"Do you play basketball too, Ryuen-kun?" asked Ayako.
"I do, I'm in the university's basketball team in the States," Ryuen answered.
They watched the match, Hana had succeeded in stealing the ball from Miyagi, making the lightning quick captain gasp.
"If I could steal from Fujima, doesn't mean I couldn't steal from you, Ryocchin," Hana boasted, dribbling the ball towards the 1st years offence area, and then, she scored a three pointer.
"Sakuragi! Go! Go! Sakuragi!" chanted the Sakuragi cheerleaders, comprising of some of the boys who have a crush of Hana.
"Too bad she's leaving," Ayako said sadly.
"C'mon, she'll be back in two months time, just in time for the Winter Championship," Keisuke replied.
"Nani? She is?" asked Ayako.
"She didn't tell you all that she'll be back for the championship?" asked Ryuen curiously.
"That means she 'forgot' about it then," Ayako muttered. "She did tell that she'll be away for two months though,"
Ayako made some calculations in her head, and said, "I guess she'll be back, the winter championship is roughly two - three months away. But I'm sure the team will miss her very much,"
"Ayako, why are Sakuragi and Rukawa seemed like, last time?" asked Kogure. "They seemed to be rivals one more time,"
"Didn't Haruko tell both of you?" asked Ayako. "Both of you should have heard it, it's all over the school,"
"Heard what?" asked Akagi.
"They broke up," Ayako said.
"Nani? Can you repeat that again, Ayako?" asked Kogure.
"Sakuragi and Rukawa broke up,"
"Well, I heard that rumour, but I didn't believe it," Akagi answered.
"And I heard it as well, from Mitsui, but I thought Mitsui's joking," Kogure said.
"You should believe in me, Kogure," Mitsui said. "I'm always with the team,"
"Okay okay, you are right," Kogure sighed.
*****
Four days later,
Kanagawa Airport
"I'll miss all of you sooo much! Thank you for sending me off!" Hana said to the teammates that came, and to her guntai.
"Same here, Hana," Miyagi answered. The absence of Rukawa was noticeable, Rukawa deliberately didn't come.
"Don't stop playing basketball over at the States, Hana-chan!" Haruko squealed, although inside, she felt sad that Hana's going away, 'Oh, how can I make them be together again?' she thought.
"I won't, Haruko-chan, here's my email address," she said to Haruko. Haruko took out a pen, and jott down, 'HanaTheTensai@yahoo.com' and S_Hana10@hotmail.com' and Hana jott down Haruko's, 'Akagi_Haruko@hotmail.com' and Akagi_Haruko@yahoo.com
"Eh, you have hotmail, maybe we could chat using MSN, or Yahoo! Messenger if you have it, Haruko-chan," Hana said, after that.
"Sure, Hana-chan," Haruko answered.
"I'll miss you, Mama, Papa, Kei-nii-chan!" Hana said, hugging all her family members.
"Take care of Hana, Ryuen," Mrs. Sakuragi sobbed. Her little girl is going away.
"I certainly will miss your loudness," Keisuke joked.
"Kei-nii-chan!"
"Don't get into trouble, Hana, we won't be there to protect you," Yohei said on behalf of the other gundams, who's deep in tears. Hana nodded.
"Okay, Hana, let's go inside," Ryuen said. Hana nodded. They were just about to enter customs when somebody shouted, 'HANA!'
For a split second, Hana thought Kaede had come to stop her leaving, but as she turned around, it's her two other 'adopted' nii-chans, Hanagata and Fujima.
"Kenji-nii-chan! Toru-nii-chan! Both of you came!" Hana shouted, making other people glare at her.
"Of course we came, we want to send you off as well," Fujima said. "Good luck in the States,"
"And don't stop playing basketball!" Hanagata replied.
"I won't stop playing, and I will play basketball over there,"
And Fujima whispered, "And find a guy worth forgetting Rukawa for,"
"Kenji-nii-chan!"
Fujima laughed, "I'm just joking, Hana,"
The boarding call came and Ryuen and Hana entered customs. Just after they entered customs, Sendoh came.
"Am I too late?" asked Sendoh.
"She entered customs already," Keisuke answered. "You could still wave at her from the waving area, though,"
Sendoh dashed towards the waving area. He made it just in time, but Hana's not looking at the waving area. The guy next to Hana looked at him, and nudged Hana. Hana turned, Sendoh could see the twinkling in her eyes. She waved at him, he waved back. Although a bit reluctant to go, he waved one last wave, signalling that he have practice to Hana. Hana nodded, and Sendoh went away.
'Strange,' Sendoh thought. 'Rukawa's missing from the Shohoku gang, maybe I should ask Hikoichi to check,'
*****
Shohoku high basketball practice - the next day...
"Yesterday Sendoh actually went to see Hana off," Miyagi loudly said, wanting to attract the attention of the silent ravenhead. No response.
"And even though he's a bit late, and missed Hana, he actually went to the waving area to wave goodbye at her," Mitsui loudly continued. And again, no response.
'Does this guy has a heart of ice?' Mitsui thought. 'He should be jealous that Sendoh actually went to see Hana,'
Practice continued as usual, with both Miyagi and Mitsui 'accidentally' mentioning Hana's name now and again.
*****
New York, USA
In the plane...
"Where exactly in New York do you live, Ryu-nii-chan?" asked Hana.
"Upper East Side, just a few blocks away from Kennedy High, the school where Dad put you in," Ryuen answered.
"Who do you live with?"
"Hmm, a Japanese, my college mate. Dad bought me that apartment, and the dormitory were full when this guy asked me if I want a housemate, and I rent out a room for him," Ryuen answered.
"Oh,"
Just as they are about to land at the airport, Hana thought, 'A new beginning of my life, even if it is just a short one,'
End of Chapter 4, please read and review.
A/n: From Chapter 5 onwards, I'll be jumping back and forth from Hana's life at US, and Kaede at Japan.