Seventeeth chap!
Joy: Yep, it's Sendoh! :D Thanks.
Nayomi_chan: Relax. The story probably has more u-turns coming up. (actually, I dunno. I haven't decided yet) And yeah, I can just imagine Akima going: "Rukawa, your worst rival is my stepbrother" and him strangling both her and Sendoh!!!
Tiran: Yay! I'm glad I chose the right character. Thanks so much!
Frack: Er… you okay? You dun like Sendoh?? *stares at Frack nervously*
Maemi: so you were right after all! Ha ha! Congrats. I am v. proud of you. :D Enjoy!
Leika: Hey, I don't mind long reviews, so don't stop! So you realised the foreshadowing of Sendoh's entrance into the story…you are very observant. : ) and thanks for the good luck, but my Physics paper was HORRIBLE. *starts bawling at the memory of scratching head during the paper*
Yoriko: *watches emphatically as yorika beats Mr. Hanashi up* Hope you'll be the one to pay for his hospital bills. : ) Glad you love the story. ^__^
Fantasy_gurl: Thanks! Were my replies too long? Sorry! I was having a ball of a time retorting bad jokes to the reviews made… I can't help it … *looks at fantasy_gurl from under her lashes guiltily* Sorry again. I'll try to keep it short and the story longer. : )
Eliar: Hi! Newbie alert! Hope you'll keep on reading.
Silhouette Panther: Yeah, I know how u feel about SenRu. : ) I rather like the combination myself, though I don't agree with yaoi. (Still, doesn't mean I can't enjoy it, rite??). Enjoy this chap!
SLL: I never knew Ika meant cuttlefish. I have a friend named Ika (but she's NOT like this Ika in the story), but we call her pompang (it's a name for a kind of fish trap) (dun ask why we call her that) But I do know Kaede means 'maple leaf'. Rukawa means 'flowing river'. *sigh* what a beautiful name… anyway, enjoy this chappie!
Tensaispira: you didn't see it coming?? Yay! At least one of you is caught off guard! Ha ha! Next chapter served, maam!
Choco_no_baka: You know, the way you started the review by bashing yourself alarmed me a bit. Thanks for reading this. And nah, you don't 'tok' too much. : ) BTW, what do you mean 'never doubt my sincerity'?? Where did that come from???
Girl_sport: Glad you agreed. : ) And yes, just think of all the possibilities!
016: It's here! Wait no more!
Patty g.: Nah, Sendoh won't make a fuss. Relax. The last chapter wasn't a cliffhanger! It was not! Your blood shouldn't be boiling!
Sakura Rui: Breathe in, breathe out. : ) Is it going to be a love triangle?? Sendoh IS her stepbrother you know. BTW, glad you agree with Sendoh's insertion to the story!
Reika Zelon: Thanks! : ) Confrontation? Wait and see…
Reiko: are you the same person as Reika Zelon??
Seventeenth chapter
"This a nice place," her father mused as they stepped inside the roadside restaurant. "But why did you bring us here, Akima?"
"I work here." Smiling at the familiar bells ringing off as orders were screamed around the room, she led them to an empty table.
Her father was frowning when they were comfortably seated. "Working? Why on earth are you working? Aren't you still schooling?"
"Part-time," Akima explained. "We had – uh … some problems some time ago," Her father had that look on his face. Quickly, she said: "But everything's fine now. Um, tell you what, I'll go get the order for us myself."
Just as she was about to get up, a waitress swung by. "Hey, Akima. Hello, sir. Hi, handsome," she purred, winking at Akira. "What would the three of you like?"
After reciting the orders for confirmation, the waitress (aged around 20) winked again at Akira before turning to Akima. "Hey, you free tomorrow night?" she asked. "We need some extra hands around here. Boss says tourists coming around."
She might as well have said: "Hey, you free tomorrow night? Let's elope," because Mr. Hanashi had jumped up, furious. "How could you ask a schoolgirl to work at night?" he boomed, much to the waitress' surprise. "Do you know how dangerous it is??"
"Why, sir –"
"Dad," Akima quickly pushed the waitress away. "Sorry, Mira. I'll think about it."
"What do you mean you'll think about it?" her father demanded as the waitress all but sprinted away. "It's bad enough you're working, but working AT NIGHT!! How could your mother ever allow this to happen??"
Akima sighed, almost smiling when Akira pretended to be busy studying the pattern on the table. "It's nothing, Dad. It's not like I work here every night. Just sometimes." Yeah, like every fortnight qualifies as sometimes. "So, why did you move back here?"
Her father grunted at the obvious attempt to change the subject, but decided to go along with it. No use picking a fight with his daughter just minutes after meeting her. "My company decided to place a branch here, and I jumped for the spot. Thought it'd be nice to come back here and see you."
"So you're staying here for good?"
"For the foreseeable future, yes."
Akima copied her father's grin. "That's good. It's about time." She paused. "Why are you getting married again?" she blurted.
Her father coughed uncomfortably. Sensing the awkwardness, Akira took his eyes off the table. "I have to go to the loo. Excuse me." And with a charming smile, he left the table.
Akima appreciated that gesture, and thought maybe he wasn't so bad after all.
"My friend," her father started, staring down at the table with utmost concentration and avoiding her eyes. "She's this notorious matchmaker, see? Anyway, she decided to play a prank and match-make me with one of her friends over here. That's how I met Risako. She's a widow with one son – that's Akira. We became fast friends, and then … it got further… and now that I'm moving back here, we decided to get married." Nervously, he looked up, like a boy afraid of being scolded by his mother. Akima's face was expressionless. "When you meet her, you'll like her. I guarantee it."
"Yeah." Akima murmured, looking down at her stiff fingers.
Silence.
"So… does this mean you're never getting back with Mom?"
Her father breathed deeply. "Akima," he said softly, carefully. "Your mother and I were through the day she threw me out of her house and her life."
"But it was such a stupid fight!" Akima burst out, hot tears rushing to her eyes. "I mean, you fought over a bottle of ketchup! Who on earth fights over ketchup??" Her hands flew out to grab tissues from the tissue box.
Mr. Hanashi reached out and took one of those trembling hands. "It started over ketchup, yes, but it was not about ketchup. Akima, throughout the years that your mother and I were together, we have been having problems. Small, unsolved problems that piled up and exploded on one unfortunate day. And on that day, it dawned on us that we couldn't be with each other anymore." He stroked her damp cheeks. "I still love your mother, in some ways, but –"
"You don't want to live under the same roof together again." She finished. Akima pressed her hands to her face. "And all these years, I was hoping that the both of you would come to your senses and get back together and then we'll be a normal, loving family…" she drifted off.
"I'm sorry –"
"No, I'm sorry, Dad. I guess I got carried away with childish hopes." She sniffed, looking out the glassy window of the restaurant that she had cleaned just last week. "It's just that Mom never changed her surname – she kept yours – and I thought she still loved you. And I thought that's a good sign – maybe you feel the same way and maybe things will work out..." She took a deep breath to steady herself. "But you don't."
"I'm sorry that I disappointed you, sweetie pie." Her father said earnestly. "I cannot help my feelings. You don't want me to pretend that I still have deep feelings for your mother, do you?"
"No, it'd be unfair for her … and you. And me."
"I love you to death, sweetie pie, and I'd do anything for you if it's in my power to do so. But getting back with your mother will only hurt all of us. You understand, don't you?"
"Yeah…" Akima nodded. "I guess I do." She was calm now, and back in control of herself. "Sorry for screaming at you. I didn't mean to. And sorry for crying like a baby. I hate it when I cry in public."
Her father grinned. "You got that from me, girl. I hate blubbering in public too."
"I didn't blubber."
"Why, of course."
Akima glared at her father, who in turn smiled sheepishly at her. Charmed, she couldn't help but smile back, and that's when the tears returned. "Oh God, I love you, Dad. I missed you so much."
"Same here." Both stared at each other emotionally.
Then –
"He's going to cry." Akira leaned over Akima's chair and grinned. "Just look at him." Jolted over his silent return and marvelling at his sense of timing, Akima laughed.
"Akira, sit." Mr. Hanashi said with aplomb, quickly blinking away any evidence.
"Aww, Dad. You're blushing like a seduced virgin."
"Akira! Sit!"
The tension vanished as all three laughed and settled themselves with their hot meals. Easier with each other now, the conversation flowed easily. "My previous exams were all right." Akima informed, digging her chopsticks in between the sticky noodles.
"How all right is 'all right'?"
"Six As, two Bs." Akima revealed fretfully. "Sorry dad, but your daughter is never going to be good in Mathematics and Physics."
Her father chuckled. "That's okay. This father of yours used to flunk those two subjects too – and a few other subjects as well, come to think of it." Making a face, he stuck his tongue out. "Sorry, Akima, but your father was never good in studies." Then, elbowing Akira, he winked. "Akira's quite good in mathematics, I think."
Akira wrinkled his nose. "Nah. I got a B too."
Then, when Mr. Hanashi wasn't looking, he mouthed: Actually, I got a C.
Akima struggled furiously to keep her face straight. She mouthed back: Actually, I have three Bs. But I won't tell if you don't.
He nodded, a look of utter seriousness on his face. Deal.
"What year are you in, Akima?" her father asked, cutting their read-my-lips conversation short.
"Year 2."
"Really? I thought you were Akira's age."
"Year 3," Akira supplied at Akima's questioning glance. "That makes me older than you, little girl."
"I would never have guessed it."
They sneered companionably at each other. "What school do you go to?" she asked.
"Ryonan High. Heard of it?"
"Maybe. Once or twice."
"That's surprising," her father mumbled, mouth full of crabmeat. "Ryonan's famous in the sports arena."
"I'm not into sports, Dad."
"You're not?" Akira looked scandalized. "You're missing out a lot, little girl. Sports are fantastic. And basketball is the best among it all."
"Basketball." That reminded of her some things. "Yeah, I've seen it." A lot of times. "It's really cool." Especially with a player like… "But I don't know much about it."
Akira looked pained. "I'll make sure you do. Come to the game."
Akima raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You play basketball??"
Mr. Hanashi snorted before Akira could reply. "Play??" he scoffed. "Sweetie pie, he's the CAPTAIN of the basketball team."
"Oh." Akima stared at Akira. "Wow."
"There's nothing wow about it," he shrugged. "it's hard work."
"I bet." Akima murmured.
"Come, will you?"
"Huh? What? Where?"
"We're having our first game of the season tomorrow," he told her. "Why don't you come with us? Maybe you can wear those cheerleader outfits and cheer for me? You've got a great butt."
"WHAT??" leaning over the table, she grabbed his nose and pinched – hard. "I bet you got that from Dad. I am so sure. Both of you are perverts!"
Ignoring his stepson's yelps, Mr. Hanashi took another shrimp and popped it in his mouth. "That's a good idea, you know," he started. Akima's gaze whipped to him, hot and furious. " – I meant the idea of you coming with us." He said quickly. "I can easily pick you up and we can go together and see Akira play."
"Okay," she agreed and gave Akira another pinch. "But I'm not coming in any skin-tight outfits."
"Actually," her father mused. "That was also a good idea – I'm joking, Akima! Really! Now keep that fist down!"
"When is it?" she asked, after things had calmed down and Akira had nursed his reddening nose.
"Tomorrow," his voice a little muffled, Akira replied. "Two o'clock."
"Tomorrow – Saturday –" Akima's eyes widened and zoomed in into Akira's even wider eyes. "Devil's teeth, you're going against my school!!"
"Shohoku? You're from Shohoku??"
"What a nice coincidence." Her father smiled. "So who will you be supporting? Your school or Ryonan?"
"I don't know. Who's better?"
Akira grinned. "Hard to say. But maybe you should go for your school, just to be loyal."
"Yeah, but I'll be cheering for you too."
"In a cheerleading outfit?"
That got him another pinch, this time on the cheek. "Thanks, by the way." He managed amidst laughter. "I appreciate it."
"What? The pinch?"
"No. The support. No one on earth would appreciate your killer pinch."
They finished up their food, and after Akima argued and debated with the waitress, got themselves a discount. Walking back to the car, Akira grabbed hold of Akima to slow her down and when Mr. Hanashi was far enough from hearing, he whispered, "I've always wanted a sister. I'm glad I got you."
"I could use a strong and good-looking brother like you myself."
He laughed. "I thought it'd be awkward between us, but it's not, is it?"
"No. It was, but not anymore. I think I'm beginning to like you."
"Really? I fell in love with you the moment we met."
Taken aback by the outrageously frank declaration, she struggled to keep her thoughts aligned. "Oh, really? And not just because of my great butt?"
"No, but also because of your great legs."
Laughing and hooking an arm around each other's shoulders in a friendly gesture, they rushed to catch up with Mr. Hanashi.
She arrived home at twelve. After scheduling tomorrow's plans, her father had given her another peck on the cheek, and busy savouring the sweet moment, she was caught by surprise when Akira grabbed her and gave her an enthusiastic and noisy kiss on the lips. It shocked her for a moment, but she soon accepted the fact that her stepbrother was just helplessly affectionate. Not that she minded. And to show him her share of affection, she had generously given him a hard slap-from-Hell on his butt. Still chuckling about it, she walked up the steps of the flat and pushed the door of her house open.
Her mother, with a tear-streaked face, jumped at her the moment she stepped in. "Akima! Thank goodness you're back!" She hugged her daughter tightly. "I thought he'd taken you away. I thought you would never come back and I'd never see you again. I –"
"I'm here, Mom. Relax."
Her mother calmed down and finally released her. "I was so worried. I thought you would go with him because he can obviously offer you a better life and –"
"I'm happy with you, Mom." Pushing her mother gently into a couch, she proceeded to massage her mother's sagging shoulders. "I'll never leave you. Dad and I just talked. I met my stepbrother. I like him a lot."
Her mother stayed quiet. "Did he – did he say anything about me?"
"Yeah," Akima said, carefully choosing her words. "I … asked him whether he'll ever come back to you."
"And he said no, didn't he?"
"But he still cares about you, in a way."
Her mother nodded. "I don't blame him." Then to herself, "It was a stupid fight." She looked at her daughter. "It was a stupid fight, Akima."
"I know, Mom."
"I wish it didn't happen."
"Me too." Then, looking at her mother's distressed face, she said in a lighter tone: "But the past is past. Maybe you and Dad can be friends, now that he's back. I agreed to go watch a basketball game with him tomorrow. Why don't you come along? Akira's playing, did you know? Akira is my stepbrother, by the way. It'll be fun! "
"No. It still hurts seeing him."
"Oh." Out of words, Akima stared awkwardly at the floor. "Sorry, mom."
"You must be tired." Her mother said. "Why don't you go up to your room and sleep?"
Nodding, she left her mother staring at the floor and headed for her room. Oh God, she still loves him.
The basketball game coming up – next chapter! (Shohoku VS Ryonan) ^__^