Author: Crystal Arie
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Hanamichi Sakuragi and Kaede Rukawa
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk doesn't belong to me. It belongs to Takehiko Inoue.
The Tensai's Devil
Epilogue I
Hanamichi bolted up from his bed, one hand reaching out for something while the other was place over his rapidly beating heart. His eyes were wild, his breathing labored, and he was drenched in sweat. It was morning, but his skin felt as cold as ice, making him shake even more as the cool air blew in from his open window. He tried to control and regulate his breathing, all the while noting how quiet everything was around him. When he finally slowed his heart rate by a notch, he looked around again, his mind and senses muddled.
He inhaled slowly and place his face in his hands as he lowered his head, his chin touching his bent knees. He saw a bird land on the sill of his window, and saw an image of him flying towards Death with Rukawa beside-
He gasped at that and jumped out of his bed, everything rushing back to him. The battle, healing Rukawa, the incantation, then...the wish. At that, he looked around, and not finding whatever he wanted to see, he crossed his room in long strides and went towards Rukawa's room. He opened the door and saw nothing but a plain bed, which looked as if it hadn't been touched. He did the same with Mitsui's room, and when no one was there, his eyebrows narrowed in both confusion and annoyance. Where was everyone? He was pretty sure that when he wished that everything would be right, everything would be...right.
Confused, he went back to his room and brooded about it. He didn't know what to do. When he had asked for that wish, he expected...something to appear in front of his eyes to prove that whatever he had wished for came true.
At that thought, he moved towards his window and looked out. Okay, everything was normal. There were buildings, people, trees...nothing changed. Next, he tried to look at his back and stared. His wings...he clenched his hands as he willed with all his might for something to popped out of his back like the last time. He tried this for about 3 times, then his shoulders sagged when nothing happened. Annoyed, he scratched his head as he ranted, "Argh! Kami-sama!! What the hell happened?! What did my wish do?!!!!" When he got no answer, he looked at his bedside table, and his eyes widened.
The book that had started this all, the book that allowed him to meet Rukawa, was still there. The book entitled 'The Underworld's Secret.'
His eyes widened when he got another idea, and he rushed forward. He grabbed the book, turned it to the last page, and saw the exact same incantation he had used before. Without any hesitation, he did all the preparations in around 30 seconds; the drawing of the weird symbol on the floor, the rememorizing of the lines, the works. Finally, he whispered the incantation swiftly when he place himself on the center of the symbol and waited. Like before, the wind entered his room and brushed against his face. When he felt that, he opened his eyes and looked up. "Rukawa?" But instead of Rukawa being in front of him, a white dove was perched on his windowsill. It moved its head to one side, watching Hanamichi curiously before flying away towards the sun.
Hanamichi exhaled in defeat, falling back against the floor. "Doshite?" he murmured to himself, placing one arm over his eyes. He didn't get it. Something was suppose to happen. Right? Why wasn't anything happening? Why? Annoyed, he lifted his arms to Heaven and groaned out, "Come on! Give me a sign!" He thought his action over, stood up, and pointed his arms down to Hell. "Hey! Come on guys! Anything! Just give me a stupid sign!"
When he said that last word, the phone by the hall rang.
Shocked, he listened to it ring for a while, wondering if his plea for a sign was heard. Pushing that out of his mind, he exited his room at top speed and reached for the phone. Cautiously, he held the receiver and said, "He-hello?"
"Oi! Hanamichi! Are you ready for school yet?"
Hanamichi faltered. "YOHEI?!"
The boy on the other line snorted. "Oh no, it's the tooth fairy. Anyway, if you just woke up, I suggest you start changing. We have a test in History today, ya know. Takamiya, Ohkusu, Noma and I will be at your house in 5 minutes, okay? Ja!" And before Hanamichi could say something back, the line went dead.
Hanamichi stared at the receiver in his hands for a few seconds, then threw it to the floor as he stomped around wildly. "IS THIS MY STUPID SIGN?!!! GIVE ME A BREAK!!" Angrily, he went back into his room, took a quick bath, and changed into his school uniform. It looked like the results of his wish weren't going to show themselves to him anytime soon, so he decided to go to school to pass the time. Hell, he might even fail that stupid History test, but what else could he do? Count how many birds passed by his window?
At exactly 5 minutes, the Sakuragi gundan were ringing his doorbell like nuts and causing a raucous outside as they called for Hanamichi over and over again. Hanamichi came out and gave them all the evil eye as he slammed his gate shut. "Urusai! You wanna wake up the entire block?!"
Takamiya laughed that annoying laugh of his. "Oh no, Hanamichi! We just wanted to disturb you."
Hanamichi snorted and turned towards the school. "How thoughtful of you. Let's get going."
"HAI!"
Hanamichi sighed as he stared at the blue sky, lost in his own thoughts again. Takamiya, Noma and Ohkusu were talking among themselves about a new tactic on how to pick up a girl, but Yohei noticed his best friends face. He walked alongside Hanamichi and peered up at his friend, concern on his face. "Daijobu, Hanamichi?"
"Eh?" Hanamichi blinked out of his musings and glanced at Yohei. "What are you talking about?"
Yohei shrugged and turned to look forward. "You look like you're preoccupied with something really important. What's wrong?"
Hanamichi tilted his head back as he thought of what to say. Finally, he told a lie to cover up his lack of concentration. "Well, let's just say that I'm worried Rukawa may beat me on the test today. You know me. I can't lose to that stupid kitsune." Hanamichi laughed at that, wondering if Yohei bought his reason.
Yohei raised his eyebrows. "Rukawa? Who's that?"
Hanamichi stopped dead in his tracks and stared incredulously at Yohei. The other members of the gang stopped too, wondering what was wrong. Hanamichi grasped Yohei's collar frantically. "What did you just say?!"
Yohei held Hanamichi's hand in alarm. "Nothing! I just asked-"
"You don't remember Rukawa?!" Hanamichi asked loudly.
Yohei shook his head, a confused look on his face. "No. In fact, I've never heard of that person before." When Hanamichi's hand became slack, unconsciously releasing the other boy, Yohei straightened his collar and gave Hanamichi a worried look. "Hanamichi, are you sure you're okay?"
Hanamichi snapped out of his thoughts and waved his hands at his gang. "Yeah. Yeah....I'm fine." He assured them, though the smile he had on his face was strained to the limit. Then, he lowered his smile and asked quietly, "Are...are you sure about your answer?"
Yohei nodded. "Positive. I've never heard of him."
"Sou...ka..." Hanamichi looked at the ground, his body tense.
Yohei moved his head slightly to one side. "Hanamichi, what's wrong?"
Hanamichi shook his head and looked forward, his feet moving at a fast pace. "Nothing, Yohei." When he saw his friends shrug at each other and follow him, the tension from the conversation earlier fading away, Hanamichi sighed and looked at the road, tears threatening to fall. He bit his bottom lip, forcing himself to remain strong. But the fact that Yohei brought out hurt too much. He balled his hands into fists as one tear made it's way down his cheek.
Rukawa...was erased from his world.
* * * * * *
Hanamichi plopped down on his seat as soon as he entered his classroom, a dazed look on his face. He watched the cherry blossoms from outside the class window flutter towards the ground, his eyes dead. The Sakuragi gundan stared at him from the door for a while, wondering what was wrong with their usually lively friend. Yohei shook his head and told them to get to their classes. When they left, Yohei took his seat beside Hanamichi. "Ano, Hanamichi-"
"Sakuragi-kun!"
Hanamichi and Yohei both turned at the same time to look at who called the redhead. When Hanamichi saw Kogure making his way towards him, he jumped out of his chair, a shocked expression on his face. "Megane-kun!"
Kogure bit his lip and pulled Hanamichi towards the corridor, giving Yohei a pleading look as to not disturb them. Yohei understood the message Kogure sent him through his eyes and sat down, a bemused look on his face. Kogure brought Hanamichi towards the window closest to the stairs and whirled around. "Tell me that you remember everything and everyone, Sakuragi-kun. Please."
Hanamichi pointed a finger at the spectacled boy. "You-you remember it too?!"
Kogure sighed in relief and slumped back against the wall, cradling his head as if it hurt. "Thank God you remember. I woke up in my house after that battle you and Rukawa-kun had with Death. I went to school, and when I asked for Mitsui, they told me they didn't know anyone named Mitsui. I was shocked, of course, but then, I just had to make sure if everything that happened was just some crazy nightmare."
Hanamichi nodded back vigorously. "Yeah! I felt the same way too! When I told Yohei this morning I planned to beat Rukawa in my test, he asked me who Rukawa was!" Hanamichi gave an exasperated groan then leaned back against the window. Then, he paused, and gazed at Kogure in a peculiar manner. "Wait a minute... Are you still an angel or something?"
Kogure seemed surprised at that question, then, he rubbed his head. "I don't know myself. Raphael came to me this morning and told me that everything that had happened in Zion was forgiven, and I was to continue living on Earth." He shrugged. "I guess I'm a normal human being now."
Hanamichi blinked. "I guess so." Then, he lowered his gaze and whispered, "So...they're gone...ka?"
Kogure looked out of the window and sighed. "I don't really know." He turned to look at Hanamichi and asked quietly, "When you left Rukawa to fight with Death for a while and went to Sendoh, you asked him on what you should do to make that wish thing come out. What did you mean by that?"
Hanamichi shrugged. "The so-called true bride of Rukawa can get one wish from a certain person if he or she combines this technique with Rukawa. So, I learned it from Sendoh and used that technique against Death."
"I see..." Kogure eyed Hanamichi. "What did you wish for?"
Hanamichi stared at nothing for a while at that question, then, he closed his eyes and murmured, "For everything to be right."
"Right?" Kogure narrowed his eyes at that. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know. It just came to my mind and I said it."
Kogure backed up. "It just came to your mind?" At Hanamichi's nod, Kogure shook his head and gazed thoughtfully at the cherry blossoms. He sighed when he heard the bell ring, and turned to Hanamichi. "Looks like we have to continue this conversation later, huh?"
Hanamichi smiled back and nodded as he straightened his form. "Yeah, guess so."
Kogure patted Hanamichi comfortingly on the arm as he walked away. "I hope that wish of yours will come true sometime, Sakuragi-kun." With that, he left, leaving Hanamichi standing all alone by the corridor. He turned to the right and continued his stride, his hand clenched at his side as he continued walking towards his class, lost in his own thoughts.
When he had found out that morning that no one knew who Mitsui was, he was devastated. He wanted to turn every desk in the classroom around, throw the books everywhere, break the windows of the room, shout out, everything. But, he managed not to. He took in how many deep breaths to calm himself, then he exited the room, hoping to find Hanamichi and ask if he remembered anything. Indeed, he found the redhead, and was relieved to know that Hanamichi didn't forget who Mitsui and Rukawa were, but now...
He swiftly entered the bathroom at his left and went towards the sink, his hands grasping the sides tightly as tears started falling down his eyes. He leaned his forehead against the cool plane of the mirror. Doshite...Where are you, Hisashi?... He asked himself, wanting an answer. He sobbed quietly when he got none, his face contorted to an expression of immense pain as his body shook. He bit his lip hard, gnawing on the flesh, and soon tasted the metallic taste of blood against his tongue. At that, he licked his wound as he cried, wanting to disappear and go to where Mitsui wanted. He wanted to kiss those sweet lips again, wanted to hug that warm body again, wanted to-
"Don't inflict pain on yourself, Min-kun."
Kogure stilled at that voice and at the nickname used. He turned around to look at the person, and felt his heart stop. "Sou na..." He couldn't believe it...it couldn't be real...but when that very same person gave him a warm smile, Kogure fell back against the tiled wall and stared hard. "It can't be..."
Hisashi?!
* * * * * *
Hanamichi sat down on his seat at the exact same time the teacher entered, moving towards his chair slowly as he repeated what Kogure said to him over and over again. I hope that wish of yours will come true sometime, Sakuragi-kun. Sometime...When was this sometime? Hanamichi sighed and place his head down on his hands that folded themselves on the desk as he half listened to the teacher.
"Everyone, I am pleased to announce that we have a new..."
Where are you, Kitsune? Did my wish come true, or was it all just crap? Hanamichi thought to himself, closing his eyes as the teacher continued speaking in synch with Hanamichi's own thoughts.
"...He came from Canada and has transferred here for..."
How am I suppose to know if my wish came true, Kaede? How am I suppose to know what I meant when I wished for everything to be right?
"Please take the seat beside..."
I miss you...I love you so much, and yet I can't see you... Hanamichi buried his face deeper into his arms, feeling too depressed to do anything else. He shifted his head to one side and felt a tear slide down the side of his face when he saw Rukawa's smiling face pass before his eyes. He closed his eyes and whispered silently, "Kaede..."
"Hai, Hana?"
Hanamichi's entire system shut down as his eyes snapped open. His arms twitched but didn't do anything else as his feet felt numb to the bones. Hanamichi stared at his desk for a while, wondering what he just heard. Was it his imagination again, or a cruel joke someone planned? But his question was answered when he heard his classmates gasp around him.
"Did you HEAR that?"
"Yeah man!"
"He called Sakuragi-kun 'Hana'!"
"And Hanamichi didn't KILL him."
"Woah...weird..."
"Rukawa-kun...ka?"
"Hana! He called Sakuragi HANA!"
"Do you think they're-"
Hanamichi remembered this scene and conversation all too well. It was exactly what had happened when...He slowly lifted his head up to the person looming over him, his eyes passing a well toned chest, broad shoulders, a long graceful neck, and finally, his heart stopped functioning at what he saw. A beautiful face that radiated life and love gazed down at him, striking blue eyes held his own, soft, raven hair that was layered up to his ears, high prominent cheekbones fit for a model, smooth white skin, and finally...lips that looked as soft as cherry blossoms. Hanamichi swallowed as he gasped out, "Ki-kitsune..."
Rukawa smiled lovingly down at him and nodded. "Aa. Hisashiburi ne, Hana?"
Hanamichi didn't answer that question. One minute, he was slouching down on his chair, the next, he jumped out of his chair, weaved his arms around Rukawa's neck, and gave the raven hair boy the most passionate kiss in the world. Everyone gaped and dropped the pens they were holding as they watched the scene in front of them, but Hanamichi and Rukawa didn't mind them.
Rukawa wrapped his arms possessively around Hanamichi's slim waist and held the red haired boy closer, devouring the mouth as he slipped his tongue in. Hanamichi moaned deep in his throat as he returned the kiss full heartedly, tears breaking free from his eyes as he sobbed against Rukawa's soft lips. Kaede!...Kaede!!
When they both finally paused to breath, Hanamichi cupped Rukawa's face in his hands and gasped out happily, "How...what-I..."
Rukawa smiled at him and gave him a swift kiss. "I'll explain later. For now..." He turned to look around the room and grinned. "I think we should get back to class."
Hanamichi blinked and looked around, wondering what Rukawa meant by that. When he caught the shocked faces of his classmates, the way his teacher was literally twitching like an almost-dead lizard on the floor, and they way Yohei's eyes seemed to pop out of his sockets, Hanamichi blushed and sat back down, an amused Rukawa giving him one last kiss on the cheek before sitting down on the chair to his right.
The teacher coughed at that, his face still red, as he struggled to stand up. His voice shook as he announced, "Aa...yes, well...ummm-I...ah...open your books...to, ah...page 46..." When everyone continued to gape at Hanamichi and Rukawa, the teacher screeched out, "NOW!" And they all rummaged around for their book, the class somewhat hot for a fair weathered day.
Hanamichi sighed and smiled at Rukawa. I love you... He said through his eyes.
Rukawa smiled and thought back. I love you too...
The two of them shared a secret smile before they too took out their books, all the while smiling and giving each other silent messages. Hanamichi turned to look at his book and said a silent prayer. Thank you for making my wish come true... Then, out of the blue, he heard a faint chuckle as someone vaguely familiar whispered in his ear,
"You're welcome."
* * * * * *
Sendoh and Koshino peered over Satan's shoulder as he watched his son and the redhead listen to their teacher, all the while passing notes to each other. Satan grunted and shook his head. "What's done is done."
Sendoh grinned at him as he draped an arm over Koshino's shoulder. "Aren't you going to try to get Kaede back?"
Satan smiled grudgingly at that. "Kaede and Hisashi are mortals now. It was the result of that boy's wish. Whatever the bride of the underworld wishes, we cannot go against it."
Sendoh shrugged playfully. "Heh! It's not like you want to break them up, do you?" When Satan remained silent at that, Sendoh shrugged and created a portal, dragging Koshino with him. When the portal was about to close, Sendoh stuck his head out and added, "Besides, you're starting to like that redhead, right?" With that, Sendoh disappeared together with Koshino back to the Underworld.
Satan snorted at Sendoh's tone and turned away, floating in stealth mode towards an unknown area. "Hmph! To fall for a human being is the last thing on my mind." Then, he saw the cemetery at the far end of the town and went there, a sense of peace settling over his heart. When he moved among the tombstones, he shook his head again. "It's really stupid to fall for a human being...they don't last, and when they die, you will be all alone." With that, he stopped at one tombstone and read the inscription:
January 1 - April 1
Satan knelt down on the grass, still in stealth mode, as he traced the outline of the tombstone with a finger, his gaze softening. "I tried to spare Kaede from the pain he would feel if he loved a mortal, but..." He shook his head, smiling at the ironic thought that passed through his brain. "I guess Kaede couldn't help falling for one, could he, Yumi? After all, his father also fell for one. Plus, the results of that redhead's wish were an added bonus."
When he said that, the trees rustled with the wind, and Satan was forced to look up to the sky. His eyes widened when he saw the figure of an angel pass over his head, but when he blinked, the image quickly disappeared. He stared at the area for a while, a look of wonder settling over his face, but then, he smiled softly as he stood up. He gazed down at his wife's tombstone and whispered,
"I love you, Yumi. Rest in peace."
With that, he got off the ground, fixed his coat, and opened a portal to the Underworld. When he disappeared, an angel came around from the other end of the tombstone and smiled warmly at the place where Satan last stood. She touched the ground and whispered into the air, "I love you too..." Then, she too turned around and disappeared into thin air, leaving a sense of peace over that part of the cemetery.
OWARI
Camry: Hey, hey, hey!!!! Don't stop here!! Look at the SECOND epilogue! ^_^ Oh! And please review this one. Thanks!