Are you still there?
Good. Here is Chapter 4. It might be a little boring at start and yes it's still weird… very weird.
I'm still thinking of making this story end with Rukawa-kun and an OC. Although, I'm having second thoughts… Oh well! *throws her hands in the air* A little romance in the story wouldn't hurt.
I would also like to share some stuff. I've read the fics so far of: *edit* Shirodachi */edit* iron kitty, nothingtodo, silhouette panther and frozenfemale. I recommend that you read their stories too because they're really good. *wink* This isn't paid advertisement.
I made a new fic entitled: "Dilemma". I would really appreciate it (and feel so happy) if you read and review the story. ^_^
Thanks to Andrew, for helping me with the last line of this chapter.
Again, this story is a dare given by my sister (Shirodachi) and Slam Dunk owns j00!
Thank you again for all your reviews, comments, suggestions.
Happy reading. ^_^
Chapter 4 - Rendezvous
She hurried past the gates of her school: Shohoku High. It was already 8:15 in the morning, she was 45 minutes late for her first subject. "It's all right, I have the excuse letter right here---" She fished into her school bag to check. Good. It was still there. "---Being absent for three days won't hurt." Quickly she raced to her locker to change her shoes. "Damn!" She swore. "My keys!" She immediately opened her bag and searched for her locker keys. She found it hiding near her cosmetic case. Her hands were trembling and sweaty from all her stammering. Nervously she tried to insert the key inside the lock…
"Naomi-san." A shy voice greeted.
Surprised, she dropped her keys and swore. "Yumi! Don't scare me like that!" Naomi bent down to pick it up. Her hands still shaky.
"I was waiting for you outside…" Yumi began but Naomi cut her off.
"Thanks. You didn't have to do that." She replied flatly. Finally, she managed to open her locker. She quickly changed her shoes and shut the door with a metallic bang.
"Let's go." She called Yumi.
"Sensei is absent." Yumi informed, following her lead. "Flu."
"Oh. So that means…I'm really not that late at all?" There was a sign of relief in her voice.
Yumi nodded. "I think she went to the same hospital as you did."
"How did you know that?"
"I did some checking up."
"That's not allowed, Yumi."
"I wanted to make sure she was absent, I don't want missing any of her class if ---"
Naomi placed her hand right in front of Yumi's face. "I get the picture. So what's been happening while I was away?"
"Nothing much. I copied some notes for you. It's in my bag upstairs." Yumi told her.
"That's very nice of you." Naomi complimented. "Do you do that often? I mean… copy notes for other people?"
Yumi nodded briefly. "Since in junior high. I can't stand it when people miss their classes."
"You're very nice, Yumi. I'm glad I met you." Naomi smiled sweetly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Let's get back to class. I have this idea I've been wanting to tell you."
"You're not serious!" Yumi exclaimed, her hand covered her mouth. She and Naomi were now back inside their classroom.
Naomi rolled her eyes. "Yes I am. Why do you even think I would tell this to you if I wasn't?"
"But… I think his stalker stopped already. There are no rumors about it."
"Who knows?" Naomi shrugged. "It might attack again. I just want to be prepared. It's not like that person will stop after all that? It might be exciting too. You worry too much, Yumi-chan."
"What do you plan first?" She asked, giving up.
"I want to talk to Rukawa-kun about this." Naomi smiled triumphantly.
"No!" She gasped. "Can't you just investigate without even asking him?"
Naomi's eyebrow raised. "Why are you getting scared all of a sudden? I thought you liked solving mysteries?"
"This… this is not way I thought it could be. I don't think Rukawa-san even cares about it." Yumi tried to explain.
"Of course he does! It's his reputation.. I'll be the one talking to him anyway." Naomi folded her arms to her chest.
"How can I help?" Yumi asked shyly.
"Let me see." Naomi gave it a thought. "You can ask other people about it, like those other second year students."
"Why are we doing this anyway?" Yumi lowered her head.
"I just want to help our dear ace and besides, wouldn't it be fun?" She giggled, tossing her long brown hair aside. "We can start after class."
* * *
Practice time was held a little earlier for them, since the Winter Games were about to start. Coach Anzai decided that they should really be prepared for their next battle against the others teams.
"How's it going? Got any more fan mail?" Mitsui teased as he slammed the door of his locker.
Without even answering, Rukawa pulled out his black armband from his duffel bag and wore it.
"That's a good sign, isn't it?" Miyagi approached them, a ball in his hands. "We don't have to worry about you getting distracted."
"I'm not distracted." Rukawa stood up from the bench and headed for the door.
"Do you even think he worries about that?" Mitsui eyed him.
"We may never know." shrugged Miyagi.
"My goal is to become number one." The tall rookie dribbled the ball and tried to make a long shot. It went in, of course. Then he did it again and again…
"Oi, Rukawa!!!" Sakuragi's voice boomed in his mind. "Stop showing off and and quit hogging the ball!"
"That guy is such an antogonist." He thought as he concentrated for another shoot.
"Line up!!!" Akagi yelled. The tall center stood in the middle of the court, wearing his usual red shirt and blue jogging pants.
The members of the basketball club hurried to get in line. Mitsui and Miyagi, who both came out from the locker room quickly ran to the middle to get in line as well.
* * *
It was late that afternoon when the basketball club finally ended their training. Naomi was quietly sitting near the gate of their school, waiting. Her heart all of a sudden was beating fast as she heard voices coming towards her. "It's them." She told herself. "Practice is finally over."
He was the last come out. Dragging his bike outside the gate, Naomi nervously approached him.
"Rukawa-kun," She said in a shy voice.
He looked at her saying nothing.
"My name is Noda Naomi, I'm here to ask you question, if you don't mind.." She said politely.
He didn't answer.
Her blood heated up with the mix of nervousness, excitement and adoration. She couldn't believe she was actually in front of him. Talking to him, face to face!
"Can you tell me your thoughts about the incident that occurred weeks ago?" Naomi sounded like a reporter. She had too. She didn't want to lose her poise in front of him. This day was too special for mistakes.
"Stay calm… stay calm… wait for his response then ask another question…" She said in her mind. "Oh, this is so good to be true!"
There was a long pause before he could answer. Still, she waited.
"What are you going to do about it?" His reply was cold and monotonous. There was a flik of annoyance in his blue eyes.
"I…I just wanted to know… if…" She hesitated, feeling a little shocked. "I'm… here to help..."
"It doesn't concern me." Rukawa looked away and narrowed his eyes. "It's a waste of time."
"I'm sorry, but, please… just let me help you with this!" Naomi pleaded, tears filling up her eyes.
"It hurts." She thought, while clenching his fists. "But, I have to try."
"Rukawa-kun…" Naomi tried to reached for him, wanting to hold his hand and tell him how much she wants to help him. But, she stopped. There was like an invisible shield between them that she cannot break.
Rukawa got on his bicycle and and gave her one icy look. "You're just one of them, now go away."
She felt like lightning just struck her heart. "How could you be so cold? Why can't you just give me a chance?!" Naomi placed one hand on her chest. She felt like pulling out her heart. It was too painful to be rejected…again.
Still, she would try. For him. Only for him.
* * *
A Saturday morning walk in their neighborhood park was a daily routine for her, Yumi, the girl with brown hair reaching her shoulders and a book cuddled up in her hand. At school she was Yumi, Naomi's new best friend; The transferee; The shy one or just plain old Yumi Ichihara: Queen of Silence. She didn't care. She was used to having a few company, her books were her true best friends. But without Naomi's help she wouldn't met Haruko, Fujii and Matsui. Yumi walked silently on the freshly cut grass, enjoying her weekend. She suddenly recalled what happened the other night last week as she came near to the basketball court.
The way he moved through the air. It never changed. He was one with the wind. It was like he had a deal with gravity.
It made her tense again.
Then she remembered what Naomi told her. The investigation. "I don't think I could handle that." She admitted.
Quietly she walked away from the court.
"Hey!" Ohkusu, the blond haired guy tapped the shoulder of his friend, Noma.
"Yeah?" He replied, scratching his mustache, looking a little sleepy.
"Isn't that Ichihara?" He asked, pointing behind the tree they were resting. Noma and him squinted to look at the small girl walking down the park.
"What are you guys up to this time?" Yohei Mito broke their thoughts. "I see…" He rubbed his chin looking at their direction, "You guys checking out a girl?"
"No!" Ohkusu exclaimed looking back at Yohei. "I just spotted a classmate of ours. And she was alone."
"So?" Yohei asked.
"Normally she's with this other girl y'see." Noma straightened his shoulders.
"Very pretty girl!" Takamiya, the fat guy added. In his hand was a popsicle, dripping down his fingers.
"What's that got to do with her?" Yohei looked puzzled.
"Actually," Ohkusu pointed. "Those two girls are always together. Noma kinda likes that other girl. Her name is Naomi."
"What!" Noma's eyes popped out. "Me?!"
Yohei ignored that for a second at watched Yumi walking. "I think this girl is quite pretty too."
"Yeah, but the other one is very pretty." Takamiya licked the stick of his popsicle and threw it in the trash can beside him. "Yumi is a little shy and Naomi-chan is---"
Takamiya suddenly stopped talking. In front of him stood a tall pale girl, with long black hair. Her eyes were glaring at him.
The rest of them turned to look at Takamiya and gaped as they saw the other girl. The girl then took a long glance at Yumi from afar until she was out of sight.
"Hatsue-san." Yohei said silently. The girl, whom he called just turned her back at them and left.
"You know her, Mito?" Ohkusu moved away from the tree and walked towards him.
"I do." He answered, lost in thought.
"Well… she gives me the creeps." Noma admitted, faking a shudder.
There was a chill moment of silence.
"Hey, I'm getting quite bored here. Why don't we go check on Hanamichi?" Yohei finally suggested and started walking.
"Good idea. I'm hungry!" Takamiya rubbed his belly.
"He said, go check on Hanamichi, not eat! You glutton!" Ohkusu shot back.
And so, the Sakuragi Army decided to go visit the basketball club and annoy their great "Tensai" leader. They arrived in the gym several minutes later. The boys were having a match against themselves. There were 2 guys missing in the team. The captain and the deputy captain.
"Where's Gori?" Yohei noticed.
"And Megane-kun?" Noma added.
"They're officially off the team now." Haruko answered, appearing beside them. "My brother and Kogure-san are out for college. He just announced it yesterday before the practice."
"That's sad. We're going to miss Gori and his Gorilla dunks." Takamiya said sadly.
"Good thing Hanamichi is still here." Ohkusu observed Sakuragi while dribbling the ball, Miyagi was right behind him. The small point guard raced and quickly snatched the ball from Sakuragi, then passing it to Mitsui. Mitsui ran and halted in front of the white border line and jumped with grace. The ball flew straihgt inside the hoop.
"Another 3 for red team!" Ayako yelled, changing the score: 45-39.
"What's my name? Huh? What's my name?!" Mitsui waved his fists in the air and exchanging a high five with Miyagi. His handsome face beaming with victory.
"Excellent, Mitsui-san!" Miyagi praised him.
"That was great, Mitsui-san!" Yasuda added.
"Miyagi-san is their new captain and Yasuda-san is vice captain. Mitsui-san will still play for the games before he leaves." Haruko explained to them, while blankly staring at Rukawa who now held the ball.
Rukawa dribbled the ball to the other side of the court, his feet running as fast as it would take him. Sweat dripped down his flawless face, sliding down his neck.
"You can't run far enough, Rukawa!!!" Sakuragi ran after the tall rookie. His face was flaming mad because he hadn't scored anything yet.
"Anou… Sakuragi-kun, Rukawa is your teammate!" Haruko gasped.
"Yeah, Hanamichi!!! Just leave the scoring to Rukawa!!!" Takamiya shouted. Then the rest of them laughed.
After a few minutes there was a sudden noise coming from the soccer field. Haruko, Yohei and the others went to check it out.
The soccer players were screaming in anger as they arrived.
"What is this, the end of the world?" Yohei asked, looking around.
"I think that's your answer." Haruko pointed at the large shaved portion of the field. All of them exchanged shocked expressions as they saw it. The grass was mowed into fine big letters saying:
RUKAWA KAEDE IS MY FAVORITE SNUGGLE PLUSHY
----------
Sorry about that. ^_^;;; You can strangle me after the end of the whole story. Hehe.