Disclaimer: I do not own Slam Dunk!! *boo hoo!* And, I certainly do not own Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata! ~_~ Life is just so unfair isn't it?? *pouts*
A big thanks to the reviewers again! ^_^
moonglow: Ano…do I have to say anything to you? LOL~ But…Guess there is something I need to say to u ne, that is…10Q for helping out with this chapter!! Big time~ And, you know what I mean and at which part ne ^_~ Arigatou~ :D
frozenfemale: Well, can't tell you if there's something wrong with Hisae's life or not, not yet anyways :P So, that's for you to find out in later chapters. Tnx for staying tune :))
sLL: Huh? Your brain is fried!? O.o LOL~ Take care of yourself ne, my friend ^_~
Tensaispira: Yes, Hisae does like Kogure, and I have a feeling that our dear Megane-kun feels the same toward her also ^_~ Err… Mitsui? That's what I have to conjure up ne, for him to get back at Ying :P hahaha~ As for Hisae's identity…still can't tell you…sowwie~ :P
Fiery-chan: ano… when did u become so crazy fiery-chan!? How can you have the heart to tape me to my chair and force me to type?? *boo hoo* *sob sob* ~_~ so bad~ :x think I'm a bad influence on you~ bwahahahaha~ :D As for the himitsu… hehe… it won't be a hitmitsu anymore if I told ya right?? *grins* ^_~ so… keep guessing ne… hehe :P
NB: … Thoughts
"…" Character's speech
(Numbers) Explanations in akane の teahouse
"Italics" Dialogue spoken in French
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Chapter 4 – A Change of Heart?
After seeing Ying off, Hisae returned to her condo, sat down at the piano, and played. As the soft tune of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake flooded the room, her lips curled into a smile. Closing her eyes, she thought about what had happened in the short span of time that she had been in Kanagawa.
She arrived in this city west of Tokyo two months ago, at the end of the Japanese spring just in time to see the last blooms of sakuras. On the first day here, she had met the astonishingly spirited and energetic Ying who cut her hair, and who she met again the next day in school. Ying and she became fast friends, and their friendship developed deeper as the days passed. Even though Ying was the one who started their friendship, Hisae had learnt through this special friend of hers to open her heart to the world, and enjoy what the world can offer her. The Hisae today was no longer the diffident girl who ran away from her manipulative parents. The Hisae today although still somewhat quiet, her spirit was a lively one. Her purple eyes no longer showed signs of anxiety or timidity; instead, they were now always sparkling with new vigor.
When Swan Lake ended, another well known piece of Tchaikovsky reverberated through the room. The Nutcracker Suite. The playful rhythm of the piece suited her frame of mind well. When she played this overture, she thought about her meetings with Kogure, the ever good-natured vice-captain of the basketball team and the prized student of their school. She could not help but blushed at the thought of the bespectacled boy. Throughout the last two month, he had helped her at various occasions. These included the few informal tutoring sessions where he had helped her with her Japanese. His ever pleasant and gentle smiles always reminded her of spring breezes blowing across a vast meadow, and across her heart's still lake, rippling the supposedly calm surface. It was only not long ago that she realized she had unusual feelings for her suave seatmate.
Whilst Hisae was playing the piano relaxingly, unknown to her was, someone was trying to hunt her down from a continent and an ocean away…
o o o o o
"Where is she? I demand that you tell me!" A middle aged woman with oriental features clothed in a designer suit glared at the young man in his early twenties seated in front of her, her son. However, by appearance, she only looked to be in her early thirties.
Eien glanced at his mother scornfully, his purple eyes sheath by ice. His chiseled features hardening further as the minute passed.
"Why do you care?" His said acrimoniously.
"Tell me where she is now." The woman whose maiden name was Shitsuki Nagisa demanded once more.
Eien stood up from his seat, towering above his mother with his 184cm height and shrugged boldly. "I don't know."
"You dare say you don't know! You helped her ran away, she could never manage that little scheme if not for you." Nagisa sneered at her son.
"I have told you what I know and that is all I can say." Eien said as he walked out of the study. He paused in mid stride and added, "If you love her, let her be. Let her enjoy this one year of freedom. She had promised to return after one year. If she does not, I will see to it that she does return and attend the conservatory myself."
With that, Eien ended his conversation with his mother and left the study. His cold eyes softened, as did his features. Hisae…May lady luck be with you and you are not found by mother…
After Eien left the study, Nagisa picked up the phone and rang an old friend of hers.
"Clovis, find her. Whatever the cost!" Nagisa said and put down the phone. She turned to look out the window, gazing at the overcastted skies of the southern winter. Her brown eyes darkened coldly. Where ever you are, I will find you. You have no right to run away from your obligations.
o o o o o
Ying waltzed into the classroom, cheery as usual. Earlier, she had met Hisae by Setsuge-ka En's entrance and walked to school together. When they were about to turn the corner onto the street where Shohoku stood, they met up with Kogure. Therefore, Ying decided to do a little match-making at that instance and strolled off ahead to let them have some private time together.
When Ying reached her desk, she saw a small box on it. She placed her bag on her seat and looked at the box. There was no note or makings on the box, so she opened it out of curiosity.
"Argh!!!!!"
A loud scream pierced the quiet morning's air, causing students around the third year section of Shohoku running to Class 3 – 6, curiously. Ying's face greened at the sight of the box's content and an allergic chain reaction followed, causing her to sneeze uncontrollably.
"Whoever the put this fur ball on my desk?!" Roared a flustered and sneezing Ying, face red from anger and an ailed sinus.
Hisae had just arrived outside their classroom with Kogure when she heard Ying's flaming scream. She hurried inside and dumped her bag on her seat, then rushed to Ying's side.
"Nan…" Hisae stopped her question when she saw the 'thing' on Ying's desk, a box containing a hairy hamster.
Hisae bit back a laugh while she took the box from Ying's desk and placed it on the long bench at the back of the classroom. Ying was glaring at everyone furiously; even Hisae while pinching her nose to stop her sneezes in vain. She darted her glares in scrutiny at everyone. Kogure watched the commotion with bafflement.
"Ying, daijoubu?" Hisae asked when she returned to Ying's side.
Ying nodded, still pinching her nose. She snarled at everyone angrily, "Who is responsible for putting that on my desk!?"
Everyone in the classroom just looked at her dumbfounded. No one knew who put the box there, and definitely, no one ever expected the class's Miss Toughie to be allergic to something cute and small.
"Ahahahahahaha…" Someone was laughing hysterically outside Class 3 – 6. That caught everyone's attention. But what caught everyone's attention more was the loud shout, "ITAI! What the hell was that for Akagi?"
Ying pushed through her fellow student and snapped at ex-MVP point guard, "Mitsui Hisashi, you lowlife!"
The indigo head looked up at Ying and burst out laughing again; ignoring their captain's more and more gorilla like features.
"Ahahahahahaha…"
"Shut up baka!" Ying shouted.
"Make me!" Mitsui spurted between laughs.
"You were the one who put that thing on my desk!" Ying shouted accusingly.
"Yea, so?" Mitsui shot her a grin saying what'cha-gonna-do-about-it.
"Kono yarou!" Ying took a step forward but was held back just before lunging for Mitsui, by Hisae.
"Please don't Ying." Hisae said in a pleading voice. "It's not worth getting a black mark against your name for this."
"But!" Ying rebuked.
"Please Ying." Hisae pleaded again. "I don't want to see you get hurt. Besides, I'm sure Mitsui-kun didn't really mean to bring you distress."
Mitsui snorted at Hisae's words.
"Sorry to say this to you Shitsuki, but I damn well meant it when I said I'll get her back. That hamster is just a taste of what's to come." He grinned nastily.
"Mitsui-kun…" Hisae mumbled.
However, before Hisae could say more to ease the situation between Ying and Mitsui, Ying had loosened herself from Hisae's gentle grip and swung a punch at the unaware Mitsui. Everyone gasped. Hisae fell backwards to the force and into Kogure's arms; who had just come out of the classroom. Mitsui on the other hand just stumbled backward and held onto his now bruised jaw with a hand.
Hisae looked up and blushed when she saw whom her savior was. Kogure helped her to her feet. "Daijoubu?"
"Dai…daijoubu. Arigatou Kogure-kun." Hisae stuttered in reply.
Seeing Hisae's blushing face, Kogure also blushed, and his heart skipped a beat as the scene before replayed in his head.
Oblivious to the blushing pair, Ying was smirking wickedly at the point guard. "What do you think now, Mr. Oh-I'm-so-great?"
"Teme!" Mitsui lunged for Ying disregarding the so call gentlemanly rule. Ying managed to avoid his blow in the nick of time and tripping him as she swerved, and grinned a victorious grin at him.
Mitsui stumbled and half knelt on the floor to keep himself from tumbling further. His eyes landed on a pair of shoes when he steadied himself. He looked up and swore mentally. Damn! Not now! He pulled himself up and stood aside grumbling beneath his breath.
"What is the meaning of all these!?" The voice of Eguchi sensei boomed above the students' racket.
Everyone quieted and turned to look at the sensei.
"Well? I'm waiting." Eguchi sensei said with his stares affixed to the students. "Miss Zhi? Mr. Mitsui? Care to explain you interesting situation to me?"
"Ano, sensei…" Hisae began to speak, hoping to help Ying and Mitsui out of the mess they got themselves into.
"Miss Shitsuki, this is none of you concern." Eguchi sensei said sternly to Hisae. He then turned to the rest of the students and ordered, "Get back to you classrooms now, class has already begun."
When everyone began to move away, Eguchi sensei's voice rang out again. "Except for Miss Zhi and Mr. Mitsui."
Ying scorned at the sensei's words and glanced at Hisae to tell her that she was fine with her eyes. Mitsui just stood there with a petulant face.
"Hisae-chan, let's go in first, they should be fine." Kogure spoke softly as he placed a hand on her shoulder in reassurance.
Hisae looked and met his ever gentle smile, calming her slightly. She nodded and walked into the classroom with him.
Once the students left the corridor outside Class 3 – 6, Eguchi sensei began his grilling on the two.
"Well? What do you have to say for yourselves?" Eguchi sensei scowled at Ying and Mitsui, standing with both hands on his hips.
Ying shrugged haphazardly. "Izonganai (1)."
Eguchi sensei shot Ying a harsh glance and turned to Mitsui. "And you, Mitsui?"
"I just happened to tripped myself accidentally, that's all, sensei." Mitsui shrugged and pulled an innocent smile.
"What do you take me for, Mitsui? A fool?" Eguchi sensei raged. "I saw you two fighting just now and I must say, you should be ashamed of yourself Mitsui. How can you, a member of the male gender hit a female?"
Mitsui frowned and snorted, while Ying smirked spitefully at the sensei's words.
Eguchi sensei then turned his attention to Ying. "As for you young lady, you are no better than Mitsui. Being a member of the female population, how can you be so rough-necked? Both of you are a disgrace to both genders."
Mitsui and Ying rolled their eyes simultaneously at their teacher's lexis, and thought the same thing concurrently. Gees, which prehistoric age did this golliwog crawl out off!?
"Both of you! Detention after school today!" Eguchi sensei yelled. Mitsui and Ying grunted. "Did you two hear me?"
"Hai, sensei…" They said in unison.
Eguchi sensei nodded and ordered, "Get back to your classes now."
"Hai…"
Ying shot Mitsui a death glare then walked back into Class 3 – 6 and plopped down at her seat, while Mitsui sneered at Ying before returning to Class 3 – 3. Eguchi sensei sighed and shook his head hopelessly. However, the thought of being able to put Ying into detention at last brought a smile to his face. Finally! A chance to discipline that disrespectful girl.
o o o o o
"Ying, daijoubu?" Hisae asked Ying worriedly as she supported her friend along the corridor.
"Dai…daijoubu…" Ying winced at the pain coursing through her body, clutching her abdomen. Her face paled another shade. The cramps had started during lunch and they were taking their tolls on her, tiring her mentally and physically.
"Demo…" Hisae's brows creased at Ying's proud attitude.
Ying landed a hand on Hisae's arm, patting her in reassurance. "Honestly, I'm fine." She smiled weakly.
The two girls were now outside the detention room, and met up with Mitsui. Ying scowled at the indigo head immediately. "This is your entire fault, you nincompoop!"
"Look who's talking. Who would've thought that the Miss Toughie of Shohoku High has such a laughable weakness?" Mitsui grinned naughtily.
"Go to hell!" Ying shot back.
Ignoring the grinning Mitsui, Ying turned to Hisae. "Daijoubu, I'll be fine. Just go home."
Hisae shook her head. "Iie, I'll wait for you. You will not be that long anyway, just an hour. I'll be at the library for the time being. I'll pick you up later."
"Hisae, you don't have to wait for me, I can take care of myself."
"No, I'll wait. And that's final." Hisae said sternly, standing her ground.
"Alright, alright. I'll see you later then." Ying relented.
Hisae nodded and watch the pale-faced Ying walked slowly into the detention room. After Ying had entered the room and the door closed, she walked toward the library.
"Don't start!" Ying snapped coldly at Mitsui who was already seated at one of the desk in the room.
Trying to provoke Ying into a heart attack, Mitsui grinned like a crazy maniac.
"Hn." Ying humped and sat down. Sensing that Mitsui was still looking at her, she looked up and glared at him with all the stare-daggers she could dig up from the depths of her central nervous system. Hence began the staring contest.
"Will you just quit being so damn annoying?" Ying hissed through gritted teeth and clenched fists.
Mitsui flashed a knowing grin at her, which further grated at her nerves.
"That's it!" Ying could not contain her temper anymore and stood up quickly but too violently that the chair overturned and fell to the floor with a loud 'thud'. A sudden wave of dizziness assaulted her and she held onto the desk and tried to fight back the unaccustomed dizziness she was experiencing. She bit her lower lip forcefully as she made her way over to Mitsui. Imagining the desk as Mitsui's head, she slammed a fist onto it then look into his eyes frostily.
"There are so many people dying each day and I'm amazed at the fact you're not one of them." She leered coldly.
Mitsui stood up and loomed over her. "I've never met a girl who's as obnoxious as you are, not to mention so bad-mannered as well."
"Oh, I'm obnoxious am I? Well, have you looked in the mirror and check your chauvinist meter lately? You big oaf!" Ying snapped back. "I really don't know what those harebrained fans of yours see in you."
"Oi, don't drag other into this."
"Why? It breaks your heart to see your fans ridiculed?" Ying make a mocking sour face as she spoke. "Aw…poor thing." Ying burst out laughing.
"You little…" He clenched his fists, but something held him back from springing at her. It was her demeanor at that moment. She was breathing way too heavily to be called normal, and at that very moment, she looked so fragile with that pale face. Therefore, Mitsui restrained himself from attacking her physically and retaliated verbally instead. "I think you're just jealous of me. Besides, it is just too unethical to fight with a puny little shrew like you."
Hearing what Mitsui said, Ying's pale face reddened with anger and humiliation. She had mistaken his meaning by thinking he thought lowly of her fighting skills, so she swung a fist at him again for the second time that day.
Mitsui dodged her punch by moving backward. For Ying however, another dizzy spell hit her and she fell forward.
Shimatta! Her mind shouted. However, before she could try anything to steady herself, blackness overwhelmed her.
Mitsui felt something wrong when she fell forward, so he stretched out his arms automatically and caught the falling, fainted Ying just before her face kissed the cold wooden surface of the desk.
"Ooi! Zhi, are you ok? Ooi!" Mitsui nudged her with his arm.
After a few tries, he still could not get a respond from Ying. Noticing that her face was unnaturally pale at that instance, he cupped her in his arms and carried her to the school nurse. On the way to the clinic, he bumped into Eguchi sensei, who he ignored totally. In fact, he yelled at the sensei telling him to get out of his way. The sensei was flabbergasted and could only stare at his retreating silhouette.
When Mitsui reached the clinic, he rushed in and called for the nurse urgently. "Nurse! We need some help here!"
A chubby looking woman in her mid thirties came out from the back of the room and adjusted her glasses as she looked at Mitsui with Ying in his arms.
"What's the matter dear?" She asked in a warm voice.
"She fainted." Mitsui said hastily.
"Oh dear. Come; let's put her on the bed at the back." She motioned him to bring her into the room behind by lifting the heavy curtains.
Mitsui put Ying on the bed covered in white linen and stood back as the nurse moved in to check on her. Strangely, he felt rather unhappy after he released her from his arms.
Why did it feel so right to have her in my arms? He frowned at the thought.
"She's fine, just tired." The nurse said after performing a simple checkup on Ying, waking a confused Mitsui from his little trail of thoughts.
"Oh…aa…k…" Mumbled Mitsui. "Ano, since she's fine, I'll get going then." He turned and left the clinic hastily before the nurse could say anything.
"Young man…" The plum nurse began but was too late to catch the already gone Mitsui. She shook her head slightly. "Tsk, tsk, teenagers these days…"
o o o o o
Hisae was walking to the library when she heard the familiar sounds of a piano being played. She looked up and her feet switched into auto mode and followed the music. Her feet brought her to the music room, where the music club was practicing. When she reached the door, the school choir began to sing. The song being sung was Asa no Higaso, originally sung by the Hong Kong singer, Kelly Chan. Although not familiar with the piece, and the choir were not being as coordinated as the professionals were, Hisae was still enchanted by the music. She stood outside the music room and listened to the entire piece contentedly.
"Shitsuki-san, what are you doing here?" A female voice rang out behind Hisae, causing her fall out of the music world and turned to look at the person.
Hisae nodded at the girl who was called her. "I heard the music when I was walking passed, so I dropped by to listen to it."
"Sou." The girl nodded. "Ara, watashi wa Asamiya Isako, vice-president of the music club. You can come in and watch if you want."
Hisae smiled and shook her head slightly in declination. 'Iie, I still have to go to the library to do some research. But, thank you for the invitation."
"Sou ka…"
"Sore Ja."
Hisae bowed slightly and walked toward the library.
Isako watched as Hisae's figure diminished. What a weird person… She shrugged and pushed the door of the music room open to join her fellow music club members.
It was almost six in the evening when Hisae left the library to search for Ying. She found Ying supporting herself walking along the empty corridor that led to the detention room. She rushed over to Ying and swung her arm over her shoulders to support the shorter girl.
"What are you doing outside? Aren't you supposed to be in detention?" Hisae asked in a worried tone as she looked at her pale-faced friend.
"Wakajanai. All I know is, I was fighting with that imbecile one minute and I woke up in the school clinic the next. Whatever happened in between is absolutely beyond me." Ying said in a flabbergasted tone.
Hisae's brows knotted together after hearing what Ying said. She looked at her friend and found her paler than before, so she dismissed whatever questions she had about the earlier happenings and concentrated more on helping her friend to get home.
"Let's get you out of here." Hisae said softly and the pair headed for the main entrance of the school.
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akane の teahouse…
K…not much to explain in this chapter, just the one small word 'izonganai', which means nothing to say in Jap :) So, there~ :)
For those of you who are going crazy over guessing Hisae's identity or her secret, I promise you that I'll get it out soon, k? So…don't kill me, pretty please? ^_^; hehehe…
Anyways, how did you find this chappy? Reviews please? Arigatou gosaimasu~ :D
The lazy neko signing out… =^.^=