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*
Thankies to the reviewers! =^.^=
NB: … Thoughts
"…" Character's speech
~*~*~*~*~ Again…Merry Christmas Everyone!!! \\^o^// ~*~*~*~*~
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Epilogue – Yoriwomodosu
"Kogure senpai! Can you help us with some of the lecture notes? We don't really understand them."
A group of third year, female medical students surrounded Kogure as he entered ToDai's refractory before he had time to react. He smiled weakly to himself and shook his head slightly as he sat down and started another 'Kogure-senpai-help-us-session'. He pushed the nose piece of the pair of new rimless spectacles that he just got himself and took out a pencil to start solving his kohais' questions. While he was concentrating on the questions asked by the girls, the girls surrounding him gazed at his physique dreamily.
Yes, the well mannered and gentle nature of Kogure got him the way into the hearts of many girls when he started medical school in ToDai. As the years passed, he became more matured albeit his baby face and his temperaments drew many of the opposite gender to him. However, his heart was already given to one person many years ago, and that person had claimed residence of his heart ever since. Therefore, he was dubbed the silent heartbreaker by many in ToDai, a label he could only laugh weakly at since he did no such things.
Maki walked into the ref and saw his future cousin-in-law in 'dire straits' again. He snickered at Kogure's predicament as he walked over to rescue the bespectacled boy for the umpteenth time.
"Kogure, here you are! I've been looking all over for you!" The current captain of ToDai's basketball team said in a grateful tone.
Kogure looked up and heaved a sigh of relief silently. Arigatou kami-sama!
"Maki!" Kogure exclaimed thankfully.
"Maki senpai!" The girls turned and swoon at another one of the most sought after males in ToDai.
"Hi girls." Maki smiled at them, making all of them sighed dreamily. He turned to Kogure and said in pretended exasperation, "Let's go Kogure; you don't want us to be late for our tutorial ne."
Kogure nodded and got up from his seat quickly. "Sorry girls, have to run. Bye."
"Run Maki." Kogure said quietly as he grabbed hold of Maki's arm and dragged the latter out of the ref quickly, as if running for their lives.
"Ja Kogure senpai, Maki senpai." The girls wailed from behind.
When they were outside the ref, Maki broke into a laughing fit.
"That's not funny, Maki!" Kogure grumbled solemnly.
"Haha…ahem…hehe…I'm sorry…hehe…" Maki tried to apologize with utmost sincerity between laughs.
Kogure frowned at his friend and sighed. "Now I know how you and Rukawa felt when surrounded by your fans."
Maki grinned. "What do you expect? You think we bask in their adorations?"
"Fine, fine. Anyways, thanks for bailing me out again." Kogure said weakly.
"Hey, don't sweat it. I'm just protecting Nicole's property." Maki grinned wider.
Kogure's eyes softened at the mention of the name. Hisae…
"Have you heard from her lately?" Kogure asked eagerly.
Maki's eyes widened suddenly and pointed downward. "Why don't you ask him instead?"
"Huh?" Kogure's gaze followed his friend's finger and gasped. "Lucian!"
"Meow." Lucian purred as he circled Kogure's feet.
Kogure bent down, picked up the Birman neko and stroked its fur gently. "Why are you here Lucian? You're supposed to be with Eien-nii ne?"
"Meow." Lucian meowed again.
Then realization struck both Kogure and Maki. The looked at each other and gaped. "She's back!"
Kogure looked at Lucian incredulously. "Where is she Lucian? Take me to her."
He lowered Lucian onto the ground and they followed Lucian in the general direction of ToDai's amphitheatre. As soon as they neared the site, mesmerizing piano music could be heard. They looked at each other again then dashed into the theatre and stood motionless at the view before them. Lucian ran and jumped onto the stage, sitting himself at the foot of the bench and meowed softly at the pianist. The pianist looked in the guys' direction and flashed them a gentle smile as her purple eyes sparkled under the autumn sun. She turned her attention back to her playing and with a change of tone; the touching melody of First Love rang into the air.
Kogure gaped and he walked toward her slowly.
Maki smiled. Well, at least he doesn't have to bear with that accursed title those girls gave him anymore. Welcome back Nicole!
He stopped when he was next to her, standing there waiting for her to finish the piece. She looked up at him and smiled tenderly, letting her eyes meet with his warm brown pools. Silent words were exchanged between them at that moment.
I promised to play this song for you when I returned ne. She smiled.
Hai…and you upheld that promise. He returned with a warm smile.
She nodded and turned back to concentrate on the piano. Kogure stood next to her while she finished the piece. To those present, mostly ToDai's music students wondered what's going on between their new professor and one of the most sought after guys in their university. Do they know each other? What's their relationship?
Hisae closed her eyes as she strike the last note. "I'm home." She whispered.
Kogure smiled at her words and waited for her to stand up. As soon as she stood, she was pulled into his familiar embrace and she let herself crushed against him.
"Kim-kun…thanks for waiting." Hisae spoke softly with her face buried in his chest.
"Okaerinasai Hisae. Thank you for coming back to me, kitten." He said as he closed his eyes and buried his face in her long brown hair.
The two stood embracing each other deeply on the stage, oblivious to the rising racket around them. Other than wondering about the new professor and one of ToDai's heartthrobs, the female students were much displeased about the situation since it pointed in the direction of losing one of their heartthrobs.
Maki walked onto the stage when the two finally pulled apart. He put a hand onto Hisae and Kogure's shoulders.
"Welcome back Nicole." He smiled warmly at his cousin, and then turned to Kogure, "Congratulations Kogure."
"Thank you Shinichi-nii." Hisae smiled and hugged her cousin happily.
Kogure smiled at the cousin pair and said, "Thanks Maki."
"Hisae!" Ying's chirpy voice shouted as she ran into the amphitheatre.
Hisae pulled away from Maki and looked in her best friend's direction. She ran to the other girl and they hugged each other dearly.
"My god! You're back! You're finally back after all these years!" Ying said happily.
Hisae nodded and the happiness she felt made her eyes glistened. "Hai."
"And you grew your hair back!" Ying gasped thrillingly then pouted. "Hey, what happened to the I-be-gone-for-three-years-at-most promise!?"
"Oh that, well…I was offered a place in the music fellowship in Vienna, so I stayed for three more years to become a member of the fellowship." Hisae explained, slightly guilty about not keeping her words.
"You made us wait three more years ne!" Ying continued to pout.
"Yeah, because of you I have to wait a few more years to tie her down." Mitsui said sulkily from behind.
Hisae smiled at the indigo head. "Hi Mitsui-kun. Hisashiburide, o genki desu ka?"
"I'd be better if you had come back when you promised." Mitsui grunted.
"Sou…hehehe…" Hisae sweat dropped.
Ying hit her boyfriend on the arm. "Ooi! Be nice, or else you can wait another six years before I say yes to you, you big oaf!"
"OK, ok." Mitsui rolled his eyes and threw his hands into the air submissively.
Hisae smiled at the pair. They haven't changed a single bit…
A pair of strong arms encircled Hisae from behind and she smiled up at her captor. "You're not going away again anytime soon, are you?" He asked her.
"Not that I know of." She replied softly.
He smiled. "Marry me, Hisae? I know I haven't graduated from med school, but I will soon. I really can't stand parting with you again. I…"
Hisae's eyes widened at the surprised question at first, but she soon smiled and turned around to face him. She put a hand on his mouth to stop him from saying further. "You don't have to say anymore Kim-kun. My answer is yes."
"Really? You'll marry me?" Kogure's heart was bursting with happiness.
"Hai." Hisae nodded her head affirmatively.
Kogure broke out laughing happily and lifted Hisae off her feet, swinging both of them in circles.
"Wow! That's the simplest proposal I've seen and heard, yet it's so effective." Maki gawked.
"Why does he get all the luck!?" Mitsui cursed under his breath.
Ying poked the indigo head in his ribs. "Shut up will you. Unless you want to walk down the aisle by yourself!"
Mitsui was stunned by Ying's words. His eyes bulged. "Did I hear you correctly? Are you finally saying yes to me?" He asked Ying as his grin widened.
Ying blushed and punched him in the arm. "Shut up!" She turned and walked away as Mitsui chased after her.
"O…ooi! Chotto!" The indigo head shouted after his 'fiancé'.
"Kim-kun, stop! I'm dizzy!" Hisae said between laughs.
Kogure finally stopped swinging both her and himself in circles and smiled down at her. "I love you, kitten."
"I love you too, my big teddy bear." Hisae winked at him playfully.
"Since when did I become a teddy bear?" Kogure raised an eyebrow at her name for him.
"Since now." She smiled.
Kogure laughed and looked into her eyes, drowning himself in those purple pools. He lowered his head as she tipped her toes slightly. All the worries and yearnings over the pass six years were dissolved by that single kiss.
Maki turned to the shocked audience and shouted. "Nothing to see people, show's over!"
The tall basketballer turned and smiled on the kissing couple. He picked up Lucian and stroked its fur as he left. "Don't think they'll notice you from now one ne, so do you want to stay with me from now on?"
"Meow~" Lucian looked up at him with its blue eyes and purred.
The still warm, early autumn's wind blew, picking up the withered leaves, making them dance by their feet…
~*~*~*~*~ OWARI ~*~*~*~*~
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akane の teahouse…
*Bows* Thank you for tuning in minna-san. Hope you enjoyed this story as much as I did writing it. ^_^ The final words here is that anyone can change from a negative phase into a positive ones, as long as they have their loved ones and their friends along their sides. :)
Also, one last note is, I want to dedicate this fic to Moon Glow, who had helped me along the way ever since I started writing this fic. Most of all, she contributed to the fic as Ying, the character that brought out the life of the fic. So…thank you Moon-san. Hope you excel in whatever you are doing now and I will miss you! *hugs*
Okies then…that's about all from me…for now~ :P hehehe…
The lazy neko signing out~ =^.^=
P/S: Drop me a review please!!! I want your opinions about the fic!!! :D Doumo arigatou~ ^_~
Pp/s: Oh, and if you're wondering about what the title of the epilogue meant; it means "Together Again". Cheers~ ^_^