AUTHOR'S NOTE: Part 2 is up people. Man, I'm on a roll. Heh! Anyway, as you
might have known by now, this is a death fic. Yes, Sakuragi's dead.
Basically this is the reaction of the people around him to his death. Have
fun.
DISCLAIMER: Slamdunk's not mine. It belong to Takehiko Inoue. ***********************************************************************
"He's late again! "
"Maa, maa, Akagi. Give Sakuragi a break. It's almost Christmas anyway," Kogure calmed Akagi down
"THAT IS NOT A REASON TO BE LATE!" Akagi stormed off and leaving the visibly shaken Kogure behind. "20 LAPS AROUND THE COURT! NOW!"
"He's scaring me," Kogure shook his head at their captain's 'cruelty'.
"Are you saying something, Kogure?" Akagi said as he stared down at Kogure.
"Ahahah.no," Kogure replied in a small voice. He then started jogging around the court to get away from the fuming Gorilla.
"That guy will never learn," Akagi thought and balefully tighten his fist. Why God did he had to endure this kind of suffering from a junior? Akagi wished that this 'headache' in the form of a certain redhead be taken away from him, even just for a second.
Meanwhile, Ayako and Haruko were happily chatting at the sideline while watching the boys practiced.
"I'm glad your brother decided to help us in our practice for the Winter Interhigh," Ayako glanced at the smiling face of Haruko.
"Hai! He said that Ryota needed all the help that he could get in controlling Sakuragi-kun and Rukawa-kun. You know my brother. He's such a perfectionist," Haruko replied.
"You can say that again. I can't believe that we have to spend our weekends here in school, practicing for the Interhigh. But the boys don't seem to mind,"
Haruko nodded her head in agreement. It looked like the Shohoku basketball team was more determined in winning the Winter Interhigh championship after their early exit from the National tournament. She's also glad that Sakuragi was able to recover fast enough to join them in their practice. Speaking of Sakuragi.
"Ayako, has Sakuragi arrived yet?"
"No. It seems like he's late again. He'll never learn!" Ayako then whip her fan menacingly on her palm, making the other girl distanced herself away from the manageress wrath.
Anzai-sensei was placidly watching his boys do their warm-ups. He's contentedly sipping his tea while assessing how his team had improved in a single year. "Ohohoho," Anzai-sensei laughed with great mirth.
"Why are you laughing?" Mrs. Anzai asked her husband.
"Soon, these boys will dominate the Kanagawa area and then quite possibly, the whole of Japan. Ohohohoho!"
"Ah yes, I can see that. It looks like Rukawa-kun and Sakuragi-kun will lead this team to its greatness,"
"Ohohoho. Yes, I have faith in Rukawa-kun and Sakuragi-kun. But first, they must learn to work together. Ohohohoho!"
"It seems like Sakuragi-kun is late again," Mrs. Anzai said amusingly. Anzai-sensei just laughed his Santa Claus laugh at her observation. Mrs. Anzai smiled inwardly. She knew that her husband treated Sakuragi more than just a protégé. He looked at him as his grandson. He didn't say it out rightly but she always noticed the twinkle in his eyes whenever he talked about how Sakuragi had transformed from a brash young man to a brash young man with good basketball skills. He was obviously amused by the redhead's antic and was actually very lenient at Sakuragi's frolics. Her husband trusted Sakuragi, perhaps even more than the trust he gave Rukawa.
An hour had passed since the practice started and yet, Sakuragi still hasn't arrived. Akagi was practically fuming. "SAKURAGI! He'll regret the day he played hooky!"
"Anou, nichan. Maybe Sakuragi has a reason. You know that Sakuragi will never skip practice without a reason," Haruko tried to calm his brother.
"I don't care if he has a reason or what!" Akagi said and sit angrily at one of the benches. A vein was throbbing at his head and he was turning six shades of red.
"Wow, I have to congratulate Sakuragi when I meet him. It took a great gut to skip practice and anger Gori," Mitsui guffawed as he practice his three- points.
"Do'aho." Rukawa said quietly while practicing his footwork.
Just then, the principal entered the gym, surprising the whole basketball club.
"Oi, which of you did any mischief?" Kogure said just loud enough for the basketball club to hear.
"I'm pretty sure it's not us. Must be Sakuragi," Ryota replied cheekily. Ayako hit Ryota on the head. "RYOTA MIYAGI!"
"Itai! Aya-chan, you don't love me anymore?"
Ryota received another hit on the head as his answer. "I guess not."
"What are you doing!?! Continue practicing!" Akagi's booming voice resonated in the gym. Akagi then went to where the principal and Anzai- sensei was talking to know what's the matter.
"Ah, Akagi-kun, I'm glad you're here," Principal Okita greeted Akagi. "I was just telling Anzai-sensei how the basketball team had improved."
"Thank you, Principal Okita," Akagi replied graciously but he noticed the tortured look on his face. Akagi couldn't help but be nervous on the real reason why Okita-san was here.
"There's one member missing, isn't it" Okita said quietly.
"Ah yes. Sakuragi-kun seemed to be late," Anzai-sensei replied.
"That Sakuragi is always a troublemaker. I hope he hadn't bothered you or anything Principal Okita because if he did, I'll." but Akagi was immediately cut off by Okita.
"There's been an accident this morning, Akagi-san, Anzai-sensei."
"An accident, Okita-san?" Anzai-sensei inquired.
"Yes, Anzai-san. A boy from our school. A car hit him this morning while going to school. He's de.he didn't make it." Okita dejectedly said.
Akagi had a sudden dread to who the boy way. "Please don't let it be him."
"Do we know him? Is he a former basketball player?" Anzai-sensei said while trying to maintain his nerves.
But Okita didn't reply. He merely looked at the basketball team then back at Anzai-sensei's inquiring gaze. He hung his head in grievance. Principal Okita couldn't bring himself to tell him that it was Sakuragi. But he didn't need to tell Anzai who it was. The Shohoku coach already guessed who it was just by the look on Okita's face.
Akagi was speechless. "No, it can't be.it can't be." Akagi gibberishly said as he felt his knees weaken. He slumped on one of the chair with a stunned look on his face. Akagi looked up on Anzai-sensei who had turned pale.
"Sakuragi-kun."
The sound of the teacup crashing on the floor caught the attention of the whole team. A thick sense of dread envelope the whole team. Something bad had happened. They knew it. But what is it?
"Oniichan?" Haruko advanced meekly at his brother's slump form. "Oniichan, what happen? Oniichan.?"
Akagi merely looked at her, as if he was seeing right through her. "Oniichan.is it about Sakuragi? What happen?"
"Haruko.Sakuragi.he's.he's gone,"
"No.no.you're joking. He can't be dead."
But Akagi just merely looked through her. That look just confirmed Haruko's dread.
Haruko backed away from his brother. "No, it can't be," she said inaudibly, "Sakuragi promised that he'll tell me something today.so ."
Akagi finally stood up from his seat. He could feel the questioning glare of his teammates. He could almost sense their dread. He wanted to tell them the truth but his sister was far more important right now. He had to be strong for the both of them.
"He can't be dead, niichan.he promised me something." Haruko looked at his brother as if forcing him to recant his statement. "He promised.so you see niichan, he can't be dead." Haruko's vision was blurring right now. She couldn't understand what was happening around. She couldn't see how Okita broke the news to the team. She didn't see how Ayako broke down and had to be supported by Miyagi. She couldn't hear the sound of the basketball hitting the floor in unison. She didn't notice how Mitsui cried shamelessly or how Kogure smashed the floor with his hand until it bleed. She would have found it funny to see Rukawa turned even whiter. She would have gone immediately at Anzai-sensei's side to console the old man. But apparently, she didn't care what was happening around her. All she cared about right now was that someone should wake her up from this bad dream. Haruko felt her brother's consoling hand on his shoulder. "Haruko.be strong,"
But Haruko just looked at Akagi. "Did you know that he asked me yesterday what do I want for Christmas? I couldn't answer him because it's too personal," Haruko said to no one in particular. A half-crazed smile was playing on her lips. "Christmas is about 2 weeks away, niichan. Do you think Sakuragi will like a new varsity jacket? It would look good on him. Hahaha." Haruko laughed weakly.
"Haruko. Sakuragi's dead,"
The smile turned to a look of pain. Haruko's unfocused eyes finally saw what was happening around her. A great understanding had come to her. And when the understanding came, she gave way to the anguish eating her up.
"Hanamichi!"
DISCLAIMER: Slamdunk's not mine. It belong to Takehiko Inoue. ***********************************************************************
"He's late again! "
"Maa, maa, Akagi. Give Sakuragi a break. It's almost Christmas anyway," Kogure calmed Akagi down
"THAT IS NOT A REASON TO BE LATE!" Akagi stormed off and leaving the visibly shaken Kogure behind. "20 LAPS AROUND THE COURT! NOW!"
"He's scaring me," Kogure shook his head at their captain's 'cruelty'.
"Are you saying something, Kogure?" Akagi said as he stared down at Kogure.
"Ahahah.no," Kogure replied in a small voice. He then started jogging around the court to get away from the fuming Gorilla.
"That guy will never learn," Akagi thought and balefully tighten his fist. Why God did he had to endure this kind of suffering from a junior? Akagi wished that this 'headache' in the form of a certain redhead be taken away from him, even just for a second.
Meanwhile, Ayako and Haruko were happily chatting at the sideline while watching the boys practiced.
"I'm glad your brother decided to help us in our practice for the Winter Interhigh," Ayako glanced at the smiling face of Haruko.
"Hai! He said that Ryota needed all the help that he could get in controlling Sakuragi-kun and Rukawa-kun. You know my brother. He's such a perfectionist," Haruko replied.
"You can say that again. I can't believe that we have to spend our weekends here in school, practicing for the Interhigh. But the boys don't seem to mind,"
Haruko nodded her head in agreement. It looked like the Shohoku basketball team was more determined in winning the Winter Interhigh championship after their early exit from the National tournament. She's also glad that Sakuragi was able to recover fast enough to join them in their practice. Speaking of Sakuragi.
"Ayako, has Sakuragi arrived yet?"
"No. It seems like he's late again. He'll never learn!" Ayako then whip her fan menacingly on her palm, making the other girl distanced herself away from the manageress wrath.
Anzai-sensei was placidly watching his boys do their warm-ups. He's contentedly sipping his tea while assessing how his team had improved in a single year. "Ohohoho," Anzai-sensei laughed with great mirth.
"Why are you laughing?" Mrs. Anzai asked her husband.
"Soon, these boys will dominate the Kanagawa area and then quite possibly, the whole of Japan. Ohohohoho!"
"Ah yes, I can see that. It looks like Rukawa-kun and Sakuragi-kun will lead this team to its greatness,"
"Ohohoho. Yes, I have faith in Rukawa-kun and Sakuragi-kun. But first, they must learn to work together. Ohohohoho!"
"It seems like Sakuragi-kun is late again," Mrs. Anzai said amusingly. Anzai-sensei just laughed his Santa Claus laugh at her observation. Mrs. Anzai smiled inwardly. She knew that her husband treated Sakuragi more than just a protégé. He looked at him as his grandson. He didn't say it out rightly but she always noticed the twinkle in his eyes whenever he talked about how Sakuragi had transformed from a brash young man to a brash young man with good basketball skills. He was obviously amused by the redhead's antic and was actually very lenient at Sakuragi's frolics. Her husband trusted Sakuragi, perhaps even more than the trust he gave Rukawa.
An hour had passed since the practice started and yet, Sakuragi still hasn't arrived. Akagi was practically fuming. "SAKURAGI! He'll regret the day he played hooky!"
"Anou, nichan. Maybe Sakuragi has a reason. You know that Sakuragi will never skip practice without a reason," Haruko tried to calm his brother.
"I don't care if he has a reason or what!" Akagi said and sit angrily at one of the benches. A vein was throbbing at his head and he was turning six shades of red.
"Wow, I have to congratulate Sakuragi when I meet him. It took a great gut to skip practice and anger Gori," Mitsui guffawed as he practice his three- points.
"Do'aho." Rukawa said quietly while practicing his footwork.
Just then, the principal entered the gym, surprising the whole basketball club.
"Oi, which of you did any mischief?" Kogure said just loud enough for the basketball club to hear.
"I'm pretty sure it's not us. Must be Sakuragi," Ryota replied cheekily. Ayako hit Ryota on the head. "RYOTA MIYAGI!"
"Itai! Aya-chan, you don't love me anymore?"
Ryota received another hit on the head as his answer. "I guess not."
"What are you doing!?! Continue practicing!" Akagi's booming voice resonated in the gym. Akagi then went to where the principal and Anzai- sensei was talking to know what's the matter.
"Ah, Akagi-kun, I'm glad you're here," Principal Okita greeted Akagi. "I was just telling Anzai-sensei how the basketball team had improved."
"Thank you, Principal Okita," Akagi replied graciously but he noticed the tortured look on his face. Akagi couldn't help but be nervous on the real reason why Okita-san was here.
"There's one member missing, isn't it" Okita said quietly.
"Ah yes. Sakuragi-kun seemed to be late," Anzai-sensei replied.
"That Sakuragi is always a troublemaker. I hope he hadn't bothered you or anything Principal Okita because if he did, I'll." but Akagi was immediately cut off by Okita.
"There's been an accident this morning, Akagi-san, Anzai-sensei."
"An accident, Okita-san?" Anzai-sensei inquired.
"Yes, Anzai-san. A boy from our school. A car hit him this morning while going to school. He's de.he didn't make it." Okita dejectedly said.
Akagi had a sudden dread to who the boy way. "Please don't let it be him."
"Do we know him? Is he a former basketball player?" Anzai-sensei said while trying to maintain his nerves.
But Okita didn't reply. He merely looked at the basketball team then back at Anzai-sensei's inquiring gaze. He hung his head in grievance. Principal Okita couldn't bring himself to tell him that it was Sakuragi. But he didn't need to tell Anzai who it was. The Shohoku coach already guessed who it was just by the look on Okita's face.
Akagi was speechless. "No, it can't be.it can't be." Akagi gibberishly said as he felt his knees weaken. He slumped on one of the chair with a stunned look on his face. Akagi looked up on Anzai-sensei who had turned pale.
"Sakuragi-kun."
The sound of the teacup crashing on the floor caught the attention of the whole team. A thick sense of dread envelope the whole team. Something bad had happened. They knew it. But what is it?
"Oniichan?" Haruko advanced meekly at his brother's slump form. "Oniichan, what happen? Oniichan.?"
Akagi merely looked at her, as if he was seeing right through her. "Oniichan.is it about Sakuragi? What happen?"
"Haruko.Sakuragi.he's.he's gone,"
"No.no.you're joking. He can't be dead."
But Akagi just merely looked through her. That look just confirmed Haruko's dread.
Haruko backed away from his brother. "No, it can't be," she said inaudibly, "Sakuragi promised that he'll tell me something today.so ."
Akagi finally stood up from his seat. He could feel the questioning glare of his teammates. He could almost sense their dread. He wanted to tell them the truth but his sister was far more important right now. He had to be strong for the both of them.
"He can't be dead, niichan.he promised me something." Haruko looked at his brother as if forcing him to recant his statement. "He promised.so you see niichan, he can't be dead." Haruko's vision was blurring right now. She couldn't understand what was happening around. She couldn't see how Okita broke the news to the team. She didn't see how Ayako broke down and had to be supported by Miyagi. She couldn't hear the sound of the basketball hitting the floor in unison. She didn't notice how Mitsui cried shamelessly or how Kogure smashed the floor with his hand until it bleed. She would have found it funny to see Rukawa turned even whiter. She would have gone immediately at Anzai-sensei's side to console the old man. But apparently, she didn't care what was happening around her. All she cared about right now was that someone should wake her up from this bad dream. Haruko felt her brother's consoling hand on his shoulder. "Haruko.be strong,"
But Haruko just looked at Akagi. "Did you know that he asked me yesterday what do I want for Christmas? I couldn't answer him because it's too personal," Haruko said to no one in particular. A half-crazed smile was playing on her lips. "Christmas is about 2 weeks away, niichan. Do you think Sakuragi will like a new varsity jacket? It would look good on him. Hahaha." Haruko laughed weakly.
"Haruko. Sakuragi's dead,"
The smile turned to a look of pain. Haruko's unfocused eyes finally saw what was happening around her. A great understanding had come to her. And when the understanding came, she gave way to the anguish eating her up.
"Hanamichi!"