AUTHOR'S NOTE: First and foremost, I would like to thank you all for supporting my fic, especially those who have given me their reviews and constructive criticisms. I've become a better writer because of you. Hopefully, you'll support my other fic as well now that this story has finally reaches it end. Thank you very much and have fun!

DISCLAIMER: Slamdunk is the legal property of Mr. Takehiko Inoue.

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I breathed the cool evening air as I stood outside the Shohoku basketball court. I looked around me and marveled that nothing much changes in this place. There's still the main building of the campus where I had spent three years of my high school life. The court looks the same except that it was slightly refurbished three years ago to make it more modern. The school had installed a new electronic scoreboard as well as fiberglass backboards. But all in all, it was still the same high school building where I had spent my happy teenage years.

I closed my eyes and breathed in the fresh air gently blowing tonight. Has it been ten years already since I graduated from high school? I felt so old beyond my years. But standing here outside, with my eyes closed and the wind gently playing with my hair, I was a carefree teenage girl once again. And I could see so clearly in my mind what I had went through during my stay here in Shohoku high. The pain of losing a dear friend, the agony of defeat, the joy of first love and first kiss, the misery of falling out of love, the happiness of finally winning the National tournament. I had experienced all of these and it had created the person that I am today. A little less whiny and a little more knowledgeable on the facts of life.

"Hey, what are you doing here outside?"

I opened my eyes and found myself looking straight into a pool of blue eyes. "Nothing. I just need some fresh air." I smiled and fumbled at his collar. I could see that Kaede didn't trust what I said so I jokingly scrunched my face and pretended to be angry at him.

"What? You don't believe your wife, Rukawa Kaede?" I teased him and he gave a small laugh.

"Who ever gave you the idea that I don't believe you?" he took both of my hands and kissed me lightly on the forehead. I giggled and put my head on his chest and just stayed like that. I really loved being embraced by Kaede because I could smell his scent. There's no other word to describe it but manly. It suited him.

"You know, they might be wondering where you are. It won't be a reunion without our ex-co-manageress there. Maybe, you should come inside?" Kaede prodded me all the while giving me light kisses on top of my head.

Reluctantly, I broke the embraced and shook my head. "No…I think I'll stay here for a short while."

He sighed and jokingly rolled his eyes. It was his way of saying he gave up convincing me but still, I playfully punched him on the arm. He rubbed the spot where I had hit him and I was a little worried that I might have hurt him. "I'm sorry. Does it hurt?" I closed the distance between us and he quickly, but lightly, grabbed me behind and gave me a soft kiss on the lips. I closed my eyes instinctively and just let that warm glow suffused me.

He broke the kiss just when I thought I might die because of lack of air (not that I didn't enjoy that kiss). "I'll wait for you inside, ok?" he whispered huskily and went back to the court. I smiled as I watched the retreating back of my husband.

Even though we were married for two years already, I still couldn't believe that Rukawa Kaede was my husband. If you have told me ten years ago that I would end up happily married to Rukawa Kaede, I would have said you're mental. But I guess I was the one who was mental. Thinking about it now, I really still couldn't figure out how we had ended up together.

It was during at the lowest point in my life when I was so depressed about Hanamichi's death. I was in dire need of a friend who could understand what I was going through when suddenly Kaede approached me. He told me that maybe I could help him understand Hanamichi because he had never really taken the time to know his team mate better. The surprising thing was, I didn't blush nor fidget at his presence. I felt actually normal and relieved that somehow I had found someone I could share my thoughts. In fact, the prospect of Kaede and I becoming a couple was out of my mind. I had already given up on that.

 He was still an Ice King back then but we miraculously became good friends. It really took quite sometime before he warmed up to me. I really thought that friends were all we ever could be. And I frankly, I was contented with that. Until one day, my Christmas wish came back to my mind. It was so odd, really. I've never told Sakuragi what it was and I thought I had forgotten it. It was during my senior year in Shohoku when the basketball team finally won the National tournament. There were great jubilation in school and the team members were treated like gods. Especially Kaede because he was the captain during that year and he was also the number 1 player in Japan. When amidst the celebration, he came to me out of nowhere and gave me a hug. He whispered his thanks and when he finally let me go, he smiled at me. And at that moment, my wish came racing back to my mind.

Yes, you guess it. My only wish was for him to smile at me and I knew everything would be all right. But there was something in his smile at that time. And I felt that all too familiar palpitation and weak knee dilemma of a girl in love. I think he felt that too because as they like to say, the rest was history. I became Mrs. Rukawa Kaede on my 26th year of living here on earth. Although, I would like to say that we were rolling in money because Kaede was a member of the All-Japan team, it wasn't the case. He had played college basketball and even then, he was already receiving offer to play for the team. But he politely declined it. When I asked him years ago why he turned down such a wonderful offer, he told me that there's more to life than basketball and I was never more proud of him because of it. Instead of becoming a national player, he became a software developer in one of Japan's largest software company. We were living comfortably as husband and wife without the added pressure of the media hounding us.

I was distracted from my thoughts from the noise inside. I saw my husband being ribbed mercilessly by Ryota and Mitsui. Kaede was turning redder by the minute and he looked at my direction helplessly. I laughed at him and he turned even more crimson. I think Ryota and Mitsui saw our little exchange and they found an opportunity to make fun of my husband. I couldn't blame them though. Kaede had really changed a lot from his cold attitude when I first met him. It really took a lot of effort to break that cold barrier around him and brought out the warm and loving husband I now have.

I laughed even more when Ayako whipped her fan out of nowhere and slapped Ryota harshly. Ryota was giving her his puppy eye look and I saw Ayako was on the verge of laughter. I shook my head at the couple's antic display. Nothing much changed in them. Come to think of it. Nothing much changed in all of us. We might look older but we're still the same wacky bunch who made each other's life a living hell.

Ryota might have grown taller but he was still a natural comic. He and Ayako were married for 4 years now and they already have 3-year old twins. Ryota was a manager for Kid's Incorporated, a company that catered to kid's need. Ayako, on the other hand, was a fashion designer for trendy kids and moms. Out of the Shohoku basketball members, they were the richest. And although they were denying that they're rich , it's really hard to accept it when you saw their Jaguar parked outside. I couldn't suppress a smile when Ayako finally gave in to her laughter and she was being cuddled by Ryota. "Those two…they're like kids."

My gaze turned to Mitsui, who was now teasing Ryota (helped by my husband this time). Mitsui graduated with a degree in Psychology and he was a guidance counselor and basketball coach here in Shohoku. He was fast becoming a legend at school because of the number of troubled kids he had already helped. They were tough, he told us once. But he was tougher being an ex-gangster himself. He understood what those kids were feeling and he was using his experience as an ex-gang member to help those kids straighten their life. If he's not leading kids to the right path, he was busy leading the school to the Nationals. Under Mitsui's tutelage, the basketball team was Interhigh champions for 5 years in a row and won the National tournament thrice. What was more surprising was that each basketball team members had a GPA of 3 and above out of the possible 5. Mitsui was a stern coach and he was adamant that his boys were not only good in sports but in academics as well.

Suddenly, there was another crash beside the ringside and I saw my brother giving the gundan, except for Yohei, a whack on the head. I cringed at my brother's 'cruelty' but laughed at the image of the gundan holding their throbbing head. My brother was the one who was playing for the All-Japan team. He was known as "The Monster" because of his menacing presence under the ring. He was the highest paid center in the league and was scouted to play for the NBA years ago. Just like what Kaede did, he turned down the offer and settled to donned the national colors.

I saw Kogure politely laughing at the side and managed to get the ire of the three gundan. Kogure was a successful neurosurgeon here in Japan and abroad. He had performed numerous surgeries, most of it for free. We always knew that our ex-vice captain had a good heart and he seemed to be happy that he's using his skills to be of help to others. God knows the world needs more people like him.

The guffawing gundan on the other hand had set up their own business and were very successful. They were the owners of a large chain of store retailing all the latest hi-tech gadgetry. Next to Ryota and Ayako, they were the richest. We couldn't even comprehend how much they're worth because the gundan also had a large number of stocks in the stock market. "Who would have thought that this crazy bunch of friends would be worth million of dollars?" I mused to myself and scanned the area once more. My eyes fell on the aging form of Anzai-sensei. With immense sadness, I watched as the feeble figure of Coach Anzai approached Mitsui. He was getting weak and I couldn't help but feel that this might be the last time we could be with the legendary Shohoku coach. His steps were getting slower and he needed to be assisted by his wife. I smiled at the memory of a mentor who had an immense trust on his players and played the role of a father figure to all of us. I felt that lump in my throat when I thought of the possibility that we might never hear his cheerful laugh once again. I watched as he reached Mitsui and grasped the younger man's hand tightly. He looked so frail and I couldn't stop a few tears that fell from my eyes.

Standing here outside the court, I gazed at my friends lovingly. They looked so happy and contented with their life. I watched as each of their faces broke into a smile and I couldn't help getting sad. I wonder, what would Sakuragi be if he hadn't passed away so early in his life? He might be successful and rich also like his gundan or Ryota. Better yet, he could be playing for the All-Japan team like my brother. The possibilities were boundless and it was so sad that he was never given the opportunity to explore all of them. I was really depressing to think that Sakuragi was devoid of a chance to grow up and follow his dreams. To us, Sakuragi would always remain that young, energetic 16-year old that graced our lives.

Looking at my friends' cheerful faces, I felt once again that odd happiness and sadness many years ago in my dream. Happiness because we are still together celebrating life. Sadness because I know this happy picture may not happen again. I look at Anzai-sensei's weak form to my husband's strong figure and I thought we all have come full circle. We lived our life the way we wanted to live and we never regretted it. Just like I know Sakuragi never regretted anything that he had done on his time here on earth. Wherever he is, I know Sakuragi is happy that we have come through every trial and came out strong.

I felt a cold wind brushed past me and I smiled. Yes, I know he's still here. He won't be easily forgotten by each of us because he touched our lives in many ways imaginable. Up to know, we could still feel his presence and we are very grateful for that.

I saw my husband motioning me to come inside and I ran to his embrace.

"Hey, what took you so long?" Kaede kissed me on the cheek and I felt a tingle went up to my spine.

"I was just thinking…" I replied nonchalantly even though my eyes were glistening with tears. I hid my face in his chest again, not caring if Kaede thought I was acting weird. I looked up to him and said, "Did I ever tell you that I love you?"

"Once or twice." I pouted jokingly and he laughed at me. He kissed me gingerly on the lips once again and a small, contented sigh escaped from my lips. I was still looking at him and I could see that he was wondering what I am up to.

"What? Is there something wrong with my face?"

I couldn't suppress a small giggle at Kaede's frown. He's thinking that I'm turning mental. "No…it just that…honey, how would you like to set up a nursery in our home?"

I was stopping myself not to laugh at the many phases my husband's face went through. From blank to horror to surprise and finally, pure happiness. "You mean…you are…I am…" he stammered while holding me tighter. I felt the tears welled up to my eyes as I could only managed a nod. "I really love you, do you know that?" Kaede asked as he enveloped me in a loving embrace. Even though my throat was too tight to speak, I still managed to blurt out something. "Once or twice…" Kaede laughed as he held me tighter and I buried my face on his chest.     

"Ok, ok. We get the picture that you love each other. Now cut it out!" Mitsui laughed as he tried to separate us apart. This elicited a round of healthy laugh from the group and even though I was a bit embarrassed, I joined in the laughter as well. Kaede was giving Mitsui the glare that could freeze hell anytime. Leave it to my husband to deal with Mitsui.

"Let the countdown begin!" Ryota shouted to us. We started counting as loud as we can, in between laughing and chortling.

"Three...two…one! Merry Christmas!"

All at once, there was a barrage of hugging and kissing and it took me sometime before I returned to my husband's side once again. He hugged me from behind and I contentedly lay my head on his broad chest. I stared at my friends trading jokes and cheers and gifts this Christmas day. They looked so happy. We were all so happy that I couldn't prevent the tears that fell from my eyes.

I felt Kaede kissed the top of my head. "Thank you." I murmured sleepily.

"For what?"

"For being here…" Kaede released his embrace and turned me around. I smiled at him through my tear stained eyes and I watched as he brushed my tears away. This time, I was the one who embraced him and nestled myself in his strong arms. I felt Kaede heaved a sigh of contentment himself and I smiled.

"Merry Christmas, Haruko."

"Merry Chrismas, Kaede."

I buried myself deeper in his embrace and sent a silent greeting to someone very dear to all of us.

"Merry Christmas, Sakuragi."