Disclaimer : Slam Dunk is owned by Takehiko Inoue. Shintaro Ken is mine!

Note: Sentences in italics are thoughts.

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sallydarkangel – *teary eyes* Thank you so much. I'm sure Rukawa knows what his fans are doing for him. He just doesn't show it. I mean, he has to be deaf if he doesn't hear his cheering squad, right? Besides, if he is a good basketball player, that means he is an attentive person.

White Meteor – Wow, you are soooo kind! Thanks a lot!

ruhana-grl1123 – Hi! Thanks for reading my fic. Deep in my heart, I know Rukawa is capable of smiling or even laughing. He's a human being so he's not different from you and me. It's just a question of why and when.

AjA – As always ^_~

asi – After watching the anime series and the movies, I found out that Rukawa's character evolved as the story goes. He gets to talk to people at the later parts and even learned the importance of teamwork (shown in the manga). Really, I have often wondered how he became a team captain in junior high if he doesn't even know that teamwork is vital in basketball. Hohoho!!! So, we could guess that if the series is to be continued, he's bound to change for the better.

eternalgoddess – You're right. Liking Rukawa is not a crime. I like him too!

tsongmandude – With a pen name like that, you wouldn't be mistaken for a gay. This is the continuation. Thanks for the compliments! Yes, I'm pinoy, pinay to be exact ehehe....

Afrokane – *grins*

zidane – Thanks!

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Of Love and Friendship

Chapter 10: Making It Official

Sakuragi Hanamichi has been in the dumps for more than a week. He knew that Rukawa and Haruko had been going home together and he knew he couldn't do anything to stop it. He cannot blame Haruko. He knew all along that she likes Rukawa. She never tried to hide it from him. She's just being true to herself. Still, he's hurting. He's in that same state of self-pity when Matsui and Fujii approached him.

"Hi! Sakuragi-kun!" Fujii greeted him.

Sakuragi looked up and greeted back void of any cheerfulness. "Hi, Fujii-san, Matsui-san."

"Are you alright, Sakuragi-kun?" Matsui asked.

Sakuragi became a bit irritated. He ran his hand through his red hair. The hell! Of course I am not alright! "Uh…yea, I guess."

Fujii and Matsui sat beside him not knowing what to say to the redhead. They knew he was not being himself and they knew why.

Suddenly, Sakuragi turned to them and asked. "You two knew Haruko so well. I knew he liked kitsune from the very beginning. She told me that. But… am I really that undesirable?"

Fujii and Matsui looked at each other. Matsui dared not say anything.

"No, Sakuragi-kun," Fujii answered him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"So, was he a good boy last night, Haruko-chan?" Shintaro winked at Rukawa while questioning Haruko.

"Er… hai." She couldn't stop blushing.

"Very well then, let's go! I am starving!" Shintaro urged them.

The three were walking together when Shintaro and Haruko noted that Rukawa stopped walking. When they looked at him, they saw him facing a group of girls. Haruko remembered them. They were the same girls who hurled cruel words at her yesterday.

Rukawa was giving them the meanest and sharpest glare he could muster. "Stop it. And you all know what I mean," Rukawa said in his usual tone before he turned his back to them and joined Haruko and Shintaro.

The girls though could not react. They never expected that the so-called cold ace would face them and confront them. They knew he never talks to people he hardly knew.

"Rukawa-kun…." Haruko could not believe it. He stood up for her. "A-arigato, Rukawa-kun."

"Hmn." Rukawa just gave her a nod and gestured for them to get going.

"Whoa! Way to go, Rukawa-kun!" Shintaro punched him on his upper arm. "I didn't know you had it in you!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Miyagi Ryota jerked when a paper fan hit him lightly on his back. "Aya-chan?"

Ayako leaned closer to him. "Have you noticed something about those two?" She pointed to the direction of Shintaro and Rukawa resting on the corner of the gym after the practice game. "Since when did Rukawa started talking? But then it's a good sign, ne? They seem to be playing in sync with each other." She winked.

"Yeah, I noticed that it's been happening for the past few days already. No wonder Ryonan had a really hard time with us. Yes!!!" He pumped a fist in the air. "We would win in the Inter-High."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Were you able to talk to her?" Shintaro asked.

"A little," Rukawa uttered.

"I understand. Cat got your tongue?" Shintaro grinned at Rukawa.

Rukawa's eyes widened and he almost blurted a 'do'aho' but he realized that he was the real do'aho here. Shintaro got up and patted him on the back. "You can do it, man. I know you can do it." He smiled and headed to the locker room.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"You were very outstanding today, Rukawa-kun," Haruko commended the basketball player walking beside her.

"Ah…Is that so?" Rukawa answered.

"Hai! By the way, this is your handkerchief. Thank you so much." She handed him the neatly folded handkerchief. He reached out for it and placed it on his pocket.

"I appreciate you encouraging me to do my best," he said in response.

Haruko was caught unaware by what he said. Rukawa stopped walking and faced her.

"I have always known, Haruko."

"Eh?"

"I have always known that you like me," Rukawa stared at her intently.

Haruko swallowed and looked down trying to avoid his eyes. This is so embarrassing….

Seconds later, a pale hand appeared in front of her. "Let's go," Rukawa urged her.

Before she knew it, her hand was already in his hand. They walked in silence. It was so quiet that the only things they could hear were each other's heartbeat. She could feel him softly rubbing her hand with his fingers. Her heart was pounding heavily. She placed her free hand on her chest thinking that any second now, her heart would leap out of her chest. She glanced at him. He caught her eyes and gave her one of his rare smiles. It was a small smile but it was enough to make her want to shout with joy. She lowered her gaze and started studying the patterns of the road.

"You…you look good when you smile. You should smile more often," she said.

"Hmn."

She could already make out her house and wondered why time flies so fast. "We're here. Thanks for walking me home again, Rukawa-kun."

"It's Kaede."

"Oh." She was taken off-guard by what he said. "Alright." She smiled and started to loosen her grip on his hand but he held it even tighter. When she felt this, she stopped breathing. He has that intensity in his deep blue eyes as he stared at her.

"The feeling is mutual, Haruko. I like you too," he confessed as his eyes were locked on hers.

Haruko swallowed hard. She was blushing furiously. "Ka-Kaede-kun…."

He smiled at her once again as he slowly released her hand. "Tomorrow, ok? Take care."

"T-take care too, Kaede-kun."

Then she felt herself breathing again.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ahhhhh!!!! I can't believe I finally finished this. Yay! *jumps up and down*

This is my very first fanfic. I have been a reader of fanfics before I started writing them and this is the result. I was so pissed off of Mary Sues that I made a Larry Stu instead just to release my disappointment. Har! Har! Har!

I don't think it's that bad though. Besides, how many Larry Stu can you find on Slam Dunk category anyway? Hmmmm?