Chapter 1
Silent Witness
***
We'll always be together, right?
Hanamichi sighed again as he gazed at the bus' window, watching the scenery flash and blur in colors. Winter was fast approaching; dried leaves crowned the trees in a mass of crisp brown. The leaves descended to the ground, flipping once...twice...thrice as the wind blew unrelentingly.
Just as the vehicle passed along an old hospital, bitter memories stumbled within him.
Kanagawa Hospital...
He became uncomfortable; whenever he saw that hospital, he always had some unidentifiable feeling- like butterflies in his stomach. Perhaps it's because it brings back painful memories- his failure to bring his father there in the most critical time.
He remembered that day well...
In his life, he had never felt such maelstrom of emotions: the overwhelming feeling of utter helplessness and despair as he held his father, cold and still, in his arms. He felt so inadequate, frustrated and in denial. The courage that he held valiantly crumbled, akin to the tears that streaked his cheeks.
Then came the pangs of guilt.
It was his fault. His entire fault. If only he came home earlier, then perhaps he could've done something. If only he listened to his father that he should stay out of trouble then perhaps things would turn out differently. If only...if only...
But it's too late.
He came a second too late.
How he wished he could have saved his father back then...
He cried, begged, pleaded to the doctors to do something-anything-but he knew that it was useless. The moment the doctor slowly shook his head in sympathy heralded the day he was truly alone. He never even had the chance to say goodbye, to say how much he really cared.
Whenever we see this tree, then we'll always remember...
"Sakuragi?" Kogure asked, a worried frown etched on his face. It's weird for the usually loud-mouthed redhead to be so subdued. Normally, his former teammate could be seen laughing and doing some ridiculous stunt; otherwise, he is normally arguing with Rukawa.
"Huh?" Hanamichi raised a brow in confusion. He was so engrossed with his thoughts he didn't even hear the bespectacled boy's question clearly.
Promise you'll return then, okay?
Kogure sighed, taking off his glasses. Lifting the hem of his shirt, he then proceeded to wipe the lens gently. "Something's bothering you," he said, putting the glasses on. "Care to talk about it?"
"Hey! Wake up!"
Rukawa slowly opened his eyes, squinting as the first traces of light assaulted them. The redhead jumping up and down his bed woke him from his sleep. He brought the back of his hand to his eyes, rubbing sluggishly as he tried to drive the last vestiges of sleep away.
After stretching widely, he gave his companion a small smile.
"Finally!" Hanamichi beamed in pleasure. He then proceeded in mussing Rukawa's already ruffled hair, earning him a glare. "I thought you're going to sleep all day!"
"Well," Rukawa began; thin pink lips began to push in a small, adorable pout.
"There is!" Hanamichi began to argue. "There is! The nurse said we could go out to the garden to play!" The last word was slightly dragged as he began to jump up down the bed.
"Really?"
"Yes!" Hanamichi replied. "We could go there after eating, you know..."
"Have you ever felt as if you're missing something?" Sakuragi asked his former vice-captain. He returned the glance at the vehicle's window, noting that the scene had faded into a wonderful panorama of the setting sun's amber light and the graying of the skies.
"What do you mean?" Kogure asked, clearly surprised at the redhead's question. Hanamichi never failed to impress him; it was as if the redhead had different sides in him waiting to be discovered.
"Well, it's just as if I'm really missing something," he frowned, beginning to feel like an idiot in front of his vice-captain. He never told anyone about his father before, so he wondered if he should do so now. "It's just that..." Hesitation clearly hung in his words.
"Sakuragi..." Again, Kogure felt that whatever his former teammate is dealing with is a personal matter so he deemed it best not to pry more. He can only offer the redhead an advice. "There's a reason for everything- what we feel, even for what you feel," He gave Hanamichi a warm, understanding smile. "I'm sure things will settle for themselves...there's no need to worry about that."
"The Tensai?!!" Hanamichi exclaimed, "Worry? The Tensai doesn't know how to worry!" he emphasized, bursting in his trademark maniacal laugh.
Kogure sighed, shaking his head at his junior's juvenile antics. Hanamichi's range of emotions astounds him.
Some things never change...
A few minutes later, the bus halted, indicating that they've reached their destination.
"Wow," Both boys looked up on the tree, amazement etched on their faces.
In front of them stood an old willow tree, nestled majestically amidst the tufts of green grass. Its branches drooped low, almost touching the ground. Golden daffodils grazed on the mat of green, creating a startling contrast. The garden of the hospital was big. Several trees also grew there, but the willow tree seemed to be the most noticeable.
"This tree is huge!" Hanamichi said, going nearer to the tree.
"Yeah," Rukawa replied, equally impressed by the huge tree. "I've never seen anything like this before..." He trailed off, shifting his weight from one foot to another. He then sat cross-legged on the grassy surface, reveling the soothing calm of the garden.
A gust of wind blew, bending the grass like waves. The gentle rustling was calm, and Rukawa could feel himself almost lulled, like clouds drifting peacefully.
"Look!" Hanamichi exclaimed, pointing at something behind the dark-haired boy. He began to walk softly, headed to the direction he pointed at.
With a frown, Rukawa turned and saw a dragonfly perched on a blade of grass. He watched closely as Hanamichi neared the stick-like insect, flanking it.
'Almost there..." Hanamichi thought, sticking his small tongue out in rapt concentration.
'Closer...'
'Closer...'
'Closer...'
"Achoo!" Rukawa suddenly sneezed, causing the insect to fly out. He rubbed his nose softly, giving Hanamichi a sheepish smile.
"HEY!" The redhead pouted, giving him a look. "I'll get you..."He said, advancing like a predator to its prey.
As if on cue, Rukawa laughed and ran immediately away from Hanamichi, going in circles around the willow tree. They played with reckless abandon, exhilarated with the sense of freedom that washed over them. Some pebbles skittered on some places as they ran around the garden, the redhead stumbling slightly as he tripped on the uneven surface. Unable to see the small pothole, he tripped and fell. A low-lying bush broke his fall, the flexible and sturdy branches tensing as it caught his weight. At the same time, Rukawa stifled the laugh that threatened to spill as he watched in amusement. The redhead got entangled with the bush's leaves and twigs.
His efforts were in vain as he broke out into chortles of laughter while watching the redhead brush the leaves and twigs off his hair. Hanamichi shot him a withering look before he began to chase Rukawa anew.
Finally, after they grew tired, they laid on their back on the grassy surface. Harsh breathing broke the silence as they gasped for much-needed air. From time to time, they would break into laughter, laughing at their antics or for no reason at all.
They began to stare at the cloud-filled skies.
"There's the elephant," Hanamichi pointed with his small index finger a puffy cloud. "Then there's a fish, then a pig..."
"Hmm..." Rukawa smiled. "That one looks like a monkey...and that one looks like a fox."
"Yeah," the redhead readily agreed. "You know, my Dad said that Mom's also in the clouds..."
"Why?"
"I dunno. Perhaps she likes to see to see the animals too." He raised his arms like he was reaching for the clouds.
"Oh." That was all the answer Rukawa could provide. A sudden thought crossed him. "What do you wanna do when you grow up?"
Hanamichi rolled onto his stomach and looked at the blue eyes directly. "Me? I'll be a basketball star!" He said proudly.
"Really? Me too!" Rukawa broke excitedly. "I can't wait to grow up so I can play basketball."
"No way!" Hanamichi teased. "You can't reach the basket, you're too short!" He added with a smirk.
"Am not!"
"Am too!"
"Am not!"
"Am too!" Hanamichi nodded, sitting up and crossing his arms in finality. At the teary-eyed look of the raven-haired boy, he relented. "I'm sorry. Don't cry." He said, feeling guilty. Draping an arm around him, he gave his assurance. "I'm just joking. We'll both grow up and then maybe we can be teammates too! And then we'll become the champion!"
"Yeah!" Rukawa happily responded, wiping the few traces of tears that formed in his eyes.
Hanamichi stood, brushing the dirt off his pants. "C'mon! Let's go back to the room!"
"Why?"
Hanamichi leaned closer to his friend and whispered conspiratorially, "Dad brought some chocolates."
Rukawa perked up on this and followed the redhead as they walked back to their room.