Disclaimer : Slam Dunk is owned by Takehiko Inoue.

Note: Sentences in italics are thoughts.

*******

ayu - Thanks! I hope I answered your questions in the previous chapter.

frozen female - I didn't know a lot of people would care who Haruko married. LOL Rukawa will be happy eventually.

Rapt142 - I am so happy you love it. But of course, Ryota and Ayako are meant for each other. -_~

Shinomori no Kami Daiji - Whew! What a long pen name. Yes, I am aware I am not good in descriptions. Awww...darn...you already know the ending? Thanks for the input. =)

Ginny W - I know the feeling. I have read a lot of good fanfics only to find out that they won't be finished. sob

Kikiam - You will be in for a surprise!evil grin

tensai - Here it is! Enjoy! Thanks for the email too =)

afrokane - Thanks! You'll be surprised! -_~

wawa-san - Here's the continuation. Thanks for reading.

^_^ - another one I want to surprise heheh...

*******

I Couldn't Ask For More

Chapter 6: The Story Of A Boy

"Kogure-sempai! What a great time for you to call again!" Ayako's voice almost broke Kogure's eardrum at the other end of the line.

"Ha-hai. I called because I just learned that Rukawa-kun came back. Is it true?" Kogure shifted the phone to his left ear as his right ear wouldn't function for a few seconds.

"Hai! He was just here last week and he was asking about the rest of the team!"

"Great! Maybe we could have a reunion or something!" Kogure chirped.

"We were thinking of the same thing! Wait, will you give me your phone number so we could contact you."

"You know I am always on the move. I am calling from our site right now. Oh wait, I'll just give you my mobile phone number."

"Great!" Ayako clipped the phone between her ear and shoulder as she scribbled the number Kogure dictated. "Got it. Wait, do you have any contact number of the others?"

"I only have the numbers of Mitsui and Yasuda. Hold on. I'll get my telephone list."

"Ok."

"Here are the numbers." Ayako did some more scribbling.

"Ok, got them. Kogure-sempai, would you be available on weekends?"

"Hai. Weekend is fine with me as I have to travel by train to get there."

"Good, we will keep you posted then. Bye."

"Bye."

Kogure Kiminobu placed back the receiver and a smile radiated on his face as he recalled the good old times. He glanced at the blueprint in front of him. They are currently working on a railway. He put on his helmet and walked out of his makeshift air-conditioned office. He's wearing a light blue long sleeves shirt, sleeves folded up to his elbow and khaki pants. He squinted. The bright sun reflected on his eyeglasses as he strode towards the men who are working on a foundation.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rukawa Kaede got a visitor that day. When he went out to see who it was, he saw a man in his 50's, about the same age as his father carrying a portfolio on his right hand. The man slightly bowed in greeting. "You must be Rukawa Kaede?"

He nodded. "Hai. What can I do for you?"

"I am Hashimoto Takeo, your family lawyer." The older man introduced himself.

He then led the man to his living room and they sat down to talk. Family lawyer? I didn't even know we have one. "May I know what brought you here?"

"Your father has sent me to talk to you about your coming wedding." The lawyer took out some papers and shove it in front of him. He didn't even bothered to look at them.

Great. Just great. His father even sent an emissary. He has already forgotten about the wedding thing.

"Don't you know that she is also a basketball fan? In fact, she watched all of your games while you were in America."

"Hm." Doesn't mean I would be interested in her.

"Surely, you wouldn't want to let go of the family fortune."

"I thought I already made my position clear to him when we talked about it." Rukawa kept his calm demeanor while he stated what's on his mind.

"As you already know, you are the only heir. He cannot turn over the family business to anyone but you."

"He can turn them over to anyone he wants. It doesn't have to be me."

Hashimoto, the lawyer sighed. This is harder than I thought. "Very well then, I guess I'll just have to tell your father what we talked about."

"Hm." Rukawa bowed to the older man.

After the old man left, memories of a girl who could have been his bride once again entered his mind.

Her gentle ways, her kindness.

He shook his head and silently scolded himself.

Forget her, Kaede, she's married now.

You let her go.

You chose basketball over her.

Stop sulking.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"How come you practice here alone? Where are your parents?"

The little boy looked up to Rukawa. "My okaa-san is at home now. She allows me to play basketball here."

"Hm. And what about your father?"

Little eyebrows frowned as if he was irked by the question. "He already left us." He turned around and threw the ball into the hoop but it bounced off the ring. There was a sigh of disappointment before he ran to retrieve the ball and went back beside the tall man. "It's good though. I never liked him anyway. He always made my mother cry."

The basketball player looked at the little boy. It took a while before he could say anything. "I see."

"I really love my mother." Little head bowed down as his little hand dribbled the ball to his side. Then he stopped and looked at the tall man beside him. "One day, I would be a great basketball player and I would make her proud!" He threw a fist up in the air as a sign of conviction.

Rukawa smiled at the little boy. Then unconsciously, he bit his lower lip. How he wished he could say the same thing to his mother. He knew his mother would be proud of him, if only she is still around. He slowly lowered his body on the grass beside the court and crossed his legs. Okaa-san.

A little body slumped beside him and started to speak in a sad tone. "My father… he used to hit my mother…" He traced his little fingers on the ball as he was holding it, then held it firmly between two hands. "I swear she will not cry again. I will be a good son."

Rukawa felt little pricks inside his chest. He could see himself in the little boy. Only the little boy's case was worse and he wondered how he could cope at such a young age. He reached out to ruffle the mass of black hair on top of the little head. "Well, since you said he already left, everything will be alright then." He smiled.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Okaa-san?"

"Hm?"

"Tell me again the story of the boy who wanted to become the best basketball player in Japan?"

She stopped from tucking in her son and looked up to him. Her hand went to his forehead to brush off his hair that was almost covering his eyes. "But Kei-chan, you've heard the story a hundred times or more."

"I want to hear it again, 'Kaa-san." The little boy pleaded.

The woman sighed. "Oh alright but you will have to sleep after this, ok?"

"I promise, mom."

She lay down beside her son and propped herself up using her elbow. Then she faced him and started telling him the story.

"Once upon a time, there was a little boy who wanted to become the best basketball player in Japan. So day and night, he played basketball. He would wake up early in the morning just so he could practice in a basketball court by the park. After school, he would also go to the park and practice. When he went to junior high, he became so good that his basketball skills are known all over his town. He also became the team captain of their school's basketball team. He became so good in all his moves. His slamdunks always take everyone's breath away. His lay-ups are smooth and perfect. His three-pointers were always accurate. Then when he went to senior high, he became even more popular. He played so hard and helped his team win in the Inter-high championships. He was so good that he was recruited to train with the All-Japan Team. Then, during his senior year, he also became the team captain. At that time, he was already the best basketball player in Japan but he wanted more. He wanted to go to America and train there. Eventually, he started playing for NBA, the moooost prestigious basketball league in the world."

She smiled at her son who was intently listening to her. "So that is the story of the boy who wanted to become the best basketball player in Japan."

"Okaa-san?"

"Yes?"

"Is it really the end of the story? Isn't it supposed to end with 'And they lived happily ever after?'"

The woman was caught unaware of her son's question. She had told the story to him countless times before but he never asked that. Her thoughts brought her back to the time when she made the decision to forget him. Is he happy now? I know wherever he is right now, he is happy. After all, he had realized his dreams.

"Okaa-san?"

"Kei-chan dear, it's getting late." She straightened the blanket over her son and kissed him on his forehead. "Go to sleep now, you still have school tomorrow, ne?" She smiled at him.

Little arms wrapped around the woman's neck. "Ok mom, goodnight." He kissed her mother's cheek.

"Goodnight dear."

She stood up, silently walked to the door and turned around. After admiring her son's sleeping figure, she turned off the lights then closed the door behind her.