Disclaimer : Slam Dunk is owned by Takehiko Inoue. Keitaro is mine!
Note: Sentences in italics are thoughts.
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jo - Wow! You also made a very touching review. I appreciate that.
mskitsune - I just love making mushy love stories for these two.*grin* I can't help it. I am a hopeless romantic. *sigh* In my own humble opinion, bagay kasi sina Rukawa at Haruko.
^_^ - Awwww.....what I wouldn't give for reviewers like you.
Ginny W - Wow! Thanks! You rock too!!!
wawa-san - I knew it! Hehe....
Fiery Ice - I'm glad you still liked the story and wow! What a touching review! You're right, deciding OOC-ness is subjective. Thank you very much.
tensai - Let's see what Rukawa would do to win her.
Silver Leviathan - Haruko is the perfect example of a non-Mary Sue character. Takehiko Inoue is a true tensai! Haruko is not perfect and not everyone likes her. Haruko's imperfections are what made her character beautiful.
Rae-chan - Haruko makes better grades than Rukawa and Sakuragi. She had the foresight that Sakuragi has the makings of a good basketball player.
lambie - Wow! Thanks! Yep and Keitaro is six years old.
Afrokane - More on Haruko in this chapter.
frozenfemale - Reunion will be coming up!
Shinomori no Kami Daiji - Whew! Ok, I got your point about POV's. What do you think about this chapter? Did I got it correct this time or not? You like Hanagata? I like him too! I like Kogure and Hanagata. It must be the glasses!!! I don't know how I can make him pop up in this fic but I am planning another fic where he is one of the characters.
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I Couldn't Ask For More
Chapter 8: A Little Phone Call
Miyagi Ryota was playing with his two-year old son when he heard his wife called him from the kitchen. He picked up his son and walked towards the kitchen.
"Mmmm…..hakusai udon, my favorite!" He took a seat and positioned the toddler on his lap. He glanced at his wife who just laid down a plate on the table. "Have you called them all?"
"Almost. I cannot contact Haruko-chan. Her number was no longer in service." Ayako placed the bowls of rice on the table.
"When was the last time you talked to her anyway?"
"About two years ago, I think," the former team manageress answered. "I will have to drop by tomorrow at the school where she's teaching. I really need to talk to her so we could finalize everything."
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Just another sleepless night. It's almost two in the morning but Rukawa Kaede couldn't sleep. It's ironic that he would have trouble sleeping when he was known as the boy who could sleep even when standing. Anytime. Anywhere. What's even more ironic is that ever since he got back to Kanagawa, it seems that he had more trouble sleeping.
His heart just won't beat normally ever since he saw her again. There were just so many things he wanted to tell her. Once and for all, he wanted to let her know that he's not the cold and unfeeling person everybody thinks he is. That he is capable of love just like anyone. That he could take care of her and Keitaro.
If she would only let him.
He got up and sat on the edge of his bed.
She is free, Kaede.
This is your chance.
Tell her.
Tell her? He let out a long and weary sigh as he plopped himself back to his bed.
Would she still be interested in me?
What would she say if I tell her?
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Haruko finally learned of the planned reunion when Ayako dropped by to see her. She then brought Ayako home to discuss some of the things to do and had assigned some tasks to both of them. Ayako would take care of contacting and inviting all the club members. She on the other hand would take care of looking out for the venue. Then both of them have to prepare some dishes for the reunion.
The two former team managers talked over a cup of coffee. Haruko also had to explain to Ayako why they moved and inevitably she had to tell her about the divorce.
"I'm sorry, Haruko," the curly-haired woman consoled her. "But I think you did the right thing. No woman should be treated like that."
"Hai. I was really afraid for Kei-chan. That's all."
Ayako took a sip from her cup. "I didn't know what got over Rukawa-kun. As far as I know, he was doing really good in America."
"Hai," Haruko piped in. "I didn't even know Rukawa-kun came back until I saw him three days ago."
"You saw him?" Ayako inquired.
"Hai," Haruko answered. "It turned out that he was the one teaching basketball to Kei-chan at the park. He brought Kei-chan home that day."
"Really?" Ayako eyed the woman in front of her. "Don't you feel anything now that your former high school crush is back?"
Haruko sipped from her cup and pondered. Do I feel anything? She could have sworn she felt something when she saw Rukawa smiled but she immediately dismissed it at that time. She bit her lip and mildly shook her head. For God's sake Haruko, that was a long time ago. Lots of things had happened. Besides, he could be married now.
"Do you know that he is still single up to now?" Ayako asked.
Haruko looked at her. She couldn't believe that he is still single. After all, he's very popular and is probably always surrounded by beautiful, sophisticated young women. Unlike her whose memories he could probably remember were her annoying cheers way back in high school. Well, that was what she could remember. A lot of girls at school hated her because she liked him. They said she was annoying but she didn't cared. What do they know about her anyway? What do they know about her feelings? Who were they to tell her that she doesn't deserve Rukawa? Her only consolation was that Rukawa never showed any sign of disgust or annoyance whenever she cheered for him. To her, that was enough. After high school, she made the decision to forget him and she doesn't want to go back to being a lovesick girl mooning over a boy who never cared for her. It should stay that way.
"Ayako, that was eons ago," she answered. "Besides, after what I had gone through, I don't think I would go into another relationship anymore. I'll just take care of Kei-chan. By the way, how's your baby?"
Ayako let out a soft laughter. "Ah...he's starting to drive Ryota crazy!"
"Really?" Haruko smiled. "Miyagi-sempai must be very happy, ne?"
Ayako nodded as she took another sip.
"Do you think they would come?" Haruko asked.
Ayako smiled at her and nodded. "They all confirmed."
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He just kept on pacing at his living room and for the nth time, he would glance at the phone. Should I? He would lift the receiver up and start punching in keys. But he would put it down again before he could even finish punching in the numbers. He just called Ayako about half an hour ago and asked what he could do to help with the preparations for the coming reunion. Miyagi's wife though, told him that she and Haruko would be taking care of things. That's when he got Haruko's phone number. For the last time, he took one deep breath and picked up the receiver.
Get on with it, Kaede! He punched all the numbers and waited, his heart racing like mad.
He could hear the ringing at the other end. Then it stopped when someone picked up the receiver.
"Moshi-moshi?" A cheerful female voice answered. And that voice could only belong to no one else but her.
"…" Suddenly a lump formed down his throat. Damn!
"Hello? Who is this?"
"It's me….. Rukawa." Why am I doing this again? He couldn't help it. It's just that it was a chance too good to pass up to talk to her again. He could feel his palms getting sweaty and his heart pounding like crazy.
"Oh, Rukawa-kun! How did you got our number?" Haruko inquired.
Rukawa swallowed. "I got it from Ayako-sempai." Damn…I am acting like some love-struck teenager.
"I see. What can I do for you?"
"Um…Ayako-sempai said that you're the one assigned to scout for a place for the reunion."
"Hai," Haruko answered at the other end. "We cannot book any indoor venue that we could use for the date because games are usually being held during weekends. I am just scanning the telephone directory for venues that have basketball courts… and probably has internet access so Onii-chan could join us."
Get on with it, Kaede. This is your chance. "We can have it at my place." He swallowed once again.
"Uhmm? Do you have a basketball court there?"
"Hai. This place should be big enough for all of us." He replied as he unconsciously rubbed his chest hoping his heart won't jump out of him.
"That's great!" Haruko exclaimed enthusiastically. "I need to get your complete address so we could finalize everything and inform everyone of the time and venue."
"Hai."
Haruko clipped the receiver between her ear and shoulder as she scribbled the address Rukawa dictated to her. She read it again just to make sure she got it correctly.
Rukawa even gave her his number, silently wishing that she would give him a call sometime. Would she? "Um...are you going to prepare the food here?"
"No. Ayako will prepare some of the food at her house and I will prepare some here. Then we would just bring it there."
"I see." There goes his chance to be with her longer. He silently cursed at his bad luck.
"Ok then," Haruko chirped. "Thanks for volunteering your place. It sure helped a lot. See you there!"
What? It's over? "Um… Haruko..."
"Yes?"
"……Nothing….. See you." Here.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Haruko placed back the receiver. It's funny that Rukawa had called her just now. Although they used to talk years ago, it was only because of the team, always something about the team. And although what they talked about a while ago was about the reunion, she could have sworn there was something in Rukawa's voice. Like there was something he wanted to tell her. She's not that dense as some people would like to think she is. She just doesn't want to jump into conclusions anymore. She had learned that lesson on that day she saw Rukawa and Sakuragi at the rooftop. She thought it was Sakuragi who beat Rukawa and she lashed out at the redhead, which she regretted so much afterwards. And even though she had the idea that Sakuragi liked her, she just waited for him to say it out loud lest she would make a wrong conclusion once again.
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From: "Haruko Akagi" haruko@yahoo.co.jp To: "Akagi Takenori" akagi_takenori@networksys.com Date: Tue, 19 Aug 03 21:17:08 Subject: Shohoku Basketball Club Reunion Onii-chan, it's me again! How is Hikaru-chan? You shouldn't worry too much about us. We are better off now than we were a year ago. Kei-chan is doing good in his studies and is growing up so fast! I can't believe it! Anyway, remember when I emailed you the last time and I mentioned about having the basketball club reunion? Well, it will be held at Rukawa-kun's place this coming Saturday, 23 August. Hopefully, everyone will be there. I am so excited as this will be the first reunion we will have after so many years! I will bring Kei-chan with me. You can join us by logging in at 2:00 pm Japan time. I know it should be Friday 10 pm there, so spare that time, ne? It's weekend anyway. Please hug Hiro-chan and Rika-chan for me. Haruko
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