This is the second epilogue...

Hope you're not too worn out....

Review me please...

And tell me which one you prefer...


Epilogue B : Our Dreams Fulfilled

Miyaru was feeling very anxious. Her heart beat excitedly as if it is going to leap out of her chest any minute now. The airplane was going to land very soon. She was ready to jump out as soon as it hits the ground. "Kaede..." She was finally back! After two years of studying and being away, she was finally here...back to where she belongs.

To her sweetheart, Kaede Rukawa."

She tightly held the beautiful ring she wore on her finger. A sign of their promise and their undying love. She wondered how's he feeling, they'd had been exchanging e-mails and love quotes every week. Rukawa had said that they managed to enter the finales of the inter-high.

And that their final game was scheduled today!

She had better catch up! After graduating, she was ready to head back here. If it wasn't for Kaede's support...she wouldn't be here right now. She achieved her dreams with his help and now she wanted to be there to cheer for Kaede's team.

"I want to see Kaede's dream fulfilled too...C'mon! Stupid plane...land! I still have to catch a cab...Oh God...Kaede please...hold on. I'm coming..."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Rukawa sighed heavily, his muscles were screaming in agony. The game was a tie and for the past ten minutes, nobody was able to score. Both teams were now drained and each coach, seeing that their boys was about to collapse, called for a time-out.

"AAAARGH!" Sakuragi Hanamichi shouted furiously. He already had four fouls and was, as usual, in a bad mood. "ORE WA TENSAI!!!! I shall defeat them 'til my last breath! NYAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"Save your strength then, d'aho." Rukawa muttered as he gulped down some water.

"Teme Rukawa! You weren't able to score for the past ten minutes either! Are you too tired or maybe-"

"That's enough!"

Both squabbling boys turned to face their new captain, Ryota Miyagi, who was eyeing them angrily.

"If you have THAT much strength to hurl insults at each other...then you must have a WHOLE lot more in store to finish the game, right? And not just finish the game, but win it as well! Are you still with me?"

"Of course, we will win! I swear, we will win! NYAHAHAHAHA!!!" Sakuragi hollered, "We are strong!"

"Rukawa?" Ryota turned to their silent ace player.

"Yes, captain. We will win." he replied firmly. He took a moment and pulled a gold chain from his neck. The ring....it seems to be telling him something, "Kaede...hold on. I'm coming..."

"Miyaru..." he whispered, "I will win this game....for you."

Only five minutes left...and the ball is with the opposing team.

"Alright. Concentrate people." Ryota focused.

The ball was quickly passed to another teammate. The opponent was hastily dribbling it, they were too eager for a shot, as he attempted to make jump shot-

"ORE WA TENSAI!" Sakuragi's huge hands blocked the ball, and it bounced to the other side.

"Got it!" Ryota swiftly caught the ball like a flash of lightning.

He started dribbling it but two gigantic players came to double team him, blocking his way. "Damn it."

Sakuragi held his hands out, signaling that he was free.

Ryota quickly passed the ball and Sakuragi made his way to the other side with Rukawa and their opponents hot on his heels.

Sakuragi, upon reaching the court, made a jump shot but Lamebrain seemed to be prepared for this and easily blocked the ball.

"ITAI!" Sakuragi bellowed in rage.

Rukawa felt his knees flex, his thoughts racing as though it was playing a game on its own.

"She's coming...she's coming...she's coming....Do this for her!"

"Ten seconds!"

Rukawa leaped into the air, grabbed the ball with his right hand and slammed it hard into the hoop.

The hoop vibrated and the crowd watched in shock and in awe. Suddenly they erupted in screams. The buzzer rang and the game is over! They had won with two points!

The Shohoku team was jumping, tears in their eyes. Several of them dared to pat Rukawa and Sakuragi was doing cartwheels on the court. Ryota was lifted up in the air, as fans cheered for him. As they rejoiced for their victory, Rukawa noticed someone standing on the far edge of the court, a smile on her face.

"Miyaru!?" he said dumbfounded.

"Kaede!" She squealed and ran towards him, her arms outstretched, ready to hug him.

"Oh! I am sooo glad to see you!" she hugged him tightly, tears in her eyes. "You were awesome! Great! Spectacular! Super! Marvel-"

"M-Miyaru...you came back?" Rukawa gasped, as his teammates exchanged weird looks.

"Of course I did silly..." she stoked his hair lightly. "Well...It looks like we fulfilled our own dreams...even if the separation was a total killer."

"If so, we shall never leave each other from now on..." Rukawa cast a small smile at her.

"Mmmm..."

"But I have another dream left..."

"Really?" Miyaru asked, frowning slightly.

"Yes....but this time it includes you."

Rukawa pulled Miyaru closer and their lips were inches away from each other when-

FLASH!

"Huh?" the couple turned around to see who was the moron who disrupted their kiss.

"NYAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Sakuragi laughed as he waved the camers in the air, "Rukawa's got a girlfriend! Wait 'til your fanclub sees this!!! NYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"D'aho! Give me that!" Rukawa demanded as both troublemakers engage in another insulting battle.

"Kitsune's in looooooove!!!"

"D'aho!"

Miyaru smiled as she watched the two try to eat each other's faces off. How she missed her lover's irritated look.

"It's great to be back...."

~Owari~

^___^