Hello, minna-san! Welcome to part three of my fic! First of all, I apologize that I took a long time to write this part. I've been working on my secret superb fic that I plan to release hopefully once I finish this one [winks]. I've been soooooooooooo busy because of this fic, the special other one and all my other stuff. I just got two novels that I haven't read from my friend and school's starting soon and I haven't got my books, a new bag and clothes! ARGH! And my boyfriend's bugging me to go out with him! DOUBLE ARGH!!! [Bangs head against wall and dies from over-stress] @_@;
[Resurrects herself] Before I continue, I'd like to thank the reviewers who read this really stupid fic. Arigatou!
Also, I like to clear that Mitsui never called Youhei [or anybody from the Sakuragi Gundan] by name, less calling him 'Youhei-kun'.
Next, I hate ALL the Rukawa fan-girls [ESPECIALLY HARUKO, for playing Hanamichi-kun] in the Slam Dunk Realm.
Note: This fic is supposed to make Rukawa not be as cold as he is… In other words, he has a heart. Also, Sendoh's a pervert and Mitsui's smart.
STEAK, CAKE OR ICE CREAM?
Part 3: Understandings And Misunderstandings
It had been a few weeks since Rukawa's accident. Many people visited him, most of them from his idiotic UNOFFICIAL fan club, which gave the nurses a hard time since there were a lot of them. His team members visited him as well, giving him well wishes and bringing food. To him, it felt awkwardly comforting since he had never experience this warmth before. Never in his life he felt people do care about him. Nayami had stuck by him most of the time when he couldn't think of anything to say or when he didn't know what to do. Sendoh and Mitsui had also stayed behind, keeping him company and helping him with some of his schoolwork that was sent to him daily, thanks to Haruko. Now, he had his World History homework spread out on his bed.
"Okay… 'Recall the events that brought the term 'Bloody Sunday' to the Russian Calendar'…" Rukawa looked up to the other two boys.
"A Russian butcher shop on a Sunday?" Sendoh grinned pathetically at him. Rukawa gave him a look. Mitsui sighed.
"A peaceful demonstration from the peasants…" he started explaining. The younger boys had got to know that Mitsui was a whiz at History, World and Japanese.
'I can thank Nayami-san and this accident for this… I wouldn't have known this or anything else about them.' Rukawa hid a small smile as he noted down what Mitsui said. Minutes later, Nayami and Haruko burst through the door, both panting as though they were running.
"Rukawa-kun! I got your homework!" Haruko announced, handing the stack of papers to him.
"Hn." Rukawa answered in his normal demeanor.
"Kaede-kun, your mail," Nayami smiled at him, passing the letters to him. Rukawa looked up and said, "You didn't have to do this everyday, Nayami-san."
"Iya, I insist…" Nayami reassured, blushing," I'll even get your homework for you, if you want me too." She shot Haruko a look, hoping she would back off. But Haruko just returned the glare.
"Haruko-san… you should get back home," Mitsui started, feeling the tension between the two girls," Your brother's a bit of a worrywart, you won't hear the end of it if you were late."
"Uh… hai," Haruko mumbled, a bit reluctant to go so soon.
"I'll see you out," Sendoh offered as he stood up. The two left.
"I hate her," Nayami stated with a huff.
"Haruko?" Rukawa mumbled dumbly.
"Never mess with a woman's scorn," Mitsui warned him.
"Nanda to?!" Mitsui backed away from Nayami. "I wish she never come by everyday! It's annoying! Today, she deliberately closed the elevator door on me, just to get here first! I had to take the stairs! I reached here just in time…" Rukawa leaned closer to Mitsui, when Nayami went out the room.
"What was she talking about?" Mitsui sweatdropped.
'He can't be that dense, can he?' The ex-gangster thought slightly shocked. "Let's just say she feels some competition with Haruko around," Mitsui explained.
"Competition? Over what?" Mitsui sighed, giving up. Just in time, Sendoh came into the ward.
"Haruko's a bit jealous," he announced, having the receiving end to the girl's complaints. Mitsui sighed again.
"Guys, we have a war in our hands," Mitsui finally said, "and we should stay out of it." Sendoh nodded whilst Rukawa gave them a confused look.
"Huh?" Sendoh was taken aback by Rukawa's clueless act.
"Is he for real?" The spiked haired boy turned to Mitsui, creasing his eyebrows. Mitsui just sighed.
The doctor was giving Rukawa a check up. As usual, the three waited outside. Nayami was scribbling some tactics in her notebook. Her Inter High was in about a week's time, so her mind was trekking to her upcoming games. Good thing too, since she was in a foul mood because of Haruko's [and maybe the Rukawa fan girls] appearances. Mitsui glanced over at her. But Sendoh had something else preoccupied in his mind.
"Is it just me or Rukawa's parents are the only people that haven't turned up yet?" The two looked at him.
"Yeah…" Mitsui realized.
"If my mom got wind that I was in an accident, she'll rush here so fast--"
"They're not coming," Nayami revealed, cutting Sendoh.
"Wanna spill why? I know you know the reason," Mitsui gave her a look that she found comforting. She sighed.
"Kaede-kun's mom died when he was still in junior high and his dad… is always on business trips. I don't think he knows that Kaede-kun is in the hospital now…" Nayami's eyes were now staring at the hospital wall.
"Rukawa's alone… That's why…" Sendoh suddenly muttered. Mitsui gave him a quizzical look. Sendoh just smiled at him. Nayami looked up, her eyes meeting Sendoh's blue eyes. Mitsui thought for a while, when he finally understood.
"Rukawa never understood… love of any kind. He never got it why friends are loyal," Mitsui mumbled.
"You can see it when you play against him," Sendoh explained," you can see it in his eyes. Without knowing things like this, he could never play with the passion that we know…"
"The love of the game," Mitsui added. Sendoh nodded.
"It was obsession," Sendoh said, sitting down," he played like he was possessed. It was scary when I looked into his eyes for the first time. I wondered why though…"
"That's why he shunned the cheers of others. The reason of his selfishness… I forgot about it when I played against him…"
"You saw it too, huh?" The two boys watched Nayami clench her hands.
"Nayami-san…"
"I remembered when I met him for the first time after the Kainan game…"
"You guys met? I thought that was set up by your girl friends or something…" Sendoh noted, bewildered. He got pummeled as a result.
"What happened?"
"You know… when I saw him on fire, I was scared."
"Fighting against him is scary too…"
"I guess… It was then that I wanted to talk to him," Nayami went, remembering the day she met Rukawa.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Nayami-san, aren't you going?" Mitsuki called out to her best friend. She and the other girls were leaving after watching the Kainan-Shohoku match. Nayami shook her head.
"Iya… you guys go first. I'm waiting for my friend. You know, that Kainan boy…"
"Sou ka? Waiting for your date? Is that why you called us here?" Chiharu teased. The other girls giggled.
"Chigau! He's just an old school friend!" Nayami yelled," it's none of your business anyway!"
"Hai, hai… Mattaku, our captain can be soooo touché at times," Chiharu shrugged as she led the other girls off.
"You sure you want to wait for Kiyota-kun yourself?" Mitsuki asked, concerned.
"I'm not waiting for Kiyota-kun… It's that Shohoku boy, number 11… I have to talk to him," she answered. Mitsuki smiled at her.
"There's something about him, right?"
"Sou… I guess you know me too well," Nayami sighed.
"Iya… I still need to get to know you better," Mitsuki shrugged before walking to the direction of the girls. Nayami watched her go.
It was a while before she heard the Shohoku team walking towards her direction. She had been sitting down at the lounge, drinking a juice box. She watched them pass by and spotted the fox eyed boy, trailing at the back. Almost running, she reached out and tapped his shoulder. He turned and faced her.
"Nani?" He asked, coldly. Nayami was frozen at the spot when he stared at her.
"You're… cold," she muttered.
"So? I don't think that's your business…" he answered back in the same cold tone.
"Then why do you play?" That had caught Rukawa off guard, momentarily.
"What is it to you?" he said softly.
"I don't know… but you helped me once…" Rukawa turned away.
"I don't even know you…"
"Then I'll make you know me. My name's Kitagawa Nayami," Nayami introduced herself. Rukawa examined her for a minute.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked, slightly curious.
"Because you need a friend," she answered back, smiling," what's your name?" Rukawa sighed.
"Rukawa Kaede…"
The two of them settled to a steak house, because, despite herself, Nayami was starving. Rukawa was no different. They had practically cleared the whole menu of food together. While they were having dessert, Nayami's eyes never left Rukawa.
"Nani?"
"It's been awhile since you sat with someone to eat, right?" Nayami pointed out.
"Yeah… I guess," Rukawa answered. It was true, even if his team went out to eat, he'll take a separate table from them.
"Well, I saw you play and I thought you were kinda selfish. All you wanted was to win," Nayami said timidly, hoping that wouldn't anger Rukawa in any way.
"Some people say that's a strong point…" Rukawa pointed out.
"Some… not all, Rukawa… Others pass your bad habits because of your good looks."
"And that matters to you?"
"It does… You haven't changed since I watch you play in the courts. Still using your eyes to communicate. Open that mouth a little, will you?" She huffed.
"I haven't talked this much to anybody for a while…"
"It's good if you did instead of glaring at them, your face might freeze," Nayami sighed before smiling at him. Rukawa just gave her a look. "I think it did."
"I heard that." Nayami giggled.
"Gomen… It's just that… was funny," she stopped herself before smiling at him again.
"Aa…"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Nayami? Earth to Nayami…" Sendoh waved his hand in front of her face. She snapped out of it.
"Where did you drift off to?" Mitsui asked. Nayami blushed in return. The doctor who came out from the room door saved her.
"Rukawa looks fine… he can go home tomorrow," he announced before leaving. Nayami let out a sigh of relief.
"That's great…" Sendoh smiled at her but Mitsui was giving her another look. It was almost like he didn't want Rukawa to leave the hospital.
"Come on, we have to go… Let's tell Rukawa we're leaving…" he said, going into the room first.
It had been awhile since Nayami spent her afternoons in school for extra practices. She felt like staying to make up for her absence but her mind tugged to her concerns of Rukawa. Sendoh, of course, noticed that and reassured her that the boy was well taken cared of.
"Beside… your Inter High's around the corner…" Sendoh reminded her," the girls are counting on you."
"Hai…" she agreed, sadly.
So she stayed, asking Sendoh to stay back so that she could practice more with him.
"You're getting good," Sendoh commented as she managed to pass him without distractions.
"No, I just found out your secret," she smiled, wiping the sweat from her brow.
"I guess…" Sendoh said, turning to her," Nayami-san…"
"Nani?"
"I want to apologize for what I did that day. I threw you off the track of your feelings towards Ru…"
"Sendoh-san… you didn't do anything wrong," she said, shaking her head," I was confused because I do like you and Mitsui and Rukawa… I just got to figure out who I love." Nayami smiled at him. Sendoh felt his cheeks burn.
"Aa… but there's something I have to warn you," Sendoh looked at her, gravely," be careful of Mitsui. He's the type of guy who'll do anything to get what he wants…"
"But…"
"As a friend, Nayami, listen to me for your sake…" Sendoh sighed. 'And for Rukawa's as well…' He added mentally watching Nayami walk away.
It was a Sunday again and boy, was it busy for Nayami. She had woken up late and now is late to meet the three guys on her special 'date'. Actually, she wanted someone to go with her to get new basketball shoes and she didn't want to favor one guy… So…
"Usoi," Mitsui gave her a disappointed look as she ran to the meeting point.
"G-Gomen…" she stammered. Then she noticed that Mitsui was alone.
"Where's Sendoh-san and Kaede-kun?"
"Later than you," Mitsui rolled his eyes, sighing," let's get some ice cream while waiting for them?" He gestured to the ice cream stand nearby.
"Chocolate for me!" Nayami shouted her choice of flavor.
"Hai, hai…"
'I don't believe I'm late!' Sendoh thought running to the park they were supposed to meet. He could hear what Nayami would say to him. He was so concentrated on running that he didn't notice the black haired boy running beside him until he saw the cast.
"Rukawa?! You're late too?!"
"Urusai," was the curt answer from the boy.
"I think you should walk…"
"I think you should watch out for the lamppost." Sure enough, Sendoh narrowly escaped from smashing into a lamppost.
"Okay then… we'll go with your decision," Sendoh muttered, running side by side with the boy.
"Here," Mitsui handed Nayami her ice cream.
"Arigatou," she thanked him, taking her cone. The both of them ate quietly for a while. Nayami found herself staring at Mitsui, taking note of his features.
"They're really late…" Mitsui suddenly spoke up, which caused Nayami miss licking her ice cream from utter shock. Now, her cheek was not only red, but had bits of her dessert on her face. Mitsui shook his head before licking it off her, making her face turn completely red. She noticed just how close Mitsui was to her and Mitsui did too as he kissed her. Mitsui actions made her drop her ice cream. Also, she was completely astounded and she was not the only one. Upon hearing a gasp, the two looked up, seeing Rukawa and Sendoh with shocked expressions on their faces.
"Kaede-kun!" Nayami gasped, pushing Mitsui off her. Rukawa just shook his head and ran off from there.
"Oi! Rukawa!" Sendoh called out, missing to grab his arm.
"Kaede-kun!" Nayami cried. She was about to go after him when she felt someone tugging at her hand. She turned to realize it was Mitsui who had discarded his ice cream and had both hands on her arm. "Mitsui-san, hanase!" Mitsui just shook his head.
"I won't let go if you're going after him," Mitsui muttered. Nayami just tugged at him but Mitsui's vice-like grip was no match.
"Let her go, Mitsui…" Sendoh went, prying his hands off her.
"Forget about him, Nayami-san. He doesn't deserve you…" Mitsui said, slightly pleading. Hearing his last line, Nayami slapped him out of anger. That made Mitsui let go of her arm.
"Nayami-san…" Sendoh exclaimed.
"What do you what he deserves? I thought you understood…" she mumbled before running off to search for Rukawa. Mitsui now had his hand on his cheek where Nayami had slapped him.
"I think you deserved that," Sendoh smirked at him. Mitsui returned it with his own.
"I guess… I shouldn't have left things to my impulses," Mitsui sighed, rubbing the red cheek.
"Think she might wake up?" Sendoh asked. Mitsui shrugged.
"You think she and Rukawa will forgive me?" Sendoh gave that a thought.
"If she finds him first," was his answer, smiling.
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KNK: Yea! Despite the shortness, the third chappy done! [Throws confetti with her pink turtle Gyu-chan]
Gyu-chan: Gyu! Gyu!
KNK: Minna-san, I hope I didn't disappoint you but it's pretty obvious who Nayami-chan is going for, ne? ^_^ Tonikaku, it's still fun to hear your complaints and compliments… So review, onegai! And watch out for the hopefully ending chapter called Together Forever………??
