Title: Friends, Lovers and Brothers



Author's note: Um. I'm sorry about the title up in front, I spelled Friends wrongly. And I want to also thank all the reviewers. Do tell me if anything is wrong with my fic.





Chapter 2-Sufferings

I listened carefully. I was just in time. Just as I locked my room door, my father came in.

'Aya!' He roared. By his voice I knew that he wasn't drunk. He wouldn't do THAT unless he was drunk or really angry. And now, since he wasn't drunk, I had to go to him, or he will come to me. I went downstairs slowly and reluctantly. He greeted me with a slap. I flinched a little, but I was already used to it. My usual routine began. Serving him, waiting on him, letting him have whatever pleasure he gets when he hits me, entertaining him, and of course, listening to his criticism and complaints.

As soon as my dad lay down to sleep I escaped to my room. Only Sendo knew what I was going through. The next day, as usual, I woke up as late as possible. My father already left for work. (He doesn't have my room key, so he couldn't wake me up to torture me.) I changed slowly into my uniform. Just as I was locking my door, Sendo appeared. He hugged me.

'Are you all right?' He asked softly. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Sendo walked me to school, comforting me with just his presence. I was already forty minutes late as I entered my class. Again ignoring my teacher, I walked towards my seat. Rukawa was already sleeping in his seat. But I knew from experience that he was definitely late for school too.

In the basketball court.

All the guys were staring at the girl who was in the court. She jumped, in a perfect form and performed a perfect three-pointer. The mysterious Aya. Even Akagi was speechless. Aya turned towards Rukawa. Their eyes locked. Even without words thy were already resuming their fight which stopped when Aya migrated to New Zealand two years ago. They met when they were three years old. Both loved basketball and challenged each other every minute they were together. Now, twelve years later, they were still challenging each other. Everybody could feel the tension going on between the two of them.

'Aya Kenzen from Tomigaoko Junior High,' Ayako said. It was as if someone lifted a veil from her eyes. She realized that the mysterious girl was from her junior high school.

Aya averted her eyes from Rukawa to Anzai sensei who just arrived.

'Can I sensei?' she asked, softly, coldly, shortly and yet somehow respectfully. Her brown eyes were shining with a hope that seemed impossible, a hope that she would be allowed to. She looked cuter than ever (but obviously Miyagi and Sakuragi didn't care.) Anzai sensei nodded smiling.

'Yes,' she whispered.

* * * * * * * *

Akagi let them all go after six. As expected, Rukawa stayed to practice. Aya left, but Rukawa knew better than that to think that she would go home. He knew she would still be practicing. And he was right. She was practicing, in the public basketball court. At half-past-six, Akagi realized that had left his backpack at the basketball court. He quickly rushed to school. As he passed the public basketball court, he was surprised to see Aya there. He was amazed at her skill. She was not good for a girl ,she was better than most guys! Akagi continued his journey to school, all Aya's play still printed in his memory. He got another shock when he saw Rukawa still practicing. He knew that Rukawa and Aya this year were two of the best freshmen any school could ever want and need. On his way back home, he was pondering on the possibilities of the uses of their ability. There was a catch in their play though. Akagi realized that they didn't care much for teamwork. It was as if they had practically no feelings at all. It never crossed his mind that they weren't displaying their real ability yet.

Around eight Rukawa stopped. He started cycling back home. Somehow, today, he had a weird feeling, he couldn't really place his finger on it. He also couldn't fall asleep on his bike. There was something going on. He knew it. He felt it. As he crossed Aya's house, he stopped. The feeling was getting stronger. The moon was already rising, casting eerie shadows, but to Rukawa that was nothing. Something was going to happen. And to confirm his thoughts, he heard a scream. He knew at once that it came from Aya's house. He also had a feeling in his gut that this was what he was waiting for. He ran and peeped inside the house. He was surprised and shocked to see Aya on the sofa with a man much older man on top if her. He looked drunk. He looked as if he was thoroughly enjoying himself. He looked like her father.

Aya was not happy at all. She was crying, screaming and pushing. But there was something in Aya's eyes that he'd never seen before. Hopelessness. It was as if this was a usual thing that happens to her. Before Rukawa's eyes, the guy tore Aya's uniform open, kissing her all over, against her will. Rukawa couldn't stand it anymore. Before he could control himself, he stepped in, pushed the guy away from Aya, pulled her up and pushed her towards the door. Before leaving, he kicked the guy as hard as he could in the gut, and the guy sank looking pretty surprised. Rukawa rushed out pushing Aya. Rukawa knew the guy was quite strong and could come after them any minute, but he doubted that considering the guy was pretty drunk.

He cast a sidelong glance at Aya who was walking with her head down. Hopelessness? Aya? That was ridiculous. Does Sendo know about this? How long has this been happening? Since she was born? Was this why Sendo said that her feelings for him were buried by sufferings? Rukawa knew that his relationship with Aya was different compared with relationships of other people towards them. Aya and Sendo were practically the only people he actually talks to since he met them twelve years ago. Aya too didn't really have any friends save Sendo. Nobody seemed to catch her eyes either. They were classmates ever since their school years started. And he could easily be considered her best friend after Sendo (since she didn't have any others. Nor did he. How they life I wonder) yet he knew nothing about this.

So, how's it??