Title: Friends, Lovers and Brothers
Authors Note: I'm very sorry for all the spelling mistakes I have made! And now, I introduce to everyone, Chapter 5!!!!! (Do I sound like an idiot?)
Chapter 5-The Returns of Sufferings
'Will you two wake up? You are already fifteen minutes late!' Rukawa's mom's voice pierced through my brain, waking me up from my sleep. I opened my eyes a little, stretch and got up. Rukawa amazingly did the same. But by the time we finished our breakfast we were practically 45 minutes late.
'Hello,' a cheerful voice greeted us as Mrs. Rukawa opened the door.
'Sendo!' I was so happy. I always was when he was around.
'How long were you here?' Rukawa asked wondering why Sendo didn't knock.
'Oh I just arrived in time to see the door opening,' was his reply.
'A bunch of late-comers going to school,' Mrs. Rukawa said shaking her head. Mr. Rukawa had left for work a long time ago. We smiled. Mrs. Rukawa was pretty shocked to see Rukawa actually smiling. As we turned to walk out the door, she said.
'Aya, you are always welcome in this house. I just want you to know that.' I turned towards her. So did Sendo and Rukawa.
'So are you, Sendo. Both of you are welcomed. If your house isn't a home for you Aya, let this be your home,' she continued. My eyes filled with tears. I walked towards her and hugged her. She hugged me back and I was reminded strongly of my mother.
'Thank you aunty,' I whispered. We arrived at school fifteen minutes later, and as usual, we just walked in. Our teacher was too fed up with our attitude that he too ignored us.
In the Shohoku Basketball Court.
During practice, we were acting like we usually did, ignoring everything around us including each other, shutting ourselves in our heart, giving our full concentration on basketball.
* * * * * * * *
Akagi saw Aya jumping to take a rebound. She took it and dashed forward immediately. However, as she prepared to do a dunk, Rukawa stole the ball from her. Just as he was dashing forward, Anzai sensei called them to gather around. Akagi went towards Anzai sensei wondering why he had been so caught in they play. They play had a way of attracting other people. Anzai sensei then commanded a game between the freshmen and seniors to test the freshmen's ability.
'A good time to see how good that Rukawa and Aya is,' Mitsui said.
'Yeah,' Ryota butted in, 'they seem pretty good.'
Thus, the game started. During the first half, the seniors flattened the freshmen. Rukawa and Aya didn't show much of their ability, and Miyagi told Mitsui that they had overestimated them. But as the second half started, Rukawa and Aya started getting serious. Aya, who knew the weakness of almost everyone by playing with them for just twenty minutes, started doing her job as a point guard. She stole every ball and caused confusion in the defense area. She also created many chances for Rukawa to score, yet sometimes scoring herself.
Rukawa too got hot and started to take rebounds and blocking all the air balls, using the most of his height. Though they weren't really united with the rest of the team, (that is an understatement, they were just playing against the seniors, really burning to beat the seniors, not at all bothered about the rest of the juniors) but they teamwork among the two of them was very good. As Akagi thought yesterday, they weren't really pressing on the teamwork with the rest of the team. But just with two of them they reversed the game and won (narrowly of course) although the rest of the freshmen including the redhead Sakuragi who called himself tensai hardly got to touch the ball.
* * * * * * * *
Few weeks passed and I was getting used to staying alternately with Rukawa and Sendo. They houses were far more like a home to me than mine had ever been. Even Rukawa and Sendo slept over in each other's house often. However, no matter how comfortable I was, I always wondered why my dad hadn't come looking for me and was starting to really enjoy this newfound freedom that I have now. Yet, somehow, I was always, in a way watching and waiting. But when he did come, he caught me off guard.
* * * * * * * *
'Sendo!' Aya cried unable to stop laughing when her best friend tried to imitate a ballet act. (Trust me, he wasn't graceful at all) Rukawa too was laughing. That was when the doorbell rang. Mr. Rukawa who answered it suddenly recoiled as if he was hit, which he was. Aya quickly stood up, knowing that the dreaded time had come for her to return, return to the house where all her greatest fears were in stall for her.
'Father!' Rukawa cried, running towards his father. Sendo, on the other hand grabbed Aya's hand and approached cautiously, pulling her along with him. Mrs. Rukawa appeared at the doorway that separated the hall and the kitchen.
'Aya! You come here now and maybe I won't kill you. Just get your butt home! I'm starving,' my dad shouted. His baleful green eyes was trying to stare everywhere at once, sizing the place up. He was tall, almost as tall as Rukawa, and Aya covered when he turned toward her. He was pretty scary. His hair, oily and long fell over his face. He had none of Aya's pretty features and his lips were cracking. Rukawa, who, by now was already helping his father up, shot a look of pure anger at Aya's dad.
'Stop your threatening and get out of my house,' he said. His voice was surprisingly calm (and cold).
'I'm not leaving without my daughter,' was his reply. HE shot a look of pure venom at Aya that she cringed, stepping closer to Sendo.
'When are you going to free her from all the pain and sufferings? Don't you think she has gone through enough for a girl over fifteen? When are you going to show her what it really means to be a father? When are you going to care?!' Sendo asked, his voice rising steadily, although it was still calm. (As Sendo's voice always is) His voice didn't waver at all. He had put one of his hands over Aya's shoulder protectively when she leaned towards him just now.
'You can't be considered as a father. Don't you love your daughter? I mean she is part of you.' It was Mr. Rukawa this time.
'In other words, she is mine right?' My father said grinning. It was an ugly grin. A grin which reminded Aya of how her father looked when he was beating up her mom. That grin was all it took. She had had enough of seeing other people getting hurt because of her.
'Yours? How can a child be owned?' The tone of Mrs. Rukawa's voice was of pure surprise, which was pretty comical judging the situation.
* * * * * * * *
A whirl of emotions was circling me. Fear, sadness, helplessness, hurt and frustration. I didn't want to leave, but I had had enough. No way I'm going to see anyone else get hurt because of me. No! I stepped away from Sendo. Sendo, who knew that this would happen from the start didn't want to let me go. He held onto my hand shaking his head.
'I must Sendo. I'm sorry.' My apology was not directed to him alone but to everyone in the room. Everyone who showed me the meaning of love my father didn't.
'Thanks for all your help, aunty, uncle,' I said, my eyes passing over them and finally halting at Rukawa,
'Thank you, but I have to go before anyone else gets hurt,' I finished.
Then suddenly Rukawa doubled over and I saw my dad hovering above him. He kicked Rukawa another time and proceeded to where Sendo and I stood. He slapped Sendo twice and was going to slap him another time when I shouted at him. I did something that I never though was possible.
'Stop it! Can't you ever stop it? Can't you ever stop hurting my friends? Won't you ever stop hurting me?' Me eyes were beginning to be filled with tears. My voice was slowing down, taking on a calmer tone and slower pace. Sendo and Rukawa slowly got up and made their way towards my side.
'Even if you don't respect me as your daughter, even if you don't respect me as a human, at least respect my rights. My rights to have friends. My rights to just live my life. Ever since I was born, I have trying to do things that would please you, hoping against hope that you would like it, that you would put an end to the sufferings I was going through. But no matter how I tried, you. you never approved. You never once gave your approval. You continued hurting me and the people whom I loved and loved me. Even mother is gone. Don't you even care? Why? Why'd you do this to me?' I was sobbing recklessly by the time I finished saying it. Sendo put his hands around me and pulled me into a hug trying his best to relieve my pains. Rukawa too tried to comfort me. My father, on the other hand was staring at me as if he didn't understand anything that was going on.
'We weren't going to let her go that easily anyway. She has every right to live her life. And the way she lived it without your interference has caused an impact on all our life,' Rukawa said to my dad.
Hey! Thanks again to all the reviewers. I must sound idiotic, keep thanking my reviewers, but I am really grateful. By the way, sLL, did you just take your PMR?
Authors Note: I'm very sorry for all the spelling mistakes I have made! And now, I introduce to everyone, Chapter 5!!!!! (Do I sound like an idiot?)
Chapter 5-The Returns of Sufferings
'Will you two wake up? You are already fifteen minutes late!' Rukawa's mom's voice pierced through my brain, waking me up from my sleep. I opened my eyes a little, stretch and got up. Rukawa amazingly did the same. But by the time we finished our breakfast we were practically 45 minutes late.
'Hello,' a cheerful voice greeted us as Mrs. Rukawa opened the door.
'Sendo!' I was so happy. I always was when he was around.
'How long were you here?' Rukawa asked wondering why Sendo didn't knock.
'Oh I just arrived in time to see the door opening,' was his reply.
'A bunch of late-comers going to school,' Mrs. Rukawa said shaking her head. Mr. Rukawa had left for work a long time ago. We smiled. Mrs. Rukawa was pretty shocked to see Rukawa actually smiling. As we turned to walk out the door, she said.
'Aya, you are always welcome in this house. I just want you to know that.' I turned towards her. So did Sendo and Rukawa.
'So are you, Sendo. Both of you are welcomed. If your house isn't a home for you Aya, let this be your home,' she continued. My eyes filled with tears. I walked towards her and hugged her. She hugged me back and I was reminded strongly of my mother.
'Thank you aunty,' I whispered. We arrived at school fifteen minutes later, and as usual, we just walked in. Our teacher was too fed up with our attitude that he too ignored us.
In the Shohoku Basketball Court.
During practice, we were acting like we usually did, ignoring everything around us including each other, shutting ourselves in our heart, giving our full concentration on basketball.
* * * * * * * *
Akagi saw Aya jumping to take a rebound. She took it and dashed forward immediately. However, as she prepared to do a dunk, Rukawa stole the ball from her. Just as he was dashing forward, Anzai sensei called them to gather around. Akagi went towards Anzai sensei wondering why he had been so caught in they play. They play had a way of attracting other people. Anzai sensei then commanded a game between the freshmen and seniors to test the freshmen's ability.
'A good time to see how good that Rukawa and Aya is,' Mitsui said.
'Yeah,' Ryota butted in, 'they seem pretty good.'
Thus, the game started. During the first half, the seniors flattened the freshmen. Rukawa and Aya didn't show much of their ability, and Miyagi told Mitsui that they had overestimated them. But as the second half started, Rukawa and Aya started getting serious. Aya, who knew the weakness of almost everyone by playing with them for just twenty minutes, started doing her job as a point guard. She stole every ball and caused confusion in the defense area. She also created many chances for Rukawa to score, yet sometimes scoring herself.
Rukawa too got hot and started to take rebounds and blocking all the air balls, using the most of his height. Though they weren't really united with the rest of the team, (that is an understatement, they were just playing against the seniors, really burning to beat the seniors, not at all bothered about the rest of the juniors) but they teamwork among the two of them was very good. As Akagi thought yesterday, they weren't really pressing on the teamwork with the rest of the team. But just with two of them they reversed the game and won (narrowly of course) although the rest of the freshmen including the redhead Sakuragi who called himself tensai hardly got to touch the ball.
* * * * * * * *
Few weeks passed and I was getting used to staying alternately with Rukawa and Sendo. They houses were far more like a home to me than mine had ever been. Even Rukawa and Sendo slept over in each other's house often. However, no matter how comfortable I was, I always wondered why my dad hadn't come looking for me and was starting to really enjoy this newfound freedom that I have now. Yet, somehow, I was always, in a way watching and waiting. But when he did come, he caught me off guard.
* * * * * * * *
'Sendo!' Aya cried unable to stop laughing when her best friend tried to imitate a ballet act. (Trust me, he wasn't graceful at all) Rukawa too was laughing. That was when the doorbell rang. Mr. Rukawa who answered it suddenly recoiled as if he was hit, which he was. Aya quickly stood up, knowing that the dreaded time had come for her to return, return to the house where all her greatest fears were in stall for her.
'Father!' Rukawa cried, running towards his father. Sendo, on the other hand grabbed Aya's hand and approached cautiously, pulling her along with him. Mrs. Rukawa appeared at the doorway that separated the hall and the kitchen.
'Aya! You come here now and maybe I won't kill you. Just get your butt home! I'm starving,' my dad shouted. His baleful green eyes was trying to stare everywhere at once, sizing the place up. He was tall, almost as tall as Rukawa, and Aya covered when he turned toward her. He was pretty scary. His hair, oily and long fell over his face. He had none of Aya's pretty features and his lips were cracking. Rukawa, who, by now was already helping his father up, shot a look of pure anger at Aya's dad.
'Stop your threatening and get out of my house,' he said. His voice was surprisingly calm (and cold).
'I'm not leaving without my daughter,' was his reply. HE shot a look of pure venom at Aya that she cringed, stepping closer to Sendo.
'When are you going to free her from all the pain and sufferings? Don't you think she has gone through enough for a girl over fifteen? When are you going to show her what it really means to be a father? When are you going to care?!' Sendo asked, his voice rising steadily, although it was still calm. (As Sendo's voice always is) His voice didn't waver at all. He had put one of his hands over Aya's shoulder protectively when she leaned towards him just now.
'You can't be considered as a father. Don't you love your daughter? I mean she is part of you.' It was Mr. Rukawa this time.
'In other words, she is mine right?' My father said grinning. It was an ugly grin. A grin which reminded Aya of how her father looked when he was beating up her mom. That grin was all it took. She had had enough of seeing other people getting hurt because of her.
'Yours? How can a child be owned?' The tone of Mrs. Rukawa's voice was of pure surprise, which was pretty comical judging the situation.
* * * * * * * *
A whirl of emotions was circling me. Fear, sadness, helplessness, hurt and frustration. I didn't want to leave, but I had had enough. No way I'm going to see anyone else get hurt because of me. No! I stepped away from Sendo. Sendo, who knew that this would happen from the start didn't want to let me go. He held onto my hand shaking his head.
'I must Sendo. I'm sorry.' My apology was not directed to him alone but to everyone in the room. Everyone who showed me the meaning of love my father didn't.
'Thanks for all your help, aunty, uncle,' I said, my eyes passing over them and finally halting at Rukawa,
'Thank you, but I have to go before anyone else gets hurt,' I finished.
Then suddenly Rukawa doubled over and I saw my dad hovering above him. He kicked Rukawa another time and proceeded to where Sendo and I stood. He slapped Sendo twice and was going to slap him another time when I shouted at him. I did something that I never though was possible.
'Stop it! Can't you ever stop it? Can't you ever stop hurting my friends? Won't you ever stop hurting me?' Me eyes were beginning to be filled with tears. My voice was slowing down, taking on a calmer tone and slower pace. Sendo and Rukawa slowly got up and made their way towards my side.
'Even if you don't respect me as your daughter, even if you don't respect me as a human, at least respect my rights. My rights to have friends. My rights to just live my life. Ever since I was born, I have trying to do things that would please you, hoping against hope that you would like it, that you would put an end to the sufferings I was going through. But no matter how I tried, you. you never approved. You never once gave your approval. You continued hurting me and the people whom I loved and loved me. Even mother is gone. Don't you even care? Why? Why'd you do this to me?' I was sobbing recklessly by the time I finished saying it. Sendo put his hands around me and pulled me into a hug trying his best to relieve my pains. Rukawa too tried to comfort me. My father, on the other hand was staring at me as if he didn't understand anything that was going on.
'We weren't going to let her go that easily anyway. She has every right to live her life. And the way she lived it without your interference has caused an impact on all our life,' Rukawa said to my dad.
Hey! Thanks again to all the reviewers. I must sound idiotic, keep thanking my reviewers, but I am really grateful. By the way, sLL, did you just take your PMR?
