**Disclaimers at first page**
Author's Notes: (sighs) Second time I reformat this. I'm really sorry for the confusion and everything. I'm indicating the flashbacks now, since FFN won't allow indents. (glares at FFN) I also added some stuff, but they're minor details. I hope you don't mind. ^_^
Slam Dunk 02
(A SD/GW Crossover)
by AJ Maxwell
Chapter One: Coming Home
Duo gazed listlessly at the clouds, the privileges of a window seat being totally lost on him. His eyes were merely open, but they did not really see, much less appreciate, the things around him.
(begin flashback)
"Uh, Mom?" he shuffled his feet uneasily, his head bowed down as his mother occupied herself with the paperwork before her.
"What is it, Duo?" she asked absently.
"W-will you…I mean, if you don't have anything to do this coming Friday…will you…will you mind going to the championship game?"
His mother looked up at him, the paperwork momentarily forgotten. "What was that again, sweetie?"
Duo held back his vehement protest on being called 'sweetie' and asked again, daring to sound a little hopeful for a second. "Will you mind going to the championship game? It's around six, at the Emerson Stadium."
He watched the blank look on his mother's face, and a sinking feeling gnawed his insides. "But maybe you're busy then, so forget I asked."
And as he quickly turned around to go back to his room, his mother said, "I'd love to watch you play, Duo."
He whipped his head around to look at his mother, his eyes wide in surprise. Then, a hopeful, tentative smile lit up his face. "Thanks, Mom."
(end flashback)
I thought things would change for the better from there, just like Quatre had said. I risked the first move, and she accepted. I was so happy, and I was shocked at myself when I discovered that, after all those times when I told myself I didn't care if she watched the games or not, I did care. I cared a lot.
(begin flashback)
Duo's voice could be heard beyond the locker room's door. "Why isn't she here?! She told me she'd come!"
It was during halftime, and Quatre racked his brain for reasons that could appease his distraught friend. "Duo…she might have been caught in traffic…" he trailed, coming up with nothing better than what he had just said four minutes ago.
"Dammit, I'm already fifteen! I shouldn't mind…I shouldn't mind it like this. It's always been the same…it's always been the same…I should be used to this already…"
"Duo…"
He roughly brushed away his tears, regarding the salty moisture on his hands with severe contempt. "She doesn't care. I don't care. It's cool. I'm cool. Everything's cool," he muttered to no one in particular. "I'll do my fucking best. There's only the second half now, and then I'll be the goddamned Rookie of the Year. Peachy. Everything's cool."
Quatre sighed. He knew how his friend felt, and even if he disapproved of Duo suppressing his anger or pain sometimes, he couldn't do anything but give his full support right then. "You're amazing tonight out there, Duo. Please remember that we're all here for you, whatever happens. We're a team now."
"Winner is right," Chang Wufei said as he sat beside his best friend. "And I'll never abandon you, you know."
Duo smiled. He was about to make a teasing retort on the sudden emotional openness his usually taciturn best friend, but he thought it was better not to. Besides, I guess this is one of those rare moments. Might as well bask in it while it lasts.
"Wufei! Quatre! Duo! New play!" It was their team captain, Zechs Merquise.
(end flashback)
Duo sighed. Well, I guess if she lived longer Quatre would've been right.
(begin flashback)
"See you tomorrow, okay, Duo?"
"You're the man, Quatre! O' course I'll see ya tomorrow!" Duo jovially saluted his blond friend as he stumbled on his house's walkway, his Rookie of the Year trophy in hand.
"Be careful."
"You worry too much, Wu-man! 'm a big boy I'll be fine!"
"Baka. You're too drunk. I'll help you inside."
"Oh Heero. Concerned for your partner, eh?"
"I know I'll sound like a hypocrite if I say that I shouldn't have let him-all of you-drink since you're all minors and I'm the eldest of our group."
"I won't mind if you still say it, Zechs," Wufei said. "I'll still love you."
"Wufei, now I'm sure you're really smashed to say that aloud."
Quatre shook his head. "Duo deserves to celebrate and try to be happy."
"We all do," Trowa agreed. "We're the champions, Zechs is the MVP, and Duo's Rookie of the Year. The best things just happened to our team, Quatre."
"There's a problem." It was Heero.
"We didn't notice that you already came back…"
"What is it?"
"It's Duo's mom…"
(end flashback)
"Duo? Duo, we're about to land. Fasten your seatbelt."
Duo shook himself out of his reverie as his father tapped him on the arm. He fastened his seatbelt mindlessly, and sighed.
Duo's father, upon hearing his spiritless sigh, patted his shoulder reassuringly. "You're home now, Duo. Shinichi and I will take care of you. Everything will be all right, you'll see." He smiles at him, and Duo just had to smile back.
*
Maki Shinichi stood at the arrival area, his anticipation at seeing his younger brother again revealed only in his eyes. He knew that he should be sad because of the terms that made his brother come back. Somehow, he was, but his joy overrode his other feelings. I wonder how he must look now. It's been four years since he last sent a picture… He must have been so busy, like I was when I entered high school. I hope it wasn't too hard for him, his life in America.
I wonder how he must be feeling right now. He must be devastated that okaasan is gone. He didn't have many friends last time I heard…surely he must also be glad that he's back home. I know I am.
He remembered his brother's chestnut brown hair, much longer than his had ever been. The last time they were together, it brushed his frail shoulders, and it was the reason why those who didn't know them always mistook them as brother and sister. They always heard their elders cooing, as ladies petted his "adorable sister's" head, and men congratulating him for being a good onii-chan. And there was a time when a group of boys his age mistook his otouto for a girl…
(begin flashback)
It was the Maki brothers' luck that they got to the basketball court first. The fenced court was empty, and Duo cheered at their great timing. "Finally we'll get to play!"
And play they did. Shinichi, being more developed and more skillful at the game, instructed his younger brother on what he observed as lacking. Duo's arms weren't as powerful as his older brother's, but with some effort he was able to shoot from the third square, and finally, a jump shot to take care of free throws. They took turns with the ball, and with encouraging each other. Shinichi patiently waited for Duo to get a shot in the basket before making his own, and Duo absorbed everything his brother taught him.
"Well, well. Look what we have here."
The brothers merely glanced at the newcomers, and continued playing.
"Hey, Maki-kun. Didn't think you were so insecure of your skills that you'd rather play against a weak little girl than with boys your age."
Duo whipped around to glare at the offending thirteen-year-old. "I don't care if you're older! You take that back!"
Shinichi stood protectively before Duo, and declared, "My sister is not weak! We'll play against you!"
"Yeah!" Duo hotly agreed. Then, as his brother's words sank in, he furiously turned on Shinichi and wailed, "Onii-chan!!!"
The other boys laughed. "And she's even your sister! I'd've understood if you were just showing off to some girl who liked you, even if she's too young."
"Why you!"
"Yuck!"
"Don't ever say that again! She's my sister!"
"Onii-chan! Quit saying that!"
The three newcomers played against them. Duo simmered inside, but proceeded to play his best. Shinichi, on the other hand, was just enjoying himself. They beat them. Their opponents were baffled.
"H-how could a girl beat us like that?"
"That's because I'm not a girl, you morons!" Duo said huffily. "I'm a boy!" he proclaimed, squaring his shoulders and taking a manly stance.
Shinichi was smirking as he dribbled the ball absently. "Even so. You shouldn't underestimate your opponent because of gender."
(end flashback)
The memory brought a genuine smile to his lips, and it made him look younger. If he were only aware of a smile's effect on him, he would have always smiled, just so that no one would call him 'old man' or 'oldy', especially Sakuragi Hanamichi.
He looked at his watch again, noting that his father and brother should have arrived minutes ago. Though his patience was notable on and off court, he couldn't help but tap his foot a little in edginess.
"Shinichi! Help us with the baggage!"
He quickly looked up as he heard his father call him. Moving forward, he was lead by his father to the baggage area, his eyes darting left and right, looking for his brother, Duo. "What bags are Duo's?"
Suddenly, he felt a looming presence behind him. He turned slightly to see who it was, and his eyes went wide. Violet eyes…that hair! Can't be…!
It was Duo, all right, and he stood six centimeters taller than him!
"O-otouto?" Shinichi ventured, a bit disbelievingly.
Duo attempted his usual rakish grin for his older brother, and was half successful. "The one and only."
The slight accent of the reply did not get past Shinichi, but he was too shocked for his brain to register it quickly. "B-but," he shook his brother's shoulders, "you're taller than me!"
Duo had to chuckle. "Yeah. Do you mind?"
The simple reply only proved how much his otouto had changed. He expected Duo to gloat and crow in triumph, but he didn't. Instead, he was simply smiling, with a hint of sadness in his eyes. People change, Shinichi. He can't always be the little brother you had before he went away. He shook his head in reply, and gave him a big hug.
"Tadaima kaerimashita," Duo said, unconsciously meaning only half of it.
Shinichi felt his brother's words, and was saddened. How much has he changed? Was his life so hard? Didn't okaasan treat him well? What happened to him? But as he pondered those questions, he tightened his arms, and whispered the word that he wholeheartedly meant. "Okaeri."
*
"What really happened, otousan?" Maki Shinichi asked his father after he made sure that his younger brother was sound asleep in the backseat.
"Just as I told you on the phone, Shinichi, your okaasan is dead. There was a car accident. Beyond that, I don't know anything else. I asked your otouto, but he wouldn't talk about it. I don't want to force him to talk about it anymore, because…you see how he is right now. He might seem as if he's taking it well, but as sad as it is, we don't really know him now…"
Shinichi conceded, nodding. "He's been away long enough. Otousan, I've been thinking, maybe I should stay at home for a year. Duo is in a delicate condition right now, and adjusting to a totally different environment will make things harder for him. Maybe my staying for a while will make it a bit easier for him to adjust, since I am the one he is most familiar with."
"I have been thinking along the same lines, since I would not be at home most of the time because of work. If you were to move out of the house at this time, Duo will be left alone at home. Your brother is so lonely, but what about college? Have you decided on that?"
"I'll just attend the nearest college for a while, just until Duo's okay with everything."
"I see. It's good that you thought of that on your own," his father murmured, smiling at his eldest son. "You're a good aniki, Shinichi."
He only nodded in reply. Duo hasn't had an older brother for six years. I'm going to make sure that I'm here for him.
*
Duo was jetlagged, but he was still wide-awake, staring at his room's ceiling.
Everything felt different to him, yet he knew that he shouldn't be feeling that way. He was in his home, after all, and the room he was in used to be his room when he was a kid. He was reunited with his father and brother at last, so what was the problem? He should be glad; at last he came back home, just as he'd wished when he was in the U.S.
But now, he only felt like he didn't belong, like he was an outsider.
Maybe it's just like this. I haven't been in this place for…what? Six years? I guess I'll have to adjust with things, just as my family will adjust to the changes in me. Heh. Especially onii-chan. He couldn't believe that I'm taller than him now. I hope he doesn't feel bad about it. I know he doesn't, but… Oh well, at least no one's gonna mistake me for his sister, now!
The sudden knock on his door shook him out of his thoughts. Must be onii-chan. "Come in!"
The door opened, admitting Maki. "Duo, you're supposed to be resting."
Duo sat up and patted the space beside him. "I am, onii-chan. Come sit here, onegai? I missed you."
Maki blushed at his younger brother's openness, but was pleased. At least that part of his brother hadn't changed. He strode to the bed and sat beside Duo. "You should stop calling me that, you know."
Duo raised an eyebrow. "Calling you what?"
"Onii-chan," he said gruffly. The word left a bad taste in his mouth.
"Why?"
Maki sighed exasperatedly. "Duo, any self-respecting guy wouldn't call his aniki 'onii-chan'."
"Why?"
"Because it just is! Call me aniki from now on, okay?"
"Aniki," Duo said, testing the word on his tongue. He pouted. "Maa, I don't like it! I never did like it!" he declared. "I'm calling you onii-chan."
Maki gritted his teeth. "But Duo! It's embarrassing!"
"No, it's not! It's cute and I like it!"
"Duo," he growled.
"Onii-chan!" he wailed, his violet eyes sparkling in mischief.
"Why do you always have to annoy me like this?"
Duo patted his shoulder consolingly. "Because I'm your otouto and this is my mission in life. You should just accept it, onii-chan, as hard as it may be."
Maki grumbled about something, looking terribly pissed off.
"And you should loosen up, onii-chan. Smile. It takes years off your face!"
Maki glared at him. "You're an insulting monkey, you know?"
Duo just grinned at him, and triumphantly made a victory sign.
Maki stood up and walked to the door. "I just came here to tell you that dinner's just about ready."
"I'll be there, onii-chan! Arigato!"
Maki hmphed, and closed the door.
Duo just stared at the door for a few seconds, and then burst into loud, breath-hacking laughter. There were tears in his eyes, and he was pounding the pillows with his fists.
Right from under his room's floorboards, Maki's voice boomed, "Shut up, baka!"
This only made Duo laugh harder.
So how was it? Promising story? Insane fic? Please review!
