Disclaimer : Slam Dunk is owned by Takehiko Inoue. Yamada Hideo & Morita Keiji are mine!
Note: Sentences in italics are thoughts.
*******
Hafeza - I could but unfortunately, I am caught up in writing 3 fics now.hibari – Aww....thanks! Well, I'd like to stick to original SD characters unless absolutely necessary. I prefer creating male OCs because that's what SD calls for, not female OCs. Besides, I must admit, creating a female OC is really tough. They usually end up as Mary Sue without the author even realizing it. And yes, since SD is about basketball, I feel like something is missing if basketball is not even mentioned unless the fic is an AU.
Afrokane – Despite being a former goon, I strongly believe that Sakuragi is a good man inside. He is the kind who would congratulate his rival in the end. This side of him was shown when he gave best wishes to Oda and Yohko. And heck, who wouldn't fall for Sendoh?*sheepish grin*
Aja – Thanks for the never-ending support!
Ginny W – Haruko is nice and sweet but she has this 'ferocious' side. It was shown a lot in the anime and manga such as in the rooftop incident and the times when she hears anyone badmouthing any member of the Shohoku team. HanaFujii scenes coming!
Mitchy – Yeah, Haruko can get mad. As for Rukawa, boy I wouldn't want to be in his shoes ahahaha!
Ms Ruzo – Thanks! I myself get the feeling that I have exaggerated his 'coldness' just so he won't be OOC but since this fic is about how the SD characters would evolve, we shall see how he would transform. So actually more developments would come up.
maggio – Uhm... we shall see *wicked grin*
libra_gal – Congrats on finally getting an account. Glad you liked the entrance of Sendoh. *smile*
Jaja – Gee... thanks! I always thought you write better than me. I'm not so good in descriptions and story telling.
mskitsune – Haha! Here it is!
Eliar Swiftfire – Thanks a lot! I made some editing to reflect some of your suggestions.
bhuy - Very grateful for your review. As for Rukawa, all he needs is a good chance and some understanding. Hey, nobody can escape change. Even Anzai-sensei and Mitsui's change of attitudes were shown in the anime. Hmm... another one who is interested in HanaFujii love angle eh?
miracle - Ok, Ok I got your message... heheh...Hey, don't do that! You don't wanna lose your hair, do you?
Rokawa - Heheh *grin*
Kuroi Neko-kun – Haha! We shall see. *wink*
*******
Chapter 6: The Do'aho And The Kitsune
Rukawa heard someone unlock the door and thought that it was Mizusawa. The assistant team manager told him that he would fetch him and take him home the next day. The door opened but instead of seeing his kohai, what he saw was a red-topped head wearing a silly grin on its face.
Rukawa groaned. Oh, glorious day!
As far as he is concerned, there are only two things that would bring the do'aho there. It's either to mock him for the loss of the team or to punch him for being rude to Haruko.
"Oi, kitsune, you're still a weakling, as usual!" Sakuragi blurted out what he think was a greeting worthy to give to Rukawa.
"Get on with it, do'aho," Rukawa uttered, irritated.
"Nani?"
Rukawa set his injured foot on the floor to see if it would hurt. "Whatever it is that brought you here, get on with it."
Feeling that Rukawa doesn't appreciate his presence, Sakuragi blurted out, "Teme kitsune! Do you want me to break your other leg as well?"
"I don't need you to visit me," Rukawa stoically declared as he is convinced that the redhead was not there to pay him a visit. There must be something that brought him there.
"Who said about visiting you?" Sakuragi crossed his arms in front of him. "Hmph. No wonder Haruko-chan didn't come to see you, she must have realized that you're just a waste of time. For your information, I came here to fetch you."
Rukawa raised an eyebrow. Sakuragi? Fetch him? Will wonders ever cease? "I don't need you to fetch me, do'aho."
"Yeah, yeah… whatever. If you think you can go home alone, fine. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Mizusawa wouldn't come, that's why I'm here."
Rukawa stared at the redhead and looked for any possible ulterior motive behind the act. What's even more remarkable was that the redhead never mentioned anything about the loss. Ever since he knew Sakuragi, the guy would never pass any opportunity to bash or annoy him, which is why they always end up bickering.
"Kitsune, I never liked you." The redhead nonchalantly said, his eyes turning into slits towards the man in front of him. "So don't think I am doing this for you. I'm just doing this for the team, because unlike you, I care for the team. Because no matter how lousy you are, sad to say, you are still a member of the team."
Haruko pressed the rewind button once again. The Shohoku-Miuradai game clearly showed their weaknesses. They lack training, no doubt about that. But what's glaring and disturbing is the fact that they have a very weak bench. It has always been that way. It struck her that they cannot be selective in training. Everyone, down to the member least likely to be sent to the court should be trained so that if one or two starting players got injured or fouled out, the replacements should be able to do the job as well. They cannot afford to play bad just because they are missing one player.
A lot of things entered her mind. A lot of could-have-beens. If only things have been different. If only Anzai-sensei can still be active enough to train players just like what he did to Sakuragi during their first year. If only every member of the team could be given special trainings. And if only Rukawa would communicate and have more concern for the development of his teammates.
Fat chance, Haruko. Give it up.
Then again, now is not the time for regrets and feelings of helplessness won't solve anything. At the height of her rage, she actually contemplated on quitting her post as team manageress. But aside from the fact that that would be childish, her love for basketball prevailed. She decided that she would help the team no matter what. Rukawa may not need her but she would be there and she would not let her rift with Rukawa affect the team.
Tired from watching the tape, she lied down on her bed and started thinking about her brother's dream. And now it is a dream that is shared by all of Shohoku basketball club members.
To be the best in Japan.
Just like her brother, she envisions it every night. In her mind, she imagines the Shohoku team members rejoicing and shouting for joy because they have proven themselves worthy to be called the best in Japan.
To her, nothing and no one can ever stop that.
Not even Rukawa Kaede.
"Get your hands off me, do'aho. You might contaminate me with your germs." Rukawa shook Sakuragi's hand. The team captain is trying to prove that he can walk without any help from him.
Sakuragi tried very hard not to punch the wobbling man beside him as he tried to assist him to get into the taxi. Even he is amazed at his self-restraint. If this has happened two years ago, Rukawa would already be sprawling on the sidewalk.
Your temper, Hanamichi, your temper. Just remember, this is for the team.
He took a deep breath to calm himself. After he has cooled off, Sakuragi shook his head exasperatedly. "Ai, I don't even know what Haruko sees in you! You are so rude! Are you going to die if you show kindness to people around you? It's a good thing she has given up on you! You never notice her, anyway."
Rukawa's facade didn't show anything but what the redhead had said struck him. So it is true. The motormouth just spilled the beans. The team manageress had a thing for him but he was just too blind to see. How could he have missed it? The signs were there, the way she would stutter and blush when she would talk to him, the way she would look at him and compliment him for a good game. How could he be so slow? But then, he's never been an expert in reading into those things.
He was completely clueless about it but now the pieces are falling into place. The puzzle is almost complete and the reason why the do'aho always starts a quarrel with him for no apparent reason has clearly emerged.
So Haruko had given up on him. Since when? And since when did she start to like him? Are Haruko and the do'aho an item? Could it be the reason why the redhead is trying to be nice to him all of a sudden? Because he no longer sees him as a threat? Then again, he seriously doubted if Sakuragi would settle to be a second choice so wrote that thought off.
The very concept of 'giving up' makes him sick. How could someone just give up? That he couldn't understand because once he set his mind on something, never once would he entertain thoughts of giving up, so how on earth could she just give up on him? Somehow that news is not very refreshing. In fact, he finds it very insulting. Is he really that bad that she would just give up on him? Is he really that worthless, so much so that he is not worth fighting for? So many questions inside his head and yet he doesn't know where to get the answers.
"Oi! Oi, kitsune! We're at your house now! What are you thinking?"
"None of your business, do'aho."
"Fujii-chan! What are you doing here alone?"
Fujii heard a voice call out her name that made her heart beat a little faster than usual. She looked up from writing on her notes and saw the smiling face of Sakuragi beaming down on her. Out of a mixture of excitement and nervousness, she suddenly stood up thereby knocking down all her books that were lying on her lap.
A question mark appeared on top of Sakuragi's head, as he couldn't understand if Fujii is scared of him or something. Furthermore, he noticed that she looked like she doesn't know if she would greet him first or would pick up the books first.
"Sa-Sakuragi-kun!" Fujii greeted him, slightly bowing her head down.
The redhead hastily helped her in picking up her books and notes.
"Where's Haruko-chan and
Matsui-chan? How come you are alone?"
"Er…. Haruko is at the library. Matsui and I agreed to meet here."
How come she looks so scared every time I greet her? Am I really that scary?
Could it be my hair and my reputation?
Hands on his pockets, he bent slightly to the nervous girl in front of him. "I see…. Hey, Fujii-chan?"
"Y-Yes, Sakuragi-kun?"
Sakuragi eyed Fujii closely. Unknown to him it only made Fujii more nervous. "I was just wondering…. Are you scared of me?"
Fujii swallowed hard and stiffly shook her head. The fact that Sakuragi's face was just a foot away from her doesn't help.
The redhead didn't find her reaction too convincing but he gave her the benefit of the doubt.
"Well, I really hope you're not. I am not that bad, you know. I am a tensai, after all!" He then stood to his full height and wore a big grin. "Okay then, I'll be looking out for the four bakas. I know they are just here somewhere. Have you, by any chance, seen them, Fujii-chan?"
Fujii shook her head. "N-No, Sakuragi-kun."
"Very well then, I'll see you around!" He waved to her as he marched out of the room still grinning, oblivious to the fact that the girl he just left slumped back on the chair while trying to calm herself down.
She's cute.
I wonder why I never noticed her before.
"Oi, Hanamichi!" He heard Yohei Mito, his bestfriend call out to him. "What's with the grin?"
"Grin? What grin?"
"Konnichiwa, minna!" Haruko cheerfully greeted the freshmen cleaning and mopping the court.
"Konnichiwa, Haruko-sempai!"
"You still don't have your glasses, Morita-kun?"
"I'm wearing contacts now, Haruko-sempai."
"Really? That's good then!"
"Nyahahahah!" Sakuragi came marching out of nowhere and started slapping the back of the frail freshman. "You're a megane no longer! What shall I call you then? Hmm…since you are skinny…."
Haruko glared at her friend. "Sakuragi-kun…"
"Um… what I'm trying to say is that since you are skinny, maybe we should do something with your muscles…. Heheh… Yes, that's it! Why not join me and my friends?" The redhead said.
"Err…." Morita turned red at the mention of his skinny figure.
"Erm…Sakuragi-kun…." Haruko dragged her friend away from the freshman. "No street-fighting, ok?" She waved a finger at him.
"Haruko-chan, you know I won't put the team into trouble. I will help him build his body! We will work out or something." He proudly pounded on his chest.
From the corner of her eye, Haruko saw Rukawa came in. At that very instant, she felt her blood pressure rose up but controlled herself for fear that Sakuragi would notice.
Haruko was busy assessing each player on the court. She's been wracking her brains out on what to do so they could improve. Knowing Rukawa, Haruko knew that nothing would happen if she would not do anything. Though her eyes were directed to the players, she could see Rukawa walking towards her.
Speaking of the devil.
Rukawa sat down beside her. It was an act that surprised her but she never showed any sign that she knew he was there.
"Oi."
Haruko pretended she didn't hear anything and just continued monitoring the progress of each player and taking down notes. As far as she is concerned, Rukawa just keeps on accumulating misdemeanor points. The last time she checked, she has a name and her name is Haruko, not Oi.
She stood up and walked towards Mizusawa.
Nice try, Rukawa-kun. If you want to speak to me it would have to be on my terms.