Popsicles
(Series Two out of Four.)
Pairing: Rukawa X OC (Shinya Hiiragashi)
Genre: Romance; Life
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk belongs to Dr T. Damned lucky guy.
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[Author's note: I seemed to take a long, long, time to update this. The next chapter will be up next year. Kidding.
Mush alert! Si En, you've been warned not to read this. :)
Oh… and I apologize to everyone who's been anticipating the update, and for any grammatical errors found in the story. I've done my best to edit it.)
Chapter Four
Shinya smoothed her hands over her long hair. She had kept it long for many years and only trimmed it occasionally to prevent the ends from splitting. Rukawa had loved to touch her hair and commented about the aroma of jasmines in her hair. She did not know why the scent was there, since she did not use jasmine-scented shampoo, but decided that it wasn't too bad to have hair smelling like sweet jasmine flowers. However, these days, she found herself doing quite a lot of housework, and the hair was giving her many problems. She didn't have a lot of time to wash her hair and dry it nowadays.
"I'd like to have it cut this way, and this, yes, thank you," She told the hairdresser, gesturing over her hair to indicate the way she'd like it styled.
"Are you sure you want to cut it that short?" The kindly middle-aged lady sighed, "Beautiful hair like this is hard to come by, you know, long, silky, and straight,"
She smiled at the compliment, "My hubby tells me that too, but I can't have the hair falling across my face each time I want to scrub the floors, and I'm starting to discover strands of hair in our dinner," Shinya made a face.
"Oh, well, it's too bad, my dear," The hairdresser went about working on the long tresses of hair, which fell to the ground gradually.
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Rukawa stared at his wife, his expression unfathomable, "You cut your hair," He said simply.
('Damn it, why did you cut your hair?')
"Yeah…it was too much of a trouble to keep long hair when I'm a housewife," Shinya put her arms around her husband affectionately, "Have you been a good boy today?"
"Yes, the CEO said I might expect to get a promotion at the end of the month," He looked into his wife's eyes.
"Goooood boy," She gave him a smack on the cheek, "I made dinner, come along,"
"I'll take a shower first," He ruffled her hair, now short and trimmed.
"Okay,"
Rukawa made his way into his study and put down his briefcase. His view fell on the photograph of him with Shinya. She still had her long hair then, and it was tied up neatly, with tresses falling across her shoulders and down to her waist. She looked delicately beautiful. Now…he recalled how she looked like with her hair trimmed so short. She didn't look that fragile and delicate anymore, but Rukawa thought with a small smile, she was never fragile. The short hair framing her heart-shaped face made her look just like what she was supposed to be.
He pulled off his tie, walking into the room across, his bedroom. Ichiro was sleeping quietly in his cot, a thumb in his mouth. Rukawa felt his heart melting at the sight of his adorable son. The other day he had met his old friends. Sendoh had a daughter, while Sakuragi, Kiyota and Kogure were all engaged and they planned to push Maki into an engagement so that the four of them could hold a joint wedding. His friends said that he looked very different from what he looked like years before he got married. His eyes were no longer cold and hard, but gentle and sparkled with a love for his family. He spoke more too, mainly about his beloved wife and son. There was more humour and fun in him too, as he would smile at some of the jokes cracked.
No longer the aloof, stuck up rich boy that everyone found awkward to be with, but a loving husband and father.
Ichiro whimpered quietly in his sleep. Rukawa smiled, taking his shirt off and grabbing a towel from the clothes hanger by the window.
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Shinya was definitely working too hard, Rukawa noted with a pang of guilt. He was hardly home from work, and she had done everything on her own. He decided that he would give her a break.
"But what about Ichi?" Shinya protested.
"We'll send him to my mother's place, or yours."
"My mother, then, she had five children, she'd know just what to do with a baby, but I don't…"
"Shin-chan, you need a break," He insisted gently.
"Okay…"
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On Sunday, they took Ichiro to the Hiiragashi residence.
"Aiyeeeeeee~ He's my nephew?" Shinya's younger sister Meiko cooed loudly.
"Yes he is, don't sound so horrified," Shinya rolled her eyes, patting her son, who was looking with bewilderment at his aunt who was fussing over him enthusiastically.
"Who said I'm horrified? He's so kawaii!!!!!" Meiko took Ichiro from his mother's hands, "Come, let me see you, big boy, haven't seen you since your first month,"
The three-month-old kid just stared with his big blue eyes.
"He behaves just like his dad!" Meiko giggled.
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" Rukawa came through the door.
"Hi Rukawa! Your son is just like you!" The youngest brother, Hikaru, grinned at his brother-in-law.
"Aye, thank you," Rukawa nodded.
Meanwhile, Shinya was telling her mother about what Ichiro needed.
"He must have his milk at noon, 3.30pm, and 5pm, I'll come and fetch him at 6pm," She explained tensely, "He likes his milk warm, Mum, and…"
"Calm down, Shin-chan, it's not like you are going to be away for a month!" Mrs Hiiragashi laughed, "I'll take very good care of my grandson, and I won't let the servants touch him," She assured her daughter.
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The couple sat on the four-seater swing together. Shinya rested her head on Rukawa's shoulder. Both of them looked wistfully out into the distance. The autumn winds blowing softly across the shady park.
"It's been a long time since we had a date," Shinya remarked.
"Yeah,"
"Kaede,"
"Hm?"
"Have I told you that I love you very much?"
"No," Rukawa looked solemn, "And I'm not happy,"
"Sorry, darling," She kissed his cheek, "I love you,"
"…That's all?" He raised his eyebrow. Shinya sighed resignedly.
"All right, I love you a lot, very, very much. I can't believe I haven't told you that even though we were married for more than a year,"
"Naughty girl," He ruffled her hair.
"Kaede?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you love me?"
"…Yes. Very, very much,"
Both of them remained silent, enjoying each other's presence quietly. The sun faded gently over the horizon, and the leaves rustled in the wind.
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