Disclaimer: I don't own Slam Dunk.
A/n: Thank You to those who reviewed the last chapter.
Maybe I Care TooChapter II Things Better Left Unsaid
Raye shifted her weight nervously from left to right as Haruko dragged her to meet the team while the practices were ongoing.
"Guys! I want you to meet Raye Yuuki!" Haruko chirped. They all formed a straight line to meet her. "Raye, I want you to meet the best players in Japan, My brother, Akagi Takenori, Mitsui, Ryota, Kogure, you know Sakuragi and Rukawa." Haruko said Rukawa's name breathless and she continued on to the rest of the team. "Yasuda, Kakuta, Ishii, Sasaoka and Kuwata." Haruko continued.
"Nice to meet you." Raye spoke her eyes meeting everyone's and last on Rukawa. Raye tensed and was hurt at what she seen as she looked at him. Nothing. The same beautiful blue eyes, hard, cold and emotionless as usual. There was a sense of boredom and challenge as well as his eyes met hers that Raye could break down and cry. "When did he start to treat her so cruelly?" Raye thought wretchedly.
After practices, while the guys were all in the locker room, Haruko and Raye were talking to each other at a bench located near the exit.
"Um, Raye-chan? Why are you looking over your shoulder every second or so?" Haruko asked curiously.
"I am?" Raye spoke startled just realizing what she was doing. "Habit I guess." She gave an indifferent shrug.
"Oh." Haruko nodded, she checked her bag and gave a small gasp. "Oh no! I forgot my notebook at my table!" Haruko exclaimed. "All my homeworks are written there. Can you wait for me while I get it?" Haruko asked rushed.
Raye just nodded mutely. Just as soon as Haruko left, Rukawa emerged from the locker room. Raye was drawn to him, her gave flitted over to Rukawa and had an overwhelming urge to sigh and run to his arms. Rukawa was ignoring her, her eyes were watery and her heart was breaking onto pieces all over again.
As he passed her on the way to the door, Raye tried once again, even for just one last time.
"Kaede-chan." Raye whispered softly. She expected him to get going as though he heard nothing but instead he stopped.
"What are you doing here?" Rukawa spoke coldly; speaking to her but was staring at the door.
"I came to see you." Raye murmured with pain in her voice.
"Well, I don't want to see you." Rukawa replied harshly. "You will only distract me."
"But…" Raye protested.
"You were the one who left me." Rukawa silenced her.
"But…" She protested again only to see Rukawa heading to the door, after hurting her a thousand times more with his cruel words.
Raye's lips trembled as the gym doors banged shut. Just before the tears started spilling, Sakuragi's loud voice echoed through the nearly empty gym. At the same moment, Haruko rushed back in.
'YO! Raye!" Sakuragi shouted slinging an arm around her shoulders. Meanwhile, the others were hoarding her introducing themselves profusely, asking where she lives, her phone number, favorite foods, if she would go out with them on a date, her favorite color…etc.
Raye was taken aback and distracted. "That's really nice of you all but, Um, I need to go home right away, and my mother needs me to help with the unpacking." Raye explained, fighting back the hurt still in her chest. She gave a small wave and ran hastily away.
***
"Raye-chan is very pretty and nice don't you think?" Haruko asked her voice musical to Sakuragi's ears.
"Hohohoho!!! No one is as beautiful as you Haruko-chan." Sakuragi spoke in aloud voice while blushing.
"Sakuragi-kun! You're so sweet!" Haruko spoke with a big smile.
"That I am. That I am. For I am tensai!" Sakuragi spoke proudly.
They were walking home, as Sakuragi was gallant enough to escort Haruko. They were passing the neighborhood where Raye lives when they saw a figure slumped up near a tree. Her knees were wobbly and she was panting hard…
"Oh my god! Raye-chan!" Haruko exclaimed before rushing to her new friend. A stricken look replaced Sakuragi's laughing face moments ago as he helped his best friend up.
"Raye what happened?" Sakuragi demanded.
"I…I just got dizzy and my chest seemed to hurt." Raye whispered tears on her eyes as she struggled with the pain. "My house is just near here, I just need to drink some medicine."
***
At Raye's house, Raye was lying on the sofa her eyes still pale though some colors were returning. Her breathing was normal again and Sakuragi and Haruko hovered above her concerned.
"I'm okay now. You can go." Raye spoke trying to stand up.
"Are you sure?" Haruko asked with worry. Raye nodded.
"Nonsense! I'm staying here." Sakuragi declared loudly.
"I'll stay for a few minutes too." Haruko added sitting down again.
30 minutes later, Haruko had gone home fetched by Akagi leaving Sakuragi and Raye alone.
"Are you sure you don't want to go home yet?" Raye asked as she went to the kitchen now strong enough to walk again.
"I'll just wait till your mother comes and I'll go." Sakuragi promised.
"How have you been Hanamichi?" Raye asked with a slight smile.
"Good, good better than ever! I'm a good boy now." Sakuragi said proudly while laughing.
"No more fights?" Raye asked eyes narrowed.
"None! I'm good now." Sakuragi spoke in a haughty tone.
Raye laughed when she felt the pain again. Her eyes momentarily widened and she made a gasp.
"Raye! Are you okay?" Sakuragi asked leaning over her.
"I'm fine." Raye spoke in gritted teeth. The door slammed opened and Raye's mother enters. "Raye! Are you okay? Should we go to the hospital?" Her mother, Rika asked worriedly. Raye shook her head.
"Well, Hanamichi. You can go now." Raye spoke giving him a hug getting up.
Sakuragi nodded dumbly as he watched her go upstairs. He heard her mother sigh.
"Is there something wrong with Raye maam?" Sakuragi asked trying to be as polite as possible.
"Please call me Rika." Mrs. Yuuki spoke dismissing formalities and giving him a warm smile. "You're Rukawa?" Mrs. Yuuki asked.
Sakuragi choked. "No, I'm Hanamichi!" He said with a laugh.
"Oh, my mistake. I'm not familiar with my girl's friends only their names." Mrs. Yuuki spoke apologetically. "I remember you now. How's your mother?" Mrs. Yuuki asked sitting on the sofa and urging him to do the same.
"Fine. She's fine. I didn't know you were going to move here." Sakuragi said curiously.
"It was an abrupt decision that Raye thought up. I just want my little girl to be happy." Mrs. Yuuki spoke with a sigh.
"Is there something wrong with Raye?" Sakuragi asked slowly.
Mrs. Yuuki looked at him with sadness and unshed tears. "Raye is sick Hanamichi. Very sick." Mrs. Yuuki spoke softly staring at her hands.
A/n: This is going to be a Rukawa/Raye or maybe a triangle between Hanamichi. Please review and please no flames. Can anyone suggest a good sickness befitting in the story?
Summary: Sakuragi stops a depressed girl from committing suicide and recognizes her as her long-ago friend in the neighborhood where he used to live. He remembers the time when she believed in him and in return he will try to help her solve her numerous problems especially with a certain blue-eyed fox, even if it kills him, but what happens when one of her problems are incurable?