Disclaimers: I do not own Slam Dunk and its characters. However, some of the characters in this wonderful work of fiction belong to me.
Author's Notes: This fic is set after 5 years from the original series.

Dedication: This one's for Kyo-chan

I Wanna Be Your Angel

By: nagi_silvermoon

Chapter 2

"We'll go ahead, Mitsui," Kogure said. He looked at the sullen man with concern in his eyes. "Akagi and I still have to drop by the restaurant and some of our suppliers."

Mitsui, who was busy staring into space and feeling sorry for his self, just gave a brief nod.

"Ja," Akagi said, patting his shoulder as a means of comforting him. "Don't do anything rash."

Mitsui looked at him as if to retort but he thought better of it and left many rejoinders unsaid. Instead, he just grunted and watched as his two friends left the hospital. After a long moment of staring at the elevator doors, he went to the vendo machine, bought a soda, and went to the walked towards Hiro's room. After knocking thrice he entered.

Hiro was already wide-awake though he still looked sleepy. He was looking outside the window where the sun was already setting. The sky was red-orange and Mitsui felt uncomfortable just by looking at it. He avoided it and sat with his back against it. Hiro was staring at him and he returned it with a sad one.

The boy continued to stare at him before he finally spoke. "You know, I've been having thoughts about me dying recently. Sometimes, it didn't end there. I could even feel it. Isn't it funny that my thoughts and feelings are becoming true?"

"Ironic realization for a boy of ten whose supposed to…" Mitsui stopped, unable to say the word. He wanted to attempt humor with the boy, even a dry one. But his voice gave off a hint of bitterness in it and this brought out how he felt. Then, he asked the boy one of the questions that started plaguing his thoughts since that afternoon. "Aren't you scared? I mean, you're taking everything easily for somebody who's supposed to…"

Hiro smiled wanly at him and breathed slowly. "To tell you the truth, kantoku, I'm very, very much afraid. I just wanted to take the fear away." He closed his eyes and he suddenly became wistful. "If my thoughts continued to dwell on it I think I'll be more afraid.

"I've read stories about this kind of things. People try to be brave when they know that they are about to die. They talk to people as if they are fine and nothing bad is happening. But when they are alone, they cry their hearts out saying that they're not fine at all. It's a bit hypocritical and absurd when you think about it but when you suddenly fall into their situation, what seemed like fiction becomes reality and your world will turn upside-down."

Mitsui was speechless. He gaped at Hiro with admiration and respect because of the wisdom the boy thirteen years younger than him had shared. "I never dreamed that coming from you," he finally said after regaining his speech.

"I just have one favor from you, kantoku. You can tell anybody about this, but please, not to my sister."

~@~@~

Mitsui went home that night in a very pensive mood. He plopped down on his usual seat at their bar-like dining table and tried to get some decent meal. But his friends were looking at him and it was making him uneasy. Miyagi, who sat across him, was throwing quick glances at him as if provoking him to speak. Rukawa, who sat beside him, had his head down but Mitsui was sure that he was looking at the corner of his eyes. Ayako, Haruko and Sakuragi, their usual visitors, ate quietly but were also giving him looks.

Surprisingly, it was Rukawa who threw the "How is he?" at him. Mitsui dropped his chopsticks on the table and, sighed.

"Acute leukemia," he replied. "The doctors will try to save him but if he's beyond their reach, he'll have a month or so left…"

Ayako gasped and clasped her mouth with her hand to stifle a sob. Haruko did the same but her sob wasn't stifled. The three gentlemen just stared at him in disbelief.

Miyagi shook his head. "But I thought it was anorexia?"

"That's what the doctors thought, too. But it was actually leukemia."

"Then Yatsu will…" Sakuragi left it hanging.

"Die." Rukawa finished it for him, staring at the table.

Mitsui smiled at them sadly and sighed. "But you know what? He's very brave about it, for a young boy."

~@~@~

It was a beautiful Saturday morning but Mitsui woke up with a start, perspiring and breathing heavily. He wiped his forehead and neck with the back of his neck and squinted as he tried to adjust his eyes to the light of the glaring sun.

He was having a dream. And it was very unpleasant. As far as he could remember, he was in a vast dark space and he couldn't see a thing. But there was someone crying. He was sure about it because that someone was sobbing and crying. At first, it was freaky for Mitsui but as the crying went on, he suddenly felt sorry. The cry was of anguish, of terrible pain and loss. And suddenly, Mitsui had the urge to run towards the weeping person. For some reason, as he ran towards the person, the ground gave way and he was suddenly falling into an eternal abyss with a sound following him saying "Help." That was where he woke up.

Shaking the dream out of his mind, he got out of bed and headed for the showers.

~@~@~

Mitsui promised to visit Hiro that day. The boy pleaded saying that he wanted his company. So, just as he promised, he visited along with Miyagi and Rukawa.

They were about to knock when they suddenly heard voices.

"You're not going out of here until I know what's wrong with you!" A teenager threatened.

"Kyori, don't do that!" It was an older man.

"Kyo-chan! Isn't that a bit rash? The doctor said that he's fine. He just collapsed." An older woman added.

"But I want to know if he really is fine," Kyori replied. "We can't just go and rush to the hospital every time he breaks down."

"I'm fine, onee-chan!" Hiro retorted.

"You can't lie to me Hiro."

A moment of silence came and Mitsui and the other two thought that the worse was already over. Mitsui knocked on the door when it opened and a teenage girl let them in. The three trooped in silently. Hiro squealed with delight because of their arrival and enthusiastically introduced everybody.

"That's my big brother, Toshi-nii, and his fiancée, Mizu-san," he introduced. "That's my sister, Kyori, over there. These are my coaches from the camp," Hiro continued. "Rukawa-kantoku, Miyagi-kantoku and Mitsui-kantoku."

They briefly nodded their heads in acknowledgement. Toshi and Mizu were happy to meet them but Kyori was a bit grumpy so she just turned her back afterwards. But suddenly, she turned around and gasped aloud. Everybody turned to give her puzzled looks. Mitsui eyed her for a few seconds and gasped as well. They were both on the verge of saying something but Kyori's tongue was faster.

"Hey! You still owe me a discman."

To be continued

Author's Notes: small world isn't it? But it's nevertheless cute… right? Right? RIGHT? Say "Yeah."