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 8 Wedding Bells and Promises

"You may now kiss the bride."

Yatsura Toshi looked down on his beautiful wife Mizu, and kissed her on the lips with fervent love nobody knew its depths. The guests applauded as the wedding ceremony ended. Among the people there in that church, nobody was as relieved as Mitsui Hisashi was. Maybe he was the only one relieved among those who witnessed the marriage.

As if torturing him, the wedding ceremony carried on rather slowly. It was as if his vision was set for slow motion that time of the day. What was supposed to be an hour or so of vows and rituals appeared to be eternity for the just-dragged-in-to-this-without-my-consent best man. When the priest finally said those final words, Mitsui felt that he was finally free from very heavy chains that confined him. He thought that he was finally done with everything he so unwillingly agreed to participate in. But he didn't mind seeing the two get married. It was sort of a privilege.

Like a hypocrite, he enthusiastically waved when the couple boarded their bridal car and sped off towards Mitsui did not care. The guests scattered and left for their own cars. Mitsui did the same.

He was about to drive off when Hiro tapped his window. He lowered it down and looked at the boy, perplexed.

"Nani?" He asked.

"Can I go with you?" Hiro asked. Without warning, he opened the car door and entered. "I need to talk to you in private."

Annoyed, but considerate, Mitusi relented to his wishes. He drove off, away from the church, and away from the awful memories he had in there.

They rode on for a short, silent moment when Hiro began to hum a soft tune. Mitsui stole a sideward glance at the boy.

"What is it that you wanted to talk with me?" He asked, bringing up the unnamed topic.

The boy kept on humming which annoyed him. The prolonged silence made him stare longer at the boy and study him for a few seconds. The boy looked somber and serious, as was always his expression. His dark brown hair was gelled in a style that was not common to the male population of Japan. He was donning on, like Mitsui was, a navy blue suit with a deep red necktie. He still looked pale and thin, but he seemed lively nonetheless.

Mitsui can't help but feel sorry for the boy. Hiro was showing a toughie kind of attitude to people. But deep inside, Mitsui knew that he was dying. Time alone could tell when he would depart this world for the other realm, and as the clock ticked, who knows when it will come.

The boy cleared his throat, releasing Mitsui from his momentary lapse into his thought world. He stared ahead of him but the older guy knew that he was about to let it out.

"I know that it's already too much to ask of you," Hiro finally launched on his delayed talk, "but I can't find anybody else trustworthy enough to do this for me."

He paused, unable to carry on. Mitsui looked worriedly at the boy, his attention seeing the emotions in those dark brown eyes. Hiro was fighting an inner struggle and nobody knew what or why he was struggling.

"Please take care of Kyori when I die," he pleaded.

He finally looked at the driver of the car, beseeching him to accept his request.

Mitsui, with eyes almost as wide as saucers, stared at the road in utter disbelief. He said it almost unexpectedly, and it took Mitsui quite some time to recover.

"I know I'll be a goner soon," Hiro continued, still in that beseeching tone, carrying on as if driven by an unidentified force within. "So I thought it best that I find somebody who will look after her when that time comes. Kenji is not here, Toshi-nii will be busy to make a family, and dad and Kashime will be leaving for Paris soon. I can't bear the fact that I'll leave her behind when she least expects it. Someone has to be there for her.

"I'm asking you, kantoku. Please be that someone for me. Be that man."

The boy's wish was too hard to carry. Mitsui realized the depth then and there. He knew it was a great task and it required great trust. People that Hiro trusted were about to go in their separate ways and nobody will be left behind just to look after his "mother". Mitsui felt really touched when the kid told him that he was trustworthy, but the job was just too hard. He wasn't so sure of himself if he could actually fulfill the task.

But though he tried to resist, the boy had a stronger will compared to his. It bended his will, and in the end Mitsui resolve to help the boy just for the sake of making him happy before he died.

"Since I'm really fond of you and because you have that much power over me," Mitsui replied, "I'll be that man. I promise to look after your sister, and I'll do almost anything for her."

Hiro's eyes lit up. Nobody in the world could show gratitude the way the boy was showing it. It was full of sincerity and relief. It gave the impression of being tranquil and heart warming that Mitsui secretly kept a memory of that scene in his heart for he knew that he would never ever forget it.

"Domo arigatou gozaimasu, kantoku!"

Mitsui just smiled in return, satisfied that the boy was happy. Just that sweet 'thank you' was enough for him.

He was about to make a left turn at the intersection they were on when Hiro bolted up.

"Where are you going?" He demanded.

"Home." The older man replied as if ridiculed by the question.

"But you can't!"

"Why not?"

A slow realization dawned on him. He groaned inwardly. In horror, Mitsui felt the heavy chains confine him again as Hiro informed him that he still had a reception to attend and a nasty speech to deliver.

To be continued

Author's Notes: The first and last parts were just too comical, right??? I mean you'll never see Mitsui portrayed that way… I hope… Sorry if anybody were offended or sort of felt like that, but I had to do it that way as to make up for the seriousness of the middle part. How was it? Kinda weird??? Tell me about it… my brother interrupted me while I was typing this, so by the time I got back to it I lost my "adrenaline"… onii-chan no yanayatsu! (Big brother, you jerk!) heheheh… I just hope that this chapter is as good as it should have turned out.

By the way… for all those who sent in reviews for my work… arigatou… I truly appreciate it. Nobody will ever know how much those healthy and inspiring reviews means to me… honto ni arigatou…