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 9

He was sweating. He could actually feel those salty beads trickle down his temples. Even if he wiped it away, it just kept coming back. His hands were trembling terribly, and everytime he took a bite of that delicious steak, he could see his hands shake. He kept silent the whole time he ate at the grand presidential table. His heart was pounding so fast that it was all he could think of besides eating. He tried to take deep breaths in hopes of calming down, but to no avail.

As far as his memory served him right, he never felt this nervous his whole life, not even during his basketball games back in his good old high school days. Trying to shake the thought of having to deliver a speech out of his mind, he continued to eat, and eat, and eat, until his stomach couldn't take the food he swallowed in its small room anymore.

Kyori, one of the bridesmaids who sat beside him, stared at him, troubled. She tapped him at the shoulder and contorted her face to show concern.

"Daijobu, Mitsui-san?" She asked in an audible whisper.

Mitsui nodded fervently. "I am." He took a few deep breaths just to calm his still fast-pounding heart. "I am." He looked at the podium in apprehension, and sighed inwardly.

Kyori noticed the look he gave the podium, and smiled at him. "Don't worry," she said reassuringly. "It won't be hard. Just say what's in your heart and you'll do alright."

Mitsui smiled, still uneasy with everything that is about to happen. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

~@~@~

"Ladies and gentlemen," the emcee began. "We will now hear from the best man, Mitsui Hisashi!"

The dreaded moment finally came, and Mitsui trudged slowly towards the podium to deliver his best man speech. He felt every eye in that reception hall focusing on him. Suddenly self-conscious, Mitsui felt himself blush as he heard some of the comments aired as a supposed whisper.

"He's cute!"

"What's his name again?"

"Mitsu-something."

"Gosh! He's so cool looking."

"Who is he?"

He reached the podium, still pink in embarrassment. With trembling hands, he adjusted the microphone. He cleared his throat, which suddenly felt restricted, and tried to get his voice out as not to prolong his agony.

"G-Good evening," he began, stammering. "I-I am Mitsui His-sashi, and I'm the best man."

He stopped, not knowing what to say next. He panned his eyes across the whole hall, and when he learned that he had everybody's undivided attention, he felt his heart pound faster than before. He gave of a very nervous laugh in fright.

"I'm kind of nervous right now," he admitted. The guests laughed at this, and it made Mitsui laugh a little bit more. This time, it was of mirth. "But, to be quite honest, I've never done this kind of thing before; talking in front of people I don't even know. It's kind of a shock, really, to be doing this right now.

"The truth is, I'm not really the best man, as many of you know. But, I was asked to replace the best man, Fujima Kenji, at the last moment, so I felt like I was swept away without my consent."

By this time, he felt numb. His voice and thoughts kept on running, surprising himself, as he continued to talk.

"I met Toshi and Mizu just a week or so ago. I'm Hiro's coach at the basketball training camp, and that was how I met them. My first impression on these two was… 'They look romantic'. I could really sense that these two individuals really love each other so much.

"I know how it is like loving somebody that way. I've been in a serious relationship not long ago. It ended with some misunderstanding, but it was one relationship with many ups, so I am proud to say that I was in it even though it didn't last.

"But I don't think that will happen to them. That would be hard to imagine, because Toshi seems like a really nice man, hard working and responsible, the type of person who prioritizes others before him. Mizu, on the other hand, really looks devoted to Toshi, and she looks like she will give up everything just for her husband. For me, there is no other couple that could match the way these two love each other. I would not have them, and their relationship for that matter, in any other way.

"To Toshi and Mizu, good luck! I hope that this life will be easy on the both of you. Raise good kids, and let them be like you. You two are great people, and I hope to know you more. Congratulations!"

The guests applauded. He nodded his head in acknowledgement. He took one deep breath and he let it out with one big sigh.

He never felt so much better in his life. The chains that confined him earlier set him free for good. In some part of his mind, he felt so relieved that everything he was tasked to do that day was already done. In the other part, he felt so proud of himself because he accomplished something he didn't think he could ever do.

He walked towards his chair in a very cheeky manner, smiling sheepishly.

"HIRO!"

He looked at the direction of that scream – the presidential table. Without thinking, he feet started to move, taking him as fast as it could towards the source.

Kyori was sitting on the floor beside the sprawled body of Hiro. She was shaking him and crying out his name repeatedly.

"Hiro! Hiro! Wake up! Hiro!"

But the boy just lay on the floor, unconscious and oblivious to everything that was happening around him.

~@~@~

They were all in front of the emergency operating room, waiting impatiently for results. Toshi was leaning on the wall. Mizu sat in front of him, holding his hand in a comforting manner. Kashime sat beside Mizu, holding her twin's hand. Kyori sat beside her twin sister, and leaned on her father's shoulder. Mr. Yatsura placed his arm around his daughter's shoulders, supporting her. Mitsui, the last member of the group, was leaning on the wall.

All of them were grim, and nobody in that group exchanged or even uttered a single word, let alone breathed audibly. It was so uncomfortable that Mitsui felt his ears almost becoming deaf, but he feared that if he spoke, he will destroy the only thing that kept them hoping and clinging on that very thin possibility. It was that silence that prevented them from saying something that could break their hearts into very tiny pieces.

The door opened. All heads turned to watch as the doctor went out of the room, removing his surgical mask. His faced look somber, his face not showing any signs or clues as to what the result is.

All of them held their breaths, anticipating what the doctor was about to say. Mitsui laid his gaze on the doctor, and he noticed that his eyes were leaking with the inevitable truth. The coach sighed in defeat.

"We tried everything we could, but I'm afraid he was beyond our reach. We're terribly sorry."

To be continued

Author's Notes: well, there you have it… the ninth chapter of I Wanna Be Your Angel… how was it??? Well… Hiro will eventually die, right??? What better timing that now??? Hehehe… At long last, I reached that part… just for the record, this is the second version of I Wanna Be Your Angel… and I only reached the part when Mitsui was introduced to Kashime… hehehe… I got so far now!!! Yeah!!! Hehehe