Date Finished: 16 October 2002

Title: Infinity
Status: 3/? (including Prologue)
Series: Slam Dunk

A/N: Okay, so I'm making some changes in the part-naming. The prologue part becomes Part 1, the Part 1 becomes Part 2, and so now this is Part 3.

Standard Disclaimers Apply.

"Infinity"
by Fall

Part Three: "A second chance for everyone"

It was a nice morning for a walk.

The air was warm and cool on her cheeks as she briskly walked down a familiar path. She could remember taking the same path years ago, along with her friends as they trudged on to school every morning. The light post at the corner served as a reminder that they should take the road to the right, and it was at the very place wherein she and Ana would always drag Kaede awake. Smiling slightly to herself at the memory, Yuki stopped for a moment at the same old post, throwing a minute's glance of longing at the road on the right side. Things change all the time, she muttered to herself.

Having crossed the road safely, she slowed down a little to muse at the new surroundings. She chose to walk over the bridge and observe the passing people down below. It was then that she saw a man walking down below the roadside. The man had long bluish-black hair and possessed the face of someone she thought she knew. For the second time, Yuki stopped in her tracks to stare as the long-haired man shifted his footing slightly and half his face was visible. Without warning, she started to run down and call out to the man. He was Hisashi Mitsui.

***

"What? What do you mean by saying she doesn't know he's going to be at Shohoku High too?" Ana said, trying to control her temper. She was known to be a rather emotional person, therefore, she was prone to angry bursts of flaring temper.

"Anou, she didn't ask me," Sendoh tried to explain himself. His usual smile wasn't visible, as it was momentarily replaced with a confused frown. He was wondering why Ana was getting excited with the information that Yuki didn't know.

"Oh no, I wonder how she'd take it?" Ana wrung both her hands as she worried over her friend's sake. "She'd be surprised, then I know she'd get mad, then she'd wreak havoc!"

Sendoh tried to hide his grin. There *was* a solid ground for Ana's worrying, but then, Sendoh wasn't worried for his sister. He knew that whatever his little sister has taken to doing, she almost always gets mysterious help from anyone. Well, almost, he amended, as he tried to assuage Ana's temper. Right now, he was more into thinking of how time passes slowly. He was all set to fish in the afternoon, and damn, he can't wait.

"Akira Sendoh, if you don't help me with this problem, I *won't* go with you today."

Sendoh blinked. Oh well, he must bend his back to the girl he loves at times ne?

***

"Hisashi-kun!" Yuki breathlessly called out. She couldn't have been more surprised than anyone to see Mistui sporting a hair that long. She knew he came down with an injury years ago and had suddenly quit the basketball team, but Ayako had only told her as far as Mitsui's sudden disappearance.

Mitsui was frozen in his tracks. He'd know that voice anywhere. He didn't want to show himself to Yuki, overwhelmed by a sudden shame. He said gruffly, "I don't know who you're talking about. Now get lost."

But Yuki was determined as she usually can. "I know you're Hisashi Mitsui so turn around."

"I'm not."

"Yes you are!" The girl gave a frustrated groan and grabbed Mitsui by the arm. "And I'm not letting you go until you face me."

"Try me." Mitsui snapped, forcefully pulling his arm away from Yuki's grip. He jammed his hands onto his pockets and walked away from her. He knew she must have been stunned, she wasn't used to him acting like this. But then, he doesn't really care . . . or does he?

"Oi kid, stay away from me if you don't want to get into trouble," Mitsui cocked his head but still refused to show his face to Yuki. He was feeling stupid with this, how come he can't work up the guts to face this girl anyway?

"Hisashi-kun ..." Yuki whispered, aghast at the tone he was using at her. She knew him way back when she was still a little girl. In all those time she'd never encountered a side such as this. She felt like screaming at him and demanding where the hell did the old Hisashi Mistui go, but she held back.

Mitsui heard the sad note in her tone as she whispered his name. Masking a sigh, he spit on the ground and once again turned his back on her. "You're going to be late, kid."

If Yuki hadn't heard the distant sound of a bell being sounded, she wouldn't have believed him. Muttering a silent 'Mitsui no baka', she ran all the way to school, regretting she wasted a lot of her precious time on someone unwilling to converse with her.

***

She was late, and she had no idea what to do with herself. She knew she looked like she came out of a tornado, what with the way she ran the whole distance between the school and the bridge. Stopping at the door of her classroom, she took three steadying breaths and wished with all her might that she wouldn't be reprimanded. It was bad enough to endure the knowledge of entering a classroom full of strangers, and she was sure she didn't need any more bad luck today. Before losing her nerve, she knocked at the door and opened the door slightly.

"Ohayo, sensei. Gomen nasai for being late," Yuki offered to her teacher, who thankfully was smiling at her.

"Ohayo. You must be ah ... "

"Sendoh Yukime desu," Yuki blushed, aware that she had just caught the attention of the other students in the room. She tried not to notice when some people began to whisper comments and kept on looking at her like she was some strange animal.

"Ah yes, we've been wondering if you shall be appearing today. I'm Mr. Shiro Sanche, your homeroom teacher." Mr. Sanche beckoned her to come in. Noticing she looked a little off, he added, "Don't worry, it's only 5 minutes since the bell rang."

Yuki bowed her thanks and avoided looking into the rest of the room. Instead, she concentrated on her teacher. "Let me see ... now where would I sit you?" The teacher looked around and his face lightened. "Oh yes, there. Ms. Sendoh, you might as well sit at the back behind Ms. Mouri."

Before Yuki could look at where the seat was indicated, her teacher suddenly spoke. "What are you doing, Mr. Rukawa?"

Startled, Yuki suddenly moved to face the back of the room. Kaede Rukawa? she thought, scanning the person who was moving his things onto the other table. Suddenly, she didn't know what to do.

"I prefer the farthest seat." With that said, Rukawa plopped down on the seat previously charged to Yuki.

"Oh?" The teacher surveyed Rukawa over his glasses. "Well then, Ms. Sendoh, you may take the sit that Rukawa has left."

Yuki squared her shoulders and went on to claim the seat. She was a little bit nervous, but all suddenly changed when she got the courage to look at Rukawa. He was glaring at her rather strangely, like he was expecting her to explain herself to him. She glared back at Rukawa, not wanting to be outdone. Muttering a formal, "Arigato gozaimasu," she turned her back on him and decided that whether surprised or not, she's not going to forgive him for all that he's done to her.

~* TBC

A/N: Yeah, yeah, so you're wondering if I've seen the whole series. Yes I have, and am perfectly aware that you have to ride the train to reach Ryonan High if you're from Shohoku High (and vice-versa), and that Rukawa's house is far from Sendoh's. Of course, this being my fanfic I have to change some details to fit into the story.

And no, Mistui isn't a bad person. I was just referring to the part where he was still the tough gangster-type boy, lounging around and bullying the weak. As everyone who've seen the series knows, he would change into a much better person later when he gets back into the basketball team. Enough spoilers, ne?

Constructive criticisms and comments are welcome. Arigato Gozaimasu to the nice words I received for this fic =)