Title: For The First Time
Part: 7/?
Author: Lady Ice Dragon
Genre: Half Yaoi, Half Non-Yaoi
Pairing: MitKo (included)
Rating: G
Archive: Yes
Email: kogure_ikuko@yahoo.com.sg
Warning: Be prepared for reality, fantasy, mushy and action. ^_^
Author's Notes:
Half AU fic, characters might, or will be OOC. So be FOREWARNED, so no flames, unless you want to help cook my maggie noodles. Words in italics or between slashes are thoughts, words within ^^ are actions, unless otherwise stated, words in brackets are notes.
Disclaimer:
Slam Dunk is NOT mine, and never will be! I'm just borrowing the characters and the locales so I can have fun with them. They will be returned to their respective owners when I'm through. But whatever original characters I put in here are MINE, and you can't use them without MY permission!
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Several seconds of silence passed. Suddenly…
"I'll pay the difference."
Everyone whipped their head to turn to the source of the voice that said those words.
It was Rukawa. Rukawa Kaede, the man who seldom showed any compassion.
Everyone's jaws dropped.
"Che." Rukawa said, turning to Dr. Tanaka. "Please make the necessary arrangements."
Dr. Tanaka nodded.
"K…Kitsune?" stammered Sakuragi.
Rukawa just turned, and left the room, leaving Team Shohoku in shock.
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Ikuko was having her dinner, when she heard someone enter the dining room. From the number of footsteps, she guessed that there was a group of people entering.
"Yes? May I help you?"
"Ikuko-chan, it's me…"
"Sakuragi-kun! You're here!" cried Ikuko, standing up, and walking towards the sound of Sakuragi's voice.
"Yeah, and so is everyone!" laughed Sakuragi.
After the various greetings and well wishes, Ikuko served them tea with the help of Ayako, and sat down.
"So what bring you all here?" asked Ikuko, her interest piqued.
"We have a surprise for you…" Kogure said.
"What is it, Kogure-sempai?" asked Ikuko eagerly.
"I'll let the Kitsune give it to you, Ikuko-chan…" Sakuragi said, clearly miffed. Akagi had made Sakuragi agree to let Rukawa give the gift to Ikuko, since he was paying the rest of the fees.
"For you, Iku-chan…" Rukawa said, placing a large envelope into Ikuko's hands.
Ikuko opened the envelope, and took out the piece of paper that was inside. She noticed that there were bumps on it, and realised that this was a letter, or note, typed in Braille! She immediately 'read' the note, and the look of confusion that was on her face turned into one of utter surprise.
"Wha…What? No, this can't be!!!"
"Believe it…" said Sakuragi proudly, now beside her, on her right.
Tears began to well up in Ikuko's eyes, and then flowed out onto her cheeks. She cried, and turned to Sakuragi on her right, hugging him tightly.
The note that Ikuko read was:
[Ikuko-chan, thank you for being such a wonderful friend. In return, we humbly ask that you accept our thanks, in the form of us helping you heal your sight. We all wish for you to be able to see us, and hope you will accept. Love, Team Shohoku.] (L.I.D.[author]: Akagi wrote it and sent it to be typed in Braille… LOL)
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When Ikuko hugged Sakuragi, Kogure thought it was very sweet indeed. He truly wished that he was in Ikuko's position, and Mitsui was in Sakuragi's position. He was relieved, when Rukawa had offered to pay the difference, and that meant all would go smoothly, and their efforts had not been wasted. It was tough making Sakuragi kiss those girls in the gym, and Kogure hoped that Mitsui knew it. Now, if only, he would get the guts to just do it, and kiss Mitsui already…
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(December)
Days turned to weeks and weeks had turned into a month. Ikuko was back at the hospital, and was being prepared for the upcoming operation that would be held in America. Now the roles were reversed, and Sakuragi would now visit Ikuko daily, after school, and they would spend time together. Sakuragi always had a knack for entertaining her, and they enjoyed each other's company immensely. But Sakuragi was slowly, but surely, feeling something different towards Ikuko, something that he had never felt when he was infatuated with Haruko.
/Was it just that? An infatuation? / Thought Sakuragi, one day. /Nah. I love Haruko-san! /
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(The night before the flight)
"Kogure-sempai, no matter what, I can't tell Sakuragi-kun."
"Why ever not?" Kogure asked. "Tomorrow's the best time!"
Rukawa looked at Ikuko.
"I cannot hurt him, lest the operation is a failure. I just can't!"
Ikuko had finally admitted that she had feelings for the brash member of Shohoku, and felt she had no right to tell him so.
"And what if it is a success?" Rukawa asked monotonously.
Ikuko: "… …"
"What will you do then?" Kogure asked, concernedly.
"He has Haruko-san…"
Kogure and Rukawa: "… …"
"He has always loved Haruko-san… From what I gather from my observations and Ayako-san, she's cute, slim, kind… the stuff girlfriends are made of… She's a nice girl."
(Flashback)
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(A conversation snippet between Haruko and Ikuko)
"Do you like Sakuragi-kun, Haruko-chan?" asked Ikuko, carefully listening to the other girl's response.
Haruko took a moment to think. "Hai."
"In what way?"
"Ano… Sakuragi-kun's very confident, funny, and he's so nice to talk to…" Haruko blushed.
"What about Kae-chan?"
"You mean Rukawa-kun? Ano… I don't think I have any chance with him, besides, I think I was only infatuated with him…"
"Sou ka?"
"Hai."
/Yappari. (I knew it.) Haruko loves Sakuragi-kun… What am I going to do? / Thought Ikuko sadly.
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(End of Flashback)
"So?" asked Kogure. "That doesn't mean you don't have a chance!"
Rukawa snorted. "She's a bimbo…"
"Kae-chan! Be nice! He deserves her… he doesn't deserve to be with a blind girl, such as myself, Kogure-sempai… I'll only hinder him…"
"He's already a hindrance to himself…" remarked Rukawa.
Kogure and Ikuko: ^Sweat drop^
"But…" began Kogure.
"No buts, Kogure-sempai…Oh yes, how are you doing with Mitsui-sempai?"
Kogure was rendered speechless.
"I can tell that he does like you, from the way he talks to me about you…"
"He talks to you about ME?" Kogure's tone was one of utter surprise, and his face was so comical, Rukawa had to cough to hide a snicker that threatened to escape from his lips. Fortunately, Ikuko caught that supposed snicker and laughed.
"Don't ask me what we talked about, but I have something I would like to sing to the both of you, before I go… "
"All right." Kogure said.
Ikuko pressed the button on her tape cassette player, and music began to play.
(Sarah McLachlan - I Will Remember You)
I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
I'm so tired but I can't sleep
Standin' on the edge of something much too deep
It's funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word
Though we are screaming inside, but we can't be heard
And I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
(Music)
I'm so afraid to love you, but more afraid to lose
Clinging to a past that doesn't let me choose
Once there was a darkness, deep and endless night
You gave me everything you had, oh you gave me light
And I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
And I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
(End of song)
"Tell Mitsui-sempai how much you love him. It's not too late…" Ikuko said.
"You should." Rukawa said.
"I will, if you will, Ikuko-chan…" replied Kogure. "Arigato, Rukawa-kun…"
"We'll see…" mumbled Ikuko.
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Mitsui was doing his daily three point shots at the basketball court near his home. He had been thinking. A lot, about a certain vice captain.
/Should I tell him? Soon… I have to… But when? /
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(=^_^=) Meow!
Hi all! So sorry to keep you all waiting! Here it is! Chapter 7!
Will Ikuko let her feelings be known? Will she succeed? Tune in to the next chapter! ^_^
Replies!
Fehrocious-chan: LOL! You're one silly grrl! And a schemer too! NYAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
SLL-chan: Thanks! I Just HAD to insert the Sakuragi Shinetai! LOL!
initia-I-san: Here's the latest chappie! Enjoy!
Celeste-chan: Hai hai!
Mitkuroi-chan: LOL, it's MY fic! Besides, you don't go up to a person and declare your undying love in seconds! *Whacks!*
Nellie-chan: Why don't you ask them if they still sell them kisses? LOL
Cookies-chan: Glad you liked it! Here's the new chapter!
Super-rookie-chan: Hee hee!
Madiha-chan: Hai! Have your fill! *types madly away at chapter 8!*
F5C-chan: Hiak Hiak! What can I say?!?!?! Hee hee!