Pairing: Mainly SenRu, Slightly RuHana/HanaRu and SenKosh

Summary: Sendoh Akira has feelings for the Shohoku ace, Rukawa Kaede. He too feels the same way but how about Sakuragi and Koshino? A certain plan gets in the way. Is it ever too late to say 'I love you'?

A/N: Yippee thirteenth chapter posted…yehey one chapter to go and the epilogue and I'm all done with Never too Late…Hooray!!! Anyways about my new fic… I should've posted it long ago but I will delay it for the time being until I finish this one…I also apologize for not uploading my other multi-chaptered senru because I couldn't think of anything to write in it…anyways I hope you enjoy this chapter…do review thanks…

Disclaimer: I don't own Slam Dunk, Takehiko Inoue does…

Summary of Chapter Thirteen: Koshino, Youhei and even Rukawa are rushed to the hospital. What happened to Rukawa? Poor Sendoh…will somebody die? Did he? Read and find out.

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Never too Late

By: KaedeRukawa_kill

Chapter Thirteen-The Unsaid

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**start**

--Rukawa's POV--

I could see your lips,

Curving into a smile.

I could see your tears,

Of fear of what I feel.

I could feel your hand,

Tightly wrapped with mine.

I could hear your voice,

Ringing in my ears.

I could see your face,

Slowly turning blue.

I could feel your kiss,

Trying to ease me through.

"D-don't c-cry I-I'll b-be j-just f-fine f-for y-you," I said.

I winced in pain, breathing harshly once again.

"K-kaede," you said.

I tried to smile for assurance but coughed violently instead.

Slowly I felt myself losing my consciousness, unable to fight the massive surge to just close my eyes.

I felt someone lift me off the ground, and my eyes fluttered to see Sendoh carrying me away the secluded area.

"W-where…" I tried to ask but was cut short by another cough.

"Hospital…" you answered my unfinished question.

The pain was slowly uncontrollable, blood continuously flowing, draining me and closing me more to death.

"A-arigato A-akira…" I said.

…for everything.

If I was to die, I will treasure every single moment I've spent with Sendoh. For making me changing, for being my friend, for being the one I love. Teaching me feelings I've never felt before, feelings I never knew existed until he came into my life. And for breaking my barrier and passing through it.

But I know something is holding me back…I don't even know what he feels for me. And I will just lose it all, everything I've cherished disappear into nothing just like that because death has claimed my life, the one I so soulfully rejected before.

Why? Why now when I finally found myself, the answer to my question, a light for my once cold and lousy life. Now that I found someone to cherish, to love and to sacrifice for. Why does my punishment have to be my death?

"Don't leave me, Kaede," you said.

"G-gomen," I replied.

Sorry, so sorry for my weakness and incapability to grant your wish. I don't know what destiny has planned for me but I do hope I can still spend it with you.

Sirens rang loudly, ambulances arriving in front of the park court.

Me and Youhei were brought down, lying with unfamiliar faces in different ambulances. [A/N: Rukawa saw Youhei being brought to the other ambulances with unknown doctors rushing to check their conditions…^.^]

Sendoh sat beside me after grabbing hold of our properties [A/N: bags inside the park court] and held my hand closely to his chest, as I felt the beating of his heart.

Tubes were attached around my body, doctors checking on me as we drove to the nearest hospital from the park court.

My vision started to blur once again, but this time I had nothing in my power to stop it from conquering my senses.

"A-akira…" I murmured.

There is a lot to tell…

"Kaede…please don't I don't…I can't let go, not now…not yet…please…" Sendoh answered.

I encouraged myself to lift my hand just one last time and beneath my closed eyes I wiped away the tears that continuously flowed from his eyes.

"Ai shiteru…" He whispered.

And that was all I needed to know, a tear fell from eye. But I maybe everything WAS too late. At least I spent my last day with him, but never will I lose hope of a tomorrow with him.

"I…" I tried to give my reply.

But I have used all my energy and for sure everything turned pitch black as I finally lost my consciousness.

--Koshino's POV--

Is it ever too late,

To save his life.

Is it okay,

To start a new.

Is this the end,

Of what I once believed.

Is it my fault,

For being too late.

Is this our fate,

To be just bestfriends.

Is this the life,

I've chose to live in.

Kami-sama Rukawa can't die now. Sendoh and Rukawa's love has suffered long enough, pain and sorrow have kept them apart. Is it not time to bring them together?

I went out of the emergency room, my arm fully bandaged, clean, safe and painless.

I spotted both Sendoh and Sakuragi seating on the benches just outside the emergency room worried as ever.

"Sendoh…are you okay?"

Just as we reached the hospital Rukawa had lost his pulse and now the doctors are trying to patch all the blood he lost and revive him if possible.

"No…how can I be?" Sendoh replied, tears spilling from his eyes.

I promised to myself that I'll let Sendoh go but I never mentioned forgetting my role as his bestfriend and being there when he need me the most. I may love him continuously with a peace of mind that Rukawa love him back and will take good care of him. He can't die now…

I can only forget about my feelings for Sendoh after some years and by that time my heart finally mended I can learn to love again unconditionally, the same way Rukawa and Sendoh have come to be.

No words can ever describe what they feel, if only they had realized sooner no time should've been wasted into nothing. They could've spent more time together knowing happiness is not for eternity but has an end, death.

Sendoh was not able to control the feelings he felt inside despite his expertise in concealing himself through a happy mask. He needed a helping hand, someone he can cry on and I'm here and that's what's important.

"I told him Kosh," he said between sobs.

"And…?" I asked.

"…but he never had the chance to answer. Why, why does this have to happen…" Sendoh told more to himself rather than to his companion, me.

"He loves you, Sendoh. He sacrificed himself to save your life," I replied.

Sendoh continued to sob continuously.

"Rukawa was always happy when you're around. You were the only one capable of melting the ice," Sakuragi added.

"Rukawa will fight, he'll come back for you," I said, trying to ease Sendoh.

I don't know what will happen after this day, but I only wish for Rukawa to live a second chance. Sendoh was able to brighten Rukawa's usual life and vice versa.

I have come to accept the truth of Rukawa and Sendoh's relationship and I have no regrets nor a change of mind because I can see Sendoh happy and contented compared to what I make him feel during those times I didn't know Sendoh had the knowledge to sense me.

"Kaede…Kaede…" Sendoh started chanting his name.

The door from the emergency room opened as the assigned doctor stepped out.

I felt tension in the air as the three of us stood up from our comfortable seat as silence too enveloped us.

~T.b.C.

A/N:

Kae: Finished!

Sendoh: Kaede…*teary-eyed*

Kae: don't worry there's still the next chapter, which is about Sakuragi too…

Sakuragi: me?

Youhei: Why are you here?

Sakuragi: visiting you…

Kae: anyways you'll find out what happened to Rukawa…

Rukawa: Akira…

Kae: and you'll also see if Youhei died?

Sakuragi: no…

Kae: the epilogue is for characters who are still alive 'til then…

Koshino: like me…*smile*

Kae: let's find out what the doctor says…

Koshino: yay!

Kae: suspense!

Sendoh: you said this and the fourteenth chapter is for me…

Kae: *nod*

Sendoh: Kaede…

Kae: oh that I don't know…

Sendoh: *looks down, hair covering his eyes* Kaede…*near to tears*

Kae: hey! Your hair's down today…

Koshino: out of gel

Rukawa: *lifts Sendoh's chin* *whispers* I'm still here…

Sendoh: *smiles seriously* Kaede…*crying a little*

Rukawa: Ai shiteru…Akira…*kisses Sendoh*

Sendoh: *flushed after the kiss* I love you too…

Kae: so sweet…*puppy dog eyes*

Youhei: *nods*

Kae: so cute…

Koshino: impossible…

Sakuragi: Rukawa made the move…*gaping*

Kae: do review…

Sakuragi: now were off…

Koshino: ja ne

Youhei: see you on the next chapter *wave*