Rakka eda ni kaerazu
~ Fallen blossoms do not return to branches ~
-- a Japanese proverb
Chapter Two: The Past
Autumn, Three years ago
Tokyo, Japan
A hospital
Fifteen-year-old Kawasaki Michiko, usually sprightly and energetic, lay in a hospital bed in Tokyo, her unseeing gaze fixed upon the ceiling.
She had been warded yesterday, after having fainted in school.
It was not the first time.
This time, though, she was diagnosed with leukaemia.
Her whole world came crashing down around her.

No more games.

No more play.

Weakness instead of strength.
Doctors gave her the grim news, and told her that her survival depended on a bone marrow transplant. Kawasaki Kentaro, Michiko's father, had perished in a plane accident when she was five. Hence, having another child to save her dying one was impossible for her mother.
She flew to America with her mother. In America, they were told, there was a possible donor.
Upon their arrival in America, the mother and daughter were devastated to find out that the donor had backed out. It was not going to be the easy way out for them.
They stayed on in America, rallying for support and calling people to come forward to be tissue-typed, in hope of finding a matching donor.
No such luck.
Meanwhile, Michiko continued to endure the chemotherapy treatments, knowing they could only treat her disease, but not cure it. Her life would be prolonged, but only slightly.
Spring, Two years ago
Kanagawa, Japan
Kogure residence
Kogure Kiminobu responded to the charity drive to have himself listed as a possible bone marrow donor. His parents had done the same.



He winced a little as the needle was plunged into him.

Watched as the syringe filled up.



Even his mother, who shied away from sewing and needles in general, took the tissue-typing test.

The reason?
Winter, Three years ago
Kanagawa, Japan
Kogure residence
Kogure Yoko lay in a coffin. Her eyes closed in death, her body cold in death. Her weeping parents and relatives were in attendance. But she could not see them.
Leukemia. The name of the disease that had killed her. She was just eight.
Spring, Two years ago
Philadelphia, USA
An average suburban home
Good news had been received. A suitable donor had been found for Michiko. The operation was to take place next week, after the marrow from the donor had been flown to the USA.
Coincidentally, the marrow had come from her homeland.
Michiko went through the process of transplanting the donor's bone marrow, the marrow that would save her life, into her body.
Yet, the wait was not over yet.
Michiko's body could still reject the foreign marrow.
She waited. And waited. Till the doctors pronounced her good to go. And also cautioned her about a possible relapse.
Even so, Michiko was ecstatic.

Disclaimer: Slam Dunk and its characters do not belong to me...I'm just borrowing them...

Author's Notes: This explains what was going on about Michiko's life being saved...and I guess you all know who it is... Anyway, I hope you liked it, and don't forget to review and check out my other Slam Dunk stories as well...

Replies:

White-angel: Thanks for being the one and only to review...love ya! Hope you liked this chapter, though I have to say that it's pretty short as well...I'm trying, really!!