Rakka eda ni kaerazu
~ Fallen blossoms do not return to branches ~
-- a Japanese proverb
Chapter Three: Connections
Spring, Two weeks ago
Kanagawa, Japan
Kogure residence
"Ring…"
Kogure cradled the handset and talked to the other person on the line. A certain Kawasaki Megumi, mother of the patient, was on the line. She told him the good news in a tearful voice, and he too, was overcome with emotion.
The next instant, another voice was on the line, that of a cheery girl. "Kogure-sama! Thank you!" She chattered on about the transplant, leaving a speechless Kogure on the other end of the line.
Kogure-sama?
Spring, Present
Kanagawa, Japan
Airport
Two years was a long time to wait, for her health to improve, for the doctors to certify her fit for travel, for saving up enough money to get back, to discover the identity of the donor. But she was here. Her mother was not, though. Megumi had made America her home.
As the Boeing-747 touched down in the airport, her heart leapt with joy. It was a wonderful feeling, coming home. What made it even more special was the fact that she was, for the first time, meeting the person who had saved her life.
Kogure Kiminobu.
She slung her haversack over her shoulder. She walked off the plane, feeling as though she were on seventh heaven. She heard people conversing in Japanese around her, and let the familiar sounds of the language flood her ears.
Her baggage emerged on the conveyor belt quite quickly, and she heaved it off without much difficulty, wheeling it behind her as she walked into the arrival hall.
Searching the crowds for someone who resembled the person in the photograph she held in her hand.
Kogure was worried. He was not sure if he could recognise Kawasaki Michiko from the photograph she had sent him last week. He scanned the people entering the arrival hall, but to no avail.
She referred to the photograph in the hand. Spectacles. Shouldn't be a problem, since the myopic rate of the Japanese was relatively low.
There.
It seemed like they spotted each other in that same instant. Michiko began walking toward Kogure at the same time he walked toward her.
"Kawasaki-san?" Kogure asked.
The girl standing in front of him nodded emphatically.
Then shocked the daylights out of Kogure when she embraced him. Apparently, American custom was very different from Japanese custom.
"Kogure-sama! Finally, we can meet!" she said, the excitement plain in her voice.
He agreed, and smiled at her. She was so bubbly, it was hard to imagine her lying, sick in a hospital.
"Come on, I'll take you to meet my parents."
Spring, Present
Kanagawa, Japan
Kogure residence
Introductions had been made, and the Kogure family welcomed the girl. She would be staying with them, until she could acquire a serviceable apartment of her own; a task Megumi had charged Kogure's parents.
Meanwhile, though, the spare room was her home. She was happy though, for her hosts were friendly and pleasant, and the room was simply yet tastefully furnished, a product, she later learnt, of Kogure Maeko's artistic eye.
She would be integrated with the Japanese education system the next week, after all the logistics of her arrival would be sorted out. She would be attending Shohoku High, same as Kogure for convenience's sake. From what he said, it was a nice place.
During dinner, Michiko made the mistake of yawning halfway through the meal. Maeko-san, as she told Michiko to address her, hustled her up to bed immediately after, ignoring her futile protests.
Maeko smiled as she closed the door to Michiko's bedroom. The girl was definitely tired.
Kogure mused over his English essay, trying to overcome the mental block that had left him stumped since he started writing after dinner.
Instead of thinking about his essay, Kogure's mind obstinately wandered off to the events of the day.
Michiko had been a surprise. He had expected, he had expected…he didn't know what he expected. But that she was different. She was both outgoing and shy at the same time, both confident yet somehow, childlike. Kogure tried to laugh at these oxymoronic descriptions, but found that Michiko was indeed all of these.
"A life for a life." The sword clattered to the ground. [Mulan]
Kogure startled himself with the sudden appearance of that recollection. Michiko. Yoko. A life for a life? Maybe.
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk and all of its characters do not belong to me...


Author's Notes:
Finally got the next chapter up! Sorry to keep you waiting!!

Replies:
cookies: Thank you! Wait up for the next short chapter! LOL!

renei: Definitely continuing "Spirit...", only I've changed the title...look out for it, 'kay?

tensaispira: I have a habit of making short chapters! Don't mind me!

white-angel: Thanks again!!