Rakka eda ni kaerazu
~ Fallen blossoms do not return to branches ~
-- a Japanese proverb
Chapter Four: Another
Summer, Present
Kanagawa, Japan
Fujima Residence
Fujima Kenji looked up into the starlit night sky. Somewhere, another world away, was his friend.
He hoped she was doing fine.
Autumn, Three years ago
Philadelphia, USA
St. Mary's Hospital
He had met her in a hospital. He had been on a holiday then. He had suffered a broken arm after recklessly trying out a skateboard stunt five minutes after mastering stop-and-go. With his arm sufficiently wrapped in a cast, and his ears ringing with the nurses' scolding, he had walked out of the hospital. Out of the wrong door, in fact, and ended up not at the main street, but at the lush gardens.
They were well kept, and he later learnt that they were an extension of the nearby park. Liking the peaceful atmosphere, he had decided to take a walk.
Then he saw her.
A figure sitting at the edge of a fountain, dabbling her left hand in the water.
He walked slowly up toward her.
Then he noticed a ripple in the water, not caused by her fingers, but by her tears.
His foot stepped on a broken twig. It was the loudest crack he had ever heard.
Her head snapped around, and her eyes met his. She lowered them quickly and got up to walk away.
They were filled with tears.
"Wait!" When his words had no effect, Fujima ran up to the girl and held her shoulder.
She tried to detach herself, but Fujima asked, in a concerned voice, "What's wrong?"
His voice was clear, and had a quality to it that she could not describe. Somehow, something inside her compelled her to tell him her story.
"I have leukaemia. I came to the States for help, for treatment. They told me I had nine months to live."
Her voice bore no evidence of hope of any sort. It was dry, monotonous. It made Fujima's heart break.
"Then show them that they're wrong."
His words were spoken calmly, matter-of-factly. Yet they seemed so naïve, filled with no reality but fantasy to Michiko at first, that she wanted to laugh. But his tone, his demeanour, made her listen to him.
"Show them that they're wrong. After all, Japanese have long lives. The Americans may not have taken that 'X' factor into account."
She smiled.
For Fujima, that smile was so relieving. He was half afraid his words would have offended her in some way. Thankfully, they produced the effect he had intended.
For Michiko, the smile was something more. It was as if a ray from the sun had penetrated the clouds.
Him. He had been that ray of sunshine.
"I'm returning to Japan tomorrow. I won't be able to be your cheerleader. So you must promise me that you'll fight it. You must show them that they're wrong."
Michiko smiled at the taller boy whose hand was still on her shoulder. She nodded slowly.
"I will."
"Good." Fujima turned to go, but she held him back.
"Can I write to you? You'd be my long-distance cheerleader, then," Michiko said, her eyes coming alive with mirth.
Fujima scribbled down his address on her hand.
Summer, Present
Kanagawa, Japan
Fujima Residence
Kawasaki Michiko. His pen-pal. His reminder that life was fragile. He never tried skateboarding again.
He wondered when he would receive her next letter.

Disclaimer: Slam Dunk and all of its characters do not belong to me...
Author's Notes: Okay, fourth chapter's up and done finally, I can breathe easy for a while. It's been sooo long... *sigh* Forgive me, okay? I'm really very busy, and will be till the end of the year... Hope you liked this chapter, and do review and give me your opinions! ^___^


Replies:
cookies: as always, thank you so much for your continued support!

Joy: the twist is on its way...I love the suspense, don't you ;)

jeano: okay, I explained the bit about the sword clattering to the ground to you in my email... hope the sentences here were not too bad, but I do have a habit of writing in fragments, I guess. Sorry! ^__^

Lady Ice Dragon: hey, welcome to my humble fic...glad you're liking it!! ^____^ Do tell me what you think of this chapter too!

Nellie: Yes, as promised, I did make a conscious effort *grin* hope you liked this one as well!




till next time...
~rurouni