TITLE: EXTRA-ORDINARY LOVE QUADRANGLE
( ayami – sakuragi - haruko - rukawa - ayami )
PURPOSE OF WRITING: After much thinking, I found out that this has no purpose at all. I just want to write and
that's it……no purpose……how lame……
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Slamdunk or any of its characters……don't sue me……^_^
* Author's notes:
[my comments] " their lines"
(the situation) no "" and italicized means their thoughts
Special Thanks to:
~ Rurouni: TY for the review! Glad you liked it…^_^
~ Kiku: TY for the review! Yeah…the first few parts were really crazy! I've done everything to make it more understandable but it always ends up like that…and I'm trying my best to improve on my paragraphing…
~ Tensaispira: Haven't I thanked you enough?! ~_^ Happy you liked the previous chap…I also like that chap better than the other chaps…
~ Renei: TY for reviewing! Hope you have read it by now…
~ Akira: YOU'RE CRAZY! You reviewed every chap on one sitting…TY for the reviews!
~ Wadohui: Nevermind…NEXT! (LOL! ^0^)
~ rukawaschix: TY for reviewing! Sorry for all the bad formatting…but you still understood right? And TY for understanding some of Rukawa's ooc-ness…it's hard to make him cold all the time…~_^
~ G. Lee: TY for the reviews! First of all, I didn't get to study at UP Dil. because I didn't make it…Second, I've used the word "yikee" since 1st year HS…Third, I tried my BEST to edit the first few chaps but, I failed…sorry. And lastly, I just invented that spelling so sorry if you found anything wrong about it…THAT'S ALL!!! ~_^
* Now, on with my story, shall we… happened before their game with Ryonan which means, it is after their game with Kainan…whatever…just read if you want to…
CHAPTER 10: As A Team
AYAMI
I still can't believe that we lost. After all the hard trainings we went through…….REALLY FRUSTRATING!
It was a very sad experience. Sakuragi-kun actually cried. Since then, he didn't bother to show himself. But, as Ayako-san said, it was nobody's fault. They all worked hard together so it was nobody's fault that they lost. If he wants to be stupid and blame himself, that's his business. The only thing that matters now is to practice harder in order to defeat Ryonan.
But, I was really worried. I looked everywhere but I didn't find him. That is, until I saw him together with Haruko-chan. She seems to be cheering him up.
I hate this…I should be the one doing that. If only I had been faster…
HAH! No reason to sulk about this. At least his mood seems to lighten up a bit….
I went back to the gym after that, feeling depressed and happy at the same time.
I think Haruko-chan did a good job convincing him because the next day, Sakuragi-kun came back. He was sporting a new look. I thought it was really cool but the others think otherwise. They all started laughing and rolling on the floor. Bakemono muttered something under his breath.
Maybe he's just jealous….baka!
Then, I saw Haruko-chan reach out and pat Sakuragi-kun's head.
I hate this. I REALLY hate this.
Then, practiced resumed. Everybody gave his best especially the major players. Mitsui-kun was giving Sakuragi-kun a hard time. I heard ojii-san say to Akagi-sempai that his main job now is to teach Sakuragi-kun how to properly shoot the ball. Then I heard Sakuragi-kun and Bakemono fighting AGAIN. The sight was really funny. Both of them were hanging on the ring while bickering with each other. Of course, Akagi-sempai got mad and started shouting at them but it seems that they weren't listening so he just sighed.
That is when I noticed something different about Bakemono. He seems to be paler than usual. I suddenly remembered that he collapsed during their game against Kainan but here he is, practicing and quarreling with Sakuragi-kun like there's no tomorrow. Acting like he's the best around here.
Whatever……
RUKAWA
It's my fault why we lost. I have to practice harder. Harder. Even if it means exhausting myself over my limit. I have to beat Sendoh. I have to teach that do'ahou not to mess with me. I have to be the best.
~ The Next Day, during Lunch Break ~
AYAMI
I don't know why I'm doing this. I don't even know why I'm concerned about him. This idea just came into my mind last night while eating dinner.
AH! I know. I'm not concerned about HIM. I'm concerned about the WHOLE TEAM because, let's face it, the team needs him in order to win the ticket for the Inter-high.
With that thought, I gathered up all my courage and went in…I meant out…I mean……
HAH! Just get over with it will you?! Sheesh……
RUKAWA
I heard someone come in. Whoever it is, I don't want to know just as long as this person does not bother me.
" Oi Bakemono! Got a minute?"
Why does SHE always bother me?!
I didn't reply to make her believe I'm sleeping. She came closer. And closer. And closer. And --
" I KNOW you're awake."
Be still. She's just lying. She doesn't really know anything….
She sighed. " You're NOT snoring for the whole damn world to hear. The ground's NOT flooding with your disgustingly disgusting saliva. GET UP."
She got me. I grunted and sat up.
" You can't fool me you know? I had been sitting in front of you for the past few months and I believe I already know the signs whether you're sleeping or just faking."
Hmmm…so, she's been observing me.
" But don't get any ideas ok? I'm not gonna waste my time observing you or anything."
She can definitely read minds.
She sat in front of me. " Anyway, I know you're probably shocked why I'm here."
I'm not shocked. I'm irritated.
" Well, I just want to give you this."
Then she took out from her 'magic' bag a very large container.
I wonder how she fits everything in that tiny bag…
" I made you lunch."
AYAMI
Yep! I made The Bakemono lunch. I can now go ahead and commit suicide or I could just look for his demented fans and let them do the honors.
RUKAWA
She made me lunch. She made me lunch. She made me lunch. She made me lunch. She made me --
Say something to her, baka!
" ……………………………………"
" I made you lunch because I thought you might be sick or something. I saw how much paler you've become after you collapsed. Then I thought that maybe you're not getting enough energy because you don't eat. I have never seen you eat. I know sleep is good for the body but it still needs some nutrition that you can only get from eating. So, I made you lunch. I packed a lot of food in there because I don't really know how much a bakemono like you eats."
She's worried about me…..
" I'm not worried about you ok? I…I just thought you might want to put some food in that bakemono body of yours. Here, take it."
I took it. Then opened it. It smells good. The food also looks nice. She threw a chopstick.
" Go ahead. Eat. I didn't put any poison in there. It's 100% safe. Trust me."
Trust…you?
She rolled her eyes then sighed. "Fine! Here, I'll eat some of it as a proof." She got another chopstick from her bag and ate some of it.
"SEE? It's perfectly safe. I did not vomit or sputtered blood or dropped dead on the floor or did anything gross. I'm still alive."
" …………………………"
" Don't tell me you're shy?! Now THAT'S interesting. You're anything but shy."
" …………………………."
" Fine. If it makes you feel any better, I'll eat with you."
Then she took out another container from her bag. It was also full of food.
" I'm supposed to eat with Sakuragi-kun but….ITADEKIMAS!!!!"
Then she began eating. I stared at her and, after a few seconds, I found myself eating the food she gave me. It was good.
It was perfect.
AYAMI
Finally, Bakemono ate. I thought he'd just look at me until I finish eating mine. We ate in silence.
I'm glad he's actually eating it. It took me a lot of time preparing that.
Anyway, I couldn't take the silence any longer so I started talking.
" I'm really glad Sakuragi-kun came back to our team. He was really depressed. He kept on blaming himself that it was his fault that the team lost. So, how about you? How did you feel when you suddenly collapsed and lost to Kainan?"
He stopped eating. I silently cursed myself for asking THAT question.
Why, of all question, did I have to ask that now?! What if he suddenly goes berserk and shoves the food on my face? What if he suddenly throws up in front of me? ARGH! I can really be SO stupid sometimes!
But, he didn't do anything. In fact, he didn't even flinched or blinked or sighed. No reaction at all. He just stopped eating, that's all.
" Anou…gomen. You don't have to answer that. I was just being stupid that time. Gomen ne?"
" ……………………………" He was looking down on his food.
" Oi! Daiijobou?"
" It was my fault…"
What the --
RUKAWA
I can't believe I admitted to her that it was my fault. She just stared at me. I thought she'd laugh and make fun of me or worse, suddenly lash out at me again. But I was surprised when she just looked at me with eyes full of sympathy.
" It's not your fault. It's nobody's fault, ok?"
" You don't understand…."
" I perfectly understand EVERYTHING."
" Do'ahou."
I saw her expression change. She let out an exasperated sigh.
Now she's definitely mad at me.
AYAMI
" You know what's the one thing I hate most about you, Bakemono? It's your damn attitude. You assume that you're better than everyone else. You think you're the GOD and you alone can have power over the game, and everyone else is not significant. It's like, you think that your teammates only purpose there is to make you look better. You play for yourself, not for the team. Everyone else may praise you for that, but not me."
I paused to take a breather.
" I hate that you underestimate everyone else around you. You only act for your own purpose. And do you know what will happen to you? You'll be alone. Just like now. On the team or wherever, you'll be on your own and no one would even care. No one wants to waste his time on an aloof person like you. I know you wouldn't want to feel that…no one would want to. You may act as a cold person but I know you have the same emotions as other people have. That's why you should change. Stop acting for yourself. And stop all this self-pity. IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT. Trust me."
Then, I took another deep breath. That's when I realized what I've just said to Bakemono.
WOW! Where did all that come from?!
RUKAWA
I almost dropped the container I was holding. She looked at me for a few seconds then continued eating as if nothing happened. I also did the same thing but my mind was somewhere else. I was contemplating on everything she just said.
No one in my whole basketball career had ever told me off for being a good player, except for that do'ahou of course. But his tone was different from hers.
Do'ahou's tone was always full of insults powered by pure envy and jealousy. On the other hand, hers was different. She said it in a way that sounded like she's telling a fact. Like she truly knows who I am.
But that can't be possible. No one will ever make me open up or understand me…no one.
Especially not someone like her.
~ After 5 minutes of eating in silence ~
AYAMI
" Finished……"
I looked at him and saw that he was still eating. I was still a little dazed after that little lecture I gave him. It seems that we feel the same way at that moment. After a few minutes, he handed me his container. I took it and carefully wrapped it. Then, I started packing.
I need to get out of here quickly! The atmosphere here is making me do and say weird things… " Well…I think I have no purpose here anymore. I still need to go to the library because I promised Sakuragi-kun that I'd tutor him since he'll have an exam later. I'll make you lunch again tomorrow ok? So…I guess I'll just see you later. And don't skip classes. I'm not going to do you any favors again." I was about to stand up and leave when he said……
RUKAWA
" Do'ahou."
She looked surprised. [Who wouldn't be?! BAKA Rukawa……] Then she smiled a little.
" Is that you're way of thanking me? How rude! Anyway, you're welcome. Don't be sentimental about this ok? It doesn't suit your personality. I did it for the good of the team, that's all."
She did it for the team……not for you.
" Look, I really got to go. Sakuragi-kun will be mad at me if I'll be late… JA!"
With that she stood up and ran to the door.
That do'ahou's more important to her than you….
I stared at her retreating back. Suddenly, my heart started to do a little drum fest inside my chest and my insides did little somersaults.
She knows me…
Her figure began to shrink from the distance and as she was about to close the door, she turned around and waved goodbye while closing the door behind. Then she was gone. A cool wind blew upon my face.
She saw me. She saw me for who I really am. I thought no one is capable of doing that but, she did.
Now I'm sure. If there had been any uncertainties before, they disappeared from the moment she gave me that lecture.
I'm beginning to fall for her……
DAMN IT! I need to see a psychiatrist NOW.
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~_^ MY! MY!
Yahoo! I finally finished this chapter! Sorry if you found anything wrong in the story. I'm just sleepy……Oh! And by the way, the moral of this story is " Never treat people as means to some ends but ALWAYS ends in themselves."
Wow….I can't believe I actually applied Kant's philosophy in my fanfic. I can't believe I actually learned something from my Philo I class….COOLNESS!!!! O'~'O
Love it? Hate it? Let me know!
Pls. Review! JA! ^_^