Rakka eda ni kaerazu
~ Fallen blossoms do not return to branches ~
-- a Japanese proverb
Chapter Nine: Thoughts
Summer, Present
Kanagawa, Japan
Shoyo High School
"All right! Good practice. See you tomorrow," Fujima told his team as they gathered around him. They nodded at him, too tired to do more, and left, either for the showers or straight home.
He showered and changed, and waited around for Hanagata, since they lived near each other and often went home together.
"Fujima! Sorry, I forgot to tell you that I was meeting Mai for supper. I won't be going home yet, sorry," Hanagata said when he found Fujima waiting for him.
Fujima's face bore an expression of mock anger, and he said, "So that's why you took so long to get changed. Your memory had better not fail you again, Hanagata Toru!"
The two friends went their separate ways after the practice, and Fujima began the journey home alone.
She was far better than what he had remembered. She was cheerful and happy, and well. She was no longer fully under the curse of leukaemia, and her face showed it.
Kawasaki Michiko. The girl who had stolen his heart when he had first met her. The girl who had nearly broken it, too, when she told him that she was going to die.
He liked her smile, her charm, her grace. Basically, he could not get her out of his head ever since they had met again.
Fujima Kenji walked home, not knowing that his feelings would only take him on a path destined for sadness.
Summer, Present
Kanagawa, Japan
On the way home
"Home sweet home," Michiko murmured as she caught sight of the house that had become a home in so short a span of time. Funny how calling a place "home" seemed to bring on a warm feeling in one's heart.
Home. She had called it home too. Kogure was glad that Michiko had settled so well in Japan. He recalled his, now unfounded, worries that Michiko would be "Americanised" and be unable to fit into mainstream Japanese society. She had been, well, simply wonderful. Not perfect – she had her flaws – but wonderful.
Summer, Present
Philadelphia, USA
Kawasaki residence
Megumi cradled the phone in her hand, listening to the tuneless beep. Kogure Maeko had hung up after the women's long conversation.
Michiko had not been in the house. Megumi missed her, yet was glad for her. Maeko had told her about Michiko staying back for basketball practice. 'Maybe basketball is what will bring some zest into her life. She's healthy and well now. She shouldn't hold back,' she thought.
Kawasaki Michiko. My daughter. She has fallen before, but she has already pulled herself up.
I'm proud of her.
Summer, Present
Kanagawa, Japan
Kogure residence
Kogure Maeko smiled as she spied Michiko and her son walking toward home. She was the daughter-in-law Maeko would love. Yet, Maeko had promised her husband that she would keep her nosiness out of her son's affairs, especially his love life. Which up to now had, she counted on her fingers, amounted to…one crush in junior high. She would have to let nature take its course.

'Anyway', she pouted, 'the young now are so different from the young of my generation.'









Author's Notes:
I'm baaaaaack!!! Exams are over! *grin*
Another relatively light-hearted chapter. Hope you enjoyed it!

I liked the last scene, where Maeko confesses her desire to match-make Kogure and Michiko. Wanted to laugh when I re-read what I wrote! ^^





Replies:

Joy: Fujima will find out about his family history...how and what happens? I'm keeping mum for the time being...
DiaBLo: You'll pick it up as we go along I suppose. ^___^
tensaispira: *grin* I was laughing too...can you imagine if any of the Shohoku team heard it? *giggles*
cookies: yup, basketball lessons from the Shohoku team would be the coolest. This chapter isn't sad...I think I got the first sad part over and done with...
maemi: Thanks for the compliment! Will definitely continue.... ^___^ never seen me give up a fic halfway...yet.....
Nellie: Hope you liked this one....
White-angel: I'm baaack.... ^___^
jeano: Sorry for the break in uploading!
renei: Nope, Michiko isn't a great basketball player....at least, not yet. I can't have every original character I create being a great basketball player - Shika (With Eyes That See) was probably the greatest, though....
Shirodachi: Hope you're liking it....
See you soon...
~rurouni