TITLE: EXTRA-ORDINARY LOVE QUADRANGLE
( ayami – sakuragi - haruko - rukawa - ayami )
PURPOSE OF WRITING: To still continue what I began…WOOHOO!!! (And hopefully finish it by the end of this month. It's getting too soap opera- ish already. Yeah.)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Slam Dunk or any of its character…don't sue me k? ^_^
SPECIAL THANKS:
~ akuma-tenshi: YEY! You're still my first reviewer. Good for you. I'll review your fic later, ne? And thanks for all the favors you did for me. I'll make it up to you…I promise. Tuloy tayo sa 25 ok? Megamall Bldg what?
~ unchained: Yep. I know…females are usually the dense one. And yeah…hope to catch you online again.
~ renei: Ehe. Starbuko…mwehe.
~ minoru: Oo nga! Di mo pa pinababasa sa akin yung "Blue Sakura" mo. Daya…punta ko mamya sa forum. And about Furuba and Hana Yori…Furuba muna kasi na kay Christel pa yung ibang VCDs ng Hana Yori e. Soli nya sa akin after Holy Week. OK?! Oi! Tuloy tayo sa 25 ne? (Wow…pure tagalong…ehe.)
~ white meteor: Yeah…I made her realize her feelings for Rukawa so that I can finally wrap up this story soon. And ty for the cheers. And whoever threw that paper ball…just wait and see…^_^v
~ celestial moon: The pairing's quite obvious by now, ne? And if I'm a Filipino…find out for yourself. Yeah ^_^v.
~ micchan: Yep…after a million years, I finally updated. Mwehe. And yeah…Ayami's dense. Everyone's been saying that…oh well.
~ crammer-sama: SWEETIE, I can relate. I was about to review your fic but the review window's take forever to open. Gah. Anyway, nice to know you liked the chap.
~ angel-leigh: Long time no hear! And as for mitchan…ehe.
* Now, on with my story, shall we…
CHAPTER 23: Rosy Cheeks (Denial Will Get You Nowhere)
AYAMI
Few days had already passed since that so-called 'eye opener' incident that involves silly me realizing I actually have feelings for this…you-know-who. But up to now, I still don't know how to accept it so I did the only right thing to do: avoid him at all cost. Or to put it more blatantly, I decided to run away from reality. I decided to make my own show to cover up the truth.
Here…I made a mental description of my new school rituals. Every morning, I always make sure to be in school AFTER everyone else, thus having fewer chances of bumping into him but it also increased my chances of detention but who cares right? Anyway, after my morning affairs, I spend every break time inside the girls' comfort room or in the school paper's office. And right after the final bell rings, I immediately leave the school premises.
So, everything was going just fine. Sure it made a lot of impact in my usually over-active social life but I couldn't care less about it 'cause right now… my sanity is my top priority.
But I should have known it was too good to last. Today… my show ended.
As I was happily skipping my way to school, not-so-fresh air blowing my hair and silence surrounding the now pacified school grounds…
"Yo."
… I stopped dead on my tracks. Because there, standing in the school entrance was the guy I had been successfully avoiding bumping into. Even speaking his name is like a mortal sin to me.
Is this fate's way of saying I'm already in a dead end? That I can't really run away forever?
But… what if I want to?
RUKAWA
"Yo."
I don't know why Ayami had been acting weird around me since that Sakuragi-incident. I tried talking to her but I can't seem to catch up with her…like she's deliberately avoiding me.
I glanced at her and saw her turning pale and was obviously thinking of ways to avoid greeting me back. I decided to give in.
"Classes were cancelled."
"Uh…great. Wh-why?"
"Don't know. I was asleep."
"Uh…good."
Silence followed after that. As I was busy thinking of something else to say, I noticed that Ayami was busy fidgeting non-stop on her place.
"I'll walk you home."
It seems that I have a gift for words because that simple statement made her stop squirming like a worm drenched in vinegar. She looked at me with eyes the size of saucer plates and was gaping at me like I just announced to the whole world that I'm changing careers and was actually planning to be a sexy actor…or something like that.
"You-you can't."
"Why?"
"Because…because you just can't! Believe me, you don't want to do this."
"…………………………………………"
"I'm sorry. I have to go…"
"…………………………………………"
"Ja."
She was already beginning to walk…or rather stride away really fast but because she wasn't looking where she's walking at, she 'accidentally' bumped into my bicycle, which sent her toppling to the ground. Honestly, I was already expecting this kind of reaction from her so I strategically placed my bike there.
Smooth move.
"Ouch…damn bike. I bet your owner is a total loser like you."
"……………………………………………."
"Why are you hovering over me? I can take care of myself, thank you very much. Now will you please move and--"
"I'll walk you."
"You just don't get it, do you? How many times do I have to tell--"
"I didn't wait for you for nothing."
"Look, it was your own decision to wait for me. I didn't ask you to do--"
"I know."
"Good. Now, will you just move so that--"
"I'll walk you."
"GAH! Oi, are you really this stupid?! I already gave you my answer: NO. But--"
"You can't say no."
"And why is--"
"Once is enough."
Like I said, I have a way with words.
AYAMI
Once is enough…
Damn. He sure knows how to hit the right spot! So he left me no choice but to agree with him. We walked silently after that. It was pretty uncomfortable…at least for me…because I was walking with…with Rukawa. Just his mere presence makes me feel a lot of emotions I didn't know I'm capable of feeling.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"………………………………………………………."
"Uh…nothing. I was talking to myself…as usual. It's beginning to become a hobby actually…"
"Do'ahou."
Yep. I sure am… gah! How can I be this stupid?! Here I was, always criticizing Haruko for being so dense but now, I realized that I'm worse than her! This is gross… very humiliating… a disgrace to our family… a--
"Gomen."
"……………………………"
"I didn't understand how you felt."
I glanced at THE Great and Almighty Rukawa, surprised that he's actually asking forgiveness from a normal person like me.
But why? He didn't do…wait! Does this mean he already knows about my...feelings for him? Meaning…meaning…
… I just received my SECOND REJECTION?!?!?!?!
Gah. I think I'm going to be sick…
RUKAWA
Ayami stopped walking all of a sudden. She was murmuring something under her breath. It sounded like she's cursing herself for being stupid and that she's in deep shit.
"Gomen."
For some reason, that made her act even more…weird.
"Shouldn't have preached back then."
"……………………………………"
"Forget what I said."
"……………………………………"
"They meant nothing."
"………………………………………"
"Do'ahou."
"………………………………………"
She just nodded and then continued walking, lost in her own thoughts.
Did she really understand what I just said?
AYAMI
They meant nothing.
So that means he doesn't know the real reason why I had been avoiding him…
They meant nothing.
So that means he doesn't know how I feel about him…
They meant nothing.
So that means we're still friends…
They meant nothing.
So that means nothing changed between us, which I think is really good. I don't have to worry anymore. We're friends and that's it. I'm happy… really happy.
They meant nothing.
So why does his last comment bother me this much?
They meant nothing.
They meant nothing.
They meant nothing.
SHEESH! I want it to mean SOMETHING to him 'cause it meant SOMETHING to me! Why only let ME suffer?!
GAH! I am so pathetic…
I turned and just gave him a smile. A smile that I secretly hope will hide the real feelings I decided to just lock up deep within me.
RUKAWA
Ayami stopped walking again and did something really strange. If what she just did was what they call 'smiling' is, I'd rather retain this impassive look than look like a do'ahou like her.
It wasn't a nice smile. It was a toothy sort of smile that looked like it belonged on some prehistoric carnivore from beyond the dawn of time. It was positively eerie in every angle you look at it.
Weird do'ahou.
~ Fast forward: Days later ~
AYAMI
We're friends.
I'm happy. He's… still the same. We're both normal.
Problem solved… or so I thought.
"Rukawa, are you ok?"
"……………………………………"
"You look gross. Perhaps you should go to the clinic. It looks like you need a lot of rest. Your other matches for this year are fast approaching and you know how much the team needs you."
"………………………………………"
"OI RUKAWA!"
"Hn."
Okay. So he reverted back to his mute mode again. At least I wouldn't get any 'words of wisdom' from him anymore. I already had ENOUGH of those…believe me.
"In case you
haven't noticed, I've been talking to you from the moment we went out of the
court."
"I know…it's irritating me."
"And you're irritating me too. Want me to describe me how you look?"
"……………………………………………..."
"Well, right now, you are emitting this bad aura…a sickly and disgusting aura, to be more specific. It's like you're going to have your last breath any second now."
"…………………………………………….."
"And your eyes…they're not mesmerizing at all. You have dark circles under them as if your eyes are going to pop out of their sockets anytime soon. You look as white as Mitsui's false teeth and your face is as blank as your answer sheet whenever Kamaro-sensei gives your class his ever-famous Math surprise quizzes."
"…………………………………………………"
"And here's the worst part. The number of your screaming demented fans was already reduced to a two-digit number. And basketball-wise, your shots weren't really going inside the basket. I will even bet that Sakuragi scored more points that you today."
"…………………………………………………"
"All in all, it's either you're really sick or you're just evolving into a true-blue Bakemono."
"Do'ahou."
Rukawa can be soooooooooo hard-headed sometimes…
… and times like this, I wish I don't care for him this much so I could just drag him and bang his head on the nearest wall to wake some sensibility in his thick skull.
RUKAWA
Do'ahou ononoko.
Her babbling makes my head hurt even more…
AYAMI
I was planning to give him some piece of my mind again when suddenly, he stopped walking and started rubbing the temples of his head. I was about to help him when the ball rang. Students rushed to their classroom leaving just me and Rukawa outside.
"Oi…"
"Go away."
"But the bell--"
"I'm fine."
"But--"
"GO."
He glared at me before pushing me forward. Then, he started to rub his head again.
"Fine! I was only trying to help. You don't have to push me away because unlike you, I can take a hint."
I was so angry that I didn't notice that Rukawa's face just projected an emotion that resembled someone in pain. I was so angry that I didn't think twice of turning my back and walking away. I was so angry that I didn't hear him calling me…asking me to stay. I only noticed him when I felt his hand on my shoulder.
"Now what?! Don't tell me you--"
I didn't get to continue my 'sermon' because I saw Rukawa collapsing on my side. I was so shocked that I just stared at his body. I didn't know what else to do… there was no one around that I could ask help from. After a few minutes, he still remained unconscious.
"O-oi."
I poked at his body with my foot but I got no reaction. I noticed that he was breathing really fast and seemed so…distant. I suddenly remembered how my mother looks like that day she passed away. He looked the same way minus the puffy appearance. I began to panic.
"BAKA! I told you that you're not ok. Oi, wake up! This is not funny…oi! You're-you're so cold…and pale. I know I told you to drop dead so many times but… OI! Don't do this to me… damn you!"
AAARGH! I NEED HELP!
MITSUI
Uhrm… that was a nice practice.
I think I'd go and freshen up a bit first before going to class…
That's when I heard Ayami's voice which sounded like she's fighting with Rukawa AGAIN. I decided to go and stop those two before they start strangling each other's throat but when I finally found them, I saw Ayami kneeling down beside an unconscious Rukawa.
Uh-oh. I guess I'm too late already…
"Ayami…what did you--"
"MITSUI! Thank God…you've got to help me."
"I didn't you're capable of doing this…"
"What?!"
"You-you killed him! You killed Rukawa!"
"What the--"
"Don't worry. Because I care for you too much, I will not tell anyone about this. I'll even help you bury him and--"
Suddenly, a shoe came flying straight to my face. As I was trying to regain my composure, I saw Ayami all flustered up and was obviously resisting the urge to commit another murder.
"BAKA!"
"………………………………………………"
"If ignorance was a disability, you'd get the full pension!"
"………………………………………………"
"I didn't do anything ok? We were just walking and talking and annoying each other when he collapsed all of a sudden."
Oh. Ehe.
"So…you…you didn't kill--"
"Of course I didn't, ahou!"
"O-kay. If you say so…"
"Gah! Just help me. We should bring him to the clinic--"
"Still closed. Too early."
"WHAT?! Why those stupid imbeciles…and they're supposed to…argh! Let's bring him to the hospital then."
"The hospital? Anou…Ayami, don't you think you're just over-reacting--"
Ummm…wrong words.
"ME?! OVER-REACTING?! OH WOW! MAYBE YOU ARE RIGHT! STUPID ME…WHY SHOULD WE BRING HIM TO THE HOSPITAL EH?! AFTER ALL, HE JUST FAINTED AND HE'S BREATHING REALLY FAST AND OH LOOK! HE'S DRAINING OF COLOR EVERY MINUTE! I MEAN…WOW. REALLY WOW. EVERYTHING'S UNDER CONTROL HERE! NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT!"
"Ok! Ok! I'm sorry…geez. Why are you so tense?"
"I'M NOT TENSED! I'M JUST TERRIBLY, TERRIBLY ALERT OK?!"
"Uh…great. So what…what should we--"
"Grab his arms!"
I took hold of Rukawa's arms while Ayami held his legs. It took us a few more minutes to finally lift him up.
Ugh. This jerk sure is heavy…
I looked at Ayami and saw anxiety plastered all over her face. Her eyes were also somewhat glossy…like she's trying her best to prevent her tears from falling down.
Looks like there's something more between them than what they let other people see eh?
I didn't know she cared for him this much…
HARUKO
"La la la la la la la…"
UHRM. What a nice day! But I better go to my classes now…
As I was about to enter the school building, I saw Ayami-chan and Mitsui-kun carrying something huge and long out of the campus. Frankly, it looks like they're carrying somebody. Curiosity got the better part of me so I decided to follow them.
"OHAYOU! What's wrong here?"
It seems like I startled them because they dropped whatever they're carrying, which landed with a loud bang.
"HARUKO?! What-what are you doing here? You're supposed to be in our class or something right?"
"Um…yeah. But I saw the two of you and so I decided to…EH?!?!? Is that…RUKAWA-KUN?!?!"
I ran beside him and shook him really hard. Blood was gushing out of his forehead.
"Mitsui-kun, Ayami-chan…what did you--"
"GAH! B-blood… Mitsui! You should have been more careful."
"Look who's talking! You're the one to let go remember?"
"I guess we should have turned him over…"
"I told you so."
"Shut up."
I looked at Ayami-chan then at Mitsui-kun then at Rukawa-kun. That's when it all dawned upon me the reason behind all of this commotion. I didn't know they hated him this much!
"Ayami-chan, whe-where are you bringing him? I can't believe you can do something…brutal like this!"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"……………………………………"
"To the hospital, of course!"
"Th-then I'm coming with you…just to make sure."
"EH?! WHAT DID YOU MEAN--"
"Let's go Mitsui-kun."
"Um…yeah. Carry his legs."
"HAI! I would do anything for Rukawa-kun."
Hang in there! I wouldn't let her hurt you anymore…
MITSUI
I smell a fight brewing here… mwehe. Nothing beats two girls fighting over a guy.
AYAMI
What did Sakuragi ever see in her?!
Sure she's nice and sweet but…
…ugh. Who gave her the right to take my position anyway?! I'm supposed to be the one holding Rukawa's legs and--
…wait. GAH! I can't believe I just sounded like an over-protective girlfriend!!!
BAH! I don't care anymore…let Haruko suffer. She wants to anyway…
~ Fast Forward: In the Hospital ~
RUKAWA
Where the hell am I?
"I'm sorry we have to bother you with a stupid patient."
Ugh. That voice sounds familiar…
"We promise he won't be an idiot next time."
Where did HE come from?!
I gradually opened my eyes and adjusted my vision to my surrounding. I saw Ayami and Mitsui talking to a doctor. I turned my head the other way and saw Gori's sister holding up my hands while tears we're freely running down her eyes that are the size of basketball…balls and as red as…roses.
Pathetic. I'm still alive, do'ahou.
"Oi."
"RUKAWA-KUN! YOU'RE AWAKE!"
Ugh. I think my eardrums just exploded…
"Haruko, you don't have to scream. We're not deaf…and definitely not blind you know."
"Sorry. I was just too happy."
"So, his 'royal highness' is finally awake eh?"
What's with them? Why are they getting all pumped up over some simple greeting?
Do'ahous.
"Ah…Rukawa-dono. How are you feeling right now?"
"My head hurts."
"Ah…that's because of the concussion you got that resulted to some minor bleeding."
Concussion?! How the hell did I get a concussion?!?!
Why those three…
"Anou…how is he? Is he going to be alright?"
I glared at Ayami. She was obviously guilty that's why she conveniently changed the topic. How can I not be alright? Can't she see--
"I'm afraid not."
What the—
AYAMI
He's…he's not?
"I found in his blood test that he has a severe case of anemia. Iron-deficiency anemia, to be exact."
"Iron-what?"
"Its commonly known as IDA. It's usually experienced by pregnant women but there are also cases of men acquiring this deficiency. Its main cause is poor absorption of iron by the body and inadequate daily intake of iron."
EVERYONE IN THE ROOM (except the doctor)
(o.0;;) Oooooooooooooooooooooohhhhh…..
Very heavy material…
DOCTOR
I hope they understand what I'm saying…
"There are many symptoms of anemia. Each individual will not experience all symptoms and if the case is mild, it may not be noticeable. Some of the symptoms are: pale skin color, fatigue, irritability, dizziness, weakness, shortness of breath, sore tongue, brittle nails, decreased appetite, and headache."
"…………..o_0…………………………o_0…………………………o_0………………………………¬_¬…………………………"
"And as we can see, our patient here encountered almost all of the symptoms. Because of that, we have to place Rukawa-dono here under observation.
"…………..o_0…………………………o_0…………………………o_0………………………………¬_¬…………………………"
"Tell me, has he been exhausting himself to the limit these past few days? Or had he been skipping meals? Or had he--"
Before I could finish my questions and before Rukawa-dono could answer, his three dazed companions already answered for him.
"YES."
RUKAWA
The only thing I could do that time was glare at them.
"Just as I suspected…"
"So-so what are you going to do with him?"
"Well…I want him to stay here for a week or so."
A week.
A week?!
He's taking me as a prisoner in here for a week?!
"Do'ahou."
MITSUI
Rukawa doesn't know how to respect others, that's for sure…
"Gomen nasai. He doesn't know what he's saying doctor…"
"Do'ahou."
"Oi Rukawa! Will you cut that out?"
"Do'ahou."
Kusou…he's asking for this!
HARUKO
Oh no!
What should I do?
What should I do?
WHAT SHOULD I DO?!?!?!
I know…
And with that, I sacrificed my pride and dignity just for the sake of saving the one I love.
"HEEEEEEEEELP! SOMEBODY! ANYBODY! HEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!!!!"
DOCTOR
Oro?! (¬ . ¬;;)
RUKAWA & MITSUI
A-re?! (¬ . ¬;;)
Why is she screaming and running like a demented chicken around the room?
WEIRD…
AYAMI
Oh crap.
Just as Mitsui was about to give Rukawa a lesson on how to respect others using brutal means, Haruko suddenly screamed for help and started running around the room. I sort of understand what she was trying to do but maaaaaaaaaaan… she looks really funny.
Must not laugh…
"Anou…Haruko…"
Must not laugh…
"You can stop…"
Must not laugh…
"…squaking now."
Haruko stopped running. She looked at me with a pained and confused look in her eyes.
"Squa-squaking?! I'M SQUAKING?!"
MUST. NOT. LAUGH.
"Yep. You know, just like what chicke….MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
DOCTOR
Kids these days…
I sure pity their parents…
After a few minutes or so of non-stop noise inside the room, I ushered Rukawa-dono's visitors out of the room before they make any more damage. Besdies, this IS a hospital, not a mental institution.
MITSUI
"So, girls, what do you want to do now?"
"I WANT TO GO HOME."
Before I could stop them, Ayami and Gori's sister, Haruko something I think, left in separate ways. As for me, I decided to just go and visit Tetsuo. After all, remedial classes are boring anyway.
~ Later: Night time ~
RUKAWA
Damn. It's boring here…
Wonder who'll pay for the bills…
Wonder if I should tell my parents…
Ugh. All this thinking makes my head ache…
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz….
AYAMI
Wonder if I'll get detention for skipping classes today…
Wonder what he is doing right now…
Wonder when will Haruko ever stop being dense and start noticing Sakuragi so that she'll leave Rukawa alone…
Wonder if I should tell anyone my 'love' problem…it's tiring to deal everything by myself…
Wonder who'll pay for the bills…
Wonder if I should tell his parents…heck! I don't even know where they are…
Oh well. I'll just ask ojii-san tomorrow…
MITSUI
Wonder what Ayami ever saw in that jerk…
Wonder why Akagi's sister acted really weird today…
Wonder why I'm wondering when I should be sleeping…
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz….
HARUKO
Wonder what Rukawa-kun's doing right now…
Wonder if I'll get detention for skipping classes today…
Wonder if I really…squak…
Wonder why Ayami-chan's being mean to me all of a sudden…
Umm… maybe she likes Rukawa-kun…
SAKURAGI
Wonder where Haruko-san was all day…
Wonder where Micchy was all day…
Wonder where Ayami-chan was all day…
TEME!
Don't tell me Micchy went out with the tensai's girls…
KUSOU!
MIYAGI
Wonder where Rukawa and Mitsui were all day…
Wonder where Haruko-chan was all day…
Wonder if Aya-chan will still be mad tomorrow…
AYAKO
Wonder where the hell those three were all day…
I'm going to make sure to give them a nice spanking tomorrow…
******************************************
~_^ MY! MY!
SO, just like what the title said, this is just part 1. I'll upload part 2 maybe after the Holy Week. And sorry if the last part did not make any sense whatsoever. And again, I want to thank akuma-tenshi for being my beta-reader and uploading this for me. And to akira for the e-mails…ty. ^_^
If you want to know more about anemia, you can visit http://www.mamashealth.com/nutrition/anemia.asp ok? Ok.
Love it? Hate it? Made you want to cry, scream or vomit? Let me know!
Pls. review! Ja! ^_^v