28 days
by: purplerose28
Disclaimers apply: I don't own Slam Dunk characters… but I would like to own Rukawa and Sendoh (hehehe just kidding!!) I hope you'll like my story… Please send me all you're comments, suggestions and violent reactions!! My e-mail add is kitsune_rukawa11@yahoo.com... Thank you to those who reviewed my story!! ENJOY!!
~ Chapter 8 ~
"Kaemi thanks for everything and I really had a good time." Haruko said.
"I had a great time too and don't worry I'll try to talk to him." Kaemi said.
"You really don't have to do that. I understand him and it's normal for him to be like that so you don't have anything to worry about." Haruko said as they walk out of the cafeteria.
"No. He needs to learn how to be considerate about someone's feelings. It's not right for him to treat you like that!!" Kaemi said.
"If you really want to… then talk to him, he seems to listen to you. The truth is I haven't seen him treat somebody the way he treats you. As I watch him talk to you the first day we came here I can see that he is fond of you…it seems to like you." Haruko said.
"Like me?! You're kidding right?!" Kaemi asked and she was blushing at the idea that Rukawa likes her.
"No I'm not… I can see it clearly in his face." Haruko said.
"Nah… impossible." Kaemi said. Then the two were silent as they walk both deep in their thoughts. "Impossible… unfeasible and unbelievable!! NO…NOT… NEVER and NOT AT ALL… He would never like me!!" Kaemi said in her mind. "But what if he really like me?!" Kaemi asked herself then blushed. "Ahh!! Stop daydreaming Kaemi!! STOP!! He is leaving soon and there is no way you can see him again… He will leave you just what like others always do!! So just STOP!!" Kaemi thought.
"I know he really likes Kaemi and I should be happy for him… I'm sure he will be happy with Kaemi." Haruko thought as she looks at Kaemi. "She is really lovely and kind… and he will need somebody like her!" Haruko said in her mind and smile at the thought.
"Haruko thanks for accepting my invitation… I really had a great time talking to you." Haruko said when they reach the hospital's door.
"No need to thank me I had a blast too!! Thank you." Haruko said. "I'll be going now!! See yah!!" Haruko said as she started to walk away from Kaemi.
"Bye Haruko!! Take care and come back anytime you want!!" Kaemi exclaimed as she watches Haruko walk away. "Now time to talk to that guy and scratch his rotten attitude!!" Kaemi said.
~~**~~
When Kaemi arrived at Rukawa's room at first she knocked at his door but she got no answer from him so she knocked again but again there is no answer so she decided to just come inside and see what he is up to. When she got inside she found him in his bed sleeping. Kaemi went beside his bed and watch him sleep.
"God… he looks so handsome." Kaemi thought as she watches him sleep. "And his lips… it's so kissable… I want to kiss him…" Kaemi said as her attention was now focused on his lips and she didn't know how and why but her face was drawing closer and closer to his face and when her lips was just an inch away from his suddenly Rukawa's eyes opened and he was looking at her with a questioning look on his face.
A long silence came between them as they look at each other. Rukawa was looking at Kaemi and he didn't know what is happening all he knew was he felt somebody's breathe against his lips and it made him shiver all over his body. When he opened his eyes he thought he was dreaming when he saw Kaemi's face so close to his and she was looking at his lips.
Kaemi doesn't know what to do Rukawa was awaken and now he was looking at her. She doesn't know if she should pull back or just stay there and cherish this wonderful moment with him.
"He doesn't look mad and his eyes it looks so mystifying." Kaemi thought as she continues to stare at him and then she saw something in his eyes that she hadn't seen before. She knew his eyes were pure dark blue it's the first things she notice in him when she first saw him but right now she can see a hint of gold in his eyes. "Maybe I'm just hallucinating." Kaemi thought. Then she suddenly she felt her lips were so dry so she licked her lips. And again there was a glint of gold in his eyes. "Maybe his eyes really have gold… maybe I didn't notice it because I am not as close as this." Kaemi thought.
"I can't take this anymore… those lips of hers..." Rukawa thought as he watch her wet her lips with her tongue and continue to look at his eyes. "Is there something wrong?!" Rukawa asked in a soft voice. He was having a hard time talking but he needs to remove the tension that is building between them or is it just him.
"Um… you see… ummm…I… um… came here to…" Kaemi said nervously. "Ahh!! I'm so nervous!!" Kaemi said in her mind. She absentmindedly licked her lips.
"Damn why does she have to do that again!! She looks so sexy." Rukawa thought as he looks at her lips and as he struggles to stop his self from grabbing her and from ravishing her red lips.
"I… I want… to talk to you about… umm… something then…" Kaemi can't seem to make a full comprehensible sentence. "EH!! He was looking at my lips!! Okay… Kaemi calm down and talk properly!!" Kaemi told herself. "But how can I calm down and talk properly when my face I so close to his!!" Kaemi yelled at herself. She was still leaning to him her left hand on the headboard of the bed and her right hand was on the bed beside Rukawa's shoulder and it was supporting her body. "Maybe I should pull back… yes right I should move away from him so I can talk to him properly and tell him that what he did to Haru…" Kaemi's thought were disturbed when she felt Rukawa's hand on her cheek.
"What is it that you want to talk about, sweetheart?!" Rukawa murmured. "Sweetheart?! Where did that came from?!" Rukawa asked his self. He looks at her eyes that are now as wide as a saucer and he can see she was surprised with him calling her with that penname. He was surprised too.
"Sweetheart?! What is that?!" Kaemi thought. Then she can feel his thumb caressing her cheek and that made her heart beat faster and wilder. She closed her eyes as she tried to calm herself. "I can't believe it... it seems calming myself is the hardest thing to do!!" Kaemi thought. "I better move away from him." Kaemi said to herself. "I want to talk to you about Haruko..." Kaemi said as she stand straight and step away from Rukawa but after she made her first step Rukawa pulled her back. She was now leaning to him and her hands were on his chest. His arm was wrapped around her waist.
"What is it about Haruko, sweetheart?!" Rukawa asked in a soothing tone his other free hand was caressing her short hair. "She is nervous… sorry sweetheart but I'm starting to like our closeness so I can't let you go. You just look so adorable when you're nervous." Rukawa thought with a mischievous grin.
"God… what does he think he is doing to me?!" Kaemi asked herself and whether she admits it or not she likes what he is doing. "Kaemi you came here to talk to him and teach him a lesson not flirt with him!!!" Kaemi shouted at herself. "Kaede… uumm… I mean Mr. Snooty I think you should not treat Haruko like what you did." Kaemi said not looking at Rukawa.
"You can call me Kaede if you want, sweetheart." Rukawa said then he holds Kaemi's chin and tilted her face so she was looking at him. Then the next thing Rukawa knew was he was moving his face closer to Kaemi and he was looking at her lips.
"Oh god he is going to kiss me!!" Kaemi's mind shouted. But she didn't pull away from him. Kaemi found herself moving closer as well and her eyes were closing. And when their lips were about to touched the door suddenly opens. The two came to their senses and they quickly move away from each other; Kaemi standing to the window pretending to be looking outside while Rukawa pretended he was sleeping.
"Ms. Hidaka did I disturb anything?!" The intruder asked.
"Yes you did!! He almost kissed me!!" Kaemi exclaimed in her mind wanting to tell it to the intruder but instead she looked at who was the person who disturbed their intimate moment and found out it was one of the hospital's employees who clean the patient's room everyday.
"I'm here for room cleaning." The cleaner said.
"Um… go ahead and clean. I was just visiting him and since he is asleep I better leave." Kaemi said and she quickly went outside the room. "DAMN IT!! What is happening to me?! I'm came to tell him that his attitude stinks and he need to learn some manners!! Why am I going to kiss HIM?!" Kaemi asked herself and then blushed. If the cleaner didn't arrived she had already taste his lips. "AAHHH!! I'm going CRAZY!!" Kaemi exclaimed as she walk along the corridor.
~~**~~
"STUPID RUKAWA!! You are so STUPID!! Do you know what you just did?! What you almost did?!" Rukawa's mind exclaimed.
"But I can't stop myself!! God… her lips are…her lips… I just want kiss her!!" His mind answered.
"Stop acting like this Rukawa next week your leaving and she is leaving too. There is no way you two could be together!! So just forget her!!" His mind said.
A part of him wanted to do what his heart tells him to… His heart wants to be always with Kaemi, to be by her side all the time and his heart wants to experience how to love and to be love but part of it tells him to forget all of this… it tells him that all of this are nonsense… it tells him that he can't be with Kaemi
"But I can't forget about her and I know I sound crazy but I love her." Said the part of him that agrees to follow his heart.
"LOVE her?! Do you know what that means?!!" His opposing mind asked.
"Of course." He replied.
"Oh really?! You have never loved anybody but yourself. You want to be with her just because she makes you happy and because she helps you forget all the sorrow and bitterness you feel inside you. You only want her because she can help you!!" His mind said.
"That's not true!! I want her because I love her!!" He said.
"Ok let say you do really LOVE her NOW!! What if the time comes when she can't do anything for you… what if the time comes when she can't make you laugh anymore… what if the time comes when she can no longer relieve all the sorrow and bitterness you feel?!! Will you still love her?!" His mind asked.
"I… I…"
"HA!! You can't answer that only proves I'm right!!" His mind exclaimed.
"NO!! I will still love her…" Rukawa said with a doubt in his voice.
"Who are you trying to convince?! YOURSELF?!" His mind asked. "What you feel about her is not love!! You are being SELFISH Rukawa!! You always are SELFISH!! You think and worry only about yourself not about Kaemi or about others. You're SELFISH!! You don't deserve someone like Kaemi… She doesn't deserve someone like you!! She deserves better!! SO just forget about her!!" His mind exclaimed.
Rukawa wasn't able to answer anymore.
"Do I really love Kaemi because of those reasons?! Am I being selfish again?!" He asked his self.
It is true that he love to be with Kaemi because when he is with her he doesn't feel the sorrow and bitterness that he always feels when he is alone. When he is with Kaemi he is very happy. Are those the only reasons that he wanted to be with Kaemi. What if his mind is correct?!
"What if she can't do anything for me anymore?! Will I still love her?! The question is… do I really love her?! Is what I feel right now love?!" Rukawa asked his self. "Do I know what love is?! Can I love someone like Kaemi?!" Wit those thoughts in his mind Rukawa have fallen asleep.
~~**~~
Rukawa was sitting on the bench with his wheelchair beside him. He asked the nurse to bring him outside because he wanted some fresh air and he is getting bored inside his room. Today is the third Wednesday of the month and it has been three days since that incident inside his room with Kaemi and on those three days Kaemi and Hotaru hasn't visited him. He had thought about it and came up with a conclusion that maybe Kaemi told Hotaru about what happened between them and she was definitely angry at him. It was really his fault for acting like he owns Kaemi and for calling her "sweetheart." But he has also thought that maybe Kaemi isn't angry at him maybe she is just so embarrass on what happened that she doesn't have any guts to face him.
He has also thought about how IT happened and from what he can remember it was Kaemi's fault that he almost kissed her. He repeated in his mind exactly what happened. He remembers it very clearly he was sleeping when he felt somebody's breath against his face and against his lips and when he opened his eyes Kaemi was right on front of him… in front of his face and they are only an inch away from each other. She was looking at him and he can't do anything but just stare at her as well especially her eyes. He was just contented in staring at her and he doesn't have any intention of kissing her but when he saw her licked her lips all those intention change. Right there and then he wanted to grab her and kiss her like there is no tomorrow. Then he tried to talk to remove his bad thought but it seems that Kaemi was teasing him because again she licked her lips and that made him want to kiss her more but he knew Kaemi isn't doing it on purpose but he thought she just look so sex when she lick her lips. Then for the first time he heard her call him by his name and its not Rukawa she called him by his first name. From the way she has said Kaede it sounded so pleasing to his ears.
Looks like it has been his hobby to touch Kaemi's cheeks and to try to kiss her it was the second time that he almost kissed her. And he knew he should stop and he will definitely stop whether he likes it or not because for the past three days Kaemi hasn't visited him and he doubt it if she would ever visit her again.
"Stupid me." Rukawa said.
He has another thing to think about until now he hasn't answered the one question that is driving him insane. Does he really love Kaemi?!
"How will I know?! I don't even know what love is?!" Rukawa said. "I am really stupid!!" He thought as he sighs.
~~**~~
"Aren't we going to go to him?!" Hotaru asked.
"Lower your voice, will yah!! We are behind him and he might hear us!!" Kaemi said.
"For heaven's sake Kaemi we are on the third floor of the building!! Rukawa won't hear us." Hotaru exclaimed.
"Just to make sure." Kaemi said.
"You're crazy!!" Hotaru said.
"Yeah whatever!!" Kaemi said
"Why are we hiding from him?! We haven't visited him for three days and I bet he misses us. Look at him and have mercy on him Kaemi!!" Hotaru said as she points at Rukawa.
"Shut up Hotaru!! I can't go near him after what happened. I bet he thinks I'm a flirt!!" Kaemi said.
"Oh well I can't do anything about that!! You really are a fool for what you did!! I should have seen you!!" Hotaru said.
"Will you stop it already!! You've been making fun of me for three days haven't you have enough?!" Kaemi asked as she blushes. For the past three days those incident keeps on replaying on her mind day and night.
"Sorry!! It's just I didn't thought you would actually do it. The nerve you got!!" Hotaru said as she giggles. She can remember how red Kaemi's face when she is telling IT to her and how her stomach ache because of too much laughing. She thought she would die laughing.
"You think he hates me now?!" Kaemi asked.
"Of course not, sweetheart." Hotaru said still laughing.
"Will you stop calling me THAT!!" Kaemi said as she blushes. And for the past three days Hotaru is using that penname when talking to her and every time Kaemi hears it she just can't stop from blushing. She can clearly remember how it sounded when Rukawa said it and sends shiver down her spine.
"But seriously Kaemi I'm sure he isn't mad at you!! I bet he even loves you!!" Hotaru said.
"WHAT?!" That is so very impossible!!" Kaemi said blushing but the thought of Rukawa loving her made her very happy.
"Why impossible he called you sweetheart and he tired to kiss you!!" Hotaru said.
"That's not enough reason for us to conclude that HE LOVES ME!! And how can you be so sure that he loves me?!" Kaemi asked.
"I got an idea maybe we should ask him if he loves you or not!! Let's go!!" Hotaru said.
"What?! Are you crazy?! I would never do that!!" Kaemi exclaimed.
"Why not?! Trying to kiss him is more embarrassing than asking him!! So let's talk to him!!" Hotaru said.
"NO!! NEVER!!" Kaemi exclaimed.
"Then I will do it!!" Hotaru said.
"Don't you dare!!" Kaemi said.
"Try me!!" Hotaru said putting her hands on her waist.
"As if you can!!" Kaemi said and she started to walk away from Hotaru. "Let's go I want…" but before Kaemi finish her sentence…
"RRRRUUUUUKKKKAAAWWWAAA!!" Hotaru shouted so loud that everyone looked at Hotaru.
When Kaemi saw Rukawa look at Hotaru Kaemi quickly sat down to hide. Hotaru wave her hand and smiled at Rukawa.
"I'll be right there!!" Hotaru yelled.
"What do you think are you doing?!" Kaemi asked still sitting when Hotaru look at her.
"I told you I will talk to him so now I will!! So excuse me!!" Hotaru said with a big grin on her face. "You can come if you want." Hotaru said.
"No thanks." Kaemi said then she started to walk with her knees and hands on the floor. And Hotaru started to laugh again as she walk away.
~~**~~
"Hi Rukawa!!" Hotaru said as she sat on Rukawa's wheelchair.
"Hello." Rukawa said.
"Long time no see… how are you doing?!" Hotaru asked.
"I'm fine." Rukawa replied. "Where could Kaemi be?! If Hotaru is here Kaemi should be with her too." Rukawa thought.
"If you want to ask where Kaemi is she is on our room resting." Hotaru said.
"Looks like you can read my mind. Are you a mind reader?!" Rukawa asked.
"No actually I'm more of a heart reader and if you want I'll try to read yours!!" Hotaru said.
"Sure." Rukawa said.
"Ok… you tell me if I'm correct or not." Hotaru said.
"Ok." Rukawa said nodding.
"Let's start… first you like someone by the name of Kaemi Hidaka." Hotaru said and she burst out laughing when she saw Rukawa's wide eyes and flushed face.
"That's not true." Rukawa said as he looks away from Hotaru.
"Come on Rukawa stop denying it I know you like her. I knew what happened… you know the almost… mwah mwah…" Hotaru said pouting her lips and acting like kissing someone.
"Will you stop that!!?" Rukawa said blushing.
"Tell me do you really like Kaemi?!" Hotaru asked.
"Maybe… I don't know. I don't even know what love is. I'm so stupid." Rukawa said.
"Love... I'm not sure. The love I experience is different from yours… when I was young I have never experienced how to be loved… I was always sad and lonely. But when Kaemi came into my life it all change. She has showed me love and care that no one has ever done. She has loved me and she treated me like her real sister and for that I am so thankful!!" Hotaru said smiling and as she recalls the time she was with Kaemi.
"When I met you and Kaemi my life has somewhat change… I think. Does that mean I have fallen in love with Kaemi?!" Rukawa asked.
"Maybe yes… maybe no… I really can't tell. You're the only one who can say if you have fallen in love with her or not. All I know is when there are times that I'm not with Kaemi I feel sad and lonely and as if my day isn't complete if I can't see her and be with her." Hotaru said. "Do you feel sad and lonely on the three days that Kaemi didn't visit you or the times you don't get too see her even for just a day?!" Hotaru asked as she looks at Rukawa.
"I would be lying if I say no… even most of the times she annoys me." Rukawa replied with a smile on his face.
"Maybe you really do love her but just like what I said you're the only one who can say you're true feeling for Kaemi. I love Kaemi as a sister and a very close friend then maybe you love her as a friend also or maybe more. They say that you will only realize how important and how much you love a person when she is already out of your life… when its already too late and she is already gone. " Hotaru said sadly. "I guessed that how life goes... fate brings people into your life they stay and they make you love them and then after that without a word fate will get them back without a word… they will leave you alone…" Hotaru added with her head bowed down.
Rukawa wasn't able to say a word he just kept silent and watch as the tress sway with the wind.
"Kaemi will leave me… fate brought her to me but soon fate will get her away from me… I don't know what to do… I don't know how I feel for her…" Rukawa thought.
"Rukawa please take care of Kaemi she needs someone like you right now and especially when the time comes… please Rukawa...." Hotaru whispered but it was loud enough for Rukawa to hear.
"I don't Hotaru… I don't know…" Rukawa said.
~~**~~
"Thanks for talking to me Hotaru I really needed that." Rukawa said.
"No problem… I really wanted to talk to you too." Hotaru said as she pushes Rukawa's wheelchair. "Rukawa to tell you the truth for the past three days that we didn't visit you Kaemi has been always quiet… she isn't as cheerful as when we are together… she looks so lonely even how much she hides it I can see clearly that she is sad. I know she misses you Rukawa." Hotaru said.
"I missed her too." Rukawa said.
"Why don't try to see her and talk to her?! I'm sure she'll be happy to see you." Hotaru said.
"But she is mad at me for what I did to her." Rukawa said.
"Don't be silly Rukawa she isn't mad at you." Hotaru said. "She is very happy on what happened." Hotaru thought with a smile on her face.
"Are you sure?!" Rukawa asked.
"101% sure!!" Hotaru replied as she opens the door of Rukawa's room.
"I'll try." Rukawa said.
After helping Rukawa to lie down to his bed Hotaru bid him farewell and left.
~ End of Chapter 8 ~