Crusty's note: Arigato minna-san for the reviews!! ^.^
annedrew gave me her (it's her isn't it?) review, yaay! (since I like your 'Incessant Desire' so much ^ ^) thanks for your words abt fast-reading, since it's flashback, so I think I don't have to be that detail. I hope it's not annoying for you guys.
Rini/smiley, if I'm not mistaken, you gave me review abt my fic tittled 'If I let You Go'... gomen, but I haven't planned to make the sequel... umm... maybe later... maybe..^ ^'
Last words..have a nice reading, minna-san!!
Crusty's alert: Everything happened in this chapter are flashbacks related to the flashback in the 2nd chapter.
GommennasaiFLASHBACK
The match against Ryonan.
It was a quite hard game but excellent to watch. Ryonan exceeded Shohoku by six points.
Sakuragi and Rukawa were on the court together, but fortunately this time they didn't messed up as usual.
Eventhough Rukawa didn't join the team practice yesterday, but today he was really on fire. He scored 25 points so far, competiting Sendoh who scored 27.
Sakuragi also did some awesome rebounds, allowing Shohoku to keep on scoring and guarding their own ring from Ryonan shots aswell.
The ball was in Rukawa's hand.
He dribbled trying to reach Ryonan's ring while Sendoh was guarding him.
Sendoh's defence has always been firm, and this time Rukawa seemed having trouble to pass the Ryonan's captain.
Body contact appeared as the two ace players were trying to defeat their opponents.
While guarding Rukawa, Sendoh's hand accidentally hit Rulawa's right elbow.
"Ouch!!" The ball slipped from his hand. Sendoh easily took the ball and dribbled it to Shohoku's hoop.
"Idiot!!" Sakuragi swore to Kitsune who was holding his right arm with his left hand.
"Shut up," he replied coldly.
After the incident which no one knew, Rukawa lose more balls and missed more shots.
"What is it Rukawa? Are you tired?" Ryota mildly punched Rukawa's right arm trying to give a support to the boy.
Rukawa stepped aside reflectly as Ryota punched his arm...it felt hurt.
Damn, not now. Hang on Kaede...
Ryota stopped and stared at Rukawa who was running in front of him. He noticed that Rukawa's arm was injured.
The game was still on and Rukawa managed to catch Ryota's pass properly. He was near Ryonan's hoop.
"Don't miss this time Kitsune!!" Sakuragi yelled rather threatening.
Rukawa leap very high and managed a powerfull dunk in front of Sendoh's block.
"Nice dunk, Rukawa!" Ryota was about to pat Rukawa's arm, but Rukawa stepped aside to avoid the pat at the right time.
"Rukawa, is your arm injured?" Ryota stared at Rukawa.
"No."
"Don't lie."
"No, I'm fine."
"What is it?" Sakuragi got near them, "Is he starting to messed up, Ryochin?"
"We're going to change a player," Ryota replied and turned to coach Anzai who was sitting on the bench.
"No, wait! I'm OK!" Rukawa caught Ryota by his shoulder. But the whistle sound announced it was a time out requested by Shohoku.
"I'm OK, coach. I'll play 'till the end of the game," Rukawa spoke as he got near coach Anzai.
"Your right arm really hurts doesn't it, Rukawa? Don't push your self," coach Anzai said calmly.
"No! I'm OK! Our score is equal now...I can put some shots in..."
"What's actually happened to your arm, Rukawa?" Ayako asked.
"I... fell from the stairs of my house as I was leaving for this game..."
Ayako took Rukawa's right arm.
"This bruises doesn't look new. It's almost faded. Are you sure you got this bruises this morning? Or is it got something to do with your absence at the team practise yesterday?" Ayako took a good look at Rukawa's face as if she could find the right answer there.
"Yah... I don't know for sure... maybe I got it yesterday..." Rukawa nearly mumbled, but his face still looked cold and calm.
While at the same moment, Sakuragi stood in silence.
Suddenly he remembered yesterday he slammed Rukawa to the wall and Rukawa landed on his right side.
Could it be...
"I'm fine. Five minutes left. It's no big deal, we'll win," Rukawa convinced his teammates. He really wanted to stay in the game and win over Ryonan
"OK...but take it easy Rukawa. I know you wanted Shohoku to win, but remember, this is just a friendship match," coach Anzai spoke calmly.
"But coach..."
"It's OK, Ayako," Rukawa's eyes looked fiery. He really wanted to win!
And the game continued.
As he promised, Rukawa made some great shots adding Shohoku's score.
Meanwhile Sakuragi was still thinking. Could it be that the bruises was caused by him?
Normally in his war days against Rukawa, Sakuragi wouldn't care if he's gonna break Rukawa's hands, feet, or even his neck. But this time suddenly he felt guilty.
He shoots and dunks using his injured arm. It must've hurt very much. But he keeps on fighting with full spirit and efforts.
Five seconds to the final whistle, and it was 86-85 for Ryonan.
Rukawa dribbled the ball very fast to Ryonan's ring, while Sendoh and two other Ryonan players were chasing him at the same speed.
Three seconds left...
"Shoot, Rukawa!!" Ryota yelled.
Two seconds...
Rukawa leap in a dramatically height followed by the Ryonan players.
One second...
It's gonna be a dunk, but Ryonan players' arms were everywhere.
Piece of cake...
Rukawa dunked the ball as hard as he could passing through the massive blocks of the Ryonan players.
He hurt his arm while he slammed the ball in, but there was a great joy inside of him.
Shohoku won! It's 87-86 for Shohoku!
Rukawa landed on his feet. His teammates were running towards him to celebrate the victory.
But they were surprised to see Rukawa fell on his knee. He clutched his right arm with his left hand. His face looked pale.
"Rukawa!!? Are you OK!!?"
"Rukawa!!!"
"My... arm..." Rukawa felt an enormous pain on his right arm.
As his teammates helped Rukawa, Sakuragi just freezed behind them.
Rukawa really looked suffering from a great pain, but there was nothing Sakuragi could do.
He just stared at Rukawa with an unexplained feelings.
"Kitsune...gomennasai..."
END FLASHBACK
TO BE CONTINUE