Your heart's desire
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Disclaimer: Honestly, I wouldn't be here if I owned either Rukawa or Sawakita. I'd be out showing them off. Anyway, Slam Dunk belongs to the Holy Guru Takehiko Inoue and I own the gorgeous Rukawa Kuroko.
Setting: Post-Slam Dunk
Pairing: Sawakita Eiji X OC (Rukawa Kuroko)
Character age guidelines:
Rukawa Kaede [32]
Rukawa Kuroko [20]
Genre: Romance/ maybe humour in some parts
Author's notes: It had occurred to me that most people hated Mary Sue fiction, so I'm here to incur the wrath of the mass by writing about one. *MUHAHAHAHAHAHA! * And yes, this fic was originally titled 'Aloof', but I've decided to re-write the whole thing. The reason is, after the long months of hiatus, I've lost the original train of thoughts and hence decided to buy a new train…sorry, I mean, buy a ticket for another train (ain't got the money). It was because of this fic that my buddy Fen challenged me to write a non-Mary-sue fanfic with an imperfect character. Paradoxically, I'm nearly done with that fic (Shinichi nii-chan) and this fic… ¬___¬
Anyway, for those who hadn't read the disclaimer/summary properly, or hadn't read the previous version, this is a Sawakita story for our beloved number one High School basketball player in Japan. He's so adorable. =D
Pre-script note: This fic doesn't have a beta-reader because I post chapters on impulse. However, my eternal devotion and love goes to Fen and the others who'd always be there to beta-read my horrendous works. (Stop scowling at me, Si En, I know this is another one of my romantic streaks…) I beta my own fic and so blame all the mistakes on me and I'll die a happy person if you point out blatant mistakes that I made.
Pre-script note 2: Constructive criticisms are very much welcomed. I'd be happy with a one-line review, but I give you my heart if you'd go past a paragraph assessing the fic, pointing out the strengths, weaknesses, where I should improve on and all. =D
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Chapter One
The lewd jokes that had been flying around all afternoon stopped abruptly. Mito Youhei looked up as a shiny Harley Davidson motorbike rolled into the garage. His employees whistled appreciatively as they eyed the finely crafted vehicle and its rider. Atop the colossal mass of metal was a slender woman dressed in black leather that wrapped around her well-toned figure. As she jumped off the bike, Youhei noticed the muscles flexing in her long legs. The final shock came when she pulled off her helmet. She was very attractive. In fact, her slanted eyes and sharp features strongly reminded him of somebody he used to know.
Realizing that both he and his employees had been staring for too long, Youhei cleared his throat and went up to her, "Good day, miss, how can we help you?" The woman eyed him coolly, "The tires and brakes to be changed now," Her tone was pointed, commanding, and definitely not that friendly, but Youhei felt that he did not mind giving in to every single command issued by the woman. She had a natural flair for being in authority. Apparently, his employees shared his sentiments as they scrambled for the tools and worked on her motorbike while sneaking glances at her.
Youhei took the accounts notebook and asked for her name.
"Rukawa Kuroko,"
He paused at the name, looking up at her, "Are you related to Rukawa Kaede?"
"His sister,"
"Oh! No wonder I felt that you looked familiar, but I hadn't seen you in school,"
"I'm twelve years younger," She warmed a little, knowing that the man knew her brother. There was nothing else as dear in the world to her as her elder brother. Since their parents died in a plane crash, fifteen-year-old Rukawa Kaede worked part-time as he struggled with bringing up his three-year-old sister. Their uncle and aunt took them in, but Kaede wanted as little to owe them as possible. Apart from the daily necessities like schooling and providing for the basic needs, Kaede took charge of everything else of Kuroko – He taught her how to eat on her own, taught her manners, took her out, put her to bed every night and everything else there was.
"Rukawa, I mean, Kaede, has blue eyes, but yours are brown…" Youhei remarked.
"Kaede got our mother's blue eyes," Kuroko replied, a note of irritation coming into her voice, "Are you done with questions?"
"Touchy," Youhei laughed, "Just like your brother, there you go, Miss Rukawa," He smiled, passing her the receipt. Kuroko eyed the receipt sharply before paying. She sat on a bench in the garage and waited for the work to be done.
As Rukawa Kuroko took off on the fixed motorbike, Youhei turned to his employees (who were still gaping at Kuroko and her magnificent bike), "You know, if you'd work as hard as you did today, we'd have earned a lot more money,"
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Kaede came out of the showers, drying his hair with a towel. Sawakita called out to him, "Oy Kaede, want to go for lunch together? Akira, Hisashi and I are going together," Kaede shrugged, "My sis is coming in a little while, ask her,"
"You have a sister?" Sawakita's eyes widened, "My, she must be a looker," He eyed the beautiful man appreciatively.
"Yes she is," Kaede replied, pulling on a polo shirt, "Touch her and you die,"
"Whoa! Serious?" Sawakita grinned, "I must see how much of a looker she is, then,"
Kaede rolled his eyes.
Sendoh Akira strolled into the communal showers, "Kaede, are you going with us? Nothing's better than a nice fat lunch after a game. Oh yeah, you should really see that gorgeous Harley Davidson outside there! Did I say that the rider – "
"…is my sister," Kaede finished the line for him.
"Did I hear sister?" Kuroko pushed past Sendoh into the showers. Sawakita grabbed for a towel to cover his essentials. Sendoh gaped at her arse.
"Get. Out." Kaede tried to push his sister out of the male communal shower rooms where the other basketball players were mainly half-naked or even totally naked. They were frantically grabbing for random pieces of clothing when Kuroko came in. He also made a mental note to kill Sendoh for eyeing his sister that way.
"Kae, there's nothing I never saw on a guy before," Kuroko rolled her eyes at her brother. The other basketball players turned purple.
"You are a girl, that's final," Kaede tapped her head sharply and shoved her out of the room, taking his bag with him. Sawakita pulled on his jeans and hurried out.
Kuroko was laughing at Kaede's protective stance. Sawakita froze when he heard her – the husky laugh sent shivers down his spine. 'Man, she's sexy!'
"Ne, Kae, good to see you," She hugged her big brother. Kaede returned the hug in an equally affectionate manner. Sawakita raised an eyebrow – Rukawa Kaede was never this emotionally demonstrative. It looked like he did love his sister a lot. He also realized that the girl looked much younger than Rukawa, although both of them shared the slanted, shrewd eyes that had to be a family trait, fair skin and silky hair as black as midnight.
[A/N: Come on, if Rukawa is that gorgeous, do you expect Kuroko to be anything less?]
"Eh, Kaede, you want to come with us for lunch?" Sawakita did not look at the object of his question, and instead, was looking directly at Kuroko, noticing for the first time her dark hazel brown eyes and long eyelashes. Kaede narrowed his eyes at the interested look in the renowned playboy's eyes, "What say you, Kuro?" He shifted to block Kuroko from Sawakita's vision. Kuroko shrugged, turning in the direction of her bike parked outside the gym, "Where?"
Sendoh, who also came out, told her the location of the restaurant that they were going to. She nodded, recognizing the place as one she visited before. She then walked out of the gym, ignoring the trail of vision following the subtle sway of her leather-clad hips.
"My goodness, Rukawa, you've a hot babe for a sister and you said nothing about it?" Mitsui gaped at the man, who was currently glaring at the men who dared to eye his sister in lewd manners. Kaede glowered visibly and made a curt slashing motion that said 'Death to all who had ideas about Kuroko'.
Sendoh grinned, "If I wasn't married to and deeply in love with my Kei-chan, I'd go after Kuroko. But again," He hurried to explain himself, "She's not really my type. Too cold," He had noticed that her affections and friendliness were only for her elder brother.
Kaede retracted his Death Glare™ and made his way to his Ferrari, making another mental note to tell Kuroko to dump all her leather clothes. Being the top model of the country has its benefits. Kuroko proclaimed her eternal devotion for him when he gave her the Harley Davidson in replacement of her old scooter bought with money she earned from part-time jobs. They also had a decent-sized house in a quiet part of Kanagawa. Even though he was swamped by admirers from every part of the country and even overseas, Rukawa had no one in mind yet. He wanted someone who would love him for who he is. The woman also had to love Kuroko as much as he does.
Sawakita, Sendoh and Mitsui took their seats in Rukawa's car. Sawakita was now the top basketball player in Japan – he ditched his plans to go overseas after his father passed away. Old Mr Sawakita was always the source of strength and inspiration for his son, and now that he was gone, Sawakita felt that he'd just be content playing for his country. He moved to Kanagawa as he found that his old county brought back too much memories and pain. Sendoh, surprisingly, abandoned a potentially powerful basketball career and had a company manufacturing fishing equipment. At the age of 33 (now), his 15-year-old company was already renowned for producing high-quality fishing rods and other supporting equipment. Mitsui opened a sports equipment shop with Kogure and was also doing very well.
They met up each Sunday to play basketball and often, other players like Maki, Akagi, Kiyota and Sakuragi came to play with them as well. The gym was unofficially theirs each Sunday as everyone else were content to just sit by the sidelines to watch the legendary ex-high school star players play intense matches against each other.
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The four men turned up at the restaurant, and found Kuroko at a table beside the window. She was examining the menu critically. Sawakita noticed how the rosy lights of the restaurant glimmered in her long hair, which was plaited neatly – a job done probably when they were still on their way. He also noticed the long, lean but strong fingers wrapped around the edges of the menu and fascinated himself with picturing what it would be like to kiss those fingers.
Sawakita took a seat on the direct opposite of Kuroko, so that he could sneak looks at her and her hands without being too obvious (and risk being murdered by Rukawa Kaede). The others settled into their seats as well.
The waitress who came to take their orders had to restrain herself from gaping like a goldfish. It wasn't every day a group of extremely good-looking people visit their restaurant and she found herself staring at Rukawa's handsome, icy face. "Mr…Rukawa?" She smiled nervously at the famous model, "Would you like to take your orders now?"
Mitsui butted in, "Hey, you are being biased! What, you'll only serve that doll face?" He laughed at Rukawa's glare, "I'll have this, thank you," The waitress turned pink. This man was handsome in a wickedly sexy manner and she felt her salivary glands working hard.
"Shut up, Hisashi, Rukawa's gonna murder you later," Sawakita laughed, "I'd like this, pretty," He winked at the now visibly flushed waitress. Kuroko rolled her eyes. Fancy flirting with the poor girl like that! That man has no shame. She clicked her fingers at the waitress who was completely drowned in the men's charms, "Hey, the set lunch of the day, please,"
The waitress took a double take at Kuroko and squeaked, "Rukawa-senpai!"
"Do I know you?"
"I was from Shohoku High School too, I'm two years below you, and…sempai, and I admire you a lot!" The waitress squeaked even more excitedly at her senior. Kuroko raised an eyebrow and smiled graciously. Sawakita felt his heart speed up at her smile. By God, she's gorgeous!
"Take your orders and get out of here," Rukawa growled, still irked by Mitsui's comments earlier. The waitress giggled nervously and took Sendoh and Rukawa's orders before hurrying off. She just couldn't wait to relate the magnificent encounter to her co-workers.
Sawakita looked at Kuroko, "Say, Miss Rukawa, what's your occupation?" He smiled in a friendly manner. "Fashion designer," She replied briskly, drinking her glass of water. Sawakita stared at the pale column of her neck and his voice came out huskier than he intended it to be, "Oh, you didn't look like one,"
Rukawa kicked him.
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[A/N: There you have it, my darlings, a Mary-sue! *Guffaws in an unrepentant manner*]