Disclaimer: I don't own Slam dunk… but someday I will find a way to be the co-owner of slam dunk… hehehehhe… (Hey, there is nothing wrong in dreaming…J)

Author's note:

                Please don't forget to review after finishing reading this chapter… J

Note:

Japanese

English

(inner thoughts)

Rhapsody of Destiny

Chapter 4      Memories of the Past

As planned, Rukawa brought her to the place where they met and talked. There, a picnic was set in the ground complete with a lit candle and food.

Sakura was impressed at the same time giggling like a school-girl. Rukawa was pleased that she likes his surprise.

Both sat in the mat, facing each other. Sakura stared at the sky. Rukawa looked at her intently. The candle light gave her a serene and mysterious effect that made her more appealing and attractive in his eyes. She looked so innocent and carefree because her defenses are down but she never looked weak. She is one strong and independent woman – she can't be considered sophisticated because she is real – a real person. He never felt this kind of feeling to any female – just her. She sure is special. She made him feel alive. She gave him a reason to face the world and to look forward for the coming day. She is something He needed in his dark world.

"Ne, Rukawa, do you know that when we die, we go straight to heaven, our soul that is. Then we became a star to look out for our love ones. The star is like a window in heaven for them to watch over us – to guide us in our daily routine. Do you know?" Sakura continued gazing the stars while talking to Rukawa.

"Ha?! I guess… I guess you're right." Rukawa was startled and pulled back from his reverie when Sakura spoke.

"Hahahahha…" she glanced happily to the shocked face of Rukawa. "You're so funny. You really are a darling. You are like Sendoh in some ways but also different. Sendoh sure can make a false story true but you… you're so… ummm… YOU." she was out of words in describing Rukawa.

Rukawa raised his eyebrow in inquiry about her comment but deep within him, he was hurt. Sendoh sure is special to her. So special that she can't help comparing them.

"Rukawa, I know what your feeling right now?" Sakura returned her attention to the dark sky and continued surveying the sky for constellations. Rukawa snorted due to her opinion about him.

"You don't believe me." Her eyes met Rukawa's. Sakura's eyes were serious and in a mere instant hurt reflected in it. "I know you are difficult to read but I happened to read you right now. I don't know how. But right now you are feeling envious and at the same time happy. Envious because I mentioned Sendoh – you always feel that way every time I mentioned his name or Youhei. Happy because we are together. Am I right?" She inquired gazing in Rukawa's blue eyes that reflected coldness.

Rukawa was silent and his jaw tightened due to her words that were all true. She can sure read him openly. Her gazing brown eyes felt like probing deep within his very soul that he can't hide everything he felt except his facial expression.

She was about to continue on speaking when Rukawa interfered in a soft and mellow tone that she is never accustomed to.

"You are right. I am feeling like that but there are more – like the feelings that I feel so much love and affection towards somebody. I finally found my destiny that I have searched for a long time. For years, I searched… searched and searched. My searching finally ended within six months. Imagine I journeyed for years but the answer I found in six months just in front of my eyes, when I opened it completely." Rukawa's defenses went down – but he never looked like helpless nor weak – he looked more at peace and powerful. This image of Rukawa made Sakura scared deep inside her but held her guard.

"The answer has been in front of me but I kept my eyes close. Luckily, I still found the answer. The answer is no other than you, Sakura." Rukawa reached the hands of Sakura and held it firmly, which made Sakura paled and trembling.

(No… no… this can't be happening. Oh… please not that… Kami-sama… please not this… NO! Not this…) Sakura silently prayed that she was wrong. She was wrong about Rukawa's action. That she interpreted it all wrong…

Rukawa didn't see the fear that suddenly engulfed Sakura's being nor the paled face of her that was masked by the candle light. Rukawa continue don his confession and proposal before all his courage will be diminish. "Sakura… Sakura, I love you… I love more than a friend or a sister. I love you and I want you to be my partner for life….."

****

"Rukawa, Rukawa… Please wake up. We just landed. Wake up now." Kenji woke Rukawa up.

Blue orbs appeared filled with sadness and loneliness – it also seems that tears would soon fall but denied of its freedom to fall. Soon it gained its focus and the coldness returned. It seems that it increased its intensity since then… since the incident.

"We have landed in Tokyo airport. Let's go." Kenji was worried about his brother. He became more aloof and silent. Kenji has a feeling that he again dreamed of her… of the girl that he loved and never stop loving up to this point.

They took their carried bags and went to wait for their other luggage. They gathered them and went out of the airport when they spotted the two people that hold the key to Rukawa's happiness. Kenji glanced at his brother and he was right to do so. In an instance, Rukawa's face suddenly became miserable and lost. Kenji tried to stir Rukawa away from the two when he spotted his koi, talking to the two and waved upon spotting them. They have no choice but to approach.

"Such a small world, eh. Didn't expect to see you two here." Kenji's voice was sarcastic that causes his koi to flinch and glared at him. HE returned the glare to his boyfriend too.

"Hey… don't want to start a fight right now. You see we are here because our friend and our loved ones are coming." Sendoh explained. "How are you, Rukawa? It has been two years since we last saw each other. I heard you're a big success here and abroad." Sendoh addressed to the silent one in a controlled tone.

Rukawa was still silent but Kenji's anger rises due to Sendoh's word. When Mito interfere the tension, surrounding the group suddenly thinned.

"Can you all join us for a lunch? I believe we are already hungry because it is already 11 o'clock and I believe that the people Sendoh and I are waiting for are already here." Mito smiled and left the group to approach the guests.

The four gaze at the direction where Mito is heading and only found a brown haired girl waving at him. Mito guided her back to their group and introduced her, Haruko Mito's fiancée.

"Hiro-kun and Hana-kun just took our luggage. I think they will be quick with it. Oooh... Here they come." Haruko declared upon spotting a speck of red hair from the busy crowd.

Rukawa was not interested on meeting the two. He is only interested to know the where-abouts of his Sakura or information about her. He turned to leave when he heard the voice of one of Mito's friends.

"Sendoh, Mito and Haruko, what a pleasant surprise of seeing the three of you here in the airport. I do think you guys wouldn't mind helping in all the luggage we have here. Please do hurry because my phone had been ringing." A red haired tall guy spoke filled with sarcasm at the same time delight seeing his friends.

HE immediately answered his phone when his hands are free of the luggage. "Hello?! Brother, what's up? Really… sure... We will… see you soon."

"It was Min-kun. HE called to inform us that they will be arriving around three this afternoon."

"That's great news." Sendoh stated "Oh… by the way… This is Sakuragi Hanamichi and Koshino Hirokai." Introducing his friends to Maki's companion and vice versa, "This is Maki Shinichi, Rukawa Kenji and Rukawa Kaede, friend of ours. They will be joining us to lunch. I guess?"

"Sure… we will be joining you." Rukawa answered before his brother could throw another sarcastic blow to Sendoh's invitation.

They all rode their cars and proceeded to the nearest restaurant. Rukawa was at lost in his thoughts while they are heading to the restaurant.

(Who is that Da'ho anyway? He seems so familiar yet so different. Hmmmp… A mystery surrounds his identity. I want to know him. Maybe he holds the key to Sakura, I may persuade him to tell me after all he knows his ways to Sendoh's and Mito's manner of thinking.) Rukawa made a plan that might solve all his problem and it involve that red-haired mysterious guy. Rukawa's lips twitch forming a small smile while his blue orbs seem to sparkle in joy. However, his face remained as emotionless as ever.

(What are you thinking right now, Kae-chan? Does that red-haired guy affect you just as it affected me in more ways than one?) Kenji thinks while gazing at his brother from the mirror.

~ OWARI ~