"I'm not a Cheater"
By: Princess Ren
Author's notes: Thanks for everyone who review chapter 3! Again I am truly sorry for not updating very soon! I have my reasons. Anyways this chapter will be the last in their JUNIOR HIGH school days, which means that the next chapters will be at High School! Can't wait for that. But this is only the first half of the chapter, which means there is still another one. Just bare with me okay! Anyways the polls will be closing after this chapter so makes your votes now. Also I DO NOT OWN SLAM DUNK!
Here are the votes:
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Okay, now with the chapter,
Chapter 4 (part one)
It's been a month since Rei and Rukawa's brake up. Keiko and Naoko were really mad at Rukawa. Every time Rukawa boss Rei Keiko and Naoko always defend Rei. Sure, Rei can handle it, but they can't stand their best friend to be bossed by someone like Rukawa. They can't stand Rei to be hurt again by him. In the meantime Ken, Tetsuya and Takeshi were just like Keiko and Naoko but as always Rei will tell them not to because it would be no use.
Keiko, Naoko and Rei found out that Ken and his friends knew that Rei and Rukawa broke up. They found out because they over heard them talking about Rukawa. Sure, Keiko made a comment about that, she said that 'why don't you punch Rukawa on the face? That way he might wake up to his senses.' Ken and the others were surprised when they heard Keiko say that. At first they thought were in deep trouble that they didn't told them that they eavesdropped. But to their relief Rei wasn't mad, but she told them that it's not right to do something like that, especially to a friend.
Ken, Tetsuya and Takeshi's anger towards Rukawa raised. Even if Rukawa broke up with her, Rei can't still make a place in her heart to hate Rukawa. Ken and the others pity Rei for her kindness, sure if it was someone else, they will sure hate Rukawa very much to what he have done but Rei… she is always sacrificing to others and always think about herself after the others.
Only 3 weeks before summer vacation, everybody can't wait for the closing party that the student council made. Everyone thanked Rei for the wonderful idea; they never had a closing party before. Rei having all the complements, said that she isn't the one that planned to have one, it was the other members to have it, sure she want to have one but she is too shy to say it to the members.
Also there will be the graduation of the seniors and they can't wait for that, all the students already knew who will be the valedictorian, there has no explanation to that, it was really obvious that Rei will be the valedictorian. (A.N. Okay, I don't know if Junior High School has graduations but this is my fic, so I can do whatever I want! Hehehe….) Keiko and Naoko were really happy that the year will soon come to an end and they won't be able to see Rukawa's face ever again.
"I can't wait for the graduation!" Keiko squealed at Rei and Naoko.
"Really now? You know we still have the finals to pass!" Naoko said
"I know that! But I can't wait for the graduation! I can't wait to see Rei making her beautiful speech!"
"Guys! You know we're not sure if I will be the valedictorian…" Rei said as she blush.
"Not sure? C'mon Rei-chan! It's pretty obvious that you will be! Even the solicitorian's grades were not match with yours!" Keiko said proudly.
Rei just blushed even harder.
"Stop it guys!" Keiko and Naoko just laugh and soon followed by lower ones.
Keiko, Naoko and Rei looked at the voice and found Ken, Tetsuya and Takeshi laughing and a not so happy Rukawa.
"Oh! It's you guys." Rei said as she gave them a smile. Rukawa snorted and looked away. Keiko and Naoko just stick out their tongues at Rukawa as Ken, Tetsuya and Takeshi just sighed. Sure they still hate Rukawa but Keiko and the others excluding Rei had a secret talk that if Rukawa did something stupid or anything to Rei they will definitely hurt him from top to bottom but of course without Rei knowing it.
"You know Rei-chan, Keiko-chan and Naoko-chan are right, there's no need to be shy! It's really obvious and everyone in school are really looking forward at your speech." Ken said as he saw Rei blushed again. The others laugh again and stopped as they heard Rukawa snorted.
Keiko and Naoko was really angry at Rukawa again but remembered that Rei was there. They just shut up and looked at Ken. Ken getting the message,
"You know Kaede, if you don't want to have fun go somewhere else." He said. Rukawa glared at Ken and walked out of their classroom towards the rooftop.
Keiko and the others looked at Rukawa and then looked at Rei who was staring at the door sadly.
'Rei-chan….' They all thought
'How come you changed a lot Kaede? You could just be kind the way you always are….' Rei thought sadly, she was really heart broken and she is always ready to cry every time she thinks of Rukawa.
~#~#~
Rukawa walked towards the rooftop, he has a frown in his face.
'How come their so happy about Anzai, being the valedictorian!? If they only knew that she's a cheater.' Rukawa thought as he walked towards the stairs. It was lunch break and there is still 30 minutes before the bell rings, he decided to go to the rooftop to have a peaceful time also because Ken said that if he don't want to have some fun why don't he go somewhere else.
Rukawa opened the door at the rooftop and closed it, he walk towards the end of the building and looked down at the students who were busy chatting. He stared at them and sighed and walked towards the wall. He sat there as he stared at the clouds and the birds that were happily chirping.
"Finally some peaceful time…" he said aloud as he lean his head towards the wall for support.
Rukawa scanned the place all stopped at a particular place. It was the middle of the rooftop. He looked at it with eyes that you cannot identify if it held anger or regret. It has memories of him and Rei; they often go here to have a private time together when it was lunch break. They often talk about things about life, they often talk if what if they haven't met, what would their lives looked like? Rei would always say that if she didn't met him she would not be the same Rei that she is now. As for Rukawa when she asked him he would always answer: 'My life will be a messed one.' For him Rei was an angel that guides you to good things and to success. If it wasn't for Rei he might not be a very good player in basketball. She had thought him things about basketball, techniques that were often used in NBA. She was his inspiration but now that inspiration is gone. Now he was inspiration-less but he remembered her saying, 'No matter what happens do your best and don't give up then, you will achieve what you dream for!'
"No matter what happens do your best and don't give up then, you will achieve what you dream for? Is there such a thing?" he asked, particularly to no one.
Rukawa thought for the answered until he drifted to sleep.
~#~#~
Keiko and the others were happily chatting, but Rei was not THAT happy like Keiko and the others. Sure the thing that they were talking about is really funny and it's interesting. But right now Rei was not interested in anything. She was just sitting near Keiko and Naoko and she would just laugh slightly when the others were laughing. She really missed the good times. This was like the old times when Rukawa was still her boyfriend, they were always talking and chatting happily and always Rei was the one who will laugh harder than anyone, but right now she isn't.
"Rei! Are you listening?" Keiko suddenly asked. She just realized that Rei was not really happy at all.
"Huh? Y-Yeah… I'm listening." Rei answered back then laughed nervously. Keiko and the others just looked at each other and then looked at Rei with worried eyes.
"Rei-chan… are you okay?" Ken asked concernly to her.
"Yeah… I- I mean I'm not sure…" she replied, her voice was tired and somewhat depressed.
"Do you want to go to the Nurse's office?" Naoko said
"No. It's okay, I think all I need is fresh air. Maybe I should go somewhere, like the rooftop." She replied to her and forced a smile and started to stand up.
"Do you want us to go with you?"
"NO, but thanks for the offer. I need to be alone."
"O-okay. But be sure you came back okay?" Tetsuya said to her.
"Don't worry, I will be back. And besides I can't leave the school ground yet." She said and then walked towards the door.
"I'll be back 5 minutes before the time." She added when she was already out of the door.
With that she left and walked towards the rooftop. When she left Keiko and the others looked at each other again. They had worried eyes and something you cannot define.
"I swear if Rei can't be her normal self ever again, I'll tear Kaede from limb to limb!" Takeshi hissed.
"I can't believe it's been a month since their brake-up." Naoko sighed.
"Right! And it's been a month since Rei had been sad. Sure she was sometimes happy but NOT that happy she used to be." Keiko said to them. She was silently cursing Rukawa for what he have done.
"I agree with Keiko-chan… she's somewhat forcing herself to be happy." Tetsuya added
"Yes, Yes! She's been like that… I can't really believe that Kaede broke up with Rei just for he thought she cheated him… He's such an idiot not to realized it was only jealousy." Ken said
"Yes! He's such an idiot! I really hope that he realize it after it's too late!" Keiko said evilly.
"Yeah! That way, we could have revenge and he would really regret that he broke up with her!" Naoko added.
"You guys really hate Kaede for that don't you?" Ken asked
"Yes! Really! We hate him more than our worst enemies or more than anything in the world!" They both said
"But from what I remember, Rei-chan told you that if you will hate Kaede hate her instead… do you mean you also hate Rei-chan?" Takeshi said
"Of course not! We would never hate her! That's the last thing we would do! Right Keiko-chan?" Naoko said
"Right! We would never hate her… but I really can't believe that Rei-chan said that! How come she still defend him after what he have done to her?" Keiko answered.
"She must really love Kaede very much…" Takeshi said
"Your right! Kaede is really lucky to have her; I sometimes envy him for winning Rei! I mean she's the most popular girl here in school and the best in everything! She's a girl that has everything a guy wants to a girl! But Kaede just dump her JUST like that!" Ken said as the others agree.
"Only 3 more weeks and we're out of this school!" Naoko said, changing the subject.
"Yes! 3 more weeks! 3 more weeks then no more Rukawa Kaede!" Keiko said happily.
"Are you sure about that? You know you might be going to the same school with him! As people say, expect the unexpected." Tetsuya said
"Nah! I'm sure! I will never see Rukawa Kaede ever again 'cause my family will be moving to Nagoya!" Keiko said
"What!?" The guys shouted, their eyes widened, they can't believe it! Keiko Kawasaki is moving to Nagoya very far from their own city!
"You heard her, she's moving to N-A-G-O-Y-A…" Naoko said but her voice a little disappointed.
"But, It's far! It's far from this city and it's not even in this prefecture!" Ken shouted
"Yes! He's right! How come?" Takeshi asked, his voice also somewhat disappointed
"Actually that's the place where I was born and my family likes to go back there." Keiko replied.
"Oh I see… how about Rei-chan? Does she know about it?" Tetsuya asked
"Well she knows about it, also she knows that Naoko is also moving to Ichikawa." Keiko answered
"What!?" They shouted again
"You're also moving to another city and prefecture!?" Takeshi shouted as he looked at Naoko who nodded.
"Isn't Ichikawa in Chiba prefecture?" Ken asked
"Yes, it is… My family is moving there because my grandparents wants us too…" Naoko explained.
"I see… but what's Rei-chan's reaction?" Tetsuya asked
"Well you know Rei-chan, she's just plain shock when we said that to her. She said that she would miss us." Keiko answered
"Poor Rei-chan… But how about your school?"
"Well I'm going to Ueda High School, It's the school whose basketball team for girls is included in the best 8, 5th place to be exact in the National Championship." Keiko said proudly
"Really? How about you Naoko-chan?" Ken asked happily.
"Well I'm going to Funabashi High, Also one who is also ranked in the best 8, from what I remember it's in 6th place in the national championship."
"Wow! I can't believe you girls! Your going to those schools? But from what I heard their training is really hard, especially if you are ranked in the best 8? How come?" Takeshi said truthfully.
"Yes! That's right! You really needed to be skilled if you want to play and be a starting member, but it's the only way if we want to see Rei-chan, after all we can't just go here and there everyday." Keiko said.
"Right! But I just really hope that Rei-chan change her father's mind of letting her study again in America…" Naoko said in a disappointed voice.
"WHAT!!!???" They shouted again and their eyes widened
"Will you quit shouting like that? You're hurting my eardrums!" Keiko shouted back but politely
"Gomen." They said in unison
"We're just really shock when you said that, is it really true? Rei's going back to America?" Ken asked his voice was sad
"Well Rei-chan said that her father wants her to go back to America, he want Rei-chan to finish her studies there…" Keiko replied
"Even collage?" Tetsuya asked
"Well, yes. Even collage. But we're not sure. Rei-chan said that her father wants to, but her mother doesn't agree. She said that her mother wants her to study to a school she wants."
"Aren't Rei-chan's parents living in America?" Takeshi suddenly asked
"Correction, also Rei-chan lives in America!" Naoko corrected
"Oh yes! I totally forgot! But where in America does she live? I mean America is so big!"
"You're not sometimes listening aren't you Takeshi?" Ken said
"How come?"
"Well Rei-chan said it many times when she tells about her vacation there! For your question she lives in Los Angeles."
"Los Angeles? That's Right! I remember now! Isn't Rei-chan's family very rich?"
"Yes! VERY! Her father's the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers!" Keiko answered happily.
(A.N. Too much imagination for me ne? But it's my fic, Hehehe… ^.^)
"Have you seen their house?" Tetsuya suddenly asked
"Well, We've seen it in a picture Rei-chan showed us! But in person, well no. It's really big and beautiful! It's even bigger than this school!" Keiko squealed.
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"But anyway, going back to the topic, Rei-chan said that she is trying her best to persuade her father not to let her study back there." Naoko said
"Oh I see… but if she persuade her father where is she going to study?" Ken asked
"Well she said that she might as well study in Shoyo High." Keiko said in a cheerful tone.
"Shoyo? Isn't it the school that won 2nd place here in this prefecture in the elimination in the Inter High?" Ken asked
"Yes, it is." Naoko answered
"But how come?"
"Well I don't know if she's joking or not, but she said that she want to study there because Fujima Kenji is studying there."
"Fujima? You mean the point guard of Shoyo? The good looking one?" Tetsuya said
"He's the one."
"What's so special about him? Sure he's very good also he is the coach and ace of that team… don't tell me…" Takeshi said as he blushed and looked at Keiko and Naoko nodded
"She has a crush on Fujima Kenji!?" Takeshi continued as his eyes widened a bit.
"What!?" Tetsuya and Ken both shouted
"Stop screaming! Yes, Rei-chan got a crush on Fujima." Keiko shouted but her last sentence was merely a whisper.
"Damn! That guy is so lucky!" Ken, Tetsuya and Takeshi murmured
"Excuse me? What did you say." Naoko said
"We said that, Fujima is a lucky guy 'cause Rei-chan got a crush on him!" Ken hissed
"Hey! Don't be mad! It's just a crush" Keiko replied
"We know it's just a crush!"
"Yeah, Yeah. But we're not really sure if Rei-chan would go there. She also said she might enroll to Shohoku High."
"Shohoku High?" Ken asked
"I never heard about that school before…" Takeshi added
"Hmm… Shohoku High… how come I have heard that name before?" Tetsuya said.
"Ofcourse you have heard that name before, even though that school is not really popular among the team of the basketball club for boys, it's really a good school." Keiko said
"Besides it's the school that Rei-chan's grandfather coaches." Naoko stated.
"Oh? Rei-chan's grandfather?" Tetsuya asked
"You're sometimes not listening to Rei-chan stories aren't you?" Naoko asked, she was beginning to get tired to the questions that were given by Tetsuya and the others but she knows that it will be rude if she don't answer their questions.
"Of course I'm always listening… it's just I…. Forgot." With his last statement he blushed
"Ok. Her grandfather, Mr. Anzai is the coach of the basketball team in Shohoku, of course his in the boy's division." Naoko said
"I remember now… but how come they don't move to the finals or Inter-high? We all know that her father and grandfather are both professional coaches how come they're not moving?" Ken said
"Oh that, Well Rei-chan said that they can move to the finals it's just that their members are not really trying their best and they lack confidence… she also said that other people think that Shohoku's basketball team is only a One-Man team…"
"That's right! I heard about it! They have one of the best centers in the prefecture, Akagi Takenori!" Takeshi interrupted
"Right! He is really good! But do you think Kaede can beat him?" Tetsuya asked
"Well maybe! But I now Akagi is FAR more better than Rukawa!" Both Keiko and Naoko said at once.
"We'll know when we go to High School." Ken said nervously then laughed
Keiko and the others continue to chat about going to High School and some stuff like where the guys were going, what they plan after they separate and things like that.
~#~#~
Rei was silently walking towards the rooftop. Little did she know that someone was already there and is taking a little nap. She turned to the right and come to another corridor. As she walk, every male and female students were staring at her with admiration and dreamy eyes, she just ignore them and continue her walk towards the rooftop.
'How come it's always like this?' she mentally thought, she was beginning to get tired at this staring thing. Everywhere she go this is always the reaction of many people, both male and female. She just sighed and took the stairs leading to the rooftop.
Once she was at the top, she slowly opened the knob and entered. She silently closed the door and began to walk towards the end of it. She failed to see a sleeping figure a little far from the door. She inhaled the fresh air as she hold on the rack, then she leaned on and watch the students happily chatting, both male and female. Her eyes gazed at a sweet couple who were sitting near a tree and talking while holding hands.
"What a sweet couple their just like…" she whispered as she smiled sadly as she think about herself and Rukawa when they were STILL a couple. She was beginning to get jealous about the sweet couple under the tree so she just sighed deeply and turn her eyes to a different scene.
"I just hope you don't hurt her." She said softly, taking one last look at the sweet couple.
After looking at many things she breathe deeply again and walked towards the door but she isn't going to go yet, she still have 20 minutes left and she decided to sit there and watch the clouds. It was then the time when Rei just realize that there is someone else beside herself there.
'How come I just realized that there is someone besides me here, taking a rest?' she mentally asked herself. Again, she failed to notice it was Rukawa who is sleeping.
'I wonder who it is…' she slowly walk towards the sleeping figure and she stopped as she realized who it was.
'It's Kaede…' she said again in her mind. She stepped back as she saw him stir a bit. But sighed when he didn't wake up. She looked at him so sadly that she felt herself crying again.
'Stop it Rei! NO more tears!' she said angrily. True Rei have been crying many times that she lost count. It was just a month since their broke up and she still can't accept it, but she has to… sooner or later.
She sighed deeply and took a sit beside Rukawa's sleeping figure. "I know by the time you wake up and found that I'm near you or beside you, you're going to hate me more than ever but right now I don't care…" she whispered softly as she looked at him.
She giggled quietly at Rukawa's sleeping figure.
"You know I just realized that you really look more handsome when you're sleeping." She whispered again.
A lap of silent past to them as Rei started to talk again to Rukawa's sleeping figure.
"So…" she started
"How's everything?" she asked not really expecting him to answer.
"It's quite strange to talk to someone who is sleeping ne?" she asked again as she look at Rukawa who was sleeping peacefully.
"How are Aunt Midori and Uncle Hokoshino? Did you told them that we…." She dare not to continue, she could not say it… yet. It sadden her, always when she thinks about it or says it out loud she wanted to cry but she forces herself not too.
"You know what? My father wanted me to study to America again…" she looked at Rukawa sadly
"He said that he want me to finish my studies there… but I told him not too, I said that I don't want to finish my studies there. I want it to finish it here. Right now my father is still deciding whether to let me stay here or go there. To tell you the truth my father want me to stay there so he can see his little girl grow up with his two eyes." She said as she giggled.
"Well if my father decided to let me study to wherever school I want to go, I might as well go to Shoyo High…" she said as she forced a smile.
"But that's only an option, I also want to go to Shohoku High, you know the school where my grandfather coaches."
"Right now I don't now what school I will be going. If you ask me for a reason why I like to go to Shoyo, well I just want go there to see…. Fujima Kenji… Isn't it funny? I just want to go to a school just to see someone?" she looked at Rukawa who was currently sleeping.
"But I might as well go to Shohoku High… I really wanted to go there since I discover grandpa is coaching to a High School team rather than the collage team he used to coach."
"Well if you ask me what my mother thinks… well she said that it's up to me to what school I like to go. She said that it's better to study to a school you are comfortable with… Speaking of school Keiko-chan and Naoko-chan are moving to another city also to a different prefecture. I'm sure I'm going to miss those two. But they said that we would meet again in the Inter-High."
"You might think that those two are just babbling but they are not. They are really serious about it. They said they would enroll to the school which ranks in the best 8, that way they can see me in the championship…"
"How about you? What school are you going? Kainan High? Ryonan? Shoyo? I know it's hard to pick a school especially if they offer you good conditions… well Ryonan did not make it to the Inter High but the basketball team of that school is really good, they have one of the best centers in the prefecture… Uozumi Jun and the ace player Sendoh Akira… It's really hard to pick a school isn't it? But what ever school you may go I know you will do well." She said then she stopped talking and making the scenery silent.
"I know this will be the last conversation I will be having with you… even though it's not really a REAL conversation for you're sleeping but it doesn't matter… I just wanna tell you the things I haven't told you before you……" she stopped as she choke her tears from spilling.
"Thank You…" she said her voice full of sadness, with the mixture of happiness.
"I want to thank you for everything you have done to me. I'll never forget it. Also I wanna say no matter what happens I'll…… I'll love you forever… you will always be here in my heart." She said as she place a hand in her chest where her heart was.
"You're place here will always be special and never be forgotten." With that she closed her eyes to prevent her tears from falling. True, he has a special place in her heart and never will she erase him or the wonderful moments that he have given her. Again, Rukawa was still sleeping.
"I know when we step in High School things will be more complicated and far more different than Junior High, but I know you can handle it. Also I know you will meet new people and new friends, I just hope you treasure them like the way you treasure Ken and the others…" she said in a soft voice.
"And I know you will be meeting someone who is very special…" she said shakily, now her tears are freely flowing in her lovely face, she could not take it anymore. It's just so hard to let go of the person you love the most but she has to do it to be able to move on.
"I just hope that… that special someone will give you the love and care that I won't able to give you.…" she said while crying. For her she believe that she didn't gave him all the love and care that he want.
"I just hope that you will love her and care for her the way you do for me if not… much better…" she said again as she cried harder but softly so he won't be able to wake up. She cried there and let it out but soon she stopped and whipped her tears away with her pale hands and looked at Rukawa with the eyes, full of love and care and said passionately,
"This will be the last time I'm saying you this but even if… I'll still love you more than anyone I could possibly love… I Love You, Rukawa Kaede… now and forever." With that she stood up and kneeled in front of Rukawa's sleeping face. She smiled sadly and move her face closer to his, then leaned softly and gave Rukawa a passionate yet soft kiss in the lips. She then stood up and looked at Rukawa last time and walked towards the door and exited quietly, leaving a sleeping Rukawa.
After a few seconds of Rei's exit Rukawa started to stir and then slowly opened his eyes. He immediately looked beside his and found no one.
"I guess it's just a dream…" he said as he looked to his left where Rei used to be sitted when he was still sleeping.
"But I swear it's not just a dream… It's too real just to be a dream." He said again. When he was sleeping he dreamt that he was having a conversation with Rei. Telling him that it was the last time she will be having a conversation with him. Thanking him for everything and telling him she'll love him forever.
Rukawa placed a hand in his chest and said,
"How come my heart is beating so fast and I feel like I have lost something important to me?" he asked aloud as he search for an answer but unfortunately there was none. He just remained silent and breathe slowly to slowen the beat of his heart.
Once his heart slowen it's pace he placed his hand over his mouth. "It felt too real to be a dream…" he said again. After a few minutes Rukawa stood up and scanned the place for anything. Then he looked at his watch and saw it was 12:55. He have been sleeping for 25 minutes and only 5 more minutes before the bell rings. He decided to leave, but unknown to him that the dream he was thinking is real and it will be one dream he would never forget… ever.
To be continued…
Author's notes: There you have it! The first part of chapter 4. This is not really long. Well if you ask me, the other half of the chapter is still in progress but don't worry only a few more pages and then I'm done in chapter 4! I really hope you like it and I really hope you REVIEW!!!!!!
*** Please tell me if I still need to improve my grammar and also vote for this will be the last time you are voting.
~Princess Ren