Part 3
"When Minami hit me with his elbow, I fell on the floor." Rukawa began his story. "Unconscious. They took me to the medic's room. Treat my injury. I didn't remember. All I remember was the hit, directly at my left eye. The last thing I saw was Minami, he had this almost satisfied smirk on his face." Rukawa shifted his gaze towards Fujima.
"It was all too familiar. He and that satisfied smirk, it was."
"Fujima-san…"
"Shoyo lost." Fujima took a deep breath. It was still a difficult fact to handle. Shoyo had lost. It was something which he could not prevent. It was something that was not his fault. Yet... It seems like he was being robbed of the game. The game which he gave it all. And he couldn't take it lying down like that.
He couldn't forgive Minami. Even if the man was here, on his knees, begging. He couldn't. He just couldn't.
"It was one of the loss I couldn't simply forget. That, and of Shohoku." Fujima snorted, as if something funny crossed his mind. "And ironically enough, I didn't play full time in both games."
For Shohoku, he was fully aware the mistakes were his. And even if he still couldn't forgive himself yet... he was willing to give himself the same chance. For Toyotama, well...Minami asked for forgiveness didn't he? But Rukawa...
He had seen his own blood in the court. Why? Why the need for the brain scan?
"You went unconscious when Minami hit you?"
A small nod gave Fujima the answer he wanted.
"And you got to undergo a brain-scan because of that?"
"Yes. Anzai-sensei... well, he said he will not allow me back in the team unless he sees the result of my scan." Rukawa explained slowly. "He was worry. The hit wasn't that hard. But since it sent me down…"
"I would be worry too if I'm in his shoes." Fujima said, emphatised with Shohoku's gentle coach.
"He..." Rukawa wanted to continue. Again, he stopped. He was not the type of man to reveal all to another stranger.
But Fujima...
They shared something. Both of them had been hurt physically by the same person. And both of them can definitely rely on each other to understand what they had been through. Thus, Fujima couldn't be a mere stranger, as they shared a special connection. And Rukawa knew he could somehow... express what he thought verbally with the Shoyo captain.
And the older player understood it really well.
"He knew I had some head injuries previously, my school's medical record shows it. I guess Minami's blow, even if it's not that hard, just knocked me down." Rukawa looked down, suddenly ashamed with his weakness.
He was still standing after Sakuragi gave him the headbutts, even if he felt numb and confused after the fight. He was still standing when that thug hit him with the mop, even if he had felt dizzy and weak. And not to mention various Gori-punches and paper fans delievered by both Akagi and Ayako. He was still standing. Yet, a pathetic elbow blow sent him down.
"Rukawa... look at me." Fujima said firmly.
Rukawa compiled. Dark blue fox-eyes met the clear blue eyes.
"Did you forgive him? Fujima asked.
Did he?
"Shohoku had won." He stated.
"That didn't answer my question."
And for the first time since the two players met, Rukawa gave the older boy his infamous icy-glare. But Fujima wouldn't be Fujima if he gave up that easily. He can be really persistent if he wanted to. And he decided today was like any good day to be that.
In the end, Rukawa gave up. Fujima had already managed to get more information from him than he was willing to give in the beginning. So, this time made no different at all.
"I... I don't know. I missed most of the first half. Then, I returned to the court. I can only see with one eye. But I continued to play, because I hate to loose."
And he can only win by the way he knows best, through basketball. That's what mattered the most to him.
"It was really painful throughout the game. I couldn't normally do the things I always do. I couldn't judge the distance, I couldn't judge the speed, I couldn't defend properly. I missed passes and free-throw. Then, I stretched myself to the limit. I guess, I was lucky Anzai-sensei trusts me. He allowed me to play."
Fujima understood Anzai-sensei's decision. The title 'Super Rookie' was no fluke. Rukawa proved to be the real thing. He was a very valuable asset to Shohoku, somebody who could turn the tide around when everything seems to be against them.
He had done that against Shoyo, scored the first point and changed the mood of the game. And Fujima had seen the recording of his game against Kainan, added to his team evaluation on the game, how he single-handedly equalised the score. He almost won against Sendoh of Ryonan, but that was a difficult call to make. And now, against Toyotama, the team that knocked Shoyo out of the IH competion...
"He came to my lodging. Asking for forgiveness. He gave me this ointment to put on my injured eyes. It worked wonder, at least I can opened my eyes. Although…it was still painful. Sore."
Fujima was really impressed. Rukawa played well against Toyotama, managed to get points after points even though he's playing with only one-eye. And he played excellently against Sannoh, even if he was not in one hundred percent condition. Fujima even believed Rukawa would play really well if he was blind too.
"How's your eyes now?"
"Sore. Still kinda hurt when I blink."
Fujima looked into Rukawa's eyes. Rukawa had an amazing pair of blue eyes, symmetrically perfect, although the left eye looked a little swollen. That red-head from Shohoku was right when he called his teammate fox. The long lashes framed its border nicely, bringing out the deep azure colour of many attributes. It showed a determination not seen in many people. It showed cunning thoughts, as only a fox could achieve.
Most importantly, it showed a survivor who had overcome his greatest hurdle, which is uniquely Rukawa. But the biggest crisis was just around the corner.
"The scan..."
"I will only know the result tomorrow morning." Rukawa answered his unasked question.
"Are you..." Fujima couldn't help but pondering, wanting to know what Rukawa thought about it all. What happened if fate intervened and take the one thing that connect these two souls together? "afraid? Of the result?"
"Who wouldn't?"
"But you seemed to have forgiven him." The brunette noted.
"I hold no malice against him. I guess, maybe I did forgive him." The raven-haired boy replied back.
"I was wondering… will you still forgive him if his action made you blind?"
Rukawa seemed to be contemplating about something. He looked so serious, so thoughtful, for Fujima's question involved his inability to play his most beloved sport.
"Can you hear this?"
Rukawa took the ball, he bounced it once, twice... then he did a jump shot. Both of them looked on as the ball cleanly went through the hoop, with only the sound of a clean shot echoed in the court.
"Can you hear that?"
Fujima looked at the younger boy, with a new understanding dawned to him.
"That's my motivation, that sound...it's enough...I just want to hear it." Rukawa carefully said as he picked up the ball on the floor.
As long as he can hear...
"Will you forgive him if he took away your hearing too?" Fujima need to ask.
Rukawa walked to the Shoyo captain, and gave him the orange, round ball.
"Can you feel this? I just want to touch it." Rukawa answered without hesitation.
As long as he can touch. Feel...
"If he took your sense of touch?"
Rukawa took a deep breath. This was a difficult question for him, for he will not be himself if he couldn't hold the ball. If he couldn't feel the coarse surface of the rubber, if he couldn't grasp the ball like he's doing now.
"As long as I can remember...basketball."
As long as he can remember.
"What if he took away your memory?" Fujima asked in a caring, careful whisper.
Rukawa wouldn't be able to look at Fujima's face. It was something he never thought would happen, but now...it seemed so real. If there was something wrong with his brain, the possibility of him remembering basketball is low. He clinched his hand, trying really hard to keep his cool, and not to break down in front of the Shoyo captain.
Tomorrow. If the result of the test turned out to be positive, he knew he would have to face a bleak future, a future which is beyond his imagination. And he couldn't imagine going through it alone, he couldn't imagine not playing the only game he came to love, or even forgotten about it totally. He just couldn't.
"Then, I will not be the Rukawa Kaede you used to know." he answered hesitantly, his words barely heard in the silent court.
I never knew Rukawa Kaede.
He looked at Fujima, a caring look was evident on his face. Somehow... he was thankful for all the time he cared to spend with him, that silent kid from Shohoku High School.
And that silent kid from Shohoku High School surprised Fujima even further.
He allowed himself a small wishful smile before continued. "Maybe… it's better that way. Who knows?" he shrugged it off. Then, he started to walk away, as a sign that his errand in Shoyo High School had finished.
As for Fujima, he realised he wanted to know the tall boy more. Both of them shared the same fate. It begun with Fujima, and ended with Rukawa. But that kid had also showed him the meaning of forgiveness. The kid that showed him how it feels like to be able to just let it go, instead of clinging to the past. There was always a sense of hope in achieving what he dreamed of.
"No."
Rukawa stopped on his track when he heard the word, the word that break the deafening silence in the court. What does he mean by 'no'? Does it means Fujima refused Minami's apology?
"No?" Rukawa had to ask.
Fujima walked to the younger boy and put his arm around his shoulder. Then, he gave the boy a tight, yet, gentle squeeze.
"No, it will not be better that way. Rukawa Kaede was needed more than anyone else can ever imagine. He was needed by Shohoku to get the points. He was needed by the spectators to amaze them with his skills. But most importantly..."
Fujima let his words hang for a second. What has Rukawa Kaede shown him today?
"Most importantly, he is needed by me to show what forgiveness is all about."
Fujima's words touched Rukawa dearly.
"Sempai..." He was grateful, and thankful for the strong arms around him, to help him up and hold him down, at the moment he needed it the most.
Fujima had both his arms encircling Rukawa's waist, and his right fingers interlaced with Rukawa's left, caressing and holding him, protecting him as if he was the most precious person in the world. He put his chin on Rukawa's shoulder, and clearly said his intention to Rukawa.
"So, just say yes and allow me to accompany you to the hospital tomorrow, ok?"
Rukawa could only nod...because for him... it had turn out for a better now. "Yes."
Fujima smiled, for that was the answer he wanted to hear. And his heart, it started to grow fonder of the boy, and somehow...the scar on his left temple would forever remind him of the circumstances that lead to this amazing freshman. Now, the scar didn't seem such a bad thing to have. And on forgiveness…
Yes.
-theend-