Love Through Time
By HalKJAkiko
Genre: Yaoi, AU (first three chapters), drama, romance, sap
Pairing: going to be major RuHanaRu
Status: on-going 4/9
A/N: In the previous 3 chapters, you had probably figured out that Xue Ke is Rukawa and Feng is Sakuragi. So why didn't their looks match their personality? And how did Xue Ke reborn as a boy, Rukawa? Don't ask me because I do not know. Argh! Alright, I know this is lame but I really can't think of any reason... and blah blah blah... haiz, just don't ask those questions, k? I'm the author! I write what I want... heehee!
So, now we are entering the Slam Dunk world. Whee! By the way, this is a full Hanamichi point of view.
Also, thanks to the following people:
Ewon: thank you for your review and thanks for liking the poem. Hope you'll like this chapter. Not really great but... well, I'm rushing this chapter.
Nian: thank you so much!!!! Hope this chapter is okay...
chris37: aw... yes, this is sad, isn't it? Got the idea from a TV drama series. Hm... as for the role switch part, well, I don't know but I guess I just wanted a difference. XD
izumi: yar, the Princess is Rukawa. Thank you so much. Hope you like this chapter.
/.../ thoughts
Chapter IV: Searching for A Dream
Dumped. For the 50th time. It sounded pathetic, did it not? Others saw me wail and heartbroken, but that was only because I was a boy after all and rejection from anyone hurt. Deep inside, I was not that hurt for each dumping only meant that they were not THE one. It only signified that the search was to be continued. Maybe I was too desperate to find her so I kept seeing her in everybody. Indeed, I had been searching ever since she ceased to visit my dream. And after 3 years, I had yet to find her.
The first time I dreamt of her was when I was 10. I did not know why and how come I dreamt of her but after the first time, I looked forward to night time much more. She was beautiful. There was no need for other words, a simple "beautiful" could just describe her nicely. Her cascading raven hair and pale complexion contrasted her eyes. Those foxy eyes captured me more than anything.
They were blue, a clear blue of the sapphire gem. Nothing could be the same colour as her eyes, nothing except the necklace she wore. It was a star sapphire pendant which sparkled just as much as her eyes. The first time I dreamt of her, she said nothing and I only stared at her. You could say I was enchanted then. For a long long time, whenever I dreamt of her, it was only a staring competition between her and me.
Before I knew it, I was 12. And one night, a strange rush of courage came to me and I reached out to touch her. She moved further away with every inch I move forward. I started panicking for no reason and ran after her but she kept getting away. I began shouting for her to stop but she did not. So I asked for her name, and neither did I get an answer.
"Promise to find me...Don't forget our love..." That was all she whispered before she disappeared and never came to my dream again. And I woke up then, the words echoing in my head.
I had questioned for so long who she was. I had wondered what she meant by her words. Were we lovers? Did I know her before? When I was younger? Or my past life? Does she look exactly like that in real life? But no matter what doubts I had, I did not intend to break the promise of finding her. Even if I get dumped a 100 times, it only meant that I had not found the right one and I did not intend to give up finding her. She had caused me too much trouble already and I definitely was never going to give up.
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The start of the High School meant the start of the search in a new area of my life. And I found her. I was sure it was her. It had got to be. She was Akagi Haruko. She was kind, sweet, gentle and friendly. That was what I expected of the girl from my dream. It just had to be Haruko. I did not know why I was so sure that it was Haruko but something told me it was her. I felt that something every time I was around her. However, now that I finally found her, something was terribly wrong.
The girl from my dream had said something about "our love" but Haruko did not seem to be interested in me, at least not the way I was expecting her to be. For she loved another. She loved that good-for-nothing kitsune! Every time I was around Haruko, that dumb kitsune was around. He just had to be there to steal Haruko's attention. I hated him for that.
Everyone thought that I was just too egoistic and simple-minded to be serious. But I was actually serious all the time. It was only the way I showed my seriousness made people feel that I was just a gangster and nothing more. They thought that I knew nothing else besides being loud and annoying. But I knew, I knew everything. And I knew I had to beat that kitsune to get Haruko's attention. And that was why I got into the basketball team, and that was why I stayed in the team even though it was hard work and of course, another major reason was that I was talented in the area of basketball.
I tried so hard. I tried every day, every time she was around. But she only had eyes for that walking ice block. I felt angry. Was she not supposed to love me? Was I not to find her? Why did she have to ignore me when all I did was just to get her to notice that I had been searching for her for so long?
Could it be that Haruko was not the one? I had asked myself so many times but every time, I shook that idea from my mind. How could she not be the one? I felt something whenever she was around, even though she was always looking at that kitsune. If it was not her that I was to search for, who else could it be? Haruko was the one, I was sure of that, or rather, I convinced myself that she was. And so I tried harder everyday to get her eyes on me and away from that baka kitsune.
Talking about that kitsune, there was something strange about him. The first time we met was on the rooftop but I was too angry then as I finally saw the one Haruko had eyes for only. The anger was immense that I registered nothing of his looks. But... as I joined the basketball team, I got to see him almost everyday and was forced to notice him more.
Time and days passed by, and the name "kitsune" just came to me after a few days of joining the basketball team. I had once considered seriously why I called him "kitsune" and realized that it was because he had foxy eyes. Foxy sapphire eyes, just like the girl from my dream. And so were his complexion and his hair. Both were identical to the girl. But how could it be? Why was he so much like the girl? Too alike. Except for the fact that I had never seen a genuine smile from him but the girl was always smiling in my dream. It just could not be that kitsune and he was a guy while I dreamt of a girl. So, it could not be, could it? No, it could not.
Not long after joining the basketball team, I fell in love with the sport itself. I did not play the game for anything or any one besides for the love of it. Before basketball, the only sport I knew of, if you could it a sport, was fighting. Even though I joined the team to impress Haruko, now I understood the charm of this game that had captured the heart of Gori, Mitsui, Miyagi and that kitsune. I understood that it was a game of passion, a game that was about teamwork, trust and friends. It was a game that easily bonded everyone who played it, be it you were on the opponent's team or in the same team. It had the beauty to bring friends together and reinforce the friendship. And indeed I met so many new people.
By the time I realized that I had fallen in love with the sport called "basketball", another realization hit me. Haruko was not the one. She was like the one, or rather, how I expected of my "one". It was strange how I saw her smile to be similar to THE smile, how she behaved like THE way and how she talked THE talk initially. Ironically, she did not look like the one. Now the more I saw her, the more she seemed different. Way different. Maybe I really should look for someone with THE appearance besides having THE aura.
I did not have much time to search or think of any possibilities until I injured my back during the game, the one against Sannoh. Lying on the bed the first night at the rehabilitation centre without any worries for basketball tournaments, I finally got back to my search. And I searched my mind. I did not know many girls with black hair and blue eyes but I did know of some guys with such features. Could it be Mitsui? I asked myself. No, I did not think so. He was too dark and his eyes were not the right colour, his hair was not exactly black too. Probing deeper into my mind.
Sendoh! The name screamed at me. Yes, Sendoh. He was always friendly with me and he had blue eyes and black hair (though weird style) too. Maybe it was him. I should try to get to know him once I got out of this place.
Just before I fell off to sleep, another face came to my mind and jolted me out of dream land. It was her. My dream girl. No, wait, it was not. The hair was shorter now and... it was a guy's face. It was... no it could not be. It was that... that kitsune! I sat up on my bed and shook my head. How could it be him? He...I... he... well, we were rivals and he hated me. Or did he?
Whatever! I hate him! Why did I hate him, I asked myself. Well, I hate him because... because... argh! I could not remember why I hate him. I just did! And... and... he was... just... plain... irri...ta...ting...
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Sakuragi Hanamichi fell asleep thinking.
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Fall In Love
Turning around, I am lost in this bustle of city
Amidst the crowd, you are confused
Under the sky you could not find
I realize we are both lonely.
The one I am fated to be with
How I wish I could meet you
At the next road junction
I am constantly searching
Searching for the smile in my memory
Yet all I see are other couples
Kissing and hugging on the streets
I know you are also seeking
Seeking for the feeling of bliss
Yet the world always makes us
Feel like dust
We would soon be old
Let us not waste any more time
Take the chance and
Fall in Love
Fin. 21/10/04
A/N: Ah! Hana-baby's thoughts are not exactly in character. But it is so difficult to capture someone's thoughts. Anyway, I will be flying off to BeiJing for an attachment programme tomorrow for two weeks. So the chapters will not be up any sooner. BUT, but I will definitely complete this fic by RuHana day!
So I will be waiting for your reviews! I want to see lots of "Review Alert" in my inbox when I get back and am able to go online again. Now now, do not worry that my inbox will be flooded, I do not mind. So keep those reviews coming in! Cya around!