(Chapter 18: Reunited At Last)

Five years later…

New York, USA

"Number eleven's got the ball again!" Marcus Stevenson's booming voice echoed through the stadium as he focused intently on the game in front of him, his eyes never leaving the court, his voice coming only from reaction.

"And without hesitating, he's charging into the defense of the opponent team. Oh! There goes one of his famous slam dunks, folks!" He slammed his hand down upon his desk and cheered, his heart pumped up and his blood simmered with excitement.

The roaring crowd went wild as they jumped up and screamed.

"That was amazing! Twenty-two-year-old NBA player Rukawa Kaede has yet again earned more points for his team. Out of their 118 point, he's scored 65, more than half of their total points!!"

"Go, Rukawa!" Marcus turned sideways to see a redhead bellow from the VIP section. Besides him, several more boys cheered, but as Marcus leaned a little bit more forward, he noticed a girl peeking from the very end of the row. Beside her sat a large, silver dog.

They must be special to Rukawa. He thought as he turned back to the game. I must give them a person interview later. Satisfied, he sat back and continued once again to make a procession of his famous announcements.

The pale form of Rukawa Kaede never left the man's eyes as he scored again and again, fading out the rest of his team. Needless to say, when the final buzz sounded, signaling the end of the game, the whole stadium was in an uproar. Marcus could hardly hear himself as his voice thundered through the speakers, concluding the final playoff.

Group members and random fans charged up to Rukawa, and soon, the whole floor was covered by hundreds of people. Marcus slipped off his headset and pushed his way toward the VIPs. They were the only ones that remained seated, looking pleased, yet not surprised at the outcome of the game.

"Hey." The thirty-eight-year-old man stuck a hand out toward the closest person to him, which happened to be the redhead. To be honest, he was a bit intimidated at the fierce looking young man. But the redhead only looked at the hand, and shook it heartily.

"I'm Marcus Stevenson." He explained, pulling out a card from his pocket. "And I'm also a journalist working for the New York Times. Do you know Rukawa Kaede?" He had to shout to be heard above the noise. The redhead took the paper and studied it, then looked up, an arrogant grin on his face.

"I'm Sakuragi Hanamichi!" He shouted back. "And yeah, I know that jerk. We went to high school together. Those fancy moves you see him make? I taught him all of that!"

"Really?!" Marcus was taken back. He reached into his pocket again and this time, drew out a little journal. "So you're a basketball player, too, huh? Can I ask you some questions?"

"Yeah!" But before Sakuragi could continue, the young man beside him contradicted, shaking his head.

"Don't believe everything Sakuragi tells you." He told Marcus. "I'm Mito, his friend. And take my word for it, Sakuragi might be a genius, but unless he puts his mind into playing basketball, he shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence with Rukawa."

"And who are you?" Deciding to write all the names down first, Marcus turned to the next youth in line, writing furiously into his little notebook. The youth was just as tall as the others, and a little scar on his chin immediately caught Marcus' attention.

"I'm Mitsui Hasashi." Jerking his head toward Rukawa with a bored, but proud, look on his face, he added. "We were on the same basketball team in high school."

"Same here." The guy next to Mitsui nodded as Marcus moved on. "We were all in the same basketball team in high school. I'm Ryota Miyagi." He was the smallest in the group, but from his body structure and sensitive movements, Marcus could tell at once that he was a valuable member.

"Okay…" He was trying to write as fast as he could while questions ran from his mouth. "Who's that next you?" He mentioned to the largest young man out of the whole group walking toward the direction of Rukawa and his screaming fans.

"Akagi." Mitsui told him. "Captain of the Shohoku High School Basketball team." The journalist almost dropped his notebook.

"Shohoku High School?!" He asked, incredulous. "You're all from Shohoku? The Shohoku?!"

"Yes, that's us." The last guy pushed his glasses and stuck out a hand with a courteous smile. "I'm Kiminobu Kogure, vice-captain of the basketball team."

"Do you still play basketball? All of you?" Marcus felt drawn the group as he began asking questions, talking as fast as his tongue would go. Kogure shook his head.

"No. Only Rukawa, Sakuragi, and Miyagi take the profession of being basketball players. I'm a sport's journalist back in Japan and Akagi is currently earning degrees to become a math teacher up at a university."

"A math teacher, why? Does he still play basketball?"

"Oh, yes. During weekends, sometimes, all of us would make plans to play basketball together. But most of the time, we're all busy. Mitsui has become an assistant coach back in Shohoku High School, helping Couch Anzai. He's getting old." Kogure added, his eyes growing soft at the thought of their kind, elderly coach.

"What about…" Marcus checked his note. "Ryota Miyagi? What does he do?" Kogure laughed.

"Him? When he's not playing basketball, he's still busy chasing after Ayako, trying to convince her to marry him!" Miyagi, from aside, shot Kogure a glare, his eyes shooting daggers. "Ayako was our team manager."

"I see…" Marcus, getting the most interesting information, moved toward his last target.

"Hi." He introduced himself again, eyeing the large, wolfish looking dog that sat panting next to her. The girl looked up. She was wearing a long, white cotton skirt and a red silk blouse. She doesn't look like she belonged to a basketball game at all.

The dog looked up and grinned, though his eyes were sharp and his ears were alert, ready to pick up the first sign of trouble. "I'm Marcus Stevenson from the New York Times, may I ask you some questions?"

"Of course." Her smile was sweet as she brushed a lock of silky hair away from her face. Her intense, deep blue eyes made him catch his breath for a moment. He shook his head and asked his first question.

"First of all, what's your name and who are you? It's very interesting to find a young lady such as you in the VIPs unless you're with the press."

"I'm Rukawa Kira and this is Char." She introduced her dog, and the news reporter could see that the two are inseparable. "I'm currently finishing my last year here at Juilliard University." Marcus interrupted.

"The Rukawa Kira? The youngest pianist to be composing her own music? My wife and daughters absolutely adore your newest album! That CD showed stunning beauty and quality. I'm a rock person myself, but after listening to your CD, I've changed my mind just a little. Your fingers are magical on the piano. Who'd have thought classical music could still be so romantic and passionate?" He gave a wry smile, realizing he was babbling. Posing his pencil back onto his paper, he asked his second question.

"What is your relation to Rukawa? Are you his girlfriend, fiancée, or a young bride?" He winked, wondering to himself if the question had been too bold. She might refuse to answer, which he couldn't blame her. Or she might begin to gush all about Rukawa, which, he supposed, would be a good thing, a good way to gather personal information. But what he didn't expect was the dreamy, faraway look that came into her eyes.

Five whole years… Kira was thinking to herself. So many things happened since I met Rukawa. Finally finding him seemed to have made a line in my life, separating my past life and present life. How bitter and cold life seemed to be without him!

Kira remembered back to their five wonderful years, how Rukawa and Sakuragi finally began to accept each other in their own ways and finally became inseparable, though Kira wouldn't classify them as "friends." The two years were hard when Rukawa graduated from Shohoku High and left for the states to have special training in basketball skills. But he somehow managed to come home every month and during holidays.

Kira never did meet her biological parents, but did go to the states with Rukawa after being accepted to Juilliard University. They kept their houses back in Kanagawa, in hope to return back to it someday.

Yumi was taking charge of the Rukawa houses while they were gone, and though refusing to go to a college of any sort, she did enter a designer school and soon became the most wanted fashion designer in all of Japan. She slowly matured throughout high school, and was now quieter, while her flashing eyes grew thoughtful and her bold actions graceful. But the old mischievous, brazen glint never disappeared from the depth of her eyes though she was filled with as many girlish dreams as ever now that she was finally engaged to Mitsui Hasashi, which wasn't a big surprise. Mila and Suzu moved away after high school and were never heard from again, but Aiko stayed and was as excited about Yumi's wedding as if it was her own.

Sakuragi Hanamichi became a star basketball player on one of the best teams in Japan, working alongside with Miyagi. Together, they made a strong team, just the two of them, with Sakuragi's everlasting energy and Miyagi's quick, catlike movements. And were soon recognized as the best pair of players in all of Japan.

The Sakuragi Brigade never broke up, but was more occupied now with jobs, college, and other odds and ends. Mito never went to college, though he might have been the most intelligent of the whole group, but became Sakuragi's manager and most supportive fan, keeping him from fights and accompanying him throughout his daily schedule.

He never stopped loving Kira.

As for Akagi Haruko, she never got over her admiration for Rukawa, but at the same time, felt a kinship to Sakuragi. But under her brother's demands that she stay away from both Sakuragi and Rukawa, she hasn't yet made a move on either boys, instead, stayed close to her brother, offering him her assistance.

Ayako became an independent businesswoman after college, and having opened her own little business in the basketball world, was busier than ever, hiring needed help and making orders out of the country. Though she still doesn't return Miyagi's passion and love for her, she did find feelings for him that she never knew about.

Charmond didn't change a bit. He still tried to bite strangers that came too close to his mistress, and still sat grinning beside Kira as she sat in front of her piano. He talked with his intelligent eyes and left his long muzzle for eating. Though a special fondness developed between Rukawa and Kira, he would always take Kira's side when the siblings have an argument. Rukawa would become his main target if he ever made Kira cry, which, Rukawa learned never to do. But overall, he liked everything and everyone. There was only one thing Char didn't like.

Char didn't like Buster.

Rukawa Kaede never did change too much between the five years, though the people closest to him saw the small changes. Though he was still sometimes cold and distant, between the distances, there was acceptance. Though his words and actions were still short and blunt, there was a certain thoughtfulness that could be detected behind the words. Though he refused to admit Sakuragi was a friend, he never failed to show up at any of Sakuragi's games. And though still independent and in charge on the basketball court, Rukawa had learned to trust.

But most important of all, even though Rukawa Kaede would never admit to loving anyone, he loved Kira.

Kira had become the root of his life, his very breath. She was the first thing on his mind when he opens his eyes in the morning, she was the last thing he remembers before he falls asleep. Slowly, gradually, unconsciously, basketball had taken second place in Rukawa's life, mind, and heart. Another takes the place of basketball now. The one that taught him how to love again, how to trust his teammates, how to care for another. The one that chased away his loneliness and filled his emptiness. The one that gave him reasons to go one living and a meaning to his life. Those used to be all the reason why he loved basketball, but not anymore. Now, he has got the real thing.

"How did this all begin?" Many people have asked. "You and Kira seems to have known and loved each other before you met. Did it really only begin five years ago?"

It all began, a thoughtful look would always appear on Rukawa's face as he remembered back. With a dream. Loving Kira began with a dream.

Though he was young, rich, and now famous, Rukawa refused to have another woman in his life besides his sister, though his fans came in millions and his admirers came in mobs. He ignored Kira's urging to get a girlfriend and at the same time, also refused to allow any man to enter her life.

"Miss? Miss Kira?" The voice jolted her from her thoughts. She turned back to Marcus, forgetting for a moment where she was and who he is. But the cheering of the crowd soon brought her back to the won finals.

"I was just asking, what is your relation to Rukawa Kaede?" Marcus's eyes were focused on her alone as he waited for the answer. "Are you two engaged? Or are you already married?"

"No, no." She said hastily, shaking her head. "We aren't married nor engaged." She cocked her head and her eyes grew thoughtful. "As for my relation to Rukawa. In the beginning, I was nobody. Then, I was known to him as the girl next door. Soon, we became the closest friends and soulmates. Now, I'm just Rukawa's younger sister."

"Rukawa's younger sister?" Marcus's pen stopped in the middle of a word as he looked up. "Don't you want to be anything else? Is that all you want to be, Miss Kira?"

"Yes." There was a certain pride in her voice as she watched her brother jog towards her, finally freed from the crowd with sweat glistening on his skin. The basketball star waved and lifted the fist up into the air toward her, his sign of victory. He caught Kira into an embrace and swung her around in circles. Kira laughed and when she was set back on the ground, she leaned against her sweaty brother with his arms wrapped around her, loving him more than ever.

"Yes, Mr. Stevenson." There was only love and happiness in her voice as she looked Marcus straight into the eye. "And I'll always be Rukawa's little sister."

The End