-endymion-
-Disclaimer: Slam Dunk belongs to Takehiko Inoue, IT Planning, Toei Animation and all that crap. Put bluntly, they're not mine. Enjoy!-
Rukawa and Reika's bond had been tightened to an inseparable link. One cannot be seen without the other, and both seemed to be happy with each other. She gained a friend and so did he. People began to think if there was something going on between them. Reika laughs it off while Rukawa ignores them. They had each other. That's what counted. They were fine hanging out together and playing numerous one-on-ones. Other than their being with each other's company, nothing seems to have changed. Reika was still open and friendly, and is still sporting a motormouth. Kaede was still quiet, grumpy and amazing in basketball.
This went on for a few months but then things started to change…
Reika watched Rukawa ride away before going back inside the house. The rookie walked her home that day after practice and stayed for dinner again. Kaede was a regular in Reika's house. Reika's mother did not mind, she even seemed to enjoy the company. And besides, she was almost always not home for the past month.
Reika walked back into the house with a satisfied smile.
"Reika?" Mrs. Watanabe called from her office before Reika could go up to her room. "Come in her for a sec."
Puzzled, she walked into her mother's office. "Kaasan? What is it?"
Her mother was seated behind her desk, reading the contents of a manila folder. Whatever it was, it did not seem to be pleasing her.
"Your results came in today," Mrs. Watanabe said without looking up, her face grim.
Reika's heart skipped a beat. "And?"
Mrs. Watanabe sighed. "You'd better sit down."
Reika shut the door behind her before heeding her mother's advice. A heavy feeling in her stomach told her she wasn't going to like this news.
It was nearly Christmas. Autumn came and went and was now replaced by winter. Everyone in Shohoku High talked and laughed and looked excited.
Everyone except Reika.
Rukawa was on the rooftop, sitting with her, as usual. He was quiet. Nothing surprising about that. What was bothering him was her silence.
She was holding a book on her lap, a new one. The Five People You Meet In Heaven, read the title. But she wasn't reading it; she was just staring at it like it held the answers to the greatest mysteries of the universe.
Rukawa turned down the volume of his Walkman. "Reika?"
She didn't answer. She didn't seem to have heard him. Rukawa reached over and poked her shoulder. Startled, she tore her green gaze away from the paperback. "What?"
"What's wrong?"
Reika forced a smile. One that didn't reach her eyes. "It's nothing."
Rukawa wondered how 'nothing'could change someone so quickly.
For the following weeks, Reika looked like the only lonely face in the crowd. And it was unusual to see her look so down or stay quiet. She wasn't her usual genki(cheerful)self. She had gone to school looking depressed and went home the same way. She refused Rukawa's offer to walk her home. She seldom came up to the rooftop with him. And when she did, she just usually stares off into space, consumed in her own thoughts or doodling on her journal instead of babbling. She became very quiet during practice, instead of egging everyone to do their best.
Then she stopped going to the practices.
Ayako checked her wristwatch. "Where on earth is she?"Anzai-sensei would be joining the team's practice today, and Ayako wanted him to see Reika at work.
"Who?" Haruko asked, turning toward her senior.
"Reika."
"Oh," the younger girl replied flatly. She had been feeling awkward towards Reika, because of the latter girl's affinity with Rukawa. "I haven't seen her since lunch period."
Ayako turned to Rukawa. "Rukawa?"
The boy shrugged.
"Mitsui?"
"Gomen ne, Aya-chan. Haven't seen her either."
Then she stopped hanging with Rukawa…
Reika, sitting on her usual seat, was gathering her things and replacing them inside her bag. A dark shadowsuddenly came over her. She looked up.
"Iku.(Let's go.)"
"Rukawa," she said, upon seeing the rookie. He had become used to waiting for her so that they climbed up to the rooftop togethe during lunch period. "Why don't you go on ahead. I'll catch up with you."
Rukawa went up to the rooftop alone, cranking up the volume of his Walkman. Reika's absence made the surroundings very quiet; something he was no longer used to since the two of them started hanging with each other.
So he waited. And waited.
But she never came.
…and anyone else altogether one week before the Holiday Break. She rarely talked to anyone unless absolutely needed.
Few people cared enough to wonder and worry about her, and Rukawa was one of them.
Tension was running high in the Shohoku Gym that afternoon. They are going to play against Ryonan Team tomorrow for a spot on the semi-finals. Normally, Reika would be going around, psyching everyone up for the big game with her chatter and cheerfulness.
'Apparently, this isn't a normal day,' Mitsui thought, observing the green-eyed girl who was quietly noting down the team's statistics and progress on a clipboard. Then he glanced at Rukawa and caught him looking over at Reika. The girl rarely came to practices nowadays, and no one seems to know why.
Try as the rookie might in denying it, Mitsui knew there was something going on between them. He knew Ayako noticed it too. Heck, everyone was actually gossipping about the two of them. They were always found together, of course rumors were going to spread.
"Having trouble with your girlfriend?" Mitsui asked Rukawa as they faced off in the court in a practice game.
Rukawa blinked, his way of showing surprise. He tightened his defense against Mitsui. "She's not my girlfriend."
"Isn't she?"
Mitsui flashed him a triumphant grin as he broke through Rukawa's defense and scored a perfect three-pointer.
"I think she is," Mitsui told him. "Or maybe, she should be."
Kanagawa Gym, Shohoku vs. Ryonan. Halftime break.
"Okay, what exactly is wrong with this picture?" Ryota demanded, highly agitated that his team wasn't performing as good as he had expected. True, they were only a goal behind Ryonan but that could cost them the game, and the semi-finals. The game was half over. The whole team was in the locker room before the second half begins. "Remember, team. This is a do-or-die situation. We couldn't afford to let our concentration lag," Ryota glared at Rukawa as he said this comment."We have to give this game averything, got it?"
The team chorused "Hai" before they started to walk outside.
Rukawa cursed angrily at himself. How could his game be off today, of all days?
Well…he knew precisely how. Watanabe didn't show up at the game for the first time.
"Rukawa."
He turned around. "Mitsui-sempai."
"Look," Mitsui looked him in the eye. He went straight to the point. "I know you're worried about her. We all are. But don't let it ruin the game for us. She trained the others so we could go to the Interhigh. She helped you with your grades so you'd be able to play. Don't let all our efforts go to waste. You know we're counting on you a lot."
"I know," Rukawa said monotonously.
"You can worry about her later, when we already won," Mitsui clapped the rookie's shoulder and went on ahead. "Ganbatte."
Before the second half started, Sendoh called out to him.
"Oi, Rukawa," he said and pointed up towards the bleachers. With his gaze, he followed where Sendoh's finger was pointing. Reika was there, on her way to take a seat at the back.
Rukawa made up his mind. He would have to talk to her. Immediately.
It was a very close game, but thankfully, they won. But the euphoria of winning was very short-lived for the rookie. Once they were out of the Kanagawa Gym, all his worries settled back within him once more.
He tried looking for her after the game but she was nowhere to be found.
Today was the last day before the Holiday Break. He never got the chance to talk to her alone, and he really wanted to ask her in private. The whole damn school was always filled with people. Very noisy people. Girls mostly. Giggly girls.
He rode his bike, unsure where he would go. He didn't want to go home just yet. Usually, he'dgo to Reika's place for dinner, but he just couldn't show up there now. He had a feeling that she wouldn't be too happy to see him.
Finally he decided to go to the public court and play. He had a few extra hours to kill. He could drain himself of all the energy he had before going home and collapse in bed. He wouldn't have to think of her then.
He should've known she would be there too.
Reika was there in the public court by herself, shooting hoops. Earphones of a Walkman were shoved in her ear, and her face was red, probably from playing so vigorously.
Now was his chance. "Reika!" he called.
When she heard his voice, she froze but didn't look his way. She dropped the ball she was playing with instead, and started to run for her skateboard.
Rukawa caught up to her quickly. He grabbed her wrist and held tight. "What's wrong, Reika?"
"Let me go," she replied coldly, not looking at him and trying to pull away.
"No," Rukawa tightened his grip on her wrist.
"You're hurting my wrist."
"No."
"I said let me go, dammit!"
"Tell me what's wrong."
"It's nothing, let me go!"
"THAT'S BULLSHIT!" he exploded. All his frustrations were too much to bottle up any more. "You're fucking avoiding me, aren't you?! And I don't like it! Why won't you tell me?"
Silence.
"Answer me!"
"BECAUSE I'M FUCKING DYING, THAT'S WHY!" she exploded too, angry tears spilling onto her cheeks as she glared at him. "Are you happy now?!"
It took a while before the words could sink in. "Wh..what?"
"I'm dying," Reika choked out.
There was a stunned silence between them, and the wind whistling was all they heard. Words failed Rukawa again. Shock prevented him from thinking coherently. His hand loosened around her wrist. She took the opportunity to get away from him. She ran to get her board and skated away before he had a chance to stop her.
Rukawa was left there, a terrible feeling he couldn't explain gripping his heart.
That night, Rukawa lay on his bed, thinking about Reika and how he really felt about her, music blaring loudly in his ears. He wanted to think that she was only kidding. But Reika wouldn't joke about something as serious as this. Would she? And it would be the perfect explanation as to why she was avoiding everyone.
Of course he was shocked; someone he actually knew was going to die. If any one of his team mates was dying, he would've been shocked too. But how come knowing she was dying made him feel this horrible? He felt so bad, it was actually painful.
The phone rang and broke his train of thought.
"Hai, Rukawa desu," he grumbled into the ? It's Reika." Rukawa's eyes widened as he heard her now-familiar voice. He sat up immediately. She sounded funny, though. Like she had been crying.
"What?"
"I'm sorry for calling so late," she said quietly. "And I'm sorry for raging on you like that. It wasn't fair."
"Don't worry 'bout it."
"Would you…meet me tomorrow at the train station? I'll be there at 9 am."
"Why?"
"Would you meet me? Would you?"
Rukawa knew he wouldn't get a straight answer from her tonight. "All right. I'll meet you tomorrow."
"Thank you. Good night," she murmured before hanging up.
Her face was the last thing on his mind before he finally fell asleep.
Reika's Journal Friday 8:47 p.m. December 17
It's finally happened.
What do I do now? I'm so stupid. I should've known this would happen , but noI insisted on making friends. Now I don't even know how I feel about him anymore.
Oh god… I'm turning to such a cheeseball!
Mom is making the final arrangements. This new job is a dream come true for her. I'm happy for her and I know it's going to be good for us, especially me because of all the superb doctors abroad but…what about my life here in Japan? What about Aya-chan and Mi-chan? What about…what about Rukawa?
Arrrrgghhh!!! Its just so unfair!
This past couple of weeks I distanced myself from everyone. But Rukawa…damn him. I tried to get as far away from him as possible. I even stopped going to practices and on the rooftop just so I wouldn't have to talk to him. I attended the last practice because it was right before the semi-finals. I went to the Ryonan-Shohoku game but only for a bit. I don't think he saw me, though. I was on the bleachers, and I left immediately. But he found me afterwards in the outdoor court. I wasn't able to help myself then. I asked him to come with me tomorrow…you know what date tomorrow is. I can't help thinking that it was a bad idea. I want to call him and cancel, but he might be asleep by now. And I know for a fact that he loves his sleep. I don't want to be a bother.
This is getting too depressing. I think I'll just skip dinner (with Mom's new clients) and go straight to sleep.
Reika
It was a cold, dreary day. First snowfall of the season.
Reika stood in front of the train station, listening to her Walkman. She tightened her fur-lined leather trench coat around her as she waited.
Rukawa arrived eight minutes late.
"Where are we going?" he asked upon arrival.
Reika handed him his ticket, without her usual greetings. "To Honshu," she replied. She didn't seem the least bit agitated with his lateness, but she didn't crack a smile either.
They got on their train and sat side by side. Rukawa didn't mind when she slipped her arm into his and stared blankly ahead. She didn't say a single word, but she held his hand the whole way. Some of the passengers were watching them, surprised to see that Rukawa was out in public, holding hands with a girl and not asleep.
The bus dropped them off a few hours later. Reika had stopped by a flower shop to buy a bunch of daisies. Then they visited a shrine, where they knelt in silent prayer for some time.
After that, she went to the burial ground behind it. She laid the flowers neatly on one of the graves, which said 'Watanabe Makoto'. She knelt down on the snow and touched the marker.
The two of them then went inside a cottage Reika had rented for the afternoon. They sat in front of the fire with mugs of steaming coffee together.
"Why did you bring me here?" Rukawa asked suddenly.
She stared at the roaring fire, the flames reflecting in her green eyes. She hugged her knees to her chest. "That grave we visited…it is my dad's."
Rukawa looked at her, mildly surprised.
"He died six years ago," she went on softly. "He loved basketball, just like me and Koji. He taught us all we know. I've been playing ever since I learned to walk. He was the one who took care of us, and stayed with us every time mom went all over the country. She's a costume and set designer for a movie company you see. She and her company went to different locations.
"My dad died because of cancer. Apparently, cancer ran in our blood.
"I got mine a year ago. It was a tumor in the brain. I was operated on, and was subjected to chemotherapy," at this point, Reika ran her fingers through her hair and fumbled with something on her nape. Rukawa was astounded when she pulled at her scalp, and it came off easily. Reika was wearing a wig. Her head was bald, with only bristly hairs that were starting to grow.
"We moved here to Kanagawa because my mom said the climate would be good for my recovery," Reika said. "But I had to continue my medication. I'm absent from class every Friday because I go to the hospital.
"I didn't want to tell anyone of my condition. I didn't want their pity. I didn't need it. And I thought I was going to get better."
"But you are getting better," Rukawa cut in. Reika smiled at him sadly.
"There's a new one growing, and it's growing in a more delicate place. The doctors said if they didn't do the operation right, they might damage the brain, and I might get into a coma. Or they might affect the part that is responsible for my motor nerves. I might not be able to walk or move again.
"I came here to say goodbye to my dad," Reika said, her voice growing softer. She looked up at Rukawa and took a deep breath. "And I brought you with me so I can say goodbye to you too."
"What are you talking about?" Rukawa's eyes flashed at that. "You're not going to die!"
"We're moving Kaede," Reika look into his blue eyes. She loved his eyes. They used to be so clouded over, but she noticed how they changed They had become cleared up little by little as they spent more time together.
He was astonished, partly because of the look of sadness in her eyes and partly because she had said his given name for the first time. "To the U.S. for good."
"What?"
"My mother was offered a spot on the production set in Hollywood. The offer was to good to pass up so she accepted. She said, with the money she'd earn there, she could afford to get a brilliant surgeon to take care of my tumor. We won't have to worry about housing and our Visa because the company was going to provide for us."
Tears flooded her eyes and she looked away as one by one they started to roll down her cheeks silently.
Rukawa felt a gnawing pit in his stomach as he watched her cry. As if by instinct, he reached out both his arms and hugged her to him. He held her tightly as she trembled and cried. Where this instinct came from, he didn't know, but it all came naturally, even though he never hugged anyone this way before. He had never felt so strongly towards a person. And a female too for that matter. She was important to him. He didn't want her to cry like this. He didn't want her to leave him.
As he felt her tears soak the front of his shirt, he realized this was much more familiarity and acquaintanceship. Much more than friendship.
But how can he tell her? What would he tell her? He had never been good at expressing his feelings. Especially personal ones. And what do you call this feeling anyway?
Then she pulled back form him and wiped away her tears. "I'm s-s-sorry for b-breaking down like that…" she apologized shakily.
He touched her face and traced the line of her jaw, tilting her head up so he looked straight into her eyes. "Reika…" his voice trailed off. The words wouldn't come. 'Damn it all! How the hell do I tell her?' he thought, cursing himself.
But Reika understood what he wanted to say just by looking into his ocean blue eyes. Three words that she understood without having to hear them.
"No…no…no, no, no, no!!!" she cried, looked away again and brushed off his hand. "This is going to make everything more complicated!"
"Why?"
"Coz I…coz I… Oh god… I can't…" she broke off because she couldn't bring herself to say it. 'This is too cheesy for my blood!' she thought, incredulous in spite of the tender moment. Instead she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. "Spend Christmas with me…please…"
"All right," Rukawa whispered in her ear as she lay within his arms.
"Snow hides everything
Beneath sleek whiteness
About an unspoken love…"
Author's Babbles:
One last chapter to go!
Lotsa cheese in this chapter, I know…feel free to gag! harhar..if anyone took the time to read my profile, I said I'm a hopeless romantic.
The above haiku is entitled Winter written by yours truly, especially for this fic.
Gomen ne, I don't have a medical degree, soReika's condition might be a little too farfetched and ridiculous. But it is possible...isn't it..?
Comments? Violent reactions? Pls tell me what you guys think! I won't be accepting any more suggestions, coz the fic is done with…it just needs a little polishing. Harhar..
Next up: the final chapter! Kaede and Reika's Christmas together!
(almost in time for Christmas in the real world too.. ';)
til next chappie!