Parallel lines

Disclaimer: The characters and the copyrights on the series of Slam Dunk belong to Mr. Inoue Takehiko and the respective owner(s). This story is written by personal enjoyment without any commercial matter incurred.


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' ... conversation... '

" ... Thinking..."


08. Fate

During dining time, everyone ate happily and relaxed as both teams won the 2nd game yesterday and had a day without match on Saturday and Sunday. The next match would be resumed two days later on Monday.

However, when Sendoh looked around, he wouldn't find Rukawa.

'Ayako san, where is Rukawa-kun?' He asked.

Ayako looked at him wondering.

'He finished and went back to his room.'

Sendoh rose an eyebrow.

"Finished? It is only 15 mins for the dinning time."

'I guess he didn't feel very well' Hurako added.

'Guess?'

'Do you want to challenge Hurako san?' Sakuragi said angrily to Sendoh.

'Don't be angry, Sakuragi-kun.' Sendoh said tenderly, 'I just wonder his situation since he didn't play good yesterday.'

'He gets a little fever, but I have already given him the pills.' Ayako said, 'Why are you looking for him?'

Sendoh nodded.

'I just want to talk to him.'

'Talk?' Mitsui asked, 'Does he talk? And what do you want to talk about? His sister? I saw you eyeing his sister that day.'

'Not really.' Sendoh's smiled, 'I just accidentally met his sister today. '

They looked at him.

'And I just want to talk to him.' He repeated again.

- FLASHBACK -

After a day looking around the city with the team, Sendoh, Koshino and the team decided that it was time to back to the hotel. However, on their way back, they saw Gimmi again. She was surrounded by some guys.

"Gimmi? What are she doing there?"

They walked closer and heard their conversation.

'I knew you are working at a lounge.' A guy who seemed to be the leader said.

'So?' Gimmi said coldly.

'We can report to your school.'

She stared at them without saying anything.

'Surely, they are brother-sister. Both are cool and like to stare.' Sendoh shook.

'If you don't want to get into any problem, warm my bed.'

He was listening to the conversation carefully when suddenly pushed by Koshino.

'Time to meet the princess and be the hero.' He teased, 'You like her, don't you?'

Senodh's face reddened. He saw Gimmi looked at them angrily.

'I will call the police.' She said.

'And what do you want to tell the police?' He asked, 'report to them that you work at the lounge?'

All others laughed. Gimmi muted.

'Hey, Gimmi. What are you doing here?' Senodh headed to the group and asked.

They looked at him.

'Who are you?' The leader asked.

'Sendoh. Akira Sendoh.' Sendoh replied with a big smile.

'This is none of your business. Get away.' He ordered. His tone a bit softer as he was altered by Sendoh's tall and well-built figure.

'No. This is definitely my business.' Sendoh said, 'because my girl is forced to talk to other guys in front of her boyfriend.'

'Who's her boyfriend?'

'I am in front of you now.' Sendoh rolled his eyes.

Sendoh passed though the group and hide Gimmi behind him. Gimmi was a bit puzzled.

'Whoever you are. Leave now or you will regret.' He threatened.

'Senodh. What are you doing there?' Someone shouted.

They turned and saw a group of tall guys walking toward their direction.

'I am saving Gimmi.' Sendoh replied pointing to Gimmi while looking at Koshino and hoped he would continued this act.

'Oh...' Koshino saw Gimmi holding Sendoh's, although a bit surprised he followed Sendoh's line, 'Gimmi? Are you OK? I guess we do help here.'

The leader heard what Koshino's say and looked at Sendoh again.

'OK! You are lucky but don't think of the next time.' He said and left.

After they left, Gimmi thanked Sendoh.

'Are you alright?' He said.

Gimmi nodded.

'Ah... Sendoh. ' Koshino spoke and teased, 'I don't think we should here now.'

Gimmi's face reddened.

'Bye.' He waved to them, 'see you at the hotel'.

Sendoh turned back the attention to Gimmi. Gimmi, face was still red, looked at the floor. Sendoh smiled.

'So, where are you going?' He asked.

'I am going home to change and go to was not playing well yesterday...'

Gimmi's expression changed when she heard "Rukawa".

'Don't talk about him.' She said in monotone.

'He is not very happy since that day.'

'I don't care.'

'But he cares you. I can feel it.'

Gimmi looked at Sendoh examining his words.

'No, I don't think so.'

Sendoh looked intensively at Gimmi wondering why she would think that. He saw Gimmi's eyes a bit red.

"What's happened between them?"

'Do you have time to have a cup of coffee?' He asked, 'Just 20 mins.'

'He asked you to come?'

'What?'

'He afraid to face me, so he asked you to come. Right?' She was a bit overacted.

'No. I just accidentally met you here. ' Sendoh said.

Gimmi recalled the accident before and face turned red again.

"Baka." She scolded herself.

'I really want to help you two.' Sendoh explained, 'I never saw Rukawa in that situation.'

'Just 20 mins?' She asked.

Sendoh smiled.


After they sat down at the cafe, they both kept silence.

'um...do you know those guys?' Sendoh started.

'I met them at the lounge last week. They kept following me.'

'Why don't you call the police?'

'They just told me to go home earlier. They are not help. So, I asked my friends to make a role play THAT day, pretending that we have some special supports.'

'Pretend? So, do you smoke?'

'Sometimes, honestly.'

'Well, don't smoke too much. Of course, if possible, don't smoke. OK?'

'OK.'

'Should I pick you up tonight?' Sendoh asked suddenly.

Gimmi looked at him wondering.

'I afraid they will go to your working place.'

'But it will cause you too much trouble.'

'Or, I would call Rukawa to ...'

'No.' She rejected immediately.

'Care to tell me why?'

'I don't respect him to be a brother...' she muttered.

Although her sound lowered down, Sendoh still heard what she said.

'Why?'

Gimmi headed down. He saw a tear dropped on the table.

''Gimmi?'

She shook.

'What's happened?' Sendoh asked while going to sit besides Gimmi.

'He hurt me too much.'

'What's happened?'

'Don't ask me.' She sobbed.

Sendoh looked at her.

Sighed.

He pulled her closed and hugged her.

'OK! Don't cry. I won't push you. Just tell me when you are ready.' He patted her back to calm her down.

- END OF FLASHBACK -

Sendoh sat outside Rukawa's room. It still had light come at the door flame. He knocked the door. To his surprised, Rukawa responded so fast.

'Who?' It was Rukawa's monotone.

'Sendoh.'

Rukawa didn't know why Sendoh had to find him all the time. He didn't move.

'Rukawa?' Sendoh knocked the door again, 'I want to talk to you.'

Still no reply, Sendoh just tried to open the door from outside. And it opened.

"He didn't lock the door."

He opened the door and saw only the table lamp switched on. He looked at the bed, but out of his expectation, that no one was in the bed.

'What do you want?'

He turned around, and saw Rukawa, who looked tired and even paler than usual, sat on the sofa with a blanket covered.


(female)
"can you see me
hiding in my dreams
can you save me
save me from my screams
will you help me
I want to be free
will you hold me
in your arms"

Quoted from "Hiding From Nightmare" by Aaron (AarionLee) Morris


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