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.
cutiedallie: Thanks for review my story again.
' ... conversation... '
" ... Thinking..."
09. ... What can I do?
Sendoh left finally. Rukawa was alone again in his room. Remembered the conversation before, he felt too depress. He felt he was unable to breath. Suddenly he felt his heart arching, he pressed his hand on his chest trying to ease the pain.
"I am tired. Can I just take a rest?"
His body, as if answered his required, further deepened into the sofa and his eyes closed unnoticeably.
At other side, Sendoh had already picked up Gimmi.
'I didn't think you would come to pick up me.'
'Why not?'
'We barely know each other.' She said softly.
She felt the silence and looked up to Sendoh. While the always smiling Sendoh eased his smile.
'Sorry. I don't mean that.'
'It's alright.' He shook, 'I just want to help you and Rukawa.'
She looked intensively to him, rose her eyebrow and nodded.
'I won't hide that I am attracted by your charm.' He added, 'but I am also affected by Rukawa's attitude.'
She confused.
'How could a person always acts so cold and isolated?' He said, 'And I would feel his sadness.'
'Sad?'
Sendoh nodded.
'You are always upset and angry when you talk about him, but what he gave me are sadness and emptiness.'
Gimmi muted suddenly and her tears dropped.
'Gimmi?'
'I just feel sad when you said he was sad and empty.'
'I really want to find out what had happened between you and him and solve the problem. I really want to help.' Sendoh said sadly, 'Because my brother died due to my stubborn.'
'I am sorry.'
'No, I am fine now.'
'This is my home. Thanks for sending me back.'
'Can we have a talk? Just 10 minutes.'
'Another 10 minutes?' Gimmi giggled, ''Come in.'
When they sat on the sofa, Sendoh started again as he didn't want to stay with a girl alone at night.
'He told me Kimura and what happened on you.' Sendoh said, 'I am sorry.'
'It's alright.' Gimmi face reddened, 'He...he...ah... sniffed...sniffed on me, but stopped when he had a phone call. He came and left within 15 minutes. '
'How do you know that Rukawa was with Kimura that day?'
'Kimura said that and he didn't deny. But he didn't tell me what he did at his house.'
'Was he at Kimura's house that day?' He asked wondering why.
'Yes.'
'What did he doing there?'
Gimmi stopped talking and looked at Sendoh. Sendoh looked straightly to her and she felt he was really serious to the issue.
'He said Kaede was working for him, something entertaining him.' She said uncertainly, 'Actually I am not sure what Kaede did. But might be ... he was introducing girl to Kimura.'
'And you thought he even introduced his sister to Kimura?'
She nodded.
'But did he a brother like this?'
Gimmi's eyes widened, mouth opened and closed again. Finally she shook.
'But I was too angry there and Kimura sent him home that night... If he wasn't, why didn't he tell me?'
'I don't know. But I would find it out.' Sendoh said and stood up, 'I go now, take care yourself. Call me if you need help, OK?'
She nodded.
When Sendoh was going back to the hotel, he kept thinking "what did Rukawa do that day?". He tried to sum up the materials he got now, but it seemed nothing much.
'Right, anyway, the most important thing is to find out what he did at Kimura home.' He told himself.'
After he went back to the hotel, he firstly went to his room to change and to take a shower. Before he went out, he saw Koshino looking at him. He rose his eyebrow and smiled.
'Where are you going now?' Koshino asked, 'You seems busy.'
'I am going to Rukawa's room.'
'So, time to get closer to the brother-in-law?' he teased.
'ha...ha... funny.' He laughed, 'Sleep well.'
He opened the door but then went back to take the blanket on his bed.
'You won't back tonight?' Koshino asked cautiously.
'Hey, don't sound like a jealous girlfriend.' He said mockingly.
Koshino rolled his eyes. Sendoh laughed.
'Don't push too fast. Everything needs time to change.' Koshino said seriously.
He nodded and went out.
When he entered Rukawa's room, he found that Rukawa slept on the sofa.
'Does he really sleep on the sofa?' He wondered.
His body balled up and his face was stiffened, while his breathe was short and fast.
'He doesn't sleep peacefully.'
Before he went to ask Rukawa to sleep on the bed, he found Rukawa mumbling something.
He went closer.
'No...stop.' He waved his head from left to right
He put his hand on Rukawa's forehead.
'Oh, he is burning.'
'Itai...stop, please...stop.'
"What are he saying about?"
'Aa...' he screamed silently, 'please...help...'
Rukawa panted heavily while his chest was up and down significantly. Suddenly he saw Rukawa bite his lower lip in order to avoid a scream, but he bite too hard and broke his lip. At one side, he wanted to wake him up, but at the other side, he wanted to listen what was happened. His six sense told him that this was the main stream of the story.
However, what he would hear from Rukawa was just those few words repeatedly. Suddenly Rukawa screamed a bit loudly and he saw tear dropped down his face.
'stop...'
He wouldn't take it anymore and tried to wake Rukawa up.
'Rukawa, open your eyes!'
He tried and tried but Rukawa was still in his dream. He put his hand on his shoulder and fling him violently. Suddenly, he saw Rukawa opened his eyes but it was not focusing.
'Stop, please.' He said weakly.
'Are you still dreaming?' He asked, 'I am Sendoh.'
Rukawa looked at him wearily.
"Does he look at me, at Sendoh Akira? Might be if I say Gimmi, he would clear his mind."
'Rukawa, I am Sendoh. I come to talk about Gimmi. GIMMI.' He spoke while kept waved his body.
'Gimmi...no, don't hurt her.' A weak reply from Rukawa.
"He still doesn't recognize me, how can I make him fully awake...or may be I can...should I?"
He thought this was one of the only chance he would draw out what happened that day although this was not a good way. Finally he decided to take the chance.
'What will you do then? Beg me.' He tried to say something which might have special meaning to Rukawa.
Eye widened, Rukawa took a deep breathe, then his eye closed, tear dropped and head lowered down.
'You both ... all day... And you want me to beg you to continue?' He whispered.
"You both? What's that all day? Continue what?" Sendoh sensed something but he hoped what his thought was wrong.
'Or I ... no, we can go to Gimmi.' He replied.
'No, don't hurt Gimmi. I beg you.' He sobbed, 'please...'
'Say it out. To continue what!' Sendoh whispered in a low tone.
"I am sorry, Rukawa kun." He was so nervous.
'...you all... please...rape me...' a weak broken line came out from Rukawa' mouth.
The sound was barely heard but Sendoh heard it clearly. Although he sensed that, he was too shocked to the news. His mind went blank. His face turned pale and he was shivering. He released Rukawa and took few steps backward as he felt all his blood drew away from his body. However Rukawa just thought he was going. Half standing on the floor, half kneeing on the sofa, he held Senodh's hand tightly in a hurry.
'...please...'
Sendoh took his hand back forcefully, and accidentally pulled Rukawa on the floor. He wanted to take Rukawa up but his feet rejected to move. He looked at the fallen figure and cried silently.
"What can I do? How can I help?"
Fear is an agonizing thing
It cripples deep inside
It freezes the thinking part of you
So you want to run and hide
It creeps like a burglar upon you
Causing shivers to run down your spine
It reduces you to an empty shell
And destroys all that is fine
Don't let fear get a hold on you
Fight it with all your might
Once you bring that fear in the open
Your world has a chance to be bright
"Fear" by Marian Wheaton
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