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.
P.S. I am a bit stunned there. How does the story go on after Sendoh knows the deep secret of Rukawa...the outline is not set like this, but when I wrote on the story, I just accidentally let Sendoh knew the secret although it came out naturally. Do anyone have any ideas?
' ... conversation... '
" ... Thinking..."
11. Breaking of the dark
Sendoh looked at Rukawa who laid on the floor blankly. He was so confused and actually what's happened to Rukawa was out of his imagination. He didn't know what to do. He just stood there for more than 15 minutes. Suddenly he recognized that he should take Rukawa up.
He stepped a step forward carefully, as if he just learnt how to walk. Banding down, he held Rukawa in his arm. Rukawa was much lighter than he should be. He also recognized that how thin Rukawa was. Finally, he put Rukawa on the bed, went to the toilet to get a wet towel and placed it onto Rukawa's forehead. He kept thinking the whole night and took care of Rukawa. After 2 hours, when he saw Rukawa was more stable now, he closed his eyes to have a rest.
'Sendoh...' a weak sound was heard.
Sendoh took aback of sound. He looked down at Rukawa, who looked at him.
"He was awake as his sight is so clear now."
'Sleep.' He said softly and tenderly.
Rukawa moved his sight to the other side. After some times, he spoke again.
'What did I say before?' He whispered.
Sendoh kept quiet.
'I wasn't in the dream.' He whispered so softly as if a ghost breathing near your ear.
Sendoh shivered. He looked at Rukawa, who was still looking at the wall. But his lips were shacking showing that he was afraid.
"Should I tell him? or Should I pretend nothing happened?"
'Sigh...It was you.' He stated a fact but not asking a question.
Sendoh stunned.
Sensing the silence from Senodh, Rukawa looked at him confusingly.
"Doesn't he know what I am talking to? Did I dream or did I not dream? I am confused."
'it was you...?' This time, he wondered.
He had never thought that it was Rukawa who started and continued a one-way conversation instead of he. But at this moment, he didn't know what he should choose. It was just a simple word "YES" or "NO", but it was too difficult to answer.
He looked at Rukawa wondering what he should say, but then he saw Rukawa took a deep breathe and closed his eyes.
"He gave up this conversation finally." He felt a bit relief.
'It was you.'
Sendoh's eyes widened. He looked at Rukawa who was still closing his eyes with a usual expressionless look. The same sentence repeated 3 times. But those were different in meaning. And Sendoh knew that Rukawa got the answer finally.
Taking a deep breathe, he got his voice back eventually.
'It was me.'
Rukawa shook a bit to the answer. Although he knew that Sendoh was the one standing in front of him getting his secret, he felt insecure and scare. He didn't tell anyone of this before. He felt sad and shame.
'You wasn't sleeping peacefully. I tried to wake you up and you seemed still in your dream.' Sendoh said.
He looked at Rukawa, but he didn't changed a bit: still closing his eyes and without any expression. He then continued.
'You thought I was someone. I told you I am Sendoh but you didn't hear me. You begged me stop, you asked me don't hurt Gimmi.'
Rukawa took a deep breathe.
'I just want to...to solve your problem, so I just followed your line.' His voice turned down.
'And then I asked you...' he stopped a bit, '"to continue what?"'
Rukawa bite his lip to keep himself calm. However, he was panting heavily.
'And you said it.' Sendoh whispered.
Rukawa couldn't control himself and he shook heavily. The only thing he could do was deadly close his mouth to avoid any screams. The long time secret that he put deep under his heart had been discovered by someone out of his expectation. He didn't know what to do and what to react.
He looked at Rukawa, who face paled as if transparent and without any expression. He was shaking dreadfully while he bite his lips so tightly. He didn't cry nor scream.
'I'm sorry.' This was what he could say.
He stood up and sat besides Rukawa on the bed. Seeing Rukawa shook, he wouldn't help but held Rukawa up and lightly hugged him to give him some warmness that he might desire for long time. Rukawa resisted first as he was so afraid of the touch and such action as that recalled his memory. Sendoh sensed it, but he didn't get his hand off.
'It's alright. Relax and trust me. '
His soft and tender voice liked a spring breeze blowing into his heart. He wanted to recall the last caring and supportive hug, but he didn't get one. It seemed that he had never enjoyed such warmness from another body. Rukawa couldn't resist but let Sendoh hugged him. He felt his warm, he sensed his breath and he heard his heart beat. He never felt so calm for so many years.
'Thanks.' A barely heard mumble.
Sendoh smiled.
"I bathed my face in the cool mountain water
I could see in the clear water
A mirrored reflection
Deep inside my soul
A wound that had not healed
I walked further into the stream
Washed myself with the water of life
I screamed a silent scream
That came from deep within my body
I fell face first into the stream
When I thought all was lost
The water of life restored my soul"
"A Silent Scream" by Allan James Saywell
Review please.
