Chapter 2
An Unexpected Arrival
A/N: Well, chapter 2 and 3 are up, on this chapter, I decided to give Rukawa an angle which I hope would come up in a few more chapters, but still...Hana-chan and Haruko are given priority. As always please leave a review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Slam Dunk (sadly)….
He stared silently from the window seat of flight JF-711, business class, nothing but boredom and indifference lined the contours of his face as he surveyed the view from above.
"Would you like something to drink?" the stewardess inquired, bringing with her a tray load of drinks and snacks for the passengers.
"When does this damn flight land?" he asked sharply, ignoring the surprised look on the stewardess's face,
The stewardess was used to grouchy passengers from time to time, but this one was particularly unnerving—his long legs were crossed together, while he rested his head against the knuckles of his hand, and he gazed at her with a look that spoke of ill-concealed displeasure.
"The plane will arrive in Japan in thirty minutes tops," she replied stiffly, as she wheeled her cartload of drinks away from the disgruntled passenger,
"Hey wait…" the cart halted, while the stewardess turned to face him, "I'd like some champagne or beer in the least…" he said coolly,
The cart wheeled back to his side, while a not-so-polite stewardess served his drink.
Back in the steward's lounge, she met with her fellow flight attendants,
"Hey, what's with the sour look on your face…it wont do well if you face the other passengers looking like that, who was that guy you served just now?" one of them inquired upon seeing her.
"Just some jerk of a hot shot…" the disgruntled attendant answered,
Oblivious to the fact that he was probably the object of gossip and bad remarks by the flight attendants, he gazed out the window of the plane and became more content with preoccupying himself with the view.
He did feel a bit of anticipation on landing back in Japan, but not much of it appealed when it came to the prospect of going back to Kanagawa. He still felt apprehensive in showing his face back to the people he once knew when he left without even telling them---excluding Coach Anzai.
As the plane reached a landing, he finally managed to push his way amongst the other passengers and head out the airport without taking much time.
A taxi waited for him outside the airport, where a cab driver held out a cardboard with his name printed on it.
"Rukawa Kaede?" The driver asked when he approached him.
Rukawa nodded mechanically as the driver helped lug his baggage into the car and got in. The passing scenery wasn't much of an interest to him, he felt much too indifferent. There was no one he expected to greet him at the airport, and he preferred it that way. All he needed was a break…
"The team would be happy to know you'll be back," Coach Anzai's words on the long distance phone call were enthusiastic, and it had been kind of him to offer to lodge him during the few months of a break he got. He could have afforded renting an apartment or even staying at a hotel for the time being, but somehow…he remembered the peace and serenity he had felt every time he visited the Anzai residence, that the memory alone persuaded him to take up the offer.
He saw the street signs that said he would soon be approaching Kanagawa, and the familiar scenery seemed rather comforting. He had slightly worried of becoming lost lest the place had changed dramatically, but it seemed there had been no reason for his worry…Kanagawa did change, but there were still some familiar signs left for him to recognize.
The cab pulled to a stop and the driver got out and helped him with his luggage. He pulled out some cash to pay, but the driver shook his head, "No need pal, its been paid for,"
Rukawa muttered curt thanks and found himself staring at the Anzai Residence's front gate. He took a deep breath and pressed the door bell.
The same kind old lady that was Mrs. Anzai greeted him at the door, at once Rukawa's eyes softened, and he found himself saying a barely audible "Tadaima"
Mrs. Anzai smiled warmly, "Okaeri, Kaede"
It only seemed appropriate that the Anzai residence seemed like home to Kaede Rukawa.
………………………….
"How was America, Kaede?" Mrs. Anzai asked, "I've been hearing such good things about you, and I'm very happy for your success…"
"It was okay, Mrs. Anzai, thank you for your concern" Rukawa answered, "I brought some tea and coffee from my trip, I hope you don't mind…"
"Not at all, it's nice that you didn't bring any sake…that Sakuragi always brings sake whenever he visits and gets my husband drunk," she laughed,
Rukawa was slightly perturbed by the mention of his former team-mate and constant critic; he had no wish to run into the "red-haired idiot".
"My husband's been expecting you, he's at the same room, or should I show you the way?"
"No need, I still remember," Rukawa insisted, as he walked the hallways to the room. Memory served, and he found himself before the same room where he bid his coach of his leave.
"Come in Rukawa," Coach Anzai bid him to enter, and soon Rukawa found himself face to face with his mentor.
"I'm back, Anzai-sensei" he greeted,
Anzai smiled, "Would you like some tea?"
Rukawa nodded, as he observed his old teacher. Anzai sensei was decidedly older, though like Kanagawa, he did not change much. The white hair had thinned slightly, but the Buddha-like paunch and serene features of his face were still there.
"I'm glad you decided to return to Japan for a while," Anzai remarked, as he watched Rukawa observe the scenery outside his room. "It'll be a chance for you to catch up on some old pals,"
"Not quite…I've no intention of seeing anyone," Rukawa answered, sipping his tea.
"Well, what are your plans then?"
"I'm not sure, I couldn't just lay around for the next few months…"
"Well, what made you decide to come back?" Coach Anzai asked, though from what he'd guessed… the boy had come to Japan to think…what he was thinking of, was another question that he could not even fathom an answer to.
There was a silence, and Rukawa found it slightly comforting. "You read any news about me and a job offer as a medical representative?" he inquired,
"Of course…I read all about it…" the coach answered, looking at the disturbed look in the boy's eyes.
Rukawa's blue eyes darkened, "Contrary to what the papers say, I wasn't the only one offered the job…I'm just a candidate,"
"So ka (I see)…" the coach sighed, "do you really want the job?"
"Yeah, I do…I've worked myself off for eight years in university, research, and internship just to land the job, but right now the possibilities seem bleak…the company believes I'm the best man for the job, but they think my management has kinks…"
"What kind?"
Rukawa's body stiffened, a memory of the time he was head intern at the hospital caused him to blaze with anger. "they say I run people on too harshly…" he answered, taking a sip of tea and wishing it were vodka instead, "What the hell do they have against efficiency! If people didn't bother around with slacking in-between-jobs, I wouldn't need to lug them off their breaks early and force them on treating their patients!"
Anzai understood. Rukawa may have talent, but he had always been a boy to take matters into his own hands and force others to follow. He was too shrewd and too cool for most people to consider a good boss—one they would be forced to follow, but not truly like.
The boy before him looked angry, and it seemed that though his stiffened shoulders slightly relaxed…his tightly controlled outburst took more of his strength than if he had lashed out at everything around him.
"Why don't you take a rest?" Coach Anzai suggested, "and afterwards, you can go around town and take note of any changes since you left…"
Rukawa nodded, as he finished sipping his tea.
Mrs. Anzai met with him at the hallways and led him to his room, "have a nice rest Kaede," she said,
"Poor boy…" she thought, as she closed the door to his room, "he seems so tired…"
…………………………….
"Hey there, Gorilla!" Sakuragi shouted over the students outside the University.
Snickers and giggles were suppressed when the looming figure of Professor Akagi suddenly bounded off in the direction of the red-haired individual who had become a familiar sight at their school (along with the ever present bump on his head after considerable beating from their professor).
"I told you to stop calling me that!" Akagi boomed as he hit the red-head.
"hai! I will!" Sakuragi shouted, "Just quit it okay!"
"Oni-chan, please stop that," Haruko admonished, as Akagi's fist stopped in mid-air.
"Yeah, Oni-chan, stop hitting me…" Sakuragi repeated when the fist that had frozen mid-air hit full force on his head, followed by a series of insults and berating words.
"Don't call me Oni-chan, you disgust me!"
Sakuragi pouted when his face suddenly changed into a mischievous smirk and nudged Akagi at the ribs. "Come on, Gori…just because you haven't got a love life doesn't mean you have to begrudge me of mine…"
"Omae…" Akagi grunted murderously,
"Oni-chan!" Haruko interrupted. "Sakuragi's a bit right after all…you need a wife!"
Akagi groaned. "This is your fault, you started it" he muttered so only Sakuragi could hear.
"I'd have recommended Uozumi and you to get together, but unfortunately he's married…" Sakuragi smirked,
Akagi roared and got into a fit of going after the redhead until some of his students had to hold him back and suppress his violence.
Haruko sighed, and faced Sakuragi only to find him making faces at her brother. "Sakuragi-kun!" at once Sakuragi ceased and put on a serious façade which would have fooled anyone except those who truly knew him for what he was,
"Gomen, Haruko" he apologized, "I'll be going now…the basketball team needs practice,"
"Ja, Mata ne!" Haruko waved as Sakuragi sprinted out of the University grounds.
"I swear…the next time I see that ahou, I'll kill him!" Akagi grunted,
"Oni-chan, let's go back to the apartment, you're only grumpy 'cause you're still a bachelor,"
"I don't see you berating Mitsui and Kogure for being bachelors as well," Akagi complained,
"That's because Kogure's dating someone, and Mitsui's suited to bachelorhood"
"Does that mean I'm not suited for Bachelorhood?" Akagi asked indignantly.
Haruko laughed, "That's not what I meant, brother, It's just that I always worry that you'd spend your life living alone without someone to spend it with, I just want you to find someone who'll really take care of you…"
Akagi softened at his sister's concern, "I wish the same for you, sis…you'd have to find someone who'll take care of you as well…"
But unbeknownst to Haruko, Takenori Akagi already had someone in mind for his little sister.
………………………….
"Hey Mrs. Anzai! Is Colonel Sanders around?"
"Oh no, Sakuragi…I'm not letting you in if you're carrying sake with you!" Mrs. Anzai laughed,
Sakuragi grinned, "Sorry…I've got nothing on me today,"
"Well then, you've gained yourself an entrance…" Mrs. Anzai said, as he opened the gate to let him enter, "By the way, my husband is out for awhile, but he'll be back soon…"
"I don't mind waiting…" Sakuragi assured her, as he began walking in the direction of Coach Anzai's room. "A little trip to Colonel Sanders is just what I need…the team did quite well, and I'm in the mood to talk about it…" Sakuragi thought,
Without warning, a door slid open and a tall raven-haired figure stepped out. Both of them froze. Sakuragi's eyes slanted menacingly, and it seemed as if currents and bolts of electricity hovered in the space between them,
Rukawa looked at him for a moment, yawned, and turned his back on Sakuragi as he headed the other way.
"Oi! Kitsune!" Sakuragi called, as Rukawa had begun to walk away. Rukawa ignored the incoherent mumbling and continued to leave, "Oh I see that your time in the States may have left you deaf…"
Rukawa stiffened, and fixated his steel cold gaze at the redhead.
"Don't think that look is going to unnerve me Foxy face," Sakuragi shrugged. "You're just some big wuss in the U.S., with muscles of flab from lack of exercise, and I bet you're probably gonna faint at the slightest jog… and I bet…", the next thing he knew, a fist slammed right into his face.
"I see you still got that tongue 'o yours, ahou" Rukawa muttered,
"And you still got that soft swing that you call a punch!" Sakuragi retorted, as he began to strike with his fist,
"What's going ohhh…" Coach Anzai never got to finish his sentence when Sakuragi's fist crashed into his face.
Silence ensued, and the only sound that could be heard was the splash of carp fish in the pond.
"Anzai-sensei!" Both boys shouted,
"Now look what you've done, ahou!" Rukawa snarled as he helped Coach Anzai to his feet,
"hey! He popped out of nowhere and you started it!" Sakuragi argued, taking Anzai's arm over his shoulder to help. "You come in here like you're some kind of guest…prancing about the coach's house like some big shot!"
"Well, if you haven't guessed…I AM A GUEST!" Rukawa retorted, "I knew you're small brain just can't digest all that…"
"That's it! You're getting it!" Sakuragi let go of Anzai's arm and proceeded to hurtle a head butt on Rukawa, when he ducked and his fore came colliding to Anzai's head.
"Did I get him?" Sakuragi wondered, he was sure he got someone on the head, but Rukawa didn't seem to have a searing forehead as evidence of that.
"Ohhhh…." Anzai staggered,
"Imbecile!" Rukawa grunted, as he swung a kick to Sakuragi's stomach only to collide with Anzai's paunch.
"Hah! You call that a kick? A crippled grandmother could do better! I didn't feel a thing!" Sakuragi taunted,
"What happened? I think I hit something soft or Sakuragi's grown a beer belly…" Rukawa wondered,
"Ugh…" Anzai couldn't hold it any longer, and fell back in a faint.
"Anzai-sensei!" Both boys shouted again,
The splash of a carp fish echoed in the halls.
"Anata!" Mrs. Anzai's surprised gasp stopped the boys from any further confrontation, "What happened?"
Both boys shrugged, "I don't know…" they chorused, both in wonder of their coach's strange condition.
………………………………
Coach Anzai's head was still spinning when he looked up and saw his wife's concerned face hovering above him, "Anata, are you all right?"
"Its, nothing dear…I think someone threw a basketball at me…I vaguely remember something round and reddish rushing at me…" Anzai answered.
"Bullies again!" Mrs. Anzai said in exasperation, "How evil they are to pick on an old man…"
In Kanagawa district, distanced away from each other in opposite directions (Thankfully)…a raven-haired boy, and a red-head sneezed mysteriously.
"Someone must be talking bad about me…" both remarked, as they went about their own businesses.