Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Slam Dunk.

CHAPTER 7

Rukawa was stranded at a waiting shade. It rained so hard and he didn't want to get wet even if his house was only a few blocks away and he could make a run for it. A girl, on her uniform, running despite the pouring rain caught his attention. Looks like she had no plan of getting out of the rain. He would have let it go but he found her oddly familiar though.

It's Ayako.

Without any second thoughts, he ran after her. Unfortunately, he lost track in the crowd. He looked around for signs of her but failed to locate her. Since he's all wet, he decided to walk home, still wondering what happened to Ayako, where she possibly went.

He still hoped somehow he would run into her. He can't just ignore that she was running in the rain without an umbrella. She could get sick.

Ayako's clothes were soaking, chilling her to the bone and she's tired. She stopped at a waiting shade to take a rest. She never thought Akira could do such a thing. She was suddenly filled with the urge to show him that she had moved on. She will go ahead with her plan. It came to her that there's only one person who could help her in this kind of situation. I need to talk to him now, if possible.

The rain has stopped. Ayako went on her way to Rukawa's house. She could feel the cold night breeze piercing her to the bone. She had to get this over with. Because tomorrow, if our paths would cross, I have to show Akira that I'm in a relationship, I'm in love, not hopeful for a second chance with him, not looking like I'm not yet over him. At least I have a boyfriend to show off.

If Rukawa agreed to pose as my boyfriend, Ayako reminded herself.

She finally reached Rukawa's residence. It took a lot of courage to knock on the door. It took almost a half minute and no one answered. Maybe there's no one home or maybe he's asleep. Disappointed, she decided to go home and talk to him tomorrow, feeling hopeless and weak.

Suddenly, she bumped into someone. She almost fell on the ground but the stranger held her hand to stop the fall. She looked at the hands then at the face of the stranger. She was surprised to see Rukawa, who's also soaking wet. Good, there's no excuse to delay my plans of talking to him.

"What are you doing here?" Rukawa was a bit concerned. He led her back to the front door. He took out his keys and opened the door. "I live here alone. My parents are in the U.S." Rukawa said, feeling the need to tell her.

So that's why no one answers the door. Ayako followed Rukawa as far as the tiled floor. She saw the carpeted living room. Her clothes were still dripping and she didn't want to mess the carpet so she stopped, hugged herself to keep warm at least.

"Wait here, I'll get a towel," Rukawa went upstairs in a hurry. "Here, use this. Take off your clothes so you can dry yourself," he said not realizing the implication to a woman of what he just said. Ayako was stunned, "What?"

"What I mean to say is there's a bathroom there. Please do what I say or you'll get sick." He sounded like he's older than her.

"Can I at least please have a shirt and sweat pants?" Ayako muttered.

Rukawa went upstairs without a word. He came down after a few minutes and handed her an oversized yellow shirt and gray sweatpants.

"Thanks," Ayako said while taking the clothes. She went to the bathroom and immediately looked at herself in the mirror. This is humiliating. Why does he have to see me in this state? I look so messed up.

Rukawa went upstairs again and changed into a white shirt and black sweatpants. Right after, he went to the kitchen and prepared hot chocolate.

She tried to fix her messy curls but didn't succeed. Her hair's a complete disarray and worst, she can't make it look any better than that, all tangled up. She still looked odd. She took off her clothes. She squeezed the water out of her hair. That's the least she could do. She wore the oversized shirt and the big sweatpants over her wet underwear (which was uncomfortable even after she squeezed all the water from it). The shirt smelled good; smelled like a guy's soap, but mild. Ayako, the shirt has nothing to do with why you're here.

She felt less cold. At least I'm out of my wet clothes. But you're wearing somebody's clothes. She wrapped the towel over her shoulders before going out.

She felt uneasy. And it made her want to forget about why she's there at all. It made her want to forget about her plan. But the determination was just too strong for her to ignore. She will ask for his help if it's the last thing she had to do tonight. You must not be single when Akira comes back. She had to remind herself that again and again.

For her, being single was like telling Akira she's not yet over him. And she doesn't want him to think that.

She sat on the sofa. Whether I like it or not, Rukawa's the only hope left.

Rukawa came from what Ayako guessed was the kitchen with two cups of hot chocolate. She could tell by the pleasant smell. "Drink this to ease the cold."

"Thanks," Ayako said. She took a sip and was instantly relieved. When she looked up, he was observing her.

"So, how's practice today?" The temporary silence was deafening so she had to ask.

"It's fine. Everyone's been working hard," he answered. "What about you? How are you? I heard from coach that you're not feeling well."

She was surprised at the question. She had a premonition of where this conversation was leading to. "I'm fine." She simply answered, hoping he won't probe any deeper.

"You don't look that fine to me. I've noticed that you've been acting strange lately."

Ayako chose to be silent and wait for him to talk again. And he did, "What's bothering you Ayako?" The looks on Rukawa's face made Ayako want to cry and tell him what bothers her. But she restrained herself from showing her vulnerability.

"Oh, that! That's nothing. Actually, I'm not feeling okay. You know, with all the schoolwork and managing the team plus Sakuragi. He'd been a pain in the head." She told him what she told Ryota. She hoped Rukawa would buy it. But schoolwork, come on who would believe me when the school had just started? Maybe being the manageress and Sakuragi would be believable, but schoolwork?

She was wrong to think that Rukawa would easily believe her. "I know there's something behind the front you're trying to put on. And I'm sure it's not just the schoolwork, being the manageress and training Sakuragi."

Looks like I have to tell him the truth. I'd better tell him now since I have to tell him eventually if he would agree to help me; the chances of him telling this to anyone is negative anyway.

"Okay," she held up her hands in surrender, her eyes starting to get glassy. "To tell you honestly, that's the reason why I'm here." She took a deep breath before continuing. "You see...uhm...my ex-boyfriend's coming back from the U.S. He went there without even telling me in the first place that he's planned it all along before we met. Technically, he's still my boyfriend because we never broke up, at least formally. We never had communication for almost two years and I also heard he was seeing someone there." Ayako rubbed her eyes to stop whatever's about to flow. I must not lose it here.

"So, how do I fit in there?" Rukawa was paying attention! He's not used to see a girl crying. Especially when it was Ayako whom he thought was a tough girl. Tonight, he's seen the other side of her.

"Good question," Ayako said, glad he asked. "He's coming back tomorrow and I can't let him see me looking like this. I mean, still single. I don't want him to get an impression that I'm not yet over him." She watched Rukawa's expression and obviously, the guy's confused.

"Okay, what does that have to do with me then?" Rukawa was frowning now.

"What I'm trying to say is…" she cleared her throat in sudden fear of a possible rejection. She braced herself. "Can you be my boyfriend just for the sake of showing him I'm over him for good and maybe a little for the sake of getting my revenge?" The words tumbled from her mouth faster than she intended.

There was silence after her declaration. She thought Rukawa was going to say NO and she dreaded his answer. The waiting made her nervous.

"Okay," Rukawa said. It was as clear as crystal. She felt it didn't make sense. Well, that was easy.

"You agree to pose as my boyfriend?" Now it's her turn to be baffled. She can't believe he's agreed to her plan that quickly.

"Yes." His face was emotionless. "By the way, who's the ex-boyfriend?" Rukawa asked, as though an afterthought. He just felt the need to know. "And why me?" was another question she already expected but it surprised her still.

"You're good in basketball. You're my last option. You're as good as my ex-boyfriend. He's a basketball player and his name is Sendo Akira. I'm sure you heard of him." She saw the recognition in his face.

It's nine in the evening and the rain has started pouring again. Before Rukawa could change his mind, Ayako told him what he had to do. "The set-up will be just like ordinary couples have," she told him, hoping he had an idea what she meant.

"Okay, just tell me what kind of set-up it is because I have no idea. There are a lot of set-ups, you know."

She's having second thoughts if she's doing the right thing and if Rukawa had any idea what he's going to get himself into. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Of course," was Rukawa's firm reply, "anyway, I think I might need a girlfriend."

"You do?" Ayako was surprised at the revelation.

"I thought that maybe if I have one, the girls at school would stop sending me love letters and do different kinds of stunts to get my attention."

Hmm, he's got a point. "Okay, I guess that's it, we have a deal. Is it okay if I start calling you Kaede by next week?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

She stood intent on leaving. "I have to go. Rumi might be waiting for me. She didn't know where I am."

"In that?" Rukawa was pointing at her clothes. She looked at herself and realized what she's wearing! She didn't really mind going home wearing oversize clothes. "You can stay here till morning. Tomorrow's a Saturday anyway. And the rain's still pouring hard," he said. What convinced Ayako to stay was the fact that the rain indeed was pouring hard, judging from what she could hear.

Ayako didn't argue with him; she didn't feel the need to go home anyway. "Okay. Can I use the bathroom? I left my clothes there. I should probably wash it and hang to dry."

"There's a drier at the back of the house. You can use it," he offered as he reached for the remote control of the television.

"Thanks for the clothes." Ayako went to the bathroom without waiting for his reply.

"By the way, you better phone Rumi so she won't worry," Rukawa said when she was halfway inside the bathroom.

She took her clothes and put them on the drying machine. I hope these clothes will be dry tomorrow.

Afterwards, Ayako found Rukawa watching a sports program. She sat at a chair near the phone and started to dial there number. Rumi picked up on the third ring. "Hey Rumi, this is Ayako...I won't sleep there tonight...I'm here at Rukawa's house... I'll talk to you tomorrow as soon as I got back, okay? Bye, I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Rukawa insisted that she sleep at his room. Ayako was unable to persuade him that she'll be fine at the sofa bed. But he wouldn't budge.

"You can sleep at my room and I'll sleep here," he insisted.

"No," Ayako refused. It was too much. He already lent her clothes and now his bed. "I'll sleep here and you'll sleep at your room."

"No. You'll sleep there. Let's go, I'll take you there." He said this with finality. He seemed determined to make her.

"But..." her protest was cut when he took her hand and led her to his room.

"No buts." Rukawa was such a gentleman; she realized that just now.

For the first time, she slept at her 'instant' boyfriend's house, at his bed, in his clothes.

It's a good thing that she's an early riser even during weekends. Rukawa's room was nice and she slept well. She went downstairs to the back of the house and took her clothes. They were dry. She washed her face in the bathroom and changed into her dry clothes. She saw Rukawa sleeping at the sofa bed. He sleeps soundly like a baby. She didn't wake him up because he looked tired and needed more sleep. She left a note instead which she placed on top of the table near the sofa bed.

The note says:

Thanks for the clothes. I brought it home to be washed clean.

Thanks also for letting me sleep in your room and for helping me with my problem.

See you on Monday! ^_^

to be continued