Disclaimer: I do not own the Slam Dunk characters.

A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews.

CHAPTER 17

Rukawa's body hurt. He felt heavy and he can't bring himself to stand but he tried. He felt like fainting the moment he stood from bed but disregarded the feeling because he needed to go to school. Despite the coldness he felt when the lukewarm water hit his body, he ignored it. He thought he'll feel better once he took a bath.

He was already in his uniform, hands on the doorknob and was about to step out of the house when the dizziness attacked again. He felt like running to the sink and vomit. And he did. After doing so, feeling hopeless and weak at the same time, he went upstairs to his room and decided to sleep it off thinking he'll feel better after taking rest.

He'll catch up with his other classes and the practice later. The need to rest was most important.

But Rukawa's supposed-to-be short rest became a long slumber.

Ayako's eyebrows creased in worry and wonder why Rukawa didn't show up for practice. She had not seen him anywhere at the school. Some students, maybe out of curiosity, wonder and even for mockery, asked her where her boyfriend was. She gave them an answer, an answer which she herself was not so sure of.

They were supposed to walk together to school but Rukawa didn't show up at her doorstep the way he always did. It didn't worry her that much because he must have had a good reason why he didn't come by her house that morning. It's not actually the first time.

But not showing up for practice was unlikely of him. He wouldn't miss it for anything else unless there's a problem. What kind of problem could that possibly be?

"Ayako, where's Rukawa?" Akagi was expecting her to know where Kaede was but she really have no idea about his whereabouts. She resolved to tell him what she told those who asked her earlier; that Rukawa had a family affair.

She can't shake off the feeling of disappointment that afternoon. Rukawa's not around and she missed his moves in the hard court. She missed the times when he would look at her straight in her eyes as a part of their award-winning acting. She missed him and it felt weird.

If it were then, when they would just casually greet each other since they were school mates, she wouldn't be thinking of it and she surely wouldn't miss him. But now, all has changed, from seeing as just someone who passed by, she's now seeing him as someone who's always there.

Why would she feel such disappointment in not seeing him for today? It's really strange.

Right after practice, she stopped by a mini store and telephoned Kaede. She dialed the number and waited… third, fourth, fifth, sixth ring and no one answered. She dialed again, and still, he didn't pick up.

She took up all her courage to go to Kaede's house to check on him. She had a bad feeling something's wrong. He would never miss practice unless if he's sick or if it's a family affair he had to attend to. He hadn't mentioned something about his family when they last talked. Maybe his family made a surprise visit. Why didn't he tell me? She checked herself for feeling as though she had the right to know his every move. What, suddenly he had to tell me where he's going or what he's plans are? Aren't I taking this a bit too seriously? Being his girlfriend does not entitle me to meddle with his affairs.

But she's worried. And she couldn't just ignore that feeling.

Where her thoughts were going gave her an uncomfortable feeling.

When she reached his house, pushed the doorbell button, she looked at her watch. It's already past six. No one's answering the door. She looked around to see if there's someone nearby because she felt like a robber on a next victim's house.

She turned the knob silently hoping that it's not locked. Just my luck.

She pushed the door slowly and stepped in to find herself in the middle of the dark. She turned on the light switch. As she closed the door behind her, she felt irked standing there alone in the living room.

Upstairs, Ayako found herself looking at every room in search for him. There were three rooms in that house, one in the first floor and two upstairs. Even though she knew where Kaede's room was, she still went to see the other two.

As she stood outside Kaede's room, she's nervous. That nervousness she felt was because of the possibility that she might walk into someone in there with him.

That would be embarrassing, not to mention awkward. But based on what she knew of him, he wouldn't be entertaining any girl at the moment or in the years to come. Maybe.

Where's he? Maybe there's no one here.

She gripped the door knob and opened it cautiously only to be shocked to see him lying on his bed shivering, without a blanket. He was still in his uniform. Which meant he was on his way to school? He still wore socks and his shoes were on the foot of the bed.

The uniform must be too uncomfortable. She approached him and unbuttoned the uniform and was thankful that he's wearing a flannel white t-shirt underneath. But it was drenched in sweat. She took a cotton shirt from the closet. When she undressed him, she got a view of his abs. He has abs, gorgeous and firm abs. And she drew in a deep breath at the sight of it. She took the neatly folded blanket he was laying on and covered him to lessen his shivering.

She touched his forehead mechanically and was not surprised when she felt the hot temperature, the feeling of it almost burned her hands. Beads of sweat were on his face.

Be calm Ayako, just do what you have to do and if it didn't get any better, then you have to get him to the hospital.

It's not really that serious but who knows how sick he was?

In his bathroom, she searched for a medicine and thermometer in the cabinet. She had to know his temperature first before she could give him the medicine.

With thermometer in hand, she sat on his bed. She measured his temperature. She wiped the hair that covered his sweaty forehead. His hair was almost wet like he'd been in a tough practice. She neatly tucked him under the blanket before going downstairs to call Rumi and to tell her cousin that she wouldn't be going home tonight. "Why?" Rumi demanded.

"Kaede's sick and there's no one here but me to take care of him." Her voice distressed. "I'll go home early tomorrow." She added before putting down the receiver.

She went back to Kaede's room and took the thermometer. He's temperature was higher than normal. She touched his forehead again. His lips didn't stop quivering. He must be feeling so cold.

When she was a kid, her mom would get a basin of lukewarm water mixed with alcohol and a towel to wipe her arms and legs. It made her feel comfortable.

At the kitchen, she found what she was looking for, a basin and lukewarm water. She found the alcohol and face towel in his bathroom. It worried her to see him like that, lying unconscious.

But it was better he's unconscious if she were to wipe his arms and legs with a towel. It would be awkward for them both if he's awake while she did it.

She dipped the towel then squeezed off the water. She started wiping his face then his neck, arms and legs. As she did this, a strange feeling came over her. She actually felt happy to be taking care of him, to be looking over him.

Kaede's features softened a bit. As she looked closely at him, she realized how strong his features are. He's better-looking up close. Her cheeks flushed at the thought of appreciating him physically. At a time like this for crying out loud! How unlikely.

He was still quivering. The blanket must've not been enough to keep him warm. She went to his closet to look for a thicker blanket. None. She looked at the rooms, there was none too? To her dismay, there's no blanket! She found three blankets in the laundry area, still waiting to be washed.

What will I do? She was standing at the foot of his bed, thinking.

She was struck by a brilliant idea, if she could call it brilliant, then so be it. She remembered what she saw on movies. She didn't want to do it. What if he wakes up and saw what I'm doing?

But she had no choice. To her dismay, it was the only option.

This better be effective. She took off her rubber shoes, not bothering to take off her socks. She hesitated for a while but then her worrying for him got the better of her. It's a good thing she's wearing a white printed t-shirt and her favorite fatigue-colored cargo pants.

Climbing on the bed, she noticed that it's big enough to accommodate another person. And that would be me, I guess. She laid there beside him. She can't move at first because he might wake up and see her there. And what would I say?

She heard him moan, his whole body still shivering despite the blanket. It's her wake up call to put everything she thought of aside and get on with it. She snuggled closer to him, as close as she could get to warm him with the warmth of her body. She moved even closer, as close as his rigid body would permit her and placed her arms on his chest. Her heart beat faster. Lying there beside him was nerve-racking.

As she hugged him close, she stared at his profile once again. She wouldn't deny it anymore. She's attracted to him. There, she admitted it.

Attracted, that's the word, nothing more. And he wouldn't have to know that. It's all she had that he didn't know. Not technically. But it's something she wouldn't want him to know.

After staring for a long while at his profile, she finally felt sleepy. Her eyes were already heavy and the bed was so soft, she's tempted to close her eyes and sleep… and she did succumb to asleep with her hands resting on his chest, comfortably and her head rested on his shoulder.

He thought it was a dream.

There it was again, the scent which was too familiar that tickled his senses. It smelt just like…like…

When he opened his eyes, he saw Ayako wrapped in his arms; the proximity almost took his breath away; her face was so near his, their faces almost touched, her arm rested on his waist and she snuggled close to him like she wanted to be close as long as his body permitted hers to fit in. Her other hand was clutching his t-shirt like she didn't want to let go of him.

He was even more surprised that his arm was also wrapped around her waist, just like what happened last night when she was about to fall and he caught her on the waist. It's not just wrapped but his arm was wrapped firmly on her slim waist. He didn't realize he was hugging her too tight. And her head was resting on his arm as though it's a pillow.

Her face was on his chest and his chin was on her forehead. They were facing each other. If they were only standing, the air could not pass between them.

He tried to move but he couldn't. He's afraid that she might wake up. He had never been this physically close to a girl before. Not even to his past girlfriend. All he could give her was barely a hug.

And the feeling's new to him. Sort of like he felt he didn't want to let go of her. He could stay there all day, hug her and smell her mild perfume. Or was it soap. He didn't care. All he knew was he liked the feeling of having her close. This close.

But he very well knew that they couldn't stay in that position for long. Taking the risk, he took her arm and freed himself from her. A part of him was regretting the lost of physical contact, her left arm tightly wrapped around his waist and the other on his chest.

He put a rather big pillow in place of him so she wouldn't have any idea at all that they were hugging each other earlier.

When he got off the bed carefully, he noticed the basin and towel on his carpeted bedroom floor. The thought that she took the time to take care of him last night delighted him. She even stayed with him overnight to look after his welfare. She's concerned, but just how concerned was she?

He looked at his bed side table. There was still an hour and a half before to wash up. Feeling better, thanks to Ayako, he took a shower and wore a black t-shirt and shorts. She was still sleeping peacefully that he hesitated to wake her from her peaceful slumber.

He took notice of the smile on her lips as she laid there on his bed. He assumed she's dreaming.

About Sendo, I suppose. He felt a tinge of jealousy taunt him. But why do I care?

He wished she was smiling because of him instead. Shaking off the thoughts, he went downstairs to cook breakfast.

"Ayako, wake up," he said while shaking her shoulder lightly. He'd been waking her up for, what, two minutes or so, and still she wouldn't budge. But the two minutes didn't wear out his patience since he enjoyed looking at her face, from the closed eyes, to the nose and somewhat flushed cheeks and those sexy lips. He enjoyed every minute of looking at her, disregarding the fact that she might catch him, but so what. He suddenly wanted to kiss her. He never felt this ache to kiss someone before. Only now and why her of all people.

She's pretty, but not the type who's a head-turner. She's the kind of girl, that when you met her, you would want to get to know her more.

And finally, he must have got inside her dream, everything happened so fast, without even a warning. She got up in haste and her head hit Kaede's forehead. Their noses touched. Their lips; it almost touched if not to her fast reflexes to move away. They both groaned in pain.

"Oh, sorry." She apologized, massaging her forehead. And when their eyes met, she was the first to look away, her cheeks flushed a bit. She just had a dream about him, and now, now that he was sitting this close to her, she realized this is better than the dream she's having.

His forehead had a red mark on it just like hers. He cleared his throat to ease the awkward atmosphere. "I prepared breakfast downstairs." He was sitting on his bed, looking at her imploringly. She was rendered speechless at the sight of him. He looked more gorgeous in the morning. But he's gorgeous all the time anyway.

"Are you okay?" She stretched out her hand to touch his forehead, only to realize it too late that she's beginning to be too touchy, she withdrew it as fast as she could. Not looking him in the eye, she could smell him from where she's sitting and she knew he's taken a shower.

She, on the other hand, looked like she just got out of bed. Which is true anyway. Her t-shirt was so wrinkled it looked pathetic and her hair disheveled. She moved to the edge of the bed and wore her shoes. He was watching her. And he found it funny that he realized he's actually enjoying the view of her as her slender fingers fumble for the shoelace.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for taking care of me." He was really thankful that she's around last night. If it weren't for her, he might be sick until now.

Spoon and fork clattered on plates as they ate breakfast.

"How's last night with Sendo?" he couldn't stop himself from asking. He had to know.

He prepared himself as he waited for her answer. Her hair's a mess but she didn't seem to care. She still looked pretty looking like that, simple and carefree. She didn't fail to amuse him.

"We broke up." She sounded relieved and sad at the same time.

"I thought you still love him."

"But it's not enough to make me take him back. He admitted he had a girlfriend but then they broke up before he came here. I know deep down even if I take him back, it will never be the same again." Somehow, her answer showed how she still loves him. He decided to change the topic before it gets awkward.

"By the way, what happened yesterday at the practice? I'm sorry I was not able to come. And our plan to go the beach…"

"Are you serious? You're sick, remember. It doesn't matter, really." She said this with a gesture of her hand to show it's no big deal. "I made an excuse for you, and the beach, we can go there some other time, if you want," she pointed out, while minding her breakfast. She ate it with enthusiasm that he thought she must have liked what he cooked.

"What did you tell them?" He was animated. She's so energetic, it's infectious. She looked so happy all of sudden, to think that she ended her relationship with Sendo just last night. Maybe this was what being free was all about.

"You owe me big time! I told them you were attending a family affair, something like that. About the beach thing, we can re-schedule it on Saturday, same time." She smiled.

"Okay, that's a deal." And he found himself staring back at her longer than the usual. If she noticed, he didn't know. And he didn't care.

When she left, he had to shake off the thought of the possibility that he's developing certain feelings for her. He's not ready to fall in love, again. Not her, because if he crossed that line, there's no turning back. She's the only girl that he treats with respect. That didn't mean he didn't respect others. He's more attentive to her, more caring and her opinion mattered to him. He was not hesitant to show the real him. Maybe it's because of some bond they have developed back in junior high.

For him, she's like a dream, a beautiful dream that he would not risk turning into a nightmare. She's like someone he can come back to, his comfort zone. She's a friend and he didn't want to take advantage of that. Especially in the situation they're in right now. Where being friends was most important.

He tried to reason out that maybe her presence was only affecting him.

What he meant was he had never spent a lot of time with a girl, not one, no one, since Yuya. Now the feeling's new to him even though he'd been there. It's had been years since his last relationship. He had no idea how to deal with it. Truthfully, he needed Ayako as some sort of a shield from the girls at school. But as a girlfriend, he had to be kidding himself.

She's the kind of girl who needed to be taken seriously; not that he wouldn't take her seriously if ever he got the chance. She's barely recovered from her break-up… and he wouldn't want to add up to her problems. He wouldn't want to be the rebound guy.

He should be contended with what he had at the moment, to hold her hand without having to explain to her why, to hug her without any reason at all, to see her smiling back at him, to hear her tell him her problems, her worries, to be there for her and give her advice. Which I'm not good at but she politely accepts it.

He shouldn't expect more than that. He shouldn't ask her for something he himself can't and maybe will not be able to give. He should just be contented. But why did he feel empty?

He can't let himself fall for her even though she's the most amazing girl he's ever met. As if I like to meet other girls, as if Ive met other girls besides Yuya and Ayako. He reminded himself.

I did meet some, there's Amira, there's… There's just that.

He shook his head to rid of the thoughts. There're a lot more important things to think about rather than girls and relationships or these weird feelings that won't go away. Bottom line was, he wouldn't want more complications.

to be continued

A/N: Is Rukawa's attraction for Ayako developed too fast or is it just fine? Let me know. This is my poor attempt of a romantic situation.