Disclaimer: I do not own the Slam Dunk characters. (But I do own Rumi and Amira. And Yuya Himiko (somehow, her character but not the name itself). Again, I do not own the Slam Dunk characters.

A/N: This chapter may not be interesting enough. I just want to warn you. This may be the end…

chapter twenty

The game with Muradai was the first game they've won. It fueled the team's desire to win in the eliminations and to be one of the top four teams in their district. The team improved in its defense and offense plays.

Kaede became more determined and focused. Even Sakuragi improved in his rebounding that the people tagged him as the 'rebound king.' That's better than his self acclaimed title 'basketball man genius.'

Sendo didn't know whether he should feel relieved or sad. Yuya gave up on him. Finally, but then it just saddens him to see someone go away and he can't even do anything about it.

He's to blame anyway since he can't bring himself to get over Ayako. It pains him to see Ayako sharing her life with that guy. That's just the reason why Yuya decided to leave and move on. He could still remember the last words Yuya uttered when he saw her off to the airport: Why do you let your past stop you from straining towards the future? She's gone and I'm here but it seems like I could never replace her. She said more to herself but Sendo heard it still. He chose to be silent.

He can't tell her that he could only see his future with Ayako, nobody else. That's how much he loves her and he regretted leaving her behind. He still longed for her. And he missed her so much.

At least, even though she's all I could think about, I didn't let that get in the way of my plays. Amira didn't know about this. She thought he was over Ayako. She didn't know that he still love Ayako. Koshino was the only person he had told about it.

"Hey man, don't you think you should give it a rest already? She's already happy with him." His best friend said. Koshino sure knows how to give him hope, he thought sarcastically.

Sendo didn't to respond to that. He wouldn't tell him that he felt contented just loving Ayako even if she didn't feel the same way towards him anymore. That's heartbreaking yet it's all he could do.

But fate seemed to be playing with him and his feelings. He went fishing one beautiful sunny morning. From a few feet away, he saw her. And damn, she's not alone.

Clutching her camera, she was taking pictures of Rukawa and they sure were having fun. They looked happy, far from what he was feeling at the moment. He couldn't appreciate how beautiful that day was. He felt awful, almost like he wanted to stop them from having fun. Of course he wouldn't do that but that's exactly how he felt like doing.

If he were sane, he should have left but he didn't, he can't. He wanted to see her, to the point of torturing himself just to see her. He could tell from her face that she's happy because she was laughing, that same laugh she used to only share with him.

Before e could get caught, he decided to leave with the hopes that he could forget about what he just saw.

When he came home, he immediately went to his room feeling frustrated. The scene kept replaying on his mind that he couldn't take it anymore. It's the wake up call he needed to realize that he should get over Ayako. No matter how hard it is…no matter how his heart refuses to do so.

Since then, he started dating girls, a lot of them at the same time. But they didn't last, some hadn't even begun. He can't find someone like Ayako. He kept on comparing them with her. Koshino disapproved of this but can't do anything about it.

It had almost been a year and Ayako's in her third year. She still is the manageress of the team and Amira became her assistant. Despite the fact that a lot resented the idea of Amira being the assistant manageress because of the reason that she's the sister of Sendo Akira, Ayako's firm decision was unbendable. Coach Anzai gave her the authority to choose so she chose who she thought is best for the job. When she didn't, Coach didn't resent the idea.

Since then, Ayako and Amira became close friends. In one of their late night conversations, she asked how Sendo was doing. It sort of came out of the blue, and was too late to take it back. After the game between Shohoku and Ryonan, and the latter losing the game, she was wondering how the Ryonan team was doing.

Amira said that Sendo was alright. He was a good sport. He's still a basketball addict and that he spends early mornings at the court near their house to practice. He got a lot of responsibility now because he was appointed as the captain. There was a lot of pressure but Sendo's taking it fine.

It had been months since Ayako last saw him. According to Amira, he's beginning to date. Ayako sees nothing wrong with that, in fact she thought it's just right. However, she didn't like the idea of him dating a lot of girls at the same time. That's way out of hand. Something she never thought he was capable of doing.

Before her thoughts go anywhere else, she noticed that her assistant is blooming lately. She knew it was because of Ryota, who was now the captain of the team. She was glad that finally, Ryota found a girl as nice as Amira who will always be there to support him.

As for Ayako, she'll never tire supporting Kaede. And he knew that.

He'd been always so sweet and thoughtful, almost cute and found herself falling in love with him more each day. Their favorite place had always been the beach. They would always talk about his dreams and hers.

Well, her dream was his dream. She wanted to see him reach it. All she asks is that he will always make time for her, for their relationship. That's not too much to ask to right?

Besides the beach, during weekends they also hang out at her living room, watching movies that last till midnight. She felt lucky to have him and was once again reminded of why…

Kaede was sitting at the floor and Ayako's arm was resting on his shoulder. She was lying on the sofa; her eyes were half-closed, drifting off to sleep. She was startled when she felt his lips on her lips.

"Hey, don't sleep. Don't leave me watching that movie alone." He stood and sat on the sofa. She changed in a sitting position so that they were sitting side by side now. He put his arm around her shoulder, and she snuggled closer to him, their hands entwined. He kissed her lightly on her cheek.

That night, they fell asleep on the sofa, holding each other's hand.

The next day, she woke up to see him looking at her. "Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have dirt on my face?"

"No. I just can't believe that you're with me. I'm so damn lucky." He said, with a smile that is knee-weakening and heart-pounding. It's a good thing she's sitting. She kissed him on the cheek instead.

1 year later.

A lot of trials and challenges came to pass, yet, they're still together. But this time, the one that she's finding hard to battle with was a long distance relationship. The fact that she's studying at a university now and Kaede's the captain of the team pose a threat to what they have. It's the same thing that caused her first relationship to fail. Not that she and Sendo even got to that point but it somehow made her and him give up completely.

It's their two year anniversary. Where is he? Ayako prepared a candle light dinner for that night.

"Ayako, aren't you going to sleep. It's already late. And you've been waiting for him for about an hour…" Ruri said, worried about her.

"Maybe he'll be here any minute. You go ahead. I'll take care of this." She was sitting at the table that she prepared an hour ago. Her eyes were near tears and she was trying hard to prevent it from falling. She didn't want Ruri to see her crying.

How could he forget? This was the first time he would ever keep her waiting so she should give him the benefit of the doubt right? But for another half an hour, no Kaede came.

That incident was easily forgotten when Kaede apologized. He did so by inviting her for dinner the following week. They were eating at a restaurant. Since that night was special, she was wearing a special dress as well. It was a sky-blue dress above knee in length and spaghetti-strapped with a knitted cardigan. She also wore her favorite perfume, that of peach and rose. Kaede said it smelled so good, he would sometimes sniff her hair just to smell it.

The place was perfect. Candle lights and roses decorated the place, giving it a very romantic ambience. A soft jazz music was playing. Across the table, she was well aware of his eyes boring holes on her face.

"Don't look at me like that," she said, feeling warm blush on her cheeks. He never failed to make her blush whenever he stares at her that way, almost unblinking. He sure enjoys doing it. He always does.

"Why?" He asked, with the smile that obviously indicates he likes her discomfort. He didn't look ridiculous though; he looked cute when he does that.

"Because it makes me feel uncomfortable, that's why" she looked down on her plate, blushing like an idiot. She can't control it from coming, it's frustrating.

"I'm happy because you came with me tonight after what I did." He said and it made her look at him this time. He really sounds so sorry and sincere.

"And besides, I want to always look at you…I love looking at you, until I've memorized every detail of your face," he said.

"You don't have to do that. I mean memorize my face." She chuckled at his weirdness but nonetheless it was so sweet of him to say that. After all, this is Kaede, there's still more to know about him. And this is one she was lucky to have discovered. "Here's my gift. Happy Anniversary! I hope you'll like it."

"Thank you. Here's for you." Kaede said, and then he opened the gift. He didn't say anything but the expression on his eyes were enough to assure her that he liked what he saw.

It was a framed photograph of them both. A close-up shot. They were both smiling, their cheeks touching. Ayako took that photo herself. The moment she saw that picture, she immediately had an idea what to do with it. She wanted him to have it, a reminder of what they have.

The night before, Ruri was there when Ayako picked the photo out of many others. Her cousin agreed that the photo was indeed unique. Kaede was smiling. It was a rare occasion to see him smiling especially in pictures. Ruri commented they looked really good together, like they fit each other so perfectly.

She was so caught up looking at him that she forgot all about his gift for her. He told her to open it and she did. It was a velvet box. Lifting up the lid, she saw a sterling necklace with a two heart pendants joined together by three tiny diamonds. It looked expensive and unique, something that she herself would have chosen. She didn't know what to say.

He stood and took the necklace from her. He draped it around her neck. Thereafter, he took her hand and held it.

"You know what, I've never been this happy. I never thought it was possible that there was something out there, better than what I thought I already have, actually existed. And you came along. You made me think otherwise. If there was one thing in my life that I didn't expect to happen, it was falling in love. You're amazing Ayako, and I love you, always remember that."

Ayako didn't know that she was holding her breath. She was speechless so she hugged him instead. Just then, a song played from the speakers.

She stood up and asked, "So, do you want to dance with me?" He took her hand and led her to the dance floor.

They danced once but it was special. She could tell and feel. There were a lot of couples that night, but she didn't care. She's focused on one person, and one person only, the man before her whom she didn't thought she was ever going to share a part of her life with. Life sure is full of surprises. He was right under her nose and she didn't know it. She had to go through a painful relationship just to find him.

She very well knew that not all things last forever, like their relationship, for instance. Even though there are a lot of misunderstandings and waitings to come, she'll try her best to take it as it is and never lose heart, and patience.

But she knew that she's happy right now. Never been this happy like she'll burst any moment. Kaede's the one to thank for that happy feeling..

"Thank you and I love you," she whispered in his ear as she stood on her tiptoes. She then kissed him and rested her cheek on his chest. His hold on her tightened as if telling her that he knew it.

A/N: This is THE END, maybe... Tell me what you think of this so-called the end. I'm so not good at endings. Anyway, this is the first time I'll do an ending (if you'll accept this ending, that is).