Hello mina, thanks for such wonderful reviews, sorry I didn't update for sometime. Hadn't been feeling well lately and not only that, I still have to go to work :( Anyways want to thank MistressKC, Julie-tearjerky, Emberlion, gurlhere13, and Yun Fei was such wonderful reviews. :D Hope mina enjoy this chapter. More misterious things about Yuiiko to find out ;)

Chapter 6

Yuiiko reached the park and found a few little children playing tag together with their mothers watching them nearby sitting under a tree on a bench. She searched the area and found her brother had not arrived, frowning slightly she sighed.

Maybe he is late, she thought and entered the park sitting on another bench not far from the children's mothers and watched the kids play as they laughed loudly. A small smiled appeared on her face when she watched the carefree children quietly.

Sakuragi looked up the clock and cursed. Miyagi had made them stayed back for more practice that evening after school and it was time to meet his sister. He turned towards the exit door and saw Haruko watching him with an encouraging smile and he didn't had the heart to stop practicing.

Gomen Yuiiko... Sakuragi thought in despair.

Why had it always be like this when he wanted to make up for whatever he had done wrong.

Yuiiko watched those children leaving with their parents, her heart sinking miserably. She looked up the darkening sky devastated. It was getting late and still Sakuragi hadn't arrived. Holding on to the slightest hope that he would turn up Yuiiko waited...

I am giving you another chance Hanamichi onnichan.... Yuiiko thought in her heart secretly.

Even how much show that she hated her brother, but truly in her heart she still cared and loved him dearly. It took a lot of her effort and strength to hate him this much. She was getting tired of it, but still she couldn't forget what happened to her five years ago.

Sakuragi was about to rush out the gym after practice when Miyagi called him back.

"Sakuragi!!!!" He shouted. "Now you will have to stay back to practice your basics!!!!"

"Basics?" Sakuragi turned to Miyagi in surprised. "Why do I need basic after all..."

"Sakuragi-kun... basic is very important." Haruko said smiling gently. "You hadn't been practicing all your basic and still able to play basketball is a very good thing but still you have to practice to excel. I will stay with you to practice."

"Hai Haruko-chan..." Sakuragi blushed at the sight of her, Yuiiko forgotten.

Yuiiko looked around the dimly lit park and hugged herself rubbing the sides her arms slowly. The incident that happened to her flashed before her and she shivered. Not a good thing to stay here any longer. She stood up and looked around the park one last time. Sakuragi had not come. Her shoulders slump slightly she walked out the park slowly.

Screw him... she thought angrily. For now it's better to get back in one piece especially its dangerous here at night...

As quickly as she could she walked down the dark neighbourhood quickly. She didn't want that same incident happening again. Shaking that thought away from her mind she continue walking with quick strides looking around her cautiously making sure she wasn't followed.

Before she could turn into her street she heard footsteps behind her. Her heart turned cold as she quickened her pace. The footsteps behind her quicken too, and in a panic she began to run. She heard the footsteps behind her ran after her.

Damn... She thought reaching into her backpack as her hand enclosed onto a folded pocketknife which was big enough slit anyone's throat open.

The footsteps soon came closer to her and a hand grabbed her shoulder. If she would have been like any girl she would have screamed but instead she pulled out her folded pocketknife, with only one hand and a swift movement she unfolded it with a swing and whirled around her knife aiming at the person neck.

"Whoa!!!!!"

"Youhei-kun!" Yuiiko stopped in time before she slashed his neck.

"That was something new..." Youhei let go of her. "I came to meet you to tell you Hanamichi is still stuck at basketball practice. When I reached the park you were no longer there, so I decided to check on you at home and saw you walking home alone."

"You should at least call instead of following me like a stalker." Yuiiko said angrily as she folded her pocketknife putting it back into her backpack.

"Where did you get that?"

"What?"

"That pocketknife?"

"Someone gave it to me..."

"That guy from..."

"Don't you say it out loud!" Yuiiko cried anxiously.

"Why don't you what to tell Hanamichi what really happened to you five years ago."

"No..." Yuiiko snapped turning away from him and walked on. "I just want to forget about it."

"But you can't, Yuiiko," Youhei said softly walking next to her. "It's time you share it with someone besides keeping it a secret for this long."

"Everyone will laugh at me..." Yuiiko said sadly.

"Who will, I mean..."

"You don't know how difficult it was for me..." Yuiiko flared turning to face Youhei furiously. "You weren't there when I went through hell... all those people make fun of me... all I want is to lead a normal life but I can't!!! Now leave me alone!!!"

With that she ran off, she only stopped when Youhei was no longer in sight. Taking a deep breath she slowed down when she heard a loud crashed and whirled around to see. To her surprised she saw someone on a bicycle crashed onto a back of a car parked at the side of the street.

"Hey, you alright!" Yuiiko called running over to the fallen person and stopped when he came to view. "Rukawa-kun?"

She knelt down when Rukawa didn't answer nor moved. She shook him but no response from him. Thinking that he was injured badly she took a close look at him to search for injuries but found nothing more than a few scratches. After a few minutes she just realized that he was sleeping.

Not knowing where he stays or what to do with him. She pushed his bike up and with all her strength heaved him onto his bike and pushed him back to her home.

First Hanamichi stood up on me, now this.... She thought frustrated.

The last thing Rukawa remembered was riding out the school grounds after that everything was cast into darkness. When he opened his eyes he found himself in very unfamiliar surroundings with something cold and wet on his forehead.

What the hell happened? He thought sitting up a wet towel dropped off his forehead.

He looked around and found himself sleeping in someone's living room on a three sitter sky blue divan. The place looked very cozy and nice with a plain navy blue curtains hanging on the glass window, the walls painted light cooling blue and soft peach coloured carpet spread on the entire living room floor. A wide set flat panel television hanging on the wall equip with a full set amplifier with two loud speakers opposite him, a black rectangular coffee table in front of the three sitter divan and surrounded by another identical coloured one sitter divan at each sides.

"Did I walk into someone else's home?" He wondered out loud.

"No you didn't."

Rukawa heard a familiar toneless voice behind him and whirled around to see Yuiiko leaning on the framed of a double door looking at him calmly. Her hands crossed in front of her, looking very comfortable in a pair of white shorts showing off her long slender legs and a yellow sweater. Her long straight hair pulled into a high ponytail.

What curious Rukawa was the shoes she was wearing made him stared at her feet longer than he intended too. She had wrapped her feet with what looks like a pair of purple coloured almost see-through disposable shower caps. Behind those funny looking caps he could tell she was wearing a pair of black shoes. In Japanese homes, people take off their shoes before they enter their homes, but Yuiiko was still wearing shoes and the funniest looking one too.

Why is she wearing that? He thought.

"What are you staring at?" Yuiiko snapped her voice suddenly lost the emotionless mode.

Rukawa snapped his eyes back up at her face. She was frowning slightly at him.

"You fell asleep and crashed onto a car not far from my home, I didn't know where you stay so I brought you to my house instead." She said her voice slightly furious. "I came to see if you are awake, because dinner is ready. Are you hungry?"

"Slightly..." Rukawa muttered shortly. Even though he is famished he wasn't going to admit it.

"My mum is out of town this week, so I had made dinner instead." Yuiiko said turning away leading Rukawa to the dining area which was the kitchen as well.

Rukawa followed her quietly into the hall where there was a staircase leading to the first floor. In the hall way photos in silver metal frames hung on the walls which looked like Yuiiko when she was younger, he stopped when he came across a photo frame on a wall where he saw a younger looking Yuiiko in a dark green swimming suit with red and yellow stripes adorned on the left side of her waist. She was holding up a huge trophy which labeled first prize on it. There was a huge grin on her face as she stared back at him.

She looked really nice when she smile... Rukawa thought as he stared at the picture.

"That was when I was in Junior School." Yuiiko said softly.

Rukawa turned to look at her and saw her looking at the photo sadly. However that look only last for a second before it was replace by her cold expressionless mask.

"The kitchen is this way." She said and turned from the photo sharply.

She is in the swimming team before... he thought silently. I wonder if she is in the swimming team as well in Shohoku.

"I am not much of a cook, usually I always call for a take out..." Yuiiko said when they entered the kitchen.

Rukawa liked her house very much, everywhere looks cozy and clean. The kitchen has white walls and light green tiled floor the cabinets and counter are ovary with light brown lining, a small round glass dining table in the middle of the kitchen with only three chairs around it. There was a large serving of fried noodles in the middle

Rukawa remained silent and took a seat on the table looking at the food Yuiiko had prepared. Yuiiko stood by the counter watching him. Rukawa raised his eyebrows wondering why she weren't eating with him. He soon found out when he took the first bite of the fried noodles.

"You cooked this?" Rukawa turned to look at her placing the bowl and chopstick down.

"Yup..." Yuiiko shrugged.

"Did you try your cooking?"

She shook her head.

Rukawa stared at her incredulously. Only one bite of her cooking had suddenly made him lost all his appetite. He no longer felt hungry as he pushed the bowl away.

"You should try your own cooking."

"That bad?" Yuiiko quirked her eyebrows slightly.

"I cook better."

"Why don't you then?" Yuiiko challenged.

Rukawa stood up and went to the refrigerator.

"You are serious?" Yuiiko's mouth nearly dropped opened a mile.

Rukawa ignored her and continued rummaging through her fridge.

"How come you know how to cook?" Yuiiko asked after they finished dinner.

"Parents are always out..." Rukawa answered as shortly as possibly.

"I see..." Yuiiko said. "Even so, I'm sure guys will always call for take out instead of bothering to learn how to cook."

"I usually cook for my sis..."

"Oh yes, your younger sis..." Yuiiko mumbled looking down the table.

"I don't believe you met my sister..."

"What?" Yuiiko snapped her head back up again.

"I believe you never met my sister before, how did you know she is younger than me?"

Rukawa narrowed his eyes at her. That was the second time she did that.

"Oh, I'd guessed... I mean if she is older she will be cooking for you instead right..." Yuiiko blurted out quickly whatever that came into her mind and thank goodness it made sense.

"Right..." Rukawa looked at her uncomfortable face unconvinced.

"Anyways it's getting late you should be getting home."

"Right..." Rukawa said again getting up. He had totally forgotten about the time.

For the first time in his life, he felt so comfortable being with a girl besides his younger sister. All the girls he ever met had given him a headache with their screams if not their love letters and their confessions on how much they love him. But Yuiiko did nothing like that, not to say that she went to any of the basketball match or practice. It was good enough she don't go drooling after him like all girls in school.

Yuiiko walked him to the door.

"Your bike is over there." Yuiiko pointed to the corner of the house on leaning on the wall. "Be careful it's late.

Rukawa looked outside the house raising his eyebrows. This neighbourhood looked exactly like his neighbourhood. He blinked looking around the surroundings of the area.

"Something wrong?" Yuiiko asked watching Rukawa hesitating to leave her house.

"Iie..." Rukawa said shortly almost wanting to smile.

He just realized that his house was right opposite the street which means, Yuiiko and he were practically neighbours. Slowly walking to his bike he pushed it out the gate and turned back to see Yuiiko still standing by the door.

"Don't worry, I stay just right next to you..." Rukawa answered.

Yuiiko gaped when she watched Rukawa walked over to the house right opposite to hers. However she didn't watch him enter the house for the phone began to ring. Quickly shutting the door and locking it she dashed for the phone.

"Moshi moshi, Hongo resident. Yuiiko speaking here." (A/N: If anyone is wonderingly Hongo is her mother's last name/Surname)

"Hey, it's Youhei here."

"Youhei-kun, what's up?"

"Just want to check on you if you are alright. I heard your mum is out of town."

"Hai,"

"If there is anything don't hesitant to call me okays."

"Thanks Youhei-kun."

"Just called to tell you that Hanamichi had a very tiring practice today, that is why he didn't call to check on you."

"Don't worry, I don't care." Yuiiko replied tonelessly though her heart hurts.

She heard Youhei sighed in the other end before he began talking again.

"Anyways, rest early. I'll see you in school tomorrow."

"Right. Oyasumi Youhei-kun."

"Oyasumi..."

Yuiiko put the receiver down slowly and head towards the stairs to get upstairs to her room. It had been someday. An early rest was a very good idea. There were only two bedrooms upstairs, one belongs to her mother's and the other facing the front lawn belonged to hers.

She entered her room, switch on the lights and immediately flopped on her bed looking up the ceiling her legs dangling on the edge of the bed. Her room wasn't really big neither was it small, it looked pretty comfortable with a queen size bed against the wall, her desk next to a double glass sliding doors that lead to the front balcony with light peach curtains, a shelve filled with books and her dressing table next to her desk. There was a walk in closet in her room and a small waist high cupboard where she kept all her shoes.

Rukawa had already taken a shower and entered his room quietly not bothering to switch on the lights in his room. His sister was already sleeping in the room next to his and he didn't want to wake her up. So he moved around his room silently. That was when he saw Yuiiko's house in darkness except for a room which was facing his. He looked in and saw Yuiiko sitting up on her bed still wearing the odd looking caps. Blinking he stared at her as he toweled his hair dry.

Isn't she ever taking off those caps? He wondered watching her.

Yuiiko looked down her feet unaware of being watched she bent down slowly taking off the odd looking shower caps of her shoes. Putting them aside she begin taking off her black shoes which were made specially for her. After that she stood up and turned towards the glass sliding doors realizing that the curtains weren't drawn. Looking outside seeing the other houses were in darkness, she didn't bother to shut it thinking that everyone was already asleep. Taking the shower caps she tossed it into the waste paper basket next to her desk then taking her shoes in another she limped slightly to her shoe rank and tossed her shoe inside.

Rukawa frowned when he saw the way Yuiiko walked. Did she hurt herself? Why is she limping? She was walking fine when he was over at her house. However, his questions were all answered when Yuiiko limped out to the balcony and stood there looking up the dark sky glumly. He stared at Yuiiko's feet for long time to see that her right leg was shorter than her left.

Was that why she was wearing shoes at home? Those shoes must had been made specially for her so that she wouldn't limp when she walk. Rukawa thought his eyes widened with shock. What exactly happened to her five years ago?

Rukawa knew that there was one person that knows what happened to Yuiiko and it must be Mito Youhei.

Let's see what actually happened to Yuiiko five years ago?!!! Rukawa will be talking to Youhei! Will Youhei tell him what actually happened to Yuiiko? Let's see next chapter. I will try to put it up asap.

Pls review yah!!!! Thank you so much.