I am so sorry I took such a long time to update. I had been busy lately and I just didn't have the time.I don't even know if anyone could still remember this story. Please forgive me. I had so many ideas but just never had the time to type it out.

Thanks for everyone's supports and reviews.

Disclaimer: I don't own SlamDunk or any of its characters. Except Yuiiko.

Chapter 9

Yuiiko yawned widely the next morning in school when she walked down the deserted corridor. She had left work late as usual and stayed up late to finish her school work. In result she was terribly late for school and to make things worst she had to climb over the close front gates of Shohoku High. She had missed practically the whole morning classes. She remembered the ordeal last night while seeing Rukawa barging into her charging room and had not seen him after her last song.

He might have left right after he found his younger sister because Yuiiko didn't see him around the restaurant nor was he at her changing room when she returned. Yuiiko sighed softly and the thought of Rukawa knowing too much of her secrets and she wasn't very sure if she was comfortable at the matter. Truthfully, she barely really know him and for him to know so many things about her was going to be a disaster for her in school if anything leaks out.

But to think he will gossip, Yuiiko smirked slightly at the thought. With her head bowed, she placed a hand on her forehead and sighed again. Can't imagine the Rukawa Kaede could gossip but if he did, it will be the biggest news flash in history.

"Oi," A male voice snapped Yuiiko out of her troubled thoughts.

She looked up to see Youhei standing before her leading back on the windows.

"Woke up late?"

"Sort of," Yuiiko answered lamely.

"Well, no point going in to class now when it is almost time for break." Youhei said smiling nonchalantly. "So you got off work late yesterday?"

"Like every other day don't I?" Yuiiko yawned again. "You? I see that you are not in class."

"Amazingly late too," Youhei grinned. "Wanna go have break together?"

"No thank you, you always eat with Hanamichi." Yuiiko started to walk away again. "By the way why are you in year 1 corridor?"

"I heard that Hanamichi was pretty devastated at being rejected immensely by the pretty young lady before me." Youhei quipped. "I just thought of coming to ask her that is all."

"He deserves it," Yuiiko shrugged uncaringly. "What makes him think he could come up to me suddenly and show that he cares when he wants to."

"Ouch, touchy, must avoid today." Youhei teased.

"Right, I am in a bad mood because I still do not have enough sleep. Now buzz off!" Yuiiko said in a toneless voice and yawn again. "See you around."

"Where are you going?" Youhei watched her walk away.

"Auditorium." Yuiiko replied without turning back.

Youhei raised an eyebrow at her departing figure and smiled amusedly.

"She sleeps in the auditorium?" He uttered disbelievingly and chuckled.

After School

Haruko was smiling happily when she entered the girls' locker room near the gym. She was surprised when she saw a girl maybe year one student drying her damp but very long brown hair sitting on one of the benches in the changing room. She must have just taken a shower after her Physical Education class. She turned to look at Haruko with expressionless brown eyes which startled Haruko tremendously.

Her expression reminds me so much of Rukawa-kun, Haruko thought.

"Summimesen," Haruko said politely. "I didn't know anyone was in here and I barge in on you like this. You had physical education before school ended today?"

"Hai, they were my last classes of the day." The girl answered tonelessly.

Oh my, she talks like him too, Haruko said silently and blushed.

"Please excuse me I am going to change into my sports outfit." Haruko said politely. "I have to attend basketball practice soon."

"Go ahead." The girl answered looking away from Haruko indifferently.

The silence in the changing room made Haruko felt rather uncomfortable and she kept peeping on the younger girl. One thing Haruko noticed was the shoes the girl was wearing lay next to her feet looked liked it was custom made. Unable to look away Haruko was curious and kept staring at her.

"Ano, I am Akagi Haruko the assistant manager of the basketball ball club. Do you join any extra co curriculum activities after school?" Haruko asked softly. "I mean it is compulsory to be in a club so I was…"

"I am exempted from joining any sports." The girls answered evenly. "So I am only in the Music Club."

"Oh and you are year one?" Haruko asked wondering why she was exempted but the girl didn't talk more as she packed her towel away into her sports bag practically ignoring her. "Ano, I still don't know your name…"

"Sakuragi Yuiiko…."

"Sakuragi!" Haruko exclaimed so loudly which made Yuiiko turned back to her with a mild surprise look on her face. "You are related to Sakuragi-kun."

"If you are referring to Hanamichi it is unfortunately yes." Yuiiko frowned, answered rather bitterly and thought. What is with this girl? She does look like that girl who Hanamichi had his eyes on. So her name is Akagi Haruko…

"Related, cousins?" Haruko asked cautiously not understanding why she said that it was unfortunate and her tone was scary.

"Siblings," Yuiiko snapped standing up abruptly. What is the hell with this girl anyway asking so many questions? "His is my older brother."

"Wow, I never knew he had a younger sister he never mentioned it before." Haruko said wonderingly.

"I wonder why?" Yuiiko frowned deepened at Haruko's last sentence. She bent over to put on her pair of white shoes and walked out swiftly.

Haruko watched her feet wonderingly. Did I see it right? She thought curiously. It was obvious that her right leg was shorter than her left.

Yuiiko nearly cursed out loud after slamming door shut. Hanamichi could actually adore someone who talks too much. Yeash!

What the hell is he thinking about? Yuiiko wondered furiously. She really drives me to the age of my temper! Who cares if she is cute I just wish she will just shut her mouth!

"Ah Sakuragi-san!" A sensei walked up to her. "You are needed at the office."

"What?"

"Don't 'what' me, the principle is looking for you."

"I hadn't done anything wrong?"

"I wonder, not attending the morning classes are not against the rules to you." Sensei said sternly.

Yuiiko groaned.

At basketball practice

"Sakuragi-kun," Haruko walked over to him when everyone was having their short break. "I want to ask you something?"

"Yes Haruko-chan," Sakuragi blushed. "You can ask me anything."

"I met your sister today and there is something I want to say."

"Hai?" Sakuragi's face turned serious when Haruko mentioned about her younger sister.

"I am so sorry that your sister has to suffer such horrible ordeal." Haruko said softly. "I want to give you my sympathy. It must be difficult to take care of your sister when she is having such a problem."

"What are you talking about Haruko-chan?" Sakuragi frowned slightly trying to understand.

"About her right leg shorter than the other." Haruko continued. "It must be difficult taking care of her when…."

"Haruko-chan, are you serious? Are you sure you are talking about my younger sister?" Sakuragi laughed at the absurdity of what Haruko was saying. "You must have mistaken someone else for my sister."

"But she said her name was Sakuragi Yuiiko."

Rukawa who was nearby closed his eyes tight, that was not a very pleasant conversation he over heard. Of all people Haruko told Sakuragi about this.

"What the…." Sakuragi cursed and left the court.

"Ah, Sakuragi-kun, Sakuragi-kun!" Haruko cried.

"What is that baka doing running out on practice like that?" Miyagi exclaimed heatedly. "When he comes back I will work him triple hard!"

"Did I say something wrong?" Haruko wondered out loud and worriedly.

Oh yes, you did…. Rukawa thought silently. Now the cat is out of the bag….

Yuiiko had achieved another detention and she was piss to the maximum. When she saw Sakuragi standing before her she almost nearly turn and ran off the other direction but Yuiiko never flee from someone before. It will look like she was a coward.

"What do you what Hanamichi?" Yuiiko asked in a rather bored sort of voice. "I don't have time for this. I have detention and I will be late for work."

"What exactly happened to you five years ago, Yuiiko?" Sakuragi asked sternly his eyes boring into hers.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Yuiiko answered in her usual toneless voice. "Now leave me alone."

"Your leg I was told about your leg! You weren't born that way so that must be something happened that night didn't it?" Sakuragi shouted and strode up to her.

Yuiiko raised an eyebrow stepping back slightly. How did he find out?

"Tell me the truth!" Sakuragi grabbed bother her arm practically shaking her. "I want to know now."

"What makes you think you can demand and answer?" Yuiiko shouted back. "Now let me go!"

Yuiiko jerked out of Sakuragi's bruised grip and ran off quickly. There was one person she will be looking for and when she finds him. She will definitely murder him and that is Mito Youhei.

TBC