Disclaimer: Don't own Slam Dunk and never would.
Some clarification of the fic, well, I kind of made Yuiiko creepy right, LOL; that was the whole point. I just wanted her to be different, stubborn and weird! Deep in her heart she still cares about Sakuragi! If not she wouldn't have went back to the park to wait for him, which Sakuragi stupidly missed the meeting in chapter 6. Then you can see it really pisses Yuiiko off after that. Repeat, the story is about to end: when it comes you see how Yuiiko forgive her brother! It is a surprise. Huge cliché coming up… pls forgive me! Bows
Thanks to those who had reviewed and contants support,Yun Fei, Santeira and DigitalLavender!
Gah! The haze in my region is killing me! The forest in the neighbouring country caught fire! Now the haze is so bad that I can't even see the neighbouring houses from my house! Schools have all closed down due to this mess! But that has nothing to do with me because I had finish school years ago. It is like stuck in a middle of a cold foggy night. But this is not! I am stuck in the middle of smoke and ashes! Ew… there is burning smell every where. I had been staying indoors for a week now. I am praying everyday for it to rain! It is so hot but we can't see the sun because of the haze and everything seemed rather gloomy and blurry!
Oh well, time for the chapter to start and stop my complaining again…
Chapter 14
Yuiiko raised her head up the sky slightly to see seagulls flying above the sky. It was quite a hot afternoon where she and some of her classmates were helping out to clean the school grounds. Things seemed to have gotten back to normal since her last attack. Work was the same, school was the same and her classmates were same, with their never ending chat about Rukawa.
"Did you see that dunk?" One of them cried.
"Oh mine, I caught him doing a three pointer… he was so handsome…"
However, Yuiiko was rather dazed in her own thought barely heard her classmates gibbering chatter. She didn't feel the same. There was this creepy sensation she felt that freezes the back of her spine. Yuiiko couldn't put a finger on this eerie emotion but somehow she had a feeling that everything didn't appear as peaceful as it seemed.
In a distance inside the building, Rukawa was walking down the empty corridor, his hands shoved deep in his pockets, in his usual expressionless face. On his left, were stretch of glass windows over looking the school garden, where several girls stood around sweeping leafs on the ground. A familiar figure standing in the sun with her head upwards caught his attention. He stopped on his tracks staring at her.
With the bright afternoon shinning down on her, Rukawa could see her hair colour had changed to a tint of dark red almost like Sakuragi's hair colour; almost but not quite, her hair was still brown, just that with sun upon her, there was a mixture of red. She looked almost sad as she looked up the sky…
What the hell is she thinking about…? Rukawa thought and was on his way again, thinking he needed sleep. Maybe he will see her after school… maybe…
Yuiiko watched the seagulls flew high in the sky away and out of sight. Slowly she looked down and began sweeping again her mind still somewhere in dreamland.
If only I could fly…. Yuiiko thought sadly. I would love to fly away and far away…
"Sakuragi-san, we are almost done here!" One of her classmate shouted over to her.
"Hai, I'm done," Yuiiko replied.
She put the broom away and started off towards the building.
The building was extremely quiet during break that day. Maybe it was because everyone was enjoying the sun outdoors and no one seemed to feel happy being cope inside the building. Yuiiko didn't mind the solitude though, as she walked along the empty corridor heading towards a flight of stairs, not really caring where she was heading.
I wonder what it will be like to fly. Yuiiko thought silently climbing up slowly.
Youhei, who was walking along the same corridor, caught sight of Yuiiko going up the stairs in a rather hazy state and decided to follow her. She didn't seemed like the same Yuiiko everyday and Youhei was slightly worried, since he had a feeling that something bad might had happened to Yuiiko just recently, though he had no idea what.
It was perhaps the door creaked opened rather noisily and Rukawa's eyes snapped opened irritably. Who the hell dared to disturb his slumber in the roof top? He was about to fall into a peaceful slumber when that do'aho decided to turn up. He sat up swiftly and turned towards the door to see who the do'aho was. Yuiiko stood by the door with a surprise expression on her face, even the expression only came for a second but Rukawa noticed it before all emotions was barred again.
The only thought that came into Yuiiko's mind was that this must be Rukawa's sleeping place. She knew a little bit about his sleeping habit, since he had visited the office almost as frequently as she did. Almost ignoring him, Yuiiko just walked by him towards the edge and placed both her hands on the rail.
"Just ignore my presence…" Yuiiko said rather softly. The wind was blowing, playing havoc with her long shinny straight hair.
"Like I can…" Rukawa mumbled when he heard another creak and saw Youhei stepped out the door.
"What are you doing here Rukawa?" Youhei asked the ace basketball player still sitting on the ground.
"I think that should be my question." Rukawa answered apathetically and stood up to his feet, having a feeling that he wouldn't be able to get any sleep now. He walked towards to where Yuiiko stood and stared out towards the horizon.
Yuiiko turned around towards them indifferently, her hair blowing across her face gently.
"Why are you up here Youhei-kun?" Yuiiko asked. "Please don't tell me you are following me again!"
"Hey I am just worried about you…." Youhei shrugged going over to her. "You seemed rather absorbed in your thoughts today. Something that I know you hardly do…"
"It's nothing…" Yuiiko mumbled and turned away.
Rukawa remained silently watching between Youhei and Yuiiko in his cold emotionless expression. He shoved his hands into his pockets impatiently, wondering when this two will leave so he could have some sleep.
He had also noticed that Yuiiko seemed rather deep in her thoughts today too, but didn't ponder about it since he was only thinking about sleep that moment. But now that he was thoroughly unable to sleep, he was curious what Yuiiko was thinking about.
"Yuiiko, I was still thinking if you could find the time to see Hanamichi…." Youhei began slowly, seeing that this was his best chance to catch her unnoticed.
"Forget it, if you are thinking of fixing a time for Hanamichi and me to meet up." Yuiiko answered flatly.
Youhei sighed…
There was a short silence until the peaceful atmosphere was interrupted by a most gruesomely loud crack like thunder. All three standing on the roof top jumped at that piercing sound. The sound almost seemed like it echoed through the whole neighbourhood. Then they heard, screams from students from the lower ground.
Yuiiko moved away just in time to see the metal rail sparkle with fire for a moment. She gaped at the sight and because of her sudden swift movement, she slipped, felt her self falling, over the rail and towards the opened air before her.
Everything seemed to move rather slowly in Yuiiko's eyes, as she watched wide eyed at the lower ground that seemed to stretched endlessly before her eyes, feeling her feet leaving the ground. Her body did a somersault in the spacious air and Yuiiko found herself staring up the bright blue sky, seagulls soar far above gracefully. If only she was like them. She reached out; felt the tips of her fingers grazed over the metal rail slightly, before she grabbed nothing but air.
Then, a sudden jerk and one of her arm felt like being snapped out of its joint. She must have swung pretty hard at the sudden halt because the next thing, she felt the back of her body slammed hard onto the wall of the school building.
She gasped for breath and looked up into a pair of cold blue eyes. Rukawa's eyes, which seemed larger than usual staring back at her. Rukawa had caught her before she fell into endless eternity.
Rukawa had no idea how he could react so fast. Probably it was only out of instinct or maybe he was the closest to her. He rushed forward when he saw her falling over, without thinking he was reaching out. So swiftly he moved over towards the rail, in a second, his hand was clasped over her arm to stop her fall. He could see for the first time, Yuiiko's void expression fell, replaced by pure terror. When she looked up, he could see she was horrified to the core.
"Yuiiko!" Youhei cried running over, next to Rukawa and also reached down towards her. "Give us your other hand!"
Yuiiko numbly obeyed and raised her other hand towards them slowly. Youhei caught it quickly and both Rukawa and Youhei pulled her up to safety. She collapsed straight onto the ground when Rukawa and Youhei carried her over the rail and placed her gently on the ground. Youhei crouched down next to her worriedly. Rukawa still remained standing next to her.
"Are you alright?" Youhei asked quietly.
"Gunshot…" Yuiiko breathed raggedly. "That was gunshot!"
"Maybe some idiots are playing firecrackers Yuiiko," Youhei replied rather skeptical at the idea of someone shooting in brought day light.
"No," Yuiiko stood up and went over to the rail again but this time Youhei grabbed her arm not letting her too near the rail. "I'm positive! It was gunshot. I saw the bullet hit the rail!"
"Are you saying, whoever it is, is aiming for you?" Rukawa asked rather softly.
Youhei turned to Rukawa rather doubtfully, not understanding what he was trying to say, still grabbing Yuiiko, who was struggling to get near the rail. Yuiiko scanned the neighbourhood, rather frantically. The place looked peaceful, like nothing out of the ordinary, but there was that same creepy feeling, like someone's eyes were on her, watching her.
"I don't know…" Yuiiko frowned staring hard out the school gates of Shohoku High. "I wasn't sure, everything happened so fast…"
"Yuiiko, I think you should take a seat…." Youhei said pulling Yuiiko back from the rail but she was still too stubborn to move. "Come I'll treat you to a drink."
"I am fine," Yuiiko shook her head slightly and sank down the ground again on her knees, her head bowed and both hands stretched out towards the floor, her palm flat on the ground, both her index fingers and thumbs creating a triangle. "I guess flying isn't that good, is it?"
"Flying?" Youhei raised an eyebrow at Yuiiko, kneeling down next to her worriedly. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Nothing…" Yuiiko mumbled turning to Youhei with a weary smile. She promised herself never to daydream about flying ever again. It was almost scary that her dream almost came true… almost…
"Come on, let's head inside." Youhei said gently, pulling her up to her feet and guard her towards the door.
Rukawa watched Youhei leading Yuiiko back to the building before he turned around, looking back towards the neighbourhood below him, wondering if this incident was really an accident or was it connected somehow to what happened to her few days ago.
He went over to the rail where Yuiiko stood before; grazing his fingers gently passed it slowly and stopped on an uneven surface. He looked down carefully and saw a severe dent over the metal and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Taking his hand away from the rail, he turned away swiftly, shoving both his hands into his pockets, he left the roof top, all sleepiness vanished.
Maybe he could talk to Youhei about this, since Yuiiko only told him never to tell Sakuragi but she didn't say he could tell others. However, the ice prince was kind of glad he didn't have to talk to that da'oho face to face.
Sukaza cursed under his breath. He was so close but he missed and hit the rail instead, it was good that she fell over the rail because she will definitely die from the fall but her friend had to safe her from it. Drat! He needs to come up with another plan and this time it has to work.
He looked away from the window of a house he had snuck in. Everyone had left early that morning leaving that house empty. It had a great view over the school and he thought it was a great opportunity when he saw her up the roof top of the school… if only he didn't miss.
After school…
Rukawa was making his way towards the changing room right after the final bell rang. He had a little talk with Youhei earlier that day and Youhei said that he will be guarding Yuiiko after school from now on. If that incident that happened to Yuiiko during break was no accident that would mean her life is in danger.
That day however to Rukawa's surprise, the person he saw standing outside the boy's changing room leaning her back on the wall was Yuiiko. Never in his life, would he think that Yuiiko would be here waiting for someone. He closed his gap between the both of them, wondering if Yuiiko was here to see him and Yuiiko slowly turned to him.
"Ano, Rukawa-kun," Yuiiko started softly pushing away from the wall to face him. "I want to thank you for saving my life today."
He was suspicion was right after all, Yuiiko was really looking for him. But before he could say anything…
"Teme, baka kensune!"
If Rukawa hadn't guard his facial expression, he would have grimace at that voice behind him. Yuiiko bent to the side slightly, around Rukawa's arm to see, Hanamichi stalking up towards them angrily.
"How many times, I told you to leave my sister be!" Sakuragi stood next to Rukawa, glared daggers at him who still stood before Yuiiko indifferently, ignoring him.
"Hanamichi, I came here to talk to Rukawa-kun…" Yuiiko spoke when Rukawa didn't bother to defend himself.
Sakuragi turned to his sister. It was purely written all over his face that he was astounded at Yuiiko's statement. He could only stare speechless between Rukawa and Yuiiko wondering if this was some kind of joke. Worst still, if his own sister declared her love for Rukawa, he will have to commit suicide. No, better still, kill that kensune.
"There was a small accident earlier today, and Rukawa-kun helped me…" Yuiiko said turning away from both of them. "I came here to thank him."
Sakuragi was wondering if he had hearing problems now, just stared at Yuiiko's back speechlessly.
"I guess you owe him thanks too…" Yuiiko turned her head slightly to look at Sakuragi with a small smirk on her face. She could see there was true dismay on her brother's face and she couldn't help herself but laughed silently. "I practically owe Rukawa-kun my life."
With that, she started to walk away leaving Sakuragi's jaw falling to the ground. He will be caught died having to thank that kensune.
"Youhei are you serious?" Takamiya asked.
"I am not sure, but now that I had a weird feeling that Yuiiko is not as safe as before, I think it will be better we watch over her." Youhei said softly.
"Don't worry, we will help you watched her." Noma added in.
"After all Yuiiko is Hanamichi's only sister." Ookutsu said. "But do you think it will be better if he knows about this too…"
"I know, I will tell him soon." Youhei said not caring that Rukawa did tell him that Yuiiko didn't like the idea of Sakuragi knowing about it. "Maybe after his practice today…"
"We will help you guard her." Takamiya said.
"But make sure you are not seen by her." Youhei warned. "She was already starting to get piss at me for following her around these few days!"
"No problem!" Noma gave Youhei a thumb up sign.
TBC
Alright, maybe a few more chapters to go... we will see... I am kind of stuck in the next chapter. I'll try to post it up soon.