Disclaimer: Don't own Slam Dunk... and so on... ect ect...
Thanks to DigitalLavender, Santeira and Jen for reviewing, and to all those who reads this fic and supporting it.
OK, maybe Rukawa was kind of OOC the previous chapter with the whole 'I can't, I am sorry' thing, but if I do recall about Rukawa in the anime, he is not that quiet. He DO talk actually though not often. He only find the time to talk when he needs to really speak out his mind like the time he was alone with Sakuragi in the courts after the Kainan competition. Then a very strange thing was there was like three or four movies for slamdunk... can't remember... the final movie was about Rukawa and one of his ex team mate from Tomigaoka. If you seen that movie... you will be surprise... he actually took the time to speak with HARUKO! As you all can see from the series, he didn't even bother to talk to Haruko except nearly towards the end, the join group match of Shoyo and Ryonan versus Shohoku, he said something like thank you after Haruko said he was really excellent... Ah well, anyways I am surprised lots tend to assume Rukawa doesn't talk... LOL but it cannot be blame because he really rarely talks.
I am not sure where the parts where Yuiiko's conversation was confusing the previous chapter but I could clarify some of her statements now since it was pretty vague:
She didn't mind that Rukawa didn't come to see her because she didn't expect him to and it didn't disappoint her. (Nobody will feel disappointed when they don't expect something.)
She gaze into the eyes of Rukawa and saw fear (She care about Rukawa so much that she held on in her life to come back again so she was able to tell him, she will be alright and take away his fears) Yuiiko is not the mushi romantic type... anyone can see that from the beginning of the fic. So I made her twist and turn in her conversation. She didn't exactly said that she care but she meant something like that, then she even quip about it. "That fear in your eyes could even bring me back from the dead". That means Rukawa was there for her at the most crucial time. If not she would have just died and not care about anything...
Then Rukawa, I can't make him ask Yuiiko "Will you be my girlfriend" Not only my readers will faint, I think I will die of stroke writing it out. So I make him say "What do you know about me?" and then that agreement about getting to know each other is like going out...
Ah right the drink think... LOL... it is something like 'cheers' after a deal, but Rukawa didn't have a drink... so he shared Yuiiko's drink.
About the 'pigs fly' Yuiiko did thought earlier that the pigs will be flying if Rukawa really come forth to show he cares, so that was why she looked around and quip again about looking for flying pigs...
OK back to the fic, hope everyone enjoys the new chapter...
Chapter 18
Yuiiko flipped another page of the newspaper, reading through the articles rather nonchalantly. The distance 'thwack' of the ball bouncing on the concrete floor was deafening to her ears but she ignored it. The morning sky was beginning to brightened gradually giving her more light to persist reading. It would be only on occasions she will look up once in a while to watch Rukawa do a dunk or three pointer, before she turned her attention back to the papers.
The attempt murder, Sukaza Yashiro had sentenced to life imprisonment….
Hmmm… good I don't have to see him again…! Yuiiko did another flipped on the pages, not wanting to see the photo of Sukaza in the papers.
A break in last night had cost millions…
Rukawa did a perfect lay up before he turned to look over at Yuiiko who was reading the morning papers. She looked bored. Last night, he had uncharacteristically asked her to come along with him in the morning on his usual rounds of practice in the near by basketball court in the park. He was rather pleased that she didn't disagree but now seeing her looking rather uninterested, he wondered if he should have asked.
She was sitting with one leg stretched out and the other bent towards her front, leaning on the basketball pole at the other end of the court, looking rather pretty in only her plain blue shirt and black shorts. She flipped the newspapers in an uncaring manner and Rukawa even wondered if she was really reading it. The morning light was beginning to give a golden glow around her like the first time he met her at the second year corridor beginning of school that year.
After that day under the tree, they had agreed on getting to know each other. Rukawa knew that he had his obsessions on perfecting his basketball skills, even knowing he was the best in school but those skills weren't enough. He will continue to pursue his goals and dreams. One day, he will become the number one, best player in Japan and after that, he will proceed in going to the United States like he had dreamed and even considered about in his first year. Those dreams will never fade and he was hoping that this girl in his life wouldn't cause any difficulty for him to reach this aims.
He had seen how couples should act when they were together, holding hands, smiley faces and looking like they are walking on clouds. If he would have thought any better, they looked like they practically live in a world of 'happy happy joy joy' with no troubles and stress. He couldn't really imagine himself doing that but he really wanted to be with Yuiiko. She was different in her ways. She never gone jumping and shouting her throat hoarse for him, he knew that she was silently rooting for him or maybe for her brother… but he would rather think she was rooting for him. He never thought in his wildest dream ever, he would actually look forward to a girl rooting for him, even she was doing it secretly.
Rukawa bounced the ball towards her and threw in perfect jump shoot. The ball fell down next to her swiftly and without even looking away from the papers or flinched, one of her hand shot out and caught the ball that was bouncing next to her. Finally, she turned to Rukawa slightly bewildered. He had never bothered to come to this half of the court, where she was leaning her back onto the basketball pole. He was usually practicing at the other side.
"Something wrong Rukawa-kun?" Yuiiko asked tossing the ball back to him.
Rukawa caught in daftly and shrugged he threw in another jump shoot.
This time the ball nearly hit Yuiiko, but she moved away and caught the ball even before it hit the concrete. She blinked slightly and stared at Rukawa incredulously before throwing the ball back at him, which almost knocked his face but as he was always really swift in his movements caught it before it could even give him any damage to his lovely face.
"That was uncalled for Rukawa-kun…." Yuiiko frowned slightly.
Yuiiko wasn't in the best of temperament, due to waking up so early and with the lack of sleep, her mood was foul. She watched Rukawa stroll over to her calmly and sat down next to her with a flop, ball still in hand. He didn't meet her eyes as he stared down at the ball in his hands, flipping the ball around in his hands gracefully.
"You know, you could always say no…"
"Huh?" Yuiiko raised a delicate brow.
"You looked bored.
"Basketball isn't my thing but I say I'll come with you, so I did." She shrugged.
"You shouldn't force yourself."
Yuiiko chuckled. "I am keeping to my words Rukawa-kun, we were suppose to get to know one other better and this is exactly what I am doing. No obligations… really."
Rukawa looked up from his ball and turned to Yuiiko who was smiling slightly at him. How much she had changed after the incident. Her face no longer had that cold hard look she usually carried though still there were hints of it but was covered mostly by her warm smile.
"Go knock yourself out…." Yuiiko continued with encouragement. "IH matches are here and according to Haruko-san, she said it is really important."
"What is important to you?"
Rukawa only realized that he never knew what Yuiiko really want in life and she knew about his but that didn't even need a one year to figure it out. Anyone could have notice how his life stands around basketball.
"Me?" Yuiiko's eyes widened for a moment. "Well, swimming used to be really important to me until… ah well, forget about that… I guess singing and music is my first priority now."
"Singing…?" Rukawa whispered softly he wanted to ask more since he really barely knew what she really likes, but somehow was interrupted by someone's shouts and yelling.
"AH, TEME! BAKA KENSUNE…. What the hell are you doing with my sister?"
Yuiiko could only roll her eyes but Rukawa turned to glare at Sakuragi who was currently standing beside a bashful Haruko. She was watching them rather curiously, with her head inclined and a small weird smile on her face.
"Oyaho gosaimasu to you too, Hanamichi…" Yuiiko drawled.
"I can't believe you are here with this baka kensune Yuiiko!" Sakuragi said in a rather hurtful voice. "You will never agree to come with me if I asked you."
"Because you had stood up on me always!" Yuiiko retorted. "Besides that had nothing to do with Rukawa-kun. If you wanted me to come, you could always ask."
"So you will meet me for practice?" Sakuragi asked, suddenly brightened up.
"No…" Yuiiko answered curtly, and Sakuragi's face fell.
"We should be going…" Rukawa cut in softly.
The last thing he wanted was being here with that red headed, bad tempered and utterly do'aho for the morning. He stood up stylishly with Yuiiko at his wake. As if he was reading her, Rukawa knew that Yuiiko had no intentions on staying on since she had a feeling that Sakuragi would very well wanted to be alone with Haruko.
"I'll see you in school Haruko-san…" Yuiiko smiled at the quiet girl next to Sakuragi who seemed rather tongue tied and nodded her head.
Outside the park Rukawa, unlocked his racing bike while Yuiiko took out her skateboard from her backpack. As if it was a normal routine every morning, without a single word, Rukawa hop on his bike and began cycling off with Yuiiko slightly behind him, balancing skillfully on her skateboard, had kept up with him easily.
Secretly, Rukawa knew one thing why he could get along with Yuiiko. It was this quiet understanding sort of bond they had with one another. He didn't want to hear the endless chatter of girls who always rant away their minds persistently. This was something he liked about Yuiiko, her quiet comprehension on his inner thoughts never ease to amaze him.
Maybe even they had different interest and wants, they may think alike, like one other more than they thought…
Sakuragi watched his sister left with Rukawa with a torn feeling of ripping the kensune apart and the other half was with dread to think Yuiiko was being so close to the one person he hate since he came to Shohoku High. He knew that there was nothing he could do to make Yuiiko stay away from Rukawa if she really wanted to spend time with him than her own brother.
"Sakuragi-kun are you feeling alright?" Haruko asked.
"Yeah," Sakuragi mumbled softly.
Haruko felt something wasn't right while she watched Sakuragi's pale face. He wasn't really himself after the encounter he had with Yuiiko and Rukawa. His usual cheerful and talkative self was nowhere insight. She put a timid hand on his arm and smiled.
"Ne, we supposed to come and practice…." Haruko said softly.
Sakuragi blushed at this and very soon he brightened up. Somehow, looking at Haruko standing next to him and smiling up at him sweetly, Sakuragi suddenly thought that he had no reason really to hate Rukawa anymore except for always taking his sister away from him.
Finally after all this years, Haruko had made up her mind to be with him after all…
"What's between you and Rukawa-kun?" Haruko asked after school.
"What do you mean?" Yuiiko asked rather jadedly.
She had just one of the worst days in school because she could barely even stay awake in any of her classes. Usually she was able to at least to awake in one or two in the day but unfortunately, she practically slept through ever subject today. Now she just understood why Rukawa sleeps so much in class.
"You were with him this morning!"
"Yeah I think I was…."
"So…"
"You were with Hanamichi!" Yuiiko cut her off, she never really planned on telling about the deal she had made with Rukawa. "So what were you doing with him?"
Haruko blushed but remained silent. Yuiiko smirked, she knew very well that Sakuragi and Haruko were trying to get to know one other better, like what she and Rukawa were doing, but their relationship seemed deeper than what she had with Rukawa.
Yuiiko sighed inwardly, Rukawa and her. She didn't even know what happened that afternoon when she agreed on wanting to understand him, but she had agreed with him and she wasn't going to back away from her words. She was somehow afraid that whatever they were doing may destroy their unspoken friendship if it didn't work out. Somehow, she knew that this agreement she had with him should be as discreet as possible.
The last thing was letting anyone know about it and especially…
"AUGHHHHHHH! RUKAWA-KUN SEGOI!"
Right, especially those fan girls who sprint drooling after Rukawa.
Haruko and Yuiiko had neared the gym. Yuiiko watched rather indifferently and Haruko watched with aggravation at the throng of girls jumping and screaming at the entrance. However, Yuiiko didn't linger for long when her watch beeped. She looked down for a moment before she turned to Haruko.
"I have to go, work calls." Yuiiko said and stalked off a different direction.
"I'll see you at the IH?"
Yuiiko turned back to Haruko who watched her rather timidly. She smiled softy in returned.
"I'll see about it…"
"You know, beside Sakuragi-kun would be please you come, I am sure SOMEONE else would be too…"
Haruko had emphasized 'the someone' rather deliberately.
"I don't know Haruko-san," Yuiiko turned away. "I don't know…"
Yuiiko knew very well who she was talking about but somehow, she really wondered if it really mattered to Rukawa whether she appears or not? She did feel like he cared about her but sometimes unspoken feelings were rather doubtful.
The music blast through the restaurant pleasantly Yuiiko was in her usual costume and make over singing on the stage. The whole basketball team was there that night. For the first time Yuiiko was nervous for her performance. She never really had audiences that she knew. But when the music raved loudly in the background and when she started singing, everything was forgotten.
Fukai yami no hotori Nemuru chou tachi yo
Aoki sorasaemo Shirazu ni iru noka
Tsumiki no youni moroi sekai wo
Habataku sube ga hoshii
Hitotsudake sou negatta Aisubeki hito no tameni
The intense darkness is the beautiful sleeping butterfly.
Do you even know you're in the deep blue sky?
The fragile world is like building blocks;
It wants to fly away.
For the one who had only one wish
And loved it...
Rukawa looked around the table of his team players none of them really knew who Yuiiko was up there singing. Sakuragi's group of friends was in another table next to his and the basketball team. Everyone was engrossed in her singing.
Sai ha chijyou takaku nagerareta
Rakuen sore ha hiizuru mirai
You and I Tooi yume ni musubareru
Kono akai kawa wo koete
The dice were thrown.
"Paradise" rises from the future.
You and I unite in the far away dream,
And we'll get across this blood red river.
Rukawa watched how adeptly she got her spectators attracted to her, but Rukawa can see her less of effort on that part. Her voice was melodious and the confidence on the stage had given her a most beautiful asset to her features. She was practically glowing. For once, Rukawa understood a girl; he thought he would never be able to. Now he understood why Yuiiko takes singing so importantly.
Kimi no namida subete umi e kaesetara
Tsumimo itamisaemo wasurerarerunoka
Kodokuna hane ga nukumori kureta
itoshii sono kuchibiru
Hitotsudake souchikatta
mamorubeki hito no tame ni
If I can return all of your tears back to the sea,
Will the sins and pain be forgotten too?
Warmth was given to a lonely wing
By that precious kiss.
For the one who had only one promise,
And kept it...
Just by watching her, Rukawa knew how Yuiiko looked actually pleased when she was singing. It was exactly how he felt for basketball.
Hana ha mujyou sarau jyuujika wo daite
saita hakanaki tenshi
yuuen no ai itsuka mitsukeru nara
Kimi ni sasageyou Paradise
A flower embraces a cross with uncertainty.
With that, bloomed a fickle angel.
If, someday, love that's far away is found,
Then paradise will be given to you.
He wondered if Yuiiko ever thought of taking up singing as her profession. If she does, Rukawa could see the two different paths they both would lead.
Hitosuji no hikari wo motomete
bokura wa michi wo ikiru
Hitotsudake ima shinjita
Aisubeki hito no tameni
In search of true light,
We live innocently.
For the only one who now believed,
And love it...
Basketball and singing did not link. Rukawa knew that and somehow he found that realization really sucks.
Sai ha chijyou takaku nagerareta
Rakuen sore ha hiizuru mirai
You and I Tooi yume ni musubareru
Kono akai kawa wo koete
The dice were thrown.
"Paradise" rises from the future.
You and I unite in the far away dream,
And we'll get across this blood red river.
When that day comes Rukawa knew he will be watching her walking down her chosen path while he walks down his…
Hana ha mujyou sarau jyuujika wo daite
saita hakanaki tenshi
yuuen no ai itsuka mitsukeru nara
Kimi ni sasageyou Paradise
A flower embraces a cross with uncertainty.
With that bloomed a fickle angel.
If, someday, love that's far away is found,
Then paradise will be given to you.
(First opening theme song of Rave the Groove Adventure sang by: Yonekura Chihiro)
Yuiiko sang her last sentence of the song and brown locked with cold blue eyes. For a moment, she thought Rukawa looked slightly uncomfortable, but the expression only last for a second as if it wasn't there before.The applause was thunderous when Yuiiko's voice trailed off in the background and she bowed. She would have to contemplate whether she saw Rukawa looking strangely at her. Sometimes, she had hoped that Rukawa would and could be able to talk more openly with her. She may understand him quietly but with this silent understanding of each other was making her think more often than she want to.
The changing room was quiet as Yuiiko removed the remaining makeup on her face. Her performance had exceeded her expectations tonight. She had caught even more fans than she had wanted to. Slowly she let her hair free from the messy high pony tail on top of her head and freed all the tiny plaits on the sides of her head. Picking up the brush on the dresser she started combing out the tackles and curls that was caused by the tiny braids.
Finally, dressed back in her school uniform and her long straight hair was back to how it usually was, Yuiiko picked up her briefcase and left the restaurant through the backdoor and to her surprised, she was greeted by the only person in her mind.
Rukawa stood casually leaning on the building wall next to the backdoor of the restaurant. He knew that she always used this door to get to her changing room. She seemed very surprised to see him standing there, but was contented anyways by his small gesture of showing that he cares.
He knew that it was a matter of time, they both will leave school and proceed with their goals and dreams. But that will come later, for the present, he should savour all the time he could have with her and that was a promise.
They made their way home together silently, knowing that there was no need for them to break the silent peaceful solitude in the air. Only enjoying their time being together under the dark sky that twinkle with stars and the brightly lit full moon. They stopped when they saw a shooting star flashed across the dark sky and turned to one another with a mild surprise look on their faces before smiles appeared.
That was right, he would relish this precious moment forever, knowing that Yuiiko was doing the same. Little did he know that, their road to their purpose will be coming sooner than he thought…
TBC
Well, if this chapter is confusing again, please do tell me and don't forget to tell me where! Kind of hard for me to guess where I gone wrong! Anyways, thanks for reading and constant support! Sorry there wasn't much Sakuragi Haruko... but I did tried... :P
Till next chapter, I will write something about Negi's past...