Disclaimer: I don't own SlamDunk
The final chapter of the story...
Chapter 20
A year had passed, since Yuiiko left and Rukawa was already in his third year in Shohoku High. Through his years in Shohoku, he had always been chosen to be one of the best five players and Shohoku had got into the IH match again for the summer.
Rukawa had many offers from best basketball university asking him to consider in playing for them. Through his years with Ansai Coach who had given him undivided attention on his basketball skill, he had turned down those offers and decided to proceed to the IH match. The least he could do to repay Ansai.
However, Rukawa didn't need to worry much about his place in University. They had guaranteed their offer and it remained opened until Rukawa graduate from High School. So Rukawa still had time to finish school first.
The whole team was resting after a long exhausting game with Toyotama and Rukawa had only came out from a hot shower retreating to one of the Japanese style rooms a towel over his wet head. He sat down on the matted floor next to his bag, pulled out a piece of paper and the other hand still absent mindedly wiping his hair dry.
Dearest Kaede,
Hanamichi had written to me telling me about Shohoku gotten into the IH matches again. That must be great! You hadn't been writing to me for a long time. Really busy? Well I am busy too at the moment. Tomorrow my manager and I are traveling to Canada for my next concert. I am not sure when I will be able to write to you again. I guess it will be until I get back to school after the concert. Will tell you all about it when I get back to London.
All the best at the IH…
Yuiiko
The letters Yuiiko wrote were getting shorter every time. Rukawa hadn't really wrote back either since he had nothing to tell her. If it was other girls, he was positive they will have added in, 'please write' or 'write back soon'… or 'why didn't you write, I want you to write'… statements like that but Yuiiko never wrote those. She always let Rukawa decide for himself to write to her or not.
"Aren't you going to write back?" Sakuragi asked angrily behind him.
He turned to him but remained silent.
"You are lucky my sister isn't the type of girl who needs her boyfriend to write all the time." Sakuragi sighed. "Knowing you, you would probably die from writing only a few sentences back to her."
"Do'aho…" Rukawa mumbled with a frowned and turned away.
"Nani?" Sakuragi shouted. "Teme kensune…."
There was a short silence as Sakuragi stopped in mid sentence and sighed again.
"Forget it; I came in to tell you that Symphony is on television right now. Haruko asked me to call you, though I have no idea why she wanted you to watch."
Rukawa looked up at him again with a slight surprise look on his face before he got up and stalked out the room. The whole team was there in front of the television watching the concert. Yuiiko didn't change much in her make over but her outfit she wore was different from the last. She still looked as beautiful even on television though he knew that she will look even better in real life.
"Mina-san, this is my latest song New Future!" Yuiiko cried into the microphone and the crowd cheered. "This song is for your dreams and goals that we all strive for! OUR FUTURE that awaits us!"
More cheering after her speech and it continued even when the music started blaring in the background…
Rukawa listened to her latest hits and somehow he had a feeling she was trying to send a message to him with her songs. By hearing her song, he knew very well, most of her songs had a meaning for both of them, even so far apart but they were together, somehow…
tatta hitosu kawaranai mono
zutto egaiteta yume
ima no jibun ha dou utsuru no
ano koro no chiisana hitomi ni
nee miagete konna ni hiroi yozora dakara
sou sugu ni wakaru you ni
seiippai kagayaku kara hayaku
FULL MOON (FU-RU MU-N) wo sagashite
Just one thing doesn't change
That dream I painted
How did I appear as I am now
In my young eyes back then
Hey, look up at it, it's such a vast night sky
So that soon, so that you understand
You will shine at your best soon so hurry
Look for the FULL MOON
let's sing a song
itsudemo issho kimi no tame ima no watashi ni dekiru subete
day by day
kyou made on unmei ashita kara no kibou kono mune ni dakae
let's sing a song
itsudemo issho kimi to nara tsurai koto nori koerareru yo
more and more
motto motto motto chikazukitai ima koko ni ite kurete
many thanks for you
Let's sing a song!
Together forever Everything I can do for you right now
Day by day
Your destiny until now From tomorrow, clutch your hopes to your chest
Let's sing a song!
Together forever If I'm with you I can overcome any hardship
More and more
More and more and more I want to be closer Please stay right here
many thanks for you!
fushigi na deai
kurikaesu uchi
taisetsu na mono ga suete
guuzen to iu itazura na hibi
ima de ha waratte aiseru
sou itsumo hiroi STAGE (SUTE-JI) ni akogareteta
mou watashi hitori janai
minna no egao ga afureteru
koko ga ibasho nano kara
Wonderous chance meetings
As long as they keep happening
We have ever more precious things
All those days full of chance mischief
Now I can laugh and love them
That's right, I always yearned for the wide stage
Now I'm no longer alone
Everyone is full of smiles
Because this is where I am
let's sing a song
konya ha SPOTLIGHT (SUPO-TOLAITO) yori ima watashi no kagayakaseru
day by day
atsui manazashi to seien ga nagareru ase wo terashiteru
let's sing a song
konya ha eien ni kawaranai atsui omoi aru to shinjitai
more and more
motto motto motto sakebitai kono utau kono yume ha owaranai
Let's sing a song
Tonight, rather than the spotlight, it's me that will shine now
Day by day
Those passionate looks and cheers shine upon my streaming sweat
Let's sing a song
Tonight I want to believe there are never ending burning thoughts
More and more
More and more and more I want to scream this song, this dream will
never end
this is song for you
This is the song for you
(First ending theme from Fullmoon wo Sagashite, New Future: Lead singer by Myco from the group musicians Changing My Life)
Rukawa knew that even without needing her totell him anything. Even so far away, she was thinking about him every single day with her songs she sang. That brought a tiny smile to Rukawa's face.
"You know I am surprise to know about your little affair with Yuiiko…" Haruko whispered to Rukawa which made the basketball star's smile wilt. He turned to her impassively. "I know about Yuiiko's secret, even though she never really tells… Ayako and I found out. Isn't it surprising?"
Rukawa remained silent. Ayako was always observant. It didn't really surprise Rukawa to know that she found out, but he appreciated the fact that they both kept the secret only to themselves. Ayako was no longer in Shohoku since she had already graduated last year with Miyagi and went to the same University together.
"Anyways, I know that one day you both will somehow meet again." Haruko smiled at Rukawa reassuringly.
Rukawa turned away from Haruko and looked back at the television where Yuiiko was waving at the rowdy audiences that were screaming and jumping.
That is so true…. He thought to himself silently. One day we will meet again… you can take my word for it.
Owari
I am sorry for such a tragic ending... I just never thought that this story was going to end in a good way anyways. But I may come up with a sequel. It will depend on how many will want to read it. So if you think that a sequel should be written. Don't hesitate to review. The more reviews I get, I may consider on writing a sequel.
Thank you everyone for reading, constants supports and encouragements till the end of this fic.