SLAM DUNK: A PLAYER'S HEART
Chapter 9: A Step Away
"Sacrifice not choices is the measure of true knowledge!"
Vanessa Arrha A. De Leon
Ran sighed as she began the long walk towards Saka train station. She retraced the path she passed, on her first visit to Saka together with the team.
It took her one month to be able to decide on leaving again. An escape from all of her problems, from all of the questions. Ran laughed softly then whispered, "It seems the only thing I do right is running away..."
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Rukawa was at that time passing by, exploring in solitude the beauty of Orchard Path. He wondered around, trying to spot the barren Sakura tree, he and Ran had visited the other day. When he found it, he stepped under its unprotective trunk and sat down. As he moved his eyes around, he saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Laying down to sleep on the cushion of fallen leaves on the grass, he accidentally found a small wreath of twisted leaves and flowers. He smiled softly, as he recognized it as Ran's "project" the other day. He slid it on his left hand and laid his head back on the trunk.
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Ran reached into her pocket and pulled out 3 coins. She slid the 2 carefully down the phone and dialed the numbers of the inn slowly.
"Good afternoon, may I speak to one of your guest?" she politely asked.
"What is his name?"
"Sakuragi Hanamichi!" she answered.
The host got off her phone to call Sakuragi while she waited patiently on the other line.
When Sakuragi finally got on the phone, his voice almost erupted to a mix of happiness and annoyance.
"Ran!! Where have you been?"
"Gomen... Kyodai..."
Hanamichi was silent for a moment then added, "It's okay as long as you're right..."
"Hai...Uhmm... Oni-san, I'm going back to Kanagawa..."
"Kanagawa, why?"
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"It's nothing!"
Sakuragi sighed for a while then spoke up.
"Just promise me, you'll be okay..."
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Rukawa was now returning to the inn. As he stepped inside, he found Sakuragi calmly talking on the phone. He was about to go to his room when he stopped as Sakuragi mentioned the name, Ran.
Immediately, he took hold of the phone, which Sakuragi initially objected too, but finally resigned when he found, Rukawa's face, in an unusual expression of worry.
"Ran..." his voice softly trailed off.
Ran recognized the voice, she really didn't want to respond but her heart continually told her to do so, finally she spoke up in a polite, uninterested tone.
"Hai..."
"Where are you?"
"At the train station..."
"Why?"
"I'm going back to Kanagawa..."
"When are you boarding?"
"At 3 p.m."
Rukawa looked at his watch, 1:45 p.m. He thought for a minute, in utter silence plagued by what he was planning to do.
"Wait for me..."
Ran was surprised at Rukawa's words.
"I can't..."
Rukawa didn't answer but she knew that he did meant it.
"Okay, but I'll wait up to 3:00 only. If you don't come here, I'll-----"
Rukawa got off the phone before Ran could finish. He went to fetch his jacket upstairs and immediately went outside afterwards but as he went he found Haruko standing there, blocking the path.
Rukawa approached her, his eyes molded into a glare. Haruko was initially hurt by this but she didn't move at all.
"What are you doing there?"
"Your game's at 3 o'clock, you can't go to Ran..." she responded.
"I will..." he stubbornly replied.
"Are you going to throw it all away, all the sweat, the work you have put into your dream of going to the States?" she asked.
no reply
"You can't..."
no reply
"Think about the team, think about the Inter High, think about beating Sendoh! Isn't this what it's all about?"
"Ran... She's important to me..."
Haruko looked at him, straight in the eye, her eyes a mix of sadness and frustration.
"Is she?"
Rukawa was taken aback by the question. Is Ran really more important than basketball.
"Think about it, Rukawa-kun!"
Rukawa dropped his jacket, and began walking back towards the inn. His hands shaking from the anger and frustration he was feeling.
"Rukawa-kun!" Haruko called back.
Rukawa stopped. Then turned around, this time his eyes piercing and hateful. He didn't say anything but began to walk away again, leaving Haruko there without any sense of utter triumph at all. Rukawa was angry not because Haruko stopped him but because he stopped himself.
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Ran clasped her bag tightly as she looked at her watch, 3:05 p.m. The train she was planning to board had just left and she was left disdained and confused to what Rukawa really meant when he said, "Wait for me..."
I only hope you meant it, Rukawa-kun...
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The game by then, had already started. Rukawa, at first, was not all up to it. Missing free throws and committing 3 fouls already. But all of this changed when the team reached a fix, the ace player in Rukawa took over, and pretty soon, he was back to scoring shots and leading the team to win.
After the half-time break, Rukawa had forgot all about about Ran and his promise of going to where she was. He was so caught up with the game that the idea of leaving the game to be with Ran, seemed ridiculous to him now.
When the game resumed, Rukawa was already in high spirits. Ayako by then was shouting cheerfully as Shohoku further the lead between them. The crowd was also in gear, cheering loudly for Shohoku.
The game ended, 98 to 53. The crowd shouted and cheered the victory of Shohoku, with all of the tourist, genuinely impressed with their performance. As all of the exhausted players were sitting on the bench, Rukawa unintentionally looked at the digital clock on the game board. 4:30. He looked away, although pained at what he was doing.
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Sanzan Na Yume ni, Me Wo Samasu, Hizashi No Tsuyoi Asa
Awakening from an intense dream, to the strongly lit morning.
Ran looked at her watch uncomfortably, 5:00. The hurt and the pain of an unkept promise began to penetrate slowly into her. She buried her face into her palms, trying to keep foolish tears from falling.
Oki ni iro no kyoku, kiki nagara, araitate no shatsu, ude wo toosu
While listening to my favorite tune, I toss the shirt I'm washing over my arm.
At the locker room, while all of the players were still talking about their victory. Rukawa sat quietly at a corner, wiping his face with a yellow towel.
"Wait for me, guys, I'll get refreshments from the vending machine!!"
He heard Ayako say. His eyes widened when all of a sudden, the words, "Wait for me..." came rushing back into him. He stood up, his heart beating and tightening painfully, when he remembered Ran, waiting at the train station.
Yuube no aitsu tsukareta koe datta, "Shigeki ga hoshii" "Ima wa kowashitai", Ochiburanaide
A guy last night said in a tired voice, "I want some excitement" "I want to break up now" Please don't be down.
Ran stood up, her tear-stained eyes closed in silent agony. She pursed her lips into a small smile, although hidden behind it is a pang of hate and anger she is now trying to keep. She walk over to the board where listed are all the train schedules for that day. She read, "Saka-Kanagawa, 5:30 p.m.". She sat down again as she wiped off the traces of tears on her face. Then whispered sadly to herself, "I was wrong, he couldn't sacrifice basketball after all..."
Kirameku toki ni, tora ware muchuu de itai, koukai suru suteki janai, hitori ja nai shi...
Caught by the glittering moment, I want to be enthralled. Repenting isn't wonderful. but after all you're not alone.
Rukawa ran off outside the gym, leaving the players behind. From Saosaki, he ran to Orchard Path, heading to Saka Station. He was going to get there on time, he knew it.
Please be still there...
afuredasu namida ga utsukushi karaba, hito wa mata owaranu tabi ni, toki wo tsuiyaseru kara
The tears starting to flow are beautiful. People will once again, be able to spend time on an uneding journey.
From afar, Rukawa could already see the station and hear the sound the coming train was making. But he was still to far away.
As the train stopped, Ran stood up but then stopped, still hesitating for a minute. She looked outside the station, wishing to see Rukawa standing in the darkness. But no one was there. She walked towards the doors and got in but she didn't sit afterwards, she stood near the door, looking out and holding on to a small post.
Rukawa began to run faster, trying to use up all of the strength left in him. Near the station, he then heard the sound of the train doors closing. Although, enveloped in darkness, he continued to run in vain, wishing Ran didn't board the train after all.
But as he finally reached the station, the train had started to move. He was catching his breath as he looked around the station in vain, finding no one was there.
He turned around and again and walked into the darkness, cursing himself for the sacrifice he couldn't make.
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The next day, Ran went to Ayako's house to get the rest of her belongings and then proceeded to Tokiyo Inn, the hotel Ayako mentioned before.
She reached Ryonan High in a matter of 20 minutes. "Now that I'm in Ryonan High, where is Tokiyo Inn?" she muttered to herself.
As she was about to cross the street, she didn't see the bicycle towards her. It was a matter of time before she absent-mindedly notice it. She let out a soft scream and tried to back up but her legs were glued to the ground. Fortunately, the rider saw this and stopped right in front of her.
"You know, miss, you should look both sides before crossing the street..." the rider said then flashed her a smile.
"What are you talking, you almost ran me over!!!" she angrily responded.
"Gomen Nasai Na..."
Ran stood up and began to walk away indignantly. The rider tried to call her back, when someone from the school began calling on towards them. She stopped to see who it was but realize that the rider was the one the boy was calling. So she began walking again.
"Sendoh!"
"Oi! Koshino!" the rider responded.
Ran stopped walking again, recognizing the familiar name.
Ran looked at the boy called upon as Sendoh and found that he was still looking at her.
"Sorry again, miss!" the boy spoke up.
"Hmm..." she responded.
The boy got out of the bicycle and offered his hand, "Akira Sendoh!"
"I don't give my name to strangers!"
"Well! I told you my name, I'm not a stranger anymore, am I?"
Ran shook the boy's hand, "I really don't care but as a sign of courtesy, my name's Ran!"
-------TO BE CONTINUED;)-------
Author's Note: I've never been able to thank Kari for her continued support on my fanfiction. Thanks and sorry for the left-out on my last gratitude-notes. Thank you also to railey for quite a flattering review. It really pushed my spirits up, thanks again!
And thank you also to meitsi, Hiedra, XIII Black Cat, Spider-Psycho, DT, and this one hasn't reviewed yet but I saw my name on her author alert list, anyway, I'm still glad for your support, Treni.
To DT: Sorry, if I've not addressed your comment on Chapter 7, but thanks again for the constructive criticism. Geez... though I'm not that good with criticisms, Sorry, if you feel the storyline is going on to FAST, but from past experiences, I'm really known for not finishing my writing. So this time, when I get an idea, I type it already so as not to lose it. Hope you understand.
Right, I've written a one-shot on RK, but I'll hold on to that still, for the mean time, I'll not start anymore fics until I finish this one. Thanks again for the reviews and don't forget reviewing... and yeah! I don't own SD!!