CHAPTER 3/? RUKAWA: PROOF OF EXISTENCE
It was early in the morning, about 6:00. The sun had started to shine in the room. It was a rather large room with a big bed in the middle of the room. The bed was already empty. The sheets and the pillows were just scattered around. Also on the bed was a gym bag with a bunch of shirts, jogging pants and shorts. The room was filled with a lot of NBA basketball posters, some of them were Michael Jordan. There was also a shelf beside the bed. In it were a lot of medals, awards, and trophies for basketball competitions. There were also other memorabilia in the shelves, in particular, was a picture of basketball team. And on top looked was a red jersey bearing the name SHOHOKU and the number 11.
A tall figure steps in to the room from the showers. The figure walked slowly into the room, with a towel on his head and still dripping with water. He stopped and headed towards the shelf by the bed. He reached out for the picture on the wall and stared at it. I miss them. The figure dropped the towel from his head and exposed a raven haired boy. He looked intently on the picture. I miss all of them, even that read-headed do'aho. He smirked. But I'll die first before I admit that to anyone.
The light peeked through the blinds and shined partially on his face. If you looked closely a very small smile started to appear. (A/N: Mr. Stoic smiled!! Haha) Thoughts started to fill his mind. His minds was filled with the times when he'd perform so well in court without anybody, times when he'd argue with Sakuragi about the stupidest of things, and when they finally learned to work as a team and win the biggest game they've ever played. He was beginning to understand what he lacked as a player, teamwork.
For the longest time, he had always been alone. Never caring about anyone but himself. Working so much so that he can prove to everyone he isn't weak. That he is strong. And does not need anyone. He thought maybe if he was more independent and strong he could show to everyone else his worth. That he could show his father he wasn't a weakling. And maybe his father might eventually show that he loves him.
That bastard. Why do I even care about what he feels for me? He only thinks of himself. He thought to himself. I don't need anyone to achieve my goals, especially from that bastard. Though he knows in his heart that he needs the help of people, especially his teammates.
Working with others, and trusting them and their abilities was something new to him. But he understands now that there lies the true strength of a player. If he could learn to work with others and trust in them then he'll finally be able to fulfill his dream of being the strongest player in Japan, or even in the United States. My final goal is to play in America and nothing will stop me to achieve that goal. I'm definitely coming back and showing them all how I've improved. I want to win the national championships. Not just for me but for all of us. We built this dream together and we may finally reach it. (A/N: A lot of thoughts on his mind, ne?)
He put the picture down and finished drying up. He checked the time and saw that he was late. I've been sleeping too much that I can't even wake early enough for my practice. He hurriedly dressed up in his workout shirt and jogging pants. He fixed his other things and put them in his bag. He took a red and black jacket from the closet. It was his favorite Shohoku team jacket. He looked around the room and picked up his basketball. He also picked up the discman on the desk by the door and quickly ran out of the room.
He quickly ran across the large ornate hallway, then down the stairs. He hurriedly opened the garage door at the back of the house. There were several cars in the garage. One had the license plate bearing the name RUKAWA. He then took an old looking bike from side of garage and mounted it. He just left on the bike leaving the garage door open.
"Wait! Don't leave the garage door open." An old lady yelled. "That kid, when will he ever remember never to storm off just like that. His father will just get angry at him again."
He was on his way to a nearby basketball court, riding his bike down the street.
This was a daily ritual for him. He'd get up early in the morning and practice at the local basketball court. He missed this the most when he left Kanagawa.
But as usual, he fell asleep on his bike. "HEY!! Watch where you're going! Don't sleep on your bike idiot!" Two girls suddenly screamed at him.
***A/N:
seedsop: This is so like him isn't it?
Rukawa: Nani??
seedsop: Well… it's true… Ack… NO!!
***
"Wait, wasn't that Rukawa?"
"It looked like him. But it couldn't be. Isn't he in the All Japan Team training?"
"Oh yeah! I forgot besides if he was here, Haruko would have told us by now."
"True. I can almost imagine it now that she's swooning and going heart-shaped eyes on him again."
The other girl chuckled. "That seems so much like her. She'll never admit it though. She'll just deny it and blush."
"Oh goodness! Look at the time. We better hurry." The two girls sped off leaving way behind Rukawa.
Rukawa was still sleeping. He didn't even notice the two girls. Then all of a sudden, "BANG!" He hit his bike on the fence. "Ow! Good thing it's not a car this time." He got of the bike and checked its condition. "It seems I need to replace the tire again." One of these days I'm going to get seriously injured if I'm not careful.
He continued on his way towards an open court. He parked his bike and quickly got into gear and started warming up. He had the whole court to himself so he wasn't really in a hurry. He still remembered the time when he was waiting outside the court until the redheaded do'aho and the Captain's younger sister would finish practicing. He was certainly surprised at how fast he learned to do a lay up in such a short time. Of course, at that time he didn't think much of it. All he wanted to do was play. He wanted them to leave as fast as they could. He just sighed and continued on his activity.
He started with his daily ritual. He would first do different shots over and over again. When he got his rhythm, he would start to imagine opponents. He would start to imagine strong basketball players going one on one against him. He'd imagine players like Maki and Fujima trying to block him from scoring. He'd think of all the possible ways they could stop him but he'd always surpass him in his mind. And of course, he'd imagine Sendoh going up against him. To him he still has to beat Sendoh. Sendoh was the obstacle to his goals, and for him to reach his goals he must surpass Sendoh in every way.
"You are not yet stronger than Sendoh." Anzai-sensei had told him and since then he has set his goal in beating him. To become number one and be able to play in America will soon follow.
He also thinks that Sakuragi must never EVER beat him at all. It's what keeps him going. He remembers what Anzai-sense's wife told him before, that the sensei thought highly of him and Sakuragi. Though personally he doesn't know what Anzai-sensei sees in him.
With the imaginary Sendoh trying to block him, he tries to evade him but 'Sendoh' was easily blocking his moves. Every way he went Sendoh was there to block him. Left, right, left, and right again Sendoh was there to block him. KUSO!! But suddenly he got a chance and went for it. He dodges to the left and runs up to the 3-point line. He ran as fast as he could dribbling the ball so that Sendoh couldn't reach him. He suddenly jumped as soon as he passed the 3-point line and successfully dunks the ball into the ring.
CRASH!!! A resounding sound was heard all over. But little did he know that a certain brown haired girl was watching from opposite the fence.
"A little more…" He thought. He heads for his towel and wipes off his sweat. Maybe if I…
"Ru..ka..wa..kun.."
Rukawa looked up to see who said that. He saw a brown haired girl in the distance and wondered who it was. As he slowly approached her, he caught a glimpse of her face. Akagi-san. It was Haruko. When she noticed him approach him she quickly took off before he could utter a word. What was that about? I hope she doesn't tell anyone yet. I want to go and show myself to them first. Maybe I should go.
He suddenly felt his body weaken all of a sudden. No not today. Not now! He slowly fell to the ground…
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"Why don't you just give up?"
"Otou-san!" Said the young kid. "I can do this!" He could see clearly his father's disappointment. Why can't he ever trust me to do anything?
But before the kid could do anything, he collapsed to the ground. His body was shaking.
"Chh! I knew it. You are such a weakling. Why was I cursed with such a child." He came closer to the kid and nudged him. "This won't kill you. Now get up. It's late and almost time for dinner."
The kid remained on the ground. "Chh! I guess I have to drag you home." He picked him up and put him on his shoulder. "Only if your mother was alive…" The kid was half conscious and couldn't speak.
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KUSO!! He started to breathe heavily. Somehow it felt a bit better being able to breathe easily. I can do this. Better pack up and leave before anyone sees me like this.
A/N: I had a hard time of keeping Rukawa in character while writing this chapter. Since he almost never speaks so we could only guess what's in his mind. This opens up a writer's gold mine actually but at the same time I didn't want him to become OOC. Of all things I hate OOCs unless there was character development to support it. So if he did come out differently I'm saying sorry right now. Don't crucify me ^^;;;