Disclaimer:I do not own Slamdunk (and you know who does).

Lame excuse

AYAKO

The two-storey house looked kind of lonely. Some of the furniture was sold along with the house. I still can't force myself to agree with what my mom did.

I spent the whole afternoon packing my things. It took me that long due to occasional unwanted thoughts popping on my mind. These thoughts made me stop momentarily.

One thing that's bugging me was when I broke down in front of Hisashi – of all people, why does it have to be him? That was unplanned. I could still remember him comforting me and hushing me as I cried.

I couldn't take the burden that I finally gave in – totally told him everything, my mom's relationship. Surprisingly, he listened. He accompanied me that day until I'm calmed. It took almost an hour for me to tell everything, except of course my feelings for Kaede.

What now? Mom married the guy! That's the reason why I'm packing my clothes now. We're moving to the Rukawa's residence. It's final. Nothing can be done.

"Ayako, what's taking you so long? You're uncle is already here," the happy tone could not be mistaken. Mom was really happy about all this. Mom's too happy that she didn't even notice how I feel or maybe she just chose to ignore it. How cruel.

"I'll be finish soon. Just a second."

RUKAWA

Listening to an alternative band on my disc man, I was lying in bed with my hands behind my head while staring at the ceiling. I wonder if our parent's relationship was the reason why Ayako's been avoiding me, making a lot of excuses.

I can't remember doing anything that had offended her in any way. Maybe she knew all this long before I did. And she's just as surprised and maybe hurt, which I wasn't anyway.

I'm not against our parents' marriage. I was just not expecting that Ayako and her Mom will be living with me and my dad. They will be moving in here today. Too bad I won't be around to welcome them. I'll be at the clubhouse practicing.

Ayako can not make any further excuses for not spending time with me. We would have to work this out – our friendship - now that we're a family.

HISASHI

Sitting at the wall that overlooks the horizon and some boats gave me a sense of peace of mind. Today, the beach was deserted. No one's here today except me as far as my vision could reach.

The memory of Ayako's tear-stained face was still clear in my mind. My intention to comfort her led to an unexpected counseling session. I can't believe that she's carrying that burden for more than a week now. And here I am, planning to ask for a favor that might solve my problem. How selfish could I get?

So that's what prompted her to drink the other night. I felt I was supposed to help her get through this. I may look or sound like taking in the role of a babysitter but that's just the way it is. I didn't want to see her hopeless or miserable. I've had enough of it – from me, from my own life. And I somehow sympathized with what she's going through right now. I just hope she'll be okay soon.

Whether she liked it or not, I'll be minding her business. The favor would have to wait.

AYAKO

I looked around the room. My new room.

Not as big as the room I had before, but it looked comfortable. It was painted in pale pastel yellow. The flower-printed curtains looked new.

Moving to the window, I heaved a sigh of relief for not finding Kaede in the house. Or am I already feeling homesick?

But that's all in the past now. I have to face the present, and a future as a step-sister to the guy whom I've been nurturing feelings for.

Looking at the carpeted floor where all the boxes containing my things and my luggage, the realization that I'll be sleeping here for who knows till when hit me. It hit me hard. I feel suffocated and imprisoned in this room which was disguised as a comfort zone when in fact it was not. I'm already used to living without a father, and then all of a sudden, I'll have one. That would mean new rules, new everything, to sum it up, new life.

I've already thought about the idea of moving elsewhere. But that would be a long wait. There's still more than one year to go before college. That's the time when I'll be able to get away from here.

Heck, I didn't even know how I'll do it. How am I supposed to get through each day? I know I'll go crazy knowing that Kaede was just around here. I'll be bumping on him any time soon.

If the marriage happened earlier, before all the strange feelings I'm having towards Kaede, I would have loved the idea of being his step sister. He's a sweet guy and thoughtful and caring and… the list just goes on and on…

I may sound like a broken record but there's no way he'll know about what I feel. In my desperate need for a solution, I wish he and Hinori would fall in love with each other. That will solve my dilemma.

But who am I kidding? It's actually already solved just by the fact that we're a family now. That would be incest, technically speaking, right?

Why am I getting my mind messed up?

I sat on the bed, feeling its softness, trying to get a feel of my new room – of my new life. Lying down, I felt sleepy and tired of thinking all of a sudden. My plan to take a nap was cut short when from out of nowhere, Hisashi's face popped on my mind. He seemed like the distraction I'd need to get my mind off Kaede even just for a second.

I can't help but smile when I remembered how he sang so loud and out of tune. I never thought I'd hear him sing like that, like he's the only person in the world. It was funny. A guy as tough as he is could manage to do such things. What's even more surprising was he helped me.

It was really nice of him to take care of me while I'm unconscious and drunk the week before last. He even listened to my problems. I can't believe he did that. Or maybe he had no choice. I may have sounded ridiculous. What would he think of me then?

Wait, I shouldn't get carried away by his kindness. For all I know, he's just pretending. Or could it be, the Hisashi I know was finally coming back? He looked really different from the rebellious guy he claimed to be for almost two years after the knee accident that ended his basketball career.

"If you want someone to talk to, just give me a call," he said, hands in pockets. He was as uncomfortable as I was.

I could only nod and say in a whisper, "Thanks for listening…" before opening the door. He must have seen the fear in my eyes.

"I won't tell anyone about this, even to Hinori. Trust me." he gave a reassuring smile before walking away from the porch of my house.

'Trust me.'

I know deep down that he meant it. And I won't deny that I'm beginning to trust him.

RUKAWA

At dinner, instead of me alone eating, there were the four of us. Clearing his throat, dad started a conversation to lighten the atmosphere. Ayako was very quiet, sometimes looking at me and giving me a small smile from across the table.

She's obviously feeling the discomfort I'm beginning to feel. But I was distracted when I heard dad cleared his throat.

"So Ayako, I heard from your Mom that you're working, a part-time job at a bar and restaurant. How's your work?" his voice was stern yet he was smiling. It doesn't actually match – what he is and what he's showing us.

"Uhhm…" she looked startled by my dad's sudden interest in her life. I was also surprised. Maybe he's trying to build a parental relationship with her. "It's okay."

But my father was not satisfied by her answer. And Ayako noticed so she added "I've been working for several months now so I'm used to it. It's a fun work though, given that the owner is considerate and doesn't demand that much from the employees, like me, who's a working student."

"What are you're plans now? Are you still going to continue working? I mean, I can provide for you and your mother's needs. That means you don't have to work late every night." He glanced at Ayako's mom who was sitting at his right.

"I think I'm still going to continue my work. I could use the money for college and all that stuff a girl needs, you know…" She answered politely.

"Okay. But still, I insist on paying for your tuition. Just don't neglect your studies. You work late almost everyday that I hear your mom worried about you."

"Don't worry. I'll make sure my work doesn't affect my studies."

"How about you Kaede? How's school?" I wasn't surprised when he asked that. But he doesn't have to feel compelled to do so just because he had to build that so-called parental relationship with Ayako.

"It's great. I'm busy with basketball as you all know. And about the grades, I'm not sure. But it's not failing."

After that dinner, I sighed in relief that the interrogation was finally over. If in every dinner he would do such a thing, I think I have to skip it every now and then.

The newly-wed retired to their room. And Ayako was also on her way upstairs when I stopped her.

"Ayako, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Of course."

We went to the living room. She was following behind. I sat on the long sofa. She sat on the solo seat while looking at me expectantly.

"Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?" Her face didn't give away anything in particular. But she looked stiff and nervous.

"You know, I'm just wondering why we haven't talked in ages. Is it just me or are you avoiding me?"

"What? Where did you get that idea?" She can't look at me straight in the eye so I assumed something's up. And I think I won't get it out of her somehow.

"So, what really happened? It's always been me and Hinori who's been spending some time together since school started. And we both missed you. Other than seeing you every basketball practice, I don't get to talk to you at all." He hated to sound like a whiner but he did really miss her.

"I'm sorry. I was just having a hard time about all that's happened lately. You know, the marriage, my job, school, being the manageress. And my work's eating most of my time every night that's why I don't get to spend some time with both of you. But I'lll make it up to you, I promise."

to be continued…