Chapter 6

Rukawa bounced the ball in the empty court, stop outside the three pointer line and aimed. The ball flew swiftly into the basket and went in. It was break time, and he had no intention to have anything to eat. Besides that he didn't felt sleepy at all to his surprise. All he knew that Kainan High match was about to come and he wanted to beat them no matter what. Kainan High had never lost a single match for sixteen years and Rukawa had no intention to loss this match.

Before he could retrieve his ball, he heard footsteps behind him and whirled around. Nay was walking up to him, smiling slightly.

Need me around today? She signed.

"You come in handy." Rukawa answered almost smiling back at her.

Nay inclined her head and ran over to the ball to pick it up. She tossed it back to him and signed

Ganbatte!

"Hai," Rukawa answered catching the ball deftly.

He continued practicing again with Nay watching him and getting the ball for him. How much that girl reminded him of someone, he used to care.

OOOOOOOOOO

Mitsui made his way to the courts. Nay had told him that, she will be going over there to look for Rukawa. Now that, he knew how Nay felt for him, he hadn't felt angry whenever Nay said she wanted to spend time with Rukawa. He had no idea why he was so angry and the only thought that came into his mind was that he was jealous.

Shaking his head slightly he smiled, as he continued his way down the corridor. He had no idea he had acted so childishly and Nay had been so patient with him all this time. When he reached the courts and the sight that greeted him, made him incline his head. Nay seemed to really like collecting the ball for Rukawa.

"Yo," Mitsui greeted walking inside.

Nay looked around and smiled, she raised her hand to wave.

"…." Rukawa stared at Mitsui quietly.

"What to play a one on one?" Mitsui asked strolling over to Rukawa. "At the same time we can also practice for the coming Kainan match."

Rukawa raised his eyebrows slightly at Mitsui sudden request. He had never been nice to him, least of all want to practice with him. He turned to look at Nay, who just stared back at him and shrugged.

"Up to you…" Rukawa mumbled and tossed him the ball. "You may start first."

"So I will…" Mitsui smirked and got ready.

Nay went over to the corner and sat down. She was glad that she brought her sketch book with her. Turning to a new page of her sketch book, she began to sketch the ace players of Shohoku High. Not aware by the three of them, someone stood behind one of the exit door glaring in at Nay sitting at the corner sketching.

Tanski smiled maliciously, as she watched Nay. She had thought of a plan that will break both Nay and Mitsui apart for the rest of their life.

"Just watch me, retard." Tanski whispered to herself coldly. "No one stops me from getting what I want."

After school

"Hey, that is really good." Mitsui smiled at the sketch Nay had done of him and Rukawa. "It is alright if I keep it?"

Nay nodded and signed. It's for you. She pulled out another sketch at hand it over to him. This is for you too. I did it yesterday…

Mitsui took her other sketch and smiled. It was a sketch of them both together. Mitsui had his arm around Nay's shoulder and Nay was looking up at Mitsui smiling.

"You can draw me without looking at me?" Mitsui turned his attention back at Nay. "You got every single detail of me."

I don't need to see you to sketch you. Every single feature of you is here. Nay pointed to her head and blushed.

Mitsui smiled and leaned down towards and peck her on her forehead.

"Arigatou…" He whispered.

I guess you are about to go for practice. I will see you after that…

"Sure, wait for me by the courts."

Nay nodded and whirled around heading for her art club class.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Later, after art club, Nay made her way slowly to the courts when Tanski appeared in front of her blocking her way. Her eyes widened with slight fear and back away when she saw Tanski advancing closer to her.

"Why are you so afraid of me?" Tanski asked when she stopped half a foot away from Nay. "I just want to tell you something."

Nay blinked with surprised. Why was Tanski being nice out of a sudden?

"I know I very mean to you all the time, but there is something important I need to say." Tanski continued. "So listen carefully…"

Nay's eyes widened and her mouth dropped slightly. She may have speech disability, now hearing what Tanski had said she was wondering whether she have hearing disability too. She had something imported to say? When Tanski had anything important to tell Nay?

"Look, it is about Mitsui." Tanski said when she knew that Nay is paying full attention to her now. "I heard some rumours, about how he uses you because he wants to show everyone that, he is better than Rukawa."

Nay shook her head slightly.

"It is true, what makes you think that Mitsui would care about someone like you. He is a very good basketball player. He wouldn't go out with a girl who is a retard."

Nay wrote something on her notebook and showed it to her.

You LIAR!

"Believe what you want. All I am saying is what I heard." Tanski said in a sneering tone and walked away.

Without knowing why, tears filled her eyes. She knew that Mitsui will never treat her that way. They had been friends since childhood. She had admired him since then. However, she never knew how he felt for her until recently when she had another boy in her life, Rukawa.

Taking a deep breath she stalk out the school building alone forgetting that she was suppose to meet Mitsui.

Later after practice, Mitsui looked outside where Nay usually waited for him and found it deserted. He frowned slightly before he could turn away when someone jumped out behind the tree. To his surprised, he stared at the person he never thought of seeing and no intention of meeting.

"Mitsui-kun!" Tanski said seductively and grabbed his arm.

"Tanski!" Mitsui tried to pull his arm away from him. "Stop it!"

"Moh, come on, I know you came out here to look for me." Tanski giggled tightening her hold around his arm. "I had been waiting for so long."

Rukawa walked out the courts when he heard Mitsui voice and another. The sight that greeted him did not please him a single bit. He frowned at how that girl was hugging Mitsui. When Mitsui's eyes met Rukawa's, Rukawa turned away sharply and walked away.

"Rukawa! Matte…" Mitsui shouted. "It is not… damn it!"

Rukawa went to the changing room immediately to change and left the school building quickly. Got his bike and pushed it towards the gates. When he was at the gates he saw a familiar lonely figure walking away slowly.

"Nay!"

Slowly the girl turned around to greet him. He saw that Nay's eyes were slightly red and puffy. He knew immediately she had been crying. He frowned and walked over to her quickly, pushing his bike at his side. He looked down at her quietly when Nay didn't look up at him.

After a short silent, Rukawa finally spoke.

"Come with me, I want to show you something."

Nay looked up with surprised.

Rukawa got on his bike and turned back to her.

"Get on."

Hesitantly, Nay got on the back of his bike and placed her hands around his waist gently. When Rukawa felt her arms, he started pedaling knowing that she won't fall off when he started cycling. The journey wasn't long from the school. Rukawa had brought Nay back to his home.

Rukawa waited for Nay to get off before he slipped off his back and place it at the side of the wall of his house. Nay begin to sign.

Why did you bring me here?

"Come with me." Rukawa picked up her hand in his and pulled her into the house.

Without a choice, Nay followed Rukawa into the house.

"My parents are always away. It used to be my younger sis and me." Rukawa said softly when they entered the quiet house. He still didn't let Nay's hand go. "However, now it's only me."

Nay inclined her head and looked at him. Not understanding what he meant.

"Come…" Rukawa pulled Nay into the house and up the stairs.

Rukawa stopped in front of a white door and dropped Nay's hand staring at sign board which had a name, Risa written on it and flowers decorated at the edges. Slowly he opened the door and pushed it opened. He stepped inside the dark room, with Nay following him behind curiously. Rukawa reached for the switch and the lights shone in the room.

Nay looked around the room and found that the room belongs to a girl. Everything was decorated in pink, even the curtains. The cupboard bed frame and dressing table were white in colour. Nay turned to Rukawa curiously and saw him standing by on of the dresser with photos standing on the top. She made her way towards him and looked up at him. He was holding a heart shaped photo frame with a photo of a girl and boy which unmistakably was Rukawa.

"Risa…" Rukawa said softly. "My younger twin sister…"

Nay's eyes widened with surprised. She never knew Rukawa had a twin sister. She stared at the photo he was holding and saw the girl with long straight black hair like hers and a face which looked slightly like Rukawa.

"She died of brain tumor two years ago…" Rukawa continue talking. "She had always been a very weak girl. She hardly has friends because she could never go out…"

Nay opened her mouth in a silent gasp.

"You remind me so much of her."

Without knowing why, Nay felt tears in her eyes again. No wonder Rukawa always seemed so quiet and lonely. It must have been a huge blow to him when she passed away.

"She loved to draw too and watch me play basketball and help me pick up the ball."

Timidly Nay placed her hand in Rukawa's hand. Rukawa snapped out of his daze when he felt her hand. Slowly he turned over to look at Nay.

I know how terrible that feels… especially when you can't do anything. A tear fell from her eyes. I couldn't safe the person I cared very much too…

Rukawa frowned and put the photo frame back where it was.

"What are you talking about?"

It was a long time ago. Nay tried to smile and shook her head. I don't feel like talking again after that happened.

"What actually happened to you?"

It was after the incident… it is just that I don't feel like talking again. I was afraid to talk again…

"Can you tell me?"

Nay looked up at Rukawa and inclined her head.

It's a long story…

"I think we have the whole night."

You should call my mum for me to tell her, that I will be home late.

Rukawa nodded.