Disclaimer:I don't own Slam Dunk
Thanks for to all reviewers who had given me so much support and encouragement. My beta and I had went through this chapter and hopefully there isn't any grammar or spelling mistakes that were spotted in previous chapters!
Special thanks to Jen; I remember u, u were reading the first fic I had ever posted on this site. Miss Match, and I also remember u voted for Mitsui in this fic. All the reviews had been taken away but I still have the list of votes with me. U had been reading all my SlamDunk fics! Thank you for your support and encouragement all this time. I am sorry, I took such a long time to repost this fic again. But it was pretty difficult to post it up again when it was removed entirely from this site and I was hoping it won't happen again cuz it is really troublesome to post every single chapter again. Its also annoying. I know there are some still waiting for the sequel to Miss Match, I did write the first chapter for it but it was also removed ( I am wondering it is the work of the flamers beginning of this year and problem with fanfiction they don't check before they remove your fics, they immediately delete your story when someone file a complain) and I never posted it up again because I didn't have the time to continue writing it. But I may come up with a sequel for Take My Word For It. Though I am not sure when. If u like to get posted for all my updates on SlamDunk fic... leave your email to me. I will write to you as soon as I posted up the sequel for Take My Word for It. :) Thank you so much for reading my fics.
To all that reviewed too, Aesth, Pauline and DigitalLavender (I know u voted for Rukawa, so sorry that Mitsui votes out beat him, u were also a reader of Miss Match too, I am so sorry I may not come out with a sequel but if I decide to finally write it, I will keep you posted)... if anyone what to be posted on the updates... you all can leave your email to me too... this is special to all those who aren't a member of this site. If you are a member you can always go for author alert or fanfic alert... things like that.
Enjoy this chapter... the final chapter.
Chapter 10
Nay swung the curtains opened letting the bright sunlight into the hospital private room where Mitsui was staying. She turned over to the single bed rather sadly to look at Mitsui slumbering figure on it. It had been a week since the accident but Mitsui had not regained the consciousness. The doctor had said that it could be a temporary coma. Even though his life was not in any danger, a slight trauma on the brain resulting by the violent concussion put him into a coma. No one could predict when he would wake up.
In one hand, Nay clutched a bouquet of flowers that she brought with her to replace the dead ones. She brought in fresh flowers every other day even though Mitsui was not awake to look at them. She walked over to the night table and pick up the vase. She brought the vase full of old flowers and the fresh bouquet into the bathroom. She dumped the dead flowers into the trash bin and replaced them with the fresh ones. When she brought the vase back to the night table, she realized that the room was very silent except the sound of Mitsui regular breathing near her.
"I thought you would be here."
Nay heard someone coming in and turned to see Rukawa standing by the door. She smiled slightly.
"I come to change the flowers because I want him to see fresh flower when he wakes up" Nay spoke slowly and softly.
For a week, she had been going to special speech classes learning how to speak properly again. Even her speech ability was still not very precise; she managed to pronounce every word correctly but she had to do it slowly.
"Any improvement with Mitsui-sempai?" Rukawa asked walking towards to the bed.
"No," Nay shook her head sadly. "He is still the same, not moving at all."
She remembered clearly the day when Mitsui was hit by the car. He had saved her life and put his life in danger. Nay could never repay what he had done for her, but she promised herself to always be here for Mitsui and she held onto the hope that he will wake up one day. After the accident, she had not seen Tanski at school. Nay heard that Tanski had transferred to a boarding school in London. She was glad that she didn't have to see that girl who had caused so much trouble for Mitsui again.
"Do you have any speech lesson this afternoon?" Rukawa asked.
"Yes," Nay nodded slightly.
"I'll walk you there." Rukawa offered.
"Thank you." Nay looked up at him with a smile.
There was another short pause in the room when Nay sat on a chair next to Mitsui's bed looking rather sad. She reached out slowly to clasp her hand over Mitsui's big one.
"If only he could hear me speak again." Nay said softly. "He would be so happy."
Rukawa remained silent while watching Nay's defeated and gloomy expression. He was rather frustrated that he couldn't do much for her except looking after her and keeping her company until Mitsui wakes up. After a short pause, Rukawa walked over to Nay and put his hand on her shoulder. Even he didn't speak; he knew that Nay understood his gesture. It was to tell her that he would always be at her side no matter what happened. She had turned to him with a small smile and eyes glittering with tears.
"Thank you, Rukawa-kun." Nay whispered. "Thank you…."
Rukawa pulled her into a tight embrace and sighed softly. Wondering it would be so much better if Mitsui would wake up soon. It was too depressing to see Nay like this.
"Nay, stop dreaming and finish up the cleaning quickly!" One of her classmate called to her.
"Ah, gomen!" Nay cried out and swept up the rest of the dead leaves on the school garden ground hurriedly.
"You were daydreaming again!" Her classmate scolded. "Come on, if you don't hurry we will miss the break!"
"Right!" Nay answered quickly and ran after her friend who was already walking away. "Wait up!"
"How is Mitsui-sempai?"
"He is alright," Nay smiled softly. "He looks healthy, even he's still in the coma. I know he will wake up soon."
"I wish him all the best, Nay…"
"Thank you!" Nay smiled.
Days had become rather quiet and lonely without Mitsui at school. Nay thought rather forlornly. He had always been with her since she transferred to Shohuku. He never once abandoned her. Now, he wasn't around so Nay felt like something was actually missing in her heart. If only he will be here to fill in that missing part.
"Hey Hisashi…" Nay whispered into Mitsui's ear, rather cheerfully. "I am here to see you again."
There was still no response from Mitsui and Nay's happy expression was faltered slightly, but she tried to remain lively and continued talking.
"I am going to the speech classes very often now." Nay busied herself with the flowers next to Mitsui's bed while talking. "The teacher said I am getting better and better in my speech. I am so happy. I know you would be happy too!"
Nay turned back to Mitsui and he still lay motionlessly on the bed. His eyes were closed while breathing gently. He did not show her any indication that he had heard her. Her smile wilt completely and a desperation was invading her heart. It had almost been a month now and Mitsui had not woken up yet. Very slowly, Nay sank on her knees and buried her head on the bed next to Mitsui's arm.
"Hisashi, when are you going to wake up?" Nay cried, tears starting to pour down her face. "If only you can hear me speaking again! I've improved so much in my speech!"
Outside the room, Rukawa stood next to the door. He was leaning on the wall with his arms crossing in front. He was looking down at the floor with an unreadable expression while he listened to Nay's forlorn sobs. He couldn't bring himself to go inside because he couldn't bear to see Nay crying by Mitsui's side anymore.
Rukawa cursed under his breath shutting his eyes tight. There was nothing he could do.
"Rukawa-kun?"
Rukawa looked up with surprise and turned towards the door. Nay was standing there looking rather wide eyes at him. He could see her eyes were red from the crying but there were no more tears in her eyes now. She must have dried them before coming out.
"Nay, you…"
"I am alright!" Nay smiled quickly. "I have to go to the speech class now. I have to try harder! I know Hisashi is also trying hard. So I have to do my best too…"
Rukawa remained quiet listening to Nay prater on non stop.
"So I know that all my effort…."
"Stop…" Rukawa cut her off in her sentence softly. "Nay, stop this…"
Nay's eyes were rather wide, while she was looking at Rukawa with the cheerful smile still on her face.
"What are you talking about, Rukawa-kun…?" Nay's voice quivered slightly, her lips shaking. "I have to keep trying…"
Without saying anymore, Rukawa pulled her towards him.
"You are breaking down every single day, Nay…." Rukawa whispered. "Just like my sister was always trying to be happy! In the end she…"
Nay remained silent and tears started to burn in her eyes again.
"Gomen Rukawa-kun… for making you worry about me all the time." Nay whispered. "Gomen…"
They stood outside the hospital corridor quietly, with Rukawa's arms around Nay's shoulders. No one spoke for the longest time; just being there for each other was all they needed at that moment.
Rukawa stood by Mitsui's bed, feeling like strangling him or smacking his face hard. Either way sounded really appealing. If only he could wake up to see Nay's effort and improvement in her speech. If only he could wake up to be in school again with Nay and with the basketball team. Everyone was so worried about him.
The basketball team and even Ansai sensei had come to see him for a couple of times. Of course, no one ever visited him as much as Nay did. She was here practically every single day. Until just recently, Nay hadn't been coming. She looked like a lost soul who wandered around school looking defeated and loosing hope. Rukawa was really angry. No, he was beyond angry.
"HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO STAY LIKE THIS?"
Finally, the quiet and passive Rukawa lost his temper. He clutched onto the front of Mitsui's hospital gown with both hands and shook him slightly. He bent over to Mitsui, their faces close.
"Do you know how hard Nay had been trying all this weeks?" Rukawa continued with his voice shook with anger. "Do you have any idea how many times she cried by your side? How many times she tried to be happy next to you! She had been trying so hard every single day!"
Mitsui still laid motionless on the bed. Rukawa released his grip around Mitsui's hospital gown swiftly and looked away.
"Damn, I thought you really care about Nay!" Rukawa cried heading for the door. "I guess I am wrong!"
The monitor of the Electro Cardio Gram (ECG) suddenly made faster beeping sound than earlier. Rukawa turned back to Mitsui again with surprise, and then he saw Mitsui's fingers twitching slightly. Rukawa's eyes widened and he ran out the room to get the doctor and the attending nurses.
It was break time at school and Nay stayed in the classroom because she did not care to go out. She was sitting at her place looking out the window when one of her classmates came to up to her.
"Nay, it had been sometime since you visited Mitsui-sempai. Aren't you going to go see him any time soon?"
"I don't know." Nay looked rather lifeless lately in school and everyone was worried about her. "Maybe, I will go tomorrow."
"That is what you said yesterday." Her classmate replied rather agitatedly. "Come on Nay, you can't keep avoiding to go to see him."
Nay remained silent. It was painful to see no improvement every time she was there. She took a deep breath and looked out the window again. She told herself that she shouldn't loose hope in Mitsui but it was easier to say than do. Lately, it was very hard for her to keep looking at him lying on that bed without moving or responding to her calls and tears.
She looked towards the school front gate and took a deep breath, resting her head on one hand. While staring outside, some familiar figure caught her attention. With a jerk, Nay stood up from her seat and stared outside with widened eyes, not believing in what she's actually seeing.
"Nay, what is wrong?"
Nay ran out of the classroom without answering her friend's concerned question. She had to make sure! It mustn't be a dream! She had woken up from her wonderful dream about Mitsui many times and she was so depressed because it was only a dream. As she reached the gate and burst outside, she hoped with all her heart that it was not a dream.
It really was Mitsui who stood by the school front gate, smiling at her.
"Hisashi?"
"Nay, I am so sorry for making you worry about me for so long."
"Hisashi?" Nay repeated again, feeling her legs suddenly rather heavy and she was unable to walk. "This is not a dream?"
"Why don't you find out?" Mitsui reached out for her.
"I am afraid if I touch you, you will disappear!" Nay whispered, tears appearing in her eyes.
She always had that dream of seeing Mitsui standing before her like this. But when she ran towards him to hug him, she woke up from that pleasant dream. She didn't want to wake up from her dream if that's the only time she could see Mitsui smiling at her. She wanted to stay like this, looking at him while he was smiling and reaching out for her.
"It is not a dream Nay," Mitsui replied, walking over to her slowly.
"No, don't come closer…." Nay backed away. "I don't want you to go away… you always go away when we…"
"Don't be stupid!" Mitsui whispered grabbing both her shoulders and pulled her into an embrace. "I am not going anywhere."
"Hisashi…?" Nay could feel Mitsui's arms around her. "This is real…"
"Hai…"
Very slowly, Nay held up her arms and hugged Mitsui in returned.
"I am so happy." Nay smiled truly after so many weeks.
"Rukawa was pretty angry at me." Mitsui replied chuckling. "I never saw him so work up before."
"Rukawa-kun?" Nay looked up at Mitsui.
"Yes, he was at the hospital when I woke up a few days back."
"And he didn't tell me!" Nay exclaimed angrily.
"I wanted to surprise you." Mitsui smiled.
"It is not my fault."
They both heard Rukawa coming closer to them. They turned towards him. He was standing not far from them looking rather contented with his hands shoved into his pant pockets.
"He told me to keep the news from you." Rukawa continued.
"You are so mean." Nay frowned.
"You can speak really well now." Mitsui quickly changed the subject. "I am so happy to hear your lovely voice again."
"Don't change the subject!" Nay cried out heatedly.
Mitsui could only chuckle as Rukawa walked up closer to them.
"Nay had been doing really good in the speech classes." Rukawa explained. "I am glad too."
"Me too!" Nay smiled finally. "I am really happy that everything turned out alright."
Mitsui and Rukawa watched Nay who smiled and laughed optimistically. Somehow they both felt really pleased to be able to see Nay's cheerful face again. They both felt really lucky to have this girl next to them, for all time...
The End
Well the last chapter for Don't Say A Word! I thought I should end this fic a little optimistically LOL. Well I hope there isn't any disappointment in the final chapter... but if there is, I don't mind hearing it. I know I ended the fic in a hurry but the story had to end some way or other and I decided to make it a short story.
Thanks for reading mina-san! And thank you to my beta reader for proof reading this chapter!