Tree, Leaf, Wind

By: Calliope Medina Erato

PROLOGUE

Akita

I have to hurry! Sawakita Eiji thought as he pedaled furiously along the streets of Akita, prudently dodging cars and other vehicles that come his way. He hardly cared if he caused a six-car pile up. What matters is that he has to get there. Fast.

He turned left in a quiet street corner and continued pedaling like a man possessed. He only stopped upon seeing a two-storey, contemporary-styled house, and much to his horror, the dark blue Honda Civic usually parked out front was gone. He quickly got off the bike (more like flew off it), leaving it at the side of the street and ran towards the front door.

NO! They can't be gone yet! He thought frantically as cold sweat ran down his temples. She wouldn't just leave without saying goodbye! She won't

Eiji pounded at the door three times. He was reluctant on finding anyone home but he pounded at the door just the same. On his fourth knock the door opened, and met eyes with an annoyed looking girl a head shorter than him.

"What's the big idea demolishing our door!" she snapped, and then her hazel eyes widened upon seeing the restless look on his face. "Eiji, it's you! What's wrong?"

He grabbed her firmly by the shoulders and started to shake her. "You're here! Thank God you're still here!"

"Y-Yeah, Eiji, I-I am." The girl unconsciously stuttered, looking helpless despite her large size as she seem to let him shake her back and forth, like one would physically try to force understanding to a slow learner. "Alright, you can let go now. You're making me dizzy."

"Oh." Eiji managed an uneasy chuckle and released her shoulders after seeing hair tousled on her face. "Sorry about that. I thought you already left. The car—"

"— is with otou-san." She finished for him, combing her fingers on her hair to give it a quick fix. "He remembered that he has to take care of a few things before we leave."

Eiji virtually sighed with relief, mentally thanking Mr. Futaba for his poor memory. "I see. Well, you know your dad, always at the last minute."

"Yeah." She snorted. "Anyway, how about if we come inside?"

He smiled and then followed her into the almost empty house. Once inside, Eiji turned to her, his eyes gloomy. "Do you really have to go, Hisae?"

She was about to answer when Rina, Hisae's mother, appeared suddenly from the kitchen holding a rolling pin, armed and ready to hit anyone on her way. "Who was that inconsiderately loud baka banging at our door?" she shouted as she entered their former living room. Like Hisae, she was startled to see Eiji's untimely visit. "Oh, Eiji-kun! I thought that someone is playing a joke on us. Sumimasen." She meekly bowed, putting the rolling pin down.

"Hi, Mrs. Futaba," Eiji scratched his head as he greeted her politely, "No need for apologies, ma'am. There's nothing to it, really. It's my fault anyway."

"Oh, don't be too polite, and stop calling me 'ma'am'. You know you're not a stranger in this house." She said. "Well, what's left of it anyway."

Eiji laughed. "I see you're ready to leave." He said, indicating the large Re-locaters, Inc. boxes scattered within the four corners of the room. Futaba Rina sighed and began a litany on how the movers were late and that she had to call them five times. She left the two still muttering to herself about inefficient workers.

Hisae shook her head as she watched her mother leave. "Mom sure knows how to drive herself crazy. The move is still a shock to her."

"I know. So were the rest of us."

Eiji was dumbfounded himself when Hisae told him she was going to leave for Kanagawa because of her father's promotion. It seemed like the entire world crashed down on him right that very moment. "Hey, I got an idea. Why don't you stay at my house? Takeshi can come, too. My parents won't mind. That's a promise." He said almost desperately.

Hisae stared at him, her left brow raised. "I know they won't mind, Eiji, but mine would." She said. "Look, it's really nice of you to offer but we both know that I have to leave eventually. Besides, Kanagawa can't be that bad."

Eiji shifted uneasily from where he stood. "Well, yeah...but I hate for you to go." He said now sounding like a three-year old fell silent.

"I guess I can't do anything to stop you, huh?"

She smiled and slowly shook her head.

He sighed. "Okay. But at least give me a chance to hold you one last time."

Hisae blinked. "What's with the mush, Eiji? You sound like I'm gonna die today."

Eiji began to laugh at the sarcasm of her tone. "Just shut up and come here." He held out his hand and Hisae gladly went into the circle of his arms. He heard her muffled laugh against his chest as he gave her a fierce and tight hug. The solid feel of her gave him the assurance that she was still here with him even for a moment longer. He ran a hand on her long, black hair, feeling so sentimental all of a sudden. The hand on her hair was now touching her face, lifting it to his. Her hazel eyes—eyes that he always found breathtakingly beautiful—stared at him in wonder.

"I'm going to miss the only best friend I've got." He said softly. "What would I do without you around?"

Hisae touched his cheek in return. "I'll always be here with you, Eiji, you know that." She said quietly.

"Yeah, I do."

Minutes later, they were all outside the house, from Rina to Hisae's younger brother Takeshi who was dragging a large backpack. Her father, Takao, arrived shortly along with the movers. Re-locators, Inc. carefully moved the huge boxes and furniture carefully into the truck as Rina had instructed.

"I'll try to keep in touch." Hisae said quietly to Eiji.

"You better do more than try, Hisae. I'll write you, email you, call you and visit you so that you won't forget me." Eiji said.

Hisae laughed. "Gee, that'll cost you. Besides, you're impossible to forget, Sawakita Eiji." She winked. "You keep on pushing yourself in my life even if I don't want to."

Now it was Eiji's turn to laugh again. "Like you don't do the same thing to me." He said dryly. "Dang, I'll surely miss you, Hisae." He added as he took her hand and squeezed it.

She just smiled at him and squeezed his hand back. "You've been saying that since you came here. You already sound like a broken record. How about something else, huh?"

The sound of the car horn, along with Takeshi's annoyed voice broke whatever Eiji was about to say. "C'mon, oneechan! We're going to be left behind if we don't move. NOW!"

"Alright already!" Hisae blared, then to Eiji she said: "Sayonara, Eiji-kun."

"Iie. Ja ne, Hisae-kun." He corrected.

Hisae tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek before turning for the car. Eiji felt his face grew immensely hot, but he was thankful she didn't see him blush. He sighed as he watched the car move from the garage to the driveway. Mrs. Futaba waved him goodbye as the Honda roared before completely driving off to the main road. Seeing her go this way is such a hard blow on Eiji.

He took one last look at the Futaba house that seemed nothing more than an ordinary pad, thinking all the memories and good times he had with her and smiled wistfully. If only things are much different for us, Hisae, Eiji thought, pushing his bicycle as he walked away.

Author's note: This is the first fic after being out of the fanfiction circuit for almost two years now.

Slam Dunk is not mine but by Inoue Takehiko and Shonen Jump.

Reviews are welcome as always and thanks to my wonderful friend Nigel for being my beta reader and who helped me out with the concept of this fic.

Note after 8 years or so: I'm just making some minor editing on a few of my works. I'm finally having some time to look at my fics and here I am.