Hiya guys!

I am happy to report that Ukraine lost! Mwahahahahaha! Sorry, ehem, I don't have anything against Ukraine, except that they beat Switzerland in the knockout round. Therefore, Italy won! Congrats, Sabrina! I'm rooting for Italy now, since Argentina, and Switzerland had been knocked out. Good luck on your next match, I think you're playing...Germany? Anyway, good luck!

Here's the next chap!

You Mean, Rukawa has a best friend?

Chapter Twenty

All through the next day at school, Kira was completely distracted. This didn't fare well with all her teachers, and she got consistently told off after every class. They asked what was happening to her, but she didn't answer any of them, instead telling them that it was personal.

They didn't like this answer, but didn't press on. Instead, they all warned her that if she keeps this up, maybe she'll just have to lose her place in the honor roll.

Right then and there, Kira couldn't care less. She listened vaguely enough to them to realize that she was being threatened, but for the most part, she was anxiously waiting for the doctor's call. She didn't silent her phone during classes, in case he calls. It hasn't rung yet.

She also hasn't spoken to Rukawa's parents either. Their office numbers were in her pocket, and she had called both of them last night. Both their secretaries said that they were in an important meeting and cannot be disturbed. She left with them her number and a message, saying that their son was seriously injured and is in the hospital.

Her phone rung. She jumped. Most of the students in the hall looked curiously at her, as she pulled out her phone from her pocket. There were no teachers in the hall and rushed out the school gardens before one of them decides to come out and check whose phone rang.

She looked at the screen.

Kaede's mom

She answered it. "He-hello?"

"Kira?" said Rukawa's mom's anxious voice, "are you all right? What happened to Kaede? What's going on?"

"Mrs. Rukawa," she began, "he was in a car accident. He got – he got run over by a c – car."

Silence came from the other line.

There was a sound of shuffling. "Kira," the voice said, which was undoubtedly Rukawa's father. "What exactly happened?"

From the gruffness of his voice, Kira's heart pounded at her chest. Slowly, she told the story, from their fight to the events from yesterday. She began strongly enough, but when she got to the accident, her voice cracked more and more.

"We – we took him to the ho – hospital, and – they – they took him to the emer – emergency room – and they said that – that his ri – ribs were broken and that he ne – nee – needed blood and they have to check if we – we – have the – s – s – same blood type, and I'm sorry Mr. Rukawa, I didn't mean for all this to happen! I wished it would've been me in the hospital instead of him and I wish none of this would've happened. I'm really sorry, sir, Mrs. Rukawa, please don't be mad – "

"Shh," said Mrs Rukawa's voice, for she was on speakerphone, since Rukawa's mom wanted to hear the story as well. "It's all right, Kira, it's not your fault."

"It's – it's not?" she asked.

"No, honey," she answered, for that was what she called her. "In fact, I'm glad you kept your head and took him straight to the hospital."

"Which hospital is it?" asked Mr. Rukawa.

Kira told him.

"Do you have a number, dear?" he asked, which was Mr. Rukawa's name for Kira.

"I have the doctor's name and number," she provided, and told him the details.

"Kira," said Mr. Rukawa kindly, for he was a kind man, a busy man, but whenever he is here, he makes it a point to spend a lot of time with Rukawa, and usually, she is dragged along with him, "don't blame yourself, dear, alright? We're sure that you've done everything that you can possibly do in the situation."

"Thank you sir," she said, sniffing lightly.

"We'll be flying back as soon as we can," he said.

"I'm really sorry, sir."

"It's all right, honey," said Mrs. Rukawa, who sounded like she was sobbing slightly as well. "We'll be calling you again soon."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Take care of yourself, okay, honey," added Mrs. Rukawa.

"Yes, ma'am."

They hung up first. Kira rubbed her eyes as her phone automatically hung up. She sniffed.

"Sounds like you're getting along really well with the family."

Kira turned. Sendoh was there, a small smile in his face.

This time, Kira managed a small smile. "They've known me since I was six. They treat me like a daughter."

"You mean, daughter-in-law," teased Sendoh.

Kira smacked him lightly in the head with her phone, but her small smile became a little wider. "That's not funny."

"You're smiling."

"That doesn't make it funny," she answered, "and right now's not the time to be teasing me about anything. We still have a situation here."

Sendoh's smile immediately became smaller, and nodded. "I know," he said, "I was just trying to cheer you up."

She smiled her appreciation.

"So how are you?" he asked as they headed to the cafeteria for lunch.

"Better," she said, careful not to elaborate that better means not being able to sleep last night for fear that something might have gone horribly wrong with the blood transfer, which was proved unfounded when she called the hospital the next morning.

"When are you going to Shohoku?" asked Sendoh, once they were seated at a table.

"Later," she said, "after school. They'd be wondering where he went off too, and I have the complete explanation."

Sendoh nodded. "Do you want me to –"

"Thanks Sendoh," she answered before hearing the complete question, "but I think I can do this on my own. It's not that I don't want you there – " she added hastily, for he was already looking disappointed, - "but I really think that I should be doing this for myself on my own. Okay?"

Sendoh nodded, understanding. She smiled at him. "Thanks," she said.

He didn't answer, leaving Kira on her thoughts on how exactly to tell the Shohoku basketball team.

Kira walked slowly to Shohoku High School, all the while thinking of how exactly she should saywhat she had to sayto the rest of the team. Up until then, she couldn't find the right words to explain the situation, but did feel comforted at the thought that whatever happened in the gym couldn't be as bad as telling Rukawa's parents about it.

As she entered the school, a few students who stayed behind after school were watching him curiously, whispering amongst themselves. Obviously they noticed from her uniform that she's from Ryonan, and they all pointed at her, probably wondering what she was doing here.

She faced the gym doors. She could hear balls dribbling from the inside. She took a very deep breath, and pushed the door sideways.

No one took a second look as the doors slid open. Already, there were a group of girls there, and from their worried looks, Kira could decipher that they were looking for Rukawa.

"Do you see him?"

"No, do you?"

"But he never misses a basketball game!"

"Oh I hope he's alright!"

"I miss him already!"

Kira didn't look at any of them, and fought her way to the front, to see the entire basketball team. Some were practicing dribbling, other shooting. But their captain, Akagi, was standing by the benches, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Where the hell is he?" he demanded from Ayako, "it's not like him to miss a practice!"

"Don't look at me," said Ayako, "I'm not his baby sitter!"

"MAYBE HE THOUGHT THAT I'D CHALLENGE HIM ON A ONE ON ONE AND HE GOT SCARED AND RAN TO HIS MUMMY!" screamed Sakuragi, and promptly received a lump on the head from his captain.

"Doahou!"

"Itai…"

Kira took another deep breath and headed to the benches. Halfway through there, Ayako saw her and waved frantically, causing the attention of Akagi, Mitsui, Ryoga, Sakuragi and Coach Anzai to turn to her. She gulped. It wasn't long before the rest of the team turned to her.

"Erm, Akagi-sempai?"

Akagi looked down at her, though not threateningly. "Do you have any idea where Rukawa is?"

"He got scared of me, didn't he?" piped in Sakuragi cheerfully. This caused another lump on top of the lump that he's already got.

Despite her feelings, she did mange to smile at Sakuragi's antics. She then turned to the rest of the team, "I know exactly where Kaede is," she informed.

"Oh, good," said Ayako, looking slightly relieved. Kira felt pained to be the one to return the worried look back to Ayako's face, but the pained look was ignored when Ayako faced her more cheerfully and said, "so where is he?"

She didn't answer right away. She bit her lips as she looked at each and every one of them

"Kira," said Mitsui seriously, "we need to know where he is."

"He's in the hospital." she blurted out. "He's unconscious in the hospital because he got run over by a car."

Silence.

"NANI?" they all shouted at her. The whisperings began and soon all the girls by the door started to cry.

She recounted the story. She didn't stutter this time, but did stop a couple of times during when she got to the part where Rukawa was run over by the car.

Their expressions were worse than she ever imagine. Coach Anzai sat silently in the bench, his eyes can't be seen behind his glasses. The first four of the team stood in stunned silence, unable to say anything. Even Sakuragi looked extremely solemn. Ayako and Haruko had their hands over their mouths, their eyes, wide with shock. Kogure was paler than usual, his lips trembling slightly. The rest of the team was too shocked to move a single muscle.

"I'm really sorry!" she cried, "I didn't mean for any of this happen! This is the last thing that I want to happen! Please, don't be mad!"

Akagi looked down at her. Menacing though he looked, a small smile that broke in his face ensured her that for the time being, she was going to be all right. "It's not your fault," he whispered. Then he dropped one of his big palms on her shoulder. "What about you? Are you all right?"

"Yeah," added Mitsui, standing next to her, concern in his face. "Are you okay?"

Kira couldn't help but smile. They cared enough for their team mate to ask specific team mate's friend about her condition. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" asked Ryoga.

She nodded. Ayako and Haruko then led her to the benches. She didn't know it but she was shaking a little. The shock hadn't worn off as completely as she would have hoped.

"It must have been horrible," said Haruko silently.

It was then that Kira hadn't made true of her promise to Haruko yet. She made a mental note to talk to Rukawa about it once he wakes up. "It was," she said, "but I'm sure he's gonna pull through."

A shadow then cast over her face. She looked up and once again, Akagi was standing over her. He looked like he was contemplating something but found the words to say what it was extremely hard to find. Kira had a shrewd idea what it was, though.

"I think Kaede can still play basketball once he recovers," she informed the captain.

She knew she guessed right when she saw the relief that took over the captain's face. "You think so?"

"Hmm," she nodded. "He had fractures of the ribs, but it's going to heal nicely. He needed blood, and we have the same type, so I gave mine." She then smiled. "Besides, can we really stop Kaede from playing ball?"

This cause a smile in Akagi's face and nodded in agreement, before going back to the rest of his team, giving them their instructions. She saw Coach Anzai approach him, maybe asking him what he needed to know.