Note from Miss Hachigatsu Kuroi
Hello minna-san! It's vacation… finally. That means I can update my fics with better and longer chapters because I don't have to worry about school (for now). Before I forget… This chapter is full of Kaede-OOCness (sorry for that)
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk and its characters belong to Dr. T
What a Joke! By: Miss Hachigatsu Kuroi
Chapter 6: Her way to repay
Mitsui was still dumbfounded at what Kaouru said, then all of a sudden he heard words he never thought would come from Kaede.
"Sempai, gomen… Sorry for giving you the invitation."
It took Mitsui a while to answer.
"Don't be. I should've trusted you. I'm so stupid to think that a Rukawa can be that sweet… I mean where in hell is she going to inherit that kind of sweetness! Her grandfather is someone who can't even spell fun; her brother is walking block of ice…"
"(Eherm) Sempai…"
"Oh… yeah… sorry. I just had to let that out… I mean, first minute I thought I finally found the girl of my dreams… Someone that I'll spend the rest of my life with… the next minute, POOF! She became Koko Crunch! (1)"
"Sempai, be serious…"
"I am serious! Tell me, are Rukawas so talented, they could convince people that they're someone they're not! Like you for instance, you DON'T do consoling… but what are you doing now? You're CONSOLING me! She even told you to do so like the USUAL! Do take other people's lives as JOKES; forms of entertainment! Well, I don't give a damn…the fuck that you're one of the most powerful families in Japan… I want to know what the hell I did for her to treat me like this! Tell me!"
Mitsui then heard the words again.
"Sempai, gomen… Nee-chan… she never did become herself again after she found out the truth."
"What truth are you talking about! The hell Rukawa! Even just once don't leave me hanging because of your one liners!"
"(sigh) I guess it can't be helped… for you to understand, you have to know the truth."
"I'm getting impatient here… what truth is that?"
"Nee-chan was dying back then…"
"Dying…?"
"She was born with complications in her blood. She wasn't even a year old back then, but she already needed an operation of some kind… I don't know the exact details, but to cut the story short, Sofu's the reason why she's still alive."
"You mean your grandfather made the operation possible? He was like the donor? Is that what you're trying to say?"
"Yeah… money wasn't the deal; if it was then the operation is a piece of cake. But they needed something from someone in the bloodline… dad was on a business trip back then, mom was carrying me…"
"So your grandfather…"
(Nods)
"You mean, when she found out about what your grandfather did, she did everything he wanted… even sacrificing what she wants."
"At first she didn't give a damn. She never obeyed sofu and did what she wants. She even ran away from home; she was with her boyfriend for a month."
"Say what?"
"(nods) that's the real Rukawa Kaouru. She got into a fight with her boyfriend and returned home… only to find sofu sick, very sick. It was stuck in her head that it was because of the operation he had undergone to save her; and that it got worse because she ran away…"
"From then, she started obeying him even it was against her will."
(nods)
"Now I get it… your grandfather wanted her to have that kind of image so she obeyed; but she doesn't want guys to like her because of what they see… she doesn't want them…us to be deceived. She wanted to be loved that she's Kaouru, not that she's a Rukawa."
"Exactly…"
"Well, I guess I better go… I can't face her… I understand her, but I can't face her… I need more time. See ya around, Rukawa."
Someone saw Mitsui walk outside and decides to follow him. For this someone wanted to be Kaouru's spokesperson…
"Mitsui-sempai… leaving already?"
"Sendoh… My business in there is over…"
"Please don't hold a grudge against Kaouru…"
"I won't."
"…"
"…"
"I know about the breakfast-at-sunrise-by-the-shore you had…"
"So you also know about the question and answer portion of that encounter…"
"Of course… Kaouru's fond of doing that. She likes inventing stories in her head and the answers she's getting from people serve as the plot of her mini-story. Like the what-would-you-do-if-the-sibling-of-the-one-you-liked-is-the-one-who-likes-you question she asked you. I've read that story she made up, it was hilarious! Turned out the sibling was a guy! (Sings) This's guy is in love with you, pare! (2) Hahaha… that song is from the Philippines… (Grins) call me weird."
"You mean… it was all a fictional story in her head?"
"Uh-huh, why? Don't tell me you thought Kaede was in love with you?"
"Uh… to be honest yes… please don't tell on me…"
"(laughs) you're weird… Kaede is 100 percent man! (laughs again)"
"Well that's a relief."
"Would you believe that his fiancée is studying in Paris; and man, she's gorgeous!"
"Fiancée?"
"Ok… I believe I've said too much… me and my big mouth!"
"Wow… who would've thought… I guess that's why he doesn't pay attention to those fangirls…"
"Mitsui-sempai, please don't tell on me…"
"Hahahaha… well you're not telling on me, so I guess I should do the same."
"Thanks."
"Uh… Sendoh… I remembered, do you know what she could possibly mean by I never thought it was him?"
"Oh… that… I know about that… uh… maybe you're not going to believe me but, Kaede and Kaouru they can see the future… (3)"
"What?"
"They had a vision… someone from Shohoku High Basketball Team would like Kaouru… That someone is a third year student… and he once wanted to ruin the team being a gangster and all… Kaede never told Kaouru who that person is, because he knows that she'll walk straight into his door and make a very bad first impression just to stop their vision from coming."
"(Laughs) it's hard to believe something like that… I mean, it's the 21st Century… We believe in science and logic not in magic and supernatural happenings…"
"But it's the truth"
"I know"
(both smiles)
"Before I forget Mitsui-sempai, Kaouru wants you to come tomorrow, and I quote I think he'll make a great friend."
(Mitsui smiles)
"I'm not sure… I don't think I can face her yet…but I'll try…"
(Sendoh taps Mitsui's shoulder)
"I'll be expecting you. (smiles)"
TBC…
(1) POOF! She became Koko Crunch! – That's a commercial here in our country and it always ends in "Poof! It became Koko Crunch!"
(2) This's guy is in love with you, pare! – It's a song… pare I think means bro.
(3) …they can see the future – I'm basing this in my other fic If Love Sets You Free
What do you think of this chapter? I hope I can finish this fic before school starts again… wish me luck… :D