Notes from the Author: Thanks to all who read and reviewed! Hope you'll like this chapter too…
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk is not mine and so are its characters… so don't sue me.
What a Joke! By: Miss Hachigatsu Kuroi
Chapter 9: Rukawa Kaouru
Flashback… (2 years ago)
Kaede was watching TV in his room, but if you'll look closely he keeps on switching the channel; every program on TV that night just doesn't interest him. Finally, he gave up and shut the TV off then lay on his bed.
"You're not going to sleep already, are you?" Kaouru suddenly appeared with a big grin.
"Don't you know how to knock?" Kaede answered.
Kaouru just flashed another grin then said "I just said yes to him."
"You have a new boyfriend, again?" Kaede raised a brow.
"Oh…but Kae-chan he's perfect!" she answered taking a seat on Kaede's bed.
"Yeah…they all were."
"What's that supposed to mean? You don't even know him." she fired back defensively.
Kaede sighed "What made you think he's different?"
"He likes me for me…" she smiled.
"Yeah, right… that's the exact thing you said last time."
"Uh…" Kaouru tried to defend herself but even before she could Kaede added "and the time before that."
"Ok, so I was wrong." she admitted.
Kaede just sighed.
"I thought you'd be happy for me." Kaouru said feeling disappointed.
"Congratulations… There, you happy?"
"Oh, thanks Kaede, you seemed really sincere." She fired back sarcastically.
"Can you blame me? He's your 4th boyfriend already – for this year alone."
"And your point is?"
"The year's not even half-way finished."
At that, Kaouru just sighed. Honestly, she didn't know what to say. Kaede being younger is the one talking some sense in her head. She knows that everyone considers her as the black sheep but she just never cared – she does things her way and no one could stop her.
"Oh Kae-chan… let's just say you're lucky – lucky in a way that you loved someone 'acceptable' in the clan. I mean, I know you… if Charlotte didn't-"
"Nao-chan" Kaede corrected. He always wanted to call his fiancée her Japanese name.
"…Nao-chan…" Kaouru continued "…yes, if she didn't belong in elite society I'm sure you'd stand for her."
"Of course I would."
"See? That's exactly what I'm talking about. You're just like me – it just happened that I always liked someone whom sofu can never welcome in this family. (sigh) What can I do? All those 'suitable' suitors don't really like me. They just like my surname!"
"Well nee-chan… you made a decision and I'm right behind you. But if he made one wrong move he's dead – even you can't stop me."
"Thanks Kae-chan" Kaouru giggled.
2 weeks later
"You can't tell me what to do!" Kaouru shouted.
"Don't you raise your voice when talking to me, young lady!" Their grandfather shouted back.
"Why not? One shouldn't show respect for someone who's not respectable…"
"You will marry the heir of the Yagazawas – that's final!"
"You're my grandfather, yes, but that doesn't mean you can live my life for me! I can decide for myself, thank you very much – and I'm not getting married!"
Then Kaouru walked straight out of their house without noticing that her grandfather had already fallen flat on the floor unconscious. When her mother and father saw her walk out of the room, they directly proceeded inside only to set eyes on an unconscious old man.
Kaouru walked on the streets of Kanagawa determined to get what she wants. She has her mind set – the old man can't and will never tell me what to do again! Then she arrived at her boyfriend's apartment, rang the doorbell and waited for an answer. When her boyfriend opened the door…
"I'm staying here for a few weeks."
"Whoa! Is that how you elite people greet your boyfriends when you come for visits?" He gave her a peck on the cheek.
"Oh please… don't say elite." then she walked her way inside and made herself comfortable on the sofa.
"What happened?" her boyfriend followed suit.
"He wants me to marry that Yagazawa."
"Who?"
"I know him as much as you do."
"Oh… but Kaouru, if you're staying here… they might think we're…"
"You always worry about what they think… whoever they are…"
"Ok… but didn't you bring any clothes with you?"
"Uh… I'll have Kae-chan bring some here. It's a good thing you live alone…"
"About that… Kaouru, my mom's coming back from Tokyo next month."
"Oh don't worry; I won't be staying that long… I'll just make that old man change his mind, then I'll go back home."
"Ok…" he gave her another peck on the cheek.
Mitsui then cut Rukawa's story…
"What's that got to do with your vision?" Mitsui fired at Rukawa.
"Uh… I wasn't finished yet…"
"Oh… but you've told me this story already… she got into a fight with her boyfriend blah blah yada yada… just skip to the part of that vision already."
"Fine…"
To Be Continued…
Ok, such a short chapter ending in a cliffhanger – if that's what you want to call it… but do give a review. Thanks… :)