Disclaimer: This is kind of a no-brainer.. But.. I don't own Slam Dunk..

Mizzbloom: I'm glad you like it.. :)

Angie: Yes Angelina is dominating. Micchy wants a woman who can dominate him. ;)

dollarbanks: I dunno.. Whenever I ask guys this question, Angelina Jolie is on their top three list. X.x She's hot I guess.. And Micchy seems like the type to enjoy the domineering confident type. Hehe I don't picture him liking the sweet, innocent, nice girl for some reason. Heidi Klum A very beautiful German supermodel.. Been on Victoria's Secret Catalogues. .etc. I picked her cause.. She doesn't match with Rukawa at all. Makes me chuckle. Oh you silly boy Rukawa. P

Chapter Eight

Revelations

Practice ended with the same zest and zeal shown by the Shohoku basketball team. The boys had all walked off to change in the locker rooms. Kyouren sneaked glances until she was sure most of the players and Ayako-san were heading home, then sneaked off with Miyagi and Sakuragi towards the water fountains, to discuss the results of their 'snooping'.

"So.. How'd it go?" Miyagi asked casually, leaning against the porcelain water fountain after practice. Sakuragi looked up from dumping the contents of his water bottle on his head.

Kyouren hid a smile, shaking her head sadly. "Sumimasen Senpai. The truth is, it's hopeless."

Kyouren watched in horror as Miyagi's face crumbled, his eyes watered, and he fell on his knees. "Aya-chan! Whhhyyy!"

"Uh.. No no I'm just kidding Ryouta-san! It's good, all good!" She interjected quickly, starting to sweat. Sakuragi held back the murderous looking Miyagi, who looked like he wanted to beat Kyouren over the head with his gym-bag, girl or no.

Sakuragi waited patiently until his friend had composed himself, then stuck his face under Kyouren's nose. "Oi.. What about me?" He asked, pointing to himself hopefully.

"Lets just say.. I'm working on it Sakuragi-kun." She winked confidently, which seemed to satisfy Sakuragi.

"Who could resist the tensai?" He grinned, grabbing her and Miyagi in a crushing bear hug.

"Anou.. Did Mitsui-san say anything?" Kyouren gasped out, feeling the breath being squeezed out of her lungs. She felt Sakuragu's arms suddenly go limp, and she hit the floor with a resounding whack. Rubbing her knees, she accepted the red-heads arm as he hoisted her back up. She looked curiously at Miyagi and Sakuragi, who were shuffling their feet and scratching their heads. Irritated with their hesitation, she kicked both of them lightly in the shins. "Out with it.. Come on, I can take it." She scowled, sounding more confident that she felt.

"Well. two words for you, Kyo-san." Miyagi started, wondering if this was a good idea.

"Hai.. Angelina Jolie." Sakuragi finished, ticking off the two names on his long fingers.

"... Angelina Jolie?" Kyouren let the words run circles through her mind, but finding no idea whatsoever,what those two words meant, she let her temper get the better of her. "Baka-mono! What in gods name does that mean?" She yelled, the vein on her temple throbbing dangerously.

"Maaa.. It means.." Sakuragi faltered, turning red.

"Well for starters.." Miyagi pointed to her legs. "You can grow in this area.."

"And maybe over here.." Sakuragi pointed to her behind.

"And here.." Miyagi finished, pointing down to her chest.

"..."

"Oi.. Kyo-san.? You listening?" Sakuragi blinked worriedly. Kyouren was eerily quiet, only her face turning redder by the minute. It looked like she would explore any second.

In a deft movement, Sakuragi's gym bag was ripped from his arm and being whacked over his shoulders, his back, and his head repeatedly. Miyagi slunk away from the massacre, only to be caught by the enraged coal brown eyes.

"Angelina Jolie? I'll show you Angelina Jolie.. You bunch of hentais!" She roared, freezing Miyagi in place.

"Demo– we're only trying to help!" Miyagi yelped, as the red duffel bag hit him squarely in the forehead.

"Help? What kind of help is that? You expect me to run to the next plastic surgeon!"

"Hmm.. You know that's a possibility–" Whack! Sakuragi rubbed his reddening face, regretting that he spoke his thoughts out loud.

"All idiots!" She panted, when the strap on the bag had broken loose, and Sakuragi and Miyagi lay crumpled on the floor, with red welts all over their visible parts.

"Anou.. Kyo-chan I'm heading home now. I'll come over with my things later." Haruko called, looking down curiously at the crumpled forms of the two basketball players. "Uhmm.. Is something the matter?"

"No everything's fine Haruko-chan! Sayonara!" Kyouren waved off her friend, before turning to the recuperating heap of tangled limbs. "Pay attention, you aho's." She growled dangerously, a burning glint in her eye. "From now on don't try to help me. Ever." She stalked off to where her bicycle was parked, ignoring the cries of Miyagi and Sakuragi.

"Oi.. Kyo-san! You're still helping us right?" Sakuragi yelled.

Miyagi rubbed the red welt growing on his arm. "Oi.. Hanamichi, what do you keep in that bag, rocks?" He groaned, feeling several bruises.

"Shimatta! My bag!" Sakuragi groaned, picking up the broken strap. "Where does that girl get her strength?" He muttered, hoisting the bag over his shoulders.

"Didn't I tell you, she's just like you." Miyagi said to Sakuragi, stalking off towards home. He hoped he hadn't run out of icy-hots to put over his welts and bruises.


By the time Kyouren reached her bicycle, wild rage cooled off into sullen stupor. Mitsui-san.. He wants Angelina Jolie? She knew what she looked like. I can be Angelina Jolie! I'll just.. Uhmm.. "No I can't." she muttered, mounting the yellow bicycle.

"Talking to yourself again, tansoku?"

Rukawa blinked uncertainly as he reached for his own bike, when the usual caustic reply didn't come. Instead he watched in mild surprise when she turned to him, tears glimmering in her wide brown eyes and shrieked, "Dieeeeee Angelina diee!" Before he could inquire about that remark, the yellow bicycle was zooming off at full speed. Nani.. Who's Angelina? Then he remembered the conversation during practice. Ah. Angelina Jolie.

He snorted uncontrollably, choking in his own laughter.

Kyouren's mind was occupied in the various unmentionable ways in which Miyagi, Sakuragi, and Rukawa could be tortured as she flew down the street on her bike, towards home. The sun was setting and the sky was getting dark, the cool breeze whipping against her cheeks drying her superficial tears. Tansoku? I may not be Angelina Jolie.. But my legs aren't THAT short. Bloody Rukawa. She would like nothing better than to tear all the black hairs out of that moppy head of his. "Rukaaaaaaawaaa!"

"Shut up. I'm right behind you." An almost mirthful voice called from behind her. She glanced back enraged, to see Rukawa was cycling close behind her, on the same route home.

"You mop-headed idiot! Why are you following me?"

"Following you..? Are you forgetting you live in my house?"

"Baka kitsune!" She cried. She pedaled faster, refusing to let him get ahead. Rukawa was catching up easily, with those damned long legs of his. He cycled mockingly close, his red bicycle right next to hers, his expression irritatingly relaxed. There was no way she was going to let him win. She pedaled faster, neglecting to check the road ahead.

Rukawa's eyes widened, and his relaxed expression turned into one of mute horror. Confused, Kyouren turned her head, just in time to see the flash of headlights blinding her eyes.

"Oi! Tansoku!"

Reflexively she did the only thing she could do– she jumped off and covered her head with her hands, as the blinding light filled her vision and she heard a deafening crunch. Then she blacked out.


Haruko stood inside the Rukawa living room, nervously tapping her feet on the floor. When she rang the doorbell an elderly housekeeper had ushered into the door. An extremely worried Nitta-san inquired after Kyouren and Rukawa , who hadn't come home yet. She watched as Nitta-san paced the floor nervously. It was nine thirty. She had been sitting here for an hour, and no one had walked in. Haruko bit her lip nervously. What could have happened to them? Are they together? Jealously stabbed her heart, as she shook the thought off. Her friends might be in trouble, and she was being jealous? Akagi Haruko, snap out of it!

Briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing.

The two women flinched, the elder one racing towards the phone on the hook. "Moshi moshi.. Ahh.. Rukawa-kun? What's the matter?" Nitta-san exclaimed.

Haruko jolted from her seat to stand by the old woman.

"Masaka.. an accident? Should I call your father?"

Cold fear stabbed Haruko's heart. Who had an accident? Kyouren? Rukawa?

"...thank goodness.. Come home as soon as you can Rukawa-kun." Mrs. Nitta sighed, finally resting her weary bones as she replaced the phone on the hook.

"Nitta-san.. Was that them?" Haruko whispered, her eyes wide with worry.

"Hai Miss Akagi." Mrs. Nitta smiled tiredly. "Miss Itou had a little bicycle accident on her way home."

Haruko gasped audibly, but Nitta-san shook her head, patting her pack gently. "She's fine. In fact, she's coming home as soon as the papers are signed."

Haruko sighed in relief.

"Miss Akagi.. I think you should head home. Small accident or no, Miss Itou's in no shape to entertain friends." Mrs. Nitta smiled gently. "I'll call a cab."

Haruko tried to protest, but Mrs. Nitta was adamant that young ladies shouldn't be walking around at night. As the cab turned away from the Rukawa house, Haruko couldn't help feeling just a little disappointed she hadn't seen Rukawa. Ashamed of her thoughts she pressed her face against the cold window and starred up at the dark night.

Rukawa-kun. Kyouren-chan.


When Kyouren opened her eyes, she felt a splitting headache and a pulsating bruise on her thigh. "Owww.." She groaned, her head throbbing as her eyes adjusted to the blinding fluorescent lights. Where am I?

"Ah.. See, told you it wasn't serious, didn't I Rukawa-kun? She's awake."

She blinked her eyes a few times to see a brunette woman standing over her, wearing a nurse cap. She turned her head left and right, registering she was in a hospital. Then she remembered the lights, someone shouting, and the shuddering crash.

"Oi.. What happened to my bicycle?" She cried, sitting straight up and regretting it immediately. The room spun in her vision.

"Please restrict your movements!" The nurse cried out.

She nodded obediently. She was still wearing her school uniform, but there were bandages on her knees and elbows. They stung as she touched them, and she hissed audibly.

"Baka.. Don't touch them."

She glanced towards the corner, in surprise. Rukawa sat facing the TV, turned to a basketball game, the same unaffected look in his face. "What.. Happened..?" She said after awhile. The nurse by her side obliged when Rukawa shrugged uncomfortably.

"Well. It seems you ran into a stopped truck, jumped off your bicycle, and hit your head on the concrete." She smiled at her as if it was the most amusing thing she had heard in her entire life. "You suffer a few scrapes and bruises, a mild concussion, but other than that you're fine. It's a good thing you covered your head." She chuckled mildly, irritating Kyouren. "Oh, you should thank this young man here too. He carried you all the way to the emergency room."

"Nani?" She cried out loud, turning to Rukawa. To her surprise, he was shifting uncomfortably and turning a slight shade of pink. So he IS human..

"Just wait a few minutes and I'll go get your papers, Miss Sakuragi."

The words registered in her head with a horrible thud of impending doom. "...Nani.. What did you call me?" She whispered.

The nurse blinked a few times. "Did we get it wrong.. Miss Sakuragi? The birth information and the citizenship numbers in your wallet pulled up your file here.. You were born in Kanagawa Hospital weren't you? You're not Sakuragi Kyouren?" The nurse turned to Rukawa, frowning slightly. "I thought you confirmed she was, Rukawa-kun."

Kyouren turned her head slowly to Rukawa, hoping, praying for the slightest chance that he hadn't heard. But the boy was shrugging uncomfortably. He wouldn't meet her eyes, he was busy looking down at his feet. He knows. "I thought you confirmed she was, Rukawa-kun." He had always known. How? When? Her mind cried out, but her lips moved without sound.

"..Uh.. Miss? Are you or are you not Sakuragi Kyouren?"

Kyouren looked up at the nurse, her expression vacant. "Hai." She whispered. The nurse walked off, muttering to herself about 'memory loss'.

He knew. Rukawa Kaede had known she was Sakuragi Kyouren. That probably meant he knew she was related to Hanamichi. Did he know she was his sister? Then she remembered how he had stared at her. Oh he knew alright. What would stop Rukawa from telling Sakuragi, the entire basketball team of her shameful secret? Then her world would come crashing down on her before she had a chance to set things straight. Hamamichi would hate her for ruining his life with unwanted, painful news. Feeling numb to her toes, she tugged at the iv running through her wrist. She wanted to go home, to get under the covers where she was safe.

"What are you doing?" A firm hand gripped her wrist, where she was attempting to remove the needles. Rukawa stood over her, his eyes hidden by the cascade of his black bangs, his expression unreadable.

Kyouren gritted her teeth, tugging at her arm, but his grip was firm. "Let go."

"No. Sit down." He said quietly, his hand still tight around her wrist.

Kyouren turned up her eyes at him, glaring angrily, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. To her surprise and irritation, Rukawa turned away, refusing to meet her gaze.

The door clattered open, and a doctor walked in holding a clipboard. He blinked, looking at the small figure of the young woman glaring up at the tall, uncomfortable looking young man, who was looking out the window. The room reeked of tension. "Ahem.." he grunted, watching as the man relaxed his grip, and the girl wordlessly sat back down on her bed.

"Miss Sakuragi, you're in top condition. Just make sure to put antiseptic on your cuts, and be careful next time while riding your bicycle. Please sign here." He pushed the clipboard into her hands, and Kyouren, still feeling numb signed it with the unfamiliar lettering of 'Sakuragi'.

When the nurse came into remove her iv, she walked out of the room, ignoring the pain shooting up her legs. She didn't turn to see if Rukawa was behind her, but she heard his hesitant footsteps falling in stride behind her. When she stepped out of the double doors, she felt the chill of the night, the stars were twinkling above their heads. Home.. I need to go home. That posed a dilemma– she remembered the distinct crunch of her bicycle. And there was NO way in hell she was bumming a ride on Rukawa's bike.

"Oi.. I called a cab." Rukawa muttered, pointing to the parked car on the curb. He was holding her book bag. She grabbed it out of his hands, and walked into the cab, facing the opposite direction as he stepped in next to her and gave the driver directions.

The entire ride was stiffly silent, and not in the semi-friendly, comfortable way it was between them at home, while watching tv in the evenings, or eating dinner. Though he hid it well, Rukawa was feeling exceedingly uncomfortable. He and the tansoku were far from fast friends– but they had a mutual understanding. He acknowledged her in his own way, and she smiled at him, with that warm, guileless joy that was comforting. He sneaked a glance on her side of the cab. She was starring out the window, stiff. He frowned when he noticed something– her hands were shaking uncontrollably in her lap.

She was afraid.

What the hell is she afraid of..? Many people feared him, both on and off the court. He was also used to being admired, put on pedestals, and shunned for pride, hated, or plain ignored. But this girls fear.. It hurt him. He didn't know why, but he didn't like it. Then it dawned on him. She's afraid I'll spill her secret.

The cab was parked by the house by the time Rukawa figured it out. As he stepped out and stood before the gate, he stopped and turned to face her. She refused to look at him, standing there sullenly, with her bag clutched in front of her. He sighed, wondering if he should apologize. He frowned at the ridiculous thought. He hadn't done anything wrong. It was the stupid girl who ran into the truck, not him. Changing his mind he rang the bell. But something had to be said, so he did.

"It's none of my business." He muttered, just loud enough so that she would hear him.

Kyouren looked up in surprise. "..What?"

"I said, it's none of my business." With out a glance back, he stepped inside when the gate swung open, where Nitta-san was waiting for them on the front step.

Kyouren stood there silently, contemplating his words. It's none of my business. The meaning of the words filled her with silent gratitude. It was the kitsune's curt way of telling her her secret was safe. Or that he doesn't give a damn.

All the same a flood of relief washed over her, and when Nitta-san fussed worriedly over her cuts, she let herself be pampered with the real feeling of comfort. Sitting on her warm bed, with a heated blanket on her sore legs she felt calm, safe, and relieved. Closing her eyes, she relaxed against her blankets, but something unfinished nagged at her.

"He carried you all the way to the emergency room."

Slipping out of her covers, she padded quietly out into the hall. The house was almost silent. From downstairs she could hear Nitta-san snoring in her bedroom. The lights were on in the bathroom, and she could hear the water running from the sink. Hesitating slightly, she gathered her resolved and knocked three times on the door. The water stopped.

"Rukawa-kun."

After a slight pause, he grunted in acknowledgment. "Hn."

His signature grunt forced a smile on her lips, as she shook her head against the closed door. "Thanks." She replied, just loud enough so she was sure he would hear him. She didn't think to wait for a reply, as she walked back to her room, but she could of sworn she heard a reply.

"Aa."

Padding back to her room her foot thumped against a box under the bed. Curious, she pulled it out and opened it, revealing a familiar set of recorded tapes. They were basketball games of Kano's, that she had taped on her VCR. She made another trip to Rukawa's empty room, placed them on his desk, then finally retreated to her bed, snuggling under her covers. This time she felt no nagging feelings in her mind, and she fell comfortably asleep after an exhausting day.


Yup.. If you haven't guessed it yet, I'm leaning towards more of a Kyouren/Rukawa pairing. But don't worry, it won't just be about them. We can't abandon Sakuragi and Miyagi, now, can we:) And of course, this is a story about BASKETBALL.. So I'm going to attempt to write a more serious basketball game scene, to the best of my limited ability. X Again, thanks for reading my silliness.