We Don't Talk Anymore

Kaede Rukawa. My name was given. I am an the only son. I have an sister. Her name is Kanara Rukawa. Our parents are separated when I was 7 years old. My mother leave us because she cannot accept the statement that my father Kazuki Rukawa married her because he had to. Yes, my father loves my mother. But just that's it. He loves my mom because that woman is the mother of his children. But, still my mother refuse to stay with him and leave us. Only three of us lives together now.

I glanced at my orange ball and tossed it into my bag with a towel, a bottle of water and my SPF 35 for my sadly pale skin. It was a hundred degrees. And lucky 17-year-old me had a sister who can play basketball. It was going to be a great day.

Or so I thought. But more on that later.

The trailer court I lived in with my dad used to years ago.

"Should we play today?" Kanara asking. "Is still being ask?" I'm questioned her back. And after that we started playing. Play until we lost our energy. As usual, the winner is me.

"I missed mom." My sister just stare at me with a sad look on her face. We also don't even know where is our mother existence. She left without appearing again.

"My best friend from Tokyo is coming tomorrow." I feel palpitations hearing it. "Who?" The only respon I can give to my sister. "Oh come on, don't tell me you don't remember him." I just snorted and say nothing. Of course I remember, the charming guy with weird hairstyle. Wait a minute, did I say he is a charming man?

The night has come. Tonight only two of us dinner together. My dad just occasionally dinner with us. He just busy with his business, and more like busy with his love life. His boyfriend of course. That man is the reason why my mom leave us. "Their whole family will moved here in Kanagawa." I don't have an idea who my sister referring to. "Who are you talking about?" Silence. "Duh, my bestfriend's of course, the Sendoh family." Ohh, she still talking about her bestfriend's even she know I'm sort not interest from beginning. "He played basketball too in case you forgot." My sister said nonchalant while eating her food without looking at me.

"Sendoh Akira his name." Still, my sister was busy with her story about her bestfriend's. I just rolled my eyes and keep eating in silent. Not to say that I'm not interest. I just feel something. Nervous, shy and...

The day was come. After I arrived at home, I see the tall, tanned senior and captain of the soccer team with Hollywood good-looks and I suddenly feel awkward. "Hopefully he'll go away soon". He stared at me with his stupid smiley. I just nodded and walk away. Then I hear he spoke . "Nice to meet you again, Kaede." And who the hell he is to call me by my first name. I stare at him then finally my mouth respon, "yeah, me too." His handsome face in a full-on smirk!

"Ohh you're back." Kanara greet him while brings the water for this weirdo smiley guy. His boyfriend was also there. "Come here you, and let's drinking first." I can't refuse, so I oblige. I don't have a problem with any men. Even my sister boyfriend. But this smiley guy, makes me feel something different. I don't like when he smile at me. I can feel my faces blushing and shy and all of this bullshit!

Kanara went inside to kitchen with his boyfriend to prepare something to eat. And now, only two of us. I thought I would try and show him I could engage in conversation -- that I had a brain. I cleared my voice and turned toward him. "Nee-chan tells me your family is leaving on trip tomorrow. Where is it they're going? And why don't you follow?" I asked, making sure to annunciate each syllable perfectly and not to end my sentence with a preposition.

He drink his water, and smiled at me, amused at my question. " The U.A.E."

Where was that? I tried to look like I knew what he was talking about and nodded, but he didn't buy it.

"Do you know where that is, Kaede?" he asked, his smirk having made a successful return to his face.

I felt my cheeks burn as my brain froze. After a moment of staring, he laughed. "I keep forgetting how most Japanese don't realize there are other places besides Canada and Mexico."

My initial embarrassment turned into anger. How dare he... "It must make you feel good about yourself--pointing out the flaws in others," I accused him. "You do it so well and so often."

For half a second, he looked guilty, like I'd just exposed something about him that he didn't like. He shook it off and his usual smugness filled the void. "It stands for the United Arab Emirates, Kaede. It's a small country off of--"

"Saudi Arabia, along the Persian Gulf. The capital is Abu Dhabi and the population is 9.5 million," I interrupted, my senses returning to me. "You must be traveling to Dubai." I finished at the end.

He raised his eyebrows in suprise. "I guess you've heard of it then."

I stood up a bit straighter, proud I had recovered. "The acronym threw me off."

He chuckled, obviously amused there was something of substance in my empty head.

In that moment, I hated him. It was the kind of self-protecting hate that I would cling to for years when it came to Sendoh Akira. I turned and walk away.

When he saw I was going, he threw me a stale crumb of an apology. "Sorry, Kaede. Don't be so sensitive. I was just joking."

But it was too late. He had insulted the only thing I had going for me: my intellect. He could tease me for being poor, for living in a small house, for wearing sandals that cost just one dollar on sale at Supermarket. I could have lived with that. But Akira talked down to me like I was dummy ignoramus -- and that was simple unforgivable. That was everything to me.

Before I leave, I talked to him. I remember the stupid smile on his face watching me go, which only incited more anger. "Akira, do me a favor. Never speak to me again!"

He shrugged again, pretending to be confused, like I was just being melodramatic.

But my request was honored.

He didn't talk to me after that.

A/N: My first SenRu fic. Hope you'll like my story. I'm newbie here. I apologize if I make mistake here. I already edit my prologue. And thanks to readers for ask me about the titled. Yeah I put wrong titled. I just nervous while create the story. Well, it's my first time. Hihihihi. I even didn't notice put wrong titled. I changed it already. Review much appreciated. If you see something wrong. Just tell me. I will try to correct it. Thank you very much!

Disclaimer : I do not own Slam Dunk characters.