Synopsis:The story plays around between the two main characters Rukawa Kaede and Karin Maho. Their friendship started with an unforgettable encounter; grew into a love interminable. But when Rukawa left America, everything changed. What happened to Rukawa? What will happen to Maho? (Rukawa x OC x Sendoh)
Disclaimer: I don't own Slam Dunk and all their characters.
Chapter 2Basketball: The Start
Disclaimer: I don't own Slam Dunk and all their characters; Inoue Takehiko does.
Character: Rukawa Kaede – a 10 year old boy born on a rich family. His mother was considered as one of the most powerful and richest woman in the world. She belonged to a so called "dormant volcanoes" of the world of the business industry. They were not known but only those who belong to the 'really' rich family. Since he was her inheritor, he lived a life protected. He grew up on a cage full of those guys wearing black suits, ready to shield their own bodies in every bullet that was intended for him. Since he was the inheritor, a lot was expected from him. He had to learn a lot of things – the common school subjects, different language, dancing, playing different instruments, literature (even at early age), higher mathematics and even martial arts for self-defense. But before this, he was already a born genius. His father died before he was born. Since his father also belonged to the "dormant volcanoes", he was inherited a lot of money.
Karin Maho – a 9 year old girl who was also born on a rich family. Her mother disliked her because of her father. Her mother was married to his father because of an arrange marriage set up by their grandparents and also because of business matters. Her father became sick and died before she was born. While living with her mother, she was hurt by her. She always put all her anger to her child. These made her grandparents took her away and raised her. They brought her in Japan. Her grandparents were very kind and loving to her; giving all her needs and wants. Her grandparents were once a part of those "dormant volcanoes" but decided to leave this affluent life and have a simple one. She, along with her grandmother, left Japan for America.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sun was already setting. Only the two of them were on the court. The court was limited to the residents of the village that's why a few only used this. Since there were only few children in the village, the court seemed to become their own property. Now, that they were already 12, they still played here; their favorite – basketball.
"If I shoot this one, then you have to treat me again." Maho said as she dribbled the ball from her right hand to her left.
"I won't let you." he smiled.
She ran to the three point line. She jumped to shoot the ball but he suddenly appeared in front of her and slapped it away.
"Hey… You're getting better than before." She got the ball that fell from the ground. She passed it to him; his turn now.
"Of course I do. I never won any game between the two of us. I'll win this time." He dribbled the ball. First, it was slow. Then it became faster and faster. He ran to the ring but he suddenly felt a quick wind, snapping the ball out from his hand.
"Not that easy, Kaede. But I'm impressed."
Rukawa form into defense then he looked to her eyes.
"I'll win over you someday. And I will marry you."
Flashback
He entered the room and seated on his wooden chair. Some of his classmates already arrived; chatting with each other. Some of his classmates greeted him but he just nodded on them. He did not feel like talking early in the morning. The room's back door opened. His eyes widened on what he saw. It was the girl from yesterday. Everyone greeted her. She bowed her head and greeted them good morning. She sat on the seat next to him.
"She's my classmate? Why I don't know? Maybe she just entered yesterday when I cut classes." he thought.
He did not notice that he was already staring at her. The girl beside her noticed it and smiled at him.
"Kaede, I don't know you were my classmate." she said giving a smile.
"I was not here yesterday because I cut classes." he said as he scratched his head.
"I hope we'll be good friends." she said giving again her contagious smile.
"We are already." he said, returning a smile for the one given to him.
When the bell rung, the students rushed to get outside the room. Some students were excited to get home and others were excited to play with their pals.
Rukawa was packing his things when Maho approached her.
"Do you need something?" he asked as he put the last book left in his bag.
"Do you want to play basketball with me?" she asked.
"Basketball? I never played that game before." he said honestly.
"Are you serious? Everybody knows how to play basketball." she replied frankly.
He was silent. He did not know what to say. Is he idiot for not knowing that kind of stuff? He knew golf, tennis, polo, chess, soccer and swimming. But why not basketball?
She was terrified on what she told him. She felt she had offended him.
"Gomen. I should not have said that. Just forget what I told you." she said holding his right hand.
Rukawa felt her sincerity. He felt her sadness on feeling that she had offended him.
"Cheer up. That's nothing to me. Don't feel sorry." he said, managing to give her his sweetest smile to show that he is fine.
Maho felt relieved. She grabbed her bag and then pulled Rukawa out of the room. She walked very fast, excited on what she was planning.
"Maho, where are we going?" Rukawa asked. He was surprised on what she did. She just suddenly pulled him out of the room and then dragged him somewhere.
Maho was not talking. She seemed to be preoccupied with her thoughts.
After all the running and all the dragging, they reached a place that seemed to be unfamiliar to Rukawa. The place was covered with chicken wires. The floor was cement and drawn with circles and semi-circles. There were two posts on both ends – each had rings and nets.
They were on a basketball court!
"Here we are. On my basketball court!" Maho said as she raised her arms up and inhaled fresh air.
Rukawa felt happiness creeping into his whole being.
"But… I told you, Maho. I don't know how to play."
Maho approached Rukawa. She smiled at him showing how grateful she was being with him.
"I bring you here so I can teach you how to play."
"You're going to teach me basketball?"
"Yes! This is because you helped me yesterday. That's why I want to give back the favor."
She went to bench not too far from them. She kneeled down and reached something under. Then, she was now holding a big orange ball – a basketball!
"Catch!" She threw the orange ball to him. With his two hands, he grabbed the ball. It was the first time he touched a basketball.
"It was very different from a soccer ball." he thought.
"Why don't you try to dribble it?" Maho said. She was very excited to see him play basketball.
"Dribble? Is it like bouncing the ball to the ground then grabbing it then doing the same thing again and again?" he asked, his gaze was still into the ball.
"Yes. It is fun." she replied.
Rukawa released the ball into his hand. The ball bounced into the ground and it went back to his hand. He released it again and then it bounced back again. He continued to dribble the ball – as if something new happened every time he dribbled it.
"You're right. This is really fun." he said to her with his faced enlightened.
"Why don't you try to shoot it to the ring?" she commanded.
His gazed went up. It was a metal ring with net; too far different from a soccer goal.
He went near to the ring. Unexplainably, something deep inside him was telling him to throw the ball. With his both hands, he threw the ball upward, targeting the ring.
Swoooosh!!! The ball went in!
He suddenly felt a strange feeling after seeing that his ball went in. He could not tell whether if it is happiness, excitement, ecstasy or all of them. He was really delighted. He went to Maho and caught her hands.
"I made it Maho! I made it!" he said as he jumped endlessly.
"Yes, Kaede! You did it!" she said as she gripped tighter on his hands.
The two went on their basketball lessons every after class. Maho taught him the basketball basics – dribbling, passing, blocking, stealing and shooting. Rukawa easily learned all this lessons. One afternoon…
"I'm glad you learned easily." Maho said as she opened her water container.
"It is because you're a great coach." Rukawa said teasingly.
"Haha… But to tell you honestly, you're really good. I mean you're born talented."
He blushed because of the compliment. She was the only one who can make his heart tremble.
"You always showered me with compliments. But I am no better compared to you."
"You can surpass me someday if you're persistent." she smiled.
"Really? But where did you learn to play basketball? You're absolutely a basketball genius." he asked. He always wondered how she became that good.
"My grandpa thought me. He was a basketball coach. Ever since I was a child, he already trained me. And I admit, I really love basketball… and I'll love it forever." she said.
Maho stood up and picked up the ball not too far from her. She threw the ball to Rukawa who was not aware at that time. Luckily, he was able to sense the ball coming and then he caught it.
"Hey, you're planning to kill me?" he joked.
"Of course not. I am just challenging you." she said as she pointed her fingers to him.
"On a basketball game?" he asked.
"Yes. It is a race to ten. First to make ten points will be the winner. What do you think?" she replied.
"I agree. But I think it is better if we make a deal. The loser will do anything that is commanded by the winner." he said as he stood up.
"A deal? Uhmm, it sounds alright for me. Then what do you want when you won?"
Rukawa acted like he was thinking so hard.
"It's a secret for now." he answered.
"Kaede! Don't be secretive. Come on! Why don't you tell me." she protested.
"Don't push me to tell you, okay? By the way, what do you want me to do when you won?"
"You're going to tell me what was that." she said with an evil smile.
"(sighing) You're so smart! But… fine… It's a deal." he said.
The game started on. The first to hold the ball was Maho. Expectedly, she was the one who made the first point. Then, the second; then the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eight and the ninth.
"I think you're not serious about the deal." she said teasingly.
"Of course I am. But you're so great." he said as he gasped for more air. His breathing became faster and faster.
Maho ran towards the ring. But Rukawa ran after her. When she was about to lift her hands to the air, he snatched the ball away and run so fast to the other side of the court. She then followed him. He went to the three point line to shoot the ball. She jumped in front of him to block his shoot. But it was a fake! He went inside and made an easy lay-up.
"Hey. That was a nice fake." she praised.
"I told you that I am serious about the deal." he boasted.
"But not that easy."
She now had the ball. She ran toward the other side of the court. Caught on guard, he chased her. She suddenly stopped in the three point line.
"She's also going to make a fake." he thought.
She jumped in the three point area and Rukawa did not block her. Unexpectedly, she threw the ball. He was surprised.
The ball went in. 10 – 1, in Maho's side.
Rukawa sat on the ground; he was definitely exhausted. Maho then sat beside him.
"I thought you're going to make a fake." he said.
Maho laughed, "That's a fake after all. A fake that made you thought that it will be a fake."
Rukawa laughed too.
Maho went forward and leaned forward to him.
"Will you tell me what you wish me to do for you?" she asked.
Rukawa acted again as if he was thinking very hard.
"I think I cannot tell you." he said as he scratched his head.
Maho stood up. She was irritated.
"You're so unfair. A deal was a deal. But you're not doing it."
She went to their bags and grabbed her bag. She was about to leave when suddenly…
"I will marry you… someday…"
End of Flashback
"Huh? Marry me? Well, if you can beat me." she challenged him.
She went to the three point line and jumped as fast she could. He followed her and also jumped in the air.
"Is this a fake of a fake?" he said teasingly.
"Yes, it is."
Her body twisted. To support her body rotation, she stepped back his right foot as if there was a floor in the air. Now, no one was blocking her to shoot. She released the ball… And the ball went in! 10 – 6, on Maho's side again.
The two lied on the floor. Both of them were panting; their bodies were wet with sweat.
"When did you learn that?" Rukawa asked as he gasped for more air.
"I just learned right at that moment." she replied.
"Wow. Undeniably, you're a genius."
"No. I'm just lucky."
"It was not just luck. You're definitely a genius. You're a perfect shooter."
"You're a perfect shooter too."
Rukawa laughed.
"Me? A perfect shooter? Remember, I missed almost two shots in our game." he replied.
Maho stood and picked up their ball.
"Come here. Get the ball from me." she commanded.
"Hey. What are you planning to do?"
"Just come here and get it."
Rukawa went to her and targeted the ball she was dribbling.
First attempt to snatched it, he failed. Second try, he also failed. But on his third, he was able to snatch it. He rushed to the ring when suddenly…
"Stop!" she shouted.
"Remain still on your position. Don't change the way you hold the ball." she commanded.
Rukawa followed. She approached him and held his hand holding the ball.
"Look at the way you hold the ball." she commanded.
He looked carefully at his hand. He examined carefully.
"I can't see what's wrong." he admitted.
"Look at your thumb."
His thumb was near his forefinger; it should be far so he could have a perfect control on his shooting.
She positioned his thumb at the right place.
"Try to shoot it."
He jumped and shoot the ball. The ball went in flawlessly. He can't believe it. How come she knew it?
"Every time you get so tensed, the muscles in your thumb became tensed too. Just always guard your hand's position every time you'll shoot." She smiled as she tapped his back.
He smiled and looked at his hand. Then he looked at her.
"I'll never forget this. Everything"
End of Chapter 2. Please R&R!