The Past Part VI – Rukawa comes to terms with Sakuragi

The end of Year 1 for Rukawa – the beach run

Physical training for an hour, basketball drills for an hour, then game practice for an hour, and now this run. Stamina, fitness, endurance, making his body remember shots and skills without thought … Rukawa knew that he was a good player, and that all of this training was necessary. Perhaps the best in Japan, bar one or two others. All of the training he'd put himself through, just to get to All-Japan level. No one knew how much basketball meant to him ...

Except Sakuragi. Rukawa sighed as he thought about his teammate. Such raw physical talent, and it came so easy to him. Didn't he understand what others went through to be so good? The pain and sweat endured so that you could hold your head high at the Nationals?

And yet … Rukawa knew that Shohoku couldn't be as good as they should be without Sakuragi. Heart and soul, brains and brawn … whatever you called it, Rukawa knew that, without Sakuragi, Shohoku was a one man show with good role players. Their last game had proven it. Now, with Akagi and Kogure gone, Sakuragi was needed more than ever, and with his back in such bad shape ...

But still … he was rehabilitating, and should be ready to play by the beginning of next year, right? Maybe. Just then, Rukawa looked off to his right, and saw a tall figure talking to a man dressed in a white coat. A doctor? Is that … Sakuragi? Was he watching him?

Rukawa, winded by his run, made a quick decision. After the doctor walked off, and Sakuragi began to turn around, Rukawa sprinted off from his All-Japan teammates and ran up to Sakuragi, who watched him coming without any expression on his face.

"Why are you sitting down? Dou ahou. Be strong, so we can be strong." With that said, Rukawa turned to run back to his training group, but before he could, Sakuragi spoke up.

"Oi. I'll be ready, Fox. Next year, we win it all. Trust this genius to give it all I can."

Rukawa stared at his rival, studying his expression. There wasn't any pride there that he could see, just an intense determination. Rukawa nodded, and then said, "I know," before running off to rejoin his group.

Sakuragi clenched his fists, staring at Rukawa's retreating form. I will be ready, he thought. No matter what.

The beginning of Year 2 for Rukawa – the gym

Rukawa always came to the gym early, but now more so than ever before. A new season was about to begin, and last year's team was gathering today to continue blooding some first year players, to see if they could be used. Miyagi, Mitsui, himself … Rukawa sighed. It was a start, but they needed more, a lot more. Sendoh looked unbeatable this year with Ryonan, and Kainan was still strong, even without Maki. They needed a defensive stopper with some offensive flair, a go to man when he couldn't score.

Just as he got to the gym's doors, Rukawa heard a monstrous smash from inside. Damn, he thought, must be the gymnastics team again! Didn't they know that basketball season was starting?

He threw open the doors, ready to yell at the gymnasts to get off the floor, when he heard a cheer from the balcony above him. Looking up, he saw four very familiar figures. Youhei and his crew, hitting each other on the back and laughing. Then, that means … as Rukawa brought his eyes back down to ground level, a blur raced down the court, with a basketball, barely visible, dribbling to one side. At midcourt, this blur seemed to elevate off the floor and surge towards the far hoop. An instant later, the ball slammed through the hoop, and the blur materialized hanging of the hoop's rim.

Sakuragi, still hanging, turned his body slightly to look at Rukawa, and smiled. "All good, Fox, no pain. Just wait until Sendoh sees that jam! Just remember to pass it to me, and not hog the ball like you always do!"

Amazing, thought Rukawa. A serious injury, and back so fast! Faster too, by the look of things. Someone to pass to, with some finish, and the speed to defend anyone in the Regionals, and even at the Nationals. And, just for an instant, a small smile appeared on Rukawa's face as he nodded. Maybe, he thought to himself, just maybe, they had a chance after all.