Slam Dunk Fan Fiction ❯ Shohoku's Pride ❯ Epilogue ( Epilogue )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

EPILOGUE:

Five days later.

"Sakuragi Hanamichi! What the hell are you doing?"

Hanamichi grinned at Kogure, who was glaring at him behind the chain link fence. Standing beside the small forward was an equally smiling Mitsui. "Practicing, of course! Haven't you cleaned your glasses this morning, Megane-kun? What does it look like I'm doing?"

The Vice-Captain of Team Shohoku breathed a sigh of mild exasperation. "We're to leave for Hiroshima in two days. Akagi ordered you to take it easy."

"My shoulder's feeling a bit stiff, but the doctor told me that I could play," the redhead answered, still marveling at how quickly he had recovered. "I have to practice so I could be ready for the Inter High."

Mitsui scratched his head and chuckled. "Megane-kun, when are you going to learn that it's useless to argue with him?"

"It's my job to worry about the team, Mit-chin."

The shooting guard playfully tapped Kogure's nose with the tip of his finger. "Which leaves me to worry about you."

"I suppose you're right," said Kogure, smiling shyly, as he leaned forward to give Mitsui a sweet kiss.

"You two better stop doing that or you'll end up getting arrested for inappropriate public displays of affection."

The two Seniors turned to find Rukawa parking his bike, a warm smile on his lips.

"You're just jealous, Rukawa-kun, because you haven't locked lips with the Doahou over there," Mitsui kidded the Super Rookie.

"Actually, we have," Rukawa quietly admitted. "Just once. I kinda miss it."

"In case you've forgotten, Mit-chin," Kogure reminded his beloved, "Hanamichi did kiss him when we were inside the taxi. But you were unconscious, Rukawa, so I guess you don't remember it."

The ace pouted in dismay. "No, I don't. It's so disappointing."

"Why don't you simply ask Hanamichi for a kiss?" the small forward asked curiously.

"Sakuragi-kun wants to take it slow -- begin with a friendship we never had and then go to the next step."

"I suppose he doesn't want to rush you."

"Hai. He's so sweet that way."

Never one to like being ignored, Hanamichi yelled, "Hey! Are you three talking about me?"

"We have better things to talk about than you!" laughed Mitsui.

Seeing the redhead fuming, Rukawa picked up the bento inside his basket. "I'll make sure that Hanamichi doesn't overwork himself."

Kogure patted his shoulder. "You two will be good for each other."

"I know. Just like you two."

The Seniors blushed at that comment. Taking Kogure's hand, Mitsui waved, "See ya!"

"Hai!" the ace waved back as the two older boys walked away. When they were gone, Rukawa entered the park basketball court. Handing the bento to Hanamichi, he said, "Here! I made this for you."

"With all these scrumptious meals you've been feeding me," Hanamichi began, drooling over the tempura, sashimi and assorted dishes inside, "I'll be out of shape before I even get to Hiroshima."

"Why do you think I come here everyday? I want to make sure that doesn't happen, but still allow you to enjoy my cooking."

"For awhile there, I thought you just couldn't get enough of my bubbling personality."

A nice shade of pink colored Rukawa's cheeks. Shyly, he admitted, "Actually, I have two reasons. Remember how you told the school board that you had accepted that you will never be as good as me?"

"Of all the things I said that day, that one was an out-and-out lie."

The ace laughed at that remark. "To be honest, I didn't believe it either. Anyway, truth or lie, it's a statement that I could never accept."

Hanamichi frowned at that last. "Why do you say that?"

"When I went to Anzai-sensei to tell him of my decision to go to America, I also had a talk with his wife when she drove me to the station. She told me that, of all the members in Team Shohoku, Sensei always spoke highly of the two of us." Rukawa became serious. "Hanamichi, I have every intention of seeing you become a high caliber basketball player. I never told this to you before, but the first time I saw you play in that duel with Akagi, I knew you had the right stuff. I want you to become an ace."

"Why? Relinquishing your title to me already?"

"There's nothing in the rulebook that says there can't be two aces in the team. I want you to excel in this game. Perhaps, after we win the Inter High, we could both be in the Japan National Youth Team and go to America for the world championship."

Hanamichi blinked at Rukawa in surprise. These were the last words he expected to hear from his former rival. "Big dreams, Kitsune. I could never be as good as you."

"You sorely underestimate yourself. You just need the right motivation. I've seen how driven you were whenever Haruko-san is around."

"Don't give Haruko-san all the credit. Indirectly, you've been pushing me hard as well. If you hadn't been so damned infuriating, I doubt if I could've gotten this far. I'm telling you! That Kitsune face of yours is a ghost that haunts me, even during sleep. Not a single day goes by that your face doesn't pop up inside my head."

Rukawa fidgeted uncomfortably. "Sakuragi-kun? Could I serve as your...motivation this time around? In a positive way, I mean. If you'll give me a chance, I swear I could make you an ace."

Gentle fingers touched his chin and lifted his head to gaze into warm honey brown eyes. "I know you could, Rukawa, and, yes, I'll take you up on your offer. You mentioned you had two reasons that you meet with me here daily. What is your second reason?"

At that question, the Super Rookie couldn't bear to look into those eyes, his cheeks burning in embarrassment. "I...I..."

"Nani?" Hanamichi prodded gently.

"I...I still owe you for that night. It's just not fair that you spent so much money on me and yet we haven't...."

Tender fingers on his lips halted his words. "It was for a good cause. I have no regrets."

"But Hanamichi...."

"I don't want to spoil what we have now. It's too soon for us to do...it. You've literally been through hell. You need to heal from your ordeal. As for me, I've had my heart broken so many times in the past that I just want to be sure that...this...is the real thing. I don't want either of us to be hurt again. Do you understand?"

Rukawa could barely hide the disappointment in his voice. "I think I do. But I'm afraid, that if we don't seize this chance, it might be taken away from us."

"There's no way that could happen, Kitsune," said Hanamichi warmly. "It looks like, through thick or thin, we're stuck with each other. But if it will help you feel better, I swear that I will always be faithful to you. I will never leave you."

"And I make the same promise to you." Blushing, Rukawa dared to ask, "A kiss, Doahou? Please? Just this once? To seal this promise between us?"

"My dear Kitsune! I'll be very happy to oblige."

---

Sendoh's handsome face darkened, seeing Sakuragi Hanamichi gather 'Shohoku's Pride' into his loving embrace, Rukawa's arms going around his neck at the same time, and gave the boy a passionate kiss. Inwardly, Ryonan's ace cursed himself for his stupidity. It should've been him that Rukawa was kissing with such fire.

Then, the Ryonan Captain remembered the oath that he had made to Hanamichi. Something about his being forced to interfere in the Takeda affair, if the power forward fouled up. And Sendoh had intervened not just once, but twice. In truth, if it wasn't for his phone call, both Rukawa and Kogure would still be in Takeda's clutches by now.

Yes, if he thought about it hard enough, Rukawa now has a debt to him, and not to the brash redhead.

"Enjoy this while you can, Sakuragi-kun," Sendoh muttered, grinning evilly. "I swear I'll steal Rukawa from you."