First of all, THANK YOU and MANY HUGGLES to everyone who have reviewed both of the original chapters one and two already.  You guys inspire me more in writing the third chapter. =)

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I suggest you read the chapter here because it has a BETTER HTML format: keeperofmitsui.virtue.nu/protector1.htm

Title: The Protector

Chapter One: Retreating to a Refuge

Author:  Red Rascal

Email: [email protected]

Genres: Non-yaoi, Romance

Pairings: Mitsui/Ayako

Rating:  R

Disclaimer:  This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Takehiko Inoue.  No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.  

Summary:  A desperate Ayako runs unexpectedly in the arms of Hisashi Mitsui and finds refuge and friendly comfort… and maybe something else? 

Dedicated to all Mitsui/Ayako writers and lovers out there, even if there are only a few.

******

Without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home

- Bring Me to Life, Evanescence

It was raining hard.  The wind was blowing strongly.  Masses of rain drops continued to fall down from the dark night sky and into the cement and roofs of the houses, creating an odd sound like that of the soldiers in a troop marching simultaneously.  The air was so piercingly cold it could slice through the skin and deep into the bones.

And she could feel it.  Her whole body had been numb and cold for quite some hours now.

She was sitting there at the darkest corner of her unlit room with only the abrupt light from the occasional thunders giving an eerie effect of light and shadows playing inside her room.  She was hugging her legs closely to her chest and her chin was resting atop her knees.  She was slightly rocking back and forth, staring at the window across the room seemingly enthralled by the dimness of the night.  Although she seems like watching the world outside, her eyes told an entirely different story. 

It was like she was in a trance, unblinking, devoid of any emotions.  Her deep blue eyes, the color to that of a clean tempting sea, was now scarily blank, empty of the blazing passion and blissful wonder that was once shining in those eyes. 

She was numb.

Another loud clap of thunder resounded through the sky.  And then another one.  Then another.

It was at the final yell of the thunder that she finally blinked, gained notice of her surroundings.  Unconsciously, a lone tear fell down to her cheek. 

She suddenly remembered what happened a few hours ago.  Why she was all alone and locked up in her room.  Why she WANTED to be alone.

She hugged herself tighter.  That damn feeling came back to her again.  She was scared.  Scared as hell.  She didn't know what to do.  She didn't know how to fight.  She didn't know how to protect herself.  She was weak, terrified, standing in the middle of a battleground, with no shield or weapons in hand.

And her enemy was so close by.

As if on cue, loud voices were heard from the outside of her door.  She turned her head slowly to look at the locked door.  Then the voices became louder and louder as she realized that it were nearing her room.  She bit her lip, panicking.

She quickly turned away and buried her head in her arms.  Fear was once again clutching her heart.  She sat there, frozen.

A harsh knocking rapped at the door.

She stood up hastily and unsteadily, startled and scared.  She tried to scoot more in the corner, wishing she would just disappear and fall within the walls. 

The rapping continued.  Shouts could be heard on the other side of the door.

She looked around anxiously.  The same fear that left her petrified moments ago made her think in action.

She had to run.  She had to get away.

But where?  The only way outside was the door.

She looked at the door.  It seemed like it was about to break down from the incessant violent knocking.  She then looked around the room.

The wind blew mightily again, making the tree outside near her room sway from side to side, with its branches scrapping at the roof and window of her room.  That caught her attention.

The window.

She run toward the window, opened it and looked down outside.  Her room was in the second floor.  She could climb down through that tree and then she would run. 

Another loud cry was heard.  Voices argued.

She climbed out of the window, stepping on the first floor's roof, feeling the adrenaline and growing fear mix inside her.  She was suddenly all wet, her blue nightgown clinging to her body like a second skin.  The freezing air pricking her skin, like thousands of needles piercing consecutively.  The roof was slippery and she suspected her bare feet were becoming frozen.  Nonetheless, she continued to walk toward the tree.  She slipped a few times but thankfully regained her balance. 

As she finally reached it, her foot slipped again, but this time she was not so lucky as she started to fall down the roof.  She didn't notice the nasty cut it had done to her legs and arm.  Impulsively, she grabbed a branch and held on to it like a lifeline.  Well, technically, it was for she was now hanging on the tree, her hand clutching the branch tightly, scrapping her palms with the rough bark. 

The rain poured harder and the wind blew more ruthlessly.

She tried to reach the other branch in her other hand but all of a sudden, the branch she was holding on broke and she fell unceremoniously in the cement.  Her body ached everywhere.  Blood stained her nightgown.

But she couldn't stop now.  She had to go on.

Gathering all of her strength, she stood up shakily and ran away without a backward glance.  

******

She barely knew where she was now.  But she could guess she was near the mini-park, as she could see vaguely the shops lined up at the street.  The lampposts weren't much help as most were unlit.  Thankfully, there were no cars passing by or she would have been hit by now.  The rain still continued to pour down heavily. 

She hardly knew where she was going.  She was just running and running and running blindly in the middle of the storm, not caring if someone would see her.  Only one thought occupied her mind.  The devil was hot in her trail and she couldn't dare to stop. 

Suddenly a flash of light appeared behind her.  She jumped out of the way, surprised, as the motorbike speedily left her behind.

'Motorbike.' 

For a moment, she stood there staring vacantly at the street, which the motorbike sped off.  It was like she had to remember something…

'Motorbike…'

'Him!'

A tiny surge of hope ignited inside her.  She could go to him.  He would understand.  He was the only one who knew at least half the truth of this whole mess. 

She knew she could trust him.

And she sprinted toward his house, using all the strength she still had.

******

Hisashi Mitsui couldn't sleep.  For the past five hours of the night, he was just lying down on his bed, thrashing around finding a comfortable position and forcing sleep to claim him.  But for the life of him, he couldn't.  And it was now close to one in the morning.

"Damn it!" Mitsui exclaimed, irritated.   

He climbed out of bed, thinking of getting some midnight snack.  He searched for slippers for he didn't want to walk in the cold floor.  The rain was still pouring down heavily outside.  'When will it stop?'  he wondered. 

He didn't bother to open any lights on as he proceeded to the kitchen.  Living in the house all by himself for almost four years had made him very familiar with the directions and every part of the house.

He opened the refrigerator and stooped down to look inside.  He made a face.  'I should have done the grocery yesterday.'

He sighed, not having other choices, and grabbed the carton of milk (or what was left of it).  He drained it down in a few gulps.

He then went back to his bedroom and lied down on his big bed again.  He still thought his bed was way too large for him.  But his parents won't argue.  Since it was them who purchased and "gave" it to him, he chose not to complain anymore.

He closed his eyes and tried to sleep.  After some minutes, he gave up and stared at the ceiling instead.

It had been two years since he graduated high school.  'Shohoku.' Mitsui smiled.

He would admit he terribly missed Shohoku.  Well, it was only because he missed playing basketball.  He missed competing with the other schools.  He missed the challenge, the adrenaline rushing through his body whenever he had the ball in his hands.  He missed his confident three-points shots.  He missed the loud cheers of the audience and the flattering pats on the back of his teammates whenever he scores.  He missed the sweat covering his body whenever he plays and the exhaustion after every game.  He missed their winning.  He missed Anzai-sensei.  Hell, he even missed his teammates. 

Basketball was his life.  No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't leave it.

After what happened to him on his first and second years in high school, (him being a gangster) he learned that he couldn't ever leave his life.  He couldn't leave basketball.  It was in his blood, running through his veins, keeping him alive.

If he left basketball, it was like a part of him was missing.  He just had to seek it out again and again and he wouldn't stop until he found it. 

When he started college, the hunger for basketball came back.  It was like when he became a gangster, he couldn't play basketball.  He just resorted to the after-school and weekend practices in the outdoor courts.  But still, it wasn't anything like the real game. 

He knew he just HAD to play basketball.

So when summer vacation arrived, he immediately applied to the Junior Basketball Association of their district where he got the position of coach to one of the teams.  He was now coaching junior high school students, who were also on vacation.  There were several teams and they were competing with each other.  The champion at the end would win a trophy and certificates to each members of the team.  He hoped his team would win, of course.

He could just see it now…

No. 4 was running fast toward their basket, dribbling the ball.  An opponent was hot on his trail about to catch up with him.  At last, he was nearing their basket and he made a dunk!

He scored!  And the crowd went wild!

They won!  They actually won!  The winning team huddled together, some were jumping for joy, others were even crying because of bursting happiness.  But the same, they were all happy.

Then Mitsui walked toward them, with a big grin on his face. 

"Coach!  Coach, we won!" one of the members said to him excitedly.

"Yes we did," he said.

No. 4 ran up to him with a wide smile on his face.  "Coach, we want to thank you so much for coaching us.  We were really proud and lucky to have you."

"Of course, kiddo.  I understand that," Mitsui said, ruffling the boy's hair.

Then the boy turned to his teammates.  "Aren't we glad it's Coach Mitsui who taught us basketball?"

"YEAH!" the whole team cried loudly.

Then a hand handed Mitsui the tall shining trophy.  He then raised it up above his head, much to the louder cheers and yells of the audience and his team.

This was Mitsui's team.  And they won.

He grinned.

Dingdong! 

He drew his eyebrows together in confusion.  Did he just hear a doorbell?  No, it definitely wasn't a doorbell.  It must be something else.

Dingdong!  There, he heard it again.  He looked around the gym but all he could see was the jam-packed bleachers and his team still jumping for joy.

Dingdong!  Dingdong!  Now it was really a doorbell.  But why would he hear a doorbell in a gym?

DINGDONG DINGDONG DINGDONG!!!                     

"Where the fuck-" Mitsui started as he ran, hoping to find that annoying dingdong.

Then he tripped and fell down on his face.

"Ouch!  Damn it!"

Mitsui looked around his surroundings.  He was inside his room.   

'I was dreaming.  I didn't realize I fell asleep,' he said to himself.  Then he realized he was lying down on the floor, beside his bed.  'Damn.  I fell down.'

He stood up, thankful he didn't have anyone in the house.  It would be really embarrassing to let others know he fell down on his butt while dreaming.

He stretched a little and went back to bed.

Dingdong!

He sat up instantly.  'Had he really heard it?' 

He focused to hear it again.  'Or maybe I'm still dreaming.'

He waited for a while but didn't hear it again.  'Maybe it's just the rain.  Or… I was only imagining things.'

Dingdong!  'No, it's real.  Someone's really on the gate.'

He climbed out of the bed and looked outside his window.  He saw a figure pushing the doorbell continuously.

'Who was it?'

He walked out of the room and into the living room.  He then switched the light on in the porch then he opened the door.

At first he couldn't make out who the person was.  The person was drenched in the rain, all wet and his head was bowed with his oddly long hair covering his face.

"Who's there?" he shouted over the pouring rain.  But he doubted the person heard him.

He cursed then rushed toward the gate, getting himself all wet too.  He opened it, and then the person lurched forward.  Mitsui instinctively grabbed him to keep him from falling on the ground.  'Wait.  The body was too soft for a man.'  Then his arm accidentally brushed the breasts of the nearly unconscious person.  'Fuck.'

The person wasn't a 'he'.  Rather, it was a 'she'.

Mitsui swore yet again.  'The last thing I need right now is a woman in my house.'

He supported the woman's body on one hand and he tried to brush her hair from her face.

He froze looking at her pale face.

"Ayako?"

******

She was sitting at the couch, watching tv.  She was so relieved and glad that she made it to his house.  While she was running, she honestly wasn't sure if she was going to reach it.  Her feet were aching so much from the cold and from running that she feared she was going to drop dead on the street anytime.  Also, the streets were barely lighted she was fortunate to have located the mini-park.  From there, she somewhat knew how to get to Mitsui's house.  'Lucky I didn't get lost.'

She exhaled heavily, thanking the gods for hearing her prayer.  Now she felt quite safe.  She wasn't that scared anymore.  She could relax a little… for now.

She was dry and warm enough, wearing one of Mitsui's shirts.  It might be too big for her – the hem ending a few inches above her knees – but it would do for Mitsui, of course, didn't have any women clothes in his closet.  The warm bath he prepared for her made her feel a lot better especially.  It was like she suddenly felt in heaven after going through an ordeal in hell.  Mitsui also helped her in cleaning and bandaging up her cuts in her legs and left arm.  She remembered his reaction when he saw her slashes.  Thankfully, he didn't know and see her OTHER wounds.

"What the hell happened to you?" he had blurted out, his brows drawn together in barely contained anger and confusion.  He was putting an anti-septic liquid (through a cotton) on the cut in her leg.

"Long story," she replied simply, too tired to explain. 

Mitsui's eyes softened then and searched hers.  "I'll accept that for now.  You're dead tired as I can see.  Right now you need a rest.  Sleep," he said.  Then he went back to working on her other wounds.

"But I have to know soon," he added with a resolve.

Yes, soon she would explain everything.  'Everything?'  Was she sure about that?  But she was too exhausted with all of these.  Now that she had run away, she couldn't turn back.  The next best thing she could do, was tell someone about the whole truth.  She needed someone.  She needed help. 

And she was so thankful she had Mitsui.

Speaking of whom, Mitsui walked in the living room, carrying a mug.  "Hot chocolate for you."

Ayako smiled as she accepted the hot mug.  "I thought you made coffee."

"I don't think it's good for you now.  Chocolate will do much better," he said, sitting beside her.

"But you know I love coffee," she said, with a slight protest in her voice.  She softly blew the hot chocolate first before taking a sip.

He shrugged.  "I've always thought your craving for caffeine was bad for you."

She smiled weakly.  "And you always say that," she said.  "But you know that I just can't get it out of my system."

"I also thought your mad."

She chuckled.

Mitsui looked at her then at the tv. 

No one said anything anymore for some minutes.  They both watched tv… or rather, stared at the tv.  Both were in thought, though both also didn't dare say anything yet.

Ayako bit her lip and glanced down at the mug.  Then she said softly, "Thank you."

"It's ok.  I can make another for you if you want."

"Huh?" she asked, a bit confused.  "Oh!  Uh… The chocolate's really nice."

"Glad you think so.  I thought I put too much sugar in it," he said, still staring at the tv.

She shook her head then looked at him.  "I meant to say… Thank you for letting me stay."

This time, Mitsui did look at her and smiled.  "You're always welcome, Ayako."

She nodded then smiled gratefully, yet a bit tiredly.  She reached out and placed her hand atop his.  She squeezed it gently. 

And he squeezed back.

Revised 05.04.2003 + 8:55 pm

To be continued…

******

Author's Notes: 

First of all, if you're currently reading this, then it means you've finished reading the whole chapter and I wanna THANK YOU for that. =)

Second, let me just clear… Mitsui and Ayako ARE NOT a couple here… YET, anyway.  I don't want an "instant love out of nowhere".  Please.  But why the strange affection they have for each other?  You'll definitely find out on the next chapter.

Third, the next chapters won't be this dark or angsty.  I'm keeping in mind that this is Slam Dunk, not Fushigi Yugi or something.  So I'll try my best to keep the story light.  So don't worry, this fic won't be too sappy.

Fourth, the song "Bring Me to Life" was performed by Evanescence for their album and also it is included in the soundtrack of Daredevil.

Fifth, please do join groups.yahoo.com/group/sdlockerroom.  You can upload your own fanfics and fanarts there.  It's new!  It's all about Slam Dunk!

Lastly, review please (here in ff.net or in the y!group).  Comment or anything.  It will really be appreciated.  ^_^

~ Red