From the Heart
By: sky75rk
A Slam Dunk Fic
***
It all started a three years ago; I was just a freshmen student in Shohoku high, playing in the basketball team as always. It wasn't a problem for me. Just then a redheaded man joined the team. He was a beginner, but somehow I knew that soon he would become one of the best players in Japan. He hated me, I hated him. We hated each other. Though it must be hatred that brought us to each other.
I opened my journal. I wanted to look back in the past, the time when I thought that no one was there for me. When I felt alone. And of course, I wanted to look back on all the things that brought me to him.
-Three years ago-
"Do'aho,"
"Teme Kitsune!"
Sakuragi, Hanamichi the self-proclaimed 'tensai' of the whole team. He fouled me again. He blames me for the foul. It was me who was fouled right? Why should he blame me?
He entered the basketball club because he wanted to impress the Captain's sister, who apparently likes me. I knew that. I'm not that ignorant. I kept hearing from other people that every girl in school likes me. And that every boy hates me. Why do they blame me? Its not like I wanted them to like me, is it?
They all like me because of my outward appearance and skills in basketball. They never wanted to look inside and see the real me. That's why I hated being socially inclined too much. They think that I hated being with people, that I wanted to be alone always.
It's not like that. It never was.
I never wanted to be alone in the first place. I was alone already. I just didn't trust anyone. It became hard for me trust anyone since I wasn't taught to trust. My past experience taught me differently.
// I know you've heard these words
a hundred other times before
And you've been hurt and so your heart has chose to close the door
Love broke your heart and brought you life
Look in my eyes, you'll see a love that's deep and true
Tender and strong and all for you
You can trust this love, honest, that's honest truth…//
I only trusted my teammates. At least I know that they'd accept me the way I am. Though I was having a hard time trusting Sakuragi.
He hated me before I knew him. He hated me for everything I am. For my looks, skills, and popularity.
But he didn't know that I envy him more.
Maybe he doesn't have the looks or popularity or the skills I have. But at least he has his friends.
His friends which they call the 'Sakuragi Guntai'. They help each other in times of need. They back each other up. They're loyal to their friendship.
That's how I wanted to picture myself with. Me, smiling surrounded by friends. It would be the most perfect thing in the world for me.
Though I find that partially impossible.
I can't even make myself smile, how can I be surrounded by friends?
// From the heart I'm giving you everything, everything
From the heart, I promise you that I'll be there, I'll be there to love you
From the song, I'm showing you all, I feel, all I feel is
From the heart, from the heart…//
***
Miyagi joined our team. I was glad he did. It would make our team stronger.
I didn't know that the reason Miyagi was hospitalized is because a gang in the third year was disturbing him. I certainly didn't know that there was going to be trouble.
Mitsui, the leader of the gang, came to the court. He wanted to destroy us. Only God knows why. He hated the team.
He wanted to cause trouble. He knew that if our team caused some trouble, we would be forfeited to join the preliminary games to the inter-high. Everyone was angry of him. We didn't know the reason. We didn't even do anything to him. Yet, he wanted to destroy the team.
Akagi wasn't there with us. Unfortunately, he has this extra class in Physics that he must attend. Seems like this Mitsui has good sense of timing.
I saw him spitting on a basketball, and his friend, who knows who, spilling ashes from his god damned cigarette. I couldn't take it. I have to do something.
I found myself throwing back to them the basketball they dirtied, telling them to wash it. They became angrier at what I did.
Then, all hell broke loose.
We were fighting. Punching each other with all our energy. Suddenly, I was hit with the mop I used to use for cleaning. It hurt, but it didn't knock me out. I got back at them by knocking down one of their companion. I tried to knock down another, but they lashed the mop again on my head. They must've have hit me for about three times before I blacked out.
The next thing I remembered was that I was standing next to our team manageress, Ayako now being just a spectator. Miyagi and Sakuragi were fighting them. Then everything blacked out again.
I woke up again, this time seeing Sakuragi and the rest of his gang beating the hell out of the biggest guy Mitsui bought and others extras. He was avenging the team. I thought that he would forget me, although he didn't, his revenge for me was slightly, umm… different.
We heard a knock on the door. Apparently, our Physical Ed teachers knew the catastrophe going on. We locked the doors. Then we heard our captain open commanding us to open the door. We did as he told us to. I thought that he would let the teachers in but to their surprise, as soon as Akagi went in, he closed the door behind him, locking out all the teachers.
Kogure tried talking to Mitsui. It was then at that moment we knew Mitsui's past as a basketball star and the reason why he wanted to destroy the team.
Anzai-sensei came in and Mitsui apologized for all he'd done. Sakuragi's gang covered the trouble and took up the punishment for themselves together with Mitsui's gang.
Since then, with Mitsui on our team, we've been winning almost all our games. We're only a few steps to the Inter-high tournaments.
***
It was this time of the year again. A time when some sort of disease strikes me. The doctors don't know what it's called, but at the same date, every year, it strikes me. It's a sickness in which you feel weak and you couldn't get out of your bed. It's been almost a week and yet, my teammates hadn't even dropped by to visit or called to say 'hi'.
Ha. Are you stupid, Rukawa, Kaede? To think that they'd visit you when you don't even befriend them. You only notice them when you're on-court. You don't even talk to them. Why?
Sometimes, I regret the fact that I closed myself to everyone. Sometimes, if I have only opened my heart to others, I wouldn't have been so lonely. So alone. But…it's too late now. I should've thought of that when I was younger. It would be strange if I change now.
I heard a knock on my bedroom door. It was our butler. He said that someone came to see me. He also asked if he could send him in.
I wonder who could that be?
Then a sight of red hair came barging in. my eyes narrowed. This is the person who came to visit me? It's like seeing a miracle before your eyes.
"Oi, Kitsune! Are you just pretending to be sick so that Haruko-san would be worried about you? Hn. Baka Kitsune! Do you think that you'll beat me if you stay in bed? Nyahahahaha… I never thought that Rukawa, Kaede was a weakling! Nyahahaha…"
I just sat there, staring at him. I thought he came to visit me. Not to anger me. Nevertheless, it made me less lonely to know that someone actually remembered me.
Then I saw him pull out something from his bag. It was a brown envelope and a box of chocolates.
"Tonikaku, the whole team told me to give this to you. Don't misunderstand me. I'm here because I lost the bet. If I won, I wouldn't be here. Ah... I just remembered, Haruko-san told me to tell you to get well soon. And…umm…what was that?.. Ah! Sou ka! And you're not alone. Ja," he turned around and left the room smiling. I held up the envelope and peeked at what's in it.
It was a pile of 'Get Well Soon' cards. One for each member of the team. I was about to open one when the door opened and Sakuragi's head appeared.
"Nani? Want anything else?" I wanted to kick myself the moment I heard my icy voice. I should've been nicer, after all his efforts.
"I forgot to tell you," he started.
What? There's more?
"…They said that they're sorry if they couldn't come to visit you. They said that they have things to do. Ja!" then his head disappeared quickly like magic.
I wanted to read Sakuragi's card first. Why not? He's the one who brought this to me. I wanted to see what he wrote.
I found it and flipped the card open. It said:
Baka Kitsune,
'You have to get well soon.' That's what they wanted to tell me. 'We need you in the team' they added. But you don't have to get well soon. We don't need you there. After all, the 'tensai' is there!
Yup! Typical Sakuragi type. He definitely wrote this.
I continued reading it…
…Seriously, you have to get well. There's only news about you, and your condition. All they talk about is you, you and more you. It's so disgusting! Haha… just joking! Annoying as it is, it won't stop unless you get well.
Yours truly,
Tensai Sakuragi
I closed the letter and smiled. From that day, I was recovering fast. Soon, I set foot on school again, being bombarded by rabid fans. I told myself that I should be a little nicer to Sakuragi.
I'll never forget that fateful day. It was the day that I learned that I wasn't alone.
***
We won the ticket to the Inter-high. We're the second best team in all of Kanagawa! I was overjoyed. Sakuragi was surprisingly good help. His pass to Kogure-san made the winning basket. I was happy not only because we won, but because I beat Sendoh at last.
We had a victory celebration. I allowed myself to loosen up, even just a bit, and mangle with my teammates. I walked towards Sakuragi and decided to talk to him.
"Yo!" I greeted.
He stared at me, as if I did the most impossible task he could think of. It bothered me, but I was definitely sure that I wanted to pursue what I started.
"Aren't you going to greet me back? Do'aho." Oops… I shouldn't have added that.
"Nandato?! Teme Kitsune!" I made him angry with me again. Well, I guess it's the normal thing to do.
I tried to think of a word to say to calm him. It struck my mind, but it will take a lot of courage to say it.
"Do'aho," I started. He stopped and looked at me intently. "I'm just trying to be friendly. Well, if you don't want it, fine." I continued.
I heard everyone gasp. I sweatdropped. Everyone looked like that they're at the verge of breaking down. I sighed and waited for his reply.
He talked to me normally since then. I was glad that he became a friend of mine. At first, everyone said that it wouldn't last long. I wanted to prove them wrong, and I did. We've even become best of friends.
***
Second year, I entered the basketball team again, only this time, Miyagi headed it. And there's a slight difference. I didn't enter it alone. Sakuragi was beside me. We promised ourselves that we'd take the team on top.
When I encounter some obstacles, I was not alone any longer. When I didn't want to look at the world, someone would shield my eyes from the horrors of this world. Hanamichi stayed beside me even when worse things happen.
// I will protect you and respect you and give all you need
And when you reach for love you'll only need to reach for me
These arms would never let you down
They're staying around
I'll walk with you through every storm
I'll keep you safe, I'll keep you warm
And you'll have no doubts, you're the one I'm living for…//
It was then I realized that it was not friendship that binds him to me. It was not friendship that made me feel afraid to lose him. It was…
I think I don't need to write it down now.
***
We made it to the top! We're the best team in all of Kanagawa!
We had a victory celebration, though it wasn't a group one. Everyone has his or her own special someone to spend such an important event with. I'll name one:
Our team captain Miyagi and our team manageress, Ayako.
They've been going out since the beginning of the school year. Although we found it out when we're dueling against Ryonan High. We accidentally, Hanamichi, and me saw them kissing inside the court.
I figured out that they didn't want the others to know about it so I kept it as a secret. But the do'aho told Akagi-sempai, Mitsui-sempai, and Kogure- sempai. He's so nosy. Sometimes I wonder why I wanted him as a friend.
***
When the emotions I felt towards him became stronger. I decided to tell him about it. I just waited for a chance to tell him. I wanted to be certain if it's real or just an infatuation.
It's a good thing that he didn't like Akagi-sempai's sister, or else, I wouldn't have thought of telling him. I never wanted to be an obstacle in his love life. If he's happy, then I'd be content with it.
I walked up to him, heart beating fast. I was nervous. He noticed my presence and greeted me with the same old genki smile.
"Oi! You want something?"
I became much more nervous. At that time, I was having second thoughts if I would tell him.
Then, it hit me.
Words don't have to express everything you feel.
I walked up to him looking at him straight in his eyes, he backed up and soon, I cornered him. I put my hands on either side of his head and kissed him slowly, passionately.
My eyes opened wide when he never broke the contact. After a while, we were both out of breath, we stood apart.
He never said anything. He just smiled, then held my hand, leading me out of the school campus.
We've been lovers ever since.
***
-Present time-
Up until now, in college, we're still together.
"Oi, Kaede! What are you doing in there?" a voice rang out from outside my room. It was Sakuragi. We're living together now.
"Oi!" he called out again.
I closed my journal, placed it back to its usual space on my shelf, stood up and opened the door. "I'm just recalling some pleasant memories of the past, Hanamichi," that's what I said.
Hanamichi just stared at me confusingly.
Why do I like Hanamichi, you ask?
…Why do you need to ask? I'm sure by now you know the reason…
// From the heart, I'm giving you everything, everything
From the heart, I promise you that I'll be there, I'll be there to love you
From the song, I'm showing you all I feel, all I feel is
From the heart, from the heart
I'll provide the love you need
Just trust this love, believe in me
I'll never make you cry
Give you all I've in…
All I've got inside…//
-=OWARI=-
a/n: no author's note this time.
By: sky75rk
A Slam Dunk Fic
***
It all started a three years ago; I was just a freshmen student in Shohoku high, playing in the basketball team as always. It wasn't a problem for me. Just then a redheaded man joined the team. He was a beginner, but somehow I knew that soon he would become one of the best players in Japan. He hated me, I hated him. We hated each other. Though it must be hatred that brought us to each other.
I opened my journal. I wanted to look back in the past, the time when I thought that no one was there for me. When I felt alone. And of course, I wanted to look back on all the things that brought me to him.
-Three years ago-
"Do'aho,"
"Teme Kitsune!"
Sakuragi, Hanamichi the self-proclaimed 'tensai' of the whole team. He fouled me again. He blames me for the foul. It was me who was fouled right? Why should he blame me?
He entered the basketball club because he wanted to impress the Captain's sister, who apparently likes me. I knew that. I'm not that ignorant. I kept hearing from other people that every girl in school likes me. And that every boy hates me. Why do they blame me? Its not like I wanted them to like me, is it?
They all like me because of my outward appearance and skills in basketball. They never wanted to look inside and see the real me. That's why I hated being socially inclined too much. They think that I hated being with people, that I wanted to be alone always.
It's not like that. It never was.
I never wanted to be alone in the first place. I was alone already. I just didn't trust anyone. It became hard for me trust anyone since I wasn't taught to trust. My past experience taught me differently.
// I know you've heard these words
a hundred other times before
And you've been hurt and so your heart has chose to close the door
Love broke your heart and brought you life
Look in my eyes, you'll see a love that's deep and true
Tender and strong and all for you
You can trust this love, honest, that's honest truth…//
I only trusted my teammates. At least I know that they'd accept me the way I am. Though I was having a hard time trusting Sakuragi.
He hated me before I knew him. He hated me for everything I am. For my looks, skills, and popularity.
But he didn't know that I envy him more.
Maybe he doesn't have the looks or popularity or the skills I have. But at least he has his friends.
His friends which they call the 'Sakuragi Guntai'. They help each other in times of need. They back each other up. They're loyal to their friendship.
That's how I wanted to picture myself with. Me, smiling surrounded by friends. It would be the most perfect thing in the world for me.
Though I find that partially impossible.
I can't even make myself smile, how can I be surrounded by friends?
// From the heart I'm giving you everything, everything
From the heart, I promise you that I'll be there, I'll be there to love you
From the song, I'm showing you all, I feel, all I feel is
From the heart, from the heart…//
***
Miyagi joined our team. I was glad he did. It would make our team stronger.
I didn't know that the reason Miyagi was hospitalized is because a gang in the third year was disturbing him. I certainly didn't know that there was going to be trouble.
Mitsui, the leader of the gang, came to the court. He wanted to destroy us. Only God knows why. He hated the team.
He wanted to cause trouble. He knew that if our team caused some trouble, we would be forfeited to join the preliminary games to the inter-high. Everyone was angry of him. We didn't know the reason. We didn't even do anything to him. Yet, he wanted to destroy the team.
Akagi wasn't there with us. Unfortunately, he has this extra class in Physics that he must attend. Seems like this Mitsui has good sense of timing.
I saw him spitting on a basketball, and his friend, who knows who, spilling ashes from his god damned cigarette. I couldn't take it. I have to do something.
I found myself throwing back to them the basketball they dirtied, telling them to wash it. They became angrier at what I did.
Then, all hell broke loose.
We were fighting. Punching each other with all our energy. Suddenly, I was hit with the mop I used to use for cleaning. It hurt, but it didn't knock me out. I got back at them by knocking down one of their companion. I tried to knock down another, but they lashed the mop again on my head. They must've have hit me for about three times before I blacked out.
The next thing I remembered was that I was standing next to our team manageress, Ayako now being just a spectator. Miyagi and Sakuragi were fighting them. Then everything blacked out again.
I woke up again, this time seeing Sakuragi and the rest of his gang beating the hell out of the biggest guy Mitsui bought and others extras. He was avenging the team. I thought that he would forget me, although he didn't, his revenge for me was slightly, umm… different.
We heard a knock on the door. Apparently, our Physical Ed teachers knew the catastrophe going on. We locked the doors. Then we heard our captain open commanding us to open the door. We did as he told us to. I thought that he would let the teachers in but to their surprise, as soon as Akagi went in, he closed the door behind him, locking out all the teachers.
Kogure tried talking to Mitsui. It was then at that moment we knew Mitsui's past as a basketball star and the reason why he wanted to destroy the team.
Anzai-sensei came in and Mitsui apologized for all he'd done. Sakuragi's gang covered the trouble and took up the punishment for themselves together with Mitsui's gang.
Since then, with Mitsui on our team, we've been winning almost all our games. We're only a few steps to the Inter-high tournaments.
***
It was this time of the year again. A time when some sort of disease strikes me. The doctors don't know what it's called, but at the same date, every year, it strikes me. It's a sickness in which you feel weak and you couldn't get out of your bed. It's been almost a week and yet, my teammates hadn't even dropped by to visit or called to say 'hi'.
Ha. Are you stupid, Rukawa, Kaede? To think that they'd visit you when you don't even befriend them. You only notice them when you're on-court. You don't even talk to them. Why?
Sometimes, I regret the fact that I closed myself to everyone. Sometimes, if I have only opened my heart to others, I wouldn't have been so lonely. So alone. But…it's too late now. I should've thought of that when I was younger. It would be strange if I change now.
I heard a knock on my bedroom door. It was our butler. He said that someone came to see me. He also asked if he could send him in.
I wonder who could that be?
Then a sight of red hair came barging in. my eyes narrowed. This is the person who came to visit me? It's like seeing a miracle before your eyes.
"Oi, Kitsune! Are you just pretending to be sick so that Haruko-san would be worried about you? Hn. Baka Kitsune! Do you think that you'll beat me if you stay in bed? Nyahahahaha… I never thought that Rukawa, Kaede was a weakling! Nyahahaha…"
I just sat there, staring at him. I thought he came to visit me. Not to anger me. Nevertheless, it made me less lonely to know that someone actually remembered me.
Then I saw him pull out something from his bag. It was a brown envelope and a box of chocolates.
"Tonikaku, the whole team told me to give this to you. Don't misunderstand me. I'm here because I lost the bet. If I won, I wouldn't be here. Ah... I just remembered, Haruko-san told me to tell you to get well soon. And…umm…what was that?.. Ah! Sou ka! And you're not alone. Ja," he turned around and left the room smiling. I held up the envelope and peeked at what's in it.
It was a pile of 'Get Well Soon' cards. One for each member of the team. I was about to open one when the door opened and Sakuragi's head appeared.
"Nani? Want anything else?" I wanted to kick myself the moment I heard my icy voice. I should've been nicer, after all his efforts.
"I forgot to tell you," he started.
What? There's more?
"…They said that they're sorry if they couldn't come to visit you. They said that they have things to do. Ja!" then his head disappeared quickly like magic.
I wanted to read Sakuragi's card first. Why not? He's the one who brought this to me. I wanted to see what he wrote.
I found it and flipped the card open. It said:
Baka Kitsune,
'You have to get well soon.' That's what they wanted to tell me. 'We need you in the team' they added. But you don't have to get well soon. We don't need you there. After all, the 'tensai' is there!
Yup! Typical Sakuragi type. He definitely wrote this.
I continued reading it…
…Seriously, you have to get well. There's only news about you, and your condition. All they talk about is you, you and more you. It's so disgusting! Haha… just joking! Annoying as it is, it won't stop unless you get well.
Yours truly,
Tensai Sakuragi
I closed the letter and smiled. From that day, I was recovering fast. Soon, I set foot on school again, being bombarded by rabid fans. I told myself that I should be a little nicer to Sakuragi.
I'll never forget that fateful day. It was the day that I learned that I wasn't alone.
***
We won the ticket to the Inter-high. We're the second best team in all of Kanagawa! I was overjoyed. Sakuragi was surprisingly good help. His pass to Kogure-san made the winning basket. I was happy not only because we won, but because I beat Sendoh at last.
We had a victory celebration. I allowed myself to loosen up, even just a bit, and mangle with my teammates. I walked towards Sakuragi and decided to talk to him.
"Yo!" I greeted.
He stared at me, as if I did the most impossible task he could think of. It bothered me, but I was definitely sure that I wanted to pursue what I started.
"Aren't you going to greet me back? Do'aho." Oops… I shouldn't have added that.
"Nandato?! Teme Kitsune!" I made him angry with me again. Well, I guess it's the normal thing to do.
I tried to think of a word to say to calm him. It struck my mind, but it will take a lot of courage to say it.
"Do'aho," I started. He stopped and looked at me intently. "I'm just trying to be friendly. Well, if you don't want it, fine." I continued.
I heard everyone gasp. I sweatdropped. Everyone looked like that they're at the verge of breaking down. I sighed and waited for his reply.
He talked to me normally since then. I was glad that he became a friend of mine. At first, everyone said that it wouldn't last long. I wanted to prove them wrong, and I did. We've even become best of friends.
***
Second year, I entered the basketball team again, only this time, Miyagi headed it. And there's a slight difference. I didn't enter it alone. Sakuragi was beside me. We promised ourselves that we'd take the team on top.
When I encounter some obstacles, I was not alone any longer. When I didn't want to look at the world, someone would shield my eyes from the horrors of this world. Hanamichi stayed beside me even when worse things happen.
// I will protect you and respect you and give all you need
And when you reach for love you'll only need to reach for me
These arms would never let you down
They're staying around
I'll walk with you through every storm
I'll keep you safe, I'll keep you warm
And you'll have no doubts, you're the one I'm living for…//
It was then I realized that it was not friendship that binds him to me. It was not friendship that made me feel afraid to lose him. It was…
I think I don't need to write it down now.
***
We made it to the top! We're the best team in all of Kanagawa!
We had a victory celebration, though it wasn't a group one. Everyone has his or her own special someone to spend such an important event with. I'll name one:
Our team captain Miyagi and our team manageress, Ayako.
They've been going out since the beginning of the school year. Although we found it out when we're dueling against Ryonan High. We accidentally, Hanamichi, and me saw them kissing inside the court.
I figured out that they didn't want the others to know about it so I kept it as a secret. But the do'aho told Akagi-sempai, Mitsui-sempai, and Kogure- sempai. He's so nosy. Sometimes I wonder why I wanted him as a friend.
***
When the emotions I felt towards him became stronger. I decided to tell him about it. I just waited for a chance to tell him. I wanted to be certain if it's real or just an infatuation.
It's a good thing that he didn't like Akagi-sempai's sister, or else, I wouldn't have thought of telling him. I never wanted to be an obstacle in his love life. If he's happy, then I'd be content with it.
I walked up to him, heart beating fast. I was nervous. He noticed my presence and greeted me with the same old genki smile.
"Oi! You want something?"
I became much more nervous. At that time, I was having second thoughts if I would tell him.
Then, it hit me.
Words don't have to express everything you feel.
I walked up to him looking at him straight in his eyes, he backed up and soon, I cornered him. I put my hands on either side of his head and kissed him slowly, passionately.
My eyes opened wide when he never broke the contact. After a while, we were both out of breath, we stood apart.
He never said anything. He just smiled, then held my hand, leading me out of the school campus.
We've been lovers ever since.
***
-Present time-
Up until now, in college, we're still together.
"Oi, Kaede! What are you doing in there?" a voice rang out from outside my room. It was Sakuragi. We're living together now.
"Oi!" he called out again.
I closed my journal, placed it back to its usual space on my shelf, stood up and opened the door. "I'm just recalling some pleasant memories of the past, Hanamichi," that's what I said.
Hanamichi just stared at me confusingly.
Why do I like Hanamichi, you ask?
…Why do you need to ask? I'm sure by now you know the reason…
// From the heart, I'm giving you everything, everything
From the heart, I promise you that I'll be there, I'll be there to love you
From the song, I'm showing you all I feel, all I feel is
From the heart, from the heart
I'll provide the love you need
Just trust this love, believe in me
I'll never make you cry
Give you all I've in…
All I've got inside…//
-=OWARI=-
a/n: no author's note this time.