Destined to be - Chapter 10 During her trip to America Hontokoi brought Rukawa to many places, including her minor league ice hockey matches. What Rukawa liked best was when Hontokoi brought him to watch Michael Jordan in the NBA basketball matches. Hontokoi managed to get a locker room pass as well from her grandpa who was once a NBA player. So she brought Rukawa to see Michael Jordan after the match. Rukawa was more relaxed when he was in America. He often showed his true feelings for Hontokoi and that made Hontokoi really for she wasn’t used to this caring side of Rukawa. She was so used to his unspoken feelings and uncaring ways until she couldn’t imagine that Rukawa actually had a gentle side. Rukawa often went to watch Hontokoi when she played in the matches to get to the finals. There wasn’t one game they lost, but Rukawa wasn’t used to watching Hontokoi being checked into the boards or tripped and he was very worried that she would hurt herself playing in this game which was new to him. Lorraine had to always calm him down telling him it is part of the game and it is meant to be like that. Hontokoi was one of the best player in the team besides the captain, Steve, and the opponent played her really tightly; but she still managed to score and got the most score too. “You did it again!” Steve shouted. “The last puck and you shot it in!” The buzzer had went off and they are on their way to change out of their uniforms. Rukawa and Hontokoi’s cousin were standing at the corridor waiting for her arrival. She smiled slightly when she saw them. “Hi!” Hontokoi waved. “I will be out in a minute after we changed.” “You were great, Belle!” Lorraine cried enthusiastically. “You shot the winning goal again! Rukawa thinks so too!” “You did?” Hontokoi turned to him and saw again those unfamiliar caring eyes and quickly turned away. “Thanks. I won’t be long.” After she and Angela had changed they came out again and that was when Hontokoi bumped into someone she dreaded seeing. Michael, the boy who had broken her arm a year ago. He was on one of the best teams, the Eagles. Her eyes widened with surprise and fear when she saw him. She knew that they had made it to the finals as well and that she would have to face him during the match. Rukawa saw the change in Hontokoi’s eyes and turned to the direction she was looking at. “Oh, lookie here, isn’t that Belle?” Michael sneered. “So, how’s the arm?” “Fine, thank you,” Hontokoi replied calmly but Rukawa knew that she was afraid, but he didn't know why. She wasn’t afraid of anything before. “Never thought of meeting you here again.” “Hey, it is a big ice hockey rink. There are at least three rinks in this arena,” Michael shrugged simply. “I happen to have just finished my match just now and I’m sure you know we have made it to the finals. So we will be meeting soon.” “I know,” Hontokoi retorted. “Like you have to tell me.” “Just reminding you that’s all,” Michael said. “Do you know why I purposely broke your arm the other time?” “Why?” Hontokoi asked softly and then that was when it dawn to Rukawa why Hontokoi was afraid of him. Suddenly he felt like bashing that guy up. “Well, your mother had sent my father to jail, that’s why,” Michael leaned over to Hontokoi and whispered into her ear. “Your mother sent him to his death; maybe I should sent you to yours!” “What?” Hontokoi shouted glaring at him. “You are the son of that stupid bastard that murdered my mother?” “Murdered your mother?” Michael smirked. “I wasn’t told...” “You weren’t told by who?” Hontokoi shouted. “Your mother? Let me tell you something that you ought to have known a long time ago! Your father pulled that gun and shot my mother without even flinching of doing so! He didn’t care one bit if my mother lived or died and he just ran off like that. I was there and I saw that man that you called 'father' kill my mother! He ought to be sentence to death! A life for a life that is what I put it and you dare to come tell me that my mother put him in jail. She was long dead even before she could say a single thing about who killed her! At least you still have a mother who takes care of you and tells you lies. What about me? I have no one!” With that last sentence she ran away. Rukawa watched her run off in dismay. He couldn’t just leave Lorraine and Lawrence here alone and run after her. Without much choice he couldn’t follow Hontokoi and took Lorraine and Lawrence home. When they reached home in Beverly Hillsa Hontokoi wasn’t there at all and Rukawa began to worry about her. “She might have gone to her grandma’s house,” Lorraine said. “Why don’t you go find her there. Our driver will bring you there. If she is not there, he will bring you back here.” Rukawa nodded and hoped she was there. When he got to her grandma’s house Hontokoi’s grandmother greeted him warmly by giving the astonished Rukawa a big hug. She then told him that he could find Hontokoi in the attic upstairs. Rukawa made his way up slowly. When he reached the landing of the big attic, he saw Hontokoi standing by the window on a mattress facing the window, staring outside. “Hontokoi?” Rukawa went closer to her. “Are you all right?” Hontokoi did not answer. When Rukawa stood beside her, he realised that Hontokoi was crying. Something that he had never seen in his life. Slowly, Hontokoi looked up at him. Instead like always when he saw that hatred look he saw sadness in her eyes. She had finally let go her hate and allowed herself to feel compassion. Something she had lost touch with a long time ago. She knew that hate would only make her cold and that it would make her strong too. She won’t be able to cry so easily but now she couldn’t hold back; the load of sadness that had piled up year after year came crashing down on her shoulders. Rukawa held up his hand slowly and wiped her tears away from her cheek but Hontokoi turned away from his touch. “I promised...” Hontokoi said softly. “I promised...” Rukawa waited for her to continue the sentence and when she did not, he put his hands on her shoulders turning her to face him. “Promised what?” He asked gently. “I had promised my mother long time ago that I wouldn’t cry.” Hontokoi said finally. “I would be strong, no matter what happened.” “It is all right to cry.” Rukawa said trying to catch her eye but she still avoided his. “Hontokoi, really, you will feel much better when you do.” “No, I won’t!” Hontokoi retorted looking up at him. “I broke the most important promise ever and nearly broke another of my father’s just because I was afraid of... of...” Hontokoi quickly moved away from Rukawa’s touch and turned away. She couldn’t stop crying now, which was very unlike her. Rukawa watched her cry softly to herself. Everything that Hontokoi went through; the hard times and sad moments, just came rushing back to her all at once and she just cried harder as she sank to the floor and sat there, her head lowered. She suddenly felt so defeated. The tears just streamed down her face. She didn’t bother to wipe them off and they dropped off when they reached her chin. Rukawa knelt down beside her and then pulled her towards him, hugging her close to him in his arms. Hontokoi wanted to push him away but in his arm she felt so secure; something she hadn’t felt for a long time and welcome his warm caring hug. She clung to him, still sobbing and at the same time wetting his shirt. After an hour of crying passed, Hontokoi was finally exhausted and finally fell asleep in Rukawa’s arms. Rukawa placed her head on his lap and watched her beautiful tear streaked face and gently wiped her tears away with his hands. Not long later he fell asleep himself. When Hontokoi woke up she was astonished to wake on Rukawa’s lap and sat up quickly. Her sudden movement woke Rukawa too. They faced one another, unable to say a word. Hontokoi bit her lower lip as she tried to remember what happened just now. What happened before she fell asleep was a blur to her and she knew that Rukawa was there all the time when she was sobbing away like a baby. “I’m sorry.” Hontokoi finally said. “For my behavior just now, I just don’t know what had came over me.” “It's all right.” Rukawa replied gently. “I’m glad that you are fine now.” “It is just that I...” Her sentence was cut short when Rukawa pulled her close and kissed her on her lips. She was so stunned by his movement until she froze and didn’t do a single thing as she let him kiss her. Their kiss was interrupted by Hontokoi’s grandma’s shout. They quickly pulled away. “Belle, dear,” She called from downstairs. “Why don’t you and your friend stay for dinner.” “Yes, Grandma,” Hontokoi shouted back. “We will.” Rukawa looked for any reaction from Hontokoi but got none for she had hid her feelings really well. Hontokoi knew that she was falling for Rukawa and she also knew that Haruko liked him. She couldn’t betray her. Slowly she looked up at Rukawa. “Kaede?” Hontokoi started to say slowly. “We will always be good friends?” He nodded, a little disappointed. “So it is best that this day is never mentioned again, right?” “You’re right,” Rukawa smiled a little. Hontokoi had seen him smile before wasn’t at all that surprised and was glad he took this lightly. “Let’s go downstairs.” Hontokoi nodded and Rukawa stood up. Then he held out a hand to help Hontokoi to her feet. With a smile she held out her hands putting it in his and he pulled her up to her feet. They left the attic side by side and they both knew that this day will never be spoken again though never forgotten for it is kept deep in their hearts forever. The day for the finals when Hontokoi’s team and the Eagles woul play had finally arrived. Hontokoi was no longer frightened by Michael and he seemed really quiet after Hontokoi’s outburst the other day. Everyone was chattering away in the locker room except Hontokoi, who was awfully quiet. Rukawa was together with Lorraine and Lawrence in the stands, waiting for the match to begin. When it was time for the two teams to come out there was a loud cheer among the spectators. Hontokoi looked around the rink. There was more audience than before. Probably because this was the final match of the season. Hontokoi and her group stepped onto the ice and skated around their side of the rink to warm up with the others. Rukawa immediately spotted Hontokoi when she stepped out onto the ice. Lorraine who could see how worried he was patted his shoulder to get his attention. When he turned to her she smiled. “She will be all right,” She said reassuring but still Rukawa wasn’t convinced. “This is not the first time she played against the Eagles.” Rukawa just nodded and turned back to the rink. Hontokoi and the others were now on the bench discussing their plan attack. Steve was the only one doing the talking while Hontokoi stood aside leaning on the wall behind listening with half closed eyes. When the game begin for the first period Hontokoi took the centre together with Michael. “Ready?” The referee skated up in between them. “All right, sticks on ice.” He raised the puck and then dropped it onto the red circle. Immediately Hontokoi pushed Michael down and took the puck away. The first period was really easy the Eagles did not do any banging up their opponents which was very unlike them. The Starlings, Hontokoi’s group, could not score a single goal nor the Eagles for the first period because the both teams played really tight defense around the net. The second period was worst. That was when the Eagles tripped the others and Hontokoi was one of them that was pushed onto the ice and into the boards the most times until Rukawa was on his edge of his seat just watching her. Even though Hontokoi was pushed onto the ice she immediately got up to her feet and played on. Still the second period no score and then Hontokoi got the puck. She was skating towards the Eagles’ net and didn’t notice that Michael was close behind and he drove her towards the board and she crashed right onto it and fell on the ice. She did not get up after that. Everyone knew that was something wrong and they rushed to her even Rukawa felt like doing so. Hontokoi was on her side when she fell turned to her back looking up the ceiling holding her left arm. The fist aid people rushed to her and examine her arm. “It is alright,.” Hontokoi said standing up on her skates when they was about to carry her onto a stretcher. “I can skate.” “Hontokoi...” Rukawa whispered standing up. “Lorraine take care of Lawrence. I’m going down to see Hontokoi. Don’t go anywhere.” Rukawa came to her side when the first aid person was bandaging up her arm really tightly. Hontokoi turned to him when she saw him approching and smiled slightly. “Honotkoi!” Rukawa stammered a little. “Your arm... is...?” “It is just a minor sprain.” Hontokoi said still smilling. “I’m fine really. Besides the second period is almost over I won’t miss much then there will be a short break when I can rest and then I’ll be on playing for the third period again.” “What?!!” Rukawa cried. “Are you crazy...!” “I have to Rukawa,” Hontokoi said softly. “I will be playing this for the final time just to get that trophy and I’m not even sure weather I will want to continue playing this game ever again. Please understand. I also just want to keep a promise.” After the first aid person had bided her arm she went back to the locker room where all her other teammates where there. They all fell very quiet now and even Steve had no other strategy. The Eagles were giving them a hard time to attack and everyone looked so defeated by now. Hontokoi stood by the frame of the door with her hands on her hips looking at them. “All right,” she voiced out and everyone turned to her in surprise for she had finally spoke. “Time for a new plan.” She went into the centre and started to tell them what was her plan. Everyone looked at her shaking their heads in disagreement after she had told everyone what she had in mind. She had actually chosen the weakest player Tobby to play at the second last half of the match which was the most important time and everyone didn’t want to take that risk and put Tobby in. “He doesn’t even know how to shoot,” Steve retorted. “How can you put him in the second half of the game?” “My mind is made up Steve,” Hontokoi turned to him solemnly. “Or you had other better idea in mind?” Steve fell silent. Tobby was a little stunned that Hontokoi actually chose him to play in that time; he was afraid and wanted to back out but didn’t dare to bring it up to her for Hontokoi was really serious and quiet today which made her whole profile really scary. Then the third period began and still no score until to the second last half of the game when Tobby was put out into the ring with Hontokoi and a few others. The Eagles got the puck. As usual Hontokoi managed to steal the Eagle’s puck and skated to the net with Michael guarding her. It was only one minute left. They were on a one on one. Hontokoi looked deep into Micheal’s eyes concentrating his every movement and also the way she controlled puck. Then she remembered how she fell a year ago when he tripped her to the ground. So she bent forward quickly before he could make his move, and she tripped him over her shoulders and he crashed onto the ice behind her and she skated on. The goalie was already ready to catch her puck she faked once, twice... and when the goalie jumped forward thinking she was going to shoot she passed it back to Tobby was skating closely behind her. Nobody suspected that and Tobby himself was stunned for a second rooted on the ice like a statue. “SHOOT Tobby!” Everyone shouted from the bench. “Shoot!” He raised the stick and hit the puck the goalie could not get up in time to catch the puck in went in when the buzzer went off and Starling won the game. Hontokoi skated up to Tobby with a big grin on her face and she took off her helmet throwing it away and so did Tobby who was still a little stunned. Hontokoi came up to Tobby holding his face with both her hands. “I know you could do it, Tobby!” she said happily. “Don’t you ever do that to me again.” Tobby shook his head slightly. “You nearly gave me a heart attack!” “Tobby, you scored,” Hontokoi cried raising both her hands up in the air. “We win!” Her group greeted them with a warm hug jumping about and laughing. Rukawa from the audience area smile softly he then brought Lorraine and Lawrence down to the ice rink and waited for Hontokoi. When she spotted them she skated to them and giving the astonished Rukawa a big hug. Then kissed him softly on his cheek, which took him even more by surprise. “We won!” Hontokoi said softly letting him go. “So what do you think of this game? Isn’t it wonderful?” “You are wonderful,” Rukawa said softly which was only loud enough to let her hear. Hontokoi smiled and hugged him around his neck again. This was her first time she felt truely happy after for a long time. She had finally completed what she had to do for her father. Her team greeted them hugging her together with Rukawa happily. They had won in every match straight in a row for already four years. It was Hontokoi and Rukawa’s last day in America. As usual Hontokoi was at her grandma’s house on the last day. She sat by the window in the attic looking out the bright afternoon sky. Slowly she turned to the shelf where her mother put all her ice hockey trophy and was happy to see that empty space filled up. Slowly she looked down at a small black velvet covered book. Her grandma had given it to her when she had brought that trophy home. She still remembered when she gave it to her when she came home it was on this attic. “Here,” Grandma said, taking the book out from one of the boxes and hand it to Hontokoi. “It is time you knew about the past.” Hontokoi looked down at the book and wondered whether she should read the diary or not. After another minute of thinking she finally opened the book slowly. The first few page was nothing more than about how she lead a normal life until the time when she met Hontokoi's father. At that time Yatsunaga was studying there in America. That was when it started to get interesting. They met one another at the basketball court. Hontokoi’s mother love to played basketball too and happened to meet one another one day. Their days together were very happy until Hontokoi’s mother decided to play ice hockey and Yatsunaga disagreed but Hontokoi’s mother did anyway. There were huge quarrels but usually they always made up later on. Until one day it was Hontokoi’s mother’s most important match the minors. She wanted to play in that but Yatsunaga as usual did not like it. So that day he lied to her and told he will bring her to New York and come back on time for the match but at the end he did not keep his promise and she had missed the game. Yatsunaga felt guilty later on, when Hontokoi’s mother was really upset but there wasn’t nothing he could do to make this up for the game is only this once for her and she did not win the trophy. “No wonder that place was empty,” Hontokoi said to herself. “And no wonder Papa told me to win this for her but I wondered why did they divorced?” Hontokoi read on but there weren’t any more words about the reason they divorce. Hontokoi’s mother just wrote in the diary in one page. ‘I couldn’t take this no longer. I have to breath or I’ll suffocate and die soon and I have a daughter who needs me so badly. I can’t let her grow up with a bad tempered and impatient mother. I think it is time we have to come up with something.’ Hontokoi looked at the page wonderingly. Who was suffocating mama? Papa? But....her thoughts were interrupted when Rukawa came up to see her. Hontokoi shut the book when she saw him. “What are you doing?” Rukawa asked. “You spend so much time up here.” “Well I was just reading my mother’s diary,” Hontokoi said putting the diary aside. “The attic was also my mother’s favourite place. I don’t why. Everytime I’m here I had this feeling my mother’s presence is here. I feel really close to her when I’m up here.” “May I sit?” Rukawa asked when he stood next to the mattress. “Sure,” Hontokoi said with a smile. She had smile more often now which really pleased Rukawa. “So, I thought you were with grandpa.” “I was, until he and grandma had to go somewhere for a while.” “Oh, well,” Hontokoi stood up. “I think I should put this back to where it actually belongs.” Hontokoi went to the box where her grandma found it and placed it back inside and that was when she saw a picture of her mother and her father taken in a basketball court. Slowly she picked the photo up to take a better look. They were much younger then but Hontokoi could still recognise them. “What is it?” Rukawa asked coming up behind her. “I found my parents photo.” Hontokoi said putting it inside her jeans pocket. “I think I should take this back. I had never had a photo of my parents together.” That last night Hontokoi and Rukawa stayed in grandma’s house as usual Hontokoi slept in the attic at her grandma’s house. She sat by the window holding the flute Rukawa gave to her in her hands. The silvery moonlight shone into the window. She looked down the flute and then held it up to her lips and blew the sad melody. Rukawa in his room who was still awake heard that enchanting songs sat up on his bed. Hontokoi wasn’t asleep yet? Slowly he he felt his room quietly and made his way up slowly. When he reached the landing he saw Hontokoi bathed in the silvery moonlight blowing the flute. He went up to her. Sensing his presence she stopped blowing and turned around to face him. “I’m sorry. Did I wake you?” Hontokoi asked. “No,” He sat down next to her. “I happened to be still awake when I heard you playing the flute. You can continue. I actually came up here to hear you play.” “Oh,” Hontokoi smiled and she turned towards the window again and lifted the flute up her lips again. Rukawa watched a for a minute and then he lay down on the mattress. Slowly he close his eyes and fell asleep listening to Hontokoi’s song. After she blew the last note she turned around to see Rukawa already asleep. Slowly she lifted her forefinger and middle finger up towards her lips and gave it a slight kiss then slowly she placed that two fingers on Rukawa’s lips. She knew that after today when they go home to Kanagawa, Japan tomorrow Rukawa will be back to his normal self again and she would have to keep her feelings well behind a lock door deep in her heart and never unleash it ever again. For she truly loved Rukawa and nobody must know that, ever. At the airport in Japan, Rukawa and Hontokoi stepped into the terminal each carrying their luggage. Hontokoi looked around trying to spot her Nanny. When she finally did she raised her arm waving madly trying to get Nanny’s attention. “Nanny, over here!” Hontokoi shouted dragging her luggage running to her. “Nanny, I missed you so much!" They both hugged with Rukawa behind watching them. At that moment Rukawa felt like hugging Hontokoi too but he quickly pushed that feeling aside. He was back in Japan his home town and it was time he should forget any of what had happened when he was in America with Hontokoi though he knew it was impossible. He loved Hontokoi he knew it deep in his heart he only wondered if Hontokoi do the same. Back at home in Hontokoi’s room, she was unpacking her things. It had been a long vacation for her. In a luggage she dug out a photo album. Inside were the pictures of Rukawa and her. Rukawa had one too. Without flipping through it she walked over to her desk opened one of the drawers and hid the album deep in the side of the drawer and then shut it. She turned to Rukawa’s house where she could see his window. The curtains of the window were now opened. Hontokoi tilted her head. What changed him? He never opened his room window before, with a shrug she went back to her unpacking when the phone rang. She picked up the phone and it was Haruko. “Hontokoi!” She cried. “It is so nice to hear you again. I’ll be seeing you tomorrow when school starts in Shohoku High. I can’t wait to see you and Rukawa!” “I can’t wait to see you too!” Hontokoi smiled also as excited as she was. “It had been such a long time. We hadn’t seen one another.” “Just imagine being in the same school again!” Haruko said enthusiastically. “If we are lucky we could also be in the same class again too!” “How I wish too,” Hontokoi said sitting on the chair by the desk facing the glass sliding doors. “So what’s new?” “Guess what...” Haruko continued the conversation and Hontokoi listened on. At Rukawa’s room when he had just came out from a shower. He sat on his bed drying his hair looking opposite to Hontokoi’s room and saw her sitting there by he desk talking away on the phone. Her face glowed with happiness as she listened to who ever she was talking to. He wondered who would that be to make Hontokoi so happy. Just as long as that that person wasn’t a guy. When that thought came into his mind he quickly pushed it away. Hontokoi barely talks to guys on the phone so she wouldn’t be now. Without giving it much thought he laid down his bed and went to sleep. The next day bright early in the morning, Hontokoi pushed her bicylce out to the sidewalk just when Rukawa came up to her pushing his bike half asleep. Hontokoi smiled. Just like always she thought. Things are positively going back to be the way it was before. “Ready, Rukawa?” Hontokoi asked getting on her bike as the same time as Rukawa who just kept quiet. “Well just don’t bang into cars on the way to Shohoku!” They were off cycling to school. It didn’t take long for them to reach the school main gate. They cycled in together and students in the school had to make way for the dozing Rukawa who made his way blindly in the school driveway. Hontokoi behind him shook her hear slightly watching him with a tiny smile on her face. After they parked their bikes they went back to the front where they made their way up the stairs to the school front door. Hontokoi looked at the big building which would be her school for another three years and then at Rukawa. She was placed in class group ten like Rukawa. Why is faith trying to pull us together? She thought silently. After three years in secondary school in the same class with him I’m now again in the same class with him. Are we really destined to be together? How can that be? Without any thoughts about the classes anymore, Hontokoi thought about the time she could spend with Haruko and her brother Akagi who was the captain of the basketball team and how she was able to help him out in the team with Ayako her cousin who would be in the second year. Side by side Hontokoi and Rukawa stepped up the stairs to the front doors. It would be another new challeging beginning for the both of them as they stepped through the front doors of Shohoku High School... The End **Previous ** Editor's Words**