Pairing: MitRu! a current obsession
Genre: I dunno really…
Rating: Urm, I'd have to say PG13. You'll see some rude language in here. Just a tad bit though.
Disclaimer: I obviously don't own slamdunk or any of its gorgeous characters. A sad fact.
Summary: MitRu One night, they find themselves in each other's company thinking about how life is such a piece of crap. Later on, Mitsui gets into trouble and Rukawa saves him. Will the night's events change things between them, or will everything be ignored?
a/n: sigh This is actually just a sorry excuse for a fic. I hate being pessimistic really, but I just don't see its glow. I posted it here anyway so that…uhm…actually, I don't know why I posted it laughs. Well, R&R anyway. I really wanna know what you think about it. Just please don't flare! Any kind of decent review is much welcome.
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--Chapter 1--
Love.
Falling in-love.
'What does it feel like?' He found himself thinking.
He never really cared about this kind of mushy stuff. He never even thought about it. But now, as Mitsui Hisashi walked along the path which led to the park's lake, eyeing the lovers around him, he asked himself that question.
He stopped in his tracks and looked around, 'Are all these people truly in-love?'
After a few seconds though, he suddenly slapped himself in the forehead ignoring the questioning looks people were giving him.
'Hisashi, this is stupid', He thought to himself. 'You're being very stupid.'
He started walking again, picking up pace since he wanted to get out of that place as soon as possible. He didn't want to see those lovers anymore. They just gave him stupid, creepy, and not to mention annoying, thoughts.
After a few minutes, he finally reached the lake. The place was quiet, serene and deserted. Just what he needed. A place far away from any human contact.
He sat on the ground and leaned on the Sakura tree facing the lake. He always went to this place when he needed some peace and quiet. Today, he needed it more than ever.
Why?
Just a few days ago, he was in his room listening to music when he heard shouts…
"Why don't you just shut the fuck up and mind your own business!" He heard his father say.
"You know what, I don't care about your stupid business! I don't even care about you anymore!" His mother retorted.
'Okay. This is too much.' Mitsui ran down and stopped at the foot of the stairs. His mother was shouting with tears in her eyes and his father looked just plain angry.
"Would you two give it a rest!" He said as loud as he could, trying to be heard over their shouts. It proved to be ineffective though, as neither seemed to have noticed him.
"Oh yeah! Well if you don't care about me, then leave!" His father shouted.
"Nani! Leave? This is my house!" His mother said in disbelief.
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
Mitsui's dad started walking towards the door and when he opened it, about to walk out, his mother said something that made the atmosphere even tenser.
"By the way, I want a divorce." She said in a very hushed voice, and then she turned around and left.
Mitsui was staring at his mother's retreating back when he heard a door slam shut.
He found himself sighing as he remembered that incident. Then he realized that it might have been the reason why he started thinking of silly thoughts a little while ago. At the back of his mind, he didn't really care if those people were in-love. He was wondering if his own parents were.
Probably not though, because today the divorce would be official as both his parents have already signed.
Just when he was starting to get deeper in his thoughts, he heard a small rustle at the back.
He stood up quickly and turned around.
No one.
"Hey, is someone there?" He asked towards the direction of the soft rustling. No one answered.
Finally deciding that it might have just been the wind or some cat lurking around, he shrugged and sat back down.
"No one could be here. I would've felt it if someone was around" He said to himself. Quickly dismissing the idea, he went back to pondering on his parents and the divorce.
But his thoughts were again distracted by the sound of footsteps. He stood up again and looked back at the same direction of the previous rustling.
His heart was beating fast. He didn't know why but he knew it was annoying. His breathing had become deeper too, but still, he didn't know why he was feeling this way. He wanted to punch himself.
The footsteps were getting closer. He held his breath.
Then, from the trees and bushes surrounding the deeper part of the forest around the lake, emerged a guy. A guy taller than he was by a few inches, with raven black hair and a very pale complexion.
He knew this guy.
"Sempai."
After a few minutes of shock and disbelief, he let out a long sigh.
He couldn't believe what had just happened. Why was he so nervous?
He felt really stupid and relieved at the same time. All of the tension made him crack a small smile at the person in front of him. Very unlike him, yes, but who could blame him?
"Hey Rukawa."
The latter gave him a small nod accompanied by a suspicious stare that clearly said 'What the heck did you just do?'
Mitsui let out a small laugh.
"Sorry. I was just feeling a bit queasy a while ago." He explained. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Hanging out." Was Rukawa's plain answer.
"Right." Mitsui said, amused at Rukawa's slight indifference. Still feeling a bit tense from the prior events, he sat down at his usual spot and gestured for Rukawa to do the same.
He doubted if the freshman would sit down though, since he was never really close to any of them, let alone him. He closed his eyes anyway, craving for relaxation.
A few moments passed and he felt someone take the place beside him. He opened his eyes and looked at his left. He saw Rukawa leaning on the tree with his eyes closed. This made him smile.
The whole afternoon they were just like that. Sitting side by side, eyes closed, taking in the freshness of the atmosphere. The whole time, no words were said. No words were needed.
They both figured that it would be more awkward sitting together, trying to start a conversation when none of them really wanted one. So, why not just be silent?
This worked well for both of them.
Nightfall had come but neither noticed as they were both deep in their thoughts. They could have stayed there all night not minding anything, but—
"Oh shit!" Mitsui suddenly exclaimed. This made Rukawa open his eyes and cast another 'what the heck' look at the other.
"Sorry. I just remembered something. Um, hey, I really have to leave. So, uh, see yah I guess."
He said all of these in a panicked tone and he said them very swiftly. He stood up just as fast and started running, leaving a confused Rukawa sitting under the Sakura tree.
"Hn."
'What was that about? Weird guy.'
---
Pant.
He was running fast. Very fast.
He was half an hour late and he was sure they wouldn't like that.
He didn't want to go, but he had to. Because he didn't want to endanger the Shohoku basketball team again. No. He won't let that happen.
At last, he arrived at the place. A dark, deserted courtyard. But no one was there.
'Oh shit. I'm too late.'
"Well, well, well. We were beginning to think you wouldn't show, Mitchy." A deep voice behind him said.
He turned around. He couldn't see anything. Or anyone.
"Yeah. I told the boss we should leave and just pay your school a visit tomorrow. Whaddya think about that, huh?" A smaller voice said. He still couldn't see who it was.
This was getting annoying.
"Hey. Cut it out and show yourself." He said in an irritated tone.
"Hah! You're in no position to boss us around." Another voice said.
He didn't say anything to this. He knew he was in no position to be high and mighty, but they were really getting on his nerves.
The boss finally showed himself. The rest of the gang followed suit. "Just give us the money Mitchy. I want to get this over with."
'So do I.' He thought, still aggravated at the gang. He owed them some money from before, when he was still a gangster himself,
their leader, actually. Now's the time they chose for him to pay it all back or else they'd pay another visit to the team.
He brought out money from his pocket and threw it on the ground. One of the gang's members took it and started counting.
"All here, boss."
'Ts.' Glad that it was all over, he turned his back to them and began to leave. But they wouldn't let him go that easily.
"Wait a minute. Where are you going so fast?"
He turned around and one by one, the members closed on him, clearly ready to punch or kick him to the depths of hell.
"This is what you get for making us wait so long Mitchy."
'Oh man. This ain't gonna be pretty.'
He readied himself for a beating. He couldn't fight back. If he did, the whole team would be banned from playing if the school found out. And he knew they would. The gang would make sure of that.
Three members charged. He stepped back and sooner than he wanted, his back was already touching the wall.
'Great. This is it.'
He reflexively shut his eyes, anticipating the blows he was sure to receive.
…
Nothing came.
'What the-'
He opened his eyes slowly and was confused at the sight before him.
The gang had stopped trying to attack him. They were all looking in the other direction, where the boss was talking with two men standing a few feet from them.
One was tall and had a good build; the other was shorter and quite large. Well, whoever those two were, he sure owed them one.
"Hai, sensei." He heard the boss say apologetically. "It won't happen again."
'Sensei?'
He heard a small chuckle from the large man and quickly, the boss together with his members, started running away.
'Could sensei mean-'
Slowly, the two men who had just saved him from a severe beating, walked up to him.
The large man was none other than his coach, his most valuable mentor, Anzai-sensei.
"Aah. Mitsui-kun, I'm glad that you're okay." He said with a calm smile. "I'm also glad that you found the strength to control yourself from fighting back."
"Anzai-sensei, I, um, thank you." He sputtered, still a bit dazed from all the happenings. "But, how did you know?"
His coach chuckled again. "You see, I was taking a midnight stroll when Rukawa-kun found me."
"Rukawa?"
He instinctively looked at the other man Anzai-sensei was with. He was standing a few feet back and was looking at the other direction, hands inside his pockets.
He knew it was Rukawa even in the dark. Who else could it be?
"He told me that he saw you with a bunch of gangsters." Sensei continued. " Rukawa-kun told me that it might have just been your old friends, but I knew otherwise so I went here."
Mitsui didn't speak. He didn't know what to say. Everything that happened today was strange. First, the incident at the park with Rukawa. Second, him being saved by Anzai-sensei, also with Rukawa.
"Mitsui-kun, Rukawa-kun," Anzai-sensei said, looking at the other direction where Rukawa was standing, " It's time for both of you to go home now, I believe."
"Uh, yeah, it is. Anzai-sensei, thank you for everything." Mitsui told his coach with a small bow. "I'm going now."
"Me too, Anzai-sensei." Rukawa suddenly said with that deep and calm voice of his. He, too, nodded his head a little and started leaving.
Both of them left at the same time, leaving Anzai-sensei deep in his thoughts.
'Those two have an unusual connection.'
"Ho. Ho. Ho"
---
Mitsui was confused. Too much weird stuff has happened and he still had a lot of questions. Yet here he was, walking side by side with a man who looked like nothing of particular interest ever occurred.
This was nothing surprising though. It was Rukawa after all.
"Um, listen, I wasn't able to say thank you a while ago so, thanks." Mitsui practically whispered.
The latter replied with his usual nod.
At this, Mitsui found himself snorting. In turn, Rukawa shot him a glare that could-in all honesty-kill.
"What's the matter with you anyway?" Mitsui asked, laughing a little. "I mean, why are you so…distant?"
Rukawa just raised his eyebrow. "Why not?"
This time, it was Mitsui's turn to raise an eyebrow. "You're pretty weird, you know."
"So are you."
Mitsui's eyes narrowed. "I like you better when you're not talking."
"I feel the same way about you."
He didn't know what else to do. He was annoyed and at the same time amused. Not knowing how else to handle the situation, he found himself laughing.
"Hn."
'What the heck's wrong with this guy?' Rukawa asked himself. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow again. He seemed to do that a lot when he was around his sempai.
Mitsui stopped laughing, taking in a few deep breaths. He needed that. A lot. And as far as he knew, all the tension that enveloped him a while ago was gone.
"Sorry." He said, looking at the man beside him.
"For what?" Rukawa asked.
"For losing it, I guess." He sighed and looked at his feet. "My life's a total mess, if you haven't noticed."
"I have…and it is."
"Tch. Thanks for making me feel better." Mitsui said, sarcasm in his voice.
Rukawa looked up at him. "Your not the only one who's life is a total wreck."
Both of them fell silent.
They walked without saying a word to each other for a few minutes until they reached the corner where they would have to take different paths.
Mitsui was first to break the silence.
"I gotta go right here. So, I'll see you in practice tomorrow then." He nodded at Rukawa and started to leave.
When he was a few steps away…
"Sempai," Rukawa called out in a low voice, "Goodnight."
Mitsui turned around and saw Rukawa's withdrawing back.
"Goodnight, Rukawa."
-tbc-
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a/n: The 'tbc' I placed above is actually not a sure thing. It depends on what you say about the fic. So…uhm…what do you think? Is it crap? sigh Oh well, please R&R to let me know if I should continue this or not. Any comment or suggestion will be appreciated. But no flares please. I've done enough of that to myself.
ren
