DISCLAIMER: Only the storyline is mine.
Author's Notes: Just to be on the safe side, if there's a fic that's akin or almost parallel to the fic I have right here, I must apologize greatly to the owner. Any similarity is purely coincidental.

~

Kogure Kiminobu, the long-suffering vice-captain, could do nothing but to watch as the two freshmen fought ever so violently. Even Ayako's mighty tessen did not—or could not—stop Rukawa and Sakuragi.
            "I knew something like this would occur," remarked Miyagi with an amused smile. "Governor had to go back early, obviously they're not afraid…"
            Ayako frowned. "I think it's time for me to find something more formidable. I'm beginning to think they are no longer intimidated by my fan."
            The others cringed at the thought.
            "Sakuragi…Rukawa…" Kogure, with an uncertain voice, said. "…back to training…"
            "Do'aho."
            "OI! Take that, you…"
            Mitsui put an arm on Kogure's shoulder. "What say you we leave them, na, Min-kun?"
            "Hi…Hisashi…not now, people are looking…"
            "Let's continue our training without those two idiots…"
            "But…it's not time to leave yet…"
            "Min-kun, we've been watching them fight for the past two hours….training is over now…but our training is only about to start…"
            Kogure reddened. Mitsui had to grin at the sight.
            Ayako approached Kogure. "Ano, sempai?"
            Kogure adjusted his glasses, whereas in fact he was trying to hide his blush. "Yes?"
            "What are we going to do now? It's already late." Ayako ignored Kogure's crimson face.
            Kogure felt a nudge from behind. "Ah…I think we can do nothing now…we'll just continue tomorrow when Akagi is here…"
            "Right. He'll be furious to know today's training is a flop."
            "Ah, I can almost imagine his angry face…"
            "So, should we adjourn now?" asked Mitsui, impatient.
            Ayako darted a suspicious look in Mitsui's direction. "Why are you so eager to leave, sempai?"
            Mitsui laughed nervously. "No reason, no reason at all!"
            Kogure coughed. "We planned to go over to my house to study." Oh, God, I lied! Hisashi!
            Ayako seemed to accept Kogure's garbled words pretty well. "I see." She smiled enigmatically. "Study hard, sempai's!"
            Mitsui recovered from his dazed state. "Thanks, Ayako. So, Kogure, what will we be studying tonight?"
            As soon as Ayako was out of earshot, Mitsui leered towards the bespectacled boy. "I never knew you're such a good liar, Min-kun. You're so full of surprises!"

            Sakuragi kicked a pebble aimlessly. He was walking home. Sighing, he was disappointed he didn't see Haruko even once in school that day.
            "Sakuragi-kun!"
            The redhead shook his head vigorously. Damn, now I'm even hearing her voice…I must be going crazy…
            "Sakuragi-kun, hello!"
            He paused in his steps. Turning his head to look behind, he saw her. Akagi Haruko.
            She smiled at him—an act that never failed to melt Sakuragi's heart. "How are you today?"
            Finally able to overcome his sudden loss for words, he spoke, "Very fine, indeed. And you, Haruko-san?"
            "So am I. How's practice today? Is everything OK without my brother?"
            "Well…" Sakuragi knew it would be unwise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, since that would make him look bad. "Everything was fine."
            "Good. How did Rukawa perform?"
            Sakuragi didn't answer immediately. At first he thought of insulting the raven-haired boy, but before he could say anything, Haruko interjected.
            "I do wish you and Rukawa could get along. It's for the best of the whole team."
            Sakuragi was speechless. Him…getting along with Rukawa? The thought was sufficient to send the sanest man on earth straight to an asylum. "That's impossible."
            "Why?"
            "I don't know. It just doesn't seem plausible…"
            "I think what you two need is time."
            A shrug. He didn't feel like discussing about his archenemy; especially not with Haruko. "Where're you from?"
            "I'm on my way home from the library."
            "Would you like me to send you home? It's dangerous for a girl to be walking alone."
            "Thank you Sakuragi-kun, I really appreciate it."
            "My pleasure."
            Haruko, upon remembering something, opened her purse. A pink handkerchief flew out and landed in the middle of the road. "Oh, dear."
            "It's OK, Haruko-san. I'll get it for you."
            "Thank you so much. It means a lot to me."
            Sakuragi ran to the middle of the road. He stooped down, picking the handkerchief up. He looked up, and saw Haruko yelling something inaudible. Her hand was pointing frantically to Sakuragi's left.
            Sakuragi looked to his left. His eyes widened in utter horror when he saw a car heading towards him.
            The next second, he was thrown into pitch darkness.

            Rukawa's eyes opened abruptly. His cold eyes were full of terror, his lips dry. He paid no attention to the shopkeeper who was berating him.
            "You broke my antique vase!" barked the trader. "Why can't you look where you're cycling?"
            The vase had smashed into a million pieces.
            Normally Rukawa wasn't a superstitious guy, but he felt something was wrong.
            Then he remembered. He dreamt Sakuragi got knocked down by a car.

~{to be continued}~

More Author's Notes: *ducks to avoid unidentified flying objects* No, I'm not killing Sakuragi! If I did, then there wouldn't be any story, and I promise this will be a RuHana! Yikes! *runs away to get away from Sakuragi fans*