Title: Why?

Summary: "Stupid kitsune! I'm the only one allowed to ruin that stupid face of yours!"

Disclaimers: I do not own Slam Dunk and its characters.

A/N: Nothing special. The idea came to me while I was reading the manga. Can be viewed as non-yaoi, just a friendship thing-y between the two...or yaoish, a start of a blossoming relationship of the two. ;-)

Hope you somewhat like it. Enjoy! (n . n)

"Sakuragi's thoughts"

"Rukawa's thoughts"

It's the night before the match of Shohoku to Sannoh when Anzai-sensei decided to let the team know who they're up against. However, as expected, the video of Sannoh vs Kainandai shook the whole team up…everyone except Sakuragi, that is. Not long after, Minami of Toyotama came and looked for Rukawa.

Being the curious guy that he was, Sakuragi followed them and listened in on their conversation.

"I'm sorry" said Minami to Rukawa.

"Geez, that Calimero is such a softy! If I were him, I wouldn't be too sorry; it's just that stupid kitsune!"

"Now what is that calimero giving to that rat-face?"

"A cream? Heh, so, that guy IS evil! He's going to give him a poison saying it's a cream to reduce the swelling. Hehehehe…"

"Eh? It really is a cream to reduce the swelling? Argh!"

After giving his final advice to Rukawa, Minami went away. Rukawa stayed in his place, sighed and looked up in the sky.

"You can come out now do ahou." Rukawa said, still looking up at the sky.

Sakuragi stiffened in his hiding place and remained as quiet as possible.

"Fine, suit yourself. Just don't go snooping in on my business again ahou."

"Nani? Why you-"

Sakuragi stopped when he realized that he just got provoked by Rukawa into coming out. He stomped his way to Rukawa's side, feeling embarrassed already.

"What are you smirking at, you stupid kitsune?"

"…"

They stayed silent for a few minutes, Sakuragi giving Rukawa a death glare every now and then, and Rukawa doing the same. They could have done it all night if Sakuragi haven't felt uncomfortable all of a sudden.

"So…what is that calimero doing here?"

"…"

"Fine, don't answer me. Just don't go on crying to me when you found out that you can't see anymore because he gave you some toxic chemical!"

With that, he continued his walk only to be stopped by Rukawa.

"Oi, do ahou…Why?"

Sakuragi slowly turned back with a confused look on his face.

"Why what, kitsune?"

"Why? Why do you care what would happen to me? Why did you go ballistic when that Minami hit me in the eye? Why is your answer so important to me? Why? Why do ahou? Why?"

"Are you going to ask me, why I give a shit to what happens in your eyes? Are you going to ask me why I reacted the way I had reacted when that calimero hit you in the eye?"

"Yes, you do ahou!"

"I…I don't know…I just…It felt…I just…"

It seems like they're talking, but only with their eyes. It seems like an hour or two had passed for both of them, but the truth was they were just standing and staring for 3 minutes. In the end, Sakuragi sighed and turned around, his back facing Rukawa. He took his first step and Rukawa's face fell though he's completely unaware of it. Rukawa, too, turned back and was about to go in the opposite direction when he heard Sakuragi's voice then he's fading steps.

Rukawa stopped for a few seconds, digesting what Sakuragi had said. When he finally understood what's beneath those words, he felt his lips quirk on one side, and he continued his walk.

"Stupid kitsune! I'm the only one allowed to ruin that stupid face of yours!"

The End.

Thank you for reading and hope you tell me what you think. (n . n)