I do not own Slam Dunk or any of its characters. This is for fun only. If
you do not like YAOI then refrain from reading any further.
I've changed a few settings after the Ryonan IH match for the sake of the story. You've been told! Oh and there are a few surprising pairings and past relationships? ^^
TO HOLD ON 1
Mitsui stopped in the middle of the corridor of Shohoku high. It was the next day after their match for the ticket to IH with Ryonan. He felt tired, exhausted and totally dead to the world. His eyes fell on his left knee. There was a faint burning sensation and Mitsui felt fear bubble up inside him. He did not want another injury and the burning sensation, although very faint, scared the living daylight out of him.
He sighed and continued to walk, his eyes still on his knee. Nope, it can't be that bad. Akagi wouldn't mind if he took the day off from practice. He needed to get his knee checked.
*
The hospital brought back memories that Mitsui had no wish of remembering. He headed directly to the Orthopedics department of the hospital to see Dr. Hajime. Mitsui saw the look of surprise on the doctor's face when he appeared. Hajime was a serious looking middle-aged man, with jet black hair combed back, a few bangs escaping, startling amber eyes that showed wisdom and a built that showed proof that he was a great athlete in his younger years. He was dressed in his white doctor's coat, black non-wrinkle pants, shiny black shoes, and a light blue polo shirt. His nametag was pinned on the left hand side on his chest.
"Mitsui-kun? This is a surprise." Mitsui remained silent as the doctor scanned him up and down, and his eyes fell on his left knee.
Mitsui cleared his throat. "There's a slight burning pain."
Dr. Hajime nodded. "I'll have an x-ray done." Mitsui sat on the stretcher for the patients as Dr. Hajime left the room.
The x-raying process took about twenty minutes. When it was done, Dr. Hajime showed Mitsui his knee. "Mitsui-kun, there is nothing wrong with your knee. There are no signs of it being put strain on, nor does it have any other complications." He meant cancer cells. "You're perfectly fine. May I suggest rest, since I understand that you had strenuous game yesterday. And milk. Milk helps Mitsui-kun."
Mitsui sighed in relief. "I - I was just afraid."
"I know." Dr. Hajime nodded in understanding. "But now you're assured. Take a break Mitsui-kun."
"Thank you doctor." Mitsui could not help the grin from creeping up to his lips. Dr, Hajime simply patted him on the back and escorted him out of the orthopedics department. Mitsui walked on his won down the sterile green hall. He was relieved. Yeah, he was happy. Now he can lie back for a while.
*
Ayako had invited them over to her place for dinner and a peaceful night's chat after all the strenuous activity. The entire team happily agreed. It was when Miyagi spoke up that everyone's eyes fell on him.
"Aya-chan?" He suddenly blushed. "Could I - could I bring Sendoh along?"
Everyone's eyes nearly fell from its sockets. "No need to worry, Ryota. I've told Ryonan to come as well. We won't be seeing some of them for a long time. Uozumi-sempai is preparing dessert!" She beamed.
That evening, a light cool breeze graced little Kannagawa. The boys from Ryonan and Shohoku were already in Ayako's large living room, talking and drinking Pepsi and 7up while playing a game of UNO. Miyagi and Sendoh were sitting on one couch, Miyagi on Sendoh's lap, while one of the Ace's arms was around his waist. Hikoichi and Kogure was sitting peacefully together, their hands entwined with each other. Rukawa was half asleep on Sakuragi's shoulder and Mitsui was sitting with his left knee close to his chest. Ikegami and Fukuda were staring at their own deck of UNO cards, while Koshino silently played a long; Uekusa was nodding towards Miyagi's direction, indicating that it was his turn to play. Ayako, Uozumi and Akagi were in the garden barbequing burgers, while Haruko and the Guntai prepared the burger buns and salad.
"That's not fair!" Miyagi whined, as Uekusa set down a plus 4 card. "Why is it always me?"
"Oh not to worry, Ryo-kun." Sendoh tightened his hold on the point guard's waist and leaned closer to whisper something to Miyagi's ears that caused the boy to blush redder than Sakuragi's hair.
Miyagi remained quiet through out the game. The game went on and soon everyone was suddenly yawning. "Can't we do something else?" Sakuragi whined.
Suddenly, Haruko popped in and called out loud. "Dinner everyone!"
Everyone began to pick themselves up from their sitting position and followed Haruko to the garden. Wooden benches were set up and plates with burgers, salad and toffee apples were ready and waiting to be devoured. Everyone got their own plates and began eating underneath the starry skies, a few common conversations popping here and there. Mitsui secluded himself from the rest and sat underneath a tree in Ayako's garden. He failed to notice that someone was already there because he was in a world of his own. The boy was shorter and he looked extremely fragile. He had pale golden skin, dark eyes that held many secrets about him and luminous jet-black hair. He ate slowly, almost as if he wasn't eating at all.
"Hey." Mitsui said finally. He noticed that it was Koshino and how the boy looked much thinner. They boy was skinny anyway. "You don't like junk food?"
"It's all right." Koshino said, taking a small bite off his burger. "It's just that -" His eyes darkened for some unknown reason. "Nothing." He sighed and took some salad.
Mitsui shrugged. "You have to eat you know. You're too skinny for your age. Don't you eat or something?" Koshino said nothing. "I'm just kidding okay?"
Koshino forced a smile. "Yeah."
The night went on and dinner was good. They all piled in to the house again and sat in a circle. Ayako made sure that they played spin the bottle. It was tradition at times like these when competition was not an issue. Everyone seemed okay and laughter erupted every now and then. Like when Youhei told Rukawa to do a duck dance and the fox-like boy obliged. Everyone laughed till their sides hurt, even Uozumi. There was an occasion when Sakuragi had asked Akagi to give Uozumi a peck on the cheek. Everyone cracked up once again, but Akagi did his task anyway.
The bottle stopped in front of the one person that so far has not done anything. Miyagi was the one giving the task. "Truth or dare?"
Koshino gulped. He disliked it when his turn came. "D - Dare!"
Miyagi looked around the room. "Well, I dunno." He looked at Sendoh and saw a smile crawling up the Ace's face. Just then Miyagi had an idea. His eyes fell on Mitsui who was playing with the carpet fibers, not a care in the world. He grinned like an idiot. "All right. I want you, Koshino Hiroaki, to give Mitsui Hisashi a nice, big, tonsil jumping kiss!"
"W - W - What?" He cried, paling even more. "You - Y - You c - c - can't!" Mitsui's head had snapped up when he heard his name. He froze when he realized what was going on.
"Come on Koshino. Can't be that bad. I mean I had to hug Fukuda for crying out loud!" Sakuragi whined, earning a glare from silent Fukuda.
"That's a hug! Th - This is a k - kiss! There's a big difference!" Koshino said. "Oh screw it!" He got up, walked over to Mitsui, knelt before him and grabbed Mitsui's shirt collar. Mitsui's eyes widened as soft warm lips were quickly, but gently placed over his. He felt Koshino nip on his bottom lip, and he immediately responded by giving the younger boy entrance. Koshino's tongue skillfully caressed his, and Mitsui could not bite back the moan from escaping his throat. Everyone ogled at the sight. Koshino had always been shy, but here he was displaying desiring kissing abilities. If he could kiss that way, imagine what else he could do.
"There!" Koshino said taking a step back. "Done!" Mitsui was flushed, he was aroused, he was lusting over the shorter boy. He wanted those lips again. He wanted them for himself and only him. But he did not do anything about it. The game carried on, and Mitsui had drifted of to la-la land, the kiss still raw and fresh in his memories.
*
Mitsui hardly got any sleep the nights that followed. His lips burned with desire for Koshino's warm and soft lips. He longed to feel those deliciously sweet lips swallow him whole. He longed for that skilful tongue do mind blowing things to him. Hell, he simply wanted Koshino, period.
He knew however that nothing he wanted would be granted. Heck, he didn't even know the guy for crying out loud. All he knew was that he carried Ryonan's jersey number six, was a shooting guard like himself, was a bit shy and was a quiet boy. Other than him being a bit too skinny, that was all he knew. He wanted to know more, because ever since that kiss, all he could do was think of the slightly shorter boy.
Once practice was over, Mitsui headed over for his part time job at the gas station. He got paid a good amount to get him food and to get his daily needs. His aunt in Nagasaki gave him the house and pays for the water and electricity bill and his tuition fees. It was okay with him actually. He got an allowance every year of about five hundred thousand yen, but that would die in three months time, even though he tried cutting back. Mitsui eyed his blue sneakers. He needed a new pair.
He did his job till one in the morning. He got his pay and left without another word. When Mitsui was alone, he was a different young man altogether. He seldom said anything, just merely the hi and bye and sometimes a few other monosyllabic phrases when needed. Heck, he could be Rukawa version two if he wanted to be. But no, Mitsui was different. He always was an individual, having to go through his injury that deeply wounded him inside and live his next few years as a gangster, who wouldn't change even if friends accepted you once again?
Mitsui bought a can of Pepsi and drank it on his way home. He had not really been paying attention to his surroundings, but something at the back of his mind forced him to tug a look at the dark alley street. His eyes landed on a particular pair of dark eyes that lingered upon his gaze for a moment, before disappearing in to the shadows of the silent alley. Mitsui could only wonder.
"Funny." He mumbled. "I thought I saw Koshino."
*
Mitsui had tripped down stairs one day in school when he was busy thinking about Koshino in la-la land. Lucky for him, his knee was still in one piece. But his wrist was sprained. He went to Dr. Hajime and got a good lecture from him from being careless. Nevertheless, the tiny injury would heal in about four days or less, depending on Mitsui's activities with his left hand.
Mitsui was getting mildly annoyed. He was heading for the doors that led to the outside when he saw Koshino entering the hospital with a paper bag in his arms. He could not help but smile and approach the boy.
"Hey Koshino!" He greeted.
The boy nearly jumped out of his skin. "Ah! Umm - h - h - hi, Mitsui- sempai!" His eyes fell on his wrist. "What happened to you?"
Mitsui thought about it. He could not say that he fell from the stairs because he was thinking about him and his kiss. "I fell from the stairs."
"Honestly!" Koshino shook his head, a frown etched on his cute boyish looks. "Why would someone as graceful as you fall from the stairs?" Mitsui blushed at the rather innocent talk. "Really now. How ungraceful. I would expect such acts from that red-head in your team, but not from you. Hell, never from you!"
"I was -" Mitsui stared in the dark black pools that somehow had the blue- green tint in them. "I was thinking about - about someone!" He grinned.
"Yeah? Then that person must mean a lot to you. I mean come on! You fell from the stairs! You know how silly the picture in my mind is right?" Koshino asked. The boy made small talk easily, and made the person with him feel at ease rather than awkward. Though Koshino tend to make a big deal out of a small minor thing, Mitsui wasn't complaining.
"Whatever it maybe, I'm sure I still look good in them." Mitsui winked at Koshino who merely rolled his eyes. "So what brings you here?"
Koshino's mood fouled. The glare he gave Mitsui was enough to make the former MVP swallow a lump in his throat, stop breathing and take a step back, raising his hands in the process. "Does it matter?"
"No. I mean, I was just asking." Mitsui said, voice a bit shaky.
"I'm visiting my sister." Koshino said and gave a curt nod. "Now if you'll excuse me, she's waiting for me."
"Can I meet her?" Mitsui asked and Koshino nodded. Mitsui followed him.
What made the former MVP curious was why Koshino was heading for the intensive care section of the children's ward. Mitsui got his answer when Koshino stepped in to a room with a girl half lying, half sitting on the bed. She had wide dark blue eyes and dark hair that was long and was in a pigtail. She was extremely pale and was connected to a life support machine. She was about eight years old and even in the middle of all the tubes and wires fighting to keep her alive, the girl somewhat still looked beautiful, in her own mysterious way.
"Onee-chan? Who's the old man with you?" She asked in a low, hushed and strenuous voice.
Mitsui was bewildered. "O - O - Old man?"
Koshino turned to look at Mitsui and smiled back at the girl. "He's a fellow friend, Sakura. Mitsui-sempai, this is my sister, Sakura. Sakura, this is Mitsui-sempai."
Sakura graced Mitsui with a hardly noticeable nod. "Yoroshiku."
Mitsui nodded and grinned at her. He watched as Koshino began to relate what happened that day in school. It was the basic routine. Go to school, try to stay awake through out the classes, eat lunch, try to stay awake again through out the classes, practice basketball then go home. Mitsui had nearly the same routine, except he had a part time job, which suddenly reminded him. Koshino - does he have a part time job? Mitsui shook the thought away as he continued to watch how Koshino treated Sakura as if she was a porcelain doll. Koshino was a different guy. He was sweet, kind and always smiled. His smile was the most wonderful of all. Under some circumstances, Mitsui had seen Koshino force a fake smile, laugh in mockery and sometimes even give a sneer, but never smile whole heartedly. When Mitsui did, it was the most amazing thing he had ever laid eyes upon.
The night flew by and thanks the heavens Mitsui had no work. On their way home, Mitsui decided to ask. "What is she suffering from?
"Car accident. Doctor says she has a few days to live since her entire body refuse to heal." Koshino said it in a lifeless and emotionless manner. "Mom and dad died in that accident a month ago, but she didn't. Now she's suffering because some deity refuse to let her die in peace instead of suffer."
Mitsui said nothing. What could he say anyway? The girl was dying and obviously it must be shredding Koshino on the inside. Who knows about this? Sendoh? Ryonan team? Miyagi? If so, why was he not told? Mitsui mentally slapped himself. Because he never really cared much about Ryonan's shooting guard until recently right? Yeah, that was the reason.
"I'm sorry." Mitsui said, not daring to steal a glance at the sorter boy walking by him.
"We're all sorry." Koshino said and took a look at his watch. "I've got work to do. I'll see ya around yah?
"Yeah. Take care Koshino."
Koshino nodded and turned in to a dark alley. Mitsui watched as his figure disappeared in to the shadows. Why doe she feel de ja vu?
*
Koshino turned to look behind to find that Mitsui was gone. He sighed and continued walking down the dark alley. He stopped when a familiar man dressed in a white crème suit came in to vision.
"You're five minutes late." The man stated.
Koshino gave him his coldest glare. "I'm here now."
The man gave him a lopsided smile. He had dark brown hair, intense gray- blue eyes concealed behind silver rimmed glasses. He was a few inches taller than Koshino. He looked rich and spoiled and the type to shed loads of money.
"Yes, you are here now." He said, the luminous white teeth flashing before Koshino. "Come on now, Koshino-kun! I have customers waiting."
Koshino followed the man in to a black limousine at the end of the dark alley.
It was going to be another long and painful night.
But what mattered was the money.
*
"Mitsui!"
Mitsui narrowed his eyes in his sleep. Someone was going to die. Definitely. He cracked an eye open to come face to face with his green digital clock flashing eight A.M. Yup, someone indeed was going to die a slow painful death - that is once Mitsui actually wakes up and tortures the person.
"What?" He snapped. "It's a darn Saturday and it's eight in the morning! Fuck off!"
THWACK!
"OUCH!" Mitsui bolted up from his lying position, the covers rolling down and giving his rouser - or rather his audience a good view of his naked glory. "What the fuck? Excuse me! I'm sleeping here!"
Miyagi backed away a bit, a deep flush on his cheeks, bumping in to the chest of his lover, Sendoh who had a fine eyebrow raised to its fullest at the sight of Mitsui. Sakuragi and Rukawa just stared, both having blood trickling down their noses. Koshino basically scowled at the silly issue all together.
"Fucking turn around damnit!" Mitsui snapped louder. Everyone turned, allowing him to shuffle about and pull a pair of loose cotton gray pants on. He crossed his arms across his chest and asked - no, demanded in a stern voice. "What exactly brings you lot here at this unruly time of my sleep? I'm a growing boy and I need sleep! I'm also a basketball player, thus sleeping helps me grow taller, which would be to my advantage during our games! Has the thought ever crossed your pathetic minds?" He did not even notice Koshino's presence.
"No." Rukawa gave a deadpan answer.
"Get out! Now!" Mitsui pointed sharply at his bedroom door.
"But Mitsui -" Sendoh tried to reason.
"Out!" Mitsui yelled louder, his cheeks flushing red from annoyance.
"But we came because -" Miyagi was cut off as well.
"Now!" The house shook with Mitsui's voice.
The whole group rushed out before Mitsui began to spit fire at them, the front door slamming in the process that the hinges shook from the strong force. Mitsui sighed and rubbed his dry throat. Really, has he been screaming that loud? He fell back on his soft bed and hugged his pillow. Sleep refused to fall over him, so he got up and took a long hot shower, then changing in to a pair of baggy dark blue jeans and a sleeveless white shirt. He padded over to his kitchen and took out a bowl, pouring milk in to it. He reached out for his cereal - Kellog's Corn Puffs - and began to eat in a dead and lazy manner. He got himself some coffee, in which he only drank half before washing everything that he used. He looked out of the kitchen window and saw that it would be a nice day to go for a nice long walk.
He was bored. There was nothing to do at home, so maybe the walk around town would do him good. He grabbed his house keys, a couple of yen bills and threw open the door of his house. He closed it behind him and was about to walk down the pathway to his gate when he stopped. The group that woke him up that morning was in his front porch.
"What are you people doing here?" He demanded yet again.
"Mitsui-sempai, here us out." Koshino said. If there was one change in Mitsui's sour mood, it was when he blushed a bit and the look in his hard eyes softened. Everyone noticed this, especially Sendoh. Mitsui sighed and waited for Koshino to speak. "We were initially going to go to the fair today, and since we're all meeting with the other group - umm - well, we were supposed to an hour ago - at the fair, it wouldn't be nice to leave you behind. So, we actually wanted to go early when all the rides were empty."
Mitsui felt nothing but stupid. That was the reason? They came in good will and he had shoved all of them out of his house. All of them had included the current object of his desire that is Koshino Hiroaki, dressed in baggy jeans and a full-sleeved cotton shirt along with a baseball cap.
"Oh." Mitsui mumbled, his cheeks tinted with pink from embarrassment.
"So you're comin' or what Micchy?" Sakuragi demanded.
"Sure!" Mitsui grinned. "Why not?"
*
The whole day turned out to be fantastic. Mitsui had gone on the roller coaster more than six times and he was already beginning to feel sick. They had all stuffed themselves with cotton candy, popcorn, tacos, sodas, ice cream, chocolate, candies and doughnuts and it was already past lunchtime and almost dinnertime. All the said food consumed, mixed with a bit of the horror rides, the bungee diving, the water slides and the roller coaster produced not-so-good effects. Especially to Mitsui, who was now rivaling any zombie in the movie Resident Evil.
"Right, we'll all go for dinner after one last quiet ride." Ikegami said, pointing at the Ferris wheel behind him. "Go in pairs."
So they all grouped themselves in to pairs. Koshino had ended up going with Mitsui, simply because he preferred being with ex-gangster. Mitsui was not complaining at all. They boarded a car after Ikegami and Fukuda went. It was a nice orange car, with khaki upholstery. They sat opposite each other, and waited as the ferris wheel rose and rose, reaching the peak. Mitsui looked down to find everyone resembling ants and also to be rewarded with another churning feeling in guts. Heights always did wonders to him, and if Bugs Bunny could change from red to green to purple, Mitsui could do that too. Only a blue was added to the end of the color chain.
"Mitsui-sempai, are you quite all right?" Mitsui kept staring at his shoes. "You don't look too good." Mitsui mumbled some incoherent words under his breath. "What did you say?" Koshino asked.
"I'm afraid of heights." Mitsui confessed.
"Oh, right. That!" Koshino gave a small laugh. "I used to be afraid of heights too. Sakura was the one who told me to look above instead of below." Mitsui tilted his head up a bit to find Koshino staring at the evening stars above them. "Somebody told me that the great people of our past are up there, watching over us."
Mitsui turned to look up at the sky, and found it a beautiful sight. From looking out his bedroom window, all he'd see is endless black with white glowing lights. Now that he was several meters above the ground, he realized that the sky had a dash of purple and a bit dark blue along with black. The moon was full, giving off a warm and cool yellow and purple glow.
"It is a comforting sight, isn't it?" Koshino asked, his eyes sparkling as the lights of the stars and moon fell upon those dark irises.
"Yes." Mitsui said, still looking at Koshino. "It is a very comforting sight."
Koshino felt his stare and turned towards him. "Mitsui-sempai?"
Mitsui blinked fast and turned to look at the sky. They were now descending, but he kept his eyes glued to the sky, until he felt Koshino shake him, indicating that they should get off.
The Ryonan and Shohoku guntai marched out of the fair and on to a Chinese restaurant. However, Koshino glanced at his watch and if there was any change at all, it was how his skin went from golden-white to pale.
"I'm sorry. I should go." He said.
"Koshino, it's a Saturday. Come on." Hikoichi said.
"I've got work to do." Mitsui raised an eyebrow at the shorter boy's words. "Go on without me. I had fun anyway." There were a few more arguments and begging, but in the end Koshino left, and Mitsui could only look behind him as Koshino made a turn towards a dark alley and disappear in to the night.
TBC
I support MitKosh and MitRu.
I've changed a few settings after the Ryonan IH match for the sake of the story. You've been told! Oh and there are a few surprising pairings and past relationships? ^^
TO HOLD ON 1
Mitsui stopped in the middle of the corridor of Shohoku high. It was the next day after their match for the ticket to IH with Ryonan. He felt tired, exhausted and totally dead to the world. His eyes fell on his left knee. There was a faint burning sensation and Mitsui felt fear bubble up inside him. He did not want another injury and the burning sensation, although very faint, scared the living daylight out of him.
He sighed and continued to walk, his eyes still on his knee. Nope, it can't be that bad. Akagi wouldn't mind if he took the day off from practice. He needed to get his knee checked.
*
The hospital brought back memories that Mitsui had no wish of remembering. He headed directly to the Orthopedics department of the hospital to see Dr. Hajime. Mitsui saw the look of surprise on the doctor's face when he appeared. Hajime was a serious looking middle-aged man, with jet black hair combed back, a few bangs escaping, startling amber eyes that showed wisdom and a built that showed proof that he was a great athlete in his younger years. He was dressed in his white doctor's coat, black non-wrinkle pants, shiny black shoes, and a light blue polo shirt. His nametag was pinned on the left hand side on his chest.
"Mitsui-kun? This is a surprise." Mitsui remained silent as the doctor scanned him up and down, and his eyes fell on his left knee.
Mitsui cleared his throat. "There's a slight burning pain."
Dr. Hajime nodded. "I'll have an x-ray done." Mitsui sat on the stretcher for the patients as Dr. Hajime left the room.
The x-raying process took about twenty minutes. When it was done, Dr. Hajime showed Mitsui his knee. "Mitsui-kun, there is nothing wrong with your knee. There are no signs of it being put strain on, nor does it have any other complications." He meant cancer cells. "You're perfectly fine. May I suggest rest, since I understand that you had strenuous game yesterday. And milk. Milk helps Mitsui-kun."
Mitsui sighed in relief. "I - I was just afraid."
"I know." Dr. Hajime nodded in understanding. "But now you're assured. Take a break Mitsui-kun."
"Thank you doctor." Mitsui could not help the grin from creeping up to his lips. Dr, Hajime simply patted him on the back and escorted him out of the orthopedics department. Mitsui walked on his won down the sterile green hall. He was relieved. Yeah, he was happy. Now he can lie back for a while.
*
Ayako had invited them over to her place for dinner and a peaceful night's chat after all the strenuous activity. The entire team happily agreed. It was when Miyagi spoke up that everyone's eyes fell on him.
"Aya-chan?" He suddenly blushed. "Could I - could I bring Sendoh along?"
Everyone's eyes nearly fell from its sockets. "No need to worry, Ryota. I've told Ryonan to come as well. We won't be seeing some of them for a long time. Uozumi-sempai is preparing dessert!" She beamed.
That evening, a light cool breeze graced little Kannagawa. The boys from Ryonan and Shohoku were already in Ayako's large living room, talking and drinking Pepsi and 7up while playing a game of UNO. Miyagi and Sendoh were sitting on one couch, Miyagi on Sendoh's lap, while one of the Ace's arms was around his waist. Hikoichi and Kogure was sitting peacefully together, their hands entwined with each other. Rukawa was half asleep on Sakuragi's shoulder and Mitsui was sitting with his left knee close to his chest. Ikegami and Fukuda were staring at their own deck of UNO cards, while Koshino silently played a long; Uekusa was nodding towards Miyagi's direction, indicating that it was his turn to play. Ayako, Uozumi and Akagi were in the garden barbequing burgers, while Haruko and the Guntai prepared the burger buns and salad.
"That's not fair!" Miyagi whined, as Uekusa set down a plus 4 card. "Why is it always me?"
"Oh not to worry, Ryo-kun." Sendoh tightened his hold on the point guard's waist and leaned closer to whisper something to Miyagi's ears that caused the boy to blush redder than Sakuragi's hair.
Miyagi remained quiet through out the game. The game went on and soon everyone was suddenly yawning. "Can't we do something else?" Sakuragi whined.
Suddenly, Haruko popped in and called out loud. "Dinner everyone!"
Everyone began to pick themselves up from their sitting position and followed Haruko to the garden. Wooden benches were set up and plates with burgers, salad and toffee apples were ready and waiting to be devoured. Everyone got their own plates and began eating underneath the starry skies, a few common conversations popping here and there. Mitsui secluded himself from the rest and sat underneath a tree in Ayako's garden. He failed to notice that someone was already there because he was in a world of his own. The boy was shorter and he looked extremely fragile. He had pale golden skin, dark eyes that held many secrets about him and luminous jet-black hair. He ate slowly, almost as if he wasn't eating at all.
"Hey." Mitsui said finally. He noticed that it was Koshino and how the boy looked much thinner. They boy was skinny anyway. "You don't like junk food?"
"It's all right." Koshino said, taking a small bite off his burger. "It's just that -" His eyes darkened for some unknown reason. "Nothing." He sighed and took some salad.
Mitsui shrugged. "You have to eat you know. You're too skinny for your age. Don't you eat or something?" Koshino said nothing. "I'm just kidding okay?"
Koshino forced a smile. "Yeah."
The night went on and dinner was good. They all piled in to the house again and sat in a circle. Ayako made sure that they played spin the bottle. It was tradition at times like these when competition was not an issue. Everyone seemed okay and laughter erupted every now and then. Like when Youhei told Rukawa to do a duck dance and the fox-like boy obliged. Everyone laughed till their sides hurt, even Uozumi. There was an occasion when Sakuragi had asked Akagi to give Uozumi a peck on the cheek. Everyone cracked up once again, but Akagi did his task anyway.
The bottle stopped in front of the one person that so far has not done anything. Miyagi was the one giving the task. "Truth or dare?"
Koshino gulped. He disliked it when his turn came. "D - Dare!"
Miyagi looked around the room. "Well, I dunno." He looked at Sendoh and saw a smile crawling up the Ace's face. Just then Miyagi had an idea. His eyes fell on Mitsui who was playing with the carpet fibers, not a care in the world. He grinned like an idiot. "All right. I want you, Koshino Hiroaki, to give Mitsui Hisashi a nice, big, tonsil jumping kiss!"
"W - W - What?" He cried, paling even more. "You - Y - You c - c - can't!" Mitsui's head had snapped up when he heard his name. He froze when he realized what was going on.
"Come on Koshino. Can't be that bad. I mean I had to hug Fukuda for crying out loud!" Sakuragi whined, earning a glare from silent Fukuda.
"That's a hug! Th - This is a k - kiss! There's a big difference!" Koshino said. "Oh screw it!" He got up, walked over to Mitsui, knelt before him and grabbed Mitsui's shirt collar. Mitsui's eyes widened as soft warm lips were quickly, but gently placed over his. He felt Koshino nip on his bottom lip, and he immediately responded by giving the younger boy entrance. Koshino's tongue skillfully caressed his, and Mitsui could not bite back the moan from escaping his throat. Everyone ogled at the sight. Koshino had always been shy, but here he was displaying desiring kissing abilities. If he could kiss that way, imagine what else he could do.
"There!" Koshino said taking a step back. "Done!" Mitsui was flushed, he was aroused, he was lusting over the shorter boy. He wanted those lips again. He wanted them for himself and only him. But he did not do anything about it. The game carried on, and Mitsui had drifted of to la-la land, the kiss still raw and fresh in his memories.
*
Mitsui hardly got any sleep the nights that followed. His lips burned with desire for Koshino's warm and soft lips. He longed to feel those deliciously sweet lips swallow him whole. He longed for that skilful tongue do mind blowing things to him. Hell, he simply wanted Koshino, period.
He knew however that nothing he wanted would be granted. Heck, he didn't even know the guy for crying out loud. All he knew was that he carried Ryonan's jersey number six, was a shooting guard like himself, was a bit shy and was a quiet boy. Other than him being a bit too skinny, that was all he knew. He wanted to know more, because ever since that kiss, all he could do was think of the slightly shorter boy.
Once practice was over, Mitsui headed over for his part time job at the gas station. He got paid a good amount to get him food and to get his daily needs. His aunt in Nagasaki gave him the house and pays for the water and electricity bill and his tuition fees. It was okay with him actually. He got an allowance every year of about five hundred thousand yen, but that would die in three months time, even though he tried cutting back. Mitsui eyed his blue sneakers. He needed a new pair.
He did his job till one in the morning. He got his pay and left without another word. When Mitsui was alone, he was a different young man altogether. He seldom said anything, just merely the hi and bye and sometimes a few other monosyllabic phrases when needed. Heck, he could be Rukawa version two if he wanted to be. But no, Mitsui was different. He always was an individual, having to go through his injury that deeply wounded him inside and live his next few years as a gangster, who wouldn't change even if friends accepted you once again?
Mitsui bought a can of Pepsi and drank it on his way home. He had not really been paying attention to his surroundings, but something at the back of his mind forced him to tug a look at the dark alley street. His eyes landed on a particular pair of dark eyes that lingered upon his gaze for a moment, before disappearing in to the shadows of the silent alley. Mitsui could only wonder.
"Funny." He mumbled. "I thought I saw Koshino."
*
Mitsui had tripped down stairs one day in school when he was busy thinking about Koshino in la-la land. Lucky for him, his knee was still in one piece. But his wrist was sprained. He went to Dr. Hajime and got a good lecture from him from being careless. Nevertheless, the tiny injury would heal in about four days or less, depending on Mitsui's activities with his left hand.
Mitsui was getting mildly annoyed. He was heading for the doors that led to the outside when he saw Koshino entering the hospital with a paper bag in his arms. He could not help but smile and approach the boy.
"Hey Koshino!" He greeted.
The boy nearly jumped out of his skin. "Ah! Umm - h - h - hi, Mitsui- sempai!" His eyes fell on his wrist. "What happened to you?"
Mitsui thought about it. He could not say that he fell from the stairs because he was thinking about him and his kiss. "I fell from the stairs."
"Honestly!" Koshino shook his head, a frown etched on his cute boyish looks. "Why would someone as graceful as you fall from the stairs?" Mitsui blushed at the rather innocent talk. "Really now. How ungraceful. I would expect such acts from that red-head in your team, but not from you. Hell, never from you!"
"I was -" Mitsui stared in the dark black pools that somehow had the blue- green tint in them. "I was thinking about - about someone!" He grinned.
"Yeah? Then that person must mean a lot to you. I mean come on! You fell from the stairs! You know how silly the picture in my mind is right?" Koshino asked. The boy made small talk easily, and made the person with him feel at ease rather than awkward. Though Koshino tend to make a big deal out of a small minor thing, Mitsui wasn't complaining.
"Whatever it maybe, I'm sure I still look good in them." Mitsui winked at Koshino who merely rolled his eyes. "So what brings you here?"
Koshino's mood fouled. The glare he gave Mitsui was enough to make the former MVP swallow a lump in his throat, stop breathing and take a step back, raising his hands in the process. "Does it matter?"
"No. I mean, I was just asking." Mitsui said, voice a bit shaky.
"I'm visiting my sister." Koshino said and gave a curt nod. "Now if you'll excuse me, she's waiting for me."
"Can I meet her?" Mitsui asked and Koshino nodded. Mitsui followed him.
What made the former MVP curious was why Koshino was heading for the intensive care section of the children's ward. Mitsui got his answer when Koshino stepped in to a room with a girl half lying, half sitting on the bed. She had wide dark blue eyes and dark hair that was long and was in a pigtail. She was extremely pale and was connected to a life support machine. She was about eight years old and even in the middle of all the tubes and wires fighting to keep her alive, the girl somewhat still looked beautiful, in her own mysterious way.
"Onee-chan? Who's the old man with you?" She asked in a low, hushed and strenuous voice.
Mitsui was bewildered. "O - O - Old man?"
Koshino turned to look at Mitsui and smiled back at the girl. "He's a fellow friend, Sakura. Mitsui-sempai, this is my sister, Sakura. Sakura, this is Mitsui-sempai."
Sakura graced Mitsui with a hardly noticeable nod. "Yoroshiku."
Mitsui nodded and grinned at her. He watched as Koshino began to relate what happened that day in school. It was the basic routine. Go to school, try to stay awake through out the classes, eat lunch, try to stay awake again through out the classes, practice basketball then go home. Mitsui had nearly the same routine, except he had a part time job, which suddenly reminded him. Koshino - does he have a part time job? Mitsui shook the thought away as he continued to watch how Koshino treated Sakura as if she was a porcelain doll. Koshino was a different guy. He was sweet, kind and always smiled. His smile was the most wonderful of all. Under some circumstances, Mitsui had seen Koshino force a fake smile, laugh in mockery and sometimes even give a sneer, but never smile whole heartedly. When Mitsui did, it was the most amazing thing he had ever laid eyes upon.
The night flew by and thanks the heavens Mitsui had no work. On their way home, Mitsui decided to ask. "What is she suffering from?
"Car accident. Doctor says she has a few days to live since her entire body refuse to heal." Koshino said it in a lifeless and emotionless manner. "Mom and dad died in that accident a month ago, but she didn't. Now she's suffering because some deity refuse to let her die in peace instead of suffer."
Mitsui said nothing. What could he say anyway? The girl was dying and obviously it must be shredding Koshino on the inside. Who knows about this? Sendoh? Ryonan team? Miyagi? If so, why was he not told? Mitsui mentally slapped himself. Because he never really cared much about Ryonan's shooting guard until recently right? Yeah, that was the reason.
"I'm sorry." Mitsui said, not daring to steal a glance at the sorter boy walking by him.
"We're all sorry." Koshino said and took a look at his watch. "I've got work to do. I'll see ya around yah?
"Yeah. Take care Koshino."
Koshino nodded and turned in to a dark alley. Mitsui watched as his figure disappeared in to the shadows. Why doe she feel de ja vu?
*
Koshino turned to look behind to find that Mitsui was gone. He sighed and continued walking down the dark alley. He stopped when a familiar man dressed in a white crème suit came in to vision.
"You're five minutes late." The man stated.
Koshino gave him his coldest glare. "I'm here now."
The man gave him a lopsided smile. He had dark brown hair, intense gray- blue eyes concealed behind silver rimmed glasses. He was a few inches taller than Koshino. He looked rich and spoiled and the type to shed loads of money.
"Yes, you are here now." He said, the luminous white teeth flashing before Koshino. "Come on now, Koshino-kun! I have customers waiting."
Koshino followed the man in to a black limousine at the end of the dark alley.
It was going to be another long and painful night.
But what mattered was the money.
*
"Mitsui!"
Mitsui narrowed his eyes in his sleep. Someone was going to die. Definitely. He cracked an eye open to come face to face with his green digital clock flashing eight A.M. Yup, someone indeed was going to die a slow painful death - that is once Mitsui actually wakes up and tortures the person.
"What?" He snapped. "It's a darn Saturday and it's eight in the morning! Fuck off!"
THWACK!
"OUCH!" Mitsui bolted up from his lying position, the covers rolling down and giving his rouser - or rather his audience a good view of his naked glory. "What the fuck? Excuse me! I'm sleeping here!"
Miyagi backed away a bit, a deep flush on his cheeks, bumping in to the chest of his lover, Sendoh who had a fine eyebrow raised to its fullest at the sight of Mitsui. Sakuragi and Rukawa just stared, both having blood trickling down their noses. Koshino basically scowled at the silly issue all together.
"Fucking turn around damnit!" Mitsui snapped louder. Everyone turned, allowing him to shuffle about and pull a pair of loose cotton gray pants on. He crossed his arms across his chest and asked - no, demanded in a stern voice. "What exactly brings you lot here at this unruly time of my sleep? I'm a growing boy and I need sleep! I'm also a basketball player, thus sleeping helps me grow taller, which would be to my advantage during our games! Has the thought ever crossed your pathetic minds?" He did not even notice Koshino's presence.
"No." Rukawa gave a deadpan answer.
"Get out! Now!" Mitsui pointed sharply at his bedroom door.
"But Mitsui -" Sendoh tried to reason.
"Out!" Mitsui yelled louder, his cheeks flushing red from annoyance.
"But we came because -" Miyagi was cut off as well.
"Now!" The house shook with Mitsui's voice.
The whole group rushed out before Mitsui began to spit fire at them, the front door slamming in the process that the hinges shook from the strong force. Mitsui sighed and rubbed his dry throat. Really, has he been screaming that loud? He fell back on his soft bed and hugged his pillow. Sleep refused to fall over him, so he got up and took a long hot shower, then changing in to a pair of baggy dark blue jeans and a sleeveless white shirt. He padded over to his kitchen and took out a bowl, pouring milk in to it. He reached out for his cereal - Kellog's Corn Puffs - and began to eat in a dead and lazy manner. He got himself some coffee, in which he only drank half before washing everything that he used. He looked out of the kitchen window and saw that it would be a nice day to go for a nice long walk.
He was bored. There was nothing to do at home, so maybe the walk around town would do him good. He grabbed his house keys, a couple of yen bills and threw open the door of his house. He closed it behind him and was about to walk down the pathway to his gate when he stopped. The group that woke him up that morning was in his front porch.
"What are you people doing here?" He demanded yet again.
"Mitsui-sempai, here us out." Koshino said. If there was one change in Mitsui's sour mood, it was when he blushed a bit and the look in his hard eyes softened. Everyone noticed this, especially Sendoh. Mitsui sighed and waited for Koshino to speak. "We were initially going to go to the fair today, and since we're all meeting with the other group - umm - well, we were supposed to an hour ago - at the fair, it wouldn't be nice to leave you behind. So, we actually wanted to go early when all the rides were empty."
Mitsui felt nothing but stupid. That was the reason? They came in good will and he had shoved all of them out of his house. All of them had included the current object of his desire that is Koshino Hiroaki, dressed in baggy jeans and a full-sleeved cotton shirt along with a baseball cap.
"Oh." Mitsui mumbled, his cheeks tinted with pink from embarrassment.
"So you're comin' or what Micchy?" Sakuragi demanded.
"Sure!" Mitsui grinned. "Why not?"
*
The whole day turned out to be fantastic. Mitsui had gone on the roller coaster more than six times and he was already beginning to feel sick. They had all stuffed themselves with cotton candy, popcorn, tacos, sodas, ice cream, chocolate, candies and doughnuts and it was already past lunchtime and almost dinnertime. All the said food consumed, mixed with a bit of the horror rides, the bungee diving, the water slides and the roller coaster produced not-so-good effects. Especially to Mitsui, who was now rivaling any zombie in the movie Resident Evil.
"Right, we'll all go for dinner after one last quiet ride." Ikegami said, pointing at the Ferris wheel behind him. "Go in pairs."
So they all grouped themselves in to pairs. Koshino had ended up going with Mitsui, simply because he preferred being with ex-gangster. Mitsui was not complaining at all. They boarded a car after Ikegami and Fukuda went. It was a nice orange car, with khaki upholstery. They sat opposite each other, and waited as the ferris wheel rose and rose, reaching the peak. Mitsui looked down to find everyone resembling ants and also to be rewarded with another churning feeling in guts. Heights always did wonders to him, and if Bugs Bunny could change from red to green to purple, Mitsui could do that too. Only a blue was added to the end of the color chain.
"Mitsui-sempai, are you quite all right?" Mitsui kept staring at his shoes. "You don't look too good." Mitsui mumbled some incoherent words under his breath. "What did you say?" Koshino asked.
"I'm afraid of heights." Mitsui confessed.
"Oh, right. That!" Koshino gave a small laugh. "I used to be afraid of heights too. Sakura was the one who told me to look above instead of below." Mitsui tilted his head up a bit to find Koshino staring at the evening stars above them. "Somebody told me that the great people of our past are up there, watching over us."
Mitsui turned to look up at the sky, and found it a beautiful sight. From looking out his bedroom window, all he'd see is endless black with white glowing lights. Now that he was several meters above the ground, he realized that the sky had a dash of purple and a bit dark blue along with black. The moon was full, giving off a warm and cool yellow and purple glow.
"It is a comforting sight, isn't it?" Koshino asked, his eyes sparkling as the lights of the stars and moon fell upon those dark irises.
"Yes." Mitsui said, still looking at Koshino. "It is a very comforting sight."
Koshino felt his stare and turned towards him. "Mitsui-sempai?"
Mitsui blinked fast and turned to look at the sky. They were now descending, but he kept his eyes glued to the sky, until he felt Koshino shake him, indicating that they should get off.
The Ryonan and Shohoku guntai marched out of the fair and on to a Chinese restaurant. However, Koshino glanced at his watch and if there was any change at all, it was how his skin went from golden-white to pale.
"I'm sorry. I should go." He said.
"Koshino, it's a Saturday. Come on." Hikoichi said.
"I've got work to do." Mitsui raised an eyebrow at the shorter boy's words. "Go on without me. I had fun anyway." There were a few more arguments and begging, but in the end Koshino left, and Mitsui could only look behind him as Koshino made a turn towards a dark alley and disappear in to the night.
TBC
I support MitKosh and MitRu.