Chapter 10: Plato-nic

Warning: OOCness (again! No way am I going to make them otherwise!), a little angst, okay maybe a tad more of it than usual.

I'm back:Tensai pose: Your reviews really encouraged me to update faster. I don't know how I'd manage without you people, so keep on supporting me through this fic ne?

A/N: Thank you to all those who reviewed!

To dragon dreams: Arigato for the nice comment!

To Annachan: Kitsune duties….lol.

To Hagane: Hope your head is okay now mate. Next time, please warn me first before your noggin erupts and you get knocked out. I don't want learn you bit the dust due to blood loss because of too much chatting with me so early in the morning.

To anime-luverjc: I appreciate your words of encouragement.

To Hikaru Itsuko: Yay! Go RuHana!

To chris37: I didn't call this fic Stuck With You for nothing! Glue is an understatement, more like Supah Glue 3X.

To Ami the 13th: Wait no more! The Tensai is here! Nyahahaha :cough: Just kidding.

To Seonaid Mist: You're playing with me…lol.

To Crescent Quetzacoatl: Ru ain't such a bad guy, and I'm gonna make him loosen up more…:evil laugh: Good luck on your collaboration in "The Nightingale Sings".

To amazingpinoy: Keep on reading AND reviewing then. Salamat!

To armie santos: Thank you for clarifying me about your fic. I hope you continue it soon.

This is my first time to write POV's (just short ones though). I've been experimenting all this time throughout this fic, from dialogue, narrative, descriptive, songfics and other stuff. Kinda like a prototype for my future projects you see. Anyways, hope you people still like it!

Tsukiyadente: Give me an effing break! (I dunno if this is right. lol)

On with the fic!

RUKAWA'S POV

I think fate gets a kick out of screwing with my life.

Here I am, inside a cramped tent with the boy of my dreams and stranded in a godforsaken island until who knows how long, with nothing to distract me from jumping on him. I remember a philosopher saying something about love being a grave mental disease. For someone who lived eons ago, he was sure damn straight to the point. I lost my mind when I fell for this beautiful, but brainless, do'aho….

Shoot. I made a mistake by looking at him again, just lying there (not to mention in a spread-eagled position too :drool:) peacefully, not giving a damn about the world. Or me.

I couldn't help it. I just had to touch him.

I reached out, and carefully skimmed his face, tracing the soft features, his lips, nose, eyes. I didn't know I could be so bold, since every time he's awake I morph into a quaking mass of goo inside despite the composed façade I always display for everyone to see.

I marveled at the perfection that is Hanamichi. I heard myself let out a small gasp when the sleeping angel unconsciously moved closer to my hand, seeking my touch.

Kami-sama….

Rukawa felt hot all of a sudden. His heart slammed in his throat, and he quickly withdrew his hand, as if Hanamichi's skin against his pained him. He didn't trust himself enough to be so near the redhead, so he scooted away quietly from the prone figure, careful not to wake him up.

Once outside, Rukawa gave out a loud "whoosh" of air. He didn't realize he stopped breathing.

What a laugh. I didn't realize it, but my shoulders are shaking from mirth at the ridiculous situation I've put myself into. What's more, I don't see why the hell I find it funny.

'Great. The great Ice Prince of Kanagawa, is a afraid of a do'aho. I'm really losing it.'

Rukawa decided to walk along the seashore. Wallowing in his own self-pity was really not his style. Heck, he still got some of his pride left in him.

He walked aimlessly along the beach back and forth, listening to the waves crashing against the shore. It managed to calm him a little.

Rukawa caught sight of Ryonan's ace fishing again at his usual spot on his way back to camp. Sendoh also spotted the rookie, and waved at him to come and chat. Seeing that it's better than going back to the tent where Hanamichi was, he went over to Sendoh.

"Morning Ru! Did you and Hana have fun last night?" said Sendoh impishly. He gave a roguish wink.

Rukawa gave him a cold glare in reply.

"Aw Ru, you can tell me anything you know." Sendoh said, giving the freshman an adorable pout.

"Urusai. Nothing happened." said Rukawa curtly, his voice clearly bitter.

"Doesn't look like it. Man, you look terrible! I bet you two didn't sleep at all last night!" chuckled Sendoh. He didn't notice that Rukawa was now seething with anger. The rookie really liked to flog Sendoh to death. Now.

"Okay. I'll stop." laughed Sendoh, seeing that Rukawa was going to snap any second. He's still too young and good-looking to die. He smirked at the furious rookie.

"Why didn't you make a move on him?

"None of your business."

"You know, you really need some tutoring in your people skills Ru." smiled Sendoh.

"I don't care."

"You didn't answer my first question Ru."

"Don't call me Ru."

Sendog sighed at the way the conversation was going.

"Okay, I won't call you Ru. But why didn't you make a move on him last night? All of us already helped you to snag Hana."

"Don't call Hanamichi Hana." replied Rukawa dangerously.

"Damn, you're stubborn as a mule, you know that?" Sendoh said playfully.

"Hn."

"I'm not going to let my question go Rukawa…"

'Kuso! This guy is annoying….' sighed Rukawa. "He fell asleep." said the rookie in a monotone.

Sendoh sweatdropped.

FLASHBACK

"I have to share a tent with Kitsune? TSUKIYADENTEEEEEEEEEEE!" roared Hanamichi. Everyone covered their ears at the redhead's outburst. The scream went on for a few more minutes.

Seeing that they were serious in making him stay with his sworn enemy, Hanamichi ran for it. He didn't even get to three steps when Rukawa tackled him to the ground. Ryota, Mitsui, Sendoh, and Kiyota followed, and jumped on top of the other, football style.

Fujima was shaking his head.

"This is for you own good Sakuragi." said Fujima sweetly. The smile that Fujima gave the redhead gave everyone goose bumps. It was charming yet diabolical at the same time, like he had a plan up his sleeve. Hanagata looked at him with apprehension.

"Since you have a habit of running away Sakuragi, I really have to assign you a permanent partner from now own." added Fujima. No brainer who he got there.

Hanamichi threw one hell of a fit after that. Somehow Ayako managed to convince the redhead to be Rukawa's tent mate and call it a night (one guess how she did that :snicker:). He promptly got knocked out as soon as he crawled inside, much to the rookie's dismay.

END OF FLASHBACK

"You know, you should drop more hints at him." said the older ace, snapping Rukawa out of his daze. That got his attention.

"I don't need your advice." said Rukawa flatly. His eyes told Sendoh otherwise.

"First off, stop calling him do'aho."

"Do'aho." Rukawa looked at Sendoh like he was nuts. It was like telling him not to breathe.

"And stop being so unfriendly. He'd like you more if you talk, rather than insult him."

"….."

"And show him that you like him, you know, by flirting with him or something. The works." Sendoh gave Rukawa a knowing smirk.

"…..."

"You get what I'm saying?"

Rukawa shrugged. 'It could work….wait. Why am I taking Sendoh's advice? Chikuso!'

He got up and left. Sendoh was making his morning lousier than it needed to be.

Koshino watched the two handsome aces talk. Or rather, Sendoh talk. He looked away. Seeing his best friend being friendly with the ice prince didn't bother him one bit. Nu uh. Nil. Nada.

Too bad the word denial isn't part of Koshino's vocabulary.

Sundown….

Everyone was gathered at the fire again, since Fujima, Ayako, and the rest of the seniors insisted that all stayed after dinner for their "bonding" and "getting to know each other better" time. Either that or get whacked by THE FAN senseless that is.

Hanamichi was glaring at Rukawa and everybody. Rukawa was glowering at Sendoh while gazing longingly at the redhead. Koshino was giving dagger looks at the Ryonan's ace, while Sendoh was being his usual over-cheery self, immune to the glaring onslaught.

Miyagi and Ayako were oblivious, just smiling at each other and holding hands. Jin was fondly ruffling Kiyota's hair, making it more unruly than usual. The Kainan rookie didn't mind though, he was practically purring at Jin's ministrations. Kogure was looking at them all, an amused expression in his features while Mitsui was trying to get his attention. Fujima was staring at nothing, absently sifting sand in his hands. Hanagata was giving him odd looks, thinking the Shoyo captain had finally flipped. Sendoh coughed.

"Anyone up for scary stories again?" asked Sendoh, flashing him famous grin.

'Gads, not this again.' "I think Toru and I will pass. We have something to discuss." said the Shoyo captain swiftly. He nodded at the taller boy beside him.

"Suit yourselves. If you want to know the ending, just tell me." Sendoh called after them.

A few minutes passed, and the two Shoyo players were walking without talking to each other. Hanagata was wondering why Fujima had been in a withdrawn, mellow mood ever since they came into the island. He just followed his best friend obediently. He will get the answers anyway, sooner or later.

"Feeling adventurous today Toru-kun?" said Fujima suddenly. They stopped at the foot of a small mountain.

'Toru-kun?' thought Hanagata. His cheeks reddened a little.

Fujima didn't wait for his answer. "Let's climb up. I reckon the view at the top is great." He started to scale the mountain slope without looking back, sure that Hanagata will follow him.

"Why are we here Kenji?" asked Hanagata curiously. They were at the top of the small peak, everything around them bare, except a few trees.

Fujima sat down on the soft blanket of grass. He looked at the sun going down the horizon, the sky bathed with red-orange glow. "Just thought we skywatch a little. It's been a while." replied Fujima simply. He patted the ground beside him, motioning for the tall center to sit.

"And I thought you were just trying to escape from Sendoh's campfire stories." joked Hanagata.

Fujima chuckled. "Yeah. That too."

They just sat there, looking at the sun disappear, then being replaced by stars. Then Fujima spoke up.

"Stargazing is so much better here. Back home, there's too much light in the city so you really can't make out the constellations." The Shoyo point guard lain down and rested his arm behind his head. "They are beautiful, aren't they?"

"Yeah…but I never really took the time to look at them though. I don't know what constellations are, or whatever balls of light up there." replied Hanagata dismally.

"I'll teach you some if you want." Fujima said softly. He slowly traced the heavens with his index finger for Hanagata to follow.

True enough, there were millions, maybe billions of stars displayed at the sky. It was as if that particular spot was where all the celestial bodies come out to parade all their shining glory….

"That's the constellation Centaurus, see that one that looks like a steed? He's not really a horse, but half-man and half-horse and extremely wise…to your right is Coma Berenices or Berenice's Hair, legends say that her hair is so striking that Venus, the goddess of beauty, placed it in the sky for everyone to admire…due south, there, the one that looks like a fancy doughnut with red rims at the edges and blue-green in the middle is actually the Helix Nebula, the nearest planetary nebula to the earth…."

Fujima pointed out numerous constellations, nebulas, supernovas, galaxies and planets, as if he knew them by second nature. He never saw Fujima this relaxed and enjoying himself. Hanagata was impressed, and his interest in the heavenly bodies grew each passing second. It was like he was being sucked into the myths and into outer space, with the way Fujima was explaining everything…he looked at the boy beside him with admiration. Then Fujima stopped abruptly and went silent.

"Is something wrong?" asked Hanagata worriedly. He propped himself up to get a better look at Fujima.

"Iye…just thought I'm probably boring you to tears." said Fujima. He looked away, pulling out tufts of grass to occupy him.

"Never."

Fujima smiled.

"How do you know all this stuff?" asked Hanagata, seeing the faraway look in the Shoyo captain.

"It's a relaxing hobby… just looking out there, where everything just goes out forever and ever…" Fujima trailed off. "It kind of makes me think about lots of things….am I making sense?" He gave a laugh. "I'm so confused nowadays." He smiled wryly, giving the impression of the once proud basketball captain of being like a lost child.

Hanagata shifted nearer and put a comforting arm around the smaller boy's shoulders.

"We've been together since preschool…but now we're graduating this year and going into our separate ways, I'm going to Tokyo University and you're staying here. We will not get to see each other much anymore…" Fujima sighed.

"You know, people tease us all the time that we are like husband and wife, since they always see us together. How about proving them wrong for once?" said Hanagata. He laughed inwardly, despite his own suggestion hurt him. A lot.

"Jokes are half-meant Toru-kun…" Fujima said softly.

"What do you mean?"

"You asked me three days ago if this whole cruise business is related to our loss to Shohoku." stated Fujima. He closed his eyes. 'I know I can do this….' he mused, gathering all his courage. "That game made me realize a lot. That we can't play basketball forever. We can't win all the time. That everything changes."

Hanagata squinted behind his lenses, willing them to look at the smaller boy's expression. The only light they had was little, so he can't really see what's going through Fujima.

"I don't regret what happened in that game Toru. Being a coach and a captain taught me that. I know the whole Shoyo team did their best, you did your best. But still, I can't help feel responsible, if only I entered earlier, if only I guarded Miyagi better, if only…."

Hanagata cut in. "You're the finest point guard and coach that Shoyo has ever seen, and that's something not everybody can accomplish. Our loss didn't make you any lesser." said Hanagata firmly. A pause.

"Besides, there's still the Winter Games. We're not going to lose this time, I'll make sure of that." He gave Fujima a squeeze.

Fujima bit his lip. He looked doubtful.

"I feel you're not telling me everything Kenji. You've been acting strange ever since we got here."

Fujima fell silent. He stayed like that for a long time, Hanagata thought he fell asleep. Out of the blue, Fujima spoke again.

"Would you still be my best friend if I tell you the truth? Truly?"

Hanagata nodded without hesitation.

"You want to know why I made those rules for Sakuragi and Rukawa? I see potential, and they just need a little push to realize it. They would make a great couple and they will be happy. I'm envious of them." said Fujima wistfully.

Hanagata was taken aback at the sudden change of subject. Why was he anxious all of a sudden?

"I've always wondered why you never had a girlfriend Fujima. Anyone would love to be with you." Hanagata grimaced. My, he was being hypocrite to himself today.

Fujima looked at the bespectacled boy pleadingly. "I'm already happy just being your friend Toru." He took Hanagata's hands in his and clasped them tightly.

"I love you, more than a friend should. And I'm sorry for feeling this way, and for telling you this. I just want to straighten this between us before I go away."

Fujima stood up, but Hanagata didn't let go. He pulled the shorter boy to him in a hug. He rested his head on top of Fujima's, burying his nose on the point guard's soft hair.

"You don't need to be jealous of them Kenji. You have me. You always did." mumbled Hanagata. He felt Fujima's lithe arms returning his embrace.

"Promise?"

"Always."

"You better not find anyone to replace me while I'm gone." said Fujima sternly, back in his dreaded coach mode again. Hanagata gave a chuckle.

"I won't…..coach."

To be continued….

Gads, this chapter is longer than I expected and full of angst. Seniors really have a lot in their minds about college and leaving their friends behind so I figured that must be the conflict going through Fujima. :shrugs:

For the Saiyuki fans reading this, you'd know I used the idea of husband and wife from the canon paring (those two are really obvious! Come on! yaoi in the Gaiden is practically dancing the tango there!) Tenpou and Kenren. Those two really look cute together. Wahaha, my overactive yaoi-crammed mind is going ballistic just thinking about that…..

I give credit to Kazuya Minekura for creating such an excellent anime and the witty comments by the characters.

As for the stars and stuff in here, it's the only thing in the world (besides fishing) that's considered as a hobby even if all you do is lounge around doing nothing. How cool is that :laughs: Anyway, the constellations and nebula mentioned here are shown in different seasons, so if ever you want to check it out, wait for it a few months.

Okay, I should put some of my references here in case anyone accuses me of plagiarism or something.

Plato: "Love is a grave mental disease" 427-347 B.C.

(Love Quotation, A Collection of Romantic Pictures and the Best Love Quotes; published 1992)

Practical Skywatching; published 2002

Pls. REVIEW!