Chapter 11

"Kaede how's college? You're okay with basketball and studies? I mean it's not easy." Asked Kanako Rukawa on his son while eating. It was dinner time, and she was really glad that her only son called her saying he wants to come home to see them.

"It's fine." He stoically answered her.

"Hmmm, wait why you didn't bring Hana-chan with you? It's been a while since the last time we saw him. It's been a year I think..."

"I don't know?

"You don't know what?"

"I don't where he is?"

Surprised, she stand up and dropped the fork she was holding. "What do you mean you don't where he is?!"

"We're done..."

"What happen?" Asked his dad whose listening to their conversation. He stopped eating and looked at his son to know what's going on.

"We're done...that's all."

"Done? That's all! After what you did to us just because of him. Listen to me very well young man, we don't know what happen, but both of you are still young...perhaps this is not the right time for both of you. "He explained and show the seriousness on every words he says to his only son.

"Any news about him Kaede?" his worried mom can't stop the asking him.

"No..."

"But I thought you had a boyfriend?

"It's Akira Sendoh..."

"He's the reason, isn't it?"

"No, we're done before him..."

"Why didn't you introduced him to us. I think there will no problem if you do.."

"Okay..."

After done eating, he goes straight to his room and locked it. He sit in front of his computer, turned it on and starts browsing. He open a file with password, which has a photos...of 'he' and him. That file was a collection of photos...of him and Sakuragi taken during their high school year.

Regrets and sadness filled his heart once he starts looking at the photos. He really don't know what to say or how to react when Sakuragi decided to break-up with him. He wanted to stopped him, to asked explanation...and wanted to asked for another chance. But in the end...he cannot...how?

Sakuragi...his light...his fireboy that lighten up his life. The person who loved him for what he is...the only person that can make him smile. He knew, if he just asked for his forgiveness, he'll forgive him. But he don't...Even he... can't forgive himself for everything he was done to him.

He remembered the night that he had an arguement with his dad about their planned of living together. Sakuragi was there outside their house. And he knew he heard everything, what his dad says about him. He want to hugged him, to say it's fine...but he can't. He's too coward to do it...

Flashback

(Sophomore year)

"Are you crazy! You know I'm not against your relationship with him, but it doesn't mean I will allow you to live with him. You're both young!" Rukawa's father shout at him after he talked to him about their plan.

"I don't care..."

"You should care! You should! You're my only son...do what ever you want when you finish your studies!"

"Kaede dear...you're Dad is right. Hana-chan is a great person, you know I liked him. But you can't live on your own now. You're both young and still in school. We just want you to finish your studies first ...okay..." his mom calmly explained things on him.

"One more thing Kaede! What kind of life he can give you! He's an orphan...had a bad grades at school like you! He can't give you the things you have now...I don't want you to suffer someday..."said his Dad while walking here and there in front of them.

"Don't looked down on him!"

"Kaede! Since when you learned to shout at me...whether you like it or not...you'll stay here!"

And then he went to his room, and his mom followed him.

"Kaede dear...just try to understand your Dad, it's for your own good..."

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

He knew that Sakuragi heard everything and since that day, he starts to changed. He study and practiced basketball during days and worked hard at night just to proved that he deserved his love. He feel his pure and everlasting love. The love that he wasted and regret it up until now.

There was a time...a days that he wanted to go back at the past. To the past that he can make all the wrong things right. At the end...he regrets for what he did on him as he cannot go back to that time...to the time that he and Sakuragi was so in love to each other.

Today...is the day they supposed to celebrate their anniversary. He went home just to at least escaped from Sendoh for awhile...and to reminisce their past ...their love.

There was a time that he want to break him up, but he felt the love he's given to him. Yes, he can say that he loved Sendoh too, but not as much as love Sakuragi.

And now, all he can do is to looked at their photos. The photos that makes him smile every time he remembered the time and the love their shared together.

Tears can't help but flowing into his blue-eyes. The tears that he tries to stopped, to concealed...after they end their relationship.

He was glad to know that Sakuragi is in good condition. He was happy to at least heard his laughter that's like a melody to his ear. When he heard Miyagi and Mitsui talking to him on phone...he assumed...just to assumed that Sakuragi remembered that this day...is once become the special day for both of them.

Flashback

While the rest having their lunch in the cafeteria or having their own place to eat. There's a two person, standing in the rooftop and gazing at the blue sky.

He's tired of waiting him to say something so he decided to talked first. "Do ahou...what do you want?"

"Ahhh, ano Kitsune...hmm,... Did you eat?" he nervously asked him and bite his nails.

"Do ahou."

"Honestly...I don't how to say it. You must ...laughed at me if I did."then decided to leave but strong hands holds his wrist to stopped him.

"Do ahou, I won't."

"Kitsune..."he looked at him. Brown eyes met his blues eyes. He can hear his heart throbbing. "I love you!" and then he run away from him and exit the rooftop.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

"I love you!" Rukawa said the moment Sakuragi opened the door.

"What the hell! You're kidding right? I don't have time to fight with you Kitsune! Go away!" He yelled at him as the kitsune rushed inside his house.

"I love you and I'll prove it!" He pushed him the couch and ride on top of him. He strongly holds his both hands and kissed him. Sakuragi escaped and pushed him.

"Kitsune what are you doing? I"m serious when I said I love you...so please don't do this to me..." he holds his head with his two hands and looked at him with anger in his eyes.

"I'm serious too..." he answered straight to his brown eyes while sitting in front of him on the floor.

That day, Sakuragi did not go to school, he is sick ...that's his reason. But the truth he doesn't know how to faced the Kitsune after he confessed that he is in love with him. Because of his absence and not attending the afternoon practice, Rukawa went to his house to visit him and to asked him how he really felt about him.

"Sakuragi...I will say this only once so listen carefully. I'm serious."he looked at him gently. "I love you ...since the first time I saw in Shohoku...I love you since I met you in the rooftop...I love you since you punched me...and I love you since you beat Akagi."

Even though he is shocked, he grinned and answered."hm...that's the very first time you talk in full sentence." He offered his hands to help the kitsune to stand up from the floor.

"It means...we're..."he said and sit next to him.

"Lovers...yeah..."he replied and blushed...red as his hair. He hugged him tight and kissed him softly.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

"My do ahou..." tears freely flowing down to his cheeks while staring at their photos on his computer.