Disclaimer: I don't own Slam Dunk. It belongs to Takehiko-sensei.

Crusty's Note: During doing this fic, I received lots of reviews saying 'it's very rare to see a RuHaru fic'. As for myself, from the first time I started to post this fic , I've never found other RuHaru fic besides my own. Untill some days ago, I finally found some (yipee!). And now, I'm happy to know that actually I'm not alone in this business, he he… Hi to all of you who also writes RuHaru :)

I also received lots of suggestions to fix the grammatical errors I made. To be honest, even until now, I haven't found myself a beta-reader (sob… sob…). And that's sad because I desperately needing one.

Well, enough with the blahs. Enjoy this one, minna…

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The Tensai's Deduction

A beautiful day, a perfect weather, somewhat a good place to go to, but definitely THE most perfect person to be with. That's how I see this whole day.

After tutoring Rukawa-kun at the public library, we went to the music store. Inside, Rukawa-kun checked out some CDs and some new releases. I did the same thing. I remembered I haven't bought any new CD lately.

While I was looking at the pop music section, Rukawa-kun listened to some samples. He seemed to enjoy it. I smiled. He must be likes music a lot. Well, maybe not as much as he likes basketball, but I can tell he likes what he hears.

I got near him when he was beginning to play other song.

"Who's that?" I asked him casually.

"Blue Hearts," he replied short.

I raised my brows. Carefully, I asked him, "Do you like Blue Hearts?"

"Mm… so-so…" He glanced at me, "Do you?"

"Yes! I like them very much! By the way, do you know that they just held a concert yesterday?" I said excitedly.

"Yes, I know. You went there?"

"Why, yes! Actually, Sakuragi-kun asked me to…" suddenly I stopped realizing where my conversation heading to. Rukawa-kun stared me with his usual flat expression. I stared him back, but I just can't decide should I speak again.

"… I went there with Sakuragi-kun yesterday…" I finished my line. But I didn't look at him when I said that.

"Oh…." Rukawa-kun stared back at the panel in front of him. "Did you have fun?"

I raised my face staring at him. I never expect he would ask that but I'm glad he keeps on talking to me.

"Well… yeah… I mean, the Blue Hearts was great. I really enjoyed that concert. I mean, I seldom went to a concert, but that one was… great!"

"What's their latest album?"

"Umm… 'Cracking shells'. I heard it's a good one, but I haven't bought it. I got some emergency expenses this month," I grinned.

Rukawa-kun put down his headphones. He went to one of the rack in that store and chose some CDs. I guess he already made up his choice after hearing some samples. I followed him.

Suddenly, someone called my name, "Haruko-chan!"

I looked behind me. "Ah! Sakuragi-kun? Wow, I never thought I'd meet you here." Sakuragi-kun was with his friends, Mito and the other.

"Me too, "Sakuragi-kun said cheerfully, "Are you here alone?—" Sakuragi-kun didn't continue his line. I saw his eyes stopped somewhere behind me.

I turned around. Rukawa-kun was standing behind me. Not too close, but he was behind me with a CD in his hand.

"N-No, I was with Rukawa-kun," I replied, still a bit surprised.

Sakuragi-kun approached Rukawa-kun and his eyes stared straightly to Rukawa-kun. "Rukawa, I thought you're the human ice block. I never thought you'd ask Haruko-chan out, you sly kitsu—"

"I didn't ask her out," Rukawa-kun cut him quickly, and it was sort of a kick to my gut. "I ask her to tutor me. After that we went here. By the way, I don't think that's any of your business."

"Teme!"

"Sakuragi-kun!" Spontaneously I nearly shouted to see Sakuragi-kun seemed to be mad.

Sakuragi-kun turned to me and his face calming down. "Sorry, Haruko-chan," he said sincerely. Then he turned to Rukawa-kun again and grinned, "Rukawa, I knew it that you must be jealous because yesterday you saw me and Haruko-chan went out together."

My heart thumped to hear that. Really?

Sakuragi-kun continued, "You envy that, that's why you asked her to tutor you today. I'm sure it's just a reason you made up. You can't think of a good reason, so you used this tutoring thing as an invitation to ask her out. Tsk-tsk, that is very lame of you, Rukawa…"

"Wow, I never thought Hanamichi could make a good deduction like that," Takamiya, one of Sakuragi-kun's friends, snickered.

"Hn? What's that supposed to mean!?" Sakuragi-kun growled, but he somewhat blushed.

"Me too," suddenly Rukawa-kun spoke and made Mito and the other laughed while Sakuragi-kun growled more.

"Aargh!! You ask for it, Rukawa!!" Sakuragi-kun approached Rukawa-kun. For some seconds ago I thought these boys were joking, but now I think they're really going to start a fight.

"Sakuragi-kun! Stop! Mito, please stop him!" But Mito and the other were grinning as if they're waiting for a big show to start. Rukawa-kun also seemed have no desire to retreat. Oh-no, don't fight, especially at a public place like this.

But out of my prediction, both Rukawa-kun and Sakuragi-kun didn't throw any punches. I could see how Sakuragi-kun tried to hold his temper.

"Rukawa," he said, "I don't have to humiliate myself in front of everyone, especially Haruko-chan, by hitting you. How about a game tomorrow, huh? You and me."

Rukawa-kun paused for a moment. "Okay."

"That was disappointing…" Okusu said. The other boys also sighed in disappointment.

"Yeah, but Hanamichi is an athlete now, right? He won't do anything stupid." Mito winked to Sakuragi-kun.

"You got a point there, he-he…" Sakuragi-kun grinned.

"Yeah-right! Like we would buy that!" Mito and the other laughed hysterically.

"Temee!! How dare you guys mock me!!" Sakuragi-kun chased his friends out of the store.

"Do aho…" Rukawa-kun sighed.

I smiled in relieve because they didn't fight. Even though Mito was actually joking, but I think he was right that Sakuragi-kun already turned to a good basketball player and won't be easily to follow his temper.

Rukawa-kun already went to the cashier to pay. I waited him by the exit.

"What CD did you buy?" I asked while we were walking along the pavement.

"Cracking Shells."

"Really!? The Blue Hearts!?"

"Yes."

"That's a good choice! I'm sure you'll like them very much." I felt excited thinking that we could share the same interest and maybe we'll talk about Blue Hearts a lot.

"You tell me how good they are," Rukawa-kun pushed the small plastic bag from the CD store to me. Inside, there was the 'Cracking Shells'.

"Huh?"

"Actually I'm not that sure about them. You listen to it, and then you tell me how good they are. If you said they're really good, maybe I'll listen to it."

I received the bag hesitantly. "Um… okay…" I stared at the plastic bag for a while, and then put it in my bag. Secretly, I smiled.

"Hi, Haruko-chan."

I looked at my right. Sakuragi-kun was standing there grinning.

"Sakuragi-kun? Where's the other?"

"I told them to get lost wherever they wish. Well, I don't mean to bother you… it's just that I feel responsible to guard you from any sly person, specifically from a certain sly kitsune…" Sakuragi-kun emphasized the word 'kitsune' but I don't understand what he means.

"Find a better thing to do, Do aho," suddenly Rukawa-kun spoke. I wonder why he should call Sakuragi-kun 'Do aho'.

"Nani? You mean guarding Haruko-chan isn't an important thing? Why, of course you'd think so. Because you don't want anyone get in your way, right?"

"Sakuragi-kun. Rukawa-kun won't do anything bad, if that's what you mean."

"Haruko-chan, you just don't know that some people could be very deceiving…" Sakuragi-kun sighed and shook his head slowly as if he was sorry for something.

I chuckled, "Okay, so you guard me next time, okay? I'll be fine with Rukawa-kun today."

"What? But, Haruko-chan…"

"They're waiting for you," Rukawa-kun pointed some place.

Mito and the other were standing not too far from us. I think they were observing us, but they didn't bother to hide. Naughty grins were on their faces, just like little playful kids.

"They always put their fingers on everything I do," Sakuragi-kun murmured.

"Haruko," Rukawa-kun called me, "Thanks for the help. I should be going now. Bye."

"Ah? Uh, okay… Bye…"

Rukawa-kun walked away and found his own way home. I stared at his back in disappointment.

"Ah, finally he gave up. Thanks to my firm guarding," Sakuragi-kun approached me, "Haruko-chan are you—"

"Huh? W-What's that, Sakuragi-kun?" I startled by his question. But it seemed that Sakuragi-kun was too. He paused and stared at me.

"Are you okay, Haruko-chan?"

"Uh... Yes, I'm fine."

Sakuragi-kun was still staring at me. "Sorry," he said then.

"What? Why are you sorry, Sakuragi-kun?"

"I made you mad, didn't I?"

"What? No, of course no. What makes you think so?"

"Well, it's not that I like to admit it, but you want to stay with him, don't you? But now I made him leave."

"Well, I never think that he left because of you, Sakuragi-kun."

"Yeah, whatever his reason was, like I said before: he's lame. I bet he's too chicken to act like a man in front of a girl. He knows nothing besides showing off at basketball," Sakuragi-kun snorted proudly.

"Wow, I never thought you'd be this wise, Hanamichi!" suddenly Takamiya already behind him with the rest of the boys.

"Didn't I tell you to get looost!!?" Sakuragi-kun chased them again, while Mito and the other laughed out loud.

I chuckled to see their act. Indeed, disappointment still stays in my heart, but somehow Sakuragi-kun and the other cheer me up.

Suddenly I remembered the CD that Rukawa-kun borrowed me, and I started to remember what Sakuragi-kun said: 'he's lame'. On second thought, maybe Sakuragi-kun was right. Well, I wouldn't say that Rukawa-kun is lame. I prefer the term 'dishonest'.

You can say I'm exaggerating, but I'm pretty well sure that he actually wants to give me this CD. Maybe I don't know Rukawa-kun that well, but I don't see him as a shy person or someone who cares a lot about his image. So, the only thing I can see is that he's just dishonest about something. In other word, he's denying. I'm not sure what he denials, but he's doing it.

"Haruko, do you want to have some ice-cream with us?" suddenly Takamiya popped up before me.

"Huh? Umm… well, I'm not in a hurry… Okay! I'll go with you guys!" I said cheerfully. It's a great way to end this wonderful day, anyway.

"Thank you, Sakuragi-kun," I said while all of us heading to the ice-cream parlor.

"Huh? Why you thank me?"

"For making me realizing something," I smiled.

"Well, you're welcome. But… realizing something? Ah! I know! You must be realizing that Rukawa is a bad person and you're thankful to have me guarding you, right? Nya-ha-ha! Don't mention it!"

"Not that, Sakuragi-kun!" I smirked.

---------------

That night, I decided to call Rukawa-kun. I'm gonna use the CD thing as an opening topic, but actually I want to talk more about him. I wonder if my theory about denying was right.

'click' I heard someone picked up the phone.

"Moshimoshi." I recognized his voice. We talked on the line for a couple of times, so I can tell it was him.

"Rukawa-kun? It's me, Haruko."

"Yes?"

"Umm, I've listened to the CD. It was great, seriously. I'm not saying this because I'm a fan of the Blue Hearts, but it's a great music. You won't sorry to have it."

"Oh, okay."

"Well, I don't think I had enough listening to it, but I'll bring it back to you at school since it's yours and you haven't listened to it—"

"Do you like it?" suddenly he asked.

"Yes! Of course I like it. Like I said, it was gre—"

"You can have it."

"What?"

"I said you can have it. You like it, don't you?"

I bit my lip. 'Okay, this is it, Haruko.' "Why you want me to have it? It's yours, isn't it?"

"Yes. But you said you like it—"

"That doesn't mean I want it."

"…"

"Rukawa-kun, may I ask you something?"

No reply. But I continued, "When I was at the concert area with Sakuragi-kun yesterday, I thought I saw you there too. Am I right? I mean, were you really there yesterday?" I asked carefully because I don't want him to think that I was interrogating him.

"…Yes, I was there."

My heart jumped to hear that. "You were? What were you doing there? I mean, you got an appointment with my brother, you wouldn't watch any concert, am I right?"

"That's all I'm gonna say to you. The rest of it is really none of your business and I got no necessary to explain it to you."

I got silenced by the cold reply, and by that time I also realized my stupidity. Privacy is an important matter to everyone and I think I've just crossed that line. I think I AM interrogating him.

"I-I'm sorry, Rukawa-kun… I really don't mean to mind your business… I was just wondering… I'm really sorry!" I closed my eyes tightly and hoping he wasn't mad at me. Well, it's okay if he's mad, but I hope he won't hate me.

No reply. But I also didn't hear he hung up. Was he leaving the phone?

"…Haruko…" I heard he said. My heart was beating with uncertainty. I'm ready if he was going to scold me.

"At your house, you said before that you're okay if I was meddling with your business… Why is that?"

"W-What do you mean?" I still felt nervous.

"I want to know why you're okay if I'm meddling with your business. Aren't you supposed to feel bothered?"

I could still hear him with his usual monotone voice, but somehow, he also sounded asking innocently just like a clueless child.

"I don't know…" I replied sincerely, and that's the truth. You just can't find a reasonable answer.

"Look, Rukawa-kun… I'm terribly sorry if you feel that I'm minding your business. I just want you to know that I never meant so. I wasn't careful… I'm so sorry…"

"…Well, I do feel annoyed, but… it's okay. Don't worry. I'm not mad at you."

I felt like a huge stone lifted up from my shoulders. I felt so relieve.

"Anyway," I heard him again, "You can have the CD. And if in any case you're wondering why, actually I bought it for you. So there." He spoke kinda fast.

I'm speechless. My mouth was opened but no words came out of it.

"Is there anything more you want to talk about?"

"Huh? Uh, n-no… I mean, well, that's about it… Umm… I'll see you at school, Rukawa-kun…"

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

I put down the phone and automatically slide down to the floor. My heart was still beating fast. I was in between surprised and excited.

'I bought it for you.'

'For. You.'

Those words keep on spinning inside of my head. I pinched my cheek to make sure that I'm not dreaming. 'Okay, Haruko. Calm down… Easy… You have to be easy on him. Don't rush in…'

Slowly, I took a deep breath. I was like doing some yoga breathing or something for a minute. After that, a smile appeared on my face. A very-very happy smile. I didn't exactly get what I want, thinking that I called him to know about some 'denying thingy'. But I got something that is no less great.

Suddenly I was like snapped out from my sweet dream and automatically tapped my head. "Why didn't I ask him the reason he gave me the CD!? Oh… stupid Haruko…" I pouted to realize my clumsiness (yes, I consider that clumsy).

I went to my room upstairs. In my room, I placed my self on my bed and doing some thinking. Suddenly I realized I got some important hints about Rukawa-kun. But right now I'm too happy and too blind to do some sequential thinking, so I just went back to the phone to call Yumi and Aki to tell them about the happy news. Sometimes they do the thinking stuff when I was too blind to do it. Maybe they could share their opinion, as usual, to me.

I hummed a merry song while walking to the phone.

Rukawa-kun, I know I'll get the answer I need along this labyrinth to your heart. Until then, please stay still where you are and don't turn your back on me.

Lot's of love, Haruko.

TO BE CONTINUED

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Crusty's endnote: From the first time I wrote this fic, I planned this going to be a Haruko POV—and only gonna be a Haruko POV. But when this fic reached somewhere around its 8th chapter, I started to think I do need Rukawa POV. Some of you have told me to make Rukawa POV, and don't yah worry, it WILL be coming your way. Actually it was gonna be the 13th chappie, but like I said before, I don't want to appear that one yet, he he…

Making a Rukawa POV for this fic won't be that easy to me, thinking that this fic already reached its 14th chapter, so it might take some time. Prepare your patience, okay? (as if you never have ;p) Doumo Arigatou for all your supports, matamite minna!