Unexpected Fate: Chapter Five
by Monmon

Disclaimers: Read Chapter 1.


Rukawa leaned on the balcony, breathing in the crisp night air. His navy blue suit jacket was unbuttoned along with the first two buttons of his white shirt underneath the jacket. He closed his eyes, enjoying the silence of the night. He opened his eyes and turned around to look through the glass doors of the balcony. Youhei and Haruko were swaying quite intimately together in a slow dance. They had become a couple about two months ago, which surprised him to no end. He had always thought that Sakuragi was interested in Haruko and that he wanted to make her his girlfriend. When Youhei first announced it, Rukawa expected Sakuragi to go into a rage. Instead, to his and everyone else's surprise, the redhead sincerely congratulated the couple. His eyes traveled to the redhead who was currently talking to Ayako. Sakuragi looked quite handsome in a black blazer, black shirt and matching dress pants. Sakuragi had matured quite a bit over the last few months. His reputation as a gangster faded to a point of nonexistence and the redhead now had a lot of admirers. Sakuragi was flattered and happy with all the attention that he was getting but he had never once returned one of his admirer's affections. Rukawa had once asked Sakuragi about it. After a moment of silence, Sakuragi answered that he hadn't found the right one yet with a sad smile on his lips and his eyes full of longing. That expression on the redhead's face bothered him. So he immediately changed the subject and never mentioned it again.
He turned around back towards the night, peering up at the twinkling stars. He had managed to avoid dancing all evening with any of his infatuated fans. He flitted from place to place, not staying in any place long enough for anyone to gather up the courage to ask him to dance. It wasn't that he couldn't dance. He actually took dancing lessons when he was younger. If he had continued dancing, he would have become one of the best. Instead, he passed it up for basketball. He just didn't feel comfortable dancing in front of a large crowd of people. Basketball was different. He could block out everything when he was playing basketball. When he held the ball in his hands, the crowd faded away and all that was left was the game and the will to win.
He really didn't want to come to the party tonight. He never really liked attending social gatherings, but Youhei and Sakuragi both pleaded and begged him to go. In the end, he finally relented, unable to say no to the hopeful lights in both Youhei's and Sakuragi's eyes.
They had exchanged presents right before the party. He had received several sweaters, basketballs and several CDs. He had gotten the whole team basketball jerseys of their favorite basketball player, and he had gotten Ayako and Haruko pearl earrings and an amethyst pendant necklace, respectively. He had gotten Youhei a gold watch. Everyone had protested his too expensive gifts but he cut them off saying that he had the money and that he might as well use it. He also told them that he would not take them back for any reason whatsoever.
The door to the balcony opened behind him and someone stepped in. Rukawa turned slightly and then cocked his head curiously.
"Koshino."
"Rukawa, what are you doing out here all alone?"
Rukawa shrugged slightly, gazing back up at the star-filled night sky. The boys were silent for a moment, drinking in the beauty of the night.
"It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" Koshino spoke up.
"Hai."
"So you do talk."
Rukawa gave Koshino a cool glance, not liking the fact that he was being teased. "Why did you come out here?"
"To look at the stars of course, and to get a breath of fresh air." Koshino replied.
"Hiro-kun!" A voice drifted to them from the balcony door. They turned towards it together.
Rukawa watched with hidden amusement as Sendoh glomped onto the shorter Ryonan player.
"Sendoh!!" Koshino exclaimed, while trying to dislodge himself from Sendoh's grasp.
"Ne, Hiro-kun? Could you get me something to drink? I want to talk to Rukawa-kun for a minute."
"Why can't you get one yourself?"
"Because I want YOU to get me one. Pretty please?" Sendoh batted his eyes cutely at Koshino.
Koshino grumbled under his breath and then blushed beet red when Sendoh whispered something in his ear. Sendoh let go of the other Ryonan player and Koshino went back into the party.
Rukawa watched Sendoh smile happily at Koshino's retreating back. Then Sendoh turned to him with a rare serious expression on his face.
"Yes. Koshino and I are together." Sendoh said, answering his unspoken question.
Rukawa looked at Sendoh indifferently and waited for him to continue.
"Are you disgusted with me?"
Rukawa shook his head slightly.
"Good. I would hate to lose a friend over something like this."
There was a moment of silence and then Rukawa spoke up.
"You're lucky." Rukawa's voice had the slightest wistful tone to it.
"Huh?" Sendoh looked at him in surprise.
"I said you're lucky."
"Oh."
They fell silent once again, watching the stars. Sendoh then turned and walked off to leave the balcony. As the spiky-haired boy got to the door, he spoke.
You can have this too if you are willing to take the chance."
Rukawa frowned and turned around to ask what Sendoh had meant but the tall Ryonan player was gone. 'What did he mean by that?' He pondered.
His frown grew deeper. His piercing dark blue eyes scanned the sky as if the answers to the many questions in his mind were somehow written up there. Lately he had been getting the feeling that he was missing something important. The feeling that everyone around him knew something that he didn't. He didn't like the feeling one bit. He hated being left in the dark.
The balcony door opened again. Rukawa sighed. 'This balcony is getting too popular. Maybe I should go find another hiding place.' He turned around to face his new 'visitor'.

Sakuragi sipped his fruit punch absently as he looked at the crowd around him. He spotted Rukawa and Sendoh on a distant balcony together. He frowned slightly, wondering what they were talking about.
"So when are you going to tell him?"
He turned back to his companion with a smile on his face. Ayako looked stunning in a dark red spaghetti strap gown, with elbow high matching gloves and two-inch high heels. Miyagi was practically drooling when he laid his eyes on Ayako.
"Soon." He replied evasively. It didn't surprise him that Ayako knew about his attraction to Rukawa. Actually, quite a number of people knew now. Fortunately, they were all close-mouthed people and they promised that they wouldn't leak a word of it to Rukawa. Ayako was always very perceptive. She was one of the first people to question him about his sudden change in attitude towards Rukawa, and knowing that he could trust her, he told her the truth.
"Well don't wait too long. He's not going to stay untaken forever." She said, winking at him.
He checked his watch and saw that it was almost midnight. He caught Youhei's eye and nodded towards the balcony where Rukawa was standing. Youhei followed his gaze to the balcony and then nodded his understanding over Haruko's shoulder as the couple swayed to the music.
"Ayako. Let's start the real party."
She smiled and went off to spread the word.
He walked towards the balcony and passed Sendoh who just exited the balcony. Sendoh paused and gave him a cheeky smile before disappearing into the crowd. He considered stopping Sendoh and asking him what he said to Rukawa but then he dismissed the thought. Sendoh wouldn't tell him anything. At least he had Sendoh's promise that he wouldn't reveal anything about Sakuragi's feelings to Rukawa.
He pulled open the balcony door and stepped outside in the cold night air. Rukawa turned around to face him. Rukawa looked incredibly sexy in his open navy blue jacket. His open shirt exposed a very kissable white slender neck. His features were softened by the moonlight, making the raven-haired boy look ethereal and fey. The vibrant dark blue eyes glittered with beauty and mystery. He must have been staring because Rukawa started to snap his fingers and wave his hands in front of his face.
"Hanamichi? You okay?"
Regaining himself, he answered, "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Why are you standing out here all alone?"
"I told you I don't like parties."
"Aww… come on… it can't be that bad."
"Yes it can." Rukawa's lips were set into a stubborn line.
"Did you even give it a chance?"
"…"
"You didn't even try it out. Come on. Let's go back in together.
"No."
"Just give it one chance. If you really don't like it, you can come back out here or you can leave the party and go back home. Pretty please?" Sakuragi wheedled, giving the kitsune-eyed boy his best pleading puppy dog look.
Rukawa gave him an exasperated look and he knew that he had won. He grinned like a Cheshire cat and threw an arm around Rukawa's shoulders and ushered him back inside.

*****