Title: Sonata

Part: 2/?

Author: Yukijorou

Genre: Yaoi

Pairing: MitRu. and Hana has a pairing too. Don't know yet. ^^;;; Suggestions?

Rating: PG-13

Archive: Fanfiction.net

Warning: Kinda OOC? Maybe. *ponders*

Author's Note: 'I Heard An Angel' is written by William Blake. *grin*

Disclaimer: Belongs to Takehiko Inoue, Ta-sama, who is the Ultimate Tensai! ^_^;;

Chapter 2: I Heard An Angel

"Ryota, I can walk by myself."

Rukawa growled as Ryota tugged his sleeve enthusiastically. Ryota blinked and let go of the near-tearing fabric. Their feet treaded on soggy ground, and the lane in front of them was dark, with rats and cockroaches. "It stinks. We need to go faster!" Ryota smirked. Rukawa grunted and followed behind him. At that point, he would rather be bombarded with fans.

Minutes later, they found themselves standing in front of the glamorous-looking pub. And, they were on clean ground, much to their relief. They walked into the pub and saw a number of celebrities inside. The neon blue lights shone serenely from the ceiling, and Ryota blinked at Takashi Sorimachi next to him, talking with his companions.

"Suteki." Rukawa mumbled as Takashi blinked at him, and then went back to talking again. "What's that do'aho doing here anyway?" Ryota's eyes searched around the place, looking for a certain red-head. Nothing. There was one with red streaked hair, and another with highlighted red hair, but no REAL red-head.

"Hanamichi isn't here, I guess. Let's sit down first, shall we?" Ryota sat at the bar and gestured Kaede to come over. The bartender grinned at them. "First time, eh? Drinks?" Ryota nodded. "Tequila. Kaede?" "Iced water. I don't take alcohol." The bartender nodded and went off to get their drinks. A man two chairs away looked at them with a strange glint in his eye. Ryota and Kaede looked away, trying to ignore the man.

"Miyagi? Rukawa?"

"E?" Ryota stared at the man closely, and his eyes widened in surprise. "Mitsui!" Rukawa raised an eyebrow saying nothing. Mitsui laughed softly. "I see that Ice-man here hasn't melted yet." Ryota nodded, making a face. "What are you doing here, Mitsui? And how have you been?" Mitsui smiled slyly at Rukawa, who was sipping his water blankly.

"I'm here to drink, what else? Anyway, Hanamichi would come by soon. Kuso, he's late," Mitsui looked at his watch, snarling. Rukawa's eyes found their way to the door as he heard a very familiar voice. "Ne. Speak of the devil. Do'aho." Sakuragi looked similar, except for a neater hair style and looked more mature. "Micchy, sorry. I was held up."

Rukawa's face darkened, and Sakuragi sweatdropped. "Anata wa. KITSUNE?" Ryota coughed to make his presence known, and the red-head brightened. "Ryochin!" Mitsui glared at Sakuragi, a vein popping on his head. "HANAMICHI! YOU'RE LATE FOR AN HOUR AND YOU ARE STILL MAKING SMALL TALK!" Sakuragi sighed, "What small talk? I never saw them for six years. TV doesn't count. CD stores doesn't count. Posters doesn't count."

Rukawa muttered something and Sakuragi continued, "Never thought that you could sing. Pretty well too. And I never thought that Ryochin would have a growth spurt." Ryota punched his face, looking mad. "Baka. My height is a sensitive topic!" Others were staring at them, and they reddened, realizing that they were causing too much commotion.

"Ano. Sakuragi, Mitsui, how's life right now?"

"He's a violinist," Sakuragi deadpanned, pointing at Mitsui. Ryota's jaw dropped massively and Rukawa's eyes widened in utter shock. "Mitsui? Violinist? WAHAHAHAAH!" Ryota laughed out loud, clutching his stomach. Rukawa covered his mouth and grunted. "Troublesome. Ryota, we are not supposed to be here, let's not attract attention."

"Why are you two not supposed to be here?" Mitsui stifled a yawn and glanced menancingly at Ryota. Rukawa's hand was still tight over Ryota's mouth. Tears were running out of his eyes silently. "Our manager doesn't allow us too." "Sokka. tough being a celebrity ne?" Sakuragi ordered a Gin and Tonic. Ryota calmed down, trying not to look at Mitsui. "Aa. What are you doing now then? Is that. Tensai thing of yours over yet?" Sakuragi feigned a hurt look. "Demo. I'm still Tensai!" Ryota's eyebrow twitched, and he laughed. "Jodan desu. I think I'm done with it. If I do that anymore, I won't be able to concentrate on anything else. I'm training to be a basketball coach right now."

Rukawa's eyes narrowed. "Do'aho." "Teme." Sakuragi wanted to flare up, but cooled down. "I'm not stupid." "Baka." Rukawa continued to drink his iced water. A vein popped on Sakuragi's head. Mitsui and Ryota sweat- dropped. The old friends talked (and bickered) almost endlessly. till the pub closed. Fatigue was obvious, as Rukawa had fallen asleep, standing.

"He didn't change that habit?" Sakuragi whispered to Ryota, who was dragging him back to the hotel. Mitsui stared at the sleeping man. Rukawa looked peaceful, and he thought he saw a faint smile at the corners of his lips.

He is the happiest when he's asleep, I guess.

Mitsui looked at the crescent moon in the sky. It was the same crescent as that fateful night, when Rukawa told them that he would be quitting basketball. "Then what about your dream to play basketball in the USA?" "I'm giving it up." "What happened to basketball?" "I don't feel like playing anymore." Questions went on and on. Rukawa was tired of answering them. He went to school as usual, with peculiar looks from everyone. Those looks eventually disappeared as time passed. Not that Rukawa minded, anyway. At least, to his knowledge.

Ryota and Rukawa entered the band in the same year. Rukawa was fifteen or sixteen then. Not long after the IH tournaments. There was something he thought he saw. Like usual, Rukawa's expressions were hardly readable, but Mitsui knew that he missed basketball. Sensual's Skit music was heard at a store, which was in the midst of closing. Rukawa's voice was strong and powerful, but smooth as silk. No wonder his fans were swooning to his every word. His voice was beautiful, and angelic.

Yes, angelic is the word.

"Micchy? Earth to Mit-chan." Hanamichi glared at him. "We're home. Kitsune and Ryochin had gone back to their hotel." His eyes narrowed and blinked. "Too unbelievable. I mean, Kitsune? Rock star? Bah." He opened the door with a key and entered his apartment. Mitsui's was just next door. "Oi, Micchy. Say something."

"Eh?" Micchy looked absent-mindedly at Sakuragi, who looked annoyed. "Micchy? Nanishiterun? You've been strange since we saw them. Nan de?" "Nothing. Just memories." Micchy kicked his shoes away. "They reminded me of the past. Life is unpredictable, isn't it, Hana? I mean, you reckless idiot even managed to qualify for the basketball coach training thingy."

"TEME!" Sakuragi shook him angrily, and Mitsui sweat-dropped. "Maa maa. You have the least experience of us all, but you are the only one who managed to have basketball in your career. If not for your injury, you might already have been a pretty well-known basketball player in Japan." "Mochiron! Ore wa Tensai." Mitsui rolled his eyes. "GET OVER that thing." "Yare yare. Oyasumi!" Sakuragi closed the door as Mitsui turned to enter his own apartment.

Meanwhile, the band was in the manager's room, discussing their schedule for the next day. The events seemed to increase every single day, and the band members were pretty stressed out. "Fame has a price, minna." the manager tried to comfort them, but his words proved futile. Rukawa fell asleep on the spot, while Ryota had problems keeping his eyes open. The other two members apparently just had coffee.

Our manager is definitely nocturnal.

Ryota grimaced, as the manager nagged on.

Yarou.