PART 10: HOW DO YOU DO IT?

"I wish I could join the game."

"Sendoh-sempai?" wide-eyed Hikoichi could only wondered.

"It will be fun to torment both Sakuragi and Rukawa, together with Maki of course. That Shohoku duo just absolutely have no idea what they did to both of us." Sendoh explained.

Hikoichi gave him a confused look. Sendoh just smiled and continued watching the whole incident with amusement in his eyes. Maki got it right. He remembered the conversation in the men's room earlier, during half time when he appeared at the door, obviously wanted to see what had happened between the two arch-enemies in the toilet. And it's about time he arrived during the argument between the two players, or at least during Sakuragi's heated speech.

"Kitsune... there's no way you were there. ha ha! The thief wore make-up, high heels, looked like a girl and flirt endlessly with Kainan captain."

Rukawa just shrugged.

"So...you didn't win the dare."

"Do'aho. I took it."

"But that is so unlike you!"

"That's what makes a perfect disguise."

Sakuragi was just shocked! Rukawa?? If the rumours he heard were true, then... he just shook his head. Not believing any of it. It couldn't be him in those hot pants and make-up and flirt with Maki and smiled and flirt with Maki and smooched his way and FLIRT with MAKI!!!

"No way!" Sakuragi insisted.

Rukawa only gave him a glare.

Sakuragi gulped. That Kitsune is actually Jekyl and Hyde.

"I still don't believe it! You're not him!"

"You see," Rukawa put his arm around Sendoh's shoulder and pointed at grinning man. "I learned from the best. Do you want me to show you?"

Sakuragi was quiet.

"Let's start with the eyes." Rukawa explained quietly, while looking at the mirror. "Eyeliner can make your eyes looked bigger. A little eyeshadow here and there."

That's how he hides his fox eyes.

"And you slicked your hair to the back" Rukawa pushed his bangs out of his face, but the bangs fall back nicely to its original position. "Hairsprays. Tons of it. Ask Sendoh if you wanna know more." Sendoh grinned at the statement. He sure is proud of his own gravity-defying hair.

Rukawa looked at Sakuragi. "With the help of blue and purple colours, you dyed a couple of strands." he turned his attention back to the mirror.

He touched his lips. Sakuragi suddenly remembered Maki's description. Cherry lips.

"Purple lipstick, borrowed from nee-chan. With moisturiser of course."

Sendoh laughed while Sakuragi looked at his teammate in horror.

"I heard you looked good in tight leather pants." Sendoh commented, with a smile.

"It was so uncomfortable. Can't run fast in it, having difficulty jumping too. Not to mention, I lost a boot"

"Oh? And I heard you gave it to somebody as a souvenir. He got a bruise because of that."

Rukawa looked at Sendoh. "That's how I lost it."

Sendoh had to laugh, especially after looking at Sakuragi's mortified look and Rukawa's non-chalant attitude…

"But but…"

"The dance Sakuragi? The move? The flirt?" Sendoh took a step towards Sakuragi.

"Or the kiss?" Sendoh asked quietly.

"Rukawa-kun here is natural." He provided the answer.

Rukawa just shrugged at the compliment.

"Ha! Hentai! Sendoh…no wonder. I'll…" But Sakuragi's protest was cut short when Sendoh gave him a kiss. A deep kiss. A deep long kiss. And in no time at all, Sakuragi found himself kissing the spikey-hair man back.

"Does that help you Rukawa? At least he's quiet now. " Sendoh stopped the kissing and turned towards Rukawa while Sakuragi looked startled.

"Yes Sendoh, you saved me from him." He placed his hands on Sendoh's shoulder. "You keep my sanity intact. For this, I thank you." And mockingly, he put Sendoh's hand on his heart.

"Kitsune...watch it..." Sakuragi warned. Sendoh just had to laugh watching the their squabbles.

"Rukawa..." Sendoh turned his attention towards Rukawa.

Rukawa was quiet. Sendoh, taking this as a cue to continue,

"What do you think about Maki."

Rukawa looked at Sendoh like he had grown two heads instead of one. Neverthless, he answered the question.

"I think he's a good player."

"Do you like him?" Sendoh asked him directly.

"Maybe."

"Do you love him?"

"hn..." He walked out. But Sendoh stopped him mid-way.

"You didn't go into all those troubles just to go and get the bird, do you?"

Rukawa was quiet.

"He loves you too." Sendoh told him. Sendoh saw a hint of happiness and relieve in the Kitsune's eyes, even for a millisecond. I was right. He feels the same way.

"And he will find out today. " Sendoh warned.

"Today." Rukawa whispered. "Like I care. I just want to beat him."

Sendoh just smiled. It had been confirmed. Before, he knew Rukawa will accept the challenge and took the bird, and now, he also knew Rukawa felt something for Maki. Rukawa will definitely didn't go into all those troubles just because he wants the bird. He also wants something else. Love. Maki.

"Oh, by the way Sendoh, can you take care of the things I left in the last cubicle? Thank you" Rukawa said before disappearing out of the men's room, dragging the protesting Sakuragi with him.

"Come on Sakuragi, you can continue with Sendoh after we win."

"Kitsune!!"

Sendoh laughed while walking to the last cubicle in the toilet, stopped and smiled at the door. "You guys can come out now."

Three pales faces peered out of the door before they slowly took a step out, looking very guilty at the fact that their eyes/earsdrooping were known by the very same person they checked on.

"Curious eh?"

The young men nodded.

"Oh well…You might as well know the whole thing." Sendoh started.

"Rukawa Kaede, he is not the type of person who like to be challenge. Especially NOT by a Tensai by the name of Sakuragi Hanamichi, or the do'aho as he was known to him. That's what I tried to tell Hanamichi over and over."

Oh yea, it's obvious on the court.

"So, about two weeks ago Sakuragi did just that. Me and that adorable read-head argued about Rukawa, he didn't believe Rukawa is the type that rise to the challenge, like he is. I believe otherwise. After so much arguing, I told Sakuragi to go ahead and challenge Rukawa. He will do it, after some tormenting of course. So, Sakuragi challenged Rukawa to steal the Kainan Bird, right under everyone's nose. At the Halloween Ball."

"So, you know, Rukawa took it. Sakuragi lost the bet against Rukawa, got to take Rukawa's cleaning duty for the next whole month. He also lost the bet with me when I insist Rukawa will successfully get the bird. That's why Sakuragi practically blamed me for everything. Ah! Wish I was in Kanagawa on Monday when the news about it is still hot! " Sendoh ended the mystery of the mysterious man.

"But…we thought it was you. That's why we're here. Search for Sakuragi, there's a chance Sendoh might be there. So we wait for you here to question you, but…" Jin said.

Sendoh smiled at the thought. "Yea... Seems like all the evidence point to me. I admit I was the one that instigated everything. I was also the one that sent back the bird from the post office near my school. Hmm… and I do know I can shake my body and dye my hair, but to a certain extent… I don't think I will be able to kiss Maki. Yea…hmm…nope."

"And that's the one thing I didn't perceive is the fact Rukawa found himself a man while executing his plan. Maki of all people." Sendoh smiled at the thought.

"Are you guys cleared now?"

"But but…Maki-san! And and…Rukawa??? RUKAWA!! ?" Kiyota finally realised the nature of the situation.

"I think they look good together." Answered Sendoh, smiling.

"This is Rukawa! Like…our enemy! Heeeeelllooooo????"

"All fairs in love and war Kiyota." Sendoh replied.

"And you! You and Sakuragi…"

Sendoh laughed when he saw the younger boy's reply. "Kiyota dear, maybe you should get hook-up?" Sendoh smiled. "Hikoichi, want to volunteer?"

Hikoichi eyes went wide, and so does Kiyota's. Jin could only laughed. If Sendoh can shut Sakuragi, he definitely will have no problem handling Kiyota too. And Hikoichi.

"Sempai!" Hikoichi exclaimed.

"Anyway, both of you have a game to finish. Don't want to stress your captain with anything else do you? And Hikoichi…Rukawa is billingual."

"Ahh…"stammered the shorter boy. Now, he has all the requirements needed to complete the profile of the mystery man. Who would have thought?

Yea, who would have thought?

Good luck Maki.