Author: Crystal Arie
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Hanamichi Sakuragi and Kaede Rukawa
Disclaimers: I don't own Slam Dunk. It belongs to Takehiko Inoue. I am merely borrowing it. And please don't get mad at me if ever you do not approve of YAOI pairings and such. I am just a beginner so don't be too hard on me, 'kay? ^_^ Thanks!
CHAPTER FIVE
"Okay Rukawa-kun, what happened back there?"
Kaede was caught off-guard by that question. Kogure may be the vice-captain of the team, and he seemed like a fair-weathered guy, but he never asked Kaede anything in a serious tone or gave him a calculating look.
Kaede shifted his head to the side. "Nani?"
"What happened to your playing?" Kogure emphasized, as if talking to a 3 year old. "You didn't play like you usually do. It was as if you were distracted by something or someone."
Yeah, a certain red-headed do'aho with a great smile and cute face. Kaede shrugged in response. "I wasn't in the mood to play."
Kogure looked at Kaede's face and smiled. "It's Sakuragi-kun, isn't it?" he said softly.
Kaede's eyes widened as he looked at Kogure, his mind frozen and his heart beating like mad. How?... "How?" He blinked when he realized that he said it out loud.
Kogure smiled gently. "It's quite noticeable, you know, if people pay good attention to each of their teammates."
Kaede raised an eyebrow as he crossed his arms across his chest. "What's noticeable?"
Kogure seemed quite surprised. "Eh! Eto...umm...don't you think...ano...ummm...are you?"
"Nani?"
Kogure suddenly looked as if he wanted to be swallowed up by the ground rather than bringing this topic up. He swallowed and fixed his glasses. "Ah-ano, Rukawa-kun, are you...gay?" He shuddered at the word, waiting for Kaede's response.
Kaede seemed to think it over, then looked at the vice-captain. "What are the signs which made you think that I am?"
Kogure stiffened. "Why do you want to know?"
"Just curious."
Kogure noticed that Kaede's expression was still passive, so he swallowed and blurted out only some of the signs. He wasn't going to risk being murdered NOW. "Well, umm...you don't seem to like girls very much, you hardly notice them. You're always expressionless, but whenever you see Sakuragi-kun, you either glare at him or call him 'do'aho', which is quite rare. You respect him in a different way, and you can't seem to concentrate when he's not in the area." Kogure took in a deep breath and smiled. "Most was gathered over the past 9 days."
Kaede was still expressionless. "That's all?"
Kogure waved his hand back and forth. "Well, the rest are not that important, so I zeroed it down to these."
"Hmm..." Kaede thought it over, his eyes going from here to there, obviously trying to sort things out. Kogure watched with wary eyes, wondering if it was such a good idea to bring it up.
Finally, Kaede looked at Kogure, who was shaking and swallowing like nuts, and murmured, "I guess I am."
"Eh?' Kogure returned to his usual self and eyed Kaede cautiously. "Wha-what did you just say?"
"I guess I'm gay." Kaede repeated, then looked at Kogure seriously. "Ne, Kogure-sempai?"
"Hai?"
"Do you..." Kaede blushed. "Do you think he feels the same way too?"
Kogure looked at Kaede carefully. "Why ask?"
Kaede rubbed his head as he felt his face become hot. "Just wondering."
Kogure though it over. Sakuragi Hanamichi, ka?... He smiled and gave a nod to Kaede's tense face. "I think there's a good chance."
Kaede breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Yokatta." Then, he looked at Kogure in wonder. "Hey sempai, how did you get to be so good in these kinds of situations?"
"I..." Kogure blushed. "I have someone in mind too."
Kaede gave him a sly look. "Who?"
"Not telling!"
"You made me tell."
"I GUESSED him!"
"Still the same."
"No, it's not!"
"Is it Miyagi?"
"NO!"
"Sendoh?"
"NO!!"
"Akagi?"
*Sweat-drop* "Spare me."
*Thoughtful look, then stare* "Mitsui."
*Blush and fidget*
Kaede's eyes widened and he grinned. "Sou ka..."
"Ma-matte! You don't know what you're saying!"
"Hmmm...Mitsui-san." *Look*
"What's with that look?"
*Smirk*
"RUKAWA-KUN!"
"Aa?"
"Stop smirking!"
*Stare*
*Sweat-drop* "Stop staring."
*Grin*
"Stop grinning!"
*Chuckle* "Heh, Mitsui-san."
"Shut up!"
*Amused laughter*
Kogure blushed and glared. "You know, I think I prefer your boring and quiet self to this new one."
"Too late."
*Groan*
"Hmmm...Mitsui-"
"SHUT UP ALREADY!!!"
*Evil laugh*
TBC