Bittersweet Symphony

:: The Second Movement ::

I had thought that everything between kitsune and me was already fine since we have just had a "major issue" in our relationship. I was lulled into this false sense of calm. Kind of like the calm before the storm because I sure hell wasn't expecting someone else to step into the picture.

Shohoku had just lost the game with Kainan—-you could just imagine the whole atmosphere of the Shohoku basketball team. Hope destroyed and dreams thrown away. I wasn't only depressed—I was angry and disappointed with myself. The tensai had cost the team the victory because of a mistake—not just a mistake, but a very STUPID mistake! What was worse was the look of disappointment that I saw on kitsune's and everyone else's faces.

Of course they assured me that it wasn't my fault. Everyone makes mistakes and besides I was new to the game. Hearing those words served even to hurt and humiliate me more. The people that I had come to think of as my family couldn't even say to my face that I was a failure.

What was even more depressing was when Rukawa had coldly informed me that he would go home alone. I didn't know how to react to that and had immediately launched into one of my infamous temper tantrums. Calling him names and such.

I felt abandoned. . .and worthless.

I wanted to cry again then and there. The person whom I've hoped to comfort me during these times had coldly shrugged me away. Maybe this was his way of telling me that I had screwed up big time. I couldn't understand what had gotten him so angry at me. I failed a pass—so what? Losing a game didn't mean that I loved him less. I was determined to catch up to him and to give him a good punch when I was stopped by a soft voice just outside the locker room.

"Sakuragi Hanamichi."

I turned towards the voice and came face to face with a petite woman with long black hair and blue eyes—-ice blue eyes like Rukawa's. I knew that it was rude to gawk at the woman but the resemblance to Rukawa was so uncanny that I just couldn't help myself.

"Hajimemashite," the woman bowed and said, "I'm Kaede's mother, yoroshiku onegaishimasu."

* * *

"Hajimemashite," the woman bowed and said, "I'm Kaede's mother, yoroshiku onegaishimasu."

I really didn't know how to react to that new piece of information that had hit me as a hard as a body slam. I was now face to face with the mother of my significant other whom I've always pictured as a pain in the ass bitch. Never had I once associated kitsune's mother to this frail looking woman in front of me who was giving me the saddest smile. I stood tongue tied for awhile until I remembered my manners. I mentally kicked myself at that. I didn't want kitsune's mother to disapprove of me.

"Are you looking for your son?" I had managed to croak out.

The woman shook her head and looked pointedly at me, "iie, I wanted to have a word with you Sakuragi-san."

I was curious at what the older woman wanted to talk to me about and so I nodded and pointed to the café near the stadium. We both walked in silence, obvious of the mounting tension between the two of us. I would bet that she really didn't want to be in that situation. At that point I too was also sharing her misgivings.

We reached the café and as was requested by Kaede's mother, were seated in the booth at the far end corner of the café. Whatever she wanted to talk to me about was clearly private.

"It's about Kaede—" she began and stopped when a waitress approached us to take our orders. I shook my head and told the waitress that I wasn't ordering but had instead ordered some tea for Kaede's mother. She gave me a grateful look and eased her grip on the handkerchief she was gripping tightly awhile ago.

"What about Kaede?" I casually asked and leaned back at the booth. I didn't want to say more than what was necessary.

"I know about you two." She said slowly and shot me another one of her sad smiles. "I overheard it while watching the game awhile ago." She now clearly looked distressed and resumed gripping her handkerchief again.

I mutely stared back at her and was debating whether to tell the truth or to again lie through my teeth. I honestly didn't know what to do. I've never encountered distressed mothers before and I didn't know the first thing about handling situations like these. Luckily, the waitress came back with the tea which served to diffuse the very tense atmosphere in the booth.

She hesitantly took a sip of the tea and set it back on the table. "I—I just wanted to know if there is some truth to it." She then said, her voice cracking from suppressed emotion. She searched my face for an answer. I guess my silence meant yes.

She bent her head, trying to hide tears that had started gather in her eyes. "Did Kaede put you up to this?" She gave a hollowed laugh. "He usually likes pulling sick jokes when he is mad at me." She laughed again but there was a trace of desperation in it.

I would have comforted her but I wasn't any good at that. Besides, today I became her enemy. My shoulders slumped in defeat. I didn't have the heart to see her like this.

"You know when Kaede was a little boy, he promised me that he'd become the best that he can be and take care of me when he's old enough and has his own family." She was now babbling and trying to comfort herself that this was all a nightmare. "Tell me please. Did Kaede put you up to this?" She pleaded yet again.

I gazed deep into her eyes and I knew the answer to the question.

"Yes. This is just a joke." I flatly said but my expression said otherwise. I stood up from the booth and hurriedly left the café. The image of Kaede's sorrowful mother was still imprinted in my head.

-tbc

A/N: Gomen ne minna! But this chapter isn't finished yet! ^^o I'm planning on adding more parts to it! Thank you for your reviews minna (bows) I really do appreciate it!